world A. The sheepe the goose and the Bee for the sheepe yeelds parchment the geose quills to write it and the Bee waxe to seale it Q. What creatures are those that are both in the heauens in the earâ—h and in the Sea A. The Dogge and Serpent or Dragon according to the Poet Latrat in ede Canis nat in equore fulget astris Though more confined creatures more do pine The Dogge in house Sea Skie doth barke swim shine Q. Whether are there more or greater liuing creatures bred on the earth or in the Sea A. In the Sea as all writers testifie and agree vpon and this moreouer they adde that there is no creature on the earth that hath not his like in the Sea and yet there are many in the Sea that the earth cannot paralell nor any other place and beside with this good difference that those creatures that are hurtfull on the earth in the waters are not so as the snakes and such like there are without their venome and offencelesse Q. VVhat is that which nothing being more heauâ—er of it selfe yet nothing more moueable and if you keepe it not within boundes seuers it selfe into many particulars yet after runs into one lumpe and being it selfe vnchangeable changeth and altereth the forme and colour of things A. Quickesiluer Q. VVhat herbe is that which presents the forme of a man A. The roote of the Mandrake Q. VVhether is it of truth or not that â—vulgarly reported that those that digge vp this roote escape not without death A. Nothing lesse yet hath it of it selfe a soporiferous nature to procure sleepe drunke or applyed euen as Opium to death Q. VVhat creature is that which at once brings forth nourisheth her young and goeth with young againe A. The Hare that feareful and pursued creature of whom according to Plinie the males bring forth as the femaless vnto which no other creature may compare in fruitfulnesse but Conies those cunning pioners that haue vndermined and subuerted cities and the mony of vsury that no sooner is begot it selfe but it presently ingenders Q. Among all beasts and birds which are of the most beautious and various colours A. The Peacocke among birds is as the Panther among beasts onely in this they differ that whereas the Peacockes deformitie is his feete the Pantherâ— his head Q. What kinde of men are theâ— which being as beasts themselues sit vpon beasts carries beasts on their hands haue beastes running about them and all to pursue and kill beasts A. Vnlettered huntsmen of which Saint Ierome further addeth that Esau was a hunter and Nimrod and both wicked men and that hee had scarce read in the Scripture of any holy man that was an hunter not that he thought it impossible to bee so as if they were adiuncts not bee separated nor that they were wicked because they hunted but that they hunted beeing wicked men Q. What twise two things are those that are oftentimes sayde to denoure their masters A. Haec bis bina canes aues seruique atque caballi Dicantur Dominos sepe vorare suos Hawkes hounds and horses seruants pride and stealth Are ofttimes found to deuoure their masters wealth Vnto which may be annexed another distributer of miserie and penurie not inferior if not greater then any of the rest which is gaming or dice and therfore as the saying is Ludens taxillis bene respice quid sit in illis Spestua restua sorstua morstua penâ— dit in illis At Dice who plaies in this conceit may enter My hope my helth my life my wealth to venter And all thereby and therfore if hee would preuent his danger by cunning let him know the more cunning hee is in this art the more wicked he is in his life A good rule to bee obserued both for our profit and carriage Amores Mores Ores Res. Aes Haec tua verbaiubent fugiendos semper amores Mores seruandos emnibus essebonis Noctes atque dies orando rebus et vti Prudenter proprijs nec Lapidanda bona These words vnto vs this instruction preach First flie fond loues of many a good the breach Next keepe good manners and the good embrace For that becomes then pray in euery place Next vse thy goods with moderation fit And thou shalt reape both praise and benefit Q. There are two things that cannot be too much trimmed and what are they A. A ship and a woman Q. In what places are wiues of best vse and most fit A. One of Marcions schollers answered in Thalamo et in Tumulo In the bed and in the tombe Q. By what reasons were the Ancient Poets vsed to 〈◊〉 marriages A. By comparing the aduenture of such a one to the wracked Seaman that once a shore will notwithstanding to Sea againe according to the verse The man that once from mariage free yet hasteth to that paine Resembleth much the wracked man that will to sea againe Q. VVhat was the yong mans answer wherefore he would not marry a widow A. Because according to the old saying He would not drinke in the water that another had dyed by tasting of as followes In qua quis periâ—t non â—ibo dixit aquam Q. How comes it to passe that learned men wisemen Churchmen and such like choose notwithstanding all their wisedome many times wiues impatient contextious and troublesome A. It is not to bee doubted but that marriage is a fate suffered or appointed by God Gen. 28.48 and therefore not alwayes in the power of euery man to choose according to his wisedome vnderstanding at al times but that wise and learned men should many times if they haue not euill vnchast wiues meet yet with those that are bitter and contentious vnto them I can giue no reason for it but this fate vnlesse it bee for this cause that when abroade they reproue other mens faults and errors they may haue at home those that may preach to them their owne weaknesses and infirmities And therefore as one sayth howsoeuer it must bee our wisedomes to loue them since it was fortune to haue them for their faults we must either seeke to remoue theÌ„ or endeauour to beare them if wee can take them away we make them the fitter for our selues if not wee become bettered our selues in our patience Q. VVho are those that plow the sands till anothers ground and leaue their own field vnhusbanded A. The Adulterer who is sayde to want two of his fiue senses at least not to haue the true vse of them That is his seeing and hearing for if he could see he might behoulde the immediate destruction that waites at the threshould of that sinne if he could not see yet he might heare from the testimony of wofull experiencers that cry out in each corner this path I trod and it brought me to destruction Q. I know thou art diligent in reading the Scriptures therefore shew me in what one Chapter of the Bible all the fiue
vpon the earth But man enioyes all these with his head hee lookes vp to Heauen with his minde he lookes into Heauen with his feete hee walkes vpon the earth his armes keepe the ayre as the bird flyes with his eyes hee contemplateth heauen and earth and all sublunarie things hee hath an essence as other bodies produceth his seede as Plants his bones are like stones his blood like the springs in the channels of the earth his hayre like the grasse the ornament of the earth c. hee liues as a Plant flourisheth as a Tree for a man is a tree turned vpward his feete are like the boughes his head like the roote Beside some creatures are onely as Starres some are and liue as Plants some are liue and haue sense as Beasts some vnderstanding as Angels all these concurre in man Est viuit sentit intelligit Q. What three things are those that hee which often remembers shall seldome doe amisse A. That aboue there is an Eare that heares all an Eye that beholds all a Booke wherein all our offences are written Whereunto may likewise bee annexed as a second memento and not inferiour to the first being S. Anselmes obseruation vpon the last day Where at thy right hand shall thy sinnes be accusing At thy left hand infinite Diuels expecting Vnder thee the furnace of hell buruing Aboue thee an angry Iudge Within thee thy conscience tormenting Without thee the world flaming Where only the iust shall be saued Whence to flie it wil be impossible To continue still intollerable Therefore while time is preuent that that in time will bee for as one saith If it bee not preuented it will bee repented Q. Who was hee that neuer laughed but sometimes wept as we reade in the Scriptures A. Christ of whom we read that he three times wept 1. When Lazarus was dead 2. Ouer Ierusalem 3. Vpon the Crosse when he deliuered vp his spirit with cryes and teares Q. There bee foure duties wee chiefly we and among all other are especially bound to pay and which be they Debemus Deo timorem Patriae amorem Parentibus honorem Proximo fauorem To God feare To our Country Loue. To our Parents Honour To our Neighbour fauour A Rule for our Life So Learne as if Thou shouldst liue alwayes so Liue as if Thou shouldst die to morow Suspice coelum despice mundum respice finem Looke vp to heauen despise the world respect thine end Q. There are three especially vnhappy in the Law of the Lord and who are those A. 1. He that knowes teacheth not 2. He that teacheth and doth not 3. He that is ignorant and yet learneth not Q. Was there any writing before the floud preserued notwithstanding the Deluge after it A. T is answered We haue no writing before the floâ—d yet S. Iude doth somewhat insinuate of the writing of Henoch and Iosephus and others write that he erected two pillars the one of bricke and the other of stone wherein he wrote of the twofold destruction of the world the one by water the other by fire which by Tradition was preserued to the dayes of the Aposâ—les Q. What was the sentence according to the opinions of the learned that Christ wrote with his finger in the dust of the pauement of the Temple A. Some thinke it was the same that he spake Hee that is innocent let him throw the first stone at her others thinke it was this Festucam in oculo cernis trabem in tuo non vides Thou seest the mote in thy brothers eye but not the beame in thine owne Q. What Booke did Samuel write besides those two in Scripture that beare his name A. A Booke of the office and institution of a King Q. What Bookes did Salomon write beside those extant in Canonicall writ A. Salomon wrote three thousand Parables and fiue thousand songs besides that ingens opus of the nature ofal Herbes Trees and Plants from the Cedar to the Hyssop vpon the wall al destroyed by the Babylonians at the destruction of the Temple Q. Whether God created hurtfull creatures as Scorpions Serpents and such like A. It is answered there are some that seeme euill vnto vs which yet are not simply euill of themselues for no substance is euill of it selfe and the Scripture teacheth vs that Serpents were created among other creatures yet God pronounceth that all were good but that some creatures are now hurtfull to man that is not to be attributed to the first creation but to the second after the lapse or fall of man who if he had persisted in his dutie to God no creature should haue beene offensiue vnto him but ouer them he should haue borne a willing subiection For God made nothing euill neither doth he make sicknesse barrenesse lamenesse or the like but they rather haue deficient then efficient causes as the want of health his good creature is the cause of sicknes the withdrawing of light the interposition of darkenes and so of the like Q. What name was that among the Iewes so highly reuerenced that it was only lawfull for the Priests to name it and that but at the solemne festiuals A. The name Iehouah a word consisting but of seuen letters and yet of al the fiue vowels according to this verse Quinque simul iunctis constas vocabilus vna Dictio est magno maius in orbe nihil Fiue vowels ioynd together make a name In Heauen or Earth none greater then the same Q. What of all other are held to bee things of the greatest difficultie in Scripture to beleeue and of the greatest opposition to sence to conceiue A. Some thinke the creation of the world some the conseruation thereof and all creatures therein some the Incarnation of the Sonne of God others the resurrection of the flesh Besides these there are some that thinke Noes Arke and the vnion and preseruation of so many diuers creatures in it so many moneths fed ordered and at last safely deliuered out Q. In how many chapters doth consist the Canon of the old Testament A. In 777. The Iewish Rabbins haue collected to bee in the Bookes of the Law verses 5845. In the Prophets 9294. In Haggai 8064. In the Bookes of Apocripha chap. 173. In the new Testament chap. 260. Malachy which was the last of the Prophets stands as the Porch betweene the Old and New Testament whereat as Tertullian saith Iudaisme ends and Christianitie begins Q. Where was God before hee made the world A. Saint Austin notes this as vain curiositie to enquire as it is to demaund what he did before hee made the same and yet to giue the curious some satisfaction to the first he answers that God dwelt in himselfe at himselfe and was God to himselfe and for the second he was not idle in that he chose vs before the world and purposed in himselfe the creation of all things But hee that will farther busie himselfe to prie into this Arke how all things could
with humour to giue fancy tast When as some other whose successe more bad Tugs 60. years like leathern AdaÌ„ clad For skinnes or figge leaues for to hide his skinne Whose heart being plaine hee cannot this way sinne Whose total substance all his hopes to boote Was neuer worth the trust of such a shute What should I say of this vnequall lotte Would God thus haue it surely I thinke not Though some distinctions hee would haue to bee Yet not in such a terrible degree Hee would not haue thee see thy brother lacke Then flake thy cost and cloath some naked backe Hee would not haue thee see thy brother pine But him sustain'd from that excesse of thine If for thy selfe thy whole endeauours tend If what thou hast thou wouldst bee thine heyre and spend Then know like that rich glutton thou mayest craue A droppe and be denide because he gaue Not to the needy crummes that did belong Droppes were denide him for to coole his tongue Vpon the late Starre This yeare there hath appear'd a streaming starre Within our natiue Hemisphere or clime But whether it brings vs newes of peace or warre Of plague or famine who i' st can diuine Though some interprete it to change of State Hostile inuasion or some great mans end Rumors of warres here landed to vs late Or like particulars that they entend But since the Character hath such a letter That none can vnderstand but he that writ Let 's feare the worst our sins and make vs better And not to other ends enterprete it For in the same there 's matter vnderhil'd Which shall not to our knowledge be made plaine Till the portant and purpose bee fulfil'd For neuer came such messengers in vaine How ere with meekenesse let vs kisse the rod Hoping the best yet leauingâ—al to God Epit. 4. Sâ— Tho. Becket Pro Christi sponsa Christi sub tempore Christi In templo Christi verus amator obit Englished For Christ his Spouse his Cause and at Christ tide Within Christs temple Christs true louer dyde Epit. 5. Written by a Religious Gent before his death Earth take my earth Sathan my sinne I leaue The world my substance Heauen my soule receiue Vpon Ionas in the Whales belly Buried I am and yet I am not dead Though neither earth inclose nor stone me keepes I speake I thinke with liuing ayres am fed In liuing tombe in vnfaddom'd deepes What wight besides my selfe for shame or grace Ere liu'd in death in such a tombe or place Epitaph 6. In Verolamium A forgotten Citie sometimes neere Saint Albons Stay thy foot that passest by Here is wonder to discry Churches that inter'd the dead Here themselues are sepulchred Howses where men slept and wak't Here in ashes vnderrak't In a word to allude Here is corne where once Troy stood Or more folly home to haue Here 's a City in a graue Reader wonder thinke it then Cities thus should dye like men And yet wonder thinke it none Many Cities thus are gone Epit 7. Vpon a Chambermaid Vnderneath this stone is laide A Ladies sometimes Chambermaide Who was yong and plump and prety And yet a Maid alas 't was pittie Epit. 8. Vpon a Loue sicke youth Here lyeth he he lyeth here That bounst and pitty cride The Dore not op't fell sicke alas Alas fell sacke and dide Epit. 9 On a rich couetous Lawyer Within this euerlasting Tombe Whose house containes her dead till doome Is one possest here to abide That yet had liu'd and had not dide If Death like him would haue agreed At any rate to haue been fee'd Or if he could at point of death That sold his wind haue bought but breath This crosse to him could neere so fall To haue wed the Church that woo'd the Hall Epit. 10. Vpon a Citizen From wares and cares fained breath Heere I at last am freed by death If that my dealings were not iust The more I feare the lesse I trust What though 100. Blue coates sing My friends didâ— mourne the bels did ring The earth receiu'd me with applause All doth not better mend my cause Fed I the hungry cloath'd the poore Made I these friends to goe before No I left wealth behind vnspent Coines vnreceiu'd that I had lent And suites vnended wag'd by cost And all I left behind is lost Good deeds I did and gifts I gaue Those went before me those I haue Epit. 11. A memento for mortalitie Taken from the view of Sepulchres of so many Kings and Nobles as lye interred in the Abbey of Westminster Mortality behold and feare What a change of flesh is here Thinke how many royall bones Sleepe within this heape of stones Hence remou'd from beds of ease Dainty fare and what might please Fretted roofes and costly showes To a roofe that flats the nose Which proclaimes all flesh is grasse How the Worlds faire Glories passe That there is no trust in Health In youth in age in greatnesse wealth For if such could haue repreeu'd Those had been immortall liu'd Know from this the World a snare How that greatnesse is but care How all pleasures are but paine And how short they doe remaine For here they lie had realms and lands That now want strength to stir their hands Where from their Pulpits seel'd with dust They preach In Greatnes is no trust Heere 's an Aker sowne indeed With the richest royalst seed That the earth did ere sucke in Since the first man dide for sin Here the bones of birth haue cride Though Gods they were as men they dyde Here are sands ignoble things Dropt from the ruin'd sides of kings With whom the poore mans earth being showne The difference is not easily knowne Here 's a world of pompe and state Forgotten dead disconsolate Kings Thinke then this sith that mows down Exempts no meaner mortall things Then bid the wanton Lady tread Amid â—hese mazes of the dead And these truely vnderstood More shall coole quench the blood Then her many sports aday And her nighty wanton play Bid her paint till day of doome To this fauour she must come Bid the Marchant gather wealth The Vsurer exact by stealth The proud man beat it froÌ„ his thought Yet to this shape all must be brought A short addition or memento hereunto annexed vpon the death of Queen ANNE See here this plotte for all her store With greedy throate still gapes for more Which with our griefe and her successe Concludes not now in emptinesse For newly now shee hath tom'bd in earth One great in good as high in birth Vnto a hopefull Prince the mother Wife to one King and sister to another A king her father euery way borne high Match't great liu'd great in speare of maiestie Yet notwithstanding this bloud high disceÌ„t As rich in virtue and more eminent Respectiue liber all with a plenteous hand Where desert crau'd or she might vnderstand A needfull good or seasonable supply To such her streame of goodnes neere
of the earth slaughtered tormented in al coūtries France Spaine Portugall Germany and England some of their offences were washing clipping the kings coyne circūcising stealing of christian children pricking them full of holes for their blood which they cōceited wold cure the leprosie ranke smel both of their breath skin In king Iohns time they were fined at 1000. marks a man vpon penalty of not payment to lose their teeth an old Iew had 6. of his teeth pulled out because he refused to pay his fine Many 1000. of them were slaughtered in diuers kingdomes vpon a rumour spred that they had poysoned all the wells in those countries and where euer they liue at this day among Christians they liue in subiection and slauery to them they most hate Q What country in the world is the most desolate and solitarie A. The countrey of the Sodomites where Sathan wanne so much ground that whereas according to Strabos description stood 13. cities scituate vpon one of the most fruitfull soyles in the whole earth euen a second Eden or garden of Paradise for pleasure beauty whence sprong those clustering grapes from those vines of Engeddi so renowned in Scripture stands not now one of those cities to magnifie her selfe aboue her fellowes but all with Sodome the Lady of them all desolated and destroyed not one stone left vppon another nor no other witnesse of their somtimes being more then the dry smell of fire brimstone the heauy iusticers of God that destroyed thē for the fruit of that vine that made glad the heart of man in thē peruerted from his true vse to sin and drūkēnes are only found now apples of a beautious appearance but touch them and they are but ashes and of a sulphurous sauour an ayre of so poysonous a vapour aboue that as Historiographers write stifles the fowles that fly ouer it that they fall downe dead and the fishes likewise in that dead sea vnder it poysoned as they fall in or flote from the siluer streames of Iordan that thence emptie themselues into that sulphurous lake There are foure kinde of men that lay clayme to their owne or others and but one rightly and these are they 1. The first saith that which is mine is thine and that which is thine is mine and this is the Ideot 2. The second sayth that which is mine is mine and that which is thine is thine and this is the indifferent man 3. The third saith that which is mine is thine and that which is thine is thine owne and this is the godly man 4. The fourth saith that which is thine is mine that which is mine is mine owne and this is the wicked man Christ all and without Christ nothing Possidet ille nihil Christum qui perdidit vnum Perdidit ille nihil Christum qui possidet vnum Q. What doe wee owe vnto our neighbour A. Three things that is to say nostrum nosse in consiliis nostrum posse in subsidiis nostrum velle in desideriis To counsell to assist to desire his good Three things are most precisely necessarie for euery Christian man and what they are Faith without the which we cā not please God A good name without the which we cā not please our neighbour A good cons. without the which we cā not please our selues Of the latter which one writes O vita secura vbi est conscientia pura O life secure that hath the conscience pure Q Why do yong men many times say they are yonger then they are and old men they are older then they are A. This doth youth that hee may seeme to preserue the flower of his youth the longer this doth age to regaine more reuerence and authoritie but either foolishly Q. Hee that learnes from youth who doth he resemble A. He that eats grapes before they are ripe drinks wine before it be setled Q But who doth hee resemble that drawes his precepts from old men A. He that eates ripe grapes and drinks old wine for seniores sunt saniores incipientes insipientes And likewise Quae laboriosa fuere inuentuti studia ea suntiucūda senectuti otia Whose studies were not painfull in youth their pleasures are more perfect in age and truely she lends the more nourishment whē to the other but as Bastards she withdraweth it from them Q. Why are Cats and Whelps brought forth blinde A. Because that drawing neere to their maturity and ripenesse they wound and pierce the Matrixe with their clawes wherupon by their Dams they are hastily and imperfectly cast forth before their time Q. Why blood issues afresh from an old member or wound many dayes before made and dryed vp the murderer approching neere vnto it A. Our Naturalists obserue diuers Naturall causes to the effecting of the same which for their vncertainty wee meddle not withal But thus conclude that murther shall not bee concealed or vnreuenged and to that ende that blood of the slaughtered cries for vengeance at the hands of God which God so regarding by that meanes answeres to approue to man what often seemeth doubtfull Q VVhy doth the affections of Parents runne vpwards to their children and not their children run downewards to them A. Euen as the sap in the root of a tree ascends into the branches thereof and from the branches returnes not into the root againe bu runs out from thence into seed so parents loue their children but children so loue not their parents but their affections runs forward to a further procreation wherby it comes to passe that a father with more willingnesse brings vp ten children then ten children in his want sustaines one father Q How is it that there be many more women in the world then men A. Some thinke because women are exempted from the warres from the seas imprisonment and many other troubles and dangers of the land to be a reason sufficient So others likewise there are that thinke this may be a reason because in the whole course of Nature the worst things are euer most plentifull to which effect Plynie tels a Story of a certaine field-mouse that euery moneth brings forth thirty when the Elephant a creature of vse and seruice is three yeeres in trauell with one Questions of the Earth Q. How many miles is the earth in circuit A. It is vncertaine and cannot rightly bee defined for as the Lord saith who hath measured the earth yet the Mathematicians Astrologiās are of opinion that it is 4. times 5400. miles but howsoeuer in respect of the Heauens they conclude it but a point where euery Star in the eight spheare is esteemed bigger then the whole circumference thereof where if the body of the earth should bee placed in the like splendor it would hardly appeare yet as saith a Father we make this little so great a matter so admiring this miserable dust on which not onely wee that are but dust wormes do creepe but also many other wormes
beasts besides and yet this point is diuided among mortals into many points and with fire sword contended for and sought many are so besotted therewith that they would exchange for a mote of this point their part of Heauen could they meete with a Chapman Q. Where is the Center or Middlemost part of the earth A. At Delphos as the Auncient would haue it to which purpose Strabo tels a Story of two Eagles sent from Ioue one from the East and another from the West which met at Delphos some are of opinion that it is neere the Mount Taurus Ptolomeus thought it vnder the Equinoctiall Strabo at Pernassus a mountaine in Graecia Plutarch was likewise of that opinion But most of our Ecclesiasticall Writers haue thought Iudea to be the middle of the earth and Hierusalem the very point and Center of which opinion was Saint Hirom Hillarius Lyra and others according to the Psalme God hath wrought saluation in the middest of the earth That is at Hierusalem by his passion Yet in respect of the whole world there is no place properly the middle because it is round Q. What were the names of those two theeues that were crucified with Christ A. The Scripture mentioneth not yet we haue it by tradition and from history that they were Dismas and Gesmas Dismas the happy and Gesmas the vnfortunate according the Poet. Gismas Damnatur et Dismas ad Astraleuatur Q. VVherefore is the world round A. Because that it and all therein should not fill the heart of man being a Triangle receptacle for the holy Trinitie Q. How farre is the East distant from the VVest A. A dayes iourney for the Sunne passeth betweene them euery day Q. VVhether is the water or the earth the greater A. It is answered The water is bigger then the earth the aire bigger then the water and the fire bigger then the aire Q. VVhat comparison is there between the Sun and vertue A. So much that when as the Sun is at the highest the lesser shadow doth it cast vpon the earth as the neerer thereto the greater so vertue the more high eleuate it is the more it shines vnseene vnlesse to it selfe and such as participate in the fruition thereof as that other the more vnreall and declining a greater but a worser light to the World A certain old Doctor of the Church compared the Old Testament and the New to the Sun and the Moone the Old borrowing light from the New as the Moone from the Sun the New being wrapped vp in the Old and the Old reuealed in the New Q. VVhat is the highest of all things A. The Sea is higher then the earth the ayre higher then the Sea the fire higher then the ayre the Poles higher then the fire God higher then the Poles higher then God nothing Q. VVhat may the world most fitly be compared vnto A. To a deceitfull nut which if it be opened with the knife of truth nothing is found within it but vacuity and vanity Q. Si fugio sequitur si me fugit illa sequentem Res mira varia est dic mihi queso quid est A. The Rainbow which seemes to vary in colours according to the variation of the minde of him that beholds it Q. VVhat times are we chiefly to select to our selues for the ordering of our affaires and as the most conuement for that purpose A. The morning and the euening in the morning to prepose what wee haue to doe In the euening to consider what we haue done and effected so that we may husband our time in the early and wise disposall and accomplishment of our affaires and next That we may also haue the first of these golden verses on our side and the other either frustrated or not strongly against vs which ensue as followeth and first for our early rising and the morning Sanctificat ditat sanat quoque surgere mane Englished To rise betimes hath still beene vnderstood A meanes to inrich make wise preserue pure blood For the second Omnia sireputes transactaetempora vitae Velmale veltemere vel nihil egit homo Englished Suruey all times and there swift progresse scan Rash bad or nothing in them 's done by man Q. VVhether throughout the whole yeere are there more cleere or cloudy dayes A. The dry are more then the Rayny cleere more then the cloudy according to the Poet. Si numeres anno soles nubila toto Inuenies nitidum saepius esse diem Number the dayes the cloudy and the cleere And thou shalt find more faire then foule in the yeere Q. VVhether are some dayes to be accounted infortunate or not as in our Callend are set downe A. They are not as in the Countrimans Counsellor here ensuing is further to that purpose related And therefore Heracluus not without cause blames Hesiod for his distinction of dayes good and euill as if he were ignorant that all dayes were alike To which purpose is here annexed the noble courage and resolution of Lucullus the Captaine who with no lesse happy euent then ripe iudgement being indangered by an enemy and vpon an ominous day as his souldiers termed it surprised animated them on not withstanding to a famous rescue and victory with this perswasion that giuing the onset with resolution they should change a black day to a white and the successe was answerable Q. VVhether is the custome lawfull or not that is commonly vsed for the celebration of our birth dayes A. The Heathens in ancient times had this custome in great esteeme and reuerēce in some measure we may be imitators of thē but how we shold celebrate ours S. Austen hath giuen vs a Rule that is with thankefulnesse and reioycing in God that hee would haue vs born to be temples consecrate to him then truly reioycing when we find in our selues a willingnesse and perfection in some measure to goe forward and indeauour the end of our creation which is the seruice of God vnto the which vnlesse we referre our whole care we shall haue small cause of reioycing but rather to wish we had neuer been borne And most of the fathers are of opinion that none of all the Saints thus celebrated their birth dayes but Gentiles as Pharaoh Herod and the like From Heathens we discend a moment to the Pope and Rome Q. The Pope borrowes two prerogatiues from the Apostles and what are they A. Saint Peters keyes and S. Pauls sword that what he cannot enter into by the one he may enforce by the other after the example of Iulius the 2. Pope of Rome who leading his army along by the riuer Tyber threw therein his keyes saying When Peters keyes profit vs nothing then come out Pauls sword and how it is drawne at this time the world takes notice as against Venice France the Duke of Ferrara and in an hurly burly vnsheathed throughout all Italy The dog that with shut eyes barks against all truth Q. Tell me in the vertue
sences are described A. Gen. 27. vers 4. seeing ver 18. hearing ver 21. touching ver 25. tasting ver 27. smelling The 5. windowes of the soule of which one thus writes S Lucem occulis video varios discerno colores H Consona me iuvat offendit simphonia discors S FragraÌ„ti oblector visioso offendor â—dore T Insipidum sapidum quid sit me indice constat T Sentio quid Callidum aut Gellidum quid molle quid asprum The seeing light colors doth discry The hearing tunes and discords doth arraine The smelling odors sweet and sowre doth try The taste respects the Cookes both art and paine The touching hard and soft and hot and cold Through these 5. windowes doth the soule behold Q What is the least member in the body and yet darkens the whole man A. The eye lidde Q. Is the most perfect eyesight sometimes deceiued A. Oftentimes and assoone as any other of the sences for example cast a straight staffe into a troubled water and â—t appeares to the eye as crooked and wauering Stand vpon the shore thou seest the ship goe stand vpon the ship why then thy eye will tell thee the shore goes and the ship stands stil. So the head being distempered thou shalt thinke fixt things moue and one flame two Q What is the the swiftest of all things in the world A One answered the Sun because his speed is such that in a day he compasseth the whole circuit of the earth But another replyed that thought was swifter then that because it trauelled the whole world in a moment Q. VVhat foure euils are those that chiefly trouble a house Sunt mala terna domus imber mala femina fumus QuartuÌ„ cuÌ„ mane surgunt pueri sine pane A smoke a storm a contentious wife Three ils are found that tire a husbands life To which a 4. is by the prouerbe sed When children crye for hunger wanting bread Of Martin Luther and P. Melancthons eloquence and sweetnesse Diuisae his operae sed mens suit vnica pauit Ore Lutherus oues flore Melancthon apes Twixt Luther and Melancthon so long gone There works were diuers though there faith was one For Luther soundnes loded by degrees His sheepe as did Melanctons flowers his bees Q. VVhat meanes this speech nourish not the whelpe of the Lion A. It giues to vnderstand that wee are not to cherish any power aboue the Law nor to foster that strength that may afterwards oppresse zs. Q. Why do they that are troubled with the Gowt euer loue to talke most A. Because they cannot runne with with their feete they loue to run with their tong For the benefit of any meÌ„ber we are depriued of hauing two of them wee esteeme the other in the reckoning of them both as concerning the eye no man desires to be blinde or to haue but one eye yet if any mischaÌ„ce should befall the one wee esteeme the other the dearer as it follows in the v. 9 Non habeo nec habere velim quod sitamen ad sit NoncareaÌ„ craesi si mihi deÌ„tur opes Mine eye I would not sell for drosse Thogh Craesus wealth repayrd my losse None more blind the Bayard as the saying is nor none more forward to venture then he that least knowes the dangers that he enterprises as by this example is made manifest The trees on a time went forth to select them a king and in their progresse they came to the Oliue tree and sayde vnto it raigne ouer vs and be king but it refused saying shall I forsake my fatnesse wherewith I am suppled and man is nourished no I wil not with these and the like reasons refused their offer Then they came to the figge tree and sayd raigne ouer vs who answered shall I leaue my sweetnesse and fruites more delicate then the hony of Hybla Then they came to the Vine and shee refused saying shall I forgoe my sweet shade and comfortable clusters that comfort and make glad the heart of man it shall not bee Then spake the Bramble let me be king ouer you that I may curbe you with sharpe lawes thus what the good refused the worst offers to take vppe and embrace for none are more ambitious then the vnderseeming as in the proposition before declared Q What waters of all other are the most deceitfull A. The teares of a woman the which in the blessed weeper are called the bloud of the soule Q. VVhat creatures of all other are the most wanton A. Insatiate women acording to the Poetâ— Gallinâ— Gallus ter qui ni sufficit vnus At ter quinâ— viri vix sufficit mulieri One Cocke sufficeth twise fiue hen Scarce one lewd woman twise 5. men Q. VVhat women of all other are the most fruitfull A. Beggars wiues that of all other one would think should be most barreÌ„ Q. Of imperious women what did Cato report A. Cato sayde our wiues rule the common wealth for wee gouerne the people and our wiues gouerne vs. To which purpose Themistocles said O wife the Athenians rule the Gretians I the Athenians thou me thy son thee Therfore in my opinion he spoke not amis that sayde hee neuer knew common wealth nor priuate family well gouerned where the hen crew and the cock held his peace for though it be sayde of women that they are so able of tongue that 3. of their clappers will make a reasonable noyse for a market yet though they talke they should not commaund or at least wise should not gouerne Q. Whether was the night or the day first A. Thal. Milesius answereth the night was before the day as in the creation is manifest so the euening and the morning were the first day From which notwithstanding wee vary in our opinions as preferring the day before it and for because the euening is but the latter part of the day which must precede it Q. How many colours are there in the Rainebow A. Various colours but two especially most apparant a watry and a fiery colour which two colours expresse two iudgements the one of water past in beginning of the world and the other of fire to come in the end thereof Q. Which is the longest day in all the yeere A. S. Barnaby answereth that which hath the shortest night Q. How many are the properties of good wine A. As many as there are senses in mans body for to euery sense should good wine haue a relation 1 To the sight good colour purenesse and cleerenesse 2 To the hearing being powred forth a sparkling and speaking noise 3 To the taste sweetnesse 4 To the touching coldnesse 5 To the smell sweetnesse Q. How many are the veines in the body of man A. As many as there are dayes in the yeere of which one thus writeth That euery thing we doe may vaine appeare We haue a veine for each day in the yeere Q. How many bones are there in the body of man A. It is answered
are the three first members formed in the wombe after conception A. The heart the braine and the liuer the three chiefe members of life Q. Which is the last made A. The eye The interpretation of the mind The last member formed in the wombe and the first that loseth his motion in death for in that exigent the spirits of the sight betake themselues to the braine as to their castle of refuge a sure token of death Q. When a man dies which is the last part of him that stirres and which of a woman A. To answere merily and not altogether impertinently t is said the last part of a man that stirs is his heart but of a woman her tongue Q. A wise man said that from the most vildest creatures on the earth iust matter might be had whereby to glorifie God to this one answered what tak'st thou from the Serpent whereby to glorifie him A. To praise him that he made me not such a one To which purpose is here annexed a story of one who seeing a Toade lie in the way fell a weeping two Bishops comming by inquired his reason who answered that the sight of that vgly and loathsome creature had admonished him of his ingratitude to God that had neuer giuen him thankes for the excellency of his creation beeing made after his owne Image when hee being but as clay in the Potters hands it was in his power to haue made him a vessell of dishonor yea euen the basest and deformed such a one as that Toade Q. What is the most beautifull thing in the world A. One answered the Sunne but another replyed that blinde men saw not that and therefore hee concluded that Vertue was much more resplen dent which euen the blind might perceiue perfectly Q. What is the strongest of all things A. One answered Wine another a King a third a Woman and all these are very powerfull but truth is the strongest of all which ouercomes all things Q. Who is the greatest opposer of this Truth A. One answered the Pope who as Baleus recites is so opposite that commonly whatsoeuer he praiseâ— is worthy of disprayse for whatsoeuer hee thinkes is vaine whatsoeuer he speakes is false whatsoeuer he dislikes is good whatsoeuer hee approoues is euill and whatsoeuer he extols infamous Q. What seate is ordained for Popes after this life A. Heauen they continually sell and daily offer to sale and therefore Hell is their place in reuersion according to the Poet Vendidit coelum Romanus Astra sacerdos Ad Stigias igitur cogiturire domos Q. What part of speech is Papa for the Pope A. Part of a participâ—e because hee partakes part from the Clergy part from the Laity and part from both without Moâ—d or â—eâ—se Papa nec Dâ—us Nec Angelus Nec Homoâ— quid tunc the Pope is neither God Angel nor Man what then Diabolus Q. VVho are those that pray for all Defend all Feed all Deuoure all A. In an old picture I found it thus written The Pope with his Clergy saies I pray for you all Caesar with his Electors I defend you all The Clown with his sack of Corne I nourish you all at last comes Death and sayes I deuoure you all Q. VVhat little fish is that in the Sea that hath the greatest strength A. The Rhemora a little fish of halfe a foot long which but by fastening vpon it will stay a Ship vnder sayle with winde and tide Q. What thing is a Lyon most afrayde of A. The crowing of a Cocke and the noyse of a Cartwheele Q. What difference of Daies is there of the Christians the Turks and the Iewes Sabbaoth A. The Christians keepe their Sabbaoth on Sunday The Iewes on the Saturday and the Turkes on the Friday in scorne of Christ that was that day crucified Q. What is death very fitly resembled vnto A. To a woman or a shadow for seeke it and it flies you flie it and it seekes you so a Woman according to the Poet. Follow a shadow it still flies you Seeme to flie it will pursue you So court a woman shee denies you Let her alone she will court you Q. What is that which of running becomes staid of soft becomes hard of weake becomes strong and of that which is infiâ—it becomes but one It is answered Ice Q. Whether was Christ all euer Ice A. It is answered that those waters which are congealed with a continuall and dayly cold as by the space of ten or twentie yeares are called Christall by reason of their transparencie and are for the most part found vpon the Alpine Mountaines eleuated against the face of the North where they become so hard that scâ—rce they euer after yeeld to the hammer Q. What liquor of all other soonest extinguisheth the fire A. Vineger for the exceeding piercing coldnesse and eagernesse it hath Q What is the strongest of all things in the world A. Thal. Mill. answered Fate another Death because it ouercomes all things Q. How many letters are there in the holy tongue A. As many as there are bookes in the old Testament of which one thus further obserues that as 22. letters forme our voyce so 22. bookes containe our faith Q. VVhat comparison is there betweene Prophets and Poets A. Thus much according to the old verse Illi de rebus praedicere vera futuris Hi de perteritis dicere falsa solent Englished Of things to come these truely make vs know What the other of things past doth falsly show Q. VVho were those that were seene to eate after their deaths A. Christ Lazarus the daughter of Iayrus and others Q. Vpon what kind of persons according to Diogenes opinion are not benefits to be bestowed A. 1 Nâ—t vpon olde men because they liâ—e not to require them 2 Vpon children because they forget them 3 Vpon dishonest folkes because they will neuer require them Q. VVho are those that see many things farre off but little neere at hand A. Old men blind in the present-tense but for the most part quicke-sighted in the preterimperfect tense Q How comes it that the Husband seekes the wife and not the contrary the wife the Husband A. Because the mâ—n seekes that which he lost that is his riâ— which was taken from him in the forming of Woman out of his side and therefore when a man marries a wife what doth hee but fetch backe the rib which hee first lost Q. What is the choosing of wines fitly compared vnto A. Sir Tho. More was wont to say to the plucking by casualty Eeles out of a Bagge wherein for euerie Eele are twenty Snakes Q. What is the deerest losse of all others A. The losse of time which cannot bee recouered of which one thus complaines Damna fleorerum sed plus fleo Damna dierum Quisque potest rebus succurere nemê° diebus Thus Englished The losse of wealth I much lament But more what time decaies For wealth may be regain'd that 's spent But
would not be vnderstood he should not be read Q. Expound me this verse Furfur edit Pannum Panem quoque sustineamus A. The last word is diuided into three and thus construed Sus the sow edit doth eate furfur Bran Tinea the Moth edit doth eate Pannum cloath Mus the mouse edit doth eate Panem Bread Q. What is the difference betweene os oris for the mouth and os ossis for a bone A. Deuorat os oris quicquid lucratur os ossis Whatsoeuer is gotten by os ossis the bone is deuoured of os oris the mouth Aliter Os oris loquitur sed os ossis roditurore Os oris or the mouth doth speake but os ossis or the bone is gnawne by the mouth Q. At the confusion of Babell into how many languages was the world diuided A. Epiphanius and others doe write into 72. as many as there were worke men at the building Others thinke 72. as many as there were Nations in the world which Moses recites to be 72. Q. VVhat preheminence haue our best Linguists aboue others A. The Hebrewes that they drinke at the fountaines The Grecians at the riuers The Latines at the brookes English and some others at the Lakes Q How are these 4. letters to be vnderderstood S P Q R. A. Senatus Populusque Romae yet one of the Sybils inuerted it thus Serua populum quem redimisti Now others haue turned them iestingly vpon the Pope by way of question and answer as thus Sancte Pater quid rides Resp. Rideo quod Papa sum Englished Holy Father why dost thou laugh I laugh because I am Pope Q. VVho was that that was reputed an old man among children and yet among olde men liueâ— to be a child A. Hermogenes who in his youth was the best Rethorician of his time but in his age lost his sense and forgot his letters and so became a child in his dotage Q. VVho was the most excellent Geometrician of his time A. Archimedes the Syracusian who helde it possible to remoue the earth had he had another earth to fixe his instrument vpon Hee held it also possible to number the sand Q. VVhy is honos for honour written with h. an aspiration and onus for a burthen without A. Because to the one al men aspire the other few men desire Q. Amongst all trees which onely is of the neuter gender A. Balsamum or the Balme tree found onely in Iudaea Q VVhat debt is that which is alwaies paying and neuer paide A. Charity and loue which though wee euer pay yet we must euer owe to pay Q. VVhy is the forme of money round A. Because it is to runne from euerie man Q. VVhy is Nummus Latine for money A. Oâ— Numa Pompilius second king of the Romanes and first that caused money to be made and when copper pence siluer pence and golde pence were made because euery siluer peny was worth ten copper pence euerie gold penny worth 10 siluer therefore they were called Denarii of Decem for ten Q By what meanes may euery man be counted an honest man A. By endeauouring to be what he desires to seeme Q. By what means should a man quickly become rich counsell I say quickly to be hearkned vnto A. To be content with little Q VVhat creature of all other is the worst that the earth nourisheth A. If it be demanded of wild beasts a Tyrant if of tame the Adulterer In another place he answered on mountaines Beares and Lyons in Cities Publicanes and flatterers Q. VVhat creature is that which bites with the tongue A. All creatures bite with their teeth as is commonly knowne but the flatterer bites with his tongue and the wound is mortall Q. VVherin doth man chiefly differ from beasts A. In two things especially Ratione Oratione in reason and speech Q. Diogenes being asked why he wore his beard so long A. Answered to the end that when I see it and touch it I may remember my selfe to be a man Q. One asked Diogenes what hee should giue to â—aue a blow at his head A. Answered a Helmet Q. What good thing is that which is more profitable vnto others then to him that hath it A. Beauty that frayle and flying dowry enioyed by looking vpon by others being blinde to the owner it selfe Q. Which were the most lasting clothâ— that euer were worne A. The Israelites in the wildernesse which in 40 yeares waxed not old Q. Which is a liuing word and which is a dead word A The spoken word is the liuing the written word is the dead of which one thus writes most wittily Sir vâ—rbum vox viualicet vox mortua scriptum Scripta diu viuunt non ita verba diu Englished Although the speaking word haue life The written word be dead The written word shall last and be When th'spoken word is fled Q. VVhat Beast is that that is vnlike eyther to his Damme or Sire and of a mingled kind brought forth by others produceth not his shape A. The Mule begotte betweene the Horse and the Asse according to the Poet. Dissimilis Patri Matris diuersa figura Ex alijs nascor nec quicquam nascitur ex me The Dog in the hunts is and al keepeth The Wolf woods norished things destroieth Q In what Lawes did consist the order of Drunkennesse among the Romanes 1 Not to trip in speech 2 Not to vomit 3 To drinke most at one sup 4 Not to breath in the draught 5 To leaue nothing vndrunke if to cast on the ground Discourse of wonders domesticall and forraine Q. VVhich are held the most strangest accidents in the Chronicles 1 The remouing of the earth 2 The raining of bloud 3 The multitude of mice in the Isle of Shepey that could not bee driuen away nor the place clensed till a flight of Owles came and deuoured them 4 The Chaine of 24. linkes with locke and key that a flea drew being put about her necke 5 The man that slept in the tower 3. dayes and â— nights and could not be wakened during that space by any noyse or violence by pricking with needles or otherwise A forraine wonder It is recorded by Guicciardine L. Viues Erasmus and others of a certain Countesse of Holland that brought forth at one birth 365. children as many as there are dayes in the yeare which were all baptized by a Bishop and after dyed which came thus to passe A certaine poore begger woman loden with children came to her dore and craued an almes which the Countesse not only denyed but also called her harlot and strumpet telling her withall it was impossible shee should haue so many by one man which this begger hearing besought God who knew her innocent to manifest it vnto her by giuing her so many at one birth by her husband as there are dayes in the yeare which fell out accordingly Q. VVhat is the greatest wonder in the Art of Nauigation A. The Needle of the Compasse which touched with the head
he did me so much grace To take the worse leaue me the better place For if by th'owners wee esteeme of things The wals the Subiects but the way 's the kings Epig. 5. NIX IX CorNIX Snow 9. A Crow NIX I that the winters daughter am Whilâ— thus my letters stand Am whiter then the plume of Swan Or any Ladies hand IX Take but a way my letter first And then I do incline That stood before for milk whit snow To be the figure nine And if that further you desire By change to do some trickes As blacke as any bird I am Cornix By adding Cor to nix Epig. 6. De sanit Medico Health is a iewell true which when we buy Physitions value it accordingly Epig. 8. In Amorosum A Wife you wisht me Sir rich fayre and yong With French Italian and the Spanish tongue I must confesse your kindnesse verie much But yet in truth Sir I deserue none such For when I wedde as yet I meane to tarry A woman of one Language I le but marry And with that single portion of her store Expect such plenty I would wish no more Epig. 9. Vpon an Vsurer and an improp Parson A Clergy man that oft had Preacht From his stopt steeple throte And to his congregation teacht Full oft this certaine note There could no Vsurer be sau'd Vnlesse he did restore What he so wrongfully had shau'd From th'backes of needy poore Vpon a time it so fell out This Vsurer did meete The Parson as he went from Church And thus he did him greete Good Sir quoth he I wonder much You take such fruitlesse paine To preach against a sinne that 's such As you your selfe maintaine But ten in the hundred do I take On good occasion when But you a hundred do reserue Allowing out but ten The Parson hearing him say so Began to be affeard And neuer preacht against that sinne To this day that I heard Epig. 10. In Aulum West Westminster is a Mill that grindes all Causes But grinde his Cause for me there hee that list For by Demurs and Erros stayes and claâ—ses The tole is oft made greater then the grist Epig. 11. In Iacobum Hee that doth aske Saint Iames doth say shall speed O that King Iames would answere so my need Epig. 12. Consilium From the Confessor Lawyer and physition Hide not thy Case on no condition Epig. 13. Hayw. Rent By lease without writing one once let a Farme The Lesser most lewdly the rent did retaine Whereby the lesser wanting writing had harme Wherefore hee vowed whilst life did remaine Without writing neuer to let thing againe Husband quoth the wife that thing againe reuâ—rt Else without wryting you cannot let a fart Epigram 14. One time as was my ordinary wont I went abroade into the fields to hunt Started a Hare pursud ' her with ful cry And had neere wearyed her when by and by Miso because I hunted in his grounds Let lose his running dogges and baukt my hounds From thence that sport I vtterly forswore Being so vnkindly croft by such a Bore So shunning the open fields and forrests wide My common haunt was by the water side For what thought I though lands inclosed be Yet Seas and Riuers questionlesse are free There will I sport mee with the scaly frie Fearelesse though all the world were standing by I had not scarce cast in my bayte to take But straight one comes it seems he hast did make That bids mee packe when first I did appeare Away went I it was no fishing there Scarce knowing now what sport to entertaine Being banisht both the earth and watry plaine I tooke a peece next time and foorthwith went To sport me in the airy regiment Where hauing scarce discharg'd to kill a Daw Another coms brings me statute law Vpon my peece where I it lost then swore I nere would hunt nor angle nor shoote more Then tooke I dice in hand my heauy fate Thus crost in al lost my whole estate HEREAFTER FOLLOWeth certaine Epitaphs on sundry persons 1. On the Vsurer HEre lies as least ten in the hundred Shackled vp fast both hands and feet That at such as lent mony gratis wondred The gaine of Vsurâ—e was so sweet But thus being new of life hereâ—â—â—n T is 100. to 10. he is scarce gone to heauen Epit. 2. Vpon a Spendthrist Here lies Iacke carelesse Without Tombe without thought without sheete That liu'd in the Alehouse the Bowling-Alley And dide in the streete Epit. 3. Vpon a riotous Courtier Here lies he now where no man sees That liu'd by crooked hams and knees Yet in his heart did boyle that lust That nought could quench but earth and dust Where if he had sooner beene layde Lesse summes his reckoning would haue payde In Papam Pium quintum Papa Pius quintus moritur res mira quod inter Pontifices tantum quinque fuere Pii Pius the fist is dead and vnderstood Of some so cald because but fiue were Good In all the line of Popes Fallar ego nam nemo pius re nomine tantum Pontifices constat quinque fuisse pios Yet erre I doe in this to their more shame For none were good indeede though fiue in name Certaine verses fixed vpon a childe laide in S. T. Hospitall Conceiue a fault by me conceiu'd By my seduced mother Who vowes vntill she be a wife I nere shall know a brother And for this hospitall is rich And hath a plenteous purse And she is poore and cannot pay She hath put me here to nurse No further she imparts her selfe Then that she is a sinner Though not the last that so shall erre No nere then th' first beginner How ere she here hath packt me vp The witnesse of her shame And left me vnto you to feede To cloathe and giue a name Vpon the vnequall diuision of the earth how some haue all and some none Though th' earth's the Lords and all that is therein And nothing really mans owne but sinne Aâ— is the sea the tributer of fountaines The sheepe and cattle on a thousand mountaines Though he that all these made doth al these feede And of no creature ayde doth stand in neede Yet doth he froÌ„ his high exalted throne Suruay the wayes men title these their owne He sees his earth the base of this fayre frame Intayld to greatnesse to their bloud and name Meate to the rich in Akers of such store That what makes one too prowde makes ten too poore Some of his walking earth he sees haue gold That rusts for vse too seâ—doÌ„e being told And some again so sâ—aÌ„ted in their need Their sinnowes cracke before their bellies feed Some choycest dainties sea and land afforde To surfet on seru'd daily to their bord And some again are so penurious fed They thinke they fare rich if they purchase bread Anothers glory lies vpon his backe And hauing pleÌ„ty there appears no lack Veluets silks c robes of endles wast Altering
Q. Wherein doth hee most manifest himselfe A. In the Scripture the Heralds of his truth and the witnesses of his mercies Q. Wherefore are the holy Scriptures contayning the mysterie of mans saluation folded vp by God in such obscuritie and darkenes as sometimes Maximilian the Emperour in the first of his 8. questions to the learned Abbot Tritemius demanded A. The holy Scriptures as a Father saith vnlesse they bee read with that Spirit by which it is beleeued to be written by the inspiration of Gods ' Siprit for the direction of mans life and that with humilitie and desire to know and be gouerned by it cannot be vnderstood but remaine as a dead letter in the efficacie thereof Concerning whom yet further S. Gregory saith though they haue in themselues that height and depth wherein their mistery may exercise the wisdom of the learned yet haue they also that easinesse and plainenes that the simple may be comforted taught being in themselues that wonderfull riuer both shallow deep wherein as the Lambe may wade the Elaphant may swim Of whose depth S. Austin thus speaketh further The holy Scriptures are thus written saith hee that by their height the proude may bee abased as with their easinesse the simple may be comforted Adding withall that it is our dulnes of capacity that they seeme so hard vnto vs and the vaile of our hearts which cannot bee remoued vnlesse by him which hath the key of Dauid which opens where no mans shuts and shuts where no mans opens which only can open that sealed Booke And therefore as another father saith God hath not wrapt vp these high mysteries of Scripture in such obscuritie as euying mans knowledge but that the study and industry of man might be the more profitably exercised adding withall that no man ought to be too much deiected that he cannot vnderstand euery mysterie therein for that there are some things that to bee ignorant of though they may somewhat subiect thy presumption will not indanger thy saluation for that all things are not necessary to bee perceiued of all And therefore according to Saint Austins rule if thou louest the law of God manifest it in reuerencing that which thou vnderstandest not as in practising that which thou dost vnderstand and thou shalt haue first wherewithall to drinke after stronger meate to eate and possesse thy selfe patience knowing that whilst we are in this mortall flesh wee can perceiue but as in a mirrour yet that hereafter we shall bee translated to a higher Academy where God himselfe shall bee our Schoolemaster and then we shall see him as he is where all shadowes vanish and the substance onely is embraced where being ascended we shall know the truth of all either argued or debated of in this sublunary religion Q. What were those three couiunctions Saint Barnard so wonderfully wondered at the like whereof neither can nor shall euer be done againe vpon the face of the earth A. Three works three coniunctions hath that omnipotent Maiesty made in the assumption of our flesh wonderfully singular and singularly wonderfull euen such as the verie Angels were amazed at 1. Coniunction of God and man 2. Of a Mother and a Virgin 3. Of Faith and the heart of man to beleeue this Q. What is the greatest of these coniunctions A. The first coniunction is wonderfully great wherein is conioyned earth and God Maiestie and infirmitie so much vilenesse and so much puritie for nothing is more pretious then God nothing more vilde then durt â— Nothing lesse wonderfull for by the eare of man was it neuer heard nor by the heart of man euer conceiued that a virgin should bring forth and become a Mother and that there should bee a Mother that should yet remaine a vir-Virgin The third is inferior to both first and second but not lesse strong that mans heart should haue power to beleeue this Q. How many seuerall wayes since the beginning of the world hath God brought foorth man A. Foure wayes according to Anselmus which are these 1. A man without the help of either man or woman as Adam 2. A woman out of man without the helpe of woman as Eue. 3. By both man and woman according to the common course of Nature 4. Of woman wit hout man as Christ. Q. By the coniectures of the learned for how many thousand of yeares from the Creation was the world ordained to continue A. Sixe thousand yeares because that as in 6. dayes the world and all that therein is was created and so God rested the seuenth so thereupon it is probably collected that in 6000. yeares which are but as 6. dayes in Gods account it shall againe be dissolued after which shall follow an euerlasting Sabaoth of rest of this opinion were many of the Fathers and also other more modern writers as that there should be two thousand yeares before the Law and two thousand yeares vnder the Law and two thousand yeares vnder the Gospell Q. But of this what shall I determine A. Let this Doctrine then suffice thee and all other good Christians that wee are religiously to expect the end of the world and comming of Christ and so dayly expecting prepare our selues thereafter but not curiously to prie into those hidden and vnreuealed secrets not imparted to men or Angels Q. Why almost among all Nations is the name of God expressed in 4 letters A. The learned doe agree that this is done partly from the imitation of the Hebrewes but more especially from the meere prouidence of God which otherwise could not bee as among the Latins it is Deus the Aegyptians Theut the Persians Syro the Hebrewes Adny the Greekes Theos the Arabians Alla the French Dieu the Germans Gott And withall to signifie that as his name consists of 4 letters so his mercie hath a relation therevnto in that he will haue his elect gathered vnto him from out of the foure quarters of the world Q. What are those things that cannot be defined A. The Schoolemen affirme God for his exceeding formosity and beauty Sinne for the exceeding deformitie and loathsomnesse the first matter for the exceeding informitie anâ— inexistency Q. Which number is the most vitall among men A. Eight because 8. soules were only preserued in the Arke and 8. only in the Scripture mentioned to be raised from death to life Q. Since Adam and Methusalem liued 900. and odde yeares why did God neuer suffer any to accomplish 1000. A. The most of the learned are of opinion that this is not without some deep mystery and which may be partly because a 1000. yeares hath a type of perfection God neuer suffered any to fulfill it to shew that there is no absolute perfection in this world Q. What is man and his perfection in this world A. Man in this world is as he were the center or epitome of all creatures for seuerall creatures liue in seuerall elements as water-fowles and fishes in the water Birds in the ayre Beastes
him neere or farre Because his beake still threatens to vs Warre Q. Whence proceeds the mourning of the Doue A. For feare of the miscarying of her yong which she is so fruitfull in that she brings forth euery moneth or at least layes egges they ioyne their beakes in the way of loue and conceiue by billing Q. What birds of all other are the most rauenous A. The Eagle the King of birds of whom it is deliuered that they neuer die by old age or sicknes but by famia and that by reason of the vpper part of her beake so inclapsing the vnder that she cannot open her mouth to receiue her foode Eliamus writeth that the feathers of the Eagle put among the feathers of other birdes doe consume and waste them away as doe the euill gotten goods of some rich oppressor not onely themselues but together the whole lumpe some wherof were well or much better gotten To which purpose S. Chrysostome saith a few riches euill gotten will not onely waste themselues but consume away those that are well gotten Q. VVhy is the Eagle spread in the Emperours Armes A. Some thinke it was so giuen vpoÌ„ a compact betweene the Emperour of Germany and Constantinople vppon an agreement betweene them that the succeeders in the German-Empire after Charles the great shold be cald Emperours of the west as the Emperours of Constantinople Emperours of the East and so the head should looke both wayes as the verse seemes here to confirme it PuÌ„tab ceps aquila huic occasum huic aspicit ortum Alter ait nostri est caesaris alter erit The Eagle spread had this and riper scope To eye both present and the future hope Q. What bird is that that hath the fairest feathers but the most hellish voyce of any other A. The Peacocke whom the Poet termes to be Angelus in Penna pede latro voce gehâ—nna A bird that hath an Angels plume A theeuish pace a Hellish tune Plinie writes that the Peacocke enuying the profit of man deuonres her owne dung lest hee should make vse of it Q. What birds in the Scripture doth God preferre before wicked men A. The Kite knowes her time as doth the Turtle the Swallow and the Storke Q. What birds are most perfect Heralds of the spring A. The Swallow and the Cuckow Q. Is there any thing more of excellent obseruation in the Swallow A. There is and this is very obseruable of her the descretion she vses in feeding her yong when hauing fiue in her nest she euer begins at the eldest and so by degrees goeth ouer the rest that all may haue a like and none bee forgot In the winter she flyes not away as it is reported of her but is found to lie in her nest as dead and to reuiue againe with the approaching warmth of the Summer which some take to be an Embleme of the resurrection Q. VVhat bird of all other is the most sweetest in voyce A. The Nightingale who as Plinie notes euer sings sweetest notes in the hearing or presence of man and the reason is as the fiction leades vs for that the Cuckow and the Nightingale two quiristers of that season in some ripeneile of the spring wherein they both take their tunes which is most chiefly from the middle of Aprill to the ende of May fell into a controuersie of the excellencie of their voyce note which dissention grew so farre that it could not be ended without an vmpire vnto which the Asse was chosen as thought a fit Iudge by reason of his long eares quicke hearing and presence by whose iudgement the Cuckow was preferred because her note was easie and plaine to his capacitie the Nightingale thus cast appeales to man for her censure and where euer she sees him attentiue there she runnes into the varietie of her most excellent Ditties Q. What in times past was the controuersie for beautie or excellencie betweene the Crow and the Goose The Crow sayes Altera me in terris non est foecundior ales In all the earth no bird then I more white The Goose answers Tu me pius loqueris plus ego scribo tamen Though lesse I speake then thou yet more I le write And concerning the Parrat Aristotle was of opinion that she would speake more and better then she doth if she drunke but wine Q. Who were those among men that attempted to flie like birds A. Icarus and Dedalus of late an Italian that flew from the top of Saâ—nt Markâ—s tower in Venice and did it without hurt besides an Englishman that offered to vndertake to flye ouer the Thames but afterwards hee flew from his purpose and did it not and as I haue heard since hee is flowne ouer the sea in a ship Q. Who are the most merry the most free the most mad and the most blessed in the world A. The most merry â—are Popish Priests that sing when others weepe both before they die nd after they are dead The most free are Physitions that are onely licensed to kill without punishment so that what is death to others is gaine to them The most mad are nice GraÌ„mariaÌ„s that fight a bout vowels and for ayre and sound and with as much bitternesse as the Turke against the Rhodes The fourth are the poore that are blessed to which I incline though with Agur I pray to giue me neither pouerty nor riches but contentednesse Though Ouid could say concerning their blessednesse Non tamen hoc tanti est pauper vt esse velim Though blessings be for them in store To be their heire I 'de not be poore Q Wherefore haue Grammarians formed three genders in Art seeing there are but two in Nature or why doth not Nature bring foorth things of the Newter gender as well as of the Masculine and the Feminine A. Let him tell the cause of that who can or if he cannot let him seeke out another Palemon that can vntie this knot for my heyser shal not plow this Q VVhat is that which knowes not it selfe to speake vnderstands not a voyce yet conceales not but repeates the voyce of him that speakes A. Eccho the daughter of the ayre and tongue Q. What may come into thy minde by recording these fiue musicall vowels VT RE MI FA SOL LA. A. The custome of drunkards for when they drinke Incipiunt in Vt bibuÌ„t Vtiliter Incipiunt in Re bibuÌ„t Regulariter Incipiunt in mi bibuÌ„t mirabiliter Pergunt in fa bibunt familiariter Pergunt in Sol bibunt solemniter Desinunt in La mi quia exitus Lamentabilis miserabilis Englished They begin in Vt drink sauingly They begin in Re drink Regularly They begin in mi drink miracu They hold on in fa drinking familiarly They hold on in sol drinking solemnly And ending in La mi because the end is lamentable and miserable Q. What creatures are those some liuing and some dead that rule all the