for iust cause greued with his vnkynde countrie he promised to vtter a certaine meane how he should easely subdue and conquire all Grece but when after the king called on him for the performaunce thereof he then againe with minde wholy altered and chauÌ„ged desired rather to die then to acquite him of hys promes and so fainyng that he first would sacrifice vnto Diana drancke the bloodde of a Bull whiche he then had sacrificed whence he presently dyed as recordeth Plutarche The cause or reason that may hereof be geuen why I saie the blood of a bull droncke warme should kil is borrowed of Aristotle Plinie and Dioscorides who to geather affirme that it is for none other cause but that this bloodde so druncke straungely congealeth and hardneth incontinently yea muche more then the bloodde of any other beaste so that in quantitie once entered into the stomake it curdeth causing faintnes and suffocation and stoppeth with the same the forces of respiration and feelyng whence sodenlie of necessitie followeth also death Plinie wryteth that Colewoâ—rtes boyled in the abouesaide bloodde are verie medicinable againste an opilation this bloodde then by it selfe drouncke is pestilente and venemous but in composition mixt with other thinges is both holsome and profitable Manne to whom god hath framed all thinges subiecte hath by this beaste no lesse profite and seruice then by the others of that kynde whiche he alone ingendreth For which onely cause Columella preferreth hym before all other beastes affirmyng that to kill a Bull was in tymes paste a crime verie heinous and almost in déede capital Plinie writeth of one that was banished for that he kilde a bul The firste that tamed the Bull and laide youke on hys necke was as Diodorus reporteth one Denis or Dionisius the soonne of Iupiter and Proserpina But Plinie in his seuenth booke déemeth the contrarie affirmyng that it was an Athenian and hight Briges others some suppose that it was Triptolemus of whom Virgill in thys sorte séemeth to saie that he an infant was maister notwithstandyng and inuentour of the crooked Plough Seruius indifferentlie attributeth it as well to Orsiris as to Triptolemus I suppose that Virgill leafte thereof to discouer the name of the inuentour of a thing so profitable and necessarie for that as it maie bee presumed it was not the inuention of one sole man onely but rather the wante and lacke therof hath forced man in this case to deuise or inuente some thyng to whiche some others to perfect it haue also after added some what Trogus Pompeius recounteth that Auidis Kyng of Spaine was the firste that layde maisteryng hande on the wilde and sauage Bull the firste also that fitted theim to the yoke or Plough but in fine whosoeuer it were verie necessarie is hys seruice and profitable in mannes affaires This beast feedeth contrarie to all others for in takyng his repaste he goeth alwaies backwardes all others of what soeuer kynde marchyng still on wardes Aristotle wryteth of a certaine kind of Bulles in Frigia whose hornes are not fastened in the inner parte of their heades and in the bone but tossyng to and fro growe onely copled to the skinne by meane whereof they so turne theym at their pleasure as their eares whiche thyng Elian in like sorte plainly recordeth The first that tamed Bulles in Rome and kilde theim for mannes vse was Iulius Caesar whiche thyng Plinie recordeth largelie This beaste hath this propertie of nature or qualitie lente hym that he skilefully prognosticateth of the weather continually for when it shall raine he foresheweth it in mountyng hys snoute breathyng into the ayre or otherwise in séekyng some couerte besides his wonted manner How necessarie water is in all the vses of mannes life of the excellencie of this element and how to finde or trie the best water from the other Chap. 12. IN all the vses of mannes life no one thyng is founde more necessarie then the elemente of water for if he lacke at any tyme bread he maie with sundry kindes of meates as hearbes nourishe the bodie and if fire faile hym sunderie thynges are yet good and holsome to be eaten rawe so that man maie continue and liue of them for a tyme but without water neither can man beast or what so els is liue or continue in this worlde at all There is neither herbe neither plante of what sort so euer he be that without water giueth any kinde of increase for what so euer is without exception it needeth some tymes water Whence Thales Milesius as also Hesiodus imagined that water was the beginnyng of all thynges the moste auncient and first of the other thre elementes in vertue also and force without comparison surpassyng them for as hath Plinie and also Isidorus water moisteth and subuerteth greate mountaines it ruleth and hath dominion ouer the whole face of the yearth it quencheth fire and chaunged into vapours it also mounteth or passeth into euery the regions of the aire whence after a time again it descendeth to giue increase and multiplie all thynges vpon yearth Farther God so muche estemed this elemente aboue the reste that concludyng to regenerate man againe by Baptisme would that his safetie should growe of parte by this elemente And in the beginnyng of the worlde when he first deuided the waters he in suche estimation had it as hath the texte that he almoste nexte would place it vnderneath the heauens lesse mindyng in that place that houge heape of water that boundeth and limiteth the partes of the yearth The greatest torment that the Romaines had at any tyme prouided for the coÌ„demned was that thei were interdicted bothe from water and fire remembryng water in this place before the other for the more assertained and assured excellencie Sithe then water is so necessarie in euery the vses of mannes life here must we then coÌ„sider of waters which are the better For accomplishement whereof this maie be the firste note who so will passe through places straunge and vnknowen desirous to learne whither the waters be there holsome yea or not as also whether they bée to be caried any other where as necessitie at tymes or for causes maie require first let hym diligently with aduise consider the places adiacent about the spryng or riuer how long the inhabitantes there liue their disposition and nature Whither thei be healthie strong and valiant and of good complection their iyes not infected their legges of good proportion and able suche where so euer thei bee well witnes of the goodnes of their water but contrary if you finde them then contrary must be your iudgement But if your spring be late founde so that the fore saied experience of no parte helpe vs then will we referre you to the practises followyng Take a basme of Brasse or other vestell cleane neate and very well polished then throwe some droppes of that wateâ— there on of that water I meane of whose goodnes you would make
as is saied the Equinoxe is not euer firme For Christ hymself died the .xxv. daie of Marche and at that time was the daie euen with the night and now this equation is but about the eleuēth of Marche whence it well maie be presumed that in the beginnyng it was in Aprill For whiche cause some accompted Aprill for the first monethe other some March yet thei all wil saie that then this frame was wrought when that the Sunne firste entered into the signe of Aries and that then is this Equinoxe whiche well is proued by the scriptures where it is saied that in the Monethe Nisan whiche with vs is Marche the yere began to haue his first daie of accompte Vincent also in the beginnyng of his mirrour historiall saieth that the aunciēt Hebrues beganne their yere in the Monethe of Marche for that then was the Equinoxe saieth he whence and from whiche tyme the worlde tooke his beginning Certain Gentiles also defende and maintain with like care this opinion as Elpaco in his treatise written of Astrologie where he saieth that the Chaldeans excellente Astronomers supposed that the firste daie in whiche the worlde was created the Sunne entered into the first degree of Aries whiche opinion is maintained of most part of Astronomers as well aunciente as newe and late writers When then the Sunne was founde in that poincte then also was the beginnyng of the yere then also the firste daie for before that was none other neither can it bee denied but that the firste daie that was made was also the firste daie in the accoumpt of yeres for that before it was neither tyme or yeres For whiche cause onely this signe of Aries is of all the others reckened the first and foremoste And who so will iudge and diuine of thynges to come he erecteth his figures calculatyng continually from that fore saied poincte or beginnyng of the worlde And farther it is plain by an euident coniecture that God when he first created the wide wast worlde that he then also plaste the Sunne as is saied in Aries as maie well be gathered of that whiche is fore saied in the chapiter of the daie and tyme in whiche our sauiour suffered to wete that this Planete was in that place in the creatiō that he also was in at the regeneration whē Christ hymself suffered his death and his passion which happened as is there saied in this Equinoxe so often to fore remembred It also semeth credible that it therfore was so for that those that haue any felyng in the sphere or otherwise in Astronomie shall well perceiue that the Sunne beyng entered into this signe of Aries makyng there his reuolution by the space of one whole daie no corner is on the yearth whiche he in that daie ones leaueth or to comforte or solace with his presence whiche at no tyme chaunseth in any other poinctes of the Zodiake for that where soeuer he els bee some place is on the yeareh where the Sunne is not in that daie séen but beyng in this degree as is saied or in his opposite no parte of the worlde is there whiche in that daie ones seeth hym not And it semeth reasonable that the Sūne when he firste of all beganne his circuite that he there and in suche place should beginne where he might visite euery the partes of the whole worlde and that that rather should bee in the firste of Aries then of Libra it of parte is euidente by that whiche wee haue saied that in the daie of the death or Passion of our sauiour this Planet was in that verie same place in whiche he also hath a certain perticuler dignitie Restyng then on this poinct as on a truthe assured thei doubtles are deceiued that imagined the worlde firste beganne in the Equinoxe of September though it pleased theim to saie that then all fruites were ripe and in season whiche if we well consider is nothyng so in deede for when thei are ripe in the Northe parte of the worlde thei nothyng at all then are so in the Southe but in verie truthe and assuredlie the contrary For whiche cause I neither would leane to the opinion of those whiche saied that in this Equinoxe of Marche whiche is in the same beginnyng whiche we in deede approue was or ought to bee the entrie therefore of the worlde for that then at that tyme is the spring for that flowers also and grasse eche where then begin to come that then also all beastes acquainte them with their matche for if it be to vs as it can not be gainsaied the commyng and beginnyng of all graine and grasse it then is Winter or at the leaste Autumne to these that inhabite the Southe partes of the worlde These then maie suffice with the aucthorities aboue remembred to satisfie and contente the reasonable in this matter although the yere Romaine whiche onely now is vsed take his beginnyng of the firste daie of Ianuarie whiche thyng happened by the fonde deuotion and superstition onely whiche the Gentiles vsed towardes their God Ianus doing their yere to beginne by his name as the christians did theirs from the natiuitie of Christe although then in deede the yere had not his beginnyng The Romaines also beganne their yere in Marche as writeth M. Varro and Macrobius in his firste booke Ouide also in Fastis with many others Farther GOD shewed to vs his greate fauour and goodnes in that it pleased hym to place our firste parentes Eue and Adam in these Septentrionall partes of the worlde after their exile and detrution out of Paradise terrestriall whiche bothe entered into this worlde at the firste commyng of the Spryng findyng the yearth then greene and flowred the aire verie swete temperate and pleasaunte the better to solas and comforte them in their miserie and nakednesse whiche at none other tyme of the yere could so well haue chaunsed them But passe we this matter now as sufficiently proued and speake we of the other Planetes especially of the Moone as one emong the others of moste force and vertue whiche as some suppose in the firste daie or instaunte of her creation was placed by diuine prouidence in coniunction with the Sunne others saie that she was then at full and in direct opposition Sainct Augustine cōmenting on the fifte of Genesis remembreth bothe these remembered opinions saiyng that thei that maintaine that she then was in opposition argue that it was not reason in that her firste creation that she either should lacke or bée defectuous in any thyng The others saie that it is more credible that she in coniunction beganne there her firste daie so increasyng accordyng to our accompte in her age but to abridge this controuersie in myne opinion she at her first beyng was in plaine and perfecte oppositiō with the Sunne whiche opinion is moste receiued of the learned Augustine in the place aboue alledged and Rabanus also on the twelueth of Exodus arrest them bothe on
laste Seruis or Dishes of pleasance he caused in large Chargers solemnely to be serued in the heade féete and handes of the yonge Martyred childe vnto the good Father to the onely intente he should not be vnwéetinge that he then had banqueted and eaten of his owne Sonne Marius and Silla twoo capitall enimies on bothe sides so raged in execrable Tyrannye that thei contended as appeareth who might surmount and surpasse the other in villanye Silla bouchered in one daye foure Legions of Souldiers The Prenestines also a people of Italye crauinge with teares his fauoure and grace for that they had receiued the Capitaine Marius coulde notwithstandinge by no meanes escape his cruell hande For generally without excertion he murthered them all and gaue their bodyes for a praye to the Crowes and Rauens to féede on The semblable did also Marius his Companion in bouchery The Emperour Tiberius Successour to Octauian surpassed I trowe all others in his time who after his fainte clemencie in the entraunce of his Raygne passed no daye in whiche he spilte not the bloude of somme Innocentes Besides he diuised sutche a mercilesse policie as tofore hadde neuer benne in any place hearde of he inhibited that vnder payne of deathe none shoulde be so hardye to deplore lamente or make any shewe of mournefull semblant at the deathe of those that it shoulde please him any waye for any cause to execute A Crueltie straunge and suche as hathe not benne knowen for I déeme there can be no greater paine then to inhibite the poore harte that it vnloade and discharge not it self of his dolours by alarmes teares Also when he did to die any yonge maydens he firste committed them to his Tormentours to be deflowred of them to the intent that with their death they togeather shoulde lose their honour and Chastitie He so much was pleased in spillinge of bloude that vnderstandinge one had staine him selfe whom he before had Sentenced to death of pourpose to escape his mercilesse and cruell hande sighed with hawtie voice in lamentable manner sayinge Oh howe vnhappely hathe this Crows escaped mée by whiche name it pleased him to note the Condemned For you muste vnderstande that he in sutch sorte tormented the poore patient before he would suffer him by any meanes to die that they supposed presente deathe to be to them bothe a gaine and a grace Straunge were it to write what inuentions he vsed newe tormentes in Execution Sommetime he forced the Condemned excessiuely to drinke and immediately woulde cause the Cundittes of their Vrine so straitly to be bounde that they by no meanes possible mighte ease them selues that waye and so woulde he suffer them in excessiue paine to languishe till deathe shoulde take order for chaunge of theire life And further for his sale and onely pleasure he caused other somme to be throwne into the Sea from an excéedinge highe Cliffe or Rockys banke in the I le of Capraire adioyninge vnto Naples and for because that after that sorte to die in the Sea was as he thoughte a deathe too gentle he caused certaine Marriners and others with Pikes and sharpe weapons in Boates to stande directly vnderneathe the saide Rocke whiche receiued and bloudely martyred the miserable patientes before they might enioye the benefite of the Water Nowe after the shameful deathe of this incarnate Deuill such in déede as him selfe had wel deserued Caius Caligula succéeded in the Empire who either was equall or rather surpassed his Predecessours in all kinde of monsterous accursed tyrannies He on a time with greate affection wished that all the Inhabitauntes of Rome had togeather but one heade to the intent that at one blowe he might strike it of He strangly complained of the infelicitie of his time for that there chaunced not during his Raigne any Famine Plague Generall Inundations Subuersions and Diuastations of Countries with many sutche other dreadfull and miserable calamities Of a certaine man he demaunded bannished by Tiberius howe he liued or what he did duringe his Exile who in perfecte flattery answeared that he incessantly had praied to God to call hence Tiberius to the ende that he mighte succéede him without staye in the Empyre Whiche thinge considered of by this monsterous Traytour and doubtinge leaste so many thousandes whiche he had exiled shoulde in like manner pray to God for his deathe sente foorthewith into all partes to call them home againe whom immediately after their spéedie returne he commaunded to be executed without respect of any He straitly charged all his Tormentours that they by litle and litle shoulde tormente the afflicted Innocentes so that by small paines they might beginne to die protractinge their death as longe as was possible for he would he saide that they felte howe their life failed in them He also saide that others eftsoones of his complexion saide The people wishe me ill for that they feare mée After this Caligula succéeded Nero in execrable malice not at all his inferiour For proufe whereof he practised sutch a mercilesse tyrannie as wel in it comprised all other petie Treacheries For without any regarde to thinges holy or prophane to the Maiestrate what so euer he were or priuate Subiecte he caused the Citie of Rome to be sette on fire inhibitinge all men vnder paine of deathe by any meanes what so euer to quenche or asswage it neuer woulde he that any man shoulde saue any parte of his goodes So continued this fire wastinge and consuminge the Cittie seuen dayes fully seuen nightes to the ende him selfe out of a highe Tower not farre of beholdinge it reioysinge at this dolorous and mournefull spectacle He with villanous hande murthered his owne proper Moother He also did to die the Husbandes of Octauiana and Sabina bothe whiche he marryed but soone after beraughte them in manner semblable of theire liues Assuredly this was he that beyonde all others raged moste in crueltie for he was the firste that persecuted the Christians and in his time was the first greatest Persecution of the Church He made open she we of his surpassinge crueltie of his vnmeasurable and furious brutalitie for hearinge on a time a Greeke verse in effecte thus mutche signifiynge Woulde God the Heauen and Earthe the Sea and what so is After my deathe mighte cease and ende as eke all hope of blisse But I farre otherwise would that it chaunced by my life time saide he I coulde well be contented to take mine examples from barbarous Princes not touchinge any more the Emperours of Rome but the Successours againe of the aboue remembred in life and manners so outragious and execrable force mée to dwell stil emonge them rippinge and vnfoldinge their tragicall insolencie of Domitianus Vitellius Commodus Maximianus and others theire semblables I speake at all nothinge But of Diocletian whose manners so vnsauerye and bestiall furie Eusebius in his Ecclesiasticall Histories reciteth Sommething muste I speake before I passe him vtterly to the intente that all blasphemers
the aucthoritie of the Senate he could admitte no new God in Rome besides or beyonde their supersticious Idoles But as the diuinitie nedeth not nor yet can confirme it self by the sole and onely approbation of manne so God here in permitted that the Senate should then dooe nothyng Yea on the contrary rather as sondrie good writers haue thei helde them ill contented for that Pilate had not to them hereof writen also as he then did to the Emperour This notwithstanding Tiberius ordained by Proclamation that no man should be so hardy to touche or laie hande on any professed christian Now after this Pilate arrested hym in Rome confirmed by the deuell as his assured seruaunt did neuer any thyng iustly in any his charge or office Of whiche accused before Caius Caligula successour to Tiberius as also to haue prophaned the temples and churches erecting vnlawfull Images and Idolles and farther that he had robbed the common coafers and threasories with other greate crimes and intollerable treacheries was banished in fine and sent home againe to Lions Others saie to Vienna and that he was there borne where his intertainment was suche and so muche pleasing that he incontinently murthered hym self whiche thyng assuredly chaunced hym by diuine heauenly permission to the intent he shamfully might dye by the handes of hym self the moste vileste and vniuste wretche in the whole worlde These that hereof haue written are the aboue remembred authours Beda in his booke De temporibus and in his Ecclesiasticall historie on thactes of the Apostles Eusebius reporteth that he thus slue hymself the eighth yere after the death of the innocente lambe Iesus iudged to death and deliuered to the bloodie Iewes by hym Of whose death and passion this accursed deuill neuer soughte by any meanes his remission or pardon but paste hence in dispaire to Sathan his patron for the bountie of God is suche and so greate that though in deede he had sentensed his onely soonne to death yet if he had repented hym of that his synfull crime the verie same whom he had condemned to the crosse had not withstandyng yet grauÌ„ted hym his portion in ioye with Christe Farther a lake there is or riuer whiche also menne call Pilate within the territories of Sueuia adioynyng to Lucerna in a certaine plaine inuironed on all sides with high and greate mountaines from the highest of which as some affirme for truth he threwe hymself doune and was drouned in that water The coÌ„mon opinion is that euery yere ones he maketh there shewe of hym selfe in the habite of a iudge but who so euer he be manne or woman that by happe then shall see hym dieth assuredly or the yere bee fully expired For proofe whereof I referre you to Ioachimus Vadianus a man singulerly learned whose commentaries writen on Pomponius Mela are extant who also of this lake reporteth yet an other thyng no lesse knowen for true then verie straunge and meruailous He saieth that this water is of this nature or propertie that who so casteth into it either a stone clotte of yearth a pece of woode or any other the semblable this water forthwith so rageth and rolleth with suche violente and teÌ„pestious impetuositie that it passeth his bandes drouneth and annoieth the whole countrie aboute it whence the inhabitauntes are often tymes indomaged in their corne fruites trees and cattell And againe that whiche moste straunge is if these thynges bee not throwen in willingly and of pretensed purpose but by happe or fortune as least though one do slide in it then neither altereth nor rageth in any kinde of maner Further also saieth this foresaied Ioachiamus a Swiser borne that there are lawes and constitutions forbiddyng all men vnder paine of death to caste or conueigh any thyng into the saied lake and that diuers haue been executed for infringyng this ordinaunce Whiche whither it bee naturall or miraculous I durst not affirme although waters haue straunge meruailous proprieties For some of whiche it should not be harde to yelde good reason but for others difficill or rather I iudge impossible The semblable vnto this reciteth Plinie saiyng that there is in Dalmacia a verie deepe darke dungion or denne into whiche if any throwe any stone or weightie matter there issueth thence immediatly suche a violente or blusteryng aire or rather if I so mighte saie a whirlyng winde that it tourneth into a daungerous tempest greuyng and annoiyng all the inhabitauntes of that countrie It maie bee whiche I dare not to affirme that the bodie of Pilate was throwen into that hole and that the deuill there by diuine permission to his euerlastyng shame and ignomine executeth these straunge and incredible effectes In what degrees and at what age a man and woman should marrie Chap. 3. THe auncient Philosophers morall were of sondrie opinions touching thage in whiche man should marrie hym self to a woman to the intent that the yeres of the one might aunswere in proportion vnto the others Aristotle groundyng here on so maie it be that women both naturally conceiue and beare children euen vntil the siâ—tieth yere ended of their age and that man is also able in his kinde vntill the seuenteth expleate saied that thei orderly should marrie at suche tyme as bothe parties might leaue together vnprofitable and vnable in thacte of generation in suche sorte that by the rule or prescription of the Philosopher man should haue aboute twentie yeres more then his wife Hesiodus an Xenophon graunt hym yet some thing lesse supposyng it sufficient that a manne of thirtie yeres take a wife at fowertene Licurgus lawe geuer to the Lacedemoniens conformeth hymfelf to the opinion and censure of Aristotle for generally he forbadde marriage vnto all men before thei had past the seuen and thirtie yere but vnto women the seuententh onely This Lycurgns his lawe was approued of many for that in her more perfecte and more ripe age she more easily acquainteth her self with the maners and behauiour of hym that is giuen her for housebande For as writeth Aristotle in his Economiques the disparitie of maners and difference in conditions let perfecte loue betwixte the parties coupled yet neither approue I this ordinaunce of Aristotle whiche willeth that man should haue twentie yeres more then woman without offence or preiudice be it ment vnto so worthie a personage my reason is this that man beyng fullie sixtie yeres olde although he yet then can doe some thyng in the acte of generation moste commonly if he liue longer in the residue of his life he is charged with infinite and daily increase of maladies so that before his wife aspire to the age of fortie he to her shall bee a greate charge and wearie paine in place of a frende a patrone and a housbande Wherefore when there is lesse difference in their ages thei are in like maner mortified as it were at one tyme their mindes and intentes are also more conformable then when there is so greate inequalitie of yeres
experimente and if after it bee dried you finde at all no kinde of stain or marke then is that water assuredly bothe good and holesome ▪ An other good proofe maie be if you please to boile of this water in the saied vessell and after it hath boiled to let it for a tyme to stande to settle and to coole then after when ye shall empte it if in the bottome you finde no kinde of slime or sande then is that water to be reputed for good and of these waters if ye make proofe of two that whiche hath least is to be accōpted without more the beste Farther if in these vessels or in the semblable you doe to bée boiled any kinde of pulse to make there with some potage or other meate as beanes pease or other of that sorte that water in whiche thei first seeth is beste You must consider also if certainly you will iudge of waters in what place or soile thei spring and rise if out of a sandie grounde cleare andneate or contrary out of a mirie soile foule and vnpure and whither there growe any Rushes or other herbes or weedes noisome and pestilente but for better suretie who so would drinke of a water vnknowen or of suche as he deemeth to bee indeede lesse good lette hym with a small fire firste of all boile hym and then after beyng colde drinke of hym in his neede Plinie writeth that the Emperour Nero so boiled his water and then coolyng it in the Snowe gloried that he was the father of suche an inuention The reason why water boiled should therefore be more conducible is for that it is not pure and simple in his owne nature but is all together mixt bothe with the earth and the aire notwithstandyng the parte windie as it easily resolueth by the fire into vapours so that other substaunce also terrestriall by the saied vertue or force of the fire whose qualitie is to trie and disioigne contrary natures descendeth to the bottome and lower partes of the vessell By whiche meanes this boiled water romaineth lesse vaporous all the windie substaunce thereof perfectly consumed it also again is more subtile and light beyng this purified from the grosse and stimie substaunce and so consequently more easie to be kepte and conserued compitently refreshyng and moistyng the bodie without any alteration or opilation at all Whence it is euidente that these deepe welles or tye pittes giue none so good and holesome waters as are the others principally for that the water more sauoureth of some slimie nature and that it is at no tyme purified by any shewe of the soonne as that also it more easily putrifieth then any other How bee it the more that you drawe out of any suche Welle the better and the more profitable becometh the water for that by continuall motion corruption lesse ingendereth and nothing better frō putrifaction preserueth any water then perpetuall and incessante agitation for ones corrupted it impoisoneth the newe waters in their springes theim selues as letted or lackyng frée course or passage but stil drawen newe commeth on more freshe still and sauerie For whiche cause the water of standing pondes and diches is of all other moste pestilente and venemous whiche for that it hardely springeth and hardely passeth thence againe putrifieth and ingendereth sunderie impoisoned matters and ofte tymes whiche worste is it corrupteth the aire whence the inhabitauntes there about are ordinarily infected Consider we also that these waters whiche flowe towardes the Southe are not so holesome as those that runne to the North for the aire in the Southe is more vaporous and moiste whiche hurteth of parte and impaireth the water but in the Northe more subtile and drie whēce the water is more light and more voide of ill mixtions For whiche cause that water is euer more beste whiche is moste cleare moste light moste subtile and moste purified for it is as we fore saied moste free from the mixtion of the other elementes and beyng set ouer the fire wareth also warme and boileth before any other Farther also a verie certaine and singuler proofe of waters is this if ye circumspectly consider whiche of them first or before the other boileth beyng bothe putre in like vessels ouer one fire with like consideration of tyme in them bothe also whiche of them in like maner firste retourneth to his naturall qualitie to bee that he firste was colde in taste and feelyng for these are assured argumentes of a most subtile and pearsing substaunce and for as much as the mixture of the yearth with any kinde of water forceth or canseth some alteration in waight it shall be good to chuse still that whiche you finde lighteste whiche easily you maie proue in this sorte and maner followyng You shall take twoo peces of linen clothe of one and the same weight puttyng one into one water and the other into the other vntill they be both throwe moistned and weete then hang theim in the ayre wher the Sunne shineth not on theim so long vntill thei both be perfectly drie rewaight theim then againe and the cloth whiche you finde to peise or drawe deepest argueth his water to bee vndoubtedly moste waightiest Other some haue vsed for their more expedition to waigh them in vesseles pure neate cleane in waight not differyng with out any farther curiositie at all Aristotle and Plinie affirme that the greatest cause of diuers qualities in waters is and riseth onelye of sundrie substaunces or maners of their soiles by the meanes of Stones Trées Mines and Mettalles through which these springes or Riuers runne and for this cause they become some hotte some colde some swéete some salte some sauerie some lesse sauerie wherefore it is a sure and an infallible rule that these waters that haue no taste smell or sauour are continually reputed for the moste holsome and beste Al suche notwithstādyng as haue hereof writen togither affirme that these springes that passe thorowe mines of gold excell without comparison by many degrées the others for proofe whereof these riuers are accompted moste worthie of all others whiche ingender and preserue gold in their fine and small sandes but because we perticulerly some thyng haue saied of the proprietie of springes and riuers we leaue here to wearie the reader with examples Now then sith some thynges haue been spoken of fountaines and flouddes it followeth that we consequently treate of rainie waters whiche of some are reputed for verie soueraigne and medicinable but of others some accompted lesse profitable or necessarie Vitruuius and Columella with certaine other Phisitians highly commende all rainie waters but these especially that are receiued cleane pure without any kinde of grosse or terrestriall substaunce for that of them selues saie thei these waters are light and voide of all mixtion caused onely of vapours which by their onely subtilitie are taken vp into the aire leauyng as maie bee supposed all impure or slimie substaunce behinde theim Some neuerthelesse saie that this water descendyng in
this sorte from aboue prutrifieth incontinently as is to bée seen in standyng pooles or diches whiche ingender infinite ordures How bee it to speake indifferently this is not to be attributed to any defaute or imperfection in this water but rather for that it is reserued in so vile a place into whiche moste commonly flowe all noisome sinckes and vnsauerie gutters with others of that sorte lesse meete to bée here remembred as also of parte by the ordure that it draweth and bryngeth with it washyng the yearth as it floweth into the aboue saied troughes or diches especially when it powreth doune or raineth aboundauntlie Wherefore the cause of this sodaine corruption of part procedeth from the extreme heate of the Sunne of part for that it is so pure and delicate but mixte now with suche contagious and lothesome impurities that it immediatly and without staie corrupteth of necessitie Notwithstandyng if this water so subtile and well purified were taken fallyng from houses voide of duste or filthe or rather before it touche any house or other thing were receiued into sonie cleane and pure vessell it maie be thought that it would proue more pure then any other as also that it longer might bee without putrifaction preserned Others some there are that plainly affirme the contrary as Plinie that writeth it to bee nought and vnholesome who also commaundeth that we neither drinke or taste of it for that these vapours whence it in the beginnyng and firste of all riseth issue and procede of diuerse thynges as also of diuerse soiles whence it also receiueth diuers and different qualities good and badde with like and with the same facilitie And againe alleagyng some farther proofe for his assertion answereth also to that that we aboue remembred lesse admitting it for comprobation sufficient as to saie that it therfore is pure or light because it is drawne into the regions of the aire whether it as is euidente not naturally mounteth but is taken by secrete force and violency of the sunne Neither are these vapours saieth he which in the middle regiō of the aire by extreme cold are altered into haile or snowe so pure and so perfecte as most men suppose them but resolued into water are rather founde in verie deede pestiferous and noisome Besides whiche defecte he this againe addeth that this rainie water by the onely euaporation and heate of the yearth becommeth infected euen in the same tyme and instante that it raineth For better proofe of whiche impuritie it onely is to bee noted how quickly and how sone it becometh putrified of whiche wee haue experience often tymes vpon the sea where it impossible is to preserue suche waters from corruption For these causes now cisternes and depe welles are of most men lesse commended How be it touchyng these differente and contrary opinions eche manne maie sentence accordyng to his phantasie as for my parte I willynglie would not prefarre a rainie water before the others although in truthe it bee in cases more fittyng and necessarie and although also Plinie whiche other wise discommendeth it letteth not to reporte that fishes in stādyng pondes and lakes quickely waxe fatte but then moste especially when it moste aboundantly raineth so as thei maie be thought still to please moste in this water Theophrastus saieth that all hearbes in the gardein wéedes or grasse what quantitie of water so euer you bestowe on theim spring thence notwithstandyng in no respecte so well as with some pleasaunte or smalle showers of raine In maner semblable writeth Plinie of the reede or bulle rushe whiche the better to growe or prospere thirsteth still for raine Suche also is Aristotles opinion and consonante to the former concernyng the fattyng or impairyng of fishes By what policie we may drawe freash water out of the Sea and why colde water in fallyng maketh greatet noyse then it woulde doe if it were warme finally why a Shippe on the salte water beareth greater weight then on the freashe Chap. 13. ARistotle writeth as also Plinie that we shoulde frame certaine vessels of waxe hollowe within so bindyng or closing theim that in theim be founde no hole or vente lettyng theim doune into the Sea fastned in some Nette or other fitte matter with long lines or cordes whence after they there haue béen the space of one whole daie if wée againe drawe theim wee shall finde in euerie of theim a certaine quantitie of freshe water suche and so good as in any spring or fountaine The reason why the salte water becometh freashe by the entraunce into these vessels is in thys sorte geuen vs of Aristotle who saieth that the waxe beyng a bodie both full of powres and swéete graunteth passage to the most pure and subtill parte of the water which as it leaueth without hys grosse and saulte substaunce so pearsing it sauereth of the waxie nature swete and pleasant In truthe if it be so I saie againe if it bee so for that I neuer yet practised in any sorte this secrette it might well serue in sundrie our necessities whiche commonly betyde vs in infinite our affaires How be it I suppose that if thys falte water waxe freashe by the onely and sole enteraunce in to the aboue saide vessels the saied vessels in like sorte filled also full with the Sea shoulde geue vs some small quantitie or measure of freashe water for filled as is afore saide why shoulde not the purer parte passe through these porie vessels leauyng within the slimie or saulte substaunce of the Sea as beyng cast voyde into the Sea shoulde receiue there by contrarie order inwardes water pure and immixte without any droppe at all of the other The reason seemeth one as tending both to one ende vnlesse we should dwell here on some scrupulous difference arguing that by the same meane and by the same facillitie this freashe water distilleth not out of the full vessell as on the other side it entereth into the voyde and emptie for that some appearaunce is of greater force in goyng out then is as some suppose at the entraunce or comyng in how be it who so curious is may make easie proofe both of the one the other Farther for their sakes that please in these experimentes one other thynge shall I write in thys place not lesse necessarie Who so filleth at anye tyme twoo Bottles of one measure the mouth necke of like length and widnes the one with boilyng water the other all colde and straigh waies will empte theim after one sorte without gile at one tyme I meane and in one instante tegether shall finde that the colde water will as well be first out as also that in fallyng it assuredly will yelde a greater brute or noyse the boylynge water slidyng on the other side slowly and with lesse noyse The reason is that the warme water lesse poyseth then the colde whiche by heate of the fier hath loste nowe the greatest quantitie of his grosse vapours so that when firste the colde water
three tymes in the daie and night chaungeth his taste or sauour to weete from sweete to bitter and from bitter to swéete againe Of an other water also in Iudea whiche continually in the Saboth daie is founde to be drie whiche Plinie assureth vs writyng also of an other fountaine emong the Garamantes whiche in the daie is euermore so swéete and colde that it is impossible for any manne to drinke of it and contrary in the night is againe so warme that it burneth his hande that presumeth to touche it and hath to name the fountaine or welle of the Sunne Of this fountaine haue writen as of a thing moste certain Arrianus Diodorus Siculus Quintus Curtius in his historie of Alexander Solinus and the Poete Lucretius who there of hath giuen a Philosophicall and naturall reason Besides these like straunge is the nature of the welle Eleusina whose water is verie freshe cleare and standyng how be it if any man plaie on an instrument swéete and musicall by it so nigh I meane that the water maie be supposed to heare it it forthwith beginneth in suche sorte to swell that it ouersloweth bothe banke and border as though it had some pleasure or secrete likyng in musike this reporteth Aristotle in his meruailes of nature Solinus also and the old Poete Ennius Vitrunius writeth of the riuer Chimera whose water in taste is verie delectable and pleasaunte but partyng into twoo troughes or twoo sundrie chanels the one continueth swéete still the other bitter and vnsauerie how bée it it maie bée supposed that he borroweth this alrered qualitie of the soile or ground onely through which he passeth and so that alteration is lesse to be meruailed at as also it maie bée thought that these diuers proprieties of these other waters also should not so muche amase and trouble vs if wee knewe the occasions and causes of their effectes The same ones againe make yet farther mention of an other streame hayung to name Silar whiche what so euer is caste into it conuerteth it straight into a stone or stonie substaunce In Ilirica there is a welle whose water is bothe swéete and pleasaunt but burneth what so euer is throwne into it in sort as if it were a perfecte fire There is in Epirus an other fountaine into whiche if ye putte a Torche lighted it extinguisheth but if you putte hym in not lighted he taketh fire thence and burneth from noone euer more he ebbeth as it were and in the ende waxeth drie but the night growyng on he growes againe with suche spede that at midnight he is full and beginneth to ouer run his banckes or limites An other fountaine is there also in Persia of whiche who so drinketh loseth incontinētly his téeth There are in Arcadia certaine springes whiche distill and droppe out of the sides of sunderie mountaines whose waters al are so excessiue cold that there is no kinde of vessell be it of golde siluer or any other mettall that is able in any wise to holde and kepe theim but breake them all with extremitie of coldnes onely the horne of an asse his foote excepted whiche cōtaineth and kéepeth theim as if it were any other common kinde of water Wée would hardly credite in this place that there are certaine riuers bothe greate and wide that sodainly passe doune entering into the boiles of the yearth whiche afterwarde brake out againe in places farre of and farre distante from thence if wee had not experience hereof and suche as maie not bee denied for example of some Vadiana in Spaine Tigris in Armenia whiche springeth in Mesopotamia Licus in Asia There are certaine springes also of freshe water whiche passyng into the sea runne wholie vpon the sea without any commixtion in any sorte with it of whiche there is one betwixte Sicilia and the Isle Enaria adioygnyng vnto Naples In Egipte it is euidente that it raineth not at all but that Nilus ouerflowyng the countrie moisteneth it naturally whence it giueth her fruite of all sortes aboundantly Twoo riuers are there also in Boecia in the one of whiche all shepe that are watered beare onely blacke wolle and besides that none other the other contrary cause theim that drinke thereof to beare white wolle onely In Arabia there is a welle at whiche as before what sheepe so euer water theim beare there wolle not as the others white or blacke but redde all Of all these waters hauyng suche straūge proprieties Aristotle disputeth at fulle and copiously The riuer Lincestis maketh hym drunke as sone as any wine that drinketh of hym In the Isle of Cea as recordeth Plinie there was a fountaiue of whiche who so dranke ones became forthwith stupide and insenseble of no more felyng or witte then an Asse In Thrace there is an other lake of whom who so drinketh or swimmeth in hym sterueth without more neuer to be recouered There is also in Pontus a riuer in whiche are founde certaine stones that will burne whiche also then take on fire when the winde is euer more greatest and by how muche the more thei be couered in the water so muche the better and soner burne thei Besides these diuers haue written of diuers other kindes of waters as of some that heale certaine griefes or maladies of whiche sorte there is one founde in Italie called Zize whiche remedieth or salueth all hurtes what so euer in the iye an other in Achaia of whiche if a woman with childe drinke she shall be assured of good and spéedie deliueraunce Others also there are that remedie many other infirmities as the stone the leprosie the feuers both tertian and quartain of which Theophrastus Plinie Vitruuius remēber vs In Mesopotamia also is founde an other riuer whose water if you smell to it is bothe pleasaunte and odoriferous Baptista Fulgotius in his recollection writeth that there is also a welle in Englande into whiche if you throwe any kinde of wood it will within the space of one yere bée conuerted into a stone He also faithfully confirmeth that whiche Albertus surnamed the greate in persone experimented in a certaine well in high Almaignie and Albertus writeth that he puttyng his hande into the water hauyng in it a bough that part that was vnder the water chaūged into a stone the other parte as before continuyng that it was The saied Fulgotius reporteth yet another matter as straunge of a welle also about whiche if happely you walke not vtteryng any worde or voice at all the water then continueth as before still and cleare but if you speake any thyng be it neuer so softe or little it then beginneth to rage and to trouble as to behold it were verie straunge and meruailous he notwithstandyng reporteth to haue experimented it in persone who while he attentiuely behelde it with silence found it as is aboue said bothe quiete and cleare but when he ones spake it then began to trouble as if one within of purpose with some instrument had laboured it In Fraūce also
although they woulde in no wise there vnto accorde yet Tyberius of hymself streatly inhibited that no man shoulde be so hardie to touche or greue a Christian As concernyng the yearthquake and darknyng of the Sunne continuyng the full tyme that Christ was on the Crosse we haue also good testimonies and assured of Ethnikes Flegon a gréeke historiogripher borne in Asia of whom Swydas especially remembreth reporteth for a thing almost incredible that in the forth yere of the two hundred and tenth Olympiade whiche by iust accompte was in the eightinth yere of the raigne of Tyberius at whiche tyme our sauiour suffered there was a greate Eclipse of the Sunne suche as earste had neuer been séen or written of continuyng from the sixt hower euen vnto the ninth and farther during the time of this defect of the Sunne such and so inspekable were the yearthequakes in Asia and Bithinia that infinite houses fell doune to the grounde It appeareth farther that besides this Flégon that in the same time liued Plinie also felte it and discoursed on the saide matter for saieth he in the tyme of Themprour Tyberius greater yearth quakes were then seen then euer had been before by meanes of whiche were subuerted twelue famous cities in Asia with infinite and innumerable other houses and buildynges in suche sort that the historiogriphers Gentiles though lesse wéetyng the cause lefte not yet to write the miracles of Christ The other miracle of the veale of the Temple that sundred Iosephus in like sorte recordeth it faithefully The cruell murther dooen by Herode vppon the harmelesse innocentes is writen of on other Iewe whiche hight Phylon an historian of greate aucthoritie in his abridgemeÌ„t of tyme where he thus muche reporteth that Herode did to bee murthered certaine yong infantes and with them also his owne naturall soonne for that he heard say that Christ the king promised to the Iewes was borne and this man liued in the tyme of Herode the Tetrarche as him selfe writeth This history of the innocentes is of Macrobius also more fully remembred a man excellentlie learned and of greate antiquitie who in rehersall of certaine pleasant and merie conceites of the Emperour Octauian aboute the tyme of the birth or natiuitie of our sauiour whiche saied beyng aduertised of the crueltie of Herode as well towardes hys owne soonne as also the others that he rather would be a Hogge in the house of Herode then his soonne whiche he saied for that the Iewes did neuer eate any swines fleshe whiche pretie ieste is repeted by Dion in the life of the saide Emperour so that in fine there were many miracles written as wel by Iewes as by Gentiles lesse supposing to haue witnessed them to haue been doen by Christe besides infinite the others reported by Christians What farther shall I write of the auncient Emperours and what thei thought of our faith as what discourtisies they also practised against the true professors of Christ and his truth The first good Bishoppe or seruaunt of Christ S. Peter S. Paule also a faithfull minister were doen to death at the commaundement of the Emperoar Nero thirtiesix yeres after the death of our redemour at whiche tyme was the greate persecution of the Churche of whiche the Gentiles left not to make mentioÌ„ as among others many these twoo especially Cornelius Tacitus and Suetonius Tranquillus whiche liued at that tyme bothe famous and honourable Suetonius in the life of Nero spekyng of certaine his owne ordinaunces faieth that hee tormented and afflicted with sundry and greuous puishmentes a certaine kinde of people whiche called theimselues Christians folloyng a newe faith or religon And Cornelius T. writyng of the saied Nero affirmeth that he chastised and pursued with terrible tormentes a sort of people named commonly Christians the author of whiche name saieth he was Christ of Hierusalem the verie same whiche Pilate gouernour of ludea did openly to be crucified by whose death his doctrine grewe more and more and increased But consider wee also what some other Gentiles haue written of honour and authoritie like vnto the others Plinie the yonger in one of his Epistles demauÌ„deth of the Emperour Traian whose LiuetenaÌ„t he was in Asia how he would that he should punishe the Christians that were aceused and brought before hym and the better to informe his Lorde of what soeuer he founde against them he among other thinges many reporteth that these Christians rise ordinarilie at certaine houres of the night assembling and meetyng together singyng Hymmes and Songes of praise vnto Iesus Christe whom they honoured for their God and Messias and besides this meetyng in congregations together they made also vowes not to doe annoie or domage to anie not robbyng or takyng from any manne what so euer that they would not committe adulterie that thei neuer woulde false their faith or promis not to denie what soeuer had been lent theim or committed to their kepyng And farther the saide Plinie writeth that they alwaies did feede or eate together not holding or possessyng any thyng as proper or priuate By these are well knowen what were euen then the exercises of the christians as also for what cause the worlde pursued theim Those thinges were recorded thus by an idolatrous infidell sixtie yeres fullie after the Passion of our Lorde and sauiour Vnto whiche letters the Emperour aunswered for as muche as thei were accused of no kind of riote or wrong he should in no wise afflict or chastice theim â—e yet make any inquisition what so euer against theim not withstandyng when they shoulde yet be accused before hym that he then did his pain to withdrawe theim from that Religion but if they in no wise would forgo or leaue it that he should not for all that do theim any kinde of violence How be it true it is that this saied Emperour Traian before this as an infidell and deceaued by the guile and fraude of the accusers punished both and persecuted the poore harmlis christians After succided in th' empire his Nephew Adrian of whoÌ„ Aelius Lampridius an historiogripher voide of faithe and idolatrus writeth that he began first to honour the christians permitting theim to liue after their loore and order and that hym selfe also with the people reuerensed Christ building and grauntyng theim Temples for their behoofe but afterwardes alteryng his good minde and zeale towardes theim began cruelly again and odiously to persecute theim abused by the maisters of his false cerimonies as by the Bishops also of his false gods perswadyng with hym that if he any waie fauoured the Christians that all the worlde woulde shortly be conuerted to that lawe whence a generall rume would followe to their gods and religion all whiche is reported by Petrus Crinitus It is written in the life of Saturninus that from Seuerinus the Consull a letter was writen to the said Adrian the'mperor wherin he certified him that in Egipt were sundrie christiaÌ„s among which some called theimselues Bishops of which all no
excellencie of these walles it nede not to any manne seme lesse true or incredible for that this citee was then the moste proude and moste stately of all others in the worlde the seate and chaire longe tyme of the vniuersall and generall Monarche whiche is an argumente or note sufficiente of the greate pompe and roialtie ofit of parte described by Aristotle in his Politiques who there saieth that it beyng on a tyme taken by the enemie these that inhabited the farther parte of thesame neither felte or knewe any thing of their miserie before full three daies afterward In the seconde place of these wounders wee shall remember a Colossus whiche was made at Rhodes offered by the Gentiles and dedicated to the Sunne although some others saie vnto Iupiter this Colossus was of mettall of a houge and incredible greatnesse and height muche like to some greate and strong tower in suche sorte that it well might bee meruailed howe or in what maner it might be sette vp or raised Plinie who hardly passeth any thyng writeth that it had seuentie cubites in height and although to make it there were a greate number of good woorke men continually busied yet wrought their twelue yeres before thei could finishe it and the charges thereof drewe to iij. C. talentes It was made by the commaundement of Cares scholer to Lysippus This Image was of suche horrible greatnes that it seemed the yearth was vnable to sustaine hym he stoode as bothe Plinie and Orosius record but onely fiftie and sixe yeres at th' ende of which tyme he fell ouerthrowen by a meruailous yearthquake and beyng fallen infinite multitudes came to beholde hym as a moste straunge and rare spectacle especially for that fewe men were founde that could well fathome his thombe the little finger beyng greater then all other ordinarie Images Some write of an hundred others whiche also were at Rhodes but all farre inferiour to this in greatnes whiche to remember therefore is lesse incidente to our purpose vnlesse perchaunce wee should here mynde the reader that some therfore haue thought that the Rhodians by this meane gate the name of Colossenses hauyng at one tyme an hundred small Colossi besides that other greate Colossus now aboue remembred how be it this opinion lesse pleaseth Erasmus for that saieth he the Colossiens to whom saincte Paule wrote were the inhabitauntes of Colossas a citee in Frigia-Retourne we then to this Colossus again whiche laie rottyng and rustyng there many yeres after euen vntill the tyme of Pope Martin the first whiche was in the yere of our Lorde God iuste sixe hundred when the Infidelles with their capitaine the Soudan of Egypte inuaded the Rhodians and as Platina writeth in the life of the saied Martine with whom also accordeth Antonius Sabellicus carried thence all the peeces or partes that remained of that Colossus where with thei loaded nine hundred Camelles Of all th' other Colossi whiche were as well in Rhodes as in other places but in quantitie or bignes farre inferiour to this I maie in this place at all speake nothyng onely hauyng here to intreate of the seuen wounders of the worlde The thirde was the Pyramides in Egypte concernyng whiche if all thynges be true in good histories reported thei were then no lesse miraculous then straunge in deede and meruailous Pyramides were then certaine edifices or buildynges whiche beganne in a quadrante and so continued still by insensible differēce streatning and sharpenyng vpwardes some thyng like vnto a Dia◅ant of a meruailous greatenesse and height with all builte with suche and so houge stones cut and framed in suche meruailous perfection that it were hard to write the true proportion of it harde also to bring men to receiue it for a truth and credite it how be it these thynges are sufficiently aucthorised as well by Christians as by Gentiles of whose reporte vnlesse we wrong them we neither maie or can doubte any thyng These Pyramides are then Towers of incredible height endyng euermore at the toppe in a small or sharpe pointe This woorde Pyramis taketh his beginnyng of this Greke woorde Pyr in Englishe fire for that it endeth as a flame sharpe continually at the pointe Emong all the Pyramides any where remembred of perticuler mention is especiallie made of three and thei al in Egypte betwixte the citee of Mensis now called Caira and the Isle of Delta inuironed on euery side with the riuer Nilus of whiche one is accompted one of the seuen wounders for as is reported there laboured continually to raise and erecte it three hundred and sixtie thousande menue for the full space of twentie yeres which thyng Plinie passeth not alleaging twelue aucthours whiche all together affirme it as also doeth Diodorus Siculus Strabo Pomponius Mela Herodotus Amianus with others Some also write that the foundation of this Pyramis contained so muche grounde as maie bee well ploughed with one plough in eight dayes whiche maie mounte to eightie Iugera others some abate againe so muche thereof as maie bee ploughed of one plough in one or twoo daies so that it containeth the full compasse of sixe or seuen daies iournies at the least and in height it also had so muche or some thyng more Plinie writeth that eche quarter conteined in lengthe eight hundred eightie and three foote The stones were all of Marble brought out of Arabia and as Pomponius Mela recordeth the moste parte of theim were thirtie foote longe whence it semeth not incredible that there were there on busied so many thousande men some to carrie tourne and remoue stones others to square fine and frame thē others again to fasten iointe and laie thē besides the multitude busied in Iron woorkes and other thynges like needefull and necessarie Farther of other Pyramides some also write this or at the leaste of twoo or three of whiche one was erected by the vaine pompe of the princes and kynges of Egypte whiche were of all others moste riche in that tyme of parte as well by the fertilitie of their countrie as also of parte for that in Egypt no man then held in his owne possession any thyng the kyng onely excepted and thus there beganne in the tyme of Ioseph sonne of Iacob whiche counsailed Pharao to reserue and kepe the corne of the seuen plentifull yeres to helpe himself and his people in the other seuen yeres of famin folowyng duryng whiche tyme the king by meanes of his graine became Lorde and seigniour of euery mannes landes rentes and possessions throughout all and euery his territories and countries Consider here then of the wealthe of these princes how all their subiectes serued them without respecte as thei had been bōdmē And as it is fartherreported in good histories these princes for none other cause did these Pyramides to bee raised but onely to giue meate sustenance to their hungrie subiectes to suche I meane as in these workes labored farther not to leaue their treasures to their successors for
whiche was shortly after the passion of Christe men perceiued that these Oracles began to fainte and faile neither allegaeth he for it in his treatise any other reason but that there should be dead as he supposed some spirites whiche he spake as a man voide or lesse skilled in the faithe for that he vnderstode not that the deuilles or spirites were immortall Notwithstandyng straunge is it and worthie of consideration to sée how euidently the deuill shewed hym self to bée conquered and subdued and that after the death of our sauiour he so remained discomforted that he neuer again was able to frame in any suche sort an aunswer and that the Gentiles also not able in déede to yelde any cause or reason why had some féelyng of this default and surceassyng from his function By meane whereof Plutarche tooke on hym to write this treatise in which emong others in effecte he hath these wordes of which Eusebius maketh mention writyng to Theodorus as of a moste notable and meruailous matter I remember that I haue heard saie saieth he of Emilian the oratour a man prudente and wise and well knowen to many of you that his father on a tyme commyng by the sea towardes Italie and passyng on a night by a certaine Isle called Paraxis euen when all in the Shippe were then still and quiete thei heard a greate and dreadfull voice whiche srom the Isle called to them Ataman Ataman suche was the pilotes name of the shippe an Egiptian borne although this voice were ones and againe vnderstoode by Ataman yet was he not so hardie to frame to it an annswere vntill the third time whē he said who is there what is it that calleth me what wouldest thou haue To whō this voice again more louder thē before saied Ataman my will is that when thou passest by the goulfe which hath to name Laguna that thou there remember to crie out and certifie the said goulfe that the greate God Pan is deade Whiche vnderstoode all those that were in the shippe feared counsailyng the saied pilote to leaue vndooen his charge neither any thyng to arreste or staie at the goulfe especially if the winde would serue them to passe further but approchyng nigh the place of whiche this voice admonished hym the ship arrested and the sea waxte calme not hauyng winde to passe presently any farther by meanes whereof thei generally concluded that Atman should there dooe his legation or imbacie whiche the better to doe he mounteth vp into the poupe or hinder parte of the ship where he crieth as loude as he could possible saiyng I will that ye knowe that the greate God Pan is deade whiche woorde as sone as he ones had vttered thei heard incontinently suche terrible lamentations and cries houling and complainyng aboue that maie be saied in suche sort that the sea it self resounded these complaintes whiche continued moste dolorous and lamētable a great while by meanes whereof the Mariners though meruailously afraied hauyng the winde good againe followed their course arriuyng at Rome made rehearsal of this their aduenture Whereof the Emperour Tiberius aduertised and desirous to be certified of the truthe and none other founde to conclude as is aboue rehearsed Whence it is euident that the deuilles euery where sorowed the natiuitie of our Sauiour and redemer Christe for that he was onely their ruine and destruction For by iuste and true supputation of tyme we finde that this happened at the tyme of his Passion or perhaps some thyng before then I meane whe he banished and exiled them out of the worlde It is to be presupposed that this great God Pan accordyng to the immitation of Pan the God of Shepherdes whiche thei saied was deade was some capitaine and maister deuill whiche at that tyme loste his Empire as did also the others Besides all these Iosephus writeth that at the same tyme was heard in the temple of Hierusalem a voice though in déede ther was no liuyng creature with in whiche lamentably cried and saied thus let vs goe hence and leaue this countrie in haste as who would saie thei truely knewe that the tyme of their paine and persecution was at hande and that it drewe on faste euen by the death of hym that gaue life vnto others In the Gospell of the Nazarites it is reade that in the daie of his Passion that sumptuous gate of their Temple whiche thei neuer lefte for any coste to adorne and beautifie fell doune to the grounde and was vtterly defaced Consider now in that daie what straunge and meruailous thynges happened though the Euangelistes haue paste theim as thynges lesse worthie memorie The eclipce also of the Sunne whiche continued thrée howers the full space in deede that Christ was on the crosse was not naturall as are the others whiche by th' onely coniunction of the Sunne and Moone chaunce vs but was miraculous and contrary to the course and order of nature Suche therefore as lesse knowe how the Sunne is eclipsed must vnderstande that it onely happeneth by coniunction of the aboue saied bodies the Mooue passyng or goyng betwixt the Sunne and the yearth neuer the lesse this eclipse happened in th' opposition of these planettes the Moone then full and hundred and eightie degrées distant frō the Sūne in the vnder hemisphere then at the citée of Hierusalem for proofe whereof besides the testimonies of infinite good writers the scriptures them selues record it manifestly for certain it is that the lambe was neuer Sacrificed but in the .xiiij. of the Moone whiche Lambe was eaten by Christ and his disciples but one daie onely before his death as is commaunded in the .xij. of Exodus in Leuiticus also the xxiij And the nexte daie followyng whiche was the daie of vnleauened bread Christ the Lambe vnspotted was vnkindly crucified the Moon then of necessitie in her full and opposite to the Sunne whiche then could no more eclipse the Sunne then any other Planete It then was to conclude miraculous and contrary to the order of nature doen onely by the onmipotente and sole power of GOD whiche depriued the Sunne of light for that thrée howers space By occasion whereof that worthie personage Denis Areopagita beyng at the time presente at Athens and beholding in this sorte the Sunne to be obscured and knowyng on the other side as a learned Astrologian that this eclipse was contrary to the order of natue saied openly with a loude voice to bée heard of all menne either the frame of the worlde shall bée dissolued either the God of nature presently suffereth For whiche cause as one reporteth the sages of Athens straungely disturbed did to bee builte incontinently an aulter to the God vnknowen whether afterward saincte Paule arriuyng learned theim who was that God vnknowne and that he was Jesus Christ God and man our redemer whiche then and at that tyme suffered for our saluation by meanes whereof he conuerted greate numbers to the faithe Some neuer the lesse haue doubted
whether this defecte were generall and vniuersall throughout the worlde groundyng here on though the Euangelist saieth that it was synne vpon the whole face of the yearth that that was onely but a phrace or maner of speache as muche to saie as in all the countrie there about of whiche opinion was that learned doctour Origen but what Wee sée that in Grece yea in Athens it self this defecte of the Sunne was perceiued of all men whiche leadeth me to suppose that it was generall to bée seen and considered through out our whole hemisphere in what place or where so euer the Sunne that tyme appered Whiche I therefore saie for that in all the other hemisphere where it then was night no man could sée any thyng no she we then of the Sunne at all there for at one tyme he onely lighteth the halfe worlde the other he obscureth with his owne proper shadowe How bee it the Moone then beyng in her fulle not hauyng any other lighte then that whiche she taketh or borroweth of the Sunne and yet then beyng in the hemisphere whiche is vnder vs became also to bee vehemently eclipsed and darkened by th' onely want of the light and she we of the Sunne By which meanes an vniuersall shadow couered the whole yearth the Moone and starres not able to giue other light then that whiche thē selues receiue of the Sunne Of many places alleaged by sundrie good authors making mention of Christe and of his life Chap. 17. EFtsones haue I harde the question demaunded of manie a curious and learned Clarke whence it was or whence it proceaded that the Gentiles and Paynimes so sildome remembred anie thing of our sauiour Christe in all their writinges of his life and miracles so manie in number published and made common to the worlde by his disciples for as muche as the saide Painimes and Gentiles haue well remembred sundrie other things which were doen and chaunsed euen in the same tyme in many respectes of lesse waight or importance Where vnto I aunswere that it lesse true were to affirme that these auncient historians haue here of written nothing for in infinite places haue thei discoursed of these thinges of whiche some fewe notes I haue briefly here gathered for their onely contentation that neuer were acquainted with these foresaid historiogriphers In the seconde place also we muste consider that the faithe and lawe of grace geuen vs by Christe begun by himself first and by his disciples published and receaued of certaine that determined to liue and die therin other some rebellious and obstinate so deepe drouned in sinne that they made no scruple to refuse it but to the vtterest of their might pursued and persecuted it Besides these the thirde sorte were neuters that healde the meane to whom though this religion seemed iuste and vertuous yet as well for feare of persecution and tyrannie as also for some other worldely considerations this vertuous profession was also of theim neglected The worlde then standyng this in thrée opinions deuided those that professed Christe did thinges straunge and miraculous of whom many beare true and assured witnes of whiche number are Dionysius Areopagita Tertulian Lactantius Firmianus Eusebius Paulus Orosius with many others which long were here to recounte or remember These others accursed that persecuted this Churche as a thing straunge abhorring from their lawe indeuoured what in theim was vtterly to abandō it couering christ his miracles his life his doctrine for whiche cause thei refuced to write of him at all or at least they that in any sorte wrote any thinge of hym did it to the intente to staine and obscure his glory of which predicament were these predestinate to damnation Porphyrius Iulianus Vincentius Celsus Africanus Lucianus with others many the members of Sathan against whom most learnedly hath written S. Ciprian Origen Augustine and others The others that for feare or for consideration of gaine haue lefte to loue Christe to learne and knowe his Gospel for the same causes haue also in their kookes leafte to remember of hym or if at leaste any of theim haue anie thinge spoken of hym the same hath been freaghted with skoffes and lies passing hym ouer in as fewe as was possible Yet neuerthelesse euen as he that woulde couer a veritie vnder the shadowe of disguised treatcheries it eftsones falleth out by the preuie proprietie and secret nature of the veritie that he that fainest woulde couer it so euill fauouredly disguiseth and fardleth the matter that in the ende it ill sauoureth the truth mawgre his bearde breakyng out moste plaine and euident Euen so hath it happened to both these sortes of these afore remembred people whiche although thei toiled to discredite and to staine with ignominie the miracles wrought by our sauiour and his professed doctrine yet came it so to passe that as often tymes as thei therof wrote any thing some thing thei vttered in suche sorte as was euident both their dispitefull malice and puritie of that doctrine Here colde I remember manie thinges writen by the Sybilles but for as much as that that thei wrote procéeded not of theimselues but from that spirite of prophicie whiche God had lente or graunted theim though they were in déede nothyng better then infidels I will leaue of theim to speake any thinge hastyng to thothers Our first then and most euident testimonie though also with the same not leaste common is and shal be of the most and greatest ennimies of christianitie among others of Iosephus a Iewe both by consanguinitie and nation as by his life also and profession his wordes are these In this time liued Iesus a wise and learned man if it be lafull to terme hym a man for that assuredly he did thinges straunge and mearuailous a maister and teacher of those that loued him and sought the truth he ioygned vnto him greate nūbers as wel of Iewes as Gentiles this man was christ And although he afterwardes were accused by men of greate aucthoritie fautors I meane and fauourars of our religion don to death also and by the same crucified he not withstanding was neuer yet forsaken of those that before hadde willingly followed hym wherfore the thirde daie again after his death he appeared to theim aliue according as the Prophetes by diuine inspiration had before spoken and prophicied of hym And euen in this our time the doctrine and name of Christians dwelleth yet and euer shal doe vnto the ende in the worlde These then are the wordes of Iosephus whiche wrote of the ruine and destruction of Hierusalem a witnes presente in person at that subuersion whiche chaunsed full fortie yeres after the passion of our redemour Pilate in like sorte whiche gaue sentence of death against him witnesseth in maner semblable of his meruailous miracles of whiche by hys letters he certified the Emperour Tyberius by meanes wherof he consulted with the Senate to know whether they would admitte Iesus Christe to be reuerenced and adored for God and