A Helpe to memory and discourse with table- talke as musicke to a banquet of wine : being a compendium of witty, and vsefull propositions, problemes, and sentences / extracted from the larger volumes of physicians, philosophers, orators and poets, distilled in their assiduous and learned obseruations, and which for method, manner, and referent handling may be fitly tearmed, A Second misselany, or helpe to discourse.

Directions for the preseruation of the naturall Memory , consisting first in auoyding of things hurtfull : Secondly , in imbracing such things as are helpfull .

THe Memory , whose Eyes are seated in the backe part of the Braine , hath no obiect till something bee effected : shee lookes not forward at things to come , but recordeth euents already succeeded ; the edge wherof , like the finest razor , is quickly turned or blunted : wherefore among many things that are required to preserue it in a perfect temperature , these especially ensuing , are respected as principall furtherers or decayers thereof . And first of the offensiue part .

Things hurtfull for the Memory to be anoyded .

First , wee are to obserue , that all co●rupt ayres , noysome vapours and sent● are offensiue thereunto , and therefore o● chiefest respect ought to bee , that the Ayre wherein we breathe , be not thicke , foggy , and vnwholesome , annoyed with stinking marishes , standing ditches , and lakes , &c.

Secondly , that we walke not forth in foggy or mystie Euenings or Mornings , before or after the Sunne be downe or vp .

Thirdly , that we abstaine from all crude and grosse Flesh , vnripe fruits , greene herbes , and all other things , cold by nature or vaporous , which send vp grosse humore into the braine .

Fourthly , that wee auoid all fuming drinks , strong Wine , and Ale , or any broths made of vnwholesome water .

Fiftly , from Beanes , Pease , Garlicke and Onions , which especially cause Head-ache , hurt the Eyes and the Sinews , and by weakning the senses , cause dreames and phantasies .

Sixtly , Likewise from such things as are flow of digestion , as Cheese , Nuts , Wallnuts , and meates of diuers sorts at one meale .

Also we are to auoid ( as dangerous therinto ) immoderate sleepe , too much Venery , especially when the stomacke is full , or the body drie : at change of the moone , or where sleepe may not follow .

But from it altogether should young men abstaine , as likewise old men , and women with childe .

All cold in the hindermost part of the Head , Necke , Stomacke , and Belly , is offensiue . Likewise immoderate labour , which dryes vp the strength and duls the Spirits , especially in moyst and windy places .

Much care , feare , griefe , and all violent passions of the minde : too much Reading and Study , Night-watching , long-hayre , washing the head in cold water , with the distraction of the mind into diuers studies , all offensiue and hurtfull .

Things good to preserue and restore the Memory ,

Are for the most part the vse of these precedent contraries , aa all meates that yeeld good iuyce or nourishment to 〈◊〉 body : more especially the braine of 〈◊〉 Partridge , the Sparrow , Hare , Conny ▪ 〈◊〉 Henne , the last whereof is the first and 〈◊〉 in reckoning .

For , some Physicians write , that 〈◊〉 braine of the Hen , addes to the very su●●stance of the Braine : of whom it is thus Written : The Henne of all fowles is accounted best : In two things farre excelling all the rest . For first , for those that want or Braine or wit : The Hennes braine doth augment both that and it . And in her body she the egge doth breed , The yolke whereof turnes to much blood and seed .

Likewise the vapour and decoction of these Herbes infused into the eare through some Tunnell , much comforteth the brain , that is to say , of Nigella Romana , the flowers of Rosemary , and Cardnus Benedictus : and these not onely comfort the braine ▪ but also sharpen the wit , exhilarate the mind , and procure healthfull sleepe . The washing of the feet in warme water once a moneth , and throughly boyled , wherein hath beene decocted Camomill , the leaues of Lawrell , and the like .

After meat abstaine one houre from all ●mmoderate labour , either of minde or body ; as after supper some reasonable time from sleepe ; for to fleepe vpon a full stomacke , much dulleth the braine , as it indangereth the body , which some say is thereby exposed to as much as to serue in the face of an enemy .

When thou goest to thy bed , shut the windowes of thy chamber , to exclude the winde , and draw close the curtaines to shut out the Moone-light , which is very offensiue and hurtfull to the braine , especially of those that sleepe , much more then of those that wake . Afterwards in thy lying downe , first turne thee vpon thy right side , when thou awakest again , vpon thy left side , that thy blood and digestion may the better replenish thy body ; euer practising the memory to record and repeat things receiued in the Euening , the Morning following : for by want of practice , the retentiue faculty becomes dull and forgetfull , as the Verse to this purpose seemes to insinuate ; Saepe recordari medicamen fortius omni . Solus et artificem qui facit , vsus erit .

Englished .

T is vse & practice that becomes each 〈◊〉 For that makes perfect , what neglect 〈◊〉 kill .

Neither desire superficially to read man● things , but rather well to vnderstand those few that thou doest ; for euen as it little auaileth the stomack to haue receiued much meate , except it bee thence disgested into nutriment to the body , so doth such reading bring as little profit to the minde .

Signes to iudge of the Debility , and Constitution of euery Braine , with some aduice for remedy of the ill disposition thereof .

THe Debility of each weake memory ariseth out of one of these foure causes : that is to say , either out of the too much heat of the braine , or too much cold , or too much moisture , or too much drinesse ; for too much heat dries vp the Spirits , too much cold hinders their operation and motion in the cauerne of the brain , too much driness● the reception of formes , and too muc● moisture drownes them vp ; the signes whereof are thus perceiued .

1. If the braine be ouer-hot , you shall perceiue an extraordinary heat in the head by the touching of it , and the parts about the head wil be hot and red , as likewise the eyes very nimble in turning , the hayres quickly growing and fast increasing .

2. But if ouer-cold , the head expresseth it by his coldnesse , in the face scarce appeares any rednesse , the turning of the eyes are slow and weake , the pulse and breathing very deliberate , the hayres long a growing , the head neuer offended with any hot cause : such are for the most part sleepy , fearefull , slothfull , slow to anger , and dull of memory , cold in their desire to women , and weak of sense .

3. Those of a moyst braine , are for the most part hairy , and such as are neuer troubled with baldnesse : they smell slowly , but sleepe soundly , and are seldome troubled with dreames .

4. But if the braine be ouer-dry , there the apprehension is but slow to conceiue , yet strong to retaine what it hath receiued : those of this disposition haue their haires hard and curled , the eyes hollow , and become quickly bald ▪

The state and disposition of the brain being thus knowne , it remains then , that 〈◊〉 ry man be obseruant and temperate 〈◊〉 diet , to take or forbeare such things , as 〈◊〉 be either good or hurtfull vnto it : 〈…〉 the braine be ouer-hot , those things are 〈◊〉 be obserued , and accustomed , that dimin●●● and allay the heat thereof , as the other to be forborne that increase it . If ouer-cold , then are we to abstaine from all cold meates , and betake to their contraries such as increase heate , and so moderating the extremity thereof , it may be reduced by this meanes , to a perfect perfection , and so of the rest .

And thus much shall suffice to haue sp●●ken of the foure Constitutions or qualit●● of the Braine , the direction whereof is c●●pious , in the workes of many learned A●●thors , which here I pursue not , because purpose breuity , but betake my selfe to fu●●ther matter of Discourse , History , and 〈◊〉 ty propositions , furniture and talke for 〈◊〉 triall of Wits and Braines .

Of Memories true vse . HE that remembers what he should forget , Hath taken Memory from her seat , and set 〈◊〉 three degrees below her . ●e that forgets what he remember should , 〈◊〉 equall ballance in account doth hold ●●th him , that doth not know her . ●e that remembers what he knowes is fit , And to obliuion doth the rest commit : That man hath learned all the rules of it , And may proceed to practise —

Of the excellency of Memory .

MEmory , it is that keepes aliue all the old Ages of the World , and Actions of men , from Adam to him that dyed yesterday : all which were else raked vp●● the embers of obliuion ; but that Mem●●● takes them vp , Discourse layes them open ●nd keepes them aliue . Were it not for 〈◊〉 excellent Sense ; how should the iust be ●ewarded , whose Memory shall bee blessed ▪ when as the memoriall of the wicked shall ●ot ? We see Memory to be a Record , let vs then put nothing on this file , but what is worthy a lasting durance : for it is a perpetuall Register ; deface it not then , blot it not , choake it not by any distemper , but cherrish and refresh it by these or better ●duices in this kinde , when thou meetest with them ; she cannot want food : 〈◊〉 the world is her dyet , and in these Di●●●ses thou shalt finde Sentences and 〈◊〉 Conclusions , some whereof will be 〈◊〉 worthy to be hung vp in this Store-ho●●● and so I leaue thee to gather what thou ●●dest worthy , and to lay vp what thou ●●therest .

Propositions follow .

Qu. WHat is the chiefe vertue and b●nefit of the Memory ?

A. Recordare Beneficia . Iudicia , Exempla . Nouissima ,

Englished ,

To remember 1. Benefits long , to require them . 2. Iudgements , to auo●● them . 3. Examples , to bee forewarned by them . 4. The 4 last things , that we neuer dow amisse by thinking on them .

And withall as we must remember benefits long , so we must forget iniuries quickly , so that Memory , and this forgetfulnesse will be equiualent in goodnesse .

Q. What doe we account the best staeyes and helpes to Memory ?

A. Writing ; for that hath conueyed and carried along , one Ages actions to another ; hath inriched one age with anothers knowledge ; by that we doe conferre with the deceased , and call the dead to liuing conferences : From Saint Austen and other those Fathers and Lights of the Church , how are our studies diuinely inlightned , whose continuall vigilancy and labour hath discouered vnto vs the bottome of those deepes , where the Elephant might bee drowned , at the end of whose labors we set to our meditations , and goe forward to our much ease and comfort , as is most decent ; as one writes , That she that 's neerest to the King of Kings , Should be most search't of any thing of things .

By these and such like helps haue our moderne Diuines the veyle of miseries drawn from before the face of Diuinity , and shee her selfe set more resplendent before them .

From Esculapius , Hippocrates , and Galen , Fathers of Physicke , ( which though Heathens ) did acknowledge a Deity in the wonderfull composure of mans body ; but fro● them haue not our moderne Physicians le●● into the quicker and more certaine know●ledge : and as other ages to come shall b● bettered by ours , so haue these beene bettered by others , as the latter age hath euer beene the Scholler of the former ; heretofore a wry necke , or the stone , went to the graue with him that had it : now Art hath found out common repaires for either , so that although Memory be Infida & labilis , hauing but slippery footing in the minde ; yet , by this meanes we find where she hath and may rest her foot .

Q. Who haue the best naturall Memories ?

A. They that exercise them most , and abuse them least : and therefore I haue knowne diuers vnlettered persons trusting onely to strength of Memory , could record and retaine much more then the Scholler or Penman that committeth all to Record . And now of late yeeres was there a woman , one Mistresse Iostlin of Cambridgeshire , who for excellency of memory deserues here to be remembred , who by vse and moderate preseruation thereof , was so strong and quicke , that vpon the first rehearsall he was able to repeat 40. lines Latine or English , and to carry a whole Sermon from Church , and after set it downe almost verbatim in her chamber . She wrote a Legacy to her child before it was borne , and prophesied of her owne death , and died accordingly at the time .

Q. Whence comes it that some Memories are as dull as lead , or as a deepe Gulfe that swallowes all , and retaines nothing ? or like some quicke Prodigall , that layes vp nothing for time to come ?

A. Late Suppers , the too much vse of Tobacco , meates that ingender grosse humors , too much woman , too much surfetting and costly fulnesse ; all bad for Memory , ill for the purse , and worse for the health : for the rich Prodigall or wealthy vnthrift is like a powder-master , that hath prouision against an enemy , but is in danger of being blowne vp himselfe .

And therefore here let vs a little stay and ballase our selues with these or such like considerations .

With little , Nature is content ▪ whilst hers we doe ●bide : And at our death , a little graue doth couer all our pride . Imperious Caesar dead and turn'd to clay . Is now but night , that once had so much day ▪ Why sell we then our selues so cheape , To buy repentance deere ? To hang proud robes vpon our backe , To out Diues in good cheere ? Why should the Worme exceed the Sheepe , Whose fleece doth cheaper warme , And better then the Silke-wormes twist Gainst winde and weather arme ? In which the rich man findes lesse ease , With Gout and paines opprest , Within his softest downy bed , Or in his wealthiest chest , Then doth the poore man in his wants Whose health doth far exceed , Although his sinewes first must stretch , Before his belly feed : Whose leg a cushion must attend For that 's the rich mans dance : His wealth but buyes the Doctors skill , And hyres the Surgeons tance .

To which purpose it is as one writes ,

That Fortune neuer comes with both hands full ; either she sends a stomacke , and no food ; such are the poore in health ; or else plenty of food , and no stomacke : such are the rich .

And therefore saith the Wiseman , Spare dyet is my food , My clothes more fit then fine , I know I feed and cloath a foe , That pampred would repine . Enough I reckon wealth , Content my meanest lot , That lies too low for base contempt Too high for Enuies shot .

Q. What is the most precious thing in the World , yet the most brittle and vncertaine ?

A. The life of man , which although it hath but one comming into the world , hath a thousand wayes to goe out , the frailty whereof considered , should be like a Preacher , euer to admonish vs of our end , crying vnto vs sinfull creatures , as the Saylers cryed to Ionas in the storme ▪ Arise , O sleeper , O arise and see , There 's not a twiny thred 'twixt death and thee .

To which purpose is here annexed a story of one , who trauelling by the way side ( which is the wildernesse of this world ) fel into a well , in the fall he catcht hold of certaine twigges that grew on the side thereof , by which he staid himselfe ; at the bottome thereof , looking downe , were crawling Serpents , Toades , and other noysome creatures , which came in vpon the lapse or fall of man , rather then in the first creation ; for then God pronounced of all things that they were good , and the most sauage creatures rebelled not against man : but now hereupon so changed in this change , as obserues du Bartas .

There 's not the smallest Fly , but she dares bring Her little wrath against her quondam King .

Now whilst hee staid himselfe by this weake support , came two little beasts , a blacke and a white , and did gnaw the twigs vpon which he hung , to his greater terror . Now the morall hereof is ; The man that fell into the well , is euery man , which so soone as he comes from the wombe , is trauelling towards his tombe , through the dangers of this world : the well that he fell into , is the Graue , that lyes open for all men ; the two twigges that he catcht hold of , the brittle thread of humane life ; the blacke and white beasts , Day and Night , which in some small continuance weare in sunder this thread .

Q. Wherein consists the naturall life of man ?

A. Of Heat and Moysture , which as the one is daily decayed , and the other dried vp by the operation of that Limbecke of mans body , are againe replenished by meates and drinkes , and so vpheld by this parget and plastering .

Q. But may not then this life of man thus continually supplied , be continually maintained in health , sicknesse and old age kept by , and kept backe for euer ?

A. No , in despight of all preuention , Age shall waste the one , and sicknesse dry vp the other , and so resolue them into their first matter .

For when our sand is runn● , and houres are spent , Death comes ; no Herb nor Doctor can preuent .

For further illustration hereof , Fryer Bacon , a man of infinite Learning , Study , and Capacity in his time , amongst many his strange and impossible indeauours , published a booke De Retardanda s●nectute , or the keeping backe of old age , the which whilst he himselfe was ouer-curious in obseruing , and studying this Art of health , grew old in the Act , and himself was ouertaken with age . Let then the Ayre , the chiefe preseruer thereof , blow from his healthiest corner , and from thence brush ouer Rockes , and Hills , and Fields , and Fountaines , and breathe into the nostrils of the healthiest man liuing ; nay , Though he haue suckt the Indian mindes , That haue k●st ten thousand leaues Of Synamon tr●es , their barkes , their Rindes : All which of sweetnesse them bereaues . Yet all this Ayre , so sweet , so fayre , For euer cannot health repaire .

So by this we finde , it cannot be preuented of his purpose , though it may be something tardied in his speed : so that hee may hang vp his Motto , as that daring Artist did : Cedo nulli , nec domi , nec foras :

I yeeld to none neither at home nor abroad .

Q. Whether is man , that is said to be made after the Image of God , according to his corporall substance , like vnto him , or doth in any wise represent the Diuine Maiesty ?

A. The Image of God is in the soule of man , and the admirable faculties thereof , and in nothing doth the body resemble it more , then that it is the representation or glasse of the Soule , that immediate stampe of the Image of God , erectus ad coelum , of an eleuated stature , that his thoughts might ascend where their obiect is , and not ●robble below on the earth .

Q. Whether is the woman made to the Image of God , or not ?

A. There be some that auerre , the woman is made onely to the image & glory of man , but these doth the Text confute : for when it was said , Let vs make man after our owne Image , hee made them both male and female ; and man is said to resemble the Image of God , as hee is an intellectuall and reasonable creature . So likewise the woman , being both indued with an immortall soule , and supernaturall gifts of grace and glory , man being made little lower then the Angels .

Q. How many , according to some Writers , are the degrees or Hierarchy of Angels ?

A. Nine , which say there is a mystical resemblance of the holy Trinity , there being in 9 thrice 3. and in euery 3. thrice one , so that there are 3 superiours , 3 inferiours , and three middle degrees . The superiours , are Seraphins , Cherubins , and Thrones : The middle , are Dominions , Principalities , and Powers : and the inferior , Vertues Archangels and Angels .

The most vsuall Names and Appellations of the Sonne of God through the Scriptures . SP●s , via , vita , salus , ratio , sapientia , Lumen , Iudex , Porta , Gigas , Rex , Gemma , Propheta , Socerdes , Messiah , Zebaoth , Rabbi , Sponsus , Mediator , Virga , Columna , Manus , Petra , Filius , Emanuélque , Vinea , Pastor , O●is , Pax , Radix , Vitis , Oliua , ●ons , Paries , Agnus , Vitulus , Leo , propitiator , Verb●m , Homo , Rete , Lapis , Domu● , & sic omnia Christus .

Englished , THe Hope , the Way , the Life , Health , Reason , Wisedome , Light , The Iudge , the Gate , that 's past with strife , A Gyant , King of might , A Gemme , a Priest , a Prophet hie , Messias ; Zeboath , nam'd Rabbi , from her whose eyes ne'r dry , Whose Heart all these inflam'd . The Mediator , Bridegroome deckt , The Rod , the Doue , the Hand , The Rocke , the Sun , who●e beames reflect , Ore-spreading Sea and Land . The Vine , the Shepheard , Sheepe , The Oliue , Peace , the Root , The Lambe , the wall , that o●t doth keepe The Darts that Sa●an shoote . The Fount that doth refresh all dry , The Truth , the Lyon strong , The Calfe that fatted was to die For him that had gone wrong . Emanuel , the Man , the Word , A Net , a House , a Stone , A mercifull and louing Lord , And Christ that 's all in one .

Q. Whether are men of short and little statures , or those of the more ample and spacious , commonly the wisest or the longest liued ?

A. Those of the lesser volume , by reason that in them the soule and faculties therof are more neere & nimbly compact , and with greater vigor and dexterity impart their functions ouer all the body ; and therfore Homer Prince of Poets , for whom seuen Cities stro●e for his birth-righ● , ( whose proper name was Melesegenes , but called Homer for his blindnesse ) doth describe Vlisses to be short and wise , and Aiax long and a foole .

In Aiax and Vlisses what Art Of Physiognomy might one behold ? The face of either cypher eithers heart , Their face , their manners , most expresly to●d : In Aiax eyes blunt rage and rigor rold , But the mi●d●glance that sly Vlisses lent , Shew'd deep regard , in smyling merriment .

Q. Of all morall vertues , which is reputed the most beautifull ?

A. Humility , for she both shunnes honour and yet is the way to it , preuailing often with meeknesse , when the haughty and proud are put by : for example , two Goates met vpon a narrow bridge , vnder which glided a deepe and violent streame , get backe they could not , the planke was so narrow for the turning , and forward they could not , without hazarding their liues , stand still they might , but that was but a prolonging of their misery : that they might therefore both passe by in safety , the one lies down , whilst the other goes ouer him , and so by this quiet passage they both secure their liues , and preuent their further danger . The want of this yeelding , is for the most part , the beginning of all controuersie and trouble ; for when Iron meets Iron , they meet with violence , but let wooll meet Iron , there is a gentle yeelding and end : according to this , the Poet wittily obs●rues : The meeke and gentle Lambe with small adoo , Suckes his owne Dam , we see , and others too . In Courts men longest liue and ke●pe t●e●r ranks By taking iniuries , and giuing thankes .

Seneca faith , The meeke and the Wiseman , in good turnes lou●s not to owe more then he must , in euill to owe and not to pay .

Q. Which is thought to be that Wildernesse through which the Children of Israel wandred 40. yeeres , where their food was so miraculously sent downe from heauen , and their cloathes preserued from not wearing out ?

A. The Desart of Arabia , from whom is brought the excellentest Mummia .

Q. Where of is it made , and whereto doth it serue ?

A. It is a thing like pitch , some say it is made of mans flesh boyld in pitch , others , that it is taken out of old tombes , being a corrupted humour , that droppeth from embalmed bodies : or those there buried in the hotter sands , it is the principall of poysons , which Physicke in some kindes maketh vse of .

Q. Since we haue a little entred to speake of the Hebrewes , whose deriuation Haebraei quasi Abrahaei I purpose to relate a little further , for the better vnderstanding of their names in Scriptures , the quantities of some of their measures , and first of the Gomer , what may that signifie ?

A. The Gomer was the name of a measure containing more then a Gallon , the Israelites in the Wildernesse receiued euery day this measure full for a dayes allowance .

Q. What the Cab ?

A. A measure of 3. wine quarts .

For the rest of the Hebrew measures they are further related in the first part of the Helpe to Discourse .

Q. The Manna that they receiued , what was it in the similitude and likenesse ?

A. It was like a dew that fell euery Euening , and white like the Coriander seed .

Q. Who was the chiefe deliuerer of the Children of Israel from the oppression of Pharaoh ?

A. Moses , by the hand of God miraculously preserued by Pharaohs daughter , by her there found in the Bulrushes cast forth to be drowned ; where note , that all the Kings of Egypt were called Pharaohs , as al the Emperours of Rome , Caesars : For it is said , there arose another Pharaoh that knew not Ios●ph ; Of which great Prophet thus further illustrated by the Poet : Loe here an obiect vtterly forlorne , Left to destruction as a violent prey , Whom man might iudge accursed to bee borne : To darke obliuion moulded vp in clay , That man of might in after-times should be The bounds of fraile mortality that brake , Which that Almighty gloriously should see , When he in thunder on Mount Sinai spake .

There was one that came vpon a time to a great Counsellor of this Kingdome to craue his direction , what good morall or politicall booke he would commend to his reading , seeing the world was ful of books , and there was no end of making many bookes that were made to no end , and that much reading was a wearinesse to the flesh , and bad for the eye-sight , and too little ●●ading a friend to igno●ance , worse for the insight : and what was his answer ?

Quoth he , Reade the World , reade men , record remarkeable euents , set them as a patterne before thee for thy owne instruction , reade ouer thy owne actions , see where thou hast trayned worthily , where thou hast digrest wickedly , and thou shalt obserue , as one writes : That by bad courses may be vnderstood That their euents haue n●uer falne out good . With which opinion this Authour seemes to accord . For many books I care not , and my store Might now suffice mee , though I had no more Then Gods two Testaments & therwithal , That mighty volume which the world men call : For these well look't on , well in mind preseru'd The presentages passages obseru'd My priuate actions seriously ore view'd , My thoughts recal'd , and what of them insu'd , Are bookes that better far instruct me can ▪ Then all the other paper-workes of man . If thou wilt reade History , lay thine eye to the French Story , goe thorow that volume of Kings from Pharamond the first , to the last : there see how the good and vertuous haue flourished ; how the euill and tyrannous haue ruined and decayed . Likewise to the Dutch , to the Spanish , and there see the various occurrences and changes of times and men ; the wheele of fortune sometime deiecting one , and as suddenly exalting another . Reade the Turkish History , and there thou shalt find obseruable matter ; amongst many other things thou shalt there finde Baiazet the scourge of Princes , himselfe captiued in Tamberlaynes Iron cage . The Scottish , from Donaldus the first , to the last of that line , to this present . Then suruey the English Speed , Hollinshead and others , and in these and all the rest , thou shalt finde rewards and punishments of vertuous and vicious Princes , as inherent to them as their Blood and Crownes , and many their wicked Actions repayd by way of retribution and retaliation : to example in two or three presidents of our owne 〈◊〉 home :

Henry the First , by cruelty disinherited his elder brother , Robert Duke of Normandy , and put forth his eyes ; and this , to make hiw owne children the more secure heyres of the Kingdome : But see what happened hereupon ; His owne being at that time in France , and to come ouer to keepe their Christmas here in England with their Father , put forth to Sea , and were all drowned in their comming ouer . The manner ▪ thus , the Saylors and Ship-men through excesse of wine , which was plenteous at their parting , were a●l drunke , so that the Master could not well guide the Sterne , nor the Mariners the Ship , but it rode at randome ; which the Ladies ( being launced out into the maine ) perceiuing , fell a weeping , praying , and lamenting : in this state the Ship for a long time continuing in a doubtfull perplexity , betwixt hope and despaire , when at last in some hope of safegard and in view of land , the Ship vpon a sudden split in two pieces against a rocke ; vpon this was a grieuous skrieke , till the water had quickly silenced it . Now whilst euery one sought to get vpon something to defraud the gaping billowes of their prey , if it were possible , the Prince had taken the Cockboat , where being in some likelihood of safety himselfe , aduenturing to saue his Sister , who had hitherto maintained her life by grappling to a planck , recouered her into his boat ; into which , the rest so violently thronged after one another , euery one willing to reprieue a life , so ouer-loaded the little Vessell , that with the weight and number , the boat sunke , and all perished , except one Butcher , that swomme to shore to tell the heauy tydings .

So likewise the Conquerour , his Father , who , to erect New Forrest in Hampshire , pulled downe ●6 . Churches , all the Towns , Villages , and houses farre and neere , and brought all within 36 miles compasse , to a Wildernesse for wild beastes ; in which afterwards his 3. sons were slain , as you may read more at large in the first part of the Helpe to Discourse .

By Hastings aduice , the Earle Riuers and Gray , with others , were without triall of Law , or offence giuen , executed at Pomfret , and in the same day , neere about the same houre ▪ in the same lawlesse manner , Hastings himse●●e was beheaded in the Tower of London : a greater iudgement then this of Hastings you shall not find in any story . And thus much for a taste of some few . Examples are copious in this kind , and for mu●●bility , Chronicle this in thy brest , that there is no stability vnder the Sun , Kingdomes alter and change ; The Easterne , the Grecian , the Roman , the Turkish Empire succeeding one another into a continuall succession of change , and so of all things vnder the Sunne . He that had ●eene I●lius Caesar goe into the Senate 〈◊〉 his royal state , and his poniarded body and ●loody robe , Seianus in the Morning ▪ and his complexion at Euening , of which one thus writes of him magnifying himselfe : Swell , swell , my ioyes , and faint not to declare Your selues as ample , as your causes are ▪ I did not liue till now , this my first houre , Wherein I see , my thoughts matcht by my power , But this , and touch my wishes great and hye , The World knowes only two , that 's Rome and I. My Roofe receiues me not , t is Ayre I tread , And at each step , I feele m'aduanced head . Knocke out a Starre in Heauen —

It were infinite to instance in this kinde these downefalls of greatnesse , Philotas , Bellizarius and others .

Richard the Second , a man of misery , as Richard the Third , a man of cruelty , the first whereof , of a King became a captiue , deliuering vp his Royalty with his owne hands into his enemies ; whose ominous Raigne was pointed at from Heauen , at his landing with his young Queene Anne of Beme from France , where at his first setting foot vpon his owne shore , arose such a Tempest , that it dasht in pieces and draue the Shippes all out of the harbour , and withall two Ship-wrights hewing of a Mast , at euery stroke dropped blood out of the tree : an ominous portent , and after fearefully succeeding : First , losing his Crowne , and after , his life at Pom●r●t Castle , slaine by Sir Pierce of Exon and 8. men more that he brought with him , whereof King Richard slew foure of them . Richard the Third , first affrighted by dreames , and after slaine in Bosworth Field , where by force and number beaten from his hor●● he bit the ground with his teeth , and to● it with his hands ; and in contempt of death and man , died as if he would haue carried his kingdome with him ; and so much for example in this kinde .

Q. Which are the most dangerous yeeres r●puted in a mans whole life ?

A. Euery seuenth yeere of a mans life is noted to be dangerous : some hold the ninth yeere very dangerous , and by this account the 18.27 , &c. but the most dangerous yeere of all is 63 , for that both accounts doe meet in this number ; namely , 9. times 7. and 7. times 9. either of which numbers make 63. the most dangerous yeere of all .

Certaine Diuine Precepts or Aduertisements that a Wise-man first obserued himselfe , and after left them to his Sonne and Friends .

1. If a weaker man then thy selfe doth wrong thee , spare him ; if a stronger , then spare thy selfe .

2. Gods hand is heauiest on the Conscience , when it is lightest on the carkasse , if lie suffer it to surfet on pleasure till death .

3. The Vsurer and the Broker may bee ●ompared to two milstones that grind the ●oore to powder : come not therefore vnder ●heir Sayles .

4. Obserue how Pharaohs dreame is verified amongst vs in these dayes , that the ●eane Kine eate vp the fat ; for Gods leane blessings , which are riches and pleasures , blessings of his left hand , eate vp the fat , which are Grace and Religion , blessings of his right .

5. Good Lawes without execution , stand like the picture of St. George , with his hand alwayes vp , but neuer striking .

6. Pleasures doe not alwayes follow a man liuing , but euer leaue him dying .

7. A vertuous man is famous on the earth , glorious in the graue , immortall in heauen .

8. Christ calleth the godly , Kinsmen , be they neuer so poore , but the rich scorn them be they neuer so honest : so proud is the seruant aboue his Master .

9. It is miserable for a bold sinner to meet with a cold Preacher .

10. Two things out of euery Sermon are to be noted : first , that which thou didst not know : Secondly , that which speaketh to thy conscience : for by the one thou shal● increase knowledge , by the other lessen thy vices .

11. The Vsurers money to a man in time of necessity , is like cold water to a hot Ague in time of extremity .

12. He that drinkes on follies cup , shall haue small cause to licke his lippes after it .

13. Feare doth not more multiply euils , then Faith diminish them .

14. It is good so to diet the body , that the soule may be fatned .

15. One sin openeth the dore for many vertues to flye out .

16. A man would haue Teachers doe as they teach : so God would haue hearers doe as they heare ; for else the hearers shall be no more saued by hearing , then the Preachers by preaching .

17. Lending was ordained to be a staffe or support to the borrower ; now Vsury hath turned this staffe into a Serpent .

18. The man that hath a quiet conscience , is like to him that hath a good wife , he is alwayes sure of peace at home .

19. In Prayer be not like the Pharise in popular ostentation , but pray in secret : for he prayes with a witnesse , that so prayes with out a Witnesse .

Precepts or Aduices concerning Marriage .

1 Woo not by Embassadours .

2 Make not thy friend too familiar with thy wife .

3 Conceiue not an idle Ielousie , being a Fyre once kindled not easily put out .

4 Affect him not that would ill possesse thee .

5 Blaze not her beauty with thy owne tongue .

6 If thy estate be weake and poore , marry farre off and quickly , if otherwise firme and rich , at home , and with deliberation .

7 Be aduised before thou conclude , for though thy errour may teach thee wit , t is vncertaine whether euer thou shalt againe haue occasion to practise it ; for marriage is like a stratagem in warre , wherein a man can erre but once .

8 Marry not for Gentility without her support , because it can buy nothing in the market without money .

9 Make thy choyce rather of a ver●●●●s then a learned wife .

Esteeme rather what shee is , of her●selfe , then what shee should bee by inheritance .

11 In tactam quaeris Intactam esto :

Be that example to thy wife , that thou wouldest haue her to imitate ; for he that strikes with the point , may be content to be beaten with the pommell .

12 Shee whose youth hath pleased thee , despise not her age .

13 That thou mayst be beloued , bee amiable .

14 Sayle not in this Sea without a compasse , for a wicked woman brings a man sooner to repentance then suretiship .

15 T is the greater dispraise to children , to be like to wicked Parents .

16 T is more torment to be iealous of a mans wife , then resolued of her dishonesty ; and more misery , that a man may be assured of her vice that way , but cannot bee of her vertue .

17 True Chastity doth not onely consist in keeping the body from vncleanenesse , but in keeping the minde from sinne ; and she may be more a maid , that hath been muisht against her will , then shee that hath but onely wished amisse .

A Wise-man was wont to say , that by marriage foure Ioyes most vndoubtedly accrew vnto the husband . 1 A wife . 2 Alliance and friends . 3 Patrimony . 4 Children , all strong walls and Bullwarkes to fence a man . But now see ( saith another ) which of these are firme , and which fleeting : 1. for the wife no man will deny , but that shee stickes firmely till death . 2. For friends they depend vpon fortune ; for who neuer lackes , shall neuer want a friend . And who in want a hollow friend doth try , Directly seasons him his enemy . Lastly , by death many times friends are cut off for portion , without wary gouernment , charge increasing , that quickly decreaseth .

Then see the Anker , that remaines alone , The Wife and Children , Friends and Portion none .

The Louers complaint written by a Gentleman of quality . He is starke mad who-euer sayes That he hath beene in loue an houre , Not for that loue so soone decayes , But that it can ten in lesse space deuource . Who will beleeue , if I sweare That I haue had the Plague a yeere ? Who would not laugh at me , if I should say I saw a flash of Powder burne a day ? O what a trifle is a Heart , If once into loues hands it come , Al other griefs allow a part to other griefs , And aske themselues but some . They come to vs , but vs loue drawes , He swallowes vs , and neuer chawes . By him , as by chaine shot whole rankes doe die , He is the Tyrant-Pike , our hearts the Fry .

His Abiuration . Hence all the fond delights , As short as are the nights Wherein loue spends his folly : Ther 's naught in this world sweet , If men were wise to see 't , But melancholy : Hence Welcome folded armes and fixed eyes , A sight that piercing mortifies , A looke that fastned to the ground A tongue chain'd vp , without a sound . Fountaine heads , and pathlesse groues , Places which pale passion loues , Moone-light walkes when all the fowles Are warmely hous'd saue Bats and Owles . A Panting Bell , a midnight grone , These are the sounds to feed vpon : Then stretch our bones in some close gloomy vally , There 's nothing dainty sweet , saue melancholy .

The Husbands complaint . I tooke a wife , I lou'd her deare , Her loue to me was due , Yet she was false , O who would thinke A wife should proue vntrue ? Thus you poore birds that hony make From many a seuerall flower , Not make it for your selues , but them That you and it deuoure .

The vnbounded louer . My choyce of women I enioy Of them what I desire , My children eat not yet my bread , Nor warme them by my fire . So you poore birds , that make your nests , In right they are your due , For others , yet you hatch your young , They 'r not enioy'd by you .

Q. Which was the most deadly meeting that euer was ?

A. Eue and the Serpents meeting wrought our sinne , Would th' one had deafe , or th' other dumbe had bin :

Or as another , Eue and the Serpents meeting wrought our woe , Would they had neuer met , or parlied so . So great a losse vpon mankind did fall , One woman at one blow then kild vs all ; And singly one by one they kill vs still , Partly against , and partly with our will . Our eyes thus dim'd , our vnderstanding blinde , Wee kill our selues , to propagate our kind .

Q. Of how many genders doe women consist of ?

A. Of three Genders : all of the Foeminine , many of the Doubtfull , for as the saying is , Long absence from a wife , though chaste , if faire , Doth fil a iealous husbands head with care . — And some there are of the Common : and those are the common subiects of misery to themselues , and ruine to other , and ioyne with sicknesse , to out-shuffle health .

Q. Which is the fittest season for marriage ?

A. Marry in thy youth ; for it is in marriage , as it is in gathering of flowers , where for the most part we delight in the bud , and leaue the full blowne to seed : Yet a learned man in this kingdome was wont to say , Wiues are young mens Mistrisses , Companions for middle age , and olde mens Nurses : so that a man may haue a quarrell to marry when hee will . Old Haywood was wont to say , He that marries a widdow , is like to him that buyes a Sute in Long-lane , where he shall hardly finde any , but they are turned , or drest , or old , or rotten , or bad linings ; like to a cunning widdowes dissembling chests : hee further thus describes a woman , Aut amat , aut odit mulier , nil tertium .

Q. What is the greatest comfort or addition of happinesse in this world ?

A. A sure friend , and yet in that this is the misery , that he cannot know him to be his friend without being in misery ; and as it is vulgarly said , He is happy that findes a true friend in aduersity , but he is happier that findes not aduersity wherein to try a true friend : As saith another , It is good to haue friends , but naught to need them : which is agreeable to that which the Physician wrote at the end of his Rules .

Now you our Physicke lines , that friendly read , God grant that Physicke you may neuer need ▪

To which another added : Who takes his diet by the Doctors skill , Shall eat no meat that 's good , drinke drinke b●●'s ill .

Q. Whether it is better to dream vpon dreams that are good or bad ?

A. Whilst we breathe waking , we liue all in one common world , but at night in our dreames , we goe euery one into a seuerall Region , and in these my visitations I desire rather my dreames should bee bad then good ; for if my dreames bee good , I grieue when I wake that they were dreams , but if euill , I reioyce that they were not truths but dreames . To this purpose , a poore man that had dreamed the night before , that he was as rich as Croesu● , and that he had abundance of gold and treasure , met a great Lord the next day following and besought him for something , saying , If his dreame that he dreamed last night had been true , he had not needed to aske a reward ; for I dreamed that I was a King . This Lord replied vnto him , It had beene good for thee if thou haddest neuer waked , for it is better to be a King in a dreame , then a begger awake .

A great Lord of great stomacke , sharpely in the fury thereof that sought to giue satisfaction to his belly and lose no time , so eagerly slasht in the cutting vp of a Capon , that he cut off a pi 〈…〉 f his finger ; whereupon it was repo 〈…〉 hat this gluttonous Lord had at one b 〈…〉 ft his finger and his stomacke . No worse ●ewes , quoth the hearers , but if a poore man finde it , and so cherish it , it will vndoe him .

Q. Whether is it of a certaine or not , that is vulgarly reported , that when we are talked of abroad by friends or others , our eares tingle and glow , and whether may this be thought the reason thereof ?

A. Nothing lesse , there is in man or woman a certaine flushing of blood and heat , which naturally runnes thorow the body , and is sometimes more inward , and sometimes more outward , as the body doth need ; which falling into the Cheekes or Eares of a sudden by the motion of the body , and her naturall heat , doth extraordinarily warm those parts , which some , though vnwisely doe attribute to this first cause .

Q. What is that onely which hath an audible voyce , but not a visible body , and what the contrary , which presents the shape of a body , but without any sound of voyce ?

A. Eccho , and the Looking-glasse .

Instruction for Bel●efe and Action . Twice 6 beleeue , bu 〈…〉 ein doe not rest : Ten things performe ●●oue all things the best . Thy wants and duties howsoere they rise , In 7. petitions thou maist all comprise . To these adde loue , and so thou maist ascend Higher then Faith , or Hope , that here doe end .

Q. There are foure things doe what they list , and are vnreprou●d : and what are they ?

A. The winde bloweth where it lists , a woman talkes and does what shee list , a traueller lyes what wonders he lists , and a Wise-man , of all belieues what he lists .

Q. Whether is it of a truth or not that is v●●gularly , or are they Popish Fables , that m●n● Spirits walke after their deaths , for treasure 〈◊〉 , for murders committed , or the like ?

A. They are not truths : for after death ( as Diuinity will tell vs ) the soule goes either to ioy or paine , from whence there is no recession ; as Abraham told Di●es , and as that Diuine Poet wrote to that purpose , and if any such appearance there be , the Diuell doth assume the shape .

For doubtles such a Soul as vp doth mourn , And doth appeare before her Makers face , Holds this vild world in such a base account , That shee lookes downe , and scornes this , wretched place . But such as are detruded downe to Hell , Either for shame , they still themselues retyre , Or ty'd in Chaines , they in close prison dwell , And cannot come , although they much desire .

To this purpose is heere annexed a sto●● of a Diuine and a Lawyer , that meeting at dinner , the Lawyer , to helpe Discourse , proposed this question to the Diuine : When Lazarus had laine foure dayes in the gra●e , and after was raysed vp againe , where was his soule in the meane time ? The Diuine not answering his question , proposed vnto him another ; which was , If Lazarus and his heyres should haue fallen at strife about his Lands , the Quaere was , Whose ought they to haue been ? This was according to the question in Virgils Eglogues , Di● quibus in terris . One difficulty choked by proposing another , and yet ,

For further confirmation thereof , saith Lemnius , A Scholler trauelling with his family , came into a Towne to aske lodging , and finding none , It was told him there was a faire house that stood empty , that he might either lodge , or dwell in gratis ; but the inconuenience was , it was haunted with Sprites , and euery night in it was heard a great iumbling , and rattling of chaines : he nothing affrighted hereat , desired to haue it : which was accordingly granted . At bed-time hauing disposed his family to rest , hee himselfe sate vp in a chamber reading : about midnight ( the time that Church-yards yawne , and Spirits take their progresse ) he heard a noyse at bottome of the staires , and presently it came vp : he nothing daunted , ●ate still reading , till at last it appeared on the top of the stayres in the similitude of Askeliton , or Anatomy , wrapped about with chaines of Iron : which comming vp , beckened with his finger , and so went downe the stayres to haue him follow him : which he did ; and first hee led him thorow an outward roome , then thorow a yard , and thence into a garden where he left him ; in which place he pulled vp some grasse and left it for a marke ; and in the next day digged vp that place , where was found a man buried , that had beene there strangled , which man being taken vp and buried with due Rites , the house was euer quiet after . But this doe I take rather to be an ancient fiction then a certaine truth .

A certaine Mountebancke hauing long cheated with his drugges and playsters , and hauing profited little , left his old profession and turned Priest ; and patching together diuers remnants of old Sermons and Homilies , so vnfitly applied , that his want of Schollership was soone discouered , and hee of his Ministery as soone discarded : 〈◊〉 dismission from thence hee made this p●●testation ; Now shall this businesse you 〈◊〉 done , cost many a good mans life : The Parishioners thus threatned , accuse him before a Iustice ; The Iustice demanded what he meant to doe : ( Why quoth he ) I meane to fal to my old trade of Paracelsus , and that I am sure will cost some deare .

Q. Whether doth a dead body in a Shippe cause the Ship to sayle slower , and if it doe , what is thought to be the reason thereof ?

A. The Shippe is as vnsensible of the liuing , as of the dead , and as the liuing makes it to goe the faster , so the dead makes it not goe the slower , for the dead are no Rhemorahs to alter the course of her passage , though some there be that thinke so , and that by a kinde of mournfull sympathy .

A Philosopher seeing a yong man proudly decked out like a Shippe vnder saile , said ; I could wish I were such a one as that fond man thinkes himselfe , but my enemies such as hee is . Seeing likewise the world full of contention , wished he might liue to see men striue for loue , and not loue to striue .

Q. What is the Epitome or summe , the ●●uare , and measure of a Christian mans duty , ●hich euen Nature teacheth , and God approues .

A. To doe to others , as wee would bee ●one vnto our selues , a most vpright iustice , ●nd the fulfilling of the Law and the Prophets .

Q. What is the Epitome or summe of all Philosophy ?

A. It is collected out of the infinite volumes of Philosophers , that those precepts that pertaine to humane felicity , are comprised onely in these two words , sustinendo , & abstinendo , or in ferendo , & sperando , In sustaining , and abstaining , in induring , and hoping , in bearing aduersities patiently , and abstaining from pleasures warily ; hope still supporting vs to the Hauen of happinesse , that we be not too much cast downe by the one , nor corrupted by the other .

Q. What is that , which they that haue nothing else for the most part are not without ?

A. Hope .

Q. What is the most beautifull thing of all others ?

A. Thal. Mil. answered , The World , the admirable worke of God , and nothing more beautifull , himselfe onely excepted , wherein we haue the greene Carpet of the earth vnder our feet , the goodly Canop●●● heauen ouer our heads fretted with gold●● Starres , the wa●y Curtaines of the Ayre beside vs , all the creatures to serue and delight vs , and all to set forth the praise of the Creator ; of which both from the Greekes and Latines it receiues the name . Clemen● Alexandrinus saith , The Creation of the World , is the Scripture of God , whose 3. leaues are the Heauens , the Earth , and the Sea , being as many letters therein , as there are creatures in heauen and earth : For the heauens declare the glory of God , and the earth sheweth his handy-worke .

Q. By what Element most hath it pleased God to expresse to the world his Iustice and his mercy ?

A. By Water , when for the sinnes of his people hee therewith drowned the World : But his mercy thereby in the institution of Baptisme by water , and in that hee would haue the holy Spirit by which wee are Regenerate , called by the name of Water .

Q. What shippe of all other was the most ancient , the most spacious , the most holy , and the most rich that euer was or will be ?

A. The Arke of Noe , in which all the ●en , wealth and creatures that escaped the ●ood , were preserued ; and this is noted to ●●a type of the Church , for as without the ●●rke was no safety , so without the Church 〈◊〉 no saluation .

Q. Who was he that of a dumbe Father , came 〈◊〉 the most excellent Orator in the world ?

A. S. Iohn Baptist , of whom Christ himselfe affirmes no greater to haue risen among the sonnes of women ; vpon whom ●nd the disparity betweene Christ and him , ●●is thus obserued , That at his Natiuity the dayes begin to shorten , as at Christs Natiuity to increase and lengthen : so likewise in their deaths , when the body of Christ was exalted , and stretched out vpon the Crosse , the body of S. Iohn was shortned by the head , according to his owne testimony , It behoues Christ to increase , and mee to be diminished .

Q. Of the children of Iob and their number , is a question I wil● now propound : When Iob had all his goods restored him double , yet had hee by generation but seuen sonnes , and three daughters , as many as he had before : how then did he receiue all things doubled ?

A. Concerning his goods ▪ and cattell : first I will instance for his 7000. sheepe , he had 14000. for his 3000. Camells 6000● and so of the rest . And concerning his children ; true it is , he receiued but his former number : yet it is conceiued that the number of them was likewise doubled , because these his 10. former remained yet with God ; therefore it may be said he had 20. For as Saint Hierome saies , Quicquid reuertitur ad domin●m , in familiae numero computatur . Whosoeuer they are that are returned to the Lord , are reckoned in the number of the family : wherefore if he had receiued them doubled vpon earth , he should haue had them trebled : And in this lyes a mystery of the Resurrection .

Q. Who , and how many were those , that had their names foretold before they were borne ?

A. Sixe , Ismael , Isack , Iosias , Cyrus , Saint Iohn Baptist , and Christ our Sauiour for euer blessed .

Q. What number is it that our Romanists so much dignifie aboue any other ?

A. The fift , which they affirme to bee a number of great efficacy and power , and much honoured by God : for by fiue words say they he would bee incarnate , a Virgin should become a Mother , and hee himselfe God and man ; Fiat mihi secundum verbu● ●uum , Be it vnto mee according to thy word : by fiue words he would haue his body consecrate in the Eucharist , Hoc enim est Corpus meum , This is my Body . Lastly , by fiue words he absolued the Publican , Deus propitius esto mihi peccatori , God be mercifull vnto me a sinner : and so with other numbers they fable and trifle , which we passe ouer with many other of their errors .

Q. Much disputation and controuersie hath risen amongst the Philosophers , about Theseus shippe ; but what may wee resolue thereon , and wherein doth it resemble the n●w present Romish religion ?

A. This was the shippe in which Theseus sayled into Creet , when hee passed the Labyrinth , and slue the Minotaure ; which shippe being long time after kept for a monument , was so supplied and preserued by pieces , that the question grew , whether it were any part of Theseus shippe , or not ; and it was afterwards resolued that it was rather a new shippe all of pieces , then any part of the old : much like vnto the modern Religion of Rome , that hath beene so pieced from time to time by tradition and nouelty , that it now scarce retaines any thing of the ancient verity .

Q. Luther committed two great sinnes , say some , and what were they ?

A. Hee tooke from the Pope his treble Crowne , and from the Monks their fat belly-cheare .

Q. What was hee the most wretched and poorest of all creatures , that offered to the most rich and mighty in the world , what hee neither had to giue , nor was able to performe ?

A. Satan , when hee offered Christ the kingdomes of the world , and to fall downe and worship him .

Q. What riches are those that cannot bee wasted ?

A. Good turnes , for those in bestowing are not wasted , but increase : if thou bestow them , thou art the richer , if thou keep them , thou art the poorer , if thou scatter them , thou doest not lose , if thou keepe them , they lose thee .

Q. Wherefore did not God make all alike rich ?

A. Because in his secret Counsell and wisedome he saw it not fit , in which wee must rest our selues content in this wise distribution of his owne : For as one saith , the poore and the rich are two contraries , but either necessary vnto the othsr : for if all ●ere rich , who would labour ? if all were ●ore , where were reliefe or helpe ? There●●re God made the poore for the rich , and ●e rich for the poore , and either for each ●ther : and it had beene a controuersie a●ong some , whether of the estates is the more happy : most are of opinion that in pouerty is the lesse euil , the more freedome : for compare the rich man and the poore together : the poore man laughes oftner and more heartily , without any deepe care : if it appeare , it doth no more , but so passeth ouer like a cloud ; but the rich mans mirth is fained , but his griefes are not , but indeed deepe rooted , and of long continuance : and what doth it profit a foole to haue riches , when they cannot buy wisedome ? the sicke man , when they cannot buy wealth ?

Q. Whether is Art or Wealth more precious ?

A. Res valet , ars praestat , si res perie , ars mihi restat . Ars manet , ars durat , fortuna recedere curat .

English .

Riches are good , but Art commands that drosse : And stickes to life , not subiect to that losse .

Q. Whether hath Law , or Phisick the high●est place , or precedency ?

A. This in times past was a question disputed in Greece , touching the professors in those parts , where the Physicians thus argued for superiority , that since there are three chiefe goods pertaining to man his welfare and support , ouer which , euery one hath a Regent and Gardian assigned ; which are the goods of the minde , the goods of the body , and the goods of fortune : The first whereof , was the care of the Diuine the , highest officer , for the worthiest Mistris .

The second of the Physician , because the body is more worth then raiment , or goods ; and the last of the Lawyer : Hereupon Phisicke challenged the second place and precedency before Law : The Lawyer I know not what arguments hee vsed ; but after a long controuersie it was concluded , that law notwithstanding , should walke in equall ballance , and in some places take the vpper hand of Physicke , for as the one intends to preserue health , which is the Iewell of the body , so the other , to preserue peace and wealth , which is the hand that weares it , being the thred by which wee ●ut betweene all estates and rights , being ●o lesse needfull to the Common-wealth , ●hen the Sunne is to the world : but for such ● degenerate from the truth of their pro●ession , and onely like Vultures prey vpon ●he carkasses of spoyle , it were not amisse if such were cast out of the society of men , as most hurtfull infections to the Common-wealth .

Q. From whence had Physick his beginning and perfection ?

A. Out of Diseases , Sores , and distemperatures of the body , which consisting of 4. contrary Elements , are euer at opposition and oddes among themselues , still menacing and offending each other : and so vpon this regard , to maintaine vnity and preseruation , this great Lord Sicknesse admitted Physick 〈◊〉 weare his Liuery , which now since is growne greater then his master . For it hath the way to increase .

For , what in health men grapple and retains , If sicknesse comes , it flies to ease their paine .

And it is the Physicians rule , well apprehending the aduantage of extremity , to cry Giue , Giue : whilst the sicke hand replies , Take , Take .

The truth whereof was well approued by Philip king of Macedon , when being dangerously sicke , and hauing a most skilfull , yet most couetous Physician , that euery day asked him a reward : ( Quoth hee ) Take what thou wilt out of my Treasury : for thou hast the key that will open the locke of it . Whereupon it is guessed that sometimes Physicians vse their Patients , as Lawyers doe their rich Clients , who keepe them long in hand , not for difficulty of the Cause so much , as for the prolonging o● their gaine : and if it be alwayes true , that as the market goes , the market-folke will talke , some say , and which is a worse fault too , that their conclusions are as deare as mens liues , and that no Physician can be expert , before he haue made 〈◊〉 dangerous experiment : but they are happy say some in this regard , because their successes the Sunne shall behold , but their errours the Earth shall bury : and as one once spoke to a Paracelsian Quackesaluer : I commend thy Art , because thou sufferest not poore men to languish long in misery , but helpest them quickly to their graues .

Q. What Art or faculty hath the most Professors ?

A. One answered , Physicke , but another replied , that could not be , because there was not aboue two Physicians in a whole Towne : when the other to maintaine his argument , thus proceeded to the confirmation . Vpon a market day he sets one in the principall place thereof very ruthfully aspected , his gummes trust vp with a Handkercher , making lamentation , and to euery one that demanded his griefe , he answered , his paine was tooth-ach : vnto which euery one that demanded , taught a medicine ; so that he had as many medicines as market folkes , with which pretty conclusion , the verdict was giuen vpon his side : To which purpose one thus writes ,

In mundo omnes volunt esse medici , omnes volunt aliorum infirmitates curare , nemo suas : Euery one would be a Physician to cure other mens infirmities , but no man his owne .

Q. What is that we first wish for , and are neuer after weary of ?

A. Health , which makes the most excellent harmony of content , especially where there is a sound minde , in a sound body .

Q. From whence had Law his originall and commencement ?

A. It had his Originall from the corruption of cunning and corrupt braines , and since by the infection thereof hath spred and infected far and neere , that if it be demanded what is the reason that men , houses , and volumes increase so fast : It is answered in these two verses : Queritur vt crescunt tot magna volumina legis In prompt●s causa est , Crescit in orbedolus .

Q. What effect of all other is the most iust , and the most vniust ?

A. Enuy , vniust , because for the most part it pursues good men .

But secondly iust , because it most hurts those that most cherish it , for the enuious man is grieued , not so much for his owne euill , as for others good : and so saith Dauid , concerning the felicity of the godly , Impius videbit & irascitur , the wicked shall behold it , and be sorrowfull , and as the Poet sayes : Inuidiâ Siculi non inuenêre tyranni , Tormentum maius . No Tyrant ere did greater torment finde , Then enuy , that corrupts & frets the mind .

And as Seneca likewise saith , The enuious man drinkes the greatest part of his owne poyson himselfe , and therefore let vs auoyd that euill , if not for others , yet for our own sakes .

Q. In how many dayes consists the whole span of mans life ?

A. Ah , the many dayes that wee can remember , when as yet our whole life is but one day ; for what see we in our whole life , that we see not euery day , the same Sunne , the same Moone , the same Winter , the same Summer , the same businesse ? and what is that , that hath bin , but the same that shall be ? & there is no new thing vnder the Sun : yet for this little inch of time , and the lesser variety therein , how many sell themselues to perdition ? for computate the whole extent of time , I doe not say from this day to the end of the world , but from Adam : and what is it but a drop of water to the whole Ocean ? not a minute to eternity . And yet saith one , We liue here as if eternity were vpon earth , and time onely in heauen .

Q. What two things are those that make equall the happy and the wretched ?

A. Sleepe and death , that makes one the oppressor and the oppressed , the seruant , and the master , Codrus and Crassus , and so like the Publican giues away the one halfe from our vse , out of the little that we haue .

Q. What is the Nature of sleepe ?

A. Aristotle affirmes it to be the porch betweene Life and Death , for he that sleeps , is neither aliue nor dead , neither mortall nor immortall , but hauing a kind of temperature of either .

It is mentioned in the Romane Histories , of a certaine man , that being in much debt and danger , the perturbations of humane mindes , and depriuers of this nurse of Nature sleepe , notwithstanding as one insensible thereof , he securely tooke his rest : After dying , the Emperour would needs haue his bed , as though perswaded some hidden vertue had beene in the same , that nothing could breed his distemper thereupon .

Q. There are three messengers of death , and which are they ?

A. Casualty , infirmity , and old age : The first shewes it lying hid , second appraring , third at hand .

An Explication of the word Mors , and the letters thereof . M-ordens O-mnia R-ostro S-uo . M-utans Omnes Res sepultas .

English .

Death controules all mortall things , Wasting subiects , changing Kings .

Q. There are three things especially , that are enemies to sleepe ( deaths Image ) and what are they ?

A. An vnquiet bed , vnrestlesse cares , a troubled mind .

And therefore as the Poet saith : When all things else to rest themselues betake , Then theeues , and cares ▪ and troubled mindes they wake .

And so the contrary .

Where vnbrused youth with vnstuft braine Doth couch his golden limbes , there sleepe● raigne .

Her soueraignty being for the 〈…〉 sooner found in a thatcht Cotta 〈…〉 a Lordly Palace .

Question .

BEfore I proceed any further , I know tho 〈◊〉 not ignorant , that it hath beene a questio 〈◊〉 old , and discussed by wise men of either part , 〈◊〉 as yet I thinke sub iudice lis est , whether it 〈◊〉 necessary for a wise man to marry , and enter th● society by which generations are produced , and death is exercised , notwithstanding his wastfull sickle , with still ple●tifull Haruests and increase ?

A. Though some hold it a weakenesse in a wise man to marry , to deliuer vp his freedome , and inthrall himselfe and his liberty into the hands of a woman : yet wise men that better haue wayed the condition thereof , finde many profits that accrue vnto man thereby , without which , a wiseman can hardly liue a contented life : as first , the benefit of society . For , It is not good for man to be alone . Secondly , of the Marriage bed : For auoyding of Fornication , let euery man haue his wife . And thirdly for the fruit thereof , which are I hil 〈…〉 : Thy Wife shall bee as the fruitfull 〈…〉 d lastly , herby thou hast found out 〈…〉 uardian for thy house and goods ; 〈…〉 er of thy Seruants , a comforter in 〈…〉 and misery , and the full accom 〈…〉 of thy ioy and felicity . Away there 〈◊〉 ye haters of women ; for it is verified 〈◊〉 by the Oracle of God , that they are 〈◊〉 dfull , necessary , behouefull . The Author●●●y whereof , without further question , here ●eales vp the controuersie . And as another saith , He that hath no wife ; is as a man vnbuilt , wanteth one of his ribbes : is like Ionas in the middest of the Sea , ready to be ouerwhelmed with euery surge and billow ; but then comes a wife like a ship , and wafts him ashore , and so saues him from perishing . Of whom the Poet thus further addes , Prima fuit mulier , patuit cui ianua lethi : Per quam vitaredit , prima fuit Mulier .

English : As by a Woman entred Death by sinne : So , by a Woman , Life and Grace came in .

Q. What was the Wise-mans counsell for the choyce of a Wife ?

A. Non solùm est oculis ducenda , sed auribus Vxor : Not to choose a wife by the eye , that is , for beauty , a brittle and fading dowry ; but by the care , that is , from the good report and commendation of others .

Q. What comparison haue the Ancients made betwixt the Woman and the Ribbe , and what reasons haue they thereupon framed , for their much Loquacity and babbling ?

A ▪ These : That first as the Ribbe is a bone , hard , crooked , and inflexible : so is a Woman in her will , like the forme thereof , crooked and peruerse , and hardly inclining to the desire of her husband : and for their much loquacity , hereupon they ground their reason : That , as if you put a company of bones or ribbes into a bagge , they will rattle and clatter together , but if you put certaine lumpes of earth therein , the metall of mans creation , they meet without noyse or iarring violence . But we pursue this argument no further , because we haue formerly toucht vpon the same in another kind , and place .

Q. Who was hee that had that one woman , that was to him both mother , sister , and wife ?

A. Euphorbus , of whom the verse follows , Me Pater è nata genuit , mihi iungitur illa : Sic soror & coniux , sic fuit illa Parens .

Q. What is the true law of friendship ?

A. To loue our friend as our selfe , and neither more nor lesse , but so : to which purpose is here inserted a story of a certaine wise woman , that had but one onely sonne , whose society in the way of friendship many desired : to him she gaue three Apples , willing him to giue them to his three friends , when they were hungry in the way to be cut & diuided among them . In the doing wherof , the first cuts his Apple in two , in equall parts , giuing this lesse to the womans sonne , and reseruing the greater part vnto himselfe . The second likewise vnequally diuided his , but yet gaue the bigger to this womans sonne , and kept the lesser for himselfe : but the third diuided his equally , reseruing iust the one halfe that he gaue ; which being told to his mother , she bade him choose the last for his associate ; because the first was vniust to another , the second to himselfe , and he onely vpright in his diuision .

Q. Who was hee that first forbade Priests marriage , and whereupon did he afterwards alter that constitution ?

A. P. Greg. 1. was the first that proceeded in that restraint : But when afterwards hee heard to be found the heads of 6000. infants , that had beene drowned in the riuer Tiber : he then sighing , repelled his decree , and said , It is better to marry then burne .

Q. Whence proceeds it , that those creatures that are most vsefull and beneficiall to man , are so fruitfull and plenteous , whereas those other wilde , rauenous , and cruell , are more rare and retired ?

A. This proceeds meerely from the prouidence of God , and his goodnesse to mankind ; for otherwise how would it be ▪ it there should be as many wolues as sheep , which though killed and eaten daily , are notwithstanding plentifull , as diuers others of his good creatures , whom he multiplieth aboue measure ? As for example likewise ; The Hare whom all doe hunt and pursue , yet her kinde is not diminished in regard of her fruitfulnesse , which is such , that when she is with young , shee againe coupleth , hauing within her some of a former maturity already hairy , others naked without their furre others not yet formed , and yet others conceiuing : whereas the Lyon , a cruel creature , brings forth but one in her whole life time .

Q. What little creature is that , that hath the softest body but the hardest teeth of all other ?

A. The white worme , the body whereof is more soft then wooll , yet with her teeth doth she pierce the hardest Oake .

Q. What Artificers are those that haue most Thieues come vnder their hands ?

A. Not Taylors nor Myllers , as the old saying is , but Barbers : for euery thiefe and Knaue , to disguise themselues , falls vnder their hands .

Q. What was S. Chrysostomes opinion concerning Dancing ?

A , That where dancing was , there was the Diuell : neither ( saith hee ) to that end did God giue vs our feet , so want only to abuse them . For , if we shall answer for euery idle word , shall we not likewise for euery lasciuious and idle motion of the body , which tend onely to folly and lust ?

Hereupon was annexed a story of a certaine dancer , whose ambitious actiuity was such , that forsaking the ground , hee would needs shew his trickes in the Ayre ; to the which purpose hauing there fastned a Rope , hee beginning after his accustomed manner , to caper and dance , his footing failed him , and downe he fell , whereat some laughed : when among the rest a Foole not standing farre off , fell a weeping ; of whom a reason being required , he thus answered :

I weepe , because Jam counted a foole , yet haue more wit then this Dancer , because I know that it is written in the Psalme , that not the Ayre , but the Earth is giuen vnto the sonnes of men : vpon which I content my selfe to tread , not atttempting further , as Icarus , and Dedalus , and some others as wel as this fellow , that hath payed for his presumption .

Q. What two things are those that many desir● before they haue them , and when once possest , with a greater desire would bee depriued thereof againe ?

A. Old age and Marriage , the latter whereof , hath oft beene compared to a Feast , where those that are within and full , would faine come out , and those that are without empty , would faine come in .

Q. In what things doth laudable Old age most solace , and make glad it selfe ?

A. In the remembrance of an honest fore-passed life , and in the hope of a better n●●re succeeding .

Q. Whence was it that of old , Bacchus or the God of Wine , was pictured like a Childe ?

A. Thence it was , because the drinking of wine puts care and troubles out of the minde , and in stead thereof , fills it with mirth and lightnesse , making men free from sorrow , louiall , lightsome , and pleasant as children : And secondly , Like children it makes them speake all they know .

Q. In what part of the Earth doth no Snow fall ?

A. In the Sea , which by reason of the hot vapours it sends vp , dissolueth it before it falls therein .

Q. In what part of the Earth doht it neuer rayne ?

A. In Egypt , which is watered by the ouer-flowing of Nylus .

Q. A certaine Scholler told Esop , hee had heard there was nothing more strong then Iron , by which all things are wrought and ouercome : but yet for all that ( quoth he ) I think the Smith to be more strong then it , which workes and inforceth it as he pleaseth : But what was Esops answer ?

A. The mother of the Smith which he held to be more strong then either , which bore the tamer of Iron .

Q. Dionysius the Tyrant demanded the reason why Philosophers visited the gates of rich men , and not rich men the gates of Philosophers ?

A. It was answered by Diogenes , Because Philosophers know what they want , but these know not , and therefore seeke it not ; for if rich men vnderstood they wanted knowledge , they would much more visit the doores of Philosophers : for the pouerty of the minde , is much more then the pouerty of the body , for hee is a man that wants money , but a beast that wants knowledge .

Dionysius King of Sicilia sent for an excellent Musician , to sing and play before him , promising him a reward therefore . The Musician , after three dais imployment , demanded his reward , which this King refused to pay , telling him , the pleasure of the hope of his reward , was as much to him as the pleasure of his singing , and so hee should take one pleasure for another .

Q. Who of all other were the best Orators ?

A. Tully and Demosthenes .

Q. Wh●t did the Ancients thinke of Homer ?

A. That he was the Father of all wits : and hereupon it was that Palaton the painter drew Homer vomiting , with a flocke of Poets standing about him , ready to sup it vp ; one of which , it was obiected to Virgil , that he had beene , in that hee had stollen some of Homers verses , and framed them into his owne worke : who thereunto answered , Am not I then a strong man , that can wring Hercules Club out of his hand ?

Q. Whether is that Common-wealth more happily gouerned , in which the Prince is euill , and the Counsellors good , or where the Counsellors are euill and the Prince good ?

A. Most true it is , that Lampridius reports , that that Common-wealth is more safe and better gouerned , where the Prince is euill and the Counsellors good , then where the Counsellors are euill , and the Prince good : and the reason is , for that one euill man or disposition , is more easily amended by the example or perswasion of many good , then many euill by the example of one good may become bettered : for instance whereof , Saul was a wicked King ; yet by the Counsell of Samuel did he those things , which otherwise he would not haue done : on the other side , there is no Prince so good , that may not be seduced by wicked Counsellors .

Q. S. Austen wished he● had liued to haue seene Rome in her florishing estate , to haue heard S. Paul preach , to haue seene Christ in the flesh . But what saith Lactantius and Bede ?

A. Thereupon , Peraduenture ( saith hee ) the first wee shall neuer see , that is , Rome , neither is it any matter to see that harlot as she now is , but for the other two , I trust both to see & behold in a greater perfection . But saith Bede , my soule desires onely to see Christ my Redeemer , in his exaltation and glory .

Q. Wherein doth principally consist the worship of God ?

A. In one word , God is to be worshipped . AMORE .

Amore summo More vero Ore fideli Re omni With all our loue , With the right ma●●●● With faithfull mouth , With all affection .

Q. How is his Kingdome to be purchased ?

A. Hearken , and S. Austen will tell thee , where in the person of God he thus saith , Venale habeo : Quid , domine : I haue to bee sold , What , Lord ? The Kingdome of Heauen . How is it to be purchased ? My Kingdome is to be purchased by pouerty ; my ioy , by griefe ; my rest , by labour ; my glory , by ignominy ; my life , by death , &c.

Q. What heires are they that first die , before they enter into their possession ?

A. The Faithfull .

Q. Wherein consists the faith of most ignorant Romanists ?

A. To beleeue as the Church beleeues : for instance whereof , saith one , A Collier being tempted of the Diuell about his faith , the Diuel thus asked him how he beleeued ? ( quoth he ) I beleeue as the Church beleeues . And how beleeues the Church , quoth the Diuell : As I beleeue , saith the Collier ; and further the diuell could not driue him ▪ Euen such is the faith of the Church of Rome , and her ignorant followers , vnderstanding nothing , but following others opinions , in beleeuing as they beleeue .

Q. A certaine godly man being inuited to a banquet on the morrow following , what was his answer ?

A. If you will any thing with me , now I am ready ; but I will not promise you to be so to morrow : for of all the dayes that I haue liued , I haue not beene assured of one morrow .

Q. Wherein consisteth true wisedome ?

A. Not in grauity of looke , in face or hayre , but in the wisedome of the minde , which is to remember time past , to imbrace the present , and wisely prouide for the time to come ; to which purpose is heere inserted the error of King Fredericke , to whom the Venetians sometimes sent Embassadors two Gentlemen very seeming young , but of ripe wisdome & vnderstanding : the King distasting their too-much seeming youth , would not admit them into his presence : who thereupon answered him , that if the Senate of Venice had imagined wisdome to consist in hoarinesse or beard , they would haue sent him two long bearded Goates : to which purpose the Poet thus supplieth : Si prolixa facit sapientem barba , quid obstat Barbatus possit quin caper esse Plato .

English , If wisdome did consist in hayre or beard , A Goat might then , to Plato be preferd .

Q. What part of what creature is that which mingles all the foure Elements in one ?

A. The belly of man , which receiues into it the fruits of the Earth , of Trees , the fishes of the Sea , the fowles of the ayre , and in stead of the Element of fire , strong wines , spices , and the like , that it is no wonder if they ruine the whole , where such diuersities of mixtures are — Frigida cum calidis pugnant humentis siccis , Mollia cum duris , sine pondere habentia pondus . Where cold , and hot , and moist , and dry , And soft , & hard , things light & heauy lie .

Q. What was the Greeke Monkes answere to him that demanded the reason : wherefore he would not eat his meat sitting , but walking ?

A. Because ( quoth hee ) I will not make of it as a worke , but as an accessory thereunto : but our seasons yeeld more Philoxines , then such Greekes that will not onely sit with ease to prolong time , but with him could wish there crane neckes might more long retaine their pleasure .

Q. Three things are moderately to be vsed , and what are they ?

A. Baths , wine , and women : the meane or excesse whereof , either much helpe , or hurt the body .

Q. How doth the wise man interpret the drunkards cups ?

A. The first ( saith he ) is for health , second for pleasure , third for excesse , the fourth for madnesse , the fift for quarrell , and the sixt for sleepe ?

Q. What foure good mothers are those , that bring ●orth foure bad daughters ?

A. Truth , hatred ; security , danger ; prosperity , pride ; familiarity , contempt .

Q. Whence was it that Architas that famous Architect became so admired for his Art and skill ?

A. By his woodden Doue that hee so quaintly made for the tryall of his workemanship , which as many Authors doe deliuer , being filled with ayre and breath , and hung with wings and appurtenances necessary , flue in the ayre like another liue Doue .

Q. Whether are there Antipodes or not ?

A. The ancient Philosophers and Geographers haue gathered by strong coniectures and reasons , on the other side of this habitable world , to be another earth beyond the Ocean , and couered therewith , in which are men that with their feet walke opposite to ours : Saint Austin and Lactantius deride the conceit heereof , without shewing any reason to the contrary : But Pliny is not of their opinion , who saith , that there are such , euen reason it self perswades , and experience showes .

Q. An old Courtier being asked by what meanes ●e continued so long to liue , and grow olde in Court , being a thing so rarely happening ?

A. Answered , By taking of iniuries , receiuing wrongs , and returning of thankes : And thereupon grew his happinesse , to be one of those few , according to the saying , for Paucos ●eauit Aula , pl●res perdidit , & quos beauit , perdidit : The Court hath made few happy , it hath vndone many ; and those that it hath most fauoured , it hath vndone ; dealing with her fauourites as Dalilah with Samson , or as Time with her Minions , that still promiseth better and longer dayes , when in a moment she withdraweth the one , and performeth not the other , but falsifieth in both ; as one lately to this purpose hath both experienced , and vttered as followeth .

Euen such is time , that takes in trust Our youth , our ioyes , and all we haue , And payes vs but with age and dust , Within the darke and silent graue . When we haue wandred all our wayes , Shut vp the story of our dayes .

— But this generall rule is not without exception .

Q. What Westerne Iland is that , that hath lost more people and blood , then all the Easterne can repaire to her former station againe ?

A. The Iland of Hyspaniola , oner-runne by the Spanyard , where the poore Indian Sauages haue beene slaughtered in greatest number , in greatest cruelty , yea euen vpon wagers laid vpon their liues , for sport and merriment ; vpon the simplicity of one of which , this ensuing story hath dependance .

A certaine Spanyard sent his poore Indian seruant of a message with Birds and other gratuities to another of his country-men , with a Letter therein mentioning the particulars sent , which this vassaile something pinched by hunger , not trustily carrying ▪ had made bold by the way , now and then to eate one of the Birds , thinking his master could neuer come to knowledge thereof . But after , deliuering the residue and the Letter : He to whom they were sent , finding his number short , wrote backe he had not receiued his due : whereupon the Master questioning his seruant , with threates and blows , compelled him to reueale it : whereupon he wondring , gaue notice to his country men , that they should take heed of those white papers with black notes in them , for they could tell tales .

Q. The Roman Indiction is a Phrase much met withall in Almanackes , and there likewise are the Dogdayes noted in Iuly and August ; now I would know the signification and meaning of both these , and what they import ?

A. The Roman Indiction is the space of 15. yeeres , by which account Charters and publike writings are dated at Rome , euery yeere still increasing one till it come to 15 , and then returning to one againe .

The Dogdayes or Canicular dayes , which are in Iuly and August , are so called of the Starre Canis , which then riseth with the Sunne , and maketh his progresse in an equall coniunction therewith , and much addeth to the heat of the Sunne , and faintnesse of that season , much infeebling thereby mans body .

Of Thought and Opinion , that trauell the world without a pasport .

Saith a merry conceited wanton , Euery Bird thinks his owne the fairest , the Crow thinkes his owne Bird the whitest .

Not alwayes so , saith another , for many there be that thinke their neighbors wiues fairer then their owne , and of such their speech will somewhat point them out : for no man can so change himselfe , but his heart will be seene vpon his tongues end .

Hereafter follow certaine collections or choyces of things most materiall and ciuill , out of Albertus Magnus , Lemnius , and others .

Of the Longing of women .

ALbertus saith , that the longings of women most commonly haue their beginnings at the end of three moneths , especially conceiued of a female child , which is the time that the haire beginneth to grow ; and the effect thereof proceedeth of the abundance of cold , and raw humours concreted in the wombe . The reason oftentimes that they are indangered , disappointed of their longings , growes through the vehement pursuite , and desire of the obiect presented to the minde , which is so extreme , that it alters and stops the course of nature , and office of the members within , whereupon many times death ensueth , but most commonly to the childe . For proofe whereof , A woman there was , that longed for a bit of the buttocke of a man , and hauing obtained it , was not satisfied , but likewise desired another , which failing of , she afterwards was deliuered of two children , wherof the one was liuing , preserued thereby , and the other perished .

Of the strength and power of Imagination .

IMagination according 〈◊〉 Lemnius , &c. of that strength and force , that it makes the things to be , that many times it ima●●neth are : as for example , It hath infe●●●● a body by meere imagination that it hath taken infection ; and strong it is , that it makes a begger a King , and a King a begger , deceiues poore fathers , blessing their children for their owne , by apparance of similitude . In forming whereof ; the imagination of the mother is of no little force , as is witnessed by the story of an Ethiopian Queene : Which by her husband of the same kinde , conceiued and brought forth a childe , of a delicate hiew & complexion , by fixing her eyes and intention vpon a beautifull picture that hung before her . To which effect Sir Tho. Moore likewise in an Epigram and other writings of his , wittily iesteth at one , who exceedingly doted on his childe , because it so truly resembled him , when his wife , and some other , knew ( as he addeth ) it was begot when hee was not at home : for which similitude he thus giueth like reason : The strong imagination of the mother dwelling vpon her husband , in thought of his wrong , and feare of his returne , had power to create in this act , his similitude of body , by his presence in mind . And this likewise is the reason , saith another , that children are sometimes like their vncles , grandfathers , or others ( one more of thought most commonly seated vpon them then strangers . ) And therefore we conclude it of more certainety to iudge our children our owne , by their inclination & disposition drawing neere vnto ours , than by the Physiognomy or feature .

Whether monstrous births , or abortiues of reasonable soules , shall be partakers of the Resurrection ?

IT is answered , that whatsoeuer indued with humane forme , and takes from our first parents , the due order of their naturall procreation and birth , although monstrous in shape , and deformed in habit , indued with the gifts of reasonable soules , shall be partakers of the resurrection : yet those things which present nothing but the shape of man , and commixt with other creatures , exercising their actions otherwise then men , they haue no part of this promise , nor shall haue the honour of renouation at the latter day : such are Fawnes , and Satyres , Centaures and Syrens , and such like : but for the other borne and begot of reasonable soules , they shall be raysed vp , and their deformities done away . But for such vntimely births , whose bodies vncompact and destitute of reasonable soules , deseruing not the name of humane creatures , shall not be raised vp againe . And therefore wee conclude , that whatsoeuer is brought forth of humane seed , and not ingendred of the concourse of vicious and superfluous humours , although neuer so deformed , hauing once receiued the breath and Spirit of life , shall be raised vp at the latter day , and made beautifull and perfect .

What it is that prickes the conscience , guilty of any notorious crime ?

THe Conscience is the true witnesse of Gods diuine power and iustice , seated in the bosome of euery liuing man , by that finger that made all men and creatures , as the faithfull Teste or witnesse , to approue or condemne , to our ioy or grief the whole actions of our liues , either good or euill , performed or intended : the force whereof is so great , that in its owne purity it acquits amiddest a thousand condemnations , but tainted , condemneth it selfe where no man accuseth : It is like the vpright Iudge that will not be corrupted , but ●ay open the sowne bosome , euer presenting the most carlet sins , and such as we would labour to put from vs , and wash away in wine and strong drinkes , or forget with merriment , setting them before the face and forehead of him that committeth them , with the deserts and punishments due vnto them , from which continuall apprehension and terror , as our naturalists doe obserue , is strucken a chilling and coldnesse into the blood , and a retyring of it selfe into the more interiour parts : which feare and apprehension of iustice , an instinct of that diuine impression , suddenly strikes & startles , thereby causing as it were a sensible compunction or pricking in the brest ; and by which terror of the minde , and inordinate retirement and shrinking of the blood and spirits , the countenance becommeth pale and meager , the body and all the parts thereof deficient . For as ( saith Salomon ) the body will beare his infirmity , but a wounded and broken spirit who can sustaine ? &c.

Of the strange nature of the Cocke .

THe Cocke , as Pliny writeth , and as our owne experience witnesseth , is a bird not great , yet of that height and courage , that it rather dyeth in fight , then yeeldeth to his aduersary : of that piercing voyce , that it daunteth the Lyons courage ▪ of that obseruance and intelligence , that he distinguisheth houres , and seasons : and whereas all other creatures after the act of venery , are dull and melancholike , only the Cocke , the country horologe , as one tearmeth him , is otherwise ; as appeareth , by the after-clapping of his wings , sprightly rowsing of himselfe , and sending forth of his note , yet in his age , it is obserued , as at 5.8.12.14 . yeeres , sooner or later in some than in others ; he layeth an egge , which is round and small , in some hole , or hedge , which by sitting vpon , he bringeth forth to some venemous serpent , or other thing , but most commonly to the Basiliske , a serpent that poysoneth by his breath or sight : As Africa and some parts of Germany doe witnesse● as our Poet writeth to that effect .

To lurke farre off , yet lodge destruction by , The Basiliske doth poyson with the eye .

Of the strange nature of the Wolfe .

PLiny likewise noteth of the Wolfe , a creature outwardly resembling a dog , yet for her sence in some degree drawing neere vnto man , that , minded to make prey vpon any thing , as by extremity of hunger oftentimes inforced thereunto , Shee first suruayes the likelihood of aduantage to be made against her , which if she finde too able for her single incounter , shee presently by howling drawes together more of her cumrades ; which so assembled , deuoure either man or beast . And it was credibly informed by a Gentleman long resident in Ireland , of one that trauelling in an Euening betwixt two townes in that countrey , some three miles distant , was three seuerall times set vpon by a Wolfe , from whose iawes by his sword he so oft deliuered himselfe ; approaching neere the towne whereto he was bent , hee incountred a friend of his trauelling vnarmed towards the towne from whence he came , vnto whom ( aduising him of his perill , and assault , accounting him selfe secure so neere the towne ) he lent his sword : now hauing parted and diuided themselues some little distance , this old Wolfe sets vpon his new guest , who finding him armed with the others weapon , presently leaues him , making after the other with all speed he might ; ouertooke him before he came to the towne , assaulted and slue him . Pliny likewise addeth , that the breath of a Wolfe , who-euer it breathe vpon , maketh hoarse .

Of the Tyger and the Elephant .

THe Tyger , as Gesner and Pliny make mention ▪ is of stature not great , yet o● foot the swiftest of many swift ones , which i● noted of her in the pursuite of her yong , fetcht off when shee trauelleth for prey , which when she returneth and findeth not , she presently coasting the countrey about , in a moment ouertaketh her fellon , that many miles was before her , which he warily obseruing , as behoueth his safety and cunning , perceiuing , setteth down one of her young ones , which shee taking vp in her mouth , seeketh no more till shee haue brought that home to her furre againe , how farre soeuer in distance , which there deliuered , out shee maketh againe , and vnlesse more speed preuent , or cunning preuaile , she recouereth another , which sometimes by looking-glasses and such like , laid in her way ; wherein viewing her selfe , or the like of young , she amazedly stayeth : so hindred and disappointed , loseth the substance for shadowes ; which when she perceiues , returning with rage , she furiously assaulteth what ●re she meets in her way .

Of the excellency , vertue , and nature of Stones .

THe Turcoyse stone , if the wearer of it be not well , changeth his colour , and looketh pale and dimme , but increaseth to his perfectnesse , as hee recouereth to his health , with which our Poet thus accordeth in his comparison : As a compassionate Turcoyse that doth tell , By looking pale , the wearer is not well ,

Many other precious Iemmes there are , that lose their vertue and splendor , worne vpon the finger of any polluted person ; and therfore lewd and vncleane liuers , such as defile their bodies with women , neuer adorne themselues with these dissenting iewels , which would blush at their shame , and betray their guiltinesse . A rich inuesture , saith one , they are , but of small vse in our dayes , hardly meeting with a finger that spoyles them not .

In the end of August , the Moone increasing , there is found in the Swallowes belly a stone of excellent vertue , for the cure of the falling sicknesse , and which dries vp the thin and glutinous humours whereupon it is chiefly ingendred .

There is likewise found in the head of an old Toad a stone very precious against all inflamations and swellings ; as bytings of venemous beasts , poysonings , and such like ▪ Likewise there is sometimes found in the head of a Carpe , a stone that stancheth all bleeding at the nose .

Hereafter follow certaine Epigrams , Riddles , and witty Positions .

Epitaph 1.

Vpon Matilda , Augusta daughter to Henry the first of England , wife to Henry the fourth Emperor , & mother to Henry the second of England .

Magna Ortis , maiorque viro , sed maxima prole , Hic iacet Henrici , filia , sponsa , parens .

English .

Great by thy birth , but greater by thy bed , Yet by the issue greater then both th' other , To dignifie all which , it may be sed , Here lies a Henries daughter , wife and mother .

2. A thing there is hath neither fl●sh nor bone , Yet of the liuing once depending on : So dry it is , no creature can it eate , Yet may stened by some . Art , it words can speake . It workes not treason first , like traitors many , But i● beheaded ere it can doe any ; And then it falls to action without rest , Whispers with secrets of a Ladies brest : Conuayes a message , be it farre or neere , Five hundred miles from hand vnto the eare . It faster binds by dashes and by blots , T●en doth a Cable with a hundred knots . Thus and much more it works by slight of hand . Now what this is I faine would vnder stand .

Resol . A quill , of which is made a pen .

3. h. b.f. Musca . a ●lie . h. b.f. Musica , musi●ke . 1. With head I run , with foot & head I fly : 2 : With these intire , I musicks sweet notes try .

4. In Tibiam . Non ego continueè morior , si spiritus exit , Nam re dit assiduè , quamuis & sape recedat .

Englished .

All creatures that subsist and liue by breath , When it departs , is life for euer fled , But mine is contrary , that brings no death , But as it wastes , is new breath'd in & bred .

5. A Harpe . Thus the Harpe sounds out it selfe . A Silent tree I was , and mute did stand , That now doth speake sweet tunes to euery hand . My life was death , my death to me was life , For heere with nature , art begins her strife , That since in life by her I might not liue , Art after death a life to me did giue .

Q. What is the ground and vse of Musicke , and wherein doth it consist ?

A. It consists in these fiue keyes or words , turned into these two Verses .

Ve releuet mi-serum fatum solitosque La-bores ▪ Eua sic dulcis Musica noster amor .

Englished .

Sweet Musicke doth refresh and ease those cares , To which , by Eues offence we al are heires .

7. Si caput est , currit ; ventrem coniunge , volabit ; Adde pedem , comedes , & sine ventre bibes . ca. ven. pes . Resol . mus . musca , muscetum mustum . A mouse , a Flie , Muscadel .

Englished .

With head I run , with head and belly flie , With foot thereto am food , and for the dry Without my belly drinke , all this am I.

8. Sir Tho. Moores Epig. vpon a poore Physicion . TV te sers medicum , nos te plus esse fatemur : Vna tibi plus est litera quàm medico .

Englished .

Thou tearm'st thy selfe Physician , and would'st be , And yet thy Art and Skill both keepe thee poore , That I can hardly yeeld thee that to be , And yet I will allow thee something more . Not Medicus a Physician , but Mendicus , a Begger , A word of a letter more .

9. In somnum . Sponte mea veniens , varias ostendo figuras , Engo metus varios , nullo discrimine veri . Sed me nemo videt , nisi sua lamina claudit .

Vpon Sleepe . Of selfe accord I come and fill the minde , With thousand toyes and fancies I deuise ; But few thereof for truth I noted finde , And none sees them , or me , but winkin● eies .

10. Aliud . Dum nihil ipse vides , facio te multa videre , Lumina ni claudat , me quoque nemo videt . Thou seeing nothing , many things I show , Which but with closed eyes thou canst not know .

II. Ter tria dant septem , septem sex , sex quoque , 〈◊〉 sunt , Octo dant quatuor , quatuor faciunt tibi septem , Haec numeres rectò , faciunt tibi milli● quinque .

It is vnderstood of the letters in the words , for the 2 first words , ter tria , yeeld seuen letters , the word septem six , the word sex 3. Octo 4. quatuor 7. millia 5. though it signifie 1000.

12. Vpon a Hammer or Mallet . THe strength of all my body 's in my head , With what I fight , am neuer vanquished , My head is great , my body is but small , A Hammer , or a Mallet most me call .

13. Mulae Asinaeque duos imponit seruulus vtres Impletos vino , signémque vt vidit Ase●●am Pondere defessam , vestigia figere tarda Mula rogat , &c.

Englished .

A Mule & Asse did each a vessel beare , Repleat with wine , the Asse slow creeping on The Mule did thus regreet , My parent deer , Why doest so heauy passe and make such mone ? If thou one measure vnto me doe lend , Then twice thy Burthen's , borne vpon my backe : But out of mine , if I to thee one send , Then both of vs doe beare one equal packe . Now learn'd Arithmetician , I would know Vnder what burthen each of these did goe .

Resol . The Mule bore 7. and the Asse 5.

14. In clauem . Virtutes magnas de viribus affero paruis , Pando domos clausàs , iterum concludo , petentes Seruo domum domino , sed rursum seruor ab illo .

Vpon a Key . Great vertue I afford in substance small , To shut and open when mine Owner will , Whom faithfull I attend at becke , at call , When many times the Theefe doth curse my skill .

15. Sunt duo quae duo sunt , & sunt duo quae duo non sunt : Quae duo si non sunt , sunt duo nulla duo .

Englished .

There 's two that are not two , yet are not one , Which two another saith , are two , none .

The wedded paire .

16. Dictio lassat equum , mel comedit , abstrahe primam , Tolle sed inde duas , remanebit amica luto su● . Cursus , versus , sus . The Horse for Race , the Beare for hunny sweet , The durty Sow makes these three names to meet

For of Cursus for a Course , take away c. it is Vrsus for a Beare , and the latter part o● the word is sus for a Sow .

17. How is this verse construed ? Sunt oculus clari qui cernis ●ydera tanquam . Dico Grammaticum versum qui construit istum . c. o. q. s. e. t. s. Cernis oculos qui sunt clari tanquam sydera . Thou beholdest eyes , As cleare as the skies .

18. In iuris Consultum . A Lawyer sitting plodding at his book , Expecting Clients in a long vacation , Sometimes Fitzarbert , turning sometimes Brooke ; In comes his man & brings him this relation ; That one had late discharged to his cost , A Peece for pleasure , that might breed his paine , For by the Statute there was 5. pound lost . To whom his Master thus repli'd againe , Who was the man so fondly him behau'd ? Quoth he , I know ; then there is fiue pound sau'd .

19. Vpon disparity of dispositions in two sonnes . TWo Sons there were that issued from one Mother , In disposition far vnlike each other : The one delighted onely in his pride , His care was for neat clothing , naught beside , And rather if his coyne did fall but scant , Three dayes hee 'd fast , before one button want . The other made his belly all his care , To clothe his carkasse , that had little share : As the other all he got , hung on his backe , So this would eat his shoos rather than lack ; The mother 'twixt them twaine , this difrence puts , Her silken son , and sonne with silken guts .

Vpon a bragging Angler . ONe that to Angle often did resort : For well it seem'd , he lik't the patient sport : Meeting another , would relate and show What store of fish he caught , as braggards doe : When passing by a May-pole , he did say , He caught a Trout as thick as that lait day : This thoght incredible by his gaping friend , His man must thereto confirmation lend ▪ Quoth he , Because I would not speake a wrong , I thinke 't was scarce so thicke , but 't was as long .

Of money and the quality thereof , that well knowne metall , first made by man , as afterwards man seekes to be made by it . THat which imployes the world , toyles Sea and Land , Is but t' atchieue this creature of mans hand , Which since the world began , what sundry shapes , It hath transform'd it in , what murders , rapes , It might haue blusht for , but that guiltlesse pale , It is being so pursude being each mans tale : It cannot colour , can in no place lye , Made after with such ceaslesse hue and cry , It sets the world a sweating by the eares , Entring the rich with cares , the poore with feares , To either sometimes both a foe and friend , Sometimes prolongs a life , hastens an end , So slie a shifter , that it finds an houre , To break each prison , to escape the Tower ▪ Though all the warders round about it stand , Yet out it gets and flies about the Land , As by experience many a one to his sorrow , Hath bin today his keeper , not to morrow . Worse for to fit a garment , & more strange , Then for the Moone , which euery month doth change . Because no Worke-man hath the skil or power , To fit the thing that 's changed euery houre , Within that leathern Channell that it goes , It like the Sea continuall ebbes and flowes , And is of such strong power , such secret might , It makes the Lady , as it bought the Knigh● ▪ It sends the Merchant ouer shelues & sands , To forraine Regions and far distant lands ; Who in his watry pilgrimage is sed , To be with neither liuing nor yet dead : To deale with doubtfull foes , for firmest friends , Leauing his wife at home to doubtful ends . This draws the Lawyer , dwel he ne'r so far , With gainful tearms , to wrangle at the bar , Whose breath like to a whirlwind this to boot , Towseth a State , and turns it vp by th' root For this the Doctor dealeth out his skill , Which sometimes ●aues , and oftentimes doth kill . For this the Broker to the diuell drawne , Writes bought , and halfe worth seaseth on your pawne . Who coozning Statutes strangely to be wondred , Makes forty of his fourscore or his hundred ▪ The gain of this each Tradesmans liuing ca●● Opes euery shop , and vttoreth euery ware . This makes the vsurer , & no wonder then , That would be boundles , be confin'd to te● Defraud his brother , ventersoule and nam● Though Scripture say , thou shalt not doe the same . This from that fatall Newgate , old gate Iayle , Hath sent forth many , a short life to bewail : Her helpelesse fortune , and her fatall hap , On Doctor Stories first three cornerd cap ; Many a rich chastity strongly pursu'd By iust , effectlesse , yet by this subdu'd Hath here been captiu'd to this ruine won , That else in former times had beene a Nun. More Orator then Tully to preuaile , By force of Tongue , then Samson , to assaile By might of strength . For this men sweare and sinne , Seeke both by good & bad to gaine & win . And in a word , this is that good and euill , Brings some to God , but more vnto the Diuell .

A Supplication to Lady Pecunia . GReat Lady , how vnlike some sollid maid , That long in vaine hath for a sutor staid , Art thou , which not for worth , but beauty too , Makes all in loue , and all the world to woo ! Grant me , tho neither fauorite nor friend , Nor none that thy great troopes nor traines attend ; Not of so meane a fauour to bee bard , That craue , though not redresse , yet be heard : That since thou oft hast progrest by my doore , That makes all rich , & yet I still am poore That thou wouldst one day call , and lodge , and rest With one had ne'r more need of such a guest . Which if thou daigne , this fauor thou shalt finde , I le not vplocke thee with a Mysers minde But vse thee as a Lady of Respect , Which dost from care and misery protec● All that imbrace thee with a plentious hand Most constant , that most aydfully dost stand Where friends forsake vs , and where kindred fall , A Bulwark to vs , thou that all in all Commandest ; art sought vnto , to thee I cry To fal some drops into a ground that 's dry Vnlike to Vsury that euer yet Appli'd her needlesse moisture wet to we● O● Monarchs hands , that let not bounty fa● Where want cries some , but where exces● gets all .

Her reply . OF all the Ladies ere were woo'd or wed , Or euer forst vnto a loathed bed , Am I most wretched , that the least may chuse Where I affect , or where I loath , refuse , But like some misers Daughte● made a Bride , To Riches onely , and naught else beside : Am I thrust off to euery worthlesse clown , When men of vertue , goodnesse & renown , Are bar'd my presence , whilst I am inforst , Rauisht , offended , striue to be deuorst , Abus'd with Vsurers , and forst to br●ed , Quite against Nature , without wombe or seed ; Yea , held in darknes vnder barres & bolts , Where none but earth-wormes court me , fooles , and dolts , Depriu'd of light , of liberty , and view , And whatsoeuer else a Ladies due . Could I deceiue those Argoses me keepe , With many thousand eyes that neuer sleep : I would take my progresse to each prison doore , Shake off their Shackles , & let out the poor That long haue look't with pouerty & pain Expecting my returne , but all in vaine . I would build Churches , be in godly motion , But that such Nabals hinder my deuotion . From a captiuing hand I broke of late , And out I got , and straight rais'd vp a gate . From thence I took my progresse into Pauls , And glas'd some windowes that did want no holes ; And if it were not for such stayes and lets , I 'de giue security for all mens debts . For without me , where-euer I am staid , is no bond canceld , nor no reckoning paid . For me are al brains labor'd , hands imploid , And without me the world is not inioyd . And therefore at my latest cloze of breath , Great King of Mortall things ( I clipped death ) To thee I humbly my petition make , That thou thy haruest of such Iaylors take ; That till their death will grapple what they haue , And naught shall part them but thy sithe and graue : That thou wouldst mow them downe , euen vnto dust , From others wants , that bar me till I rust .

Deaths supplication to Time . WIthin a Dungeon all in darkenesse grounded , Sate a grim Ghost , of sinews al compounded : Where more to increase his melancholy moanes , He grapples to himselfe , the sculs & bones Of men departed , & with these he playes , As sorrowes were his ioyes and shortning dayes . Which though his workmen , sicknesse , ach , and paine , Were all in labor , yet he thought his gaine Was small or nothing , without plague , or warre ; Which Time still fauouring , did prolong too farre . Gainst whom , was deadly enmity and hate , For safe protecting all things to their date : Before which expiration Death may stand ▪ In expectation , but with empty hand : And therefore to this Lady did reply , The fault was times , thogh hers the iniury ▪ For if that I were master of my will , With blood I 'ld surfet , and the whole world kill . There should not such a miser liue so long , To iniure many , by one Ladies wrong . And therefore vnto Time I humbly pray , To stir his wings more swift and fly away , That I with griefe and stay , no longer pine , But so many haue my wish , and thou haue mine .

Times reply . OF all the Ages that are past and fled By me out-worne , decay'd , deceast , and dead : Was neuer any spoke with so small heed , To say that Time was slow & had no speed . Although I might fly faster farre away , With Snayle I euer creepe , when swift things stay . And that our Parallells a sudden hast , Which swiftly doth begin , but slowly last . Indeed t is true , all liuing things depend On my supplied minutes , which shall end , And euery sublunary thing below , But when that time shall be , Time doth not know . Yet now I must confesse , that I grow old , Hauing fiue thousand yeeres six hundred told . In which long Summer I am so well read , That I doe teach all Arts that skil are bred . I know all History how ere it runne , And the truth thereof , being witnesse when 't was done . The death of Kings , of Princes , change of State , What is 't I know not , to discourse , relate ? With many secrets I doe counsell keepe , Done at darke midnight , in contempt of sleepe . Which some Petitioners to me would know : To all which sifting thoughts , I answer , no I must not tell , the Linnins then are tost , Those dainties touched , and those nice things lost . This minutes guiltines of losse of strength , Decay of stomacke , and eclipse of length . Of which , another time I more may say , But now must answer death , which craues with stay , Licence to hurry forth , to mow and kill , Which yet I cannot giue , but shortly will . For I am but a seruant , and this sore Must be indur'd with griefe , or patience bore . For till this worlds consumption there must bee Rich Diues , and poore Lazar , wants to see . And yet I cannot hasten to amend , What heere thou dost complain vntill the end . And then this Lady that thou wouldst set free , Shall want her Courtiers and a vaine thing be .

Table-Talke .

Question . IN what part of the yeere ( according to the coniectures of the learned ) was the world created ?

Answer . Concerning the resolution of this question , much controuersie hath arisen , as well betwixt seuerall Nations , as men : As among the Hebrewes , the Chaldeans , the Arabians , the Egyptians , the Greekes and Latines : some conceiuing it to be created in the Summer , others in the Spring , others in Autumne ; to which ( as say some ) Moses seemes to assent , where it is said in Genesis , Let the earth bring forth the greene herbe , and trees bring forth fruit according to their kinde . The Egyptians thinke it was created in Summer ; most in the Spring . Likewise they vary about the Planets , and what houses they were created in : some thinke when the Sunne was in Leo , the Moone in Cancer , and so of the rest . Which may be somewhat more confirmed by this necessary rule following , for the falling of Easter day , which is , As vpon the 10 day of the first moneth from the creation , which is March , at the coniunction of the Sunne and the Moone , next the Equinoctiall ; the Paschall Lambe was chosen out of the flocke , and kept till the 14. day , or full Moone : so the tenth day of the first moneth , being Palm sunday , our Sauiour entred into Ierusalem , and the 14 day suffered his passion ; so as the next Sunday after the 14. day of the Moone or full Moon in the moneth of March is alwayes Easter day , and probable to confirme the former supposition .

Q. But of this what shall I determine ?

A. That by the wisedome , mercy , and goodnesse of God it was created , in the fulnesse of time , in what part his wisedome thought most meet : the admirable composition and frame whereof , that wee daily contemplate and behold with the eyes of our vnderstanding , with the diuersity and distinction of all the creatures therein ; they and all these for the seuerall vses and seruice of man , and man onely for the seruice of God .

Q. Wherefore then , since the world was only made for man , ( for man onely knowes the vs● thereof ) are the dayes of his pilgrimage v●●on earth , contracted from the length of many cubits to a span-long , in comparison of the trebled date and extension of bruit beasts , senslesse and irrationall creatures ; as the Hart , the Daw , the Oake , Rauens , Rockes , and such like , most of which haue trebled dates beyond the short period of mans life ? For concerning the Hart , one of the most doubtfull , of whons notwithstanding Hist●ries make mention : How Alexander desirous to aepproue to posterity the long life of this creature , to that end caused to be put certaine golden collers about diuers of their neckes , with the time of their dates , some of which were found 100. yeeres after his death in full vigour and liuelihood , not perceiued to decline , or grown into age , but continuing and lasting : when the life of man doth vanish like a shadow , like a flower ; when neither Absolons beauty , Samsons strength , Salomons wisedome , Asaels swiftnesse , Croesus wealth , Alexanders liberality , Hectors strength , Homers eloquence , Augustus fortune , Traianes iustice , Ciceroes zeale , one , nor all of these can protect it , but that hee falls from the graue of the wombe , to the wombe of the graue , cut downe like a flower , as these verses seeme to import : Est hominum status per florem significatus : Vt flos cito perit , sic homo puluis erit . Mans life is fitly semblanc'd by the flowers , Which flourish now , and fade ere many ho●res ▪

Therefore this inequality considered , may it not be thought iniustice and wrong to man in this disposure ? and if not , by what consequent or reason may he settle his appeasement ? For as the Poet : If death destroy vs quite ; we haue great wrong , Since for our seruice al things else were wrought , That Dawes , and Trees , and Rockes , should last so long , When we must at an instant turne to naught .

A. By this , Because the wise Creator fore-saw that these in their dislolution , though neuer so long protracted , should altogether perish , but man at his end should but renew a better , nay an immortall life : and therefore what he is abridged of here , he hath amends for hereafter .

Q. Wherein consists the naturall life of man , that it so soone doth cease , and so quickly wheele off from the thing of so vnstable continuance ?

A. In heat and moisture , which daily wasting themselues to keep life afoot , are againe daily replenished in vs by our meat and drinke ; for by our meat is our naturall heat maintained , and by our drinke the radicall moisture daily replenished .

Q. Why should the Epicure then say , Let vs eate and drinke , for to morrow wee shall dye , when by eating and drinking , our life is strengthened and renewed ? and why may not the life of man by this moderate and seasonable supplie , be preserued continually , at least-wise the life of our fore-fathers ?

A. Because as the Sea hath bounds which it cannot passe , so is there to euery life a period set , Hitherto shalt thou come , and no further : which though it may be shortened , as it is in the Psalme , The bloud-thirsty and deceitfull man shall not liue forth halfe his daies , yet can it in no wise be prolonged further , at leastwise prorogued euer : for set all other aduersaries aside , Time it selfe shall at last bring in age , whose antipathy shal be such , that it shal quench thy heat , and dry vp thy moisture ; for be thou neuer so well fenced ▪ comes death at last , and with a little pinne bores thorow thy Castle wall , and farewell man : But of this formerly more at large .

Q. What were the opinions of the Egyptian Sages and Philosophers concerning the longitude or breuity of mans life ? and whereupon did they ground their reasons ?

A. They were conceited that men did liue according to the increasing or diminishing of the heart , some thinking the heart to grow and increase till 50. yeers , and that it did ▪ augment euery yeere 2. drachmes weight ; & grown to the full bignes , did again diminish euery yeere as much , vntil it came to nothing , whereupon ensued death .

Q. What are the opinions of some more moderne Physicians for the naturall length or shortnesse thereof , vpon the dependencie of Complexion either good or euill ?

A. Some thinke that the more better complexion , as those of the Sanguine , bee long in growing old , because they haue much heat and humidity .

That the melancholy waxeth soone old , because they be cold and dry ; and as touching the feminine sex , they become sooner old then the masculine . Hipocrates reporteth that female children , in their mothers wombes are formed in seuen moneths , and then after grow slowlier then men ; but borne , grow faster , and become sooner wise , and sooner old , for the feeblenesse of their body and manner of life , being for the most part idle , is an inducement to old age .

Q. Whether are the tall or low of stature , according to the coniectures of some learned , of longest health or life ?

A. Some thinke the shortest statures , because their vitall spirits are more strong and nimble , imparting their liuelihood with more vigor in their shorter circuit , then in the more spacious compasse : others again that they are more durable , because the Cedar many times is sooner blasted with a tempest then the shrubs ; others are of a contrary opinion , that the taller limbes haue the more temperate humours and complections , that fumes not so much do offend the braine , because the stomacke and it are more separate : but howsoeuer we conclude these arguments of small validity , because Death lookes not so high , that hee passeth by the low , nor so low , that hee passeth by the high , but leuels equally at both alike , as that more high Prouidence guides the hand from which there is no euasion .

Q. Whether were the yeeres of th●●●ncient Patriarches , when they liued eight or nine hundred yeeres , of the length of our yeeres with vs ; or so short as some haue imagined , that tenne of theirs made but one of ours , or an hundred of theirs but ten of ours ?

A. Of equall length and parity with ours , finished by the course of the Sunne : and for further proofe hereof , the Scriptures affirme , that in the 600. yeere of Noahs life , in the second moneth , a●d 27. day of the moneth , the flood came : now if the yeere were but 36. dayes , so little a yeere must either haue no moneths , or it must haue but three dayes in a month , to make twelue moneths in a yeere after that computation . And as in this , so likewise it may be inferred in diuers other places , to proue that their yeers had their equall longitudes and continuance with ours .

Q. What accidents or other remarkeable consequence of time and place , haue followed the day and houre of the weeke , since the creation of Adam , as I haue seen it recorded in an ancient manuscript , but of what probability I aue●re not ?

A. That as vpon the 25. day of the moneth of March , the first month from the creation , the 6. day of the week , & 6. houre of the day , Adam was created , brake the Commandements , the seed of the woman was promised , & he for disobedience banished out of Paradise : So the same day of the moneth , the same houre of the day , Cain slue his brother Abel , the promise was renewed vnto Abraham , Isaac was to be offred vp in sacrifice , the message by the Angell to the virgin Mary , our Sauior Christ was conceiued , deliuered , suffered his passion on Mount Caluary , the same place where Adam was buried , that the second Adam might there by his obedience , make good to man , what the first Adam lost by disobedience and sin , & that the Crosse whereupon he died , was a part of the same tree from which Adam plucked the forbidden fruit . But of the certainty hereof , I can auouch no warrant .

Q. We reade in the Scripture , after Cai● had slaine his brother Abel , that hee was our●● to be a vagabond and runnagate vpon the face of the earth , and that he had a marke set vpon him , that no man might slay him ? yet after it is said that he built a City , and dwelt at the East side of Eden : now I would know what was the end of Cain : How if he were a housholder & a Citizen , he was a runnagate ? And if hee built a City , who were his workmen ? what Masons and Carpenters had ; for it is thought by some , there were not as that time aboue fiue or six persons in the whole world , neither are there more nominated in the Scripture ?

A. In that primitiue age of the world men liued long , for Adam his father liued 930. yeeres ; and some are of opinion , that he liued the longer , by reason that he knew the vertue , nature , and operation of euery beast , and herbe , & plant , as well as to name them , and could apply them , wherein they were most seruiceable to his vse . Now it is not improbable that Cain in his longinquity of life might wander foure or fiue hundred yeeres , and in his latter age build a City , which might bee caused out of his feare , for before that guiltinesse of conscience that he had , no man intrencht himselfe within walles or bulwarkes , neither feared the violence of man or beast . And for his worke-men , they might be many ; for in the latter end of his age , it may not bee thought but his children , and his childrens children might be many generations , and enow to build and inhabit a City , though Moses onely names but some principall parties . And for his death , wee leaue it as doubtfull , though the Hebrewes doe report , that Lamech being led a hunting ( being blinde ) by his sonne Tubalcaine , shooting at wilde beasts , kild Cain in the thicket vnawares ; and after hearing thereof by his sonne , strooke him ouer the head with his bow , that he died likewise : grounding their opinion vpon the words of Lamech , Gen. 4. where hee saith to his two wiues , I haue slaine a man to my wounding , and a young man to my hurt : both which we leaue as vncertainties .

Q. By what signes doe we iudge men to be the more long or shorter lyued ?

A. The life of man is compared vnto an Apple , which being ripe drops downe of it selfe , and sometimes in the immaturity is cast downe by windes and tempests .

The signes of a short life are ancientl● noted to be these three : 1. Thinnenesse of Teeth . 2. Longnesse of Fingers . 3. Leaden or heauinesse of Colour ▪ The contrary , or of a long life . 1. Straight Shoulders . 2. Wide Nostrils , and the opposite aduerse signes , that is , 1. Many Teeth . 2. Short Fingers , and 3. A good Color .

Hereafter followeth a Triplicity of somemore diuine , witty , short and compendious Precepts and Conclusions to seuerall natures and purposes .

Q. THere are three inuisible vertues of God , and which are they ?

A. Power , Goodnesse , Wisedome , which are thus explicated : Of Power , all things proceed . Of Wisedome , all things consist . Of Goodnesse all things are gouerned .

Q. What was the wise mans Memento to preuent sinne ?

A. Recordare nouissima , & non peccabis in ●ternum .

First , to remember these foure last things , before wee accomplish any euill , and then we shall seldome doe amisse : which are Death , Iudgement , the paines of Hell , and the ioyes of Heauen .

And they are so called for these foure reasons : 1. Because Death is the end of life , and the last thing which is to happen to vs in this world . 2. Because this Iudgement is the last of all iudgements that are to bee giuen , and therefore there is no appealing from it . 3. Because Hell is the last euill that Malefactors are to haue , and they are to remaine therein for euer . 4. Because Heauen is the last good which the good are to haue , and they are neuer to lose it .

Q. What foure things are those that most plainely proue the bookes of the Apocrypha not to be Canonicall ?

A. 1. Because they are not written by any Prophet , neither containe they any Prophesies in them . 2. Because they were written in Greek , and all the rest in Hebrew . 3. Because Malachy the last of the Prophets , saith , that after him they should not looke for any other Prophet , till the comming of Eliah , that was , S. Iohn Baptist. 4. Because the Author of the Machabeas in one place craueth pardon for his work and saith , If it be not so wel as it shuld be , yet it was as well as he could , which is no fitting phrase for a Penman of the holy Scripture .

Q. There are three sayings found in Saint Pauls Epistles , which are taken from the Heathen , and which are they ?

A. The first out of Menander , Euill words corrupt good manners , 1 Cor. 15.32 .

The second out of Aeratus , Couetousnesse is the root all euils , 1 Tim. 10.

The third out of Epimenides , Cretans are alwayes lyers , euill beasts , flow bellies , Tit. 1.12 .

Q. What are the three parts of Repentance ?

A. Contrition in Heart , Confession in Mouth , Satisfaction in Workes .

Q. What foure things are those that ouercome one another ?

A. 1 Death ouercomes Man . 2 Fame ouercomes Death . 3 Time ouercomes Fame . 4 Eternity ouercomes Time .

Q. There is held to be a scarcity of two sorts of men in our age , and who ore they ?

A. 1 Of Noblemen , because Citizens doe daily aspire to honour and buy Nobility . 2 Of Iewes , because Christians make an occupation of vsury .

Q. Wee cannot know the Authors of three mischiefes which happen oftentimes , and what are they ?

A. 1. Hee that is drunke , cannot iustly say , This cup of wine , or that , made me drunke . 2. He that walketh among thorns , knows not which woundeth him . 3. A common whore being with childe , knowes not who is the father of it .

The Husbandmans lesson to his sonne . Be holy in Lent . Be painefull in Haruest . Be merry at Christmas .

A further counsell or lesson . Touch nothing in a Smiths forge . Taste nothing in an Apothecaries shop . Be not curious in reading other mens let .

Bragge not of three things , if thou wouldest 〈◊〉 ioy plenty , and preserue a good name . That thou hast good wine in thy house . A faire wife for thy bed . Plenty of money in thy chest .

Q. Whether is a good name sooner lost , or found ?

A. As soone lost as sound , and therefore be diligent to atchieue it before thou hast it , in embracing wise counsell ; and can●full to keepe it when thou hast it : For Actum est de homine , Quum actum est de nomine .

There be three manner of Sages . The Sage herbe , The Sage wise , and The Sage foole .

Of which one writes , Whost for wise himselfe doth accept , May match any Sage , the Sage wise except .

He that comes to a Lawyer , must bring with him three pockets , which must bee thus imployed :

In the first must be his Declarations and his Euidences .

In the second his siluer and his gold .

In the third his patience for expence and delay .

Likewise three things are said to be necessary for him that is a Student in the law .

1 An Iron head . 2 A purse full of gold . 3 A leaden taile .

Q. What and how many are the properties of a good seruant ?

A. To haue the backe of an Asse , The tongue of a sheepe , The snowt of a swine : To beare all patiently , To keepe all silently , To digest all things heartily .

Likewise : To be long of eare , Light of foot , Trusty of hand : To heare quickly , To run swiftly , To execute honestly .

And not to haue , Mel in ore , verba lactis , Fel in corde , fraus in factis .

Q. Three things should be alwayes at 〈◊〉 and what are they ?

A. The Hen-roost , the Cat , and the good Wife . Three occasions many times moue deate , and these are they : To talke with him that is angry . To send him of an arrand that is weary . To wake a man out of his sleepe .

Q. How stand the English , the French , the Italian and the Spaniard affected to their w●●men for stature or complexion ?

A. The English is indifferent for stature , so she be amiable and beautifull . The French affects the pale & the slender . The Spaniard , the round and the tender . The Italian , the ruddy , and the tall , as their owne Prouerbe seemes to confirm it ▪ Grande & alia me fare Dîo Bella & bianco me fare î● .

Englished : If God will make me tall and hye , What wants in beauty , I le supply .

And therfore it is said , As he affects dearly , so he suspecteth deepely : yet cannot his most narrow suspition so turne the key to his owne safety , thereby solely to ingrose and secure the portion of his owne right , without a most hatefull riuall ; to which purpose vpon the generall inconstancy of women , after triall of so many beauties abroad ▪ in so many seuerall Countries , by two such worthy personages so vnworthily wronged by their owne wiues , and none found constant or of better condition , then their owne at home , but many worse ; returned homewards , refuging their sorrows with the generality of others fortune ▪ a in my Hostes tale in the story of Orlando , is more largely dilated to the comfort of his ▪ country men , where this was acted .

To which purpose and effect , one ill opinioned generally of women , thus further adioyneth .

Go and catch a falling Starre , Get with child a mandrakes root : Tell me where all past yeeres are , And who cleft the diuels foot . If thou be'st borne to strange sights , Things inuisible to see : Ride ten thousand dayes and nights , Till age snow while hayres on thee . Then a hen thou returned wilt tell me , All strange wonders that befell thee . And sweare , no where ▪ Liues a woman true and faire .

Or as another woman-hater thus w●●teth causelesly , if he meant all .

Go and diue the Ocean vnder , Where vnfathom'd deepnesse be : Then go scale the clouds of thunder , Where the fiery Regions be . Through the ●ildernesse goe creepe , Thorow the brakes where ne'r shone day , Where the venome wonders keepe , And the Dragons haue their way , And thou as soone shalt know the skill , All these wonders to impart , As to know the winding will Of a womans Protean heart .

Vpon the euill and inconstancy of which wicked women , one began thus to make an Alphabet .

Auidissimum animal , Bestiale barathrum , Concupiscentiam carnis , Duellum damnosum , &c.

Englished .

Auaritious , Beastly , Concupiscentious of the flesh , Dangerous duellists , &c.

Which afterwards , another as their friend , thus inuerted it vpon the good , Alphabeticall wise .

Amabiles , Beneficae , Castae , Deuotae , Elegantae , Fideles , Gratae , Humiles , Iucundae , Lenes , Misericordes , Negotiosae , Obedientes , Prudentes , Qu●stuosae , Reuerentes , Sapientes , Tacitae , Verae , Xenophilae , & Zenobiae .

Englished .

Amiable , Bountifull , Chaste , Deuout , Eegant , Faithfull , Gratefull , Humble , Ingenuous , Lightsome , Mercifull , Needfull , Obedient , Prudent , Quiet , Reuerent , Silent , Trusty , Vertuous , Expert , &c.

Q. For the precedence betwixt England , France and Spaine , which kingdome may the most iustly challenge the priority ?

A. Some writers affirme that the King of France may iustly claime the first place , and that for these reasons , as they alledge .

1. For that it pleased God to send from Heauen , vnto Clodoneu● , the first Christian King of that Nation , three Lillies as a diuine fauour to be from thencesorth borne in the armes of that Kingdome , before which time , the Kings armes was three Toads , as some write .

Secondly , for that , as they affirm , France is the most ancient Kingdome in Europe , and that Swardus was King of that 〈◊〉 in the time of Alexander .

Thirdly , because the King of France is anointed , which seemes a note of antiquity .

Fourthly , for his Title , the most Christian .

Others hold that it belongeth to Spaine , and that for these reasons .

1 Because hee is intituled the most Catholicke . 2 Because hee is King of many Kingdomes , and so of much honour .

But we conclude , the chiefe place and precedence belongeth to the Kingdome of England .

First , in respect of antiquity , for Brute was King of England , when Alexander , the first King of the Grecians called , himselfe King of the whole world .

Secondly , the King of England is anointed , and so is no other king but the French King , the King of Cicill , and Ierusalem .

Thirdly , the King of England is a Prince most absolute in all respects . But the reason is , for that England receiued the Christian faith before either France or Spaine , notwithstanding the title of most Christian.

There are 6. happy men among many others , and these are they .

1 Foelix qui Deum timet , qui mundum odit , qui nemini fert iniuriam . 2 Foelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas . 3 Foelix qui didicit contentus viuere paruo . 4 Foelix qui nihil debet . 5 Foelix qui possidendo nihil , omnia possidet . 6 Foelix qui omnia quae vult habet , & 〈◊〉 mali vult .

Englished .

1 Happy is hee which feares God , hates the world , doth no man iniury . 2 Which hath learned to be content with a little . 3 That owes nothing but loue . 4 Which knowes the causes of things . 5 Which possessing nothing , yet inioyes all things in not desiring . 9 That hath all that he desires , and desires nothing that is hurtfull .

Q. What three things are those to be auoided ▪

A. 1 Medicus inctoctus . 2 Cibus non coctus . 3 Praua mulier .

An vnlearned Physician , Meat ill dressed , A wicked woman .

Q. Three things to bee bewayled , and the● 〈◊〉 are they . Tempus amissum , Peccatum commissum , Bonum omissum . Time lost , Sinne committed , Good omitted .

Q. Who are the famous fooles ?

A. A faithfull louer of an vnfaithfull friend . An honest gamester . A mercifull souldier .

Q. Three things are to be taken heed of an● these are they ; A dogges tooth , A horse heele , and A womans tongue .

Q. There are three things , for which a wiseman should not giue counsell , and which are they ?

A. For another man to take a wife , To make a voyage by sea , To follow the warres .

Q. Three things concurre to make a man quickly rich , and what are they ?

A. The fall of wiues , and the standing of sheepe and Bees .

Q. What foure things kill a man before his time ?

A. A faire wife , A troubled houshold , Immoderate meat and drinke , and A corrupt ayre .

Q. There be three shooing-hornes to pluck on a Cuckolds cap , and what are they ?

A. A faire wife . A iealous husband . A wanton louer .

Foure workes of a Tyrant . 1 To destroy the good . 2 To hate the poore . 3 To extoll the euill . 4 To root out the vertuous .

Q. What one thing is that , that is bo●h the hardest and easiest thing of all other ?

A. T is the hardest for a man to know himselfe , and the easiest to deceiue himselfe .

Foure vnlikelihoods , which yet sometimes come otherwise to passe .

He that is not Faire by 20. Strong by 30. Wise by 40. Rich by 50. T is vnlikely he will euer be any of them .

Q. When is the best time to vndertake a iourney ?

A. To answer as one merrily answere● . It is then , when a man hath a good horse money in his purse , and good companions .

Q. Two things thou maist shew , but not lend , and what are they ?

A. Thy sword , and thy wife which is thy scabberd .

Q. What in times past was the controu●● between the Coffin-maker and the Chest-ma● for superiority ?

A. The Chest-maker vaunted , that the commodity that he made , was of greatest worth , for that it lockt vp money that commanded all things .

But ( quoth the Coffin-maker ) The chest that I make , lockes vp him that commands money , euen the money-master himselfe ; and as the worthiest thing , hee takes that with him when he leaues all other behind .

Q. What creatures are those that sleep with their eyes open ?

A. The Lyon , and the Hare , that bold , and fearefull creature .

Q. What binds faster then Obedience , Wedlocke , suspicion , or necessity ?

A. Fate and Death .

Q. It is an approued Maxime , that in nature is no vacuity , nothing produced in vaine : and hath this generall rule euer passed without exception ?

A. Not so , for the wisest and most precious good , but hath found some Momus to carpe at it , and like the Wolfe , turne their throat against the Moone , to quarrell the highest and best things , as to this purpose is here annexed a story of some triall .

Certaine ordinary Gentlemen meeting at an Ordinary , amongst many propositions and discourses one to another , according to the too much liberty of such places , one at last began to fall into this admiration , that since God and Nature , the common parent● of all creatures , produced nothing in vaine , why man , a creature of their principall workmanship ▪ in himselfe was altoget●● vanity ? For confirmation whereof , sai●● he of some , I knew a Countrey Church wel-furnished with a Clocke , whose 〈◊〉 was stricken with an image like a man , vpon the wheele stood a ca●● which when the image strucke , made such haste away , as 〈◊〉 parishioners , when they should haue 〈◊〉 for their sinnes , fell a laughing at the 〈◊〉 nimblenesse : And to furnish the Ch●●● with better merriment , their Parson 〈◊〉 conceited as their Clocke , amongst 〈…〉 of his digressions , falling to sp●●ke 〈…〉 prouidence of God , and such like , 〈…〉 sometimes in the first it might seeme weak to humane capacity , when notwithstanding it was wise in the ends propounded : As for example , ( said hee ) Walking one euening in my garden vnder mine Apple tree , I looked vp , and saw the little Apples aduanced on the top of the high tree , eminent to the sight , whilst at my foot grew grubling the huge Million , and the Pumpion ( as me thought ) vnseemely , because obscurely on the ground : Whereupon I began to thinke , it had beene more seemely and fit , that this worthier and fairer fruit should haue growne on the more high and perspicuous place , and the apples neerer to the ground , or in the place thereof : when sodainly thus gazing vp to behold the vnfitnesse of their growing , one blowes mee downe from the top of the high tree , and hits me on the top of my bald head . Being so amazed , I began to thinke on mine owne folly ; for thought I then , If this Pumpion had growne and fallen in this apples place , it had knocked out my foolish braines .

To this seconded another , to falsifie the generall proposition , that Nature had erred in many t●●ngs , and might ( as in others ) haue beene better aduised in these : for a man to repent in ; and hee 〈◊〉 Repent a day before thy death . Quo 〈…〉 that is ignotum per ignotius , one vnknown● thing answerd by another more vnknowne For ( quoth he ) I know not when the day 〈◊〉 my death will be . Why then ( quoth 〈◊〉 repent to day , for ( for ought thou 〈◊〉 thy death may be to morrow .

Q. There are three powers of the soule 〈◊〉 signed vnto three parts of the body 〈…〉 are they ?

A. Reason to the Head , A 〈…〉 Heart , Lust to the Liuor : like 〈…〉 yeeldeth sense , the Heart Life , 〈…〉 nourishment .

Q. Why doth the bayre and nayle 〈…〉 man , as also Onions , and Garlicke , 〈…〉 grow and increase after they are 〈…〉 thered ?

A. Those haue their issue 〈…〉 out of the abundance of mo 〈…〉 in men , though dead , or these 〈…〉 not in a long time diminishe 〈…〉

Q. Why are Bastards 〈…〉 strong , forward , witty , and 〈…〉 those which are legitimate an 〈…〉 locke ?

A. Some thinke , 〈…〉〈…〉 vehement and perpetuall , and 〈…〉 whatsoeuer outward heat is pre●●reunto , is weakened by the grea 〈◊〉 ●●ued within , which allayeth the 〈…〉 eof , as the heat of the fire is aba 〈◊〉 beames of the Sunne .

〈…〉 omes it , that by looking vpon one 〈…〉 sore , our owne many times be 〈…〉 ?

〈…〉 done partly by the mutuall 〈◊〉 weene the eye and the eye , but 〈…〉 lly because the eie doth attract 〈…〉 it beholds , certaine rayes 〈…〉 nto it , by which it sees , and so 〈…〉 from thence what is infectious , it 〈…〉 the likewise infected it selfe .

〈…〉 doth the Tyranny of age most ap 〈…〉 it self thy changing the haire from 〈…〉 into white , and dying the lockes 〈…〉 what meanes doth it most vsu 〈…〉 ?

〈…〉 that Summer is decayed , 〈…〉 approching on , the frosts and 〈…〉 of she effecteth by drying 〈…〉 ch should digest superflu 〈…〉 ours , through the defect 〈…〉 lly proceed .

〈…〉 through the ouermuch much care and feare , by which di 〈…〉 ned men affirme that some men 〈…〉 prehension of death , haue grow 〈…〉 their youth , euen at 25 yeeres o 〈…〉

Q. How doth the Basiliske poy 〈…〉 eye ; and the sight of the woolfe 〈…〉 voyce of him that beholdeth it , 〈…〉 Poet ?

To lurke farre off , yet lodge de 〈…〉 The Basiliske doth poyson with 〈…〉 The Wolfe that howles for han 〈…〉 noyse Doth by her neere approach 〈…〉 voyce .

A. By infection of the ay●e 〈…〉 gre●s approacheth the ray 〈…〉 so likewise is the hoar●nesse 〈…〉 effected , by drawing in ●y deg 〈…〉 after another , till that app〈…〉 infected by the first . Wolue 〈…〉 red and destroyed in Eng 〈…〉 mand of King Edgar , and 〈…〉 Princes had beene deuour 〈…〉

Q , What substa●ce or 〈…〉 commonly oppresseth hea〈…〉 and is commonly called th 〈…〉

A. The Night-ma 〈…〉 mour or bloud , whi 〈…〉〈…〉 the vitall spirits of those that 〈…〉 pecially on their backe , in such 〈…〉 if some heauy weight or lumpe 〈…〉 heir stomack , which they would 〈…〉 ff , but cannot , and is not , as many 〈…〉 liuing thing or spirit .

〈…〉 foure things are those , that being 〈…〉 be recouered ?

〈…〉 Time , Virginity , a Word 〈…〉 erefore for many causes wee 〈…〉 them present , and to a 〈…〉 in words , especially for 〈…〉 easons ▪

〈…〉 cause in multiloquy the wisest 〈…〉 fend .

〈…〉 because it is a signe of folly . 〈…〉 ecause many words are the 〈…〉 d●●tents & displeasings , 〈…〉 more manifest by these exam 〈…〉

〈…〉 the gates that are alwayes 〈…〉 time admit an enemy as 〈…〉 is euer vncouered , is vn 〈…〉 infectious : to which pur 〈…〉 Philosopher , amongst 〈…〉ing his peace , and be 〈…〉 so , answered , Because 〈…〉 times for speaking , but neuer