graffest by art spâ—igges or twifâ—es or takest away the branches by violence yet notwithstanding they will bring forth new branches in their owne naturall height The like is in beastes and other naturall things whereof is risen that old adage Thou canst not make a good Goshauke of a Bustard nor a good Courtier of a countrie clowne for as Horace saith The pot a long time doth retaine the smell and eke the tast Of liquor wherewithall it was besmeared at the first And albeit thou doest deuide dame Fortune with a furke Yet she againe togither runnes and there she needs will lurke Cocumque ferar Which way so euer I be carried The shelfâ—sh or cocâ—â—â— fish either of his câ—â—e or by his forme is alwayes readie to 〈◊〉 this câ—imie because which way soeuer he falleth he hath his prickes vpward So the wicked and vngodly do continually hurt and oppresse with extreme miserie those with whom they haue to do Spe illectat inani The world delighteth vs with vaine hope The sweete baites of worldly thinges if they be considered a farre off do promise great things to men and lift them vp into a wonderfull hope but if they be considered neere hand thou shalt finde that they are nothing but meere vanitie and deceipt Such be the snares of batfowlers cunningly framed to intrappe the poore birds Vlterius ne tende obijs Go no further for feare of Gods wrath The power of man neither can nor ought to attempt ought against the power of God as it was reuealed to Valentinus the Emperor Gregory Nazianz. who being infected with the heresie of the Arrians after that he had writ with his owne hand many things concerning the prescription and banishment of Basill he was not able to make an end his penne refusing three times to let downe any more inke Notwithstanding he restrained not himselfe from confirming and ratifying his wicked law and decree before a great trembling inuaded his hand wherewith he being strooken and conceiuing great feare withall what so euer he had writ he rent it presently Haec conscia numinis aetas This age knoweth God aright About the raigne of Augustus Caesar as Plinie beareth record there appeared at Rome a starre garland Plinie or crowne round about the sunne as it had beene of wheate eares with circles of sundrie colours Sueton. Suetonius speaking of this wonder remembreth but of one circle like the rainebowe compassing in the globe of the same But Dion following narrowly the description of Plinie Dion besides that strange starre which then appeared and that vnaccustomed affirmeth also that the light of the sunne was darkened by reason of three other greater circles compassing it about one wherof represented the forme of a garlaÌ„d of eares Dion addeth farther that the sun gaue somwhat a dimme light now then in the night But this is certaine that our Lord Iesus Christ the true light and true sonne of righteousnes was borne in the dayes of Augustus Caesar whose birth and comming into the world bringing a heape of al goodnes to man might as wel be reuealed by the ministerie of the angels as his passion and death was foreshewed according to the Gospel to wit when the son was obscured and darknesse was throughout al the world But it ought not to seeme strange although the signes and wonders that went before Christs birth were obserued of the heathen albeit otherwise ignorant when as those things which followed his passion and resurrection were had in great estimation to wit the darkenesse being noted by Dionisius Areopagita whilest that wandring thorow Egypt with Apollophanes his schoolemaster he studied Philosophie through the greatnesse of his wit and knowledge Suidas perceiuing the sun to be darkned beyond the course of nature said either the God of nature doth suffer or the engine of the world is dissolued Plinie in his 2. booke Moreouer concerning the earthquake before the resurrection of Christ in Plinie after the iust computation of yeares we find these verses written and recorded An earthquake huge in Caesars dayes Tiberius did befall Where thorow twelue cities of Asia were quite subuerted all Haud sidit inane An egge being emptie swimmeth aloft An egge that is new and full of iuyce being cast into the deepe Plinie Quintil. sincketh downe presently but a rotten one being cast into the water swimmeth a loft So by how much the lesse wisedome is in a man by so much the more doth he bewray his folly by his selfe loue and ambition Vpon the other side how much the wiser a man is so much the humbler and quieter of minde he is and far from all braging and ostentation Infringit solido He breaketh the rocke He that studieth to reproch or to slander the godlinesse or constancie of a wise man the euil it selfe shal light vpon his owne head euen as an arrow shot against a hard stone or rocke resulteth back againe and hurteth him that cast it Sans autre guide Without any guide Brome stalkes or other boughes tyed to stiles or stucke vp by heapes of stones erected by trauellers to direct them in their way signifieth that vertue is the onely guide to euerlasting felicitie Fata obstant Destenies do withstand The getting of riches and desired happinesse is a thing verie hard and vneasie to be come by Adde hereto that pouertie doth greatly hinder the same good proceeding and remoueth the accesse to the same Terit teritur It weares and is worne As a stone sharping of iron by continuall rubbing of the same iron is consumed so the wicked and he that followeth contention vexeth and tormenteth himselfe so that he may bring others to destruction Sic praedae patet esca sui So her meat lyeth open to her own destruction The great commoditie which the fish called a Purple receiueth by his tongue is so much the more to be esteemed because thereby shee getteth her liuing But for that sometimes euill happeneth to her thereby there is she so much the more to feare because by the same she may incurre the danger of death and become a pray to the fishers Euen so standeth the office or dutie of mans tongue whilest it is wisely gouerned it is a most precious iewell contrarily it being giuen to backbiting cogging lying bretheth forth fearefull and deadly poyson whereof it groweth that the common sort cal such a tongue grandem linguam a brode or large tongue or a blabbe tongue Verie wel therefore is it compared to the tongue of a great purple fish because there cleaueth to the palite of her mouth a purple red humor signifying allegorically the cruel poison of an euill speaker a backbiter and a bloodie fellow Candor illaesus Brightnes that cannot be annoied Clemens de Medicis the seuenth of that name Bishop of Rome vsed for his Ensigne a blasing starre or comet Aristotle for the explaining thereof saith Aristotle Euen as euerie newe comet hath neuer heeretofore
THE HEROICALL DEVISES OF M. CLAVDIVS PARADIN Canon of Beauicu Whereunto are added the Lord Gabriel Symeons and others Translated out of Latin into English by P. S. LONDON Imprinted by William Kearney dwelling in Adlingstreete 1591. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL THE RENOWMED CAPTEINE Christopher Carleill Esquier chiefe Commander of her Maiesties forces in the Prouince of Vlder in the Realme of Ireland and Seneshall there of the Countries of Clandeboy the Rowte the Glins the Duffre and Kylultaugh RIGHT Worshipfull being mindfull of the saying which the auncient poet Hesiod vseth whereby he doth iustly admonish as imitating the earth to recompence benefites with increase though I dispaire to requite your manie curtesies affoorded me so must be checked of that dumbe creature yet I intende to imitate the the rockes and answer so loud a voice with a resounding Echo and though in comparison of the voice I speake but the last sillable yet I hope your Worship regarding rather my good meaning than my gift will affoord your patronage to this little booke shrowd it vnder the protection of your Heroicall spirit where I doubt not it shall obtaine fauour and thereby find passage without repulse seeing also it containeth in it that which most men desire both delight to the eye and harmonie to the eare pleasure to both and offence to none I haue the rather presumed to hope of your Worships good acceptance for two causes the one for that I see the like to haue ben done in the same booke being in French and Latin by verie honorable and vertuous personages to whom in mine account your Worship is nothing inferior For to omit al discourse and to touch only the bare names of some things managed by your selfe Let the sundrie great proofes of your martiall seruices and worthie aduentures as well by land as by sea witnes what your deserts haue bene which the Spanish west India with losse and griefe Muscouia or Russia with worthy commendation France the Low Countries and Ireland with renowmed fame haue with generall voice and consenting occurrencie euen from them all to both farre and neere sounded emblased wherein can not be forgotten your zeale alwaies shewed towards Christs Gospell besides manie other your rare vertues accōpanied with a cherefull liberalitie and a most curteous affabilitie towards all men whereof my selfe among the rest haue sufficiently tasted from time to time The other for that sometimes I haue noted your Worship to be well delighted with the substance nature of this worke as well in your beholding of some other mens Emblemes which haue bin worthie personages as also in your deuising setting downe some from your owne conceit which if I coulde haue recouered as once I was promised and shewed some of them by one of your seruantes who is now in Irelande I had here adioined them vnto the others And so fearing I haue ben somewhat too tedious I humbly take my leaue in recommending my labor to your good fauour and my selfe to do you seruice in any thing I may be able London the third of Ianuarie 1591. Your Worships most humble to command William Kearney To the most worthie knight Theodot of Marze Lord of Belleroche Lassenaz c. Claudius Paradin sendeth greeting AS varietie of pictures yeeldeth great pleasure and recreation vnto man so likevvise the profit and commoditie that is reaped from them is not to be had in little regard or estimation forasmuch as by the vse of them vexations both of bodie and minde vvhich are othervvise intollerable are easily mollified and assvvaged The truth hereof hath beene at all times vvell knovvne to our auncestors and amongst them especially to great kings princes and potentates vvhich carrying at all seasons in their hautie and heroicall minds an expresse patterne image of vertue haue hereby continued a perpetuall memorie of the same being verie apt in his ovvne nature to decay and be forgotten The first and originall cause of this practise vvas this that diuerse men according to the diuersitie of their speciall conceites and inuentions vvere giuen to represent and expresse the same vvith sundrie formes and pictures as it stood most vvith ech mans fansie good liking These their deuises being thus set dovvne in picture are tearmed their armes for that they vvere painted in their armes and in their bucklers targets or other militarie furnitures for they tooke great pleasure to commende and beautifie in any sort that thing in the vvhich they reposed a great hope of their securitie and in their vvarres vvhere death vvas alvvaies present before their eyes they desired continually to carrie about them these deuises vovving as it vvere therby as vvel to die as liue vvith these monuments and memorials of vertue This commendable practise grovving by little little vvas at length augmented vvith the addition of certaine short and pithie sentences for the better information of such as vvere learned vvhich being ioyned vvith the former deuises are vsed by certaine noble personages vntill this present age as it appeareth manifestly in the sumptuous buildings and stately Courtes of great kings and princes vvhich are so copiously enriched vvith such Emblemes and monuments that this practise seemeth to be more esteemed in these our daies than in anie former ages Wherefore vvhen I considered all these things vvith my selfe and vvithall at the vnestimable benefit commoditie of these pictures I thoght it not altogither vnprofitable to bestowe sometime in coupling and gathering together of such amongst the rest as either were chiefely commended vnto vs by our ancestors or are specially vsed amongest great men at this day or else are founde in the olde histories to be most memorarable of principal note regard And in so doing as the olde Aegiptians vvere wont to expresse their intentes and meanings by their Hierographicall letters so hope I by this meanes to stirre vp diuerse men to the apprehension and loue of vertue and for that cause I haue hereunto the rather added certaine scholies or briefe notes for the better vnderstanding of such matters vvhich othervvise seme to containe some difficultie And vvhereas right Noble Sir you are alvvaies giuen according to the naturall disposition of your ancestors to al good knowledge vertuous exercise I am emboldned to offer vnto you this small packet of Deuises as a pledge of the good vvill and affection that I haue to do you seruice assuring my selfe that you vvill take no lesse pleasure in perusing of them than you haue alvvaies had delight to see vertue in any sort reuerenced or exalted DEVISES Nullis praesentior aether God is more fauourable to none The letter TAV saith Hierome vpon Marke being one of the Hebrew Alphaber Hierome in Eze. 9. is a most healthfull and sacred letter and also a true note or type of the crosse it selfe because that this letter in the holie tongue signifieth a marke Some partly who mourned ouer the abhomination of Ierusalem to bee
forme of a blasing starre glittering on euerie side with arrowes as it were in fashion of a round circle for a continuall admonition to implore and call for Gods direction and mightie arme in this his voyage and iourney Vnica semper auis But alwayes one Phenix in the world at once Like as the Phenix wherof there is but one at any time to be seene Theoph. is a rare bird so all good precious things are hard to be found These armes the famous and renowmed woman the Lâ—dy Helionora of Austria vsed which was the widow of Francis king of France ΑΠΑΑÎΩΣ Without all falshood or deceipt The french arming sword in the hands of an armed man with the inscription of this Greeke word ΑΠΑΑÎΩΣ doth at this day in the place of the armes which the Lord Constable vsed signifie faith Riens ne Ì est plus Plus ne Ì est riens I haue no more ioy no more comfort remaineth to me Valentina of Milan sometime Dutchâ—sse of Orleans had great cause to passe her dayes in great heauinesse and mourning both for the death of her husband Lewis â—â—other to king Charles the sixt as also for the same kings vnfortunate phrensie whereof we spake before in the handling of his aâ—mes which vsed to come on him at certain times and when it tooke him he knew not any of his friends no not the queene his wife but only this Dutchesse Valentina whom he called when he was in this extremitie his sister Whereupon there was a rumour blowne abrode that the Duke the father of this Valentina hauing sometimes bene ouerladen with drinke had caused some poyson or charmed potion to be giuen him which report this Valentina tooke verie grieuously yea so grieuously indeede that in place of all consolation and ease of her mourning she vsed for her cognizance an earthen pitcher in fashion like a water pot on the mouth whereof was the character of this letter S. signifying perhaps these words concerning the same Dutches SolaÌ„ saepe seseipsaÌ„ sollicitari suspiraréque that is being alone shee accustomed to mourne and to sigh with her selfe togither with these words subioyned Nil mihi praeterea Praeterea mihi nil Which is nothing remaineth to me nothing haue I more The which emblemes with the like inscriptions are to be seene described in many places in the Franciscan friers church at Bloyes and in the same Dutches chappell where she lieth buried in a tombe of brasse and also in the porch or entrie on euery side of the quite of the same church Pour vn aultre non To none other Andreas Lauallus the french Admiral was wont to giue for his ensigne a burning Ore which is yet to be seene in the suburbes of the cittie Melus It is also a signification of feruent and dutifull zeale towards the king and countrie and especially in that iourney that they tooke by sea through the great Occean Fata viam inuenient Fortune shall shew the way This simbole of the Labirinth which the Lord of Boisdaulphin archbishop of Ambrune vseth may perchance signifie that we are lead by the grace of God to finde the way that leadeth to eternall life the same giuing the thread as it were of his holy precepts into our hands which when we haue once taken hold of and do follow we turne away from the dangerous wandrings and feareful by wayes of this world Quid non mortalia pectora cogis Filthy loue constraineth men to commit all wickednesse Cleopatra taking it grieuously Plinie and also in great disdaine that Marcus Antonius should make triall so oft of her loue vpon a time at a banquet and merrie meeting whether it were to giue him occasioÌ„ neuer to be distrustfull any more after or for some other cause she began to delight him verie voluptuously after her old fashion that she vsed namely with diuers and sundrie garlands of flowers whose leaues were all besprinckled with poyson Some of the which she wearing vpon her head picked them out and brusing them a little cast them into his cuppe or goblet perswading him to drinke it off But whilest he was about to do it she putting her hand to it said thus Oh my sweete heart Antonius I surely am the woman which if I could liue without thee haue now a iust occasion to do that which by your curious trials you seeme to feare And hereby we may see what may be the audacitie and impudent boldnes of a shamelesse woman In sibilo aurae tenuis In the muttering of the gentle aire Musicke is of it owne nature an enimie to melancholy and therefore is able to qualifie any furie that riseth of a vehement melancholie Wherefore she is able also to driue away heauines and dulnesse which proceed of blacke choler being ouerwhelmed and suffocate with flegme With the which one hath recorded that once he saw a man sore troubled and so sound and fast on steepe that you could by no meanes get a word of him but onely by a harpe sounding in his eares at the pleasant harmonie whereof he lifting vp his head laughed answered to their demands Which thing is an argument that there is no small affinitie betwixt Musicke and the soule Elizeus the prophet hath plainely declared the same vnto vs 4. King 2 when to call againe his propheticall spirite and to make supplication to God for a remedie of his people that then were like to perish with extreme thirst he commanded one that had skill to play on the harpe to be called for vnto him and in that sort obtained at the hands of God that which he desired in his prayers and supplications And what say you to Dauid the Musitian who is now dead rotten 1. King 17 Did not he comfort and recreate King Saul his soule being vexed with an euill spirite when as so long as he played vpon his harpe the wicked spirite left to molest him Therefore this consonant musicke hath a certaine diuine grace in it for as much as it doth not onely restore helth to bodies that are sicke but alâ—o stiâ—reth vp the soule to contemplation comforteth the same and maketh it heauenly as it were wherefore it is an enimie euen to the verie diuels which doubtlesse are nothing else than desperation deiection of the soule feare and an obstinate desolation Finally as in Musicke of different voices there is made tunable musicke so of men also that are of one minde there may be made a consent of contrary natures and manners which God accepteth aboue all other things that may be obserued or kept Finem transcendit habendi He passed the ordinarie meanes of getting and possessing riches The wicked couetousnesse of Calephas Baldacensis chiefe bishop of the Mahomets law wrought a verie euil end for himselfe for being taken in wars Haalon prince of Tartaria commanded him to be handled according to bis insaciable greedinesse that is that insteede of his daintie dishes nothing should be set before
equitie of his lawes and statutes restraine the wicked rebellious and seditious with those that oppose themselues against his authoritie and office Vlteriùs tentare veto I forbid to attempt anie further Before the comming of Christ the Pagans and heathen Gentiles had the truth of the mysterie of the trinitie reuealed vnto them as it was prophesied of the God of the Sabines whom they called Sanctum Fidium holy lond Fla. and trustie and Semipater halfe a father They carried him into the citie affirming that hee consisted of three names when in deede he was but one And although there was a temple consecrate to that trinitie on Quirinal hill yet carried it the name but of one onelie And of such great estimation was that three fold image that in al ages it had the soueraigntie where vnder was figured the trinitie of the Godhead is one vnitie to wit Deus fidius Plinie which was the middest God Thus the nation of the Sabins was most religious and therefore haue they purchased them a name accordingly Neither is it to be doubted but that the olde Gentiles to whom religion was more acceptable had greater light and knowledge of the true faith Seruitus libera Free seruice The rigor of Moises law towards seruants was such Exod. 21. Deut. 15. that he who had fulfilled the exact time of his bondage a choise should be giuen him either to be set at libertie or else to be bondman to his maister as long as he liued If the seruant choose to be bonde his maister should bore his eare with an alle that was called free wil seruice The same ought euery christian man to do who as it were a free seruant vnder the law of grace ought to offer his eare to God that he may make it capable obedient to his commandements This great benefit is to be imbraced of all men which thing the Psalmist semeth to insinuate in this place where he saith Psal 39 thou hast bored or made readie my eares There are others that interprete the place of Moises otherwise that such voluntarie bondage did signifie those that gaue themselues wholy to earthly pleasures reseruing no time to amendement nor yet euer seeking to redeeme themselues into the libertie of the spirit of God which is our seruice by faith in Iesus Christ wherefore their eares doe signifie perpetuall calamitie and miserie Sic terras turbine perflat So he troubleth the earth with whirlewindes God our creator as Saint Peter 1. Pet. 5. â—ames 4. Luk. 1. Iames and Luke doe witnes doth resist the proude the high minded louers of themselues and the arrogant but giueth grace to the humble and lowlie Wherein he seemeth to imitate the lightning which leaueth vntouched thinges that are low and striking those that are loftie and high as Horace in these wordes beareth record The pine apple tree is tost with windes and haughtie turrets soone do fall The lightning eke doth fiercelie beate The mountaines high and tall Also Ouid. Enuie doth often soare aloft and windes beate places hie And lightnings eke assault the place that mounts vp to the skie Vel in ara And that on the holie altar Galeatius Marie duke of Milan the sonne of Francis Sforce was of such effeminate libidinous disposition of minde that he offered violence defiled honorable matrones and chast virgins Which extreame wickednes made him so odious both to his owne nation to strangers which were subiect vnto him also that in the ende it grewe to be his destruction For one Andrew Lampugnan of Milan a courtier with the assistance of two of his companions grieuously offended at him especially for the intollerable oppression which the said duke had vsed against a certaine abbot his brother and that in the abbey or monasterie conspired his death Which conspiracie after that Lampugnan had once conceiued in his minde fearing to set vpon the prince or to smite him whose beautie comelines and maiestie danted and appaled him inuented a way whereby he might both perseuere also bestrengthened and confirmed in his purpose to wit he caused an image of the duke to be ingrauen verie cunning lie in a table whereunto as often as hee came hee thrust his sword thorow it hauing vsed this policie a while he was greatly confirmed to performe the deede and entetering the church with the rest of the same conspiracie he meeteth the duke garded with a great traine as it were to salute him and giuing him three great woundes in the bellie he slue him Thus died this miserable and wicked prince who considered not the saying of Claudian that neither watching by night nor garding by day of troupes bands of men keepeth not the person of the prince so sure as loue doth And truly our God a iust God of reuenge hath commended to vs amitie friendship and peace one with another which whosoeuer doth breake and violate euerie where and to the last breath the Lord will punish him Caelitùs impendet The sword of Gods wrath hanging ouer our heads Dionysius the tyran being king of Siciâ—â— vpon a time perecauing himselfe to be exceedingly praised of a certaine thrasonicall parasite Cicero Damocles by name for his great richeâ— costly ornaments the like accounting him happier then any man that liued besides 〈◊〉 answered the flatterer after this manner Damocles quoth he seeing that our fate doth like thee so well go to wilt thou make trial of our happines and tast of our fortune Yeâ— sir said the others if it please your grace with all my heart Wherupon the tyran commanded a chamber to be prepared for him the postes and bedsteads glistering with gold 〈◊〉 cupbordes and benches furnished with vessels of siluer curiously wrought and youâ—â— men of an excellent beautie standing aboâ—â— the table brauely attired as it were readie tâ— obey Damocles commaundement Theâ—â— were also oyntmentes corolles garlandes 〈◊〉 floures and other fragrant odours The table was furnished with all kind of dainties 〈◊〉 as Damocles thought himselfe to be in the top of all felicitie vntill at the last the tyraâ—â— commanded a naked sworde to be hanged 〈◊〉 a small haire or thread ouer the flatterer head the point thereof touching his necâ—â— where he being admonished and fearing thâ— eminent danger lothed that which before he thought to be the chiefest happines despised the beautie of the young men and disdained the dainties the golden vessels corols sweete â—dours and else whatsoeuer And being full â—f feare besought the king to ceasse from such dangerous iesting praying that such â—erilous felicitie might neuer happen vnto â—im In which thing the tyran shewed sufficiently that there was no felicitie where there was continuall feare and anguish of exâ—â— came destruction Especially if we referre â—his to the sword of Gods iustice hanging oâ—er the neckes of the wicked and vngodly as â—t were in a most small and slender thred Satis Enough Heraclitus willing to insinuate the