THE MIRROUR OF TRUE Nobility Gentility BEING THE LIFE OF The Renowned Nicolaus Claudius Fabricius Lord of Peiresk Senator of the Parliament at AIX Written by the Learned Petrus Gassendus Professor of the Mathematicks to the King of FRANCE Englished by W. Rand Doctor of Physick Vivit post Funera Virtus London Printed by J. Streater for Humphrey Moseley and are to be sold at his Shop at the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard 1657. NICOLAVS CLAVDIVS FABRICIVS DE PEIRESO SENATOR AQVENSIS 〈…〉 To the ingenious and learned Gentleman the worshipful John Evelyn Esquire Worthy Sir MUch about ten years are fled since my learned friend Dr. Benjamin Worsley brought me first acquainted with the name and fame of Peireskius and knowing that I delighted to busie my self in that kind wished that I would render his History into English And not long after my good friend Squire Harlib seconded his Motion and put the Latine Book into my hand to take home with me and peruse and consider of Which I did but finding it so knottie a piece both in respect of the matter and the presse and elegantly concise style of the learned and judicious Gassendus I had not the courage to venture upon it but restored my friend his Book without any more adoe Since which time having during our intestine broiles in England spent an ordinary Apprenticeship in Contemplation of the Belgic Provinces of Holland Utrecht Brabant Flanders and their many fair Citties and Universities of which that of Lovaine seems likest ours as much resembling Cambridge in many respects not long after my return I was a fresh importuned by another friend to let our Countreymen understand the Life of the renowned Peireskius Which at last though with very much dissidence I did undertake and accomplish and how I have therein acquitted my self you are best able to judge who besides your parts of wit and learning know by experience the labour and care belonging to such works and are best qualified to excuse an over-sight or mistake You know that Gassendus a general Scholar and one of the greatest wits in Europe and a perfect Master of the Roman Language comparable to any of the ancients could not have taken in hand an Argument that would have more effectually called forth and employed the utmost of all his Activities than to write the Life of this rare French Gentleman whose sprightful curiosity left nothing unsearcht into in the vast and all-comprehending Dominions of Nature and Art Having finished the Story I was long in Quest to whom I might pertinently dedicate the same being apparelled a la mode d'Angle terre and pertinency I have alwaies esteemed the Soul of a Dedication While this care was upon me it was my good hap accidentally to over-hear the Character of your worthy self so expressed in a Book-sellers shop in Cornhil where I was then reading that I concluded you were the only man I ever heard of in England whose Peireskian Vertues did challenge this Dedication And upon enquiry learning your name and remembring that I had bin once civilly entertained by you in the company of my deceased Kinsman Dr. Rapha Rand of Goddalming at our Fathers house of Wotton in Surrey I concluded that the sutableness of your Genius with that of Peireskius the respects my Kinsman aforesaid frequently found at your Fathers house both when sicknesse required his presence and at other times and your Fathers civility to my self having been once his guest at bed and board with your own kind entertainment of me after his death and finally the constant affection of that worthy gentlewoman your near kinswoman and the relict widdow of my Cosen aforesaid upon all occasions expressed towards me did necessitate me to cry Heurica and to conclude that Peireskius could not more justly be by me presented to any other than your ingenious self to receive his first entertainment into England None can I perswade my self more prize him no man is more fit effectually to recommend him to the acquaintance of our English Gentry That from him they may learn That knowledge which is the highest perfection of Man by which he differs from Bâ—asts must needs be the principal accomplishment of a Gentleman and that the compleatly-knowing man must be Janus-like double-fac'd to take cognizance of Time past and to understand the world from its cradle as far as any Monuments of Antiquity can give Light as well as of the late-past or present times wherein he lives Hunting and Hawking are exercises allowed to preserve and encrease health and strength but no genuine and proper Characters of a Gentleman which he that wholly gives himself to while he catches a Bird or Beast he loses himself becomes like one of them gaining little to speak of but an humor inclinable to Tyrany like that of Nimrod the mighty Hunter and Proto-Tyrant of the world From our Peireskius it is to be hoped through your example and recommendation the English Gentry will for time to come understand â—ow to improve their great leasure and Faculties of Person and Estate so as to render themselves in the highest measure fit to serve God by serving the Common-wealth in the most weighty concernments thereof And that the complaint of that most noble ingenious and pious Gentleman Mr. George Herbert sometimes University Oratour of Cambridge may hereafter be out of date which as yet is too seasonable and necessary and because I fear little laid to heart I shall not think it tedious or any waies impertinent here to recite the same as it is recorded in his Church-Porch page the third staffe the fifth where after his most ingenious and pithie manner he thus schooles and chides our English Gentry Fly Idlenesse which yet thou canst not fly By dressing mistrissing and Complement If those take up thy day the Sun will cry Against thee for his Light was only lent God gave thy Soul brave wings put not those feathers Into a Bed to sleep out all ill weathers Art thou a Magistrate then be severe If studious copy fair what time hath blur'd Redeem truth from his jaw's If Souldier Chase brave employments with a naked sword Throughout the world Fool not for all may have If they dare try a glorious Life or Grave O England full of sin but most of sloth Spit out thy Flegm fill thy Brest with Glory Thy Gentry bleats as if thy native cloth Trans-fus'd a sheepishnesse into thy Story Not that they all are so but that the most Are gone to Grasse and in the Pasture lost This losse springs chiefly from our Education Some Till their Ground but let Weeds choak their Sonne Some mark a Partridge never their Child's fashion Some ship them over and the thing is done Study this Art make it thy great design And if Gods Image move thee not let thine Some great Estates provide but do not breed A mast'ring mind so both are lost thereby Or else they breed them tender make
with his brother at Brinonia where the Court of Subsidies and Accounts were then kept because the pestisence was at Aix he desired that he might be instructed in the San-Maximitan Colledge which had the repute to flourish in the studies of learning Nor is it a thing to be past over in silence how he perswaded his father 1588. to commit his brother being younger to his care that he might oversee his young studies 1589. nor must it be forgotten how he was from this time forward in stead both of a father and a master to his brother and how his brother did reverence him both as a paret and master A yeer being passed over and the plague beginning at Sanmaximinus they were called to Belgenser and a yeer after from thence to Aix where their uncle then abode Afterwards when the civil wars grew hot upon the death of Henry the third 1590. they were sent to Avenion where they studied five whole yeers in the Jesuites Colledge And Peireskius was wont to relate that he was much indebted to Antonius Colombatius and Andreas Valladerius whom he heard they being the chief Professors of Humanity For he said they were wont to abate him somewhat in other studies that he might surely addict himself to the reading of Histories not neglecting in the mean while the studie of poetrie and of the Greek tongue For those Learned men rejoyced that there was not so much need to guide his Course as to shew him the way a far off for which they deserve Commendations in that they would not burthen his Noble brest with that servitude which makes many altogether hate the studies of Humanity and polite literature or too much to accustome themselves to mean matters Also he was wont to tell how mightily he was encouraged when they also publikely commended him because he had the whole History of Justin and the Metamorphosis of Ovid at his fingers ends and could never make an end of consulting with Books whereby he might come to know all the particular circumstances of every matter For which cause he was a verse unto all plaies and shews that he might give himself wholly to the reading and transcribing of all particularities Wherein I conceive he over did for the mind must be unbent by fits nor must a man study presently after meat which because the Overseer of his studies were not sufficiently carefull of hence it came that he was pained oftentimes in his stomack and in his head He had well high finished the 15. year of his Age 1595. when he returned to Aix where he studied Philosophie an whole year His Uncle was desirous that he should Learn in the mean while to handle Armes ride the Horse and exercise his limbs with dancing But because these exercises robbed him of other more pleasing houres he performed them indded to please his Uncle but no longer then his Masters were by that taught him for he would never practise by himself so much better did he account it to be alwaies reading writing or hearing some point of Learning About this time there was brought to his Uncle a peice of Golden Coine of Arcadius which was found at Belgenser He presently desired to have it and when he had read the Letters about it and had set down the Emperors name whose Coine it was he brought it presently to his Uncle again who to gratifie him gave him not only two other peices of ancient Coine but also Books by which he might be further instructed in the knowledge of such Antiquities And from this time forwards his most curious mind began to burn like fire in a wood for he began eagerly to seek out and collect all the ancient Coines which he could come by being eagerly bent to read and Interpret their Inscriptions upon which occasion also he began to seek out all kind of Inscriptions whether belonging to Sepulchers or others and studiously to observe them Then he was sent with his Brother to Turney 1596. that he might there go through a Course of Philosophie as they were wont to call it his Brother being as yet taken up with Humanitie And being in a special maner inflamed with the study of the Mathematicks he eagerly drunke in that Cosmographie which was there taught assuring himselfe that History without it and Chronologie was altogether in the dark and unintelligible And therefore after the use of the Sphere he Learnt the use of the Astrolabe writeing divers Letters to a workman and expostulating the matter with him because he had long since promised to make him an Astrolabe but had been negligent in the performance of his promise In that mean season he abated nothing in his studies of Antiquity upon which account he was dearly affected by Petrus Royerus one of the professors nor in his studies of Humanitie in generall in which he was as it were his Brothers Master and Instructer But to do all this he was fain to sit up late in the night at his study Hence it was that partly by reason of the naturall weaknesse of his Constitution partly by his continuall labours and late watchings he encreased the weaknesse of his stomach formerly contracted which made him use a powder which in his Letters to his Father he called his Digessive powder And because I have mentioned his Letters it is seasonable to observe that from this time forward he was accurate in his style writing his Letters over and over againe in severall papers which it has been my hap to view by which it is appatent that he used no phrases which were luxuriaot or undigested For he evermore expressed what he intended with common words yet not without that Elegancy and civilitie with which in testifying his good will observance and gratitude in excusing commending congratulating and such like passages he was admirable For to instance writing to his mother in Law upon occasion of certain Tokens received from her he thus expressed himself Foelices videmur ô mater quód beneficiis tuis cumulamur sed infoelices tamen quando sic illis obrisimur ut agnoscendo impares simus That is I account my self happy dear mother in the frequent expressions of your love yet am I therein unhappie that their multitude is such that I cannot sufficiently acknowledge or requite them And while he wrote thus he returned the best Tokens he was able for even in those younger years he could not endure to be overcome with kindnesse as far as his ability would give him leave Sutable hereunto writing to a freind equall to himself in years and even then hating ingratitude I would lay violent hands upon my self saies he if I might be justly accused of the least neglect of my duty to my freinds From the same gratefull inclination it was that he commended the care of his Instructers that they might by that meanes receive from his Father and Uncle far larger Gratuities then had been promised To come again to his studies
their studies and behaviour though the modestie and discretion of them both but especially of Peireskius was such that it was rather a point of Honour then any matter of necessity to appoint them a Tutor Wherefore Paulus Gudanes Fonvivius a Gentlem an of Berne who was returned from his Travailes in Italie Poland Germanie and other Countries and had seen the severall Humors of many Nations and their Cities and whom the Chancellour Bellevre had resolved to send with his own Son he was chosen to be their Tutour With him therefore they departed about the beginning of September and Peireskius chose rather to set out at the Haven of Cannes then any where else both that he might visit an ancient Monastery situate not far off in the Island Lerius as also that he might view in passing the ancient Monuments of Freius When they were come to Geniia and had sufficiently viewed those magnificent Palaces they were yet to saile by Porto-Venere and L'Ericy but Peiresk us would go the rest of the way by Land both because he was sick at Sea and because he intended curiously to view some things which he had in his mind For he had made himself by his own Industry a Iournall Book and was resolved not so to travaile right on from City to City but if he heard of any thing worthy observation here or there he would turn out of his rode and go thither if he had a mind to it For which cause he never of his own accord joyned himself in Company with any Strangers and when others joyned themselves to him he would use some civill excuse to intimate before hand that they must shortly part Company And these digressions of his at the very beginning had like to cost him dear for turning out of his way to see the Mines of Massa one of the Baudity or Robbers so called had so took upon him to be his guide that unlesse shee had been timely discovered he would have brought him where he should have had his throat cur Having staid a while at Luca he desired to view a rare Closet of Curiosities which was at Pisa but he could not do it before he had visited Liburnum and returned thither again And I remember among other things which he was wont to tell us he saw there how he wondered most at a sprig of Corall which grew upon a dead mans skull which I therefore observe because this was none of the least reasons which moved him to go and see men fish for Corall of which we shall speak hereafter in its place Briefly to passe over other places he went from thence thorow Florence Bononia Ferraria and when he had staid a few dayes at Venice he finally settled his abode at Padua He had been there hardly a few moneths when his vertue began to be renowned thorow the whole University For though he and his brother were frequent hearers and visiters of the Professours of Law and namely of Jacobus Gallus Bartholomaeus Silvatcius Joachimus Scainus and Ottonellus Piscalcius yet did he visit all the other learned men of the University and quickly brought them into an admiration of him Among the rest Thomas Segetus the very same whom Lipsius had commended in the third Century of his Epistles did so testifie his good will and respects unto him that he put down this by way of preface and title GENIO GALLIAE NARBONENSIS INGENIO ET MATURAE IMMATURO AEVO NICOLAI FABRICII VIRTUTI SACRUM PRID. NATAL CHRISTI M.D.IC. that is To the Genius of Provence in France to the wit and in unripe yeers ripe vertue of Nicolaus Fabricius I consecrate this testimoniall And that rare man Erycius Puteanus not only praised by Lypsius and afterward his Successour in the University but now already ordained to be both the Kings Chronologer and chief Professour of Oratory at Millain made use of this following Inscription CUI GRATIAE ADOLESCENTIAM ORNANT ERUDITIO JUVENTAM PRUDENTIA SENECTAM IS ADULESCENS VOLUPTATEM AMICIS CREAT JUVENIS HONOREM PATRIAE SENEX UTRUMQUE SIBI TU VERO NICOLAE FABRICI CUNCTA SIMUL AMICIS PATRIAE TIBI IN SPE AETATIS ET FLOREM JUVENTAE ET FRUCTUM SENECTAE PROFESSUS PATAVII ∞ DC KAL FEBR. That is He whose youth is adorned by the Graces his mature age with learning and his old age with wisdom is a Pleasure to his frieuds in his youth an Honour to his Countrey in his riper yeers and both to himself in his old age But as for thee O Nicolas Fabricius Thou art all at once to thy Friends thy Countrey and thy Self for in thy hopefull yeers thou discoverest at once both the blossoms of youth and the fruits of old age 1600. Padna the Kalends of February 1600. And these are the testimoniall Inscriptions which among many others I thought good to relate And as he drew the eyes and attentions of all men so was he best known and most dear to the renowned Johannes Vincentins Pinellus who being by originall and blood from Genoa and born at Naples made choice of that city wherein quietly to passe his dayes giving himself wholly to promote good Arts and ingenuous Literature For he had provided a most complearly furnisht Library and a Store-house of all most exquisite rarities and curiosities so that he furnished all the learned men of that age both far and near with such books or other things as they stood in need of He being most skilfull in all curious things did stir up all men to study and kept open house to entertain the discourses and acquaintance of learned men both Italians and other Countrey-men Lipsius and Scaliger and Thuanus and Casaubon and Pithaeus have given testimony of his worth and who not among the learned He therefore being such a man fell presently in love with the Genius of Peireskius as being so very like his own So that he did both admire and reverence vertue and learning grown up and almost come to maturity in a Youth There are many Letters yet to be seen whereby he testified the greatest familiarity possible one while asking his advice in many particulars about coins the places where matters mentioned in stories had been acted touching the answers which he was to return to the demands of Ursinus Velserus and others otherwhiles giving him thanks for his interpretations of hard matters places in anthors for sending him books patterns of rarities copies of manuscripts and other things sometimes by way of requitall sending him such books rarities inscriptions letters as he had received lately from Rome or other parts otherwhiles inviting him to know discourse behold passe his judgement and the like all which to particularize would be redious not to speak of the Letters which to the number of sourty he wrote to him when he was at Venice Florence or Rome all very familiar and full of testifications of the greatest good will imaginable Now Peireskius was wont to go once a quarter to Venice both to receive moneys to
which were now grown worse then formerly A day could not suffice to hear what he had sound not to look upon what he had brought away nor to understand the Interpretations which he made of such things as seemed obscure I know not whether I should do well to relate how Peireskius being wont to boast among his Acquaintance of the happiness he had in making Baronius and Bellarmin his friends the good Pinellus was thereby moved to relate what had happened to himself touching those two Cardinals When quoth he the Popethree years ago came to Ferrara they vouchsafed to visit me but concealing their names and in a disguised habit saying that they were only a Couple of Priests I by their Pictures which I had knew presently who they were but making as if I knew them not I brought them into that part of my study where the Pictures of famous men hung and theirs amongst the rest And shewing to Baronius the Picture of Bellarmine Honest friend quo th I does not this Picture exceedingly resemble this companion of yours And shewing Bellarmin the picture of Baromus Does not this also quoth I excellently resemble that companion of yours Whereupon perceiving that they thinking to deceive were themselves deceived they discovered themselves and lovingly embraced me Furthermore Peireskius foreseeing that after a yeer was over he should be sent for home again into his own countrey therefore he set himself seriously to the study of Law which he had intermitted of late yet so ordering his time that he had leisure for many other things For besides divers kindnesses of which hereafter performed for learned men he made continuall progresse in the knowledge of abstruse Histories and remotest Antiquities Of which he gave a remarkable instance when a controversie arising among the curious touching the mount Argaeus he discoursed from a jasper and divers pieces of money coined at Caesarea and other places the originall and the various ceremonies wherewith that mount was anciently adored in Cappadocia Also he continually studied such languages as he thought might be usefull to him For he learnt so much of the Hebrew both in the vulgar and Samaritan character and of the Syrian Dialect and the Arabian Idiom as he thought necessary to interpret the inscriptions of shekels and other such like pieces being instructed by a certain Jew dwelling at Padua whose name was Rabbi Solomon As for the Greek tongue he took more pains in the study thereof both because of the divers Institutions of the Greek Emperours and the Originall of the Law it self which is reckoned to be from Greek fountains as also for the study of Philosophy or wisdome and the most ancient monuments of Poetry and History which remain in that language also for the explication of jewels marbles and coins whose inscriptions are in Greek in the illustration whereof it seemed to him a goodly thing and full of delight to spend his serious endeavours And therefore when he wrote unto any man that was a Lover of Greek as for example to Occo who was alwayes accustomed to strew his Epistles with Greek sentences he also was wont to testifie his learning in that kinde sometimes by putting a Greek verse in the front of his Letters otherwile interweaving some Greek sentence verse or prose in some convenient place of his Letters as to the foresaid Adolphus Occo when he wrote thus Fortunate senex te divae illius antiquae venerandae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 filiae non jam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 duplici nomine Germanum dicent shat is Happy old man now will the daughters of that aneient and venerable Goddesse Mnemosyne call thee no longer Adolphos He alludes to his Nation because a German but Adelphos that is Brother or frater Germanus in a twofold respect Nor was he onely studious of Humanity but he took great pains also in the Mathematicks being from this time forward dearly beloved of Galileus whom he first grew acquainted with at the house of Pinellus and much admired him for the engin he invented to drain out the waters which then infested the city Also he was very industrious to search out the causes of wonderfull things in Nature For he both divers times asked divers Philosophers touching those three Suns and threefold Rainbowes which were seen the seventh day of February about the 21 hour of the day Also intending to Philosophize touching fishes and other things turned into stone he both procured great store of them and placed them in a corner of his study and likewise obtained a platform or description of that mount which at Vincentium abounds with such things And what any man knew touching things digged out of the earth minerals and metals either by rewards or by gentle intreaties he gained the communication thereof but especially at Venice where as he said he saw and observed many rarities in the Arsenall or Armoury there yet was there nothing which he more delighted to behold than the forming of Alum into an octahedricall figure so as to make a body that had eight sides Also he frequently visited the rarer sort of gardens to search out the severall siens and vertues both of homebred and sorrain plants intending to send some of them into Provence and others likewise from Provence sometimes to the garden of Pinellus otherwhiles to other friends And he was wont to be present not onely at the publike dissections of the Anatomists but also at the private ones of Hieronymus Fabricius ab Aqua Pendente who out of the singular good will he bare to Peireskius did admit him to be present when of a parcell of eggs upon which an Hen did sit he took out every day one that he might thereby make observation of the formation of the Chick all along from the very beginning to theend And so much as touching his studies It sollows that we now shew how from this time forward learned and studious men did acknowledge that Peireskius had taken the helm of learning in his hand and began to guide the Common-wealth of Letters I mentioned before how that when he came from Rome the most excellent Pinellus began to be worse than ordinary in point of sicknesse and to tend towards the grave He therefore not long after viz. about the beginning of August departed this world neer seventy yeers old to the great grief truly of all good and learned men but of Peireskius more especially who accounted him as another father and did reverence him accordingly But though he left the whole learned world sensible of its losse occasioned by his death yet was it a comfort that he seemed to have delivered his Lampe to Peireskius leaving him the successour of his virtues and studies For he had so moulded himself according to the manners of Pinellus he became so animated with the studie of noble and brave things and advancing of good Arts that he might justly be thought to have inherited his
he saluted there the Earl of Fontane and having by way of discourse expressed what a mighty Army his Majesty of France had in readinesse the Earl answered he was not at all afraid thereof because the death of one man would shortly overthrow the same But I must not harp too long upon this string Not long after Peireskius received Letters from Pignorius written the third day of the same moneth wherin he was made acquainted that Galilaeus by his newly invented Telescope had discovered certain great and wonderfull sights concerning the Stars and principally four new Planets which are carried about Jupiter which he had called the Medicean Planets For in the beginning of the former yeer which was 1609 Jacobus Metius of Alcmair in Holland while he was compounding and fetting together sundry sorts of glasses to try their effects he happened accidentally upon that same comparison and composition of a convex and a concave glasse by which especially the Tube being interposed he that lookt thorow the same might see small things grow great and things distant brought neer whereupon the invention of the Telescopium or Perspective-Glasse is attributed to him though Johannes Baptista Porta had already published some such thing in print but Galilaeus only by the rumour of such a thing which he had heard began to invent not onely the cause of the effects of the Telescope or Perspective-Glasse but also the way to make one whereupon after divers essayes and trials he hit at last upon the way to make a most exact one And that was it by which in the two first moneths of the tenth yeer aforesaid he accomplished those observations which he published in March under the Title of Sidereus Nuncius or the Heavenly Intelligencer Peireskius therefore being acquainted therewith himself with great ardency of affection that he might obtain his Book and a Telescope or Prospective glasse as soon as possibly he could But though he got a Book yet was it long ere he could obtain an exquisite Telescope though he got some both from Italie Holland and Paris as soon as they began to be made there And this was the reason that before November he could not discover nor observe the Planet's aforesaid moving about Jupiter at least he could not perceive their full number But as soon as he discovered them t is wonderfull with what joy he did contemplate so rare a sight For presently he shewed the same to Varius and other friends and that he might lose no time he made him an Observatorie and invited the foresaid Galterius and kept him divers daies and spent almost two whole years together in his observations with him His Brother was yet at Paris wherefore he never ceased to urge and sollicite him till he had caused divers glasses for prospectives to be made which he sent him to the number of Fortie For he hoped at last to obtain some of the best sort and such as Galileus made use of Meanwhile notwithstanding having contemplated certain revolutions he began to consult with Galterius about framing of Hypotheses and Tables of their Motions Wherefore Galterius having undertaken the businesse prevailed in a short time so far that be determined as exquisitely as he might the times in which the said Mecicean Stars did first finish their Circum volutions viz the outtermost in 16. daies and 16. houres the next in seven daies three hours and an half the third in three daies thirteen hours and an half likewise the innermost in one day 18 hours and an half I reckon not the minutes because though computation was made even to the Seconds as Astronomers speake yet daily experience taught that there was still somewhat to be added and diminished so that there still remaines something for the Obervation and diligence of following times to amend I only touch upon these things to intimate how vehemently Peireskius endeavoured that this new Invention might be speedily perfected For he made choice likewise of Johannes Lombardus a diligent Man to assist in the observations and of Petrus Robertus a Candidate in Physick and Johannes Baptista Morinus a Candidate in Philosophie two young Men to assist Galterius in the arithmeticall comptuations which would have been too tedious for him alone to calculate Also he got the observations which Johannes Keplerus the Emperors renowned Mathematician and others also besides Galileus had made that by comparing of them the Hypotheses might be perfected Also he caused a †an Artificiall Machine or Sphere mechanicall Theorie or Instrument to be made like the Vulgar one of Peurbachius that the Roots of the Motions being praesupposed the Places of the Medicean Stars might be calculated for years moneths daies and hours Also he gave them names that they might be the better distinguished one from another For seeing Galileus had called them all in generall the Medicean Stars he would not by any meanes change that Appellation but yet he chose out certain Princes of the Medicean familie whose names he would confer upon the severall Stars And because he was bound saving the Honour of the Familie to give the names of two renowned Queens which that house had yeilded France unto two Stars therefore he gave the name of Catharine to the outmost Planet to the other which shines more gloriously then the rest the name of Mary to that which follows the name of Cosmus Major and to the innermost Cosmus minor He purposed afterwards to publish in print both his Oblervations and Tables but understanding that Galileus was earnestly endeavouring the same thing therefore lest he should seem to go about to snatch away the Honour which was due to him he desisted from his purpose Finally it came into his mind to assist the Geographers in delivering the Method of finding out the longitude For seeing the motions of these Planets are exceeding swift and their Configurations every night different therefore he conceived that if observation were made in seveverall places East and West at what moments they happened the distances of places according to the varietie of times might most punctually be known and that consequently Geographical Maps and Carts might be so amended and perfected that for time to come the Art of Navigation might attain the highest pitch of perfection Wherefore he sent Letters to this effect to Jodocus Hondius at Amsterdam wherein also he desired that he would send him the name and Country of him that invented the first prospective Glasse for as yet he knew not that it was he whom we mentioned before He wrote also largely to his Brother in Paris desiring him to send severall sorts of Prospectives which he had ordained to make observations in sundry places but especially in the Easterne Countries and in the new world West-Jndies whither some of his friends were shorly to go And afterward he obtained indeed some observations principally from the forenamed Johannes Lombardus who went Eastward as far as Aleppo but they did not sufficiently satisfie him nor could
made and with two touching both Eclipses made at Hasnia by the renowned Christianus Severinus Longomontanus who was the Affistant of Ticho Brahe About this time there came forth a book in the Italian Tongue intitled Squinitius wherein the Venetian Liberty was examined from the very foundations of the Republike Which book because it seemed to contain rare skill in the History of the Empire and the Gothish Kings therefore it was presently beleeved as many at this day think that Peireskius was Author thereof But the truth is I can bear him witnesse that he never intended such a thing but contrarily he alwayes so reverenced the Majesty of the Republike and his friends which he had therein that he was rather enclined to do any service thereunto than to act any thing in cisgrace thereof Nor do I enquire whether the Author of this book was Antonius Albizius that noble Florentine who had two yeers before set out the Pedegrees of Christian Princes as some were of opinion or which is more likely the renowned Marcus Velserus of whom we have frequently spoken by reason of his excellent learning and singular propensity to the House of Austria I shall onely say that some have unjustly suspected that Gualdus and Pignorius did either assist in the writing thereof or communicated their notes for him to digest for they were more ingenuous and greater lovers of their Countrey than to be stained with such impiety But to be sure Peireskius never dreamt of such a thing Moreover being about to depart from Paris and taking leave of his friends he undertook among other things to send to Mericus Vicus at the beginning of Winter a pair of Phoenicopteri or Red-wings birds so called For he had a great desire to bring up some of those birds not onely for their Scarlet-coloured wings which makes our Countrey-men call them the Flaming Birds nor the longnesse of their thighs and neck which made Juvenal term this bird Phoenico-pterus ingens but chiefly becanse of the manner of their diet with which Peireskius related some of them had been kept by Varius For he related how they did eat their meat rather in the night than in the day which meat was commonly made of bread moistened with water how they could discern the approach of cold weather and would come to the fire so as sometimes to burn their feet and when one foot pained them they would go upon their other foot and use their bill in stead of the burnt foot how they slept standing upright upon one foot with the other drawn up to their brest amongst their feathers that a little sleep served their turn and such like At his departure he was most exceedingly grieved for the death of his most loving friend Nicolas Faber who not onely many dayes before had commended to the King that rare man Thomas Billonus when he did present his most laborious and admirably happy Anagrams In his journey he was vexed with great difficulty of urine After he was returned nothing so much grieved him 1613. as an injury which one of the Senatours had done unto Varius both before the Nativity and at the beginning of the new yeer wherefore he never was from him all that while save eight dayes during which he was troubled with a grievous disease about the end of April His brother in the mean while returned to Paris and he sent divers tokens to his friends by him Also he sent many things into Italy to Pascalinus Benedictus and others with whom he discoursed about divers Subjects and of whom he likewise desired some things for his friends Among whom was Casaubon as also Henricus Polanus the Mint-Master who desired him to procure for him out of Italy divers books hard to be found as also ancient weights or at least the comparison which had been made between them and those of Paris Another while writing to Paris he made it his chief businesse to commend Hannibal Fabrotus a famous Lawyer rarely adorned with the knowledge of polite Literature both to Thuanus and to other of his friends who had already heard of his learning As for what concerns other learned men Sirmondus setting out not long after Notes upon Sidonius Apollinaris did relate a Constitution which Cusanus took to have been made by Constantine the Great and Scaliger judged that it was made by Constantine the Tyrant but Peireskius shewed out of a * Civil Law book so called Code of Arles that it was rather made by the Emperours Honorius and Theodosius being written to Agricola President of the Gallick Provinces touching the holding of an Assembly of the seven Provinces once every yeer at Arles Moreover Jacobus Fontanus dedicating to him his Commentaries upon the Aphorisms of Hippocrates hath these words in his Epistle Dedicatory The pains that I have taken in composing this book I desire may passe into the world shielded with your patronage who gloriously shining with the abundance of all Virtues and Sciences will chase away the evil speeches of all censorious Detractours and cause that this work which is usefull for Physicians may be delightfull also seeing your repute is so great not onely with them but with all others that are addicted to the studies of learning that they cannot challenge to themselves any virtue without the knowledge of your testification and acceptance thereof There was also at the same time a book set out and dedicated to him by the foresaid Taxillus containing his judgement of that new star which was seen nine yeers agone But Peireskius could neither approve of his designe nor of his judgement because he contrary to better Authours which even Peireskius had furnisht him with did argue that the foresaid star was below the Moon and no higher than the upmost region of the air For he could not endure that men should seek out subtilties to establish the old opinions of the Schools contrary to evident demonstrations and observations as if that time could teach nothing and that experiments were not to be preserred before dark and cloudy reasonings For which cause at the same time he very much commended the candid ingenuity of Pacius whose judgement being demanded concerning those spots in the Sun which were now discovered by the Prospective-Glasse he desired time to consider of it professing that he was confounded and judging that from new Observations new Hypotheses ought to be framed About the same time there was a great rumor spread abroad touching the bones of certain Gyants which being found in Dauphine the King commanded that they should be sent to him for the report went that there was found in a certain feigned place not far from the stream which runs between Rhodanus and Isara a sepulchâ—e made of Bricks thirty foot long twelve foot broad and eight foot high with a stone upon it wherein was this Inscription THEUTOBOCHUS REX Also that when the sepulchre was opened there appeared the Skeleton of a man twenty five foot and an half long ten
went the Inscription HONC OINO PLOIRUME COSENTIONT R. DUONORO OPTUMO FUISE VIRO LUCIOM SCIPIONE FILIOS BARBATI CONSOL CENSOR AIDILIS HIC FUET A. HEC CEPIT CORSICA ALERIAQUE URBE DEDET TEMPE TATIBUS AIDE MERETO And therefore because the explication of Sirmondus did most of all please him who proved that this Inscription was made in the 494th year after the building of Rome and consequently but a year later than the Dailâ—iâ—â— Inscription or that of the Columna Rostrata hitherto accounted to be the most ancient both for the Orthography Phrase and matter contained therefore thus he conceived it ought to be read HUNC UNUM PLUR IMI CONSENTIUNT ROMAE BONORUM OPTIMUM FUISSE VIRUM LUCIUM SCIPIONEM FILIUS BARBATI CONSUL CENSOR AEDILIS HIC FUIT HIC CEPIT CORSICAM ALERIAMQUE URBEM DEDIT TEMPESTATIBUS AEDEM MERITO Which may be thus Englished Very many good men at Rome do judge that this Lucius Scipio was a singlar and most excellent man He was the son of Barbatus Consul Censor Aedilis he took Corsica he built a chappell to †Honouring them as Deities because they spared him at Sea Tempests not without cause Peireskius approved this interpretation and therefore caused it to be printed concealing the name of Sirmondus because he of his modestie would not take the commendation to himself But the truth is Peireskius did not conceal his name when sending copies thereof up and down he wrote Letters to his friends Hence it was that Selden mentioned him in that same learned work of his De DIS Syris where he sayes this Inscription was communicated to him by Sir Robert Cotton who had it out of France from Nicolaus Fabricius Petriscius a man most renowned for nobility and learning Also the lately mentioned Aleander who when it was reprinted at Rome made an addition answered the objections that had been made against it And whereas among other things it seemed strange that no mention was made of that Triumph which Scipio made Aleander answered Verily that same quick-sighted Gentleman who is no lesse a lover of learned men than of learning it self Nicolaus Fabricius Lord of Peiresk does with good reason suspect that there wants another Inscription of Scipio which was counterpane to this of ours For the Sepulchers of the ancients were of great Bulke and it is no absurdity to think that as this Inscription was on the one side so that there was another Marble on the other side on which the Triumph Age Day of death c. were ingraven With these and such like matters did Peireskius busie himself when in the Moneth of November the Seal was taken from Varius and that most renowned Gentleman restored to the Liberty of a private Life But Peireskius who regarded not so much the glory of his Place as the eminency of his Virtues would never forsake him thinking it an unworthy baseness if he that had stood by him in his Prosperity should withdraw himself in his adverse fortune Howbeit he was wont to testifie concerning Varius that he accounted it no unhappy and ominous but a most happy accident as by which alone he was in a capacity of attaining the Tranquillity which he so much desired Wherefore he restored the Seal with great Alacrity and returning from the Court he would needs sup more liberally than ordinary with Malherbius and Peireskius as one that now had no businesse to disturbe him and retiring himself he led a most quiet and most sweet life conversing with his Books his friends and learned men About this time the Businesse about Riantium was removed from Paris to Tolouse 1617. and his Brother Valavesius about the Beginning of the following year went into that City And although his presence was likewise desired at Tolouse which as was thought would have much advanced the Businesse yet could he never be induced for any Danger never so great of the miscarriage of that Suit to leave Varius Yet you must not Imagine that for all this he left his care of the cause of Learning For he sent an almost innumerable Company of Books to Learned men in all parts partly of his own accord partly being requested by them as into Italy to Pignorius and Aleander and to Scipio Cobellutius then newly honoured with a red Hat and the title of Cardinall of Saint Susanna and to whom not long after the Custodie of the Vatican Library was given as a favour And into England to Cambden and Selden and others who had seriously intreated him that he would not envie the Learned Nation of Men his Learned notes upon the ancient Coines and his Observations upon that part of France which is called Gallia Narbonensis Into Holland he sent as to others so chiefly to Thomas Erpenius the renowned professor of Arabic and he sent with his Books and Letters certain Arabick Coines that he might lend his Assistance in their Interpretation which he had not yet sufficiently understood I forbear to mention how he received likewise back again many things which he desired as from Aleander a modell of the Farnesian Congius or old Galon-measure with Letters signifying that he had examined the Water of Tiber Fountain water and other waters and after manifold comparisons of the one with the other he could find no difference at all in their weight From Nicolas Alemannus a year before the Vatican-Library Keeper he received a Catalogue of the Poets of Provence From Andreas Bruggiotus a Supplement to his Index of the Grek Manuscripts which were kept in the foresaid Library From Pignorius a Breviarie of the Life of that famous Ludovicus Cornarus with the time of his Death who by his sobrietie had procured himself so long a life and such a lustie old Age for he wrote that he was buried at Padua the day after the Nones of May in the year 1566. From Facobus Colius a Book with his excuse for naming him only Nobilissimus Gallus without any further Illustration From Sanderus Elogies from Johannes Meursius divers of his works from Willerius Genealogies from Whinghemius Botanick Rarities and from others other things Also about this time he began to procure Notes upon the Calendar of Constantine which 17 years after Aegidius Bucherus did totally insert into his Commentaries of the Canon of Paschalis Victorianus viz. from the 236. page to the 288. And the truth is I question not how those papers were gotten and by whom imparted to that same rarely good and Learned Man only I desire the Reader to take notice that they were not transcribed save from that same very rare Book which belonged to Peireskius and is at this very day preserved in his Library Now he wrote largely thereabout both to Aleander and to most other Learned men who exceedingly desired the publication thereof for they esteemed it as a mighty treasure to correct the Annals and to rectifie all Chronologie both sacreed and profane For examples sake we may observe therein the Consulship of Probus and
Antiquity He did much more commend that work of the Rudolphin Tables which was then published by Kepler For seeing they were collected out of the most accurate observations of the new Atlantis of Ticho Brahe he judged rightly that by their meanes a more exact knowledge of the celestial motions might be had then by any others And therefore because that work was many years exposed therefore he maturely collected divâ—â—s observations by which they might be examined And in a special manner he intreated the Assistance of those excellent men Petrus Franciscus Tondutus San-legerius a Lawyer of Avenion and Jacobus Valesius Scotus General Treasurer in Dauphine both of them excellently skilled in all Mathematical Arts but especially in Astronomy Also he was assisted by both of them to amend divers faults of the Presse 1628. and because the latter signified that he had instructed Eleazar Feronceus an industrious Gardner of Herbs and a very ingenious man to observe the celestial Bodies therefore Peireskius laboured to get from him in particular some observations I passe over how he would needs also have and keep by him some observations of mine before I left Paris wherefore I sent him my Tables and among the rest my observations of that late Eclipse of the Moon whose chief appearances being observed at Aix did shew that the middle thereof was in the same year the 20. of January at nine a Clock and three fifths Now he sent it to Paris Rome Florence Padua Lovain and other places that if haply the like observation had bin made the difference of the interceding Meridians might be calculated For he was alwayes desirous to see Geography reformed about which he then wrote to Petrus Bertius exhorting him that together with the Edition of Eusebius he would hasten the sacred Geography which he had promised Not to speak how he delt with him to perswade him that he would set out a Map of the World according to the various descriptions of Dionysius Strabo Plinie Ptolemaeus and others That I may add somewhat touching observations he exceedingly desired that some Interpreter might be found out who could explain the Figures and Characters which were evidently to be seen upon a fragment of Brick-work which was not long before dug up at Babylon and sent to him for he conjectured it was some of that Brick-work upon which Plinie tells us from Epigenes that the Babylonians wrote the Observations which they made of the Stars for seven hundred and twenty years Upon which occasion he was much taken to consider that it should come into the mind of certain good men doubtless to ingrave an Inscription upon a stone at the Gate of the Chappel which stands overlooking a Rock at Druentia near Mirebel of which he was informed by a friend of his Joannes Gallaupius Castuellius who was Heire of his Fathers Vertues and Auditor of his Majesties Accounts For the said Inscription contains nothing else but a memorial of that Eclipse of the Sun which happened upon the third of the Nones of June in the year 239. of which he had formerly notice out of certain Registers and namely of our Church in which also there is mention of another seen in the year 1415. on Friday being the 7th of June an hour after Sun-rise of so great darkness that the Stars might most clearly be seen He had heard a little before of the death of Jacobus Allealmus the Mathematician for which he was exceeding sorrowful fearing the losse of certain works both of his own and of Franciscus Vieta the most renowned Geometrician Even as not long after hearing of the death of Fontaneus he feared the losse of many rarities and Manuscripts amongst which he was wont to commend a Book of Alciats de Rebus Mediolanensibus written with his own hand And it was his desire that rare and good Manuscripts if they were not quickly printed should be kept rather in publick then private Libraries because by that means they would be lesse subject to miscarriage But he desired withall that there were some men that should take care to bring to light by printing such as had lain too long in obscurity in the Libraries for which cause when he wrote to Cardinal Barborine he was very earnest with him beseeching him that out of the great good will he bore to learning he would cause the Vatican Printery to be set on work again that so many rare Greek Manuscripts might come abroad into the World And this he was occasioned to do by the generous design of Michael Jayus a Citizen of Paris who set up a Printery in which there was already begun an Edition of the Bible which would be more compleat then that which is called Plantains and the King of Spains Bible and because at Rome Holstenius was willing to take pains in the business Also he had heard of a dissertation which I had long since with Merindolus touching the passage of Chyle into the Liver For I found a way by the Porus cholidochus so called the Veins of the Mesentery being obstructed Having therefore writ him word that there was a Book published by Gasper Asellius Anatomist at Ticinum wherein he shewed how he had discovered certain milky veins in the Mesentery besides the commonly noted red ones which probably carried the Chylus he speedily got divers of the Books which he sent up and down to Physicians which were his friends experimenting in Dogs Sheep Oxen and most kind of Animals besides that which Asellius had written touching his rare invention Also when I had given him notice that Dr. William Harvey an English Physitian had set out an excellent Book of the passage of the blood out of the Veins into the Arteries and back out of the Arteries into the Veins by secret Anastomoses and that among other Arguments he confirmed the same by the valves of the Veins touching which he had heard somewhat from Aquapendens and whose Inventer he was wont to say was Father Paul Sarpi of Venice he would thereupon needs both have the Book and search out those valves and know other things as those winding passages in the Septum of the heart which Harvey denied but I made appear unto him In like manner being told of the many-pointed tongues of flies which might be plainly seen by an Augmenting-glasse he made many experiments in Insects of like nature and especially in Bees that he might thereby give occasion to Rigaltius to mend and illustrate Pliny his Chapter of Bees Likewise when Grotius had signified that there was a many headed Insect which bred in pieces of Wood fallen into the Sea he did not only look into all Authours which had written of any such thing but he enquired of all Fishers and other curious persons inhabiting upon the Sea-Coast and prevailed so far at last that he found out if not the same thing yet a Fish with seven heads and bodies as it were in the middle of unequal length implanted round about into a certain
Gardens All which time he spent in the care of recovering his health for he was not very well and in manuring the Plants of his Garden and most pleasant walks Also he entertained partly in his own house partly in other houses of the Town divers of hsi friends with their families especially Bonifacius who were driven out of the City by the Plague Borrillius an excellent man and well stored with rarities Now the Disease raged in the City 1630. not only all that year but part also of the following year 1630. And here I should relate a great Tumult which when the Plague ceased was raised in the City and spread into other places especially in the Autumn But it would be to little purpose to renew an unspeakable grief much lesse to relate the publick and private causes which set Heaven and Earth together by the ears It may suffice to say That Peireskius his House hardly scaped plundering the next House to it being pillaged and himself much affrighted when word was brought him That the plunderers had got into his Library and his Closet of rarities but he was revived again when he heard That though they had threatned to break in yet they forbore Many visited him about this time and amongst the rest there stayed with him some pretty while Henricus Gornaeus Earle of Marchaevilla who was now upon his departure being to go as Embassador from the King to the great Turk Also Philippus Bethunius who having been formerly the Kings Agent at Rome was returned into France and who afterwards did in many Letters testifie how exceedingly he missed his most delightful society Likewise Philippus Nunnesius and Emmanuel Costaeus whom being to go into Indie he obliged by all kindnesses and gifts possible giving them Letters to Ludovicus Herriardus resident at the Court of the great Mogul and to Lopez Silvanus at Goa and others that so he might procure besides very many other rarities certain fragments of Rocks in which sundry sorts of Jewels were wont to breed In like manner Samuel Petitus of whom we spoke before stayed some time with him whom being suddenly to go to Paris with what kindnesses he obliged may be best understood out of the Dedication of his Eclogae Chronologicae which he there printed not long after For My Soul quoth ne Illustrious Sir by this Dedication doth witnes to the world how much I honour you how much I am obliged to you seeing there is no man this day alive that is more obliged to you than I nor any that I am more obliged to than to yourself Yet so as this Table dedicated to your name and your name prefixed to this Book of mine are a Testimonial of the Hope which I have conceived of your future affection towards me For I implore your Patronage to me and mine Nor must you illustrious Sir deny me your Patronage so God help you for I am concerned in it For if these Books of mine shall appear under your name there is no good and learned man but will approve of them as having bin allowed by you a man of most exact judgement and singular learning c. Likewise Henricus Bormalius a Canon of Leeds famous for all kind of learning but especially for his happy Imitation of the Greek Poets whom he had kept longer with him had not his Imployments called him home In like manner Jacobus Buccardus a Parisian adorned likewise with all kind of learning who that he might have the better leasure to study and spend his life in turning over Greek and Latine Authours was resolved to go and live at Rome Wherefore being upon his journey thither Peireskius detained him as long as he could and would have kept him all the Winter but that he desired rather that his learning might become speedily famous in that great Theater of the World And therefore he not only gave him fatherly Instructions but did so recommend him in divers Letters that Cardinal Barberinus did not only receive him according to his accustomed humanity but would needs forthwith enter him into the Catalogue of such learned men as he kept in his house Also Antonius Natalis a learned Physician who having formerly his abode at Sivill gave occasion to his Commerce in America and who now brought with him very rare things out of the new World and a year after before he returned to Sivill he dedicated to him a certain Apologie which he set forth against the Physicians Likewise Franciscus Gallaupius a Gentleman of Aix very learned in the Hebrew Tongue and desirous to travel into the East expected the return of Marchaevillaeus at Peireskius his house He it was unto whom and Lombardus he had committed the chiefest care of observing the Eclipse of the Sun which happened on the 10. day of June But in vain because the Western Mountains intercepted the sight of the eclipsed Sun so that they observed nothing but a darkness in the Aire For the Sun was eclipsed in the West for with us at Paris it was in a clear Horizon being two digits obscured and its greatest Eclipse was eleven digits and two and thirty minutes and it began at six a Clock a quarter and a minute and half over He spent therefore his time in the Company of such men as these interposing frequent reading and the manuring of rare Plants also he studied and had divers discourses touching such things as turn to stone As concerning Plants it may be expected that I should in this place reckon up the principal of them yet I will not stand to speak of such which though accounted rare are to be seen in other Gardens I shall only touch at some of those which Peireskius was the first that caused to be brought into and cherished in Europe Of which the Indian Gelsemine is one a wooddy plant alwayes green with a clay-coloured yellowish flower of a most sweet smell This was first brought from China planted at Beaugensier and from thence propagated into the Kings and Cardinal Barberine his Gardens Of these Joannes Ferrarius a learned Jesuite wrote in those Books which three years after he set forth touching the manuring of Flowers But it must not be forgotten that the Cardinal sent to Beaugensier a China Rose the beauty whereof does wonderfully recompence its want of smell The next is a Plant called Lifa or the Gourd of Mecha because it was brought from Mecha and may be called the silken Plant because it bears plenty of threds not unlike silk fit to wear into stuffs Peireskius received at one and the same time both seeds thereof which he gave first to Viassius to sow and manure also an whole gourd which within was full of threds and a peece of stuff woven thereof Also the true Papyrus Aegyptia or Aegyptian paper different from that which is described by Prosper Alpinus For Peireskius received it out of the Country of Saïta where the right kind is thought to grow Yet I know not that he
things about a certain Eclipse which was observed on the third day of March the middle whereof happened at 8. a clock and forty three minutes Consequent hereunto he began seriously to think of which he purposed long before assisting Geographers towards the finding out the difference of Longitude of several places For he would have a certain method written of observing Eclipses and he was wonderfully industrious to procure that the Eclipse of the Moon which was to be in August next following might be observed both in Europe and in divers places of Asia and Africa For besides our Country men and those that live more Westerly he procured that by the instigation of Cardinal Barberino those learned and faâ—â—o is men Andreas Argolus at Padua and Scipio Claromontius at Caesenna might observe the same and by the intercession of the said Cardina he obtained two observations then made at Rome and two at Naples where the most exact was that which Joannnes Camillus Gloriosus a rare man doubtless had made In like manner he procured from Gran-Caire in Aegypt an observation made by the foresaid Capucine Agathangelus being assisted by Joannes Molinus Dragomannus a Venetian also from Aleppo in Syria an observation made by another excellent Capucine Michael Angelus assisted by the foresaid Caelestinus à Sancta Liduina All whose observations cannot be set down in this place yet I must needs say that Peireskius was herein satisfied by the observations aforesaid that it was a clear case that all Geographical Tables and Maps do set those places of Aegypt and Syria at too great a distance from us seeing they do all set Alepo almost three hours that is to say forty five degrees Eastward of Marseilles whereas those observations have made it appear that almost an whole hour ought to be abated seeing they have reckoned no more then thirty degrees between the places aforesaid Whereupon the business having succeeded so well he took a great deal of pains and procured Cardinal Barberino and the Generals of the Jesuites and Dominicans to command such religious persons as lived in both the Indies and all other parts of the world carefully to observe all Eclipses and things of like nature Nor was there afterwards any Capucine or other studious person that passed through Provence intending to travel into the East or any other way or to settle his abode in any forreign part whom he did not oblige by divers kindnesses and to whom he did not injoyn the care of making such observations giving them Books Prospective-glasses and such like things of the use whereof if any were ignorant he took care before their departure both to have them instructed and that they might experiment their skill And knowing that Galileus had framed a Method which we mentioned before to find out the Longitudes of places by the Medicean Stars therefore he desired Galileus to send him for his own proper use a Telescope or Prospective-Glasse of the very best that he himself might make observations and communicate the same with others Which he did having first writ many letters by which he thought he might be allowed to comfort such a friend and to condole with him for his hard hap Moreover about this time he took a great deal of care endeavouring by means of the most excellent Cardinal that the Sentence of Galileus might be moderated and he restored to his liberty Which he did of his own accord judging that the tury of a friend required as much of him and the merits of that man whose memory would be delightful to Posterity About the end of October he took it very hainously that the Parliament did not expect till he had of himself surrendred his Senators office vvhich he had reserved three years for himself when he made his Nephew his Successor wherefore his Brother being at Paris he procured by the Kings letters Patents to be restored perfectly to his said office and that he should exercise the same five years longer This was done the following year 1636. in the whole course whereof he was not wanting in his care for the advancement of Learning For in the first place being much taken with the manifold and rare Learning wherewith Leo Allatius a very learned man residing at Rome did bring to light so many Greek Authors not seen before or full of faults correcting and translating them with wonderful felicity he was desirous to assist and countenance his endeavours carefully treating with the Printers of Paris to undertake the Edition of his workes Which he did likewise concerning certain excellentworks of Fortunius Licetus who was formerly a famous Philosopher in the University of Padua and is now chief Professor at Bononia very much renowned for his great worth So hearing of the death of the excellent Schickardus whom the Plague had taken away November fore-going he used all diligence possible that such workes as he left unprinted might be preserved and set forth which he did by mediation and assistance of Matthias Berneggerus of Strasburge a renowned man I pass over how by the means of Aelius Deodatus of whom we spake before he sent him divers Elegies which when they were to be printed Thomas Lansius the glory of Lawyers and bosome friend of the deceased Schickardus caused a funeral Oration to be printed therewith wherein Zacharias Scafferus the renowned Professor of Eloquence and History at Tubinga could not forbear to relate how that Schickardus had been largely honourably invited by Peireskius that to avoid the troubles in his own Countrey he would come abide with him where he should have opportunity quietly to follow his Studies Likewise he sollicited Elichmannus a learned Hollander to set out the Lives of Pythagoras Empedocles and other Philosophers which he had by him in the Arabian tongue as also Cebes his Table wherein he had observed that there was mention of one Hercules Socraticus a strange person not to be found in the Greek Copies of the said Table and such like things So Samud Petitus being about a new Translation with learned Notes upon Josephus he procured for him by the means of Helstenius the Collation of diâ—ers places with three Manuscripts in the Vatican Library Also when Buccardus was busied about translating and setting forth of Georgius Syncellus and Theophanes he procured a Manuscript to be written out which he both sent to Rome and received back again to get it compared with the Manuscript in the Kings Library nor could he be quiet until it had been compared and some places therein corrected by Salmasins who was then come into France Likewise he gave occasion to Ismael Bullialdus a very rare Mathematician first to write a very large Letter touching the nature of Light and afterwards to set out a pretty large Book after he heard that he had interpreted that Probleme to signifie Light contracted into a Centre by a burning-glasse which was propounded by Baptista Peissonius the Kings Attorney at Anjou in these words Whether there
dispositions such as the forementioned Galterius Antonius Arbaudus Bargemonius Provost of the Cathedral Church of Aix and other such like finding himself in the mean while very naturally delighted with the pleasant Verdure of Plants beauty of flowers gentle murmur and purling noyse of brooks and water-streams together with the various songs of little Birds And therefore it is no wonâ—er that he adorned his Garden at Beaugensier with such variety of Plants and that besides a rare Channel of water he procured the same to be cast up by a curious kind of Fountain and that in the winter he caused Corn to be scattered for the Birds which haunted certain Orenge and Lemmon-Trees made into Arbors forbidding any one to catch or molest them Moreover he preferred the singing of Birds before the voyces of men or any musical Instruments not but that he was therewith also delighted but because after the Musick which men made there remained in his mind a continual agitation drawing his attention and disturbing his sleep the rising falling and holding of the Notes with the change of sounds and concords running to and fro in his fancy whereas no such thing could remain after the Birds Musick which because it is not so apt by us to be imitated it cannot therefore so much affect and stir our internal saculty He would also for the same cause continually breed up Nightingales and such like small Birds which he kept also in his own Chamber and of which he was so careful that he knew by divers signes and tokens what they wanted or desired and presently would see them satisfied they therefore as out of gratitude would sing unto their benefactor Hymnes of prayse and whereas in his absence they were for the most part silent as soon as ever by his voyce or staffe they perceived he was comming they would presently fall to singing And because we are speaking of his affection to dumb-Creatures it can do no hurt to tell you that in his Boyes and Youths-Age he was a great lover of Dogs Of some of them we have spoken formerly now he chiefly loved such as he knew to be gifted with some peculiar Instinct Amongst which there was one of which he was wont often to relate this memorable passage how that having received from I know not whom a sore blow he would not only smell out that man as soon as ever he came into the house but he would perceive him comming when he was fifty paces off and by his suddain barking would intimate who was at hand And by reason of mice which did gnaw his Books and Papers in his Chamber he became a Lover of Cats which he had formerly hated and whereas at first he kept a few for necessity sake he had afterwards a great Company for his delight For he procured out of the East Ash-coloured Dun and speckled Cats beautiful to behold of the Brood whereof he sent to Paris and other places to his friends And as nothing could passe his notice he observed that Cats go with young exactly nine weeks that they conceive till they are more then fourteen years old that they sometimes want a Midwife to assist their bringing forth that they give suck though they have not conceived and the like things But to return to the care he used about himself it was very plain and ordinary even in the times of his sickness and experience had made him in a manner his own Physician For in the first place as touching Fevers he was wont to cure them by fasting for he reasoned that either the matter of the Fever its fewel being withdrawn would soon be consumed or all Impediments being removed it would quickly come to settle and fix Moreover when the Rheum and Cough troubled him he used nothing but a Crust of dry bread of which he alwayes carried about him certain pieces inclosed in a silver Box with some odoriferous juncket or Confect thereby For he conceived that by the chewing thereof his spittle withall gently dropping down his Wind-pipe was as it were crusted over so that the superfluous humor would not so exulcerate the same nor provoke him to cough To asswage the pain of the Haemoâ—rhoids he used nothing but the yolk of an Egg to which sometimes a little Butter or Lard was added Also he found that drinking of the mineral waters did them much good and that heat applied beneath or the least sleep did mitigate their pain We have told you how he used the said waters against his stoppage of Urine which to provoke he was wont to bite a linnen Cloth or an end thereof and chew it as it were between his teeth which he did just as he was straining to make water and by which meanes he many times voided his Urine And when that would not do as in great distensions of his Bladder he would thrust himself into a narrow place between the hinder part of the Bed and the Wall there to be squeezed for after much endeavouring he found some help thereby Nor did he after every Retention of Urine void Gravel or stones yet they came away frequently after he had bin pained in his Kidneys and Ureters Now he was wont to make water alwayes in a large Glasse like a Cupping-Glasse that he might soon see in the bottom thereof whether he had bin delivered of any thing for he was wont to call his pains and voiding of stones his Breeding or childing Finally that he was not troubled with the Gout as his Parents were he attributed to the careful ordering himself in point of Diet which thing as often as his Father was careful of he fared much the better for it Nor must I passe over in this place that his weak constitution did not hinder him from behaving himself exceeding patiently in those Diseases and vehement pains For the frequency and continuance thereof seemed to have induced a certain brawny hardness but yet his custorn of suffering was perfected and assisted by Reason which told him that what cannot be avoided must be suffered patiently and gently Truly his common saying was That he was not so much troubled at the evils whereunto he was subjected as he rejoyced that they were not more grievious as they might have bin His mind was much the same in respect of any adverse accident which sell out For when he lost any thing especially if it were precious he could not but be troubled but he was wont to remper his grief by considering the thing not so much as being lost as that it had bin possessed and enjoyed with pleasure So he comforted himself with what was left him for he conceived that there was more reason to rejoyce in behalf of that which good Fortune had left behind than to grieve for that which hard hap had taken away Wherefore he was wont frequently to say that who ever seeks after the uncertain good things of this World should think and resolve that he gathers as well for Thieves as
which Order I can cite plenty of Eye-witnesses of the beneficent and most liberal nature of Piereskius not only out of this City and present Assembly but even out of the farthest parts of Syria and the immense Altitude of Mount Libanus I can bring the most learned Amira Bishop of the Maronites out of Magna Graecia that great Philosopher Campanella out of France the learned Petitus and an infinite multitude more out of other Provinces Also I could relate unto you an innumerable Examples of Liberality and Magnificence scarce credible of a King much lesse of a man only of a Senatorian Dignity Rank and Estate Whereas nevertheless which sounds more like a miracle than a thing credible he laid out in this City alone every year three thousand pounds-Tours that is to say a twelfth part of his whole Revenue which we may well think he did in other renowned Cities of Europe partly in sending Books and other such like tokens to his friends partly upon Books Statue Brazen Monuments and Marbles which were daily here discovered or at least upon Patterns of them and Images painted carved or molded in Wax Plaister or moystened Paper But consideration of the time most learned Academicks advises me now to take-in my Sails and look towards the Haven Yet verily that same ardency of your Countenances and Intention of your mindes does call upon me to perform the rest of my Promise which was that I would prove Peireskius to have far exceeded all other men not only in a rare love and Liberality towards Learning but which is the greatest matter of all in unwearied labour and incredible Industry in commenting and writing touching almost excellent Arts no part of which verily he left untouched He wrote the History of Provence which was his own Countrey in many large Volumes with so much diligence that whether you regard Antiquity or the Lawes Peace or Warre and the Changes happening in the Common-wealth you shall therein finde nothing wanting In other Volumes he set down the Originals of the Noble Families of the same Country and of his own by it self and seeing the Family of the Fabricii had its Original from Pisa from whence after the space of four hundred years flourishing in Chivalry it was propagated into France he did in the same Book excellently illustrate the Antiquity of Pisa and consequently of Italy of which he was alwayes an exceeding great Lover setting down many unknown passages touching the Gothick Kings who bore sway in Italy which he collected from ancient Coines as also touching the French Kings whose Originals and Pedigrees being obscured through length of time he much illustrated Finally he wrote most elegant and full Commentaries of all great and memorable things which were transacted in his time Also he adorned Philosophy by his writings and amplified the same especially the natural part thereof to which he was wonderfully addicted For he had made an elegant Book touching those sporting works of Nature which in some Countries are digged out of the ground viz. concerning wood and other things degenerating into the Nature of stone or some other different substance also touching huge and vast bones of Gyants as is commonly conceived a great quantity whereof he caused to be brought to him from far Countries touching which being of a discerning spirit he discovered many Impostures And as for Plants especially such as were of Indian growth he wrote a peculiar History of every one well near which he illustrated with experiments never before practised for he engrafted Trees with happy success not only upon Trees quite of another kind but upon the Horns Heads and other parts of living Creatures Of which live Creatures yea even of Elephants he diligently sought out the Nature manner and weight and dissected all their members as also of the Body of Man with his own hand especially the Eyes of huge Beasts and of Whales for the finding out of which he sent men as far as Herenles Pillars By which means he wrote new things never before heard of as of other parts of the Body so especially concerning the admirable frame of the Eye Nor was he lesse industrious in illustrating the Mathematical Arts giving himself up in his latter years to the study of Astronomy so as to build a most high Tower furnished with plenty of Instruments belonging to that Art where he watched all night long when the Skie was clear in Contemplation of the Starres not only diligently observing their Altitudes Magnitudes and Motions but penetrating by the quickness of his wit into their very matter and Nature assisted by that new and admirable Invention of the Telescope which makes the most remote and obscure Species and Representations of things clearly to be seen whose name and use was invented by Galilaeus the Prince doubtless of Mathematicians and a very loving friend of our Peireskius By the help of which Instrument Peireskius caused the several faces and appearances both of the other Planets and also of the Moon with the smallest marks and spots as it were which appeared therein to be diligently viewed and engraven in Copper Plates committing to writing his own perpetual observations thereof so that no man was better acquainted with this World of ours then Peireskius was with the Heavenly Orbs especially the Moon which the ancient Sages of Italy were wont to call Antichthôn the other Earth Whose Eclipses he did both observe himself and caused them by all Mathematicians to be more diligently observed then formerly not that he might assist the labouring Goddess whose shape like another Endymion he beheld and admired but that thereby he might finde out and set down the sure and certain distances of Cities Havens and Islands both from the four Coasts of Heaven and one from another and so take away the received Errors of Travellers and Seafaring-men A thing before not so much as endeavoured by any except one or two and they great Kings which it was hoped that Peireskius would at last happily accomplish For he caused most accurate observations of the Eclipses to be made in the most renowned Cities of the old and new World of which observations the most excellent he said was that which he received from Naples from his good friend Johannes Camillus Gloriosus an excellent Mathematician And herein he used the continual Assistance of Petrus Gassendus the most excellent Astronomer and Philosopher in France intimately acquainted with Peireskius so that he lived with him many years together in his own House as a bosom friend where he was assistant at his death and now out of the dear memory he beares to his Name and Vertues he is intended to write an History of his Life which makes me rejoyce that the work which I had long since designed is now taken out of my hands by a most learned man and my very loving friend yea and I congratulate the Memory of Peireskius in that behalf The excellent pains he took in describing your Antiquities O
if sorrow will give you leave what I have mournfully written as one suddenly smitten with exceeding grief Rome the 17. of the Kalends of August 1637. Out of the Praeface of the Renowned Salmasius before Cebes his Table in Arabick AMong those kind of men whose losse their friends ought to lament both for their own sake and the publick there died three years since Nicolaus Fabricius Lord of Peiresk a man honoured as soon as named Whom did not Fame report to have bin such an one as I knew him to be I would here endeavour to paint him out with my Pensil though with rude lines and obscure colours as the most perfect Picture and Pattern of all Vertue and all kind of Learning I would endeavour I say to do that the least part of which I could not promise my self to be able to accomplish as it ought to be I would perform verily what I owe to that mans merits towards me which will never slip out of my minde so long as I have a day to live But seeing I cannot so do it but that I must omit more then I shall be able to set down it being impossible to do it compleatly and suitable to his life and fame I am forced to gather in my Sails and creep under the shoare least venturing into such a vast Sea of prayses with my small Cock-boat I should be in danger of drowning Let it therefore suffice to say that the Sun never shone upon a man for many Ages past who was more desirous to advance the Common-wealth of Learning nor who while he lived did more advance the same As his Curiosity was not drawn forth by one kind of Science alone so neither was his Benevolence joyned with a beneficent mind felt only by one kind of men There are innumerable others whom I know who if they be not unthankful will do their utmost endeavour to publish to the World what and how much they owe unto him As for mine own particular his kindnesses to me were so many endeavouring by all the wayes he could to assist my Studies that I can hardly comprehend them in my thoughts much lesse can I by words express them All which helps and furtherances though I must now want he being taken away to the great stop and hinderance of my Studies especially in the Aegyptian and Arabick Tongues yet I more lament the losse of the Common-wealth of Learning by his Death then my own Detriment however I am sufficiently sensible thereof to this very day Next to this losse which I confess concerns the whole Common-wealth as much as mine own parricular and is much to be lamented there is none more grievous c. An ADDITION To the Life of the Renowned PEIRESKIUS To the famous Franciscus Henricus that great Favourer of Learning and my singular good Friend Petrus Borellus Castrensis Doctor of Physick sends Greeting YOu have at length Renowned Sir procured the most Learned Petrus Gassendus though much taken up with divers Studies to fit the life of the most famous Peireskius the third time for the Presse and to illustrate the same with new additions and to distinguish the Text which was formerly continued into certain Verses or Paragraphs for the more commodious use of the Readers The work being at length by your care committed to the Presse and almost finished I gave intimation that I had collected here and there certain Testimonies of great Men concerning Peireskius after his Death which to omit upon this occasion as it were a kind of sacriledge and in jurious to the glory of the Gentleman deceased so I have â—â—â—â—â—ht fit here to subjoyn such Testimonies as 〈◊〉 co lected out of divers Authours printed 〈◊〉 his Death according to your Request and 〈◊〉 the Consent of Gassendus and in the first place Out of a Book of Athanasius Kircherus called Lingua Aegyptiaca restituta Printed at Rome in Quarto Anno 1644. AFter he had related that a Copto-Arabick Dictionary was found in Aegypt by the most illustrous Knight Petrus à Valle a Patrician of Rome he adds that which follows Mean while the most Renowned Nicolaus Fabricins Lord of Peiresk a Senator in the Parliament of Aix and the glory of learned men being informed of this Treasure newly brought out of Aegypt he left no stone unturned to procure the same to be turned into Latine and printed for the common good Whiles therefore in other places and chiefly in France where the Studies of all Languages and Arts do exceedingly flourish a fit man was sought to undertake this work I at last being banished out of Germany by reason of the Swedish I umults and coming into my own Country of France was by the earnest sollicitation of my friends from all parts and chiefly by the intreaties of my most familiar friend Peireskius compelled to put my shoulders under the burthen though scarce strong enough to bear the same By which may be seen the great Affection of Peireskius to learned Men wherewith he was wont to cherish them by his most courteous writings to assist them and most magnificently to seek to confer upon them all the Benefits which came in his way thereby also may be seen his great Study to reveal secrets to the end he might assist as much as he could the Learned Common-wealth in such things wherein they were most deficient Which he rarely performed by promoting this Copto-Arabick work in which making a way into the most secret Closets of the Ancient Aegyptians our new Interpreter by the assistance of his good Angel has revealed the hidden Mysteries of natural Magick and their sacred Arts and Cabals And in the 528. page in a Supplement to the Chapter of the names of God he explains an Hieroglyphic figure in which the Sun and Moon and many other things were contained within a Snake coiled round and holding his tail in his month And thus he goes on And now let us see whether there are yet to be found any foot steps of these Coptick names in the Aegyptian Ruines the Copticks before cited assirm the same and that fragment of Aegyptian Antiquity which that rare man of immertal Memory Nicolaus Fabricius Lord of Peiresk â—ut of his incredible love to me and my Studies such as they are among many other things which wanted an Oâ—dipus to explain them sent unto me to be interpreted does more then sufficiently demonstrate the same In which the names of four Gods which rule the four Quarters of the world are to be seen fairly represented in the most ancient Coptick Letters as also in words between the Characters of the Sun and Moon compassed by a Serpent the Picture thereof he there sets down Out of the Obelissus Pamphilius of the said Kircherus printed at Rome in Folio Anno 1650. Having praemised an exhortatory Epistle to the Readers skilled in abstruse Learning and having rendred a Reason of the Title of the work and the occasion of Writing the same he adds these following passages Sixteen
printed again I dare say the Original Copy may be procured of that most courteous Gentleman to make the Edition thereby more compleat These things I had to say Renowned Sir touching Peireskius which supposing they would not be to you unpleasing I have therefore more willingly published under your name because I knew you to be a very great Referencer of Persons rarely learned in whose foot steps gloriously treading you daily search into the deepest mysteries furthered by your Genius so desirous to learn and what you search into you examine with a piercing Judgement what you finde out you commit to writing from whence the rich Treasures of Nature will one day advance into the World compleatly written by your eloquent Pen. Which God grant for the common good and your own immortal prayse In the mean while most loving friend as I now present this pledge of my Devotion to you so shall I daily God willing prepare some better and more worthy presents viz. the third and fourth Centuries of wonderful observations one Century of such as belong to our Microcosme a second part of Bibliotheca Chymica the Life Philosophy of Democritus a Treatise of an Universal Language and touching the way to expound the foure-square Venetian Cypher with a Key all which will I hope be acceptable to the curious Dated at Paris the Kalends of July 1654. To Petrus Borellus Dr. of Physick his loving friend F. H. P. L. YOu are an happy man friend Borellus whom good Fortune has made after so many years an Amplifier of the Dignity of Peireskius Happy man am I to whom you have directed your commendations of a man so heroically vertuous And we are both happy whom Gassendus has thought fit to propagate the memory of that renowned Man himself being the most worthy praiser of the Vertues of Peireskius and the perfect writer of his life By whose meanes Posterity will abundantly honour the most glorious name of that great Heroe which all learned men ought to admire and commend the same to eternity What was the habit of his Body what the manners of his minde and what his Studies have bin so punctually set down by Gassendus and in a style so sublime that no man well advised can pretend to add a tittle thereunto For he has given us a most perfect Picture of that brave Man expressed his rare works and in a pure style graphically painted forth his manners and inclination to all excellent Learning He has set forth to Posterity a genuine example of polite Literature and plentiful grounds of emulation to the learned World For by his most happy undertakings the Muses have recovered their spirit life and Countrey whom the Barbarisme of the former Age had banished out of the World To whom therefore must the Muses acknowledge their liberty when they shall reflourish to whom shall Studies and Arts acknowledge their recovery to whom shall learned men attribute the increase of Sciences and those helps tending to unlock the most abstruse points of knowledge To whom but to Peireskius and in the next place to Gassendus who was the first that did what no body else could do in painting out to the Life that worthy Heroe in a Picture which shall last to eternity I shall not go about ambitiously to praise the one or the other for they need no prayses who are above all Commendation and greater then any Titles can be given them whose renown will be immortal I shall only resume his Studies which Gassendus has most accurately prosecuted in his sixth Book and contract them into a small handful propounding his Manuscripts at large for the common good of those who desire the same But I need not explain these things to the learned I conceive it may suffice to say that this most unwearied Gentleman laboured all his life in gathering the same to this only end that he might be as a Midwife to Posterity Give me leave here to set down the very words of Gassendus and therein to admire the lowly modesty of that most eminent Man whose words touching himself are these in Gassendus viz. that he was unable to produce a mature and elegant birth or to lick the same into any shape as if he could be thought insufficient for such a burthen who left at his death fourscore and two Books of his own hand-writing of all most exquisite Arguments considerable for their Bulk but more for the variety and excellency of the subject matter in which he sets open to all men a Treasury of most choyse Learning by assistance whereof they who like him are wont to search into the depths of Erudition may be inabled to support the decaying Arts and save them from perishing Now what chance this great treasure of his has undergone which has bin hitherto hid from the learned I shall here briefly hint yea and ingenuously intimate who it is which hides the same that such as are disposed particularly to examine these great Riches by him heaped up or if possible to publish the same so as to satisfie the great thirst of those that earnestly enquire after them they may have the opportunity to search into the very bowels of these Books and bring forth the Treasure they meet with for the common good that the victorious labours of that rare man may be admired and that others being enriched with his spoiles may prosecute and perfect what has bin by him begun and deliver the same as an Inheritance to Posterity through the munificence of that great Maecenas Ten years after his Death his Heires caused his Library to be brought to Paris vvhich in the year 1647 I saw there consisting of a great Company of Books most curiously bound But alas what a miserable fate it underwent vvhen it came to sale they know vvho grieve for such a losse never to be repaired For this most rich Library might yea and ought to have bin reserved for the Muses or at least those precious Books vvhich by infinite Labour vvere procured from all the choisest Libraries in the World should have bin sold all together but the renowned Genius of this Librarie being extinct so fate ordered the matter that being torn into piece-meales it miserably perished vvhich is so ordered I conceive by the eternal providence of God that all men may remember in the midst of their most eager Collections of Books vvho are apt with too much confidence to brood over their learned Treasures that such things as are collected in time will likewise after certain revolutions passe away with time His Manuscripts doubtles had better fortune For that excellent and learned Man Petrus Puteanus when he was living caused very providently his said Manuscripts to be separated from the rest of the Books both to preserve the Labours of his friend from perishing and to satisfie the learned Common-wealth which is extream thirsty after abstruse knowledge Having therefore put all the sheets being in certain bundles according to the accurateness
Chartrenses of Montriou Valbonne Val St. Marie de Vrbonne de Verne Bompas LXXVII Avenion Letters of Pope Clement the 4th The Earl De Venisse LXXVIII Aurenge LXXIX Very rare Memorials for the History of France chiefly touching the troubles of the Ligue or Confederacy in general and what happened in Provence touching the same Divers curious Relations made by Mr. Peiresk in Conferences Ancient Parliaments LXXX Grotius Querengus LXXXI The third Discourse and Commentaries of Mr. Lewis de Perussiis Esquire de Coumons Knight of the Kings Order also the Continuation of the Warre and Troubles of those times from the 22th of February 1554. to the year 1581. LXXXII The Bull of the Legation of Avenion The End Courteous Reader these Books following are printed for Humphrey Moseley at the Princes Armes in Sr. Pauls Church-yard Various Histories with curious Discourses in humane Learning c. 1. HIstoricall relations of the united Provinces of Flanders by Cardinall Bentivoglio Englished by the Right Honorable Henry Earle of Monmouth Fol. 2. The History of the Warrs of Flanders written in Italian by that learned and famous Cardinal Bentivoglio Englished by the Right Honorable Henry E. of Monmouth The whole worke Illustrated with a Map of the 17. Provinces and above 20 Figures of the thiefe Personages mentioned in this History Fol. 3. The History of the Warrs of the Emperor Justinian with the Persians Goths and Vandalls written in Greek by Procopius of Caesaria in eight Bookes translated into English by Sir Henry Holcroft Knight Fol. 4. De Bello Belgico the History of the Low-Country Warrs written in Latine by Famianus Strada in English by Sir Robert Stapylton Illustrated with divers Figures Fol. 5. The use of passions written by I.F. Senalt and but into English by Henry Earle of Monmouth 8o. 6. Judicious and Select Essaies and observations by the Renowned and learned Knight Sir Walter Raleigh with his Apology for his Voyage to Guiana Fol. 7. The Compleat Horseman and Expert Farrier in two books by Thomas De Grey Esquire newly printed with additions in 4â— 1656. 8. Unheard-of curiosities concerning the Talismaticall Sculpture of the Persians The Horoscope of the Patriarchs and the judgment of the Starrs by J. Gafâ—nel Englished by Edmund Chilinead Ch. Ch. Oxon. 9. The History of the Inquisition composed by â— F. Servita the compiler of the History of the Councill of Trent in 8º traslated out of Italian 10. Biathanatos a Paradox of self-murther by Dr. Jo. Donne Dean of St. Pauls London 11. The Gentlemans Exercise or the Art of limning painting and blazoning of Coats and Armes c. by Henry Peacham Master of Arts 4o. 12. M. Howels History of Lewis the thirteenth King of France with the life of his Cardinal de Richelieu Fol. 13. Mr. Howels Epistolae Ho elianae Familiar letters Domestick and Forren in six Sections partly Historicall Politicall Philosophicall the first Volume with Additions 8o. 14. Mr. Howels new volume of Familiar letters partly Historicall Politicall Philosophicall the second Volume with many Additions 8o. 15. Mr. Howels third Volume of Additionall letters of a fresher date never before published 8o. 16. Mr. Howels Dodona's Grove or the Vocall Forest the first part in 12o. with many Additions 17. Mr. Howels Dodona's Grove or the Vocall Forest the second part in 8º never printed before 18. Mr. Howels Englands Teares for the present wars 19. Mr. Howels Fre-eminence and Pedegree of Parliament in 12o. 20. Mr. Howels Instructions and Directions for Forven Trvels in 12º with divers Additions for Travelling into Turky and the Levant parts 21. Mr. Howels Vote or a Poem Royall presented to his late Majesty in 4o. 22. Mr. Howels Angliae Suspiria lachrymae in 12o. 23. Marques Virgilio Malvezzi's Romulus and Tarquin Englished by Hen. Earl of Monmouth in 12o. 24 Marques Virgilio Malvezzi's David persecuted Englished by Ro. Ashly Gent. in 120. 25. Marques Virgilio Malvezzi of the successe and chiefe events of the Monarchy of Spain in the year 1639. of the revolt of the Catalonians from the King of Spain Englished by Rob. Gentilis Gent. in 12o. 26. Marques Virgilio Malvezzi's considerations on the lives of Alcibiades and Coriolanus Two famous Roman Commanders Englished by Rob. Gentilis 27. Policy unveiled or Maximes of State done into English by the Translator of Gusman in 4o. 28. Gracious priveleges granted by the King of Spaine to our English Merchants in 4o. 29. Englands looking in and out by Sr. Ralph Maddison Knight 4o. 30. Gratiae Ludentes jests from the University 31. The Antipathy between the French and the Spanyard an ingenious translation out of Spanish 32. Mr. Birds grounds of Grammar in 8o. 33. Mr. Bulwers Phylocophus or the Deafe and Dumb mans friend in 12o. 34. Mr. Bulwers Pathomyotomia or a Dessection of the significative Muscles of the Affections of the Mind 12o. 35. An Itinenary containing a voyage made through Italy in the years 1646 1647. illustrated with divers Figures of Antiquity never before published by John Raymond Gent. in 12o. Books in Humanity lately Printed 36. THe History of Life and Death or the prolongation of Life written by Francis Lord Verulam Viscount St. Alban in 12o. 37. The naturall and experimentall History of Winds written in Latine by Francis Lord Verulam Viscount St. Alban translated into English by an admirer of the learned Author 12o. 38. The life of the most learned Father Paul Authour of the History of the Councill of Trent translated out of Italian by a person of quality 8o. 39. Paradoxes Problems Characters by Dr. Donn Dean of St Paul's to which is added a booke of Epigrams written in Latin by the same Author translated by Iasper Main D. D. 12o. 40. Ignatius his conclave a Satyr written by Dr. Donne Deane of St. Paul's 12o. 41. A Discovery of subterraneall Treasure viz. of all manner of Mines and Minerals from the Gold to the Coale with plain directions and rules for the finding of them in all Kingdomes and Countries written by Gabriel Platt 4o. 42. Richardi Gardiner ex Aede Christi Oxon. specimen Oratorium â—o. 43. The Soveraignty of the British Seas written by that learned Knight Sir Iohn Burroughes Keeper of the Records in the Tower 12o. 44. Grammatica Burlesa or a new English Grammar made plaine and easie for Teacher and Schollar composed by Edward Burles Master of Arts. 45. Artificiall Arithmetick containing the Quintessence of the Golden Rule the true valuation of all Annaities also to find the distance at one station An Art never till now published usefull for Merchant Gunners Seamen and Surveyors by Robert Iager of Sandwich in Kent Gent. 46. Naturall and Divine Contemplations of the Passions and Faculties of the Soul of Man in three books written by Nicholas Moseley Esq 8o. Seâ—â—rall Sermons with other excellent Tracts in Divinity written by some most eminent and learned Bishops and Orthodox Divines 47. A Manuall of private Devotions Meditations for every day in the week by the right
His Uncle was not willing that he should spend three years upon Philosophie 1597. but after he had spent a year at Tournon he would needs send for him back again to Aix that he might study Law because when time should come he was to be one of the Senate This also he desired while he was yet at Tournon for he wrote unto him that he should timely take in hand the Manuall of Rubricks but he to deferr yet a little longer the study of Law wrote thus by way of excuse Your desire was Uncle that I should seriously addict my self to the study of Oratory That shall therefore if you please be now my businesse because this place is very convenient for that purpose and I will then begin to study the Law when I leave this Citty Howbeit you may please to command me what you shall thinke most couvenient for if you shall persist to requirè my returne I shall in all things shew my self ready to fulfill your pleasure Therefore being called home he addicted himself to study Law under the Turorage of Franciscus Fortius Andinus who being an Advocate in the Court at Aix and very skillful to teach the Lawes was withall able to compare with any man in the more polite studies of Humanity This man being much resected by the Parents of Peireskius began with much care to read unto him the Institutions and he himself partly through occasion of this study and partly that he might not wholly intermit the course of those learned Studies which he had begun he took in hand of his own Head to make a Catalogue of those Emperors who had made the Lawes He made also a Catalogue of the Consuls and other Magistrates in their order searching every where for their Coines that he might know the Law-makers as well by their Countenances as their Acts. Also he endeavoured to get the Pictures of all the most famous Lawyers that so when he met with any of their Reports and Interpretations his memorie might be strengthened by calling to minde their Countenances Also there was at the same time at Aix Petrus Antonius Rascasius Bagarrius a most skillfull Antiquary for afterwards Henry the great moved by the famous report that went of him sent for him and made him the Master of his Jewells and Rarities Peireskius therefore did at spare times frequently visit him to question and learn of him and he admiring his Sagacitie and Learning and friendly embracing his ardent desire of further knowledge joyned with modesty he could not conceale any thing from him 1598. for he both shewed him divers Rarities divers daies together and also brought forth his Books to strengthen and make good his own conjectures and explications making no bones to allow and commend the peculiar Interpretations of Peireskius When the year was over he went again to Avenion where he had a private Master named Petrus David a Burgundiau who was afterwards a Judge in criminall causes at Semur in his own Country This man likewise besides his ability in Law was also well seen in the more polite studies of Humanity and Antiquity and that made him well content that Peireskius to the study of Law joyned his care in searching after Antiquities And therefore it was that he wrote frequently to Bagarrius touching Coines and other rarities Once he sent him a writing of all the Rarities which he had observed in the Closet of one Romeus Arelatensis and among other things he sent him the pattern of a sculpture of Deianira ravished by Nessus which was engraven upon a neat Jasper stone Sometimes also having gained fair pieces of the Coines of Nero and Vitellius he sent them to his Uncle beseeching him to beautifie them and make them like the Hercules and Agrippa which he had by him adorned He also entreated him to send him a certaine Ring which he hoped to change for a Cornelian or Onyx stone which he he said was graven by a most excellent workman and of inestimable value though unknown to him that had it I ser down these passages instead of many others that it may appear how skillfull he was even at that Age in these kind of Curiosites But he that most of all did feed his curious mind was Petrus Antonius Ghibertus of Naples who was then Auditor to Cardinall Aquaviva For he shewed him certain rarities such as had never been seen before and among other books he lent him for divers daies together some of Hubortus Goltzius his setting forth which he had not before perused Moreover seeing that he was of a quick and piercing spirit he advised him to make a journey into Italie where he should find especially at Rome curiosities wherewith to satisfie his desires He was 18. years of Age when thinking to take a journey into Italie he did learn the Art of swimming Before that he was wont in the summer to wash himself in the lesser stream of the River Rhodanus which runs by the Head of the Island Barthalasse and into which the Brook Serga empties it self Once upon a time he felt the ground which he had wont to find even and fort to be grown hard with little round balls or bunches like hard boiled Eggs when their shell is peeled of At which wondering he took some of them up and carried them home that he might shew them to his Master demand of him the reason But the miracle was increased when a few daies after returning to the River he sound those little balls or lumps turned into persect pebble stones which he observed likewise to befall those which he had carried and laid up at home And upon this occasion he began to play the Philosopher and to enquire into the Generation of stones but of that hereafter Finally having a longing desire to visit Rome and fearing that his Parents would not give way he requested onely that they would send him to Padua which was then famous for Law-studies Now he thought with himself that the year of Jubilre being at hand he might upon that occasion go from Padua to Rome In the beginning of the year 1599. the Cardinall Joyeux being to return into Italie 1599. intended to go to Ferrara Because Pope Clement the second was come thither to take posession of that Territorie fallen to him by the Death of Alphonsus Attestinus the second of that name therefore the Cardinall directed his journey thither and not to Rome And therefore Peireskius had a great desire to put himself and his Brother into the Cardinalls retinue but his Parents consented not For they resolved to satisfie his laudable desires but they thought it best that they should stay till Autumne both that the weather might be more temperate and that the youths might inure themselves to another Climate rather in the winter then the following summer as also that necessaries for their journey might be the better provided For in the first place there was a tutor to seek who might regulate both