he was busied in his paintyng no man might disturbe disquiet or molest hym whom also while he wrought Demetrius in person came ofte times to be holde hym Besides these harde were it to remember how manie haue excelled in this skill or science as Aristides Asclepiodorus Nichomachus Paneus the brother of Fidias with a multitude of others which Plinie in his fiue and thirtie booke remembreth And to the intente that men herein chalenge not to theim selues all honour or praise as to theim belongyng onely wee may remember women their felowes and their equalles whiche haue doen straunge thinges as anie aboue remembred as for example Timerata the doughter of Miconis whiche in suche passing excellencie depainted for the Diana that it long times afterwarde was moste carefully kepte and honoured still in Ephesus Irena Calipsa Olimpia Lala Cizicena with others also many like famous for their skill in all ages to be honoured In thys our tyme also many a good worke man leueth of whom I will write nothing leste remembryng one or twoo I should wrong a greatar number Of a straunge maner of exile vsed in Athens by meanes of which the most honourable and worthiest personages were oftentymes banished without any offence or faulte at all committed Chap. 8. THE seigneurie or common weale of Athens as is to all menne well knowen was one of the most honorablest and richeste in the world for after it leaft to be gouerned by kinges restored againe vnto desired libertie it fostered and gaue forthe greate numbers of worthie men in armes no lesse excellent then in all kinde of good letters of whiche all histories are euerie where well furnished But among all other profitable lawes and customes which thei carefullie obserued for the onely conseruation of their gouernement and libertie there was one amonge the reste as well verie straunge as to theim onely proper which thei notwithstandyng déemed verie fitte and necessarie as well to represse and chastice the proude ambition and intollerable audacitie of certaine their nobles whiche waxed in oppression and tyrannie so cruell that the poore colde no where liue exempte from their malice whiche was suche as here after followeth At one certen and determinate time all the inhabitantes of what estate or conditiō soeuer had full aucthoritie to exile and banishe yea were it though without cause or reason any one of their péeres without respect for the full space of tenne whole yeres as if they hated hym or feared lest he shoulde by tyrannie vsurpe or ambitiously chuse to him the whole gouernement or state or if for any other cause in common they either did malice or disdaine his person they proceded once assembled in this sorte and maner The magistrates first of all to whom onely this charge was committed hauyng as is saied assembled the multitude together gaue to euery one of theim a little white stone or tile in which eche man should write the name of him whom he desired at that tyme aboue all others to be banished which after their inscription they restored again immediatly to the ' officers whiche stones or tiles the Greekes called Ostraci whence this maner of exile was also termed Ostracismus These stones with their inscriptions this brought in againe together thei began forth with orderly to number and if at leaste there were not founde with one inscription six thousande for in these assembles no man was against his will forced to write anie mans name in his stone vnlesse he founde hymselfe greued or otherwise for his pleasure woulde vnkindlie do it they exiled for that yere no man at al. But if there were founde six thousande or more altogether agréeyng on one and the like number againe perhappes on some other then would they carefully accompte and number their stones and he that was of moste in this sorte remembred were he though some times the most vertuous and moste riche within the citie yet was he incontinently banished for the space of tenne whole yeres without any kinde of pardon mitigation or remission Notwithstandyng in the meane tyme no man depriued hym of his possessions neither in his gooddes or landes suffered he any domage but according to his pleasure or phantasie he in all poinctes ordered theim reapyng the fruictes or commodeties thereof in as ample and large maner as if he neuer had been forced to exile at all Neither was this lawe or custome onely ordeined to chastice and correct the ambious extortioner but also to appease the rage of the common people moued at times or incenste against their Princes so that by generall consente the Commons inioynge thys aucthoritie or priuelege banished sometymes those whose absence in déede was to their coutrie verie profitable◠some tymes suche againe onely by vnkinde and vnaduised ingratitude whom for their honest seruice doen to their countrie thei neither coulde nor should without their greate harme or detrement haue wanted For proofe whereof Themistocles that excellente capitaine by whose onely counsaile and diligence Xerxes was vanquished and chast out of Grece His nauie also discomfited and scattered on the Sea neither was Athens only by hym restored to libertie but also all Grece to their desired freedom was by this practise vnkindly exiled Like salerie receiued Simon that renoumed Athenian whiche liued euen then in the same tyme with the other whiche also so often tymes had been in fielde for the safetie of his countrie wher by his prowes and counsaile he accomplished suche enterprises as peraduenture shall neuer anie one man againe after hym to wéete he subdued the Persians on the Sea and tooke of theim at one tyme twoo hundred Gallies and the same daie not hauyng throwly yet quailed their corrage landed in good order with all his armie geuing present bataile to the resude of that companie which were then landed before hym a houge and greate number whom all notwithstandyng he victoriously conquered by Sea and by lande a most fortunate Capitaine Besides these his excellente vertues he was also verie large and liberall vnto al men makyng small accompte of his goods where with fortune aboue others had largely indued hym he did continually to be opened his fildes and gardeines to the ende the indigent might thence gather suche thinges as they had néede of he secretly also gaue to all men large almes throughout the whole Citie he péetied the afflicted and comforted the néedie He farther by expresse commaundemente gaue charge to all his seruantes that if thei any where founde an olde man bare or ill appareled they forthwith should bestowe on hym that theimselues hadde on presentlye contēted to take for chaunge their meane and poore arraie To conclude he daily prouided a greate feaste for al poore men without respecte within the compasse of Athens by meanes whereof in shorte tyme he verie nigh hadde consumed whatsoeuer to hym was lefte by his father Milciades All these notwithstandyng his princelie demerites neither coulde or were able to exempte him from this exile from the
whiche was shortly after the passion of Christe men perceiued that these Oracles began to fainte and faile neither allegaeth he for it in his treatise any other reason but that there should be dead as he supposed some spirites whiche he spake as a man voide or lesse skilled in the faithe for that he vnderstode not that the deuilles or spirites were immortall Notwithstandyng straunge is it and worthie of consideration to sée how euidently the deuill shewed hym self to bée conquered and subdued and that after the death of our sauiour he so remained discomforted that he neuer again was able to frame in any suche sort an aunswer and that the Gentiles also not able in déede to yelde any cause or reason why had some féelyng of this default and surceassyng from his function By meane whereof Plutarche tooke on hym to write this treatise in which emong others in effecte he hath these wordes of which Eusebius maketh mention writyng to Theodorus as of a moste notable and meruailous matter I remember that I haue heard saie saieth he of Emilian the oratour a man prudente and wise and well knowen to many of you that his father on a tyme commyng by the sea towardes Italie and passyng on a night by a certaine Isle called Paraxis euen when all in the Shippe were then still and quiete thei heard a greate and dreadfull voice whiche srom the Isle called to them Ataman Ataman suche was the pilotes name of the shippe an Egiptian borne although this voice were ones and againe vnderstoode by Ataman yet was he not so hardie to frame to it an annswere vntill the third time whē he said who is there what is it that calleth me what wouldest thou haue To whō this voice again more louder thē before saied Ataman my will is that when thou passest by the goulfe which hath to name Laguna that thou there remember to crie out and certifie the said goulfe that the greate God Pan is deade Whiche vnderstoode all those that were in the shippe feared counsailyng the saied pilote to leaue vndooen his charge neither any thyng to arreste or staie at the goulfe especially if the winde would serue them to passe further but approchyng nigh the place of whiche this voice admonished hym the ship arrested and the sea waxte calme not hauyng winde to passe presently any farther by meanes whereof thei generally concluded that Atman should there dooe his legation or imbacie whiche the better to doe he mounteth vp into the poupe or hinder parte of the ship where he crieth as loude as he could possible saiyng I will that ye knowe that the greate God Pan is deade whiche woorde as sone as he ones had vttered thei heard incontinently suche terrible lamentations and cries houling and complainyng aboue that maie be saied in suche sort that the sea it self resounded these complaintes whiche continued moste dolorous and lamētable a great while by meanes whereof the Mariners though meruailously afraied hauyng the winde good againe followed their course arriuyng at Rome made rehearsal of this their aduenture Whereof the Emperour Tiberius aduertised and desirous to be certified of the truthe and none other founde to conclude as is aboue rehearsed Whence it is euident that the deuilles euery where sorowed the natiuitie of our Sauiour and redemer Christe for that he was onely their ruine and destruction For by iuste and true supputation of tyme we finde that this happened at the tyme of his Passion or perhaps some thyng before then I meane whe he banished and exiled them out of the worlde It is to be presupposed that this great God Pan accordyng to the immitation of Pan the God of Shepherdes whiche thei saied was deade was some capitaine and maister deuill whiche at that tyme loste his Empire as did also the others Besides all these Iosephus writeth that at the same tyme was heard in the temple of Hierusalem a voice though in déede ther was no liuyng creature with in whiche lamentably cried and saied thus let vs goe hence and leaue this countrie in haste as who would saie thei truely knewe that the tyme of their paine and persecution was at hande and that it drewe on faste euen by the death of hym that gaue life vnto others In the Gospell of the Nazarites it is reade that in the daie of his Passion that sumptuous gate of their Temple whiche thei neuer lefte for any coste to adorne and beautifie fell doune to the grounde and was vtterly defaced Consider now in that daie what straunge and meruailous thynges happened though the Euangelistes haue paste theim as thynges lesse worthie memorie The eclipce also of the Sunne whiche continued thrée howers the full space in deede that Christ was on the crosse was not naturall as are the others whiche by th' onely coniunction of the Sunne and Moone chaunce vs but was miraculous and contrary to the course and order of nature Suche therefore as lesse knowe how the Sunne is eclipsed must vnderstande that it onely happeneth by coniunction of the aboue saied bodies the Mooue passyng or goyng betwixt the Sunne and the yearth neuer the lesse this eclipse happened in th' opposition of these planettes the Moone then full and hundred and eightie degrées distant frō the Sūne in the vnder hemisphere then at the citée of Hierusalem for proofe whereof besides the testimonies of infinite good writers the scriptures them selues record it manifestly for certain it is that the lambe was neuer Sacrificed but in the .xiiij. of the Moone whiche Lambe was eaten by Christ and his disciples but one daie onely before his death as is commaunded in the .xij. of Exodus in Leuiticus also the xxiij And the nexte daie followyng whiche was the daie of vnleauened bread Christ the Lambe vnspotted was vnkindly crucified the Moon then of necessitie in her full and opposite to the Sunne whiche then could no more eclipse the Sunne then any other Planete It then was to conclude miraculous and contrary to the order of nature doen onely by the onmipotente and sole power of GOD whiche depriued the Sunne of light for that thrée howers space By occasion whereof that worthie personage Denis Areopagita beyng at the time presente at Athens and beholding in this sorte the Sunne to be obscured and knowyng on the other side as a learned Astrologian that this eclipse was contrary to the order of natue saied openly with a loude voice to bée heard of all menne either the frame of the worlde shall bée dissolued either the God of nature presently suffereth For whiche cause as one reporteth the sages of Athens straungely disturbed did to bee builte incontinently an aulter to the God vnknowen whether afterward saincte Paule arriuyng learned theim who was that God vnknowne and that he was Jesus Christ God and man our redemer whiche then and at that tyme suffered for our saluation by meanes whereof he conuerted greate numbers to the faithe Some neuer the lesse haue doubted
to these of that other For these thinges and suche others as here might bée alleaged are the causes why one beholdyng an other conceiueth straight against hym some inwarde disdaine or pleasure as is euident when we sée twoo men plaiyng togither fight or dispute for what matter so euer for that neither standyng bound to the one or the other neither euer hauing knowen theim who or whence thei are wisheth notwithstandyng the desired victorie soner to the one then to the other Concernyng that whereof we haue spoken that one manne without any occasion should so muche dread or feare an other that he submitteth hymself and boweth faine and gladde to bee ruled by hym though indeede he bee his better more worthie or more honourable the case is euidente and by experience common Of whiche al Ptolomie giueth this reason saiyng that who so in his natiuitie shall haue his lorde or ruler or for better demonstration to exēplifie of twoo of which the one hauyng the lorde of his natiuitie in some signe ascendēt in the firste or Easte angle the other in the Southe or tenth angle the house of honour he naturally ruleth ordereth and gouerneth the other The semblable againe also chaunceth to those in whose natiuities the one hath that Planette for his lorde whiche to the other is moste vnfortunate voide of euery kinde of dignitie If twoo also haue one and the same signe for their ascendēt or otherwise for their lorde and ruler one Planet he to whom this Planet shall bée of moste force and aucthoritie as was aboue said in beastes voide of reason shal naturally rule and haue dominion ouer the other When then this aduauntage happeneth to suche a one as is of the other bothe loued and fauoured he by meane thereof immediatly bothe ordereth and gouerneth hym but if it chaunce or betide percase to a poore seruaunt or vassaule he then assuredly is faithfull obedient and loiall if to twoo friendes of equall birthe and habilitie as is and hath many tymes béen seen eche then liueth with other in moste perfecte integritie the one for the moste parte orderyng euery the affaires or busines of the other ¶ That the memorie maie be hurte and that it also by arte and by pollicie maie be fortified Chapt. 6. EVen as the memorie in manne is a thing moste excellent so also is it very daintie an delicate obnoxious and subiecte to sundrie misfortunes as to sicknesse hurtes and woundes on the heade age sodaine feare faules from high places with many suche others All whiche offende and hurte the memorie indomaging her vsuall place or seate as also the organes or instrumentes thereof Whence it commeth in this place to bée considered that some by the weakenesse and debilitie of memorie haue vtterly forgotten all thynges what soeuer thei ones knew or otherwise had learned Some again in one thyng haue béen onely maihemed as Plinie well noteth of Messala Coruinus who after a disease of whiche he well recouered liued euer afterward in suche case that he neuer could remember his owne proper name Valerius also discoursyng of miracles reporteth that a learned man by the knocke of a stone whiche he receiued on the head forgatte what soeuer he before had profited in any the Sciences or other good studies and yet not withstandyng in al other affaires was of memorie as freshe and as perfecte as at any other tyme An other by a faule from a place on high forgat also to know his owne naturall parentes I haue bothe red and heard it reported that Franciscus Barbarus a man of our tyme not meanely learned but especially in the Greke wherin he moste pleasured by the meane of a maladie wherwith he was troubled forgate all what soeuer he before had gained in the ripe and exacte knowledge of the saied tongue remainyng in all other thinges no lesse learned then at the firste a thyng in trouthe very straunge and merueilous It is also recorded that Georgius Trapes a man famous for his learnyng forgatte in his age what so in good letters he tofore had profited And as we finde here that memorie in manne by sundrie occasions maie well be weakened so also finde we some that naturally haue had fainte and slippyng memories The Emperor Claudius here in so holted as Suetonius writyng his life reporteth that some tymes hauyng in bedde by hym his wife incontinently after he had talkte any thyng with her he so became vnmindefull of hym self and all other thynges that he would aske where she was why she came not to bedde and why she so longe taried And hauyng doen to death on a tyme a noble man the daie following made inquirie for hym again to determine with the others of his counsaill on controuersies Herodotus Sophista had a soonne of so simple a memorie that by no labour possible he could learne or attaine to the knoweledge of the letters by order by meanes whereof the father who so muche desired his enteraunce in learning the better to bryng hym to some kind of féelyng did to be fostered in his house twentie fower younge boies all of his owne age to euery of whiche for name he gaue the name of a letter to the intente that he acquainted with theim and callyng theim by the ir names might also remember the noumber and order of the letters And as it is said aboue that sodaine feare eftfones troubleth the memorie so assuredly true is it that although in deede it vtterly destroie not the memorie yet at times it forceth manne to forgette these thinges that he before carefully with paiue had committed vnto her as it ones happened to Demosthenes a moste excellent Oratour whiche passyng imbassadour to Philippe king of Macedonie felt in hym self so straunge an alteration beyng presente to vtter his charge before so puissante a prince that hauing past in some little parte of his premeditated oration arrested of the sodaine forgettyng that whiche remained as if he neuer had before thought thereon or in any sorte digested it The very semblable reade wée of Theophratus whiche being mounted in his chaire would haue vttered some woordes before the Areopagites of Athens of Herodes the Atheniā who receiued in charge to haue spoken before the Emperour Marcus Antonius of Eraclides in the presence of the Emperour Seuerus at least as is lefte vs by recorde of Philostratus And almoste in this our age Bartholomeus Socinus borne at Sienna a man absolutely grounded and learned in the lawes assigned imbassadour for his countrie vnto Pope Alexandre in whose presence as the maner is when he a little while had spoken abashed some thyng by the sighte and present beyng there of these princes whiche were there assembled beyonde the wonted number forgat hymself sodainly so amased that he farther in order could not pronounce one woorde To me also suche an alteration ones happened as was that other aboue remembred of Demosthenes not that I would here enter into comparisō in the presence of a worshipfull and
so many and so diuers that the triumphe commonlie continued full three daies to the intente that all these thinges might orderly be doen. In euery triumphe were many straunge inuentions as showes and pageantes with others the semblable long here to remember Nether was it lawfull vnto all capitaines ne yet for all victories what so euer to triumphe but certaine notable lawes and customes were established for which onely and for none other the triumphe was graunted The capitaine that demaunded that honour entered not at the firste in to Rome but the Senate woulde sende hym an aunswere thereof vnto Vatican to wéete whether they woulde licence hym to triumphe or not Firste no general or other capitaine of what condition so euer he were mighte at any tyme triumphe were he not a Consul Proconsul or Dictator for the triumphe was neuer graunted to man of meaner condition by meanes wherof it was denied to M. Mercellus that most victoriouslie conquired and subdued Siracusa as also to Scipio that ouerranne all Spain Againe to the obtainyng of this fore saide honor it was also requisite that the battaile fought with the ennimy should be greate and daungerous and that there should be slaine therin a boue fiue thousande Of these thinges writeth Valerius Maximus It is also written that Cato and L. Marius tribunes ordained a lawe to dooe sharpe and seueare animaduertion on all Capitaines that should make false report of the number slaine Neither was it sufficient to winde the battaile were it neuer so blooddy and dangerous but he also must make tributory and subiect the whole prouince leauyng it quiet and in peace to his successor bringing also home with hym his army victorious For which cause as Liuie recordeth the triumphe was denied to Titus Manlius though in truthe he hadde obtained greate victories in Spaine for that after him thei were forced to ouerrunne the countrie againe to wage newe battaile to kepe by force and defende that whiche before was gotten For this cause also Quintus Fabius the greate triumphed not though in deede he once had subdued all Cāpagna as also recordeth Valerius Maximus It also was the maner that he that triumphed should inuite to hym that might the Consuls to supper which they vtterly suche was the maner refused for that at that feaste was at no time anie to whom greater honour was doen then to the triumpher These triumphes were euer ended in the temple of Iupiter with in the Capitoll where he offered vp the whole spoile whiche he had taken from the ennimie where also for greater solemnization publicke assemble was then made And to the intente that this Capitaine shoulde not glory to muche of this honour doen to hym it is reported that a bonde man should that day be placed by hym to whom it was permitted to skoffe and deride hym in suche sorte and manner as it beste should like hym where of sundry examples are found in olde histories But to make more plaine this kinde of triumphe if it be possible we wil remember some but first of al that of Paulus Aemilius a capitaine Romaine moste famous and valiaunte to whom for that he had subdued and taken Persius king of Macedonie vtterly spoilyng and wastyng his countrie the triumphe was graunted by common suffrage of all men who as Plutarche reciteth triumphed in this maner First of all the inhabitantes of Rome as well as of other places nigh adiacente were that daie seen in their most sumptuous and riche attire euery of them indeuouring to place himself in some tootyng hole or windowe the better and with more ease to beholde this spectacle All the temples in Rome were on euery side open hangde and apparelied with moste costly furniture with grene boughes perfumes of no smal value the streates also were like gaie and glorious And for that the multitude of people in the citie was then infinite as well of straungers as also of others a number of sticklers was appoincted to make through the streates easie waie and passage and for that the diuersitie of shewes were suche and so many necessitie constrained them to parte them into three daies the first hardly sufficed in good order to bryng in the banners standardes and ensignes of the conquered the Colossi Images and tables of price whiche all were brought in on cartes verie curiously depainted and trimmed On the second daie came in the armour of the kyng conquered as also of all th' other Macedomens whiche as thei were riche bright and glitteryng so were thei with moste cunnyng to the she we ordered and couched on cartes After these cartes entered three thousande men in order bearyng nothyng but money open and to bee seen and that in houge chargers and vesselles of siluer waighyng euery one three talentes at the leaste of whiche were three hundred and fiftie in noumber fower menne lotted to euery vessell The others the residue I meane of this three thousand brought in cundites streming most artificially wrought with other plate all siluer no lesse faire then massie and in passyng of these companies in iuste and semely order thei ended the second daie in most pompous solemnitie The thirde daie euen in the breake or spryng thereof with the firste band entered a ioyous signe of conquest infinite flutes drommes trumpettes with others suche like Martiall and warlike instrumentes soundyng all togither not delicately or swetely but in moste terrible and cruell maner that was possible in suche sort as thei presently should ioigne in battaile and after them came an hundreth and twentie Kine all white hauyng their hornes curiously gilted their bodies couered with certain riche vailes whiche thei accompted as sacred or holie bearyng also garlandes of flowers on their heddes driuen by certaine yonge boies no lesse well fauoured then curiously attired to the place where thei should bee to their goddes Sacrificed after whom also came other children againe charged with greate platers of gold and siluer for the Sacrifice After these came others againe seuentie and seuen whiche in vesselles of golde carried all the gold that thei had gathered in coigne after whom came then thei that carried the greate gobblet poisyng fully tenne talentes of gold whiche Paulus Aemilius had dooen to be made sette also and inrichte with stones of rare price and thei that bare these vessels of golde were suche as were nighest and beste beloued of these kinges to wete of Antigonus Seleucus and other kynges of Macedonie and especially of Persius the honourableste of them After this followed the couche of the kynge conquered with his owne proper armour laied a parte to be seen his diademe or croune with his scepter roiall laied in semely order to the vewe vpon his armour After his coache came prisoners on foote the little infauntes his owne naturall children and followyng theim a greate troope of his seruauntes and officers as maisters of the houshold secretaries vshers comptrollers chamberlaines with others suche of his courte or familie all weepyng
Notwithstanding it appeareth moste euidently that the yéeres mentioned in the Holy Scriptures were none others then these of our time that if there were any kinde of difference sutche it was as was not almoste sensible Which thinge is very well proued by Iosephus as also by Lactantius Firmianus but yet more perfectly and more plainely by S. Augustine by whose authoritie and reasons easily may be confounded who so leaneth to the contrarye Touchinge the firste that eche Moone in that Age gaue them one full yéere accoumptinge euermore from the one Coniunction vnto the other it resteth an eroour moste open and euidente for that wée wel know that that conteineth not thirtie dayes full so that one hundred yéeres folowing this our accoumpte would mounte vnto aboue one thousand and twoo hundred of theirs of that time Whence it woulde folowe contrarye to the opinion of all that men in our Age nowe presently lyue longer then they did immediately after the Creation of the world for that neuer was there any man that liued one thousande and twoo hundred yéeres whiche nothinge surmounteth this Age of ours It also is apparente that somme emonge vs liue an hundred yéeres somme also thoughe rare it chaunce an hundred and twelue whiche woulde rise to more then a thousande and thrée hundred yéeres accoumpting them accordinge to the course of the Moone Like errour to this was not also theirs which affirmed tenne yéeres of the firste Age paste to be iuste one and no more of this our time For had that their opinion bene true then should men haue benne able in the acte of Generation at the Age of seuen eighte and tenne yéeres which squareth with no rule or parte of Philosophie For proofe whereof wée reade in Genesis that Seth the sonne of Adam begatte Enoch beinge then olde an hundred and fiue yéeres If then ten yéeres of that Age had answeared by iust proportion but vnto one of these oures it then shoulde followe that these of the firste Age at the Age of tenne yéeres and a halfe of this time present shoulde be stronge and able in the acte of Generation Cain also hauinge issue at thréescoare and tenne yéeres should haue also benne Father followinge our accompt at the ende of his first seuen yéeres yea and that whiche more is at a farre yonger Age if one of our yéeres had counterpeased twelue of the firste Age as diuerse haue not leafte lightly to surmise But wée shall more plainly yet vnfolde this their fowle faulte and by this reason weaken their inexcusable errour If their yéere were but the tenth or tweluth parte of oures then consequently must it follow that their yéere had not twelue Moneths or at least that their Moneth had but three daies whiche is false for that the sayde texte of the Scripture saithe that the generall Floudde began the seuentiene daye of the seconde Moneth whence wee euidenily learne that the moneths of that time where none other then are oures Concerninge the others whose opinion was that a yeere in the firste Age was but the fourth parte of one in this their yéere beinge the space of thrée moneths only is proued by the saide péece of Scripture to be in like manner false For in the same place is it readde that the Arke of Noë flottinge on the waters arrested it self the seuen and twentie daie of the seuenth Moneth whiche the waters fallen first staide it selfe in the Mountaines of Armenia Againe after is it written that the waters dayly diminished vntill the tenth Moneth and that in the firste daie of the saide moneth the toppes of highe Hilles and Mountaines eche where discouered them selues Whence nowe lie euident the errours of those whiche measured for their yéere the onely space of thrée Moneths for that mention is here made bothe of the seuenth and tenth Then may wée well learne that the auncient yéere had also twelue Moneths as haue in this laste Age semblably oures for that remembringe the tenth it mindeth lesse nothing then the ende or the last And as ill also may that be saide that their Moneth had but thrée daies onely for of the seuen and twentie daye of the Moneth plaine and expresse mention lieth open in the Texte But least of all may it be supposed that their daies had of length but twoo or thrée howers for that the same Texte againe reporteth that it raigned and the windowes of Heauen were opened by the full space of fourtie daies and fourtie nightes So now then is it euident that the daies were naturall of foure and twentie howres the Moneths and yéeres none other then are oures or at least very small and insensible was the difference Whiche thinge to that ende I onely haue spoken for that all men accompted the course of the Heauens as wée doo so that this order amonge the learned the Hebrewes I meane as well as the Egyptians hath benne reuerently eche where and alwaies obserued among whom Moyses the Historiographer was brought vp Author of those holy Bookes where these longe liues are recorded Now if wée would subscribe to the opinion of many who affirme the Hebrewes to haue measured their Moneths by the course of the Moone geuinge forth their yéere complete by the twelue Moneths Lunaries eche Moneth hauinge onely niene and twentie daies fouretene howres or at the least very litle more or lesse by meanes whereof the yéere might ende aboute twelue daies shorter then that whiche wée measure by the passage of the Sunne whiche is thrée hundreth thirty and fiue daies and sixe howres This difference notwithstandinge ne yet leaueth doubtfull or of any parte vncertaine the longe and great Age of our forepassed Fathers for a smal matter is it in niene hundred or a thousande yéeres to exempte twentie or thirtie for that the Monethes Lunaryes were not full thirtie dayes Hence then conclude wée by this authoritie certaine that the nine hundred and thirtie yéeres whiche Adam liued the nine hundred also of the others were sutch as were the hundred thrée scoare and fiuetiene of Abraham and sutch also as are the thrée scoare and tenne and foure scoare of of our time for the moste parte the extreame tearme ende of our lyues There is also one other and semblable consideration to be noted to this pourpose alleaged by S. Augustine Admitte saithe he that in the Scriptures no mention be made that Adam and his Posteritie had any other Children before these that are in the saide Scriptures remembred yet is it for a veritie assuredly to be mainteined that bothe before and after they had diuers and sundrye yea and that in theire tenderer Age also then is any where in holy Write in any wise specified Wherof to yéelde more sufficient proufe when it is saide that Caine had builte to him a Cittie the first of all others that euer was in this worlde of whiche Iosephus reporteth sayinge That it was bewtified with diuers Towers enuironed compast with
assured good walles to which he gaue the name of his Sonne Enoch whiche was to him then very newely borne it hathe small shewe of trothe that there should then be but twoo or three men in the worlde onely for that the Scriptures make mention of no more vnto vs but to builde a Cittie the ayde of many men was of necessitie to be required the Texte notwithstanding remembreth onely the principall doers thereof as appeareth where it is saide that their Sonnes and Daughters begat also others whose names in holy Write are no where remembred The semblable wée finde in the holy Euangelistes as whereas S. Mathew treatinge of the Genealogie of Christe accordinge to the Fleashe beginneth from Abraham thence descendinge vnto Dauid sayinge Abraham begat Isaac remembringe not one woorde at all of Ismael and incontinently followinge Isaac begat Iacob not speakinge of Esau no though they were in déede as is euident their Elders lineally mindinge to descende vnto Dauid who not beinge of the Line of Ismael neither here remembreth or Ismael or Esau Straight againe Iacob begat Iudas and his Brethren Iudas not being of them the Eldest In sutche sorte that treatinge of this Generation he onely remembreth those from whom in right line he descendeth vnto Dauid Sufficient proufe to force the gaynesayers to thinke that Moyses also vsed the sayde practise in his Historie and that our Forefathers had also other issue then these that are to vs remembred in the Scriptures ¶ Of the excellency of Secretes and in what forte a secrete ought to be couered with certaine Examples seruinge to that purpose Chap. 3. ONe of the perfectest notes to knowe a Wise man is if he well can couer the Secrete committed to him by an other holdinge euermore his owne affayres cloase and vnknowen Who so of the time paste will reade the Auncient Histories shall finde that a number of vertuous enterprises miste farre and fowly failed of their desired ende in time of Peace as well as also in that of Warre by the onely reuealinge of some deuised Secretes whence infinite mischiefes hastely insued and followed But amonge sundry examples one wée finde excellent and surpassinge the reste as immediatly or directly procéedinge from God who to him selfe so well reserueth his Secretes that he ne reuealeth to any the things that shall happen or betide vs tomorrow as also neither they that liued in the Ages past could at any time Diuine any thinge of the thinges this daye present Whence it is easie for eche man to consider that vnto God him selfe to conceale wel a Secrete is a thing agreant acceptable and pleasinge Who though he haue for mans sake to him discouered some thinge yet to let or preuent his prouident intention was neuer to any Creature yet of any parte possible By meanes whereof the wise and sage in al Ages haue loued and learned to conceale and couer their Secretes Wée reade that Cato the Censour confest oftentimes to his Friendes that he of thrée thinges right often and greuously repented him The first that he to any body had vnfolded his Counsels or Secretes but aboue al others especially vnto a Wooman The seconde that he had paste some iourneys by Sea whiche he more safely might haue past with litle payne by the Lande The third that he idlely and without fruite had spente in his time any one daye The twoo laste merite well of all men to be noted and the firste well aunsweareth to this our present purpose Alexander on a time receiuinge from his Mother certaine letters of importance whiche after he had perused secretely with Ephestion closde vp his lippes with his secrete Seale or Signet geuinge openly thereby to all men to vnderstand that he to whom a man in his Counsels affieth him shoulde euermore haue his mouthe well closde and shutte vp When the Kinge Lisimachus had offered vnto the Poëte Phillipides what so should please him to aske or demaunde he incontinently answeared the greatest good turne that your grace can do mée is not to communicate with me any parte of your Counsels Antonius Sabellicus retcieth to the saide purpose surely a notable and marueilous example In the time of Pope Eugenius saith he the Senate of Venice had a Capitaine named Cremignoll by whose Treason and disloyalty the Army of the Venitians was to their great harme discomfited By meanes whereof the Senatours driuen to further consultation how in what sorte they should deale with this Capitayne some beinge of the opinion presently to sende for him to laye him in hold and to dâ—… iustice on him but others yet then were of opinion contrary In fine therefore this was their conclusion that presently and for that time they woulde dissemble the matter as though they nothinge had felte of his barbarous treacherie attendinge notwithstandinge somme fitter occasion then that mindinge euermore to execute him that so iustly had deserued it This their determination was deferred for the space of eight Moneths duringe whiche time so well could eche man conceale these affaires yée though they were in number many many also moste assured friendes of the saide Cremignoll some poore and of meane condition whiche to haue aduertised him of these newes mighte haue receiued large ample rewardes These thinges not lettinge their passed determination was at the ende of these eight Moneths yet then close and Secrete at whiche time it was decreed that he should come to Venice where the Senate with many woordes with faire countenances receiued him whiche notwithstanding the nexte morninge apprehended him and did him forth with for his disloyaltie to die This then might serue for example vnto al Senatours Iudges Counsellers and others of our time to the end that they better kéepe and conceale their affayres then others some that haue reuealed thinges to their greate hurte shame and detriment To the confusion of which I shall here remember a pleasant discourse recited by Aulus Gellius Noctibus Atticis as also by Macrobius in his Saturnales hath this The Romaine Senatours enteringe into their Senate at Rome accustomed eche one to bringe with him his Sonne and that as soone as he was ones able to go and to the Children of the Nobilitie was graunted this Priuiledge vntill they were fully seuentene yéeres olde to the intente that beholdyng the reuerent order of their Parentes they in time to come afterwarde aduaunsed to ripe Age and fitte for Gouernment might the better be instructed in common and Publike affayres So carefully besides were these Infantes instructed that out of the Senate they neuer discouered or disclosed any thinge It happened on a daie the Senate then sittinge on greate and weighty matters and besides their accustomed howre of departure longer continuynge that their assemble the determination notwithstanding reserued vntill the morrow with straght inhibitioÌ„ that in the meane time no worde were thereof in any respect spoken But amonge other children then that day there present there was one yong boye the Sonne of
life Pythagoras Themistius Boecius and Auerrois with others many learne vs that the influences of naughtie Planetes as if I woulde saie of Saturne whiche at seuerall times ruleth and in seuerall Ages causinge greate chaunges and alterations euery seuenth yéere in sutche sorte that themselues felte the force thereof as well remember Marsilius Ficinus Censorinus and A Gellius supposinge it to be a thinge assuredly vnpossible to passe those yéeres without greate hazarde or alteration of our life estate healthe or complexion So that by this occasion the seuenth yéere the fourtiene the one and twentie the eight and twentie the fiue and thirty the twoo and fortie the niene and fortie and so foorth by order euery seuenth yéere was aboue the others mutche to be feared And farther for that they helde the number of thrée to be of greate importance or efficacie they sayde that thrée times seuen whiche mounte to twentie one was a number aboue all the reste marueilously to be suspected As mutche againe is saide of the niene and fortie yéere for that the number riseth of seuen times seuen But the moste daungerous yéere of all others is the thrée and sixtie for as twenty one riseth of thrée times seuen so sixtie thrée mounte againe of twentie one thrée times or of niene times seuen or seuen times niene whiche numbers be famous and as well knowen so feared of the wise and learned So that when they firste entred the firste daie of the saide yéere they became beyonde the woonted manner very diligent circumspect and curious to preserue their healthe and life by all practised polices taught vs either by experience nature or Phisicke attendinge from daie to daie some daungerous mutation or sudden chaunge of state whiche in déede oftentimes hapneth as well remembereth Iulius Firmicus in his bookes of Astrologie To this pourpose A. Gellius maketh mention of a certaine letter sente by the Emperoure Octauian vnto his Nephew Cassius letting him to wete what ioye he then liued in for that he had escaped the thrée and sixtie yéere and now was entered into the sixtie foure In sutch sorte that he then intended to celebrate his second Natiuitie For these causes thenour Learned Predecessours marueilously feared this aboue rehearsed yéere consideringe that it was the fatall terme assigned by nature vnto many duringe whiche time Aristotle with others renowmed and famous personages died And as I also aboue remembered the number of niene to be perilous so saide they that who so paste the sixtie and thirde yéere should not at all escape the eightie and one yéere for that that yéere riseth of nine times niene At this Age died the diuine Plato the greate and Lcarned Geographer Erastothenes Zenocrates a Platoniste and Prince of the auncient Schooles Diogenes Cinicus with others many the onely honour and bewtie of their time But these things more for experience sake and for that it séemeth vnto many a noueltie haue I writen then that any man should hereon dwell so mutche that he shoulde thinke it of necessitie and a thinge ineuitable although it otherwise be not a matter impertinent ne yet exiled from the lore of reason For as wée sée that diseases complexiōs leaue and ende at times in men and as in most kinde of Creatures téeth growe chaunge fall the voice altereth into a sounde more base or shrill the grasse also or Corne springeth at their tearmes appointed besides infinite other assured effectes operatiōs of nature which obserue their course times without alteration or chaunge so why shoulde wée not in manner semblable beleue that these abouesayde termes of time clymactericall yéeres should haue their proper force in the alteratiō of mans fortune or state of his bodie Why also thinke wée not that mans body is ordered as well by celestiall influence as by any predominant qualitie or humour that by some secrete and hidden operation though man be yet subiecte to the pleasure and will of God who as he hath framed all thinges supernaturally and miraculously yet will he notwithstandinge that his woorkes be naturall these onely excepted whiche by him were wrought contrary to the lawes of Nature by secrete meane inscrutable procéedinges and iudgement ¶ Here endeth the Firste parte of the Collection of Histories ⧠The Seconde parte of the Collection of Histories ¶ What daunger it is to murmer againste Princes as also what commendation they gayne by Clemencie Chap. 1. A Woonted sayinge it is and founde emonge the most auncient Prouerbes Princes haue handes broade and longe cares hence none other thinge at al inferringe but that Kinges and greate states can a farre of reuenge themselues on these that offend them as that they also vnderstande what so of them is spoken in place couerte or secrete For so many are there that séeke to liue in his grace and fauour that on the multitude hath rule and dominion that nothing may be kepte from him either vnknowen or hidden Whence to all men is geuen by the Learned in counsell that of the Prince wée speake in secrete nothinge for that in sutche case the Walles bothe heare and disclose againe our Treasons and Plutarche that the Birdes carry these woordes in the Ayre And farther if it be daungerous to vtter vnto Princes a truthe frankely and boldely what shall wée iudge of them that mutter againste them priuely The examples that a man might to this pourpose alleage are infinite emonge whiche bothe in the Gréeke and Latine Histories wée reade that Antigonus one of the Capitaines and successours of Alexander the greate his Campe not marchinge but arrestinge in open fielde beinge on a night a bedde in his Tente hearde certaine of his Souldiers without passe in traiterous talke against him supposinge not to haue benne vnderstoode of any but he without any farther semblante of wrothe in chaunge of voyce as if he had benne some other bespake them this softely without greate brute or noyse when yée speake any sutche woordes of the Kinge sée that yée goe farther from his Tente least he heare you An other time the saide Antigonus marchinge with his Armye in the deade of the night paste through a place very fowle and mirie his Souldiers almost forweried and tyred by meanes whereof they vttered somme distoyall woordes againste him thinkinge that he had benne farre of and behinde him but he beinge presente and vnderstandinge their treachery not knowen from an other by meanes of the darkenesse after hauinge donne his paine to helpe diuers of them out of the myre that had so liberally talkte against him saide with voice as before well counterfeited speake of the Kinge hardly what so euer you please for that he hath brought you into so watrie a soile but of me you haue good cause to thinke and saye well for that by my helpe you are nowe paste the daunger The patiencie of Phyrrus Kinge of the Epirotes meriteth no lesse to be remembered of the posteritie who when he laye in Italie
in Armes againste the Romaynes bothe he and his whole troupe in the Citie of Taranta he hearde after supper certaine of his yonge Souldiers sittinge at their table to outrage againste him whome when he had caused to be brought before him demaunded whether thei had paste against him in such woordes or not to whom one of them with countenance lesse altered saide Kinge what so euer thou haste charged vs with that all haue wée spoken and farther be thou assured that if the wine had not failed vs wée had yet againe spoken many worse then are these lettinge him thereby for their excuse to vnderstand that the wine in this sorte had forste them to exile from duety and reason At which his woordes Phyrrus waxte not onely angry but rather on the contrary side brake out into a greate laughter sendinge them backe to their lodgynge without any annoye or hurte what so euer The Emperour Tyberius though otherwise a tyranne moste cruell and execrable hath lefte vs also to this pourpose somethinges woorthy memorie for perceiuinge on a time that one had composed an infamous Libel against him and farther that the people with woordes disloyall complained eche where of his excessiue crueltie wherefore perswaded by somme to doe sharpe animaduersion and streight Iustice on them sayde that all Tongues ought to be frée in a Citie then streight againe moued by some of his Councell to make diligent searche and busie inquirie to finde out the Authour of the fore saide Libell whiche he also refused as afore sayinge that he was not yet so voyde of affayres that he would trouble him selfe with so simple a matter Greate also was the Clemencie of Denis tyranne of Sicilia vsed towardes an olde wooman of poore and meane condition for beinge aduertised that shée dayly prayed for the continuance of his Health and Honour sente for her to know the cause why shée so mutche affected his assured state and maintenance consideringe all other his Subiectes desired his deathe generally whereunto shée answeared knowe right mightie Prince that when I was a yonge Mayde there raygned in this Countrie a moste fell and wicked tyranne wherefore I prayed continually to the Gods for his suddaine death destruction by meane whereof in shorte time my requeste was fully accomplished But after him succéeded then an other farre yet more cruell and more blouddy then the firste for whose deathe I neuer lefte on the Gods incessantly to call till it had chaunst to him as to the other aboue saide After bothe these nowe comest thou the woorste of the thrée a Monster in faithe most malicious and lothsome and yet because an other might followe moste detestable of all I neuer leaue to praye for thy health and preseruation wishinge thée many yéeres in healthe to thy contentmente This bolde and hardye answeare naughte gréeued at all this Tyrante nor therefore disdeigned he her that of custome disdeigned al others but pardoned her to goe without annoye or offence When Plato the Father and Prince of all Philosophers had made his longe aboade with this foresaide Denis in the ende required his fauour to passe home againe into his Countrie which obtained the tyranne him selfe in conductinge him of parte out of Sicilia demaunded what he woulde reporte of him at Athens emonge the Philosophers To whom Plato without staie freely and boldely answeared these that liue in Athens are not so idle nor haue they know thou to loose so mutche good time or leasure that they once will inquire either of thée or of thy behauiour Whence although in deede he well perceiued that for his naughtie life he that had onely spoken yet patiently he tooke it not malicinge the partie I remember againe other twoo olde wéemen whiche with like fréedome bespake their Kinges or Princes the one a Macedonian to the King Demetrius Sonne of the aboue remembered Antigonus the other a Romaine to the Emperour Adrian to whom bothe they framed bothe one the same answeare for eche of them crauinge iustice at the Kinges handes receiued for answeare that thei presently coulde not attende on them then sayde they if you maie not vnderstande of our complainte geue ouer then your Crownes to them that will do Iustice which woordes the twoo Princes tooke bothe in better parte acquaintinge themselues with theire cases and did them forth with right Phillippe Kinge of Macedonie taking his leaue of the Embassadours of Athens and offeringe them sutche courtesie as is vsuall in like cases demaunded in the ende whether they would that he should doo any thinge yet for them to whom one of them that had to name Democrates knowinge that he in harte hated the Athenians lesse able to hide that whiche in harte he thought saide wée woulde that thou shouldest goe and hange thy selfe and besides that nothinge At whiche answeare as well al his companions as the others then there presente fearinge the Kinges indignation were not a litle troubled but the Kinge as was his woonted Clemencie or it maie be dissemblinge not alteringe to wrothe in any other manner turned him to the other Embassadours and saide you shall saie to the Athenians from me that he that can supporte these sutche opprobrious woordes hathe mutche more modestie then the sagest of Athens whiche are so litle wise that they know not when nor where to holde their peace Domaratus cōming to sée King Phillip on a time when he was freashly fallen out as well with his wife as with the yonge Prince Alexander of whom amonge other thinges the Kinge at the first demaunded if all the Cities in Greece were in peace and well acquieted But Domaratus that well knewe nothinge was to him more likinge then to heare of perpetuall discorde amonge his Subiectes answeared him right boldely but reuerently withall as well became a subiecte Assuredly Kinge for that you liue disquieted still at home you aske me what dissentions may be in these your Cities abroade but if you were in peace with these your people here it shoulde stande more with your Honour then thus to inquire of the aduersities of others Whereat the Kinge founde not him selfe at all aggreued consideringe that for iuste cause he honestly had reproued him immediately grewe to a perfecte attonement with the Quéene as well as with his Sonne and others In what bolde fréedome and libertie of woordes Diogenes bespake that famous Prince Alexander as also with what modestie and howe he accepted it is euident in the firste parte where something is saide of the life of Diogenes Farther if wée affecte examples of Christians Pope Sixtus the fourth of the order of the orde of sainct Frances maie serue in this place as fittyng to our purpose To whom on a tyme elected and chosen Pope came one of his brethren an olde religious Frier whiche after salutations past to and fro on bothe sides withdrewe hym self with the Bishoppe into his secrete rreasurie where as he shewed his poore brother greate heapes of costlie stones and iuels
last he had taken it It is writen of him that in all his assaultes of any castell or citie he vsually would hang out to be séen of the enimie an Enseigne white for the space of one full daie whiche signified as was then to all men well knowen that if those with in woulde in that daye yelde theim he then woulde take theim to mercie without any their losse of life or goods The seconde daie hee did to bee hanged out an other all redde lettyng theym thereby againe to vnderstande that if they then woulde yelde he onelie then woulde execute Th'officers Magistrates maisters of housholdes and gouernours pardonyng and forgeuyng all others whatsoeuer The thirde daie he euer displaied the thirde all blacke signifiynge therby that he then hadde shutte vp his gates from all compassion and clemencie in such forte that whosoeuer were in that daie taken or in anie other then folowyng shoulde assuredly die for it without any respecte either of man or woman little or greate the Citie to be sackt and burnt withall to ashes whence assuredly it can not be saide but that he was verie cruell though otherwise adorned with many rare vertues But it is to be supposed that god stirred hym vppe an instrument to chastice these princes these proude and wicked natioÌ„s For better proofe whereof Pope Pius whiche liued in his tyme or at leaste eight or tenne yeres after hym reporteth of hym saiyng that on a tyme beseigyng a strong and riche citie which neither on the first or second would yelde to him which only daies were daies of mercie as is aboue saide on the third day neuerthelesse affiyng on hope vncertaine to obtaine at his handes some mercie and pardon opened their gates sendyng forth in order towardes hym all their wemen and children in white appareled bearing eche in their handes a branche of Oliue criyng with haute voice humbly requestynge and demaundyng pardon in maner so pitifull and lamentable to beholde that besides him none other was but woulde haue accepted their solemne submission This Tamburlaine notwithstandyng that beheld theim a farre of in this order issuyng so farre then exiled from all kinde of pitie that he commaunded forthwith a certaine troope of horsemen to ouer runne to murther and kill theym not leauyng one a liue of what condition soeuer and after sackyng the Citie resed it euen vnto the verie foundations A certaine Marchaunte of Genua was then in his campe who had often recourse to him who also vsed hym in causes familiarly and who for that this facte seemed verie bloodie and barbarous hardned hymselfe to demaunde hym the cause why he vsed theim so cruelly considering thei yelded themselues crauing grace pardon to whom he aunswered in most furious wrath and yre his face redde and firie his eyes all flamynge with burnyng spearckles as it were blasing out on euerie side Thou supposest me to be a man but thou to muche abbusest me for none other am I but the wrathe and vengeaunce of God and ruine of the worlde wherefore aduise thée well that thou neuer againe presume to bee founde in any place in my â—ight or presence if thou wilt that I chastice theâ— not accordyng to thy desert and thy proude presumption This Marchaunte with out more then sodenly retired neither after that was at any time seen in the campe of Tamburlaine Those thinges this accomplished this greate and mightie Personage hauyng conquired many countries subdued and done to deathe suudrie Kinges and Princes no where findyng any resistaunce in any parte of all Asia retourned home againe into his countrie charged with infinite heapes of Gold and treasure accoÌ„panied also with the most honourable estates of al the cuÌ„tries subdued by him which brought with theim in like maner the greatest parte also of their wealth and substaunce where he did to be builte a moste famous goodly citie and to be inhabited of those as we fore saied that he brought with hym whiche altogether no lesse honourable then riche in verie shorte tyme with the healpe of Tamburlaine framed the most beautifull and moste sumptuous Citie in the worlde whiche by the multitude of the people was also merueilously inlarged abundaunt and full of al kinde of riches But in the ende this Tamburlaine though he maintained his estate in suche aucthoritie and honour yet as a man in the ende he paieth the debte due vnto nature leauyng behinde hym twoo soonnes not such as was the father as afterwarde appeared by many plaine and euident signes for as well by their mutuall discorde eache malicing the other as also by their insufficiencie with the lacke of age and experience they were not able to kéepe and maintaine the Empire conquired by their father For the children of Baiaceth whom they yet helde as prisoner aduertised of this their discorde and dissention came into Asia with valiaunt courage and diligencie by the aide of suche people as they founde willing to assiste theim recoueryng their possessions and territories fore loste whiche in maner semblable did they other Princes whiche Tamburlaine before had also subdued So that this Empire in prosis of tyme so declined that in our age there remaineth nowe no remembraunce at all of hym ne of his posteritie or linage in what respecte soeuer How be it true it is that Baptista Ignatius a diligent searcher of auncient antiquities reporteth that he leafte twoo soonnes Princes and Protectours of all the countries subdued by hym reachyng and extendynge euen vnto the Riuer of Euphrates as al so their successors after theim euen vntill the tyme of Kinge Vsancasan againste whom the Turke Mahomet waiged some tymes bataile And the Heires of this Vsancasam as most men surmise aduaunced theimselues to the honour and name of the first Sophi wheÌ„ce now is deriued the empire of Sophi whiche liueth this daie as sworne ennimie to the Turke Whiche how soeuer it be it is to be supposed that this historie of Tamburlaine had it of anie been written woulde haue been a matter worthie both of penne and paper for that greate exploytes no doubte were happily atchiued of hym but as for me I neuer founde more then I here presently haue writen neither suppose I that any other thinge is of anye other man writen this onely excepted where on all men accorde that he neuer sawe the backe or frounyng face of fortune that he neuer was vanquished or put to slighte by any that he neuer tooke matter in hande that he brought not to the wished effect and that his corage and industrie neuer failed hym to bryng it to good ende By meanes whereof we maie for iuste cause compare hym with any other whatsoeuer though renoumed in tymes past This then that I here geue you that al haue I borrowed of Baptista Fulgotius Pope Pius Platina vppon the life of Boniface the ninth of Mathew Palmier and of Cambinus a Florentine writyng the historie and exploytes of the Turkes Of many lakes and fountaines the waters of
notwithstandyng for his vertue and honestie was assigned by the Romaines their soueraigne and Emperour and afterward to giue example to others of lowe condition he caused the Shoppe to bée doen about with Marble curiously cutte where his father before hym wrought to gette his liuyng Neither asspired this Elius issued of base parentage vnto the Empire onely for Diocletian that so muche adorned Rome with his magnificall and triumphaunte victories was the soonne of none other then a common Scribe or Notarie some faie that his father was a booke binder and hymself a bonde man borne Valentinian was also crouned Emperour but was the soonne notwithstandyng of a Roper The Emperour Probus had to father a gardiner The renoumed Aurelius whom euery age honoureth issued out of so obseure a familie that the historiegriphers lesse agrée emong theim selues of his spryng and beginnyng Maximinus also was the soonne of a Smithe or as others some will a Carter Marcus Iulius Lucinus as also Bonosus by their prudente policie gouerned the saied Empire of whiche the firste was an housband mannes soonne of Dacia the other the soonne of a poore and stipendarie schoole maister Of this sorte was there many other Emperours in Rome whom all for breuities sake I leaue to remember as Mauricius Iustinus predecessour to Iustinian Galeâ—…s also in the beginnyng a Shepherde From this haute and supreme dignitie let vs descende to the â—…a of Rome vnto which asspired men of like condition with the others As Pope Ihon the twoo and twenteth whiche was the soonne of a Shoomaker a Frenche man borne â–ª notwithstandyng for his learnyng and wisedome elected bishoppe which increased their rentes and patrimonie busily Pope Nicholas the fifte hauyng the name tofore of Thâ—mas was the soonne of a poore Pâ—… Pâ—pâ— â–ª Sâ—… â—…he fowerth first called Frances by professioÌ„ a frier had to father a poore sea man or mariner I could in this place remeÌ„ber many others whoÌ„ al of purpose I leaue to name for that suche offices are lesse due to nobilitie of blood but rather to the learned vertues what so euer Whereof Christ himself hath left vs good exaÌ„ple for the first that euer satte in that chaire whom also Christ himself there placed was that good and true pastour S. Peter which before laboured the seas for his liuyng a Fisher whom from thence Christ elected to bée a fisher of men Hence descendyng againe vnto kynges and Princes the Romaines to them chose Tarquinius Priscus for their kyng the soonne of a straunger and marchaunte of Corinthe and that which more was banished out of his countrie who neuer the lesse augmented the confines of his king dome the number as well of Senatours as also theim of the order of knighthoode he appoincted newe estates bothe for their seruice and ceremonies to the goddes so that the people nothyng at all repented theim to haue chosen them a straunger for their kyng and soueraigne Seruius Tullius liued also longe tyme kyng of Rome he obtained greate victories and triumphed thrée tymes reputed notwithstandyng to bée the soonne of a poore bonde woman whence he continually held the name of Seruius The kynges of Lumbardie if thei were not so aunciente as the others of Rome yet were thei in respecte no lesse famous then thei The thirde of whiche hauyng to name Lamusius was the sonne of a beggerly and common strumpette whiche also beyng deliuered at the same tyme of twoo other childreÌ„ as a moste wretched and beastly woman threwe them into a depe and stinkyng ditche in whiche also was some kinde of water by happe kyng Agelmonde passyng that waie found this childe almoste drouned in the water and mouyng hym soughtly with the ende of his launce whiche he at that tyme had presente there in hande to the ende he more perfectely might féele what it was but this childe euen then newely borne féelyng it self touched taketh hold of the launce with one of his handes not lettyng it to slippe or slide froÌ„ him againe whiche thing the prince consideryng all amased at the straunge force of this yonge little creature caused it to bée taken thence and carefully to bée fostered and for that the place where he founde it was called Lama he did hym thence to bée named Lamusius whiche afterwardes was suche a one and so fauoured of Fortune that in the ende he was crouned kyng of the Lumbardes who liued there in honour and his succession after hym euen vntill the tyme of the vnfortunate kyng Albouine when all came to ruine subuersion and destruction An other matter like straunge to this happened in Bohemia where as one Primislas the soonne of a Plough manne was then chosen kyng when he moste busily was labouryng the soile in the fielde For at that tyme the Bohemians not knowyng whom thei might chuse for their kyng did to passe out a horse vnbridled into the fieldes lettyng hym to go whether it best liked him hauing all determined with moste assured purpose to make him their king before whoÌ„ this horse arrested so came it theÌ„ to passe that the horse first staied hym before this Primislas busied then in turnyng the gleabe a simple Carter so beyng forthwith confirmed as is before their soueraigne he ordered hym self and his kyngdome very wisely He ordained many good and profitable lawes he coÌ„passed the citie of Prage with walles besides many other thynges merityng perpetuall laude and commendation The greate Tamburlaine also whose famous exploites are of parte aboue remeÌ„bred was at the first a Shepherde as we before rehearsed The valiaunte and vertuous capitaine father of Frances Sforca whose succession and posteritie euen vntill this our tyme haue béen Dukes continually of Millaine was borne in a badde village called Cotignoll the sonne of a poore and nedie worke man but he naturally inclined to Martiall affaires of a valiaunt harte very couragious left that his fathers simple vocation folowyng a troope of soldiars whiche past through the couÌ„trie and in th' ende by continuaunce and skilfull practise proued a moste famous and renoumed capitain C. Marius a Consull Romaine issued of simple parentage borne in the village Arpinum was neuer the lesse suche and so politike a capitaine that all the worlde yet speaketh this daie of his valiauncie he seuen tymes was chosen Consull in Rome duryng whiche tyme he obtained suche and so greate victories that he also twise to his perpetuall honour and commendation triumphed M. T. Cicero the father and prince of Latine eloquencie well skilled also in euery the Sciences was Consull in Rome and Proconsul in Asia and yet was he also borne in a simple cotage in Arpinum by birthe and parentage a very meane and abiecte Romaine Ventidius also the soonne of a moste simple and abiecte personage was some tymes by profession a Muletour but leauyng that vocation followed the warres of Caesar by whose fauor he obtained through his prowes and vertue that he shortly was appoincted capitaine of a bande and
prosperously succéede with hym that busily adored or reuerenced this fortune but vnto hym that sacrificed not ne appeased her by offerynges all thynges should goe amisse where he so theim attempted And of all these abuses the deuell hymself was auther to that intent onely thei should repose their whole hope and affiaunce still in him as happened some times for proofe therof to Galba who for that he had taken awaie a coller of Golde from this Image of Fortune to dedicate the same or offer it to Venus as is reported in sundrie good histories fortune the saied night immediatly then folowyng appeared vnto hym with dreedfull wordes minasing wherof he also died or many daies expired The vanitie of this people was suche then and so aucthorised that they yet had also an other Image of fortune semely bearded imaginyng all those that had her in especiall adoration shoulde haue verie faire beardes well coloured and well growen but those that disdained her or none at all or the contrarie All these thinges did they for diuersitie of respectes and considerations in her and withall to signifie her omnipotēcie or power which they déemed all she had purtraiyng her in sundrie and diuers sortes a goddesse The philosopher Cebes depainted her in the shape or figure of a woman but as furious with al blinde and with out féeling mounted on a roūde stone denotyng her instabilitie Vupal was the firste in Gréece that framed any shape or purtraite of fortune in the toune of Smirna which he depainted with a veale vpon her head hauing in her hande a horne of abūdance The Scithians purtraied her a woman without feete hauyng not withstandyng both handes and winges Others some fashioned her with the stearne of a shippe in one hande as also with the foresaied horne of abundance in the other thence inferring that shee had dominiō ouer all disposing all thinges throughout the worlde as was to her roiall maiestie best séemyng Some others againe of fine and brittle glasse because she was so fickle with out all holde or staie Others also depainted her turnyng of a wheele on the highest parte of which some presently were placed some also were climbyng as thoug they would get vp some also fallyng into ruine and dispaire One also resembleth her not vnaptly to a Commedie in whiche some enter at tymes with countenance of kinges and greate Personages and streight againe chaungyng their habite or apparell put on the faces or countenaunces of bondmenne for that in this life wée haue none other suretie to daie to liue in pompe to morowe in rācke beggerie Socrates compared her to a common place or theater without order where commonly it happened the worthiest in déede to be eftsones worst placed Others some againe purtraied her all blinde and to this purpose Apuleus hath these woordes in his golden Asse For iust cause did our elders depainte Fortune blind for continually she giueth to the lesse vertuous and vnhoneste neuer for his demerites preferryng any persone voide of all election or distinction of menne for vertue aduauncyng the ribaulde and the gracelesse tretcherer whom if she had iyes to beholde or to consider she then would flie in haste from these her accursed dearlynges Infinite is the number of aucthorities that might be alleaged concernyng the names or titles that haue béen of many assigned vnto Fortune Valerius and Claudian letted not to call her dispitefull and enuious Ouidius in fastis right mightie and puissaunte but in his Epistles accursed and dispitefull Iuuenall in his Satires froward and peruerse Lucian traiterous and periured Siluius Italicus false and subtile Virgill in one place nameth her omnipotēt and almightie but in others again inconstaunte vnfaithfull and disloiall Cicero of whom we also aboue some thing remembred who also then accoumpted her a Princes moste of might and guide also to them that would or did liue iustly saieth that nothing is so contrary to reason and to constancie as is thesame Fortune And yet for all this the vanitie of the auncient Romaines was suche and so greate that thei stil adored her whom thei knewe to bee blinde falce instable and inconstaunte dedicatyng to thesame bothe sumptuous and costly Temples vowyng theim selues so busily to these superstitions that the Emperours theim selues had euermore the Image of Fortune in their sleapyng chambers But when any of theim died the same was then transported into the chamber of his successor The firste that framed a Temple to Fortune in Rome was Seruius Tullius as recordeth Liue the sixte kyng by order and iuste accoumpte of the Romaines though Plutarche in his booke of the fortune of the Romaines affirme that it was Marcius the fowerth kyng there whiche framed as is euidente a Temple to virill Fortune Seruius notwithstandyng gaue Fortune all these names to witte of valiaunte Fortune little Fortune prosperous Fortune aduerse Fortune triumphaunte Fortune with others more suche to these the like and semblable to euery of whiche he dedicateth a parte a riche a faire and asumptuous temple The first of virile or rather valiaunte Fortune stoode nigh vnto Tyber where all yonge maidens that were of age mariagable came to offer their presentes with all reuerence and deuotion in whiche Temple thei also did of all their apparell all naked saue their smocke before this Idoll of Fortune discoueryng their me heames and eche their deformities if thei had any priuie imperfection immaginyng that this Idoll would assuredly conceale it and so for theim woorke by some secrete vertue that those thaut should marrie theim should neuer at all perceiue it that whiche Ouide reporteth in his Fastis And as this Empire grewe still to be more greate and puissaunte so grewe this fonde deuotion throughout emong the Romaines erectyng to her Temples accordyng to the difference or diuersitie of her names and this not onely in Rome or other tounes aboute it but in euery the partes what so euer of all Italie In fine then must we thinke that all these vanities with many others the semblable whiche maie in this place bée remembred to this purpose was a plain illusion and deception of men walkyng in darkenesse affiyng and trustyng in their owne proper wisedome For what so euer is dwellyng in this worlde in heauen I meane in yearth or els belowe in hell thei still are and procede from the inscrutable prouidence and wisedome of GOD neither is it Fortune chaunce or aduenture for that all in him haue cause of their beyng by hym thei also holde their course and eke their order And againe though many of vs bee founde of so grosse a féelyng or vnderstandyng that wee either hardly or not at all perceiue the increase or successe of thynges not to be of Fortune but that what so euer is or any waie multiplieth the same to issue and procede from the principall firste and chief cause God maker creatour and gouernour of all whiche for an assured veritie we muste acknowledge and imbrace that would or doe desire to be
curious and more absolute then at any tyme heretofore in what age so euer Concernyng which matter Quintilian giueth some rules not lesse worthie to bee obserued as also the learned Erasmus in his booke of good and perfect pronunciation But of this kinde of hande writyng will I onely speake by the sole meanes of whiche as hath the said Erasmus certaine blinde menne haue learned orderly to write Thei did to bee made a table of Porphire of bone or otherwise of mettall in whiche was ingraued euery the letters as a. b. c. c. then tooke thei in hande some small and pretie instrumente at the poincte very fine sharpe and subtile suche and so well fined that with ease thei might drawe it through euery the aboue saied letters their handes at first by some other wel directed whiche thyng by long practise thei shall in the ende conceiue hauyng the true forme of eche letter in minde folowyng it still with continuall vse and industrie by little and little shall in the ende growe so perfecte that afterward thei shall bee able to frame them on any other matter where though thei some tymes faile yet commonly and for the moste parte thei shal doe it well And thus in fine thei maie write in paper by iuste order and proportion what so euer either offereth it self to the minde or phantasie Of the first Libraries that euer were in the worlde and how the men of that tyme vsed to haue the Images or purtraites of the learned in theim Chap. 3. IT is to be thought that the firste bookes and libraries that euer were in the worlde were in the beginnyng among the Hebrues for as it is euideÌ„t that letters were there first knowen and the perfect vse of theim so is it to be supposed that they also had some care to kéepe and preserue that which they at any time had committed to writing That whiche is as well verified by the aucthoritie of Iosephus here after alleaged as also by that wee reade in holy write Isidorus reporteth that after the Chaldians hadde burned the library of the Hebrues with all and euerie their bookes of the lawe the Hebrues being retourned backe againe into Hierusalem the prophet Esdras illumined by the holy ghoste remedied this harme writyng againe these bookes and reducing theim into the number of twentie two which was the precise number of the letters of their Alphabet Whence it is manifest that after Moyses had written the Hebrues incontinently framed to theim selues a library for the better conseruation of the saied bookes of their lawe as well these I meane that wee presently haue of the olde Testament as also the others of which we before remembred among whiche was the booke of Enoch alleaged or sited by sainct Iude the Apostle in his Epistle aboue specified the boke of the warres of our sauiour wherof mentioÌ„ is in the twenty and one chapiter of the booke of Numbers the booke also of the true seruauntes of God vouchte in the seconde booke and firste Chapiter of the kinges the booke of Samuel the prophet remembred in the last Chapiter of Paralipomenon the booke of Nathan the Prophet with many others which all séemed to haue bien brunt or other wise consumed So that it appeareth euidently that the Iewes had their libraries and that those of the Gentiles were after theÌ„ and later The Gréekes report that the firste that euer ordained any publike library was Pisistratus tyranne of Athens whiche after was augmented and inricht by the Athenians whither when as Xerxes after warde came he remoued the library thence into Persia where it was diligently and carefully preserued vntill longe tyme after that Seleucus named Nicanor gatte them thence and brough theim backe againe to Athens These thinges are reported of Aulus Gellius and Isidorus whiche both affirme that this library grewe daily after this to be verie riche of all bookes of what sort so euer How be it the library of Alexandria in Egypte whiche king Ptolomiâ— by his onely meanes framed was assuredly the moste excellenst of all others in the world for that there in was founde all the olde Testament the other scriptures also of the seuentie two interpreters with infinite others famous and learned workes Pâ—inie not withstandyng againe reporteth that the kynge Eumenes in contempte of Ptolomie did an other to be erected in the Citie of Pergama A. Gellius and Am. Mercellinus writte that in the library at Alexandria in Egypte were at one tyme seuen hundren thousande bokes Seneca in like sort on the number accordeth with theim whiche althogh it might seme almoste incredible yet who so hath redde of the sumptuous larges and excessiue profutioÌ„ of the kinges of Egypte as well about sepulchers Piramides temples as also other common buildyngs and shippes with infinite suche others of inestimable price some parte of the whiche Budeus in his annotations on the pandectes verie well remembereth vs and Lazarus of Baif in hys booke intituled ars naualis reporteth that this librarie séemed nothing to hym impossible From euery parte and corner of the worlde bookes were daily brought to the better furnishyng of this library written also in all tongues what so euer then knowen of which none had any charge but suche as were beste learned Some for the poetes some for histories others some also for the others of other faculties and sciences whiche all were wasted and consumed with fier by the impacable fury of the Soldiours of Caesar whiche euen thether followed and pursued the great and mighty Pompe ouerrunning also at that same tyme the force of Ptolomie brother to Cleopatra Concerning that other so riche of bookes and so famous by the paine and labour of Eumenes in Pargama Plutarche in the life of Marcus Antonius saieth that he thether had gathered two hundred thousand volumes euery one from other of sundrie and diuers matters As touchyng the library in Grece Strabo affirmeth that Aristotle was the first that euer gathered or brought together any bookes in Athens where in he lesse accordeth with other historiogriphers whiche attribute the commendation of that so honest a dimerite onely to Pisistratus whiche was as is euident many yeres before Aristotle wherefore we muste in this place vnderstande that Strabo mente his wordes of a meane and priuate personage and not of king or prince as was in effecte Pisistratus Howbeit very likely it is that Aristotle herein was aided by the busie paine of Alexander After all these an other was erected in Rome both publike and common by Asinius Pelion But the first that euer brought greate store of boakes thether was Paulus Emilius after the conqueste of Perseus And after hym againe L. Lucullus which he brought among other thinges as a praie out of Pontus Iulius Caesar againe with like care inrichte thys library committyng it to the charge or kéepyuge of M. Varro whiche afterwardes with some others in Rome was brunte destroyed by meanes of the often sackyng and subuersion
be in déede for causes iuste his inferiour little accoumptyng of the others were thei though in truthe greate Lordes and Rulers Againe we sometymes sée twoo men so straungely affectioned that the one voweth hym self to the will and aduice of the other whiche oftsones hath happened betwixte the seruaunte and maister so that by nature it séemeth the order of reason inuerted that the vassaule was the better no reason to bée giuen of so greate a disorder In case semblable suche subiection poudered sometymes with malicious enmitie bothe is and chaunceth emong birdes also as betwixte the Eagle and the Swanne the Crowe and the Kite whiche at times hardneth her self to take a preie from the Crowe euen out of her folded foote or pinchyng pawes sliyng Like enmitie is also betwixte the Chough and the Kite the Egle also and the Goose in suche sorte that if you laie but one feather of an Egle emong many or in a heape of these of a Goose that one wasteth and consumeth all the others to nothyng The Harte is mortall enemie vnto the Snake for with his vehemente respiration aboute her hole he draweth the Snake out by force of his breath onely and without more incontinently deuoureth hym for proofe whereof who so pleaseth to burne onely some small parte or portion of his horne shall finde that no Serpent will abide the smell thereof The Crowe the Asse and Bulle in like sorte disagrée whose iyes the Crowe still beaketh and laboureth to plucke out The birde called Flore skilfully counterfaiteth the braiyng of a Horse by meanes whereof he as commonly feareth the horse as the horse by the same meanes feareth also hym Greate enemies to the Woulfe is the Foxe the Asse and the Bulle betwixt the Vultur also and the Ele nature hath proclaimed continuall warre and hostilitie The mightie Lion dreadeth and feareth the Cocke he also flieth the sighte of fire and the noice of a carte the Panther in like sorte the presence of the Hinde the Scorpion pursueth with fatall enmitie the Tarentula whiche in Latin we maie call Falanga whose venime when he hath bitten any mā is no waie as some write cured but by pleasant harmonie and Musicke and the malice of these twoo beastes is suche and so impacable that who also is stonge or bitten of the Scorpion findeth presente remedie in that oile where the Tarentula or Falanga hath tofore béen drouned The monsterous and houge Elephante bothe feareth and flieth the simple Serpent he trembleth at the presence and sight of a shepe he by no meanes indureth the grunnyng of a Hogge The Horse Asse or Moile with greate paine abideth to sée the We sell the Snite or woode Cocke hardly dwelleth in the sight of the house Cocke There is a kinde of Faucons whiche Aristotle calleth Tico that liueth in continuall warre and enmitie with the Fox neuer missing to fight with him where he so at any tyme findeth hym Elian mindeth vs or incessante malice betwixte an other sorte of Faucons called Pelagra and the Crowe betwixte the Crowe againe also and the harmeles Turtle Betwixt the Oule and the Curlue in fine betwixt the partridge and the Tortuis The Pelican aboue all other birdes hateth the Quaile and the Horse without comparison with moste pain indureth the shamois Like enmitie is also naturallye emong fishes the Crabbe maie not abide in cōpanie with the Oister the Dolphin and the Whale slie eche the other the Cunger naturally hateth the Lampraie and Oister The Oister on the Ele hath suche a predomināt and malicious force and the Ele in suche sorte abhorreth and feareth hym that if by happe she ones sée hym she incontinently dieth thereof The Pike fatally prosecuteth the fishe of some called Mongilla or Mugra the Snake beholding a man appareiled wisheth him harme and hardeneth her self as she maie to bite and annoye hym but seyng the same naked feareth againe and flieth hym The Ratte or Mouse rather is to the Snake an auncient enemie as well when she is busied in couching her Egges as also in the Winter when she lieth deepe hidden in the intrailes of the yearth by meanes whereof the Snake to liue in more securitie heapeth togither in her hole good store of prouision meates fitte and wel pleasyng her aduersarie the Mouse to the intente that the Mouse beyng well fedde therewith she at that time might forget her farther rage and malice The Woulfes malice towardes the Shepe is suche and so naturall that if you make a drumme of the skinne of a Woulfe the Shepe with no lesse feare flieth the sounde thereof then if the Woulfe were liuyng and present then before hym Farther also some others affirme that if you make any stringes for the Viall or Lute of the guttes as well of the Shepe as of the Woulfe also you neuer shall accorde them or frame thence any harmonie If ye hange the skinne of a Woulfe either in your stable or Shepehouse or where your flocke is fodthered the sighte and feare thereof forceth theim to forget their feedyng The Mouse by a secret proprietie so muche enuieth the Scorpion that whom so euer he impoisoneth is by clappyng of a Mouse on the parte affected cured The Viper and Snake dread meruailously the Crabbe whiche naturally hath ouer these wormes suche assured maisterie that if a hogge by happe should be bitten of the Viper he immediately expelleth the poison hauyng eaten of the Crabbe Besides whiche moste straunge is as sone as the Sunne entreth into the signe of Cancer all Serpentes then languishe as sicke of some maladie The fishe called Scorpio and the Crocodile wage continuall battaile eche killyng still the other The Panther in suche sorte feareth the Ounce that as some write he suffereth hymself to be slaine of hym without any kinde of resistance and also if you hang the Panthers skinne in that place where you kéepe the Ounce the Panthers skinne will then pill waste and consume Suche is the enmitie also of the Chough and the Dawe that as Aristotle reporteth eche robbeth and destroieth the others Egges The Waspe liueth in continuall warre with the Spider as doeth the Ducke also with the Mouse or Ratte eche séekyng to deuoure and eate the others yonge ones The Kite continually malliceth and hateth the Foxe There is a small kinde of Haukes whiche Plinie calleth Esalon whiche with fatall enmitie pursueth still the Crowe he searcheth out her neste and destroieth her egges The hogge hardly indureth the presence of the wesell The Woulfe and Lion are enemies so contrary that the blood of the one will not bee mixte with the other The Mole or Wante so disliketh of the Ante that he abideth not in the place where the others bee The Spider wageth priuie warre against the Serpent and as Plinie reporteth doeth hym shamefully to dye Besides all these emong thynges also voide and lackyng life like repugnancie or contrarietie of nature is to be found for as wee firste saied oile is enemie to Pitche for
to order our houses to be merie and liberall towardes our famely and charge the Cocke well instructeth vs in this place with his example for he geueth out again of his owne mouth meate to his hennes and farther to cherishe and keepe theim leaueth not to expose hymselfe to euerie kinde of daunger The greate obligation of all children to wardes their parentes and in what sorte thei ought both to serue and succour theim the Storke most plainlie and most euidētly she weth vs whiche lodge in their neastes foster and prouide for their olde their weake and their foible parentes as thei by them were fostered and fedde in their youth Why shameth not man to fainte through feare or timiditie consideryng the Lions prowis and inuincible courage Faithe amitie with the perpetuall recordation or memory of a good turne reast or dwell cōtinually in the dogge whiche neuer forgetteh his maister whom he hath serued loueth and falloweth hym neuer leauyng to be thanckful for the breade that he hath receiued Man that would profite hymselfe by the vse of an other mannes goodes without his hurte or domage must so there in learne to ordre and beare hym selfe as doth the litle Bée whiche draweth Honie out of the flowers without offēce or annoy in any wise doen to them The order and meane that man shoulde vse for the preseruation of his health is not only geuen vs of one beast but sufficiently of many which knowe what foode may annoie or greue theim chaungyng from place to place as occasion and tyme of the yere requireth inhabityng places agreyng to their complexion and nature passyng man here in as also in all other thinges Whie refuseth manne to learne and to be instructed in these thinges of whiche he is ignorant hauyng vnderstandyng and euery his senses Whie leaueth he any thing lesse assaide or vnatempted the Elephante practiseth that which is taught hym the Dogge by paine becommeth skilfull in many thinges and the birde in fine by long watche is taught to prate or to speake Who so hireth the Nighttingale with her diuersitie of notes eake also manie other birdes like pleasaunt and sweete how is it that he lesse pleaseth in the skille of musike Why practiseth not manne to bee exquisite in all kinde of buildynges consideryng how artificially the litle Swallowe frameth to her a lodgyng with what diuersitie of matter she fortifieth and strenghneth it What better proportion is vsed in Geometrie then that whiche vseth the litle poore Spider what Astrologian diuineth better of the chaūge of weather then doth the Ante or the fishe which is called Vranoscopos as hath Galen whose eye so standeth that the euermore loketh vpwardes Why prognosticate not men and why iudge thei not of these matters How many other excellencies and perfections are in beastes of whiche menne haue some learned and daily yet do learne The firste inuention to make holes or passages through the yerth as also the firste knowledge of that place to be habitable manne receaued at the beginnyng from the Badger and the Foxe The maner and facion to twist and make silke man hath learned and receaued of the little worme whiche in latine is called commonly Seres by meanes whereof we now twist woll and other thinges After this of the Spider manne also learned to spinne thréede and of hym to make Nettes to deceaue and take birdes Of beastes also hath manne learned to swimme in the water for no one is there of them that swimmeth not but mā naturally vnapte therto by long paine some thing profiteth there in Howe we by theim are skilled in some experimētes in phisicke is els where saide as also some what of the alteration and chaunge of the weather and yet on theim féede we onely in our necessitie and hunger in suche sorte that I knowe not howe we possibly might leaue theim Of their skinne heare and wolle we frame to vs apparel from straunge countries thei bring to vs what so we haue néede of and being so necessarie force man there to seke theim They labour and turne the earth whēce we reape our breade and most parte of other fruictes so that they be the chefe staie and sustentation of mans life and althogh thei bee ouerlaboured by vs beaten and hardly vsed yet neuer leaue thei to be obedient to knowe and to followe vs In battaile oftentimes they not onely fight but die for vs and in tyme of peace they serue in euerie our vses But speake we now how thei profite the minde or the soule a matter then the other of greater weight and importance Now whence then shall man take better or more examples for vertuous life or perfection in maners thē he may from many and sundry kindes of beastes All these vertues which philosophers haue so carefully leaft vs are founded on similitudes and parables of beastes Oratours to perswade drawe from theim comparisons as also all others that haue well and eligantly written GOD hymselfe and his sainctes moste vsually in holy wréete and most commonly instructe vs by the maners and conditions of rude and brute beastes leadyng vs to perfection and integritie of life willyng manne to bée prudent as is the Serpent simple also as is the Doue meke and gentle as is the Lambe strong again and constante as is the Lion. This then by the examples of mute and dull beastes we are taught to be men resonable and spirituall We also finde many offices and estates of the Churche applied and compared to beastes accordyng to their propertie By the Oxe as hath Sainct Augustine on the seconde of Ihon are signified these that publishe and preache the sacred scriptures And accordyng to this interpretation saithe he the Prophetes and the Apostles were reputed as Oxen but suche as did labour and husebande our soules sowyng and plantyng in theim the true worde of god Saincte Paule and also Salomon in his prouerbes saieth thou shalt not mousell the mouth of the Oxe that trauaileth The holy doctours and preachers of the woorde whiche with their lawes and doctrine gouerne and defende the Churche are eftesones termed by the name of Dogges whiche Saincte Gregorie affirmeth writyng on these woordes of Iob Quorum nō dignabar patres ponere cū canibus gregis mei The same Saincte Gregorie also moueth vs to a contemplatiue life if not for other cause yet by that sole example and imitation of the goate which continually climeth vppe in to high and haute places passyng as it were there hys tyme in contemplation vtteryng to that purpose these woordes of Leuiticus out of the troope lette the Goate be offered And againe he saieth that the true preachers should imitate the Cocke groundyng on these wordes of Iob where he saieth who hath geuen intelligence to the Cocke adding that as the Cocke so preache they in the darkenes and in the shaddowe of this life the light and cōforte of the life to come wakyng vs with their admonitions and remouing vs from sleape criyng
dombe shall speake and laude his name freely and againe somwhat before with fiue loaues and twoo fishes he shall fede fiue thousande menne in the deserte and that whiche shall remaine shall also refreashe the hungerie nede of others The seconde by report was borne in Libya of whom mention is made by Euripides in his Prologue of Lamia The thirde hight Themis and was surnamed Delphica for that she was borne in the Citée Delphos of whom remembreth Chrysippus in his booke of Diuination Vnto this woman the Romaines erected an Image whiche was as recordeth Plinie before the destruction of Troie so that Homere in his workes hath sundrie and diuers of her vearses as is euident Diodorus Siculus saith that this was Daphne the doughter of Tiresias whoÌ„ when the Grekes had subdued Thebes thei sent her foorthe immediately and without staie to Delphos where she after became a prophetesse in the Oracle of Apollo so that she thence as he supposeth and not otherwise gatte the name of Delphica The fowerth had to name Cumea or Italienna and not Cumana Amaltea she was borne in Cimeria a toune of Campania adioinyng vnto Cumae whose prophesies are written as well by Neuyus in his bookes Punici as also by Pison in his annalies and briefly remembred by Lactantius by Virgil also in his Eglogue this beginning Scicilides musae The first was that famous Erythrea whiche by the especiall grace of God so plainly prophesied of the greateste misteries of our religion wherefore as hath Lactantius the Gentiles in the ages paste supposyng it impossible that a virgine should heare a childe as also other thynges supernaturall whiche thei in like sorte wrote remembred as well by old Poetes as also in aunciente histories accompted of these vearses none otherwise theÌ„ of light vain and fonde matters Apolodorus writeth of this Sibyll that she fore saied to the Grekes that thei assuredly should sacke and ouer runne Troie whence moste suppose she was before the destruction thereof How be it Eusebius contrariwise thinketh that she liued in the tyme of Romulus Strabo againe in the daies of Alexander Of this Erythrea were these woordes recited by Eusebius whiche in order translated sounde in Englishe this muche Iesus Christe the soonne of God and Sauiour Whiche was in deede no lesse straunge then meruailous Others also wrote she whiche Sainct Augustine gathereth in his eightenth De ciuitate dei which dooen by hym into Latine maie in our tongue saie this muche The yearth shall sweate an assured signe of iudgemente from heauen shall come a kyng whiche shal be kyng continually but cladde in mannes fleshe to the intente he maie iudge the worlde so shall the incredulous see aswell as shall the faithfull and with their iyes shall boholde God hymself aduaunced in the middle of his angelles and in the ende of this worlde the soules of men shall appeare with their owne proper bodies whiche all hym self shall iudge presente then in persone at whiche tyme the yearth shall bee brused and disordered Menne shall then destroie bothe Images and Idolles their iuels eke and treasures shall thei not accompte of he shall goe doune into helle and breake vp the infernall gates then to the iuste shall ioye and peace bee lotted and fire shall tormente still the reprobate and impious All secretes shall in this daie bee discouered euery man shall knowe the thoughtes of an other God then shall laie open the hartes and consciences of all fleshe there shall bee weepyng and gnashyng of teethe the Sunne and the Starres in that daie shall bee darkened the heauens them selues shall breake and the Moone shall lose her lighte the mountaines shall fall doune and the valies shall lie euen with the swellyng hilles nothyng in the whole worlde shall higher bee then other bothe mountaines and valaies shall be reduced into plaines eche thyng hauyng in that daie his endyng the yearth shall be skorchte vp and brought then to pouder bothe riuers and sprynges shall in that daie burne and with that fire also the yearth it self the sea and the aire shall be consumed a trumpette then from heauen moste terriblie shall sounde at which voice the yearth incontinentely shall open discoueryng the obscure and disordered face of helle the paines eke and the smartes of the damned soules therein By this Sibyll these and many others were written at large in vearse plainly declaryng Christe hym selfe incarnate with the resurrection of the dedde and the finall iudgemente But these thynges before thei came to passe in déede of fewe might or could in any wise bee vnderstode reputed for meare follie of the Panimes and the Gentiles Notwithstandyng Erithrea well knowyng what was to come lefte not this muche to saie in like sorte of her self vaine shall thei accoumpte me a light and liyng dame But when these thynges shall bee accomplished then shall thei remember me againe not as a detyng or as a senslis wight but as a true southsaier or prophetisse of the higheste From this Sibyl Erithrea the Romaines at tymes receiued many vearses whiche Fenestella with silence passeth not in his fiftene Forces saiyng that by ordinaunce of the Senate thei sente Ambassadours vnto her onely to haue if it so might please her of her prophesies whiche froÌ„ her brought backe papers in greate number whiche were bothe carefully and curiously reserued in the Capitoll emongste others some whiche thei also had receiued before This womaÌ„ was of Erithrea a toune of Ionyum in the Prouince of the lesse Asia adioinyng vnto Caria whiche I would the reader should certainlie vnderstande for that many other tounes are also of this name as one in Libia an other in Boecia the third in Locris the fowerth in Cyprus but to assure vs that she was of this Erithrea in IonyuÌ„ Strabo maie onely in this place suffice The sixt Sibyll was of PhytoÌ„ a toune in the Isle of Samos inuironed with the sea Egeum borderyng on Thrace or as others some suppose in that other Isle of Samos coÌ„passed with the saied sea right against Ephesus for which cause she had to name Silia Samia of which remembreth Eâ—atosthenes The seuenth was Cumana otherwise Amaltea how bee it some others gaue her to name Demophila Suidas termeth her Hierophila neuer the lesse Cumana was she called for that she bothe dwelt and prophesied in the toune of Cumas in Italie not farre of from Baias Of this woman writeth Dyonisius Halicarnasleus Solinus Aulus Gellius Seruius she brought to be sold to Tarquine the proude kyng of the Romaines nine bookes though Suidas otherwise suppose that it was to Tarquimus Priscus for whiche she demaunded three hundred Crounes or other peeces of golde suche as might be or was in Rome at that tyme moste currante but for that the kyng thought her therein vnreasonable he refused vtterly these her offered marchaundises by meanes whereof incontinently she did three of theim in his presence to be burned not leauyng therefore to aske
againe the whole price for the other sixe whiche thyng the kyng disdainyng more then then at the firste began to deride her chargyng her with follie whence she again taketh others three and as the first so burned them immediatly demaunding for the remnante the whole price of the nine where at and at whose constancie the kyng then muche amased imagining that thei contained some straunge and hidden misteries bought these three at the price of all the others whiche afterwarde were laied vp and reserued in the Capitoll in meruailous honour and reuerence of all the people Plinie writeth that she had but thre in all of whiche she burned as he reporteth twoo receiuing notwithstanding for the third the value of theÌ„ all but how so euer it were it sufficeth that these bookes were had in suche greate reuerence so kepte and reserued with these of the other Sibylles For as M. Varro alleageth out of Lactantius the Romaines with incessant paine sought throughout all Grece and Italie thorowe Asia also and euery parte thereof for all bookes vearses or prophesies whatsoeuer that might or could be founde any where of these Sibylles and especially emoÌ„g the others of that excellent Erithrea for accomplishemeÌ„t whereof and more expedite gatheryng of these foresaied papers fiftene menne of honour were charged with this busines none medlyng or dealyng besides them in these matters Fenistella recordeth that wheÌ„ the Capitoll was burned the Senate sente backe againe to Erithrea humblie requestyng her to inriche them ones again with her bookes if it so â—…ight please her Whence it maie be presumed that thei had not Cumanaes verses onely but euery the prophesies of eche and al the others and that that Sibyll of whiche Virgil maketh mention in the beginnyng or entrie of his sixt of Aeneydos which then dwelt or continued in Cumas where he affirmeth that Aeneas imbarkte hym self should bee some other Cumana not this of whiche we now haue spokeÌ„ by common accompt and reckning the seuenth of that order for it hardly may be thought that Virgil knew of any Sibyll at that time when Aeneas firste entered into Italie ne yet that she liued in the daies of the fifte kyng of Rome And Seruius interpretyng thesame place saieth of necessitie it nedes muste be that she that solde these bookes should also bee called Cumana though in trothe her name were nothing so at all this woman also died in the said toune of Cumas The eight was borne within the territorie of Troie in the toune of Marmisa suche and so auncient that as Heraclides Ponticus writeth she liued in the tyme of Solon the Philosopher and of that greate and mightie Cyrus The ninthe was borne in Phrigia and Prophesied dwellyng in the toune of Ancira The tenthe hight Albunea borne at Tibur sixtene mile from Rome whens also she is called some tymes Tiburtina So these Sibylles lefte many bokes and verses in whiche thei Prophesied of sundrie thynges to come but principally of the prosperous or aduerse state of Rome so that the Romaines in euery their affaires diligently perused and with reuerence all their bookes or papers orderyng and directing them selues continually by theÌ„ And as when we would be credited and be thought to speake a truthe we vsually will saie it is written in the Gospell so also saied thei in like sort of the Sibylles suche was their affiaunce or greate truste in these women For proofe whereof Iuuenal passeth such a vearse Credite me vobis folium recitare Sibyllae whiche he so saied for that these women gaue foorthe their Prophesies written in leaues of trees as Virgil well witnesseth in his sixt of his Aeneydos Cicero with great reuerence speaketh also of them especially in his booke De diuinatione where he thus muche saith as we tofore haue saied that out of their firste greate letters of euery vearse senteeÌ„ces of weight great matters stil were drawen Among other thinges manie eche one of theim haue spoken of our faithe and of the Christian religion of the birth the life and of the death of Christe as we eftesones tofore haue also specified as among the others the Sibyll Delphica also saide A Prophete shall be borne of a woman not knowyng man and an other this he that yet is to come shall here after come he shall raigne in pouertie his greate mightie force shall he to fewe discouer out of a virgines woumbe shall he also bée borne Iosephus againe a Iewe though he were by race and eake by his profession speakyng of the tower of Babilon this much reporteth that a certaine Sibyl rememberyng when firste men spake but one language saithe that thei builte to theim a proude and haute Tower as if by the same thei should haue entered in to heauen but God sente fourth greate windes to rase to subuerte it as also diuers tongues the spring of deuision and discord among the people whence this Tower gained the fitte name of Babilon These thinges and others the semblable writen by these Sibylles haue well been recorded by Christians Iewes and Gentiles whiche the Gentiles repleate with sinne colde neuer yet vnderstande but the Christians as soone as these Prophesies came to their handes as well recorde Lactantius Firmianus Eusebius and Saincte Augustine with others gathered thence greate fruict and comforte immediatly the Panym and the Gentile neglectyng theim to their confusion Besides these were yet some others that also were called Sibylles reputed as fore shewers or fore saiers of thinges to come as Cassandra the doughter of Priamus Campusia Celofonia the doughter of Calcas Manta Thessalica the doughter of â—iresias the Thebane but all histories onely accorde on the aboue saide tenne Wherefore sleepe by nature was geuen vnto man and that to sleape to muche is bothe noisome and domageable Chap. 3. SLéepe was geuen man for his preseruation for that nothing hauing life is ther that sleapeth not Aristotle saith that al creatures hauing bloodde take their repose and sleape in whiche place he proueth by reason and by experience that fishes also at tymes as other thinges dooe sleape Sléepe is a surcessing of all the senses from trauaile whiche is or is caused by certaine euaporations and fumes rising of our meate and sustenaunce receaued mountyng from the stomake immediatly vnto the braine by whose greate coldnes these vapors warme are tempered castyng into a slumber euery the forces or senses exteriour at whiche tyme the vitall spirites retiryng to the harte leaue all the members of the bodie in a sleape vntill suche tyme againe as these saide vitall spirites whiche are the onely instrumentes by whiche the Soule bothe gouerneth and ordereth the whole bodie recouer newe force and streangth to theim againe and so these vapors or ceassyng or diminishynge maÌ„ againe awaketh or retourneth to himself more apte then to his busines then at any tyme tofore Of these occasions of sleape Aristotle is long in his booke De somno vigilia and Plutarche
is this desire of his in vaine but rather accordeth perfectly with nature but not to attaine to the effecte or ende thereof is to manne an accident and therefore lesse naturall For God created man firste to liue immortall in suche sorte that accordyng to the opion of moste diuines he neuer should haue died or tasted of any miserie had he or kepte or obserued the coÌ„maundementes geuen him but hauing transgrest theim he streight became subiecte to the stormie tempestes of this world and finally to death and this by disobedience man here hath purchaste anguishe the graue and corruption So as the Apostle saieth by the sinne of disobedience death first crepte in and entered into this worlde Hence nowe it then is euident that death was neither naturall in our first father Adam ne after him in vs but casuall and accidentall as nothyng at all lesse mente vs by the diuine prouidence Now then this doubte maie also this be resolued that the desire neuer to die or to endure annoie is lent vs from nature and that not in vain for that it some tymes was in vs if manne then had not sinned assuredly to haue attained the effecte so much desired but beyng as we are rebellious and obstinate this desire still remaineth but so to be is denied vs The seconde doubte also by this meanes may be resolued for that through glotteny and venerie we hasten our fall and ruine In semblable sorte the thirde also by the sinne of Adam by meanes where of he fell from that originall iustice or state of grace whiche God before to hym had freely geuen and graunted seruyng hym to moderate his life and each his actions Whence immediatly began to followe this disordre for reason that should rule and order thinges aright lieth subiecte vnto the will and to euery the senses so that it appeareth plainly that thys peruerse order is in no respecte naturall but as is saide of fortune and altogether casuall By which meanes we here conclude that thinges of greatest excellencie and of assured perfection should and ought to gouerneth others of base condition and this neuer misseth or faileth at any tyme as is more then plaine in euerie the bodies immixte and celestiall but although in manne experience shewe the contrarie that issueth of fortune who by hys fall hath merited not that but greater punishment and not at all from nature What ceremonies the Romaines vsed before they denounced warre to any prince or countrie Chap. 5. WHo so hath readde of the holy ceremonies and religious obseruations practised coÌ„tinually by the aunciente Romaines as wel in matters concerning peace as in those also of warre maie nothing at all mearuaile of all theirs so many and so famous victories against suche migtie Princes suche warlike and bluddie nations nor on the other side might thinke it or strauÌ„ge or els impossible to sée the fatall ruine of this greate and stately empire which first of all beganne when contemptuously thei first disdained these solemnities For as we see by examples of infinite histories by how muche the more deuoutly they obserued the â—boue saide vsages so muche the more grewe this Romaine state and empire their capitaines also happy and renoumed and dreadde throughout the world as is and maie be seen in Pompe and in Brennus with others more knowen and more then I canne remember whiche though they were in deede idolaters voide of al knowledge or perfecte feling of God yet of parte it appeareth that God still was propitious to the fautors of religioÌ„ which percase might be to this and none other ende that as this people was ialous of this religion of which thei yet had no perfect nor none other assured grounde so by more sure reason they gladly should haue bene Patrones and Protectors of the true and Christian faith if it had been to theim as to vs it is reuealed By the effecte it then is euident that long tyme he kepte and preserued theim in prosperitie with fortunate successe in their affaires teÌ„porall The ceremonies then which the Romaines vsed in time of peace are many and diuers whiche I leaue to speake of for that if I should all penne theim I should wery greue percase the reader to speake therof to little were iniurious in my phantasie Wherfore I shall in this place remember fiue onely whiche they orderly obserued before thei proclaimed warre against any prince or countrie to the intent that Princes of our tyme may see how muche they erre rashlie to denouÌ„ce warre and hostilitie not crauing firste Gods assistaunce his aide and his succour and farther that thei also maie knowe that heÌ„ce onely on them befalleth commonly suche euill aduerse and finister fortune and finally how farre in pointes of religion thei in truthe be inferiour to these Ethnikes and Idolaters Now then when newes came to Rome of any rebellion or that any prince barbarous had inuaded their territories or that any other had doen iniurie to their confederates thei immediatly sente foorthe their ambassadours vnto hym by whiche the Senate by faire meanes aduised hym to make restitution of the domage and wronge committed and farther that he euer afterwarde refrained from suche incursions whiche aduise if he estemed not then did thei warre to bée proclaimed immediately The Senate then hauyng chosen some capitaine for this iourney did all their Sacrificatours incontinently to be called whiche receiued in commaundement to praie vnto their Goddes for the happie successe and good fortune of their people For the Romaines went neuer forthe to spill the blood of their enemies before their priestes had bitterly wepte and praied in their Temples After this the Senate beyng assembled all togither wente in good order to the Churche of Iupiter where solemnely thei swore al or plighted this faith that when so euer yet the enemie againste whom warre by theim was then denounced would desire a truse or peace againe with theÌ„ or otherwise would craue pardoÌ„ of his defaute that mercie should not in any case be denied hym This dooen the newe Consull chosen for this expedition hastneth theÌ„ce againe forthwith vnto the Capitoll where he voweth to hym of the Gods in whom he reposeth or moste hope or confidence that he will offer if he retourne victorious the beste thyng that he hath of what price so euer And although the thyng offered were of neuer so greate value yet were the people bound to repais it hym againe After this an Ensigne hauing in it an Egle whiche was the true and auncient armes of the Romaines was brought out into the filde of Mars whiche thei onely did to this ende or purpose that the people might knowe that it was then lesse lawfull to vse any plaies or other pleasant spectacles whilste that their frendes and kinsmenne were then in filde and in armes and in fine the Pretor beyng mounted on high on one of their gates sounded a Trumpette to call together their Souldiars deliueryng with the same certeine Ensignes