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
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
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
as well serued as it was fittinge to that pourpose An other example reade wée of those that robbed and slewe the Poete Liuicus for as they oppreste him in wide and open fieldes farre from companye and out of all sighte he espied a companye of Cranes flyinge ouer his heade to whiche with lowde voice he spake these his last woordes O Cranes yée shal be witnesses of the wronge that is here donne mée After whose deathe this matter laye yet many dayes vnknowen till on a certaine time after it chaunced a solemne Conuente of people was made in the saide place emonge whom were also presente the twoo Murtherers of Liuicus whiche hearinge as before Cranes cryinge ouer them the one aduised his felowe thereof in laughter merily supposinge in the meane time not to haue bene perceiued of any Hearken companion beholde here the true witnesses of the blonde and deathe of Liuicus It chaunced that one nighe them hearing these woordes and not wel perceiuinge what they mighte signifie suspected foorthewith that whiche in déede was aduectisinge the Maiestrates of that whiche he had hearde To conclude theise twoo Roysters were incontinentely apprehended and accordinge to equitie Iustice was donne on them whiche happened by woordes paste them without aduise or regarde For this cause a man oughte principally to be ware of that whiche he will saye before it escape him with consideration also before whome and in what place Hecates a Greeke Oratoure was on a time reproued for that sittinge at a Bankette he woulde saâ—e nothinge Whiche vnderstoode by Archimidas answeared in this sorte for him Arte thou ignorante that one that can so well speake as he knoweth not also the time to kéepe silence Infinite examples out of diuers Histories might be borrowed of Times Daungers Infamations and Deathe in whiche by too mutch talke menne eftsoones haue bene entrapped Wherefore wée shoulde be circumspecte and wise that before wée doo our mouth open to speake wée well consider of it whether it maye be to vs preiudiciall or not The greate Cato surnamed Censorius was euen from his Cradle verye sober in woordes wherof at times reproued of many as one that obserued to austere silence saide I grieue not at all to be argued of Silence for that no man shall haue occasion to reproue me of my lyuinge for then and not before wil I breake into woordes when I haue learned to speake these thinges that maye not be concealed Isocrates in his Booke written to Demonichus saith That there are twoo times conueniente to speake in the one when to speake is in déede very necessary the other when one speaketh of these thinges he well knoweth Plutarche compareth those men that talke not knowinge wherof vnto voide and emptie Vessells whiche geue foorthe a greater noyse then these that are filled Plainely instructeth vs the Philosopher Zeno that for other cause none hath Nature lente vs twoo eares one tongue but only to speake fewe in bearinge and receiuinge mutch Horace aduiseth vs farre to flye their companies which pleasure mutche in many demaundes and questions for that they commonly be captious Ianglers Suetonius recoumpteth in confirmation of that that was also reported by others that the principall cause that moued Octauian so mutche to phantasie and fauour his Minion Mecaenas was that he was very secret and not prodigal of woordes Cicero affirmeth that Cato the Oratoure neuer woulde commit to Paper any his Orations saieinge That if it euer happened him to repent him of that he had saide yet that that he had written should not aggrauate his sorrowes for that he neuer might denie the thinge that his Pen should witnesse againste him But to the ende that arguinge here the lesse aduised and runninge tongues of others I séeme not to incurre the said errour my selfe I ende with the Ppilosopher without any more concludinge that it oftentimes repenteth mée to haue spoken but to haue helde my peace that I remember neuer ¶ Of the straunge opinion of the Aegyptians touchinge the tearme or ende of Mannes Life limitinge the same by the proportion of his harte Chap. 5. THat whiche I shall saie here will séeme vnto many very straunge and newe but vnto moste men fonde and ridiculous for that it is a thinge very difficill to be proued Wherefore neither will I binde my selfe to the probation thereof althoughe the authoritie of those that séeme to approue it shoulde either yéelde it a trothe or vnto a truthe sommethinge semblable and likinge Pline and Marcus Varro writinge of the time of Mannes Life affirme that the learned Aegyptians had founde out by experience that Man according to the order of nature could not lyue aboue an hundred yéeres and that if any reachte to a further or elder age it was by somme particulare influence force of the Starres a thinge in the woorkes of Nature verye straunge and marueilous Hence grounded they their foundation vpon the harte of man in whiche by often and common Anotomyes they founde and perceiued certaine marueilous Secretes For saide they when Man was of the age of one yéere then poised his harte onely twoo of their Drammes when be was twoo yéeres olde then poised it foure and so foorthe howe many yéeres so euer he liued by proportion still grewe his harte to be of like number of Drammes In sutche sorte that beinge ones fiftie yéeres olde Mannes harte shoulde wieghe then an hundred Drammes and from thence by like proportion still he looseth of his weight eche yéere twoo Drammes euen as before he increased So that at the ende of an hundred yéeres the Harte by continuall decrease is becomme nothinge so that consequently of necessitie Man then must die if before he be not preuented by somme accidentall occasion whiche bothe can and dooth commonly in suche manner abridge our dayes that very fewe of vs liue the one halfe to experiment this matter Though to somme this matter séeme straunge yet be wée assured that the Aegyptians helde it for certaine as plainely haue leafte vs the aboue remembred Authoures Of our time also Ludouicus Celius Rodianus alleaginge in like manner to that pourpose Dioscorides who remembreth thereof sommethinge emonge other many matters to whome also commeth Petrus Crinitus in his Booke of Honest Discipline Galiotus de Nargni in his Booke of Man as also in like sorte Cornelius Agrippa I was desirous to remember here all these Authours for that the matter mighte otherwise hardly be digested Nowe remaineth it to be déemed of as to the Reader it shal be liking And nowe that wée haue taken on vs to speake of Mans Harte and of the excellencies of that one little parte to the intente wée treate not of one pointe alone it shal be expediente that wée learne as recoumpteth to vs Aristotle that Mannes Harte lyeth lodged in the leafte side of his bodye but in other Creatures is founde euermore in the middle of theire breste whiche he
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
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
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
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