will haue it deriued from distribution Among Mathematicks and Poets it is not taken for the same â—hing Arithmeticall is diuided into Par and Impar By one is â—â—â—ified the masculine by the other the feminine gender Thâ— onâ—â—s imperfect diuiduous and infecundious the other perfect fruitfull and indiuiduous Geometricall Number consists of puncts which is a note impartile it treateth of lines straight curued circumferent flexible Rhombus est quatuor linearuÌ„ aequalium non orthogonalium sed tangentium concursus Cylindruâ— GeometricuÌ„ corpus est quod pro â—ius summitate habet duos circulos parallellos Conus geometrica figura est in ipsa basi habens latitudmem in supersicie acumen cum circularicontento Enharmonium quod Enharmonica Diatonicum est quod diatonica dâ—uisione vtitur Chromaticum quod chromatia See of these in Briennius an antient writer cited by Posse Selec Biblio To. 2. cap. 1. Augustine calls the first audicial the second progressory the third occursory the fourth recordable the last sounding Lib. de music 6. c. 9.10.11 jacent perpendicular altern distermine straight angles square narrow summities circles semicircles and those limits called swaddled as also Figures Trilaters Quadrilaters Multilaters From whence come Equilaters Equicrures Gradates Rectangles Acutiangles Obtusiangles and such as are longer as Rhombi Rhombides and Mensulae In such as are solid it comprehendeth Pyramides Prismata Conos Cylinders Cubes Sphears such as are called Octendras Dodecaedras Icosaedras consisting all of diuerse quantities as hath learnedly been handled by Politian Intellectuall Musick is compounded of three Diapazon Diapente Diatessaron resembling the three parts of the minde that is vnderstanding sense and habite The first comprehendeth seuen things the minde imagination memory cogitation opinion reason science The second aimeth at foure sight hearing smelling touching The third consisteth of three increase height decrement That which is called Enharmonious is correspondent to naturall and morall Philosophy Diatonicall to Theology and Ciuill Law Chromaticall to the Mathematick and Economick That which is productiue resembleth the changes of mens liues and the conuersions of manners Of all symphonicall harmony justice hath euer bin taken for the principall so that there is a threefold number or concord Arithmeticall Geometricall Harmonicall Proclus an antient Philosopher constituteth fiue kindes of Numbers in the voice in proportion in the soule in reason and in diuine things so that by putting Theologicall Number to the other three mentioned before is to make a perfect harmony Vnder which I include all those Numbers cited in Scripture touching God or the three Persons in Trinity all those which are mentioned by those antient Doctors of the Church School-men and others who haue treated of holy mysteries whereof this Book shall affoord great plenty As touching the antiquity of Numbers some make a question whether they bee more antient than that which wee call Superficies and the line Macrobius resolueth it in this manner It must needs be saith hee Lib. 1. in Somu Scip. c. 5. that Number is more antient than the other for that from the line we come to the other as to the first from whence all those Geometrical lines or rules are borrowed The first finder-out of Numbers among the Heathens is Pythagoras the Samian some others attribute it to another Pythagoras who was an excellent Grauer or Caruer Linius will haue them to be the inuention of Minerua Polidor Virg l. 1. c. 19. others ascribe it to Mercurie Howsoeuer we need not contend much about their antiquity seeing there is no Monument old or new which can make them so antient as the Book of Genesis or That of Numbers where both in the creation of the world and in the numbring of God's people commanded by God by Moses and Aaron a remarkable President is giuen vs to knowe how greatly the vse of them was respected in those daies So that as God began and finished the Frame of the world with Numbers so he will destroy the same by numbring of his people vnto judgement Considering then all things are made capable of Numbers the heauens earth sea the soule and body of man yea the Angels themselues if wee beleeue those Cabalists what is that which is not comprehended vnder Numbers It is God himself who is that Vnity infinite eternall simple absolute in whom as there is no change so nothing can bee added or taken away from him Who again as he is One from euerlasting so is he vnchangeable in his purpose vnmoueable in his actions past finding-out in his waies making his Throne that he sitteth vpon like himself that the proportion of the one and other might bee equall according to the opinion of that learned School-man To say then that God is not to bee comprehended vnder any Number beeing an Essence numberlesse cannot be offensiue seeing that Maximus Lib. 2. c. 17 an antient Father teacheth vs His God-head is indiuisible because he is without quantity hee is without quantity because hee is not endued with any quality he is void of quaiity because hee is simple he is simple because he is interminate interminate because hee is infinite infinite because he is immoueable immoueable because he wanteth beginning and he could not haue a beginning because hee was from euerlasting Now it resteth that according to order wee should speak of their worth and dignity number force vertue efficacy energie and how large their extendure is as I finde them heer and there related by the testimony of famous Writers Which for auoiding of confusednes fastidiousnes I haue according to their seuerall properties collected them all in a Summe not omitting one Number from the least to the greatest from the Vnary to the Number of fifty and vpwards Neither haue wee barely set down their Numbers properties and effects but haue vnlocked many of their mysteries now and then by diuiding them now and then by adding light vnto them and now and then by bringing in authority and reason for the farther explication explanation and illustration of them All which being performed according to the module of our skill learning and judgement we thought it good in the later end of this discourse to proceed to other speculations borrowing their light from hence or which properly are annexed heerunto by necessary consequence CHAP. III. ONE IF Pythagoras were not the Inuenter of Numbers as some make him yet hee was a great Amplifier and Illuminer of them beyond the common practice of all other Philosophers whatsoeuer so that if hee were to bee blamed in any thing it was because hee did attribute too much vertue to them This is hee Lib. de cura mor. Graco 2. c. 6. who according to the testimony of Theodoret Ambrose and others took his pedigree from the Hebrewes Iearned much from Moses and abstained not from the Iewish Circumcision Which a man can hardly beleeue if he should bee the Author of that transformation of soules into the bodies of other men as it hath been
so firmely vnited together that there can be no diuulsion of any of those partes the one from the other In all those refinings or quintessences they preferre the vse of fire so highly that one sticketh not to write in this wise as touching the dissolution of the world Sic mundus et elementa eiut ignis interventu transitura funt at que etiam renouanda et à pristiná formâ in chrystallinam longè perfectiorem â—uriorem et nobiliorem ac in aeternum durabilem commutanda sunt Gold among all other Elixiries to vse Paracel us word hath foure especiall qualities It preserueth the bodie it freeth it from all manner of diseases Quer. Tetras grauis affec cap. 32. it keepeth it from corruption it correcteth whatsoeuer is found morbidous or putrefactious But this is meant not of foliated but of philosophicall gold spoyled of his crassious matter The absence of some men from their natiue countrie may proue dangerous for these foure causes following 1 If they stay longer then was appointed them 2 If they returne sooner then needeth 3 If they stay to auoid suites contention 4 If of purpose without hope of gaine they are long absent and reduced by a various kinde of workmanship vnto a certaine kinde of spiritualtie as those Paracelsians are wont to speake Dioptometrie which is no other then the Art of measuring whatsoeuer commeth within the compasse of measure handleth foure things celestiall terrestriall propinquous distant thorough a quadrant Astronomicall There be foure principall meanes whereby a man may surely knowe whether he hath attained to any knowledge whatsoeuer The first is if he seeke out the difficulties consisting in the art he goeth about to learne For as Aristotle * Lib. 3. Metaphy teacheth vs Contrariorum demonstrationes dubitationes sunt de contrarijs The second is that he doubt whether he hath attained to the truth or no. For as hee writeth * Posse Biblio selec To. 2. cap. 10. Qui quarunt nisi primò dubitent sunt corum similes qui ignorant quonam ire opertet et adhuc neque vtrum innenerine quod quaritur an non cognoscere possunt The third is if he know what is to be followed what to be auoyded as touching the opinions of other men The last is if hee be able to refute the opinions of others by collation of other mens judgements more sounder then others were For as Aristotle saith * Lib. 7. Ethecor Opposita inxta se posita magis elucescunt Hipparchus an antient Astronomer is said to bee the first who did finde out that the lunarie course was made betwixt foure Callipicous periods This man is called by Plynie as one that was partaker of the counsels of nature of Ptolomey 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a louer of truth And hee is cited often by Possenine Clanius and others for the maintenance of their Romish Gregorian Calendar wherefore hee must be read with iudgement Death vseth foure instruments to the punishing of the earth warres and battels penurie pestilence These periods are called Callipaous from one callippus that was an Astronomer troupes of wilde-beasts figured in the * c. 6. v. 8. Apocalypse by that pale horse There were foure kindes of punishment antiently inflicted vpon parasites They were throwne headlong into a deepe riuer tied about the neck with a Cowle a Cock a Snake and an Ape CHAP. VII FIVE THis Number is called Signifer making a moîty of tenne There are fiue joyfull mysteries mention'd in the Gospel The incarnation of our Sauiour The visitation of Elizabeth The birth of Christ in Bethleem The presentation of our Redeemer The finding him in the Temple and is placed in the middle as in the midst of an host entrenched on euery side And it is no other than the vnarie Number twice coupled with foure or twice foure hemmed about with two Vnaries It must needs containe some more than vulgar excellency because it comprehendeth all things seen felt or vnderstood whether they be things intelligible things corporeall or such as haue no body For as Macrobius saith either God is the chief or the minde is begotten of him in whom is comprized the Species of all things or hee is the soule of the world which is the receptacle of all soules or heauenly things appertain vnto vs or nature sauoureth of the earth and so the fift Number including all things is fully compleat Let vs see what extendure it hath There were fiue wise Virgins and fiue foolish mentioned in the Gospell Pythagoras commanded his scholars to bee silent fiue yeers Nero for fiue-yeers-space There are fiue dolefull mysteries The praier Christ made in the garden The scourging of our blessed Sauior The crowning him with thornes The carrying his own cross The crucifying his blessed body was the best of other Emperors after fiue yeers expiration he becam the worst of all others There bee fiue Senses There bee fiue capitall Work-men as touching knowledge cited by Ammonius a Christian Philosopher The minde discourse opinion imagination sense which are called the first and most potent Principles of Orphicall Philosophie There are fiue parts of physick One entreateth as touching the nature of man and his constitution called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The second conserueth health and foreseeth lest the body should fall into any malady called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The third in quireth causes and their diuers symptomes called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The fourth containeth knowledge of things past the consideration of things present the fore telling of things to come called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The last wherein the order of curing is shewed called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There are fiue glorious mysteries There were fiue famous in the Art of physick before Hippocrates time Apollo Æsculapius Chiron Podalirius and Machaon sonnes of Æsculapius The resurrection of our Lord The ascension of our Sauior The descending of the holy Ghost The assumption of our lady The crowning of our Lady A Physician ought to behaue himself wisely in fiue things In his charge towards his Patient towards himself towards the standers-by towards his fellow-physicians according to the counsell of Cardan There bee fiue things belonging to the Art military Choice of young men exercise fortifying of castles and trenches munition instruction of the Camp whereto if you put fiue more it cannot chuse but bee compleat Oppugnation propugnation stratagems fortification ambushes Euery corporeall nature hath his seat fiue manner of waies In the vnderstanding in the minde There are fiue kindes of waters mention'd in holy Scriptures The waters of Ralim most swift the waters of Iordan troubled the waters of Bethleem standing the waters of Marah bitter the waters of Siloe sowre Rom. 5. in the creature in heauen belowe the Moon He that will vnderstand the meaning of Mercury's soporiferous Rod must be capable of fiue things taught among those Platonicks How that the soule liueth a
vocals among the Grecians Some will haue the golden age to consist of seuen there bee seuen doors of Nilus seuen kinde of metals all the life of man from his child hood to his decrepite age is diuided into seauen The first is vnder Mercuriâ— the second vnder Venus the third vnder Mars the fourth vnder Iupiter the fist vnder Saturne ouer the other two Sol and Luxa haue equall predomination as they haue ouer all the rest This Number is often mentioned in Scripture God denounceth seuen punishments in Leuiticus against his people c. 26. v. 18. Dauid likeneth the Word of God to siluer tried in a furnace which is fined seuen fold Psal 12.8 c. 9. v. 1. Salomon saith in his Prouerbs that wisdome hath built her house and set seuen pillars vnder to support it The Prophet Esay in diuerse places maketh mention of seuen gifts or gracious workings of the holie Ghost Mary Magdalen was possessed with seuen diuela And in the Apocalypse we finde this Number more frequent then in any other place of Scripture Seuen Churches of Asia seuen Candlesticks seuen Stars seuen Angels seuen Seales seuen Trumpets seuen Plagues seuen Vialles of which more shall be said in the latter part of this discourse But we will proceede to others It is said that the hearb called Heptaphyllum borrowing his name from the seuenth Number by a secret in stinct in nature resisteth any kinde of poyson whatsoeuer There bee seuen Planets hauing diuersities and contrarieties of operations To euery one of these Planets there bee proper and peculiar countries assigned To Saturne is appointed Bâ—nare Saxony Stiria Romandiola Rauenna Constance Ingolstade Spaine part of Italie Iewes and the Mores To Iupiter Babylon Persia Collen called Agrippine Vngarie and part of France To Mars the North part of Italy Germany England Saurematia Getulia Longobardia Gothland Padua Ferrara Cracouia To Venus Arabia Austria the higher Campania Vienna Augusta Vindelicorum delicorum Polonia the greater Sena the Heluâ—tians and Thuregians To Mercurie Greece Ægypt Iâ—landers Paris Vratislaue Viâ—una in Pannonia The other two luminaries because they are those generall significators and dominators of the whole Vniuerse as erst was said beare rule in each Planetatian prouince and therefore from the opinion of those Antients there is no certaine place assigned them Besides these seuen Planets there be seuen clymates assigned to them and their signes treated of by our Astrologians But some will say that from the Equatarie circle vnto that place where the day is longest there be 24 howres 48 parallells therefore there must be 24 clymates correspondent I answere with the solution of Mizaldus that the position and distribution of those Antients yea of Ptolomy the chiefest among them is very imperfect and therefore wee ought to beleeue our moderne Writers before the other especially in the site of the earth motion of Starres descriptions of countries according to Ptolomy himselfe alleadged by that excellent scholar Ioachim Vadian in his commentaries vpon Pomponius Mola And not onely in Astrologie but in the Art of Physick this rule must take place Ex cita Ioseph Querceta So that I finde the saying of Hippocrates most true Medicinam videlicet noneam esse assâ—ontam perfectîonem eui nihil addipossit sâ—d in qua semper velaliquid modo reprehendi mode corrigi modo addisci quâ—at As to euery one of those Planets meÌ„tiond before peculiar couÌ„tries are assigned according to their seuerall qualities so by euery one of these Planets seuerall vertues are signified By Saturn high contemplation judgement a firme and resolute purpose By Iupiter prudence temperance piety iustice By Mars truth fortitude heat and force of doing By Sol counsell charity which is the Queene of all vertues By Venus hope order and motion of desire By Mercurie faith and dilucidous ratiocination By Luna pacificous consonancie and moderate temperancie So likewise diuers and seuerall vices are signified by them Saturne signifieth melancholie sadnes tediousnes Iupiter couetousnes and tyranny Mars anger arrogancie reuenge Sol pride ambition Venus concupiscence lust lasciuiousnes Mercurie fraud cozenage lies Luna inclineth vs to things directly opposite vnto vs. There bee seuen naturall things elements commixtion humors parts faculties actions spirits handled at large by Hippocrates and Galen There bee seuen parts of the soule wherein reason anger desire take vp their lodging Acuminie wit diligence counsell reason wisdome experience All the whole body of the ciuill Law is conteyned in these seuen Articles following The first handleth those things the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the second iudgements the third things themselues the fourth Hypothekes the fift what are the nature of Testaments and such things as are testamentarie in the sixt are diuers titles as touching the possession of goods the last comprehendeth interdictions exceptions actions procrastinations of time stipulations municipall titles significations of words rules of the Law with many other things which for breuities sake I must let passe The Canon Law deriued from the other and maintained by the Pope at this day may be diuided into as many There be seuen similitudes of Angels They are immortall inuisible indissoluble simple discreted in persons incommutable incommunicable to any other nature They are also impassible rationall happy foretellers of things to come gouerners of the world they take vpon them ayerious bodies when they are commanded they abide in those heauenly mansions The ayre hath seuen properties It is a vitall spirit it penetrateth euery liuing thing it giueth life and consistencie to all creatures it bindeth moueth filleth and refresheth all things whatsoeuer There may be seuen naturall reasons giuen as touching earthquakes The ayre fire water winde some subterraneous vapour some concauitie in the earth some down-fall There be seuen parts of harmonicall musick Sounds spaces Systemes kinds mutations modulations concent That which we call intellectuall musick conteyneth seuen also Minde imagination memory cogitation opinion reason knowledge answerable to the other The art called Geodesia Geodesia prunuâ— Geometricae exercitationis et actionis est campus from whence commeth the Geodeticall staffe is comprized in these seuen Streight plaine solid pedature porrect constrate the foot called quadrate Pythagoras going about to make proportions of musick as touching those celestiall orbes found out an instrument called Heptachorde This Heptachorde consisted of seuen strings The first is Hypates greater then any of the rest assigned to Saturne for the slownesse of his motion and grauitie of his sound The second is Parhypates assigned to Iupiter The third is Lychanus taking his name from the finger by which it is strocken assigned to Mars The fourth is Mese because it is middlemost attributed to Sol who obtaineth the middle place among those Planets The fift is Paramese as next to the middle giuen to Mercurie The sixt is Paranete neere to the last assigned to Venus The seuenth is called Nete the last in order attributed to Luna Some men perchance will make a doubt