dieth of his own accord when it lacketh matter so great is the difference betweene the death of young men and old men Seneca A sword-player fearfull in all the fight smiteth home growes valiant or rather desperate whē he seeth no way but death so death is feareful beeing far off but lesse dreaded being at hand Seneca As Swans seeing what good is in death do end their liues with singing so ought all good and honest men to do Cicero lib. 1. Tusc quaest Vnripe apples are hardly pulled from the Tree but being ripe they fall of their owne accord so force doth take life from young men but maturity ripenes from old men Idem de senectute They that speake euill of the deade are like vnto dogges that bite at stones cast at them but doe not touch them that hurte them Aristoteles in Rhetoricis ait Platonem huius similitudinis authorem esse As Croesus with al his wealth so Aristotle with all his wit and al men with al their wisedome haue and shall perish and turne to dust As Aristippus searched how to prolong his life so Socrates sought howe hee might yeeld to death As life is the gift of God so death is the due of nature and as we receiue the one as a benefite so must we abide the other of necssity As the bud is blasted as soone as the blowen rose and as the wind shaketh off the blossome as well as the fruite so death neither spareth the golden lockes nor the hoarie heade As a Bee stinging a dead body takes no hurt but stinging a liue body oft times looseth both sting and life together so death so long as it stung mortal men only which were deade in sinne was neuer a whit the worse but when it stung Christ once who is life it selfe by and by it lost both sting and strength As the brasen serpent was so farre from hurting the Israelites that contrariwise it healed them so death is now so farre from hurting any true Israelite that on the other side if affliction as a fierce serpent sting vs or if any thing else hurte vs presently it is helped and redressed by death Those which will needes play the hobgoblins or the night walking spirits as we call them all the while they speake vnder a hollow vault or leape forth with an vgly vizard vpō their faces they are so terrible that he which thinkes himselfe no small man may perhaps be afrighted with thē But if some lustie fellow chance to step into one of these and cudgel him well fauouredly and pull the vizard from his face then euery boy laughes him to scorne so death was a terrible bulbegger and made euery man afraid of him a great while but Christ dying buckled with this bulbegger and coniured him as I may say out of his hollow vault when as the dead comming out of the graues were seene in Ierusalem and puld the vizard from his face when as he himselfe rising left the linnen cloathes which were the vizard of death behinde him Doctor Playfer As that asse called Cumanus Asinus ietting vp and downe in a Lions skin did for a time terrifie his maister but afterwardes being descried did benefit him very much so death stands now like a silly asse hauing his Lions skin pulde ouer his eares and is so far from terrifying any that it benefites all true Christians because by it they rest from their labours and if they be oppressed with troubles or cares whē they come to death they are discharged All the while Adam did eat any other fruite which God gaue him leaue to eate he was nourished by it but when hee had tasted of the forbidden tree he perished so death had free leaue to deuoure any other man Christ onely excepted but when it wente about to destroy Christ then it was destroyed it selfe Those barbarous people called Canibals which feed onely vpon raw flesh especially of men if they happen to eate a peece of rosted meate commonly they surfeit of it and die so the right Caniball the onely deuourer of all mankind death I meane tasting of Christes flesh and finding it not to be rawe such as it was vsed to eat but holsome and heauenly meat indeed presently tooke a surfet of it and within 3. daies died As when Iudas had receiued a soppe at Christs hand anon after his bowels gushed out so death being so sawcie as to snatch a sop as it were of Christs flesh and a litle bit of his bodie was by and by like Iudas choaked and strangled with it and faine to yeeld it vp again when Christ on Easter day reuiued Sharpe frosts bite forward springs Easterly winds blasteth towardly blossomes so cruel death spareth not those whom we our selues liuing cannot spare as it spared not king Edward the sixt nor sir Philip Sidney who could neuer haue liued too long As madnes and anger differ nothing but in continuance and length of time so neither doe death and sleepe The Deuill AS the Lion that killed the disobedient Prophet returning from Bethel did neither teare his deade body nor hurt his Asse after the same maner is the power of the Diuel being a roaring Lion restrained and kept within limits so that he can extend his furie no further then God giueth him leaue As they that would haue dogs come vnto thē allure thē with bread or flesh so the diuel allureth soules vnto him with pleasures and riches Clemens Alexand. lib. 2. strom As a fish snatching at the bait not seeing the hooke is taken so the Diuell hauing the power of death greedily carrying Iesus vnto death and not seeing the hooke of his diuinitie included in him was caught and ouerthrowne himselfe Idem in Symb. Apost As one night is sufficient to bring darknesse ouer the whole world so the Prince of darkenes is sufficient to disturbe al mortall creatures Macarius hom 5. As Endiue is like vnto Lettice yet the one is sweete the other bitter so the diuel somtimes sheweth himselfe like an Angell of light yet the one is glorious the other vgly and deformed Idem hom 7 As a man and a woman commits corporall fornication so the diuell and the soule commits spirituall fornication Idem hom 15. As Sericants wait for the arest of men indebted so diuels waite to arest sinfull soules Idem hom 43. As a strong stone wall resisteth a dart so faith resisteth the diuel Greg. Nazian oratione in sanctum Cyprianum As a dog stayeth still vnder the Table if hee finde any fallings but departeth if hee find none so the diuell doth continually gape vpon vs if hee get any blasphemous worde he stayeth still but if thou lettest no sins passe from thee hee will leaue thee Chrysost concione 3. de Lazaro As Pirats set vpon rich loaden ships but passe by them that be emptie so the diuell assaileth them that be stuffed with vertues but he lets wicked worldlings and mammonists liue in quiet Idem hom 4. de
this worlde ibidem As Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah did weepe with the friends of Godoliah whom hee had slaine so heretikes so do hypocrites weepe for that which they wish most harme vnto F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano libro 5. de animalibus terrestribus capite 72. A panther by the beauty of his skinne and sweete smell of his breath doth allure other beastes vnto him but by the fearefulnesse of his head he feareth them away whereupon he hideth his head till he hath laide hold on them that come to see him so heretikes and hypocrites outwardly pretending great sanctity and by the fame of their doctrine which they colour with deuotion and simplicity hiding the malicious heade of their corrupte intent they draw many simple and ignorant auditours vnto them and do destroy them with their poysonous doctrine ibidem As young Lyons doe teare and rent the wombe of their dammes in bringing them foorth so heretikes doe rende and teare in peeces the vnity of the church their mother who spiritually doeth bring them forth Idem libro 5. de animal terrest capite 108. When the time approacheth of the Vipers bringing foorth her young ones doe not stay the operation of nature but gnaw her sides in sunder and so come foorth with the destruction of their damme so heretikes being bredde in the wombe of the Church their mother not staying for nor sustaining her correction by rebellion doe depart from her and whilst they gnawe in sunder her vnity as much as lies in them they labour to bring her vnto destruction Ibidem Yong Panthers hating their dās do beat in peeces with their hooues the wombs of their dams because they resist their egresse and deliuerance wherupon a panther bringeth not forth but once so heretikes with their nailes that is with their malignāt doctrine do teare in peeces the vnitie of the church their mother because shee doeth resist their perfidy ibidem A Wolfe infecteth the wooll of that sheep he woorieth so that a garment made of it prooueth lousie as saith Isidore so an hereticke by his biting doth corrupt the simplicity of mans conuersation and maketh it to abounde with lice that is with corrupt workes ibidem Death AS he is to bee called a skilfull Phisitian that can so temper his medicine that it bringeth health which is the ende of his phisicke so is he to be termed truly wise who hath so learned to lead his life that a good death may follow As the hearbe colloquintida is most bitter so is the memory of death to a rich couetous man F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano lib. 3. de vegetabilib plant cap. 40. As Colloquintida doth stretch out her braches a far off so death doth stretch out himselfe so far that none can escape him ibid. As that Colloquintida is most poisonous and deadly which growes alone so is that death most feareful vpō which a pure consciēce true repētāce doth not attēd ibid. As that Colloquintida is good according to Macrus which is white so is that death which is religious ibidem As by a serpent the death of man came so by the death of man a serpent is ingendered that is of the marrowe of his backe bone as saith Hippocrates The beast Hyena hath the necke of a Viper the backe of an Elephant the greedines of a Wolfe the mane of a horse the voice of a man and is sometimes male and sometimes female so death is likened to a Viper for his swiftnesse to an Elephant for his force and violence to a Wolfe for his voracity to a horse for his vnbridlednesse to a man for his deceiptfulnesse and to male and female because it takes awaie both kindes As the ashes of a Scorpion drunk in wine is a remedy against the stinging of a Scorpion so the meditation of death is a remedy against sinne which is the cause of death Gemin lib. 5. de animal Terrest c. 80. As in sleepe there is no remembraunce of labours so the saintes by the sleepe of death do rest from their labors idem lib. 6. de homine Memb. eius cap. 45. As a man whilst he sleepeth feareth the power of no aduersary so the saints by the sleeep of death are taken out of the hands of al aduersaries and do enioy the security of eternal safety ibidem As a Waspe stinging a stone doth not hurt the stone but her selfe by loosing her sting so death lost his sting by running vpon life which is Iesus Christ Athanasius de passione domini As water falling vpon the earth is swallowed vp of it so that it is no more seen so a man by death falling into the earth is so consumed and destroyed that he is neuer founde againe in the condition of his mortall state Idiota de contemplatione mortis cap. 10. As all riuers runne into the sea so all they that come into this fluctuous life must enter into the sea of death For death is the punishmente of all the tribute of all the prison of all the conquerour of all and the receptacle of all Ibidem cap. 13. As he that woulde conquer a castle at the first doth make way to the ruine with his greater shot after hee doeth assault inuade and possesse it so dealeth death who first sendeth his battering shotte of greate sicknesse and infirmity which doth so vanquish and breake the naturall strength of the body that the soule can no longer defend her castle and then death seiseth vpon it Ludo. Granat l. 1. ducis peccat As for the biting of an aspe there is no remedy vnlesse the parts infected be cut away so certaine vices are healed onely by death Aristot. As pilgrims are cheerfully welcommed into Innes or lodginges yet ere their departing some account of expenses is made vnto them so though we haue a litle shew of pleasāt entertainment in this world yet at our deaths we must render a seuere and strict account for the same Stella de contemptu mundi As no man doth maruel that that is molten which might be melted or burnt which is combustile so to be dead is not to be maruelled at because we are mortall Plut. As borrowed money is willingly to be paide againe so our life which God hath lent vs is without repining to be rendered to him againe when he cals for it idem No man taketh it in ill part to haue a candle lighted but euery one misliketh to haue it put out so we reioice at a birth but sorrow at death Idem He that beyond measure is giuen to wine doeth also sucke vp the dregs so there are many that loue their liues so wel that they would not die no not in old age Sen. As he is more prosperous whom a speedy wind bringeth into the hauen then hee that in a calm is wearied vpon the sea so hee is more fortunate whom speedy death taketh out of the miseries of his life Seneca As fire burneth fiercely when it hath store of fewel but
women be they neuer so comely As the sore eye infecteth the sounde so the society with women breedeth security in the soule and maketh all the sences sencelesse The tree Siluacenda beareth no fruit in Pharo the Persian tree in Rhodes doth only wax greene but neuer bring forth apple Amonius and Nardus will onely grow in India Balsamum only in Syria in Rhodes no Egle will build her nest no Owle liue in Creete so no wit will spring in the will of women Iohn Lily As Socrates Plato Aristotle affirmed that women were fickle and inconstant so Pindarus Homer Hesiod Ennius and Virgil auerred that they were framed of contraries As Mantuan doth rayle on women in his Eclogs so Euripedes doth exclame of them in his Tragedyes As Martiall hath taunted women so Propertius hath quipped them As some for inconstancy compare women to Chamelions Polipes and wethercockes so some for their alluring and inchāting cal them Sirens for craft Calipsoes for subtilty Serpents for cruelty Tigres As Daphne for nicenesse was turned in to a tree so Anaxarete for crueltie was transformed into a stone As Horatia with daintinesse did hurte her selfe so Phillis through too much loue did hang her selfe As Cleopatra at the death of her Anthony did sting herselfe to death with Serpentes so Hylonome did sley her selfe at the death of her Cyllar As Alceste was content to loose her life to preserue her Admetus so were the Mynian wiues to preserue their husbands Vlysses though he detested Calipso with her sugred voice yet hee embraced Penelope with her rude distaffe so though one abhorre the beauty of a whorish Curtesan yet hee neede not abstaine from the companie of a graue maiden Though the teares of the Hart be salt yet the teares of the Bore be sweet so though the teares of some women be conterfet to deceiue yet the teares of many be currant to trie their loue Some one Rose will bee blasted in the bud some other neuer fall from the stalke the Oake will bee soone eaten with the worme the walnut tree neuer so some women wil be easily enticed to folly some other neuer allured to vanity As the Mint-maister is not grieued to see the coiner hanged nor the true subiect the false traitour araigned nor the honest man the theefe condemned so honest women ought not to be grieued to see lewde women writ against and whores and curtesans to be railed at As hic Ignis is latine for fire in the chimney and hoc Ignis latine for fire on the table so haec Ignis is latine for fire in the bed As there hath beene an vnchast Hellen in Greece so there hath beene also a chast Penelope As there hath bin a prodigious Pasiphaë so there hath bin a godly Theocrita As some haue desired to be beloued as Iupiter loued Alcmena so some haue wished to be embraced as Phrigius embraced Pieria As there hath raigned a wicked Iezabel so hath there ruled a deuout Debora The sowre crab hath the shew of an apple as well as the sweet Pippin the blacke Rauen the shape of a birde as well as the white Swan so the lewde wight hath the name of a woman as well as the honest Matrone There is great difference betweene the standing puddle and the running streame yet both water great oddes between the Adamant and the Pommice yet both stones a great distinction to bee put betweene Vitrum and the Christall yet both Glasse so there is great contrariety betweene Lais and Lucretia yet both women One may loue the cleere conduit water though hee loath the muddy ditch and weare the precious Diamond though he despise the ragged bricke so one may also with safe conscience reuerēce the modest sex of honest maidens though he forswear the lewd sort of vnchast minions As Spiders conuert to poison whatsoeuer they touch so women infect with folly whomsoeuer they deale withall The petite Pallace of Pettie his pleasure As he that toucheth Pitch shal be defiled therewith so hee that vseth womens cōpany shal be beguiled therewith Greene As Iupiter Mars and Hercules for their valiant acts accounted Gods of the paynims were ouercome and made slaues by the inchantment of women so strong Sampson holy Dauid and wise Salomon were ouerthrowne by women As Venus yeelded to her darling Adonis without any sute made on his parte so the Dutchesse of Sauoy went on pilgrimage to the knight Mendoza As Oenone pleaded her right with Paris so Dido let Aeneas vnderstand how deeply she desired him As Scilla made loue to king Minos so did Medca to Iason As Brysis besought the good will of Achilles so Adalesia made loue to Alerane As Portia the daughter of Cato hearing of her Brutus death at Philippi swallowed hot burning coales to followe him as Plutarke Valerius Maximus and Martiall doe write so Gumnilda the wife of Asmunda King of Danes hearing that her husbande was slaine in the wars slew her selfe with a sword to accōpany him in death whome she had dearelie loued in life as testifieth Saxo Grammaticus in his first booke of the Danish historie As trusty Thisbe did goare her gorgeous body with the same sworde wherewith princely Pyramus had prickt himselfe to the hart so true harted Iulietta did die vpon the corps of her dearest Romeo As a rusty Rapier is no trusty Rampier to defende a man though the Scabberd be of fine Veluct so a woman with foule conditions is courselie to bee accounted of though her face bee faire and body beautifull The Petite Pallace of Pettie his pleasure As the yeare doeth consist of foure seasons the Spring Summer Autumne and Winter And as mans bodie doeth consiste of foure complexions Choler Bloude Flegme and Melancholie so the comelie partes of a Woman doe consiste in foure poyntes that is to bee a Shrewe in the Kitchin a Saynt in the Church an Angell at the bourde and an Ape in the bed as the Chronicle reportes by Mistresse Shoare Paramour to King Edward the fourth As the kinde Spaniell the more hee is beaten the fonder he is so the women of Russia the oftner their husbandes beate them the better they loue them They will not bee perswaded that their husbandes loue them except they beate them Richard Hackluyt in his Booke of English Voyagers in the description of Russia As Aetna is too hotte and Caucasus too colde so it is naturally incident to women to enter into extremities they are either too louing or too loathing too courteous or too coye too willing or too wilfull too mercifull or too merciles too forward or too frowarde too frendly or too fiendly the meane they alwayes meanely accoūt of as it is reported of Maria Stuarta Queene of Scottes in Actione contra Mariam Scotorum Reginam The Soule EVen as in a bright and cleare glasse the sunne beames doe make the greater splendour so in a purified and cleare soule the beames of the diuine truth doe shine more clearely Lodouicus Granatensis in
some such like solide substance which may stay the image from gliding thorow so the image of truth doth not shine but in solide and sound soules that are founded in true vertue As the wilde beast is taken after hee hath beene long hunted so the truth appeareth after it hath beene discussed by reason and sought with labour Clemens Alex. lib. 1. Strom. As a Gardiner knoweth how to gather a Rose without pricking his fingers so a contemplatour and searcher out of the truth knoweth how to finde it without gathering of falshoode with it Idem lib. 2. Strom. As all liuing creatures do breath the same ayre but after diuerse maners so many come vnto the truth but after diuerse wayes Idem lib. 6. There are many wayes that crosse the kings hie way wherof some lead to headlong Rockes other to swift Riuers others to the deepe sea therefore hee that is wise will keepe the Kings troden path which is freed from daunger so when others speake this and that wee must not depart from the truth but we must more exactlie and diligently seeke out the knowledge of it idem Hom. 7. If any man should see the citie of Rome subuerted of enemies and neglecteth the defence of it when hee might haue defended it he doth seeme to haue betrayed it because he freed it not when he might so when thou seest the truth impugned and indaungered of wicked men and maist defend it if thou dost not safe gard it thou betraiest it Chrysost hom 25. operis imperfect The beautie of Helen so inflamed the gallants of Greece that for her they a long time ventured their liues at the siege of Troy and at last sacked it so the holie Martyrs of Christ Iesus haue most valiantlie not onelie ventured themselues at the siege of Sodome but layde downe their lyues for the Truthes sake which Truth of Christians is incomparably more beautifull then the Helen of the Grecians August Epist 9. As a Partridge is good meate but it is not eaten rawe because no stomacke can digest it so truth is a most excellent food but it is not rawly or sowrely to bee propounded but rosted or boiled seasoned with the salt of wisdom for there is no stomacke that will receiue the raw and sowre truth Hector Pintus in cap. 58. Esayae As there is but one God so there is but one truth which is Christ As the purest Emerald shineth brightest when it hath no Oyle so truth delighteth when it is apparelled worst Concord AS thou maiest easily breake speare by speare beeing seuered one by one which thou canst not do being ioyned togither so those that by variance are parted are easily ouercome when as those that hold togither cannot be subdued Plut. Two or mo voyces sounding togither doe make better harmonie so whatsoeuer is done in a familie let it bee done by the consent both of man and wife but yet by the dispose and order of the husband ibidem As in a body the best cōstitution is made of the temperature of moisture drines heat and cold so by the cōcord of brethren the stocke and progeny doth best florish idem The stone of Tuscia albeit great doth swimme aboue water but beeing broken in peeces it sinketh to the bottom so by concorde we are supported but by discorde wee go downwards and come to naught Plin. lib. 2. cap. 106. Aristot de Natura cap 12. As the stone of Scyros being whole doth flote aloft but being parted doth settle to the bottom so cōcord doth hold vs vp but discord doth tumble vs downe Plin. lib. 36. cap. 17. The Salamander doth not come forth but in great showers in fair weather she sheweth not her selfe so some only shew themselues in time of sedition and insurrection when peace is disturbed but in time of quiet and concord do lie as though they were dead As the members of a naturall body by consent do helpe one another so the members of a politike bodie by concord do ayd one another Macar hom 3. As no building can long be supported if the ligamēts be taken away so the church cannot grow to her perfectiō except it be bound with the bondes of peace charitie and cōcord Basil orat 1. de amore in deum As one eye cānot be turned about with out the other be also turned but they are alwaies turned togither one waie so the body and the soule and the whole society of the righteous shall haue such concorde agreement in heauen that they shall will no contrarieties but shal alwaies haue the same wil. Lodouicus Granatensis in suis septem Meditationibus Meditatione septima Decency AS one garment doth more become a wise man then any other albeit hee hate none so it is more seemely to liue in this place then in that Senec. The hearbe Chamaeleon doth chaunge the colour of the leaues according to the earth wherein it growes therefore in one place it is blacke in an other greene in an other blewe and in an other yellowe and so in other places of other colours so it is meete that a man order the frame of his life according to the placa time and persons where when and with whome heliueth Hospitality THe serpents of Syria haue no poyson for the people that are bredde in the countrie with them neyther doe they euer set vppon them but straungers they sting to the death so Ilanders are curteous inough to their owne countrimen but cruell to strangers As a Fisher casting his net into the sea doth catch fishes sometimes doth draw vp golde and precious Margarites so Lot catching men with his net catched also Angels not knowing of it Which Saint Paule spoke to this mans prayses saying Bee not forgetfull to lodge straungers for thereby some haue receiued Angels into their houses vnwares Chrysostomus concione 2. de Lazaro Many godles and profane Actaeons haue inough meate and lodging for their yelping houndes and bawling curres so thou who professest godlinesse and religion be at the least as liberal to thy poor brother who hath the image of God in him as well as thou thy selfe hast and for whome Christ died as well as hee did for thee Isidorus Clarius oratione vndecima tom 1. As Crowes doe waite vppon and conduct Storkes from one place to another and doe fight against their enemies which I gather because when the Storkes doe depart out of our Country there is not anie Crowe seene with vs and afterwardes they returne wounded an open signe of their helpefull ayde so men beeing not onely reasonable but religious creatures let them at the least performe as much one to another Basilius Hom. 8. exameron As he is monstrously malicious that dammeth vp a flowing fountaine or forbiddeth the Sun-shining or will not abide that another shoulde light his candle at his or that grudgeth to shewe the hie waie to a traueller so is he exceeding inhumane that will not profit another and may doe it without his owne discommoditie
spices then do smell more fragrantly when they are either moued broken or powned so vertues fame is then largely dispersed when it is exercised in serious imployments and weightie affaires As Phisitians forbid to wash the teeth with the iuyce of the hearbe Alcakengy although it bee good to fasten them because the danger is greater then the commoditie for at length it will bring madnesse so those things are not to bee dealt in that hurt the name and encrease the wealth nor that learning to bee medled with which polisheth the tongue and infecteth the maners As fire in a darke night is a farre off discerned but in the Sun-shine is scarcelie seene so many a paultry rymer and bawdie ballad-maker seemes among base conceits of great esteeme but in the view of more glorious and splendent spirits they appeare none other then dunghill birdes and alefied Groutnowls Tyrius Platonicus sermone 24. An ill Name AS some by the deformities of their bodie haue got vnto them a surname as of crooked legges to bee called Vari of flabberkin lippes Chilones of great noses Nasones of redde noses Salamanders so manic by their mischieuous misdeedes doe purchase infamous and ill names as Nero for his beastlinesse to bee tearmed the Beast of Rome Tamberlane for his tyrannie The wrath of God and Attila for his crueltie The scourge of God c. As it grieueth a father to see his sonne deadly sicke or irrecuperably ouermatched in fight with his enemie so it grieueth any good nature to heare himselfe ill spoken of or to heare his wife daughters tearmed dishonest Iouianus Pontanus de fortitudine lib. 2. cap. 5. As manie Christians abstaine from much mischiefe least after this life hell shoulde bee their inheritance so Tiberius Caesar kept himselfe from many outrages and misdemeanors least after death an ill name should followe him Erasmus in Epistolà ante Suetonium Tranquillum Albeit thou powrest water vppon the hearbe Adyanton or drownest it in the water yet it continues drie so infamy slander or an ill name will not cleaue to a good man albeit one endeuour to defame him A Courtly life AS the Moone the neerer the Sunne it is the lesse light it hath so more fruit and dignitie is in them that are farre off from great Princes There is a certaine hearbe in India of an especiall sauour full of little serpents whose stinges are present death so the courts of certaine Princes hath that which delighteth but vnlesse thou be warie they harbour deadly poyson Antes doe gnaw that end of the corne which beginneth to sprout least it become vnprofitable vnto them so great men that they may alwayes keepe their seruants in seruice and slauerie do hold them vnder least looking vp after liberty they should forsake the Court through the tediousnes of seruitude As it is a very rare thing to see the birds called Halciones but when they appeare they either bring or portend faire weather so Bishops and Cleargie-men should seldome come to the Courts of Princes but either to preach maners or appease tumults There is a kinde of pulse called Cracca which Culuers take such delight in that hauing once tasted of it they cannot afterwards bee driuen from that place so they that haue once tasted of the hony and honour of the Court can neuer bee driuen from the Court Plin. lib. 16. cap. 16. A Mule ingendered of an Horse and an Asse is neither Horse nor Asse so some whilest they would be both Courtiers and Prelats are neither Strange it is that the sound eye viewing the sore should not be dimmed that hee that handleth pitch should not be defiled so is it strange that they that continue in the Court should not be infected Nylus breedeth the precious stone and the poysoned serpent and as in all ryuers there is some fish and some frogs and as in all gardens there bee some flowers some weedes and as in all trees there bee some blossoms some blasts so the Court may as well nourish vertuous Matrones as the lewd Minion Courtiers AS the starre Artophylax is brightest yet setteth soonest so Courtiers glories being most gorgeous are dasht with sudden ouerthrowes As the Camelion turneth himselfe into the likenesse of euerie obiect so Courtiers as Aristippus that fawnde vpon Dionysius ayme their conceits at their Kings humor if hee smile they are in their iolitie if frowne their plumes fall like Peacockes feathers The Indian Torteises in a calme do delight to floote aloft in the noone-Sun with all their back bare aboue water vntill their shelles hauing forgot themselues bee so parched with the heate of the Sunne that they cannot get vnder water and so they swimming aboue water become a prey vnto fishers so some allured with hope of great matters do thrust themselnes into the Courts of Princes and are so lulled a sleepe with the pleasures of the Court that they cannot forsake it when they woulde and betake themselues to their woonted rest Plin. lib. 9. cap. 10. As the hearbe Heliotropium is carried about with the Sunne and whither soeuer it moueth thither the hearbe turneth his head so Courtiers which way soeuer their king doth becke thither they bend Plin. 18. cap. 24. 27. eodem lib. The Crocodile sometimes liueth vpon the land and sometimes in the water shee layeth her egges vpon the land seeketh her prey in the water so some are both Courtiers and ecclesiasticall persons but in both places very pestilent fellowes Conradus Lycosthenes Rubeaquensis As the Adamant cannot draw iron if the Diamond lie by it so vice cannot allure the Courtier if vertue be retained Kings AS the Leopard by reason of his sweete sauour dooth allure wilde beasts vnto him and so doth destroy thē so the courts of princes I knowe not what inticing allurements they haue that drawe men into destruction Plinius libro 8. cap. 27. As the hearbe Heliotropium doth alwaies looke towards the sunne and when it is hid doth gather in the flower so many to the Kings becke bend their endeuors and to what thing soeuer they see him inclined to that they addresse themselues Plin. lib. 18. cap. 27. As the crocking of frogs beyonde their wont doeth prognosticate an imminent tempest so when the speech of euill men is of most force with Princes and good men are silenced then the confusion of their estate is at hand As the dogges of Malta are especially delighted in among the rich and delicate women of that I le so effeminate princes doe greatly sette by flatterers who both speak and do all things according to their humours Plin. lib. 3. cap. vltim◠That which oyle is vnto flies emmots and to other insect and entailed creatures that is flattery vnto foolish princes Those being annointed with oyle doe die these by flattery and assentation of clawbackes are drawne to destruction and they draw their common wealth into the same praedicament Plin. lib. 11. cap. 19. As a vine except thou prune it doeth largely extend it selfe
doth vsury Ibidem Vultures kill nothing themselues but seaze vpon it beeing killed of others so Vsurers liue vppon the sweate of other mens browes and enioy the fruit of other mens labours agaynst the ordinaunce of God and man Erasmus in similibus As he that tumbleth in the mire becommeth more foule and filthie so they become more and more indebted that haue to doe with Vsurers Plut. Cholericke men that will not be purged in time dayly increase their humor til dangerously they be diseased so they that suffer vsury to increase and grow vpon thē and do not discharge themselues of it doe run into irrecuperable dāger peril Idem Plato doth forbid to aske water of neighbours vntill thou hast digged thine owne ground to see if thou maist finde a veyne for thine owne vse so wee should trie all meanes to relieue and helpe our selues before we borrow mony vpon vsurre Idem As the fish Sargus doth alwayes follow the fish Alutarius that he may feede on the mud that the Alutarius rayseth so vsurers doe intrude themselues into other mens busines that they may take the fruit and gaine of their labors As Tigres are swift in catching theyr prey so Vsurers are speedie in gathering of wealth F. Ioannes a S. Gemimano lib. 1. de coelo elementis cap. 21. Plime sayth that Eagles feathers being put among other feathers dooth deuoure and consume them so an Vsurers filthie lucre beeing put among an other mans wealth dooth quite dououre and consume it Idem lib 4. de natalibus volatilibus cap. 72. Pigmies are a cubite hie for so their name signifies among the Grecians dwelling in the mountaines of India by the Ocean as saieth Augustine at three yeares they are of perfect and mature age they bring forth at fiue and growe olde when they are seuen Therefore as Pigmies doe soone encrease and soone decrease so wealth gotte by Vsurie dooth soone encrease and soone decrease as it is soone gotten beeing the trade of an idle Merchant to tell out ten and take in eleuen so is it speedily lost and suddenly squādered De male quaesitis non gaudet tertius haeres Idem lib. 5 de animalibus terrestribus c. 1 22. As excommunication dooth not onelie bind them against whom it is denounced but also them that partake with them in cases not permitted so vsurers themselues are not onely odious and cursed but they infect others dealing in the action with them as Notaries and Scriueners that had wont to be sworne at the entring into their office neuer to draw any writte for any case of Vsurie Idem lib 8. de canonibus legibus cap. 76. As a vessell filled with water sinketh to the bottome and is there detained so an vsurer loaden with the burthen of vnrighteous Mammon is pressed downe to the earth and there violently helde downe of the Diuell for euer aspiring to heauen except the miraculous fauor of God vnloose him Idem lib. 9. de artificibus rebus artificialibus cap. 90. As an oxe is solde to the butcher for money so an Vsurer doth sell his soule to the deuill for lucre Ibidem Heresie Heretikes AS they that are bitten of a mad dogge doe not onelye runne madde themselues but doe infect others with madnes so they that are infected with any pestilent hereticall opinion do infect others by their speech and conference As a wolfe cloathed in a sheepes skinne doth the greater harm so doth an heretike that hath his toung tipped with the scripture Ignatius in Epist ad Heronem As Circe changed men into beastes so heresie turneth men into diuels Clemens Alexandrinus lib. 7. strom As wicked scholers shut their masters out of doores so heretikes driue the Prophets from their conuenticles least they should reprehend them Ibidem As the Serpent deceiued Eue promising that vnto her he had not so heretikes pretending great knowledge doe bring death to theyr beleeuers Iren. prologo in lib. 4. As Pilate woulde haue seemed innocent of Christes death by washing his handes so Heretikes pretende truth and scripture when they are as deepe in iniurying Christ as Pilate was Athanasius oratprima As the serpent Dipsas doth poison al the waters he drinks of so heretikes doe deadly poison all the soules that beleeue them Epiphanius Haeresi 34. contra Macosios As the serpent Drynas is like vnto the colour of an Oken leafe whence hee hath his name so Heretikes seeme to bee like Christians when in deede they are as ill as Iewes Idem haeresi 65. contra Paulum Samosatensem As an Ape is like vnto a man and yet is no man so Heretiks are like vnto a Christian Church and yet are no Christian Church Chrisostomus hom 19. operis imperfect As serpents creep vpon their bellies and feed vpon dust so heretikes do all for their bellies and for the vainglorie of their harts and doe feede vpon earth that is vppon earthly and carnall men Idem hom 45. operis imperfect As a member cannot liue being cut from the bodie nor a branch of a tree be greene being hewen from the stocke so all heretikes beeing cutte from the bodie of one Church neither can haue the life of Christ in them neither the greennesse and viriditie of spirituall grace but their Church is desolate and forsaken Idem hom 46. A sparke of fire at the first is scarcely seene but if it get nourishment it consumeth large cities and great Countries so heresie and peruerse doctrine beginning at the first of one findeth afterwardes two or three auditors and being let alone creepeth like a canker by litle litle throughout the body The heresie of Arius at the first was a little sparke in Alexandria but because it was not forthwith smothered it set a fire the whole worlde Hieronimus libro 3. comment in Epist ad Galat. cap. 5. As fowlers by craft catch birds so heretickes by subtilty surprise men Optatus Mileuitanus libro 6. ad sinem contra Parmenianum As the children of Moab and Ammon descended of Abrahams consanguinitie and yet alwaies hated the kindred stock of Abraham so hereticks say that they beleeue in Christ and they alwaies endeuor to subuert the catholicke faith of the christians Rupertus lib. 2. in Sophoniam As Dathan and Abyron conspired against Moses so doe heretickes against the church Eugubinus in cap. 11. Deuteron As Nabuzardan the Chiefetaine of Nabuchodonosor did destroy Ierusalem and profane the vessels of the temple so the hereticks of our time being the Chiefetaines of the diuell doe endeuour to subuert the Church of Christ and to profane the holy vessels of the temple that is the Sacramentes ordained not of Salomon but of Christ Pintus in Ezechielem cap. 4. As the name of Nabuzardan signifieth the speech and message of a strange Lord or of a straunge iudgemente so heretikes doe not sound the idiome and name of Iesus Christ our Lord but of another Lord that is of the deuill whom Christ calleth the prince of