Neither doe I here saie that man should not at all be elder but rather that the space of eight or ten yeres might suffice so that the man at the age of twentie fiue might chuse to hym a wife at sixtene or seuentene yeres hauyng some respecte to the course or order of mannes life Also let man take to wife a woman yonge a maide of perfecte and good complexion not olde no widowe framed to the maners and humour of an other for assuredly in their tender youth thei are flexible and bendyng to what so man would haue them ▪ obedient and subiect still to his will and pleasure To whiche purpose we maie remember here thexample of Timotheus on the Flut of all others moste excellente and cunnyng whiche for honeste stipende imperted of his skill to suche as would learne of hym This Timotheus before he would begin with any whatsoeuer his scholer he vsually demaūded if that he could plaie any thing for of those that had some maner of beginnyng he euermore receiued double wage or salerie his reason was for that his pain was also double first to make them forget and forgoe their first corrupt and disordered vse in plaie and then a freshe to instructe them accordyng to his skilfull loare Whiche obseruation of his well serueth vs for widowes which are all readie trained to the peruerse appetite some tyme and fonde phantasie of others and therefore harde to bée drawen backe from the wonted and straunge deuises of their firste friende or housebande For whiche cause I preferre the mariage of a maide before that of a widow besides the singuler affection and assured remembrance whiche commonly lieth rooted in the hartes of women towardes these with whō thei first of all were acquainted Concernyng the parentaige or riches of the wife a certaine yonge man a Greke borne came on a tyme to Pitacus one of the seuen sages of Grece requestyng his aduise in his affaires of marriage One offered me saith he my choise of twoo yonge maides the one throughout myne equall in substance and in birthe the other farre surpasseth me in worshippe and in gooddes what shall I doe here in whiche shall I chuse to wife To whom Pitacus aunswered seest thou yonder children that practise them selues at wastreles go offer thy self to plaie emōgest them and thei shall giue thee good counsaile whiche he did and as he approched and offered hymself for one thei perceiuyng that bothe in force and in stature of bodie he paste them refused his companie saiyng that euery man should betake hym to his fellowe and equall Whence he well knewe for wife whō he should take in marriage Plutarche in his treatise of thinstructiō or brin gyng vp of children willeth that manne marrie not his sōne to a wife either more riche or of better familie then he saiyng that who so alieth hymself to his superiours and betters in place of friēdes and alies he findeth none but maisters And farther if a riche woman shall chuse a housebande poore pride immediatly possesseth her and mistres muste she be and sowryng a lought continuallie with proude checkes will she serue hym And farther Menander saieth that who so beyng poore and taketh to wife a woman riche maketh a plaine gifte of hymself to the woman whiche he espouseth and not she vnto hym Licurgus emong the Lacedemonians ordained a Lawe that no man with his doughter should giue any kinde of dowrie to th' intent thei trauailed t'indowe themselues with vertue for that cause and none other to be desired in marriage Although this lawe might seme now rigorous to some yet assuredly was it bothe honourable and necessarie for beyng ones well obserued in one it likely also was thai it should bee in an other as for example if the father in marriage of his wife was of no parte inrichte neither in gooddes nor in money he then the lesse to his doughter was bounde to impart with any thyng Whence it lieth euident that who so at any tyme entereth into the sacred lawes of wedlocke should haue if he well dooe no consideration at all of riches But what muche tyme should I lose if I attempted to perswade here for that all men are soiled in this lothsome abuse wiueuyng for none other cause but for pelfe onely Yet saie I notwithstandyng that when a riche man marrieth he should not consider of the wealthe or substance of the wife but of her assured vertue and modestie borowing fit example of Alexander the great who though he were so famous that all the worlde spake of hym tooke yet to wife Bersina the doughter of Arbasus not riche or glitteryng but vertuous onely and descended of noble parentage and yet in these daies who so moste hath moste busily hunteth and hungereth this drosse Hence cometh this often mislikyng in marriage for hauyng withdrawē the money that couereth for the most part all kinde of vices thei incontinently lye open more then manifeste vnto all men whiche first we would not see blinded with detestable auarice or at least seyng thē would dissemble it as guilefull doublers Neither here mislike I that man in race like or in like familie seke to hym the best or moste fittyng to his apetite as on the other side I thinke it bothe ignominious and dishonorable to matche in baser state for the onely loue and desire of money It nedeth not that I herein long dwell for the yearth it self in this case scholeth vs sufficiently bestowe who so please seede fine and delicate in a roughe soile lesse pleasaunte and vnlaboured and he shall reape there of fruite little daintie and vnsauerie yea though it spring of a séede as is afore saied verie delicate and on the other side who so bestoweth his seede lesse sauerie in a soile fatte and fertile that whiche he thence repeth shall be swete and delicate Besides if we doe our carefull paine for the better prouition of a good breede or race of horses how muche the more should we then bee circumspecte concernyng our children our successours and posteritie In my phantasie that man maketh small accompte of hymself and euill satisfieth that obligation where vnto he is borne if he leaue not his child of as honourable a linage as hymselfe receiued by dissente from his father whiche is impossible if he take wife of wourse estate or meaner condition then hymself Farther if he accompte of honour or haue it in reputation he thence heapeth to his children more ample possessiōs and greater dignitie then hymself at the firste receiued from his father How greate is mannes debte then and what should his care be to leaue his children of no imbased race but rather to better it if it be possible to the intent his posteritie finde no cause to complaine them of Paulus Emilius recordeth that Manestias an Athenian soonne of Iphicrates a moste renoumed and famous capitaine whose mother was of base and vile condition whiche notwithstandyng Iphicrates had espoused was demaunded
he was busied in his paintyng no man might disturbe disquiet or molest hym whom also while he wrought Demetrius in person came ofte times to be holde hym Besides these harde were it to remember how manie haue excelled in this skill or science as Aristides Asclepiodorus Nichomachus Paneus the brother of Fidias with a multitude of others which Plinie in his fiue and thirtie booke remembreth And to the intente that men herein chalenge not to theim selues all honour or praise as to theim belongyng onely wee may remember women their felowes and their equalles whiche haue doen straunge thinges as anie aboue remembred as for example Timerata the doughter of Miconis whiche in suche passing excellencie depainted for the Diana that it long times afterwarde was moste carefully kepte and honoured still in Ephesus Irena Calipsa Olimpia Lala Cizicena with others also many like famous for their skill in all ages to be honoured In thys our tyme also many a good worke man leueth of whom I will write nothing leste remembryng one or twoo I should wrong a greatar number Of a straunge maner of exile vsed in Athens by meanes of which the most honourable and worthiest personages were oftentymes banished without any offence or faulte at all committed Chap. 8. THE seigneurie or common weale of Athens as is to all menne well knowen was one of the most honorablest and richeste in the world for after it leaft to be gouerned by kinges restored againe vnto desired libertie it fostered and gaue forthe greate numbers of worthie men in armes no lesse excellent then in all kinde of good letters of whiche all histories are euerie where well furnished But among all other profitable lawes and customes which thei carefullie obserued for the onely conseruation of their gouernement and libertie there was one amonge the reste as well verie straunge as to theim onely proper which thei notwithstandyng déemed verie fitte and necessarie as well to represse and chastice the proude ambition and intollerable audacitie of certaine their nobles whiche waxed in oppression and tyrannie so cruell that the poore colde no where liue exempte from their malice whiche was suche as here after followeth At one certen and determinate time all the inhabitantes of what estate or conditiō soeuer had full aucthoritie to exile and banishe yea were it though without cause or reason any one of their péeres without respect for the full space of tenne whole yeres as if they hated hym or feared lest he shoulde by tyrannie vsurpe or ambitiously chuse to him the whole gouernement or state or if for any other cause in common they either did malice or disdaine his person they proceded once assembled in this sorte and maner The magistrates first of all to whom onely this charge was committed hauyng as is saied assembled the multitude together gaue to euery one of theim a little white stone or tile in which eche man should write the name of him whom he desired at that tyme aboue all others to be banished which after their inscription they restored again immediatly to the ' officers whiche stones or tiles the Greekes called Ostraci whence this maner of exile was also termed Ostracismus These stones with their inscriptions this brought in againe together thei began forth with orderly to number and if at leaste there were not founde with one inscription six thousande for in these assembles no man was against his will forced to write anie mans name in his stone vnlesse he founde hymselfe greued or otherwise for his pleasure woulde vnkindlie do it they exiled for that yere no man at al. But if there were founde six thousande or more altogether agréeyng on one and the like number againe perhappes on some other then would they carefully accompte and number their stones and he that was of moste in this sorte remembred were he though some times the most vertuous and moste riche within the citie yet was he incontinently banished for the space of tenne whole yeres without any kinde of pardon mitigation or remission Notwithstandyng in the meane tyme no man depriued hym of his possessions neither in his gooddes or landes suffered he any domage but according to his pleasure or phantasie he in all poinctes ordered theim reapyng the fruictes or commodeties thereof in as ample and large maner as if he neuer had been forced to exile at all Neither was this lawe or custome onely ordeined to chastice and correct the ambious extortioner but also to appease the rage of the common people moued at times or incenste against their Princes so that by generall consente the Commons inioynge thys aucthoritie or priuelege banished sometymes those whose absence in déede was to their coutrie verie profitable◠some tymes suche againe onely by vnkinde and vnaduised ingratitude whom for their honest seruice doen to their countrie thei neither coulde nor should without their greate harme or detrement haue wanted For proofe whereof Themistocles that excellente capitaine by whose onely counsaile and diligence Xerxes was vanquished and chast out of Grece His nauie also discomfited and scattered on the Sea neither was Athens only by hym restored to libertie but also all Grece to their desired freedom was by this practise vnkindly exiled Like salerie receiued Simon that renoumed Athenian whiche liued euen then in the same tyme with the other whiche also so often tymes had been in fielde for the safetie of his countrie wher by his prowes and counsaile he accomplished suche enterprises as peraduenture shall neuer anie one man againe after hym to wéete he subdued the Persians on the Sea and tooke of theim at one tyme twoo hundred Gallies and the same daie not hauyng throwly yet quailed their corrage landed in good order with all his armie geuing present bataile to the resude of that companie which were then landed before hym a houge and greate number whom all notwithstandyng he victoriously conquered by Sea and by lande a most fortunate Capitaine Besides these his excellente vertues he was also verie large and liberall vnto al men makyng small accompte of his goods where with fortune aboue others had largely indued hym he did continually to be opened his fildes and gardeines to the ende the indigent might thence gather suche thinges as they had néede of he secretly also gaue to all men large almes throughout the whole Citie he péetied the afflicted and comforted the néedie He farther by expresse commaundemente gaue charge to all his seruantes that if thei any where founde an olde man bare or ill appareled they forthwith should bestowe on hym that theimselues hadde on presentlye contēted to take for chaunge their meane and poore arraie To conclude he daily prouided a greate feaste for al poore men without respecte within the compasse of Athens by meanes whereof in shorte tyme he verie nigh hadde consumed whatsoeuer to hym was lefte by his father Milciades All these notwithstandyng his princelie demerites neither coulde or were able to exempte him from this exile from the
grace or fauour his laste recourse was vnto the diuine Iustice saiyng to this cruell and to this merciles capitain that sith he nedes would take his life for no cause from hym that he then presently appealed for iustice vnto God assummonyng also hym with hym that daie to appere before the Iudiciall seate or throne of the moste highest to yelde to hym accompt of that his greate iniustice in whiche same daie as the others this capitain also died and past to plaide his cause in the true courte in deede of iustice where as well maie bee presumed suche was his rewarde as his tretcherie had deserued I could here longer dwell in others like to these but for a finall example I will one onely more remember you no lesse perchaunce straunge then very true and certaine whiche happened at Magonce in Almaignie troublyng disorderyng the whole state of that citie as briefly remembreth Gontier the Poete in his descriptiō of the life and geastes of Fredericke the Emperour the firste of that name as he recordeth The bishoppe Contadus in his historie also recordeth it as also Henry the sixte soonne to the saied Fredericke In this fore saied toune then of Ments or Magonce in the yere of our Lorde a thousande a hundred fiftie or some thyng more there dwelte an Archebishop who had to name Henrie a man for his vertues of all men eche where renoumed this Archebishoppe then as became a good pastour punished synne and vice seuerely with a speciall regard to his flocke and charge true seruaunte vnto GOD and friende vnto his neighbour by occasion whereof some libertines and enemies of Gods honour beganne to malice to enuie his estate and conditiō so that he was accused of euill demanure before the Pope and saied to bée lesse worthie of suche an office or honour chargyng him with many open and slaunderous infamies whiche vnderstoode by the Pope although in trouthe he thought hym to bee bothe iuste and vertuous yet would he not deny audience to those that craued it and hauyng heard their plaint aduertised thereof incontinently the Archbishop By meanes whereof the better to discharge and pourge hym he chose out emong his friendes suche a one as he loued moste for whom also he had doen more then for any other this was a Prieste or Prelate and had to name Arnoulde highly aduaunced to sundrie dignities by the bishop This Arnoulde now was riche eloquent and learned and beyng entered into Rome suborned by the deuill determined on a sodaine to depriue his lorde and maister inrichyng hym self with that honour if it were possible whiche thyng the better to accomplishe with greate summes of money he corrupted twoo impious and twoo accursed Cardinalles before whom to the hearyng of this cause deputed in place to haue spokē the truthe as bothe faithe and loialtie willed he vttered againste hym what so he fasly could imagine saiyng that he more stode bounde to god to the truthe then in any wise he was or could be vnto man and therefore muste nedes confesse that the bishop in deede was suche as he to be was accused by meanes whereof the Pope as abused by this Arnoulde sente vnto Magonce these twoo honeste Cardinalles there to depriue and remoue the Archebishope whiche beyng arriued caused by prorses this good manne to appere before theim whose matter was there in suche order handeled that sentence was there in fine pronounced againste hym depriued of that honour and of that postorall dignitie in whose rome this Arnoulde was presently then substituted whiche so had solde his maister as Iudas did our sauiour at which sentence vttered the Archebishop saied God knoweth that I am vniustly here condemned how bee it I minde not to appeale from this your sentence for that I surely knowe that you soner shal be credited though liers then I in truthe wherefore I receiue this sentence a punishmente for my synnes appealyng neuer the lesse from you vnto the eternall Iudge before whom I assomon you all three to appere at whiche woordes these Prelates burste out into a laughter saiyng that when so he wente before thei incontinently would followe hym This chaunsed in the yere of mannes redemption a thousande a hundred fiftie and sixe whiche wronge this good priest tooke verie paciently withdrawyng hymself into a certain monasterie where he obserued the straite rules of that order without any coule or habite religious But to conclude God neuer long permitteth suche tretcherie and iniustice any where vnpunished to the intente especially that the innocencie of the iuste might the better alwaies be knowen One yere and a halfe after this this Henry died very vertuously in his Abbey mountyng straight into heauen as maie well bee presumed Newes hereof was broughte and of his death to Rome whereat these twoo Cardinalles foorthwith began to ieaste either chargyng other to séeke and searche out the Archebishop according as thei had promised And beholde immediatly or within very fewe daies afterward the one of them was so brused by mishappe of his owne seruaunte that his bowelles and intrailes burste out at his foundment The other fel madde incontinently in suche extremitie that he brake his bones eatyng and deuouryng his owne wretched carrion and as concernyng Arnoulde in recompence of his disloialtie and sedicious tumultes whiche he moste carefully fostered eche where emong the people he became so odious and lothsome to the multitude that about that tyme thei also inuironed hym shutte vp into a monasterie where in fine thei tooke hym and mangled him most miserablie castyng his carriō into the diche of the citie where it laie full thrée daies followyng all the people as well womē as menne doyng to it though dedde the moste villanie that was possible ¶ Of a pretie guile practised by a vertuous and good Quene towardes her housebande by meanes where of I ames Kyng of Aragon was begotten and of his birthe and death Chapt. 13. IN the old Chronicles or annales of Aragon it is recorded that the Lorde Peter Counte of Barcelon afterward by succession the seuenth kyng of Aragon receiued in marriage the ladie Marie doughter to the Earle of Mont Pesulin nephue to the Emperour of Constantinople a ladie no lesse faire then vertuous and honest The kyng notwithstādyng who pleased muche in varietie of concubines and therefore lesse forste of this faire and vertuous ladie not vsyng her cōpanie as reason woulde he should haue dooen ministred to her occasion of greate annoye and sorrowe and especially for that the kyng had then no issue to inherite and succede in that kyngdome after hym Wherfore by the meanes of one of the kynges owne Chamberlaines whiche also perhaps had serued hym in other suche like affaires she was conueighed vnto him though vnder the pretexte and name of an other where hauyng vsed his companie to her full contentation and the kyng perceiuyng that it drewe towardes daie commaunded her to withdrawe her self for the sauyng of his honour but she
saied my housebande and my lorde I am none suche as you suppose me to be but am your wife your obediente and your lawfull bedfellowe dooe me what paine or sorrowe shall beste like you for assuredly I will not departe out from your companie before you doe to bee called some one of sufficient credite that maie if neede bee witnes that I alone this night was with you and with none other to the intent that if it please God to graunt me to be with childe by you whiche is my sole and onely desire that the worlde then maie knowe that it also is yours The kyng consideryng of her honest guile was though in deede he thought that he had been serued otherwise contented to fatisfie that her expectation and did to bée there of witnesses twoo honest and sober gentlemē Now so it came to passe that this vertuous dame within shorte tyme after knewe well she had conceiued and at the terme by accompte well aunsweryng to this purpose was deliuered of a soonne the firste daie of Februarie in the yere of our Lorde a thousande a hundred ninetie and sixe whiche as sone as he was borne the Quéene commaunded immediatly that he should be carried to the Churche and incontinently as thei whiche is to be considered to whom this charge was carefully cōmitted were on the point of entrie into the Churche or Temple the priestes assuredly lesse wetyng of any suche matter began to syng Te deum laudamus in moste solemne maner And thence departing afterward with the saied childe vnto an other Churche thei also not knoweyng of any such gehaste commyng euen as he entred beganne that Psalme of Benedictus dominus deus Israel whiche was a meruailous signe and assured presage of the great vertue and bountie that should be in the yong prince And the Kyng and Quéene not knowyng now what name thei beste might giue hym did to bee lighted twelue Torches of equall length and bignes lottyng to euery of theim the name of an Apostle with this determination that the name of that Torche that first should be consumed should be giuen to this Prince for name at his Baptisme and the first that failed was that of sainct Iames. So afterward then baptised thei gaue hym Iames to name he was an excellente Prince in peace no lesse wise then valiaunte and fortunate in all affaires of warre His inuasions and incursions were terrible against the Mores he was large and liberall at all tymes to his souldiars and emong others his notable attemptes he leuiyng on a tyme a greate and grosse armie past into the Isle of Maiorque whiche then was onely inhabited of the Mores where he foughte many bothe bloudie and daungerous battailes but after he there long had besieged their principall citie in th' ende wonne it as all the other Isles adioignyng nigh vnto it and in fine subdued all the other Mores as also the citie of Carthage it self He had many children as well soonnes as doughters whiche all while he liued he aduaunsed to greate and mearueilous honours The Prince Peter was after hym kyng also of Aragon Iames kyng of the Isles Maiorque and Minorque his thirde soonne was Archebishop of Toledo the ladie Yollant was espoused to the kyng of Castile the ladie Isabeau to the kyng of Fraūce the ladie Vrroque to the lorde Emanuel prince also of Castile and the prince Peter in his fathers daies espoused the doughter of the kyng of Nauar. This kyng liued seuentie and twoo yeres and died then vertuously and in his death bedde chose to him the habite of a religious man renounsyng his kyngdome and his roiall scepter with assured determination if he euer had recouered of that maladie to haue imploied the residue of his daies in the sole seruice and veneration of God but his paines growyng and doublyng continually he gaue ouer vnto nature in the towne of Valence in the yere of our lorde God a thousande twoo hundred sixtie and sixe in the beginnyng of the moneth of August ¶ Of an aunciente and straunge custome obserued by the inhabitauntes of the Prouince of Carinthia at the coronation of their prince as also how thei sharply punished thieues Chapt. 14. POpe Pius the seconde of that name a manne no lesse learned then painfull and still busied in aunciente histories when he liued reporteth in his Cosmographie or description of the worlde that the prouince of Carinthia is inclosed within the territorie and seignorie of Austria saieth that the inhabitauntes there at the coronation of their prince vsed a very straunge and pretie custome whiche also is remembred by A. Sabellicus in his tenth Decade as also by Sebastianus Munsterus in his newe Cosmographie In this Prouince of Carinthia there is a greate plaine of very olde and ruinous bulidynges as if the were the steppes or monumētes of some auncient citie in whiche also standeth a certaine greate stone wherevpon at the coronation of their newe duke the daie and tyme appointed a housebande man or labourer incontinently ascendeth vnto whom that office by inheritance belongeth On his right hande standeth nigh to hym a blacke Cowe and on his left a lame a weake and an ill fauored Mare Rounde about the stone standeth a great heape of clounes or countrie carels Then commeth the Duke on with a greate noumber on horsebacke all in very good and in decent order hauyng twelue ensignes borne there before them of which one is more large and more apparent then the others whiche is borne by a certaine Earle there by especiall priueledge so now approcheth this Archduke cladde like a shepherd vnto the stone where as is plaste this carell who incontinentlie crieth out with a loude and haute voice demaunding what hée might be that cometh in such pompous in such proude arraie to whom the others aunswere that stande there about hym he is the Prince and gouernour of this countrie Then thundereth out this vilaine as harde as he maie possiblie is he a iudge rightuous will he doe iustice to all men will he seke the aduauncement and commoditie of the countrie will he defende it and saue it from the enemie Is he a free man and of a free house borne Is he valiante and worthie of honour Is he a true christian man and will he defende the faithe Thei all aunswere yea he is and euer shall be Then beginneth he againe a freashe to demaunde by what right maie he dispossesse me of this place Then aunswereth the Earle that bare that beste enseigne thou shalt receiue for this thy place sixtie Duckettes of golde this Cowe also and Mare in like sort shall be thine also the Princes roabe whiche he laste of al did of finally thy familie and kinne shall all bee free from all kinde of taxes or paimentes what soeuer This carell then giueth the Prince a small buffette on the cheke admonishing him to be an vpright and a vertuous Iudge and so leauyng the stone giueth place vnto the duke carriyng
this opinion accordyng with that whiche is redde in the scriptures where as it is saied that God made twoo excellent lightes the one to lende comforte and brightnes to the daie the other and the lesse to shine in the night But in that instant it self when the Sunne first appered he gaue light on the sodaine to the one halfe of the worlde so that in that halfe it presently was daie the other beyng darck and couered with the shadowe of the yearth How bee it it semeth reasonable that on that other moitie of the earth cladde as is saied with the night and darknes the Moone there should doe her charge and office in illightnyng it so as thei bothe were created at one and the same instant so thei bothe also might execute their office at one instante the one giuyng light and solace to the daie the other not obscuryng or darkenyng the night euenso and in suche sorte as hath in deede the texte for then was verified that parte of scripture the whole worlde through lightened bothe on the one side and the other And contrarywise if the Moone then had been founde in coniuction then this common light could not haue chaunsed vntil fiftene daies after and farther three or fower daies muste also firste haue paste before her light could haue béen seen or perceiued any where and the same should haue been a verie small light also as that whiche we see when she fower or fiue daies is of age Wherefore these two in conclusion assuredly gaue light to the whole worlde at one instante in the heginnyng And againe I saie the Moone then beyng in opposition with the Sunne of necessitie had her beyng then in the contrary signe in Libra which thing thus staÌ„dyng she executed that daie the effectes of the Sunne visityng euery parte of the worlde in that one daies course whiche to haue doen had been then impossible hadde she been plaste in any other parte of the Zodiake by meanes whereof this opinion hath more plaine and more euident shewe of truthe though Iulius Firmicus gladly would inferre that this Planette in her firste creation founde her firste place in the fiftenth of Cancer where in deede she hath her greatest dignities of whiche opinion is also Macrobius in his firste booke de somnio Scipionis As concernyng the other Planettes it should bee more difficill for me to vtter herein a truthe then in any respecte profitable to hym that would faine knowe it for which cause I leaue to dwell here on in many How bee it Iulius Firmicus in his seconde booke alleaged hardeneth hym self to assigne them their places in whiche at the firste euery of them was as Saturnê° in Capricorno Iupiter in Sagitario Marsin Scorpione Venus in Libra Mercurius in Virgine whiche are the signes in whiche thei haue greateste force and dignitie signes appoincted to these Planettes sor their houses Of whiche mynde herein is also Elpacus as well remembreth Ioannes Agricanus in his summarie intituled Agricane Macrobius also in his booke aboue alleaged De somnio Scipionis accordeth plainly with Iulius Firmicus who lotteth to them the same signes aboue remembred although others some haue supposed the contrary and that thei all in that instante were in coniunction with the Sunne whiche opinion the Mouncke walterus in his treatise of the ages of the worlde affirmeth that the aunciente Indiens helde for most assured But in truthe I suppose that god so plaste and ordered these starres eche one in his place distaunte and seuered from other not méetyng in any coniunction with the Sunne to the intent that euery of them in that firste daie might with his glitteryng beames giue light vnto the yearth whiche had béen impossible for them to haue dooen if thei had béen in coniunctioÌ„ with the SuÌ„ne for that being nigh vnto hym within the space I meane of certaine degrées he so couereth and drouneth their little light that thei or hardly or not at all might haue béen séen from the yearth But how or in what sorte so euer it were beyng created and framed accordyng to the will and pleasure of GOD it sufficeth saieth Saincte Augustine that thei were by hym in any sorte perfected and framed That men maie take example of Birdes Wormes and other creatures to liue a iust and a vertuous life Chap. 16. AS we haue aboue by occasion some thing spokeÌ„ of these creatures though to some other intent and purpose so nowe shall wee breflie and in fewe speake how their example maie bee profitable to mans bodie no lesse then to his vnderstandyng and minde For assuredly who so diligently and attentiuely will consider as well the nature as the properties also of beastes he thence shall not onelie take good instructions of life for the better preseruation and maintenauÌ„ce of the bodie but lessons also to frame and perfect his maners Whence is it that manne liueth not in peace with his neighbour seyng the ametie and concorde of beastes together how they accompanie and ioigne in one in euery kinde defending theim selues to their vtterest from the force of any other How is it that man shameth not to liue a trifelyng and an idle loyterer consideryng howe painfully and busely the poore Ante toileth in the somer gathering her prouision and store for the winter What subiectes are thei that doe not true seruice and honour to their Prince consideryng the true loue and obedience of the litle Bée towardes her soueraigne Why take not these publike weales whiche haue no Prince but liue in coÌ„mon example to liue quietly with out grudge or mutinie of the foresaide litle antes whiche dwell together in greate multitudes with good order doyng iustice eche one to the other And Princes on the other side why also aduise they theim not with what lenitie and curtesie they ought still to vse their subiectes especially when thei behold the Kyng of the Bées for no cause to greue or offende any of the others Greate Personages and noble men maie learne an example of humility by the Camell whiche then stoopeth and kneleth when he shall be charged The good and loyall husbande may learne to schole himself in the rules of chastitie by birdes by the Turtell I meane and by the Doue whiche both the male as well as also the female for none other cause then death what so euer seuer or disioigne hauing once acquainted theim selues together Farther it is also written of the Turtle that hauyng once loast by anie occasion her mate that she neuer after chuseth or lotteth to her any other Saincte Ambrose counseleth all vertuous widowes to imitate this example of continencie in the Turtle And here in most beastes excéede vs in perfection among whom as sone as the femal hath once conceaued she neuer séeketh or desireth againe the male in long tyme after They also serue vs for examples in temperancie for commonly thei wil eate no more then nature asketh ne sléepe they more then necessitie requireth To defende maintaine and well
and saiyng continually with Saincte Paule the night is paste and the daie at hande And an other saieth it is tyme that we arise and forgeate againe to sleape looke abrode ye iust and sinne not The true the holy and the immaculate Churche is semblably campared also to a Doue for as hath Salamon in Canticis O how faire and beautifull art thou O thy eyes the eyes of a very Doue Farther we sée that of fower Euangelistes thrée of theim were figured by three beastes If I woulde dwell longer in thys matter I should haue muche to doe and should parcase wearie also the reader But aboue all other examples that of our sauiour and redemour Iesus Christe is notable whiche also woulde be figured by a beaste as is euident by Sainct Ihon in his Apocalypse saiyng the Lion of the race of â—uda is victorious And Dauid in his Psalmes saieth he is raised as a LioÌ„ with many such others long to remember as S. Matthewe where he saieth O Hierusalem HierusaleÌ„ how often times would I haue gathered thy children together euen as the Henne clocketh her Chickens vnder her winges but thou wouleest not Euen so then as Christe compareth his workes to the properties of beastes so shall man doe well to receaue instructions by theim the better thence to frame and more vertuously his life And on the other side what shame and infamie is it to man to see howe beastes perfectly followe euery one their nature man the sole and onely creature that sauereth of reason so much abuseth that superexcellent gifte lente hym for he who onely should honour God most offendenth stil his maiestie far aboue al the others neglectyng and abusing his graces continually in suche sorte that some beastes there are of whom man should rather take example then of some men that liue presently among vs for more feling haue they of iustice and lesse offende they in euerie respecte then man which knoweth or should do what is his duetie And therfore saith god by the mouth of Esaie the Oxe knoweth his lorde and maister the Asse also her Cribbe or Maunger but Israel knoweth him not nether will his people vnderstande hym Why triumphes were first vsed in Rome as againe how many they were that there also triumphed what a Triumphe is and that there is twoo sortes of theim Chap. 17. MOrally to speake and after the maner of man two thinges principally moue vs to attempte greate and dangerous affaires in peace as well as also in warre The firste is renoume and honour the second none other then vtilitie and gaine The noble harte and valiaunt courage chiefly desireth and affecteth the first the minde abiecte base and vngentle gréedily hunteth for gaine and saliry Cicero in an oration of his pro Archia poeta saieth that we all are drawen with desire of commendation and who so in déede is most famous and honorable is most and aboue others stirred there with demaunding none other paiment or guerdon of his vertue then onely glory and praise of the people The same Cicero againe in an other pro Milone saieth that the true wise and valiaunt gentleman so muche toileth not at all for wage and gaine as he doeth for honour which followeth his paines Whiche thing well considered by the auncient Romaines they assuredly more sought then all other nations besides their salary to honour and extolle with all kinde of reuerence suche as had doen any notable and vertuous exploites In suche sorte that in shorte time was found in Rome more store of excellent Capitaines and prudent gouernours then in any other place through the worlde whatsoeuer by meanes wherof thei after got the vniuersall empire For which cause aswell for exaÌ„ple of this tyme present as also to content the curious in antiquities I thought it good in this place to discourse of the true order maner which the Romaines vsed in giuyng fame renoume to their capitaines victorious And for that emong al other honours the triumph was the greatest we will there begin letting the reader to vnderstande that a triuÌ„phe was a forme of entrie or welcome into Rome doen to the capitain generall with moste poÌ„pe soleÌ„nitie that was possible to be doen in any wise to man although these triuÌ„phes wer much vsed in Rome yet wer thei not the first inuentors of theÌ„ For Diodorus Siculus Plinie saie that Denis of the antiquitie called Dionis or other wise pater liber was the first that euer triuÌ„phed in the world It semeth also that the people of Carthage vsed some tymes in like sorte to triumphe for as Iustine recordeth emong other thynges that were writteÌ„ of Hasdrubal he fower tymes in his life triumphed magnifically We in maner semblable reade of the triumphes of the kinges of Egipt but principally of the kynge Sosestris How be it to speake here in truely these triumphes were neuer els where so solemnized as they were at tymes in Rome for on that daie that any Capitaine there triumphed the whole multitude ceste from euery kinde of labour as not lawfull for theim at that tyme to do any thing what so euer The inhabitantes then of euery the townes adiacent came runnyng to Rome to beholde this spectacle then was all the citie ouer the Temples the gates and the streates yea and the windowes hangde eche where with clothe of Golde and of Siluer with silkes with boughes with flowers odoriferus and with all other costly and sumptuous sightes possible which might geue any token or note of ioie The Senate the Préestes and Nobilitie of Rome with al the other citisens that were of any countinance went out into the fieldes honorably appareled to receaue hym that triumphed then entryng into Rome all clad in purple and crouned with Laurel mouÌ„ted in a coache of gold draweÌ„ with iiij white stedes All the captiues marchyng before hym attired as bond men with their heades shauen and the generall or kyng hym self that was at that tyme taken went nighest before the coache of any one other His owne Souldiars entred the Citie in good order euery of theim hauyng in his hand a Laurell Before hym also paste other Chariotes or Waggons all charged with armour taken from the ennimie with theim also past all the treasure and plate that he had gotten as well of Siluer as of Golde all the money and Iuels of what sort so euer and with the same also but a parte al giftes and presentes that he had receaued of any princes or cities frendes or assistaÌ„tes to the people of Rome Before hym also paste greate Castels Fortresses and Engines of warre most skilfully framed or facioned in woodde representyng the tounes and holdes that he had rased and in marching made shewes and countenances of battaile but especially of suche as had chaunsed theim in that voiage doone in suche sorte and so representyng the thing in deede that it made theim to tremble that attentiuely behelde it And these shewes were ordinarily
so many and so diuers that the triumphe commonlie continued full three daies to the intente that all these thinges might orderly be doen. In euery triumphe were many straunge inuentions as showes and pageantes with others the semblable long here to remember Nether was it lawfull vnto all capitaines ne yet for all victories what so euer to triumphe but certaine notable lawes and customes were established for which onely and for none other the triumphe was graunted The capitaine that demaunded that honour entered not at the firste in to Rome but the Senate woulde sende hym an aunswere thereof vnto Vatican to wéete whether they woulde licence hym to triumphe or not Firste no general or other capitaine of what condition so euer he were mighte at any tyme triumphe were he not a Consul Proconsul or Dictator for the triumphe was neuer graunted to man of meaner condition by meanes wherof it was denied to M. Mercellus that most victoriouslie conquired and subdued Siracusa as also to Scipio that ouerranne all Spain Againe to the obtainyng of this fore saide honor it was also requisite that the battaile fought with the ennimy should be greate and daungerous and that there should be slaine therin a boue fiue thousande Of these thinges writeth Valerius Maximus It is also written that Cato and L. Marius tribunes ordained a lawe to dooe sharpe and seueare animaduertion on all Capitaines that should make false report of the number slaine Neither was it sufficient to winde the battaile were it neuer so blooddy and dangerous but he also must make tributory and subiect the whole prouince leauyng it quiet and in peace to his successor bringing also home with hym his army victorious For which cause as Liuie recordeth the triumphe was denied to Titus Manlius though in truthe he hadde obtained greate victories in Spaine for that after him thei were forced to ouerrunne the countrie againe to wage newe battaile to kepe by force and defende that whiche before was gotten For this cause also Quintus Fabius the greate triumphed not though in deede he once had subdued all Cāpagna as also recordeth Valerius Maximus It also was the maner that he that triumphed should inuite to hym that might the Consuls to supper which they vtterly suche was the maner refused for that at that feaste was at no time anie to whom greater honour was doen then to the triumpher These triumphes were euer ended in the temple of Iupiter with in the Capitoll where he offered vp the whole spoile whiche he had taken from the ennimie where also for greater solemnization publicke assemble was then made And to the intente that this Capitaine shoulde not glory to muche of this honour doen to hym it is reported that a bonde man should that day be placed by hym to whom it was permitted to skoffe and deride hym in suche sorte and manner as it beste should like hym where of sundry examples are found in olde histories But to make more plaine this kinde of triumphe if it be possible we wil remember some but first of al that of Paulus Aemilius a capitaine Romaine moste famous and valiaunte to whom for that he had subdued and taken Persius king of Macedonie vtterly spoilyng and wastyng his countrie the triumphe was graunted by common suffrage of all men who as Plutarche reciteth triumphed in this maner First of all the inhabitantes of Rome as well as of other places nigh adiacente were that daie seen in their most sumptuous and riche attire euery of them indeuouring to place himself in some tootyng hole or windowe the better and with more ease to beholde this spectacle All the temples in Rome were on euery side open hangde and apparelied with moste costly furniture with grene boughes perfumes of no smal value the streates also were like gaie and glorious And for that the multitude of people in the citie was then infinite as well of straungers as also of others a number of sticklers was appoincted to make through the streates easie waie and passage and for that the diuersitie of shewes were suche and so many necessitie constrained them to parte them into three daies the first hardly sufficed in good order to bryng in the banners standardes and ensignes of the conquered the Colossi Images and tables of price whiche all were brought in on cartes verie curiously depainted and trimmed On the second daie came in the armour of the kyng conquered as also of all th' other Macedomens whiche as thei were riche bright and glitteryng so were thei with moste cunnyng to the she we ordered and couched on cartes After these cartes entered three thousande men in order bearyng nothyng but money open and to bee seen and that in houge chargers and vesselles of siluer waighyng euery one three talentes at the leaste of whiche were three hundred and fiftie in noumber fower menne lotted to euery vessell The others the residue I meane of this three thousand brought in cundites streming most artificially wrought with other plate all siluer no lesse faire then massie and in passyng of these companies in iuste and semely order thei ended the second daie in most pompous solemnitie The thirde daie euen in the breake or spryng thereof with the firste band entered a ioyous signe of conquest infinite flutes drommes trumpettes with others suche like Martiall and warlike instrumentes soundyng all togither not delicately or swetely but in moste terrible and cruell maner that was possible in suche sort as thei presently should ioigne in battaile and after them came an hundreth and twentie Kine all white hauyng their hornes curiously gilted their bodies couered with certain riche vailes whiche thei accompted as sacred or holie bearyng also garlandes of flowers on their heddes driuen by certaine yonge boies no lesse well fauoured then curiously attired to the place where thei should bee to their goddes Sacrificed after whom also came other children againe charged with greate platers of gold and siluer for the Sacrifice After these came others againe seuentie and seuen whiche in vesselles of golde carried all the gold that thei had gathered in coigne after whom came then thei that carried the greate gobblet poisyng fully tenne talentes of gold whiche Paulus Aemilius had dooen to be made sette also and inrichte with stones of rare price and thei that bare these vessels of golde were suche as were nighest and beste beloued of these kinges to wete of Antigonus Seleucus and other kynges of Macedonie and especially of Persius the honourableste of them After this followed the couche of the kynge conquered with his owne proper armour laied a parte to be seen his diademe or croune with his scepter roiall laied in semely order to the vewe vpon his armour After his coache came prisoners on foote the little infauntes his owne naturall children and followyng theim a greate troope of his seruauntes and officers as maisters of the houshold secretaries vshers comptrollers chamberlaines with others suche of his courte or familie all weepyng
and directly vpwarde for that the naturall heate is disperste in partes abrode lesse apte or lesse able to perfecte or cause digestion for neither can the superfluities bee purged well by the mouthe ne yet by any other cundites or ordinary passages but arreste theim continually in the stomacke and in the throate whence some tymes spring vehement suffocatiōs the fallyng euill also with others many the semblable and like infirmities The wise also here learne vs that we slepe not to muche stretcht forth throughout our bedde for thence again digestion of part maie also be weakened for as hath the Philosopher whē the vertues and forces are vnited well together the operation of nature is then so muche the stronger and so liyng of parte drawne as it were togither that parte of the bodie whiche couereth nexte the stomacke ioigneth more close vnto it comfortyng and warmyng it more then it did before These rules percase maie profite the daintie the delicate and eke the weaker sorte but concernyng those that are lustie and well disposed the beste aduice I maie or any other giue them is that thei retain thesame custome that thei tofore haue vsed ¶ Of three sundrie doubtes whiche the auncient Philosophers were neuer able to resolue with the causes why Chapt. 4. THE aunciente Philosophers by the meruailous instincte of God curiously searchte out the causes of eche the workes of nature assertainyng their propositions without contradiction or repugnauncie of any others Yet neuer were thei able to resolue these three thinges of parte doubtfull and of some importance with the causes assured of their spryng and beyng The first is that thei well knewe there was giuen vnto man by nature a desire neuer to dye or departe hence neuer to fele smarte or any annoye what soeuer but continually to sugiorne with felicitie perpetuall and pleasure in this worlde neuer sauoryng of any lacke or defaulte of any thyng but yet could not attaine to that desired ende or marke And on the other side well assured that GOD and Nature neuer attempted any thyng in vaine and farther that this mannes appetite proceded onely of nature toilyng supposyng herein to finde the cause especially that this axiome in any other thing neuer failed thei folded and refolded theim selues in infinite perplexities cessyng in dispaire to lose this knotte or scruple The seconde was that thei saied that eche manne felte in hym self a certaine naturall and peruerse inclination of the fleshe and farther a sensuallitie plaine contrarie to the aboue saied desire or appetite whiche was not to dye or sauour of corruption as in this carnall motion whiche casteth man into sundrie daungers and infirmities shortnyng his tyme and his daies so muche desired The semblable also riseth of excesse in surfeting besides that others some againe desirous sodainly to mounte to greate pompe and honour hassarde themselues to winde the sporres in field where cōmōly thei fall or els returne oft times with a fearce troubled minde or in fine some mishap or infortune there betides thē an ende al cōtrary to that thei so muche affected The third is that in the order of nature the bodies inferiour are gouerned by the superiours as for example the elementes by the bodies celestiall the Orbes or Spheares of the Planettes as Philosophers will by the intelligences and they againe by the first maker or mouer of al thinges God the onely and the sole cause and prince eternal But in man alone this order is now peruerted who being of two partes to weete the soule bodie we see that the fleashe in truth both vile and abiecte rageth and rebelleth against the minde and reason and that whiche worst is draweth it to his owne frowarde will and pleasure whence the Apostle saide that he in his members felte a lawe contrarie and repugnant to the lawe of reason mouyng it to sinne and to vniust rebellion The philosophers therfore that liued before the commyng of our sauiour knew nothyng at all the occasion of this disorder but curiously sekyng some cause thereof or reason fell into sundry erronious and fonde opinions Whence Anaxagoras saide that this monstrositie or disordered rebellion began at the first in the beginnyng of the worlde whē all thinges were folded without regarde or respect in that auncient Chaos for separating this force of reason by discorde and reioynyng it againe afterwarde by concorde it ingendereth euerie thing good and perfecte in his kinde man alone excepted whose body it vniteth stoberne and disloiall with the soule onely absolute and reasonable And therfore as these twoo in this Chaos firste disagreed so euer more continue thei in discorde and in enmitie contrarie to the rule and order of all other thinges In this sorte this poore and lesse aduised philosopher attributed the faulte hereof to the diuine prouidence Others also saide that this onely happened by diuersitie of constellations vnder which man was both borne and conceaued Aristotle neuer hardned himself plainly and appertly to vnknot this presente scruple but rather he gainsaieth it himself affirmyng that mans will is naturally inclined to euill so that with greate difficultie it is or maye bee brought subiecte vnto reason And in an other place hee saieth that the felicitie whiche manne by vertue here acquireth is the absolute and perfecte gifte of God alone To conclude then vertue in the action or operation where of the felicitie of man fully consisteth must be the gifte of God and not of nature onely On the other side the Manichies desirous to yelde some reason of this peruerse and iniuste order saide that in manne were twoo soules to geather the one good of the true and perfecte substaunce of the prince of light the other impious and accursed takyng his spring of the Prince of darckenes whence this warre was this in man continued Origen saieth that before the creation or frame of the worlde all soules sinnyng against the diuine maiestie were kept and reserued in heauē for a time but afterward for their punishmente were plaste againe in bodies of harde and noughtie nature whence this rebellion in man in this sorte liueth But all these opinions both erronious and detestable are confuted by Sainct Augustine writyng against the Manichies in his booke De duab anim and in an other of his De nat boni where with longe reasons most learnedly he sheweth the cause why they neuer attained to the knowleage or felyng of this foresaide disorder which was for that they neuer had hearde or knowen any thing of the scriptures by whiche we fully are resolued in euery and all these scruples by whiche also it is euident that both these propositions are aunsweryng and consonant vnto the order of nature To weete that God and nature attempte nothyng in vaine and that it againe is conuenable that man by nature should feare and refuce to taste of death desirous to liue in continued ioie and pleasure though he yet neuer attaine thereto in any sorte ne yet therfore
is this desire of his in vaine but rather accordeth perfectly with nature but not to attaine to the effecte or ende thereof is to manne an accident and therefore lesse naturall For God created man firste to liue immortall in suche sorte that accordyng to the opion of moste diuines he neuer should haue died or tasted of any miserie had he or kepte or obserued the coÌ„maundementes geuen him but hauing transgrest theim he streight became subiecte to the stormie tempestes of this world and finally to death and this by disobedience man here hath purchaste anguishe the graue and corruption So as the Apostle saieth by the sinne of disobedience death first crepte in and entered into this worlde Hence nowe it then is euident that death was neither naturall in our first father Adam ne after him in vs but casuall and accidentall as nothyng at all lesse mente vs by the diuine prouidence Now then this doubte maie also this be resolued that the desire neuer to die or to endure annoie is lent vs from nature and that not in vain for that it some tymes was in vs if manne then had not sinned assuredly to haue attained the effecte so much desired but beyng as we are rebellious and obstinate this desire still remaineth but so to be is denied vs The seconde doubte also by this meanes may be resolued for that through glotteny and venerie we hasten our fall and ruine In semblable sorte the thirde also by the sinne of Adam by meanes where of he fell from that originall iustice or state of grace whiche God before to hym had freely geuen and graunted seruyng hym to moderate his life and each his actions Whence immediatly began to followe this disordre for reason that should rule and order thinges aright lieth subiecte vnto the will and to euery the senses so that it appeareth plainly that thys peruerse order is in no respecte naturall but as is saide of fortune and altogether casuall By which meanes we here conclude that thinges of greatest excellencie and of assured perfection should and ought to gouerneth others of base condition and this neuer misseth or faileth at any tyme as is more then plaine in euerie the bodies immixte and celestiall but although in manne experience shewe the contrarie that issueth of fortune who by hys fall hath merited not that but greater punishment and not at all from nature What ceremonies the Romaines vsed before they denounced warre to any prince or countrie Chap. 5. WHo so hath readde of the holy ceremonies and religious obseruations practised coÌ„tinually by the aunciente Romaines as wel in matters concerning peace as in those also of warre maie nothing at all mearuaile of all theirs so many and so famous victories against suche migtie Princes suche warlike and bluddie nations nor on the other side might thinke it or strauÌ„ge or els impossible to sée the fatall ruine of this greate and stately empire which first of all beganne when contemptuously thei first disdained these solemnities For as we see by examples of infinite histories by how muche the more deuoutly they obserued the â—boue saide vsages so muche the more grewe this Romaine state and empire their capitaines also happy and renoumed and dreadde throughout the world as is and maie be seen in Pompe and in Brennus with others more knowen and more then I canne remember whiche though they were in deede idolaters voide of al knowledge or perfecte feling of God yet of parte it appeareth that God still was propitious to the fautors of religioÌ„ which percase might be to this and none other ende that as this people was ialous of this religion of which thei yet had no perfect nor none other assured grounde so by more sure reason they gladly should haue bene Patrones and Protectors of the true and Christian faith if it had been to theim as to vs it is reuealed By the effecte it then is euident that long tyme he kepte and preserued theim in prosperitie with fortunate successe in their affaires teÌ„porall The ceremonies then which the Romaines vsed in time of peace are many and diuers whiche I leaue to speake of for that if I should all penne theim I should wery greue percase the reader to speake therof to little were iniurious in my phantasie Wherfore I shall in this place remember fiue onely whiche they orderly obserued before thei proclaimed warre against any prince or countrie to the intent that Princes of our tyme may see how muche they erre rashlie to denouÌ„ce warre and hostilitie not crauing firste Gods assistaunce his aide and his succour and farther that thei also maie knowe that heÌ„ce onely on them befalleth commonly suche euill aduerse and finister fortune and finally how farre in pointes of religion thei in truthe be inferiour to these Ethnikes and Idolaters Now then when newes came to Rome of any rebellion or that any prince barbarous had inuaded their territories or that any other had doen iniurie to their confederates thei immediatly sente foorthe their ambassadours vnto hym by whiche the Senate by faire meanes aduised hym to make restitution of the domage and wronge committed and farther that he euer afterwarde refrained from suche incursions whiche aduise if he estemed not then did thei warre to bée proclaimed immediately The Senate then hauyng chosen some capitaine for this iourney did all their Sacrificatours incontinently to be called whiche receiued in commaundement to praie vnto their Goddes for the happie successe and good fortune of their people For the Romaines went neuer forthe to spill the blood of their enemies before their priestes had bitterly wepte and praied in their Temples After this the Senate beyng assembled all togither wente in good order to the Churche of Iupiter where solemnely thei swore al or plighted this faith that when so euer yet the enemie againste whom warre by theim was then denounced would desire a truse or peace againe with theÌ„ or otherwise would craue pardoÌ„ of his defaute that mercie should not in any case be denied hym This dooen the newe Consull chosen for this expedition hastneth theÌ„ce againe forthwith vnto the Capitoll where he voweth to hym of the Gods in whom he reposeth or moste hope or confidence that he will offer if he retourne victorious the beste thyng that he hath of what price so euer And although the thyng offered were of neuer so greate value yet were the people bound to repais it hym againe After this an Ensigne hauing in it an Egle whiche was the true and auncient armes of the Romaines was brought out into the filde of Mars whiche thei onely did to this ende or purpose that the people might knowe that it was then lesse lawfull to vse any plaies or other pleasant spectacles whilste that their frendes and kinsmenne were then in filde and in armes and in fine the Pretor beyng mounted on high on one of their gates sounded a Trumpette to call together their Souldiars deliueryng with the same certeine Ensignes
hym Sée nowe here then these straunge aduentures for that not beeyng formed to the contentation of men we either are refused or disdained walking eftesones in daunger and perill of death ¶ Of the horrible tyrannie of Aristotimes a matter or subiecte not lesse fittyng for a tragedie Chapt. 8. ARistotimes by the onely fauour and meanes of Antigonus tyrannously vsurped the seigniorie of Eleusis where he ruled as Prince so intemperately that there was no kinde of mercilesse crueltie whiche he there practised not on the miserable and poore citezeins for of nature was he more bloodie and cruell then any one other that liued in his tyme And the better to increase this his excreable villanie he vsed still the counsaill and aduise of men barbarous to whom he not onely committed the administration and gouernment of al the whole countrie but with the same also the garde of his persone Now emong other his cruelties whiche he many committed it shall not bée impertinent for example in this place to remember that which he practised more then tragicall againste Philomides a citezein very honoble and of good countenaunce This Philomides hadde a daughter of a maruailous good grace and excelleÌ„t beautie called Micca on whiche a certaine soldiour that hight Lucius well fauoured of the tyranne became inamoured by meanes whereof he sent to the father that he immediatly and without staie should sende him his doughter Philomides all amased at this vnchaste demaunde and with the same knowyng his aucthoritie with the tyran dreadyng leaste percase worse should betide hym bothe he and his wife earnestly intreated their doughter to go to hym But the yong maide whiche better loued her honour then her life as she that had been chastly and vertuously brought vp threwe herself doune on her knees before her father imbrasyng hym as harde as she could doe possiblie moste humbly besechyng hym in no wise to permitte that she should expose her self to suche and so greate a dishonor and that he rather should hasten to see her dedde before hym then with suche barbarous crueltie so to be deflowred The father then moued with these her many teares beganne also to weepe in moste bitter maner so did the mother sobbyng and blubberyng with paine and hauyng now staied some little tyme without resolution Lucius inpatient in his immoderate villanie not seyng her to come as was his commaundemente went himself in moste furious rage to her fathers house where findyng her on her knees imbrasyng her father with thunderyng threates commaunded her incontineÌ„tly to rise and followe hym But she beginnyng a freâ—â—e then her moste bitter plaintes staiyng and refusyng to rise at his commaundement this odious monster forraged trailed her aboute the house rentyng her apparell not sparing to dispoile her till she was al naked beatyng her more cruelly then my penne can here speake but she with suche constaunte courage supported this villanie that she neither skrichete there at or vsed any exclamation shewyng her selfe ready to indure and tolerate what so he would or could dooe to her more At the sight of whiche so horrible a spectable the father and mother bothe moued in straunge maner weepyng and criyng fell on their knées before hym beseehyng hym to haue pitie and compassioÌ„ bothe on her and them but seyng that thei nothyng might gaine of this mercilesse lecherer began to appeale bothe to the goddes and menne Where at this homicide more wrothe then before drew out his sworde and slue the maide imbrasyng her fathers knees At whiche moste inhumane and vnheard vilanie Aristoâ—imes was not onely not moued but of the Citezeins whiche blamed or mislikte of this tyrannie some he did to death some others he banished so that more then .viij. hundred by this meane in haste fledde thence to Etolium whiche afterward wrote their earnest letters to the tyranne desiryng hym that he woulde graunte license to their wiues children to come vnto them whiche thyng thei could not in any wise obtaine But certaine daies afterward he tretcherously did proclamation to bee made as was the maner vnder sounde of Troumpette that it should bée lawfull for all the wiues of the banished with their gooddes and children to departe to their housebandes Whiche newes to these dames was so glad and ioious that thei forthwith beganne to make their males and packettes some prouidyng horses some waggons and Charriottes more easily to passe theim selues their gooddes and their children but at the daie appointed being all at the gate at whiche thei should passe with all their waggons charged as is fore saied with their gooddes and children as thei were then settyng foreward in their iourney there came againste theim all the garde of the tyranne whiche with horrible threates criyng a far of saied vnto theim arreste ye staie ye whither will ye ye harlottes and approchyng to them commauÌ„ded them in haste to retourne ouerthrowyng their Charriottes and wagons on the grounde with all their gooddes and children in theim But these women by meanes of the presse lesse able to retourne ne yet to assure themselues in that tumultuous thruste and that whiche was moste lamentable of all thei sawe their children slaine and dismembered vnder horse féete and waggons not able to helpe them in any sorte whatsoeuer So that when these soldiours had chaste into their companie againe certaine women and children that stragled out hopyng to haue escaped their tyrannous and bloodie force thei draue theÌ„ all together as a flocke of shepe beatyng theim and laiyng them on vntill thei came to the palace where when the tyranne had taken from theim all their money or treasure he did theim to bée imprisoned togither bothe theim selues and their children This crueltie so muche now displeased the citezeins whiche not knowyng how thei beste might moue this tyranne to compassion determined to sende sixtene Vestall Nonnes consecrated to Denis beyng apparelled in their moste holie and moste religious habites hauyng also with theim all the sacred thynges in their Churche and so in good order proceded the right waie to the palace intendyng to craue mercie of the tyranne for these women and children Whither when thei arriued the garde beyng moued with their reuerente solemnities made theim easie passage to the presence of Aristotimes who arrestyng to vnderstande the cause of their commyng perceiued at the firste bothe what their sute was and commyng thether where at al wrothe tourned hym to his garde checkyng theim maruailously for hauyng permitted these Nonnes to enter Wherefore the garde without any respecte either to their or sex or Religion with greate wannes that thei commonly carried in their handes so miserablie outraged these poore and innocente women that thei moste pitifully were bothe beaten and brused or thei might passe out from the courte again and farther for that thei presumed to enter into his presence eche of theim was condemned in twoo Talentes vnto hym In this Citee was there a noble gentleman that hight Elanicus twoo of whose soonnes
The fowerth is the difficultie and hardnes of the sciences for though man see that in harte and minde he desire to searche the truthe and causes of haute and profounde matters yet findyng theim so labourous and harde to vnderstande he vtterly giueth ouer his firste attempte and enterprise and becometh like vnto an iye whiche to looke on the Sunne fasteneth it self closely whence issueth suche a pearsyng and extreame brightenes that it so eclipseth and troubleth the sight that it in no wise is able to looke thereon or abide it The laste and worste of all the others is a certaine affectiō whiche manne hath conceiued in his youthe especially in these thynges in whiche he hath been fostered and bredde vp with long continuaunce afterwarde in thesame for custome easily conuerteth it self into Nature by occasion whereof there groweth in manne a moste assured desire and singuler loue in these thynges where vnto he hath been vsually accustomed hatyng and disdainyng continually the contrary and in this errour the whole worlde is this daie almoste drouned For see we not the same in the yong children of the Turkes which before thei come to be of iudgemente or reason abhorre and deteste all christianitie as doeth also the iewe Againe we see that the peasaunte or countrie manne for hauyng been nourished and accustomed to the countrie dieted and appareiled grossely as is their maner flieth and refuseth the acquaintance or companie of the courtier as also of these others that liue in well ordered and ciuill citees whēce riseth this prouerbe vnhappie is that birde that was bredde in an euill vale for hauyng been fostered and still kepte in thesame she can not at any tyme depart thence and leaue it though assured to bee els where better and at more ease Neither in this case onely haue we experience here of but farther our selues hate straungers and these of an other countrie yea though we neuer liued in their companie or sawe them onely perchaunce for that we haue heard euill of theim In women also is this errour notorious to whom so muche please these thynges that thei haue accustomed which though thei be in déede lesse profitable or honest yet maie thei in no wise learne or receiue the contrary Finally this loue of vse or custome with the dislikyng of that wee knowe not is almoste generally seen in all thynges of election Wherefore we muste banishe from vs euery these impedimentes to the ende we maie knowe if it bée possible perfectly to iudge in cases of difference for in these thynges cōsisteth the absolute perfection in this worlde the pathe also is it to felicitie in the other followyng the good husbande manne that well laboureth his soile takyng from it first all thistles and euill weedes and after bestoweth in it as order asketh good seede So also the Phisition that would restore to healthe his sicke and weake patiente pourgeth hym firste of all his corrupte and superfluous humours for that in a matter euill and ill disposed a newe forme easily and at the firste is not induced We then muste indeuour by all meanes possible for mā that is reasonable and yeldeth not vnto reason but dwelleth still as wedded to his owne fonde apetite is as he that would saile on the toppe of high mountaines or builde hym houses on the restles and surgyng waues of the sea whiche bothe are lesse aduised and fruitlesse immaginations How vnlawfull a thing the cumbate is and that princes ought not in any wise to permitte it Chapt. 10. AS by the colde charetie and malice of men abuse is creapte into all thinges in the worlde so falleth it out in the cumbate or fight of twoo whiche in the beginnyng in ceirteine cases and doubtes of greate controuersie whiche otherwise could not bee determined or decided was then by greate princes when hostilitie and war first beganne to growe vpon iust consideration honorably receaued But in this our age it now is so common and so abused that euery priuate and meane Souldiour for little cause or small matter is redie to attempte the cumbate against his aduersarie And that whiche geueth me greatest cause of meruaile is to sée that Christian princes and none others admitte it to whom aboue all others it expresly is prohibited and denied and yet groweth it still to be suche and so common that if God for his greate mearcies sake extinguishe not the memorie thereof I feare me that prelates and churche men will not shame at the laste as valiaunt champions to enter the listes among others This kinde of fight is denied man firste and especially by gods worde it also is denied hym by the Ciuile and Canon lawe it is denied I saie to the partie that demaundeth it also to hym that permitteth or aucthoriseth it and in fine to all suche as would looke on or beholde it By Gods worde we proue it in this sorte to be denied Euery acte by whiche GOD may bee tempted is to a Christian expresly prohibited for it is writen thou shalte not tempte thy Lorde thy god That God is tempted by this meanes this make I it euident To make proofe of these thinges whiche by none other meanes might be brought to good ende but by the onely prouidence and iustice of God is no thinge els but to proue and tempte God as is sinne in cases of purgation wherit euermore is most plain and euident that accordyng vnto the order of nature the strongest and most valiant ouertroweth the weaker but the contrarie whiche is that the lesse able shoulde conquire the other neuer chaunseth but by miracle onely To suche then in force and courage so different enteryng the listes to fight the cumbate the victory is lookte for at hys handes that maintaineth the iuste quarell to the intent the truthe might bee thence aperte and manifest this tempte we then God willyng that he worke herein miraculously that whiche in dede he should doe if the more valiaunt were subdued by the timorus and impotente whiche were cleane contrarie to the order and lawe of nature Againe we maie in like sorte proue it by this argument when the lawe inhibiteth any thing it also inhiteth in any wise to doe that by meanes of whiche a māmaie committe the thinge inhibited sith then to vs by God him selselfe murther is nenied the cumbate is also by the same reason denied for that therby is committed homicide Or other wise againe it might bee saide in this sorte in holy wrete is forbidden euerie acte that accordeth not with charitie whiche is the sole grounde and foundation of vertue but the cumbate is an acte that accordeth not with charitie charitie beyng none other but the loue of God and our neighbour therfore the cumbate in holy write is forbidden for who so entereth the listes thirsteth as is euident the bloodde of his neighbour traiterously rebellyng and disobaiyng the diuine maiestie Finally it also is forbiden by the Canon lawe for that it followeth the rule of