Roman Academicks I cannot passe over in silence seeing there came no Vtensils nor Ornaments of the ancient Romans to his hands of which he had very many in his house of which he left not something or other in writing but most copiously and diligently touching the Weights Measures and Tripodes of the Ancients I omit the rest of his works in other parts of Learning I shall only add his Letters and Epistles to increase the admiration Which were so many and so learned as if he had writ nothing besides he might neverthelesse have been said to have gone through the whole Encyclopaedia or perfect Orbe of all Learning and liberal Arts. For you cannot think of any rare and excellent Argument in all the Arts and Sciences of which Peireskius did not write to all learned men either asking their judgment or returning his own being asked learnedly frequently and very largely so that he seems to have filled all Cities in all Countreys with his Letters shall I say or volums rather And that you may know I speak no more than the truth in this point consider I pray you with me how many and what for Epistles he sent to this very City for examples sake There are extant an almost innumerable company written to Pope Urbanus the 8th and to Cardinal Franciscus Barberinus comprehending that knowledge of good Arts which we all admire in those two most excellent and learned Princes There are extant Letters to Caesar Baronius and to Johannes Franciscus Vidius Balneus Cardinals to Josephus Maria Suaresius a Prelate to Christophorus Puteanus and Constantinus Cajetanus all of them persons renowned for the Science of great Arts touching Religion and matters Divine as also of humane affairs and history to Cardinal Vidus Bentivolus and Augustinus Mascardus persons best seen in that Art of any not only in this City but in all Italy and touching the abstruse and hidden things of Nature to Cassianus Putealis and Petrus Vallensis both of them renowned as well for their knowledge in natural Philosophy as other great endowments There are extant Letters of his touching Humanity as they call it and the ancient Tongues of Europe Asia and Africk as also concerning the latter Languages as the Gothick Cantabrick Provincian Italian to Lucas Holstenius Gabriel Naudaeus Leo Allatius Vincentius Noguera and Fredericus Ubaldinus men excellently and perfectly skilled in the said Languages also to Cardinal Franciscus Boncompagnus Vincentius Justinianus Maria Felix Zachus and Alexander Rondaninus her husband Stephanus Gnaldus and Claudius Menetrius men most diligent in searching out and preserving the Reliques of Antiquity touching Statues Coins ancient Jewels also touching Books anciently written and Manuscripts to those rare men Cardinal Scipio Cobellutius and Nicolaus Alemannus whom Peireskius intirely loved and whose benignity in opening to him the treasures of the Vatican Library he exceedingly wanted when he was dead These men ô Academicks 〈◊〉 know to have been most excellent in all Arts which I have therefore the more willingly reckoned up as it were mustered out because all of them in a manner as well Peireskius himself having bin long since chosen into this Academy have illustrated the splendor and glory of your order and daily illustrate the same Moreover he sent the like or a greater quantity of Letters not only to other Cities in Italy especially to Padua to Licetus Rolius Argolius and Thomasmus samous men in the Arts by them professed but also to Mantua Paris Oxford Leyden Lovane Augsburge Vindobona and other renowned Cities of the new old world flourishing with famous and learned men With which Letters truly of his he linked and united in a way of learned Commerce and correspondency not only the Nations on this and the the other side of the Alpes but all other Nations also of Europe and the barbarous people to boot so that in conclusion he made common to all those Nations those good Arts and all their Instruments which for the good of all he had treasured up in his own study and mind So that we must not judge of the excellency of Peireskius his learning nor of the worth and greatness of his study by his writings and other Monuments of the Ancients which are extant in his house but we must rather conclude that there are no famous Libraries in the whole world in which some part of the Library of Peireskius is not to be found and that no Books have been set forth in this Age of ours exceeding fruitful of Writers which do not carry with them as well the Learning as Name of Peireskius Imagine with your selves O Academicks that all studious persons do make as it were one Body in the middest whereof Peireskius performs the office of that quiet part for the nutriment whereof all the other Members in their several places do all they do and whose ministry is no lesse industrious nourishing as much as it is nourished so that with an insatiable desire of reading and learning devouring all the food of study and erudition which all men every where gathered and heaped up for him he turned the same by his heat of meditation and writing into juyce and blood which in like manner he dispersed into all parts as a common nourishment of all Wits unless we should rather say that Peireskius was the Soul of that same illustrious and immortal Body which governed the whole and by his force and Divinity did preserve and augment all and every the parts thereof I said Divinity O Academicks for he who spent a great part of the short age of fifty seven years in peregrinations and the Kings Gourt another part in the Parliament of Aix where he twice a day attended his Senatorian office could nevertheless leave so many so illustrious Monuments of his love of Learning his liberality in the advancement thereof to the eternal memory of posterity more Books and Letters written with his own hand than other long-liv'd men abounding with leasure are wont to read both in Latine Italian and French he I say seems to me worthy to be accounted more than a man Moreover that this Divine soul of Peireskius being now free from the fetters of his earthly body is mounted aloft and entred into possession of that eternal and coelestial Mansion to lead there most happily among the holy Saints that life he happily liv'd amongst us you have ô Roman Academicks all the reason in the world to think to honor the same with all Honors which are wont to be conferred on the greatest Heroes For besides that he lived with the greatest integrity and innocency possible he was also a great houourer of the Romane Religion and the Ceremonies thereof wherein he persisted most constant to his very last breath He valiantly contended for the Catholick Faith so that he reduced many thereto even of those that had left that most ancient and holy Religion and obliged themselves to new and strange ones having not without hope of
things about a certain Eclipse which was observed on the third day of March the middle whereof happened at 8. a clock and forty three minutes Consequent hereunto he began seriously to think of which he purposed long before assisting Geographers towards the finding out the difference of Longitude of several places For he would have a certain method written of observing Eclipses and he was wonderfully industrious to procure that the Eclipse of the Moon which was to be in August next following might be observed both in Europe and in divers places of Asia and Africa For besides our Country men and those that live more Westerly he procured that by the instigation of Cardinal Barberino those learned and faâ—â—o is men Andreas Argolus at Padua and Scipio Claromontius at Caesenna might observe the same and by the intercession of the said Cardina he obtained two observations then made at Rome and two at Naples where the most exact was that which Joannnes Camillus Gloriosus a rare man doubtless had made In like manner he procured from Gran-Caire in Aegypt an observation made by the foresaid Capucine Agathangelus being assisted by Joannes Molinus Dragomannus a Venetian also from Aleppo in Syria an observation made by another excellent Capucine Michael Angelus assisted by the foresaid Caelestinus à Sancta Liduina All whose observations cannot be set down in this place yet I must needs say that Peireskius was herein satisfied by the observations aforesaid that it was a clear case that all Geographical Tables and Maps do set those places of Aegypt and Syria at too great a distance from us seeing they do all set Alepo almost three hours that is to say forty five degrees Eastward of Marseilles whereas those observations have made it appear that almost an whole hour ought to be abated seeing they have reckoned no more then thirty degrees between the places aforesaid Whereupon the business having succeeded so well he took a great deal of pains and procured Cardinal Barberino and the Generals of the Jesuites and Dominicans to command such religious persons as lived in both the Indies and all other parts of the world carefully to observe all Eclipses and things of like nature Nor was there afterwards any Capucine or other studious person that passed through Provence intending to travel into the East or any other way or to settle his abode in any forreign part whom he did not oblige by divers kindnesses and to whom he did not injoyn the care of making such observations giving them Books Prospective-glasses and such like things of the use whereof if any were ignorant he took care before their departure both to have them instructed and that they might experiment their skill And knowing that Galileus had framed a Method which we mentioned before to find out the Longitudes of places by the Medicean Stars therefore he desired Galileus to send him for his own proper use a Telescope or Prospective-Glasse of the very best that he himself might make observations and communicate the same with others Which he did having first writ many letters by which he thought he might be allowed to comfort such a friend and to condole with him for his hard hap Moreover about this time he took a great deal of care endeavouring by means of the most excellent Cardinal that the Sentence of Galileus might be moderated and he restored to his liberty Which he did of his own accord judging that the tury of a friend required as much of him and the merits of that man whose memory would be delightful to Posterity About the end of October he took it very hainously that the Parliament did not expect till he had of himself surrendred his Senators office vvhich he had reserved three years for himself when he made his Nephew his Successor wherefore his Brother being at Paris he procured by the Kings letters Patents to be restored perfectly to his said office and that he should exercise the same five years longer This was done the following year 1636. in the whole course whereof he was not wanting in his care for the advancement of Learning For in the first place being much taken with the manifold and rare Learning wherewith Leo Allatius a very learned man residing at Rome did bring to light so many Greek Authors not seen before or full of faults correcting and translating them with wonderful felicity he was desirous to assist and countenance his endeavours carefully treating with the Printers of Paris to undertake the Edition of his workes Which he did likewise concerning certain excellentworks of Fortunius Licetus who was formerly a famous Philosopher in the University of Padua and is now chief Professor at Bononia very much renowned for his great worth So hearing of the death of the excellent Schickardus whom the Plague had taken away November fore-going he used all diligence possible that such workes as he left unprinted might be preserved and set forth which he did by mediation and assistance of Matthias Berneggerus of Strasburge a renowned man I pass over how by the means of Aelius Deodatus of whom we spake before he sent him divers Elegies which when they were to be printed Thomas Lansius the glory of Lawyers and bosome friend of the deceased Schickardus caused a funeral Oration to be printed therewith wherein Zacharias Scafferus the renowned Professor of Eloquence and History at Tubinga could not forbear to relate how that Schickardus had been largely honourably invited by Peireskius that to avoid the troubles in his own Countrey he would come abide with him where he should have opportunity quietly to follow his Studies Likewise he sollicited Elichmannus a learned Hollander to set out the Lives of Pythagoras Empedocles and other Philosophers which he had by him in the Arabian tongue as also Cebes his Table wherein he had observed that there was mention of one Hercules Socraticus a strange person not to be found in the Greek Copies of the said Table and such like things So Samud Petitus being about a new Translation with learned Notes upon Josephus he procured for him by the means of Helstenius the Collation of diâ—ers places with three Manuscripts in the Vatican Library Also when Buccardus was busied about translating and setting forth of Georgius Syncellus and Theophanes he procured a Manuscript to be written out which he both sent to Rome and received back again to get it compared with the Manuscript in the Kings Library nor could he be quiet until it had been compared and some places therein corrected by Salmasins who was then come into France Likewise he gave occasion to Ismael Bullialdus a very rare Mathematician first to write a very large Letter touching the nature of Light and afterwards to set out a pretty large Book after he heard that he had interpreted that Probleme to signifie Light contracted into a Centre by a burning-glasse which was propounded by Baptista Peissonius the Kings Attorney at Anjou in these words Whether there
were any demonstration perfectly logical perfectly mathematical perfectly sensible by which it might be proved that there is in Nature a Magnitude not without Latitude which at some time place is in a point truly Mathematical and void of all parts in which neverthelesse the Magnitude aforesaid has parts adhering to parts Moreover he held divers very learned discourses with sundry persons For to Anastasius a Capucine of Nantes he wrote many things touching the Language of Bretaigne in which he confessed there are very many roots of ancient Latine words For he had formerly disliked Adrianus Scrieckius his making the Teuronic or Belgic tongue the first of all Languages because it was one and the same with the Hebrew and therefore the Mother of all the rest and Goropius Becanus his preferring the Juytlanders tongue before all others as containing the roots of the Hebrew Greek Latine and the rest yet he said he could be content they should referr some roots or words of more evident affinity so they had there rested and not gone about to make all alike and bring them in by head and shoulders Now that some words had or might have at first the same original he shewed by an example taken from the names of Rivers which he was wont commonly to derive after this manner Varus Guarus Garumna Guardonus Guavardonus Verdonus Rhodanus Eridanus Duranus Druna Druentia Durius or Duerus Iberus Hebrus Tiberis Tigris Ligeris c Besides the vulgar appellations which though exceeding different from the Latin or other more ancient tongues yet are they many times known to be derived there-from even by the keeping of one only Letter Which is no more strange then that from these words Petrus Jacobus Johannes should come Pir Diego James Jack and others more exorbitant than these in our Mother Tongues Also he discoursed much touching a certain Vocabularie and Grammar of the Language of Provence as it was in the time of Petrarch viz. after he had procured both of them out of the Library at Florence which is called St. Lawrences also touching those Poets of Provence called Trobadores that is Inventors in those daies when even Princes and Kings did cultivate the Language and Poetry of Provence In which Subject he was not little assisted by certain Indexes and Books which were sent him by the learned Earl Fridericus Ubaldinus who sojourned with Cardinal Barberino Buccardus procured him this friend as also Vincentius Noguera a Gentleman of Portugal not to speak of Constantinus Cajetanus famous for ancient Books nor of Augustinus Mascardus with whom Peireskius treated about the Method of History upon occasion of a Book received from him which he highly esteemed for the singular learnings sake and elegancy of that man He dealt at the same time with the illustrious Marquess Vincentius Justinianaeus touching those rare Statues wherewith he adorned his renowned Gallerie and part of which cut in Brasse and bound up into a Gallant Book he had received as a token from Cardinal Barberinus at the same time when by way of requital he sent him the two first Volums of French Historians digested and published by Duchesnius Moreover he discoursed at large touching the Characters of the Planets which he conceived probably to have bin made of the larger Characters of the Greek vowels with a little alteration Also concerning the Astronomer Ptolemaeus his Country and certain circumstances of his Body Mind and Life by occasion of a Manuscript Copy of the Almagest whose Antiquity was not much short of that Age in which the generous and learned Emperour Frederic the second caused a Latine Translation to be made from the Arabick For therein Ptolemaeus was termed Pheludâ—ensis instead of Pelusiensis And it is said that he was no King that he lived seventy eight years was of an indifferent stature had small feet and legs a thick beard and such like things which I cannot devise how they could be known Also there are added certain grave sayings or moral sentences of Ptolomy and which is most remarkable it was set down in the conclusion that This Book was â—rdaslated at the command of Maimon King of Arabians who raigned in Baldach by Alhazen the Son of Joseph Father of Arismeticus and by Sergius the Sonne of Elbe a Christian in the 212. year of the Sect of Saracens So that according to this account the Almagest was translated out of Greek into Arabick in the year of Christ according to the vulgar computation 1544. Besides all this he reasoned at large touching the long lives of men upon occasion of that old man in England who died November last having lived an hundred two and fifty years and having information from Alepo by the Letters of Peter and John Constantine that there was a man in Persia known to the Capucines and other credible persons who was now four hundred years old of the verity whereof they were undoubtedly satisfied Also concerning Tritons or Sea-men upon occasion of a certain Sea-man which was seen as he heard at Belle-Isle in Bretaigne Whereupon he procured Henricus Gondius Governour of the Isles to enquire into the business and certifie him by writing Now the information was that as much as was seen of him was in the shape of a Man saving that his Arms were shorter then for the thickness of his Body and his hands greater and very white in the Palms He had thick white hair hanging down over his shoulders and a beard reaching down to his stomach His Eyes very great and fierce his skin as far as could be discerned rough neither white nor black He was reported to have bin at first delighted at the approach of the Vessel with the fight of Men and Women and light-coloured â—loathes so that he suffered himself to be inclosed in the Nets but as soon as they began to use â—iolence endeavouring to draw him forth and before it could be discerned of what shape he was below the navil he both easily brake through the Nets and with small adoe overturned the Vessel And that afterwards he appeared only a far off sunning himself upon some inaccessible Rocks his lower parts being alwayes covered with water sometimes clapping his hands and making an hissing noise which was supposed to be his manner of laughter Which custom he held 〈◊〉 some body shot at him with a Musquet-Bâ—â—â—a from which time forward whether frightâ—â—â—nly or killed he was never more seen howâ—â—â—â— was reported that there was another seen which was supposed to be a Woman because 〈◊〉 a beard ending beneath with a forked 〈◊〉 that of a Salmon He reasoned moreover touching the ingrafting 〈◊〉 Animals after the manner of Plants upon occasion of a Sloe or Bullas-Tree growing out of a Mans Breast-bone for a Shepherd of Tarragon had fallen into a Slow-Tree and a sharp point thereof having run into his Breast in two years time it took such root that after many branches had bin cut off there sprang up some at last which bare both Flowers and Fruit.
at his glory or ignorant of those things wherein all good and learned men are agreed For was there ever a man I pray you better skilled in Antiquity Nature Chronologie History and Languages or more ready to assist the labours of studious men by Speech Letters Books Models Plants Animals Pictures Coins and the like Monuments of ancient and latter times Or in a word better fitted to do all this with Will Wealth Authority Knowledge Providence and other Virtues with a mutual consent of all which that man must be adorned that will undertake like the renowned Peireskius to govern the learned world by his beck and at his pleasure Which truly how hard a thing it is to do you may hereby friend Gassendus conjecture in that if you have recourse to all the Heroes of ancient times you shall not find any one that has done the like And though the times immediatly foregoing have afforded Vincentius Pinellus and Dominicus Molinus men peradventure not much inferiour to Peireskius for their endeavours and desire to assist learned men yet I know not how they wanted divers helps which Peireskius had by which he was enabled to hold on his course with full sail from his early youth to his very last age And verily with what facility he did all this no man can be ignorant save he that cannot see the Sun at Noon-day For who knows not that his mouth was not the mouth of a man but of Delphick Apollo out of which Oracles daily issued touching the most abstruse and hidden things and that his house was like a renowned Mart or Fair full of most precious Wares brought from both the Indies Aethiopia Graece Germany Italy Spain England and the nearer Provinces and that no Ship entred the Havens of France which did not bring some strange Beast rare out-landish Plants ancient Marbles engraven or inscribed Books in the Samaritan Coptick Arabick Hebrew China and Creek Tongues or Reliques of highest Antiquity from Peloponesus into the only Treasurie of Peireskius Finally who can be ignorant that he did not gather all this Treasure for his own delight or to adorn his study that they might ly there as in the Cellars of the Capitol or Sepulchres where it was unlawful to remove or take any thing out for the benefit of others but that Peireskius made this Law to himself that if he knew any learned men that might be assisted by his Counsels Wealth Books Statues or Marbles he would not stay till with importunate intreaties they should defire the same but he would offer the same of his own accord and cause it to be brought unto their houses so that I could almost say he did overwhelm all learned men with the greatnesse and frequency of his benefits But what need is there that I should write these things to you most excellent Gassendus who have with your own eys seen more of the brave actions of that rare man worthy to be remembred to the daies of Eternity than any other man is able to set down in writing that being a work fit for none but your self who in your love to him and the Elegancy of your style and expression give place to no man Verily seeing no part of his life was without a Miracle seeing there was never man in this world to whom learned men were so much and so greatly endebted since the greatest part of what for some decads of years last past has been beautifully elegantly and learnedly observed came from him for the most part nor should he be reckoned among mortal men were it not for his immature and bitter death ô grief to tell who ought alwaies to have lived I am very well convinced that every man is not fit to transmit his memory to posterity for that a vulgar mouth should do it were great wickednesse yet to find out words sutable to so great and incomparable merits seems to me a very hard thing To gather therefore together a Breviary of the Life of this great Patron of the Muses out of the whole world whereinto it was diffused into a small Volume this is such a work which unlesse you shall perform most learned Gassendus who have the command of a pure elegant proper style used to write of matters Divine Caelestial of which kind all good men account Peireskius to have bin and who art wont to reduce the supream Orbes and their Miracles which are not verily more large than the Fame merits of Peireskius most artificially into a small Globe I can hardly find any man man else who can so fitly and happily perform this work For though all that were friends to Peireskius are furnished with Wit and Eloquence and they are all as well as you concerned to celebrate that man whose memory ought to be to them most sacred and although many things which may be set down and alledged touching his most excellent disposition his industry and wonderful readiness to assist the endeavours of good men may be known to any man as well as your self by his most excellent actions and works yet can it not be denied that the greatest of his Praises are better known to you than any other by reason of the intimate acquaintance you had with him and your continual living in the house and dealing with him for many years together Come on therefore my Gassendus take that pen in hand which has bin accustomed to defend or praise gallant men as well as to explain the Miracles of Nature and the Heavens and think with your self that in so doing you shall profit all the learned honot his and your Countrey advance the glory and splendor of great Person ages and Princes whiles out of that great love you have alwaies borne to him living and dead you shall set forth the true Picture of Peireskius who did incite and assist all men to be vertuous nor only to be seen but imitated also by them As for me who have alwaies so accounted of Peireskius as one in whom Nature was chiefly intended to try her strength in producing such a man as might want nothing excellent and comely as far as mortal nature was capable so that I cannot set him forth with words as I ought because the riches of his Merits have impoverished my Rhetorick therefore I most earnestly beseech you to take this one task in hand and I shall then conceive the piety of my self and others satisfied who are bound to prosecute the memory of Peireskius with eternal honour and grateful veneration if by you both the present Age and future Generation shall be made to understand that Peireskius was not only most learned and most munificent which the whole world can witnesse but a man most great and good beyond comparison a prime Patron of learned men one for prudence and learning and all kind of virtues so excellent that he ought in that respect to be reckoned amongst the miracles of our Age and honored accordingly Farewel and read
me give them no other answer then that some of the work remained yet to finish And he answered smiling that it was requisite to spred a rumour abroad that the History of Provence was near finished for by that meanes many desirous to have themselves or Ancestors mentioned therein would hasten of their own accord to contribute some ancient Monuments which otherwise they would not communicate though they were intreated to do it Moreover he was in hopes that he might at last withdraw to Beaugensier and peruse that mighty Masse of Ratities which he had there piled up and having rightly digested all might exiract somewhat which might be so molded as to become worthy to see the Light howbeit he doubted both his own Health and the obtaining of that happy leasure by reason of many businesses comming in one upon the neck of another especially calling to minde how it fared with him at his late retirement where he did not so much as open his Desk where the foresaid History was lockt up though his Brother Valavesius who caused it to be conveighed thither did sollicire him thereunto offering himself to be his Assistant and Scribe Wherefore fearing that it would fall out as it did and desiring that all should not be lost he took the course above specified namely to take or seek occasions of writing Letters into which he inserted the principal matters And therefore I may well say there are many of his Letters which being replenished with Learning may be accounted so many Books and do every way deserve to be published in Print Many of these there are in which he so discourses of Antiquities and the wonders of Nature that who ever shall read them will be instructed For he was alwayes very willing to communicate what rarities he had in that kind to good men and friends because he alwayes loved learned men who would be edified thereby and assisted in the Composure of divers works For he judged that it was all one whether he or others published the same provided they were such things as the reading whereof might be judged profitable He hoped moreover and professed that when they were inserted into other mens works they would become so much the more profitable by how much they should prove more illustrious by passing through such learned hands For he did not for any other end search our and suggest them then that they might provoke excellent wits to invent somewhat better forasmuch as he himself was unable to produce a ripe and elegant birth or to form and fashion and lick the same as it were over but was happy enough if he might by any means play the Midwives part in helping into the World the Labours of other Men. It was therefore his custom even unasked so to assist any man that was writing a Book that there was nothing which he would not afford him either out of his own observations or his Treasury of Rarities or the Rarities of other men which he would procure of purpose or out of Manuscripts which if he had not himself he would take pains to procure them out of any Libraries where ever they were to be had Nor was there any man fit to write upon any subject whom he would not sollicite thereunto and remove all Impediments if any were and contribute Money Books or what ever else he stood in need of But to speak yet further concerning his Letters there are very many moral ones which are exceeding well worth the Printing in which he comforts exhorts disswades and the like with wonderful elegancy and efficacy but he is no where in my opinion more eloquent then where he advises learned men to abstain from reviling and bitter girds to honour Antiquity and not to dissent therefrom without some testification of Reverence not to receive or give out uncertain things for certain rather to produce somewhat of their own then to confute other men not to imitate such men as being to take a Journey stand to throw out of the way all the stones they meet with or who intending to gather a Nose-gay of Roses do first of all cut all the prickles from the Rose-bush to excuse connive at and mitigate the faults of others when they meet therewith and think with themselves what man will be thought to deserve prayse if none may be praysed but he that is without fault to take it gratefully rather that they have broken the Ice and have at least endeavoured to make a very rough way smooth to acknowledge that nothing is at the first perfect and that no man would produce his endeavours into the eye of the World unless he hoped for some favour rather then reprehension to remember that they also themselves are men and apt to be mistaken and should by that meanes merit pardon if they showed themselves gentle to others with other such like things all which were here too long to relate There are also other Epistles in which he commends begs excuses congratulates expostulates and the like with so much decency and grace as can be desired he was so naturally apt to observe Decorum invent Reasons and stir affection I forbear to tell you how he very seldom wrote in Latine but used principally the French Tongue or the Italian the sweetness whereof and all its charming Elegancies he expressed not only in his Letters but also when he discoursed with Italians by word of mouth And such a Man as you have seen declared was Peireskius I return now to the time in which as I said before he fell into a mortal sickness But I must first tell you that a few moneths before there was a common report at Rome that he was dead which was brought from thence to Paris whereupon Valavesius who was then in that City sent unto his Brother a Congratulatory Letter full of good wishes for the continuance of his life and health Nor must I passe over in silence how Peireskius himself four dayes before he was taken sick did relate unto us this following Dream I thought quoth he that I was at Masse in the Chappel of the Palace and that the Roof of the Chappel fell down and overwhelmed my self with other Eenators and the Priest And when at the first crack the Priest being affrighted would have left his Sacrifice Why art thou affraid Friend quoth I seeing thou hast God so near at hand Howbeit I do not relate this as one that would seem desirous to rake up wonders as many fables are wont to be related upon such occasions but that I may not be thought to make so much haste to the end of my story as to omit any thing which may seem extraordinary Now I call such like stories as this which are commonly related Fables because if they be not altogether false yet are they drawn in by the head and shoulders upon some sleight occasion and happen rather by meer chance then any intention of Nature who cares no more for a wise man then a
fool nor for a famous person than one that is obscure and of no note As for those accidents last related this was not the first time that a report was spread touching the death of Peireskius as has bin noted in its proper place and it might now more easily be occasioned because men had often heard of his sickliness And not many dayes before his Dream the Roof of the Palace a great part thereof fell down and therefore it is no wonder that the fall thereof having made a deep Impression upon his fancie might as is usual occasion such a Dream other circumstances being mixed therewith by reason of the Conjunction of other intervenient Species or Representations of things seen or done But be it how it will Malignant Fevers were at that time very frequent all the City over and therefore because he would not let slip any duty that might concern him he went not only to the chief President and his Wife who were sick as I told you and now upon recovery but he frequently visited others also whose life he was tender of Amongst the which there was Franciscus a Sancto Marco a Senator of good fame whose ingenuous and constant love he highly respected and Gregorius Francus his house-Physitian whom he loved for the skill he had in his Art and the gentleness of his manners and Natalis Galliardus a youth of rare towardness whom as he hoped he would in process of time carry a great stroak in matters judicatory so he loved him for his great affection which he knew he had to learning And seeing there were many others also and the Disease was popular and the heat increased nor did he ever the more abstain from comming to the Senate or taking care of his friends and houshold occasions or from assisting learned men or writing of Letters or searching and observing divers things it was no hard matter to foretel what would follow Moreover having visited a friend of his that came from Marscilles who lay sick at an Inne he caused him to be brought home to his own house that he might be more handsomly and carefully accoÌ„modated and visited him often and felt his pulse when he was troubled with raving and other symptoms gave him good words suitable to his condition and continually provided for him both diet and all other things necessary So that he indeed recovered but as he began to grow well Peireskius fell sick It was the tenth day of June when he awaking towards morning and perceiving that by reason of the frequency of his sweats he had not changed his shift all night as he ought to have done twice or thrice and felt withall a shivering cold with a light sweat he opened his eyes and seeing the casement not well closed he foretold his own sickness Then he began to seel his Head ake yet he arose went to the Court and visited and saluted some friends and certain sick people according to his Custom When he was come home and felt his pain as bad as before he refused his dinner hoping that as he had often found if he shou'd fast all day from eating and drinking he should prevent the sickness which threatned him All the Afternoon he did either sit in his Chair or lie upon the Bed till about Sun-set he got on his Cloak and entertained the excellent Campinius who was come to visit him and after much discourse brought him to the door to take his leave of him When he was gone there came to see him Raimondus Maranus the Son of William Professor of Law in the same University of Tolouse with an ingenuous youth the Sonne of his Brother the Counsellour with whom he was forced to abide a while in the Porch with his hat off and being withall careful to entertain them in his House he was much troubled because that part of the House which was most convenient for them was taken up Afterward with much adoe he went up staires and being in his Chamber and his Head-ach and Fever increasing he supt only a little broath He was wont to observe that when he abstained wholly from meat and drink he was never thirsty finding therefore after his broath that he was a dry he took it for an ill signe The day following being Corpus Christi day he sent to desire Hannibal Fabrotus a famous Lawyer of whom we have formerly made frequent mention that he would come and keep his Cuests Company He kept his Bed all the day and besides the Fever was pained in his Kidneys and Haemorrhoids The same day he was let blood and the Fever continuing he was enjoyned to forbear his drinking of the mineral water About the evening of the thirteenth day his Head-ache and Fever increased The day following he was somewhat better and the Post who had brought Letters from his Brother Valavesius from Paris being to return he would needs write an answer with his own hand but after he had made three Essayes and had thrice changed his pen supposing that to be in fault after he had wrote three lines his hand grew so stiffe that he never wrote more after that time Having in the mean time with much ado consented that Johannes Salvator who was then his Physician should prescribe him a Potion he took it the next morning and finding himself pretry well after it he busied himself about many things On the sixteenth day he did endite a Letter to his Brother in which he extenuated his sicknesse and yet towards night there came forth upon his back great red spots After which the Feaver encreased and he slept not at all that night Whereupon the day following towards evening he was let blood in his right foot to prevent raving which was frequent and vehement in those Diseases And the day after indeed in which he began to fetch his breath short he raved not yet on the ninereenth day he did which I took notice of and observed therein certain markes of his Learning On the twentieth day in which his strangury was not so great as formerly he was a little better save that in the afternoon his raving was somewhat more apparent though it was alwaies in a learned strain and observed only by my self For he would commonly speak to no body but me and he spake little and low bringing forth his words slowly and with difficulty The day following his raving was yet more vehement because the Fever was grown stronger and caused very many spots to come forth which seeming somewhat abated Cupping-glasses were applyed And because both Salvator and Prisius Insulanus another Physitian did judge that he was dangerously sick I began to take care that he might not depart before he had received the Sacrament Which being propounded to him he consented and desired withal to hear Masse celebrated in his Chamber on the two and twentieth day Wherefore the foresaid Minutius a Friar MinÃm having got a Licence from the Arch-Bishop both said Masse and gave him the