seeing the Law Prophets Evangelists and Apostles workes and writing are so universally preached unto all SECT 2. Of Prodigies and in what veneration they were amongst the ancient Romans BEing loath to trouble the Reader with the tedious definitions of Prodigies nor with the severall and many opinions of Writers concerning them I will relate onely some storyes of them and of the times wherein some of them happened of all which as the most part of the Roman Writers make mention so particularly Sabellicus in his Rhapsoeticall history of the world and that from the 11. or 12. Booke of his 4. Aeneid unto the end of his Worke. During the first Punick Warre which was the first betwixt the Carthaginians and Romans under the Consulship of Appius Claudius and Marcus Fulvius Flaccus which was the foure hundreth and ninety yeare after the building of Rome the Roman Histories were then both more frequent and did savour more of truth and possibility than their former Wherefore to begin with that time I observe that there never happened any remarkeable Prodigie either in the Ayre Water or Earth after which there were not presently Expiations Lustrations Prayers or offerings made unto their Gods to whose Temples and Altars people of every sex age and condition did flock and runne to pacifie and appease their incensed wrath which may serve to condemne the neglect and contempt that is in Christians of the like Prodigies and teach us as these Heathen did when they chanced to repaire to our true God and implore for mercy and forbearance of wrath at his hands To begin then as I said with Prodigies observed in the time of the first Punick or Carthaginian Warre of those many admirable ones recorded by Sabellicus I finde this most worthy of relation In the Picenean Territory Cneius Domitianus and Lucius Annius being Consuls a River was observed for the space of a whole morning to runne red blood no accident that might cause it being perceived by any for which and some others the like the Romans intituled their Novendialia sacra or expiations for nine dayes and Livius likewise in the time of Tullus Hostilius their third King relateth that the like propitiatory Sacrifices were ordained for the like causes In Hetruria also which is now the Florentines bounds the heavens were perceived to burne In the Citie of Ariminii three Moones at once were one night seene by the Inhabitants all which Prodigies appeared about the end of the foresaid first Punick Warres Shortly after about the beginning of the second warre after Hanno was overcome by Scipio a Childe of a moneth old was heard to crie in the Streete Triumphi Triumphi In the fields of Amitermin neere Rome ships were discerned in the skie and men in long white garments were perceived to march towards one another but never to meete In the Picen Territory it rained stones and the Sunne and Moone were seene to joust as it were at one another and in the day time two Moones appeared in the heavens At Phalascis the heavens seemed to bee rent asunder And at Capua the Moone seemed to burne and as envolved in a showre of raine to tend towards the Earth Civitas ob haec prodigia saith Sabellicus lustrata est lectisternium supplicatio indicta aliaque aliis diis placamina decreta SECT 3. A continuation of Prodigies which happened in the time of the second Punick Warre with many others that were seene under the times of severall Consuls of Rome IN the first yeare of this second Carthaginian Warre under the Consulship of Fabius Maximus Marcus Claudius Marcellus a green Palme tree in Naples tooke fire and burn'd away to ashes At Mantua a litle Rivulet or stripe of water which ranne into the River Mincio was turned into blood And at Rome it rained blood An Oxe was heard there to speake these words Cavetibi Roma Afterward in the Consulship of Quintus Fabius sonne to Fabius Maximus and Titus Sempronius Graccus the similitude or likenesse of great long and tale ships appeared to bee upon the River of Taracina in Spaine At Amiternum in Italie a litle Brooke ranne blood for severall dayes In Albano monte in Rome it rained stones The Sunne at divers times was seene of a bloody colour Many Temples and holy houses in Rome were beaten downe with Thunderbolts from heaven some of the Citie Ensignes or field Colours were observed to sweate blood two Sunnes appeared in the Heavens at one time it rained milke at another stones During the Consulship of Cornelius Cethegus and Sempronius at what time the Africane Warres were appointed to Scipio two Sunnes at one time were seene in the Heavens and the night which is by nature darke appeared extraordinary light A Comet in forme like a burning torch was discerned to reach from the East to the West and it rained stones after that notable overthrow given to Hanniball by Scipio which was the last to Hanniball and at the time when the Consull T. Claudius was appointed to prepare for Africk to appease some mutinies that had risen there upon his setting out to that voyage the Orbe and face of the Sunne was visibly discerned to be lesse than usuall Moreover in the Veliternean fields the Earth rent asunder in so huge and frightfull gappes that trees and whole houses were swallowed up in it after which there followed showres of stones In the Consulship of â—n Belius and L. Aemilius Paulus it rained blood for two whole dayes together And the Statue of Iuno in the Temple of Concord at Rome was perceived to shedde teares SECT 4. Of Prodigies that happened during the civill warres betwixt Marius and Sylla of some in Iulius Caesars time as at his passing the River of Rubicone the Pharsalian warres and at his death c. AT the beginning of the Civill warres betwixt Martus and Sylla a Mule by nature barren did foale The Capitoll tooke fire and which was lamentable it being a worke of foure hundreth yeares standing famous through all the world was destroyed the whole Citie was so shaken with Earth-quakes that the face of it was wonderfully defaced and a woman conceived and was delivered of a Serpent When Iulius Caesar had cross'd the River of Rubicon contrary to the decree of the Senate the heavens as foreseeing what imminent danger was to ensue thereupon rained blood The Statues and Images of their Gods in the Temples did sweat great droppes of blood and many faire buildings in the Citie were beaten downe with fire and thunder from heaven On the same day that the Pharsalian battell was strooke the Statue of Victoria which stood in the Temple of Minerva at Eulide was seene to turne its face towards the Temple doore whereas before it beheld the Altar At Antioch in Syria such great noyse and clamours were heard twice a day about the Walls of the Towne that the people
terminate with a subject If there be multiplicity of formes in one selfe same matter If formes of matters be extracted out of the potentialitie of the matter If Angels be species or individualls Curiosity in Logick to know what sort of relation betweene the creature and the Creator What Heaven the Prophet Enoch was wrapt unto What and where Abrahams bosome If beasts herbs plants will bee renewed with man after the resurrection If there be degrees of glory in heaven What language in heaven Curiosity in Physicke to know whether there be more worlds then one If there was one before this The Starres and heavenly lights force not our inclinations The inclination of Parentâ— more mooveth children naturally then the Starres doe The number and greatnesse of certain Stars in the via lactea Diversities of opinions Via Lactea differently given up The enquiry of the secrets of nature convenient food for a curious Spirit Eudoxus craved to be neere the Sunne although it should be with the hazard of his life as that hee might knowe it Because curiosity to know is a plague therefore our faith is settled upon things incredible to human reason The Gods of the Ancients were pourtraited with their fingers upon their mouthes and why As in Divine mysteries we should not be too curious So should we not in any worldly businesse As we should not bâ— over-curious â—o should we not be lâ—sse curious with the Stoicks referring all to destiny As the most curious craftsman is not ever either the wisest or the Wealthiest So the most curious heads are not they to whom God manifests his seâ—rets God as hee is above Nature so worketh he beyond Nature some times Great and sublime spirits stumble more vilely then the meaneâ— sort Dion Areopagita's observation of the Ecclipse at our Saviours suffering Opinions of the needle in the compasse Of Nilus her sourse and inundation Mens dispositions Burning hills and Mountaines Columbus first intention and motive to his voyage Columbus his reason His voyage His policy The cause of dearth since Columbus voyage Columbus's worth depraved His vindication Columbus denomination of Americus conferred on Vespucius Here againe vindicated Another aspersion on him Livias curiosity The understanding and reason in man is as the Sunne in the firmament Will as the Moone which should have no light cut from her Sun reason What happines is according to Aristotle By our understanding we know God by our will we love him What and wherein consisteth the old Philosophicall felicity so much spoken of being that whereof we now treate That our feliciâ—â— cannot consist in the actions of our will It would seem that our happinesse did not coâ—sist in the actions of our reason and understanding but in these of our will Reasons in favours of Will The actions of the will the object of it seemes to bee more noble then these of the intellect Will and understanding how coincident This question of felicity consisting in will and understanding is coincident with that Theologicall question of Faith good workes The end of all Sciences is to know which the Philosopher saith is good of it selfe The properties of our Soveraigne happinesse The greatest property of our feliâ—iâ—y is as to crave nothing more so not to feare the losse of that which wee have Wealth and honour cannot be our happinesse The different opinions of the Philosophers upon this purpose Happinesse wherein it did consist according to Socra The Epicureans and Stoicks their opinions The latter Philosophers have refuted al others establishing their owne Finally what our true felicity is and wherein it doth consist By this soveraine felicity a man liveth in tranquility and dieth in peace A Simile Difference betwixt Platonick and Christians Multiplicity of Gods amongst the heathen The Trinity shadowed by Plato Plato his reasons why the world liveth His opinion of God Some of the Hebrews of the same mind Platos opinion of propagation and continuance of all things Platos termes not far different from Moses words Comparison of the old Roman Philosophers with the Roman Church now The Hierarchie of blessed Spirits Sleepe mainteiner of all living creatures Perseus dyed for want of sleepe Causes of sleep Secondary Thirois murther Alexander the great his sleep Augustus his Alexanders great fortune Catoes sleepe His death A digression against selfe murder In his booke de Senectute Division of dreames Natural which Accidentall Divine Diabolicall Severus dream of Pertinax Severus causeth to be cast the manner of his dreame in brasse Henry the 5 th his admirable dreame Cicero's dream of Octavianus Antiquity superstitious in the observance of numbers The use of number Three Heavens Three Hells Heathnick superstitions Poeticall fictions Theologicall and Morall Vertues Of Sinne. How our appetites are bridled Christian duties How wee offend God an how to appease him Christs humiliation and exalation How to know God David Salomon Mans Enemies Love Of Feare Degrees of government About dyeâ—â— What Creatures God ordained for mans use Physicians Lawyers Iudges Division of Lawes Chirurgian Oratour Civilian Poets Physicall observations Customes amongst the Persians The seven ages of mans life attributed to the seven Planets Seven Wonders Two kindes of Miracles False Miracles which True Miracles Difference betwixt true and false Miracles Why God permitteth false miracles When miracles were most necessary The piety of the ancient Romans after any remakeble Prodigies Christians blamed A River raâ— blood The institution of the Novâ—ndiâ—lia sacra The heavens burned Three Moones A childe of a moneth old spake Men seene in the skie Two moones at once A greene Palme tree tooke fire of it selfe Rivers runne blood An Oxe spake It rained stones Ensignes sweat blood 〈…〉 The â—arth rend asunder A Statue wept The Capitoll destroyed by fire from heaven Images in Temples sweat blood Instruments heard to play where none were An Oxe spake A Comet like a sword hang over Ierusalem An Oxe calâ—ed Formidable Thunders Earth-quakes The deboarding of Tyber ominous to Rome A blazing starre The sea cast out monsters It rained blood three dayes A huge stone fell from heaven A great piece of Ice fell in Rome Conclusion 〈…〉 His meeting with an Herâ—â—te His proficiencie in the Art of Chimestrie His Present to the Senate Restored to favour He is suspected of Treachery Hee flyes to Bavaria He is hanged on a gilded Gybbetâ— The plenty of gold which the West Indians have The true matter of gold Ripleus c. 3. P. 74. Iodoc. Grenerus p. 36. â—los Flor. p. 35. 37. Thom. Aquin ad fratrem c. 1. Tauladan p. 28. Rosarum p. 18. Libaniuâ— Mullerus Aquinase 3. Daustricus p. 16. Monachus p. 16. Benedictus p. 5â— 57 58. c. Moâ—iennes two principless Solut. coagulat Moriennes Theob Arnaldus 〈◊〉 p. 61 62. Exercet 3. in tu bam Arnald in specie Scala philosoph p. 103 Mulletus de lap philosoph Rosarium p. 189. Libanius Arnaldus Iullius p. 116. Arnaldus Mullerus Miracula chymica Libanius Isaacus Lullius Calid c. 6. Rolinus p. 283. Dastinâ—s p. 30. Mullerus Libanius Scotus p. 61. â—â—1 Agurâ—lls Three speciall points wherewith the ancient Philosophers was most perplexed The opinions of the old Philosophers concerning the nature of the Gods The philosophers not only admitted their Gods aâ— inventers of good but fomenters of evill also The Philosophicall errour concerning the discent and progenie of their Gods The errours touching the descent of their soules Divers opinions of the philosophers concerning the substance of their soules The different opinion concerning the event of soules after their separation from their bodies Their reasons why there were moâ— worlds than one Opinions concerning the Eternitie of the World The Gymnosophists answere concerning the Eternitie The Philosophicall differences concerning the beginning of the World The fond conceites of those who imagined all things to be by the encounter of Atoms A theological observation upon the premisses Our Christian beleefe touching the Worlds beginning and ending Three wayes of knowing God A briefe description of the World The division of the heavens and Coelestiall Spheares The Plannets and their retrodations in their proper spheares Cause of the Moones change Different motions of the Starres What the great Platonick Starre was The Waters and Earth make but one Globe Why the Seas debarr'd from overflowing the Earth Division of the Earth Of America What maketh all things so deare now Of our old known world the third part is not Christian and that as yet different amongst it selfe Division of Asia The West and East parts Turkish professors divided amongst themselves A litle description of America and the New-found-lands What time of the yeare the world was created When probably it may be thought to take an end Copernick his opinion that the Earth did move rejected Why the change of Triplicities cannot be a ground for change of States The starrie firmament devided in so many Asterismes Bodin his triplicitâ—ie is not such The changing of triplicities notable to change the nature of things and Why Diversities of peoples natures conformeable to the positure of the heavenly Plannets The naturall disposition of the Plannets argueth the Inclination of people over which they are planted If people be changed from that which they were wont to be Why and How If some Countries be barren others plentifull Why and How Man compared to the World Qualities of the Northern and Easterne people The three faculties of the Soule Conclusion Metaphysick first called Sapientia 2 Phylosophia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 Prima Philosophia 4 Philosophia Theologica 5 Metaphysica and why Whereof it treateth Two causes why Metaphysick is added to the other Sciences The first The second cause Metaphysick excelleth other Sciences A supposition resolved First Reason Second Reason Third Reason That Metaphysick is free from all subjection to other Sciences Reason Why the Science of Metaphysick is most honourable Comparison Christian Philosophers Aristotle Fonseca Suarez That the consideration of mans soule and not himselfe belongeth to Metaphysick Ruvins his opinion The benefit of the knowleâ—ge of the Metaphysickâ— Controversies
more inforcing besides examples where the Lord of Hosts hath showne his power and approbation in favouring of battels undertaken for his cause To say si bellum sit licitum quidni duellum if a War be lawfull why not a Duell It followeth not for howsoever Majus and Minus change not the species and kinds of things as we say in the Schooles yet is there great discrepance betwixt the two for battels are approved by the authoritie of God nature and Nations provided the causes bee lawfull and just as pro aris focis for the other there are none at all for David and Golias their fight carry no example for imitation But if any Nations have tollerated them it hath beene but such Quos sol obliqua non nisi luce videt Not the Greeks Latins Assyrians Aegyptians and the like Sect. 5. Cajetans reason for referring the event of Battels to Monomachie Where also is inserted the story of the Horatii and Curiatii AS for the first condition admitted by Cajetan for Duells which is when two armies are ready to joyne for preventing of greater bloud-shed he averreth that it is better to referre the event of a battell to a Monomachy of two then otherwise to hazard all There is nothing more memorable in all the Roman History then the experience of this in that notable not so much Monomachy as Polymachy of three brethren Romans called Horatii against other three brethren of the Alban side called Curiatii and those partly of kinne and alliance to which the decision of the victory of either of the armies by the Roman and Alban Kings with their whole armies consent was concredited Those sixe in the middle of both Armies valourously fighting for their owne private lives and credit their countreys fame and liberty having so glorious a Theatre to act so important and tragicall a combat upon did so bravely on both sides that the panting armies were in no lesse anxiety for the event of their tryalls then the perplexed combatants themselves at length the victory which seemed dubiously disposed in favours of either side begun to incline to the Albans first and that by the death of two of the Roman brethren whereupon the Roman Survaior counterfeits to fly and so was pursued by the other three but turning to the formost of his pursuers he set so furiously upon him that hee forthwith killed him then turning to the second with like fury rewarded him after the same manner Now the Survaiour of the Curiatii being brother in Law to this victorious Roman received the same lot that his brothers had from his valorous hands which afterwards caused the death of his owne Sister the last killed Albans Spouse as in the Roman Historie may be read at large Section 6. That Kings and Generals of Armies for saving of the greater bloudshed of their Souldiers have fought single for victories Examples of both A quarrell and challenge betwixt the Emperour Charles the fifth and Francis the first King of France how it tooke no effect VVHEN I say then that neither the Greeks nor Romans admitted single combats it must bee understood except in time of just warres in which either one or moe souldiers may single out a combate with one of the adverse party with permission of the Generall or else one Generall with another for saving the bloud-shed of many as Cassius and Marcellus did each of them fight with their adverse Generals yea and sometimes Kings one against another have done so for sparing the bloud of their subjects As Alexander the great did combate single with Porus King of the Indians Godfrey of Bovillon against Arnold King of the Saxons Romulus with one of the Kings of Latium and Hundick King of Saxony with a King of Denmarke and of fresher memory Charles of Aniou challenged Peter of Arragon to duell where at Burdeaux in Aquitany before the Prince of Wales for the time with swords they should have tried the right and claime that they both pretended to the Crowne of Naples but they met not just on the day and place appointed whose default it was their diverse Histories agree not like as the Histories of France and Spaine dissent upon the challenge given in a manner and accepted by Charles the 5th Emperour for the time and King of Spaine with Francis the first of that name King of France albeit Guicchardin neutrall to both and reputed as another Cornelius Tacitus for his impartiality in his History of Italy following forth the circumstances of the battell at Pavie sheweth at length how the French King Francis was beaten there and taken prisoner by the Viceroy of Naples Generall of the Imperiall forces from whence by sea he was conveighed into Spaine and how after a long and strait imprisonment he was put to so high and invaluable ransome as lightly hath not beene heard of moreover the quitting of the best branch of the patrimony of his Crowne the rites titles and interests he pretended to the Kingdome of Naples the Dutchy of Milan for the which then they had beene a swaggering His rights and soveraignties of Artois Brabant Hainault and so forth yea to the mariage of Eleonora Widow of the King of Portugall and sister to the said Emperour a ransome which he was as unwilling to pay as agree to any of the former Articles her favour being as it was unfavourable to him who otherwise was an amorous Prince and although the distressed King subscribed to all and confirmed the Articles with his promise yet it was so that often he protested even there neither did he smother it that promise what he would performe them he could not neither legally might he So that being set at liberty his two sonnes accepted in hostage for him and returned home he was charged by the Emperour for the performance of the points subscribed by him whereto he answered That it was not in his power no more than in any other Kings to alienate things belonging to the Crowne without the consent of his whole States obtained thereunto And for his promises he said That seeing extraordinary conditions had extorted them from a Prince in close prison and his consent to them violently wrung from him they must consequently be infirme for promises accessory to such like compulsions cannot be of better force and value Which with the like and better replyes when they came to the Emperours eares he forthwith challenged the King by his Heraulds of breach of faith and offered in single combate to fight with him in the quarrell which the French king accepting desired him to appoint day and place giving him the lye as often as he would say that he had falsified his promise But as their severall stories disagree upon the particulars so every one doth vindicate their owne Prince from all aspersion and staine of breach Section 7. A discourse of a combate where thirteene French Knights fought against so many Italians wherein the French
afrighted with a supposed approach of the Enemy ranne out of the Citie in their Armes In the Temples of Ptolemais Organs and other Instruments were heard to play before Caesars death And those horses which at the passage of Rubicon he had consecrated to Mars the day before his massacre were observed and seene to weepe and to forsake their foode and stray about Shortly after his death too about the proscription of Lepidus and Antonius an Oxe being led out to plough uttered these words to his Master Why urge you mee to worke wee shall lacke no corne but men and a new borne childe did speake SECT 5. Of Prodigies before the death of Galba before the destruction of Ierusalem and at the end of the Valerian persecution THere were such fearefull Earth-quakes before the death of the Emperour Galba that at the renting asunder of the Farth most hideous noyses were heard not unlike to the lowing of Oxen But of all the Prodigies and Miracles that I read of those which went before the destruction of Ierusalem were the most terrible whereof Iosephus maketh mention at length yet my Author recounteth others no lesse memorable which were these The Comet in the shape of a Sword that appeared and as it were did hang directly over the Citie before the destruction An Oxe leading to the Altar to be there sacrificed in the middle of the Temple did bring forth a calfe to the amazement and astonishment of all beholders of it One night about midnight it grew as light within the Temple as at noone-day Hoasts of armed men and Chariots appeared in the ayre and the Priests heard a voyce within the Sanctuary expresse these words Let us remove from hence About the end of the Valerian persecution before the death of Galenus the Emperour in whose dayes the Empire began mightily to decline there was darkenesse for some dayes over all that tract of Earth in and about Rome There were most dreadfull thunders heard with most frightfull noyses as roaring and fearefull lowings in the ayre and bowels of the Earth whereupon followed so terrible Earthquakes and openings of the Earth that whole Villages and Townes were thereby destroyed Lastly through the dread and terrour of these frightfull noyses and by the sight of these Prodigies and portentuous wonders many both men and beasts were strucken dead SECT 6. A continuation of other Prodigies with a conclution of this Treatise ABout the end of the Goths and Vandals wars against the Romanes there were seene in the ayre Armies flaming as all on fire from which there rained drops of blood and thereafter followed extraordinary overflowing and deboarding of Rivers but chiefly of Tyber which of all other Rivers is observed to deboard both most excessively and most often and these ever goe before some evill to happen to the City But of all her deluges none more memorable than that which happened under the Pontificy of Pelagius which overswelled the walles of the City destroyed all the Corne in the lower Countries and procured such a famine and Pestilence that thereby many thousands perished amongst whom the Pope himselfe after whom Gregory the most worthy Pope of that name succeeded In the time of Sabianus successor to him a terrible and Portentuous blazing starre was seene and the sea cast up many Monsters with visages like men These and many the like were seene before the dayes of Bonifacius the third in whose time the Romane Church obtained of Phocas then Emperour the title of Mother and supreame Church for till then the Greeke Church claimed the superiority In the dayes of Adrian the second Pope of that name it rained blood three dayes A little before the death of Sergius the first Pope that began to change his Proper-name terrible fiery torches and fleakes were seene in the ayre with great noyse and thundring In the Pontificy of Iohn the eleaventh sonne to Sergius a fountaine in Genoa ranne blood in great aboundance About the time that Iohn the twelfth was for his flagitiousnesse and abomination deposed by the Emperour Otho a great stone fell from heaven In Naples likewise within this hundreth yeares there fell a brownish coloured one of an extraordinary bignesse In France likewise upon a St. Iohns day there fell a great peece of Ice in a showre of raine many feete long In the yeare of our Lord 1012. when Ierusalem was taken by Anmrath the great Turke there were terrible earthquakes and fiery impressions seene over all the firmament and the Moone appeared bloody But to recount all Prodigies and Miracles which in latter ages have appeared in severall Countries and to set downe the severall Reasons that are given for them with the events observed to ensue after every of them would take up a greater Volume than I intend this whole booke to be therefore I will here put an end to this discourse SALAMANDRA OR A short Treatise of the PHILOSOPHERS STONE SECT 1. The Historie of the life and death of Antonio Bragadino THe History of one Antonio Bragadino a Cyprian Gentleman which in my time I did reade in Villamont a French Barones travels and voyages hath occasioned mee to undertake this taske This man saith he for the good services done to the Venetians in the time of their Warres upon that Isle being retired to Venice and there become their stipendiarie or rather pensioner having fallen at variance with some clarissimo whereupon ensued blood not being able to keepe their citie any longer for feare of his life withdrew himselfe to the countrey where being in necessity through reason of his pension which he wanted bethinking himselfe how he might live by his wits in the end retiring to a desert he rancountred with an Hermite who tooke him to his cell and having imparted to him his distresse got this comfortable answer back againe that if hee would be partner with him of the taske which sundry yeares agone he had undertaken that he would not onely releeve him of his present necessity but likewise if the event deluded not his intention would make him one of the richest and wealthiest men in the world To which discourse having listned and perceiving it was nothing but the blowing of the coale hee meaned being allured thereto by his present want the hope and expectation of future gaine the venerablenesse and gravity of the person the religious silence of so solitary a place he embraced the offer and in the end became so expert in the calling that by his white powders for as yet hee had not come to that perfection to make red he redeemed himselfe from his exile by presenting the Senate of the Citie with Ingots to the value of fiftie thousand Crownes with certificate if that it should please them to restore him to his wonted liberty for thither was his affection carried beyond all the parts of the world in regard his Mistresse was there hee should enrich