Aegyptians they entered the fielde onely with Pikes and Iauelins and after that by litle and litle it came within fewe dayes to sutche passe and ende that menne were prouided of sutche straunge kindes of Armes and Armoures that it was rare to beholde the one still to kill and murther the other Of the inuentours of these thinges wée finde diuerse opinions The Poetes in their Fables attribute the inuention of these Weapons vnto Mars Pline reporteth that the Etoliens were the first that euer bare Launce in fielde and addeth also that the Lacedemonians firste founde the Pertisan the Sworde for defence also the Headpéece But Herodotus saith that the Aegyptians firste framed the Tergotte and Sallette As also Midas of Misena the Coate of Maale and the Breaste plate and finally one of Etolia the firste Darte that was vsed It is saide that Pantasilia Quéene of the Ammasones firste fought in fielde with Gleaue or Halbarte And Scythus Sonne of Iupiter firste founde how to vse the Darte or Arrowe but others somme thinke the contrarie attributinge it to Persea And Diodorus not alone asscribeth it to Apollo The inhabitantes of the Iles Baleares called nowe in our time Maiorque and Minorque as hath Vigetius in his Booke of the Arte of Warre were they that firste founde to caste Stoanes with the Slinge So that men accordinge to the time their affayres and varietie of inuention haue searchte and founde out sundrie sortes of Weapons And this hath it chaunced in my phantasie eftsoones that in one and the same time in places farre distant the same kinde of weapons haue benne framed by diuerse not one at all wetinge of others deuise or practise Wherefore the lesse to annoye the Reader I leaue to geather more variable opinions whiche well might serue here not impertinent to our pourpose as to recoumpte in like sorte who were the inuentours of so many straunge instrumentes and deuises of Warre to shake and ouerthrowe greate Walles and Fortresses Eusebius affirmeth that Moyses was inuentour of these huge and straunge Engins Plutarche addeth that Archilas Tarentinus and Eudoxus were the firste that reduced this Arte to a perfection and that thei deuised sundrie instrumentes to weaken walles and great houses The Beliers as hathe also Pline founde the vse of the Swoorde at the siege of Troye but as Vitruuius reporteth it rather was at the siege of Athens The Scorpion wherewith they vsed to throwe huge and greate Stoanes as againe hath Pline was firste deuised by the inhabitantes of Crete and Syria The Phoenicians firste aduantaged them selues with the sharpe and pearsinge Rebute but these al were trifles of little weight and importaunce farre surpassed in crueltie by the inuention of Shotte in diuerse sortes and Artillerie The first inuention of whiche somme attribute vnto an Almayne whose name wée finde nowhere as vnwoorthy of memorye As reporte Blondus and R. Volateranus the first that vsed shotte to theire behoofe and profite were the Venetians againste the Inhabitantes of Genua in the yéere of our Lorde a thousande thrée hundred and foure scoare Howbeit in my iudgement this inuention was yet more Auncient for that wée Reade in the Cronicle of Alphonsus the eleuenth Kinge by iuste accompte of Castille who at the Conqueste of the Citie Algazare found while he besieged the Towne in the yéere of our redemption a thousand thrée hundred fortie and thrée that the Moores from within threw out among the enimies certaine thunders through longe Morters or Troughes of yron and this was almost fortie yéeres before that that Blondus recordeth Againe before that it is reported by the saide Alphonsus whiche semblably conquered Toletum in Spayne that one Petrus Bishop of Logio writeth that in a certaine Battayle donne on the Sea betwixt the Kinge of Tunnye and Morus Kinge of Sibilia whose faction Alphonsus fauoured that the Tunnigeniens threwe on their enemies certaine Bōbardes or Tunnes of fire whiche by all likelihoode might be déemed Artillerie although it were not in sutche perfection as now and that was foure hundred yéeres before and more ¶ For what cause Man goeth vpright as also why fastinge then when he hath Eaten he euermore is founde more weighty and poysant and why in conclusion he poyseth more dead then liuinge with others sutche not impleasant Accidents Chap. 7. OF the Composition of man sundry are the considerations of whiche Lactantius Firmianus a parte as also somme others haue written large wery volumes in whiche one thinge amonge others many requireth somme exact particuler examination Which is that it hath pleased God to frame al Creatures Man onely excepted with the heade hanginge and stoupinge forewarde their eies still fixte or for the moste parte on the Earthe and not only brute Beastes but al Plantes and Bodyes vegetable As is séene in trées whiche haue their heades or rootes faste lockte or hidde in the earthe the bowes or braunches mounting into the ayre on highe But Man he hathe created with eies bente towardes Heauen his body straighte and righte his face aduaunst on highe Goddes woorkes still to contēplate consider And althoughe for this matter it mighte suffice to alleage the onely prouidence of God yet séemeth it to sauour of somme Mysterie or Secrete and therefore woorthy of somme further consideration Our Disposition then moste assuredly learneth vs yea by moste plaine and euidente signe that wée are not created and framed for the Earthe to haue in admyration thinges base and transitorie but to be busied in things on highe heauenly Of whiche with Man no other Creature maye communicate vnwoorthy and incapable of sutche and so great benefites Man only for them euen from the firste ordeined God hathe created all creatures with heade hanginge and bente still to the grounde to shewe that he to Man hathe geuen ouer them all kinde of Rule and Authoritie to order them Whiche thinge is well noted of Lactantius Firmianus who saithe That God hauinge determined to create Man for Heauen al other Creatures vnreasonable onely for the Earthe he made Man a creature capable of aduice righte and straighte naturally ordeined and instituted to Celestial Contemplation to the intente he onely mighte reuerence him that he mighte honour the place of his firste springe and beginninge that he mighte acknowledge the Countrie that he is borne to shapinge other Creatures bowinge and stoopinge as hauinge no parte or participation of Heauen Aristotle who had of the true faithe no féelinge saithe That onely Man emonge other Creatures marcheth vprighte for that him selfe and his Countrye are not Terreane but Celestiall And further That the office of Diuine mindes is to vnderstande and perceiue in which function neither shoulde Man haue knowen how skilfully to haue ordered him selfe had he bene of a lumpishe heauye or vnfittinge shape for that the weightie masse and huge lumpe of the bodye yéeldeth the memorie and recordation with other partes of the Soule insensible S. Thomas who leafte no matter vntouched or
vnexamined in his Exposition of Youtke and Age hathe to this pourpose sutche woordes as folowe For twoo causes was Man formed righte beholdinge Heauen The one for that he shoulde be the perfectest of other Creatures and sutche as shoulde taste or sauer of all Celestial qualities The other for that in the proportion and temperature of his bodye he is more hoate then any other Creature and that the nature of heate is euermore to mounte and ascende vpwardes Other Creatures as far inferiour as also lesse perfecte lesse participate in these Celestiall qualities and lesse naturall heate haue they in any sorte to aduaunce them For whiche cause neither are they of the same frame or proportion with man It séemeth that in this place S. Thomas folowed the opinion of the Platonistes who affirmed that naturall heate with sundrie the Vitall Spirites in Man in whiche he more aboundeth then any other liuinge Creature are the onely causes that he marcheth vprightly aduaunced in manner so perfect and so séemely for that by the force and vigor of the foresaide powres and bloudde he addresseth him selfe vpwardes That which his indeuour more perfectly to accomplishe he further againe is ayded by the true proportion and mixture of the Elementes of whiche he borroweth his firste springe and beginninge with sutche equalitie and conueniente weighte that he fitly and commodiously walketh addressing him selfe to looke on the marueilous frame of Heauen Nowe then sith Man of parte by the perfection of his Soule as also of parte by the excellent feauture of his Bodye is beroughte with the loue and cōtemplation of Heauen he should only woorke thinke and deuise thinges Heauenly Spirituall disdeininge the Earthe with all thinges thereon transitorye But wée be in sutch sorte enamoured with the vile consideration of worldly pleasures that for the most part hauing our eies and countenaunce bente to Heauen the harte lyeth soylde belowe vpon the Earthe Againe concerning Man of whom wée haue here spoken Pline remembreth an other thinge whiche thoughe it be not of sutche importance as are the others yet may it of somme parte contente and please the Reader especially to whome experience hathe not reuealed it founde notwithstanding daily to be true of all sutche as please carefully to experimente it He saithe that Man dead poyseth more then when he liued that whiche he also affirmeth in all other kinde of Creatures Againe he saithe that Man hauing eaten in the morninge poyseth lesse then when he was before fastinge Whiche thinge is by Erasmus in a certaine Probleame of his confirmed Who also in the same remembreth other somme things not vnwoorthy of readinge yéeldinge the same reasons with Pline for the confirmation thereof grounded on the consideration of the Vitall Spirites and Ayre as is aboue rehearsed Whereas the contrarye séemeth to haue somme shewe of truth for that who so shal take at any time his refection layeth vp within him selfe the poyse and weight therof Notwithstandinge it is euident that the refection alwaies increaseth the vitall Spirites whiche solace and comforte man increasinge and multiplyinge naturall heate within him Hence cometh it that when one man from the grounde assayeth to lifte an other the lifted is then more weighty when he dothe breathe or conuaye his winde out not redrawinge it agayne for the small time of that practise the whiche when he retayneth in his body kéepeth in is founde by meane thereof more light then he was before Againe who so faste runneth neither maye he for that time either breathe or blowe mutche for restrayning his breathe he findeth him selfe more agile and quicke for that the Ayre beinge an Element very lighte desireth to rise vp and to mounte alofte where his naturall place is of reste or aboade as experience may learne vs in a skinne or bladder whiche empty not pufte vp throwne into the water sinketh continually resteth on the bottome but full of winde or blowne out swimmeth still on highe Pline in the same place againe recordeth that mans body in the water drowned and after a time risinge from the bottome on highe if it be a man he euermore hath his face turned from the Earthe vpwardes but if it be a woman shée continually floteth in manner and sorte contrary which thinge Nature hath onely in sutche wise prouided to couer the partes of woomen whiche alwaies should be secrete Againe also an other reason maye be geuen for that wooman before by meane of her pappes or breastes is founde more weighty but man behinde bicause of his shoulders more grosse or greater then are those of woomen ¶ Of the excellency of the Heade aboue all other members of the Body and that it is not good to haue a little Heade or strayte Breaste as also whence it is that wee accompte it courtesie to take of the Cappe or Hatte in salutinge an other Chap. 8. IF it be an especiall Prerogatiue amonge all other Creatures graunted vnto man that he shoulde haue his body of sutche perfect and sutche desired shape his face aduaunced of Heauen euermore heauenly things to aduice him Then assuredly the Heade which in man farre surpasseth bothe all and euery parte which also is the highest among the others all ought by reasons lawe the aduauntage to haue and preeminence in eche respect and case As in déede eche parte imployeth his skilfull payne loyally to garde kéepe the Heade from harme in sutche sorte that when so it is in daunger or any perill els forthwith the Foote the Hande the Arme with the others all toyle to defende the Heade from all griefe and annoye for in the Heade consisteth the well beinge of them al and the Heade if it be pained eche parte complaineth forthwith S. Ambrose especially commendyng that parte of the body saythe That the frame or composition of man representeth of somme parte the face or countenance of the World and as Heauen thereof is the chiefe portion most eminent and bewtiful the Fyre the Ayre with the other Elementes to it inferiour so the Heade in respecte surmounteth eche other parte in Man as Quéene Mistresse or Empresse all alone whiche as a holde or Castle in the middle of a Citie builte on somme Rocke alofte wherein bothe Counsell and aduise continually doo lodge them where power and authoritie haue chosen to them their beinge And Salomon the eies of the sage are in the inner partes of his Heade Lactantius Firmianus saithe that God hath geuen to man his Head in place aboue to the intent he shoulde haue rule Empire ouer Beastes Galene to it attributeth principalitie ouer all other partes in man and Plato in Timeo in consideration of the prerogatiue thereof termeth it the whole body It beinge then of so greate importance the Fountaine also and chiefe springe of eche the powers in man it is of necessitie that it shoulde be of fitte proportion and forme conuenable Whence it commeth that Paulus Eginetus in his first Booke De
trées he founde an Oke halfe cliuen or sundred by force of Wedge and Bitle in whiche somme Wedge also was leaft then déepely fastened who incontinently desirous to perfecte the saide woorke laide handes on the trée righte againste the saide Wedge and with sutche force assayed to sunder it that it to him a little yéelded by meanes whereof the saide Wedge slipte out But immediately were it for so mighte it be that his force fayled him or that he lesse supposed any daunger in the matter he yéelded a little as though he would haue arested him by meanes whereof the Oke incontinently reioyned agayne bothe his handes faste lockte within the trée in sutch sorte that not being able thence to escape nor any man there passinge to healpe him in that daunger with payne and hunger died a prisoner miserable a fitte or fatte praye to the Wilde and Sauage beaste If the deathe of this Milo maie séeme to any man straunge no lesse straunge also was the Deathe of the Poete Eschilus for on a time goinge foorthe out of a certaine Towne in Sicile of pourpose onely to take the ayre and sunne him the weather then hauinge benne sommethinge sharpe and colde This poore vnfortunate man whose heade was eche where either balde or hearlesse after hauinge made somme litle shorte walke arested him on a Hil for his most aduantage in the Sunne where pruninge him selfe with open heade shininge an Egle by happe flewe ouer him in the ayre which hauing in her pawes a greate and heauie Tortois espyinge the glitteringe balde heade of the poore Poete Eschilus supposed it to haue benâ—e somme harde Stoane or Rocke wherefore lettinge fall her Tortois with minde theron to haue broken it for her present néede or dinner threw it so right that shée nothing failed of her desired marke but strake the sely Poete and sundred therewith his heade whence he fell downe suddainely deade a thinge right straunge and marueilous considerings he was then mounted euen to the toppe of the Hill assuringe him selfe that from aboue nothinge at all mighte gréeue him Baptista Fulgosius in a certaine pretye Booke of his written of examples remembreth emonge many other thinges the infortunate Death of Charles Kinge of Nauarre who being olde very sickly féelyng incesâ—ant insupportable paines créepinge and runninge through all the vaynes of his bodye to whiche that his disease his learned Phisitions coulde finde or frame none but this sole and onely remedie whiche was to folde him in a Shéete bedewed with Aqua Vitae which when it was sowed vp or stichte on euery side in defaulte of a Knife to cutte the thréede of one tooke in hande the Candle the flame whereof as soone as it had touched the Shéete sette all on fire suddainely in sutche sorte that before they coulde shape him any kinde of remedie the sicke Kinge was scorchte and burnte almoste to ashes Which was for his Vaynes and all other maladies his sole and laste remedie in this worlde The Deathe againe of Philemon mighte appeare to moste menne marueilous whiche beholdinge on a time an Asse eatinge Figges of from a Table brake into sutch and so extreame a laughter that he in that sorte there ended his life CoÌ„sider wée then if any where Man maye assure him of his beinge if Laughing and in iolitie Death gayne of him the maisterie Somme also affirme the same of Philistion a Poete Comicall as also of sundrie others who with extreame ioye made suddaine chaunge of life Emonge whom wée reade of Denis the Tyrante of Sicilia of Diagoras also and of that famous woorthy Romishe Matrone which beholding her Sonne returned whom shée supposed to haue benne slayne in Battaile with ioye in excesse fell straight into an Extasye whereof againe shée neuer after warde recouered The aduenture also of the Shéepehearde Cratis was in manner semblable rare and marueilons who beinge asléepe on a Mountain in the middle of his charge was slayne of a Maale Goate ielous of his mate with whiche Cratis moste abominably had subuerted the Lawes of Nature Whose strange happe deserued notwithstandinge Ludouicus Celius and Volateranus alleaginge also to that pourpose sundrye Greeke Authours in many confirme for assured truthe and veritie Infinite sutche others I leaue here to remember as Pope Bonifacius who throughe hunger onely miserably sterued in fowle and stinkinge Pryson The Archebishop of Magonce slayne and deuoured of a troupe of Rattes that eche where pursued him The Emperoure Decius of whome Emilius Victor reporteth that hauinge vanquished his enemies was founde deade drowned in a little small lake In manner semblable in our time died Lewes Kinge of Hungary and Sforce Father of that most famous Capitaine Duke Fraunces Sforce who bowynge him selfe somethinge to haue ayded his Page was as the other most miserably infortunately drowned Andrew Kinge of Prouace was by his owne Wife somme other Dames healpinge her as not to be boughte with price or Prayer in cruellest manner that thei might most dispitefully strangled The Emperoure Tiberius was also impoysoned of his wife Agripina Whence wée conclude that Kinges Princes and greate Personages are as well subiecte to these straunge deathes and infortunes as are any their poore Vassaules or subiectes although perhappes they make propte vp with swellinge and pompous pryde small reckeninge or accompte of these forepassed daungers ¶ What speache was vsed in the beginninge of the Worlde and how firste began the diuersitie of Languages Chap. 10. IN the firste Age or beginninge of the Worlde euen vntill the Fludde and many yéeres afterwarde men generally throughout had féelinge but of one Language al diuersitie then hidde and vnknowen manner of speakinge No man then spake with tongue or straunge or lesse familier no voice was from other in any thinge then different no newe deuise in speakinge was then knowen or thought on The diuersitie then firste or confusion of tongues the Mother of eche mischiefe cause of all annoye the sole Nurse of litigious and impacable debates was for mans sinne and pryde as a iuste scourge on him layde Moyses in the Historie of Genesis recordeth that Nemrod Nephewe to Noë by the lyne of Cain with others more lyke proude and of like ambitious nature were then borne when firste amonge men presumption and malice raigned without al reason At that time this Nemrod with his vnaduised companye determined togeather to frame or builde a Tower whiche from the Earth might reache to the face of Heauen it selfe Whiche thinge they onely did hauing in memory yet the late forepassed Fludde to escape the hande of God if he at any other time shoulde washe the Earth againe Iosephus in the first Booke of his Antiquities saithe that he from all partes had sutch syéedy healpe for the erection of his buildinges that in shorte time it grewe bothe marueilous prowde and pompous And againe he saithe that they layde the Fundations thereof so déepe and so broade that though it were of so incredible height as the Scriptures
that was vnto him necessarie he saide that he begde it not but desired restitution Geuinge him to vnderstande that the goodes of the Ritche were gathered of the poore An other vsage also had he whiche for the appearance or shewe that it mainteined of folly had yet notwithstandinge a secrete or cloase Mysterie For oftentimes moste humbly he woulde desire an Almes of Images of Stoane Tymber or semblable matter as thoughe they had benne menne perfecte hauinge Life whiche he did he saide to arme him selfe with patience when any where in his néede he shoulde be of any refused And when he at any time soughte an Almes he vsed these woordes If thou of custome vse to geue to the poore then geue thou me sommethinge for of all others I stande in greatest néede and on the other side if it so be that thou neuer haste geuen to any beginne then to bestowe now some present on mée On a time he entred into the house of a certaine man which before had benne very ritche prodigal but then was very poore néedie indigent in sutch sorte that he nothing had to Suppe on but only an vnsauery sower Sallet By meanes wherof he saide had thy diet heretofore not bene much better thou shouldest not now haue Supte so simply Geuinge him thence in few to vnderstand that the excesse that he sometime vnmeasurably had vsed had cast him into that gripinge pinchyng penury One demaunded of him an other time what beast it was that bitte most greuously To whom he answeared emonge beastes sauage furious he that sclaunderously and ill reporteth but emong tame beastes euermore the Flatterer An other demaunded of him why Golde lookte yalowe or as it pleaseth some others more properly pale Because all men saithe he assault lie in waite for it Againe an other demaunded If he néeded not a Seruant To whom he saide no. The other replied asked who then should burie him after his death he saith Diogenes that wil dwel in my house Beinge demaunded againe at what time a man shoulde marry him The yong man saith he must marry him self very timely as for the olde or aged he now néedeth it no more By which he would inferre conclude that it was in truthe lesse expedient to marry although it be supposed that he more spake it in mockery then that he would haue mainteined it for an infallible Veritie Now as Diogenes was in Life frée in manners so also was he in any woorde that paste him For on a time as he paste thorow a streate vewing there a hawtie sumptuous buildinge belongyng to a Gentleman of an infamons suspected Life Ouer the gate or entraunce of whiche was written that no man vnhonest mighte enter thereat Turning him self about to sutch as therby passed incontinently demaunded which way entereth the Maister of this faire Lodging into it Trauelling as was his happe on a time through the Countrie he by chaunce drewe nigh to a very litle village altogeather poore simply peopled the Gates of which were large wide very great whereat as lowde as he coulde in laughinge manner he saide Yée Inhabitauntes shutte vp these your wyde Gates betime leaste happily your Towne runne out thereat Espyinge an other time a certaine companye shootinge in the Crosse Bowe emonge whom there was one lesse practised or vnskilfull by meanes whereof he still failed very mutche of his marke whose course when it came among the others to shoote he immediatly would steppe in before the Butte iustly couering or shadowing the white or marke whereat the assistantes were strauÌ„gly amazed But Diogenes said I suppose I may more safely stande here then els where so ill so farre of shooteth he from the marke Of a yonge boye very fayre and wel fauoured but of manners lewde and dishonest he asked why carriest thou so uaughty so ill fauoured a swoorde in a scabberde so good so well fewtered A certaine coÌ„pany commended one that had presented to Diogenes some small gifte or present but Diogenes saide why rather coÌ„mende yée not mée who well haue merited whatsoeuer is geuen letting them thence by his answeare to vnderstand that it far better is to deserue a good turne then to perfourme it to him that well hath merited it He ones desired contrarie to his woonte for neuer would he aske Monie in gifte of any man of a prodigall fellowe a greate summe of monye where at the other somethinge moued saide why askest thou of mée onely a matter ss vnreasonable It is saithe he for that of others at some other time I stande in hope to receiue somethinge but of thée after this ones neuer againe taringe with the same his vnmeasurable expenses Beinge also demaunded whence it came to passe that menne more willingly bestowed their Almes on the Lame the Blinde the Dismembred the Goutâ—e Maungye and on the Vlcerus sooner then on Philosophers and men to them like Learned He sayde an answeare in mine opinion very prety and fittinge for this cause onely mooued doo they it for that they rather feare they shal be sutch then Philosophers and therefore more willingly they comforte and assiste those like to whome they may sooner be then to the troupe Learned The sentences sage answeares of this Philosopher were infinite whiche in silence I here passe as well knowen to al the worlde He was very sobre discrete well learned in all the Sciences he was the Scholler or Disciple of Antisthenes in the time of Plato and Aristotle he had in contempte all Artes Sciences of whiche grewe no profite or gayne as also those that studied them more for curiositie then for the loue of vertue He argued Astronomers that onely busied them selues in the contemplation of the Heauens lesse regardinge what they had to doo on the Earthe belowe To Musitians would he saie that they well knew how to accorde their instrumentes but not their rebellious and disordered affections Hearynge a certaine Astronomer skilfully discoursinge of the Starres he demaunded when he came last out of Heauen Vnto a Sophisticall Logician toylinge to proue that there was in thinges no motion no answeare would he frame but in derision forthwith walkes vp and downe before him Séemeth this saithe he to thée a motion yea or not In this sorte began to growe now the renoumed fame of this woorthy Philosopher throughout the whole worlde so that Alexander the Greate comminge by chaunce to Athens woulde néedes sée talke and deuise with him of certaine pointes concerninge Vertue After somme conference at whiche time his Maiestie bespake him in this sorte Diogenes I well sée that thou arte poore and standest in néede of many thinges therfore demaunde what so thou wouldest haue and I will geue it thée to whom he sayde whiche of vs twoo thinkest thou liueth in greatest necessitie I that desire nothinge but my dishe here to Drinke in and a peece of Breade when I hunger or thou that beinge Kinge of
commodities thence take theire beginninge By Laboure the sterill soyle becommeth fruitefull and plentuous to sutche as are drie and withered it conueigheth streames of Water opening the bowels of the earthe whence Springes issue abundantly it aduaunceth the grounde where so it is behouefull ouerthrowinge Hilles and Mountaines that any where annoye vs it altereth the course of great Riuers to moyste therewith drye Countries it also helpeth and aydeth Nature forcinge her to geue foorthe that of her selfe shée woulde not it tameth and maketh gentle the Sauage and Wilde beaste it fineth mannes witte and sharpeneth his memorie as also the other partes are thence onely quicke and ready To conclude who so acquainteth him selfe with painefull Labours reapeth thence pleasinge fruites sutche as him selfe desireth God wil not that his electe possesse Heauen by sléepinge If the pompous sumptuous buildinges which thou eche where beholdest if the ritche Castles and Palaices of Princes if famous Cities well peopled séeme to thée greate matters knowe it to be the Sweatte and toyle of thine Auncesters If in manner semblable the Artes and Sciences contente thée knowe that they first sprange of the Diuine Labour of sutche as here liued in the forepassed Ages When so thou beholdest the gréene and pleasaunte Fieldes daintie Gardens and well ordered Vineyardes accoumpte that they be all the sole fruites of Labour For the Ideler knoweth not how to frame any thinge but rather disordereth what so he findeth any where perfected By buste industry men attaine to immortall renowme That was it that commended these Sages to the Posteritie Plato Aristotle Pythagoras with all the Learned crue whiche neuer ceaste to payne their bodyes and mindes studying writinge readinge and disputinge not mindinge at all when they mighte at their pleasure eate or sléepe or curiously as most doo couer their carion to the vse of these thinges notwithstanding when necessitie forced them it was a thousande times to them then more pleasinge and sauery then to any of these idle and delicious gluttons Whence commeth it that Hercules lyueth to the Posteritie so famous if not by the meane of his twelue Labours Whence grewe Alexander so renowmed throughe the worlde Iulius Caesar also with infinite excellente Kinges and Capitaines if not by theire vigilante and incessante Trauaile And on the other side Sardanapalus with sutche others effeminate as was he by their carelesse securitie fell into ruine and destruction and in the ende died infamous and miserable wretches By meanes whereof it lieth euidente of al menne to be perceiued that if Idlenesse by painefull care be not donne to exile then all Offices muste flide and comme assuredly to nothinge Mecanicall Artes the studie of Learninge and good Letters all polices and Ciuill Gouernement Iustice her selfe the Lawes and in fine the Nourses of Wealthe and Peace muste all without Labour and Payne be subuerted By her eche where Vertue florisheth and raigneth and without her withereth without grace or verdure for who so in the Common Weale woulde minister Iustice muste continually be busied to order thinges rightly To be shorte no Vertue maie any where be put in execution without the assistance of carefull Payne and Diligence Thence commeth it that Hesiodus saide That Vertue was onely by Sweatte acquired Aduisedly if wée will and exactly consider all what so euer God hathe in the worlde created wée shal finde that those thinges surpasse the others in perfection wherein he hathe bestowed moste payne and trauaile Beholde wée the Heauenly bodyes voyde of immutation the Sunne moueth continually the Moone aresteth neuer the Heauens them selues the Starres and Planettes haue benne are and shall be in perpetuall motion The Elemente of Fyre resteth not voide of somme operation the Ayre without cease turneth it selfe from one place to an other From the partes beneath the litle springes and fountaines mount vp perpetually the Riuers still flote and shall doo for euer the Sea also vseth his times to comme and goe the Earthe althoughe in déede shée areste her immoueable for so is it requisite to the intente man maie passe on her to and fro indamaged reposinge him selfe at times as nature requireth yet is shée neuerthelesse either idle or vnbusied but geueth foorthe to the vse of vs Hearbes Plantes Trées and Mettalles as shée that of duetie is bounde to mainteine and nourishe sutche a number of Men Beastes as on her dwelleth So that if wee now of these things with iudgyng eie consider wée shal finde that Nature so mutche affecteth nothinge as without ceasse continually to busie her selfe in toile trauaile as to forme frame make and vnmake to produce to ouerthrowe to alter and to chaunge to perfecte and organise thinges in their kinde not reastinge or surceassing by any manner of meanes in the worlde For confirmation whereof the Olde Aunciente forepassed Philosophers neuer thought that they had spoken enough in coÌ„mendation praise of vertuous exercises Virgil saithe that incessant Labour surmounteth all thinges Horace in his Sermons that God to man hathe geuen nothing without Payne and Trauaile Euripides Trauaile is the Father of Honour and Renowme and that God assisteth him saith he that liueth in Sweate And againe That that onely is the pathe vnto Vertue without it there is no honour praise or good aduenture Menander the Poete writeth and in my fansie aduisedly that he who in healthe lyueth at any time idlely with more ieopardye hasardeth then the afflicted of an Ague Like grace also hathe in these woordes Democritus Voluntary Labour sauereth of no Payne Hermicon beinge demaunded whence he had learned his Science Of Labour saide he and of longe experience Pythagoras commaundeth that man lyue honestly and that he neuer leaue in Vertue to payne and weary him selfe for custome saithe he in the ende maketh it pleasaunte and likinge Salomon referreth the Ideler to the example of the Ante. If I shoulde here remember all the examples of those that by Payne haue possesâ—e the Chaire of Honour longer should I dwel hereon then necessity requireth It sufficeth then in fewe to saie that there was neuer man famous in Martiall affayres or Chiualrye in Learninge or els in chaste and Vertuous manners in no kinde of Science or Arte Mecanical but by continuance of Sweatte and Trauaile And further no one in the whole troupe of Loyterers was euer in any Age renowmed with Vertues Title or if any such were borne of Honourable Race or Lineage certaine is it that he either came to ruine and miserye or otherwise loste his Honour and Lyfe or at the leaste he no where coulde with warrante assure him selfe Damage shame the onely and infallible fruites of foolishe idlenesse and securitie of whiche also springe vices innumerable as is in Ecclesiasticus approued in these woordes Idlenesse ingendereth all kindes of mischiefe Ouid remembreth that Venerye is no where thought on but onely emong nice and delicate Idelers for saithe he who so he be lesse busied in Vertue imagineth vnchaste thinges
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
dombe shall speake and laude his name freely and againe somwhat before with fiue loaues and twoo fishes he shall fede fiue thousande menne in the deserte and that whiche shall remaine shall also refreashe the hungerie nede of others The seconde by report was borne in Libya of whom mention is made by Euripides in his Prologue of Lamia The thirde hight Themis and was surnamed Delphica for that she was borne in the Citée Delphos of whom remembreth Chrysippus in his booke of Diuination Vnto this woman the Romaines erected an Image whiche was as recordeth Plinie before the destruction of Troie so that Homere in his workes hath sundrie and diuers of her vearses as is euident Diodorus Siculus saith that this was Daphne the doughter of Tiresias whoÌ„ when the Grekes had subdued Thebes thei sent her foorthe immediately and without staie to Delphos where she after became a prophetesse in the Oracle of Apollo so that she thence as he supposeth and not otherwise gatte the name of Delphica The fowerth had to name Cumea or Italienna and not Cumana Amaltea she was borne in Cimeria a toune of Campania adioinyng vnto Cumae whose prophesies are written as well by Neuyus in his bookes Punici as also by Pison in his annalies and briefly remembred by Lactantius by Virgil also in his Eglogue this beginning Scicilides musae The first was that famous Erythrea whiche by the especiall grace of God so plainly prophesied of the greateste misteries of our religion wherefore as hath Lactantius the Gentiles in the ages paste supposyng it impossible that a virgine should heare a childe as also other thynges supernaturall whiche thei in like sorte wrote remembred as well by old Poetes as also in aunciente histories accompted of these vearses none otherwise theÌ„ of light vain and fonde matters Apolodorus writeth of this Sibyll that she fore saied to the Grekes that thei assuredly should sacke and ouer runne Troie whence moste suppose she was before the destruction thereof How be it Eusebius contrariwise thinketh that she liued in the tyme of Romulus Strabo againe in the daies of Alexander Of this Erythrea were these woordes recited by Eusebius whiche in order translated sounde in Englishe this muche Iesus Christe the soonne of God and Sauiour Whiche was in deede no lesse straunge then meruailous Others also wrote she whiche Sainct Augustine gathereth in his eightenth De ciuitate dei which dooen by hym into Latine maie in our tongue saie this muche The yearth shall sweate an assured signe of iudgemente from heauen shall come a kyng whiche shal be kyng continually but cladde in mannes fleshe to the intente he maie iudge the worlde so shall the incredulous see aswell as shall the faithfull and with their iyes shall boholde God hymself aduaunced in the middle of his angelles and in the ende of this worlde the soules of men shall appeare with their owne proper bodies whiche all hym self shall iudge presente then in persone at whiche tyme the yearth shall bee brused and disordered Menne shall then destroie bothe Images and Idolles their iuels eke and treasures shall thei not accompte of he shall goe doune into helle and breake vp the infernall gates then to the iuste shall ioye and peace bee lotted and fire shall tormente still the reprobate and impious All secretes shall in this daie bee discouered euery man shall knowe the thoughtes of an other God then shall laie open the hartes and consciences of all fleshe there shall bee weepyng and gnashyng of teethe the Sunne and the Starres in that daie shall bee darkened the heauens them selues shall breake and the Moone shall lose her lighte the mountaines shall fall doune and the valies shall lie euen with the swellyng hilles nothyng in the whole worlde shall higher bee then other bothe mountaines and valaies shall be reduced into plaines eche thyng hauyng in that daie his endyng the yearth shall be skorchte vp and brought then to pouder bothe riuers and sprynges shall in that daie burne and with that fire also the yearth it self the sea and the aire shall be consumed a trumpette then from heauen moste terriblie shall sounde at which voice the yearth incontinentely shall open discoueryng the obscure and disordered face of helle the paines eke and the smartes of the damned soules therein By this Sibyll these and many others were written at large in vearse plainly declaryng Christe hym selfe incarnate with the resurrection of the dedde and the finall iudgemente But these thynges before thei came to passe in déede of fewe might or could in any wise bee vnderstode reputed for meare follie of the Panimes and the Gentiles Notwithstandyng Erithrea well knowyng what was to come lefte not this muche to saie in like sorte of her self vaine shall thei accoumpte me a light and liyng dame But when these thynges shall bee accomplished then shall thei remember me againe not as a detyng or as a senslis wight but as a true southsaier or prophetisse of the higheste From this Sibyl Erithrea the Romaines at tymes receiued many vearses whiche Fenestella with silence passeth not in his fiftene Forces saiyng that by ordinaunce of the Senate thei sente Ambassadours vnto her onely to haue if it so might please her of her prophesies whiche froÌ„ her brought backe papers in greate number whiche were bothe carefully and curiously reserued in the Capitoll emongste others some whiche thei also had receiued before This womaÌ„ was of Erithrea a toune of Ionyum in the Prouince of the lesse Asia adioinyng vnto Caria whiche I would the reader should certainlie vnderstande for that many other tounes are also of this name as one in Libia an other in Boecia the third in Locris the fowerth in Cyprus but to assure vs that she was of this Erithrea in IonyuÌ„ Strabo maie onely in this place suffice The sixt Sibyll was of PhytoÌ„ a toune in the Isle of Samos inuironed with the sea Egeum borderyng on Thrace or as others some suppose in that other Isle of Samos coÌ„passed with the saied sea right against Ephesus for which cause she had to name Silia Samia of which remembreth Eâ—atosthenes The seuenth was Cumana otherwise Amaltea how bee it some others gaue her to name Demophila Suidas termeth her Hierophila neuer the lesse Cumana was she called for that she bothe dwelt and prophesied in the toune of Cumas in Italie not farre of from Baias Of this woman writeth Dyonisius Halicarnasleus Solinus Aulus Gellius Seruius she brought to be sold to Tarquine the proude kyng of the Romaines nine bookes though Suidas otherwise suppose that it was to Tarquimus Priscus for whiche she demaunded three hundred Crounes or other peeces of golde suche as might be or was in Rome at that tyme moste currante but for that the kyng thought her therein vnreasonable he refused vtterly these her offered marchaundises by meanes whereof incontinently she did three of theim in his presence to be burned not leauyng therefore to aske