1634. and was sure that his friends would do no such thing for him he provided of his own accord and sent to the Man both sweet Liquors by most exquisite art extracted out of Gelsemine Roses Oranges Gilloflowers which he conceived would be an acceptable present for the Queen as also Images Maps and Pictures of Kings Queens and other illustrious men and women and a great bundle of Books especially Mathematical Military of Architecture perspective and such like For he thought it an unworthy thing to desert such a fortune and not to assist as much as in him lay a man so conspicuous and so far off And because he was confident he would take all very gratefully he thought he might well desire of him some Aethiopick Books obvious Inscriptions a description of Mount Amara also of Religious Ceremonies Vessels and such like things as were unknown to Europeans And this he endeavoured being in the mean time distracted with great trouble of mind because the Senate and the Marshal de Vitre the Viceroy were at variance At the same time also he entertained and obliged by continual attendance and various Offices of friendship Franciscus Comes Noallius who was going the Kings Ambassador to Rome and staied some dayes at Marseilles and at Aix Not to speak how that having in his Company a young man skilful above his years in the Theorie and practise of Physick named Petrus Michonus Burdelotius Peireskius would needs have a full enjoyment of his Company both because of his proper endowments and because of the friendship which he had with his learned Unkle Joannes Burdelotius He entertained not long after Georgius Bolognetus the Popes Nuncio who comming for France took his way through Aix Now it is worth relating how he finding Peireskius busie about the Anatomy of I know not what Eye he would needs be by and understand all his speculations For he had an insatiable defire of knowing the Organ of sight and the true place in which sight is performed by impression and reflexion of the Image so that there was hardly any kind of Birds Fishes or four-focted Beasts which were to be gotten whose eyes were not dissected that he might observe wherein they agreed and wherein they differed Nor must I passe over in silence how the better to gratifie me whom he would have his assistant in that work he gave a full account of all in writing to Franciscus Luillerius Master of the Kings accounts at Paris whom he knew to be my singular friend whose learning candour and affection to all good Arts and to Justice and all vertue if I should in this place insinuate I should do it to no other end then to shew that his friendship was not without cause most dear to Peireskius Now because there was much talk of this business though the truth thereof were not understood therefore I think it worth my labour to make a Narrative thereof Between the more ancient opinion which held that the sight was performed in the Crystalline humour and the later which held it was in the tunâ—ca retina Peireskius held one between both viz. that the sight is in the glassie or vitreous humour For seeing he judged it most fit that the visive faculty should perform its office in the middle of the eye whence it might behold the Image in its own scituation therefore he designed this place within the vitreous humour in which part the raies of the things seen being passed through the Crystalline humour and reflected from the Retina do meet together as it were in one Center For supposing that the Crystalline did by its convexity turn the Image the contrary way he was of opinion that the Retina by its concavity did set the same right again and that therefore the faculty ought also to reside in the Center of its concavity that it might contems plate the Image being reflexed by the Retina and restored and consequently see the thing in its natural scituation This when he had fixed in his mind he thought there remained nothing for him to do but to search out the verity of the said Restitution As soon as ever therefore he had gotten a little leasure by means of the Easter-Holy-dayes he began to exercise Anatomists in several kinds of Animals Now it seemed generally that the hinder and innermore circumduction of the eye was as a Concave glasse by reason of the inverted reflexion both of the Candâ—e and other objects For the Tunica choroides being diversly coloured is polished like metal being very apt to shine by assistance of that black humor which is daubed upon the back thereof that blackness also assisting with which the inner circumserence is smeared as it were that the light or Image darting upon that glasse might more strongly and distinctly be painted therein Now when I name the Choroides I do not exclude the Retina which exceeding hardly and in few eyes can be preserved so united thereunto as not to slip out of its place when the vitreous humor runs out and be drawn together appearing as it is indeed a widened production of the optick nerve but when it is preserved united to the Choroides it is so thin clear and transparent especially being moystened that it seemes to be one and the same surface one and the same Looking-glasse on which the Images of things are imprinted Now although the Optic or the middle of the Retina does not diametrically answer the Pupilla outwardly opened for it stands a little lower yet the middle of the hinder and coloured part which is bright like metal does answer the same and is divided by a certain Circle as it were an Horizon from that obscurity which is in the fore-part But Peireskius did wonderfully exsult when after all the humors were let out and the Crystalline hung so as to be restored to its proper place well near the Image of the Candle was observed to be represented inwardly in the Retina not inverted but in its true scituation and again when the bottom was so inlightened that the Crystalline could only receive the light the Image which was inverted in the Retina was found to be received by the Crystalline in its right posture For be conceived it to be manifest that his conjecture was right in all points whereupon the more to confirm the same he sought out divers Glasses and Looking glasses both convex and concave reslecting and transmitting also divers Vialls or Glasse bottles in which diversly ordered 't is wonderful how many and how frequently repeated Experiments he made Moreover he could not easily be removed from his foresaid opinion only I remember when it was objected that the faculty of Seeing residing within the Eye should not look outwards towards the things themselves but inwards towards the Looking-glass aforesaid that therefore it could not truly be said to see the things themselves besides other things which argued that the sight was rather in the Retina I remember I say that
Gods seem worthy to be picked up Neither will it prove peradventure a thing unpleasing to those who like you desire to be thoroughly acquainted with great men not only in regard of their illustrious actions published to the view of all the World but also with reference to their private transactions and such as they themselves would not willingly have the World acquainted with Forasmuch as things done in the publick view and sight of the Sun have in them something that is forced and affected something that is acted and personated so that from them 't is very hard to know what lies hid under the skin and in the Heart but things done far from witnesses and without any design of gaining reputation and consequently free from dissimulation and without any Mask or Vizard these are they which indeed discover a man and shew his inside which to discern is exceeding profitable For that is it which encourages us to the imitation of excellent Actions when as even in Heroick Persons we find some tokens of our own infirmitie and consequently we despair not so much to imitare their Virtues as when only their most great and elevated Actions are related But if some shall expect deeds more illustrious and honourable than what I am to relate they are to take into consideration that every man cannot be a Scipio or a Maximus that we should Record his Battails and Triumphs Those men deserve abundantly to be commended whom though fortune has not raised to the greatest Wealth and Dignities yet bear they greater minds are of a more generous Virtue and undertake far greater Designs than any man could expect from men of their Condition And such an one was Peireskius whom I shall give out for no other than a man of the Senatorian rank and order and who neverthelesse so carried himself as to transcend all Encomiums and Panegyricks For two things there are which I shall chiefly prosecute for which he was exceedingly commended the one was great Learning of all kinds with an unquenchable thirst after Knowledge the other an unwearied care to advance all ingenious and liberal Arts with a munificence towards all learned men which was perfectly Royal and Princely And upon these two Points there is truly no danger at all that I should seem to utter any thing hyperbolically for I shall speak to the very faces of learned men among whom he was famously known and who will be so far from finding fault that I have spoken too much that I fear rather they will blame me for having bin too sparing But that I may not dwell in this Epistle Give me leave most excellent Prince ere I shall come to relare those things which you desire to know to begin with his Ancestors that from the knowledge of them may appear why it is that all Authors with one voice have most constantly termed him The most Noble Peireskius Books Printed for John Streater and are to besold by the Booksellers of London THe Vale-Royall of England or The County Palatine of Chester Illustrated Wherein is contained a Geographical and Historical Description of that Famous County with all its Hundreds and Seats of the Nobility Gentry and Freeholders Its Rivers Towns Castles Buildings Ancient and Modern Adorned with Maps and Prospects and the Coats of Arms belonging to every individuall Family of the whole County Unto which is added An excellent Discourse of the Island of Man The Resinement of Zion Or The old Orthodox Protestant Doctrine justified and defended against several Exceptions of the Antinomians methodically digested into Questions wherein many weighty and important cases of conscience are handled concerning the nature of Faith and Repentance or Conversion to God By Anthony Warton De Morbis Foemineis The Womans Counsellour or The Feminine Physitian Modestly treating of such occult Accidents and secret Diseases as are incident to that Sex Pharmacopaea Or Rhaenodaeus his Dispensatory Treating of the whole Body of Physick Performing the Office of an Herball as well as an Apothecarie's Shop An History of the Wonderful things of Nature set forth in ten several Classes Wherein are contained 1. The Wonders of the Heavens 2. Of the Elements 3. Of Meteors 4. Of Mineralls 5. Of Plants 6. Of Birds 7. Of four-footed Beasts 8. Of Insects and things wanting blood 9. Of Fishes 10. Of Man THE LIFE OF PEIRESKIUS The First Book PEireskius was descended from that most ancient Familie of the Fabrii or Fabricii whose Originall was from Pisa in Italy being transferred from thence into this * Provence in France Province in the daies of St. Lewis so called King of France and in the year of our Lord one thousand two hundred Fifty and Four For our Histories record that Hugo Fabrius making one among the Gentlemen of Pisa that had engaged themselves in the holy War was by St. Lewis aforesaid brought into the Coasts of Provence when returning out of the East he landed at Yeres Arcas or Nieras which was anciently termed Olbia Where being detained by sicknesse and commended by the King at his departure he grew into so much favour and became so powerfull with the chief Men of that Place as to be able to compose their differences when they contended about the Government of the Castle and City After which marrying a wife out of the Sollerien Family he setled himself to make his constant abode at Yeres That place being afterwards assigned for the Princes patrimony he was chosen Provost or Governor thereof in the year 70. by Charles the First Earle of Provence and King of Sicilie who loved him as dearly as King Lewis did Soon after he began to make divers Fortifications both in the City and in the Castle but his Son Aycardus finished what he had begun leaving his name to one or the Gates which even at this day is corruptly called Casabria Hugo Fabricius had another Son besides Aycard named Paul whom Charles the second made chief Judge of Marseilles Also another named William who having returned safe from divers travels built an Hospitall for the accommodation of Pilgrims going to and coming from the holy Land But to be short there succeeded these a noble Progenie renowned for seats of Armes Learning and Piety who in their severall Ages and Families were Governors of Regium Spinosa Gramusa Saint-Julian St. Janit St. Laurence Laverna Calase Peâ—risea Valvesium and Riantium Yet for all our haste Antony must not be passed over in silence who was the Grandchild of Aycardus in the Fourth Generation to whom and to his Son Raimond there are extant to be read at this day in Nostredame very civill letters of King Renatus which he wrote when he was about to undertake his Expedition for Naples Raymond was brought up with Renatus from a Child in the Court of King Lewis the second and besides Antony he had another sonne called Amadis who because he was the younger brother he bore in his Coat of Armes which was a swart Lion in a Golden
Athanasius Kircherus a very learned Jesuite then residing at Avenion He was reported to be exceeding skilful in the Mysteries of Hieroglyphicks wherefore he both sent him divers Books to help him and a Copy of the Table of Isis formerly described And because he had by him a rare Manuscript being Rabbi Barachias Abenephius an Arabian Author who was reported to have set down the manner of interpreting the Hieroglyphicks therefore he entreated him that at his coming he would bring with him both the said Book and some example of Interpretation with his own notes Which when he had done it cannot be expressed with what ardency he encouraged him to finish the work which he had begun and to hasten the printing thereof He was afterward called to Rome to succed in the place of that renowned Mathematician Christopherus Scheinerus whom the Emperor desired to have near himself Now Peireskius dealt earnestly not only with Mutius Vitellescus Generall of the Jesuites order but also with Cardinall Barberinus that they would encourage him to procure him leasure for the speedy putting forth of the work aforesaid He invited also at the same time Solomon Azubius a Rabbin of Carpentras not inferiour to the ancient Rabbins in learning He brought with him certain Astronomical Tables which he had by him composed at Tarascon by a certain Jew three hundred years ago and calculated to the Longitude and Latitude of that Place And because he knew what pains the foresaid Schickardus took for the reparation of Astronomy and Geography therefore he procured Azubius to write a Copy of the aforesaid Tables in Hebrew which he intended to send to Schickardus Now he sent it afterwards and the Interpretation of Azubius with it and some Arabick pieces which he knew would delight him by that excellent pains which he had taken about the History of Tarichus touching the Kings of Persia Moreover because his answer to the Letter sent him about the Planet Mercury did shew that he had neither seen that very ancient work of Aristarchus Samius touching the bignes of the Sun Moon nor certainly knew whether it were extant in the world therefore seeing he had acquainted him that the Book was yet extant in Greek in the Kings Library and that a Translation thereof in Latine with the Commentaries of Fredericus Commandinus had been printed in Italy therefore I say he both procured a Copy of the Greek Original and left no stone unturned until by the help of Naudaeus he found out and obtained a Latine Copy likewise which he bound up both in one bundle together with divers observations touching the motions of the Stars all which Schickardus received when he did not expect no nor think of such a thing He did the like to Hortensius aforesaid for knowing that he desired a Copy of the Dialogues of Galilaeus that he might compare what he had wrote touching the smallnesse of the Stars with what himself had wrote upon the same Subject by occasion of the small appearance of Mercury therefore he sent presently to get one of those Books and sent it of his own accord to Hortensius who suspected no such thing The like also he did to another I know not whom for understanding from him that he exceedingly desired a Copy of the Alcoran he presently got one at Grenoble by the assistance of Philippus Lagneus a good and learned man and true lover of Scholars that he might send it to the man who had not so much as asked any such thing of him The like also he did to Gaspar Bachetus Meziriacus who after he had published Diophantus and other excellent works was couragiously endeavouring to amend the French Translation of Plutarch and to illustrate his Castigations with notes For he having signified that he had never seen the Life of Homer in Greek written by Plutarch as soon as Peireskius heard it he presently endeavoured to get the said Life written out of a Greek Book which he remembred he he had seen in the Kings Library and when it was almost written out hearing that it was printed by Henry Stephen and put before his volume of Heroical Poets he presently sent to buy the said Volume which with Scaliger's Eusebius which he also wanted and Homer's Iliads newly gained out of the East with some notes of Porphyrius and other things unlooked for he sent to Bacchetus Moreover he caused to be exscribed out of the Library of Augsburge certain works of St. Cyril which the learned Joannes Aubertus stood in need of to compleat the Edition of that sacred Author for which cause also he procured divers Libraries in Spain and Sicilie to be searched especially the Vatican Library out of which he gained some things which to the end that Holstenius might the more willingly peruse and correct he procured by way of requital that Aubertus in like manner at Paris should look over and correct certain Greek Astronomers which being desired by Holstenius Peireskius had procured to be transcribed out of the Library of the most excellent Arch-bishop of Tolouse Also when Duchesnius seriously set himself to publish such Authors as had written the Historie and affairs of France Peireskius procured sor him besides many other Books both Petrus Bibliothecarius so called whom he procured by the sagacity diligence and felicity of Naudaeus and also the Chronologica fragment a Abbatiae sublucensis which to procure he implored the authority of Cardinal Barberine and the Assistance of Buccardus Divers others also there were who at his request commanded many Books to be exscribed One was Henricus Memmius that same renowned Prelate who excelling the gentility of his Parentage by the nobility of his mind was wonderful sollicitous to advance Learning and learned men according to the custome of his family Also the Earl of Marchaevilla was one from whom he received a Book touching the various sects of Mahumetans and to whom he wrote what kind of Sculptures Achats Coines and such like were to be sought for out of the East The aforesaid Felix Zacchia was also one from whom he obtained certain Monuments of the Families of Genna Also Julius Pallavicinus himself of Genua from whom he received a whole volume of the said Families besides other things which he sought to procure of Petrus Maria Boerus with whom he held perpetual entercourse others there were of whom he sought to gain the Antiquities of Hadria Pisa and other renowned Cities but to name them all would be tedious Nor must it be forgotten in this place how that having sormerly took care that the Coptic tongue might be induced and propagated all Europe over and Salmasius and Petitus had already much profited in that Language by a few Books he had furnished them with he added more volumes in the same Tongue and was very careful that Petrus Valleus might lend him that Vocabulary which he had brought out of the East that he might procure it to be interpreted and printed by Salmasius who was ready
in other places the first was Mr. William Camden who has merited so much of his Country Britannia with whom falling once into a discourse of the Antiquity of the British Language to which the Language of Bretagne in France does belong after he had asked him about many words used in severall Countries of France he demanded among the rest what Arelate or Arles and Tolo or Tolon might signifie to which Camden answered that Arelate in the Brittish tongue did signifie a City standing on moist or marish ground and that Tolon signified an Harpe peradventure by reason of a neighbouring Promontory called Citharistes or Harpers Hill He learned also of Camden other such like Interpretations by which he was brought almost to be of the mind of Strabo Tacitus and other who write that the French-men and the Britaines had at first but one and the same Language The next was Sr. Robert Cotton eminent amongst the honestly curious fort of men Also Jacobus Collius and his Father in Law Matthias Lobellus the Kings Herbalist both whom he was desirous to oblige Also Albericus Gentilis Sr. Henry Savill Johannes Nordenus and many more Nor must I passe over the then Learned young Man John Barclay whom how much he affected shall be shewn hereafter But he was wont to greive that he was not acquainted neither with Dr. Gilbert who wrote the Book touching the Nature of the Load-stone nor with Thomas Lydiate a a famous Mathematician I shall not here recount the many Libraries wherein he observed such books as were most rare nor the studies which he saw and out of which he procured all precious rarities he could But above all others he made great account of a precious stone which cost an hundred and fifty pounds Tours by reason that Aetio was graven thereupon with a Phrygian Tiara or Turbant upon his head being supposed to be the father of Andromache the wife of Hector I shall only tell you how that because he would depart sooner than was hoped he left a great misse of himself both in the Family of the Embassadour and among his learned friends who making afterwards sundry times mention of him it shall suffice here to extract a saying of the foresaid Camden in his description of Britain where speaking of certain coins belonging to this matter in hand he sayes Such as these were never dug up any where else that ever I heard of till of late the most noble Nicolas Faber Petriscius excellently skilled and most acute in judging of ancient Coins shewed me some of the same kind which were found in France And he had stayed indeed somewhat longer in England but because he had promised to be absent but three moneths therefore a moneth after he went into Holland which from the first he was resolved to take a full view of though he kept his intent secret When he was to depart a company of young Gentlemen would needs bear him company who came from France with Boderius But they were taken up with the exercise of Arms and other studies whereas he proceeded to make it his chief businesse to find out learned men And in the first place he saluted such as he understood to be most renowned at Middleburg Dort Roterdam Delft and the Hague but this he did only in passing and cursorily because his chief care was to visit Scaliger whole abode was at Leiden His resolution was to speak with him first under the notion of a stranger wherefore he changed his name and presented him with a Letter commendatory as written by Peireskius When Scaliger had read it he embraced him exceeding courteously for Peireskius his sake After much discourse divers books being occasionally brought forth Peireskius desired to write a few sines out of one of them whereupon having given him pen ink and paper and reading unto him that which he desired to write out he had no sooner writ a line or two but Scaliger knew his hand whereupon he fell to embrace him in most amiable manner complaining how he had beguiled him And falling afterwards into a most delicious discourse of divers matters Scaliger among other things declared that he intended to make a second Edition of Eusebius for the first Edition did not altogether please him and of his Fathers Commentary upon Aristotle de Animalibus but that afterwards neverthelesse he was intended to return into France and to lay his bones by the bones of his Father Julius And when Peireskius replied That he would not then die in a false beleef that is a Protestant Scaliger wept but gave him no answer Peireskius having expounded to him divers coins and especially shekels he bestowed upon him though against his will a rare Semi-shekel whose interpretation he admired above all the rest He also gave him again by way of requital many things which was most delightfull to him he gave him the desired and expected draught of the sepulchres of the Scaligers with the verses written upon the said sepulchres which he brought along with him to that end For he had received the said draught but the March before from Verona nor could he get it before though he writ often about it because Nichezola had been sundry times sick and because Sylvius Donius who first began the work died while he was about it One thing there was about which Peireskius would fain have asked Scaliger but he never durst do it lest he should trouble him that was his book touching the Quadrature of a Circle which he had printed twelve yeers ago and which was presently by Franciscus Vieta and Adrianus Romanus aud afterwards by Christofer Clavius the best Geometrician among the Jesuites and other learned and expert Mathematicians convicted to be erroneous For he had been forewarned that if he should harp upon that string it would stir his choler And as concerning his pedigree he would not make shew of the least doubt whether he were indeed descended from the Princes of Verona whose stock he said did end in him yet with a little more freedom and as desirous to know how he should answer others he laid before him what was objected by Scioppius Guillandinus and others After Scaliger his care was to visit Carolus Clusius who being over fourscore yeers old began to be troubled with the gout as also Scaliger had begun to be troubled therewith a few months before He found him taking care that the figure of the Fungus Coralloïdes or Corall-fashioned-Mushromp which he had sent him out of Provence with almost an innumerable company of other kinds of Plants Roots and Seeds might be printed in the second Appendix to his History of Outlandish Plants And he seasonably advertized him touching some Indian Plants in the description whereof he had erred and some which he had never heard of before producing withall the descriptions of them according to the Fruits shewed him at Paris by Vespasianus Robinus After Clusius he visited the chief Lights of the University and particularly
Aloes tree which having been planted in a Garden at Avenion an hundred years since sprouted forth about the beginning of May in the year 1599. and within 45. daies shot up 32. foot high according to the feet of Provence which make 24. Paris feet and near half a foot over Of which kind also I afterwards saw divers sprouting forth in Provence and especially at Draguinan The third was Abrahamus Gorlaeus who dyed before he could finish his work in hand which he called Paralipomena And there wanted but little for Varius to make a fourth He when it was Vacation in the moneth of September went to Antipolis in the Kings name to take possession of that Place being gained to the Kings Patrimony And when he had visited his Brother Peter Varius Bishop of Vintium he fell into a most dangerous Feaver which lasted full out a moneth Which when Peireskius came to hear he could hardly be kept though sick himself from vifiting his sick friend Which though he could not do he was extremely sollicitous or rather anxious how he might help him Among other things he wrote to Marseilles and provoked Carolus Cassaneus a famous Physitian to visit him and provided for him a Coach and a Barke that he might go with speed either by Land or by water as he pleased He sent almost every day one or other to carry him some exquisite Medicines or choise matter of Diet and to bring word what was the condition of the Disease And as soon as ever there was hopes of Recovery he sent him the easiest Saddle he had howbeit Varius could not be brought back save in an Horse-litter Afterwards during the time they were both upon the recovery in the remaining part of Autumn and spent whole daies together in familiar discourse can you imagine their discourses were void of Learning One discourse I cannot omit which Peireskius himself did afterwards often relate and which was the occasion of some alteration even after his death The occasion whereof were divers assemblies which all the kingdom over were newly called together by the Kings command to consult about the making of some perpetuall Statutes touching the Value and use of Coine For whereas seven years ago the King had made a Proclamation that a Peice of Gold which had wont to go for threescore Shillings should for the time to come be worth threescore and five it was since grown to be worth seventy shillings and more Whereupon Varius desiring his Opinion Peireskius answered that it was scarce to be hoped that any stop can be put to so growing a mischiefe For the cause thereof was the Traffick with Neighbour Nations where gold was higher prized then it is with us For at that time Gold with us was twelve times as dear as silver but in Spain it was thirteen times as dear and that by reason of a very late Proclamation whereby the King of Spain had raised the Value of Gold a tenth part higher not altering at all the Value of Silver In which truly he did not imitate our King who raising the Value of Gold raised likewise the Value of Silver that the proportion between them might not seem to be altered He added Although not only our King but the King of England and other Princes should by new Proclamations vary and en hanse that proportion yet would it still happen that each particular Prince and State through emulation either raising the estimation of Gold or diminishing its weight or at least intrinsecall Value of Silver no constant Rule could be set For there would never be wanting either occasions of wars by which their Treasuries being exhaust they would be forced to help themselves that way or Nations politick enough by this artifice to keep the purer sorts of Gold and Silver Monies at home or to draw them out of other Countries For an Example hereof we have the Romans with whom their As aereus and Denarius Argenteus with their Solidus aureus monies so called were by little and little so debased that at last they grew quite out of use and particularly the Solidus aureus it felf which at first was exchanged for two of those Golden pieces which were termed Solati came at last to so low a Value as to be exchanged only for a Silver Coine which did also degenerate that we may reckon it came to the Value of our usuall Shilling or Spur-roiall But not to seek so far for exams ples it may suffice that we consider the Value-of that piece only which is termed Solatus whichs in the space of an hundred years last past has so encreased that the internall goodnesse of the Solidus or spur-roiall decreasing withall it is now valued at twice so many Solidi or spur-roialls as in daies of old Nor is it probable that it should so rest but questionlesse in a few years it will come to passe that the value hereof will arise to a triple or quadruple proportion and the Solidus mean while shall not only be diminished in weight but will become wholly Brasse and then also lose of its weight Nor was this a vain Conjecture seeing the Solatus has been some few years since by publick Proclamation valued at a hundred and four Solidi by occasion whereof Peireskius himself being yet alive made it his observation that Gold was near Fifteen times the value of Silver But to return to the Discourse of Peireskius when he had shewed occasionally that the Roman AS first weighed an whole pound or welve ounces and grew afterwards to be diminished unto two to one yea and lower and the Denarie weighing in the times of the Kings the third part of an ounce under the ancient Rpeublick weighed only a sixth part under the latter Republick a seventh under the first Caesars an Eighth or a dram equall to an Artick dram finally the Solidus was at first the eight and thirtieth part of a pound afterwards the fortieth the fortie fifth fiftieth and so forwards Varius then asked what difference there was between those Pounds and Ounces and such as we use Peireskius answered that he was himself in that point not sufficiently satisfied For he had indeed in his Custodie ancient weights of thirty pounds ten pounds three pounds and pounds a piece which he had compared with the Paris pound Standart of sixteen ounces and all he could find was that twelve Roman Ounces were aequivalent in weight to about ten ounces of Paris I say about ten Ounces for in some weights he found an excesse in some a defect to three four and five drams And although learned Budaeus has written that the proportion is very near one and an half as supposing that a Roman pound with half an Ounce addition was aequall to a pound Marck or eight Ounces of Paris at least Howbeit he durst not yet determine the matter because those Denaries had likewise been worn and he waited till he could obtain from Rome a pattern of that Congius or Gallon-measure
same had been observed in the Histories and Relations of Pirardus Moquetus and others that it should be lest to Philosophers to dispute those questions and did not become a Relater to play the Dogmatist especially contrary to the common opinion that the opinion of the earths flatnesse might be mentioned but so as believed by the Barbarians not defended by him if he persisted he would become a mocking-stock to Learned men and derogate from the credit of his Narrations though in themselvs true that he should reap praise enough sound and without spot from the naked History of his Travells that he would take care that the work should be dedicated to the King or to some other who would thankfully accept it and such like All which neverthelesse could not perswade the man to relinquish his former Intentions Moreover he caused a Chorographicall Map of Provence to be Ingraven and Printed which had been made by Petrus Johannes Bomparius thirty years before The form whereof though neat enough did not please him wherefore he caused Jodocus Hondius to grave it again two years after who likewise displeased him both because he omitted the name of Bomparius and especially because he chose rather to smiâ—â—ce other Editions in which the degrees of Latitude are falsely set down For for examples faâ—e Aix is set in the 42. degree and an eighth pâ—râ— which ought to have been in the 43. and at half and one or two minutes over Therefore he had it alwaies in his desire to make a new Map which by new observations and more exquisite dimensions should present every place in its due posture both in reference to the Heavens and other parts of the Country but he was by Death prevented Finally because he was wonderfully delighted with that which Johannes Baptista Morinus of whom we spoke before and who afterward was of great and deserved repute among the Kings Professors of Mathematicks was wont to relate touching that same Peregrination of his into the Mines of Hungary therefore he advised him to commit the said relation to writing so to Print the same And that he did but so as to premise an Anatomie of the Sublunary-world wherein he Laboured to evince that as the Aire is distributed into three Regions of which the uppermost is alvvaies hot the middlemost alwaies cold and the lovvest sometimes hot and sometimes cold so vvas the Earth divided into three Regions of vvhich the lowest vvas alvvaies cold the middlemost alwaies hot and the uppermost being contiguous to the Aire is sometimes hot sometimes cold according to the temper of the circumambient Aire But these studies did not suffice him 1617. but he must by divers kind offices besides endeavour to oblige men famous for their Virtues For why should I relate how that Pacius being now according to his wish become a Catholike and defiring to return into his Country he procured the chief Professorship of Padua to be bestowed upon him as also how when after two year he would return to Valentia he procured him to be called by Letters from the Viceroy and first President of Dauphine written by the Kings commands How when Philippus Jacobus Maussacus a great Ornament of the Senate of Tolouse had gotten the forementioned Commentaries of Julius Scaliger upon Ariftorle his History of Animalls he encouraged him not a little to Print the same with Notes nor was he negligent in sending them when they were printed to all the Learned men throughout Europe as to Aleander Pignorius and others How using the helpe of Barclay he caused divers amorous Poems to be writ out of a Book in the Vatican Library for to pleasure Gilbertus Gaulminius a rare light to good Literature when he understood that they were wanting in Theodorus Prodromus whith was shortly to be printed according to Salmasius his Copy as he also testified in his Epistle to the Reader How he freed divers from divers scruples as Pompeius Paschalinus touching the Agate of his deceased Father Thomas Erpenius touching the Saracenicall History and many such like There was at that time an hot contest in Point of Study between the often before mentioned very Learned Jacobus Sirmondus and Claudius Salmasius that same other glorious Example of polite Learning touching a famous question occasioned a year before by Jacobus Gothofredus in two dissertations touching the Subnâ—bian Grounds and the Churches or of the Diocese of the civill Pretor and of the Bishop of Rome As for that controversie how far it proceened how many Learned men on both sides joyned their forces is not to be related in this place Only I am to say that Peireskius was as carefull as he possibly conld be that the matter might be gently handled between them as did befit Learned Men. The truth is when Aleander also had interposed himself in the quarrell and had sent a treatise from Rome of that Subject to be printed at Paris Peireskius could hardly allow it and being urged he caused it indeed to be printed but with some mitigation of what he had hinted touching the Authority of Counciâ—s and Popes and the bitter passages which he had fcattered up and down against the opinion which he opposed He used the same liberty towards Barclay who had interwoven in his Argenis a Dialogue of somewhat too free a strain For he received about the same time a great part of that worke which he was to see printed And the truth is Barclay had determined that both he and Varius should be personated in that Book but Peireskius commending his affection made greater account of the friendship of Virginius Caesariuus which he had procured him from whom he had received Letters and most elegant Elegiack Verses Yet Barclay is to be commended who testified his gratitude by all meanes in his power as again when he received his Family at Rome about this time he composed an Elegie in the name of his wife Wherein among the rest were these verses To speake the Truth God-like * a mans name de-Vias I Chac't grief away by thy dear Memory The thought of Peiresk whom the High-God bless Did banish from my Mind all Heavinesse Heaven's bless that mighty Man this many a year To the French Nation Then they need not fear View but this wit you 'l say hee 's Pallas Child Which makes him love the name of Virgin mild What Muses and what Prudence were of Old All that to France in Peiresk now behold Long let him Live and my dear Husband Love Long let him Live and Growth of Honours prove And these things were done in the year 1620. 1620. In the beginning and progresse of the Spring whereof he was so troubled with the Strangnry and other diseases that he was hindered to his great grief from following Varius when he went with the King in the beginning of Summer to pacifie certain tumults in Normandie and other Provinces and afterwards to Aquitania and Bearn When he began to mend he received Letters from
Snail without a shell All which Masse of varieties being carried to Beaugensier he caused to be dryed in an Oven and so preserved And he observed that the Snail dissolved into a purple liquor and dyed all that toucht it with a most perfect purple colour which made him a little doubt whether that were not the true Purple and this liquor the right Ostrum which anciently they dyed their Garments with and which they termed Murex Tyrius The remainder of this and the year following which was 1625. he could not at all leave his Father save so long as necessity required him to wait upon the Legate For that year the Pope to mannage the common affairs of Christendom had sent Cardinal Barberinus into France who about the beginning of Spring landed upon the Coasts of Provence He was to have landed at Marseil but a Tempest compelled him to put into the Haven of Tolon whence passing to Avenion he was to go through Aix Peireskius therefore went and met him about three or four miles from the City and took all care possible that he might enter the City with those Honours which had bin decreed him as suitable to his Dignity but the Legat for some Reason best known to himself chose rather to passe beside the City and to turn to Lambest whence the next day he went to Avenion but Peireskius went not with him but the fourth day after he came and brought his old Friend Aleander with him 1625. whom he had in the mean time kept at his own House and feasted him gallantly For Aleander being taken into the Family of the Cardinal was in his Retinue together with the Noble Knight Cassianus a Puteo who verily how rare a man he was all good and learned Men at Rome do testifie being to him obliged also with the divers-times formerly mentioned Debonaerus whom both for his own worth and for the memory of Barclay he could not sufficiently embrace also with Johannes Baptista Donius a man of profound learning whom the Cardinal would needs have for his Secretary for the Latine Tongue and with the very good Ludovicus Aubrius Menilius of Paris of whom he had received divers courtesies both at Paris and at Rome And there were divers other learned men in his Retinue but I mention only the special friends of Peireskius Moreover Peireskius would willingly have followed the Cardinal for he was resolved not to leave him neither at Paris nor while he was in France but the tender affection he bore to his Father being grievously afflicted with sickness could not permit his absence But his Brother being at Paris he wrote unto him to perform the duty to his Father which himself could not He wrote also to divers friends and namely to Rubens who was then drawing Pictures to adorn the Gallery at Luxemberg belonging to the Queen Mothers new Palace because he knew that he through the happiness and sweetness of his wit and the plenty of exquisite things which he had would be delightful unto him Also a principal reason why himself could not be from his Father was because the two Physicians which his Father always had great hope in were both dead for Jacobus Fontanus dyed when he himself was at Paris but Antonius Merindolus died a little after Christmas foregoing Where I must tell you by the way the grief which Peireskius conceived for the death of this man was as great in a manner as great could be For both his rare learning and very gentle manners long acquaintance and most civil offices had long since knit them in an extraordinary band of friendship I do not tell you what Peireskius did contribute towards this friendship for 't is fitter you should know that out of the last will of Merindol expressed in the Dedication of his Works For there he declared That he would have his Works passe into the world under the Patronage of the most Christian King Neverthelesse saies he I would have my Treatise of Feavors go by it self to the end it may carry in its front a name most dear to me of all others viz. the name of Monsieur Nicolas Fabricius of Peiresc Counsellour to his Majesty in the Parliament of Aix and Abhot of Guistres a Gentleman most flourishing in Riches and Learning accompanied with Vertue For I have alwaies found him a man of ancient integrity of candid manners and a continual Patron of my studies and therefore I desire by the Dedication of this Book as by a Bond and Seal to testifie to all the world for how many and how great benefits I acknowledge my self obliged unto him To return to his Fathers Disease for an year and half he had been tormented with pains in his Bladder and Kidneys and a most pertinacious Gout And a moneth or two after the Disease came to that height as that little stones were taken out of the joynts of his Feet and that in so great a number that in 8 months space they did equal his Feet in bulk and because they could seldom or never be drawn out but that ends of Nerves and Tendons were drawn away with them therefore within the foresaid time they were five times gangraenated Moreover Peireskius was alwaies present not only consulting about and together with the Physicians and Chirurgions prescribing both Medicines and Diet but also preparing and setting his own hand to every thing and what ever his Father took giving it himself For that was his Fathers desire and it was so sweet unto him that he found not any thing which did more mitigate his pains Being therefore thus continually busied so that except some urgent occasions in Parliament required he was never from his Fathers side it was no wonder that himself besides his frequent Strangury had his Haemorrhoids so provoked that a very troublesome tumour bred in that Part. Therewith he was now grievously troubled about the beginning of October when he heard that the Cardinal Legat was upon his return Delaying therefore to Physick himself he first prescribed how his Father was to be ordered and then went to the Legat to Avenion But his Father transcending a little his prescribed bounds fell presently into a Catarrhe whereupon the Physicians despairing thought good to send for Peireskius home again As soon as word was brought him he returned but found his Father so weak 1624. that he could be kept alive but two daies longer The good man therefore died to the great grief of his excellent son but the coming of the Legat would not long suffer him to testifie his sorrow for he was to entertain him in his House For the Coarse was but just carried to the Church when tydings came that the Legat was at hand Wherefore having brought back the Funeral Pomp to his House he presently went forth and met the Legat scarce half a mile of He having performed the due Ceremonies at Church according to custome entâ—ed the house of Perieskius and it was a wonder to see the
And Peireskius entertained him and his Noble Retinue so plentifully and with so much splendor that he seemed to contend even with Kings in point of magnificence admiring and adoring in that young Prince as well the mature prudence and sanctity of the Pope his Unkle as his singular love to Learning and good will to learned men And in regard of his so rare vertues he bore him such Reverence and was so officious to him all his life long that hardly any one went out of France into Italy by whom he did not send him Letters full of dutiful respect and Learning as also Books Plants and rare outlandish Creatures to adorn the study and Gardens of Cardinal Barberino To whom that most courteous Prince alwayes returned the greatest thanks possible with like frequency of Letters and tokens With no lesse observance did Peireskius honour and respect those most learned and rarely-qualified persons which were in the Legats most renowned Retinue but most especially Cassianus Putealis a Man for the famousness of his Family Vertues and Learning worthy of the greatest prayses and Honours imaginable with whom being most closely united in Affection by reason of the likeness of their natures in excellency of manners and love to learning and learned men he held afterwards constant correspondency familiarly acquainting him with the whole course of his Studies Also with Johannes Baptista Donius who by reason of his Ingenuity and a wit fit for the knowledge of all great things was most dearly respected by him These friends he then and there procured as others afterward at Rome by the mediation of Hieronymus Aleander a Man endued with most excellent Arts and Ornaments and a Lover of Peireskius from his youth up who then so admired his Noble House full of Dignity and Wisdom that he afterwards openly pronounced that Peireskius was the greatest and most happy man in the World and was often thinking to remove from the Court and City of Rome to Aix that he might enjoy his sweet Company and that precious Treasury of Literature which he had there hoarded up Thither came afterwards all those brave men who about affaires of State went out of Italy into France or from thence to Provence to his House they came to see that Man who had the Commentaries Acts and secret Records of Kingdoms who perfectly knew the Scituations of Countries Counts of Times Originals of Peoples their Lawes Confederacies and Warrs and the Families Kindreds and Successions of Kings and Princes so that no man knew the condition of his own House and Land better then he was acquainted with the state of this World of ours Also all men of what ever Rank or Nation that were studious of great and rare things came thither to see him and his most renowned Study where they might at one view behold a Collection of what ever was rare and excellent to get a sight of which men were formerly wont to travel all the World over All which Peireskius and his Brother Valavesius a most courteous Gentleman brought home with them from their Travess which two Brothers lived together even to old Age in such a Community of Studies Cohabitation and Revenues without any falling out that there was never any need that one of them should be reconciled to the other Also new things were continually brought him not only from all parts of Europe but from Asia Africa India and the new World since this old World of ours would not content his greedy desire of knowledge so that no man came from the remote parts of the World to these Coasts of ours that did not bring with him whole Cart-loads of Rarities of Art and Nature to the House of Peireskius For these kind of things were daily sent him from choyse men dwelling in the principal Cities and Haven-Towns of those Provinces who were by him imployed with all their diligence to procure such things to his infinite charge and expence And because those Men with all their Art and Industry cou'd not fully satisfie Peireskius he oftentimes sent others from his own House into all the Islands of the Aegean Sea to the Mountain Atho to Constantinople Alexandria and those miserable Reliques of Memphis and Carthage who for him and with his money should seek to procure besides other Rarities chiefly the ancientest Books in the Greek Hebrew Arabick Persian Coptick and Aethiopian Languages finally besides other Monuments of Asiatick and African Antiquity the Bodies of the ancient Kings and Princes of Aegypt embalmed with most precious Spices Gums and odours In which practise of his verily he seems with a mind truly royal to have imitated the care of those ancient Kings of Pergamus and Alexandria as also of our France in the magnificent setting forth of their Libraries And to this his Shop and Store-house of wisdom and vertue Peireskius did not only courteously admit all Travellers studious of Art and Learning opening to them all the Treasures of his Library but he would keep them there a long time with free and liberal entertainment and at their departure would give them Books Coins and other things which seemed most suitable to their studies also he freely gave them at his own expence what ever things they wanted most liberally even as to all other learned men well near which were absent and whose names he had only heard of what ever he had among his Books or Relicks of Antiquity which he thought might assist them in their writings he would send it to them of his own accord not only without their desiring the same but many times when they were ignorant of such things If there were any thing which he had not himself but lay somewhere concealed he would spare neither pains nor cost to procure that also for them that the works which they were writing might come into the World perfect and polite And such as he heard were about to travail to search after Antiquities and Rarities of nature he would procure them letters commendatory horses and money to bear their charges out of his own purse and he invited many to take upon them such journies by offering them the like conditions of his own accord And all men whom he knew to be in a calamitous condition only by meanes of their love of learning and vertue and the injury of Fortune he assisted with such things as they stood in need of helpt to pay their debts for them or he carefully commended them to some great personages and obtained many things from them in their behalf having gained great favour and Authority with all the more courteous Princes of Europe especially with the most eminent Grandees who at this day steere the State-affaires of France as who out of their singular knowledge and love to learning have learned men continually in their Eyes Eares and Embraces and which is their royal magnificence and magnanimity do in the conferring of Benefits and Honours prefer them before all men of what Order soever Out of
found he made a second journey In his first journey thither he visited Jacobus Augustus Thuanus and his most renowned Liâ—â—â—y and saw Isaac Casanbon Franciscus Pithaeus and abundance of other learned men then living who came frequently to Thuanus his Library daily magnifying Thuanus as the most excelient Prince and Patron of History and all other Arts and learned men and earnest defender of the French Empire and Majesty And having spent ten years at his own house in perusing those Monuments of Antiquity and Learning which he had collected all Europe over and in reducing and digesting the same into his studie and memory wherewith he was endowed after a divine manner he went to Paris the second time to turn over and devour those other Libraries viz. the Kings that of St. Denis Victoria St. German and of the Memii and to visit those learned men which frequented the same of which there was at that time a new generation as it were sprung up Amongst whom those two most courteous brethren the Puteans do at this day excel who abiding with the sons of Thuanus their kinsmen excellently adorned with the gifts of wit and vertue derived from their Father do by all the waies and means they can assist and wonderfully adorn not only his Library but Learning also learned men which were commended to their faithful care and protection by the last will and testament of Jacobus Augustus Nicolaus Rigaltius who excels all men whatever in the polite elegancie of Learning and judgement and incorrupt purity of the Latine tongue to whom I glory to say that I am beholden for whatever progress I have made in that kind of Learning Claudius Salmasius and Hugo Grotius who challenge the principality of Literature and all good Arts Petrus Seguierius Henricus Memmius and Hieronymus Bignonius men more renowned for their Learning and rare love of Arts than the purple Robes they wear as ensignes of the supreme honours they enjoy in France whom for brevities sake I passe over I shall also passe by Sirmondus Pelavius Morinus Mersennus Burdelotius and Valesius and an almost innumerable company of others who are exceeding famous for their transcendent Learning and most excellent writings all whose hearts and good-wills Peireskius did win unto himself and oblige them to the service of his ends viz. the advancement of the Common-wealth of Learning Yet there is one man whom I cannot passe over namely Gulielmus Varius or Du Vair who may be compared to Marcus Tullus as well for his study of Eloquence and Philosophy and other high Virtues as for the sacred and inviolable friendship he alwaies held with this our Atticus He after that he had initiated Peireskius into the Parliament of Aix of which he was chief President he presently so addicted himself to his acquaintance and society that they continually lived together at Aix nor could he ever after endure him to be absent from him Wherefore when the King called him to Court to be Keeper of the Seal which is the highest dignity which a Gowned man is capable of in France he carried him to Court with him esteeming him to be the only man in France whom he could find in his heart to make his Camerade his bosome friend the assistant and companion of his State-Counsels and Honours Whose favours Peireskius made use of only in deprecating and shielding of the dangers and discommodities of his friends that is to say of learned men and procuring the advancement of Learning to which end besides many other rare Ornaments and accommodations he contributed one of the greatest moment for by his means there was procured in the Kings name great store of most ancient Books to supply and enlarge the Library at Paris which at all times stands so open for the use of all men that from thence most rare Monuments of ancient Learning are daily brought to light There was â—â— a manner but one good turn which â—e procured of Varius for himself viz. that by his authority he was admitted to search the most ancient Records of Courts and Churches in all the Towns of France As for wealth and honours he was so far from seeking them that he often refused such as Varius freely offered him who when he would have adopted Peireskius into the most ancient and worthy order of Prelates of France he had much ado at last to make him accept of an indifferent Church-living Varius being dead who gave all his rarities of antiquity in a manner to his most loving and officious friend committing his last Will and Testament to his faithful care and oversight Peireskius began to look after his own home and study from which he had been long absent when lo just at his departure from the Court of Paris he was in his journey invited again to the Court of Rome receiving the most joyful tydings of Cardinal Barberino his being made Pope For he knew the said Cardinal before his Election to the Popedom being the Prince of Wit Learning and Sanctity in the Roman Common-wealth having some whiles before procured a first and second Edition of his Divine Poems and obliged him with other services so that when the Messenger who intended first to acquaint the King with the news meeting Peireskius did only tell him that the learnedst of all the Roman Princes and his most loving friend was made Pope he presently knew that Barberino was placed at the Helm of the Common-wealth to his incredible joy For he did foresee that under a most learned Pope the Study of good Literature would be reduced into its ancient Light and Splendor and that Students in hope of Honours and Rewards would flock from the utmost ends of the Earth to adorn the Court of Barberino Which happiness of the times and learning that he might at least view with his Eyes and adore the new Pope who so highly favoured him he was by his friends perswaded to come to Rome not much against his will But he was loath that Ambition from the very suspicion whereof he was alwayes free rather then duty should be thought the occasion of his journey thither and after that with much adoe he had gotten out of the Island of Circe he feared if he gave eare to the Sirens Songs he should be by them detained therefore after a long peregrination he betook himself at length to his own Ithaca to the most desired Haven of his Study And then truly the Study of Peireskius and his whole House through the well-nigh Kingly Liberality of its present Master which from that time forward he used not only for the Ornament of Learning and the Instruments thereof but chiefly in assisting and honouring learned men was more magnificent and fuller of Hospitality then the Court of Alcinoüs A little after the return of Peireskius Cardinal Franciscus Barberinus brought thither with him the flowre and Cream of the Court of Rome being sent as Legate from the Pope to the most just and valiant King of France