INtending to represent according to my ability the interchangeable course and alteration of all things in the worlde, together with the causes of the principall chaunges and varieties, to be perceiued as well in the su­periour, as in the inferiour part thereof, sithence the time that the first memory of man began euen to this present, I most humbly acknowledge the diuine prouidēce of God to be aboue all, beleeuing assuredly, that God almighty, maker, and gouernour of this great worke so excellent in beauty, so admirable in varietie, and so singular in continuance, (to whome I pray to aydeme in this so high, so long, & so difficult an enterprise hytherto neuer attempted of any) is carefull of all affaires happening therein, euen to the least: contayning in him­selfe the beginning, the end, and the meanes of them all, and pursuing the order which he hath giuen to the world, from the beginning in creating it, will that it be tempered by alternatiue chaunges, and maintayned by contraries, his eternall essence remayning alwaies one and vnchangeable.

First of all then the heauen, notwithstanding it hath receyued of God the maker thereof many excellencies amongst other creatures, beyng round, and hauing throughout his extremities or vtmost partes distant or remoued from the middle or inmost parte, which is the most perfect figure, and most like vnto it selfe; on which he hath also bestowed conuenient circular motion, exempted from the wandring and inconstancie of others, turning it by the same, and in the same, and to him selfe; wherein he doth perseuer: yet neuerthelesse since it hath a body, it can not wholy warrant or preserue it selfe from alteration & chaunge. The Auncients made eight spheres in it; of the firmament, and of the seauen Planets; but since haue beene obserued the ninth, and the tenth: our later Astro­logers affirming that the tenth doth turne round about the world in 24. houres, goyng by the right side from East to West, and by this so swift and impetous motion, doth force and cary with it all the other inferiour spheres, and doth make them make the same turne in the selfe same space of time, although that their proper motions be contrary vnto it, drawing on the left side from West to East: namely the ninth being the slowest, in 49. thousand yeares; The eighth to [Page] haue two, thone of 36. thousand yeres; thother of seuen thousand. The sphere of Saturne in 30. yeres: of Iupiter in 12: of Mars in two: of the Sunne, Venus; & Mer­cury in one yere: of the Moone in 28. daies.

Time also was made with heauen, and with the starrs, so that hauing had the selfe same beginning they shall also haue the same end, when the world shall be dissolued, returning into their auncient Chaos, and former darknes. For the daies, moneths, yeres, and ages, which were not before that the heauen and the starres were created, incontinently began with them, and number was distin­guished and obserued by their course: That is, the entercourse of daies and nights by the daily motion of the firmament; The moneth, after that the Moone hath gone ouer her whole circle, and attained to the sunne; The ordinarie yere, when the sunne hath accomplished his course; The great yere, when the sea­uen Planets, and thother fixed starrs, returne to their first places, representing the same nature which was at the beginning. The liues of all things and the pre­fixed time of their continuance, being determined by lesser or greater num­bers, according to the disposition of the matter whereof they are made: spring­ing, growing, florishing, diminishing, perishing, in certainetimes, and by vne­quall spaces, being reduced to the selfe same end, euery one seeling his corrup­tion to be the cause of another generation. Insomuch that it seemed vnto Plato that the world was nourished by the consumption, and decay of it selfe, produ­cing alwaies new creatures vnto the old, and raising vp of others like vnto them in the places of those that were perished: without suffering the kinds to faile, or surcease, which by this meanes do alwaies remaine as it were immortall. But howbeit the world is round, and hath not in it either high or low; considering that the place which is in the midst ought not to be termed high or low; nor that which compasseth about be called the midst; neither hath in it any part dif­fering from the other, if regard be had vnto the midst, and euery other opposite thing: notwithstanding in respect of our selues we say that it hath high & low, right and left: That Pole which we see being termed low according to Ari­stotle, & thother which is hidden from vs, high: And the East, whence the first motion proceedeth is the right side; The West, is the left; whence commeth a motion contrary to the former: Then the Astrologers and Philosophers affirme, that from the superiour part of the world there discendeth a certaine vertue ac­compained with light and heat, which some of them do call the spirit or soule of the world; others say it is nature, which mingleth it selfe with the masse of this great body, penetrating, quickening, norishing, and moderating al these va­riable thinges vnder the Moone, which being of such efficacy, beginneth first with the fire and the aire, which being moued by the celestial mouings, doe afterwardes moue the water, and the earth, and consequently the natures com­pounded of these fower Elements, as wel men, beasts, birds, and fishes, as plants, trees, herbes, and mettals: That there is the first mouing, whereof do depend all other inferious motions, and al essence whatsoeuer. That there hence do pro­ceede diuers temperatures of bodies, inclinations of mindes, manners of men, [Page 2] properties of nations, vices and vertues, health and sicknes, force and feeblenes; shortnes and length of life, mortality, riches and pouertie, prosperitie and aduer­sity. That there hence al estates and sects do take their beginnings, their course, continuance, and their ends: In briefe, that al this inferiour world doth obey the superiour, & is gouerned by it: Especially that all humaine affaires do depend thereon, and yet are to be preuented by deeds: not that such effects doe neces­sarily come to passe, and inuiolably by a fatall Law: but that they may be auoi­ded by wisedome, or turned from vs by diuine praiers, or augmented or dimini­shed, or moderated by nurture, custome, and instruction.

First that the Sunne lightning all thinges with his beames doth giue euident proofe therof, who rising and setting maketh the day and the night, by comming towards vs, and going from vs, causeth the yeres continually to be renewed, and by the obliquity or crookednes of the Zodiacke with the helpe of the twelue signes which are in it, doth distinguishe by his Solstices and Equinoxes, the fower seasons of the sommer and winter, of the spring and haruest: In the which consisteth the vicissitude of life and death, and the change of all thinges: by the mediation of the first qualities, hot and cold, drie and moist, being duely tempered for generation, and vnproportionably distempered for corruption.

Secondly the Moone euery moneth increasing, decreasing, or at ful, doth di­uersly dispose those humors ouer which she is predominant, shewing amongst other meruailes her manifest power ouer the ebbing and flowing of the tydes in the Ocean. Then the other starres both wandring and fixed do breed in the aire changes of heat and cold, winds, thunder, raine, haile, & snow; and by their aspectes, eclipses, oppositions, coniunctions, distances, apparences, obscurities, greatnesse, swiftnesse, slownesse, do bring foorth great, and diuers generall, and particuler euents; of warres, dearthes, famines, plagues; of inundations, of drouthes, and heates; according to the correspondency of the parts of heauen and earth, the disposition of the matter which they meete with all, and diuersi­ty of the time in which they worke their effects. So the causes both of these coti­dian, menstruall, annuall, and other the rarest mutations happening here below, are attributed to the celestiall motions, and to the quality of the matter whereon they worke. Considering, that in the world, the elements, and their compounds are as the matter; the celestial bodies, & superior intelligences, as efficient causes which by their heat, & light in proceeding, giue motion to all inferiour things. First the daily motion which the firmament maketh is cause both of liuing and of dying; and the annuall course of the Sunne assisted with the Moone & other starres, of the continuation and successiue change: But the most rare and admi­rable mutations in states, sectes, and arts, ought to bee referred to the ninth and eight sphere: the diuersity which is found in them proceeding of the variable motion of that sphere, somtimes to the East, somtimes to the West, now to the South, then to the North which is called the motion of trepidation. The Ara­bians also haue diuided this longe space of time, by the great coniunctions of the Plannets, namely of the three superiour Saturne, Iupiter, and Mars: which they maintayne to haue more power ouer the principall alterations [Page] of this inferiour worlde, according to the qualities of the triplicities in the which they happen, as fiery, ayrie, watery, or earthly. That there haue alrea­dy beene seuen, in the space of fiue thousand, fiue hundred and thirty yeares, (for so many the Hebrewes reckon from the beginning of the worlde,) and that the eigth shalbe in the yeare of Christ 1604. The Chaldees, Persians, E­gyptians, and auncient Grecians iudged of the notable euents of the worlde by the Eclipses of the Sunne and Moone, and by those Starres, which haue their aspectes, towarde the places of the Eclipse, or which arise togither, or which are in the midst of heauen. Belus the Babylonian, (as Seneca alled­geth) appointed the times both of the deluge, and conflagration of the world, affirming that then all earthly substaunces should be burnt, when all the starres hauing now diuers courses, should meete togither in the signe of Cancer, vn­der the same place, in such a position as a straight line might passe through all their circles: And then should all be drowned, when the same starres in the like sort should meet in Capricorne, both signes of great efficacy, & power, in chāg­ing of the yere. The ancient Poetes vnder the fables of Phaeton, & of Deucalion, and Pyrrha, haue represented these two ruines of the world, the one by fire, the other by water. Also the Egiptiā priest in Plato his Timaeus discoursing with So­lon, saith that many ruines haue come vnto the world & shal come hereafter, the greatest by fire and water: the lesser by earthquakes, wars, famine & pestilence.

And that the tale of Phaeton the sonne of the Sunne is not altogether estraun­ged from truth, that is, that being mounted on his fathers chariot, & not able to guide it aright, he burnt things on earth, and was slaine himselfe with lightning: for as much as in long space of time do happen many such destructions by fire, by reason of the disorder happening about the earth, & in the celestiall motions. That then those which inhabite in the mountaines, & in drie places, are sooner destroyed then such as dwell by the seaside or neare the riuers. But contrary­wise when it pleaseth God to cleanse the earth by inundations, then the dwel­lers on plaines, and valleys, to be forceably caried into the sea by the impetuosi­tie of riuers, while the inhabitauntes of the hils remaine in safety. That those which remaine after such tempests are ignorant of that which is past, and vnfur­nished of learning, which by little and little they recouer afterward.

Others say, that in long space of time there are certaine periods appointed for the world, which while they endure, all thinges do come to their vigour; and which being ended, they do al perish: but that al of them end their course with­in the reuolution of the great yere. And that when the one commeth to end, and the other is ready to begin, there are many strange signes seene both in earth and in heauen. Wherefore many are of opinion that some great alteration doth ap­proch, considering the signes which within these fewe yeres haue appeared in heauen, in the starrs, in the elements, and in al nature. Neuer were the Sunne and Moone eclipsed more apparantly; neuer were seene so many Comets, and other impressions in the aire; neuer did the Sea and the riuers so violently ouerflowe their bankes; neuer haue bin heard such earthquakes; neuer were borne so ma­ny and so hydeous monsters: Neither hath there euer bin seene since the memory [Page 3] of man, so many and so often changes to come to passe in Countries, Nations, Maners, Lawes, Estates, and Religions. The course of the sunne is no more such as it was wont to be in old time, neither are there the same points of the Solstices and Equinoxes: but within this fourteene hundred yeres since Ptolomey liued, who was a most diligent obseruer of the course of the world, it is come neerer vnto the earth then at that time it was, about twelue degrees. Moreouer they say, that al the parts of the Zodiacke and the whole signes haue chaunged their pla­ces; and that the earth is remoued from his first scituation, being not entierly & absolutely (as afore it was) the center of the world. Some also (as Hipparchus a famous Astrologer amongst the Grecians) haue giuen out, that the celestial mo­tions in time to come, shall go a contrary course, and that the course of the starrs shalbe changed, the East becomming West, and the South, North. In the meane time, the continuation of the successiue alteration which we see here belowe, consisteth in the mouing cause, and in the first matter. The cause that moueth is of two sorts, thone being the first and chiefe mouer immoueable, thother the first mouer moueable, by whose vertue and influence (gouerned by the diuine pro­uidence) the corruptible things in this sensible world, are incessantly restored & renewed, through the meanes of generation: while the first matter subiecteth it selfe cōtinually to al mouings & changings in the same perpetuity, that the first mouer, moueth & formeth, & neuer faileth to produce these transitory things.

GOD creating Man, gaue him for a great and excellent gift, the vse of Reason, and Speech; and by these two prerogatiues hath separated him from other Creatures: But reason would little helpe him, and would lesse ap­peare in him, if he could not by speech expresse that which before hee had conceiued in his mind; for the beastes seeme to yeeld vnto him rather in speech then vnderstanding; doing finely and curiously many workes which he can not imitate: which because they can not speake, are called mute or dumbe, and vnreasonable creatures. And although men are more sociable, yet little would the similitude of nature which is amongst them, auaile them vnto this societie, if they did not vnderstand one an other; and would rather chuse to conuerse with the dumbe creatures, of diuers kinds▪ then with other strange men which they vnderstand not. Speech then being so necessarie to a ciuil man; who by reason alone can not haue the companie of an other, and being naturally giuen him to declare the conceits and affections of his mind; not­withstanding it commeth to passe, that the words are not alwaies, and euery where the same, as the thinges are vnto which they are imposed: but do chaunge from countrie to countrie, and from time to time; according to the [Page 18] vse and custome of those that speake; beeing receiued, and vnderstood a­mongst them by their owne agreement, and consent: From whence pro­ceedeth this varietie of Languages amongst men dispersed ouer the whole habitable earth, being so spacious in length, and bredth, thone not vnder­standing thother but by signes, or interpreters. But if, as there is in all men one first principle of reason, and one common interiour intelligence, it were possible that there were also but one common tongue to serue in arts, and contracts; they would loue one another better, by the ceasing of that discord, which commeth by the diuersitie, and ignorance of tongues; and employ that time in knowledge of things, which they are now constrained to bestow in learning of words. Diodorus the Sicilian following the auncient Philoso­phers hath written, that men at the beginning had the sound of their voice confused, and not to be vnderstood; but that by little and little, making dis­tinction, they named euery thing by his name: And for asmuch as they were then dwelling in diuers partes of the world, they did not vse all one speach and language; whence it came to passe, that they had also different Charac­ters, and letters. Moses declareth in Genesis, how the language of all the earth was confounded in the building of the tower of Babel; wherehence hath proceeded the diuision of Nations, and the beginning of the diuersitie of Tongues, by the pride and presumption of men. As in trueth it is a pu­nishment for sinne that we haue so many, which are changed vncessantly at the pleasure of the common people, forging daily new words; by the birth of which the former must needes decay: Euen as the seasons of the yeare do spoile the earth of her flowers and fruites; and do after cloath it a new with others. Likewise time maketh words to fall; and vse maketh new to spring in their places, and graceth them, making them to be in request; vntill that, being by age consumed by little and little, they come also to die: because that in the end, both we, and all things that are ours are mortall. But such change and varietie commeth ordinarily of the mingling of diuers Nations, and of great faires, and armies; where are people of diuers languages, who assembling, and communing together, do continually forge new wordes; which do either endure, or perish, according as of custome they are accep­ted, or reiected.

And howbeit that speech is natural vnto men, yet do they not speake but artificially; nor do they learne it, but in hearing others speake: first their mothers, and their nurses; and afterwards the common people. Wherefore it behoueth, that the first which imposed names on things, hauing no other of whom they might learne them, did miraculously learne them in that tongue, wherein the nature, and trueth of things agreed with their originals, and Etimologies: which men euen to this present haue endeuoured to seeke in all tongues, in the significations of words. The Hebrewes attribute this honour to their tongue, which they account the first and most auncient of the world. Herodotus writeth, that Psamneticus King of Egipt, being desirous to know which was the first language, gaue two young children of poore parentage [Page] to a Shepheard to be kept, forbidding any word to be spoken in their hearing: but commaunded they should be kept a sunder; and that at certaine howers there should goates be brought to giue them suck: which he did for a desire he had to heare what word these children would speake first: And it hapned after two yeares, when the Shepheard opened the doore to come in to the children, they fell downe both at his feete, and holding vp their handes pro­nounced this word, Bec, which is as much to say as Bread, in the Phrygian tongues. And so it was found, that the Phrygians were more auncient then the Egyptians, and their language the first. Vitruuius the Architect, speaking somewhat grossely of this matter, saith, that while men dwelt yet in the for­restes, in some of the thickest places, the trees shaken by the force of the windes, and beating violently one against an other, stroke fire, wherat those that were neere being astonished, fled; and afterwards comming neere again, when the noise was stilled, they found that great commoditie came to the bodie by the heat of the fire; and putting wood into it, so maintayning it, they called the rest, and shewed vnto them by signes, the good that came of it: In this first assemblie, their voices issuing diuersly out of their brests, the words were made as they offred themselues, by the which signifying oft the same things, they began to speak at aduenture; & so formed the languages amongst them. Pythagoras did attribute soueraine wisdom to him which first found out names for euery thing. And Plato affirmeth in his Cratilus, that it was done by a power, more then humaine: for in trueth man could not of him selfe, without the helpe of God discerne innumerable thinges contained in the world by their proper names, which otherwaies had remained vnkno­wen: I say, the Heauen, his parts, and mouings; the fixed, and wandering Starres; the Elements with their qualities; wyndes, raines, haile, snowes, thunders, and other meteors; birds, beasts, fishes, herbs, plants, trees, graines, minerals, stones, pearles, their natures and properties; seas, gulfes, climates, hauens, ports, isles, riuers, lakes, pooles, lands, countries, people, nations, vil­lages, hamlets, townes, and cities: The inward and outward partes of the bodie; sences, and their obiects; odours, sauours, smels, and tasts; maladies, and their remedies; infinite humaine actions; victuals, garments, lawes, ma­gistrates, iudgments, gouernments, ceremonies, warfare, reuenewes, moneies: so many arts and occupations with their instruments: so many persons with names, and surnames, the affinities and alliances betwixt them. The contro­uersie also in times past hath bin great amongst the learned, whether words were imposed at the will and pleasure of them that speake, or els by art, and natural reason. The varietie and continuall mutation which is seen in ton­gues, made some think that this imposition was casual, and arbitrarie, foun­ded on the consent and custom of men: Others said, that sithence the names are as instruments ordained to present things vnto vs, which do not chaunge thorough our opinions; but according to their nature remaine alwaies in the same order; also that the true names did not chaunge after our pleasure: but were agreeable to the things signified, whose essence, and similitude they [Page 19] did imitate; being first conceiued in mind, afterwards expressed in sound, and voice, and then written by letters and sillables. Which opinion some haue so farre beleeued, that they haue gone about to enquire, and search out the pro­prietie of things, by the proprietie of words; and to insinuate so far, by the se­cret vertue which they deemed in them, as to do miracles in pronouncing them; and to heale the diseases both of bodie and mind therwith: And that which is more, they haue affirmed, that there are some inuented by diuine in­spiration, meaning amongst others the name of GOD, which is pronounced by fower letters onely in most languages: In which they say so manie Nati­ons could not agree, without some maruailous mysterie of the diuinitie.

If the imposition, propertie, and vertue of names be admirable, the inuen­tion and vse of Letters is no lesse; and to haue found a mean to comprehend in a few notes, such a multitude, and varietie of sounds, and voices of men. By them are written the things of greatest profit vnto the world; as the lawes, sentences of Iudges, testaments, contracts, and other such things necessarie for the vnderstanding of the life of man: Those which haue bin long time dead, are reuiued in the memorie of the lyuing; and they which are many miles distant a sunder, commune with their absent friends, as if they were pre­sent: The sacred Bookes of the holie Scripture, and word of God, are pre­serued by them; the sentences of wise men, philosophy, and generally all sci­ences are deliuered ouer from hand to hand to the suruiuors. Some haue ca­uiled at this inuention, as Thames king of Egipt (in Platoes Phaedrus) who made answere to Theut (boasting himself therof) that he had not found, a remedie or help for memory, but for remembrance. Therfore, the Pythagore­ans, and the French Druydes did write nothing; but deliuered one to another their mysteries without writing; to thend that they should not exercise their memorie the lesse, thorough the confidence of letters: Notwithstanding, ex­perience (which is Mistres of things) hath manifestly opened their errour; for asmuch as by writing nothing, the memorie of their doctrine in processe of yeares thorough mans imbecillitie is vtterly lost, no apparance, or auncient mark therof remayning at this day.

In like maner the Hebrewes say of their Cabal, that it was first giuen by God to the Patriarches, and to Moises, afterwards to the Prophets: not written, but reuealed successiuely, and giuen from hand to hand, by the one to the other. But after they were deliuered from the Captiuitie of Babylon by Cyrus, and that vnder Zorobabel they had reedified the Temple: then Esdras who alrea­die had restored the books of Moises, fore-seeing, that his nation amongst so many calamities, flights, banishments, and mortalities, vnto which it was ex­posed; could not at length preserue and keepe the secreats of that celestial doc­trine reuealed to them from aboue, and preferred before the written Law; except they did write them: he gathered what he could of the wise men then suruiuing, and reduced it into seuentie Volumes.

Letters then being most necessarie; after they were inuented, they which considered them neerest, diuided them into Vowels, and Consonants; then [Page] into halfe vowels, mutes, and liquids: calling that art Grammer, which serued to know, to discerne, and to assemble them; to make sillables, nounes, verbs, and speach. And although Plinie, building on the authoritie of Epigenes, thinketh the vse of letters to haue bin eternal (that is to say, without begin­ning) neuertheles, he is gainsaid in that, by other Authors. Philo the Iew im­puteth the inuention of the Hebrew letters to Abraham; Eusebius to Moises; and others vnto Esdras. Iosephus saith, that the children of Seth, the sonne of Adam, erected two Pillars, the one of stone, thother of earth, in the which they wrote the arts inuented by them: and that thone of stone was yet in his time remayning in Syria. Cicero attributeth the Egiptian letters to Mercury, and the Phrygian to Hercules. Liuie ascribeth the Latin to Euander the Arca­dian, whom he calleth venerable by the miracle of letters. Cor. Tacitus the Hetrurian letters to Demaratus the Corinthian: The Slauonians attribute theirs to S. Iherome, who they say translated into their tongue, the old & new Testament. The Bishop Gordian gaue letters to the Gothes. The auncient Frenchmen which first possessed both the Gauls, had three sorts of letters, dif­fering thone from thother: The first inuēted by Wastald; the other by Dorac; the third by Hiche. The Normans had theirs also described by Bede. In like maner many Nations haue inuented new Characters, haue changed, and cor­rupted the old; as the Slauons those of the Greeks; the Armeniās of the Chal­dees; the Chaldees of the Hebrewes; the Gothes, Lombards, Spaniards, Ger­mains, and Frenchmen those of the Romains. The other Hetrurian letters which are seen yet at this day in the ancient sepulchers, are altogether vnkno­wen: Others searching the same yet more deeply, and fetching it farther off, affime that they were first inuented by the Ethiopians, who deliuered them to the Egiptians; the Egiptians to the Assyrians; the Assyrians to the Phenicians; the Phenicians to the Pelagians; the Pelagians to the Latins; the Latins to the Italians, Frenchmen, Spaniards, Almains, Englishmen, Scots, Noruegians, Suecians, Polacques, and Hungarians.

The Characters of the letters are no lesse different then the tongues; & can not serue any tongue but that wherunto they were ordayned; nor represent the entier, & natural pronunciation, no, not of their owne; which changeth not onely from towne to towne, but almost from village to village; for Greek could not be written in Latin letters, nor the Latin in Greek letters: and the Greeks and Latins do not alwaies pronounce as they write; but to make the sound of their words softer, do change the pronounciation of some letters, ta­king thone for thother: whereof ther is a complaint made in Lucian to the iudgment of the vowels. Suetonius writeth of Augustus, that he obserued not the Ortographie set down by the Gramarians, but seem rather to leane to the opiniō of those, which think that we ought to writ as we speak: In the which howbeit he were followed, yet could he not with his imperial authority, and inestimable power preuaile against custome: And therfore I wonder at some Frenchmen, who not considering that in Grammer, there is more obseruation thē reasō; & that it behoueth in such things as are speking, writing, & pronoū ­cing, with nature to mingle custom (which as Quint. saith, is the most certain [Page 20] Mistresse thereof) haue of late intruded themselues, assaying to reduce the writing of that language (which they haue cleane turned vp-side downe) wholie to the pronunciation; without thinking that the French doe vse straunge letters; which if they could neuer thoroughly satisfie their owne tongue, but because of their defect haue bin often changed, and augmen­ted; how should they then satisfie another? In somuch that it seemeth to some to bee a thing impossible, that a people hauing a peculier tongue of their owne should vse strange letters, but with great difficultie; as we see in the Dutch and English, vsing Latin letters; and in the Turke, and Persian, which vse the Arabian. As also they are of opinion, that the historie of one Nation, can not conueniently be written in another language, then that of the same countrie; induced to think so by the Romain historie, which be­ing written in Greeke, seemeth no more to be Romain: especially where there is question of customs, lawes, magistrates, moneyes, reuenewes, and ceremonies: wherein the Greeke tongue being otherwise rich and plentiful, seemeth rude, & barbarous; where the latin is fine and eloquent. The same is befalne to the Greek Historie, written in the Latin tongue: and likewise to the French made by Gaguinus, Paulus Emilius, and others, representing lit­tle, and ill to the purpose, the affaires of Fraunce in a strange language, vsed onely now a daies in schooles: whereas Froissard, Monstrellet, Phillip de Commines, Guill. and Martin du Bellay, are found large and conuenient. But to thend not to digresse from our commenced purpose, I will returne to speake of Letters. The Hebrewes and Latines haue twentie and two; The Slauons, and Iacobites two and thirtie; The Armenians 38; The Abissins or Ethiopians 47; The Arabians 31; The Chaldeans 28: The Latins, Greeks, and other inhabitants of Europe, and the Indians of Malabar, hauing pecu­liar letters of their owne, do write from the left side towards the right; The Hebrewes, Chaldees, Arabians, and generally all the Asiatickes, and Afri­cans, from the right to the left, imitating the mouing of the Heauen, which is from the right hand to the left, and is most perfect according to Aristotle, approching neerest to the vnitie, which of Plato is called the motion of simi­litude, or of vniformity; The Cathayans, or people of China, & Iapania, from aboue downe-wards, saying that therein they follow the order of nature, which hath giuen to men their heads placed aboue, and their feete below. Diodorus the Sicilian writeth, that in a certaine Island found towards the South by Iambolus, thinhabitants did not write from one side to thother as we do, but drew their lyne straight from aboue downwards, hauing 28▪ let­ters in number, according to the signification which they giue them. Other maners of writing there can not be; except one would write a crosse, or ouerthwart. The Eastern, and Southern nations do vse points; the Greekes their abbreuiations; the Latines their titles; the Egiptians in holy things did vse the figures of beastes for letters, which they called Hierogliphicks. The most Auncients did write, in the rynde or barke of trees, and in tables, and leaues of wood: others in Palm-leaues, according to the commoditie of their [Page] countrey; others in lead. Their missiue letters, or Epistles were written in tables or waxe; the Lawes, and other durable things were engrauen in brasse, or copper: They did write also in fine linnen cloth. Themperor Commodus vsed the fine bark of the Linden tree, called of the Latins Tylia, or Philyra: Others the rynds of a little tree called Papyrus, (growing in the marishes of Egipt) which were thicker: from whence came the name of Paper vsed at this present: which is made of old raggs of cloth, steeped along time in water, and braied in the mill; after brought into a kind of past, which being stretched out on a gredyron of brasse, to thend to drie it, & being put betwen locks of woll, and pressed; after it is a little dried, becommeth fine, smooth, thin, & white pa­per: we vse Parchmin also more strong, & durable then paper, which is made of sheepskins, goatskins, and calueskins, coried and dressed by the Leather­dressers, and parchminmakers. Herodotus in his Terpsichore witnesseth, that they vsed these skins to write on in his time. And Iosephus saith, that the holy Scriptures were first written in them. M. Varro thinks they were first found out at Pergamus a Citie of Asia, (from whence they yet take their name) at such time as the two kings, Ptolomeus, and Eumenes erected their Libraries; enuying one the other. Diodorus the Sicilian writeth, that the letters of the Ethiopians were made after the likenesse of sundrie beasts; and the extremities of diuers members of man; and of diuers instruments and tooles of artificers, and their intentions, & words were not expressed by composition of sillables or letters; but by formes, and figures of Images; whose signification remained vnto them by vse in the memorie of men: for they would set downe a Kyte, a Crocodile, a mans eye, a hand, a face, and other such like things: The Kyte sig­nified a thing soone done, because he is one of the swiftest birds; and this cha­racter is properly applied to home affaires which are speedily dispatched; the Crocodile did note some euil thing; the eye, an obseruer of Iustice, and a gard or watchman of the bodie; the right hand with the fingers stretched out, be­tokened libertie, or liberalitie; and the left hand closed, was hardnes and gree­dines. After this maner the figures of other parts of the bodie, & formes of cer­tain instruments, did notifie some other thing amongst those Ethiopians, who retayning it thorough long practize in their memorie, did readily vnderstand what the said figures ment, and signified.

Those of Malabar, and other Indians dwelling between the riuer of Inde, and Ganges, do yet at this day write in palm-leaues, either greater or lesser, ac­cording to the matter which they intend to write: In whole ones they write such things as they would haue to endure long; as the affaires of their Religi­on, and their Histories; the other things of lesse consequence, in a quarter, or half quarter, aswell on thone side, as thother. And when they haue written a great number, meaning to ioin them in books, they fasten them betwene two bordes, in steed of those forels or couers which we vse; after, as we sow our leaues, so do they tie theirs with strings to the said couers. For their missiue let­ters, it suffiseth that the leaf be writtē, and rolled vp in it self, & in steed of sea­ling of it, they bind it with a thred of the palm it self: They vse to writ with an instrumēt of yron or wood sharpned, passing lightly ouer the leaf not percing [Page 21] it, and imprinting the characters of their letters in such sort, that they may write on both sides: Thother writings more permanent, as foundations of Churches, are [...]t in Copper, or grauen in stone.

Peter Marty [...]a Milanois historian, writing of the difcouerie of the new found lands▪ made by the Castilians; saith that the inhabitants of Collacuan, brought into Spaine amongst other gifts, certaine bookes written in the fine inner ryndes of trees, which are found betweene the wood, and the thicke vttermost barke: And that they are taken sometimes of willowes, or of Alders, which they couered with course cloth, and fastned together with cyment, and rubbed ouer with fine plaister; which when it is drie, they write what they will on them. There bookes are not made by leaues, but they stretch them forth many cubits in length, and bring them into square peeces, ioined in such sort with cyment, or soder, that they are easie to turne, and seeme to be made of bordes, or tables of wood: and wheresoeuer they are opened, there appeare twosides written, in maner of two pages: as much there is vn­derneath, if they be not stretched out in length, because that vnder one leafe are many leaues written. The letters and characters are like vnto hookes, ginnes, files, starres, and other such formes; where with they write in lines af­ter our fashion, representing in some sort the auncient maner of the Egipti­ans, and Ethiopians; and they paint between the lines figures of liuing crea­tures: namely of men as is aforesaid, as of Kings and princes, reciting their acts. They write also their Lawes, sacrifices, ceremonies, obseruations of the starres, and of husbandrie: Both the vpper, and vnder side is of fine work­manship, and such as when they are foulded vp, they seeme nothing diffe­rent from ours. They make little table-bookes also of bordes of figtree, to write common things on; which they can easilie deface againe. The said Martyr saith also, that there haue bin found in Darienna, bookes made of the leaues of trees sowed together; and that at Mesira they vse figures, by which they signifie their affaires, aswell as by writing. Moreouer, that in Hispaniola, there is found a tree called Coppeia, whose leafe is as fit to write on as paper, with a needle, or pin, or a pointed sticke: and that it is to be thought, that this is the tree, in the leaues of which the Chaldees, the first inuentors of Letters, did write their conceits, before the vse of let­ters was inuented. The leafe will abide writing on both sides, aswell as our paper; it is about twelue fingers broad; and almost round; thicker then double parchmine; and verie tough: When it is wet, the letters appeare white in the greene leafe; but when it is dried, it becoms white, and hard as a woodden borde; but then the letters are yellow: it is neuer marred, nor defaced for wetting; if it be not burnt. Paulus Venetus writeth, that in the prouince of Arcadan (which is subject to the great Cham) there are neither letters, nor characters: but that men there make their contracts, and obligations, by little bordes or tablets; which they diuide in the midst; and compare afterwardes together, and confer their markes and signes one with the other, and so doe acknowledge the cause of such contracts. [Page] The simple people of the new found land, not knowing the vse of Letters, did maruaile much to see that Christians by meanes of them, vnderstood one an other; and thought that the written leaues did speake by their commande­ment, and reported their secrets: in such sort, that they touched, and caried them with feare; as if there had bin some spirite in them; and that they had spoken by some diuinitie, and not by industrie of man.

THE most cōmon kind of writing, which we vse at this day in these parts, is with black Inke: which heretofore was made of the sweat of bathes, and furnaces; but now of gaules, gum Arabick, and ryndes of pomgranats; be­ing all steeped in water of victriol or copperis beaten into pouder. There is vsed also red ynke, made either of Vermilion, or of the shauings or fylings of Brasell steeped in strong Lye, being yet warme, and putting a little Alum to it: and Azure made of some blew stone or earth; yelow, of goldsand or pouder. Also one may write with the iuyce of Mulberies, Cheries, and other such fruicts: And that with pennes made of reedes or canes, such as Erasmus vsed; or of brasse, gold, or siluer: or of goose-feathers, swans, peacockes, or ostriches: Without speaking of the subtilities of writing with Cyphers which Princes vse; and notes which Cicero inuented; or with Alum where the letters do not appeare; nor can not be read, except they be dipt in wa­ter; or with salt Armoniack, iuyce of an orenge, limon, citron, or onyon; to be discouered onelie when they are held neere the fire; or with grease, cinders, and coales. But the maner to write by imprinting hath excelled all the rest in readynes, and diligence, dispatching more worke in a day, then many speedie or swift writers are able to doe in a yeare. And since it com­meth in so fitlie to our purpose, we will intermeddle here a little; and say briefly, as much as we shall think fit for this present discourse, of that which we haue heard, and learned of the most expert, touching this so rare, so pro­fitable, and admirable Art: to the end, that if by warres, or other humaine mischiefes, and casualties, the vse thereof should at any time be left off, yet it should not bee altogether lost, but be faithfully kept and preserued by bookes, as it hath saued and preserued manie bookes.

TO MAKE Characters for imprinting, it is requisite first to haue pon­chions of steel, softned by the fire, on the which they graue with coūter-pon­chions hardned, or grauing yrons steeled, the white which is within the let­ters: perfecting and smoothing the bodies of them with fyles, where they are eminent, or vneuen; not at the right ends, but at the contrarie: after they wet these ponchions in water to harden them, and then polish them, and do strike them into little peeces of fine copper, that haue bin in the fire: which being so engrauen, do naturally represent the forme of the letters: which the artisans do call, striking of the matrices: Then do they iustify their matrices on moulds of yron, and in the white therof make their castings, with lead, tinglasse, anti­mony, and other mixed maters; to the end to harden them: and that they may endure the longer. The Letters being thus cast & made, are put in a great case or box of wood, ful of little boxes, in to which they are distributed, according [Page 22] to their seuerall sorts. From whence the Compositors (hauing layd before them the writing which they are to imprint) do take thē one by one, & dispose them by pages and formes, which they put again into other chasies or frames of yron, with one or two crosses, locked or shut fast with furnitures of wood. Then the gouernour of the Presse taketh these last chasies or fourmes, and laieth them on the marble of his Presse, then beateth them with balles of wood filled with woll, couered with white leather, and soaked or rubbed with ynke well mixed and distributed, placing the leafe that is to be printed, on a double tympan or parchmin (hauing a wollen cloth betwixt them) and a moyst linnen cloth to keepe the leafe from mackling, and putting downe the frisquet of parchmin, which couereth the white or margent of the leafe, he maketh the traine of the presse to roule▪ (which resteth on the cariage) till it come vnder the vice or spindle, vnto which the plattin is fastned; and taking the barre in his hand, he pulleth as hard as he can vntill the leafe be imprin­ted on one side, on which they bestow halfe the day; and the other halfe, on the other side; yelding in a day twelue hundred and fiftie sheetes, or thirteen hundred imprinted. But before they do this, they make two or three proofes, which are reulewed: and on this correction continew the rest. Two men are requisite about the presse, one to take, to gather, and order the sheetes, o [...] leaues; thother to beate on the fourme which is on the presse, and to distri­bute or bray the ynke on the stone or blocke: which could not serue the turne by reason of the great trauaile required therein, if they did not drawe the presse one after the other, and by turnes. Two presses also are needfull; thone for the ordinary worke; and thother to make the proofes, and reitera­tions: More or lesse Compositours (that is to say Collectors of letters togi­ther) according as they are great, or small, or in a meane betweene both; and sometimes a Founder or melter is requisite to renew the letters. The ynke is made of the smoke or sweat of oyle, and dissolued in oyle which must be beaten, and distributed, because of the thicknes; and it would not sticke on the paper if it were not wett. Others haue thought it better to make let­ters of copper, saying that they are of lesse cost, and yet will endure lon­ger. But experience hath founde that they are not so commodious, and that they pierce the paper. This is that which wee haue vnderstoode of this Art vnknowen heretofore amongst the auncient Greekes and Romains; wherof the Almains attribute the inuention to themselues. Notwithstanding the Portugals traficking on the farthest parts of the East, and the North, into China, and Cathay, haue brought therehence books printed in the languag, and writing of that Countrey, saying that they haue vsed it there a long time: which hath moued some to thinke, that the inuention hath bin brought out of that countrey through Tartaria and Moscouia, into Germany, and so after communicated to the rest of Christiandome: and yet not receiued of the Ma­hometistes; who superstitiously account it a great sinne to write their Alcoran by any other meane but by the hand of man.

Almost all nations haue remained a long time without letters, which hath [Page] bin a cause of making the antiquities and originals vncertain. Touching those bookes which we haue, there are none of them written aboue 3000. yeres a­gone, except the Hebrew, neither is there found amongst the Gentils any au­thour more auncient then Homer. Therefore the Egiptian Priest in Platoes Timeus, reprocheth vnto Solon, that the Greekes were all yong of vnder­standing, hauing no olde opinion deriued from antiquitie, nor any aged sci­ēce. And Herodotus in his Terpsichore writeth, that the Phenicians arriuing with Cadmus at Berce, brought in the letters with them, which the Greekes had not before: and as Liuy writeth, they came but lately into Italy: The Ger­man toong was not written in auncient time; and the Hongarian began not long since to be written. The Nomedes of the great Tartaria, and some Sa­uages of the new-found Lands do vse no letters at all: But they haue amongst them, some matters touching their antiquities not written nor represented by notes which they giue by worde of mouth successiuely the one to tho­ther. As the Iewes kept a long time the memory of the antiquities, which Moi­ses afterward set downe in writing, continued by the successors of Adam, and of Noe, euen to his time. And the verses of Homer, before they were gathered in the forme which we see by Aristarchus, were learned and song onely by hart. And so vsed at the first the Egiptians, Chaldees, Babylonians, Greekes, Latins, and other nations.

WE haue said enough of the imposition of names, the inuention, diuersi­tie, and antiquitie of Letters; the maners of writing, and matters which are written on, and with what instruments, and of the Arte of Imprinting: now comming againe to our speach of tongues: I say that they get reputation by their property, elegancy, and sweetenes: by the sciences which are written in them; by power and greatnes of Empire; and by the religions, by which meanes they are inlarged in many Countries, and endure long; as also they are soone lost and decaied by their contraries.

THE GREEKE tongue came in estimation by the elegancie, sweete­nes, and richnes thereof, by Philosophy which hath bin handled therein; and al Arts and Sciences. It hath bin propagated by the nauigations, and Colonies of the Athenians, and by the armes of the Macedonians, which ruling far in Asia, and namely in Syria, and Egipt, made their language to be vnderstood in many Countries: In so much as by the saying of Cicero, it was in his time red almost in all nations. Also the new Testament first written in Greeke hath made it knowen in many places.

THE ROMAINS no lesse ambitious in amplifying their tongue then their Empire, constrained the people which they had ouercome to speak Latin; and did not negociate with straungers in any tongue but their owne; to thend to spread it ouer all, with more veneration: as Valerius saith in his se­cond booke of auncient Institutions. They made their Prouincials to change not onely their language, but also their maners, and customes; to make them more tractable. Afterward the Christian religion passing into the West, and vsing Latin in the Churches, and Schooles; and consequently in publicke [Page 23] instruments, and sentences of soueraigne Iudges; hath preserued it thorough­out Italy, France, Spaine, England, Scotland, Germany, Poland, Prussia, Sweden, Hungarie, Bohemia, and part of Slauonia. The Christians in the East, and South Countries, as the Nestorians, Iacobites and Maronites vse the Syrian tongue, as we do the Latin: The Abyssins or Ethiopians vse the Chal­daick, in the which they haue al the holy Scripture; not giuing credite to any other language whatsoeuer. The Iewes, wheresoeuer they are thorough­out the world, would neuer consent, that the old Testament which they vse should be translated, but do read, and singe it in Hebrew; practizing in their contracts the tongues of those Countreys where they dwell. Likewise the Mahometists haue not suffred their Alcoran, to be red, or vnderstood in any tongue but the Arabian; in which it was written: which resembling the Hebrew, Chaldaicke, and Syriack is at this day largely spred abroad. For although the Tartarians, Corasmians, Persians, and Turkes, haue a diuers language from the Arabian; the Syrians, modern Arabians, and Mores, a tongue somwhat like it; yet so is it that the Arabian-grammer tongue in re­ligion, and sciences, amongst the learned, the Iudges, and Priests is common to all the inhabitants almost of Asia, Africke, and the third part of Europe. Amongst all the languages of Europe there is not any more ample, and large then the Slauonian; vnderstood, and spoken by the Seruians, Mysians, Bos­nians, Dalmatians, Croatians, Slauons, Carnians, Bohemians, Morauians, Sle­sites, Polaques, Mazouites, Pomerans, Cassubites, Sarbians, Ruthenians, and Moscouites. Moreouer the Lythuanians, Nugardians, Plescouians, Smol­nians, and Ohalicians begin to speake Slauonian. It was also familiar amongst the Mammelucs, as it is at this present in the Turkishe Court. In Asia, the Tartarian is vnderstoode thoroughout the Northe, and a part of the East: The Moorish thoroughout Africke; and the Brasilian in the newe found Lands.

YET haue not tongues any better estate then other humane things; but euen as buildinges, habites, maners, customes, lawes, Magistrates, maners of liuing both publicke and priuate, armes, engins, and instruments are changed: so are wordes and languages; which perishe at length not leauing by succession of time any apparance of their manner of writing. We haue now no knowledge at all of the Oscian, and Hetrurian tongue. The Prouen­cal in times past so much celebrated amongst famous writers, is not vnder­stood of the Prouencals at this day. The auncient Gaulish, Spanish, Persian, and Punick languages are lost.

THE HEBREW hath lost much of his integritie by the calamitous exiles, and often mutations hapned to the Iewes vnder diuers Lords: For the Assyrians, Egyptians, Greekes, and Romains raigning ouer the Iewes, assaied for the hatred they bare to their religion, to distroy the Hebrew tongue, and the books of the Law; which they caused all to be burned, as many as they could get into their hāds; & namely the Assyrians. But they were miraculous­ly restored againe by Esdras, or Iesus his sonne the high priest, which knew [Page] then by hart; and changed the Hebrew letters to hinder the Iewes from being mingled with the Samaritans; which came of the Gentils in Iury as Eusebius reporteth. These letters which the Iewes haue sithence vsed, differ onely by figures, and points from those of the Samaritans; which are those that were giuen asore time by Moyses.

But being so many times dispersed hither and thither, into diuers Coun­tries, and mingled with strangers, whose Captiues, and tributaries they were: (as they are yet at this present in what part soeuer they dwell) they haue kept few words pure; amongst which are found some ambiguous, signifying con­trary things, not to be vnderstood but by continuance of the speach; or by the addition, detraction, or inuersion of the points, holding the place of vowels. Their phrases are obscure, and full of metaphors, parables, and riddles to bee construed diuersly: Neuertheles it is profitable for Christians, and especially for Diuines to know this tongue, as well for the better vnderstanding of the scriptures; as to refute more certainly the Iewes, if they happen to dispute a­gainst them: As also the Arabian is necessary for the conuersion of Maho­metistes; by reason whereof it was ordeined at the Counsell of Vienna, that these two tongues should be publickly taught in the chiese Vniuersities of Christendome.

THE SARAZENS spreading abroad by armes with their religion, & lordship the Arabian tongue, first they destroied the Persian, with the letters, and learning thereof; and by the commandement of their Caliphes, they cau­sed the bookes written therein to be burnt; imagining that while the Persians contending before with the Greekes in armes, and learning, should haue these bookes contayning naturall sciences, lawes of the Countrey, and aun­cient cerimonies, they could not be good Mahometists: as before the Chri­stians had indeuoured, to abolish the bookes of the Gentils, and vtterly to deface the memorie of their diuinitie. After these Sarazens going into Egipt, they banished out of Alexandria the Greek with the disciplines written therein, and out of Africk the Latin; as the Romaines before had banished the African tongue, with the learning and letters thereof. So that nations passing out of one Countrey into another, do change the maners, tongues, re­ligions, and dominions, the victors spoyling whatsoeuer they thinke good in the land of the vanquished, defacing their titles, and destroying for enuy that which they cannot cary away: to thend to abolish the honour and ver­tue of others; and that none but their owne may be celebrated and spoken off. So do the Turkes at this day to the Christians they rule ouer: and so did in auncient time, the Goths, Alans, Hunnes, Vandales, Seruiens, Turules, and Lombards; who diuers times conquering Countries whose languages they disdained, neither vnderstanding them, nor knowing how to read them, cor­rupted them, in making new by mixtion of their own with those which they found: insomuch as the poore people remayning after such transmigrations, did learne the languages of the cruel, and inhumane vsurpers, to vse in speach vnto them, that they might be thought the fitter subiectes. Moreouer these [Page 24] barbarous people referring all vnto warre, and contemning all other disci­plines; burnt the libraries and all the bookes in them, vnto which the lear­ned had recommended all their memorials: in so much that with the losse of the tongues, there ensued also the losse of the sciences which were writ­ten in them; from whence there arose great ignorance in the world which la­sted a long time. In this maner of the Grammaticall Greeke, proceeded the vulgar; Of the Latin, the Italian, French and Spanish; in which are found many Arabian words, by reason that the Sarazens held Spaine a long time: Of the grammaticall Arabian, the Vulgar, and Moorish, vsed from Syria, vnto the straights of Marocco; and comming as neere vnto it, as the Italian doth to the Latin: Of the Almaygne, and French, the English: The Moore which commeth of the Arabian, and the Turke of the Tartarian, vnder­standing on an other as the Italian, and Spanyarde. And so of those which are nowe in vse are others made, and of them others will bee made in time to come.

But howbeit they change vncessantly, and that in the same Countrey and language, there appeareth in short time a difference both in speaking, and pronouncing: yet euery where there are somethat speake finer, and purer then the rest: such as were the Athenians in Greece, the Romains in Italy, and the Tuscans there at this day; The Castilians in Spaine; the Saxons in Ger­many; The Persians in Asia; The Nobles, and Courtiers in France; where­by the question is decided which hath bin debated betweene some learned men: namely whether the auncient Greekes, and Romaines had two lan­guages, and whether Plato, Aristotle, and Demosthenes in Greeke; and Cicero, Salust, and Cesar in Latin, did write in their mother-tongues. It is certaine, that in Athens there was but one language, and in Rome one other, yet the speach of the common people was not so pure, as that of men of cal­ling, and the ciuiler sort; as one may see by the Latin of Vitruuius, who was a chiefe Mason, and Cicero who was Consull: Which elegancie, and purity of speech is preserued longer amongst women, which conuerse not so much with strangers as the men; and commonly are more curious to speake well▪ Tully in the third booke of his Oratour, writeth that in his time, the learning of the Athenians was lost in Athens; only remaining in that towne the school or house of studies; which was not cared for of the Citizens; and the stran­gers enioyed it, which were drawen thither in some sort by the name and au­thority of the citie: notwithstanding that an vnlearned Athenian excelled the most learned of Asia, not in words but in sound of the voice; and not so much in speaking wel, as in pronoūcing sweetly. Likewise saith he there is a certain voice or accent peculiar, and proper to the Romain kind, & to the City, in the which there is nothing offending, or displeasing the eare, or sauouring in any sort of peregrinity, & strangnes; in so much that the Romains with lesse study then the Latins, did excell the most learned amongst thē by sweetnes of voice.

THE GREEKES dwelling in true Greece, in Italy, Asia, in Sicile, and other Islandes, had fower tongues or speeches; The Atticke, [Page] Dorike, Eolike, and Ionian: and in choosing out of euery of them through­out the Poets words, and figures, as came fittest to their purpose, they made a­nother tongue which they called the Common: and after vnder one name onely, called them all fiue the Greeketongue. And although the Athenian, were finer and more fruitfull then the rest; yet the learned which were not Athenians by nation, did write only after their natural maner, fearing perad­uenture that they should not attaine to the Attike purity, vnto which but sel­dome and by leasure attained those which were borne elswhere. For Theo­phrastus who had long abode in Athens, being reputed most eloquent, was knowen by an old woman of Athens to be a straunger by his speach; Pollio obiected Paduanisme vnto Liuie; and vnto Virgill who was a Mantuan, it was reproached that he spake not Romain: so euery tongue by how much the farther it is from his natural spring, is the lesse pure. As in old time the Syrians and Egyptians, speaking Greeke did not speake it so purely as the Athenians; nor the Gaules, Spaniards, or Africans, Latin as the Romains: for although their words were Greeke or Latin, yet they retained the phrase of their owne Countrey. Insomuch that speaking Greeke or Latin they were alwaies kno­wen for straungers: as it hapneth to the English & Scots, Flemings, Almains, Italians, and Spaniards, when they speake French, if they haue not learned it very young.

But the tongues as all other humaine things, haue their beginning, pro­gresse, perfection, corruption, and end: and being rude at first, do afterwards polish themselues, with ciuilitie of maners and knowledge; And when they haue endured a time in puritie, and elegancy, they are corrupted, and do fi­nally perish: and by proces of time no appearance of their writing remaineth. The Greekes at the first were but rude, and grosse, as Thucydides, Plato, and▪ Aristotle affirme: and the first which became ciuill amongst them were the Athenians, who polished their language, which they also brought vnto per­fection; where it remained not long: but was corrupted, and lost, togither with the libertie of the Countrey, being supplanted by the Macedonians, Romains, and other straungers which haue ruled there. In such sort that ne­uer sithence could be restored, the true propriety, and natural elegancy of the Greeke which was spoken by Plato, Aristotle, Isocrates, Demosthenes, and Eschines: but in steed of that tongue (which may be said to haue bin the best in the world) there is at length come an other vsed at this present in Greece, and in the Isles adioyning, mingled of many other languages: which is euery day falling to decay vnder the Turkish Empire, wherewith the Countrey hath bin already more then a hundred yeres most miserably oppressed.

If the first Romain writings had endured till this present, we should see that Euander, and Turnus, and the other Latins of that time, spake otherwise then did afterwards the last Romaine Kings, and the first Consuls. The ver­ses which were song by the Salian priests were scarcely vnderstood; but be­cause they were so ordained by the first founders, they were not chaunged for reuerence of the religion. Polybius writeth that the language was so much [Page 25] changed from the first Punick warr to the second, that with great difficulty were vnderstood the treaties made before betweene the Romains and Car­thaginians: And it remained rude about fiue hundred yeres, hauing no writer in it worthy of memory. From that time forward the people gaue themselues to learning, and some became learned: yet hard in their speech; commended onely, for hauing bin the inuentours; and first teachers of the Latin tongue: which was after made most pure, and perfect, by Cicero, Caesar, and other e­loquent men, which florished then in great number: in whom indeed the purity there of is to be acknowledged. For afterward the common wealth be­ing changed into a monarchy, and the maners corrupted; the speach was al­so changed and corrupted, losing his natural grace, & goodnes vnder the Em­perours. Then the Empire being translated from Rome to Constantinople, many strange nations comming into Italy, altered the tongue, so that men left speaking it, & it remained in books only: which were not red, nor vnderstood by the space of eight hūdred yeres; some of them lost, others eaten by worms, and deuoured by age: til such time as some Greekes and Italians, did by study make these two auncient tongues to reuiue when they were almost dead: by copying out, publishing, and correcting the bookes that remained in some libraries, such as had bin preserued from the rage of those barbarous nations; which hath so happely succeeded, that the said tongues haue recouered great light, with the arts written in them; which we see restored with them; and many inuentions added to antiquitie as shalbe declared hereafter.

Then the Romain Empire declining to the West, as the Ostrogoths, and Lombards, had possessed Italy; the Visigoths, and Sarazens the Countrey of Prouence, Languedoc, Aquitayne, and Spayne. The Burguignons, and Frenchmen, the Gaules, Belgick, and Celtick: the Vandals, Bethick, & Africk; by their conuersation the Latin was corrupted: Of which corruption, came the Italian, French, and Spanish. The Italian remained long time vnpolished, because there was none that tooke care thereof; or endeuoured to giue it any polishment, vntill Dante, Petrarch, and Boccace; who haue much embelished it by their conceipts ingeniously expressed, and elegantly couched in prose, and verse: Where in they haue bin seconded by others no lesse learned, and eloquent; who haue likewise enriched this language with many faire works, and translations. As much is there happened to the Spanish, & French, which haue bin made within these fiftie yeres more elegant then they were before, by the diligence of some excellent men which haue translated a great number of bookes not onely Greeke, and Latin, but Italian also into them; showing that all sciences may conueniently be handled in them.

CERTAINLY it is a great Comfort, and ease found out in this variety of languages, which cannot be vnderstood, nor learned of all, to translate out of one into another. By this meanes the old Testament hath bin translated out of Hebrew into Greek, and into Latin; the new Testament out of Greek into Latin; and consequently both Testaments into Syriack, Chaldaick, E­gyptian, Persian, Indian, Armenian, Scythian, Sclauonian, German, English, [Page] French, Italian, and into all languages vsed by men: without which benefit the greater part of them had remayned in perpetual ignorance of God. And that there is in the same some diuine working, it appeared then, when Pto­lomeus Philadelphus desiring to put into his excellēt library the holy books of the Pentateuch, and of the Prophets translated into Greeke, and hauing procured out of Iury 72. Interpreters skilful in both languages: to make proof of their fidelity, he caused them all to worke apart seuerally; and yet neuer­theles found in them such consent and agreement, that there was not one differing from the other in the sence of the Scripture: hauing receiued this so meruailous a gift of God, to thend the scripture might be acknowledged to be diuine as it is; and that the translation might be of more authoritie, as being don, not by the diligence of men, seruing but for the words; but by the spirit of God, guyding and gouerning the vnderstanding of the Transla­tors. Moreouer by such meanes Phylosophy, Physicks and the Mathematick, were translated out of the Greeke into Arabian, and out of Greek, and A­rabian into Latin: many arts, infinite histories communicated by one nati­on to another. Varro, and Columella, say that the Romains vnderstanding the profit which was contained in the bookes of husbandry made by Mago the Carthaginian in the Punicke tongue, ordained by decree of the Se­nat that they should be translated into Latin: whence may manifestly bee knowen the profit of translation, fauoured by God in the exposition of his word, and holy scripture; confirmed by the consent of all nations, in the communicating of arts: and approued by the aucthoritie of the sage Senate of the triumphant Seigniory of Rome. Yet can I not deny but that it is more painefull then praiseworthy; where diligence assisted with Iudgement is more requisite, then any excellent knowledge; which appeareth more in in­uenting of it selfe, then in translating; that is to say, writing out of one booke into another; obseruing the proprietie of both tongues without adding any thing of his owne, or taking ought from the authour: whom it is not pos­sible to translate so faithfully, & elegantly, but there wilbe alwaies more grace in the originall then the translation; where the words are alwaies tyed to the phrase, sauouring more or less of the tongue out of which one transla­teth, in diuers strange wordes belonging vnto the religion, state of gouern­ment, lawes, magistrates, or sciences, which it is not lawfull to change; and hard or vncouth to make new in their places: and againe in the metaphors, al­legories, comparisons, similitudes, and other figures, and ornaments of speach: ech seuerall tongue hauing I know not what proper, and peculiar, vnto it selfe, not to be expressed in an other. In such sort that there is no means to bring a tongue to perfection by translation; and there was neuer translator how sufficient soeuer, that deserued the like praise as his authour; whatsoe­uer Theodorus Gaza list to say, the most excellent that is knowen in this qua­lity. Cicero, Father of the Romain eloquence, translated into Latin Xeno­phon his Oeconomick; the contrary orations of Eschines and Demosthenes, the Timaeus of Plato, and the Astronomical poeme of Aratus. But S. Hierome [Page 26] found great difference betweene his writings, and translations; in which he found wanting his wonted elegancie and facilitie. Wherefore it were better to put forth his owne inuentions for him that hath meanes to doe it. Not­withstanding if one doe it to helpe the ignorant of the tongues; or for his owne particular study, to thend to fashion his stile, and to settle his iudge­ment on the best authours, as Cicero himselfe did, and I haue assaied to doe after his example and exhortation in accommodating the vertues of the most esteemed auncient writers to the manners, and affaires of this time; I recken translation very comendable. And he that with a mediocritie of vnderstan­ding, and knowledge should be the first that had proposed to his nation, the lights or lampes of learning, namely Isocrates, Xenophon, Demosthenes, Ari­stotle, Plato, and the Schoolemasters of mankind, as they are termed by Se­neca, which haue long time lyen hidden in Schooles, or buried in libraries, without being put in vre, were not altogether to be reiected; especially tra­uailing in a tongue not yet polished, nor accustomed vnto arts: which will be much amended by trauailing therein, euen as the Greeke and Latin came by little and little to their perfection, by handling of good maters in them, as Philosophy, matter of state, or publick gouernment, deeds of armes, and other honest & profitable sciences; not by writing of fabulous Romances, or amo­rous Sonets, or such kinde of stuffe wherewith the vulgar tongues are all pe­stered. But there is need of learned and eloquent men, such as hardly and rare­ly are found in many hundreds and thousands of yeres worthy of admirati­on: of whom we haue alwaies had no lesse want then other Countries: or if some such haue at any time bin found here, they haue for the most part bin delighted instrangetongues more then in their owne. But it is great reason that the learned should exactly know their own tongue, and that they should write in it sometimes to make it better; and do good to their owne Coun­treymen rather then to straungers: so that the Greeke, Latin, Hebrewe, Chal­daick, and Arabian which are common to many nations be not thereby for­gotten or layd aside: wherehence would arise great obscuritie to those dis­ciplines, which are written in them, confusion to the world, and ignorance vnto men depriued of the cōmunication which they haue by means of them, not vnderstanding one another afterward, nor conferring togither. Notwith­standing I would neuer counsail to employ so many yeres on these learned tongues as men haue accustomed to do, and to consume the time inlerning of words, which ought rather to be bestowed in knowledge of such things, as they haue not afterward the meanes nor leasure to intend: which error brin­geth great backwardnes and damage to the sciences.

But let it suffice hitherto to haue spoken of languages, and let vs come now following the order set downe by vs, to the inuention and vicissitude of Arts.

PLato a most renowmed Phylosopher amongest all that euer were celebrated for the knowledge of learning, re­presenting vnder a fable the first estate of mankinde, say­neth, that at the beginning the Gods were alone afore there were any mortall Creatures: but that the fatal de­stiny of generation being come; they framed them in the bowels of the earth, and made them of fire, and of earth, with other thinges mingled with them; And that being willing to bring them into light, they gaue the charge to Prometheus, and Epimetheus to distribute to euery one his forces, and proprieties: Then Epi­metheus prayed Prometheus to let him make the distribution in his presence; And so goeth about it alone, giuing to some, force without lightnesse, to o­thers lightnesse without force: he armed some, and for those which were without armes he inuented other succour: Those which he had inclosed in a little body, he lifted them vp into the aire with feathers; or commaunded them to craule on the earth: He fortifyed such as were growen into a great Masse with their Masse it selfe: And likewise he proceeded with the rest gi­uing to euery one his vertues. After he had so furnished them, to thend they should not distroy one another, he gaue them meanes to defend them thone from the other; and to remaine abroad without couert. Clothing some of them with thicke heare, little houses, or shells and skales of diuers sorts, with feathers, or hard skinnes, against the vntemperatenes of Winter, & Sommer: and of the same things made them beds, and natural couches: ioining to their feet, clawes, nailes, and callosites: to their heads, hornes, teeth, and tronks: then distributed to them food, making some to eate grasse on the earth; others to feed on fruits, & roots of trees; & others more greedy to deuoure one another. [Page 27] Prouided that they which liued on pray should be in some sort barren, and the others that were subiect to be deuoured, more fruitful: to thend that the kind should continue. For the diuine prouidence hath bin wise therin, making al fearful beasts, and such as are good to [...]eed on, very fruitful, lest by being of­ten eaten there should faile of the kind: euen as hurtfull, and harmeful beasts are of small increase. Therefore the hare is very fruitfull, and alone of al kind of venison, surchargeth the burden in his belly, because that men, beasts, and birds, do prosecute him to death. Likewise the Cony is sound so ful of rabets that some of them are yet without heare, others somewhat riper, and others going out of the belly. But the Lyonesse which is the strongest, and hardiest of all beastes, neuer bringeth but one; and but once in her life. But Epime­theus being not very wise, he gaue all to the brute beastes, reseruing nothing for man, whom he left alone without force, without power, without pro­pertie, starke naked, without armour, without clothing, vnhosed, and vn­shood, without conuenient food, and wanting all things: In such sort that he could not resist other creatures being then more excellent then himselfe. For the staggs ran swifter; the beares, and Lions were stronger; the Peacock was fairer; the fox was craftier; the Emmet more diligent; and the snayle better lodged then he: Euery beast found a medicine fit for his malady and hurt; whereof man was ignorant. Of this came such a confusion that men perished by little and little thorough diuers sorts of cruelt [...]e: In such sort that their kind had soone bin consumed, without the aduise of prudent Prometheus; who seeing so great a fault, to redresse it, stole from Vulcan, and Minerua the artificial wisedom, togither with the fire: being not possible to obtaine it, or to vse it without fire; and so did distribute it to mankinde: by meanes where­of men began for their common commoditie to assemble togither for feare of the be astes, and to thend to resist them, helping one another, and seeking here and there after safe places for their habitation, they learned to make houses, and garments to auoid the sharpnes of cold, and the force of heate; to reserue fruits for their necessitie; to prepare armes for their defence; and to finde out other commodities for their life. Which finally necessity it selfe be­ing inuentour of all things maketh knowen particularly to the vnderstanding of men; vnto whom were giuen for helpes, their hands, speach and reason; Reason to inuent, speach to cōmunicate▪ the hands to accomplish that which they should either inuent themselues by reason, or learne of others by speach: for no other creature doth speak in deed, for as much as speach proceedeth of reason; nor hath hands; though peraduenture somewhat like vnto handes. Wherefore man hath first found out by reason the most necessary thinges; as food, clothing; and armes: and afterward such as serue for pleasure, ornament and magnificence: he hath imposed names on euery thing, inuented letters of diuers sorts, and sundry kinds of writing; made all arts both mechanical and liberall: proceeding so farr as to measure the earth, and the sea; to reduce by instruments the mighty masse of heauen, scarse to be comprehended by vnder­standing, and to propose it before our eyes. Moreouer the same Plato affirmeth [Page] that before men liued in company, and spake togither, or that they had begun to inuent; and exercise arts; for as much as they alone of al other creatures did participate of the diuine nature, being indewed with an immortall soule; that they by reason of this diuine affinitie, did thinke first that there were Gods, and so honoured them; and prayed to them: from thence, had religion her begin­ning, publicke gouernment, iudgement, negotiation and traficke by Sea, and by land, lawes were established, magistrates created, innumerable trades in­uented, houses, villages, and townes builded, consequently cities, castles, and fortresses; and then kingdoms, and Empires erected: Wherehence hath suc­ceeded, the greatnes, and excellency of mankind such as we see it at this day. From thence I say began religion which is more natural to men then all their other arts, and inuentions: no nation in the world hauing bin found so rude, so cruel, & barbarous; but that it had some appearance of religion. For how­beit that the greater part is ignorant, what God, & how they ought to wor­ship him; yet al notwithstanding do agree that we ought to honour, pray, and feare one God the authour of all things: which is confirmed not only in the first, and most auncient nations, as the Ethiopians, Indians, Armenians, Chal­dees, Hebrewes, Assyrians, Egyptians, Greekes, Romains, and Gaules: but also in the Goths, Vandales, Sarazens, Tartarians, Turkes, Persians, Cathay­ans or Chinoys: And not onely in our hemisphere; but also amongst the An­tipodes; and Sauages of the new found lands: of whom heretofore we neuer had any knowledge. They which haue nauigated thither, haue found many people liuing yet as the first men, without letters, without Lawes, without Kings, without common wealthes, without arts; but yet not without reli­gion: who beleeue, that the soules of the dead go into other places according to such workes as they haue done in this life. To intertaine it, haue bin ap­pointed cerimonies, praiers ordained, temples edifyed, oratories, chapels, hos­pitals, almeshouses, cloisters, and couents: Sacrificers or priests haue bin in­stituted, and much respected in all Countries. And if it pleased God that hee woulde be worshipped thoroughout all the world in one selfe same maner, men shoulde be deliuered of great hatred, and cruel discorde, happening a­mongst them thorough the diuersitie of Religions.

AT THE beginning men were very simple and rude in all thinges, little differing from beastes. They did eate in the fieldes and mountaines, the rawe fleshe of beastes, or herbes, with their rootes, stalkes, and leaues, which the earth brought foorth of his owne accorde; and in the woodes the fruictes of wilde trees; or venison: on the bankes of the Sea, Riuers, Lakes, Pooles, and Marishes, they fedd on fishes and birdes: They clad them selues with skinnes, in steede of garments; to bee defended from heat and colde, from winde, raine, and snow, they withdrewe themselues into great holow trees; or vnder their thick leaued branches; or into low dy­ches, hideous caues, holow vautes, cabins, and lodges made of great logges of wood, and lightly couered with boughes, stalkes, canes, and reeds. Then hauing strong bodies, they nourished themselues with strong meates, and [Page 28] also liued longer. They abode euer almost in the open aire, in continuall tra­uaile, and lying on the hard ground, wheresoeuer sleep ouertooke them. When they waxed weaker; and could not digest such meates, nor dwell in the open aire naked, and vncouered, they were constrayned to seeke by little and little, to soften this wild and sauage maner of lyuing, which they could no longer endure: learning to sow Corne, which before grew vp vnknowen amongst herbes and weeds; and to dresse the vines, which likewise the earth brought forth amongst other plants; to transplant, and to graffe fruict-trees, to thend to make the fruicts better; and to dresse and season both flesh and fish: and then to build, and to assemble themselues in companies, that they might liue the more safely, and commodiously. In such maner were they reduced, from that brutish life which they led, to this sweetnes, and ciuili­tie; beginning from that time forward, to feed, cloath, and lodge them­selues in better sort, and more commodiously.

Now whereas men haue taken nourishment, first of tame beastes, before either of graine, or of fruits: there is no doubt but that pasturage, grasing, & shepheardrie, were before husbandrie and tillage; as it appeareth by the most auncient nations, who hauing so liued from the beginning, haue taken their names there hence, as the Hebrewes, and the Italians, which is to say shepheards, and that many Nations vse it euen at this day, exerci­sing (as may be said) a kind of liuelie tillage. The tilling and planting of the earth haue bin both inuented after pasturage, and vnto both haue bin added hunting, fouling, and fishing. On the one side they haue found out the vse of Wheat, which in these partes is found the best and most com­modious nourishment: as also Barley, Millet, Rye, and all other knowen kind of graine. On the other side, they haue found Ryce, Mahiz, and Iuca: the maner to sow, and gather them, to thresh, fan, and winnow, to boult and sift flower, to knead it, and to make dowe, to mould it, and raise past, to make loaues, and to bake them in the ouen: whereunto are appointed and doe serue, the Millers and Bakers. Then haue they added pease and beanes, and other sortes of pulse, both new and old: Herbes of diuerse sorts, and rootes; as persley, lettice, spinage, tyme, pepperwort, marioram, buglosse, maloes, beetes, endiue, succorie, purslain, sage, col­worts, melons, cucombers, gourds, artichocks, sperage, mugwort, onyons, garlick, leekes, chibols, carrets, parsnebbs, nauets, radishes, and turnepps, mingling with them salt, oiles, butter, and suet, to giue them a better tast, and make them the more sauorie. Moreouer the fruits of trees, cheries, plums, peares, apples, peaches, apricocks, mulberies, medlers, quinces, raisins, figgs, oliues, citrons, orenges, dates, chestnuts, and marrons. And not content with graine, fruits, herbes, and rootes, they haue bin giuen to eat the flesh, first of themselues, which they haue left for the most part with horrour; thē of other creatures both tame and wild; of the land, of the water, and flying in the aire; neither leauing inward nor outward part of them, which they haue not foūd mean to season, boile, & seeth, roast & frie, or put in past & bake with saulces, [Page] and spices, brought from the fardest parts of the earth, making puddings, saul­ciges, haggasses, tripes, and chitterlings, which they serue at the beginning of meales with potages, broathes, and sallets; and at the end therof cheeses, tarts, and creames; wafers, iunkets, and march-panes, prepared and dressed by Cookes and pybakers: Neither hath their pompe and riot bin any lesse with fishes, both of the sea, and of freshwater. In somuch, that Plutarch in his Symposiacke proposing this question, whether that the Sea or the Earth brought forth most delicate and delicious meates, findeth businesse, and diffi­cultie enough in the decision therof. Moreouer being not pleased with milk, nor faire water to drink; they found out a way to brew Beere, and Ale; to draw and presse out Syder of apples and peares; wyne out of grapes, and palmes; and to make sweet drinkes, compounded with honie, as bragget, meath, and metheglem, which they call Medons in Moscouia, and Polonia; and infinite other artificial drinks, which they haue dronk in cuppes of gold, siluer, cristall, and glasse, spicing them in diuers maners. Besides, to make their drink fresher, they haue found meanes in some places to keepe snow, and y [...]e, all the yeare. At the first sitting on the ground they tooke their repast on the grasse, & vnder the shadow of leaues: after they made stooles, formes, benches, tables, and tressels: Table clothes, table napkins, trenchers; salt­sellers, cupbords, vessel, and vtensiles of diuers sorts, and fashions; appointing officers fit for these charges: as Stewards of the house, pantlers; cellerers, caruers, cupbearers, cookes, boylers, and rosters. Salust blameth the Ro­mains, which sought in his time by sea and by land, after all sorts of delica­cies, not expecting hunger, nor thirst, nor cold, nor wearinesse; but preuen­ting all these things by disordinate appetite. Liuie telleth how after the Con­quest of Asia, all sorts of superfluities and delicacies came vnto Rome, and that then the Romains began to make banquets with more curiositie, and cost: And a Cooke, which before was held amongst them for a seruile drudge, began to come in reputation. Seneca complaineth, that the kitchins were more celebrated, then the Schooles of Philosophers, & Rhetoricians. Who would not wonder to heare tell of the excessiue feasts of Anthonius and Cleopatra? or of the Emperour Caligula, who consumed on one supper the reuenues of three prouinces? of Heliogabalus; of Lucullus; or of the pro­digalitie of Esope, and Apicius, who shortned his life, fearing least goods would faile him to the maintayning of his sumptuousnes? In one feast made to Vitellius by his brother, were serued two thousand dainty fishes, and seuen thousand birds. Good God, how much paine hath bin procured vnto men by their insatiable gluttonie and gurmandise! how manie sorts of workmen, and their seruants hath it set on work! But their curiositie in apparell hath not bin lesse; to the furnishing whereof many occupations haue bin applied: as the spinner, carder, tucker, weauer, clothworker, fuller, sherman, dyer, taylor, cutter, hosier, doubletmaker, linnen draper, semster, capper, and felt­maker, feathermaker, lacemaker, embroderer, felmonger, skinner, furrier, leatherdresser, tanner, currier, cordwayner, and shoomaker. They haue spon [Page 29] and wouen flaxe, hempe, woll, cotton, silke, made of wormes, and of it haue made Veluet, Satin, Damaske, Taffeta; and of goats haire, and camels haire, Grogram, and Chamlet: whereunto haue bin added fustians, bombasies, sarges, cloth of Gold, and Siluer, purple, and skarlet, with other infinite co­lours: making of these stuffes▪ shirts, rochets, wimples, doublets, caps, hats, hoods, gowns, coats, cloaks, cassocks, ierkins, & iackets, enriched with orna­ments, trimmings, embroderies, and laces, after diuers fashions, whith change from Countrie to Countrie, and from day to day, thorough the lightnes of persons. Of tanned and coried leather they haue made Ierkins, buskins, bootes, shooes, and pantofles, and lyned and faced them with veluet. They haue applied Carcanets and Chaines to their necks, brasselets to their hands, rings to their fingers, spectacles to their eies, paynting to their cheekes, iewels to their eares, tyres and borders of gold to their heads, and garters to their leggs: distinguishing by the habits, the Princes from the subiects; the Magistrats from priuate men; the noble from the base; the learned from the ignorant; and the holie from the prophane. What shall I say of the skinns of Wolues, Sables, Martins, and other precious furres, fet from the farthest parts of the North, which they buy for excessiue prices. Plinietel­leth it for a wonderfull strange thing, and full of great superfluitie, that he had seen Lollia Paulina a Romain Ladie, widow of the Emperour Caligula, at a wedding banquet, hauing her head, necke, and bosome couered, and her handes likewise, with pearles, and Emeraudes, ioyned together, and enterlaced: which iewels were esteemed to bee worth a Million of crownes.

The Queene Cleopatra comming to meete Antonius in Cilicia, put her selfe on the ryuer Cydnus, into a boate, whose sterne was all of gold, the sayles of Purple, the oares of Siluer, which kept stroke in rowing with the sound of Musicke: Touching her person, shee was laied vnder a pa­uilion of gold tyssued, decked like the Goddesse Venus, and round about her were maruailous odoriferous and sweet smells, and perfumes. Helio­gabalus slept on a tyke full of hares heares, and partridge-feathers. The bed of Darius the last King of the Persians, was sumptuouslie garnished, and couered with a vine of golde, in maner of a grate or lettice, enriched with raisins and grapes hanging in it, all of precious stones: And at his bedds head, there was in Treasure fiue thousand Talents of golde; at his bedds foote, three thousand Talents of Siluer: So much and so deerely he esteemed and valued his nights pleasure, that he would haue his head rest on so great cheuisance.

But yet, the excesse in buylding hath bin more outragious, for comming out of hollow trees, houells, bowers, cabins, and lodges, couered with straw, and reedes, and going into houses buylded with brickes, stones, and marble, cut, squared, and fastened with morter, plaister, lyme, and varnish, hanged with Tapistrie and painted, couered with slattes and tyles, the roofe hollow with arches and vaults, and the flower curiouslie paued [Page] and wrought, diuided by halles, vpper and lower chambers, vtter chambers, inner chambers, with-drawing-chambers, bedchambers, wardrobes, cabi­nets, closets, staires, entries, galleries, and terrasses: They haue accomodated arts and artificers for the buylding and furnishing of them: as Architects, masons, plaisterers, tylers, carpenters, smithes, glasiers, tapisters, painters, grauers, cutters, caruers, melters, casters of Images, goldsmithes, gilders, lock­smithes, and others: buylding pallaices, castles, townes, cities, bridges, con­duicts, pyramides, sepulchers, theaters, amphitheaters, bathes, and porches; turning the course of streames, and raising of mounts, and throwing downe mountains, with prodigalitie exceeding all boundes of reason; hoping thereby to make their names immortall. And whereas it was necessarie for them, intertayning that varietie and magnificence, to trafique by sea and by land, and to haue Cariers on them both; to thend to receiue from other pla­ces, such commodities as they wanted, or to send abroad such things as a­bounded with them; to nauigate, they hollowed first the bodies of trees after the maner of the Indian Canoes, and afterwards made boates, schiffes, pina­cies, and gallies, with three, fower, fiue, sixe, seauen, eight, and ten Oares on a side, yea; to thirtie on a side: foistes, brigantines, barkes, caruels, ships, hulks, gallions, galliasses, armadoes, and argosies, with their tackling, and furniture, of anchors, cabels, mastes, sayles, artillerie, ordinance, victuals, and compas, or boxe: To receiue, keepe, and repaire them, arsenals, portes, and hauens; To guide, and to man them were appointed Pilots, mariners, sailers, rowers, and gallyslaues: euen as carters, wagoners, coachmen, and horse-keepers were ordayned for trafick, and trauaile by land. And for both cariages, cursitours, regraters, porters, balencers; Masters of ports, customers, controllers, reuisitors, and serchers. To serue which turne with more ease, it was needfull to coine money of gold, siluer, brasse, and copper, defined in value by the quantitie and waight; marked with diuerse figures, according to the diuersitie of the Countrie where it is made: being not possible to vse per­mutation in euery thing: and therefore were brought in money-tellers, and changers. Moreouer it was necessarie to haue Notaries or Scriueners, to passe the contracts of Markets, sergeants, huissiers, solicitors, proctors, infor­mers, auditors, iudges, counsailors, presidents, registers, criers, and executours of sentences. For the expedition of roiall letters, Secretaries, Maisters of re­quests, Chauncelors, or Keepers of seales. The Physicians, Chirurgians, and Apothecaries do serue for health, vsing druggs, comming for the most part out of strange Countries: as Rheubarbe, Cassia, Aloe, Agarike, and such others. Gymnasts, pedotribes, athletes, fencers, wrastlers, runners, swim­mers, leapers, and tumblers, for the exercise of the bodie. For pleasure, and recreation, singers, minstrells, musicians, plaiers on instruments, organists, dauncers, and ballad-makers, rymers, iesters, iuglers, barbers, perfumers, drawers of flowers, and curious workes. Also not contented with stickes, and stones, which the simplicitie of nature furnished vnto their Choler, they haue inuented infinite sorts of armes, and weapons, both offenssiue and [Page 30] defensiue; long-bowes, and crosse-bowes; with arrowes and quiuers, slings, darts, iauelins, lances, pikes, partysans, halbards, swords, bucklers, rapiers, and daggers, shieldes, targets, cuyras [...]es, brigandines, headpeeces, helmets, caskes, morions, and salads: gorgets, pauldrons, vantbrasses, tasses, gauntlets, cuisses, and greues: engines to shoote in the field, or to batter wals, catapults, and ramms in old time; and of late canons, double-canons, demy-canons, basilisks, coluerins, sakers, faulcons, minions, and chambers: and for smaller shot, and maniable, muskets, caliuers, harquebuzes, daggs; and pistols: Ser­uing for the warres, armorers, furbishers, spurriers, sadlers, ryders, horse­breeders, horsekeepers, smithes, and farriers, founders, and mounters of great ordinance, saltpeter-men, powder-makers, canoniers: Colonels, Captains, souldiers, with their Ensignes, trumpets, drummes, and other Officers. Going farther yet, they haue found out other estates, offices, and exercises, imploying some about conducting and managing the publick reuenewes: as Receiuours, Treasorers, Masters of accompts, Auditours, Controllers: Others about the counsaile of Princes, and of States: Others to the esta­blishing and preseruing of the Lawes, seeing to the publick gouernment, to discipline, and correction of maners.

Then amongst so many commodities, idlenesse increasing with ease, and wealth, they applied themselues to the studie of learning; by reason that all naturally desire to know new things, strange, admirable, faire, and variable, and to vnderstand the causes therof; cherishing principally amongst all their senses, their sight and hearing, which do helpe them to haue knowledge, but the sight most of all, where hence hath begun this knowledge by admi­ration; for seeing the Heauen, the Sunne, the Moone, the Starres; and hauing knowen by their eyes the difference of daies, and nights, the reuo­lutions of the monethes, and the yeares; they applied themselues to con­template the disposition of the world, and to seeke out the secrets of nature: First, necessitie (as hath bin said) taught them the arts necessarie vnto life; after followed those which serue for pleasure, ornament, and magnificence: And after they had gotten opportunitie and leasure, they began to consider all things contayned in the world, being innumerable in multitude, and ad­mirable in beautie; inquiring after their properties, agreements, and diffe­rences, whereof they were made, what they became, when, and how they perished, what in them was mortall, and corruptible, and what diuine, and perpetual. They were so desirous to learne, that dwelling and liuing here on earth so little while, they durst vndertake to know, not onely what is a­boue, vnder, and in the earth; as the nature of all sortes of liuing creatures, and qualities of mettals: but also the nature of the Ocean, and of all waters, and fishes that liue therein: Then mounting into the aire, they inquired of the winds, of the raines, haile, snow, thunder, lightning, and other accidents ap­pearing in the middle Region thereof: they ascended by vnderstanding and by art euen into Heauen, which they haue indeuoured to compasse round, imagining two Poles, and one Axeltree to sustain it, distinguishing the planets [Page] from the fixed starres, inuenting the Zodiack, obseruing the Solstices, and Equinoxes; the causes of the equalitie, shortnes, and length of daies, and nights; the reasons of shadowes; the maner of discribing, and measuring the world; of sayling out of one Countrie into an other, guiding the way by the windes, and starres: whose mouings, coniunctions, and oppositions they haue diligently obserued; their greatnes, quicknes, or slownes, colours, shi­nings, serenities, heats, colds; and the power which they haue on theis infe­riour things, and the good or ill which they signifie: And wholie and alto­gether the agreement, and sympathie of heauen, and earth; from whence as from a perpetuall spring floweth this vniuersall aboundance, by which this world is vncessantly restored, and renewed. Their industrie hath pierced thorough all; neither the thicknesse of the earth, nor the depth of the Sea, nor the varietie of the aier, neither the heat and brightnes of the fire, nor the spacious largenesse of Heauen, could amaze their vnderstanding. Moreouer, they which were most speculatiue, considering the feeblenes of the senses, the multitude of sensible things, so small that they can not be perceiued; or so moueable, that they are without certaintie; that our life is short; all full of opinions, and customes; and all enuironed with darknes, and hidden; haue thought that by humane discourse, nothing could be certainly knowen, no­thing vnderstood, and comprehended: but that, separating our selues from sight, and hearing, and from the whole bodie, we ought to take the thought of the mind, and by the vnderstanding (which is in the Soule, as the sight is in the bodie) to endeuour to know the reason of euery thing, and that which is in it pure and cleane, alwaies simple, and vniforme, without euer being changed by generation, and corruption. These haue passed the vault of hea­uen, so far distant from the earth, and came to the place aboue; with-drawing themselues by contemplation from the world towards God, from darknes to light, from corruption to eternitie, from ignorance to wisdom, satisfied (as they say) of all their desire; and inioying the knowledge of the trueth: which is of things that are alwaies alike, not receiuing any mutation; wherefore they haue called this inferiour part of the world, (where there is almost no­thing certain, and few things certainly knowen) the region of falshod, and opinion: and the other superiour knowen by reason, and intelligence (where are the formes, and exemplaries of things) the seat of trueth. In this progresse of knowledge, they haue knowen some things by natural instinct, without learning; others by obseruation, vse, and experience: others by reasonable discourse, and demonstrations; and others by diuine inspiration. But there is such pleasure in this contemplation, that they which with a good will giue themselues to it, do easily forgo all other delights, and are so constant, and perseuerant, that they admit them not at any time; neither fearing domage, nor losse of goods, nor the blame of the people, and ignominie but are readie to endure all kind of crosses, and calamities, euen to the suffering of volun­tarie pouertie: which gaue occasion to people in times past to say, that Atlas sustained heauen on his shoulders; and that Endymion had long time slept [Page 31] with the Moone; and that Prometheus was tied to the high mountain Cau­casus, with a Vulture feeding on his liuer: Meaning by such tales to signifie vnto vs, the great and maruailous studie, which these excellent persons be­stowed, in contemplation of celestiall and naturall things. Democritus ha­uing begun to withdraw his mind from his senses, put out his owne eies. Anaxagoras forsook his patrimonie. What exceeding pleasure had Aristo­tle, teaching not onely Athens, and all Greece, but also the vniuersal world, discouering the secrets of nature, before vnknowen, and hidden in profound obscuritie, magnifying and boasting himselfe with good reason, that he had attayned thither, whereno other Greeke nor Egiptian had euer come? What contentment receiued Plato, who did write at 90. yeares of age, and euen the verie day that he deceased; who was for his excellent knowledge honoured in Greece, Sicile, and Italie, aboue the common estimation of men, esteemed by Kings, admired of people: and hath alwaies bin reuerenced by all such as desired to haue knowledge of diuine and humaine things. So men mo­ued by nature with a desire of knowledge, and of the pleasure which is found therein, haue inuented Grammer, Rhetoricke, and Logicke; for speach, Oration and disputation: Poesie for composition of verses, and rimes: Arithmeticke to number; Geometrie for measure and weight: And passing farther haue come to Musicke, consisting in concord of voices and sounds; and in obseruation of due proportions; Astrologie which serues for consideration of celestiall things; Physicke of naturall things; and Me­taphysicke of supernaturall: Theologie of diuine things; Ethicke for in­stitution of priuate maners; Economicke for houshold; Politicke for go­uernments, and states; and Nomotechnicke for knowledge, exposition or interpretation of Lawes. Such hath bin their dexteritie in the inuenting of liberall, and mechanicall sciences.

But although there are euery where found people, capable of knowledge, so that they be duely instructed; yet notwithstanding, there are some more ingenious, and inuentiue then the rest, and more apt to certaine sciences, either by naturall inclination, and influence of the heauens, or by the situa­tion of the Countrie wherein they are borne, or by exercise which they vse while they are young, or by honour which is nurse of all arts whatsoeuer, and the rewards which are proposed for the learned and expert therein.

THE Babylonians dwelling in spacious plaines, and hauing nothing to hinder them the whole sight of the heauens, they placed all their studie in obseruing of the Starres: The like hath bin done by the Egiptians, who haue alwaies their aire cleare without cloudes: And by reason of the yearely ouerflowing of the riuer Nilus, which couereth and watereth their Coun­trie, they were constrained to bestow some time on Geometrie. The Phe­nicians being giuen to marchandize, inuented Arithmeticke; and dwelling neere the Sea, began first nauigation; which the Castilians, Portugals, and Englishmen, bordering likewise on the sea, haue brought to perfection. It was vnseemly amongst the Arcadians not to be skilfull in Musick; which [Page] they learned not for pleasure and delight, but for necessitie, to thend to make sweete and gentle by custome, that which was rude in them by nature, by reason of the coldnes of the aire, whereof we participate in our birth, and by their continuance of trauaile, in tillage, pasturage, and brutishnes of life. Eloquence flourished at Athens, and at Rome, because that by means therof they were aduanced to honours and wealth. In Augustus time, who took pleasure in Poetrie, euery one made Verses: and all were Musitians, vnder Nero. The nations which desired to be great, and grow vp by armes, haue directed their Lawes and exercises to dominion, honouring and recom­pensing valiant men, and dishonouring and punishing the cowardes: Such were the Scythians, Egiptians, Persians, Thracians, Lacedemonians, Can­dians, Gaules, Iberians, Macedonians, and Indians, accounting all noble and gentle that made profession of armes; and the artisans base, and seruile. At this day in Turkie, where all is reduced vnto force, euery one applieth armes, being assured, that in well doing they shall be aduanced in pay, re­uenew, and publick charge: as also the punishment is certaine there for cowardize. The greatest part of good witts in France applie themselues to the Ciuil Law, and to the practize of it, for the profit which they find therein; and for the honour of innumerable offices of iudgement orday­ned both in the soueraigne, meane, and inferiour iurisdiction; being both profitable and honourable. The Hetrurians, which had their aire grosse and thicke, subiect to thunders, inuented the diuination by lightning. The Arabians, Cilicians, and Phrygians, being great shepheards, inuented that diuination which is made by entrailes of beastes, or by the voice of birdes. Philosophie hath bin professed in Greece, full of subtle and sharpe wi [...]ts. Architecture began in Asia, by the abundance of wealth, and leasure of the great Kings there, hauing neede of large and ample houses for inter­tainment, and magnificence of their Courts: Afterwardes it flourished in Greece, whence it was banished; and from thence passed into Italie, re­couering his ripenesse there: namely, vnder the Emperours; who as they had subdued the rest of the world by armes, would also surmount them in wonderfull buildings with incredible expences. The Ethiopians, by the abundance of all good herbes, and vigorous simples, which grow in their Countrie, inuented the naturall Magick, obseruing by it, the wonders hidden in the secret proprieties of thinges; their agreements, and contra­rieties. Plato in his Charmides, and his first Alcibiades maintayneth, that Zoroaster the Bactrian, and Zamolsis the Scithian, made profession therof: Then it was transported into Persia, where it remayned long; as we will de­clare hereafter when we speake of the Persians, and of their Mages.

BVT as following the generall disposition to vertue, there haue alwayes bin heere and there some making profession of wisedome, as the Druides in Gaule, and in great Britayne; the Chaldees in Assy­ria; the Brachmanes, and Gymnosophistes in the Indies; the Mages in Persia; the Priestes in Egypt; the Philosophers in Greece; the Pharisees [Page 32] in Iurie; the Theologians or Diuines in Christendome: yet antiquitie hath giuen the first praise of Letters to the Ethiopians, attributing the inuention to them, which they communicated with the Egiptians their neighbours; where they haue bin augmented: from thence they came to the Libians, Ba­bylonians, and Chaldeans; consequently to the Greeks; then to the Ro­mains; the Arabians, Italians, Frenchmen, Almains, Englishmen, Spaniards, and Polonians. ON which course of letters, if we think attentiuely as far forth as is possible to consider all the time past, and to call to mind againe the memorie of so many yeres ouerslipped, repeating from thence where in histo­ries, beginneth the age of people, and of Cities; that is to say, about three or fower thousand yeares since men began to write bookes; we shall find that there hath not bin any Authour amongst the Gentiles, more auncient then Homer: And that letters haue not bin sithence with like earnestnes followed; nor in all times and countries equally esteemed: but onely in certaine famous ages, which we may tearme Heroicall. In the which (humaine power and wisdom, keeping companie one with the other) men haue commonly seen, the art Militarie, Eloquence, Philosophy, the Mathematicks, Physick, Mu­sick, Poetrie, architecture, painting, caruing, and grauing, to florish toge­ther, and to fall together: as it hath especially hap [...]ed in the kingdoms of Sesostris, Ninus, Cyrus, Alexander; of Augustus and Traian; of the Ara­bians and Sarazens; and in this age, in the which after they had bin long time a sleepe, they haue bin wakened againe, and haue recouered their former strength: which is not to say, that there haue not hapned many other admi­rable euents in other seasons; but these are most notable: in the which many extraordinarie maruailes haue met together in matter of armes, and of let­ters; and which haue most similitude betweene them; as it will appeare in reciting of them.

WHERFORE is it so come to passe, rather at these times then at others? and what reason can we giue thereof? to thend the better to vnder­stand the present consideration, being of so great waight, and long deducti­on: It seemes to some, that we ought not to maruaile, that in an infinite space of time, as fortune turneth, and varieth diuersly, there hapneth by casuall chance, some accidents like vnto others. For be it that there is no certaine number set downe of accidents that may fall out; fortune hath fruitful mat­ter enough to produce effects resembling one an other: or else be it that hu­maine chances are comprehended in a determinate number, there must needs sometimes happen like cases, considering that they are brought to passe by the same causes, and by the same meanes: Others say, that in length of yeares are certaine periods of the whole world; and in thone, that all arts do grow in reputation, and in the other do fall, and come to be neglected. Others at­tribute it to honour, and to rewards, which are more proposed at one time then at an other: for [...]uch as by good intertainment all men are induced to vertue. And assayi [...]nder a reason wherefore many notable personages meete in the same [...], or little distant thone from thother, and trauayling [Page] in diuers exercises do obtaine alike excellencie, and reputation; they thinke that mens wits are nourished by emulation, and that sometimes enuie, some­times admiration, doth stir them vp, and maketh them mount by little and little to the highest; where it is hard to remaine, since euery thing that can not go forward, or vpward, doth naturally discend, and retire, yea commonly much faster then it ascended. And as they are prouoked to follow or imitate the first, so after they dispaire of going beyond them, or attayning to them, they lose their courage of trauayling, and labouring with their hope; lea­uing the matter as alreadie possessed: which falleth after by negligence, and commeth to contempt. Aristotle, who affirmeth the world to be eternall, and Plato, who said that it had a beginning, but that it should haue no end, do both affirme, that infinite things haue bin in one, and the same kind, and should bee infinitely; that there is nothing whose like hath not bin; that there should be nothing which had not bin; and that nothing hath bin, but should be againe: That in this maner the Arts and sciences, and other hu­maine inuentions cannot be perpetual (those Nations being distroied where they flourished) by reason of extreme heats and inundations, which must needes happen at certaine times by the mouing, and progresse of the starres: either by the fire and water, discending from aboue in exceeding quantitie; or fire breaking out of the earth; or the sea forcibly ouerflowing his bankes, or by the increase and swelling of riuers, which can not runne into the sea; or that the earth trembling and quaking open it selfe, and violently cast forth the water before inclosed in his entrailes.

But howbeit the Starres haue some power towards the disposing of infe­riour things; the situation of places; and temperature of the seasons of the yeare do helpe, concerning vnderstandings and maners; the reward and ho­nour proposed vnto mans industrie; the learned ages, and liberall Princes, giue great aduancement vnto Arts; and emulation serueth for a spur there­vnto: Notwithstanding for my part, I thinke that God being carefull of all the parts of the world, doth grant the excellencie of Armes and of Learning, sometimes vnto Asia, sometimes vnto Africk, sometimes vnto Europe; esta­blishing the soueraign Empire of the world, once in the East, another time in the West, another time in the South, another in the North: and suffering vertue and vice, valiancie and cowardize, sobrietie and delicacie, know­ledge and ignorance, to go from countrie to countrie, honouring and diffa­ming the Nations at diuers times: to thend that euery one in his turne might haue part of good hap and ill; and that none should waxe proude by ouer­long prosperitie: as it will appeare to haue fallen out vnto this present, by particuler recitall of the Nations accounted the first or chiefest of the world.

INtending to begin our discourse by the most auncient Nations of the world, I find my selfe hindered by the dif­ferent, which hath bin betweene some of them, touching the honour of antiquitie, and of precedence.

THE INDIANS inhabiting Countries of mar­uailous largenesse, did boast, that they were the true Ori­ginaries; hauing neuer receiued any strangers among them; neither sent any of theirs to dwell elswhere: But that the first amongst them vsed such victuals, as the earth brought forth of it selfe, and skinns of beasts for their garments: and then found out by little and little, the Arts, sci­ences, and other things necessarie to liue well: That their land is so fertile, that they neuer found want of victuals. For whereas it bringeth forth twice in a yeare all maner of Corne, they gather one Haruest in winter, at such time as they plant rootes; and thother in summer, when they sow Rice, sesame, and millet; wherof there commeth great aboundance from thence, for asmuch as the graines and fruits grow there, without any help of man; and that the rootes growing in the marishes of singuler sweetnes, serue men in steed of other victuals verie sufficiently: and that the customes do helpe that fertilitie much, which they obserue in time of warres, not to hurt the husbandmen, nor endamage the laborers in any thing; but to leaue them in peace, as mini­sters of the common profit; and not to burne the farmes, and villages of their aduersaries themselues; nor to cut their trees, or corne which they had sowen.

THE strength of the Indians appeared then, when they were assayled by Semiramis Queene of Assyria: for being a woman exceeding couetous of honour, and of glorie; after she had conquered Egipt, and Ethiopia, she thought yet to make one warre more, the memorie whereof should last for­euer. Vnderstanding then that the people of the Indies, was the greatest of the world, and their Countrie aboue all others, excellent in beautie, and ferti­litie: where the earth (as is said) caried twice in a yeare fruits and seeds; and where there was great quantitie of gold, siluer, brasse, precious stones, and all [Page] other thinges, both for profit and pleasure: she imployed all her forces a­gainst the Indians, ouer whom raigned Staurobates, and assembled her Ar­mie, in the which there were three Millions of foote, fiue hundred thou­sand horsemen, a hundred thousand chariots, and as manie fighters on ca­mels-backs, with swordes of sixe foote in length; two thousand barkes or shipps, and made or fained Elephants in great number, whose counterfaits were caried on Camels. Which militarie preparation being vnderstood by the King of the Indians, he assayed to exceed her forces; and hauing ordai­ned all things in a readines for the resisting of her, he sent his Ambassadours before, reprehending her of great ambition, that without being prouoked by any wrong, or iniurie of them, she made warre against them: blaming her besides in many and diuers respects, and calling the Gods to witnesse, he threatned her, that if she were ouer come in battaile, he would cause her to be hanged and crucified. Whereunto Semiramis answered smyling, that they must fight with prowesse, and not with words. The battailes then appro­ching one against the other; Semiramis had the better in the first encounter: and in the second was ouerthrowen, with her counterfait Elephants; in such sort, that almost all the Assyrians being put to flight, Staurobates by chaunce meeting with Semiramis, hurt her first with an arrow i [...] the arme, and then with a dart in the shoulder, and as she was getting to horse, she was almost taken; the Kings Elephant pursuing her. The Assyrians in this maner ouer­come, tooke the way to their ships, and the Indians pursuing their victorie, slew many of them at the straights, and narrow waies, in the which the footemen and horsemen being intermingled, hindred one an other: in so much that there was no meanes to flie, nor to saue themselues; but they kil­led one an other with their presse and disorder. And when the greatest part of such as had escaped this ouerthrow were passed ouer the bridge, which was made with boates on the riuer Indus, Semiramis caused it to be broken; and the king being warned by prodigious apparitions not to go beyond the bridge, ceased the pursuit: Such was the proofe of the Indian power.

Touching their wisdom, the Brachmans made profession therof amongst them naked, and austere; being holiemen, liuing according to their Lawes: intending altogether the contemplation of God, without making any proui­sion of vittailes: for the earth furnished them alwaies with new and fresh; the riuers gaue them drink, and the leaues [...]lling of the trees, and the grasse yeelded them lodging. And there was not on [...] amongst them reputed a holie or happie man, if while he was yet liuing of perfect memorie and vnderstan­ding, he did not separate his soule from his bodie with fire, and did not go pure and cleane out of the flesh, hauing consumed whatsoeuer was mortall in him. And whereas the people were diuided into seauen sortes and de­grees, they were the first in dignitie, being exempted from all charges, not subiect vnto any man, nor ruling ouer any; but as men acceptable vnto the Gods, and reputed to knowe all that is done in Hell; they receyued of euery one his oblation made for sacrifices, and tooke the care and charge [Page 34] of the dead, receiuing great guists by occasion thereof. Assembling and ga­thering themselues togither at beginning of the yere; they fortold, of drouths, raines, windes, diseases, and other things: the knowledge whereof brought great profit to the people. Their Artisans were very good as being brought vp in a pure, and cleane aire, & drinking nothing but good and wholsomewaters. The gouermēts of the Indians, being diuided into many parts, it was not permitted vnto any to change his maner of liuing, not seeming reasonable vn­to them, that a man of warre should till the earth, nor that a Philopher should become an Artisan.

On the other part, the ETHIOPIANS vaunted them selues to bee the first created of al the men in the world, & that they were brought sorth by the earth: for considering that the heate of the sunne in drying the earth when it was moist, had giuen life to all things, it was also cōsequent that in places nee­rest vnto the sūne, there were procreated from the beginning al kind of liuing creatures. They said that religion & adoration of the gods was first sound out amongst them; and the sacrifices, processions, pompes, solemnities, and al such things, by the which honour was giuen them of men: of the which they had such recōpense, that they were neuer vanquished nor ouercom by any strange king; & that alwaies they had remained in liberty. And howbeit diuers prin­ces had assaied with great armies to bring them in subiection, yet none of thē had enioyed their Empire. Moreouer that they were the first that had inuen­ted the formes and vse of letters, and giuen themselues to the study of Astro­logy, as well by reason of their quick wits, and sharpnes of vnderstanding, whereby they exceed all other nations; as by the oportunitie of the Coun­trey which they inhabite: and that therfore they haue continual serenity, and tranquility of the aire, and haue not the seasons of the yere, disordered, and variable; but liue alwaies in one temperature. Moreouer that the Egyptians were discended of them; the Priests of both nations obseruing the same order and maner of doing their sacrifices, & vsing the like vestures, and ornaments.

For the prerogatiue of antiquity there was in times past great contention between the Egyptians, and the Scythians. For the EGYPTIANS sayde; that from the beginning when the world was created, where other lands bur­ned on the one side by ouergreat heate of the sunne, & others on thother side were frozen thorough the extremity of the colde, in such sort that they could neither bring forth new men nor receiue straungers, if any had come thither: and especially before garments were inuented to keepe men from colde, and heate; and the artificiall remedies to correct the ill disposition of places: Egypt hath alwaies bin so temperate, that the inhabitants thereof are not molested with the great cold of winter; nor with the heat of Sommer. Also the land is so fruitfull there of all thing necessary for the life of man, that not any where els is found a land so plentifull. Wherefore reason would haue it, that men should be first borne in that Countrey where they might best, and with most ease be nourished.

On the contrary, the SCYTHIANS saide that the temperatnes serued [Page] to no purpose to proue the antiquitie; for when nature parted, and deuided extreme heat, & extreme cold into diuers regions; it is to be thought that the land which first remained vncouered & vnclothed of theis two extreme qua­lities, did incontinently bring forth men, and beasts, which might there bee nourished. And concerning trees, and other fruits they were varied according to the estate of the Countries. And for as much as the Scythians haue a shar­per aire then the Egyptians, so are there bodies and their vnderstandings har­der also then theirs. Neuerthelesse, if the frame of the world which is now diuided into two partes hath bin sometime all one, whether the whole earth were inclosed and inuironed with water, or that the fire (which hath engen­dred all things) held and possessed the whole world, in both cases the Scy­thians were the first: For if the fire possessed al, it must needs be that by little & little it was quenched to make place for the habitable earth; In which case it is to be thought, that it was first quenched on the north side, because it is the coldest region, and the Scythians are seated there: whence it cometh to passe, that euen at this present it is the coldest countrey that is knowen. And in re­gard of Egypt, and all the East, we must thinke that the heate was there but lately remitted; For yet at this day they haue meruailous heate there when the sunne is at highest. Also if the whole earth were at the first enuiro­ned with water, it is to bee thought that the places that are hyghest were first discouered; and that where the earth is lowest, there the wa­ter remained longest; and by consequent, that there where the earth was first discouered, and dryed, there began first all liuing things to be ingendred: But the countrey of the Scythians is higher then all other lands, as appeareth by this, that all the riuers which do arise there discend to the poole Meotis, and from thence do take their course into the Ponticke Sea, and into Egypt: which Countrey of Egypt is so lowe, and so subiéct to waters, that although so many Kings thoroughout so many ages, haue with great diligence, and expence, made so many rampyers, so many bankes, and dyches to keepe the land from being ouerflowen by the impetuosity of riuers: because that when they held them in on oneside, they ran out on the other, they haue so little preuailed that yet at this present, they are not able there to till the land; ex­cept the riuer Nilus be held in by Causwais, and bankes. And it is not possi­ble that this countrey did first of all bring foorth men, which notwithstan­ding the bankes and causies, yet by meanes of the mudde and dreggs which the riuer Nilus bringeth in and leaueth there, appeareth yet all waterie. By these reasons both thone, and thother nation maintained their antiquitie.

But as concerning Egypt it is certaine that a part thereof was somtimes co­uered with water. All that which is aboue Memphis, towardes the moun­taines of Ethiopia, hath bin Sea by the opinion of Herodotus. And Strabo thinketh all the land which is from Siena vnto the Sea watered with the riuer Nilus, to haue bin at the beginning called Egypt, which was much increased, as one may see by the verse of Homer, sauing that the Isle of Pharos was a daies iourney distant from firme land: which is now euen almost ioyning to [Page 35] Alexandria. If these things be true, they show sufficiently that this land is not auncient. Neither can the Scythians proue their antiquity: If it be true that Herodotus sayth, that they began but a thousand yeeres before the raigne of king Darius ouer the Persians. But as both regions by the reasons debated, haue not bin very apt for habitation of men: so is it better to beleeue that land to haue bin first inhabited, which hath the aire most temperate: by which meanes the Egyptians said that they were most auncient. But as they by rea­son of the waters cannot alleage any auncient habitation, so neither can the Scythians because they dwell in a quarter which is afflicted with continuall colde. Wherefore it is more conformable vnto trueth to say that the middle re­gion betweene them both, where the territory of Damasco is situated, hath borne the first men: (as the holy Scripture witnesseth) which is exempted from the discommodities of Egypt, and of Scythia, and by reason of the situ­ation is naturally more temperate then either of them both. Otherwise it is hard by humaine knowledge, to know in what place, what people, or what nation hath bin the first; by how much space, or how many yeres it was afore the rest. Yet the opinion in times past touching the beginning of people was such; that at the beginning of all things the heauen, and earth had one onely essence, and forme; but that afterwarde the Elements being separated one from the other, the world tooke that order in which we see it now. Amongst which elements there befell into the aire that continuall motion which it hath; and to the fire for his lightnes that place which it hath aboue the aire; and for the same reason to the Sunne, & stars, the course which they naturally keep. That which was mixed with moisture by reason of his heauines remai­ned in the same masse. Wherhence was created of the moistest the sea, & of the hardest the earth being soft in it selfe, and myrie. Which when it was first dri­ed, and made thicker by the heate of the sunne, after by force of the heate lif­ted vp, & made to swell vpwards, there grew together in many & diuers places therof certaine humours ingendring rottenes, couered and hid with thinne and tender skinnes. As generation then is made in moist thinges by adding heate vnto it; and the aire blowen abroade by night feedeth it with moisture, which is strengthened in the day time by the power of the sunne: finally these rotten things being come as it were to their extremity, brought forth (as if the time of their childbirth had bin come) the figures of all sorts of creatures and liuing things, after those little skinnes were broken. Of which liuing crea­tures such as had receiued most heate were made flying birds, and mounted into the higher regions; those which had most earth remained as serpents, and such other beasts, below: they which retained the nature of water, were put in the element of their complexion, and called fishes: Then the earth be­ing made dryer from thence forward, as well by the heate of the sunne, as by the winds, left bringing forth any more such creatures. But those which were already made, begot others by continual commixtion. Men being thus formed sought their liuing in the fields leading a sauage life without any order: vnto whō the hearbs & trees brought forth of thēselues that which was necessarie [Page] for their life. But the wild beastes became against them, and their enemies: in such sort, that to resist them and for their common profit, they began to assemble togither, giuing aide one to the other, and seeking here and there safe places for their habitation. And these first assemblies were the true begin­ning of euery people and nation.

THE CHALDEES very skilfull in Astrologie, held opinion that the world had alwaies bin, that it had no beginning nor should haue no end. A­ristotle hath bin of the same opinion, and that all liuing creatures were sempi­ternall. Plato in his third, and twelfth booke of lawes doubteth of the world, and of mankind, whether they were from the beginning or no; saying that the generation of men either had no beginning, or that it began an inestima­ble length of time before vs. The same authour in his Timaeus, Critias, Me­nexemus, and his Politick, is of opinion, that by long tracte of time, the vi­gour of mens minds, and fertility of their bodies diminisheth by little and little, in such sort that our vnderstandings find themselues as it were depri­ued of their diuinity & the bodies void of their accustomed fertility: Thē God meaning to restore mankind into his former dignity, drowneth or burneth the earth, tempering in such sort the celestiall motions by himselfe which is their mouer, that the heauenly destiny giueth place and concurreth alwaies with his diuine prouidence. And that the earth being abundantly watered with fresh humour, and made fruitfull by the heat ensuing doth bring forth: or els that the rayne falling more plentifully after excessiue heates & drouths, there are engendred, or regenerated not only little creatures, but great ones al­so, being borne of the earth as of their mother: Of which opinion also were many Egyptians, Greekes, and Arabians, namely Algazel, and Auicen, with whom Aristotle agreeth in his Problemes, when he sayth, that in little muta­tions of times little creatures are brought foorth, and so in the great greater, and very great in the greatest mutations.

THE IEWES, CHRISTIANS, AND SAR AZENS, fol­lowing the diuine prophet, and Lawgiuer Moyses, beleeue that God hath made the world of nothing, and created Adam the first man, after his owne likenes, of the dust of the earth, and breathed in his face that spirit of life, and that he was made with a liuing soule; afterwards meaning to giue him helpe, and company, made a profound sleepe to fall on him, and being a sleepe took one of his ribbes, and made Eue there of the first woman: That they were pla­ced in an earthly paradise, where was plenty of all good things without pain or trauaile, aud were driuen from thence for their disobedience; and that of them two ioyned in mariage, haue proceeded all men dispersed ouer all the habitable earth. But Saint Augustine considering, that of the fiue zones set downe by the auncient Astrologers, and Cosmographers, there were but two esteemed temperate, and inhabited, and that from the one it was thought they could not passe to the other by reason of the heate, which was in the midst called the burning zone, and that if it were so, it must follow necessa­rily, that the Antipodes came not of Adam; he chose rather to deny that there [Page 36] were any Antipodes, then to fall into any absurd impietie; or to gainesay learned antiquity in this point. But it is certaine both by the auncient and modern nauigations, that there are Antipodes, as those of Taprobana are to the Spanyards: which is knowen by the aspect of heauen, appearance of the starres, hyding of our pole, and eleuation of theirs, hauing (as hath bin said) euery thing contrary vnto vs, Sommer, and Winter, day and night, East and West.

THE GREEKS in their fables said, that Vulcan being amorous of Minerua, shed his seed on the land of Athens, from whence spong the Athe­nians: who therefore vaunted themselues, that they were borne of their owne land without taking any original elswhere: vnderstanding by the earth al mat­ter, and by Vulcan the fire, which moueth the earth, and quickeneth it: and that Ceres after the rauishment of her daughter Proserpina, hauing wande­red long throughout the world, came into their Countrey, where she show­ed them the vse of wheate, wherehence afterward it was manifested to all men: that their City hath not onely communicated such meanes of liuing to the indigent; but also was the first that established lawes; and set downe go­uernment: and that in part it inuented the arts seruing for necessity, and plea­sure; and in part hath approued them, or made them better, and more exqui­site: obtaining the honour of Philosophy, by which all theis things haue bin either inuented, or amended; and of eloquence which first tooke beginning in Athens, and hath there bin brought to perfection: that City hauing got­ten by wisedome and eloquence such excellency, and reputation, that her Scholers were Maisters of others; and that the name of Greeks was no more a name of a people or nation, but of reason and vnderstanding: and that the partakers of their learning were more esteemed Greekes, then those which participated of the same nature with them.

At this day the wandring ARABIANS boast themselues to be the first of the world, hauing neuer bin mingled with other nations, and hauing kept entier (as they say) the nobility of their bloud.

BVT OMITTING all these disputings, and boastings of nations, all fantasies, and humaine reasons of Philosophers; we will rest our selues on the certainty of holy scripture, touching the creation of the world, and of mankinde. And concerning the discourse of armes, and of letters which are here in question, we wil begin it by the Egyptians: who being ingenious and valiant, seeme to haue bin the first that haue excelled, in wisedome, and power: from whom the Greekes drew almost all their knowledge, which we vse at this day: hauing not onely in estimation, but also in admiration both Egypt, and the Egyptians.

AT the same time that the Persians swaied by their armes in Asia, and that Cyrus founded the Persian Monarchie; good letters and Learning were raised vp in Greece, and the Countries there about, aswell in the Isles, as in the maine land: and by the learned, and renowmed Py­thagoras began Philosophie. First of all, men conside­ring [Page] the admirable ornament of the whole world; the continuall and pe [...] ­durable motion of the Heauen; the varietie and distinction of the starres; the intercourse of daies and nights, of monethes and yeares continually suc­ceeding; the vital power of fire diffused thorough out the whole world; the variable aire, sustayning with spiration and respiration all liuing creatures; the sea beating the bankes with his reciprocal waues, receiuing and casting out the other waters, without ouerflowing or diminishing the earth; which is heaped together on each side thereof for a bound vnto it: The vicissitude and order of things, both simple and compounded; contayned in the circuit of the world, being innumerable in multitude, and meruailous in beautie: They indeuored to search out their properties, conueniences, and contrarie­ties; as to know whereof they were made and engendred; how long they indured, what became of them, when, and how they perished; what in them was mortall and corruptible; what diuine and perpetual: They obserued the course of the starres, and the power which they haue heer below. The Egip­tians, Babylonians, Indians, Mages, and Druides, applied themselues to such contemplation, as hath bin shewed heretofore; Then the GREEKS pur­posely obscuring their writings with numbers and figures, to thend, that (by being too much communicated) they should not be dispised of the vulgar sort, or wrapping them vp in couers of fables, or vsing measured verses, to make them more durable, by the delectation of fables, and sweetnesse of verses.

And when as they that were skilfull in such thinges, and all such as were ought seen in any thing, would arrogantly be called Sophoi, that is to say wisemen: PITHAGORAS was the first, who by singular modestie tooke the name of a Philosopher, signifying a louer of wisedom: For com­ming one day to Phliunta, and hauing learnedly and grauely talked with Leon Prince of the Phliases about certaine affaires: This Lord admiring the vnderstanding and eloquence of PITHAGORAS; demaun­ded of him, what Art he professed; by whom he was aunswered, that he was not skilfull in any Art, but that he was a Philosopher. Leon won­dering at the noueltie of this name, asked him what Philosophers were; and what difference there was betweene them and others. PITHA­GORAS said, that the life of man seemed vnto him, to resemble one of those assemblies which were made at the publike playes of GREECE: where some by strength, agilitie, and exercise of bodie; or by running of horses, sought the price of the victorie, and the glorie proposed in races; others went thither to make their profite in buying and selling: but that there were some of a more generous spirite, which neither sought ap­plause, nor gaine; but came thither onely to see: Euen so men in this life, as in some famous faire, comming thither, and being of different nature and dis­position, some sought after honour; others after profit; and others (which are the fewer and rarer sort) omitting or lettle esteeming all these thinges; [Page 58] considered diligently the nature of thinges: whome hee termed louers of wisedome; that is to say Philosophers. And as in these assemblies it was a goodly thing to see and beholde without seeking after gaine; so that in this life contemplation, and knowledge is to bee preferred, aboue all o­ther occupations. But PITHAGORAS was not onely the inuen­tour of the name, but also brought first (as hath bin said) this learning in­to GREECE; which he augmented and beautified much: instructing his followers, called after him PITHAGOREANS, by whom he was singularly respected; and no lesse honoured of others thorough out the worlde: euen the memorye of him remaining at this present most renow­med, and reuerenced thoroughout all nations; and will alwaies so remaine as long as learning endureth. Being borne at Samos, after hee had much profited in learning, he went first into Egypt; after into Babylon, to learne the course of the starres, and the nature of the worlde: And returned af­terwardes by Crete, and Lacedemon, where he learned the Lawes of Mi­nos, and Lycurgus; which were then in great veneration: and finally ha­uing knowen all the foresaide thinges, hee came to Crotona; where hee withdrewe the people by his authority from luxuriousnes, and idlenesse, whereunto they were giuen, to good maners and honest life: hauing lear­ning for the women separate from that which was for men, and for chil­dren diuers from that which was for parents. For he taught women how they ought to liue chast, to be obedient and seruiceable to their husbands, and to children how they ought to be modest, and to learne knowledge: and to all people he gaue counsaile to liue soberly, as a thing of which all ver­tues had their beginning. After hee had dwelled twenty yeeres at Croto­na, hee went to Metapont, where he dyed; and the inhabitants of Meta­pont, after his decease had him in such reuerence, that they consecrated his house as a temple: and worshipped him as a God.

In this time also were those seuen which were called, and reputed the wise men of Greece, namely Solon, Thales, Pittacus, Bias, Cleobulus, Chi­lon, and Periander; all which except Thales were either Law-makers, or gouernours of states: and got, that renowne and reputation of wisedome for being onely well skilled in matter of gouernment, and such thinges as are in the common vse of men. The other learned men of this age, and they also which succeeded them, were Astrologers, naturall Philoso­phers, and Physicians; as Democritus, Heraclitus, Hippocrates, Empe­docles, Parmenides, Melissus; and in the same age are also reckoned, Ste­sichorus, Simonides, Alceus, Sapho, Theognis, Anacreon, Archilo­chus, Alcmeon, and Epicharmus, who were Poets; Epimenides, a deui­nor of Candie, Anacharsis the Scythian, Charondas, and Zaleucus Law­makers: Daniel, Aggee, Zachary, Ieremy, and Sophonie, prophets of the Hebrues.

SOLON gaue Lawes to the Athenians, whereby he got great reputation, and excelled in al knowledge, especially in Poetry; wherunto if he had who­ly [Page] giuen himselfe, he had bin no lesse reckoned of then Homer, and Hesiodus, or any other of the most excellent auncient Poets; as Critias witnesseth in Platoes Timeus. He being desirous to trauaile, went into Egypt to the king Amasis, and from thence came backe vnto Sardis, to CRESVS the riche and mighty king of Lydia: who for this cause thought himselfe the most happy man of the world. But hauing caused his treasures and worldly felicity to be shewed to SOLON; he asked him his opinion: who without flattery aun­swered him, that none ought to be iudged happy before his ende; Because that many in this present life after great felicities, fall into extreme miseries & calamities: as eft soones it befel vnto Cresus, who being ouercome in war, and made captiue by CYRVS was bound, and set on a pyle to be burnt. Then he remembring the speech of SOLON named him thrice, with sigh­ing: and CYRVS vnderstanding the reason thereof had remorse; thinking how he being a man made an other to be burned quicke in the fire, which not long sit hence was no lesse happy, then him selfe. So fearing the diuine punishment, and considering that there is nothing stable in humain things▪ he commaunded that the fire should be forthwith extinguished, and Cresus be vnbound. By this meanes came Solon to the knowledge of Cyrus, and by his wife aduertisment saued the life of Cresus.

EPIMENIDES was a familiar friend of Solons, and holpe him to make his Lawes; he was excellent in inuenting of diuers new things; and excel­ling in diuination. He foretold the comming of the Persians into Greece, a long time before they came: and that they should retourne without doing any thing.

THALES a famous natural Philosopher and Astrologer, was the first amongst the Greekes that diuided the yere into ccclxv. daies: and found out the pointes of the Solstices, and Equinoxes; the little beare, and the starres a­bout him. He foretold the eclipse of the sunne in the raigne of Astyages the vncle of Cyrus, by his mothers side: and kept back his citizens the Milesians from entring into league with Cresus against Cyrus, which counsail was the cause of their safety after the victory. Aristotle in his Politicks writeth of him, that he foresaw by Astrology, the aboundance of oliues that was to come; wherin he might haue gained much: showing that it were easy for Phi­losophers to enriche themselues, if they would; but it is not their study and profession. And Plato in his Theaetetus telleth that as he beheld the starres, and looked vpwards, he fell into a diche: whereof he was reprehended by his maide (who was pleasant, and witty) that he woulde endeuour to know what was in heauen, being ignorant of that which was in earth, and be­fore his feete.

DEMOCRITVS is called by Seneca in the seuenth of his naturall questions, the most subtill of the auncients; and in his booke of the shortnes of life, he reckoneth him amongst the chiefe and most excellent masters of the sciences. Cicero in his first Booke of the ends of good and euill, calleth him a man learned and perfect in Geometrie: and recommendeth his stile or maner [Page 59] of writing; vnto Brutus in his Oratour; saying that albeit it be estraunged from verse; yet because it is eleuated and enriched, with most cleare lights of words, that it seemeth rather to be a poeme, then the verses of Comick Poets. Plinie telleth howe that hee and Pythagoras, trauailed into Persia, Arabia, Egypt, and Ethiopia, to the end to learne Magicke; and that they two were the first that did celebrate it in these parts. And in an other place, it is ma­nifest (saith hee) that DEMOCRITVS, a wise man otherwise, & profitable vnto life; hath erred through too much desire which he had to be helpful vn­to mē. And in his vij. Book; he promised saith he to reuiue others which hath not raised vp himselfe. He was so exceedingly giuen to cōtemplation, that his citizens the Abderites counted him franticke, and sent for Hippocrates to heale him: who, when he came to Abdera, found him only wise amongst them all. Seneca writing of the diuine prouidence, saith that he abandoned riches, thinking them to be burden som to a good wit. Some say that willingly with a burning glasse, he depriued himselfe of his sight, that he might see more clerly with his vnderstanding. Tully in his fifth Tusculane; DEMOCRITVS (saith he) hauing lost the sight of his eies, could not discerne white & black; but wel could he the good, and euil; iust and vniust; honest and dishonest; pro­fitable and vnprofitable: And could liue wel and happely without the sight of colours; but not without the knowledge of things. This mā thought the sight of the mind to be hindred by the sight of the eies. And as others did not see oft­times that which was before their feet; so he wandered throughout al infinity without consisting in any extremity. Plutarch in his treatise of curiosity affir­meth it to be false. Seneca in his second Booke of Anger, saith that HERA­CLITVS going out of his house, and seeing about him so many liuing e­uil, or rather dying in euil, he had pity of them all, and wept: on the contra­ry DEMOCRITVS was neuer seene but laughing.

HIPPOCRATES had his honor, to haue bin the first that did write perspi­cuously of Physick, & of the rules therof. Plutarch witnesseth of him, that ha­uing written touching the seames or ioinings of mans head in Anatomy, and afterwards finding that he had failed in somwhat, he did publickly declare his fault, for feare lest others might fall into the like errour. Saint Augustin after him hath bin the only man that hath publickly corrected himselfe, by setting forth his retractations. Others are commonly so ouergon with glory, and so opinatiue; that they had rather dye, then yeld in any thing.

EMPEDOCLES the Agrigentine, a famous natural Philosopher, wrote in verse vj▪ books of the knowledg of nature: wherof Aristotle maketh often mē ­tion, especially in his Poetry; where he saith that Homer & Empedocles had nothing one like thother, but their verses: and that the one is a right Poet, and thother ought rather to be called a naturall Philosopher, then a Poet. And in his Metaphysicks speaking of him and of Anaxagoras, he witnesseth that A­naxagoras was superior in age to Empedocles, but inferior to him in works. And he saith in his problemes, that he was of melancholick cōplexion. Plinie saith that he trauailed far to learne Magick; as did Pithagoras & Democritus. [Page] And Horace in his art of Poetry, that being desirous to leaue an opinion of himselfe that he was a God, and was vanished secretly out of the sight of men; he cast himselfe into the burning and smoking hole of the hil Etna: and that this deed was afterwardes discouered by one of his slippers, which be­ing made of bras, was cast vp by the vehemency of the fire and wind.

ANAXAGORAS a Clazomenian gentleman, became a very excellent Philosopher, and was called by those of his time Nous (which signifieth the minde or vnderstanding) were it for admiration which they had of his know­ledge and vnderstanding which appeared to be great, especially in naturall Philosophy; or els because he was the first which added the intelligence vn­to the matter; and appointed vnto naturall things, for their beginning, and first cause of their distinction and ordinance, the intelligence. Plinie writeth of him, that by knowledge of the starres hee foretolde, that within certaine daies after, there would fall a stone from heauen: which happened in the parts of Thrace, in the day time. He was the first that published books writ­ten by him, and liued in the time of Democritus.

In auncient time in Greece they which did write first of diuine, celestial, naturall, morall, politicke, and military matters were the Poets: and they were commonly Priests, Theologians, Musicians, Astrologians, and Physicians; as Linus, Musaeus, Orpheus, and Amphion. LINVS the sonne of Apollo, and of Terpsichore being very skilfull in Musick, was the master of Hercu­les, of Tamyras, and of Orpheus. They say that he brought the knowledge thereof out of Phenicia into Greece; as did Atlas the Astrology out of Lybia. Museus was reputed as a Prophet hauing deliuered many Cerimonies to the Grecians: of whom Virgill giueth a very honourable testimony, in the sixth Booke of his Aneids, calling him an excellent Poet in great perfection: and making him to seeme in the Elysian fields the most eminent amongst all the men of honour, and learning that were there; which haue had a memorable name in all ages. ORPHEVS and AMPHION were such excellent musicions, that they were said by their sweete Songes to moue trees, and stones; to stop the course of riuers, and to tame the fiercenes of wild beasts. ORPHEVS first instituted in Greece the Initiatiōs of the Gods, the purga­tion of sinnes, remedies of diseases by charmes, and Inchauntmentes; and meanes to appease the wrath of the Gods. They say that of him and of Zo­roaster as fathers and authors, came al the ancient wisedome. Iamblicus affir­meth that Pythagoras followed Orpheus his diuinity as a paterne; on the which he framed, & formed his Philosophy; & which is more that the words of Pythagoras, had not bin esteemed holy or sacred, but for being deriued from the precept of Orpheus. That from thence came the secret doctrine of numbers, and whatsoeuer is admirable in the Philosophy of the Greeks, which secrets he folded vp in fables, and hid them vnder a poeticall couer­ture. Demosthenes in his oration against Aristogiton calleth Orpheus the authour of the sacred cerimonies which the Grecians vsed. He was accoun­ted holy after his death, and euery yere there was a solemne feast dedicated vn­to [Page 60] him, as to the most learned which was euer in Greece, as wel in the religi­on and diuinity of those daies as in Poetry.

Vnto these succeeded HOMER, and HESIOD, who were of the same time, or neer one to another: & got by different vertues very great, & du­rable praises. Homer wrote the Iliads, and Odyssees; Hesiodus left precepts of husbandry and Astrology, entermingled with aduertisments of good life, and the fabulous genealogie of the Gods. Homer without controuersie hath gotten the first and chiefe place amongst all the Poets of al Nations; and ages which euer were. And Plinie giueth him the chiefe praise of humaine vnder­standing, in so great diuersity of natures, multitude of disciplines, variety of actions, and of exercises, and workes; hauing deserued it as well by the excel­lency of his poesie; as by the good happ of his argument so luckely handled. First that which he writeth, he seemeth not to say it; but to represent it before our eyes. Such is the dexterity in him not onely to expresse the bodies; but e­uen the hidden motions of the mindes: in such sort that his poesie seemeth as an Image of the life of man. He is so conformable to common sense, and hath so aptly accomodated his wordes to the things, that after so great mutation come to passe, in the maners, and customes of men, from the time wherein he liued vntill this present; ke keepeth still from age to age, and from countrey to countrey the same grace, as if he came from being newly made; retayning not only the authority of antiquitie but also the pleasure of nouelty: as if there were in him some spirit continually renewing, and waxing yong, and a soule neuer waxing old which kept him alwaies in this vigour. Such force haue the writings which come neere vnto nature, that they neuer decay: but so much farther as they go, so much more grace they gaine, and so much more authority they obtaine. Amongst his singuler praises this of all other is most veritable, that he is alone in the world who hath neuer glutted or cloyed his readers; shewing himselfe alwaies altogither of an other sort vnto them, and still florishing in newe delectation: for as much as he leadeth them from one tale to another; and by his variety keepeth them from being weary at any time to heare his fine verses, flowing from him of their owne accord with­out paine or constraint; euen almost with a diuine felicity, and naturall fa­cility: which notwithstandieg he hath so conducted, that he obserueth gra­uity in great affaires; and propriety in small matters; and a tempered de­cency in those of the middle sort: with a delectable variety thoroughout in his narrations; similitudes, orations, amplifications, arguments, examples, and digressions; in wordes, sentences, figures, and in the continuation of his purpose, such disposition; that one may well say there was neuer his like. Aristotle, and Cicero thinke that he could not possibly come incontinently to such perfection▪ and that therefore there were others before him: seeing that nothing is perfect at his birth, and first beginning. The Greeks had him in such admiration that they attributed to him the knowledge of all things; and thought that all Artes, and all sects which were amongest them, were [Page] issued from his fountaine. The most renowmed Captaines red him, finding in him the best that belongeth to art military; The most eminent Philosophers alleaged him, prouing their reasons by his verses: others founded in him the state politicke, and oeconomicke, the art of husbandry, the contempt of humaine vanities, and the deuotion due vnto religion. For this cause (where­as he being far from ambition had concealed his original) many nations clai­med him to be their Citizen: as the Colophonians, Rhodians, Chiotins, Sa­laminians; and Smirnians, who erected a temple vnto him in their City; and many others contended for him amongst themselues. But he iudged best, who considering so many vertues and graces in him, thought it not possible that he could be ingendred of man; but that the heauen was his father and Calliope the chiefe of the Muses his mother.

Touching HESIODVS (which holdeth among the Greek Poets the second place, after Homer) he gaue men to vnderstand, that he became such without study; and that in his yong yeres being sent by his father to keepe the beastes, he fell a sleepe on the hill Parnassus: During which sleepe, the Mu­ses appeared vnto him, and inspired him diuinely with Poesie. Afterward he was the Priest and Curate of the Muses in Helicon; and wrote of Astrology, and Husbandry. Plutarch telleth how he being wrongfully slaine and mur­thered, and then cast into the sea; was taken vp by a flote of Dolphins, which caried him to the head of Rhion neere the towne of Molicria: where being knowen by reason that he was but newly killed; the Molycrians because of his great renowme, buried him honourably; and nothing in more recom­mendation, then to send presently euery where to enquire of this murther: which they did with such diligence, that the murderers were found out: whom they cast quicke into the botome of the sea, and razed their houses.

But the wise men, and religious of that time, did blame the impertinent fa­bles which Homer, and Hesiod and thother Poets had written of the Gods, proposing their formes, ages, sexes, transformations, vestments, ornaments, banquets, laughters, desires, complaints, lamentations, displeasures, angers, hatreds, differents, discords, combates, warres, and battailes; not onely when diuers Gods defended contrary armies of thone side, and thother; but also when they warred themselues against the Titans, and Gyants: their whore­domes, adulteries, incests, bonds, companies with mankinde, and mortal in­gendred of the immortall; and many other such things transferd to the simi­litude of humaine fragility, and contrary to good maners, and to pietie. Py­thagoras said that he had discended into hell, and had seen there the soule of Hesiodus, hard bound to a piller of bras; and that of Homer hanged on a tree: both of them bearing the punishment of that which they had foolishly fay­ned and inuented of the Gods. Isocrates affirmed, that although they had not yet bin sufficiently chastised for these impieties; yet not withstanding that they remained not altogither vnpunished: some of them hauing bin vaga­bounds and beggers; others of them blinde; and others banished their coun­trey; and that Orpheus the chiefe authour of such fables was slaine and rent [Page 61] in pieces; and his members dispersed here and there thoroughout the fields. Plato allowed them no place in his common wealth by reason of such absurd impieties; but woulde haue those onely receaued there, which made diuine hymnes, or moral aduertisments. And therefore I meruail at the Poets of these times, who that they may seeme the more to resemble the auncients by ymita­tion, endeuour to bring into vse such pagan fictions: not considering the Christian religion, in the which they are brought vp, free from all such su­perstition; & the maners of their time: whereunto al writers both in prose, and verse ought especially to accommodate themselues.

After the said Poets, came the PHILOSOPHERS, which began in the raigne of Cyrus, as hath bin touched heretofore: and they wrote at first al­most al in verse, as the former; and diuided themselues into two sects, thone be­ing called Ionicques, thother Italiques. Thales being born at Miletum in Ionia, was the author of the Ionian sect; Pythagoras the Samian dwelling at Cro­tona, in that part of Italy which was called great Greece, instituted the Italiā, whose sectaries, & folowers were called of him Pythagoreans: teaching their doctrines by numbers, and figures. After Thales succeeded Anaximander, and after Anaximander, Anaximenes; to him Anaxagoras, to Anaxagoras, Arche­las; & to Archelas, Socrates. On thother part to Pythagoras succeeded his son Telanges, to him Xenophanes; after him Permenides, after him Zenon the Eleatian, and Melissus; To Zenon, Leucippus, to Leucippus, Democritus, & to Democritus many: amongst whom are celebrated Nauciphanes, and Nau­cides: and other renowmed in both sects euen to PLATO, and ARISTO­TLE; who abolished these sects, bringing in others of the Academicks, and Peripateticks: & supplanting the renowne of those which had begon them: as the Macedonian Alexander supplanted the glory of Cyrus, and of the kings his successours, by ouerthrowing the Persian Monarchy.

But the greatest glory of the GREEKS began, at the expedition which XERXES king of Persia had vndertaken against Greece; who by his inesti­mable power which he brought with him, amazed it much, and put the Gre­cians in the greatest feare, that euer they were; knowing wel that this war was vndertaken against them to bring them al in bondage: and seeing that already all the Grecian cities seated in Asia were become subiect, and seruile; they ex­pected that those of Greece should not escape with any better condition. And on the contrary the war hauing had a far other end then was looked for, they not only found thēselues out of danger of seruitude; but got great glory ther­by: and there was neither towne nor city but was become so rich, that all the world wondered how things were so come to passe, contrary to that which euery one expected. For from that time fifty yeres forwards, Greece alwaies increased meruailously in felicity: & their prosperity and wealth made arts to florish. In such sort that we find, that the most excellent workmen that euer were in the world, liued in that time there. Also the sciences, & namely Philo­sophy, went then wonderfully forwards. Eloquence also was much aduanced throughout all Greece; but especially in Athens. For in that time were these [Page] excellent Orators, Pericles, Gorgias, Thrasimachus, Hippias, Prodichus, Pro­tagoras, Isocrates, Lysias, Demosthenes, Eschines, Antipho, Andocidas, Hipe­rides, Dinarchus, Iseas, Lycurgus, Demades, & Demetrius the Phalerian: HI­STORIOGRAPHERS, Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Philistius, Ephorus, Theopompus, Timeus, & Calistenes: TRAGICAL POETS, Es­chylus, Sophocles, and Euripides; COMICAL, Cratinus, Aristophanes, Eupolis, Menander, Philemon, and Diphilus: STATVARIES, Lysip­pus, Chares, Phydias, Polycletus, Praxiteles, C [...]esias, Dinomenes, Cymon & Miron; IMAGERS Lysistratus, & Dibutades: PAINTERS, Apelles, Proto­genes, Polygnotus, Parrhasius, Aristides the Thebā, Paralius, & Xeuxis. AR­CHITECTS, Dinocrates, who built Alexandria in Egypt; Ctesiphon of Crete, the tēple of Ephesus: Philon, the Citadel of Athēs. GRAVERS, Alca­menes, Agoracritus, Scopas, Briax, Timotheus, Leochares & Pythis. MVSI­CIANS Timotheus, Anaxarchus, Damon & Aristoxenus. ARITHMETI­CIANS Nicomachus the son of Aristotle; Euclide, a GEOMETRICIAN; Eudoxus an ASTROLOGER: for PHILOSOPHERS, the last of the Py­thagorean sect, already named euen to Socrates, who was the first amongst all the Greek philosophers, which withdrew philosophy from the heauenly & natural contemplation (wherin al the former were busied) & applied it to go­uernment of houses, cities, & comon wealths: accounting the knowledge of heauenly & natural things to be difficult; and also when it was obtained, to be little helpful vnto good life: wherefore he gaue himselfe especially to treate of maners, of vertues, & of vices; & entierly of good, & euil. After Socrates suc­cessiuely florished, Plato, Aristotle, Theophrastus, Xenocrates, Polemon, Crantor, & others both Academicks, & Peripateticks: Zenon, the Stoick, whom succeeded Cleanthus the Epicure: the spirits of the Greekes euery day increa­sing vntil the raignes of Philip, and Alexander, in which times al things came to their excellency, and (as it were) ful perfection: wherhence eftsoones they fell; and much sooner then they were mounted vp.

Concerning the Art Militarie, Philip, & Alexander of Macedonia, did not only surpasse al the great Captains of their time, in knowledge, & experience of war, prowes, magnanimity, fortune, & succes of conquest: although there were many famous mē in their age; as Epanimondas, & Pelopidas, Thebans; Timotheus, Conon, Chabrias, & Iphicrates, Atheniās; & not lōg before, Pau­sanias, Lysander, & Agesilaus, Lacedemonians; & Timoleon of Corinth: but also those of the times of the Persian & Median wars: as Themistocles, Aristi­des, Cymon, & Miltiades; & afore them Conon, Myronides, Pericles, & some other Grecians: and in Sicilie Gelon, the sonne of Diomenes. For who so wil compare the vertues of al them, with the deeds & glory of Philip, and Alex­ander; he shal find their vertue, and renowne more excellent then of thothers: and that they haue left them a great space behinde. PHILIP at his begin­ning, hauing but smal meanes; made in the end his kingdome more mighty and more redoubted, then any other Lordship of his time in all Europe: and finding at his comming to it, the kingdome of Macedon, handmaid, and tri­butary to the Illyrians; he made it ere he dyed, Lady and mystresse of ma­ny Cities, diuers Countries, and Nations, bordering about her. He made [Page 62] himselfe by his owne vertue to be chosen Chiefetaine general of all Greece; the Grecian Cities voluntarily submitting themselues to his gouernement. And after he had ouerthrowen by force of armes those which had sacked, and spoiled the temple of Apollo at Delphos; and had made free, the accesse of the Oracle: he obtained a place, and voice in the Counsaile of the States of Greece called the Amphictyones: which was giuen and graunted him for reward of his vertue and deuotion showed towards the Gods. Then ha­uing subdued to his will the Illirians, Pannonians, Thracians and Scy­thians; hee vndertooke to ouerthrowe the Empire of Persia. Following which deliberation, he sent his army before into Asia; where he set at liber­ty the Greeke Cities that were seated there: But being ouertaken by death he could not make an end of his enterprise; but left to his sonne, and suc­cessour Alexander such, and so great power, that de had no need afterwards else where to seeke any ayde or succour to ruinate the Empire of Persia. All which great things he did not with the fauour of fortune; but by his owne onely vertue; being a very wise Prince, especially in matter of warr; valiant of his person, affable, and as liberall as any prince might be.

Touching his sonne ALEXANDER, hee did in a little time many great things; and by his good wit, and valure excelled all the kings that were euer renowmed for their great deedes, since the world was first a worlde. For in the space of twelue yeres which he raigned and no more, he conque­red a good parte of Europe; and euen almost all Asia thoroughout: where­by he got of good right exceeding great glory, and not inferiour to the grea­test Princes of auncient time: who for the greatnes and excellency of their deedes and vertues haue bin reuerenced by their posterity as demy Gods. From his childhood he gaue euident tokens of his greatnes, to ensue; Hee tooke no pleasure in women, nor in plaies, nor any other kind of pastime: but his whole and onely delight was in armes. And the more he sawe his fa­ther Philip to prosper, the more sory he was; saying that hee would leaue nothing for him to doe. When the other yong Lordes of his age inuited him to goe to the Olympian games; he aunswered them that he would wil­lingly goe, if hee thought he shoulde finde any Kings there, with whome he might combat and iust. The Ambassadours of the king of Persia hauing talked with him, said that they founde in him more magnanimity then his age could beare. King Philip being desirous to knowe who should be his successour, sent to the Oracle of Apollo, at Delphos; where hee had aun­swere that he should succeed him in his kingdome, and enjoy the empire of the whole world, whome the horse Bucephalus would suffer to get vp on him: The which fell out to be true in Alexander. For this Bucephalus was a horse of singuler beauty, but fierce, and not to be ruled by others; which showed himselfe so tractable vnto Alexander, that hee might doe with him what he would: who kept him long, reseruing him for battails, or daungerous passages. But such was the hap of Alexander, that he ne­uer sought battaile but he wan; and neuer besieged fortresse, but he tooke it. [Page] While he was yet but yong and euill-furnished with money, and hauing but thirty fiue, or fortye thousand men of warr; he was so hardy and aduen­turous as to passe the sea, and to goe into Asia to assaile the king of Persia, the greatest, and most mighty king of the world, very farre into his owne kingdome: whome he discomfited three times, putting to flight the armies of his aduersarie; whereof the least was of foure or fiue hundred thousand fighting men. After which ouerthrowes, the king of Persia offred him two thousand talents, and a part of his kingdome, to raunsome his mother, his wife and his daughters: but he would not restore them; giuing a magna­nimous aunswere, that as the worlde could not be guided by two sunnes; so that there could not be two soueraigne kingdomes; while the habitable earth remained. Hauing conquered the whole estate of Persia, he marched with his army euen to the extremities of the East, thorough such rough and long waies for the most part, and amongest so many different nations; that with great difficulty might one goe thithen being lightly furnished on horse­backe or on foote: besides the daunger of fighting. Then retourning out of India to Babylon, he was saluted king of all the world, being about xxxiij. yeares of age; by Ambassadours, sent from Carthage, and from the rest of Africke: from the Spaynes and Gaules, from Sicilie, Sardigna, and Italy. Such was the terrour of his name, and the reputation of his greatnesse, and felicity. And hauing ouercome the East, he threatned Carthage; preparing great armies both by sea, and land to conquere the West; hauing purposed to marche thorough Africke euen to the pillars of Hercules; and to passe at the straights into Spaine; then from thence to retourne by Gaule, and Ita­ly into Greece, when he dyed in the midst of his enterprises and victories. He was so ambitious, that vnderstanding how the Philosopher Democritus affirmed that there were many worldes; he lamented that he was so long in getting of this one: and was sory that he could not sooner inuade the rest. He called himselfe the sonne of God, and would be worshipped accordingly; And after he was dead, his body remained seuen daies without stinke or cor­ruption: which confirmed the opinion that was held of his diuinity.

Thus much touching the excellency of armes that was then: and it shal not be besides our purpose to treate a little of that of learning; which wil be found to be no lesse in Plato, and Aristotle according to their quality.

These two then set Philophy as high as euer it was; and haue surmoun­ted not only the other former Philosophers both Greeks and straungers; but also had neuer since their equals. In so much that the world holdeth of them at this present; the most part of that knowledge which it hath: those books of theirs which remaine, being translated into all languages; and disper­sed into all nations: They haue knowen whatsoeuer it was possible to know in their time, and whereunto the vnderstanding of man could then attaine. There is no liberal knowledge, nor art, nor science whatsoeuer; wherof they haue not spoken pertinētly & properly. There is nothing in the heauen, in the earth, nor in the sea, which they haue omitted. Wherunto the better to attaine [Page 63] they chose a maner of liuing quiet, and peaceable, fit for learning, and con­templation: which as neerest approaching to the heauenly life, they thought worthiest of a wise man. They shunned publick charges, full of enuy, and of trauailes: seeking rest that they might study, and write.

PLATO, after he had long time conuersed with Socrates, and hauing bin in Italie, Sicile, and Egypt; although he loued well his Countrey, and vnderstoode well matter of gouernement; yet notwithstanding would not meddle with the common wealth, because hee sawe the people of Athens euen to dote with old age; and to be neere their end: but employed all the time of his life, in learning, and seeking of truth; showing by wordes, by wri­ting, and by deedes, the way of vertue to those that would follow it. There is such maiesty in his speach, that it hath bin thought, if God would haue vsed the language of men, that he would not haue spoken otherwise, then as Plato did. And Cicero calleth him the Father not onely of knowledge, but also of speaking well: hauing a stile in a meane betwixt prose, and verse; yet som-what neerer approching to that of Homer. And where the Greeks went before into strange countries to study; the strangers began in his time to come to Athens to learne knowledge.

Likewise, ARISTOTLE was honourably sent for by King Philip, who esteemed it much, that he had such a person borne in his owne kinge­dome, and in his time; And especially for the instruction of his sonne Alex­ander: where hauing remained eight yeres, howbeit he had great credit in the Court of Macedon, and might haue come to great Offices, and riches: he retired himselfe notwithstanding to Athens, to spend there the rest of his life in learning. And whereas in any one particuler science, one shall hard­ly attaine to any excellency, though he vse no other exercise all his life; he excelled in whatsoeuer he would apply himselfe vnto: and neuer vndertooke to intreate of anything, but he brought it almost to his soueraigne perfecti­on: wherein he was much holpen by the quicknes of his wit, and sharpe­nes of his vnderstanding, his inclination to learning, and perseuerance: the ex­cellent learning of his master Plato, whose auditor he was by the space of xx. yeres; the happines of that age wherein he was borne, ful of good bookes, and rich in all arts: and the liberality of his scholer Alexander; who supplied him with goods, to come to his intention.

Many debate, who was euer of greatest vnderstanding amongst men; the which is difficult to be decided. Notwithstanding if we consider it wel, we shall not finde any more admirable, then ARISTOTLE: for the excel­lency of the workes which he hath composed; and the worthynes of the matters of which he hath intreated. PLATO hath not giuē himselfe so much to natural Phylosophy, as ARISTOTLE, but hath bin very curious of Moral and Politick: and excellent in Metaphysick: Thone hath intreated of the creation of the world, of the figures, qualities, & motions of the foure ele­ments: of which the world is compounded. He set downe three principles, God, the Idea or for me, and the first matter; being the nurse of all generation. [Page] Thother goeth about to proue that the world is eternall, setting downe also three principles, yet different from thother: namely, matter, forme, and priua­tion. He disputeth of place, of voide, of time, of motion, of generation, and corruption; of the foure elements; of mutations happened in the aire: he hath declared the birth, liues, figures, parts, inclinations, affections, and actions of all liuing creatures. His scholer Theophrastus, hath shewed the natures, cau­ses, and reasons of plants; & other things growing on the earth. Both of them haue written of the soul. But PLATO speaketh more certainly of the im­mortality therof, then ARISTOTLE. PLATO hath discoursed of a perfect common wealth, of lawes, and of vertues, largely. ARISTOTLE also hath composed many books in Morall philosophy, deducing al the parts thereof euen to the Economick. Moreouer he hath gathered the institutions, and disciplines, of the Common weales and kingdomes of his time, and of such as florished before him. Thone and thother haue shewed the changes which happened in them, and the meanes how to remedy them. As concer­ning Logick; Aristotle attributeth to himselfe the inuention, and perfection thereof. He hath also spoken of Rhetorick, and of Poesie so exactly, that there is none found better in these professions. Moreouer PLATO hath written in dialogues: in the which commonly he bringeth in SOCRATES, as­suring nothing; but disputing much of things both affirmatiuely, & negatiue­ly: enquiring of all things, and asking the opinion of the assistants or standers by; without saying his owne, or resoluing of anything. Which maner of wri­ting hath great efficacy; and maketh things more intelligible: as if they were then doing, and were not taken from else-where, obseruing the dignity of the persons introduced; & accomodating of apt speach vnto euery one according to the variety: which causeth an exceeding pleasure. In doing wherof, he hath folowed an elegant maner of writing, magnificent, ful of maiesty; and grauity both in words, and sentences; enriched with translations, allegories, and other colours of Rhetorik; without obseruing, any certaine methode of teaching. But ARISTOTLE hath endeuoured to write methodically; hee expresseth himselfe according as the matter requireth properly, & without any exquisite ornament of words: That which he vndertaketh to treate off, he pursueth it from the beginning vnto the end, not digressing any waies; & leaueth nothing vndecyded. Many haue blamed him for hauing made himselfe purposely ob­scure; and ambiguous, in many places: and that he did it of craft; fearing least some should handle him in such sort; as he had handled others. PLATO is more copious, ARISTOTLE more pithy; Thone hath mingled many strāge opinions in his books, as of the transmigration of soules out of one body into another; of the communion of wiues, of children, and of goods: Thother hath more conformed himself to cōmon life; & to ciuil actiōs. Thone hath chiefly stood on intelligible things; & thother on things sēsible. Thone hath searched throughout for Ideas, & formes; thother made but a iest therof; as of the former opinions which he hath sharply reprehēded: notwithstanding many haue bin of opinion, that there was no differēce between thē in sentences▪ but in words [Page 64] only: & haue assaied to reconcile them. Finally, the Greeks reckoned the one diuine; and his doctrine hath bin much honoured, both whiles he liued, and after his decease. Thother hath bin held for a wonderfull man, of great iudg­ment, and incomparable knowledge; singularly respected and reuerenced of all that haue sithence giuen themselues to learning. In briefe, ARISTO­TLE learned all the good which he knew, of PLATO, and it was a meruailous great happines vnto him, to haue bin both a scholler of the most excellent philosopher that hath euer bin knowen; and Master of the greatest King of the world.

It were not reasonable here to omit DEMOSTHENES, who was a diligent hearer of Plato, and a friend vnto Aristotle: being so accomplished in eloquence, that he is accounted the law, and the rule of peroring, and spea­king well. There is such force in his words, and he hath so well disposed them; that one cannot well add any thing to them, or take ought from them. It is not possible in those causes which he hath handled, and in the Orations which he hath written, wisely to inuent, or subtilly to expresse any thing; but he hath well vnderstood it: Neither on the contrarie, to find any thing more stately, more graue, or more beautified; then that which he hath said, and written. For he was so studious and laborious, that euen till the fiftieth yeare of his age, there was neuer found any Artisan in Athens more diligent to rise early then he. And although he had many imperfections of nature; as being subiect to stammering in his speach, short breathed, and timerous: he ouer­came by diligence and industrie, all his hinderances. And vsed himselfe in such sort, that there was no Oratour in his time (albeit there were then many excellent) that pronounced more cleanly and distinctly, or spake longer, and bolder then he. Moreouer, he was no smal personage: but had while he liued great authoritie throughout Greece, being feared and redoubted by the king of Macedon, honoured by the great Signor of Persia, who managed long the affaires of Athens, where he was borne. By reason whereof, he well vn­derstood matters of state, the mutations which happen in Lordships, and the causes wherehence they proceede: and there is not any thing necessarie for publike gouernment; but some apparance therof is found in him; his coun­sailes tending not onely vnto profit, but to honour, and honestie. In somuch, that Plato, and Aristotle, haue not better plaied the Philosophers in their schooles; then he did in publike assemblies, and iudgements.

But as this age was admirable in power and wisdom, and in all arts: so was it also full of wickednes, & extraordinarie changes: As if it had bin of necessitie, that the same age must bring forth horrible monsters, & notable wonders: for it is commonly seen, that where mens wits are most excellent, there are found together men notably vicious, & vertuous; the authours of great good things & of euil: as if vertue and vice (which are things so contrary & repugnant) had their extremities neer one an other: In such sort, that where thone is, the other estsoons accompanieth it; & they leaue not one the other: for euen as noble & generous natures being duly instructed becom perfectly good, & are causes of [Page] great good things; In like maner those that are euill brought vp, become ex­ceeding euill, and do great mischiefes: by reason that the exorbitant wic­kednesse, and extreme vices proceede not of weake, and simple natures; but of the noble and generous, being depraued by institution. As appeared in this season, replenished with all good artes, and excellent wits, by the extra­ordinarie mutations which happened therin: Wherof the Orator AESCHI­NES complayning, cried out, that they led not then the life of men; but that they seemed to be born to that end that their posterity might tel of thē strange and vnlooked-for maruailes: And DEMOSTHENES answering him, acknowledged the fortune of his time to be verie aduerse, and hard; and that there was neither Greeke nor Barbarian, but had suffered much: for not onely euery one in particuler; but publickly the kings, Cities, and Nations receiued great calamities: First of all, what troubles raised king Philip tho­rough out all Greece; corrupting by giftes the Magistrates and Gouernours of Townes; and nourishing amongst the Greekes diuisions and parcialities? In such sort, that he himselfe confessed, that he had much more inlarged his kingdom by gold and siluer, then by armes. And albeit the Athenians hauing alwaies in suspition his greatnes, were exhorted continually by DEMOS­THENES, to take vpon them the protection of the common libertie; and to punish with death those Citizens whom they should find to go about to betray the common wealth: Notwithstanding, this great Orator could not with all his diligence refraine the euill inclination of some particulars; which sought but how to sell their Countrie: Such abundance of Traitours there were found in that season. Afterwards as Philip being become proud by many prosperities, for the greatnes of his power, placed himselfe amongst the twelue Gods, he was killed by Pausanias a Macedonian gentleman, to whom he had denied iustice; at the mariage of his daughter Cleopatra, which he solemnized with great triumphe, beholding the plaies which were made: and euen in the midst of his guard, betweene the two Alexanders, the one being his sonne, and thother his sonne in law, whom he had made king of Epirus. The fault of which murther, was for the most part imputed to the Queene Olympias, who being diuorced from him, stirred vp the youngman boyling before with anger to do it. But there was also some suspition which touched Alexander, doubting least he would leaue the kingdom to an other: Who likewise after he had turned all topsie turuie in Europe, and in Asia; because of his insolencie, was poisoned by his most familiar friends. Olym­pias, wife of the one, and mother to the other, was massacred by Cassandra for the great arrogancie which was in her; and cruelties which she had com­mitted. Seneca calleth Alexander a furious young man; hauing in steed of vertue, a fortunate temeritie; and that from his youth he was a theese, and a distroier of people: being the ruine both of his enemies, and friends; who placed his soueraign felicitie in astonishing, and making himselfe feared of all men. Furour saith he, stirred vp the wicked man to vndoe other men; and made him to march thorough vnknowen places: Account you him wise that [Page 65] began with the ruines of Greece, in the which he had bin bred and brought vp; taking from euery one that which was his good? He constrained Lace­demon to serue, and Athens to be silent. Not content with the ruine of so many Cities, which Philip either bought or ouercame; he ouerthrew others also; and beareth armes thorough out the world, without satisfying his cruel­tie: after the maner of sauage beastes, which bite being not pressed with honger. He hath alreadie gathered many Kingdomes into one; alreadie the Greekes, and Persians do feare one king; and notwithstanding, passing be­yond the Ocean, he is sorie and loath to bound his victories by the footsteps of Hercules, and of Bacchus: but will force nature; and can not stay; as heauie things which do not cease to roule, vntill they meete with some stop or hinderance. He saith, that Philip and Alexander, and other such like re­nowmed, thorough the ruine of people, haue bin no lesse plagues vnto men, then the deluge, by which the earth was drowned: or then the burning which consumed by heat, and drougth, a great part of lyuing creatures. Lucan thinketh, that he gaue a pernicious example to the world; shewing the meanes how to reduce so many Countries vnder one Lord; calling him the fat all euil of the world; and a lightning which strook all Nations: whose insatiable ambition could not be staied, but by death. Therefore the Scythi­ans spake thus vnto him; What neede hast thou of riches, which constraine thee alwaies to desire? Thou art the first, which of abundance hast made indi­gence: to the end that by possessing more, thou mightst more earnestly desire that which thou hast not. Who would euer haue thought that the Greekes should haue ruled Asia? and that so meane a king, as that of Macedon, could haue ouerthrowen the Monarchie of Persia, of inestimable largenesse and power, both by land and sea?

In like maner, the Lordship of DIONISE in Sicile, was ouerthrowen by DION with little meanes, against the opinion and expectation of all the world: which was the greatest and mightiest that was then in Europe: for who could haue beleeued, that he which arriued in Sicile onely with two ships of burden, should haue ouercome a Lord, that had in his disposition fower hundred vessels with oares, a hundred thousand foote, and ten thou­sand horsemen; with prouision and munition, of armes, corne, and money, as much as was needfull for intertainment of so great power? and who a­boue all the forenamed things, had vnder his obedience one of the greatest, and most mightie Cities, which was then in all Greece: which had-so many ports; so many arsenals, or store-houses so many impregnable castles? and who besides all this, was allied with many great and mightie confederates? But that which gaue DION the victorie in this interprise, was principally his magnanimitie, and greatnesse of courage: with the loue and good will which was borne him, of those whom hee came to set free: And that which holpe him yet more then all the rest was, the small valure; and the cowardize of the Tyrant: with the hate and euill will which was borne him of all those, whom he vniustly detained in bondage, and seruitude. [Page] All which causes at the same time concurring together; made these things come to effect, which would be otherwise incredible.

Was it not a strange case to see the Athenians and Lacedemonians, who had so long time sought for the superioritie; to come themselues into the sub­iection of the Macedonians, who before was tributarie to the Illyrians? And the Citie of Thebes, which had sometimes aspired to that principalitie, bur­ned, rased, and distroied in one day; and the Citizens thereof sold as slaues, and brought into bondage? On the other side, there was not then any man excellent in knowledge, but indured much. SOCRATES the father both of moral and politike Philosophie, falsely accused of not beleeuing in the Gods, & of corrupting youth, was condemned and executed by poyson: But his condemnation being found vniust, the people repented it soone after; considering how great a personage they had wrongfully put to death; and were so mutinous against them which were the cause thereof: that finally they put them all to death also; without hearing their defences and allegati­ons. PLATO was sold by pyrats: and in danger of his life in the Court of Syracusa. XENOPHON was banished Athens. ARISTOTLE constrained to depart, fearing least they would deale with him, as they did with Socrates. DEMOSTHENES poisoned himselfe with the poison which he caried in his ring: because he would not yeeld himselfe to the mercie of his enemie Antipater. DEMETRIVS the Phalerian, retired himselfe to the king of Alexandria, where he died of the byting of an Aspe. EVRIPIDES into Macedonia, where he was deuoured by mastifes. So many strange accidents there were in that season. PLVTARCH writeth, that in his time GREECE was so brought to naught, that scarcely altoge­ther could it make three thousand men of warre: which the onely Citie of Megara-sent in times past to the battaile of Platea. In such sort diminished it by succession of time, being di [...]sided into many common weales, ill agreeing amongst themselues; impouerished by sedicions, and warres; infected with curious sects in philosophie, and the most of them pernicious: as of the Epicures, Cynickes, Cyrenaickes, Eretrickes, Megarians, and Pyrrhonians; some­times subiect to the Kings of Macedonia; sometimes to those of Syria, and Asia; sometimes to Mithridates; sometimes to the Romains, which ruled it a long time: after to the Emperours of Constantinople; and last of all to the Turkes: vnder whom it is brought into miserable bondage, being depriued of the arts, of the auncient nobilitie, and of the faire Cities which it was wont to haue.

WE will now come to the ROMAINS; who in their time obtained the excellence in armes, in learning, and in all workmanships: But euen as after the going of Xerxes into Greece (which put the Grecians in the greatest feare that euer they were) the war hauing had an other end then was expected, they not onely found themselues out of danger, but also got great glory thereby; growing meruailously from that time forward in all felicity, riches, and excellency of all arts: So the Romains after the second Punick warr, and voiage of Hani­bal into Italy; which troubled them much, remayning there sixteene yeres with a mighty army, in which time he wan many battails on them, and came euen to the gates of Rome, where he might also haue entered, if he had kno­wen how to vse the victory: the Romains then being brought to the grea­test extremity, that euer they were (being vanquished by the Carthaginians, and seeming to haue giuen ouer the glory of armes vnto them) yet this long, and cruel war hauing taken an other end then was looked for; and the chance being tourned to the aduantage, and honour of the Romains; by their con­stancy, and good counsaile: from that time forward for the space of three and fiftye yeres (as Polybius saieth) they became exceeding strong both by land and by sea, commaunding not onely ouer all Italy, but also ouer the better part of the world; stretching their Empire to the rest of Europe, into Asia, and into Africke; which they made greater then any other that had bin [Page] before, or hath bin after them: increasing in all felicity & aboundance; which togither with idlenes, made the Arts and sciences to come in reputation a­mongst them: as it had before in Greece. For after they had vanquished, and ouerthrowen the Carthaginians, destroied Numantia, and razed Corinth to the ground; reduced into prouinces, the kingdomes of Macedonia, Bythi­nia, Suria, Pontus, Capadocia, Numidia, Mauritania, and Egypt: conquered the Spaynes, and the Gaules: subdued Germanie, and great Britaine; obtained the Lordship of the sea, and Isles thereof: there was not found any more suf­ficient power to resist them, then that of the Parthians on the East; which seemed to haue parted with them the Empire of the world, possessing seuen­teene kingdomes. In so much that sithence that time, both military, and po­liticke discipline, was better in Italy then it had bin before in any part of the worlde. Eloquence also florished much at Rome; and all arts both liberall and mechanicall, came almost to their perfection. Then liued those great CAPTAINES so much renowmed; the two Scipioes, the one sur­named of Africke, and the other called the Asiaticke; Quintus Fabius the great; Marcus Marcellus, who was desirous to haue saued that ingeni­ous Archimedes life, at the siege of Syracusa; Paulus Emilius, Marius, Sylla, Pompeius, Iulius Caesar: ORATOVRS Cethegus, M. Cato Censorius, Galba, Lelius, the two Gracchi brethren; Carbo, Crassus, Antonius, Horten­sius, Cicero, Caluus, Pollio, Messala which lost his wit and memory; Corne­lius Nepos, and Fenestella. HISTORIANS, Pictor, Piso, Antipater, Si­senna, Salust, Titus Liuius, and Trogus Pompeius: PHILOSOPHERS and wise men, Tubero, and Cato. STOICKS, M. Varro, and Nigidius. LAWIERS, Quintus Scaeuola, Seruius Sulpitius, Gallus Aquilius, Luci­us Balbus, C. Iuuencius, Sextus, Papyrius, Aulus Offilius, Alphenus, Va­rus, C. Titius, Decius, the two Aufidij, Pacuuius, Flauius Priscus, Ginna, P. Celius, C. Th [...]bacius, and Antistius Labeo. COMICAL POETS Li­uius Andronicus the first writer amongest the Romains, Cecilius, Plautus, Neuius, Licinius, Attila, Terence, Turpilius, Trabea, Luscus, Afranius: TRAGICAL, Accius, Pacuuius, Ennius: SATYRICAL, Lucilius, and Horace, who was also a LYRICK: ELEGIACAL, [...]uid, Tibul­lus, Propertius, Catullus, Asconius Pedianus a GRAMARIAN; Cor­nelius Gallus, Laberius Plotius, Valgius, Fuscus, the two Gisques, and Furnias: HEROICAL, Lucretius, Macer, Virgil, Manilius, Iuli­us Firmicus, ASTROLOGERS: Antonius Musa a PHYSICION Vitruuius an ARCHITECT, Atela a PAINTER: The Italian wits alwaies fructifying and increasing til the time of Iulius Caesar, and Augu­stus: when as Italy rose to the greatest excelence, that it could attaine, both in armes, in learning, and in all workmanships: wherehence it fell inconti­nently. Diodorus the Sicilian, Strabo of Crete, Dyonise the Halicarnasse­an, and Cicero with them, do not only celebrate the perfection of their age; but foresee also the fall thereof at hande: telling howe eloquence being brought from a little and lowe beginning, to her soueraigne excellence, [Page 71] waxed olde; and seemed as if in short time it woulde decay and come to nought: as by order of nature it falleth out with all other thinges. Horace witnesseth that in his time the Romains were come to the height of fortune; and that they did all workes better then the Grecians. Seneca writeth that all whatsoeuer Italy may oppose or prefer vnto Greece, flourished about the time of Cicero: and that all good wits which haue giuen light to Latin let­ters were borne then. Solinus speaking of Augustus, saith that his raigne hath bin almost the onely time wherein armes haue ceased; and good wits, and sciences florished.

To such authority, magnificence, & state came the Romain Empire; whose beginning in deed was small and difficult, but yet miraculous: as promising some greatnes in time to come. And first the generation, birth, and education of Romulus (who by beginning the buildings of the city of Rome laide the first foundation of this estate) was meruailous. For it is said that his mother lay with the God Mars; and it was then beleeued, that Hercules, was engendred in a long night, the day hauing bin withheld, and the sun staied cōtrary to the course of nature; so was it also beleeued that in the conception of Romulus the sun was eclipsed: and that there was a true coniunction of the Sun with the moone; when Mars (who was a God according to the Pagan credulity) coupled with Syluia being a mortal woman; and that the same happened a­gaine to Romulus the same day that he departed this life, vanishing out of sight when the sunne was in eclypse. And then when he and his brother Re­mus were borne, Amulius (who had constrained their mother to make her selfe a votarie or Nun, and to vow perpetuall chastity, shutting her vp with­in the wood of Mars, where she became with child) seeing that they were two, and meaning to make them die, commaunded they should be exposed, and cast forth; and their mother shut vp close: whereof she died. But fortune (which a far off beheld the birth of so great a city) prouided for the two chil­dren; by means of a kind and gentle seruant, who hauing charge to cast them out, would not put them to death: but laid them on the bank of a riuer, ioy­ning to a faire green meadowe, and shadowed with little trees neere vnto a wilde figgtree: and then a shee-wolfe, which had lately brought forth young ones and had lost them, hauing her teats so full of milke that she was readie to burst, seeking to ease herselfe came to these children, and gaue them sucke; as if she had brought foorth a second time, in being deliuered of her milke. And then the bird which is consecrated to Mars called a hickway or wood­pecker comming thither, and approching to them, amd with her foote, o­pening gently the childrens mouthes one after another; fed them with lit­tle crommes of her owne food: which being perceiued by the shephearde Faustulus, he caried them there hence, and brought them vp poorely among his beasts; no man knowing who they were; neither that they were the chil­dren of Syluia, and nephewes to Numitor, and to the king Amulius. And be­ing after this maner brought vp amongest the shephards, they became strong and hardy: in such sorte that oft times they defended their beasts from being [Page] taken of thee [...]es. It fell out that after they had many times done so, Remus was taken, and accused vnto the king of theft, from which he had often kept others; and that it was he which set vpon the beastes of Numitor. And then was he deliuered by the king vnto Numitor to take auengement of him; or to be recompensed by him for the robberies which he had done: who see­ing the yong yeres of Remus; and considering well the markes of his coun­tenance; togither with the time, when his daughters children were cast out; began to suspect that he was one of them, by his age so well agreeing there­to. And being in this doubt Romulus and Faustulus came vnto him; by whom he was aduertised of the trueth of all. Then being auenged of Amu­lius (whom they slew) they placed Numitor in the kingdom; and afterwards founded the citie of Rome. ROMVLVS then the first Prince, authour, and founder thereof, hauing composed it of Countrey people, and nea [...] ­heards, had many trauailes in doing thereof; and found himselfe intangled with many wars, and many daungers: being constrained to fight with those that opposed themselues to the rising and foundation of this City; and to the increase of this people newly planted. Then afterwards as his natiuity, pre­seruation, and nourishment had bin maruailous; his end was no lesse. For as he spake vnto the people, sodainly the weather was ouer cast, and the aire was horribly chaunged; The sunne lost entierly his light, and there were terrible thunders, impetuous winds, stormes and tempests on euery side, which made the cōmon people to hide themselues here and there in corners: But the Sena­tours kept themselues togither. Then when the storme was past, the day clea­red, and the weather become faire, the people assembled againe as before; and went to seeke their king, and to aske what was become of him. But the Lords would not suffer them to enquire any farther; but admonished them to honour, and reuerence him, as one that had bin taken vp into heauen; and who thence forward insteed of a good king, would be a propicious, and fa­uourable God vnto them. Moreouer Iulius Proculus, one of the Patricians accounted a very honest man, (who also had bin a great familiar friende of Romulus) affirmed that as he came from Alba he met him on his way; grea­ter and fairer then euer he had seen him; armed all in white armour, bright, & shyning as fire: and that being afrighted to see him in such sort, he asked him wherefore he had abandoned his orphane city in such infinite sorowe: To whō Romulus answered; It pleased the Gods, from whō I came, that I should re­main among men, as long as I haue remained, & that after I had built a city (which in glory, and greatnes of Empire, shall one day be the chiefe in the world) I shoulde returne to dwell in heauen, as before. Wherefore be of good cheere, and say vnto the Romains, that in exercising of prowes, and temperance, they shall attaine to the height of humaine power: and as for me I will be henceforth a God, Protector, and Patron of them whom they shall call QVIRINVS.

The auncients recited many such meruailes, in the which there is no ap­parance of trueth, endeuouring to deifie the nature of man; and to associate him, with the Gods. It is is very true saith Plutarch, that it were euil, and [Page 72] wickedly done to deny the diuinity of vertue; but yet to mingle earth with heauen were great foolishnes: being a thing most certaine, that after death the soule (which is the ymage of eternity) remaineth only aliue, and retour­neth to heauen wherhence it came; not with the body; but rather when it is farthest remoued, and seperated from the body; and when it is cleane and ho­ly, and holdeth nothing any longer oft he flesh. Therefore it is not necessary to go about to sende against nature, the bodies of vertuous men with their soules vnto heauen: but we ought to thinke, and firmely beleeue that their vertues and soules, according to nature and diuine Iustice, become saincts of men; and of saints demy-Gods: and of demy-gods (after they are perfectly as in sacrifices of purgation cleansed, & purified, being deliuered of al passibility, and mortality) they become (not by any ciuile ordinance, but in trueth, reason & liklyhood) entier & perfect Gods; receiuing a most happy & glorious end.

But NVMA the second king, succeeding vnto Romulus, had time and leasure to establish Rome, and to ensure the increase thereof, by meanes of the long peace which hee had with all his enemies; which was to Rome as a store-house of all munition for the wars which folowed after: and the people of Rome hauing exercised themselues at leasure, and in quiet and rest, by the space of xliij. yeres, after the wars which they had vnder Romulus; they made themselues strong enough, & sufficient to make head against those which af­terwards opposed themselues against them. Considering that in all that time, there was neither plague, nor famine, nor barrennes of the earth, nor intem­peratenes of winter or sommer that offended them: as if all these yeres had bin gouerned not by humane wisdome, but by the diuine prouidence. For he gaue out that the goddesse Egeria was in loue with him; & that lying with him, she taught him how to rule and gouerne his common wealth. Numa then taking the city of Rome, as in a turbulent tempest, and in a sea tormented, & troubled with the enmity, enuy, and euil wil of all the neighbor nations, and bordering peoples; and moreouer exercised in it selfe with infinite troubles, and partiali­ties; he extinquished and asswaged all angers, and all the enuies, as euil, and contrary windes: giuing meanes to the people being but newly planted, and scarcely yet established, to take roote and to fasten their footing, by augmen­ting leasurely in al safety; without wars, without sicknes, without peril, with­out feare, or any other hinderance whatsoeuer. For in all his raigne there was neither war, nor ciuil sedition, nor attempt of nouelty, in gouernment of the common wealth; & yet lesse enmity or enuy perticularly against him; or con­spiracy against his person forgreedines of rule. And not only at Rome was the people softned, & reformed after the example of the Iustice, clemency & good­nes of the king; but in all the Citie [...] also round about, began a meruailous change of maners no otherwise then if it had bin a sweete breath of some wholsome and gracious winde, that had breathed on them from the side of Rome, to refresh them and there stole sweetly into the harts of men, a desire to liue in peace, to labour the earth and to bring vp their children, in rest and tranquility, and to serue and honour the Gods.

[Page]After these two raigned fiue kings at Rome: and in TARQVIN the last, for hate of his pride, and not of the royall authority was the gouerne­ment chaunged: Rome being from that time foorth gouerned by two annu­all CONSVLS, and by the SENATE vnder the authoritie of the people.

Then from the Consuls it came to the rule of TEN MEN, from whom it retourned back againe to the CONSVLS. And whereas there were op­posed vnto them two military TRIBVNES of equall power: they were within the yere deposed, and gaue place to the CONSVLS. And albeit they vsed in the great affaires of the common wealth to create a DICTA­TOVR with absolute authority for the time; neuerthelesse the Consula­ry administration remained still; and vnder it Rome prospered most; aug­menting meruailously in power, till it came to the Empire of the world. And it seemeth discoursing by reason on the augmentation therof, that it was gui­ded, and gouerned by the diuine Conduct: and that the true God (though he were not knowen nor worshipped of them;) because of their iustice, pru­dence, valiance, and good discipline, exalted them: to the end to represse, or to chastise the great, and exceeding vices raigning at that time, amongst ma­ny nations? It was hee that fauoured them continually, by land, by sea, in war, and in peace; against the Italians, against the Greekes, against all stran­gers and Barbarians; giuing them meanes to ioine trophees to trophees; tryumphes vnto tryumphes; and conquest vnto conquest; of kingdoms sub­dued, nations ouercome; Islandes and Continents brought vnder sub­iection: which came all vnder the shadowe of the greatnes of this Empire. He permitted that by one onely battaile Philip of Macedony should be cha­sed away▪ That by one onely blow Antiochus should yeld them Asia; That the Carthaginians by one only ouerthrow should lose Lybia; That POM­PEY at one aduenture, and one onely voyage should conquer them Arme­nia, the kingdome of Pontus, Syria, Arabia, the Albanians, the Iberians; and euen to the hill Caucasus, and to the Hircanians; and to the Ocean which enuironeth the world; which at three seuerall times, and three diuers places saw him victorious▪ that he should represse, and beate backe the Nomades in Africk, euen to the bankes of the meridional Ocean; that he should subdue Spaine, which was reuolted with Sertorius, euen to the Atlantick sea: and should pursue the Kings of the Albanians, euen to the Caspian sea. That IVLIVS CESAR should ouercome the Gaules, which had gon be­yond the Romains in military glory; taken, and burned Rome▪ possessed Ita­lie▪ and who for a long space of time constantly defended their liberty: in such fort that where the Romains assailed others for glory, they made warr against the Gaules for their safety, and conseruation. God I say caused Han­nibal, to run and consume out of Carthage into Italie, euen as an impetuous raging streame; permitting that by the enuy, and malignity of his enuious fel­low citizens, no reenforcement nor succour shoulde bee sent him from his countrey. He permitted that the armies of the Cymbrians, and of the Teutons [Page 73] should be separated by great distance of places, and times; to thend that MA­RIVS might be able to fight with them, and to ouerthrowe them both one after another: and to hinder that CCC. thousand fighting men should not ioyne togither at the same time to ouerrun all Italy with inuinci­ble men, and forces vnresistable. He permitted that Antiochus should hold him still, whiles they had wars with Phillip; and that Phillip hauing bin already beaten, should dye when Antiochus was in danger of the losse of his estate. He permitted that the Bastarnick, and Sarmatick wars should hold the king Mithridates occupied, whiles the Marsick warre burned, and foraged Italy▪ That Tigranes, whiles Mithridates, was strong and mighty, should di­strust, and enuy him; which kept him from ioyning with him: and afterwards when he was ouerthrowen, should gather vnto him, that he might also pe­rish with him. He permitted that the Romains after the great discomfiture which they had receaued of the Gaules neer to the riuer of Allia, should re­unite themselues; and that the said Gaules beseeging the Capitoll, and ha­uing surprized it by night should bee discouered by geese: without which warning, both the place▪ and the estate, had bin lost. He permitted that Alex­ander the great should die before he came toward the west: who being ele­uated by many great victories and glorious conquests, began already to darte the flaming beames of his armes euen into Italy. In such forte that all these hinderances being taken away by the diuine permission, the Romains had meanes to growe; and with time to establishe an Empire of greater com­passe both by land and by sea, then any whereof there is any memory; and at whose incomparable power Plutarch admiring in the raigne of Traian, thought, vertue and fortune (which ordinarily doe neuer agree togither) had with one accord accomplished, the greatest and goodliest worke, that eu [...] was amongest men. For where as the greatest potentates, and Empires that had bin amongst men, were chaunged according to the occurrences, and stumbled one at the other; for as much as none of them was great e­nough to commaund all the rest: and that neuerthelesse all of them desiring it, there was a straunge motion, and wandering agitation, and a vniuersall mutation of all in all thoroughout the worlde; vntill such time as Rome comming to take force, and increase, and to tye and binde vnto it on thone side other peoples, and neighbour nations; and on the other side Lordships, Kingdomes, and principalities of strange and farre princes beyond the seas; the principall thinges began to take firme foundation and assured esta­blishment: because the Empire was finallye reduced into peaceable or­der, and growen to such greatnesse of estate, that nothing could fall; by reason that vertue raigned in them that guyded this great worke vnto per­fection; especially in IVLIVS CESAR, and AVGVSTVS, who surpassed all the rest that were either before, or after them in felicity, power' and glory.

For first of all who so will compare vnto IVLIVS CESAR, all the [Page] Fabians, Scipioes, Metelles; and those of his time, or somewhat afore him, as Sylla, Marius, the two Luculles; and Pompey himselfe, whome Plinie dareth to compare, not onely with Alexander the great, but with Hercu­les, and Bacchus; recounting the victories happely obtained by him in all partes of the worlde, with his titles and tryumphes: Hee shall finde that the deedes of Caesar, in all military vertue, and precedence in matter of warre, surmount them all entierly: the one in the vneasinesse of the places where he made his Conquests; the other in the largenesse and circuit of those countries, which hee added to the Romain Empire; another in the multitude and strength of the enemies whom he defeated; another in the roughnesse and sharpenesse of men with whom he had to deale; whose manners hee afterwardes polished, and softened; The other in clemency towardes those whome hee had taken; another in liberality, and great benefice towardes those which fought vnder his charge in the warres: and all of them in the number of battailes which hee wan; and multitude of enemies which he slew in battaile. For in lesse then in ten yeares (which the warres of the Gaules endured) hee tooke by assault or by force eight hundred Townes; subdued three hundred nations; and hauing had ma­ny times in battaile before him three Millions of armed men; he slew one Million of them, and tooke as many prisoners. Moreouer he made himselfe so well beloued of his people, who were so earnestly affectioned to doe him seruice, that albeit they were but as other men when they fought for any other; yet when the question was of the honour or glory of Caesar, they were inuincible, and ran headlong on all daunger with such furye, that none was able to abide them. And being borne to do all great things, and his hart being by nature desirous of great honour, the prosperities of his passed prowesses, and conquestes, did not inuite him to be desirous to enioy in peace the fruict of his labours: but rather kindeled him, and encouraged him, to bee willing to vndertake others, engendring alwaies more and more, an ymagination in him of greater enterprises and a desire of newe glory; as if that which he had already had bin wasted and worne out. Which passion was nothing else but a iealousie and emulation of himselfe, as if hee had bin some other man; and an obstinate desire al­waies to ouercome himselfe: the hope of that which was to come fighting still with the glory of what was passed; and the ambition of that which hee desired to doe, with that which hee had all ready done. For hee had purposed, and already made preparation to goe fight against the Par­thians, and after he had subdued them, to passe thorough Hircania, and to enuiron the Caspian sea, and the mountaine Caucasus; and returning to win the kingdome of Pontus, that hee might afterwarde go into Scy­thia, and hauing ouerrun, all the Countrey and bordering prouinces of great Germany, and Germanie it selfe, to retourne in the end thorough Gaule into Italy, and so to spread the Romaine Empire round about: in such fort that it [Page 74] should on eche side be bounded with the great Ocean. That great fortune, and fauour of heauen, that had accompanied him all his life long, continu­ed in the auengement of his death; pursuing by land, and by sea, all those which had conspired against him: insomuch that there remained not one vnpunished of all those, which either in deed or in counsaile, were parta­kers of the conspiracy of his death. But of all things which haue happened to men on earth, the most wonderful, was that of Cassius; who after he had bin defeated, & lost the day in the battaile of Philippi, slue himselfe with that very sword, wherewith he had stricken Caesar. And of those which happe­ned in heauen the great comet which appeared, was euident for seuen nights continually after his death: and shortly after also the darkening of the light of the Sunne, the which in sight of all that army arose alwaies pale; and neuer with his sparkling and shyning brightnesse; whereby his heate was also very feeble, annd weake; and the aire consequently all the yeare long very darke, and thicke by reason of the imbecillitie of the heate which could not resolue, and clarifie it: which was the cause that the fruictes on the earth remayned vnripe and vnperfect, perishing before they were rypened, by reason of the coldnes of the aire. But aboue all, the vision which appea­red to Brutus, shewed euidently that the slaughter was not acceptable to the Gods. Suetonius also witnesseth that at Capua was found in the sepulcher of Capys a Tablet of brasse, signifying the death of Iulius; the maner howe he shoulde die, and be slaine: which sepulcher, and tablet had bin made a thousand yeres before. The people sorowed much for him after his death; because he was most skilfull and experienced how to rule: and caused his body to be brought into the midst of the market place; building a Temple for him neere vnto the place where hee was buried, and worshipped him as a God.

OCTAVIAN his nephew, and successour, had such hap, that of a simple Citizen, or Knight of Rome, hee obtained the Empire of the whole worlde; which hee ruled about fiftie and sixe yeares; being whiles heeli­ued, and after his death honoured as a God: by consecrating of Temples vnto him, erecting of statues, and ordayning of Priestes with great foun­dations to doe seruice there. Before he was borne, it was foretolde by Iu­lius Marathus vnto the Senate and people of Rome, that nature shortly would bring them forth a King. And P. Nigidius a very learned Astrolo­ger and Philosopher, hauing knowen his natiuity, affirmed that there was a Lorde of the worlde borne. Which Cicero foresawe in a dreame; see­ming vnto him that the children of the Senatours were called vnto the Ca­pitoll; because Iupiter had appointed to shewe which was he, that should one day bee head and Prince of Rome. And that all the Romaines of a great desire which they had to know who he should be, were all come round about the Temple; and that all the children were likewise attending there in their purple garments: vntill that sodainly the gates of the Temple were opened, and then the children arose one after another, and passed along [Page] before the statue of Iupiter; who looked vpon them all sauing the young Caesar, to whom when he passed before him, hee reached out his hand, and said, Ye Romaine Lordes, this child here is he, that shall make an end of your ci­uill warres when he commeth to be your head. It is said that Cicero had this vision while he slept; and that he imprinted firmely in his memory the forme of the childs countenance; but that he knew him not: And that on the mo­row he went of purpose into the field of Mars, whither, the yong folke were wont to goe to play and sport themselues; where he found that the child­dren hauing ended their exercises, were retourning home-ward: and that amongest them the first which he perceiued, was he whom he had seen in his dreame, and he remembred his fauour well. Whereof being yet more asto­nished, he asked him whose child he was; who aunswered that he was the sonne of one Octauian; a man not much renowmed, and of Actia, the sister of Iulius Caesar: which Iulius Caesar hauing no children made him by testa­ment his heire, leauing him his goods, and his house. It is told of him that soone after he began to speake being not farre from the citie in a house of his fathers, where the froggs did nothing but crie and trouble men with their noise, he commaunded them to cease, and be still; which they did, and neuer afterwards were heard in that place. He was a gentle, gracious, and ciuil per­sonage, proper, comely, and faire throughout all his body▪ But especially his eyes; which shined as faire starres when hee moued them. In such sort that they which looked on him, winked as at the sun-beames: And when a certaine Souldiour tourning away from his face, was asked why he did so; hee aunswered because hee coulde not abide the shyning of his eyes: and wee doe yet doubt that there bee from aboue certaine personages ordained to rule and commaund ouer mankinde, and to do great, and strange maruailes.

But IVLIVS CESAR hauing ouercome his Citizens, made himselfe the first Monarck of the Romain empire: to whom Augustus succeeded, who gouerned it most happely after he was absolute Lorde thereof. In such sort that there is not found any time wherein it hath bin so wealthy, and well or­dered, and established in peace, and obedience as it was in his time. And according to the forme of gouernment, which he brought into the state of his house, the traine of his Court, into the Senate, or counsaile, the course of Iustice, managing of his reuenewes, administration of prouinces, enter­tainment of forces both by sea, and by land, that Empire long maintained it selfe, and prospered meruailously therewith. Being then in his greatest glorie, and power, hee held first of all in the Brittaine Ocean manye partes; and on the other side from the pillars of Hercules, all the Islandes and Portes, peoples and Nations which are in this Sea, as farre as it is nauigable, on the one side, and the other. Of which Nations the first on the right hande, are Mauritanians bordering on the Sea; like­wise the Countrey of Lybia, euen as farre as Carthage: After them hygher, and farther of the Numidians, and the Countrey of Numidia; [Page 75] and beyond them all the rest of Lybia, which stretcheth out vnto the Syrtes; togither with the City of Cyrene. Then are the Marmarides, the Ammoni­des, and those which hold the marish of Marienna; & consequently the great citie of Alexandria; togither with all the whole countrey of Egypt euen to the easterly Ethiopia: and going downe along the riuer of Nile by Pelusium vnto the sea. And after retourning along the banke thereof, the countrey of Suria, Palestina; and yet higher, a part of Arabia, and the Phenicians; and farther into the land the Cilisyrians bordering on the riuer Euphrates. Far­ther on the sea, the Palmyrians amongest sandie deserts which are on the said riuer of Euphrates; And yet farther the Cilicians neighbours to the Su­rians▪ and the Cappadocians with a part of Armenia, the lesser: Moreouer all the nations dwelling neer the sea Euxinus all along the coast. In regard of mediterranean, or vpland countreys towards Armenia the great; the Ro­mains ruled not ouer them, neither imposed any tribute on them: but gaue and confirmed their kings vnto them. Therehence comming from Cappado­cia: & euen to the Ionian sea is the great Chersonesus, in the which are on the right hand the prouinces, and nations of Pontus, and Propontida, of Helles­pont, and the Egean sea: On the left hand, the sea of Pamphylia, and of Egypt. And beyond those the Pamphilians, Lycians, Phenicians, and Carians euen to Ionia; Moreouer the Galathians, Bythinians, Phrygians, and Mysians be­ing aboue the Pontick sea; and farther into the maine land, the Pysidians and Lydians: al which nations were subiect to the Romains. And passing yet far­ther by Hellespont, they ruled ouer the Mysians dwelling in Europe: and the Thracians on the sea Euxinus. Neer vnto the countrey of Ionia, there is the gulfe of the Egean sea; and that of the Ionian; then the sea of Cilicia, and the Tyrrhen sea, reaching euen to the pillers of Hercules: within which reach, which is from Ionia, vnto the Ocean sea, there are many nations and prouin­ces which were subiect to the Romains: that is to say, the whole countrey of Greece, Thessaly, Macedony, and all the other quarters belonging to the pro­uince of Thrace; the Illyrians, Peonians, and the territory of Italy; which is for the most part enuironed with the Ionian, & Tyrrhene seas; and stretcheth it selfe by land vnto the coūtrey of the Gaules, hauing on the one side the me­diterranean or midland sea; on another the northern Ocean; and on thother the riuer of Rhene: and yet farder is all the countrey of Spaine, all along the Atlantick sea, euen to the pillars of Hercules. In regarde of those which are farther into land; they passed not into that part of Africk which hath on the one side the west Ethiopia; & on thother the desert countrey of Lybia: which is not inhabited for the exceeding heate, and hath nothing but monsters, and wild beasts, vnto the East Ethiopia. These were the limits of the Romain Em­pire on the side of Ethiopia, and of Africk. On the side of Asia the riuer Eu­phrates, the mountaine Caucasus, the beginning of Armenia the great, and the Cholches dwelling neer the sea Euxinus, & the rest of the Euxine sea. On the side of Europe the riuers of Rheine, and of Danubius: wherof the one that is the Rhene entreth into the Ocean; the other into the Euxin sea. And not­withstanding [Page] the Romains also ruled ouer some nations dwelling aboue the Rhene; and ouer the Gethes which dwelled beyond Danubius; and were called Dacians. Touching the Isles: all those which are within the mediterra­nean sea, which are called Cyclades, Sporades, Hyades, Echinades, Tyrthe­nides; or others whatsoeuer they are, about Lybia, Ionia, Egypt, or elswhere on the sea, which the Greeks call the great Islands; as Cypres, Candie, Rhods, Lesbos, Euboe, Sicilia, Sardignia, Corsica, Maiorca, Minorca; and all other great or little were subiect to the Empire of Rome: And on the coast of the northren sea, they held vnder their obedience, the greatest, and the best part of the Isle of Britayne.

So many nations, & prouinces did they subdue vnto their obedience, by or­der of discipline, good counsail, strength, courage, vertue, pacience, and perse­uerance of the Italians; when they taught to fight with the best military disci­pline in the world; which they vsed in rising, incamping, marching, & figh­ting, wel armed & ordered; resolute to ouercome, or to die. Especially the footmen; in which they had more confidēce, then in their horsemen; foūding their principal strength on then. Then for the maintenāce of their Empire, & safety; they had 200000. men ordinarily intertained; xl. thousand horse, CCC. Elephants apt for war; two thousand Chariots furnished; and ouer and besids iij. hundred thousand harnesse of prouision: which is for their force on land.

Touching that on the sea, they had about two thousand ships; a thousand and fiue hundred galleis, of fiue, and sixe oares, with furniture according­ly; eight hundred great Vessels for pompe, and to cary their Emperours guil­ded, and richly wrought, both at the forecastle and sterne: an inestimable quantity of gold, and siluer in treasure; hauing almost an infinite reuenew, consisting in yerely rents, in customes, and subsidies; and in tributes which we call taxes, and tallages: which they leuied, on so many Countries, lands, and Seigniories. Of which reuenew it is not possible to make any certaine estimate, or account; no more then of other Empires and kingdomes abso­lute: wherof the reuenewes increase or diminish, according to the dispositi­on of their affaires; and will of the Soueraigne Lords, imposing and taking away subsidie at their pleasures.

Such was the excellēcy of the Romains in arms. Touching that of Learning, CICERO without controuersie deserueth to be the first named amongst them: who giuing himselfe to ymitation of the Grecians; hath represented in his writings the vehemency of Demosthenes, the abundance of Plato, and good grace of Isocrates: hee not onely got by studye that which was ex­cellent in eche of them; but of him selfe also hath produced many vertues, or rather all, by the most happy felicitye of his immortall vnderstanding; borne by some guift of the diuine prouidence, to the end that Eloquence in him might showe all her forces. For who coulde teache more dily­gently, or moue more earnestly; who was euer more pleasant? in such sort that one woulde thinke that he obtained that which he intreateth by force. And albeit by his vehemencie he transporteth the Iudge; yet seemeth he [Page 76] not to be drawne himselfe: but to followe of his owne accorde. Moreouer, there is such authority in whatsoeuer he saith, that it seemeth a shame to gain­say him; not bringing with him the diligence of an aduocate, but the testi­monie of a witnes, or of a Iudge: all these things notwithstanding flowing from him without constraint or labour; amongst the which each of them stri­uing particularly, yet with great difficultie excelleth each other. And there appeareth in his speach a happie facilitie, goodly to heare. Wherfore he was not without cause accounted by those of his time to raigne in iudgements; and hath gotten amongst posteritie the name, not of a man; but of eloquence. Plinie giueth such testimonie of him. But what errour were it for me (saith he) to omit thee M. Tullie, or what excellent praise shall I giue thee? but euen that which hath bin bestowed on thee, by the common voice, and vni­uersall suffrage of all the people of this nation: in taking out of all thy life▪ the works onely of thy Consulship? when you spake, the Tribunes refused the law Agrarie: that is to say, their foode and sustenance. When you per­swaded; they pardoned Roseius▪ the authour of the law Theatral. When you perored and pleaded; it was permitted vnto the children of banished persons to seeke for honours, and magistracies. Catiline flyeth from thy wisdome; Thou hast proscribed and banished Mark Anthony: I salute thee the first that hath bin called the father of the Countrie; the first that hath deserued in a gowne, the triumph of the Crowne of lawrell, by speaking well; parent of the Latine language, and elegancie: and (as Cesar the Dictator was wont to say of thee) hauing the prerogatiue of all triumphes: for asmuch as it is more to haue aduaunced the bounds of the Romain learning, then of the Empire.

The same Plinie writeth thus of M. VARRO. The statue of him alone whiles he liued, was placed by Asinius Pollio, in the librarie, which he first of all others erected▪ of the spoiles gotten of the enemies; which I esteeme no lesse glorie, proceeding of a principall Oratour and Citizen, in that mul­titude of good witts that then was; and giuing this crowne to him alone: then when Pompey the great, gaue him the nauale Crowne, for hauing wel behaued himselfe in the warre against the pirates, where he was his Lieute­nant. Cicero dedicating to him his first Academick, saith: Thou hast decla­red the age of the Countrie, the descriptions of time; the rights of holy things, and of Priests; the discipline of peace, and of warre; the situation of Coun­tries, and places; the names, kinds, offices, and causes of all, both diuine and humane affaires; bringing great light to our Poets, and generally to Latine words, and letters: and hast in many places begun Philosophie enough to a­waken men, though little to teach them. And in his second Philippick; M. Varro (saith he) would that this place should be the house of his studies: what matters were handeled therein, and what written? The rights of the people of Rome, the monuments of the auncestours, the reason and doctrine of all wisdome. And writing vnto him in his Epistles, he saith: I haue alwayes esteemed you a great personage, especially that in these troubles are almost alone in quiet; and receiue the fruites of learning, [Page] which are great; considering and treating of things, the vtilitie and delecta­tion whereof ought to be preferred before all the actions, and pleasures of theis others: Surely I account this abode, which you make at Tusculum to be the true life; and would willingly leaue all riches to all men; that it might be permitted me without any hinderance, to liue after this maner. Lactantius dareth to affirme, that there was neuer any more learned amongst the Greeks and Latins. S. Augustine calleth him the sharpest of all men, and without doubt the most learned: who hath read so many things, that it is a wonder he had any leasure to write of ought; and yet hath written so much, that it is scarce credible, that any one could read it all: for he wrote CCCCXC. books. Also, who hath more curiously searched out this then Marcus Varro; or more learnedly found it; or more attentiuely considered it; or more sub­tilly distinguished it; or written more diligently and fully of it? who albeit he be not so sweete in speach; aboundeth notwithstanding aswell in know­ledge, and sentences; as in all doctrine, which we call secular; and they libe­rall: he can aswell teach the studious of things, as Cicero delight the curious of words.

Cicero, in his booke of the world, giueth such testimonie of P. NIGI­DIVS. This personage was adorned with all liberall arts; and a diligent searcher of things which were hidden, and folded vp in nature. And I ac­count thus of him, that after the noble Pythagorians, whose discipline was in a maner extinct: hauing florished many yeares, in Italie and Sicilie, he hath renewed it.

The same Cicero saith of SERVIVS SVLPITIVS a Lawier: his admirable, incredible, and almost diuine knowledge in exposition of the lawes, and declaration of right and equitie, shall not be forgotten. If all those which euer in this Citie had vnderstanding of the Lawes, were assem­bled together in one place; yet were they not comparable to Seruius Sulpi­tius: for he was not so well seen in law, as in Iustice; wherefore he referred alwaies to facilitie and equitie, the deeds proceeding of the rule of right, and of the Ciuile Law: And did not take so much paines to set downe the acti­ons and pleadings of causes; as to take away the doubts of matters and diffi­culties of controuersies.

The same Cicero of GALLVS AQVILIVS, an other Lawier; I say one could not to much esteeme the aucthoritie of such a man; whose wis­dome the people of Rome hath knowen, in taking heed to himselfe; and not in deceauing of others. Who did neuer seuer the reason of Law from Equi­tie; who so many yeares hath readily imployed his wit, labour, and fidelitie for the good of the people of Rome: who is so iust, and so good, that he see­meth to be a Lawier by nature, and not by discipline; so learned and prudent, that he seemeth to be not onely a naturall knowledge; but also a certain good­nesse of the ciuile Law: whose vnderstanding is so good, and such his fideli­tie; that whatsoeuer is drawen from thence, is found to be pure and cleere.

Before this time the Latine Poesie was rude, which was then polished, and [Page 77] brought to perfection, especially by VERGIL; whom Quintilian witnes­seth, among all the Heroicke poets, both Greeks and Latins, to haue come neerest vnto Homer: in whom notwithstanding he acknowledgeth, that there was more of nature. These are the most notable personages that flori­shed then both in armes, and learning.

But IESVS CHRIST defaced all their excellencie; who in the raign of Augustus, discending out of Heauen here on earth, and clothing himselfe with the shape of a man, was borne of the Virgin, and came forth of her wombe, both visible Man, and God inuisible; promised by the Law, and the Prophets; the master of trueth, and cleanser of Idolatrie; correctour of ma­lice, and renewer of our depraued nature: to thend, to restore such as belee­ued in him to their auncient puritie, and innocencie; corrupted by the forfai­ture of the first man. He gaue sight to the blind; speach to the dumbe; straight going to the lame; healed incurable diseases; cast out euill spirits; fedd with fiue loaues, and two fishes, fiue thousand persons; turned water into wine; went safely on the waters, as on the land; commaunded the sea, the winds, and the tempests; raised the dead to life; and liued himselfe againe, after he had bin wrongfully crucified, and killed by the Iewes. By which miracles he shewed himselfe to be the sonne of God: establishing his Church and christian Religion; in steed of the Mosaical, and Pagan. Which hath alreadie endured more then fifteene hundred yeares, and shall neuer haue end; hath passed alreadie to the Antipodes; and hath bin manifested to the East and West Indians; yea, euen amongst the sauages lately discouered towards the South, which before were vnknowen to all antiquitie: and among the far­thest people of the North, by meanes of the Sueuians, and Moscouites. In somuch, that at this day we may affirme, that his word hath bin heard in all parts of the habitable earth; as he had ordained vnto his Disciples, enduing them with the grace of the holy Spirite, and power, to do miracles, as he had done before, and with the gift of tongues; with perseuerance, pacience, and constancie, against all torments and persecutions. A thing indeed admi­rable; and the like whereof neuer hapned to any King, Law-maker, or Phi­losopher, Grecian, or Barbarian: who contented themselues to set downe, and cause to be receiued in their countrie, and language, the institutions and Lawes, which they esteemed good and profitable. But Iesus Christ, not as a mortall man; seruing himselfe with poore fishermen for his Dis­ciples: (whom he would haue from that time forward to bee fishers of men) hath manifested his Gospell by them thorough out the whole world; and before all people: inioyning them to shew from him, the true way of saluation; and of beleeuing in GOD the Creatour of all thinges. Such was the progresse and aduauncement, which they made in their mini­sterie; that in a little time they induced the Nations by their preaching, to leaue their auncient idolatries, and to receiue Christ as GOD: they established schooles, and auditories of the Christian doctrine: and then were Temples buylt to the Apostles, and Martyrs, in the most famous [Page] Cities of the world; at Rome, Alexandria, and Antioche; thorough out Egipt, and Lybia, Europe, and Asia. Beginning then, when the Romain power was come to his soueraign greatnes, and glorie, vnder Augustus the peaceable ruler of innumerable Nations; when the kingdom of Egipt was extingui­shed, which had endured almost time out of mind; and the nation of the Iewes, brought vnder bondage and subdued; and the Lordships of the Syri­ans, Cappadocians, Macedonians, Bythinians, Grecians, Illyrians, Africans, Spaniards, and Gaules, were vnder the Romaine Seigniorie: which we must think did so fall out, by the diuine prouidence of God, to the end to make the same worke the more easie; which otherwise must needes haue bin verie difficult: if all these Nations had remained in diuision and discord. But by meanes of the vnion of them vnder one great Monarchie, they accomplished with lesse feare and danger their proposed enterprise: God preparing them their way, and brideling the harts of the superstitious, by the terrour of that most mightie Empire. Cornelius Tacitus writeth, that such had bin the per­swasion of men, that it was contained in the auncient learning of the Priests, that about this time the East should preuaile; and that such as came out of Iewrie should raigne: which was verified in the spirituall raigne of Iesus Christ; whose Ghospell, doctrine, and religion, hath bin preached thorough out the world.

God then seeing malice infinitely increased, and the worshipping of false Gods dispersed thorough all the whole world: in such sort, that his name was alreadie almost out of the memorie of men; and that the Iewes them­selues (to whom onely his diuine mysteries had bin reuealed, and promises made of his holy alliance) giuen ouer to vaine superstitions; hauing left the true Religion; whereunto they refused to returne, being reprehended, and admonished by the Prophets: at this time ordained for the redemption, he sent his sonne, the Prince of the Angells vnto men, to thend to diuert them from wicked and vaine worships; and to induce them to know, and to reue­rence the true God; bringing back their soules from folie vnto wisdom, from iniquitie to iustice, and from impietie to a right beleefe. Such and so notable at this time was the mutation both in gouernment, and in Religion.

BVT as the Romains were climed to the top of humane power and wis­dome, by labour & industrie: so were they straightwaies corrupted by riches, and ouermuch libertie; degenerating from the former integritie, prowesse, learning, and eloquence: Whereof I can not render any better reason then by their owne authours; men of good credit, and aucthoritie. To thend (saith Seneca) that ye may vnderstand, how much the witts of men do euery day decay; and by I know not what iniquitie of nature, and procliuitie vnto vice, eloquence is gon backe: All whatsoeuer the Romain eloquence hath to op­pose vnto proud Greece, it florished in the time of Cicero; All the good wits which brought any light vnto our studies, were borne then. Sithence that time it hath alwaies impaired: either by the loosenes of the time, which is most pernitious vnto good wits; or that the reward which was proposed for [Page 78] so goodly a thing being lost, all the trauaile and paines hath bin bestowed on dishonest exercises; or els by some destinie, whose enuious law is perpetuall ouer all things; so that being come to the highest, they returne to the lowest, faster then they went vp. The good wits of slouthfull youth doe languish, and do not applie themselues to any honest exercise. Slouth, and negli­gence, and dexteritie in things that are pernitious (which is worse then either sleepe or negligence) haue possessed their mindes. The delight of singing and dauncing holdeth the effeminate, and of dressing their haire, and fitting their speach vnto womanish daliances; and exceeding of women in corporal delicacies, and tricking themselues with vncleane cleanlynes: which is the brauerie of our youth. Who is there among the yong folkes ingenious, or stu­dious enough, or rather man enough? Being softned and effeminated; they remaine of necessitie as when they were first borne; corrupting the chastitie of others, and negligent of their owne. The Gods will not suffer so much euill, as that eloquence should come to such people: which I would neuer so much admire; if she did not make choise of the minds on which she be­stowed her selfe. Cornelius Tacitus writing of famous Oratours saith: Tell me the cause why we are so farre from the former eloquence: since it is but six score yeares from the death of Cicero to this present. And a little after; who knoweth not that eloquence, and the other arts are fallen from their auncient glorie, not for want of men; but by the slouthfulnes of youth, and negligence of parents, and ignorance of teachers, and forgetfulnes of the auncient customes, Which euils being first begun in the Citie; haue bin eft soones dispersed thorough Italie: and all the prouinces. The elo­quent men of this time commit foule, and shamefull faults in euery woord of their ordinarie speach shutting vp eloquence into little sence, and smal sentences, as if she were banished from her kingdome: Whereas in times past, being richly deckt with all arts, she filled the breasts; now being clipt; and curtailed, she remaineth without ornament, without honour; and as if she were without ingenuitie; and is learned but as some base discipline. This we account to be the chiefe, and principall cause, why we are so far gon backe from eloquence. And the same author againe in the xvij. of his Annales saith: Before, the affaires of the people of Rome, were written with like eloquence, & libertie; but sithence the battaile of Actium that the benefit of peace required all things to be reduced vnder the power of one; then ceased these great witts, and the trueth was vtterly lost: first by igno­rance of the state of the common wealth, which was strange vnto them; then by flatterie, or hatred of those that ruled. Plinie in his second booke; I mer­uaile (saith he) that the world disagreeing, and being diuided into king­doms, that is to say, into parts, so many persons haue imploied themselues to search out things which are so difficult to find: In such sort, that at this day euery one in his countrie knoweth some thinges more truely by the bookes of such as were neuer there, then by aduertisement of the origi­naries. And now that we inioy so happie a peace, and haue an Emperour [Page] that taketh so great pleasure in the sciences, and in new inuentions; men are so far off from inuenting any new thing, that they scarce learne the inuenti­ons of the auncients. The rewards were not then bestowed in greater abun­dance by the greatnes of fortune; and yet more men imployed themselues in searching out of these things, not expecting any other reward then to help their posterie. But mens maners are waxen old, and not the rewards. And the sea being open on all sides, and safe landing in all coasts, many do nauigate; but it is to gaine, and not to learne: whiles the mind being blinded, and alto­gether giuen ouer to auarice, doth not consider that it may more surely and safely be done by learning. The same Authour saith in his thirteenth booke; As the world is communicated by the maiestie of the Romaine Empire; who would not think the life of man accomodated by the intercourse of things; and by the societie of a happie peace? And yet notwithstanding, there are found but few which know that which the auncients haue left: So much the greater was their studie, and their industrie more fertile. About a thousand yeares past, shortly on the beginning of Letters; Hesiodus gaue precepts vnto husbandmen; who hath bin followed of many, which hath increased hus­bandrie amongst vs: for as much as it is good to consider, not onely that which hath bin sithence inuented; but also that which the auncients inuented be­fore; the memorie whereof is lost by our sluggishnes: whereof we can al­leage no other causes, then those that are publick of the whole world. Sure­lie, other customes are come in sithence; and mens witts are busied about other exercises: They are onely giuen to questuarie, and gainfull arts. Be­fore, the Empires of nations were shut vp in themselues, and therefore were they constrained by the necessitie of fortune, to exercise the gifts of the mind. Innumerable Kings were honoured by the Arts; and preuailed by them, thinking by them to obtaine, aide, and immortalitie: wherefore both the rewards and works abounded. The inlargment of the world, and plentie of things, hath bin hurtfull to posteritie. Sithence the Senatour began to be chosen by his reuenew; the Iudge to be made by the reuenew; and that no­thing hath so much commended the Magistrate and Captain, as his reuenew: Since that corrupting bribes were authorized, & the purchase of offices be­came very gainful; & that the only pleasure was in possessing much: the prises of life are vanished; and the arts called liberall, of the great benefit of libertie haue fallen out to the contrarie: and men haue begun to profit onely by serui­tude, and slauerie; some worshipping of it in one sort, and some in an other: yet all notwithstanding, aspiring to the same hope of profiting. The chiefest haue rather respected the vices of another, then their owne vertues. Wher­fore pleasure hath begun to liue; and life is perished. And the same in his xxv. booke; I can not sufficiently admire the diligence of the auncients, who haue left nothing vnsearched, and vnexperimented; not retayning to them­selues, that which they knew to be profitable to posteritie: on the contrarie, we indeuour to hide, and to suppresse their labours; & to depriue those good things of life, which are gotten by others. So certainly do they hide it, which [Page 79] know any thing; being enuious of others: And [...]eaching it vnto none, do think thereby to authorize their knowledge. So far are these maners from in­uenting any new thing, wherwith to be helpful to life: the chiefest and soue­raine labour of good wits being come vnto this; to reserue to themselues the deeds of others, and to let them perish.

Which is not to say, that there haue not bin sithence any learned, and elo­quent men: but that they are much differing from the former in proprietie, puritie, facilitie, and elegancie of speach; not comparable to them in vnder­standing, iudgement, and knowledge. As in Italie, Seneca called by the Em­perour Claudius, sand without lyme, and a besome vnbound: The two Pli­nies; the Vnkle accounted the most learned of his time; and the Nephew a famous Oratour; who were men of great credit, and authoritie. Tacitus and Suetonius Historiographers. Lucan, Persius, Sylius Italicus (who was Con­sul the last yeare of Nero) Statius, Iuuenal, and Martial, Poets. Cornelius Celsus, exercised in all sciences. Quinctilian a Rhetorician. Aulus Gellius, Iulius Hyginus an Astrologer. Polemon, and Scaurus, Grammarians. Abur­nius Valens, Tuscianus, Vindius, Verus, Vlpius, Marcellus, Arrianus, Ter­tullianus, Saluius Iulianus, L. Volusius, Mecianus, Papinianus, and his au­ditours, Vulpianus, Tarnucius, Palernus, Macer, Terentius, Clementius, Menander, Arcadius, Rufinus, Papyrius, Fronto, Anthius, Maximus, Her­mogenianus, Africanus, Florentinus, Triphonius, Iustus, Callistratus, Venu­leius, Celsus, Alphenus, Sabinus, AElius Gordianus, Triphonius, Proculus, Modestinus, Pomponius, and Africanus, all excellent Lawiers.

In GREECE, ASIA, and ALEXANDRIA of EGIPT, Plu­tarch, and his nephew Sextus, Musonius, Apollonius Tyanaeus; & of CHAL­CEDONIA, Lucian, Galen the Physician, Epictetus the Stoick, Fauorinus, Arrianus, Herodianus, and Iosephus, Historiographers. Appian a Poet. Iulius Pollux, and Harpocration, Grammarians. Herodes Atticus; and Apolonius Rhetoricians. Alexander Aphrodiseus a Peripatetick, which made the first Com­mentaries on Aristotle; who before was more praised, then vnderstood of the learned: Out of whose schoole came Themistius, Ammonius, Simplicius, Philoponus, and Olympiodorus, all Commentatours on Aristotle. About the same time the Mathematickes arose vnto their soueraigne excellencie; by the industrie of Claudius Ptolomeus a Mathematician of incomparable know­ledge; and the best that euer was in this profession, who hath surpassed all the auncient Egiptians, Chaldeans, Persians, and Grecians; and hath not had his like sithence: hauing expounded more diligently then any other, the whole discription of heauen, of the earth, and of the sea, correcting the er­rours of the former, and their instruments; and declared the whole, with verie likely arguments, and euident demonstrations.

The Romains for a time were verie good, both in peace and in warre, mo­dest, iust, and valiant: especially after the warres which they had against the Tarentines, and the king Pyrrhus, vntill the third Punick warre. There was not then amongst them any dissention of the Nobles, or commotion of the [Page] people. All there care was to augment, and increase their Empire, without respect of their particular profit. At what time there florished in the common wealth, Curius, Fabricius, Coruncanus, Metellus, Fabius, Scipio, Marcel­lus, Paulus, and Lepidus: whose magnanimitie, and prudence in warre; and moderation in peace was admirable. Then the common wealth was verie good and holy; for asmuch as pouertie and sparing were then in estimation: and the three kinds of gouernment, were found there so equally ordained, and established so conueniently; that one could not say whether the state were an Aristocratie, or a Democratie, or a Monarchie. The power of the Consuls was manifestly monarchical and royal; that of the Senatours Aristo­cratical; and the popular estate wholy Democratical: And there was such an agreement, and band between them against all fortune, that one could not any where find a better estate of a common wealth. For if any common feare came from abroad, and forced them to succour one an other, then the power of this common wealth was so great, and such, that they wanted nothing for their defence; and they applied themselues all both in publike and priuate, to execute in due season their deliberated enterprises: In such sort, that they were sometimes reputed inuincible. On the contrarie, if being deliuered from the publike feare of strangers, they became insolent by domestical peace, and abundance of goods; & accustomed themselues to idlenes, and delights; and that by this means, the one part would be Masters ouer the others, & rule beyond reason: They had so well prouided a remedie for it, by the mutuall bridle and hinderance, which they were one to another, that no one could break out of rank, or lift vp himselfe aboue the rest: but were euery one con­strained to remain in his charge. But after that by labour and iustice, they were increased; & had ouercome the cruel. Nations, and mightie kings: They were eft soones corrupted, peruerting the order wherin they liued before; and be­comming proud, and auaricious; exceeding in gluttonie, and whordom; and dissolute in al superfluities & delicacies. And then they were diuided into par­cialities, and factions; by occasion wherof they caried armes & weapons into the temples, & publik assemblies: killing sometime the Tribunes; somtime the Consuls; and other principal persons of the city. Wherhence ther arose disho­nest quarrels & without order: & therhence followed the contempt of lawes and of iudgments. And reenforcing the euil day by day, they began to plot ma­nifest enterprises against the cōmon wealth: & to bring the great armies force­ably into the cōmon wealth, which were gathered of fugitiue, & condemned persons. And although by their saying, they did it but against their aduersaries; neuertheles, in very trueth it was against the cōmon wealth: because they in­uaded the city as enemies, & cruelly killed such as they met; or persecuted thē with banishmēts, & abominable proscriptiōs, not omitting any detestable deed

Which seditions began by the two Gracches, Saturnin, and Drusus, furious Tribunes; then were diuers times renewed between Sylla and Marius; Pom­pey and Cesar; and continued by Mark Antonie, Octauian, and Lepidus, a­gainst [...]assius, and Brutus: and finally being raised againe betweene M. An­tonie, and Octauian, who were brothers in law, caused the change of the [Page 80] common wealth into a Monarchie; the stoutest amongst the Romains being either slaine in battailes, or by proscriptions: and the others, being wearied with the ciuile warres, and greeued with the gouernment of the Senate, and of the people; thorough the dissention of the Lords, and auarice of the Ma­gistrates. For as this age nourished most excellent persons in all vertue, and knowledge: so did it also bring forth more vicious then any time before; and authours of execrable mischiefes.

The age of Cato (saith Seneca) brought forth many worthy to be borne in Cato his time: as there were then as wicked as euer were; and vndertakers of the greatest mischiefes. It was requisite that there should be of the one, and the other: To thend that Cato might be knowen, it behoued there should be some good men to approue and allow of him; and some euill, a­gainst whom he might proue his force, and vertue. The same Seneca, saith: No age hath bin without blame; and if one consider the libertie of euery age, I am ashamed to tell it: but men neuer sinned more openly, then afore Cato. The same Authour; M. Cicero (saith he) betwixt the Catilines and Clodians; betweene the Pompeyes, and the Crasses; whiles he is tossed vp and downe with the common wealth; and the gouernment failing, he was caried away; and perished therewith. Cicero writing of Pompey, and of Ce­sar; Thone and thother (saith he) hath sought to make himselfe Lord, and not to make the Citie happie, and honest; and Pompey neuer left the towne till he could no longer keepe it; nor abandoned Italie till he was driuen out of it: but he thought at the beginning to moue all lands and seas; to stir vp the Barbarian kings; to draw into Italie the cruell nations armed. Do you not think there might be some agreement made betweene them? yes, now it might be done; but neither thone, nor thother hath this end, to make vs hap­pie: They would both of them raigne. And the same Authour; Certainly both the one and thother is miserable; who haue alwaies had lesse regard, to the safetie and dignitie of their Countrie; then to their owne domination and priuate commodities: And in the same place; whose alliance, and fidelitie in wicked agreement, you see what mischiefe it hath brought forth. The same Cicero saith, that Cesar was by nature and inclination cruell; but that he counterfaited clemencie, because that vertue seemed popular. And Seneca; Neither vertue nor reason (saith he) perswaded Pompey to vndertake either foreine, or ciuile warres: but being caried away with a foolish desire of his owne greatnes, he caried armes now into Spaine against Sertorius; now a­gainst the Pyrates, vnder colour of pacifying the sea: He pretended these cau­ses, to thend he might continue his power. What led him into Africk, and into the North against Mithridates; and into Armenia; and against all the kings of Asia; but onely an infinite desire of increasing in greatnes, seeming only to himselfe, that he was not great enough? What did put Iulius so far forward into these publike euils? glorie, and ambition, and a desire which he had without measure to excell aboue others. He could not suffer one to be before him; where the common wealth endured two. What? think you that Marius [Page] being once Consul indeed, hauing taken away by force the six other Con­sulships, when he defeated the Theutons, and the Cymbrians; and when he pursued Iugurtha, thorough the deserts of Africa; did aduenture these dangers by the instinct of vertue? These men mouing all things, were also moued themselues; after the maner of whirle-winds, which carrie away whatsoeuer they catch: and thereby become more impetuous, and can not be stil. Hauing then bin mischieuous vnto many, they finally feele in themselues their pernicious mischiefe; whereby they haue bin hurtfull vnto many. The same Seneca; It is all one (saith he) whether Cato ouercome, or be ouercome in the battaile of Pharsalia. The good being in him which could not be van­quished when his partie was ouercome, was equall with the good which he should haue caried victorious into his Countrie; & haue pacified the affairs. Wherefore should it not be equall? seeing that by the same vertue euill for­tune is ouercome, and good fortune well ordered. The vertue can not be greater nor lesser; It is alwaies after one sort. But Pompey shal lose his armie; but the honest pretence of the common wealth, and the Senate, with the chiefest Lords of Rome, following the part of Pompey, being placed in the first rank of the battaile, shall be ouerthrowen in one onely battaile; and the ruines of so great an Empire shall be dispersed ouer all the world: one part shall fall into Egipt, an other into Africk, an other into Spaine. This mise­rable common wealth can not all fall at one time; Let them do all they can. The knowledge of the places doth not help the king Iuba in his kingdom; nor the obstinate vertue of his subiects: and the fidelitie of the Vticians be­ing broken with so many euils faileth. And should Scipio be abandoned in Africk, of the fortune of his name? It was already prouided that Cato should receiue no harme: And yet he was ouercome. Certainly the calamities were verie great in that conuersion of the world; and there were strange aduersi­ties mingled with the prosperities. There was neither Countrie, Citie, Lord­ship, or personage any whit renowmed; but endured much. The ruine of Carthage first presenteth it selfe, which Citie seuen hundred yeares after it was founded, had bin so flourishing, and excellent in all things; had borne rule ouer so many seas, and lands, and Islands, and ships; and so much riches; and so many armes, as n [...]ne more: and had courage more then any other. Fourteene yeares after, the Numantines being besieged by Scipio AEmilian, seeing that for want of victuals they were not able any longer to endure the siege, themselues burned thei [...] Citie of Numantia; and killed themselues, part by the sword; part by fire; & part by poison. Cicero nameth Carthage and Numantia, the two astonishments of the people of Rome. Shal I tel how Sy­racusa was spoiled; Corinth rased; Antioch, and Hierusalem taken; Athens besieged and sacked; Mars [...]illes borne in triumph? how Rome saw her Senate flying; & her treasures taken away? Alexandria found Cesar fighting in her; and her king the yong Ptolomey dead? how Thebes in Egipt was destroied; Thirteen towns in Peloponesus swalowed vp with an earthquak, wherwith Caria & Rhodes also were shaken? How ther came extraordinary inundations [Page 81] of the sea; of riuers and of raines; of tempestuous winds? Monsters hideous in all nature, signes in the aire, comets, eclipses of the sun, and of the moone; and other horrible things in the celestiall motions: whereof ensued famins, plagues, and other diseases, which were before vnknowen. Cicero writeth, that there appeared then, not onely fierie impressions by night in the heauen, flashes of of lightning, and tremblings of the earth: but moreouer, that the thunder fell on the high towers of the Temples; many Images of the Gods were remoued out of their places; many statues of famous men throwen downe; the tables of brasse, wherein the Lawes were ingrauen, were melted. The Image also of Romulus the founder of Rome, (who was made as he were sucking, and waiting at the tears of the wolfe) striken with thunder. Shall I tell of fower-score thousand Romains, and their allies, defeated by the Cymbrians; and a hundred fortie thousand Cymbrians slaine by the Ro­mains? the armies of the Heluetians, and Germains ouerthrowen? the bond­men vp in armes, and allies mutining? And not onely the good townes, and mightie armies did suffer, but also the rich seignories, and noble kingdomes were distroied: the free nations either trauailed with warres, or were brought vnder subiection. As the Spanish, French, British, Germain, Pannonian, Illyrian, Armenian, and Thracian. Italie it selfe, after it had about some fiue hundred yeares valiantly defended it selfe, was in the end subdued. More­ouer, there were scarce any famous men, either in armes or learning, but either receiued notable iniuries; or suffered violent death. Scipio Africanus being returned out of the Senate, was found the next day stifled in his bed: which was thought to haue bin done by his neerest kinred. Hannibal being driuen out of Italie, and banished Africa; poisoned himselfe in the Court of king Prusias. The king Mithridates being besieged by his sonne Pharnaces, slew himselfe; and Pharnaces was in a moment ouercome by Cesar. Antio­chus the great was depriued of the greatest part of Asia; whereof he thanked the Romains. And the king Prusias cald himselfe their slaue. Perseus the last king of Macedonia was ouercome, led in triumphe, and died in captiuitie; and one of his sonnes was the scribe of the magistrates. Tigranes king of Ar­menia, prostrated himselfe before Pompey, and asking pardon, he lifted him vp; and put the Diademe on his head, which he had throwen downe. Ptole­mey king of Cypres, threw himselfe head-long into the sea; knowing that by the instance of Clodius the Tribune, Cato was sent thitherto carie away his treasures. Syphax, Iugurtha, and Iuba, being great kings in Africke, ended vnhappely.

Sertorius was slaine by treason; Marius flying from Rome in extreme dan­ger of his life, hid himselfe in the marish about Minturnes, and went to sea in a squiffe without victuals, to the fortune of the windes, and the waues: afterwards being returned, he died, being three score and ten yeares olde, and almost mad. His sonne slew himselfe at Preneste. Sylla died eaten with wormes, and lyce. Crassus being ouercome beyond Euphrates by the Parthi­ans, was slaine as he parlied on safeguard. Pompey was beheaded in the [Page] shore of Alexandria. Cesar murdred in the senate-house. Cato, Brutus, Cas­sius, & Antonius, were slain by their owne hands. Cleopatra the last Queene of Alexandria, was strong to death with an Aspe. Cicero twice banished, and his head, and hand cut off, with which he had written his Philippicks. Mark Varro proscribed. Nigidius exiled. So many horrible things came to passe at that time, that the verie remembrance of them striketh feare and horrour into me.

NAture hauing placed ITALIE in a middle seat between the south and the North, hath as much or more fauored the ITALIANS as any other people on the habitable earth; making them not onely strong, comely and couragi­ous, but also ingenious, and prudent: And consequently ex­cellent in maners, lawes, artes, and workemanships. By [Page 85] meanes of which singularities, and prerogatiues they got in auncient time, the greatest Empire that euer was; and yet not of such largenesse that it com­prehended the whole worlde: which neuer happened hitherto; neither is euer possible to come to passe. For on the North side they neuer ruled ouer all Germany and great Britaine; neither ouer Norway, Sweueland, Mos­couia, Lituania, and Scythia; Neither towards the south ouer Ethiopia, and the higher Africk, where the Blackmores inhabite; neither in the East ouer India, China, Catay, Giapan, and Taprobana; which Easterly parte hath the riuer Tygris for a fatall bound; without speaking of the lands lately dis­couered in the West: in so much that looking considerately thereon, it wil bee founde by true reason of Cosmography, that they neuer possessed the twelfth part of the earth. ZENON the first authour of the secte of the Stoickes, ymagined an vniuersall forme of gouernement, tending to this, that all men should not liue by townes, peoples, and nations; being separated by particular lawes, rightes, and customes: but that they should account themselues fellow citizens; and that there was but one sorte of life, as there is but one world; no otherwise then as if it were but one flocke, feeding vn­der one shepheard, in common pastures. PLATO also wished that there were on earth but one king, as there is in heauen but one God; to thend that the humaine gouernement might therein resemble the diuine: which Lord of the world as a true shepheard of mankind, should loue al men indifferent­ly as his naturall subiectes; maintayning them with good maners, lawes, iudgements, and assured entercourse both by sea, and lande: so great a prince not bearing enuy to any person; and hauing no occasion to enlarge his fron­tiers by ambition: which would be the cause of ceasing so many enmities, warres, slaughters, spoiles, and robberies, happening amongst men through the pluralitie, and dissentions of gouernements. Which matters being by them grauely and magnificently propounded, are much more easie to bee wished then effected: considering the diuersity of tongues, dissimilitude of maners, and customes, varietie of sects, and vanity of opinions that raigne amongest men; and make them to lose that loue which is wished amongest them: hindering the establishing of one vniuersall common wealth of all; and consequently a Monarchie, of people so much differing in estimation of diuine and humaine right, and the religion and seruice of God. One man alone can not possesse all the earth, the greatest part of it being drowned by the sea; and in some places where it is vncouered of waters, being vnhabi­table thorough excessiue heate or cold: And if he should possesse it, hee would straight forget himselfe in so great authoritie and libertie; and be­come proud beyond measure, waxing tyrannicall and insupportable: as it happened to Cambyses, to Nero, to Sesostris, to Attila, to Tamberlan, and to Alexander the great; who thorough extreeme ouerweening would be ac­counted and called the sonne of God; and for his insolencie was poisoned by his most familiar friends: and as it happened to OCTAVIAN AV­GVSTVS, who suffered Temples to be consecrated to him, and diuine [Page] honours to be giuen him in his life time: Considering also that there is a certaine measure, and proportion of greatnes in Townes, Cities, and States: euen as in liuing creatures, plantes, and instruments: which when it excee­deth; loseth his nature and vse. As it befell vnto this ROMAINE EM­PIRE, which being clymed vp to an incomparable greatnesse, and in­estimable wealth; did fall est soones into great calamities; and was finally o­uerthrowen; as others had bin before it: which we wil compare togither, setting downe their similitudes, and differences.

AS the progresse which armes, learning, and pietie, haue had hitherto, hath bin summarily declared in the two last bookes: hence forwarde shall be another proposed, of the religion, power, knowledge, and other excel­lence of the Arabians or Sarasens; which requireth no lesse deduction then the former. In the meane time whiles the Empire was afflicted by the barbarous nati­ons, and Christendome troubled with heretickes; the Sarazens transported to themselues the honour of armes, and of learning. For whereas the church deuided by the Arrians, Nestorians, Manichees, Donatists, and Pelagians; had lost much of her integrity: Then the Empire in the East being vexed by the Persians; in the West, and South, by the Gothes, Vandales, Alanes, Hunnes, and Lumbards; and consequently the light of learning extinguished: in such a confusion the people grieued, and wearied with so many troubles; harkned the more easily vnto Mahomet, when he began to publish his law. Which was so plausible, in hatred of the former contentions, that it was eft­soones receaued into many regions. In so much that the followers thereof haue by succession of time possessed both Asia, and Africke, and a great part of Europe; making them-selues Masters of the best Countries of the world; out of which they banished the ghospell, to giue place to their Al­coran: which the greatest part of mankinde now followeth; speaking the Arabian tongue in the affaires of religion, and the disciplines, euen as Latin is vsed in these partes. So hauing ended so many conquestes, and subdued, innumerable nations, they applied their selues to learning; becomming by the quicknes & sharpnes of their wits: very learned in philosophy, Phisick, Astro­logy, Geometry, & other arts. By meanes wherof they got in their tourne great reputation, in the exercise of armes, & knowledge of learning. And as that vn­measurable power of theirs extended into diuers countries; so haue they had many valiant Captaines and famous princes for the conduct of their affaires. But there is none more renowmed then MAHOMET, the authour of the Al­coran, and founder of the Sarazen Empire; who being borne of an obscure, & poore parētage, came to great riches, power, & authority, making himselfe the law-giuer of mankind; & making the people beleeue, that he was the prophet and messenger of God. His successors were Eubocara, Homar, Odmen, Hali, Alharen, Moaui, Iesid, & the Caliphes, who prospered merueilously in a little time with those beginnings which Mahomet had giuen them; spreading far & wide togither with their dominion, the Arabian language, & religiō: aboli­shing [Page] in those countries which they conquered, the Greek, Latin, Punick, & Persian: which was a wonderfull strange mutation. And as they haue bin ex­cellent warriors; so haue they bin no lesse studious; & learned. For they haue had Auicen, a man most learned in thir Theology and in all sciences: Auerrois, an expoūder of Aristotle; whom those of his time, and which haue come after him, haue had in such admiration, that they haue almost equalled him with A­ristotle himselfe; giuing him by excellency the name of the Commentatour: A­uempace, Algazel, Benbitar, Abaren, and Siphac Philosophers: Mesue, Rasis whom they cal Almansor, Serapiō, & Zoar surnamed the wise, Phisitians: Al­bumasar, Auenzoar, Gebber, Alpharab; Alphragan, Hali, & Rodoan, Astrolo­gers. All which florished almost at one time, & haue bin followed by many o­thers, as Persians, Syrians, Egiptiās, Africans, & Spaniards writing in the Ara­bian tongue: which remaine vnknowen to vs by ignorance of the tonge, & di­uersity of their religion. They say that Rhetoricke is not needful, because that nature plainly, & in few words declareth her conceyts: & albeit they haue (as other nations) many Historiographers, yet they make but smal account of histo­ries, especially the Turkes; saying that men dare not write the truth of princes while they are liuing, and that after their decease the memory of them is lost. There are few Architects amōgst thē, because they giue not thēselues much to building, the most part of them dwelling vnder tents & pauilions. The others build no houses aboue one story in height like to doue-houses, as in Turkie, mocking at Christiās that ar so curious in their houses, as if they were to dwel in them perpetually: or if they do build, they are tēples, bridges, stoues, baths, hospitals, & other such like publick edifices: caring little for the priuat, which they comonly make of wood, & of earth, & seldom of squared stone: such va­nity being reproued by their Law. They haue yet fewer painters, statuaries, cutters, grauers, & caruers of images, for feare of Idolatry (which they abhor) detesting by reason therof the pictures & counterfeits of all liuing creatures. They haue Poets enough, which paint out their amarous passions, & such o­ther fantasies. The Alcoran it selfe is writtē in meeter, & is altogither poetical. On which is groūded not only their religion, but their politick gouernment, Iustice, & warfare is ruled thereby. Wherfore al Talismans, Basis, Subasis, Cadis, & Cadilesquets are boūd to vnderstand it, & as neer as they can to accomodate their sentēces therunto. The princes themselues haue Muphtis, & Patriarches neer vnto thē, to take heed to their decrees, & ordinances; & to repeale them if they be foūd repugnāt to their religion. For other things, they folow the laws of the Sultans, & the customes of the countrey, by reason wherof they haue no other ciuil law, nor Lawiers. The christiās which haue writtē against Maho­met, do cal him a diabolical magician, a lier, a deceiuer; & say that he was the son of a Pagan; & borne of a Iew; a theefe, a whore-monger, & a cunning con­triuer: an idolater of religion; poore of fortune; presūptious of vnderstāding; ignorant of learning; & renowmed for vilanies. That at his beginning he was a Marchant, & a driuer of Camels; & afterwards being enriched by the mari­age of a rich widow, became a Captaine, & had charge of the Arabians vnder the Emperor Heraclius. In which seruice he found meanes to get him power [Page 98] and authoritie. For whereas the foure thousand Arabians, which serued He­raclius had required to haue the military garment giuen them, as wel as to the other men of war; an Eunuche who was Treasurer at this vnhappy time an­swered them, that the garment which was reserued for the Romain Souldior ought not to be giuen to doggs. Which they taking in scorne, fel to mutinie, and with the same disdaine incensed the rest of that nation. To whom Maho­met ioyning him selfe prouoked them farther, and confirmed them in this re­bellion. Then was he chosen the chiefetaine by one parte of them, as in sedi­cions they are wont to be chosen, that support the multitude in their euill counsels, and blame their superious. Many despised in him the basenes of his stock, and pouertie of his former life. But to warrant himselfe from this con­tempt (as it is easie towards the simple, and ignorant multitude,) he vsed from that time forward a pretext of diuinity in his actiōs; calling himselfe no more a Captaine chosen by military fauour, but the prophet and messenger of al­mighty God: to thend that vnder colour of this imposture, al men should obey him the more willingly. And whereas he fell oftentimes of the falling euil, to excuse himselfe of this disease, he affirmed that the Angell Gabriel spake vnto him, and brought him the Law: which he published, as spoken by the mouth of God, and reuealed from aboue; albeit it be ful of iniquitie and of lies. He gaue men to vnderstand that God first sent Moises vnto mankinde, then IE­SVS CHRIST with miracles, and because they had not obeyed him, that he sent at that time Mahomet with strong hand, to the end that such as were not moued by miracles should be constrained by armes. And that the Mosai­cal, and Christian law being to rigorous, he was sent to soften them, by the publication of more easie precepts. That there should come no other messen­ger, and that he was the last, that was foretolde by Christ in the ghospel. And so hath established a new sect and most pernicious, mingled of the old, and new testament, whereof he hath peruerted many places, endeuouring to sub­uert the holy Trinity, and to abolish the diuinity of Iesus Christ, and the mi­steries of his death, passion, and resurrection.

But those of his side, which wilbe called Musulmans doe speake much o­therwise, and do exalt him infinitely: as the most excellent parsonage of the world, hauing maliciously inuented many lies of his pretended excellency, to make him the more admirable, and to drawe the more people to his beliefe. Amongst others they haue dreamed of a prophetical light, which appeared first in Adam, then was continued from prophet to prophet, vntil Mahomet: shyning in their faces euen as the sun in faire weather, and the moone when it is full. That as soone as a new prophet was conceiued, it passed from the husband to the wife, and the child borne of her; and remained with him, til being waxen great he had ingendred another. As soon then saith he, as Adam was created, as he stood vp his braine shaked, and made a noise as the leaues do which are shaken with the wind; and that Adam wondring thereat, God said vnto him; The sound which thou hast heard, and whereat thou meruai­lest, is the signe of the prophets, and messengers which shall preach my com­mandements: [Page] and therefore thou shalt take heed, that the same seed of light be not put, but into a cleane wombe. And when he had ingendred Seth (who is the father of the prophets, and the chiefe of the messengers of God) at the instant that light passed from the face of Adam, into the face of Eue; who while she was with child, shined in such sort▪ that the birdes of the aire, and beastes of the earth, wondered at the beauty and brightnes of her face. Adam himselfe was astonied therewith. Euery day the Angels saluting her, brought her odours of Paradice, till such time as shee brought forth Seth alone; be­cause that afore shee alwaies had two at a burden, male, and female; bro­ther and sister. Seth being borne, caryed in his face the shyning of that light, which before his mother bare: which light remained straight betweene heauen and earth, the Angels descending thereby vpon Seth, and crying al­waies; Reioyce thou earth worthy of the light of Mahomet: on him bee the praier of God, and the saluation. When his father Adam drew neere to his end, he declared vnto him by his Testament the mystery of the light; and the gene­alogie of the prophetes. Then descended Gabriel accompained with lxx. thousand Angels, bearing euerie one of them a white leafe, and a pen which signed the writing, saying that, His voice was exalted, and that the will of God was, that the order of the propheticall generation should be continued. So Seth re­ceiued the writing signed, and was clothed by the Lord, with a doublered garment shyning as the sunne, and soft as the violet floure. They affirmed that this light passed after this maner from Adam to Seth, from Seth to E­noch; and from Enoch by continuall succession to Noe, and Sem; then to Abraham, at whose birth two lights comming out of the East, and the west, met togither in the middest of the earth, enlightning the whole world in one: and the Angels were heard singing, that it was the light of the Prophet Mahomet, who should be borne of his seede; whose word should be in the vertue of God. This light passed from Abraham to Ismael, and from Ismael to Amofre, to whom it seemed, that their grew forth of his loines a tree, whose branches shyned, and reached vnto heauen: and that by the boughes thereof there went white men vp and downe. He vnderstood of the deuinours, that this high tree signified a great lignage, which should lighten the earth, and clime vp into heauen. From Amofre it came to Abdamutalib the Graundfa­ther of Mahomet, a personage replenished with all vertue; and when there was any drought, as soone as this light shined on the earth, it presently rained there. An elephant prostrated himselfe before him, & speaking with the voice of a man said: (Saluation be on you, and on the light that shineth out of your reines. Dignity, fame, honour, and victory be on you, and that there shoulde proceede forth of him a king greater then al the kings of the earth. An other time sleeping on the stone which was placed by Abraham in his Oratorie at Mecha, he dreamed that there issued out of his reines a chain parted in foure, on one side stretched toward the East, on thother side towards the west; vp­wards as high as heauen, and downewards to the botome of the depth: and that sodainly it was all wound vp togither, and then changed into a great [Page 99] herbe, greene and florishing, such as was neuer seene amongest men. That in the meane time there stood by him two olde men; towards whom tourning he asked them who they were; and they confessed that the one of them was Noe, and thother Abraham, prophets of the most high God; and tolde him that out of his reines should come a man, by whome the heauen and earth should beleeue, and all nations should be conuerted vnto Iustice and trueth. The Magicians Sorcerers, & deuinours conspired against Abdalle the sonne of Abdamutalib, and father of Mahomet, for to kill him: because that al their practise was to be ouerthrowen by his seed: and to him was giuen a Tutour, as a defender; who seemed as a man, but was none: who perpetually watch­ing ouer him, tourned away al their mischieuous deuises. Also the Iewes con­spired against him, and he was preserued from them by lxx. Angels, which seemed men, and were not. Leauing all other women he wedded Emina; and when the time was come which God had foreseen, and prescribed, to put finally into the worlde the light of the prophet Mahomet, the voice of the Lorde was heard, saying: The gates of Paradise should be opened, and the inner­most of his secret manifested: for it pleaseth me this night to transport the light of my prophet from the reines of Abdalle into the wombe of Emina, and that it come into the world. This being done, as Abdalle the Iudge and Lord of the Arabians, went vnto the house of praier, he perceiued a great light, to ligh­ten from his house vp towardes heauen: and by and by he dyed; leauing his wife with childe. And within twelue daies after, Mahomet was borne; Then all Idoles fel, and became blacke. All kingdomes were destroied from the East vnto the West, and not one stood vpright. Lucifer was cast into the bottome of the sea where he remained fortie daies; and with much a doe came out therehence: then calling all his fellowes he shewed them that Ma­homet was borne; who would take away all their power: and therefore they should determine to corrupt the worlde with hypocrisie, riotousnes, and pleasure. At the same hower God made it to bee vnderstood thorough­out heauen and earth that hee had a faithfull, and happy friend borne vnto him. His mother witnessed, that in bearing and bringing him forth in her child-birth she felt not any paine at all; and that from aboue there were sent to nourish him, flockes of birdes, with beakes of Emerauldes, and winges of hyacinth, who lifting vp their eies from the East toward the West, and looking towards the child, perceiued that he was almost fledged; and helde out his handes, as it were to pray vnto God. There came also a man clothed in white rayment, presenting him with three keies like vnto pearles; which hee tooke, namely the key of victory, the key of the lawes and the key of pro­phecy: And afterwarde came three persons with their faces shyning; of whome the first caried a cawderon of Emeraudes, with foure handles of pearles well appropriated; and offering it vnto him said: This is the world and his foure corners; East, West, North, and South. Mahomet accepting it all it was foretolde him, that hee should commaund ouer all the worlde: And when this man had washed him thrice, hee kissed his forehead, speaking [Page] thus; Be glad O Mahomet; for that is reserued for thee, which hath bin deny­ed vnto the prophets; which surmountest all in wisedome, and magnanimity: And the key of victorie being especially giuen thee, thou shalt be without feare; and there shall bee none remayning in the worlde but shall tell of thy name: And then assembled all sorts of birdes, the cloudes, and the windes, and final­ly the companies of Angels striuing for the nourishment of the child. The birdes said that they were fittest: considering that they could gather fruites from diuers places. The windes, that they could fill him with odours. The cloudes that they would nourish him most conueniently; hauing meanes to imparte vnto him the sweetenesse of waters. The Angels being angred said, that there remained nothing for them: But a voice from aboue appea­sed the debate; declaring that he should not be taken out of the handes of men; and that happie shoulde bee those brestes which shoulde giue him sucke; happie the handes which should handle him; and happie should be his house and his bed. An asse being almost famished with honger, kneeled downe to worship him; and hauing him on her backe, lift vp her head, and went beyond the others, which had gotten before her: And when as euery one meruailed thereat, the asse answered for her selfe speaking in the voice of man; Thus hath God restored me as I perished, and hath raised me from death to life: O if you knew what I beare: It is the seale of the prophets, the Lord of the messengers, better then all the former friends of God. Three men caried him vp to a mountaine, and ript vp his belly, without griefe or harme. The first opened him from the brest vnto the nauell, and washed his en­trailes with snowe; The seconde cleaued his harte in the midst, and tooke out thereof a blacke graine, saying it was the portion of the deuill; The third clensing the place, made him whole againe. Hee was then thus nou­rished according to their fabulous saying; and grewe in such sorte, that hee neuer gaue any cause of trouble or griefe to those which nourished him. Seraphin kept him three yeares; and Gabriel ninteene; who gaue vnto him the Lawe in the fortieth yeare of his age; and caried him to hea­uen: Wherehence being descended, and associated with Eubocara, Haly, and Zaid, hee calleth him selfe the prophet of God; preaching publick­lie. And not onely maketh himselfe beleeued by his worde; but also by force, (considering that the sworde preuaileth more with people, then reason) fighting often against his aduersaries: in so much that they rec­kon twentie and two expeditions of his; hauing bin present in person at nyne; and in his life time giuen eighteene battailes in which hee obtay­ned victorie: conquered Mecha with the places rounde about; and pos­sessed the rest of Arabia. Then seeing himselfe fortified, hee wrote to the Princes of other languages, as to the King of Persia, the Emperour of the Romaines, the king of Ethiopia, and others; that they would willing­ly receaue his Law.

They haue forged many other lies of him like vnto these, which I wil pur­posely omitt, fearing tedious prolixity: and least in reciting of scandalous [Page 100] blasphemies▪ I should offend Christian eares. As touching his death, they say he died of a Plurisie, or of the falling euill, the Lxiij. yeare of his age: and that hauing foretold in his sicknesse, that the third day after his death he should be caried into Heauen; the people expecting it, kept him so long, that by the stinch of his carion, they were constrayned to burie him at Me­dina, surnamed since of the Prophet.

Such then was the beginning of the Algier of MAHOMET▪ that is to say: of his raigne, which endured ten yeares; after the which his followers do recken their yeares, as we do ours after the Natiuitie of Christ. His pa­rents, and successours (continuing the enterprise) haue persisted till this pre­sent, in the publication of that Lawe, by preaching, and by force: ma­king their power verie great; and spreading with their Empire, the Arabian religion, and language, almost in all parts of the habitable earth. Then the Mahometists made at the beginning great conquests, vnder the gouernment of one only Lord called the Caliphe, which was king & priest together, hauing the superintendence, and conduct of all their affaires: concerning not onely pietie and iustice; but also armes and reuenewes; all possessions, sacred or prophane; libertie, and bondage; life and death. But as they increased in countries, so they entred into partialities; and while this schisme endured, they created in Egipt an other Caliphe: leauing him of Bagdet, as too super­stitious, and rigorous; who excommunicated them, and declared them He­reticks. The Caliphe of Bagdet commaunded in all the East. And thother of Egipt, who diminished his authoritie, had but little lands at the first: But he conquered in proces of time all Barbary; and a great part of Spaine. For the Saracens vnder his obedience passed into Africk; where they tooke Carthage, Maiorca, Minorca; and following their good fortune▪ marched as far as Mauritania: And still endeuouring to increase, they passed into Europe, at the perswasion of an Earle a western Gothe, called Iulian▪ who (beeing much moued with the outrage done by King Rodericke to his wife) caused them to passe ouer the streight of Sebi [...]a, and to come into Spaine: where at their first coming they gaue many battailes to the Visigoths; and in the last slew all their Nobilitie: In such sort, that Spaine came into their possession, all except Esture, and Biscay.

The other Saracens sailed into Thrace, and held Constantinople three yeares besieged; which they were constrained to abandon, being consumed by famine and pestilence.

An other time they came into Italie, and hauing seized on Apulia, they ouerran the countrie, as far as the port of Hostia; and entring into Rome, burned the Churches of the Apostles, possessed the coast of Tuscane, of Prouince, and Languedock; spoiled Genua, Auignon, and Narbona; went into the gulf of the Adriatick sea; where they ouercame the fleete of the Ve­netians. After so many conquests they promised thēselues the entier Monar­chie of the whole world. For hauing vanquished the East, subdued Africk, [Page] ouercome Italie; and tamed Spaine; they did not think there were any Na­tions, or kings on the earth, which durst vndertake to resist them: making account to subdue all others in short space, by the onely feare of their name. Ten yeares after they had bin in Spaine, they determined to passe farther: and taking for a good presage, the request which Eudon the Duke of Aquitaine made vnto them, (thinking to find a better, and fairer countrie) they went to the number of fower hundred thousand into Gascony; carrying with them their wiues, and children, as if they had the victorie already assured. For see­ing all things at the first to succeed vnto them prosperously, they became so proud, that they vtterly disdained the Christians. They had already ouerrun and spoiled all the countrie, as far as Tours; whither being come with their great armie, they were encountred by CHARLES MARTEL, lea­ding the forces of France and Germanie; where he discomfited CCCLxx. thousand; hauing lost but fifteen hundred of his. It is not remembred that the Saracens were euer better chastized; or lost so many braue men, and vali­ant Captaines: All passed the edge of the sword, euen women and little chil­dren. Whiles the Saracens wasted and ouerran the Gaules, two Comets ap­peared in heauen, for the space of fourteen daies; whereof the one was seen in the morning before the sun-rising; and thother in the euening after the sun was set: which flaming looked towards the North. There remained of these Saracens euen to our time, holding the kingdome of Granado: where hence they were driuen out about a hundred yeares sithence; and cleane ba­nished Europe by king FERDINAND. Others remayning in Africk, and hauing lost their domination, are diuided into many Seignories; and into two sorts of people: whereof thone inhabite the plaines, & the Cities; the other wander continually on the mountaines: They are much fallen from their former power and militarie reputation; and likewise from their excellencie in learning.

ON the different which was between the Caliphes; The TVRKS comming out of the Northeast of Scythia, went into Asia, about the hundreth yeare of the Algier of Mahomet; and after they had a long time wandered, they staied in Persia: whither they came, being called by the Persians against the Arabians, and others of the new Religion, which oppressed them. But finding at their comming the kingdom of Persia vanquished, aswell by armes, as by religion; and seeing it was not possible for them to resist against the conquerers, they confederated with the Arabians, receiuing their Religion. And anon after on the occasion which they took hold of, they rebelled and seized the Cali­phat of Bagdet, which they a long time held. Their power was growen and increased in such sort, that at such time as the Frenchmen, vnder the conduct of Godfrey of Bouillon went to recouer the holy land, they ruled alreadie ouer the better part of Asia: Wherehence they were driuen out after many victo­ries gotten on them by the Latin Christians, by the Georgians, & Armenians.

After the departure of the Turks, the CORASMIANS seeing the kingdome of Persia disfurnished of defence, inuaded it; and created their Seignior, Emperour of Asia: Then vndertaking to possesse Turkie, they were [Page 103] beaten back; losing their Emperour, who was slaine there: and they could not rise againe, but were by little and little defeated.

And they being destroied, the TARTARIANS began to be celebra­ted in Asia; who came from the same quarter, wherehence the Turkes be­fore had come, as appeareth by their language, and similitude of maners: whose beginning, progresse, victories, and conquests, are more admirable, then of all the Nations that euer were before, or after; in greatnes of ar­mies, celeritie of expeditions, successe of battailes, largenes of Seignories, foundations of Empires, and maner of liuing, much different from others. First they inhabited that part of Scythia, which is beyond the great moun­taine of Belgian, towards the Indies: to which place came the armes of the Macedonians vnder the conduct of Alexander. And being a beastlie people without maners, without learning, without religion, liuing on beasts which they kept, and nourished, wandring from place to place, following the com­moditie of pasturage; vnfit for armes, dispised of all, and tributaries to their neighbours: yet they increased so much, that they were diuided into seuen principal peoples; and began to liue vnder Captaines, who had the conduct of them, and of their affaires; remaining notwithstandtng vnder the subiec­tion of others: vntil such time as a poore old man, a Smith by his occupation, (who as they beleeue was ingendred of the sun-beames) was diuinely ordai­ned their first CHAM, and Emperour. For he saw in his sleepe a man of warre, clothed all in white, and mounted on a white horse, which called him by his name, and said vnto him, Changuis, The will of the immortall God is, that thou be the gouernour of the Tartarians, and ruler ouer the seuen Nations: to the end, that by thee they may be deliuered out of the bondage wherein they haue long remayned, and receiue the tributes which they haue bin accustomed to pay. CHANGVIS was verie glad when he had heard the word of God; and told vnto euery one this vision. But the Captaines and chiefe men amongst them would not harken to it; but made a ieast thereof: Till themselues the night following saw the white man of armes, and had such a vision, as he had declared vnto them; who were commaunded from the immortall God, to be obedient to CHANGVIS, and to accomplish his commaundments in all things. Then being assembled together, they did their obedience and reuerence vnto him, as to their naturall Lord: Then they spred in the midst of them a black couering on the ground, and a seat on it, wheron they placed CHANGVIS, calling him the first CHAM, and doing him solemne reue­rence with kneeling. Which custome (though it be base) hath bin sithence obserued by them in confirming of their Emperours: albeit they haue gotten many kingdomes, and infinite riches, hauing inuested themselues of Asia, and Europe; euen to Hongary, and Austrich. CHANGVIS being thus esta­blished Emperour, by the consent of all; would make triall whether they would obey him faithfully; commaunding them many things: And first that they should all beleeue in the immortall God, by whose grace he was come to the Imperiall dignitie. Secondly he ordained, that there should be made a [Page] generall view of all such as were able to beare armes; and that the muster being made, there should be appointed a Captaine ouer ten; ouer a thou­sand; and ouer ten thousand: making the regiment of this assembly. More­ouer he commaunded the foresaid seuen Captains, to bereaue themselues first of their charges, and dignities: Thother commandment was yet more strange, by which he inioyned them to bring euery one his eldest sonne, and ech to cut off his head, with his owne hand. And albeit that seemed cruell and vn­iust; yet was there not any that refused it: forasmuch as they accounted him to haue bin appointed their Lord by the diuine prouidence. When he had knowen and proued their good wills, and that they were readie to obey him, euen to death; he assigned them a certaine day to march forward. And from thence he went against many Nations; which he incontinently sub­dued: and possessed all the lands on this side of the mountain Belgian, and in­ioined them without any gain-saying, vntill such time as he had an other vi­sion: seeing the same white armed man againe, which said vnto him: Chan­guis Cham; The will of God is, that thou passe ouer the mountaine Belgian, and go toward the West, where thou shalt conquer kingdomes, seignories, and lands, sub­duing many Nations vnto thy Empire. And that thou maist be assured that it is true, and proceedeth from God, which I tell thee; arise, and go with thy people towards that mountaine, to that part which ioyneth on the sea: There thou shalt kneele downe nine times, and worship God nine times; and he which is almightie will show thee the way which thou maist go conueniently. According to this vi­sion, Changuis reioicing arose, and without any doubt (because the first vision being found true, assured him of the rest) he gathered together all his people: commaunding them to follow him with their wiues and children, and all that they had. Then they went so long, till they came where the great and deepe sea toucheth the mountaines; and there appeared no way nor pas­sage for them. Changuis as was commaunded him from the immortall God alighted off his horse (as did also all the rest) and kneeling towards the East, worshipped God, asking mercie, and grace of him, and that he would show them the way to go. They remained that night in praier; and arising in the morning, they saw the sea retired nine foot, and that it had left a spacious way. Being all astonished with this miracle, they thanked God deuoutly: and go­ing towards the West, they went men and women, beastes, and chariots, a great and terrible multitude.

The yeare before this their discent, which we reckon of Christ, M.CCxj. in the moneth of May, appeared for the space of eighteen daies a Comet, burning ouer the Polaques, the riuer of Don or Tanais, and the Countrie of Russia, the taile thereof directed towardes the West: which signified the discent of the Tartarians, which hapned the next yeare following. If this be true, it resembleth much the going of the Hebrewes out of the lande of Egipt, vnder the conduct of Moses; to whom the redd sea opening it selfe, gaue passage; and drowned the Egiptians pursuing after them. Iosephus writeth also, that the Sea of Pamphylia opened vnto Alexander the Macedonian, when hee marched with his Armie against [Page 104] the Persians. But the Tartarians being passed ouer: their Cham fell sick and died, hauing before commaunded concord between his twelue children, by the similitude of arrowes which could not be broken altogether; but being separate, they brake them easilie, saying to them: that as long as they agreed▪ their Empire should endure; and should be ouerthrowen as soone as they were diuided. And before his death made his eldest sonne called HOCO­TA, the best and wisest of them to be receiued as their Lord, and his suc­cessour; who purposing to march further, wan the Caspian gates being pla­ced there, and continually kept and shut vp: to the end to stop the passage into Asia of infinite people dwelling beyond it, as it were in an other world. Afterward he dispatched three armies, and gaue them to three of his sonnes: commaunding Iacchis being the eldest to go toward the West; Batho toward the North; and Tagladais toward the South. He himself abounding in men, marched with a mightie armie into the East, conquering all the Countrie as far as Catay: where he established that most mightie and rich Empire, which is there at this present, and held by those which discended of him. He ouer­came also the kingdome of Persia: in which voiage the Tartarians learned the knowledge of letters, the vse whereof was before vnknowen amongst them. He fauouring the Latin Christians which raigned at Hierusalem came to succour them: But being preuented therof by their ouerthrow, before he came; he drew towards Bagdet, where he took the Caliphe being a Turk by nation, whom he made to die of famine and thirst; hauing shut him vp into the chamber of his treasures, as a man vnworthy to possesse that riches, wher­by he could not help himselfe. TAGLADAIS going into the South, ca­ried armes euen into Ethiopia; where he had euill successe: for being ouer­come in battaile by the Ethiopians, and driuen into desert countries, he lost there the greatest part of his people. Then he turned him towards the West, and ioyned with his brother IACCHIS; who had much afflicted the estate of the Turkes in Persia, Assyria, and Mesopotamia. The voiage of BATHO was more succesful, & renowmed; who hauing in a great battail ouercome Gonata king of the Turks; he supplanted eft soones by armes the whole raigne of that nation. He vanquished the Rosullanois, Lapiges, Pola­ques, Lithuanians; and pierced euen into Hongary, Austrich, and Germanie: putting all wher he went to fire and sword. Such were in a little time the ter­rible expeditions of the TARTARIANS in the North, South, East, and West, thorough the great emotion and mutation of humaine things. Wherefore the Christian Princes, and the Pope especially, fearing their re­turne, sent Ambassadours to their Emperour, to thend to pray him that he would acknowledge and worship the GOD of all, and Iesus Christ whom he had sent; and vse no more such crueltie against the Christians, as he had done in Polonia, Hongaria, and Morauia: He aunswered, that in fiue yeares he would not molest them. After the departure of the Ambassadours of the Christians, came those of the Saracens, to perswade the Tartarians to re­ceiue the law of Mahomet: as easier, & more conuenient for militarie people; [Page] Saying, that the Law of Christians was of idle effeminate idolaters, and worshippers of Images▪ that theirs was full of all commodities, and plea­sures, a conquerer of other religions by force, and armes▪ with beating down the proud imposed tribute on such as were humbled. That pleased well the barbarous people, being of nature couragious; and giuen to sensualitie: And so they receiued the Law of Mahomet, which they obserue at this day. They hold much land in Europe, ioyning to Russia, Lithuania, and Po­lonia: In Asia all that lieth from the riuer Tanais, and the bounds of Pon­tus and Bacchu, vnto Cathay and Chyna.

The ZAGATHAINS confining on the Persians, are more ciuile, sowing, planting, buylding, traficking, being gouerned in a kingdome; and haue for the seat of their king called CVSILBAS, enemie to the Sophi, the Citie of Smarcand, being meruailous great, faire, and rich: situated in the riuer Iaxartes, fower daies iourney from the Caspian sea, where the great Tamberlain was borne, of whom we will speak hereafter.

The great CHAM of Catay is also a Tartarian, discended of the race of Ghanguis, of whom seeing it commeth to purpose, we will here intreat; albeit he be no Mahometist: but hath a religion separate, and different from the Mosaical, Christian, and Saracen. It is not without cause that he is cal­led great; for he exceedeth in politike gouernment, power, wisdome, re­uenew, and magnificence, all the Princes of Europe, Asia, and Africk; yea, euen the Turk himselfe. And if all the Christian and Saracen Seigno­ries were reduced vnder one obedience; yet could they not be compared vnto his. He commaundeth ouer more then seuen hundred leagues of Countrie, well inhabited and peopled: full of faire buyldings, after our maner; villages, boroughes, castels, rich and strong townes, abundance of vittailes of all sortes, and exquisite Artisans. The CATHAYANS or men of CHINA, haue such an opinion of themselues, that they ac­count themselues to be the chiefe men of the world; thinking other men to be but halfe sighted, as if they sawe but with one eye: and that they only see cleerely with both eyes; by reason of their subtilitie and dexteri­tie, making such perfect, and liuely workes, that they seeme not to be made by mans hand, but by nature her selfe. They haue learning and the sciences in singular recommendation, honour, and estimation; recei­uing none to the soueraigne dignitie, nor to publike offices, but such as are learned: Considering that in the distribution of their offices and Ma­gistracies, they respect not nobilitie, nor riches; but learning and vertue onelie.

OTTOMAN the first authour of the familie of the OTTOMANS, and founder of the Turkish Empire, which is so mightie at this day, hauing againe set vp the name of the TVRKS, which before was abolished, serued in the warres at the first vnder the great Cham: He came but of meane place, and was poore in possessions; but strong of bodie, and of courage audacious. Thinking that he had some wrong done him, he parted from the Tartarians, [Page 105] and accompanied only with fortie horses, he seized on some straight in the mountains of Cappadocia; Then being holpen by the commoditie of place, and opportunitie of time, he began to make rodes in the plaines adioyning, getting great spoiles: To whom there ioyned many theeues; multiplying from day to day. Then seeing himselfe reenforced with men, he did manifestly and in open warre, that which he did priuily, and by stelth before; conquering townes, people, and countries, without any great resistance: In such sort, that in short space he got a great Seignorie in Asia: which hath bin valiantly and happily maintained by his successours discending of him, and bearing his name; which haue alwaies augmented it, vntill the thirteenth which raig­neth at this present; hauing one after an other from the father to the sonne, gathered together two Empires, aboue twentie kingdoms, and a great num­ber of Cities in Asia, and Europe; gotten aswell on the Mahometists, as on the Christians; without euer losing any thing that they had taken. They hold all that was in old time called Arabia, Egipt, Suria, Mesopotamia, Chaldea, part of Persia, and of Media, Assyria, Adiabena, part of the greater Armenia, and all the lesser, and a part of Cholches, which they call Mengrelles; All Asia the lesser containing Cilicia, Cappadocia, Pamphylia, Galatia, Caria, and Phrygia: And in Europe, a part of the Sarmatians, or Getes; the Dacians, Mysians, Thracians, Macedonians, Greeks, Albaneses, Dalmatians, Pannoni­ans, Hongarians, Iaziges, and Metanastes: In Africk, Argier, Tripoli, and Tunez. This vnmeasurable power so renowmed, and terrible at this day vnto all the world, is growen vp from so small a beginning, as hath bin said, to such heigth, and reputation, in the space of two hundred and sixtie yeares; by their wise conduct in peace, and in warre, by sobrietie, patience, obedience, con­cord, diligence, order, valiancie, abundance of men, horses, and armes; and by meanes of the good, militarie, and politick discipline, which they carefully obserue: which hath made them to prosper with the hinderance of their neighbours, being loose, and corrupted, or infected with seditions. Perad­uenture they are not entirely such as they haue bin (as all impaire with time) and being inriched with their victories gotten on the Persians, are become more pompous in their apparell, and harnes, then they were before: as pros­peritie and riches depraueth people. But as they change their maner of li­uing, so their fortune also will change; and whereas they now beat others, they wil also be beaten: as they haue begun to be, not many yeares sithence, at the battaile which they lost at Lepanto, against the Venetians; which is the greatest aduersitie that euer they receiued, sithence they passed into Europe.

Likewise, VSVN-CASSANVS was a souldier vnder Tamberlain; who restored this new kingdome of Persia. He being aduertized that there was in his countrie a Lord called Harduel, of the race of the Prophet; and the bruit, that ran among the Persians of his holines, and learning, especi­ally in the law whereof he was a Doctour; and in Astrologie, wherein he meruailously excelled; he gaue him his daughter to wife: of which mari­age came the SOPHI ISMAEL. Harduel then being more assured and [Page] hartned by this royal alliance, tooke vpon him with the aide of Techel Cusil­bas, to bring in new expositions and ceremonies into the Alcoran; follow­ing Haly, who was preferred by them before Mahomet. Whereat IACOB the sonne and successour of Vsun-Cassanus being angry; banished him and his sonne: because he feared, that by the fauour of his adherents, vnder co­lour of reforming the Religion, he aspired to the estate. When the SOPHI (who at the time of his banishment with his father, was but a child) was waxen great, hereturned by force into Persia, setting vp the Sect which was begun by his father, and was afterward left off for feare. And vnder this pretence he drew much people to his part, and conquered in few yeares the Seignorie, not only of Persia; but also of Media, Armenia, and Assyria: finding at his returne Aleuant, and Morat-Champ, the sonnes of Iacob, and his cozins at warre together; whereof thone he slew in battaile; and con­strained thother to flie into Arabia: wherefore he remained peaceable pos­sessour of of the state. But because his vncle Iacob was deceased before he might be reuenged of him, he burned his bodie: Of which inhumaine deed being reprehended by his Mother, he put her to death; or killed her him­selfe. And notwithstanding, was called SOPHI, which is asmuch to say as holie, hauing gotten not by any merite of his owne, but by the goodnes of his father this name, which hath remained to his heires, being reputed heires by the Turkes. This SOPHI by the sodain successe of his con­quests, put all the East in feare; spreding his renowme ouer all the habi­table earth: To whom the Tartarian Zagathain opposed himselfe, war­ring continually against him: and Selim Ottoman, who assailed him with a mightie armie, a good waies within his owne kingdome, tooke and spoi­led Tauris his chiefe Citie; and wan the memorable battaile of Chalderan: where▪ were slaine many, both of the one side and thother; and the two chiefes were hurt; the Turkes remayning victorious, only by reason of their artillerie▪ which at that time was vnknowen to the Persians. After Selim defeated in an other battaile the Souldan, who would haue holpen the Sophi; which were the two greatest victories that hapned within these fiue hundred yeares. Sultan Soliman following the footsteps of his fa­ther, returned thither, and got on the Sophi Damasco in Assyria, and the imperiall Citie of Bagdet, being the auncient seat of the Caliphat of Chal­dea, ouerthrowen by the Tartarians: as also that of Caire hath bin distroied by the Souldan. For they which beare the name now in both Cities, haue but the titles, putting the SVLTANS in possession, without medling at all with the state; who doing thus▪ receiue because of their pretended right three thousand Seraphes▪ to the end to retaine after that maner some forme of the former religion; The soueraintie whereof is not gouerned any more by them▪ but by Muphtis, as hath bin said, who are as Patri­arches, and Superintendents in diuine matters; and Iudges in cases of con­science: whom the SVLTANS hold nere about their persons, or in the principall Townes of their estates.

[Page 106]So by the ruine of the Latin kingdome in Hierusalem, and of the Egypti­an Caliphat, the estate of the SOVLDAN began in Egypt and Suria, insti­tuted by Syrracon and Saladine; which was hereditarie, vntil Menescala: who ordained the MAMMELVCS, amōgst whom it hath long time bin electiue. Neuer was there seen nor heard a more strange or detestable kind of gouern­ment then that of the MAMMELVCS, being al Christians reheaged, and of seruile condition, which tyrannically commaunded ouer the Egyptians and Surians being free; vsing miserable indignities, and cruelties towardes them. In so much that such power deserued rather to be called seruitude then Lord­ship. The MAMMELVCS then were taken when they were little boyes from the countrey of the Circasses, neere to the Temerinde or black sea: then brought and sold as slaues into Egypt. Where some selected of them were nourished and hardened vnto paine and trauaile, by continuall exercise of armes: And such as were found to bee the best were enrolled in the order of the Mammelucs, and to them succeeded from hand to hand, not the sonnes of the Mammelucs deceased; but others nourished and chosen after the same maner, to whom pertained the honours and profits of the state; which they deuided among them: not committing the gouernments of prouinces, and conductes of armies, but to those that were experienced, whose vertue was knowen; and who had passed all the military degrees: and by them, and from amōg them, was the SOVLDAN chosen. They held in most straight sub­iection all the people of Egypt, and of Suria, forbidding them to haue any weapons or to ryde on horsebacke. They were not aboue sixteene thousand; but they intertained many seruants vnder them: and being men of great force, and hardynesse, they had not only tamed many bordering nations, and beaten the Arabians; but also made many warres against the Turkes; enuying their prosperitie; of whome they remained often victorious, and were seldome or neuer vanquished by them. But when as they were deuided, and bandded in partalities, Selim the Turke defeated them in two battailes, killing in the first the SOVLDAN SAMPSON, who was gone into Suria with an armie to helpe the Sophi: then prosecuting his victory, he went into Egypt against him that was chosen SOVLDAN, in steed of him that was dead; whom hee tooke, and made him ignominiously to bee caryed on a poore Camell with his face backwardes all alonge the great streete of Cair, and to bee hanged at the gate of that Citie: doubling his power by the Con­quest of such a state, much reuerenced by those of the religion of Ma­homet; and redoubted because of the valyance of the MAMMELVCS, whoe were massacred in suche sorte that there name is almost extin­guished.

There remayne yet other great kingdomes of this time as of NARSIN­GVE in the Indies; and of PRESBITER IOHN in Africke, called Lac [...]gue, & Negus; of the ABYSINS being baptized, and circumcised Christians; and of the MOSCOVITE in the north a Christian also, but after the Greeke maner.

[Page]The king of Narsingue, which is of the auncient religion of the Bramines, yeldeth to no king of the world in riches, power, and magnificence: intertai­ning forty thousand horsemen of ordinary; and foure hundred elephants fitt for war, with infinite dromedaries.

Touching PRESBITER IOHN, he commaundeth ouer innume­rable nations different in colours: and hath vnder him forty kings tributary. His landes and seigniories extende toward the West more then twenty daies iourney; and he hath gold shut vp in a caue, enough to buy the moitie of the world: and the quantity is euery day increased, and multiplied without taking any thing from it. In the spacious kingdome of Ethiopia being so large neuer did the kings sonnes or brothers moue any sedition for the state, nor defiled their hands in one anothers bloud: but the line of the bloud royall is alwaies conserued by rare hap; and neuer yet communicated to any other kingdome whatsoeuer, Christian, Hebrew, Sarazen, or Pagan. They say it was once reuealed to one of their kings in a dreame, that if he desired to haue his kingdome long maintained in peace, and vnity, he must locke vp all his children (which were a great number) on a mountaine; and that he must keep onely him that he would haue to succeed in his kingdome: and this custome remained eternally to his posterity, as a thing ordained of the heauens. Other­wise, that one part of Ethiopia (which is so large) would come to reuolt against the heire; and put him in danger of his life, and of his state. The king being awaked was meruailously astonished with this nouelty: not knowing where he might finde this mountaine. Wherefore he had another vision, re­uealing vnto him that he shoulde marke thorough out al his countrey, where he should see goates, on the top of rockes so high that they seemed readie to f [...]ll: and this should bee the place where he should shut in his children. Which the king hauing put in execution, the mountaine was found to be of a meruailous height and greatnesse, wherein the children of Presbiter Iohn were locked vp, and carefully kept; for there is no lesse paine to them that come out therehence, or which drawe therehence any of those that are shut vp, then death; hee onely remaining free that ought to raigne by his birth­right; or which seemeth the most capable to succeed in that dignity. Those which are shut vp doo neuer come forth, except it so fall out that Presbiter Iohn depart without heires of his body to inherite the crowne. For then they take out him that is next it, whome they know to be the worthiest.

Also the great KNES or king of Moscouie is a great landed man in the North; whose dominion is about three monethes iourney in compasse of ground▪ and he possesseth innumerable people, nations, prouinces, duchies, principalities and seigniories; which the Emperours of Moscouia haue got­ten one after another by armes, or by other meanes offered them from time to time; as Wolodimeria, Nouingorod, Plescouia, Smolenk, Tuner, Iugaria, Permia, Viakia, Belgaria, the lower Nouogorodia, Ceruigenia, Rozar, Vo­lokde, Rezomia, Rostomi, Cazan, Ostrakan, and others; which it woulde be tedious to recite because of the rudenes of their names. They say that of [Page 107] all his Lordships there are seuen principall; wherehence he can bring forth for a need, seuen hundred thousand men of warr, all on horsebacke: namely out of Plescouia a hundred thousand; Nouingorode a hundred thousand; Tuner a hundred thousand; which are the greatest seigniories, that he hath: out of Smolenk (a duchie vsurped on the king of Poland) an other hundred thousand; and a hundred thousand out of the Duchy of Mosco [...]ia; where is situated the great city of Mosko, the seate of the prince. The bounds of his em­pire goe a great way into Asia; as far as the Caspian sea, neer the lands of the Sophi: And hauing won a battaile against the King of Sueuia, he is entred in­to the countrey of Liuonia, where Germany beginneth on this side; and hath there conquered Riga, and Riuallia, two great cities pertaining to the mai­ster Duke, and Knights of the Teutonian or Dutch order. He exceedeth in se­uerity and rigour of commanding all the Monarches of the worlde; hauing gotten such authority ouer his subiects as well ecclesiasticall as secular, that he may dispose at his pleasure of their liues, and goods: no man daring to gain­say him in any thing. They confesse publickly, that the will of their prince is the will of God; and that all whatsoeuer he doth, is done by the diuine pro­uidence. Therfore they name him the Porter of Paradice; the Chamberlaine of God, and Executor of his will. By this meanes is he become so mightie, within a little time, that all his neighbours which are the Tartarians, Sueui­ans, Polonians, Liuonians, yea and the Turkes themselues doe redoubt him. It would be an infinite labour to propose here all the kingdomes and Empires that haue bin, or are in reputation. But it shall suffice to haue touched such as are best knowen: namely, those that haue ioyned wisedome with power; whereunto this present discourse tendeth.

AS the Tartarians, Turkes, Mammelucs, and Sophians, haue gotten into the East by their valiancy the glorie of Armes, So haue we in these partes towards the West recouered within these two hundred yeares, the ex­cellency of Learning; and set vp the studies of the scien­ences, after they had long time remained in a manner [Page] extinguished. Wherin by the industrious perseuerāce, of diuers learned men, the matter hath had such good successe, that at this day our age may compare with the most learned that euer were. For now we see the tongues restored; and not onely the deeds, and writings of the auncient brought to light; but also many other goodly things newly inuented. Sithence this time Grammar, Poesie, History, Rhetorick, and Logick haue bin beautified with innumera­ble expositions, adnotations, corrections, and translations. The Mathema­ticks were neuer better knowen; nor Astrology, Cosmography, and Naui­gation better vnderstood. Naturall Philosophy and Physicke, were not in greater perfection among the auncient Greekes, and Arabians; then they are at this present. The military armes, and instruments, were neuer so forceable, and impetuous as they are now: nor the dexterity so great in the vse of them. The arts of painting, grauing, cutting, caruing, and building are almost brought to their perfection. And men haue so much laboured in knowledge of Law, and eloquence; that it is not possible, to doe more. The art of Poli­ticke gouernement comprehending, and ruling them all (which seemed as it were laide aside) hath lately receiued great light. Moreuer Theology or Diuinity the worthiest of al, which was much obscured by the Sophisters, hath bin very much lightened by the knowledge of the Greeke and Hebrew; and the auncient Doctors of the church, which lay in obscurity in the libra­ries haue likewise bin brought to light: Vnto which worke the Art of Prin­ting hath bin a great helpe; and made the encrease thereof much easier. See­ing then that by course of things, and succession of time we are come to this age, we wil henceforth consider it not by the particular excellencies of coun­tries; but by the memorable things done or happened, during this space of time, thoroughout Europe, Asia, Africke, and the New-found lands, in the East, West, North, and South: and by such graces, as it hath pleased God to imparte, to speciall parsons, in this season, thoroughout the seuerall coun­tries of the habitable earth.

And as we haue marked thother ages by some famous warriour, and nota­ble power that hath bin in euery mutation; so it seemeth that the meruailes of this age ought to begin at the great and inuincible TAMBERLAN, who affrighted the world with the terrour of his name, about the yere of Christ 1400. and by the incredible army which he led of twelue hundred thousand fighting men, trained vnto warlike discipline, got the Empire of Asia: pur­posing (if the pestilence had not come into his host) to haue gon into Europe: and to haue entierly subdued it, as farre as Spaine; wherehence he woulde haue crossed into Africke; and thorough it haue retourned into Asia. Being then predestined vnto great things, because that in his former pouerty there appeared in him some generosity aboue the rest, he was in sport chosen king of his companions; But he taking it in good earnest (as one that promised already great enterprises in his minde) he tooke oaths of them, & hauing all sworne to doe what he would haue them, and not to forsake him; he made himselfe their Captaine, and commaunded them to leaue their shepheardes [Page 108] life, as a base thing; and to small purpose, for the getting of glorie and riches; and that they should arme themselues and follow him: That by this meanes they might from that poore and base estate wherein they liued contemptible, come to great & vnlooked for felicity. With this company descending out of the mountains into the plaine countrey, and prospering from day to day; as he increased in Lordship, he augmented in power. First he got the kingdome of his owne countrey; then obtained Parthia, and Persia: On the North side yel­ded to him the Hircanians, Bactrians, Sogdians, Saces; & other innumerable people inhabiting on this side the mountain Ismaus, which are called the Tar­tarians. He subdued the Seres, Arians, Drangians, Aracosians, Gedrosians, and Paramisians which are beyond the hill Ismaus. All the Massagets yelded thē ­selues. Consequently entering farther into Asia towards the East, he made him selfe Lord of Bythinia, of Pontus, & of al the countrie called at this day Ana­tolia; with the coast of the sea Euxinus, Propontis, Marais, Meotis, and the Cimmerian Bosphorus: Moreouer going on the right hand, he conquered in­finite townes & prouinces; ouer comming the kings & tyrants which he met withall. And passing his forces ouer the riuer Tygris both horse and man, he inuaded the Vxians; whom he subdued, with the Susians: and all the coun­trey euen to the Persian sea. From thence going ouer the mountaine Tauris, he went into Mesopotamia, then into Media, which he conquered: bringing vn­der his obediēce, the Cadusians, Armades, Tapirdes, & Circitians. And tour­ning toward the south, he passed ouer the mountaine Amanus, & went down into Suria, & Comagena, bordering on the riuer Euphrates: which he ouerran, as far as Arabia, and neer to Hierusalem. He subdued the Lydians, Phrygians, Capadocians, Paphlagonians, Misians, Ionians, Dorians, and Eolians; not lea­uing finally any people or nation between the hil Ismaus, & the Ocean, Caspi­an, & red sea, vntamed or vnsubdued by armes. After he defeated Baiazet king of the Turks in battaile; who had opposed himselfe against him, with two hū ­dred thousand men: and hauing taken him, caused his hands to be bound be­hind his back; and shewed him in that piteous case to his people that were o­uercome; to thend that from that time forth he might be accounted the abso­lute king ouer all Asia. He vsed his back in steed of a stool to help him to hors­back; & when he was set at meat made him remain like a dog vnder the table; casting him crums and morsels in mockery, and scorne: keeping him at other times in chaines, and shut vp in a cage of yron; as wild beastes are wont to be kept. This great victory astonied not onely al the inhabitants of Asia, but also the other nations which Tamberlain had neuer troubled, nor meant to trou­ble with war: In such sort that the Moscouites being separated by the riuer of Rha, from the Tartarians, payed him tribute, and sent him fresh men; The Mossinois, Cercetures, Leucosyrians, and all the nations that are betweene the Caspian sea and the riuer Tanais, yeelded vnto him of their owne free will; and the Corasmians, Dacians, and Sacians, dwelling beyonde the riuer Tanai [...] ▪ Hee receiued into his obedience the Nogains, and Sciabe­nians; warlike nations, and neighbours to the Moscouites. Hee tooke by [Page] force, Smirna, S [...]bastia, Tripoli, Antiochia; and Seleucia. Then passing from Suria into the inner parte, he assailed Galaria; and Rabatia; where he slew all the inhabitants. Therehence he went into Egypt: constraining the Souldan to saue himselfe by flight. And he was l [...]tt [...]d from going any farther by san­dy deserts; and by want of waters. For he desired nothing more, finding him­selfe strong and fortunate in war▪ then to vndertake great, and difficult things; going ouer vneasie places, and hard passages; and assayling of fortresses that were thought to be inexpugnable: to thend to be reputed a valiant Prince & a hardy warriour. He commaunded at the siege of places, to spred the first day white pauilyons, the second day red, and the third blacke: signifying by the white that he would take the besieged to mercie; by the blacke that hee would burne their Citie; and by the red, that he would put all to the edge of the sword. And when a certaine Italian (whom for the dexterity which he found in him, he had made of a meane Marchant ouerseer of his reuenewes) admonished him to ioine clemency with his vnmeasurable power, and felici­ty; he answered him with a frowning looke, and sparkling eies; that he was the wrath of God, and the deadly destruction of the depraued age. To ano­ther that intreated him to take pity on Baiazet, who was lately so great a king; he sternely aunswered, that hee did not chastise a King renowmed for many victories: but a cruel and vicious tyrant, who had put to death Solyman his▪ eldest brother, and depriued him of his Kingdome. And to the Emperour of Constantinople offering him his person, his city, and seigniory, as vnto him, to whom God had adiudged all the Empire of the East; and by whose bene­fit, al men acknowledged Greece to be deliuered from that cruell tyrant Ba­iazet; he said, that he would not bring into bondage, the most faire, renow­med and riche citie of all others, which had so lately bin saued out of the handes of the Turkes: Adding moreouer that he was not entred into this war for execrable ambition, or insatiable couetise of conquering countries, or enlarging his dominions; but to the end to succour the Emperour and the Lords of Greece; and to maintaine it in liberty, as he vnderstood it had remai­ned: That the tyrant being taken, and bound, endured the punishement of his wicked deeds, receiuing the same measure which he meaned to haue gi­uen vnto others. Moreouer whereas he ouerthrew, and burned all that was between the South and the East; he suffered none to meddle with the temples which he left entier: and for reuerence of their prophet, he entred not into Arabia; moued with some feare of God, and reuerence of the religion. Yet fortune hauing allwaies fauoured him, without euer hauing bin contrary vn­to him; seemeth among so many admirable euents, which exceed the ordina­ry course of Conquerours, to haue denyed him an Historyographer of ex­cellent learning, and eloquence; agreeable to his vertues: to celebrate them worthily.

During the raigne of TAMBERLAN, began the restitution of the tongues; and of all sciences. The first that applyed himselfe to this worke was Franciscus Petrarcha, opening the Libraries which til then were shut vp; [Page 109] and beating away the dust and filth, from the good bookes of auncient au­thours: for being a man of great vnderstanding; & excellent learning, he hath not onely beautified the Italian tongue (for the which he is reuerenced with his disciple Bocace, as a principal Authour and Illustratour thereof) but also hath laudably awakened both the Latin prose and poesie. After him Iohn of Rauenna a Grammarian (who when he was but yong knew Petrarch an old man) hath much aduanced the Latin tongue, instructing▪ and exhorting many to the loue of learning; which became very learned: Amongst whom was Leonard Aretin, Franciscus Philelphus, Laurentius Valla, Guarin of Verona, Pogius, Omnibonus, Accursius, Nicolaus Pe [...]otta, Victorinus Fel­tra, Franciscus Barbarus, Petrus Paulus Vergerius, Maseus Vega, Leonar­dus Iustinianus; Gregorius and Lilius Triphernius; Antonius Panormita­nus, Ioannes Aurispius, Petrus Candidus, and Blondus Flauius. Then Ema­nuel Chrysoloras a gentleman of Constantinople a renowmed personage in learning and all vertue, being sent by the Emperour Ioannes Paleologus vn­to the kings of Europe, to obtaine succours of them for Greece being great­ly indangered, after he was rid of that painfull charge, he remained at Ve­nice, seeing his countrey deliuered from the feare of Baiazet whom Tam­berlan held prisoner: where he taught first the Greeke tongue, which was left off, and vnknowen aboue seeuen yeares in Italy: And after at Florence, Rome and Paris, instructing the most part of the Scholers of Ioannes Ra­ue [...]nensis▪ which prospered with him so wel, that by his instruction con­tinued a few yeres it came to passe▪ that such as were ignorant of the Greek were from thence-forward accounted the lesse learned among the Latins; But other Grecians comming after into Italy, did meruailously aduance this worke, so happely by him begon: namely the Cardinal Bessarion, a great Phi­losopher, and Diuine, who left at Venice that goodly Greeke librarie; Geor­gius Gemistius, and Georgius Trapezuntius a learned Peripatetick▪ who forgot the knowledge of letters in his extreme olde age. Theodore Gaza, an excellent translatour, Andronicus Thessalicus, Ioannes Argyropilus, Con­stantinus and Iohannes Lascares, Demetrius Chalchondilas, Sophianus, Ma­rullus a Poet, and Marcus Masurius; whom God hath raised vp, to preserue in these parts the Greeke language and learning; oppressed by the Turkishe armes in Greece: hauing inuited to the knowledge of their learning, not on­ly the Italians; but also the Frenchmen, Duchmen, Flemings, Englishmen, Scots, Polonians, Hongarians, and Spaniards: which haue all giuen them­selues vnto it with great vehemency, and affection. The ITALIANS most renowmed therein haue bin Pomponius Letus, Platina, Callimachus, Eneas Syluius, who was afterward Pope Pius, Campanus, Andreas Aleri­us, Domitius Calderinus, Angelus Politianus, Hermolaus Barbarus, and Io­annes Picus (called the Phenix of his time, as being singular in exquisite lear­ning; and eminent in the knowledge of many tongues; and of all sciences: who had done great good if hee had liued longer, and deserued to be com­pared with all antiquity.) Iohannes Franciscus being his nephew, Marsilius [Page] Ficinus a Platonist, Georgius Merula, Georgius Valla, Baptista Pius, Chri­stophorus Landinus▪ Philippus Beroaldus both the Vncle, and Nephew, Antonius Codrus, Michael Palmerus, Petrus Crinita, Sabellicus, Iouianus Pontanus apt and fit, for any kind of writing, as happy in prose, as in verse of many sorts; a good Philosopher and Astrologer. Baptista Mantuanus, the two St [...]ozzi the father and the sonne, Syncerus, Sannazarius, Vida, Fracasto­rius, Palaiarus, Scipio Capicius, Octauius, Cleophilus, the two Celij Rho­doginus and Calcagninus; Leonicenus, and Leonicus; Manardus, Iucundus Veronensis▪ Paulus Emilius, Polydore Virgil, Egn [...]cius, Bembus, Sadoletus, Contarenus, Nymphus, Eugubinus Romulus Amaseus, Marcus Antonius Flaminius, Molsa, Andreas Naugerius, Hadrianus Cardinalis, Andreas Al­ciatus, Emilius Ferrettus, Petrus Victorius, Mancinellus, Sulpicius, Carolus Sigonius, Robertellus, Paulus Manucius, Nizolius, Lazarus Bonamicus, and Lampridius. FRENCHMEN, Iacobus Faber a Philosopher and Di­uine, Guil. Budeus, the most learned of his time both in Greeke and in Latin, & a most diligent obseruer of antiquity, Lazarus Baisius, Germanus Briensis, Nicolaus Beraltius, Michael Hospitalis, Franciscus Connanus, the two Syluij Franciscus, and Iacobus; Ioannes Fernelius a Phisitian, Orontius Fineus a Mathematician, Textor, Petrus Dan [...]us, Iacobus Tusanus, Iacobus Amiottus, Stephanus Doleta, Adrianus Turnebus, Ioachimus Perionius, Nicholaus Gruchius, Petrus Bun [...]llus, Marcus Antonius Muretus, and Petrus Ramus: Antonius Fumeus, Duarinus, Baro, Balduinus, Cuiacius, and Othomannus Ciuilians. Iacobus Ludouicus Strebeus, Macrinus, Borbonius, & Beza Poets. FLEMINGS, Erasmus, Longolius, Gaguinus, & Vesalius. GERMAINS The Cardinal of Cusa, Purbachius, Ioannes Regiomontanus, the principall Mathematician of this age, Rodolphus Agricola, Reuchlinus Capnio, Me­lancthon, Zasius, Beatus Rhenanus, Vadianus, Glareanus, Gulielmus Copus, Leonardus Fuscius, Georgius Agricola, most expert in Mettalls, Saxo a Grammarian, Oldendorpius, Brunus, Eobanus Hessus, Sleidan, Simon Gri­naeus, Huttenus, Bilibaldus, Pyrkmerus, Cornarius, Camerarius, Omphali­us, Latomus, Sturmius, Wolfgangus, Lazius, Cranzius, and Funccius. ENGLISHMEN, More, Linacre, Tunstall, Pacey, and Fisher. SCOTS, Hector Boetius, and Buchanan. POLONIANS, Osi­us, Frixius, Cromerus, and Iohannes Zamoscius. SPANIARDES, Nebrissensis, Viues, Poblacion, Amatus, Antonius Pinus, and Go­ueanus.

But it is better to distinguish these renowmed parsons of this age by their exercises, and professions: as we haue done in other reuolutions.

The most renowmed WARRIOVRS then haue bin Tamberlan, cal­led of his followers, Temitcultu, or Demirben [...], or Demirly; Amorath, and Mahomet his sonne; Selim, and Soliman being Otthomans: Charles the eight king of France, king Ferdinand of Spaine the first called the Catho­licke King: Gonsaluus the great; the Emperour Charles the fith; Charles of Bourbon; the Sophi Ismael; the Scirife of Fez; and Francis Duke [Page 110] of Guize. BY SEA Andrew Dorie, Adrian Bassa, called Barbarossa, Dra­gut, and Salec Rez, and S [...]rozza the Priour of Capua; PLATONICAL PHILOSOPHERS, Bessarion, Gemistius, Ficinus; PERIPATE­TICKS, Trapezuntius, Argiropolus, Fabius, Nymphus, Pomponacius, Contarenus, and Simon Grinaeus. Iohannes Picus purposed to hauerecon­ciled Plato and Aristotle, and to haue accorded the two sects, as Boetius had vndertaken before him: But both thone and thother haue laien downe vnder the burthen, without accomplishing of this promise. ELOQVENT Imita­tours of the auncients, & obseruers of Cicero: Laurentius Valla is the first in this ranke, who hath reduced Latin speach to the ancient maner of speaking; a great admirer of Quinctilian, as the Cardinal Hadrian, was of Cicero; then Nizolius, and Doleta. Those which haue most expressed & ymitated Cicero in their writings are Bembus, Sadoletus, Longolius, Perionius, and Elaminius: Latin, Italian, French, & English POETS, are Petrarch, Antonius Panor­mitanus, Pontanus, Marullus, Syncerns, Vida, Fracastorius, Molsa, Naugeri­us, Flaminius, Capicius; Palearius, Morus, Borbonius, Macrinus, Eobanus Hessus, Sabinus, Bachananus, Ariosto, Rousard, Ioachin du Bellay, Ponthus de Tyard, Marc Antony du Baif, Remy Belleau, Marot, Mellin du Sangelais, Stephen Iodelle, & Philippede Portes. HISTORIOGRAPHERS, Calli­machus, Platina, Laurentius Valla, Ioannes Saxo, Pope Pius, Bloridus, Sabel­licus, Pontanus, Peter Martir of Mil [...]in [...], Michael Riccius, Paulus Emilius, Polydore Virgil, Paulus Iouius, Sleidan, Staphilus, Pandulphus, Galeatius Capella, Coccinus, Bembus, Tritemius, Gaguinus, Cuspinianus, Paradinus, Bonfinis; Sorter, and Turoce Hongarians, Cromerus a Polonian, Crantzius a Saxon, Olaus a Goth, Ioannes Leo an African, Franciscus Aluares, Damian, Goes, Iuan de Baros, Portugales; Franciscus Taraphus, Antonius Nebrissen­sis, Petrus Medimna, Rodericus Pallentinus, and Ferdinādo Gonzales Ouie­des, Spanyards; Machiauel, and Guicchiardin, Italians; Iean Froissard, En­guerren de Monstrelet, and Philippe Comines, Frenchmen; Stomphius a Swis­ser, & Mounster, a German. CIVILIANS, Zasius, Alciatus Oldendorpi­us, Baro, Duarinus, Balduinus, Cuiacius, Othomannus, and T [...]iraquellus. PHYSICIANS, Leonicenus, Manardus, Copus, Linacer, Ioannes Ruel­lius, Cornarius, Guinterius, Fuscius, Fernelius, Rondeletius, Iacobus Sylui­us, Amatus Lusitanus, Vesalius, Martinus Acakia, Tagaueltius, and Iacobus Houlerius. MATHEMATICIANS, Bonatus, Iohannes Regiomonta­nus, the Cardinal of Cusa, Purbachius, Collimicius, Petrus Appianus, Gem­ma Frisius, Vadianus, Copernicus, Leouicius, Orontius, Turrianus, Gauri­cius, and Hieronimus Cardanus. PAINTERS, Zotta a Florentine, who hath restored the art of painting after it had bin long laide aside; and beautified it much. Belim (who for his excellency was sent to Sultan Mahomet Empe­rour of Constantinople, from the seigniory of Venice) Petrus Burgensis, Raphael of Vrbin, Albert Durer who hath written in the Dutch tongue of Painting: as Iean Cousin hath also done in French: and Leo Baptista Alber­tus in Latin. STATVARIES, & GRAVERS Donatel, Michael An­gelo, [Page] Andrea of Cremona, Christophero Mantoano and Lorenzo, who was fiftie yeres making the gates of a Chappel at Florence, in which with won­derful workmanship are grauen in brasse the histories of the old, and new te­stament: ARCHITECTS, Leo Baptista Albert▪ who hath written a very learned worke of Architecture; Ioannes Iucundus of Verona, who built the great bridge at Paris, and first published Vitruuius corrected, with figures, and Caesar his Commentaries [...] ▪ Philip that made the great Church of Florence, the vaute whereofby singular arte is not sustained by any pillars▪ Aristotlea Bolonian, remoued certaine towers of stone from one place to a­nother, whole without any hurt, by putting wheeles artifically vnder the foundations: Pierre L'Escot called Claigny, ouerseer of the worke and re­paration of the Lou [...]re at Paris, begon vnder king Frauncis the first; and Philbert de L'orme, chiefe Maister of the buildinges of the Tuilleries, of Annet, and of Saint Mor at Paris: hee hath left bookes written of his art▪ and hath inuented a new kinde of Carpentrie for couering of houses. PHILOLOGVES or serchers of antiquitie, and proprietie of tongues, Correctours of bookes, Translatours, and Commentatours, Laurentius Valla, Perottus, Gaza, Trapezuncius, Pomponius Laetus, Domicius Cal­derinus, Georgius Merula, Georgius Valla, Politian; Hermolaus Barbarus, Raphael Volateranus, Galeotius, Na [...]nianus, Christopherus Landinus, Equacius, Nebrissensis, Budeus, Erasmus, Sigonius, Gruchius, Mancinel­lus, Sulpicius, Verulanus, Beroaldus, and Beraltius, Textor, Baptista Pi­us, Robertellus, Victorius, Turn [...]bus, Gelius, Calcagninus, and Rho­doginus. And others innumerable in many tongues and Nations. Fa­mous trauailers, Pylots, NAVIGATOVRS, discouerers, and con­querers of New landes, Christopherus Columbus a Genouese, Americus Vespucius a Florentine, and Dom Henry the Infant of Portugale, Magel­lan, Cortese, Pizairus, Alphonsus Alburquequen, and Chabot. The Prin­ces that haue most holpen the restitution of artes, are Alphonsus king of Naples, hauing honourably receaued, and liberally rewarded such as pre­sented him with Greeke bookes translated into Latin: Frauncis the King of Fraunce the first of that name▪ who appointed salaries or stipendes for the publicke professours at Paris, and erected a sumtuous Library at Fon­tainebleau full of all good bookes. The Kinges of Castile, And of Por­tugall haue bestowed liberally on the discouery of the New-found lands and of the Indies: Cosmo, and Lorenzo de Medicis Florentynes, haue bin much helpefull vnto learning; receauing the learned men which came to them out of all partes, and intertayning them honourably: and moreouer sending at their charge thoroughout all Greece, to seeke out good and auncient bookes (which were neglected there) they builded for the common vtility, magnificent libraries.

Besides the restitution of the auncient learning almost accomplished; The Inuention of many goodly new things, seruing not onely for necessitie, but [Page 111] for pleasure also, and ornament of this life, hath bin reserued to this age. A­mongst which the Art of PRINTING deserueth to be in the first place, for the excellency, vtilitie, and subtility of arte whereby it is guided in the grauing of the matrices; casting, distributing, and gathering of the letters; maner of the ynke, and of the baules to put it on the fourme; placing of the presses, and maner of vsing them; of wetting the paper, laying on, taking off, and drying the leaues; then reducing them into volumes; reuiewing, and correcting of the impression; whereof we haue spoken before: and where­by there is more dispatched in one day, then many diligent writers could do in one yeare. By reason hereof, the books which before were rare and deare, are now become more common, and easier to be had: For it seemeth to haue bin miraculously inuented to make learning and good letters to liue againe; which were in a manner dead. The inuention thereof is attributed to the Germaines, and began at Mentz, therehence it was caried to Venice; and af­terwardes spread ouer all Christiandome; and so brought vnto his perfec­tion, by Nicholas Genson, Aldus, the Iuntes, Frobenius, Badius, Robert Stephens and others. Notwithstanding the Portugues traficking about the farthest of the East and of the North, into China, & Catay, haue brought therehence bookes written in the language, and writing of that countrie: saying, that they haue vsed it there a long time. Which hath made some to thinke that the inuention thereof was brought therhence thorough Tarta­ria, and Moscouia into Germany; and so communicated to thother Christi­ans: to whom by the diuine prouidence hath bin especially reserued the con­summation of diuine, and humaine wisdome. The Mahometists depriued of this grace do vtterly reiect printing, not vsing it amōgst them, neither suffering any to bring them bookes written of their affaires in Arabian, and printed else-where.

The second praise ought to be giuen to the inuētion of the Sea-mans com­pas, consisting of a Rose, and a needle of steele, which being touched or rub­bed with an adamant or loadstone, showeth alwaies the point which is an­swerable to the place where wee ymagine the pole Artick. Aristotle vnder­stood not this propertie, nor Galen, nor Alexander, Aphrodiseus, nor Auicen, the most curious obseruers of natural things: For if they had knowen such a miracle of nature, and so profitable a meanes of sayling, they would sure haue made mention thereof in their bookes; hauing stood so much vpon others of much lesse importance. It was also vnknowen to the Romains, who suffe­red so many shipwrackes, fighting on sea against the Carthaginians: and vn­der Octauian they lost a great fleete of Vessels against Sextus Pompeius. By means hereof al the Ocean hath bin sailed ouer, innumerable Isles found out, and a great part of the continent or maine land discouered towards the west, and the south; vnknowen before of the Ancients; and hath therefore bin cal­led the new world; and not onely bin ouercome, but also conuerted by the Christians. The enterprise being begon, by Columbus a Genouese, & Ves­pucius a Florentine, men of excellent vnderstanding, and exquisite iudgments, [Page] deseruing no lesse praise then Hercules of Greece that was so famous: and af­terward continued by the Castilians, being emulatours of the same honour, and desirous of gaine. Whereof some haue bin swallowed vp into the huge sea, not being yet thoroughly knowen; and others eaten by the Cannibals; leauing a piteous remembrance of their audacious enterprises. But there are three that hauing had more fauourable fortune, haue made famous discoue­ries: namely Cortese of the kingdome of Mexico, and of the great Citie The­mistiten seated, builded, and peopled, like vnto Venice; Pizairus of Peru, and Cuscu riche in golde; and Magellan of the Moluccaes where the spices grow. At the same time the Portugales parting the world with the Castilians, by the same knowledge of Nauigation passed the Atlantick sea, and the Ca­naries; winning in the vtter Barbarie many Townes on the Sarazens. Then crossing the line heretofore termed the burning Zone, and [...]alsely esteemed to be desert, they haue gone beyonde the tropicke of Capricorne; conquering Brasil, and other countries. Afterwards drawing towards the East, they went along all the coast of Africk, and the banke of Ethiopia; surmounted the gul­fes of the Arabian, and Persian seas; and being come to India (hauing ouer­come by armes the kings of Cambaya, Canonot, & Calecut, building in their countries fortresses, thereby to safegard the traficke of the East; whereof they made them selues maisters; And farther passing ouer the riuers of Ganges, and Indus) they trauailed as far as Taprobana, and to the golden Chersonesus: making the king of Malache their tributary. From whence setting saile to­wards the North, they went to China and Catay; where they made an ende on this side of their Nauigation, entering into amity and confederacy with the great Cham, to thend to haue liberty to traficke with safety in his countrey; which before was not accessible, but with apparant daunger of death vnto strangers: In such sort that by our industry al the world is at this day knowen, wherof a great part that had so long remained vnknowē; & the vttermost parts of the East, West, North, & South do cōmunicate togither: the men that are se­parated with so many seas so distant and different, visiting one another, by meanes of nauigation, being made safer and easier by this Inuention.

I would willingly giue the third place, to great ORDINANCE, and ARTILERY; (which hath made all other auncient military instruments, and engines of war to cease, al which it exceedeth in impetuosity, violence, & quicknes.) were it not that it seemeth to haue bin inuented rather for the de­struction, then the profit of mankind: being an enemy to generous and coura­gious vertue, which it spareth no more then the rest; but breaketh and bruseth whatsoeuer it encountreth. First it was inuented in Germany by a blower in Alchimie; wherhence it hath bin transported ouer al the world; & seemeth at this day to be brought almost to his perfection; sithence the meanes is found to discharge by volies many pieces togither; which batter, and beat downe al places, how strong soeuer they are in situation, height, or thicknes of wals, & rampires. The Canon at the first was called a Bombard, for the noise which it maketh; and Morter which was of yron bound with many pieces heauy and [Page 112] vnweldie; shooting huge bullets of stone, with a great quantitie of powder made of salt-peter; sulpher, and willow coales proportioned: the inuention whereof hath bin no lesse admirable, then of the Canon it selfe. After in steed of yron succeeded brasse; whereof at first were made great peeces laied on wheeles, yet more maniable, then was the mortar; (giuing them bullets of yron) vnto which haue bin guien names of birds, and other liuing creatures, which haue apparance of terrour: as Coleurines, Serpentines, Basilisks, Sa­cres, Faulcons, and other appellations imposed according to the diuersitie of their measures, formes, and cariages; at the pleasure of those that made them, or of the Princes which commaunded them. Sithence there haue bin made some lesser, lighter, and maniable, to shoote with bullets of lead: as muskets, caliuers, harquebuzes, pistoles, and pistolets. But because the noise and violence of the Canon, hath bin fitly expressed by the Poet Fracastorius, I will here insert his Verses.

This age hath brough forth many great and notable inuentions: on which notwithstanding I will not stand, because they are rather accessarie to the auncient things; then exceeding the vnderstanding of our forfathers: all an­tiquitie hauing not any thing to compare vnto these three. But amongst the meruailes of our age, there haue bin manifested new and strange maladies, vnknowen of the Auncients, and not treated of by any Greek, Arabian, or Romain Phisitian: as if there were not enough alreadie dispersed ouer the world, to the number of three hundred, and more; without speaking of the inconueniencies hapning euery day, by the excesses which men do vse.

Moreouer, there are risen Sects in many Countries, which haue much troubled the publicke peace, and cooled the mutuall charitie of men: Whereof some more curious will attribute the cause to the celestiall mo­tions. For as we haue obserued in times past, in the notable mutations of [Page] mankind, where nature hath showed her greatest forces: that extreme euill, and wickednes▪ hath met with excellent vertue; and extraordinarie calami­ties haue accompanied great felicitie: so could not one imagin any kind of vn­happinesse or [...]ice, which is not found in this age, so happie in the restitu­tion of good learning, and restoring of sciences. Neither is there any amongst all men, either Christians or barbarous Nations, but hath suffered much, No part of the habitable earth, no person is exempted from affections: which increase from day to day, and are too much knowen to our damage and confusion.

Euery where the publike estates haue [...]in afflicted, changed, or destroied; and euery where the Religion troubled with heresies. Not only all Europe▪ but also the farthest regions of Asia, and Africk; the inhabitants of the new found lands, and of the East and West Indies being innumerable in multi­tude, and dispersed into infinite places, haue bin troubled with foreine and ciuile warres, long continued: wherehence hath followed the excessiue price of all things, with often famines and pestilences. We must think that God being angrie with men, sendeth such calamities generally, and particu­larly, to correct our vices; and to bring vs to a greater knowledge, and reue­rence of him: For there was neuer in the world more wickednes, more im­pietie, or more disloialtie; Deuocion is quenched; simplicitie and innocen­cie mocked at; and there remayneth but a shadow of Iustice. All is turned vpside downe, nothing goeth as it ought. But the most notable aduersities and prosperities of this age, are elegantly represented by Fracastorius in these goodly Verses.

THE excellencie of this age being briefly declared; we will hence forward compare it with the most famous of the former; in matter of Armes, Artillerie, Captaines, Ar­mies, Battailes, Sieges, Empires, and other States; voiages by sea, and by land, discoueries of Countries, riches, maners, and sciences: to know wherein it is superiour, or inferiour, or equall vnto them; beginning with the comparison of the warfare of these daies with the aun­cient Greeke and Romaine. It is said, that CYAXARES king of the Me­dians was the first that distributed the men of warre of Asia into Bandes, Squadrons, and Companies; and ordayned that the horsemen and foot­men should haue their quarters apart; and should no more march confu­sedly as they were wont to do. The ROMAINS accounting more of their Infanterie, then of their Caualerie; and founding on it all the des­seignes of their power; diuided their footmen into those that were heauily, [Page] and such as were lightly armed, whom they called Velites: vnder which word were vnderstood, all such as vsed slings, darts, and bowes; the greatest part of whom (as Polybius saith) were armed with a caske, and to couer themselues, had a shield or target on their arme, and fought without kee­ping any rank or order, a good way from the heaule, or maine armie. The men that were heauily armed had a salade, which couered their head, and came downe as far as their shoulders. There bodie was armed with cuirasses, which with the tases couered their [...]highes, as far as their knees. They had moreouer their leggs, and their armes couered with greues, and vantbrasses, and caried also a shield of fower foote long, and two and a halfe broad; which had a circle or plate of yron aboue, to sustaine the blowes the better, and to keepe it from cleauing; and an other plate of yron vnderneath, which kept the shield from being wasted, and worne, with leaning it on the ground: which might be compared to a pauois, prouided that the pauois had in the verie midst thereof a bosse of yron, well set on, and close ioyned, as their shieldes had; the better thereby to endure the blowes and strokes which should fall thereon. Besides they had a sword girt on their left side, and on their right side a short dagger: They had a dart in their hand, which they called Pilum, and threw it when they began their fight. Some w [...]te, that besides their pauois, they caried also a pike, namely the Greek souldiers. But that seemeth impossible, because they must needes haue enough to do to help themselues with one of these weapons apart; and to vse them both to­gether were an vneasie, and a verie difficult thing: for the pike alone requi­reth both hands; and the pauois on thother side serueth only for defence to couer themselues, because it was not verie maniable. And the target also could not well be handled, but would be in a maner vnprofitable: except at the beginning of the battaile they holp themselues with their pike, hauing their target at their back; and that comming so neere together, that the pike serued them to no farther vse, then they abandoned it to take their Target; wherwith, and with their sword, the souldiers holp themselues in the presse.

The GREEKS did not lade themselues with such heauie armour as the Romains, but they gaue themselues therwithall much more to carrie the pike; especially the Macedonian Phalanges, which carried pikes called Sarisses, of ten cubites long; wherwith they assaied to break the rankes of their enemies without going out of their owne. But seeing that the RO­MAINS conquered all the world, we may well think that they were the best armed of all.

The fashion of this time is, to arme the footman with good Curets, and a cask or headpeece: which seemeth to be sufficient for the defence of a man [...] and is better then the harneis of the auncients. Touching weapons to of­fend, we carrie a sword somewhat longer then theirs: Our other armes are the pike, the halbard, partisan, harquebuze; and many others not so vsuall amongst souldiers; and the target: although there is little reckoning made thereof, except it be for an assault; and besides there are few that vse it but [Page 114] the Captaines. The Harquebuze hath bin found out but few yeares sithence; and is verie good, so it be handled by such as are skilfull and readie: yet now adaies, euery one will be a harquebuzier, whether it be to get the more pay; or to be the lesseloden; or els to fight the farther off. The Halbards are a new kind of weapon lately inuented by the Switzers: which are verie good if they be strong, and will cut well; and not light ones such as the Italians vse. And in like sort are their Partisans; which being stronger and better steeled then they are, would serue well against naked men: but against those that are armed can do no great seruice. Amongst other armes which are lesse in vse are the long bow, and the crosbow: which may do verie great harme to men that are not well armed: both by reason of their readines in shooting, which is verie sodaine; and also for the surenes of their blowes, which are seldome in vaine. Concerning the Pike, if the Switzers haue not bin the in­uentours therof; yet at least wise they haue first brought it in vse: because that they being poore at the first, and desirous to liue in libertie, were con­strained to fight against the ambition of the Princes of Germanie; who by reason of their riches and power, intertained many horsemen, which the Switzers could not do; and for this cause made their warres on foote. Then were they constrained (to defend themselues against the Cauallerie of their enemies) to hauerecourse to the auncient maner; and therhence to chose some kind of armes for defence against horsemen: which necessitie, made them either to maintain, or bring in vse againe, the orders of the time past; without which, footmen are altogether vnprofitable: wherefore they took pikes as verie seruiceable weapons, not only to sustaine the assault of men at armes; but also to ouercome them. By meanes of which armes, and by the affiance which they haue in their good order; they haue taken on them such boldnes, that fifteen or twentie thousand of them, durst vndertake to stand against a world of horsemen. The example of the force which these people haue showed to be in armes of footmen, are the cause that sithence the voiage of king Charles the eight, other Nations haue imitated them: namely the Spaniards, and Almaines; then the Italians, and Frenchmen, follow­ing the order which the said Switzers keepe, and the maner of the armes which they beare; but for order, there are few like vnto them. We must labour then to gett this order; or if it be possible, to forme or finde out some more safe: by meanes whereof we may defend vs from euery one, and be preferred before all others. To do this it seemeth to such as are most expert in this matter, that we ought verie well to arme the bodies of our souldiers, to the ende that the rankes may be so much the harder to be broken: especially such as serue before in steede of a wall, or vant­mure; and all the rest (if it be possible) euery one according to his wea­pon. And it must not be thought strange, that we lode these men with so much Armour; for it is to arme them surely in such sort as they ought to be armed, that meane to stande to it: and not as they which arme them selues lightly; who beeing euill couered and armed, thinke rather [Page] on flying, then of ouercomming: taking example by the Romaines, who armed their souldiers which were ordered in batalions, as heauily as possi­bly they could, to make them the firmer against their enemies; and that feeling their bodies so loden with harneis, they should not looke to saue themselues by flight; but either to die in the place, or to get the victorie. Vegetius com­playneth of the souldiers of his time, that they went too lightly armed, and followed not the Auncients: which were alwaies wont to ouercome their enemies, because they were euermore well armed; and that such as were ill armed were ordinarily ouercome in all their battailes. The souldiers also must harden their bodies vnto paine, learne to helpe themselues with those armes and weapons which they beare, to keepe their order in marching thorough the Countrie, and the maner of encamping, or lodging together in a campe: which are the principall points that an Armie ought to know.

The Nations which heretofore haue had ordinances, or companies of footmen, haue alwaies made one principall number of the men which they leuied; which although it hath bin diuersly named, yet hath it bin euer almost equal in number: because they haue all ordained it of six or eight thousand men; which number by the Romains was called a Legion, because they le­uied their men by election; of the Greekes Phalanx; of the Gaules Caterue; of the Switzers and Almaynes Hourt; that is to say, a Battalion: which the Italians and Spaniards do also vse; But they haue of late began to call it a Regiment. The greatest disorder that they can commit which ordaine a bat­talion, is in this, that they take no heed, but only to make the head strong; in which they place the Captaines, and all the valiantest, and best armed of all the bands; taking no care of prouiding for the back, for the sides, and the innermost rankes: as if the formost rankes were the whole hope of the victo­rie; and that the rest serued only to make vp a number. For by this meanes they hazard the whole on two or three rankes; as if they were immortal, or suffi­cient alone to make resistance, without the help of the rest which are behind them: which is directly contrarie to that order which the Auncients obser­ued; which was, to receiue one rank into another, and one battaile into an other; and to fight obstinately euen to the last. For without this maner it is not possible to succour or to defend the first: nor yet by withdrawing them within their rankes, to come to fight in their place.

With which meane the ROMAINS knew how to help themselues often, and to this end they parted their Legions into three maners of men which were called Hastarii, Principes, and Triarii. The Hastarii made the front, and had their rankes furnished with good store of men. The Principes made the second battaile, and were aranged with thinner rankes then the first. The Triarii made the third and last; with their rankes so thin, that when need was, they could receiue within them both the former battailes. More­ouer they had their Velites, which were lightly armed; who did such seruices as the harquebuziers do with vs: and were placed in the winges between the batalion, and the horsemen. These being lightly armed began the battaile: [Page 115] And if it hapned that they ouercame their enemies, they pursued the victorie: but if they were beaten back, they retired into the flankes of the Battalion. After whose retreat, the Hastaries or pikemen came to fight with their ene­mies; and if they found themselues to weake, to withstand them, and that the enemies ouercame them, they retired then by little and little into the thin rankes of the Princes, with whom they renewed the battaile. And if it so fell out, that againe they were beaten; then both the one, and the other withdrew themselues within the Triaries: with whom they altogether be­gan the fight a new▪ And if these three sorts of souldiers were ouerthrowen, they had then no farther remedie to relieue themselues. Which maner of repairing themselues three times, seemeth to be inuincible: because that for­tune must thrice abandon vs; and there with also our enemie must fight with vs, and ouercome vs three times.

The GREEKES with all their Phalanges, had not this meanes of re­newing themselues▪ and although in them they had many chiefes, and many rankes; yet notwithstanding of all together, there was made but one head, and one bodie. And the maner which they had to succour one another, was not to retire the one rankes into the other; as the Romains did: but for one souldier to step into the place of another; and this they did in the maner as followeth. The Phalange was ordred by rankes, as is our Battalion; yet was it not confusedly: for euery band knew his owne place; and the Decuries, that is to say, the chambers or squadrons were aranged in such sort, that the souldiers followed one another; and were in file, and not in front, as we place ours. Whereof the first was called the Deane, or Decurion, whom we may call the Chiefe of the Chamber; and the last was called the Guide of the back. The second was called Substes, and the former Prestes: and con­sequently the rest called on the other Substes, and Prestes, euen to the said guide, which made vp the end. Of these rankes there were a good many and more; in somuch that one Phalange had two hundred fiftie and six men in front: and Lxiiij. rankes in length. True it is that they were diuided vn­der fower Colonels: which marched all in front; with certaine spaces be­tween them. But let vs put the case, that in each rank there were CCLvj. men, and that they came to encounter with their enemies; if it came to passe that in going, or in fighting, any one of them were slaine or ouerthrowen, he that was in the second rank, and right against the place of the man that was falne, namely his Substes est soones aduanced himselfe, and stepped into the place of the former. And by this meanes the men of that rank remayned alwaies complete, and full. And to fill vp the second rank, they of the third namely the Prestes, stepped forward, and put them selues into the void pla­ces; and those of the fourth furnished the third: and so successiuely, and al­most at one instant, the latter rankes supplied, and filled vp the former: In such sort, that the first rankes were alwaies whole and entier; and there was no place that remayned voide sauing in the last rank, which consumed it selfe, hauing none behind to fill it vp; in such sort, that the domage which the [Page] first rankes receiued, was the cause of consuming the last: So these Phalanges, by meanes of their order might sooner be consumed; then broken: for to ouerthrow them was to difficult a thing, by reason of their great number.

The Romains vsed Phalanges at the beginning, and had their legions also ordered after the Greeke maner; but that order afterwards misliked them: Wherfore they diuided their men into many bodies; as namely into Cohortes, and Manipulos, accounting that the bodie which had most soules, must haue most life; being also compounded of most members.

The Battalions of the Switzers, Almaines, Frenchmen, and others, do imi­tate at this time in some part the maner of the Phalanges [...] aswell in that they arange a great number of men together; as also in that they place them in such sort, that one may step into the place of another. But that this maner is not so good, as that of the Romains; many examples of the Romain legions do tell vs: because that whensoeuer the Romains fought against the Greekes, their Phalanges were consumed, and ouerthrowen by the Romain legions; for the difference of the armes, which these Nations did vse, and also the Ro­main maner of relieuing themselues three times, was of more force, then the great number and the soliditie of the Grecian Phalanges.

In ordering a BATALION then after all these examples, it were good to retaine in part the armes and fashions of the Greek Phalanges; and in part of the Romain Legions, and of our modern men of warre: Wherefore in one Legion now adaies, there should be three thousand, and fiue hundred ordinarie pikemen, to make the bodie of the Batalion; and fower hundred and twentie for the flankes; one hundred and seuentie extraordinarie, for the forlorne hope, which are the armes of the Phalanges: Besides the pikemen were requisite fiue hundred Halebardiers▪ which are weapons found out in our time▪ and moreouer, CCCCxx. Harquebuziers, for the flankes; DClxxx▪ for the forlorne hope. The bodie of the Batalion is diuided into ten bands; as the Romans parted their Legions, into ten Cohortes▪ The Harquebuziers are ordained to begin the battaile, and for skirmishes; as the Romains had their Velites. And as the armes are taken of diuers Nations; so must also these bandes participate with the orders of many sundry people. The men of all these bandes are six thousand, and seuentie: besides which, there ought to be in euery Legion a Generall▪ chiefe aboue the Captaines▪ whom they call a COLONEL hauing for his officers these which follow▪ namely, a Marshall of the Campe, a Sergeant Maior, a Prouost, and vnder the Prouost, some men of knowledge, to assist him in his iudgements; and to counsaile him concerning matter of Iustice. He must also haue a muster Master, and some Sergeants, and Clarkes of bandes; and a master of high Iustice, or executioner. Moreouer, it is necessarie that the said Colonel, haue one, or two religious Parsons, to say the diuine seruice, and to administer the Sacramentes, to those of his Legion, or Regiment. He must also haue a Phisitian, an Apothecarie, some Surgeons, some ma­kers of fire-workes, and of powder▪ and some Armorers. The ouerplus [Page 116] to the full number of thirtie, ought to be reserued for his guard.

The Ensignes at this time serue rather to make a great show of people, then for any militarie vse: but antiquitie vsed them for guides, and to know the better how to bring themselues in order. For euery one as soone as the Ensigne made a stand, knew where his place was about it, and how to put himselfe in it presently. They knew in like maner that if it moued or staied, that they were accordingly, either to moue, or stand still. Therefore it is requisite, that in one Campe there should be many bodies, that is to say, bandes; and that euery bodie haue his Ensigne, to guide those that are of the same bodie: for in hauing it, the campe hath more armes, and by consequent more life. The souldiers then ought to order themselues according to the Ensignes; and the Ensignes according to the sound; which being ordained as it ought, commaundeth the whole Legion: which if it march in such sort, that their places be correspondent to the beating of the Drumms, will easilie keepe this ordinance. And to these ends the Auncients had flutes, and fifes, and sounds perfectly agreeable. For as he which daunceth according to the falles of the Musick doth not erre; so also that Batalion which marcheth ac­cording to the sound of the Drumme, can not fall in disarray. And therfore when they were disposed to change their place, or according as they listed to kindle, or appea [...]e, and assure their souldiers, they likewise changed their sound; and as the sounds were variable, so the names of them were diuers. We haue in our time the Drummes for the footmen; and the Trompets for the horsemen▪ both which instruments haue their seuerall bearings, and sounds▪ to incourage the souldiers when it is needfull: and to this end are they inuented to commaund▪ and to make themselues vnderstood a far off. But I beleeue verilie, that the Drummes were also inuented to serue to keepe measure for the souldiers in their marching: for all the times and diuersities of their beatings are true cad [...]os, and measures for the hastning, or staying of the pace of the men of warre. It behoueth them then to learne all the sounds, all the signes▪ and all the c [...]ies; which are vsed to commaund in bat­taile; and that euery one vnderstand what they signifie▪ Euen as the Mariners know what they are to do by the only whistle of the Master: wherein the souldier ought to be readie, and instructed to obey presently, and to pur­pose▪ to the beating of the Drummes, whether it be to march forward; or to stand still; or to [...]ire [...] ▪ or els to turne their faces, and armes to any part▪ And to these endes the Colonell is to ordaine that all his drums, haue the self same kind of beating; and that they all vse one, and the same forme of striking an Alarum▪ of shaking proclamation; of imbatayling themselues; of going for­ward▪ or backward; of [...]ing them on thone side, or on thother; or for the retreit▪ And in brief to signifie all the other points, which the voice of one alone, can not make so well vnderstood, as doth the sound of many drums▪ which cause themselues to be heard in the greatest tumult, and the thickest thronges. The souldiers also ought to be so attentiue, to harken what is said vnto them, or commaunded; that they n [...]u [...] faile. The Drummes also ought [Page] to be readie to beate, according to the sound of the Colonel his Trompets; by which they are directed in all their beatings. The Colonel his Trompet must be expert in all kind of soundings; and doe them so loude and shril, that he make not one thing vnderstood for another: but know how to expresse as appertaineth, the commaundment of the Colonel; about whom he ought alwaies to be, and neuer to forsake him. The cause why Trompets are ap­pointed for footmen, is because they be much better vnderstood then the Drummes, if there be a great tumult, and that the sound must be varied: for it is by the Trompets that they are gouerned, whose sound is higher then is the beating of Drummes: Which the Switzers, (who haue bin the inuen­tours of Drummes) haue knowen: And for these purposes haue Trom­pets before their batalions; by which the chiefes doe signifie what the Batalion is to doe. And it is no long time sithence they vsed great Cor­netts.

And forasmuch as the ARTILLERIE is conducted, and garded by the footmen: we will speak thereof, as far foorth as concerneth the compa­rison of auncient things with moderne; before we come to intreat of the horsemen, or men of armes. The name of Artillerie was before, that Ca­nonrie was knowen, comprehending all engines of batterie, and defence; which by excellencie, remaineth only to the Canon; all other auncient mi­litarie instruments fayling: as Balistes, Catapultes, Rammes, and all others. Dio­dorus the Sicilian writeth of an engine of batterie called Helipolis, which Demetrius surnamed Poliocritus vsed against the Towne of Salamis in Cy­prus. This engin was Lx. cubits broad of all sides, and Lxxx. in heigth: and therewith had nyne stages, separated thone from thother with plankes of wood; and yet notwithstanding was all sustained with fower great wheeles of one Cubite in height. He had moreouer many engines called Rammes to batter the wals: and to succour them two other mightie engines or fences of bordes, couered with hairecloth, or with raw hides, which serued against fire or stones; vnder which they might safely assayle the walls. He placed be­low, and in the first storie, many engines to shoote great and heauie stones; in the middle storie, there were other engines shooting long and sharpe shot; and in the highest stories, others shooting lighter shot, and smaller stones: And euery where was a sufficient number of men, to handle and vse those engines; about two hundred in all. Polybius showeth the fashion of an other engine of warre called Sambucas, which the Romains vsed against the Citie of Syracusa: & it was after this sort. They had readie in their ship a ladder of fower foote broad, that when they landed, they might set it against the wal; on the sides wherof they fastned things to hold by, and armed it with a couer of defence, setting it a crosse those holds which held the ships together; in such sort, that it stood agood way beyond the fordeck of the ship. To the top of the masts were fastned polies with cordes, & there when necessitie required, they drew those that were at the hind part of the ship by the polies with cordes, to the top of the ladder. Thother also which were at the forcastle, made fast the [Page 117] engine with stages; and then they drew neere vnto the wall, comming on land by the sayling of the ships, which was easily done by meanes of the two decks made on the outside. At the top of the ladder there was a plank, of a good breadth, and fenced with shieldes: on which fower souldiers got vp, and fought against those which out of the fortresses did hinder the approch of the Sambuque: And when as by the approch of the ladder they had got­ten to the wall; disarming the sides of their shieldes, they got vp into the for­tresses, or towers: and the rest followed them by the Sambuque, by meanes of the transporting of the ladder, out of one vessell into an other, by the cordes and pullies. Which engine was with good reason termed a Sambuque; for when it was so perfected and erected, the figure of the ship, and the lad­der together resembled a Sambuque; being an instrument of Musick, which we call a Shagboote. The Romains then thought to come to the wall with this engine thus prepared: But Archimedes with other engines, cast from the top of the wall a great stone of the waight of ten kintalls, then a second, and afterward a third, one after an other; which falling on this engine, with a wonderfull thundering and tempest, broke downe all the foundation; dis­membring, and disseuering those things which ioyned the gallies together, and vpheld it. And going about to come neerer to the wall, to auoide the blowes of the stones, and the shot, which they thought would haue gone ouer their heads, and could not haue hurt them, when they were neere; they were beaten back by other engines, whose cariage was proportioned for all distances: and many holes and arches being neere one an other on the wall, where there were many crosbowes to shoote neere at hand, being in such places, that the enemies without could not see them; when they were about to come neerer, thinking to be vnder couert, and to remaine out of sight, they were all astonished, finding themselues againe receiued with an infi­nite number of shot, and beaten downe with stones, which fell directly on their heads: for there was no place of the wall, but shot at them. By reason wherof they were constrained to retire back again from the wall; but when they were then farther remoued, the shott, stones, and arrowes, that flew on all sides, found them out, and hit them where they were; in such sort, that there were many men spoiled, and many of their vessels brused, and battered: they not being able to take any reuenge on their enemies; because that Archime­des had prepared the most part of his engines behind and vnder couert, and not vpon the wall. All which inuentions are subtile, and ingenious: but yet not comparable to the Canon in these daies; which breaketh and battereth whatsoeuer it encountreth.

I come now to the CAVALERIE, which is vsed diuersly in diuers Regions. Some vse that called of the Auncients, Cataphracte of barded hor­ses with lances, and curtelasses; Others vse light horses with swordes and pistoles; And others ryde naked or vnarmed, with short lances, as horsman­staues, or bowes and arrowes, or harquebuze. The Cataphracte Caualerie of France, hath alwaies bin much regarded, carying the name aboue all others, [Page] both for exploit, and equipage; and especially sithence the time of king Charles the seuenth: who reduced it to a certain number of lances, and men of armes, of his ordinances, ordinarily paied, and continually exercised in armes, being diuided into garrisons in his frontier places. He diuided them into bands, and companies, furnished with Captains, Lieutenants, Ensignes, Guidons, men of armes, Marshals of the lodgings, quarter Masters, and har­bingers; treasorers of the warres, and paymasters of companies, commissaries, and controllours: committing the charge of them to chosen Lords of wise­dome, and magnanimitie: as to the Constable, and Marshals of France; and other men of qualitie.

The MAMMELVCS being taken the most of them out of the countrie of Circasse, were instructed by Masters of fence, and continually exercised in armes; hardning them to labour, to honger, and to thirst, and to lie on the ground; or on some poore peece of tapistry. They which were found the most valiant, were inrolled in this order; receiuing from that time forward good in­tertainment, and salarie. Wherefore hauing no other care, but of armes; and being strong of disposition, and accustomed from their infancie vnto paine; they gaue themselues the chiefe praise for warre, aboue all other Nations: thinking that there were not in the world any, whom they could not ouer­come by armes.

The PERSIANS are Cataphractes, hauing strong barded horses; and are verie valiant men of armes: in such sort, that fiue and twentie thousand of them, do not feare a hundred thousand Turks; which fight vnarmed vpon light horses. The Nobilitie of the countrie are bound to go to the warre, by the fees, and vnderfees which they possesse; as in France, Spaine, Lombardy, Naples, England, Germanie, & Poland: and to find a certain number of armed men, according to the reuenew of their lands which they hold, either by suc­cession from their parents; or by benefit of the Prince. The richer sort are com­monly verie well armed; the others content themselues with salets, and coates of mayle: and being couered with shields, they fight somtimes with the lance, and sometimes with the bow. Those of Scyras are accounted the best; then the Assyrians; with whom are mingled, the Medians, and Parthians the best archers of Asia after the Tartarians. The ARMENIANS like better to fight on foote, and are ordered in batalions; fortifying themselues with great pa­uoises, pitched in the ground against their enemies: vsing short pikes, & axes, and slings. Their allies are the Georgians, & Mengrelles; which are Christi­ans after the Greeke maner; and reputed most warlike.

There is great reckoning made of the ALBANESES of Greece, of the HOVSSERONS of Hongarie, & of the REISTERS of Germanie. But the Turks at this day seem to be the chief warriours, hauing ouercom the French­men in the battail of Nicopoli; ouerthrowen the Mammelucs; & vanquished the Persians in their owne Countrie; subdued the Albaneses, and the Hon­garians; entred, & wasted Germanie. Wherof none ought to wonder, conside­ring their discipline, in the which they haue many things most cōmendable, [Page 118] obserued with Iustice and seuerity; in such sort that they excell therein the auncient Greeks, and Romains. The first is [...]obr [...]ety, for in scarsity of victuals they wil sustaine themselues in war with a little bread halfe baked, and rice; with the pouder of flesh that is dried in the sunne▪ [...]eir drink is faire water, being forbidden to drink wine in the Campe. Such a law had in ancient time the Carthaginians in war, as Plato faith▪ But the Turks besides this politicke discipline haue their religion also, which maketh them the more fearefull to offend. There was neuer elswhere the like obedience, because there is not a­mongst them any company about x. men, but hath his head; & the inferiours are alwaies obedient to their superiours. Their s [...] in such a multitude is meruailous▪ so many souldiers being kept in order by signes of the hand, & of the countenance, without speaking any word: In so much that oftentimes in the night they let their prisoners escape for feare of making noise. There is none so hardy as to bring any woman into the army; nor to vse the company of any. They play not at dic [...], nor cards, nor any other plaies of hazard, for mo­ny: neither do they blaspheme God in any sort; but name him at al times with great reuerence. The two cases which they punish most greeuously are quar­rels, and thefts. Marching thorough the countrey in the summer season, they dare not for their liues to go amongst the come, & spoil it. They despise death, thinking that it is predestinate vnto euery man▪ and the day of his death writtē in his forehead; which it is not possible to auoid: which maketh them more bold and aduentorous; as also the punishment & recompence which are pre­sent for them that do well or euil. For whereas punishment, and reward, doe vphold al cōmon weals (as Solon said) & honor, & reproch are the two wings of vertue▪ presently amongst them after the fight is done, he that hath acquited himselfe wel, is rewarded by increasing of his pay; and he that hath done euill hath his head cut off; or els remaineth for euer dishonored. They neuer lodge in the townes; neither when they come neer them▪ do they permit any to goe lye there; for feare of iniuries and seditions: obseruing military discipline very strictly; to thend, that while they are in cāpe, they be not vsed vnto delicacies, which in times past haue destroied mighty kingdoms; and corrupted the most warlike Nations. Moreouer to auoide ydlenes, the Othoman Princes haue accustomed, from two yeres to two yeres, to make wars in some place; to the end to exercise their men of war: which otherwise being dispersed here and there in the prouinces would consume, and come to be of little worth: There is no nation with whom the Turkes haue had any different, but they alwaies ouer came them; besides the Tartarians. Notwithstanding although the great Seignior aboundeth in men, and in all things requisite for warres, more then any other Monarch of our time; yet for all that he aduentureth nothing rash­ly: and obtaineth more victories by dexterity, and taking opportunities, then he doth by force. He knoweth the maners of those with whō he hath to deale; & procureth thē other enimies, to thend, to distract, & to weakē their forces: causing the situation of the countries to be set downe before him in a model: which way he is to march; wherto encāpe with his army; to fight or to retire; [Page] seldome going into any countrey, but when it is deuided; and that he hath fauour, and intelligence with the one partie. He accustometh when he goeth about any long or difficult iourney, and where the coūtrey is vneasie to draw artillerie▪ to cary it in pieces: and then towards the bounds of the enemy, or when he hath passed the euil way, to cast and melt it. When he conquereth by armes any new [...]trey, he ouerthroweth by and by all the vnnecessary fortresses; destroieth the cities, and iourneth them into poore Hamlets; ex­tinguisheth wholly the great ones, and the nobles: suffering the common people to liue in that religion which they had before. All his great power consisteth in his [...] called commonly spachis; and in his footemen which are called Ianisaries. The Spachis haue as much pay in time of peace, as in warre, and are abou [...] the number of two hundred thousande; compre­hending as well the ordinary ones of the Court, and house of the Prince; as the subiects or Beglerbeis. Moreouer there are threescore thousand aduen­turours, named Achangis: to whom the Turkes and Tartarians do ioine when they are called. But there is no strength among the Turkes more assu­red or more galant▪ then that of the Ianisaries; which can after the maner of the Macedonian Argyr [...]spides in old time being disposed into a phalange, sustaine and breake all the assaults of the enemies: and neuer were ouercome togither. Amurath the second of that name first ordayned them, and by their helpe wan the great battaile at Varne; where Lancelot the king of Hongaria, and Polonia was slaine His sonne Mahomet tooke Constantinople by assault; and Baiazet, Methon: Selim vanquished the Sophi, & the two Souldans; Soli­man obtained many victories in Asia, Africk, & Europe. Their weapons are either [...]ows, or long harquebuses, which the most part handle very wel; shor­ter pikes then those with the Lansquenets and Switzers vse; a Cymeter, and a little battaile-axe. They fight stou [...]ely both by sea, and by lande. They take the sonnes of all the Christians that are subiect to their Seignior, which he commaundeth to be taken from three yeres to three, or from foure to foure; and maketh them to be brought vp very poorely, and to lye on hard ground; to thend to harden them to trauaile, and accustome them to liue in the field. All the Turkes goe, with such courage, order, and alacrity to the warre, es­pecially when it is for defence of their religion; that when they assemble to go thither, one would thinke they were rather going to a mariage, then to the campe. Scarsely, and with much a doo will they stay for the prefixed time of marching but doe commonly preuent it. It dislyketh them much to remaine at rest without warr; accounting themselues happy when they die not in their houses, amidst the teares of their wiues; but in fight amongest the Lances, and arrowes of their enemies: not lamenting for the losse of those which die in that maner; but reputing them holy, and praying for them in all their as­semblies. To preuent manslaughters (which they haue in great detestation) they carieno weapons in the Court, nor in the Townes, or in campe, saue when they are to fight; but lay them on camels, or mules, or keepe them within their tents. They care not for the colde of Winter, nor the heate of [Page 119] Sommer, nor for any other incommodity of the aire, or of the weather; They feare not the roughnesse of places; or length of the waies; they content themselues with a little; and doe not lode themselues with vnprofitable baggage: making great iourneyes, without fainting thorough their trauail. They showe great staiednesse in their manners, auoiding lightnesse in their deedes, gestures, apparell, and speaches. There is no curiositie, vanitie o [...] superfluity amongest them: but on the contrary great simplicitie, and mo­destie. When AMVRATH the second, (whome they account a Saint, and who was very valiant and fortunate in armes) went to the Temple to praier, he went out of his palace without any pompe, accompanied onely with two seruants; and woulde not bee saluted nor flattered with accla­mations: and being in the Temple had no heauen spred ouer him, nor any other magnificence; and before he died gaue ouer the Empire to his sonne, and withdrew himselfe to a religious solitarines. Hee was affable in speach, wise in iudgement, and liberall in almes. His sonne MAHOMET had very fauorable fortune; resembling Alexander the great, in courage, in witt, and desire of glorie. Hee tooke Constantinople by assault at the age of twentie and two yeares: And complayned notwithstanding that Alex­ander at the same age, with so little power, had conquered the Empire of the worlde: and hee which had no lesse hart, then he, and was so mightie in men, in horses, armes, and reuenewes, could not haue his will of one part thereof; although that by his great deeds he got the title of great vnto his fa­family. SELIM preferred Alexander the great, and Iulius Cesar before al the great Capitaines of the auncients; reading incessantly their deeds tran­slated into the Turkish tongue; and conforming himselfe after their ymita­tion, hath gotten the greatest victories of our time. SOLIMAN after hee had gouerned wisely and happely that great Empire by the space of for­tie and seauen yeares, being reuerenced and obeyed of his owne; feared of his neighbours, and desired of all; dyed fighting at the age of threescore and eighteene yeres: and when he was dead by the terrour of his name, and reputation of his magnanimitie tooke Signet in Hongarie, leauing peace­able so vnmeasurable a power vnto Selim his successour.

They were neuer to any purpose beaten, but by TAMBERLAN, who in knowledge, and experience of armes, power, authoritie, felicitie quicknesse of spirit, diligence, hardinesse, and perseuerance▪ hath excelled not onely the Otthomans: but also all the great Capitaines, Assyrians, Egyptians, Medes, Persians, Parthyans, Greekes, Romanes, Christians, and Sarasens.

THE beginnings of the Artes haue bin small, and the greatest difficultie, was in the first inuenting of them; then by the industrie of the learned, they were by little and little augmented; Correcting such thinges as were euill obserued, and supplying such as were omitted: but yet, without making any thing entierly absolute; where­vnto there might nothing be added. Nothing is begon and ended at one time; but by succession of time, things are increased, amended, and become better polished. Almost all the Artes haue bin inuented by Vse and Experience; and afterwardes gathered and made by obseruation and reason: and then consequently reduced into better forme, and more certain, by Diuisions, Definitions, Argumentations, and De­monstrations; by generall precepts and rules drawen from nature, not from opinion, and tending to the same ende: not by staying and resting on that which men had formerly done, said, or written; nor by only imitating of them, after the maner of slouthfull, and cowardly persons: but by the ad­ding of somewhat of their owne, by some that came after, according as the matters from time to time discouered, and cleared themselues; the honour commonly remayning to the last commers, as the most exquisite, and ac­complished. By whose example we ought to trauaile courageously, with hope to make our selues better then them; aspiring continually to perfec­tion, which as yet is not seene any where: considering that there remayne more thinges to be sought out, then are alreadie inuented, and founde. And let vs not be so simple, as to attribute so much vnto the Auncients, that wee beleeue that they haue knowen all, and said all; without lea­uing anything to be said, by those that should come after them. They haue not bin so arrogant, as to looke that none should meddle, or deale with those matters which they had handeled: But on the contrarie, considering [Page] the difficultie of knowledge, and the weaknes of mans vnderstanding, they haue exhorted others to trauaile therein; speaking rather to stir them vp, and prouoke them thereunto, then to keepe them back, or stay them from writing. Let vs not thinke that nature hath giuen them all her good gifts, that she might be barren in time to come: but that as she hath in times past brought foorth certaine notable personages, who haue manifested many of her secrets; so she can againe bring foorth, such as by the influence of hea­uen, and a singular inclination, by liuelynes of vnderstanding, and perseue­rance of labour, shall attaine thither; whither long experience, diligent ob­seruation, and subtilitie of reason, haue not pierced till this present. She is the same that she was in the former famous ages: The world is such as it was before: The heauen and the time keepe the same order which they did; The Sunne, and thother Planets, haue not changed their courses; and there is no starre remoued out of his place: The Elements haue the same power; men are made of the same matter, & in the same sort disposed as they were in old time. And were not the maner of lyuing corrupted, which we vse, preferring idle­nesse before diligence, pleasure before profit, and riches before vertue; no­thing would let, but this age might bring foorth as eminent personages in Philosophie as were Plato, and Aristotle; in Physick as Hippocrates, and Ga­len; or in the Mathematicks as Euclide, Archimedes, and Ptolomey. Consi­dering the help which we receiue of their books, the examples wherwith antiquitie hath instructed vs, so many obseruations, and inuentions si­thence their time, and so long experience of all things: In such sort, that (if we consider it well) there was neuer age more happie for the aduancement of learning, then this present; if weying the shortnes of mans life, we resolue to employ our whole endeuour & industrie, on the studie of true knowlege. Wisdom hath not fulfilled her work; much remaineth, and will alwaies re­maine: and there will neuer be wanting occasion to add therunto. Trueth doth offer her selfe to all those that wil seek her, and are of capacitie to receiue her▪ albeit Democritus complayneth, that she is hid in a place as deep as a well, wherhence (in his opinion) it is not possible to draw her foorth. Who­soeuer giueth himself to it in good earnest, shall find alway somewhat to do therin. All the mysteries of God and secrets of nature, are not discouered at one time. The greatest things are difficult, and long in comming. How many are there, not yet reduced into art? How many haue bin first knowen and found out in this age? I say, new lands, new seas, new formes of men, ma­ners, lawes, and customes; new diseases, and new remedies; new waies of the Heauen, and of the Ocean, neuer before found out; and new starres seen? yea, and how many remaine to be knowen by our posteritie? That which is now hidden, with time will come to light▪ and our successours will won­der that wee were ignorant of them. M. Varro witnesseth, that in the space of a thousand yeares, the Arts were inuented, and augmented; which yet vntill this time are not perfected, and accomplished: But if the perfection of them hath not hitherto bin found, it followeth not therof, that it cannot [Page 128] be found. For those things which at this day are held to be the greatest, and most admirable, had a time of beginning: and that which is now verie good, was not so at the first; but is increased by little and little, amending from time to time. Certainly, the excellencie in all thinges is slow, diffi­cult, and rare: seing that there is scarcely found in many hundreds, and thou­sands of yeares, amongst an infinite number of Students, one man wor­thie of admiration; beeing learned and eloquent indeed; that with a good naturall wit, liuelynes and sharpnes of vnderstanding, experience and vse of things, hath the constancie and pacience to perseuere, which are requi­site to such an interprise. This notwithstanding, we ought not to faint, or to dispaire; for if there be but small hope to excell and go beyond the best; yet is it an honour to follow them: and if there be no meanes to reach them; yet is it commendable to be second, or third vnto them. It is there­fore conuenient to applie our industrie to the searching out of the trueth, as they haue done; and to endeuour to augment the doctrine of the Auncients: without so much subiecting our selues to antiquitie, that we do nothing for our age; and haue no care of our posteritie. Moreouer, many things inuen­ted by the Auncients, are lost. The wisdome of the Egiptians, Persians, Indi­ans, and Bactrians, hath not come vnto vs; many good Greek and Latine Authours are not found; And amongst those that remayne, there are few agreable to the present maners, and affaires. We do not build now adaies af­ter the fashion of Vitruuius; neither tyl the ground, nor plant, according to Varro, or Columella; nor take foode or physick after the ordinance of Hip­pocrates, and Galen: We iudge not according to the Ciuil Law of the Ro­maines; neither plead we as did Demosthenes, and Cicero; or gouerne our common wealthes, by the Lawes of Solon, and Lycurgus; or following the politicke precepts of Plato, and Aristotle. We sing not as did the Aun­cients; neither warre we according to Vegetius: the art militarie being changed; and all kind of armes, both offensiue, and defensiue. Ptolomey in his Cosmographie, doth aduertize men to beleeue the latest trauaylers, touching the longitude, and latitude of places. Aristotle saith, that the Quadrature of the Circle may be knowen; but that it is not yet found out. Plato affirmeth, that Geometrie was vnperfect in his time, and that Ste­reometrie, and the Cubike wanted. The Calculations of the Heauens are not all found true. Vesalius curiously obseruing Anatomie, hath found manie pointes therein omitted by Aristotle, and Galen. Plinie, boasteth that he hath added in the Historie of liuing Creatures, that which Aristotle was ignorant of. Leonicenus reproueth Plinie of lyes, and errours in manie places. Auenreis hath written agaynst Galene; Galene against Aristotle; and Aristotle against Plato. There is no Authour so accomplished or per­fected, in whom one may not finde somewhat wanting, or worthie of re­proofe. And that which is worse; there are some men so giuen and so af­fectionate to antiquitie, that they are ignorant, or haue very smal knowledge, [Page] of the Countrie, and time wherein they liue. They know in euery point how Athens, Lacedemon, Carthage, Persia, & Egipt were gouerned, not knowing the affaires of their owne Countrie; wherin they are strangers: As there are found many among vs, discoursing of the assembly of the Ariopagites, & of the Comices of the Romains; vnderstanding nothing of the counsaile of France, the handling of the reuenewes, and the order of the Parliaments. Is it not then an abusing of studie, and of learning, to dwell continually among the Auncients,; and not to endeuour to bring foorth new inuentions, agreeable to the maners, and affaires of this time. When wil we leaue taking of grasse for corne; the flower for the fruit; and the rind for the wood; doing nothing but translate, correct, expound, or abridge, the bookes of the Auncients? who if they had bin also of this mind, not setting themselues to write; or to say any thing, but that which had bin written, or said before; no Art should haue bin inuented: or at least, they had all remained in their beginnings, without recei­uing any increase. The perpetuall Imitatours, or alwaies Translatours; or Commentatours, hyding themselues vnder the shadow of others, are verie slaues; and haue no generous courage in them: if they dare not once to do, that which they haue so long time learned. They alwaies distrust themselues; and follow the first in those things, wherin the later haue not agreed with the for­mer; namely, in those which are not yet sought out: and will neuer be found, if we content our selues with that which is alreadie inuented; without ad­ding any thing therunto. By occasion whereof, I will aunswere them hence­forward which obiect, that there are too many bookes.

Certainly, if all that hath bin written by the auncient Philosophers, Histo­riographers, Oratours, Poets, Physitians, Diuines, and Lawiers, had come to our hands, all had bin full of bookes; and we should haue had no other moue­ables in our house but bookes: we should be constrained to go, sit, and lie vpon bookes. And yet there remaine so many, and are made from day to day, that the age of man could not suffice to read, not onely the writings in many disciplines; but in one particuler: and seldome are the Inuentories found per­fect. The great number serueth rather for charge, then for instruction; and it is much better to read some few that be good; then to wander thorough many which are euill. Lucian blameth an ignorant person, which boasted that he had many bookes; and Martial mocketh an other, who thought thereby to be accounted learned. Seauen hundred Volumes were found in the Librarie of Alexandria, which were all burned together by a mischance of fire. The learned caried their books thither from all parts, as to the Thea­ter of learning; and they read them in the Museum which was there, at the plaies ordained for the honour of Apollo, and of the Muses: the vanquishers receiuing great gifts, in the sight and knowledge of all the world; In somuch that none were reckoned learned, which had not won some prize there. Liuie calleth that great Librarie, a worthy work of kingly care, and magnificence: But Seneca saith, that it was neither care, nor magnificēce; but a studious pompe or superfluity: & yet not studious; because the K^s. Ptolomeyes had not erected [Page 129] it to serue for study, but for a shew and spectacle. As we see many priuate men also which haue gathered many togither, wel printed, boūd, & gilded: to serue onely for ornaments, which they neuer looke in themselues, nor suffer others for feare of fouling them. Also king ATTALVS assembled at Pergamus in emulation of the Ptolomeyes, two hundred thousand volumes which were giuen by Antonius to Cleopatra, & so vanished. There were in the Library of the GORDIANS xl. thousand: and a great number of exquisite ones in that of LVCVLLVS, and AVGVSTVS. There are some at this present very wel furnished; both amongst the Christians, and the Mahometists.

But going by the professions, I haue read that DIDYMVS a Gramma­rian composed foure thousand books: APPIAN sixe thousand; who was so arrogant, as to say, that he made them immortall, to whom hee dedicated his workes. CICERO said, that if his age were doubled, yet would it not suffice to read all the Lyrick Poets. Seneca thinketh as much of those that haue written of Logick. There is no people, nation, citie, common-wealth, seigniorie, coū ­trey, kingdom, or empire; but hath his Cronicles and Histories. In Greece one only war of Marathon, found three hundred Historiographers, & Plutarch in his liues alleageth more then two hundred of them. SALVST, and LIVIE are come to vs vnperfect, and faulty: as are also many others of lesse reckoning both Greekes and Romaines. It is not possible to recken the books that are made of Phisicke, which hath many times bin changed, and diuided into di­uers sects. ARISTOTLE the Philosopher composed iiij. hundred volumes: and VARRO the most learned amongst the Romains as many. The Empe­rour IVSTINIAN by the excessiue multitude of books which were of the ciuil Law, was constrained to cause the Pandects to be made: on which contra­ry to his edict haue bin heaped innumerable cōmentaries. S. Iohn the euange­list saith, that the world is not able to receiue all the books which should bee written of IESVS CHRIST: as appeared in the time following, where­in were infinite written in many languages, concerning the Christian religi­on; and the exposition of the old and new Testament. ORIGEN alone hath written sixe thousand bookes. The Gothes, Vandales, Alanes, Hunnes, Lom­bards, Sarazens, Turkes, and Tartarians brought an inestimable losse to the li­braries, and corruption to the languages.

Bookes are different also according to the disposition of the times, and in­clination of the countries wherein they are made: euen as wines are diuers ac­cording to the territorie, qualitie of the aire, and disposition of the yere; the nature of the vine, & industry of the keeper. Euery age hath his peculiar kind of speech; Euery nation and age his phrase: the Greekes and Latins writing af­ter one sort; the Hebrewes, Chaldees, and Arabians after an other. All are not of continuance: and as many are lightly and easily made; so they are est­soones and incontinently lost. Some are left off for the obscurity, and to affec­ted subtilty and barbarousnes which is in them: Others despised, or neglec­ted as vnprofitable; or consumed by length of time; or destroied by warres, changes of tonges, and of religions; or by being euil written and copied out; [Page] or corrupted, & depraued: In others there is nothing but tedious repetitions; by changing the order, and the words. Plinie a man of great reading, saith that in conferring and comparing of authours, he hath found the old written out word for word by those that were next after them, concealing their names; and choosing rather to be taken in their theft, then to acknowledge the debt. Those which are respected here as holy; are burned elswhere, as abhomina­tion. The affected to some certaine sect, religion, or profession, are red onely by people of the same sect, religion, and profession. The poemes, orations, epistles, chronicles, histories, comedies, and tragedies, are not loked on; but by such as vnderstand the tongue wherin they are written: & out of it they com­monly lose their grace. There are not any which please and satisfy al peo­ple; or which are receiued in al places; except they be aduisedly made, with great iudgment, & profound learning, by a singular grace of God, and a rare goodnes of nature: resisting against enuious old age, & warranting themselues from the silence of obliuion. Such as seeme to be those of Plato, Aristotle, Hip­pocrates, & Ptolomey▪ who not content with the images of things, and shadows of opiniōs, haue sought the truth directly; & haue therfore escaped the iniury of time, of fire, of water, & of wars; among so many nations, & contrary sects, translated into diuers languages; yet keeping stil the same grace, as when they were newly made. For as time abolisheth the opinions that are not wel groū ­ded; so it also cōfirmeth the infallible iudgemēts of a wise & vnderstanding na­ture, augmēting alwaies the reputatiō of those writers which haue best obser­ued, & vnderstood it. The iudgment of time discouereth in the end the secret faults of al things; who being the father of truth, and a iudge void of passion, hath alwaies accustomed to giue a iust sentēce, of the life or death of writings.

But seeing that the arts & sciences begin, & grow; are changed and preser­ued by care, diligence, remembrance, & meditation, and are lost by negligēce, slouth, forgetfulnes, and ignorance; it being a thing most requisite that trueth should remain amongst men: It behoueth of necessity that the first being abo­lished, others should come in their places; and that the old bookes being lost, there should be made new. For as other things being subiect to mutatiō, haue need of continuall generation to renew themselues, and to maintaine eche of them his kinde: So must learning also be prouided for, by seeking of new inuentions, in steede of those that are lost, by changing that which is not well; and by supplying that which is wanting: to the end that it be not de­cayed; but amended from day to day. For the worlde being made of two things, whereof the one are perpetuall, and others mutable and corruptible: It is certaine that those which are perpetuall, as the heauen, the sunne, the moone, and thother starres, remain, constantly alwaies in one selfe same estate: But they that are moueable doe begin, and end; are borne, and die; do increase, & diminish vncessantly; endeuouring notwithstanding (as much as they may) to come neere and participate of eternity: not by remaining alwaies one and the same (as doethe superiour and diuine thinges) but by continuing their kindes by the meanes of generation; which is an immortall worke in this [Page 130] mortalitie. So the plants, and all liuing creatures which cannot endure long, by the necessity of the matter whereof they are made, renew themselues con­tinually; procreating by budds, and seeds, their like. In such sort that by the or­der of nature the yong do alwaies succeed vnto the old, and the liuing to those that are deceased; their kinds by this meanes remayning immortall. But men being indewed with a diuine and immortal soule, do aspire more to such per­petuity and immortality; endeuouring to remedy that infirmity which they know in themselues: Namely such as haue their bodies most fruitful, by be­getting of children, by whom they hope to perpetuate their name, and ly­nage; Others that haue their minde better instructed, by bringing forth such fruits as are proper thereunto; as vertues, sciences, learned and elegant wri­tinges, and other such fruits more noble, more admirable, and more dura­ble then those of the body; which they prefer before children; and for which they voluntarily expose themselues to all labours, and dangers; neither spa­ring their parsons nor their goods. Therhence ariseth in good wits the insatia­ble desire of honor, stirring them vp day and night, not to content themselues with base, and casual things: but to seeke by vertuous deeds, to recompence the shortnes of this life, by the memory of all posterity. Therehence procee­deth the wonderfull desire of making themselues knowne▪ of leauing a good opinion of them, and getting an immortal renowne. And by how much the better they are, the more they striue to come to this point of immortalitie; which they do so long for. For those most excellent personages, woulde not haue trauailed as they haue done in times passed; without the hope which they had to be praised, and renowmed, as now they are. Such were the aun­cient Poets, Oratours, Historiographers, Physicians, Philosophers, and Di­uines; who haue brought forth so many bookes, which bring them immor­tall glory; as they themselues being immortall, do teach vnto others pietie, iu­stice, & equitie; declare the secrets of nature, both in heauen, & in earth; teach the disciplines; containe Histories ful of examples; giue remedies against ma­ladies; and other innumerable helpes, and meanes: without which we should liue worse then beastes; hauing neither religion, learning, nor ciuility. Such were the LAWMAKERS, who begat LAWES, and maners of gouernment, giuing to people, honest and durable maners of liuing. Such were the LAW­IERS who haue ordered the busines, contracts, and Cases of particular par­sons; expounded the Satutes, and ordinances; showing the reason of them; aduertising how they ought to be kept, renewed, or abrogated. Such were the valiant CAPTAINES who did heroycall deedes for the defence, and libertie of their countrey; founded Empires, and monarchies; and builded ci­ties: forgetting all other pleasures, to the end to leaue an immortall memory for the time to come. Such were many notable parsonages; who for hauing showed excellent inuentions, and exercised al vertues, haue bin greatly admi­red: euen to the deifying of some of them. And if we mislike barennes in the body, with greater reason ought we to detest it in the minde; and aspire to the like immortality, and renowme: the desire whereof is naturally giuen to all [Page] parsons, to serue for a spur to prick them forward vnto honest actions. The husbandman hateth the fruitles ground; and the husband a wife that is barren: And all doe commende him more that by husbandry augmenteth his good, then him wich maintaineth it only in that estate which is falne to him by suc­cession. So in like maner it suffiseth not to know by the book without bring­ing forth something of our selues, whereby to helpe the truth. Plato saith that the Greekes haue bettered that which they receiued from the Barbarians. Ci­cero is of opinion, that the Italians haue of themselues better inuented then the Grecians, or made that better which they borowed of them. And why should not we endeuour to do the like; amending that which the Barbarians, Greekes, & Romaines haue left vnto vs? There is no want of good wittes, so that they be wel instructed. Peraduenture there are more in one place then in ano­ther; but there are found some euery where; as in this countrey of ours, where nature hath shewed her selfe as fauorable as any where els: creating vs not in­feriour to any others, in situation, fertilitie, & commodity of countrey, good­nes of wits, ciuility of maners, equity of Laws, gouernment, and continuance of Monarchie; dexterity both in liberall and mechanical sciences, variety of all things either growing within the countrey, or brought from other pla­ces; multitude of publicke schooles well priuiledged, and richly founded for the institution of youth, and intertainment of Professours, and Teachers.

Wherefore, if all men do thinke that the future belongeth vnto them; they that are Learned must not be negligēt in obtaining of that by the durable mo­numents of Learning, which others do pretend and seeke by workes of small continuance. But they ought to trauaile to their power, if not in respect of men (who show themselues oftentimes ingrateful towards their benefactors, and enuious of the present vertue) yet at the least for the honour of God: Whose wil is, that we should carefully preserue the arts and sciences, as also all other things necessary for life; and deliuer them ouer from time to time to our posterity, by learned, and elegant writings in good matters: giuing light to the obscure, credit to the doubtful, order to the confused, elegancy to the vnpolished, grace to such as are left of, noueltie to the old, and authoritie to the new.