AN HISTORY OF THE Constancy of Nature. WHEREIN, By comparing the latter  
Age with the former, it is maintained tha● the World doth not decay universally, in respect of itself, or the Heavens, Elements, Mixed Bodies, Meteors, Minerals, Plants, Animals, nor Man in his Age, Stature, Strength, or Faculties of his Mind, as relating to all Arts and Science  
By John Jonston of Poland.  
Printed for John Streater, and are to be sold by the Booksellers of London, 1657.   

TO THE Right Worshipful and much Accomplished Gentleman George Pit, Esquire.  
Right Wor:  
I Have for a long time had an earnest ambition to offer something unto you that might be, in part at least, worthy of yourself; and I hope you will make this present to be so, by your gracious acceptance, suffering it to wear your livery: The Author of it was a very learned man, whose works can be no ways prejudicial to any person of Honour. The subject of this Book is serious, and of great Importance, I fear no objection but that it may not be judged so suitable for your younger thoughts. Yet I presume you will not be offended with me, that I should conceive such ripeness and maturity of judgement in you beyond your years, as to tender a Book to your patronage, whose subject may deservedly employ, and stumble too, the apprehensions of the greatest Sages, and learnedst Rabbis of our times: For my own part I never much fancied Poetical strains, and flashe● of wit, that are commonly bare outsides and make a crackling noise in the world, having no solid matter contained in them. Yet I know such empty vanities can hardly want Patrons; It were then great pity that such a rare piece as this should fail of a favourable Maecenas. The question here agitated is, Concerning Nature's Constancy, (and not concerning the Inconstancy of vain men's Manners) which I wish idle brains would seriously reflect upon, viz. whether this age wherein we live, may not afford persons (for man is the chief thing here considerable as famous for their valour, for skill in all Arts and Sciences, and all other Noble qualities and endowments, as there were in former days. The Author who maintains the Affirmative, hath made it good, as I suppose, beyond all exceptions, and therein hath paralleled, and I may say, exceeded by force of Argument, any that have maintained the contrary; and that to the vindication of his own particular, in this excellent Book of Nature's Constancy. True it is, that there were many men formerly of great Honour and Renown in several Countries, and men of our days, are reputed generally to be as Pigmies, compared with those Giantlike Heroes that were before us; and in some particulars, I think it cannot be defended, but they might surpass us. Yet in regard we have the benefit of their labours and our own endeavours, we, though dwarves, standing on their shoulders may see farther than they could. For since the flood, commonly men lived no longer than we do now, and they wanted the help of many things that we enjoy; God hath been bountiful to every age in some notable discoveries never known before. For even in that very thing that learned Archimedes, is so much magnified for, his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, our Age can justly say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that we have exceeded him. Martial in his Epigrams complains of such who carped at those that were eminent for Parts, in the times they lived in, and would give them no commendation because they were not Antient. 
Tu solos laudas mortuos Poetas:  
Nolo ut tibi placeam, perire.   
And in another excellent Epigram he states it at large, taxing the malice and envy of detractors, from the then present Age:  
Esse quid hoc dicam, vivis quod fama negatur,  
Et sua quod rarus tempora Lector amet?  
Haec sunt Invidiae nimirum, Regule, mores:  
Praeferat antiquos semper ut illa novis.  
Sic veterem ingrati Pompeii quaerimus umbram,  
Et laudant Catuli Julia templa senes  
Ennius est lectus salvo tibi, Roma, Marone.  
Et sua riserunt secula Maeonidem.  
Rara Coronato plausêre theatra Menandro:  
Nôrat Nasonem sola Corinna suum.  
Vos tamen, o nostri, ne festinate, libelli:  
Si post fata venit gloria, non propero.  
I confess the nobleness and admirable worth of Ancestors are as spurs to posterity to set them on upon some Honourable designs, that may make them worthy of their Progenitors; So Virgil hath it in his Heroic verses.  
Sis memor, & te animo rep●tentem exempla t●orū.  
Et pater Aeneas & avuncalus excitet Hector.  
Yet Ovid clears it, that what they did afore times, will not ennoble us, if we tread not in their steps of Honour and Virtue.  
Nam genus, & proavos, & quae non fecimus ipsi,  
Vix en nostra voco,—  
We may, nay we shall honour our Ancestors the more by endeavouring to go beyond them. For the men of Israel & Judah, had no undervaluing thoughts of posterity; nor was King David displeased at it, when Solomon was made King, that the people prayed that God would make his Throne greater than the throne of his Father David.  
Paterculus a singular Historian, seems to hold the Negative, but that is meant only, as to the rising and falling of particular Generations, that like to man's life, have their childhood, youth, vigour, and old age. As Physicians distribute the times of diseases, wherein are to be observed, the beginning, augmentation, state, and declination of them. For even as a man being to go up a hill, first comes to the foot of it & so mounts higher by degrees till he come to the top, and then he must of necessity go down again, as being able to go no higher. So there is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and top-point in all humane affairs, which being once gained, they fall back as far as the low rise they first had. We see this largely verified in several ages, (I will not be tedious to rifle Histories to set them down here) wherein we read, that Learning and Military Arts, and purity of Religion have flourished wonderfully, yet by degrees they have all failed and worn away, and as gross ignorance and pusillanimity; blindness and superstition have succeeded them, as can be imagined; like to the seven years of famine in Egypt, wherein the seven years of plenty were forgotten, as if they had never been. But that this is not so in the general course of the world, that hath a continued revolution, and circular motion, is clearly seen in the very change of the year; For spring goes on to summer, summer to Autumn, Autumn to Winter, and so comes about again: No spring so good, but, if not the next, yet some years following, may present us with the like or better, however the declining Autumn, and cold hoary Winters have passed between. I am of opinion that the Author who maintained this Theorem, not as a paradox, but as a real truth, hath obliged our Age to solemnize his memory, for giving us this hint to exasperate our endeavours, and for chalking out the way, whereby we may be able to do more than any Age before us. That they should not so much reflect on former times, as to forget that God had reserved something for them, if they would not be wanting to themselves. No Hercules Pillars are here set up, with a Non ultra engraved upon them; but we are to make use of Charles the Fifth his Motto, and go on courageously with a Plus ultra, adding to what our forefathers showed themselves honourable in. Give me leave for a close to make this application, that as your worthy Ancestors were highly honoured for their virtues, and for being good Patriots to their country, so you may have the happiness to exceed them all, and to raise up Trophies of honour unto posterity, beyond your famous predecessors, improving by your goodness those gifts that God hath bountifully bestowed on you. Which are the cordial wishes of him who is,  
Your Worships in all Honourable respects. John Roland.   

TO THE Most Illustrious and Noble Lords, D. ANDREAS. D. RAPHAEL. Earls of Les●um, Palatinat, Belzen: D. GEORGE de Konary Slupecky, Castellanidae Lablinensi. My most gracious Lords, Health in all obedience.  
THough there be nothing almost, Most Illustrious Lords, that doth not defend the Constancy of Nature, yet amongst other arguments, your family may stand in the first place. From the days of Dambrowca, that you have made Poland happy, unto this present time, there are as many Senators of the Kingdom, of your house as you have had Grandfathers, and great Grandfathers in former ages, and all of them of so great virtues, that all virtues seem to be bred in your courts. That there were pios men amongst them, the founding of Monasteries, and their large bounty to the Church can testify, that they were Magnanimous persons, appears by their laying aside the supreme honours, and undergoing meaner Offices, for the public good. Your Ancestors far before the Lepidi, have outrun their years, by the celerity of their wife actions, and were made Honourable Senators, at that age that Scipio could not think of being Consul. And why do I speak of former days? Your Grandfather was for this very thing of most famous memory, who so raised Piety and Magnanimity to the height, that were his hereditary virtues, that he hath the name of the Patron of the True Religion, and seems to be an example of most prudent Oratory. To say no more, the most Illustrious Lord your Father lives, and I wish he might live always, of whom so many & so great things may be said, that the slenderness of my wit cannot comprehend, nor my low style express. The Church calls him, her nursing Father and Delight: The Senate their Eye, the Nobility, the light of the common wealth, the Muses their Patron; and to say what I would in brief; Men think that in his breast is bred, whatever virtue and prudence can be bred in any Noble person. But most Illustrious Lords, what shall I say of you and your two brothers? I look upon your Illustrious and most Noble Mother, descended from the Lesznii, and the Dukes of Sanguscii, and you proceeding from ●n honourable Seminary of virtues, do show forth some flowers in the spring of your youth ●or the good of the Church and the Common wealth, and there is no doubt but fruit will follow in the Autumn of your years. Most Illustrious Lord Slupeck, I have no need to say much of you, and your most noble family. The Kingdom of Poland knows the worth of it, and posterity shall thankfully remember your most Honourable Father. And you whilst ●ll your designs are Honourable, and engrafted into the Family of the Lesznii, what may be ●aid of that family you justly seem to partake of it. It is yet in your power to preserv a golden ●ge in the Church and State: and being so, most illustrious Lords, This work of the Constancy of Nature, doth of right belong unto you, and being I am come into the patronage of your Noble family, it is my duty to offer it unto you, whatever it is. Wherefore I lay it at your feet, and I beseech you to pardon any weakness in its mean dress. No man was ever unblamed to be wiser than his mean condition would suffer him; and no man lost his ●abour that offered, though it were a mean gift to the Gods.  
Farewell, most Illustrious Lords; and proceed and continue long to do good for God, for your Country, and noble families; and to show favour unto me, that am most addicted to your Honours.  
From Leiden in Holland, November: 1632. The most bounden to your most Illustrious Honours JOHN JONSTON.   
I am of the number of those that admire the Ancients, yet I do not, as some do, despise our own days. For nature is not grown so barren as to bring forth nothing new, worth commendation. Pliny L. 6. Ep. 21.  

And as Tacitus saith.  There is a kind of Circle in all things, as the Ages for manners turn about; all things were not better in former times, but our Times have produced some things worthy to be commended, and arts worthy imitation for posterity, Annal.  

The Table.  

The Prologue. IT is false that the world universally and perpetually doth grow worse. Page 1  
Proposition. I. The world in respect of itself doth not always run to worse. pag. 6.  
Proposition. II. The world in respect of Heaven doth not grow worse perpetually. pag. 10  
Proposition. III. The world in respect of the Elements doth not grow to be worse. pag. 18 

Article. I. The Elements in generally do not grow worse. pag. 18  
Article. II. The Element of the Air is deficient in nothing. pag. 21  
Article. III. The Element of Water is decayed in nothing. pag. 26  
Article. FOUR The Elements of Earth hath said in nothing. pag. 28    
Proposition. IV. The world, in respect of mixed bodies, both inanimate, ●nd animate creatures without reason, doth not grow worse. pag. 31 

Article. I. From Meteors it cannot be proved that the world grows worse. pag. 32  
Article. II. Minerals have not failed. pag. 37  
Article. III. Neither Plants nor Animals have decayed at all. pag. 39    
Proposition. V. The World in respect of Man doth not grow worse. pag. 41 

Article. I. The age of Man within these 3000 years hath not failed. pag. 42  
Article. II. Man's stature and strength, within the ●eers, are not decayed. pag. 52  
Article. III. Nothing is wanting to Faculties of th● mind. pag. 6● 

The first branch. Memory and Judgement have not failed. pag. 6●  
Part. II. There is nothing decayed in the three Fa●culties, Divinity, Law, or Physic. pag. 7●  
Part. III. Nothing is wanting in speculative Phi●●osophy. pag. 8●  
Part. IU. Nothing is wanting in practical Phi●●osophy and History. pag. 8●  
Part. V. Nothing wans in Tongues and Arts. pag. 9●  
Part. VI Mechanic Arts and skill in Navigation have increased. pag. 10●  
Part. VII. Vices were as great formerly, as they ar● now. pag. 17● 

Point. I. The Religion of the Ancients was too sottish p. 11●  
Part. II. There were many wicked Laws among th● Ancients. pag. 12●  
Part. III. The cruelty of the Roman people wa● extreme. pag. 12●  
Part. IU. The covetousness of the people Rome wa● exceeding great. pag. 13●  
Part. V. Infinite was the Luxury of the Romans fo● Venery and Drinking. pag. 14●  
Point. VI The Gluttony of the Romam●s in mea● was extrordinary. pag. 14●  
Point. VII. The Luxury of the Romans in the●● Buildings was extreme. pag. 15●  
Point. VIII. The Luxury of Romans in their garments was extreme. pag. 16●  
Point. IX. The Justice, Fortitude, and Prudence o● the Romans was nothing. pag. 16●  
Point. X. And the last, It is probable as some thin● that the Church shall be in greater glory upon the earth yet, than ever it was before. pag. 17●         
FINIS.   

John Johnstons' CONSTANCY OF Nature: A General Thesis.  
It is false that the world universally and perpetually doth grow to be worse.  

The Prologue.  
REader, it is the common opinion, and is in every man's mouth, that this world, and all things therein contained, do run towards their end, by a universal and perpetual declining to worse and worse; and that there is nothing now in being, or can fall out, that may, I say not be preferred, but be compared to the days of our Forefathers. That neither the uniformity of the Heavens, is the same as it was of elder times, nor the fruitfulness of the Earth, nor the same vigour is in Plants and Animals, nor is the statute or age of man so strong. The excellencies of Arts, 
Scion. l. 8. c. 6.  are, by reason of the world's growing old, exhausted, and can do but little that is wonderful, and but in few things. Astraea is gone to the gods, & there is no man, in common society, that may be compared with Aristides or Socrates; in Policy with the Fabii, Scipio's, or Marcelli; in Household Government, with Aeneas, the wives of the Myniae, Manlius, or Junius; in the Church, with Ambrose, Hierome, Augustine: In the Schools, with Aristotle, Demosthenes, Cicero, Galen. In brief, All things run downward, and they come not back again. But how true these things are reported, I leave it to every cordial man to consider, in the fear of the Lord. As for my own part, and what concerns those that I follow, I see that hereby the Majesty of God is dishonoured, the commendable endeavours of Men are hindered. For if the supreme God will not have it, that his Name should be honoured with as much reverence, as it was formerly done, why then doth he require so much at our hand? And if he will, wherefore doth he not bestow on us as great gifts, as he did on our predecessors. It cannot stand with his Omnipotency, that the treasure of his power should be exhausted. As for man's Industry, this is certain, that a preconceived distrust, will be able to do as much, as Imagination can in women great with child, that sets marks upon Infants; or the conceits of Melancholy people, which being strongly printed in their mind, can torment them sometimes for many years, and sometimes bring them to their ends. This matter is confirmed not only by the example of Franciscus, Marquis of Saluzzium, who being bewitched by the predictions that were written in favour of Charles the fifth, degenerated from Francis the first, from whom he received his Marquisdom; but also, all those Learned Worthies (I say nothing of others who make such a pretence for their idleness, or ignorance) who think they can bring nothing into the Exchequer of Learning, because they think they can say nothing which hath not been already said. 
Quintil. Orat. 12.  Wherefore Quintilian speaks the truth; If men had thought thus, that no man could exceed him that was the best, they that are so, had never been the best. Lest therefore the truth should be in captivity, the Majesty of God dishonoured, and the endeavours of men, and from thence their commodity, should be shut up in prison; I having borrowed matter, especially from a large Treatise written in English, by that reverend man, D. George Hackwil, S S T. D. concerning this Thesis, yet preserving my own meaning, I thought fit to bring to public view the principal things that are objected against it, and to communicate the same with the learned world. But while I deny that the world doth universally and perpetually run to worse and worse; I understand by the world, the whole compass of the Heavens and the Earth, and I mean an universal ruin to worse and worse, in respect of all bodies therein contained; and I intent a perpetual decaying, in respect of the duration from the beginning unto the end; So that the meaning will be this, That this Frame of Heaven and Earth with all bodies therein comprehended, by succession of time running along from the first to the last, doth not by nature slide and run to worse and worse. Yet I grant that the Elements are changed one into another, that mixed bodies are subject to alteration and diminution, that the earth hath lost something by the Fall, and the Flood; That the Manners of men and Arts do vary; That there is difference in the length of men's lives; And that sometimes some Arts are lost, But because. 
Seneca.  
All things but for time adjourn,  
And what's past, joys to return,  
Nor is there made any thing,  
But the end and beginning,  
Touch each other in a ring.   
I think it can make nothing against the universal Ruin of the World. 
Philo de Mand. Incorruptibil.  There is a notable recompense in the Element's fourfould qualities, which they dispense with most equal and just rules, according to their turns. The Sea hath formerly taken away some Islands, and we read in Histories of some new ones come up in their rooms. God hath made Fruitfulness, or Barrenness, neither in all places certain, 
In Icon. Anim. c. 2  nor yet perpetually. They are the words of Barclay, Those lands that were most fruitful in former times, are now barren wildernesses, and dry sands; and those countries that were once extreme cold and unfruitful, are not now only fit to bear corn, but abound with those things that are for delight. Formerly Ireland was a Mart for the Muses, now, unless it were adorned by that one usher, and some other Stars, we should esteem it to be almost a Barbarous place. Greece was formerly the famous place for Wisdom, now it is despised for its idleness and ignorance. So all ages have their Genius, that directs the minds of mortal men to certain studies: 
Barclay l. c●  some ages are chiefly exercised in Wars, than again all things are peaceable; then people are in love with Kingdoms, then with Commonwealths; sometime they are all born as it were Barbarous, then again they grow more mild, and more easy of conditions; and then again after some ages they return to their first blockishness. So the world hath often been adorned with the refined manners of Men; and afterwards, Industry failing, vanisheth as it were in a cloud. Moreover, there are times in all Country's, wherein men live either longer or shorter; 
Veridam in Hist. vitae & mortis.  longer, most commonly when the times are Barbarous, and the Diet more plain, and more given to bodily exercise; shorter, when they are more civil, and there is more Luxury and idleness; but these things have their turns, etc. And this is our opinion: But since the world is considered either in sprect of itself, or in respect of its parts in special, and these do contain more bodies under them, there must be many Propositions set down in clearing this Thesis; and these are the propositions that seem to me, to appertain thereunto.  

I. That the world in respect of the whole, doth not always grow worse.  
II. Nor in regard of the Heavens.  
III. Nor in regard of the Elements.  
IU. Nor in regard of mixed bodies both Inanimate, and Animate without reason.  
V. Nor in regard of Man. Wherefore our discourse shall be employed in the refutation of the contrary, and confirmation of these propositions; And thou, Christian Reader, read this without prejudice, and consider with judgement.    

Proposition I.  
The world in respect of itself doth not always run to worse.  
THis is most true. For the Wisdom of Solomon saith, that the Spirit of the Lord fills the whole world; That which the Platonists calls the Soul of the world, is nothing else but the power of God, that manifests itself no less in preserving the Frame of the Universe, than it did in creating it. Whence saith Justin Martyr, As that which is, had never been, unless he had commanded, Let it be made: So would it not continue, unless He had given order to those things that do not perish, that they should always abide; and to those things that come and go, that they should always increase and multiply. And Learned men in Schools, compare the dependence of things Created upon the Creator, partly to Light, which is extinguished in the Air, by the Sun's absence, partly to a Vessel that contains the water within it, partly to a Print made in Water. II. There are two principles that constitute natural bodies; Namely, matter and form. That, because it is not generated, it is not corrupted; for it is without any contrariety, and therefore cannot naturally be destroyed: but the nature of This, is, that when one departs an other succeeds in the same matter. 
— Nothing born can die,  
But all things successively,  
Are changed but formally.   
Nor can it be otherwise in Nature; For it intends no annihilation, nor can she do that more than she can create; nor where there is any augmentation, can any diminution happen.  
III. But should we grant that some parts of the world do always decrease; other parts thereupon will increase, or else diminution or annihilation must follow, and if this be granted, an incredible disproportion will fall out between them▪ and an infallible ruin must come upon that. And then for some thousands of years the Influence of the Heavens had failed, and transmutation of Elements, and forces in mixed bodies. But Solomon saith expressly, 
2 Pet▪ 3. 1●  that there is a Circular motion in things, and as a Poet writes. 
Boetius.  
The Sun sets in the West,  
But he there takes no rest.  
To rise he doth his best.   
So we must judge of all other things.  
IU. Lastly, 
Mat. 24. 38.  by the rule of proportion it were an easy matter to foretell the day and the hour when it shall end. 
1 Thes, 5. ●▪  But that is false by the Testimony of Scripture, and of Christ himself: and divers men diversely define the Age of the world. Liboravius, makes it 1666. Ros●●nus, 1656. Cusanus, 1700. or at least the space, that precedes the year 1734. Copernicus is of an other mind. Upon Napere, Baron of March, a Mathematitian, that was second to none, Owen makes this sporting Epigram. 
Ninety two years, this world must last you say,  
It seems to set the bounds: you are full wise.  
For had you set them at a shorter day,  
You might have lived to shame, for forging lies.   
But it is objected, that Esdras, the Apostle, and Cyprian a Martyr, did intimate the decaying of things, and confirm that Principle, Every thing the more it is removed from its beginning, the more it faints and fails. It is true, and in express words in Esdras. 
●sdras l. 4. ●5. v. 54.  Consider also that you are of less stature than those that were before you, and those that shall come after you, will be less than you are, for that the Creatures now grow old, and are past the strength of their youth. 
●●m, 8: ●, 21.  It is certain, that the Apostle writes, That the world is subject to vanity, and that it shall be freed from the bondage of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the sons of God. We cannot deny but these are Cyprians words, You must know in the first place, that the world is now grown old, that it stands not so strongly as it did stand, nor is it so vigorous as formerly it was, etc. In Winter, there is no such plenty of showers to nourish the seed, nor in Summer is the Sun so beneficial to ripen the corn; Nor are plants in the Spring so prosperous by reason of temperate weather; nor are Trees so fruitful with fruit in Autumn. There are fewer Marble stones dug forth of the Mountains that are worn out; they afford less quantity of Silver and Gold; Metals are exhausted, and the slender Veins daily grow less and decrease. The Husbandman fails in the Fields, Concord in friendship, skilfulness in Arts, Discipline in Manners, etc. All these things are true, yet this is most certain, that our Tenent is nothing weakened by this, nor is the contrary any whit confirmed. First of all that Book of Esdras hath nothing but a false Title, and is most injurious. What we found in the sixth Chapter are mere Fables, concerning Behemoth and Leviathan; and that is false that is spoken of the consummation of the world. The Apostle only ●ntimates the impurity and deformity that the Creature contracted by the fall of Man, and also the declining of Individuals, and the hastening of the species to a total and final dissolution by Fire; Lastly, the abuse of them, with the dishonour of the Creator, joined with the wrong done to his servants, which are the things he complains of. It is no wonder also that Cyprian writ such things. 
L. 3. Exor, Hist. e. 5.  The times were then so bitter by reason of Wars, Famine and Pestilence, that the Christians of that age expected the end of the world to be at hand, & Graserus writ that the opening of the second and third Seal happened in that time. But a few years after, that lamentation was turned into joy. For not only under Galienus, otherwise a most cruel Persecutor, was peace restored by an Edict sent forth to the Churches; but also under Constantine was that Woman in the Apocalypse brought back into the clear light, which Nero had driven into the Desert, and which had lain hidden there for a Time, Times, and Half a time, or 245. years. But also unto this, may be opposed the Disciple of Saint Augustine, Orosius, whose words are these. Let them remember with me the times of their Ancestors, that were most unquiet by reason of Wars, most heinous for wickedness, most foul for dissensions, most miserable for a long continuance, which they may deservedly be afraid of, because they were, and they have need to beg that they may be no more; to beg that of God only, who then suffered his secret Judgements to break forth, and now his Mercies are manifest by removing them. And that that Axiom is false, appears not only by the state of things, but also by the effusion of the grace of God by the Incarnation of Christ, in the year 3947. But that it must be understood of violent motion, is without all doubt.   

Proposition II.  
The world in respect of Heaven doth not grow worse perpetually.  
IF such a declining of things to worse should befall the Heavens, it should either befall the Substance of it, or the Motion, or the Light, or the Heat, or the Influence. But it falls upon none of these. Not the substance; For though it be granted, that the first matter of the Heavens, and of the Elements be the same, and that both in respect of want of action in them both, and for the needless bringing in of two matters. Yet, that matter is joined to such a form, that satisfieth the whole desire thereof, nor hath it any contrary, whereby it may become subject to any corruption, and though it be subject to corruption, (which is the truth) as we find it in the Psalm, 
Psal. 102.  and thence Generation would follow, because that there appeared new Stars, one in Cassiopea in the year 1572. which lasted two years: and again, another in the breast of the Hen, Anno▪ 1600. which is yet to be seen, and in 1604. one appeared in the Sphere of Saturn: Yet this would make no more against our opinion, than the corruption of mixed bodies made of Elements, can make. Not the Motion; For we see, if we were minded to follow the Common opinion, that not only the Primum Mobile, by an Eternal decree goes about from East to West, but the Planets keep their courses as they are Calculated by our Ancestors, and when for certain years they have wandered in their Latitudes, they will without doubt pass in the same tarces as they went before. 
Boetius.  
The Sun that runs with Fire hot,  
The cold Moon's motion hindereth not▪  
Nor doth the Pole Star ever drench  
Her flames within the Sea to quench,  
Though others do, and Vesper bright  
At certain times foreshwes dark Night,  
But Lucifer brings back the Light.   
Of Saturn the Planet we may say as truly now as Cicero writ of it formerly. The Star of Saturn in its motion, effecting many things admirable, both anteceding and retarding, and by lying hid in the Evening, and showing itself again, in the Morning, yet this makes no change in the large length of Time, but in the same time it wil● do the same again. And should we maintain that the course of the Stars were changed, how then could Mathematicians foretell the year, day, hour, nay the very instant of Oppositions, and Conjunctions, and Eclipses, so many years before. Lactantius concluded from thence that the Stars are no Gods, because they cannot alter or exceed their bounds or usual Motions. 
Lactant. l. 2. Insti. c. 5,  For were they Gods they might wander here and there at pleasure, without any necessity, as living Creatures do upon the earth, who because their w●lls are free, they go up and down where they please, and as their minds lead them, thither they go. And Plutarch wondering at this uniformity, Such a great magnitude of things (saith he) such disposing of them, such a constancy in observing times and orders, could not either formerly be made without a Provident Artificer; or remain so many ages, without a Potent Inhabitant; or be governed for ever, without a Knowing and Skilful Ruler, as Reason itself declares it. And if we would hold that the Heaven's standing still, is agreeable to the Scriptures, and to the opinions of the Ancient Fathers, and should we assert that the Stars only are moved by their proper Motions, and that they are in the heavens no otherwise than living Creatures are upon the Earth, Fishes in the Water, and birds in the Air; yet would the matter be the same. Not the light. For as at first the waters were dispersed over the Face of the Earth: So was the Light through the Firmament. And as the waters were gathered together into one heap; so was the Light bound up in one body: & as that was called the Sea, so this was called the Sun. As therefore the Sea loseth nothing, though it water the Earth with innumerable Rivers; so the Sun loseth nothing by communicating of his Light. And if it be true, that at Milan tow Pitchers were dug up, enclosed in one, which Olybius Maximus dedicated to Plato, for they were full of a liquor wherein a Light then burning, was preserved▪ for many ages. And if that be not false also, that is written of another Candle that was found burning in the Sepulchre of Tullia, what should we doubt of the Heavenly Light? Especially seeing that the Father, according the opinion of those who hold the Soul to be extraduce, loseth nothing of his own Soul, when he communicateth a Soul to his Child, but it is as Light borrowed from Light. As for the question concerning Heat, this doth of itself belong to the stars; yet God hath given this unto them, that they may be the cause of it, in things capable of heat. That they do it not by Motion, is confirmed by the Sun's standing still in Joshua's days, and the temper of the middle Region of the Air, that declines unto cold: but by their light, the beams whereof, if they fall Perpendicular, if they be reverberated, then is it stronger, and this is almost a certainty. For the Summer, and Winter Temperament of the Air, and the effects of the artificial Glasses of Archimedes and of Proclus, seem to confirm as much. When therefore we show that the Light is not diminished, every man may easily know, what to think of the Heat. We need not much troouble ourselves concerning the Influence. For if the substance remains Entire, how can these Operations ceose, that flow from the form? We may for maintaining of our Theses otherwise, produce that which Langi● hath written. I do not see, saith he, how any Ma● can exactly calculate any Man's Nativity, seeing tha● the Stars are hurried so violently about, day and night, so that the least moments of time will produc● mighty changes, Which hardly any man can comprehend in his very thoughts. 
Budet. in Polo.  Reginald Pool pleaseth me well, who answers thus to one, who promised him great Honours, from the Scheme of his Nativity. Whatsoever is pretended in me, by my natural generation, is changed, and restrained by a supernatural Generation made by the Blood of my Saviour. But you will object to the contrary, that in former times the Torrid Zone was unhabitable, that the Sun is now nearer to the Earth, and not so far remote toward either Pole: and lastly, that the Pole Star in the Tail of Ursa Minor, is nearer to the Pole; and therefore the Heavens are deficient. It is so; For there are many that now live under the Torrid Zone, and there is Merchandise for multitudes of commodities, 
Bodinus. l. ●ult. Theatr. Natura.  from hence thither; Bodinus reports out of Copernicus, Rainoldus, Stadius, and others, that the Sun is now more near to the earth, by 136. Semidiameters, or 26600. miles, and Philippus Melancthon thought, that aught to be referred to the wasting condition of the earthly and heavenly bodies. It is the common opinion of Astronomers, that the Sun in Winter is not so far from us toward the South, as he was in the days of Ptolemy, and Hipparchus; and not so near toward the North in summer. For Ptolemy about the year of Christ, 140. discovered the greatest declination of the Sun, from the Equinoctial Line, toward either of the Poles, to be 23, degrees, 51. minutes, 20. seconds, and because he found that account to agree with the observations of Hipparchus who lived 130. years before Christ, and of Eratosthenes, who preceded him, he thence concluded that the Sun's greatest declination was immutable. But in the year of Christ; one thousand four hundred and thirty, the most learned Astronomers of the Arabians, found the same declination to be but 23. degrees 35. minutes. To whom Albategnius subscribed, who lived in the year, 880. But in the year 1070, Arzachel an Ethiopian born in Spain, took the greatest Declination, which he found to be 23 degrees, 33 minutes, 30 seconds; and that he might salve the differences of observations, he invented a new Hypothesis. Copernicus afterward, following him, in the year 1520. concluded that the Sun's greatest declination was mutable, yet never greater than 23 degrees, 52 minutes, nor less than 23 degrees, 28 minutes, and he taught us that in the space of 1 thousand, seven hundred and seventy years, the Sun would pass from the former to the latter; and again, in so much space of time, the Sun would go back again, from the latter to the former. Therefore out of this Hypothesis of Copernicus, about 65 years before the birth of Christ, the greatest declination of the Sun was 23 degrees, 52 minutes, from which time, calculating backward, it hath ever grown less and less, until about 1782. years before Christ, the greatest Declination 〈◊〉 but 23 degrees, 28 minutes, and from that, counting backward again as before, it increased, until in the year, 3499 before Christ, it grew to be 23 degrees, 52 Minutes. Lastly, Molineus writes of the Pole Star, in the Tail of Ursa Minor, that in the Days of Hipparchus, it was 12 degrees distant from the Pole of the World, and now a days it is hardly four degrees from it, and he supposeth, that when it shall come to stand in the Poles place, (which may be within 500 or 600 years,) the period shall be, which God hath set to Nature. I willingly grant all these things, yet I see not what inconvenience will happen to our cause thereby. Since they, that are of a faction against this, do defend a universal declining, they must also of necessity say, that the cold zones by the cold being increased, are become inhabitable, and that the forces of men are so worn, that they can by no means endure it. The sun's neerernesse to us, is either founded upon false principles, or the Sun's declination is uncertain and changeable. For Ptolemy about the year of Christ, 140 placeth the distance of the Sun from the Earth, in 1210 Semidiameters of the Earth, but Albategnius, about the year 880 found it to be 1146 Semidiameters. Copernicus' about the year 1520 found it to be 1179. Tycho Brahe, about the year, 1600 calculated it to be 1182 Diameters. But La●sburgius, Keplerus, and others, suppose the Sun is distant from the Earth 3000 Semidiameters. Scaliger holds that opinion to be so absurd, that he breaks forth into these words.  
That which some have been bold to write, 
●cal. exer●●t. 99  that the body of the Sun is not far more near than it was written to be by our Ancestors, so that it may seem to have changed its place, in the body of the deferent Orb; their very writings ought to be wiped out with Sponges, or themselves whipped with rods. As for the Suns coming nearer to the South, or to the North, the most learned, Doctor Banbridge, Astromonie Reader in the famous university of Oxford, thinks that the Sun's Declination is immutable, and that the difference of some minutes, between us and Ptolemy, might arise from some error amongst the Ancients in their Observations, whence it will follow that the Sun is not farther removed toward the South, nor is he come nearer to the North. Yet however, if we should grant that there were a mutability, it would follow, that as the Sun was 65 years before Christ, farther off toward the South, than it is now; so in the years that went before those years it was not farther off. And when that the greatest Declination is at the highest, the Sun in winter will be farther toward the South, and nearer in summer toward the North; But when it is at the lowest, it will be all contrary. Lastly, if any inconvenience may fall upon us thereby, that is recompensed by the convenience, that befalls them that live toward the South, and so nothing can be collected thence, for to prove an universal falling of the World from worse to worse. The opinion of that Rare man is grounded on a weak foundation, for the Pole Star will never remove to be in place of the Pole of the world, or be so straightened that it cannot proceed forward. I grant indeed that after 50 years are gone, it will be very near to it, but it will go back again, and it will become more Northerly, as it is now Southerly, and this seems to be most certain; and if the coming near, or going farther off from the Pole, by other Stars, do not show the end of the world, what reason will persuade us that this Star should show it?   

Proposition III.  
The world, in respect of the Elements, doth not grow to be worse.  
BEing that the Elements may be considered in general, or in special; that this Article may be more exactly demonstrated, four other Articles seem to belong unto it.  

I. That the world in respect of the Elements in general doth not grow worse.  
II. Not in respect of the Air.  
III. Not in respect of the Water.  
IU. Not in respect of the Earth.  
We shall therefore show all these in their order.   

The First Article.  
The Elements in general do not grow worse.  
FOr if the Elements considered in general, should universally and perpetually grow worse, they should decay, either in respect of Number, or Qualities, or Proportion, or Transmutation. But it is not so in any of these. What concerns their number; The common opinion is, that there are four, but Three is the truth: for the Fire is but the supronie part of the purer Air, that is more subtle, hot, and free from exhalations. For since the Scripture doth no where speak of Fire, no not in Genesis where things created are described, why should we maintain it? And if that solid Element of Fire, should differ in subtlety and thinness, from the Sky, or the uppermost part of the Air, a new refraction of the Stars must needs follow, by reason of the Fire, and we should be ignorant of their true places, which is false. Moreover, Nature in the chiefest things hath observed the number of Three. For to say nothing of the supernatural Mystery of the Trinity; there is a Trinity in Man's Sex, the male, the Female, and the Hermaphrodite: there are three first principles of natural things, as Matter, Form, and Privation: also there are three sensible principles, Salt, Brimstone, and Mercury. There are three principal parts in Man, and three kind of spirits; the Animal, Vital, and Natural: as also they have three Channels, or Vessels, namely, the Nerves, Arteries, and Veins. There are three humours in the Blood, as there are in Milk. The Buttery part of Milk resembles the Air, and so doth the Choleric part of the blood. The wheyish part of the Milk, and the serene part of the Blood, resembles the Water. And the Crudly part of Milk resembles the Earth, as doth the grosser Choler of the Blood, Every man knows that this number is found now adays; and in respect of the qualities, the Earth is now the driest Element, the coldest and the heaviest. The Air is the hottest moistest and lightest. The Water is cold and moist. Aristotle makes the proportion between the Elements to be Ten Degrees: but it is not so. For the Circumference of the Earth is 5400. miles, 
Barthol. de Element. c. 5.  therefore the diameter is 1718, the Semidiameter is 859, or 860, which are chosen for to facilitate the account. Moreover there are many empty places of the Earth that are without Water, and where Seas are, the Earth is under the Water, 
The same de aquis. l. 12. c. 5.  so that the depth of the Sea, as is gathered by the observations of the most skilful Mariners, in many places scarce amounts to 80, or a 100 pases, more seldom to two or 300 pases, and most seldom to 500 pases, but seldom or never to a 1000 pases, and that is but the fourth part of a German mile: and if this be compared with the Diameter or depths of the Earth, it is as the height of a drop of sweat, compared with the whole body. Moreover, experience shows, that Air will be made of a few drops of water, that is by many degrees more than they. And who can deny, but that this proportion holds even at this day? 
Philo demundi incorruptibilitate,  As for their transmutation: There is a notable compensation of the four fold forces in the Elements, dispensing their courses by equal rules, and bounds▪ For, as the Circle of the year is distinguished by four quarters, one quarter succeeding after an other, and by the same Circuit, until the same time return again; in like manner the Elements of the world succeeding one the other in their courses, are changed, and you would say it were incredible: When they seem to die, they are made immortal, running the same race again, and again, and passing daily up and down the same way. For from the earth begins a rising way, which melting is changed into water, than the water evaporates into Air, the Air is rarefied till it he Fire, & another declining way tends downward from the top; the Fire being put out sinks down into Air, and the Air becomes thick, and turns to Water, and the moisture of the Water becomes gross till it be Earth. True it is they are not otherwise mingled, than as Islanders are with those that Traffic with them; yet this cannot be denied, but it is done for the great good of the Universe. For pure water were unfit to drink, the Earth would afford no moisture for Corn, and we could not breathe in the Air. Hence Saint Augustine. 
August. de Genesi ad litter. l. 7. c. 2.  The Air on the top of Olympus, is reported to be so thin, that it cannot nourish Birds, nor yet Men that happen to go up thither, can be nourished with the Spirit of a grosser Air, as they are wout to be, and is requisite for their nutriment.   

Article. II.  
The Element of the Air is deficient in nothing.  
IF the Air had failed in any thing, it had failed in its temper. But if we credit Historians, in former times the dryness of the Air was greater, and the Infection of it more Pestilential: Chronicles write, that in the year 1234, the Winter was so Cold, that in the Adriatic Sea, the Venetian Factours passed over the Ice, loaded with their Money. Zona●us reports, that the like accident fell out in the Pontic sea, and the Sea adjoining, under Constantinus Copronymus. In the days of Charles the great, there was a great and most bitter Frost, whereby the Pontic Sea for a hundred Miles Eastward was turned to Ice, and was from top to the bottom, 50 Cubits thick. In the year 1125, the Winter was so violent, that innumerable Eels in Brabant, by reason of the ice, went forth of the lake, which is strange, and got into Hay Ricks, and lay hid there, till by extreme cold they rotten away, (Robertus De Monte). And the Trees at last scarce had any leaves put forth in May. But to speak of the dryness, 
L. 4. Histo.  I read in Livy, that in the year after Rome was built 322, that the rain from Heaven, not only failed, but the Earth also wanted her inbred moisture, and had hardly enough to serve for the perpetual Rivers. And where Fountains and Rivers were dried up, and Water failed, the cattle died for thirst. 
Meigerius.  In the year 1153▪ the Wood took fire, by extreme heat of the weather, and the fat earth burned, and no rain could Extinguish it. The German Annals report, that in the year 1228, the Air was so hot, that the harvest was ended, (to use their own words) before the Feast of Saint John Baptist. In the year 1473, the Wood in Bohemia burned 18 weeks, and the Danow was so dry, that in many places it was Fordable, and the same thing is written of the River of the Thames in, the Reign of Henry the First. But in the year 1494 in the end of July, the Lakes and Waters were so bound up with Ice, that all the Fish died for want of water. You may add to this, what Tacitus writes of Armenia, 
Tacit. Annal. l. 13.  That the Winter fell out so cruel, that the ground was so covered with Jce, that without they dug, they could find no place for their Tents. Many men's Limbs were scorched with extremity of cold, and some upon their Watch were found dead. And there was a Soldier observed, who carried a bundle of wood, whose hands were so frozen, that they clavae fast to the wood, and fell off from his arms that were thus maimed. As concerning the Pestilent infection of the air, it was once so great in Greece (as Thucydides observes) that Birds fell down with the infection, and birds of prey would not touch the carcases. In the government of Vibius Gallus and Volutianus, as Pomponius Laetus, and Zonara testify, the plague continued without intermission fifteen years, 
Lip. l. 2. 〈◊〉 constant. c. 22.  and at Alexandria no house was clear, and those that remained were not more than there were old men in former days. Lipsius saith, He never read of a greater plague, for continuance, in any part of the Earth. In Justinians days, at Constantinople, sometimes, 10000 have died. 
Oros. l. 5● c. 8.  In Numidia sometimes, as Orosius reports, 800000; In the time of Petrarch at Florence, between March and July, a hundred thousand died. And it was so violent in Italy, that of a thousand men, scarce ren remained, In the year 1348 the Plague destroyed so many at London in twelve Months, that in one Church yard 50000 were buried. Between January and July, there died 57374, What shall I say of the English Sweat, which thrice passed over the whole Island; the last was in the year 1551. Nor must we think that the Pox is now more violent than it was formerly, This very disease, 
L. 2. de mor●. contag.  saith Fracastorius, will die and be extinct, and again it will revive in our Posterity, as it is credible it was seen by our Ancestors, of which there are no small tokens yet remaining. But as for the Scurvy, (which is nothing else than a Melancholic and Malignant cachexy of the body) and some suppose it to be proper to the inhabitants of the North, and the Sea Coast, It proceeds from obstruction of the Milt, by Melancholic dregs corrupted by some secret malignant quality, with weakness of the Attractive, and the expulsive faculties, and is not without some great hurt of the rest of the bowels of the belly: whence ariseth an itchy redness of the gums, flagging, corruption and stinking, falling out of the teeth, or weakness of the Legs, resolution, wannesse, and exceeding weariness, from a very small cause. 
Lang. Ep. 4. l. 2.  That the Ancients were ignorant of this, is most false. For Hypocrates, as Langius writes, doth describe it under the name of the iliac passion, or Volvulus Haematites, in lib. de intern. 
Galen. l. 3 de simp. cause. ●. 2.  affssect and also under great milts, in the same book. And lib. 2. Prorrhetic, he confirms it. Galen in lib. definite, describes the Scurvy: That it is a kind of Palsy, that if men be affected with it, they cannot walk strait forward, but sometimes they reel from the right hand to the left, and they bring about their left foot against their right, and they are forced to knock their right foot against their left, and when they go forward ●hey lift up their leg. Some again out of Galen would call it the Black Morphew; But true 〈◊〉 is, that a great Plague, this time ten years, spread in England, Italy, France, and other places: but what doth this make for a universal declining of Air to a worse condition? The violence of Fires underground seem to have respect to this, which were very raging in former times, 
Dion. Cass. in Histor. Plin. Jun. in Epist. ad Tacitum.  as we know for certain. When Titus Vespasian, and Flavius Domitian, were Consuls, the Mountain Vesuvius in Campania burned, and first breaking up the top of it, it cast forth stones, after such vast flames, that it set two towns on fire, Herculaneum & Pompey's towns; and the smoke was so thick, that it obscured the Sun's light. Lastly, it sent forth such abundance of Ashes, that they covered the neighbour country, as if they were snow, which by the force of the winds were said to be carried into Egypt, Africa, and Syria. The City Julianum, 
Tacit. l. 13. Annal.  they are the words of the most prudent Historian, being joined to us, was afflicted with an unexpected mischief. For fires breaking forth of the Earth, laid bold of Farms, Fields; Villages, in many places, and they flew to the very walls of Col●n, newly built, nor could they be extinguished by the falling of rain, or by river waters, or any other moisture; until for want of remedy, and for anger at the loss, some country men did cast stones on a far off, and as the flames gave way, they went nearer, and with strokes of clubs, and other things, they frighted them away as men do wild beasts: Last of all, they took off their clothes from their bodies, and threw upon them; the worse they were and defiled with wearing, the better they served to put out the Fire. That also was wonderful that fell out in the Kingdom of Naples near to Puteoli, 
Sandius in Itiner.  in the year 1538, the 29 of September. The Sea retreated 200 paces, and a Mountain at two of the clock, at night, rose up, with a huge noise, and casting forth of burning stones, and with such a belching forth of ashes, that not only almost all the houses were thrown down, but also the famous hot Baths at Tripergula. The mighty Fires of Aetna, and of some other Mountains in India, are to be seen in my Book of the 
* Lately printed in English.  Wonders of Nature. Let every man consider whether the like hath happened in latter times. Concerning that which is newly written of the mountain of Coals in the Country of Misena, or of Modernus in Italy, that Agricola speaks of; or that which is written of Hecla by Bleshaenius, or of S. Michael's Island, which is one of the Azores, seems not to be compared with them.   

Article III.  
The Element of water is decayed in nothing.  
We see at this day a threefold tide; a daily, monthly, and yearly Tide, that Posidonius ascribes to the Sea. That it is Salt, as formerly, is discerned by the taste. It sends forth rivers from it, and receives them again upon their return. If waters are seen now, where they never were before; on the contrary, waters do fail from the places where they formerly were. 
In vita Hilarion.  It is manifest that in the year 1460, a Ship was found in the Alps, with Anchors, in a Mine where they digged Metals. And Hierome writes that after the death of Julian, Ships were brought to the Cliffs of Mountains, and hung there. And 
Though no Fountains last for aye  
But all rivulets still decay. 
Pontan. l. 48. Metror.    
Yet the great Rivers, Indus, and Ganges, Danubius, the Rhien, and Nilus have not at all changed their courses, as is to be seen in the Geographical Descriptions. Especially the constant course of Nilus for so many Ages seems to be one of the wonders of the World. For it keeps its time so exactly, 
Prosper Alpinus.  that if you take any of the earth about it, and neither moisten it, nor dry it, it will keep always the same weight until the 17 of June. From thence is the weight increased, as the river augments, and gives an infallible testimony of the ensuing Flood. It is known that some Mineral Baths have perished, but it is no question, but others are risen in their rooms. Necham writes most truly of the Baths of England. 
For to relieve old age decayed, there's none  
Before our English Baths were ever known.  
If men he be bruised or broke, or fainting lie,  
Sick from a cold cause; here's the remedy.   
Concerning the English Spaws. See Edmund Dean, Doctor of Physic at York, his Spadocrene.   

Article. FOUR  
The Element of Earth hath failed in nothing.  
IF the Earth had failed in any thing, it must either be in quantity or fruitfulness. For Aelian in his time, writes that Aetna, Parnassus, & Olympus, did appear daily to grow less, as Seamen observed. But Palaestina though it were but a small Country, yet it was large enough, for Thirty Kings, 
1 Chron. 13. 3.  that were Idolaters; and withal fed such multitudes of the Israelites, that in a war between Israel and Judah, 1200000 Men met; to say nothing of the Sacrifice made at the Dedication of the Temple, 
2 Chron. 7, 5.  or of that other spoken of elsewhere in the Chronicles. 
2 Chron. 17. 14.  Yet the Conclusion cannot by any means be granted. For what is spoken of Mountains, 
2 Chron. ●1. 5.  is not confirmed concerning the whole Earth, which hath the same Dimensions now, it formerly had. For, this falls out by reason of rain water and the Sea, and what departs from the Mountains falls upon Valleys: whereupon Anaxagoras, being asked whether the Sea should ever overflow the Mountains of Lamsacum, he answered, Yes, when time should fail. For as nothing is lost by the Sea, when the Rivers run from it, because they return again; so the earth loseth nothing by things that grow from it, and are fed by it, because all turn at last into earth, as Lucretius writes. 
Lucret. l. 2.  
Therefore the Earth hath gained the Mother's Name.  
For all born of her, return to the same.   
That which is spoken of the Holy Land, it seems that we ought to ascribe that to the particular benediction of God; and also to the promise made for the supply of the Sabbatical year. 
Deu. 11. 12  But B●●cardus writes thus of it before 300 years were passed. 
Leu. 26. 3.  The Corn grows and increaseth wonderfully upon the Earth, 
Leu. 20. 21  not manured with dung and soil; 
De terra sancta. p. c. 1.  The Fields are like Gardens wherein there grows every where, Fennell, Sage, Rue, Rosen, and in brief, 
Whether the earth were formerly more fruitful.  there are found all the world's goods; and the Land truly flows with Rivers of Milk and Honey. And though it be said, that it hath lost something of its wont fruitfulness. Yet on the contrary, other country's here & there, & other places, have received new forces, to become fruitful, & it is no doubt, but that did fall out by a singular curse from God, and for the wickedness of the Inhabitants. We, saith Columella, 
Columella dear rustica. Plin. l. 18. c. 3. Aelian lib. 1. c. 33.  assign the business of Husbandry to the basest of our servants, as to a hangman for punishment, whereas the best and Noblest of our Ancestors used it themselves. The earth did heretofore enjoy a plough with a Garland and a triumphant Ploughman. We must do therefore as Mises did, if we would have Pomegranates as great as he offered to Artaxerxes. Should I add to these that there was greater famine amongst our Ancestors, and that the price of things were greater, I should not err. In the year 1625 there was a mighty Famine: and in 1630, in Poland, which otherwise is held for the Granary almost of all Europe. For, four bushels of Corn, that were wont to be sold for three Franks, were prized at 18 Franks: But what is this to things past? In the time of Valentine, Fathers, in a Famine, sold their children, that they might avoid the hazard of death. 
Novel. tit. 11. apud codic. Theodos.  In the time of Honorius, they proclaimed in the Market place, Set price to Man's flesh. Livy writes that many of the common people at Rome, that they might not pine away with linger hunger, 
Jos. l. 6. annal.  did cover their heads, and cast themselves into Tiber. The same thing, happened in England, 
Beda. l. 4 c. 13.  in the year of Christ 514, in the days of Cissa, King of the South Saxons. 
Varro l. 3. c. 2.  As for the price, Varro writes that L. Axius a Roman Knight, would not part with a pair of Pigeons, for less than 400 Denarii, and it may be now Sparrows are sold for less than a farthing.    

Proposition FOUR  
The World, in respect of mixed bodies, both Inanimate, and Animate creatures without reason, doth not grow worse.  
A Mixed body is divided into Inanimate, and an Animate body: under that, Meteors and Minerals are contained; under this, Plants, Animals, and Mankind. Wherefore it seems very necessary, that for the more perfect handling of this question, these things should severally be demonstrated. But because there is a proper Article assigned for Man by himself, by reason that he affords such plenty of matter, we set down here only three Articles.  

I. It cannot be proved, by the Meteors, that the world runs to worse.  
II. Minerals have not failed.  
III. Neither Plants nor Animals have decayed at all.   

Article. I.  
From Meteors it cannot be proved that the world grows worse.  
FOr neither have those things failed that serve for our profit; nor are things hurtful, less hurtful now, th●n they were formerly; nor are they less frequent; Rain and Snow do now as well make the earth fruitful; Due waters it; the Wind ventilates the Air, and the fiery exhalations purify it. Do we not now see Rain-bows and other Meteors as well as formerly? As for things hurtful; In the year N. C. 634, when the Jugurthine war began, it reigned Milk three days, and in the third year that the wars proved successful against Jugurtha, some write that it reigned Milk twice. 
L. 3. Hist.  See a rain of flesh in Livy. Albertus relates out of Avicennas, that a great mass of Iron, weighing a 100 pound fell out of the Air, and of that afterwards the best swords were made. When Hannibal with his Army broke into Italy, it reigned fire-Stones. When Titus Annius Milo, 
Plutarch in Fab. Maximo.  pleaded his cause at Rome, it reigned burnt Brick; and it was recorded in the Acts of that year. Our age speaks no such things. It is true, the Clouds fell in Selesia, about Goldeberga: but, Was not a greater fall of them seen in Franconie, Anno. 1551? An infinite multitude, saith, Bartholinus, of Men and beasts were drowned by a sudden tempest, 
Barthol. l. 2. de Meteor. c. 2.  clouds falling unawares, and rain being poured forth in heaps; so that the strongest walls of many Cities, Vineyards, & gallant Buildings were destroyed utterly. 
In. L. praedict. vener.  What shall I speak of Earthquakes, comets, winds, and thunder. There appeared, as the Earl of North-Hampton writes, four Comets in four year: And Beda, and Paulus Aemilius say, that in fourteen days, in the time of Charles Martell, there were two seen, one at the Suns rising, the other at the Suns setting. There was such a great one, 
Senecá quaest. Nat●. l. 2. c. 25.  when Attalus Reigned, that it was as large as that place in the Heavens called Via lactea. And in the year 1556. there was one so great, that not only all light exspirations and dry matter, 
Bodin. l. 2. Thea. Natur.  no nor all Woods and groves, as many as are upon the face of the earth could serve for. Fuel for its two Month's time wherein it shined. Was there any such thing in our days? Truly I know no example of it: and should I meet with any such; yet this would conclude nothing for the universal ruin of the world. For if when the exhalations are consumed, that trouble the Air, the Air grow clear; if the vapours that ascend, being framed of a more fruitful fatty substance; can cause fruitfulness, when they are spread about the fields, and water them like dew; if all matter that burns do not leave behind it stinking smells, after that it is extinguished; a good temper of the Air, fruitfulness of the Earth, and plenty of provision may succeed after Comets; and the prediction of evil may be recompensed with this good success. Concerning Earthquakes, we have heard almost nothing in these days; if you except that which happened in Apulia, 
Cumanus.  Anno. 1627., that devoured 17000 men. Also that was very strange that fell out in the year 1571, about the twelfth of the Calends of March in Herefordshire in England. For then at night about six of the clock, the Earth parted in the East quarter of that County, and a Mountain put forth with a Rock that was under it: (First with a mighty noise and roaring, that all that lived near those parts heard it) as if it had wakened out of some long sleep, and it rose to a higher place, leaving its deep den, and carried with it the trees that grew upon it, Folds and Flocks of Sheep: Some trees were swallowed up by the ground, others were carried along with the earth, and were by that means so united to it, as if they had rooted there at first. From the place it remooved; it left a great empty cave, that was foury foot broad, and eighty els long: the whole field was about twenty acres; In the way it overturned a Chapel. It removed a Yew-Tree that stood in the Churchyard, from West to East; and with the same violence it drove forward, the common ways, Sheep Coats, and hedges with the trees planted in them. Thus when it had wandered from Saturday night till Monday night, it stood still. Yet formerly they were more frequent and greater. In the beginning of that year, when L. Cornelius, and L. Minutius, 
Liv. l. 44. and 45.  were Consuls, Livy writes that Earthquakes were so frequent, 
Aristot l. 2.  that men were weary, 
Meteor. c. 8  not only of the thing itself, but, 
Plin. l. 2. c. 81.  of the Festivals ordained for the removing of it: and he reports that an Earthquake lasted 38. days. Others say, some have lasted two years, and come at several times again. In Tiberius' time, twelve Cities in Asia fell down. When Constantine reigned, as many were destroyed. Antiochia in the days of Trajan with the places about it, 
August. l. 2. de Mirac▪ S. S.  was swallowed up. Augustine writes, that whilst he lived, a. hundred Cities in Africa fell down. Aeneas Silvius, writes thus, of an Earth quake to Frederick the Emperor. You shall understand by the bringer of these, what wonderful and incredible damage happened by an Earthquake in the Kingdom of Apulia: For many towns were utterly overthrown, and others fell down in part; at Naples, almost all the Churches, and great Palaces fell; above 3000 are said to be killed in the ruins; all the people now dwell in Tents. The same may be spoken of Winds and Thunders. S. Paul in a Tempest saw neither Sun nor Stars, for many days. Virgil describes a fight of the winds Contrary, which now happens not.  
The East and West, and rainy South-west roar, Fight, they drive huge Billows to the sh●●●. What great Shipwarks have been in former times, the life of Solyman, and the approach of Charles the Fifth to Algiers, and his departing thence, will manifest. He lost in a few hours a 140 Ships (saith the History) 15 Galleons, besides Men and Horses, and other things that were destroyed. I saw, they they are the words of Bellarmine, and had I not seen it, I had ne'er believed it, a great quantity of earth cast up by a most violent wind, and that was thrown upon a certain Village, so that a very deep pit was left, where the earth was thrown out, and the whole village remained under ground almost buried, unto which that earth was brought. He that thinks this History to be of too late memory; let him think upon that wind that happened in the days of William Rufus, Anno 1096, at London, it threw down 600 houses; to say nothing of the cover of the Church, carried away with the Arches, and main beams: six of these that were each twenty seven foot long, fell with so great a force, that they made a hole twenty three foot deep in the ground.   

Article II.  
Minerals have not failed.  
OUr purpose was to speak of Minerals in the second place. And these before any other things, if it were true, would discover the decay of the world. For the unsatiable covetousness of men, seeks for Gold almost as low as Hell; and the cruel hunger they have after it, doth by an unrestrained sacrilege rob the Earth of her treasures that lie hid in the bowels of her. But it is so far from winning any thing to the side of those that are patrons of the opinion we oppose, that these very bodies, are a most strong argument against them. The Silesian Earth is come to be added to the earth of Armenia, and Terra Lemnia, and it is also better. The inventor of it, 
Sennert scient. nature. l. 5. c. 1.  was one Johannes Montanus of Silesia, who hath put forth a Book of it, that it is Gold trasmuted, by the providence of God and of nature, prepared for an excellent remedy, and changed, being properly good against Venom, no less than Medicaments are, that are prepared with great cost of the Gold of Hungaria.  
There is also at this day Bole of Toccavia in Hungaria, 
Crato in Epistol.  that is like Butter, and is good against Catarrhs, and is preferred before the Bowl of Armenia. Also there is a red earth found near to Bergas in Norway, not unlike to Terra Sigillata; and it is a most present Antidote against the Scurvy. 
Petrejus dissert. harm, 38 Fallop. de therm. Cardan. l. 5, de subtilit.  II. Also that Minerals have a power in them, to multiply themselves, is almost out of all doubt. A vein of Brimstone is repaired in four years. The earth Salt Peter is taken from, laid on a heap, will in five or six years yield Salt Peter again. In India there is a Mountain, called Oromenum, of natural Salt, whereout Salt is cut, as quarries are, that grows again; as Caesalpinus relates: And the same may be said of Stones; and that is worth marking, that Garzias ab Horto writes of the Diamond. 
De Metal. l. 1.  Diamonds that in the deep bowels of the Earth should be perfected in many years, 
Cap. 6.  are bred almost on the top of the ground, 
De simp. in India. nasc. l. 1. c. 47.  and come to perfection in two or three years. For if this year you dig in in the Mine a cubit depth, you shall find Diamonds; after two years, dig there again, and you shall find Diamonds in the same place. Nor are Metals out of this privilege. For Gold at Corbachia in Westphalia groweth and increaseth in heaps every fourth year. Iron in Silesia, at the town Saganum, is dug up after ten years being bred anew. The same is spoken of Ilva an Island in the Tuscian Sea. 
L. 3. de Metallis Cap. 6.  Caesalpinus reports, that the earth that is dug up with the Mine, though it have no metal in it, in process of time will be changed into the same Mine. Lastly, it is most certain, that in some Country's, even now some rich Mines are found out. I will say nothing of the West Indies, the wealth whereof fills the Cantons of the Spaniards, English, and Dutch.  
Norway alone can show the same, if Bartholinus, 
De Cor. porib. perfectè mixtis inanim. c. 4.  a man of credit, may be trusted. At this day, saith he, there is no place in the earth to fruitful for Silver, as some Mountains are, that are discovered in the Kingdom of Norway, Anno. 1623., in the reign of Christian the fourth, King of Denmark and Norway, my most bountiful Lord, that if any man did formerly promise Golden Mountains, Norway doth not only promise Silver Mountains, but performs them. For great lumps are dug up that are most pure and the best Silver, without any help of Fire. In other parts it is more unconcocted; but where scarce a fifth part was, now a third or fourth part is dross. What shall I say of the Veins of Iron in Sussex, and of Tin in Cornwall?   

Article III.  
Neither Plants nor Animals have decayed at all.  
I Shall not need speak much of these, for if the Earth have not failed, either in respect her fruitfulness, nor of other accidents, how then shall they fail? The Simples have now the same temperament, and the same operations, and Animals are now described as Aristotle described them. Aristotle saith, Horses lived but 18 years, and at the most but 50 years. Albertus saith, he saw a Soldier had a Horse 60 years old. Niphus saith, that in the Stalls of Ferdinand the First, there was a Horse 70 year old. Also Buteo, a man commended by many writers, going about to show by Geometrical proportion, that the Ark could hold so many cattle, and provision for a year, borrows the foundation of his Argument from the present Dimension of the bodies of beasts, and their sufficient nutriment. Goropius Becanus, Pererius, Rawley and others subscribe to him. But what is spoken of an Elephant in the Book of the Maccabees, 
1. Mac. c. 37.  Junius shows, that must be understood of the Indian Elephants, that are greater than the rest of Aethiopia. And they that have been in the Kingdom of the Great Mogul, maintain there are some greater than those we see here. The influence of Eclipses upon these inferior bodies, and the greater frequency of them makes nothing to this matter. For first, since an Eclipse is nothing but the interposition either of the Moon, between us and the Sun, or of the shadow of the Earth between the Sun and Moon; we have no more need to fear any danger from an Eclipse, than we should by the interposition of some gross Cloud. 
Seneca, l. 5. de benef. c. 6.  This order will continue in all ages, that have such days, wherein the Sun by interposition of the Moon, is afraid to send forth all his beams. Also it is false that Eclipses ate now more frequent than formerly. For the Sun Moon and Earth have the same substance and accidents they had; and Light and shadows have the same being, they had formerly, and the Moon's way or Latitude, from the Ecliptic, is as it always was. See Bartholinus concerning these points, Astrolog. Problem. Ultimo. Also it is false, that they are greater than they were. For in the year 1133, 
In Chron. regum, Manor. L. Hist. novel.  as Cambden writes, the Sun's Eclipse was so great, that day was changed to night. Anno. 1140. as Malmburiensis relates, it was so great that men feared the old Chaos would return. Anno. 1415, on the seventh of June, it was so terrible that birds fell to the ground. We shall conclude therefore that there is nothing in mixed bodies that can intimate unto us, that the world declines to worse universally and perpetually.    

Proposition V.  
The World in respect of Man doth not grow worse.  
MAn is the Epitome of the whole world, a Marriage of Superior and Inferior bodies, a Microcosm of a Macrocosm. But for as much as this consists not only in the body, but also in the rational soul, that is united to it, it is requisite that in respect of all things, some of each should be enquired into. But here principally we are to consider his strength, age, and faculties of his soul. And indeed our opposites maintain that in all these considerations, Man is decayed. Therefore under this proposition arise these Articles,  

I. The age of Man within these 3000. years hath not failed.  
II. His force and stature are not diminished.  
III. He wants nothing in the faculties of his soul.   

Article I.  
The age of Man within these 3000 years hath not failed.  
THat the age of Man hath not decayed since Moses time, may be cleared by many Arguments. For first, Moses himself speaks expressly. 
Psal. 90. 11. 10.  Our years are 70, and if one so strong to come to 80 years, etc. And though he himself and Aaron his brother surpassed this age, 
Herodot in Thalia.  but because, as a learned man said, he spoke of the general condition, it is pertinent to our subject. Hence also Herodotus sets the longest bounds of Man's life to be but 80 years. Barzillay was said to be a very old Man, and yet he was but fourscore: and David was full of days, yet but seventy years old. Solomon, as Divines conjecture, was not 60, 
2 Sam. 19 32.  yet it is said; When Solomon was old. In all the records of the Roman, Greek, French, and Germane Emperors, there are found only four that lived to fourscore years. Amongst the Pope's only five, and they were immediately before our times. Namely, John the twenty third, Gregory the twelfth and thirteenth, Paul the third and fourth; and that which is most notable, Elizabeth Queen of England out lived all her predecessors from William the Conqueror; 
De honest. discipline.  and she reigned as fortunately as Augustus, as long as David. P●trus Criaitus, affirms that Egyptis by a subtle conjecture, taken from the weight of the heart, found out within what bounds the life of Man was included, and he affirmed, that he could scarce live above a hundred years. For every year till fifty, it increased two Drachmas, and from thence to 100 years it decreased as much. Though this be rather curiosity than truth, yet it shows what the Antiens thought of the last end of Man. 
L. 5. de lingua latina.  Varro also held the same opinion. They called the space of a hundred years, Seculum, from senex, an Old Man, because they thought that was the longest time for Men to live to be old: And Seneca saith, We see that thou art come to the very utmost stage of Man's life, thou art a hundred years old, I say nothing of Trebellius Pollio, who in his book to Constantius ascribes to the longest age, but 120 years, by the opinion of Mathematicians. Moreover, the Ancients well observed the secret stations and progresses of nature in Man's body, not only in respect of increasing in the Wombs of their Mothers, and in respect of their being born, but after their birth also.  
Hypocrates, ascribes to the time of being born, the seventh, ninth, tenth, the eleventh month also sometimes; and he reckons the eighth Month to be dangerous. Some divide Man's age into three, others into four, five, six or seven parts, according to the consideration of the Planets. Philo produceth Solon's Elegiac verses of the seventh year, 
In opere de fab. mundi.  causing changes in Man's body,  
Young children when seven years do go about,  
Renew their teeth that serve them to speak out.  
When seven more by God's decree are run,  
Hair on their secret parts are first begun.  
And in thrice seven years, a soft hair down.  
With strength of years their beardless chin doth crown.  
Macrobius, clearly explains the changes of every seventh year in Man's age. 
L. 1. de Som. Scip. c. 6.  That in the first, the teeth are shed; in the second, hair breaks forth on their secrets; in the third, their beard sprouts; in the fourth, Man ceaseth growing; in the fifth, strength is given; in the sixth, consistence; in the seventh, declining. The Observations of the Learned say, the same is now done. And although as in health there are degrees of Latitude, so here: yet it is sufficient if it be infallible, for the greatest part, and uniformity hold; the other things being considered. At this time we hold the thirty fifth year to be the flower of Man's age, as being the Mean, between seventy; and the Age our Saviour died at, unto which the Apostle in his Epistle to the Ephesians, 
Plutarch de Oracul. cessat.  seems to allude. So it was in former ages. For Heraclitus, as Plutarch relates, affirmed that thirty was the mean in man's Age. The same may be said of Climacterical years. 
Gell. l. 25.  Whereof Gellius writes thus: 
Noct. c. 7.  It hath been observed for a long time, and it hath been approved in most Old men, that the 63d, year of their life was with some danger & hurt, either of their body, or with some great disease, or loss of their life, or grief of mind. See Baptista Codon chus, concerning these things in a special Treaty, concerning Climacterical years. To this may be added the Age of his Marriage and Generation, which is the same now, as it was formerly. The third Council of Carthage, Chap. 9 Ordained that Readers in Churches, when they came to fourteen years, should be forced to Marry wives, 
Proem. l. ●.  or to Vow Chastity. Quint. writes, that his wife died leaving two sons, being not full nineteen years old. Epict●●us saith, that women, so soon as they are fourteen years old, 
Enchirid. c. 55.  men called them Ladies.  
The Civil Laws approve of women to marry at twelve years old. 
Digest. l. 9 de spons.  So doth the Jews Talmud, and the Canons of the Church. 
Buxtorf.  Hesiodus 15. l. Under Tiberius, by the Papian Law, 
Synag. 3.  it was forbidden men at 60 to marry. 
Lancel. l. 2. l. 11. Sancinus 27. C. de Nuptiis.  And women, of 50 years old, were likewise forbidden. But that law was repealed in Justinians Reign. Also the same may be proved by the Taking of Church Offices, or Military and Civil Offices: For anciently they were assoon admitted, 
In Antiq. Br●an.  and discharged assoon. Parker writes, He that must be promoted to be a Bishop, must not be under thirty. But now adays they are seldom under fifty. Venerable Bede who lived about 800 years since, was made a Deacon at ninteen years old. Origen, saith Eusebius, was made a Catechist at eighteen years. The Levites were discharged after fifty. 
Num. 8. 23.  As for Soldiers: The French at fourteen years, prepare their sons for War. ●n. Pompeius, at eighteen; Augustus at nineteen, endured war. The Romans at seventeen, made them take up Arms. Whence was the Law of Gracchus, 
Lib. 25.  A Soldier must not be chosen under seventeen. Yet Livy writes, that when the second Punic War was, it was Decreed, that the Tribunes of the people should publish to them, that all that were under seventene, that should take the Military Oath, should have their pay as well as if they were seventeen or more. The Athenian Law, discharged men at forty, and took them on, for Wars at eighteen. By the testimony of Polyhistor, Cajeta●, Pererius. Simeon and Levi, were hardly twenty years old when they killed the Sichemites: What shall I say of Alexander, C. Caesar, Julian, and others? As for Civil affairs, as Plutarch writes, Romulus reigned thirty eight years, and died at fifty, therefore he began to Reign at twelve. Cicero, as Cornelius Nepos writes, made his Oration pro Roscio at twenty three years old. Euripides, saith G●llius, at eightteen years old writ his Tragedies. 
Suetonius.  Augustus at sixteen put on his Toga Virilis, and was made Consul at twenty. Josephus writes that when he was nineteen, he bare Office in the Common Wealth. Lastly, Tertullian de Veland. Virgin. saith: Also the Heathen observe the seasons, that according to the Law of Nature, they may give laws to several ages. For they receive Women at twelve, and Men at fourteen, for Employments. But here are two principal Objections, especially against this. Namely, that the Patriarches before the Flood, lived very long: and that Men now marry sooner than they did formerly. I answer briefly to this. I grant the first; and say, that is most false that some maintain, 
Whence it was the Patriarches lived so long.  that their years contained only thirty six days. For were that true, it would follow that Enoch and Cain begat children at six or seven years old at the most. For the Scripture saith, This got children at sixty five, 
Whether the years they lived were only of 36 days.  and the Other at seventy years. Nor had any of the Patriarches lived to ninety seven years old, and many now live above a hundred: and that would be false that the Scripture writes, that Abraham died full of days, a good old Man. For according to their account he should be but seventeen years old. And should we grant this to be most true, yet this would evince nothing for a general decay of the world. 
Joseph l. 1.  For it seems that was done formerly for Virtue's sake, 
Antiquit. c. 4. L. 1.  and the glorious Profits they sought after, 
Chronol.  that is, for Astrology, and Geometry, or for the increase of Man ki●de. Hence Rabbi Levi as Genebrard quotes him, calls the long lives of the Patriarches, a work of Providence and not of nature: or else by reason of their diet. Hence Roger Bacon writes, That as they had great wisdom, they found out all Regiment of health, and secret Medicaments, whereby their old age was retarded, and by which when it came, it might be mitigated, and their children had this Regiment, and Experiments against old age; For God gave them all wisdom, and so they might live long. Moreover we find by constant observation almost in all times, that in some Country's, there were some that lived longer than others, Epimenides of Crere lived a 150 years, Gorgias Siculus a Rhetorician a 108, 
Verulam. in Hist. vit. & mort.  Hypocrates a 114. Terentia wife to Cicero, a 103. Clodia daughter of Osilius, a 115 though when she was young she had borne fifteen children. What shall I say of Luceia or Galeria Copiola? She lived not a little more than a hundred years; For it is reported that for a hundred years, she played the Jester upon the Stage; it may be at first she acted the maid's part, and at last an old Wives. Isra, the Player and Dancer; was in her youthful days brought upon the Stage: how old she was then, is not known, but after 99 years from that time, she was again brought upon the Theatre, not to act her part, but to be showed for a Miracle; when Pompey the Great dedicated the Theatre. Also she was again showed at the sports ordained for to pray for the health of Divus Augustus. In Scripture, we read that Levi lived a hundred thirty seven years. Phin●has, three hundred. Job after his restitution, a hundred and forty; yet he had sons and daughters marriageable before his fall. Anna the Prophetess, lived a hundred and six years: John the Evangelist, as many. But the times of Vespasian the Emperor will best show this, when the Muster Rowel was made. For than were there found in that part of Italy, which lieth between Appe●inus and the River Po, Men that were a hundred years old, and others above a hundred twenty four.  
Nor do the later times fail in this: for John of Times, that was Armour bearer to Charles the Great, lived 360 years. Verstigan writes that at S●govia in Spain, it was reported that a woman lived a hundred and sixty years. Franciscus Alvarez, reports that he saw an Archbishop of Aethiopia, a hundred and fifty years old. Buchanan, ●estifies that one Laurentius, of the Orcadeses, when he was a hundred and forty years old, went a fishing in his Boat in the coldest Winter commonly. A few years since in the County of Hereford, 
Verulam in Hist. vit. & mor●.  (they are the words of the Lord Verulam) for a May dance, there were eight men chosen, whose ages counted together, made eight hundred years complete, so that what one wanted of a hundred, the other exceeded a hundred as much. Lastly, the Countess of Desmond, lived in the year 1589, and after: she married in the days of Edward the fourth, Verulam saith, she thrice renewed her teeth, and lived a hundred and forty years. To the cause taken from Nutriment may be added, our dainty Breeding now adays, too soon Marrying, and Luxury.  
Many dishes make many diseases.  
Seneca, 
Epist. 95.  again, that great Physician, and inventor of this Art, said, that women never shed their hair, nor did their feet ache: but now they want their hair, and their feet pain them, yet the nature of women is not changed, but their life. That which is spoken of their marrying too soon is commonly false. 
Whether we marry sooner now than of old time time.  For when Jacob descended into Egypt, Er and Onan are numbered amongst Judah's children, (they were dead) Scheclak; Phares, and Serak, and of Sharer, Hesron, and Hamul. And Judah was then at most but forty years old, for Joseph was thirty nine. And he was born at the end of the fourteenth year, when Jacob lived in Mesopotamia, and the other in the eleventh year. In that time therefore, Judah had sons that married wives, they were Er, and Onan, and by the same Thamar, he had Pharez, that bore two children.  
II. Benjamin in the same Chapter is said to be the Father of ten sons, and he was then but twenty three, or twenty four years old. He was born in the hundred and sixth year of his father's age. Dinah, saith Polyhistor, was ravished at ten years old. Josias died at thirty years old, but his son Eliakim was 25. when he began to reign. Ahaz also lived but thirty six years, 
2 King. 22.  and Hezekiah succeeded him at twenty five years, therefore he begat him at eleven years old: as for this example, Junius and Junccius seem to think the contrary, but Hicrome in. Epistol. ad vitalem, hath recourse to God's Omnipotence. For Nature can do nothing against the God of Nature.   

Article II.  
Man's stature and strength, within these three thousand years, are not decayed.  
WHat we said of Age, the same may we speak of Man's stature and force, 
Whether Adam were the greatest of all men?  and that very well, For first, if the stature and strength of Man should universally and perpetually fail, it would follow that Adam was the greatest of all men. Yet that seems to be false. For what Johannes Lucidus speaks, 
L. 1. de Emend. temp. c. 4.  he doth it from the vulgar Translation of that place, Hebron was afore time called Cariath Arbe. He saith, from thence it may be collected, Adam the greatest among the Anakims was placed there. 
In. lib. de Paradiso.  It smells of Fables of the Rabbins, who report that the Sea divided Paradise, and that when Adam was driven forth, he was forced to swim over. The place should be thus translated, He was the greatest man amongst the Anakims. Most also hold, that Adam was not buried in Hebron, but there where the new Adam was to suffer. Nephillim that were before the Flood, were men, as the Interlineary gloss expounds it, of huge bodies and proud minds, great strength, unruly manners, yet is not the opinion of chrysostom against this, who saith that the Scripture calls, Noble strong and warlike Men, Giants.  
II. Though we should grant that men before the flood were like Giants, yet this concludes nothing against our Tenent, since there have been such in other ages; Nimrod is called a strong hunter before the Lord, The Names of Rephaim, Jumjummims, Jamjummims, Emims, and Anakims, signify the same. The prophet Amos found one amongst the Amorites whose height he compares to Cedars, and his strength to a Yoke of Oxen. What think you of Og, King of Bashan, whose bed was nine Cubi●s long, four br●ad, not according to his own measure (as the Chaldees Pharaphrase and Complutensia would have it) for so the measure were uncertain, but reckoning according to the common measure of a Man, as Tremelius, Junius, and Arias Montanus interpret it. What shall we say of Samson, Goliath, and his brother? In the days of Augustus Caesar, there were Pusio and Secundilla, who were nine foot and a half long, and their bodies were preserved in the Sallustian Garden. In Claudius his days lived Gabbara an Arabian who was nine foot high: and in the days of Theodosius one in Syria was five Cubits high. Scaliger at Milan saw a young man in an Hospital so tall, that he could not stand. Goropius Becanus saith, he saw a Woman sixteen foot high. Cassanian saith there was at Bordeaux one so tall, 
De Gygant. c. 6.  that an ordinary man might stand upright between his Legs. I saw at London the King's Porter, who was seven foot high, and two fingers breadth. In China, some of the King's guard are fifteen foot high; and the King is said to have five hundred such about him. In the Country of Paragonia they are commonly above thirteen foot high, and in Symmatra some are twelve foot high.  
III. Among the Ancients, a Cubit, a Foot, a Finger's breadth, a Hands breadth were constant and certain Measures; nor was it lawful for every man to measure by his own measure. That appears by the Amphora of the Capitol, and the Roman Congius▪ and other things. And those measures were taken from a Man of an ordinary stature. But because the bodies of Men are different, in several Climates and Countries; they began the measure from a certain principle, whence other measures were made, as from parts that were certain. Wherefore Geometricians make a Barley corn atwhart to be the least Measure that is, measuring the breadth of it. Hence, 
Guaric.  
A finger's breadth are sour grains.  
Four fingers a Hand breadth contains.  
A foot is four hand breadth, etc.   
Since therefore the earth, in respect of fruitfulness is not decayed, and we use Grains to weigh Gold as our Ancestors did, and the best Architects observe Vitruvius his measures, there can be no exception. Wherefore the mean stature must be the same now as it was formerly. I confess the Jews had holy weights, or of the Sanctuary that exceeded the ordinary weights, and the Greeks had Royal Cubits; yet I affirm that their ordinary and common ones did not exceed ours. For if the Ark were measured by the common measure it amounted to 540 Cubits, and showed that it was capacious enough. And Agricola lib. de mensur. writes that Phya the wife Pysistratus was accounted so tall, that they honoured her as Minerva: yet was she not above four common Cubits high. Also Artaches the chief Officer in Xerxes' Army, was reported to be very tall, yet was he but four royal cubits high, abating four finger's breadth. As for the Roman measure, the same Agricola writes, that a Roman Foot was less than a French Foot, by two fingers; and it is to be seen yet at Rome, in the Marble Monuments, chiefly in the Gardens of Angelus Coloccus. But Goropius Becanus, found so me that were measured to be shorter by four hands breadth, & yet he was but a short man in respect of ordinary Men. Lastly, Nero, witness Suetonius, mustered a new Legion of Italians that were six Cubits high: 
In Gygantomachia.  he called that Alexander's Brigade.  
IV. The measure of diet, all things considered, was allowed for Men, according to the proportion of their bodies, and questionless it was proportioned amongst the Ancients, after the usual custom, Homer sets before Hercules, a man of mighty stature, an Ox for his dinner. Capitolinus and Cord●s allow Maximinus, every meal forty, and sometimes sixty pounds of flesh. Athenaeus and Theodorus Hieropolitanus, assign to Milo of Croton, twenty pound, and three gallons of Wine. In the days of Maximilian the first, Emperor, there was a Man at Auspurg, who eat a whole Calf raw, as Surius writes.  
And the Ancients allowed as much food. For the Greeks as Suidas reports, allowed a Chaenix by the meal. Whence Clearchus calls Trophis in Homer. Herodotus, saith the same was observed in Xerxes his army, and as Polybius writes, 
In Polymnia.  two thirds of a Medimnus of fine Wheat, amongst the Romans were allowed for every Foot Soldier by the Month, that is four bushels; for a Medimnus contained six. And this is the same with the former. For four Modii contained thirty two Chaenices. But that which Rabanus writes of the Israelites, that three Chaenices of Manna, were allowed every Man in the Wilderness, that was Gods singular blessing, as Junius expounds it. Also a Horsman amongst the Romans was allowed two Medimni, as the same Polybius writes, 
L. 6.  but it was because he had a servant or two as Lipsius saith.  
V. Last, Weapons, Gates, Sepulchers, Beds, 
L. 5. de mil.  etc. can show as much, all which were anciently of the same dimensions. 
Rom. c. 6.  Aristotle writes that Beds in his time were but six foot 
Miscel. c. 4.  long. Magius who hath written a Tract for the contrary opinion, reports that the Tombs at Pisa in Italy are no longer than ours are, and he adds that at Pisaurum, in a Magazine for Armour, he saw the Helmets of the Duke of urbine dug up in the fields, near Metaurum, where Asdrubal was conquered by the Romans; his words are these, They were no greater than our Soldiers more commonly. D. Hawkewill saw in the Church of the Abbey at Malmsbury, a Tomb that was said to be King Athelstanes, and it was not greater than ours. And in the place for dead bones in the Monastery at Glassenbury, there could no bone be found that represented any great stature. Sands in his Travels writes, that entering the Pyramids he met with such low and narrow entrances, that he was forced to stoop as he went. And he adds that in a spacious place built of Theban Marble, that he saw a Sepulchre seven foot long, and scarce four foot broad. It was reported to be the body of the Founder, Charops. I saw at Leyden two dead bodies Embalmed, that were buried before Christ, one was of a small, the other of a bigger stature, but neither of them greater than ours. Those arms that are sometimes showed of a vast Magnitude, as we saw in the Castle of the Earl of Fenton in Scotland, the Sword of King Robert, they were made to fright Men, or to vaunt with, as appears by that Alexander did in the Indies. 
Exod. 27. 1  Yet the Altar of the Tabernacle was said to be three cubits high. But if those Cubits were then taken by the stature of the men then living, and men were then four Cubits high, the Priest was but one Cubit above the Altar, which was a cause of trouble, certainly, in his Administration. Solomon's Altar was ten Cubits high, 
2 Chro. 4. 1 Exod. 20. 26.  but it had steps from the ground. And though God may seem to have forbid men to go up by them, yet that was only that their nakedness might not be seen. Against what we now have said, five things are chiefly objected.  
I. That ofttimes, Sceletons of vast stature, and mighty great bones are commonly found.  
II. The Bible speaks much of Samson and others; and the Heathen speak of Diomedes, Ajax, Hector, Hercules.  
III. Physics were given in greater quantities formerly, and blood drawn in greater abundance.  
IV. The duodenum gut is called so by Herophilus, formerly because it was twelve fingers broad in length; and now a days, it is hardly four.  
V. That impurity is contracted in the seed by propagation in successive generations; and, thence must necessarily follow diminution in magnitude and strength. Yet though these seem brave arguments, they are not so considerable, 
In vita Sertorii.  that they can disprove our opinion. As for the first, we grant it is so. For Plutarch out of Gabinius, which Strabo saith, is full of Fables, reports, that in Africa the body of Antaeus, was found of sixty Cubits; Fazellus saith, seventy. In the fourteenth year of the Emperor Henry the Second, 
Malmes. l. 2. c. 17. de gestis Reg. Angl.  the body of Pallas was found at Rome entire, to the wonder of all men, that it had lasted so many ages uncorrupted. The wou●d that Turnus gave him, was said to be four foot and a half. Herodotus writes that the body of Orestes was seven Cubits, and for this Gellius calls him a fabulous writer. Orion's body was forty Cubits, and Macrosyris a hundred. B●ccace writes, that one of his teeth weighed a hundred Ounces, and his staff a thousand five hundred pound. I will say nothing of that Tooth S. Augustine saw, which were it divided into parts, would make ten of ours. Nor any thing of Christopher, whose tooth Ludovicus Vives, on that place of Augustine saith, 
Aug. de civet. Dei l. 15. cap. 9  he saw, bigger than a Man's fist. I grant, it is so written. Nor do I speak as boldly as Becanus who writes; I believe not that in Pliny concerning Orion, though L. Flaccus, and Metellus, who said they went to see it, should swear it by their heads. We must so deal with our Ancestors, as we would have our posterity deal with us: But what doth all this make against us?  
I. It is apparent that Many things were not rightly understood: then, many things were added, that were Hyperbolically spoken, when as the very ancient writers did not believe what was reported. There might be some Money found in the Indies, was presently added that Augustus his image was upon it.  
II. These monstrous Figures may be ascribed to Natural or Artificial causes, or to both jointly. Also great Princes might make these things of ambition, or Skilful Artificers of curiosity, or Infernal Devils of Malice and deceit. Truly that mad building near Amsbury, which the Ancients call the Giant's dance, seems to proceed originally from thence. What strange bodies a thousand Artificers do often present us with, 
Delrius in l. 9 Mag.  may be collected from the history of two Maids that were taken away, in whose places other bodies were laid.  
III. I know not whether it be wholly impossible for Nature to make such bodies in the very bowels of the Earth. 
Whether prodigious bodies like Men can be framed in the bowels of the Earth?  For it is without doubt, that many bodies have been found that represented the parts of Limbs, and others that were like entire living creatures. In the Diocese of Trevirs when cement was dug forth to repair buildings, they dug up black stones, like women's privities. Diphyes, represents the Genitals of both Sexes, 
Agricola.  with a line to distinguish them, At Salfelda in Thuringia, a stone was dug up out of a Pit that was twenty fathom deep, that was like a firm breast, a foot a half long, three hands broad, on the fore part; where the ribs ended it was six fingers thick, and three where the whirlebands on the hinder part were pierced in the middle. The back bone was empty of that should represent the marrow; Also Goropius Becanus, saw in England, a Stone cut out of the top of a Mountain, that was exactly like to a Perch, and not the least line wanted for its perfection. I will say nothing now of a Turnip near Harlem that was dug up in the year 1583. It was like a Man's hand with nails, and all the distinctions of fingers, and the lineaments; I saw the picture of it at Lions, with CL. D. Baudarcius my Patron. I will say nothing also of that of Agricola: we saw a small stature of a Man, that carried a Child on his shouders, made of silver by nature. And if these things seem only to be understood of the outward forms described, and the matter to be wholly different, let I beseech you Fossill flesh answer that exception, which was reported to be found sometimes, and of which in the fifth Classis of our Thaumatographia, we spoke some things out of Libavius.  
IV Lastly, D. Hawkwill thinks that such vast bodies may be ascribed to the Devil's copulation with women. And truly, saith S. Augustine, 
De civet: Dei l. 15. c. 23.  it is a most frequent report, and many say they have tried it, or heard it of others, of undeniable credit, 
Whether women may conceive by the Devil?  that the Sylvani and Fauni, which they commonly call Incubi, have commonly committed wicked actions with Women, and have desired, and obtained to lie with them, and some Devils which the French call Dusii, do daily attempt and effect this uncleanness; and many such men affirm it, that it were great impudence to deny it. Also Tostatus, writes that of such monstrous copulations, 
In c. 6.  proceed the strongest and tallest Men. Valesius and Delrio agree with him. 
Gen. q. 6.  It is no doubt, 
Vales. sac.  but if any such things have happened, 
Phil. c. 8.  it happened in the time of Heathenism especially, 
Delrio in disq.  when the Devil had most power, but not so after Christ was come. For that the Oracles ceased, 
Magic.  and great Pan was dead, not only Plutarch writes in a particular Book, but the History of Epitersis. shows the Proclaiming of his death about Paxa. D. Hawkwell rests in this opinion, But to speak truth, and to confess ingenuously, I scarce dare agree with him. For though it were granted that the Devils should lie with Women, yet it follows not that they should conceive, and that for the unfitness of the prolifique matter. The Devils are spirits and cannot have it of themselves. First therefore they must be Succubuses, and steal it; and then Incubi and inject it. And in the mean while the Seed is spoiled of its inward heat and spiritual, as being easily dispersed: whence it is, that some Witches say they felt it cold. Further, that seems to be a work of Imperfection. For if Giants exceed so much, in magnitude, that it hinders any actions, they are to be called Monsters; And truly, Bartholinus calls him a Monster, whose grinding Tooth, Augustine saith he saw. In the interim every man may think what he pleases. 
Phys. gener. 6.  He that desires to know more exactly of the Devil's copulation with Women, let him read, Ambrose Pareus, and Caspar Bauhinus concerning Hermaphrodites. As for the second Objection, it is no more forcible than the former; for neither did the latter times yield to them, nor do our times fall short of them. Tribellius Pollio speaks the same of C. Marius, Capitolinus of Maximinus, Vopiscus of Aurelianus, Barletus of Scanderbag, and Fazellus of Galeotus Bardesinus a Noble Man of Cathay; and others of Tamberlane and Ziska, etc. Georg. le Fuer writes, that Anno. 1569. there lived at Misni●, Nicolaus Klunherus the Precedent of the Cathedral Church, who without any help lifted a Tun of Wine out of a Cellar. 
Canicul. colloq. 6.  Majolus saith, that at Asta in the presence of the Marquis of Pescaria, a man played with a pillar of three foot long, and one foot diameter, as another would play with a ball. He reports also that one of Mantua, called Rodomant, of a mean stature, would break a rope as big as a Man's arm, like a thread. Ernaudus Burg, a Spaniard, Servant of the Earl Faux, as Frostardus relates, carried an Ass loaded with wood, up 24 stairs into a Chamber, upon his back. Lobelius, a Polander, writes in describing the things were done Anno. 1582, at the Circumcision of Mahomet, son to Amurat, that one man took up a piece of wood so great as twelve men could hardly carry it, and he laid upon his breast a stone that ten men could not bear. 
Camer. in Medit. Historicis.  Forsbergius with his middle finger of his right hand could thrust any Man out of his place. Pothowa Captain of the Cossakes, saith Leunclavius broke an iron Spurr, as a man would tear paper: Johannes Romanus in England could carry an Ox. Lastly, Anno. 1575., there was a Man killed of vast Magnitude by James Niazahilovius a Polander, Scythian. His forehead was twenty four fingers broad, 
Thuan. l. 6. ex Leon. Gerecio.  and the rest of his body was so great, that his carcase lying on the ground, would reach as high as a Man's navel, when he stood.  
The third cannot be granted.  
For I. Goropius Becanus speaks expressly. 
Whether Physics now a days may be given in as great a dose as formerly?  Body's will endure Hellebore now as well as they did formerly, in the same or greater quanlity, as I have tried in others. And Jacchmus is of the same mind.  
II. I remember, saith Galen, that blood was drawn to six pound weight in some men, and so the Fever was cured. But he took less from others. Where the forces are strong and age will allow it, 
C. 14. de Curate. per venae sect. ●. 9 c. 14.  it is fit to draw blood till they faint.  
III. Pareus writes that in four days he drew seven pounds of blood from a Man, and D. Deodate affirms that from a Man of seventy six years, in three days, he took sixty Ounces of blood. 
In observat.  Also Schenckius mentions strange bleedings at the nose, when sometimes eighteen, sometimes twenty, sometimes forty pounds of blood have run forth. Lastly, Pasquier in Epistol. ad Turnerum observed, that blood was drawn, now more commonly than formerly; for of old, to open a vein was dangerous before fourteen year old; and it is usual. What concerns the Gut, twelve fingers broad, It is true that Archangelus Picolominie concludes thence, that men were greater then, and lesser now; but how truly, let him see to it.  
I. It is certain that Pliny and Tertullian; 
L. 2. lect. Annot.  mention Herophilus, yet it is uncertain what age he lived in. And should we suppose that he lived a thousand years since, it will follow that two third parts of men are lost in their statures; 
Whether the gut duodenum be now shorter than of old?  and if men be now five foot high, they were then fifteen.  
II. If that happen to us by reason of those times, then that happened to them in respect of former times. And it is wonder, nor Galen, nor Hypocrates should speak any thing of them.  
III. Riolanus seems to decide this controversy, when he writes, And take nothing from the Ancient Measure, 
L. 2. Antrop. c. 12.  unless you add the more slender and narrow part of the Ventricle which reacheth forth from the bottom below, to the very beginning of the windings of the guts, which I have often seen to be twelve fingers breadth long. Laurentius, and many others, think that the Ancients took the Pylorus with the Duodenum. The last thing of the Impurity of Seed is false.  
For I. We see sometime that sickly Parents beget strong and healthy children. 
L. 6. c. 13. Whether prolific seed be now more impure than formerly?   
II. The same may be said of Animals: and doubtless Men had failed by this time, and there had been an end of the dispute.  
III. There are many Examples, of women that have exceeded in bearing of Children. Vives relates of a Country Man in Spain, whose progeny had filled a Village of a 100 houses whilst he yet lived. In the Temple of the Marschall in Essex, there is a Sepulchre sen of one Mary Waters, who when she died hd of her Legitimate posterity, three hundred sixty seven children, sixteen of her own, a hundred and fourteen of her children's, two hundred twenty eight, in a third degree; nine in a fourth. Also that is common. 
The Mother said to her Daughter; Daughter, say to your Daughter, that she must mourn for her Daughter's Daughter.   
I let pass other examples. And I conclude, that strength and stature have not failed for some thousands of years.   

Article III.  
Nothing is wanting to the Faculties of of the mind.  
THus much is spoken hitherto concerning those things are principally to be considered in the body of Man: now follows the rational Soul. Wherein we are to consider whether the faculties thereof have failed in general or in special; That is principally known, both by the proceedings of Arts, and manners; yet not omitting those things that are requisite thereunto, as Memory, Judgement, Imagination, wherefore these parts are to be considered.  

I. That Memory and Judgement have not failed.  
II. Nor any thing in the three Faculties.  
III. Thirdly, nor in Speculative Philosophy.  
IU. Nor in practical Philosophy and History.  
V. Nor in Languages and Arts.  
VI Nor in Mechanical Arts, and Navigation.  
VII. Nor in Manners.   

The first Branch.  
Memory and Judgement have not failed.  
HOw have they failed, when as greater things have fallen out in the latter times, and in our own, than were the vast examples mentioned by the Ancients?  
Seneca the Rhetorician saith, 
In prooem. l. 1. controvers.  that he rehearsed two thousand words in the same order they were spoken; and that he repeated from the last to the first, all the verses that each man propounded, that came to hear his Master, and they were above two hundred persons. 
L. 3. var. lect.  But Marcus Antonius Muretus, reports of a certain young man of Corsica, who studied the Civil Law in the University of Milan, who could repeat thirty six thousand names without any staying, in the same order they were spoken. To which Muretus adds, I know not any of the Ancients I can oppose to this, unless it be Cyrus: of whom Pliny, Quintilian, and the Latin Writers relate, that he remembered all the Soldier's names. Xenophor says, Only of his Officers. But Aenaeas Silvius testifies, 
In histor. Council Basil.  that Ludovicus Pontanus a Counsellor of Spalleto, did not only repeat all the Heads of the Laws, but the whole body of them; he died at thirty years old. Famianus Strada writes, that Francis Suarez, 
L. 1. Academic. prolus.  that famous Jesuit, had so strong a Memory, that he recited Saint Augustine's works in the same words they were written. We have often (saith he) seen him readily to teach and show with his finger the very place & page, wherein he spoke of such a thing. Greater, and more things may be spoken of Johu Raynolds, a Famous divine in Oxford University. For men say, he was so conversant in all Classical Authors, that he might truly be called a Living Libray, or a third university. Gentilis confessed, that he knew▪ the Laws better than himself, yet he was professor of them. To confirm the force of Judgement and the other Faculties, 
In 2. de C. D. c. 17.  it shall suffice to Instance in Budaeus, Tostatus, & Scaliger. Ludovicus Vives saith, that France never brought forth any man that had a more sharp wit, strong judgement, more exact diligence, or more learning; nor yet Italy in this Age▪ And indeed he had more knowledge of the Latin and Greek Tongues, than of his own. Wherefore what he writ in them was extemporary. If you read his Books, De Ass, you shall find he had read all the Philosophers; and was employed in public Affairs both at home and abroad. But this is the greatest wonder; which he found in him only (they are the words of Vives) Both the Master and the Scholar, and the method and reason of teaching, and the tenth part of those things Men can hardly learn under other great Masters, that he learned wholly, 
Possev. in Appar.  being his own Master, from himself. Tostatus in the 22, year of his age had the knowledge almost of all Arts and Sciences, 
Bell. de Eccles. script. De Vivers. & doctis viris Hispan.  whence one writes of him, This the world's wonder, knows all to be known. And Metamorus writes further of him. Had he lived in any age than in in that he did, we should never Envy at Augustine of Hippo, nor Hierome of Stridon, nor yet any of the Ancients. By Scaliger, I mean joseph (though his father was a Man of so great learning, that Lipsius reckons him to be the fourth, with those three that he admires amongst the Ancients) whose commendation ●ounds in the mouths of learned men, (if you except Schoppius, who was the shame and spot of his Country.) 
In praesat opus Scalig.  There is nothing (saith Casaubon) that any man would learn, that he could not teach; he had read nothing, (and what had he not read?) but he presently remembered it; there was nothing so obscure or difficult in any old Author, Greek, Latin, or Hebrew; but if he were asked, he would presently answer to it. He readily remembered the Histories of all Nations, all Ages, the successions of Empires, and the Estate of the Ancient Church. He held a record of all Animals, Plants, Metals, and of the properties of all natural things, with their differences and names, were they new or old. He knew perfectly the situation of places, the bounds of Provinces, and the divers divisions of them, at several times. He left none of the more weighty Arts or Sciences, that he attempted not to learn; he had the knowledge of so many tongues, so exactly, that had he done nothing but this all his life time, 
L. 2. Hist. sui tempor.  it would worthily be accounted a Miracle. The same is is witnessed of him by Julius Caesar Bullingerus, a Sorbon Doctor, and Professor at Pisa, but in fewer words: for he writes thus. The year 1609 followeth, which was fatal by the death of Joseph Scaliger; than whom our age brought forth no man of a greater Genius, and Ingenuity for Learning; and it may be the Ages past, had hardly his equal for all kinds of Learning. 
Pasquir. l. 5. c. 38.  To these I may add, that young Man, who in the year 1445 was at Paris, who though he were but twenty years old, yet was he very well versed in all Arts and Sciences, and therefore he was thought to be Antichrist, and born of the Devil. Castellanus who then lived, writes thus of him.  
A youth I did behold  
But twenty years old  
Who could all Arts unfold.  
And the Degrees uphold.  
He boasted that he knew  
What ever had been writ  
Had he but once the view;  
As a young Antichrist.  
But if we consider the whole matter exactly and shall compare the condition of the later times with the former, we shall find that we can do as much and more than they could. For we have many helps the Ancients wanted. Amongst which the Art of Printing is the chief. For by this the prices of Books are eased, which were so high in former ages, that Plato paid three thousand Florins for three Books, and the Books of the Ancients are preserved for our use. Only this is necessary, that we may employ less time in gaining languages, and that Controversies in Religion may be shortened, and that equal diligence may be used, and the like Patrons may be found. Aristole received from Alexander, eight hundred Talents to compose his natural History: Roscius the Comedian had a daily salary of three hundred florins. Aesop the Tragedian, left to his son 1500000 Franks. How much hard Labour can do, we may learn by the example of Joseph Scaliger. For he in twenty one days time, learned all Homer by heart, and in four months, he learned all contained in the Greek Poets besides. Hence, saith Vives, good wits grow in any place, if they may be adorned, it may be in some places more frequently, but every where some. 
Orat. 2. 5.  And Quintilian writes. Nature hath not rejected us, that we should be slothful, but we indulge more to ourselves than we ought: so then, they did not so much exceed us in wit, as in resolution. In the mean while certain it is, that there is a circular motion also in habits; For first, the Egyptians floruished; Then the Greeks; At length, Learning forsaken Athens, and passed into Italy, And now in the principal parts of Europe, there are most learned Men. 
In praef. Scholar Mathem.  And I dare say with Ramus, we have seen greater increase of learned men, and of their labours in one Age, than our Ancestors saw before in fourteen ages that are past.   

Part. II.  
There is nothing decayed in the three Faculties, Divinity, Law, or Physic.  
IT is almost clear concerning Divinity, that it is now in greater perfection.  
For I. The Gentiles were employed in vain disputes concerning the number and nature of their Gods; They became vain in their Imaginations. Now women understand better the most secret mysteries that are worth the knowing and needful, than formerly the greatest Philosophers did. They were all always eloquent in speaking against their vices; we appear not in a habit, of wisdom, 
Minutius in Octavio.  but in our minds, we do not speak great matters, but we live so.  
II. The Church of the Jews had the Oracles of God committed to them. But the Thalmudist, Cabalist, Pharisees and Essens, etc. did strongly wrest them. That they held a transmigration of souls, not only appears by the opinion of Herod and of others concerning Christ, 
Math. 14. 2  as though he had received the soul of John Baptist or Elias, 
John 9 2.  But also the question of the twelve Apostles declares as much. And that they supposed a Temporal Kingdom of Christ, should be upon the earth, that question shows after Christ's Resurrection, Concerning the restoring of the Kingdom of Israel. 
Actor. 1. 6.   
III. The three former Centuries are commended for their piety and Martyrdom, the fourth for learning. For that age, if ever any, had most excellent and famous Doctors. Thence were Arnobius, Lactantius, Eusebius, Athanasius, Hilarius, Basilius, Nazianzen, Ambrose, Epiphanius, Theophilus, Hieronymus, Augustine, etc. Yet Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, are condemned for their enormous Errors; And then the principal Heresy concerning the Trinity and Christ's Incarnation was so rife, that in those days, it was an ingenious matter● to be a Christian. 
Erasmus.   
And at that time was the opinion of the Millenaries maintained: and that they were Angels that were called the Sons of God, in Genesis, Chap. 6. Whence, Peternus on the place. I am ashamed to speak what I am about speak here, concerning the best writers.  
IV. About the ninth Century, 
Bell de R. l. L. 4. c. 12.  men were so ignorant, that if any man studied Philosophy, they commonly held him for a Conjurer. 
Chron. L. 4.  Genebrard saith, This is called an unhappy age, and drawn dry of men that were famous for wit and learning, wanting both Famous Princes and Bishops.  
V. So soon as Divinity was wrapped up with distinctions, there followed a great contempt of God's Word. For Albertus M. brought Aristotle into the inmost and secret places of the Church of God, whom former times had brought to the door. The men of former days, did only equalise the sayings of the Fathers of the Church, with the Word of God: But he with his followers took away that small Reverence was left unto the Word of God, and compared Aristotle's writings with it, as if these were founded upon demonstrations, and that concluded only by probable Arguments. Hence the most famous Graserus supposeth that the third Viol in the Apocalypse was then poured forth; 
L. 4. Isag.  To this contempt was joined a wonderful ignorance of Tongues; 
Exot. c. 14.  To understand Greek was suspected; and Hebrew was almost Heresy. Remigius being ignorant of those Languages, in his Comment upon those words, 1 Thes. 1. 8, From you sounded out the word, saith, that Paul spoke something improperly, for he should have said divulged; being ignorant that S. Paul writ in Greek. 
3 Part decret. de consec. dist. 4.  In a part of Germa●y, as appears out of the Rescript of Pope Zacharie to Boniface Bishop of Germany, One Baptised in this manner. Ego baptizote in Nomine Patria & Filia & Spiritua Sancta. King Alfred in the Pastoral Preface prefixed to St. Gregory, writeth that in his days there was no Priest in the Southpart of Humber, who understood the Sacred Office written in Latin, 
De corrupto Ecclesiae statu.  or could interpret it. And Clemangus, They came not from their Studies or Schools, but from the Plough tail, and base arts almost every where, to take charge of Parishes who understood little more Latin than Arabic, and they could not read, and (it is a shame to speak it,) they could scarce distinguish Alpha from Bets: and if they had a little learning, their manners were naught, forasmuch as they were bred without learning in idleness, and followed nothing but ribaldry, plays, eating and drinking, and vain controversies. I shall here set down the example of Du Prat, a Bishop and Chancellor of France, wh● when he met with these words, in the Letters of Henry the eighth, King of England, written to Francis the First, King of France, Mitto tibi duodecim Molossos, He thought he m●●nt Mules by Molossos; and afterward observing his mistake, he mended the matter well, taking Molossos for Muletis, and so doubled his ignorance. But all men will excuse themselves with that saying of Saint Gregory. The words of the Heavenly Oracle must not be subject to the Rules of Donatus. He that would know more herein, let him read Henricus Stephanus, in his Apology on Herodotus.  
VII. Lastly, it is beyond all doubt, that no longer than about two hundred years did Greek and Hebrew begin to revive. And, as St. Augustine said, before Pelagius arose, the Fathers spoke more carelessly; and that may be said also of the times that preceded Luther. I need not speak much of the knowledge of the Imperial Laws, He that shall compare Baldus, Bartho. Jason, Accursius, with Cujacius, Alciat, Ho●toman, Duarenus, French men, he shall see the phrase more polite in these, and the method more exact, and the sense of the Law more quick. For Cujacius said, as Thuan testifies, that Govianus, of all the Interpreters of Justinian his Law, as many as are or were, is the only Civilian, to whom the Garland, must be ascribed, if the question were made concerning the best. Yea Pithaeus, in his Epitaph made upon him, calls the same Man the first and last Interpreter of the Roman Laws, from the first founders. Massonius writes thus of him: Jacob Cujacius, dug up the Roman Laws by the Roots, and brought them to the light with so great care, that others before him may seem to be ignorant of them: he alone, after many men, seems to have sought them out more diligently, and more nearly to have discovered them. But if we inquire concerning the practic, from the decisions and judgements that now are at Rome, Naples, Florence, Genoa, Bononia, Mantua, at Perussium in Italy, Spires in Germany, at Paris, Bordeaux, Gratianapolis in France, we shall easily perceive, to whether the Goal must be delivered We acknowledge that Physic flourished in the days of Hypocrates, and was renewed as it were by Galen, but that it is now come to the top point, may be demonstrated by most firm Arguments.  
And I. 
Whether the Ancients understood Anatomy.  Anatomy or artificial Dissection of bodies was scarce known to the Ancients. For the Egyptians Dissected and Anointed bodies to preserve them from corrupting; The Greeks burned them; witness, Herodotus and Thucydides. Plutarch intimates that the custom was to burn one Woman's body with ten men's, as being fatter; and Hypocrates speaks nothing of these things. Democritus was found by him, dissecting many Animals, and when he asked him the reason of it, he answered. I dissect these Animals you see, not that I hate God's works, but to search out the nature of the Gall and of Choler. Amongst the Jews, the custom was either to burn Malefactors, or to stone them: if they were hanged they were buried the same day: It was sin to touch the bodies of the dead. Amongst the Romans also, bodies were burnt; The place where, was called, Puticulae, or Culina; and the vessels their ashes were put into, 
2 de Legibus.  Urnae. And though Cicero writes that Sylla was the first, who amongst the Senators of the Cornelii, 
4 De Fast.  would be burnt with fire; Yet Ovid, writes of Remus. The limbs must burn he did anoint.  
And Numa who was addicted to the Sect of Pythagoras, forbade men to burn his body. Tully himself saith, 
2 De Leg.  that the Laws of the twelve Tables forbade to bury a dead body in the City, or to burn it. And these were given in the 300. V. C. year. Lastly, Vignerius, shows out of the eighth Book of Livy, that the body of the Son of Manlius the Consul was burned in the fields, and that was done in the year, V. C. CCCC. XII. Before Sulla's death, 
Pliny prooem. l. 28.  CCLXX. It was not lawful for them to behold the entrails of man. This custom began to be antiquated after the Antonini. Macrobius saith, it began to fail in his days: Yet fifty years after, the bodies of Pertinax and Severus, were burnt, as Dion and Herodian testify. Then lived Galen, who, as some write, did dissect many Apes and Monkeys, & no bodies of Men, unless perhaps he did One. Whilst Laurentius writes that he did that often: he saith only, it is probable that he did so. As for the Primitive Church, Tertullian calls Herophilus a Butcher rather than a Physician, 
Libro de Anima.  who hated man, that he might know him. And Augustine, Though the diligence of some Physicians be cruelty, 
De civet.  yet those men called Anatomists do butcher the bodies of the dead. 
Dei 22. c. 24  Boniface threatens those with Excommunication, who should take out men's bowels; Which is not only (saith he) made very odious in the sight of the Majesty of God, but aught also, as being obvious to the eyes of men, to be exceedingly abhorred. Therefore, in our and our predecessors days, that Science began to be adorned, and it was adorned by Vesalius, who was the restorer of it. Valerius, Silvius, Fallopius, Columbus, Riolanus, Hieronymus Fabricius ab Aquapedente, Remmelinus, Spigelius, Casserius, and others.  
II. The knowledge of Plants, though it were first known to Theophrastus, after that to Pliny, and most of all to Dioscorides: yet in the Age newly passed, this also is brought to greater perfection: And this is not only apparent by the peregrinations of Ravilius, L●on●ardus, Fuchsius, Clusius, and Americus, by the Discovery of the New World, and by Navigations into both the Indies, which amongst the rest, have brought four most excellent Sudorificks unto us, Guaicum, China, Sassaphras, and Sarsaparillia: but also by the writings of Mathiolus, Thurnheuserus, Lobelius, Clusius, Carrechterus, and Bauhinus, who was forty years composing his Table of Plants. To these I add the most Famous Man, Adolphus Vorstius, the Botanist at Leiden University in Holland, who was my Tutor, whose Skill I often wondered at, and that not without amazement.  
III. To this, Chymistrie may be joined; which though it were somewhat known to the Ancients: 
De Consensu & diss. Chy & Galen.  For Sennertus writes it is probable that Tubal Cai●, was the first founder of it, and that it flourished in Egypt and chiefly in Arabia, as Geber, Avicenna, Rhasit, etc. do witness. Yet in these later Ages it was most adorned, by Lullius, Rogerius, Basilius, Valentinus; but above all by Paracelsus, and his followers; Suchtenus, Dornesus, Thurnhes●erus, Severinus and Crollius, and also by those Chemical Physicians, Andernacus, Quercetanus, Sennertus, D●odate, and is brought now to this height. From whence divers Medicaments have sprung, Tinctures, Spirits, Extracts, Salts, Magistrals, Praecipitates, Glasses, Reguli, Flowers, Milks, Sugars, Gills, etc. And though it must be confessed that some of them are dangerous to give; yet this must not be denied, that it is only when an unskilful Physician useth them, and they are prepared by an unskilful Chemist. Otherwise Extracts and Tinctures are stronger than Syrups, Decoctions, or Infusions. 
Senner. in Pharmacopaea.  For when the profitable parts are parted from the unprofitable, strange, gross and earthy parts, or as Schegkius saith, as it were from their excrements, and refuse, as one may say, it cannot by any reason be denied, but they must be more effectual, pleasing, and durable. To this belong Magnetic cures, transplanting of Diseases, Cures of such as are lame, etc. Of these the Ancients speak very little, but Paracelsus, Crollius, Bargravius, Taliacotius, Petraeus, and others have spoke abundantly. Wherefore Quercetanus seems to have said well. If Hypocrates, Aristotle or Galen, himself were now alive, he would be amused to see this art augmented and adorned with so many Ornaments, enriched with so many new Inventions, and confirmed with so many wonderful operations.   

Part. III.  
Nothing is wanting in speculative Philosophy.  
WHat we said of the three Faculties, we can boldly affirm of Philosophy. But Philosophy being either speculative, or practical, and that we speak of in this part comprehends under it, Metaphysics, Physics, and Mathematics; We must demonstrate this of each of them in particular. As for Metaphysics, after Averro, both the old Scholiasts, and Thomas, Scotus, and the modern Spanish Philosophers, Sanchiez, Suarez, Fonseca, Masius, etc. have adorned it. And amongst other Nations, very many are found, as Shieblerus, Timplerus, Cornelius, and Jacobus Marnii, Scharfi●s, Lippius, Jacchaeus, Capsius, etc. Who partly have included it in an exact method, and in part have illustrated it with most exquisite precepts, & in part have adorned it with most large Disputations. If Keckerman had finished his that he began, there could be nothing wanting, as many suppose, that were needful to the perfection of a complete work, directed to its proper end. And I think that no man will deny but that Sagittarius hath been a great help on his Canals. A special part which others call Pneumatica, is so illustrated and corrected out of the Scriptures, that it may well be written on the Altars of former ages, To the unknown God.  
The Doctrine of Angels, which many of the Ancient Divines, thought to be Corporeal, is admirably described. It is most certain that no writing of the Ancients, can be compared to that of Delrius, de Disquisitionibus Magicis, of Peucerus, and Julius Caesar, Bullinger de Divinatione. Natural Philosophy is far more excellent now, than formerly it was.  
For I. In Aristotle, innumerable speculations, concerning Matter, the World, Heaven, and other things are false. We have them now corrected by Aslachus, Danaeus, Campanella, Verulam, Bartholinus, Nollius', Buthardus and many others. I know not whether Drebbellius hath not exceeded the Ancients in his Book of the Elements.  
III. Natural History before Pliny his age began again to spring up, at length in his days it increased. Yet because the new world was not then open, nor so great search made, all could not be discovered by Pliny, that since that time hitherto is very exactly known by Aldrovandus, Gesner, Agricola, the Anatomists and others. Boetius most accurately searched out the nature of Stones. The wonder of the Loadstone were searched by Gilbertus and Cabaus; and Gesner found out more clearly the nature of Corals.  
III. No man will gainsay that the chiefest of operations is that whereunto the knowledge of things natural must be directed. He is the legitimate son of Natural Philosophy, who knows how to produce new Metals, can multiply and increase Winds, can make artificial Baths of Vitrial, Brimstone, Alum; Can let fall Artificial Snow, Rain, Hail, Frosts, etc. Can produce new Plants, and Animals: But the practic part of Philosophy was, till now, in the greatest darkness; at last in our age the way to it was opened by famous Vernlam, Viscount of S. Albans, Chancellor of England in his New Organum, his Sylva Silvarum, his History of Life and Death, and of Winds. And those that have afforded any thing notable therein, were either of the age newly passed, or of our times. Histories are full, that Paracelsus, Kelleyus, Setonus, did Transmute Metals into Gold. Johannes Hunniades a Hungarian, the chief of all the Chemists in England, our friend, did Enliven a Metal that run. He showed the same Art, concerning whom, Roger Bacon speaks thus; 
In sec. plan. terrest. re-  It is more easy to make Gold, than it is to destroy it. Which Angelus de Sola, thought to be impossible reason of the fixedness of the Mercury of Gold, the maturity, and the so strait Conjunction of it with the other substances of the same body, that it can never go back. I think but a few are ignorant what a Polonian Physician did for the r●renewing of plants again. See more in Rhodologia Rosenbergeri.  
Lastly, this Winter an English man is reported to have found out a new and easy way to make Salt of Sea-Water. As for the Mathematics, there is no doubt▪ but our Ancestors came short of us in knowledge of Geography.  
For I. Strabo oftimes refutes Erastosthenes, Hipparchus, Polybius, and Posidonius: so doth Ptolemy, Marinus Tyrius; yet they also are imperfect, being compared with Mercator, Merula, Ortelius, Maginus, Cluverius, and Carpenter.  
II. In the time of Pope Clement the sixth, as Robert Avesburiensts testifies, when Lodowick of Spain was chosen to be King of the Fortunate Islands, and raised an army in Italy and France, the English that were at Rome then with the Leger Ambassador, departed, supposing him to be Elected Prince of England, as being one of the Fortunate Islands.  
III. One Ephorus an accurate Greek writer, supposed Spain which he called Iberia, to be some mighty City. Also the beginning of Nilus was formerly unknown. But now adays they are discovered. The originals of Nilus are near the Mountains of the Moon, not far from the Promontory of Good-hope.  
IV. Of the Antipodes, 
Divin. Instit. l. c. 2●.  Lactantiu● of old speaks thus. What do they say that think the Antipodes to be Men, whose feet walk against ours, do they say any thing? Or is any Man so foolish to think there be men whose feet are higher than their heads? or that their weights lie against the places ours do, turn the contrary way? That Corn and Trees grow downward, that Rain, Snow, Hail, fall upwards upon the earth? And Virgilius, Bishop of Salisbury was condemned for this of Heresy, by Pope Zachary. Yet now adays, we are sure there are such, I can speak no otherwise of Astronomy.  
For I. The Ephemerideses were not known to Ptolemy; Purbachius, was the first that brought them forth.  
II. Many Instruments within these few years have been found out by Tycho Brahe Galileus and o●hers, whereby new Stars have been discovered, and Milky ways, which reason of Meteors was hid from Aristotle and the Ancients.  
III. The Quadrature of the Circle was a thing to be known in Aristotle his days, b●t it was not known. 
Nor is it yet known.  Scaliger writes, that he first found it out. Yet Pancirollus saith, not above thirty years since was that art invented, which contains in it some wonderful secret. 
What things were less known in the Mathematics by the Ancients?   
IU. Lastly, the most learned Brigs, late Professor of Geometry, in the Famous University of Oxford, saith, that the Ancients knew not these things so well.  
Copernicus' Astronomy which teacheth us that the Earth is the Centre of the Globe of the Moon, and that the Sun is the Centre of all the other Planets: which may be discerned by our sight by help of an Optic Glass, lately invented, in Venus and Mercury, when they are in the lower part of their Orbs. He showeth also by the Diurnal Motion of the Earth, the Rising and Setting of all the Stars: and by the Annual Motion of thesame in its great Orb, to find out far more easily, the motions and distances of all the Planets, and their progresses in the Heavens, their Stations and Retrogradations, than we can by the Epicycles or other Hypetheses, of Ptolemy or of any of the Ancients.  
The four Stars (which Galilaeus Galilaei the Florentine calls, Medicea, who first found them out by his tuba Optica) are always carried about the Star of Jupiter, and when they fall within the shadow of him they are Eclipsed, Jupiter intercepting the Sun beams, as the Earth doth when the Moon is Eclipsed.  
To find out the value of Algebraic Aequations of all things, if it be rational: and if it be not, yet to express it next unto that in Numbers absolute: and that as accurately, as we can do any side of a furred number, or the length of any Irrational Line.  
Any Subtendent Line being given in a Circle, to find out the Subtendent of the third part of the Circumference given (whc. Theos in his comment upon Ptolemy thought to be impossible) and not only of a third part, but of any part, be it even or odd. The very Subtendent line is found of an odd part; but the very subtendent of an even part is not found at one operation, but only the Square of Subtendent: and the greater the number of parts be, so much harder it will be to find out the subtendent.  
The Canons of right lines, Tangents and Secants to the circle, were not known to any of the Ancients. Erasmus Reinoldus first framed them; and the Canon of Sines, (that is far more commodious than the Canon of Subtendents in Ptolemy) was first discovered by Johannes Regiomontanus, and afterwards was most accurately calculated by many men.  
The total doctrine of Logarithms was first invented by John Napier Baron of Merchiston, a Scotchman; whereof none of the Ancients ever so much as dreamt of, whereby many Problems in Astronomy, Arithmetic and Geometry are resolved with very little bour, which otherwise were thought to be impossible, or else to be exceeding hard, and not to be unfolded but with much toil and loss of time. Thomas Hariottus a most skilful Geometrician was the first who taught men to find out the Arpha of a Spherical Triangle, or the quantity of a Solid Angle; no man before him attained this. The ignorance of this proposition deceived Aristotle in his L. 3. de caelo C. 8. supposing that a solid place could be completed by a Pyramid. And Petrus Ramus, committed the same error, 16. & 4. lib. of his Geometry, who affims the same thing may be done also by an Octaedron.  
He teacheth also to find out the proportion of a Segment of a Circle, by that way which for Subtle and Accurate truth is equal to Archimedes way (prop. 31. and 33 lib. de Conoidib.) and for easiness is far beyond it.  
Thus far Brigs, to these we might add those things that the most Famous Gulielmus Avianus, Rector of the College Thoman at Lipsia, my honoured friend, of his own invention hath inserted in his Universal Directory.   

Part. FOUR  
Nothing is wanting in practical Philosophy and History.  
Practical Philosophy without all doubt is in the same condition. For should we read the Books written upon this subject, by Lipsius, Guazzus, Althusus, Thomas, Henricus, Timpler, Keckerman, Donaldson, etc. who writ in Latin; or Verulam, Montanus, the most Reverend Hall, Robinson, Feltham, Gentius, Wright, who writ in French or English, and should add thereunto what Verulam hath written in his Augmentations of Learning, we shall find that Seneca, Epictetus, Plutarch, and others of the Ancients fell short of them many degrees. As for the Military art which is part of Politics, the Romans surpassed the Greeks therein, 
Histor. p. 1. 5. c. 9 l. Sect. 1.  and Raughleigh is reported to have showed that the Romans were surpassed by the English in Edward the third, and Henry the fifth his days: 
Whether our times in Soldiery are short of Antiquity?   
It is a question whether the Low-Countries fall short of Antiquity. Hunniades, Temincharius, Scanderbag, Ziska, Polislaus of Poland, Henricus M. King of France. Frederick or Nassau, etc. nay be compared with Julius Cesar. For he fought forty seven battles with success, and was never put to the worst, except in the Russian war, by the running away of one of the Palatinate. But of the other, compared to Alexander the great, Pytheus, writes thus. 
Which of you two the Garland first should have;  
The warlike World long strove; at last it gave,  
The same to thee, Henry▪ by death thou wast.  
So made at once, the first Captain and last.   
Who of the Antiens better knew the Art of Fortification, than the Dutch and Italians do? Who used more Noble Stratagems than the Low Countries, in taking Breda and Zutphane? than the Spaniard did in the interceptions of Amboina: and the English in the conquering of the thundering Navy. And as for Fights at Sea, not despising other Nations, the Dutch confederates have the preeminence given to them, in many men's judgements▪ They would sail to Heaven with their ships, if men could sail thither. History is three fold, Natural, Ecclesiastical, and Civil: Of that we spoke already. This in old Writers is full of Fables; Now we have the works of Baronius and Ezovi●s, the Centuries of the Magdeburgenses, revised lately by Luciu●, Hospinians labours, concerning Temples, Feasts, Jesuits, Monks, the Sacramentary war, etc. Fox's Martyrology, that is about to be enlarged: and it is no doubt, but some man will be found, that will accurately perfect i●. The Civil part was of old written by many particular men: Tacitus is most commended amongst them all. Yet Lipsius calls him, Forgetful, and one that writes Contradictions; and Tertullian, A most babbling Lyar. Nor doth Guicciardine, Cominaeus, Cambden, Thuan, and other, seem to fall short of him, who without anger or passion, writ the Histories of their own times, Melior Adamus excellently described the lives of the Learned: to say nothing of others who writ in their Mother tongues. And if we speak of Universal History, Johannes Cluverius, professor of the University of Sora in Denmark, hath excellently drawn that forth. Yet C L▪ Conradus Graserus, our Reverend Master, seems to outstrip him in some things. For to speak nothing of Chronologie, deduction of Histories, and the Prophetical part of History, in the Exotic part, he hath bound together the acts of the four Monarchies, and of things concurrent, then from the destruction of Solomon's Temple, unto the Reign of Ferdinand the first, by certain heads, according to lines drawn upon the Statue of Daniel, besides the Holy Writ, taken out of profane writers. Also he hath most accurately deduced Ecclesiastical History according to the three sold period of the Church by John the Divine in his Apocalyps, Revealed by Seven Seals, Trumpets and Viols. He that shall join together these two parts, like to Castor and Pollux, I dare promise to him security in the Ocean of History that otherwise is very unquiet. Commentaries now hot under our hands, do promise, if God please, a larger deduction. Hitherto appertains Chronologie the Eye of History, which that it is now more augmented and more polished than it formerly was, is confimed by the writings of Scaliger, Pavellus, Helvicus, Calvisius, Alsted, and others. The Calculation of the year was along time uncertain amongst the Grecians, and though it were first invented by Meton, Calippus, and Hipparchus; yet it was after that mended by Julius Cesar, and Lily is said to have mended his Computation; Lastly for History, Keckerman, Alsted, and (whom I name by way of gratitude) the famous Vossius have done excellently therein, who also hath set forth two incomparable volumes of Greek and Latin Historians.   

Part. V.  
Nothing wants in Tongues and Arts.  
I Need not say much of Languages. Every one understands Latin▪ Greek in its own Climate is rude & barbarous, but in our world, it flourisheth in most places. Amongst the Fathers of the Primitive Church, but two, namely Hierome and Origen, understood the Eastern Languages. But in these days innumerable are they that have great skill in them. Amongst whom I place the Buxtorsii, Amama, Hierome, Avianus, L' Empereur de Dicu, as the chiefest Leaders. The Christians hardly ever saw an Hebrew Grammar before Caprio, scarce a Chalday one before Munster, or a Syriac one before Tremellius and Masius. But now they are not onelo Grammarians, but have set forth particular work themselves. And this will be demonstrated by Hutters Cube, which he set before his Bible; Jonson's, That I saw hanged up in the Library at Leyden; Lubinus his Clavis of the Greek Tongue, Mulfuretus his of the Hebrew, The Horologium of Scikkardus, the circles of Stephanus Colerus; The Harmonia linguarum of Cruciger, The Lexicon of Francus disposed by proper Names. As much may be said of Arabic, for before Raphelengius, Baptista, and Erpenius, no man set forth a Grammar of it. Now men are excellently skilled therein, as Golius Professor at Leyden, Brodardus with the Cadomenses, Schikkardus with the Tuingenses, and others. To Arts I refer Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric, Poesy. I have now explained the condition of the former. I add only this, that it was an admirable Artifice that the Irish Fathers observed in their Janua Linguarum: but that is far before it, that Johannes Comenius, my friend, hath communicated in his. For he hath not only in Sentences set down the Primitive words, but he hath so disposed them, that it seems as it were a Synopsis of Philosophy. The Ancients had notable skill in Logic, and the Scholiasts have writ many things concerning the precepts thereof very wittily, and subtilely; yet we are nothing behind them. For since the virtue of an Instrument consists in the use thereof, and Logic Rules are but as it were certain Measures of things, and such as are indivisible; there is less due to that age that was overmuch in disputes, and neglected the use, calling the Rules into question; More to that time, in which the rules are directed to their use, and the use is diligently and accurately inculcated. But Keckerman alone hath done this: His book of Logic is of so great Esteem, that in the University at Glascow, it is expounded, and it is urged in the Evangelicall Schools in Hungary, is extolled by the Socinians themselves, and is in the hands of all their Students. To pass over the testimony of Johannes Valentinus Andreas, 
In Theatre Scholastico.  his own scholar Alsted spoke truly of him. 
I say of thee Rare Keckerman,  
That of three breasts thou art a Man.  
Of Aristole, Ramus, and Melancthon.  
Melancthons' brevity, Ramus Method, one;  
That surpassed Aristotle alone.   
To these we may add the Logic of the Famous Burgersdicius, Philosopher in the University at Lions, wherein he hath corrected some errors of Keckerman. The Axioms of Hunnius and Sagittarius, the Logical Works of Alsted and Pareus; All these works are so written that they may show the right use of Logic. Rhetoric and oratory, flourished in Greece principally in Demosthenes his age; in Italy, when Tully and Sallust, lived, and some others: But now we must needs acknowledge that it flourisheth more, than it did formerly under Monks and Scholars. It is well known, what Lipsius writ truly of himself, though he did it blushing: and there is no Man ignorant of the Modern Orators, Putean, Baudius, Heiens●ius, Vernuleius, Barclay, etc. Poetry excelled in Homer amongst the Greeks, in Virgil amongst the Latlne Poets. 
L. 3. Poet. p. 1.  Virgil, saith Scaliger, brought up to the top of perfection by his choicer studies and judgement, that art that was but rude when he received it. And again, I think that he only knew what it was not to trifle: he is the only Poet amongst all the Poets, and compared single, he may stand for all. If we speak of Comedians, Plautus is admired by most. Erasmus thinks there is more exact Judgement in one Comedy of Terence, than in all Plautus his works. But in the following ages, the Art of Poetry was hid as under Cimmerian darkness, and Verses were written which, brand the Age and the Authors with a mark of Infamy.  
King Ethelberd his Epitaph is this. 
Rex Ethelbertus his clauditur in Poliandro.  
Fana pians certus, Christo meat absque Meandro.   
And this was made on Gervasius Blessensis, Abbor of Westminster. 
De Regum genere pater hic Gervasius, Ecce,  
Est & defunctus; mors rapit omne genus.   
Venerable Bede▪ had this Epitaph. 
Presbyter h●c Beda requiescit carne sepultus.  
Dona Christe animam in coelo gaudere per aevum.  
Daque illi Sophiae d' ebriari fonte, cui jam  
Suspiravit ovans intentus semper amore.   
But we in the last age had two Poets, Ronsard and Buchanan (To say nothing of Bartus who writ excellently in French, or of Torquatus Tassus in Italian, or of Spencer who writ in English, of Kochonovius in Poles Language, of Opitius who is yet alive, who writ in the Germane tongue) who might be compared to Homer and Virgil. Of the former, Pasquire speaks thus. 
Wouldst thou Virgil's verses make  
Or wanton Catullus take.  
Or delightful Petrarch show,  
Or Pindarus Modes renew.  
Ronsard Virgil's verses can  
And wanton Catullus skan.  
And pleasant Petrarch he doth  
With Pindarus grace set forth.  
He doth so well Pindar write,  
And as Petrarch doth end●te.  
Catullus, Virgil, present,  
As if he to them had lent.  
Virgil gravely he doth sing,  
Like Catullus in no thing;  
Then wanton Catullus He,  
Far from Virgil's Poetry.  
he's Virgil and Catullus,  
And Petrarch with Pindarus.  
Yet is Ronsardus alone,  
Besides him there can be none.  
If Virgil and Catullus,  
And Petrarch with Pindarus,  
And all Poets were before  
Should live again o'er and o'er,  
All could not Ronsard aquall  
Yet he alone doth them all.   
Scaliger writes thus of Bucha●an. 
Unto the highest Pinnacle was Poesy  
Come, but in thee it stands, can go no farther hence.  
Scotland the bounds of Rome's Empire was formerly,  
Scotland the bounds shall be of Rome's Eloquence.   
Yet we have now adays, some that you may reckon amongst the Laureate Poets. Amongst Comedians, Vernuleius and Frischlinus are not the least. As for Poetical Invention, the Euphormio and Argenis of Barclay, Sidneys Arcadia, Montgomeries urania, Astraea, Gurmannus de Alfarache of Alemannus, are as good as any written by the Ancients.  
To conclude, I will add something concerning the Art of Teaching, which many men have adorned, principally in Languages▪ yet Petrus Glaumius seems to excel them all, who so taught the Italian Tongue in half a years space in the University Giessena▪ that his Scholars would accurately controvert their Theses, written of any matter in that language.  
The same did so instruct his Scholars at Holla in Saxony in the doctrine of Copy-holds in two week's space, they having learned nothing but the principles of Logic before, that they composed Theses of the same matter and would defend the same miracuously, without any Helper. I was informed of this by that famous friend of mine, Master Sigismond Evens, who was as it were the Rector of the College then, and directed all that business. Also he showed me some examples of the Positions, with a Table that Glaumius had set before it. Holstenius his Scholar hath professed in a Book he newly set forth, that he ca● do as much.   

Part. VI  
Mechanic Arts, and Skill in Navigation, have increased.  
BUt, it may be, Manual arts in these latter times have suffered some eclipse. For the art of Painting was excellent amongst the Romans when their Empire was at the height. Whence Horace; 
Ep. 1. l. 2.  
Now are we come toth' top of Fotunes' wheel, we Paint,  
Wrestle, and Sing full well, as anointed Greeks more acquaint.   
Graving and Casting were of old in the greatest perfection, as may also appear by the Marmora Arundeliana at London, set up in the Garden of the illustrious Earl of Arundel, that were brought out of Italy and Greece. We saw, amongst many Inscriptions Urns and Statues, the Statue of C. Marius, VII. Consul, of Theseus, and of Hercules, when he was young: I saw also the Faces of Scipio, Ahricanus, Seneca, Socrates, Aesop, etc. carved and cast to the life. Amongst them all, the handsome proportion of the statue of Hercules, is most commended, and of a certain Feminine body; also the head of a Macedonian King, cast in brass, and it was found in a pit at Smyrna, by Petty who lived there five years for such purposes. The English carvers do as it were by rule direct their chiefest works thereunto. One of the most excellent workmen of them in the art of casting, by the judgement of all the rest, confessed he could not equal the Lineaments thereof. For that, though the the head were maimed, the Earl of Pembroke offered 300 pound, and it was refused, as D. Junius the son of Franciscus, a most courteous Gentleman reported, who showed to me these and many more rarities.  
Lastly, for Architecture, Vitruvius is chiefly commended, nor are the Pyramids, & Obeliscks of the Ancients things forgotten. Yet though these things be so: Nothing can be concluded that can any way prejudice our opinion. For the art of Painting declined afterwards, 
Epist. 119.  whence Silvius. I saw pictures of two hundred years standing, polished with no art. And again, If you look upon carved or painted works of two or three hundred years standing▪ you will perceive them not to look like men, but like monsters, and strange creatures.  
But in a few years after it grew up again, and Michael Angelus, and Raphael U●binas were excellent in Italy, Durerus in Germany, whom Erasmus so highly extols, that he thinks, that if Apelles had then lived, as he was free and friendly, he would have yielded the bucklers to Albertus, Carving and Casting, if they do not exced in our times, yet they are scarce behind the Ancients, and in this is that Axiom verified, that there is a certain circle in humane affairs. It is true that in Architecture Vitruvius is commended. But that must be understood for his Rules in Architecture. Otherwise, Politian writes of Leo Baptista Alberti a Florentin, that he so searched out the footsteps of the Ancients, that he both comprehended the ancient manner of Architecture, and made it Exemplary.  
That others have done as much may be seen by magnificent structures, which are found about Castles, Monasteries, Churches and other buildings, whereof the Itinerant and topographical descriptions of Countries are full.  
The Pyramids and Obelisks were works made only to vaunt by, and not for any profit. Yet the Obelisk set up by Sixtus V. Anno. 1586, is as good as any of them. It was 107 foot high, and 956148 pound weight. In the erecting of it from the beginning of May till the end almost of September, 900 Men, and 70 Horses were Employed, and the charge came to 37975 Crowns, as saith Dominicus Pontanus. But though there were nothing that could show that the former times in this point come short of ours; Yet some artificial Works and Inventions can show this, that not very many years since were brought upon the stage of the World. The principal whereof, are supposed to be the Art of Printing, Invention of Guns, the Mariner's Compass, and some singular Pieces. concerning the first Inventor of Printing. 
Who found out Printing?  Historians strive, yet cannot end this strife. Scriverius seems to demonstrate by many Arguments, that Laurentius Johannis, surnamed Edituus, was the inventor of it. And 'tis true that the Author of the Chronicle of Colen in their Native Tongue, set forth, Anno, 1499 saith that the first Prints were found in Holland, and that the Inhabitants of Mentzs, 
Cap. 26. de papyro in Bibliotheca de communicatione linguar. c. de Typis. in Cosmographia.  from Donatus that was Printed there in the year 1450, framed them to that form we use them now adays, But the words of Mariangelus Accursius are these Donatus was first of all Printed here. Anno, 1450: Indeed, Johannes Faust, a Citizen of Ments, who first invented this art in Copper prints, had his Instructions from Donatus printed before in Holland, in a print of Wood But Palmerius in Chronicis, Guilandinus, Vignerius, Bibliander, 
L. 2. c. 7.  Munster, contend for Guttenbergius: If this contest can be decided, we may say, that at Harlem were the first grounds of it laid; and Guttenbergius, whom Polidor Virgil makes the Author of it, did bring it to greater perfection. But Faustus was the first Man, that first used the art as we do now. Petrus Ramus had Tully's Offices in print, with this Inscription. This present most famous work of Marcus Tully was happily ended by me, John Faust, a Citizen of Ments, not with Ink and Pen, or quills or brass, but by a very gallant Art, by the labour of my servant Peter de Gerneshem. It was finished, Anno. 1466. the fourth day of February. Yet whatsoever this may be, Germany will never endure to lose the praise of it. Beroa●dus. 
O Germany that didst find,  
And art useful for mankind,  
To write in print a Man's mind.   
What is spoken of China, if it be true, yet every man must acknowledge, that all was worse, 
L. 3. de occult. nature. Miracul. c. 4.  and more rude, not so neat and well trimmed, nor adorned with so comely variety of Leters, as Lem●ius saith. I doubt not but he would have said much more, had he seen the Prints of the Dutch, Italians and others now adays. Every man may easily collect the great profit ariseth by this Invention. Polydore Virgil annexeth this to his Oration, de Bibliothec. Veterum. That was a very great blessing given to Mankind, 
De Invent. Rer. l. 2. c. 7.  but it is no way comparable to that we have obtained now, since we found out a new way of Writing. For one man will print as much in one day as Many can hardly write in a whole year. All men know that Books are now made chea●er, more common and more correct, than they were in former times. For to let go the price, I spoke of in another place, I will speak this one thing truly and boldly, (they are Erasmus words,) I suppose that Hierom's Books making, cost him less, than they do us in restoring them; And in the Preface to Augustine's Works. The rashness of idle people hath scarce dealt so ill with any other, as with the Books of this Sacred Dr.  
At length Warlike Guns were invented, 
Whether Guns were known to the Anti●nts?  An. 1380 as Magius will have it, or An. 1400 as Ramus saith, by one Bartholdus S●wartz a Monk of Colen, or as Salmuth writes, by Constantine Anklitzen of Friburg. It is collected from Platina in the Life of Vrban the fourth, that they were first used in the wars of the Venetians, against the Genoes'▪ But that seems to be an untruth, 
Nova repert. tit. 11.  which some write that the Indians, or Salmoneus, or Archimedes were the Inventors of them.  
Virgil writes of Salmoneus thus. 
I saw Salmoneus cruelly tormented  
Because he ●oves Thundering Flames invented. 
Aeneid. l. 5.   
Through Greece and Elis Sreets, in pomp he road,  
Requiring to be honoured as a God.  
In his Coach with four Horses be did fly,  
Shaking a burning Lamp to mock the Sky.  
Mad fool, to think that Clouds and Thunder can,  
Be made with Air and Horses by a Man.   
But this seems to be nothing, 
L. 3. de regim. princip. p. 3. c. 18  but to make men afraid with the noise. And either Plutarch or Livy, or Aegidius Romanus, who in the Reign of Philip the fair writ of Warlike Instruments, Anno, 1285. would have spoken something of Archimedes. Nor would Mahomet have omitted this in his siege of Constantinople, who for the managing of one Instrument to beat down the walls, was constrained to employ fifty yoke of Oxen, and 2000 men, as Chalcondyla witnesseth. Yet we cannot deny but that in the Reign of Richard the Second King of England, in the battering of the Castle at Outwitch, the French had great Cannon, whereby the walls and houses of the Castle were cloven and broken in many places. But whether those engines were such as we use now, is uncertain.  
The Mariners Compass was not known of old time, 
Whether the Ancients knew the Mariners Compass.  as Blondus, Bodinus, Cardan, Bellonius, Acosta, Turnebus, Pancirolla testify. Had it been found in Solmons days, he needed not to have consumed three years in going and coming, nor was he so wise as to know all things. 
In mercatore scena 3.  The Compass, by Plautus called Versovia, alleged by Lemnius, and called the Compass, is supposed to be the Helm that turns the Ship, or a rope that turns the Sail, 
L▪ 20. Advers. c. 4.  as Turnebus explains it. Flavius Melphitanus is thought to be the first Inventor of it, though Gilbertus saith that Paulus Venetus brought it from China; 
Gilbert. de Magnet.  and Osorius saith, the Portingalls took it from some Barbarian Pirates near the Cape of Good hope. Also that secret of the Lodastone, whereby friends may communicate their secret thoughts one to another at the greatest distance, is reported to be an Invention of our times. But because Famianus Strada hath described it at large in the style and vein of Lucretius. 
L. 2. Pr●lus. 6.  I will for the Readers benefit, set it down in his own words.  
The Loadstone is a stone in Nature strong,  
For many needles touched there with will change,  
And turn themselves to that Star full right,  
That next the Pole, above us doth give light.  
Conspiring in their motion, far asunder,  
All move one way at once, 'tis a wonder.  
For if at Rome one stir, the rest are guided,  
By the same course, ne'er so far divided.  
If then you would unto your friend indite  
Your mind, to whom you know not how to write.  
Make a plain Circle large enough, and set  
On the Circumference the Alphabet.  
Then let the needle in the middle play.  
Touched with the Loadstone, that it easily may  
Point to the Letters; and to this again,  
Prepare another for a Counterpain;  
The needle must be touched with the same  
Stone, as the former was to fit your frame.  
Your Friend that Travels must one Compass take,  
And you must keep the other for his sake.  
But on the day and hour first consent,  
Whereon you mean to show your close intent.  
This done, observe the time prefixed, and  
As one, so will the other move or stand.  
Move then your needle at that time when you,  
Would have your Friend to know the thing you do.  
And let the Needle's point mark ea●h Letter  
Softly, that he may understand the better.  
The words they make, of this you may be sure;  
Your Needle's motion will the same procure,  
In your friend's needle: use your Instrument  
Thus till you have disclosed your full Intent.  
'tis a graeat wonder for your friend to see,  
His Needle travers o'er the A. B. C.  
Guided by yours, that so wide doth lie  
Distant from his, and so to read thereby  
Each word you there make, and if then he please,  
He may so send to you again with ease.  
When you have done, and when your style stands still.  
He can by's Needle write back what he will.  
I would this writing were once brought in use,  
Then should our Letters suffer no abuse,  
they'd need no Posts, nor need they stop or stay,  
They'd safely pass, and swiftly, no delay.  
From Thiefs, nor Seas, nor Rivers need we fear;  
It were all one thing to be far or near.  
Then Princes might their own dispatches make,  
With their own hands, what ere they undertake,  
We Scribes that swim in Inkes black Sea might then,  
Offer up to the Loadstone every pen.  Thus for Srtada. 
Haseatefferus write, 
De ●utis affect. l. ●. cap. 3.  that the like may be done by blood drawn forth of the veins of two friends. As for particular Inventions, many might be instanced in, that surpass, Architas his Pigeon, Archimaedes his Globe of Glass, Homers Iliads writ in parchment and put into a Nutshell, the Ship and the Chariot of Myrmecidas; that was covered with the Wings of a little Bee, this with the wings of a Fly. Albertus M. made a Statue that spoke, he was thirty years in making it, and Thomas Aquinas broke it. Regiomontanus made an Eagle that at Norimberg met Caesar Maximilian, and hung over his head directly, and bore him company into the City. He made also a Fly of Steel, that flew out of his hands, and flew back again into his hands, when it had first flew round about all the guests, at a banquet, and in a manner saluted them all. A generous Gentleman, Johannes Christophorus de Berg, affirms that he hath an Invention, that with one turn of a Wheel, made by a boy of 16 years old, he would raise 800. weight 60 foot high. The Coach that sailed with the Wind, that Stevinus invented is well known, of which Grotius writes thus. 
Typhis first made a Ship with sails, which Jove  
Did soon translate amongst the Stars above,  
But Stevins brought it on the Earth to sail.  
Typhis and Jove's, may, Stevin's shall not fail.   
He affirms elsewhere that he could run-with it seventeen miles in two hours. I believe also that Cornelius Drebbils wonderful Sphere is not unknown, wherein he did by virtue of a perpetual Motion, represent the constant and most apparent Motions and Laws of the Heavens and the Stars, and the Predestinations of Times, and Motions in them.  
But what shall we think of that Instrument, 
Vranckheimius in Epist. ad Burggravium.  by means whereof he changeth himself into divers forms of Trees, and living Creatures, and makes an appearance as if the Earth opened, and Spirits came forth of it; 
Hegenitius Iti●. p. 73.  First, in the form of a Cloud, and then changing themselves into another shape that he commands them, be it of Alexander the great, or of some other King or Prince. I will say nothing of his Ship that swum under the Waters, and an Optic Instrument, wherewith in a Starlight night, he could read Letters a quarter of a mile from him.  
Jacobus Metius, brother to Adrian Metius invented a Perspective Glass, whereby he could take the height of any Tower or body that was distant from him three Holland Leagues, as exactly as if he stood close by it; and he could see clearly into England from his own Shore. And he discovered other things concerning the Globe of the Moon, of the Milky way, and of Stars, which Astronomers hitherto called Cloudy Stars, and of other Wand'ring Stars about Jupiter, an Invention now adays which the Ancients never knew of. Galilaeus Galileaei, hearing the fame of this Instrument, saith, he came to the Invention of such an other, by the help whereof he descried those Observations in the body of the Moon, and innumerable fixed Stars, the Milky Circle, Cloudy Stars, and the four Planets, and their periods about Jupiter. The same person mentioned before, proceeded to search out with geat care and study an Instrument of the like kind, and he hoped to find it, whereby out of our Horizon in the Opposite Hemisphere, beyond the bounder of the Hemispheres he might observe all the Stars there, as if they were apparent in that part of the world we live in. What shall we say of that Musical Instrument? that by the perpetual, movable or moving virtue of the same (as the Artificer reported) in a clear day, the Sun shining forcibly, only by the Sun beams, that musical Genius being, roused thereby, without touching the instrumental parts with your hand; would make most Heavenly Music. But who is able to recckon up all? If those things be true, that Mormius hath set forth in his Arcanis Rosianis, lately at Leyden in Holland, (but believe them that will) his example were enough to oppose against all Antiquity.  
As for the art of Navigation, 
Whether the Ancients were as well skilled in Navigation as men are N●w.  we need not prove it to be more perfect now, than formerly it was.  
I. The Ancients writ on Hercules Pillars, Non ultra. And Lucan writes thus of the first Ships. 
First the white Willow whilst the Twigs were green.  
Twisted into a Ship, and covered with a Hide,  
The bottom was on Waters to be seen,  
The Britan's over Seas in this would ride▪  
And the Venetians on the river Po.   
II. Fracostorius and Acosta confess that we read no where in Ancient Writers that men did ever sail into the Main Ocean. But the Phoenicians, Carthagenians, Tyrians and Sidonians made choice of the shore.  
III. Lastly, in the times of our Fathers, the whole world hath been compassed round by Americus, Drake, Candish; and in our times, by Oliver Van Nor, Schoutenius, Spilbergen L'Heremite, and strange Voyages into the North parts have been undertaken by the English and Dutch. Moreover the precepts of the Art of Navigation are written by Petrus Medina, and Baptista Ramusius, and the public Lectures appointed by Charles the fifth, are yet in use. But it cannot be granted to be true which Vatablus▪ 
Whether Ophir be Peru.  and Arias Montanus say, with whom Als●ed seems to agree, that Ophir, from whence Solomon fetched Gold and Elephants Teeth should be Peru, by transmutation of the Letters. For in the West Indies there are no Elephants, and when under Franciscus Pizarrus, the Countries of Attabaliba were discovered, and the Spanlards that understand not the language, described with their hands water or any thing they would have, the Indian answered, Peru, that is water. So Juca●an, which Montanus thinks had the name from Joktan, is nothing else, but, What say you? What seek you? To rehearse the Opinion of Pineda, whereby he applies the name of Tartessi to Tartesso, in Spain, is enough to answer it. For there are no veins of Gold so plentiful, unless perhaps they were carried into the New World, and brought back again in their great Galleons. Since therefore it is so, it is most certain that Arts by Time's succession have suffered no loss, but are come almost to the highest pitch; We may then say with Lactantius,  
God hath given every one wisdom in such a measure, 
L. 2. c. 8.  that they may seek out things unheard of, 
Divin. Institut.  and consider of things they hear. Nor because they did precede us in time, did they also precede us in understanding; which if it be given equally to all, it cannot be engrossed by those that went before us. It is pure as light, and the Sun beams; for as the Sun is the light of the Eyes, so is wisdom of the mind of man. Wherefore since it is natural to all men to be wise, that is, to seek after wisdom, they deprive themselves of wisdom that approve the Inventions of their Ancestors without using their own judgement and are led by others like bruit beasts. But this deceives them, that when they hear the name of Antiquity they think it not possible for them to understand more, because they are called the younger, or that they could be mistaken who are called their Ancestors.   

Part. VII.  
Vices were as great formerly, as they are now.  
HAving sailed over the Straits of the Arts, we are now come into a large Sea of Manners. Whose chief horrible waves and mighty storms drive forward those that maintain the contrary opinion. And though all things also at this day are full of vices, yet since in these last times almost the greatest part of the known World is converted to the Christian Religion, there is no reason that we should hold this to be the worst of all, being compared with the Former. Lactantius himself breaks forth into these words. 
L. 5. Institut. c. 7.  God as a most careful Parent, when the last times drew on, sent an Ambassador, that should bring back again the former age, and banished Justice; lest mankind should always be driven on with the greatest and continual Errors, wherefore the form of that golden age is returned. Yet it cannot be said that always and in all places the Honesty of men increaseth, but we must grant, that all things run in a kind of Circle; and as times, so do manners change by course. 
Tacit. in Annal.  There will be vices so long as there are Men, but these are neither continual, and amends is made by the interposition of better things. Our Ancestors, saith Seneca, complained so, and we complain as they did, and our posterity will do the like; saying, that manners are decayed, and wickedness rules, that humane affairs grow worse, and fall into all mischief; But these things stand at the same point, and they will stand, only moving a little on this or that side, as waves that are brought in further by the tide, which going back leaves more room on the shore. Now Adultery is the chief sin, and Chastity breaks the bridle; another time men are mad in rioting, and the kitchen proves the fatal ruin of Patrimonies; sometime Men take care for nothing but gay apparel, and to trim themselves fine, which shows their mind to be ugly enough, etc. Vices do not wait all in one place, but they are movable, and at odds one with another, they jar together, and are driven away one by another. But because the contrary part hath taken strong arguments from this matter, we shall handle this question something more strictly and accurately. But since some vices are committed in Religion, others in Policy, and others in the common society of men, and, to compare all these severally with all Nations, would be too tedious for us to undertake; We shall therefore make our comparison with the Romans, whom Historians and other writers report to have been the most virtuous and prudent people of all Nations. Under this branch therefore these points are contained.  

I. That the Religion of the Ancients was too sottish.  
II. That many of their Laws in Policy were wicked.  
III. That the people of the Romans were extremely cruel.  
IV. That their covetousness was incredible.  
V. That their luxuriousness in venery and drinking was none the like ever heard of.  
VI In Meats.  
VII. In Buildings.  
VIII. In costly clothes.  
IX. That the Justice of the Roman people, prudence, and valour was not any thing.  
X. It is probable that the Church shall be in greater glory than ever it was before.   

The I. Point.  
The Religion of the Ancients was too sottish.  
IT may be easily understood that the Religion of the Ancients, was vain, foolish, wicked, by their Images, the number condition and adoration of their Gods. That is first clearly demonstrated out of that place of Isaiah, 
Isay 44. vers. 8.  to say nothing of Jeremiah, and the Wisdom of Solomon. For in the framing of an Idol the folly of man proceeds even so. The carpenter stretcheth forth his Line, 
Jer. 9 3.  and mark's it out with his square, 
Sapient. 11. v. 13.  he fits the corners of it, or he describes it with his Compass; at length he makes it of the fashion of a man, and decks it in man's raiment, that it may be in the house. He heweth down Cedars, and taketh the Cypress and the Oak, which he strengtheneth for himself, among the Trees of the Forest; He planteth an Ash and the rain doth nourish it, then shall it be for a man, to be burnt, for he will take thereof and warm himself, yea he kindleth it, and baketh bread, yea, he maketh a god and worshippeth it; He maketh it a graven Image and falleth down thereto; He burneth part thereof in the fire, with part thereof he roasteth flesh, he eateth thereof and is satisfied, yea he warmeth himself and saith, ah, ah, I am warm, I have seen the fire; and the residue thereof he maketh a God, even his Graven Image; he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me for thou art my God, etc. But what madness think you is this, or to make such things that they should afterwards be afraid of, or to fear what they themselves made. If Images could feel or move, men would voluntarily adore those they made. Therefore Seneca a heathen, speaks it, though it be in a scoffing way. They worship the Idols of the Gods, they kneel down and pray to them, they adore them; and when they stand in awe of these, they despise the Workmaster that made them. The number of the gods was so numberless amongst the Heathen, that there were almost more gods than men. In Boccace they are almost without number. Crinitus hath numbered 30000 of them. 
Boccac. in geneal. Deorum.  Varro reckoneth Jupiter's only, to have been 300. For there were gods of the upper house, Tutelary gods, 
Crinitus de honest. disc. l. 3. c. 14.  Village gods, Household and Closet Gods so many, that Pliny breaks into these words. The company of gods is thought to be more than there are men, when as every man makes what gods he pleaseth, 
Plin. l. 2. c. 7.  and makes Juno's, and good angels which they adopt for themselves. Of corn only, at divers times differing in the manner of it, there were Goddesses made, called, Segetia, Tutelina, Proserpina, Nodotus, Volutina, Patilena, Hostelina, Flora, Lacturtia, Maluta, Ruricina, I do not name them all, for it troubles me for that they were not ashamed of them. The condition of their Gods, may make every man laugh. Flora, when she had been a Whore a long time, and by prostituting her body, had gained wealth, by making the Common Wealth of Rome her heir by her Testament, she gave the name to their Feasts called Floralia. juno was both sister and wife of jupiter. Fortune, Fornax, Muta, Fear, Paleness, Fevers, Priapus and Cupid, are not names of things to be adored, but of the crimes of such as adored them. But what shall I say of the crackings of the belly, of the privy gods, dunghill gods? What of the Trojans that adored a Mouse? of the Egyptians that worshipped Onions and Garlic? Mephitis was in great honour amongst the Heathens. 
Tacit. 3.  For in the plundering of Cremona, 
Hist. c. 6.  all the Temples of the gods and goddesses were rifled, but the Soldiers out of their superstition spared this only. But this was the goddess of stinks. The manner of Worshipping in many was very cruel, in others very beastly. They offered men in sacrifices to the dead, and they fed the fire with man's blood as with oil. That was a custom amongst the Trojans and Grecians, 
Aenead 11. & 2. Silic. l. 4.  as Virgil saith; amongst the Carthagenians as Silicus; amongst the French as Lucan; amongst the Moabites, and Canaanites as the Scripture writes; amongst the Romans, though when Cornelius Lentulus, and Lucinus Crassus were Consuls, they abrogated this wicked custom.  
Lastly, amongst the Jews, as we read in the books of Kings, 
2 Reg. c. 16.  it was a custom. Lactantius reports from Pescenius Festus, That the Carthagenians being overcome by Agathocles King of Sicily, 
L. 1. c. 21.  fearing left the cause was because they had intermitted to adore Saturn, they offered unto him two hundred Noble children for one Offering. Moloch's Statue amongst the Jews was in the Valley of Gehennon, or Tophet: Children that were Sacrificed were shut within the Idol, and the fire was kindled; and that they might not be heard to cry, they beat Drums, and Cymbals. Their beastliness Priapus and Berecinthia may show. The Image of the first, was stark naked.  
Of their beastly Priests, it is said thus. 
Nos pudore pulso stamus sub jove  
Coleis apertis.   
When the Sacrifice was ended they that were present fell to promiscuous venery. In brief; 
August. de civ. dei. l. 6 c. 8.  This disease, that Crime, this disgrace was professed in their adoration, that will hardly be confessed by torments in the vicious lives of men. Before the Horselitter of Berecinthia, 
August. de civ. D. l. 2. c. 4.  on a Solemn day, there were washings, and such songs were sung by the most wicked Players, that I do not say the mother of the Gods, but the mother of any Noble persons, 
L. 1. c. 21.  or any honest men, nay the mothers of the very comedians ought to be ashamed to hear.  
But the Men of Lyndus held those solemnities to be violated, if by chance at their times of performing these rites, any good word had dropped from any of their mouths. I will say nothing of their South-saying, looking into entrails and other kinds of Divinations, as also of the fooleries of the Thalmudists, and Cabalists. Cato and Cicero that were Heathens laughed at them themselves: 
Cicero de divin. l. 3.  Petrus Galatinus de Arcanis Catholicae veritatis, Buxtorfius in Synagoga Judaica, have described these. Since therefore the Sacred worship of the Ancients was so simple, 
In fragment.  cruel, and obscene; It is no wonder that Seneca writ, If a man had leisure to see what they do and suffer superstitiously, he shall find them so unseemly for honest persons, so unworthy of free Men, so unfit for discreet men, that no man would doubt but they were mad, if they were mad in fewer numbers, but now they are so many that they are defended by their numbers from being thought to be mad. He that would read more of their gods, let him read Gyraldus in Syntagmate, Dempster in Antiquitat. Roman. and Selden de Diis Syris.   

Part. II.  
There were many wicked laws among the Ancients.  
AS we have showed the Religion of the Ancients to be daubed with many vices: so, since a Law is a sacred Decree, commanding things honest, and forbidding the contrary, It will be very easy to show the same things concerning their Laws. And because Solon and Lycurgus are said to have founded most famous Commonwealths; And Plato and Aristotle to have written the best platforms of them, if we can convince them of wickedness and injustice, I think I shall give satisfaction in this point.  
In Solon's Commonwealth, two things are chiefly observed.  
First, Wherefore, for ease of the poor, he abolished all former contracts for debts?  
Secondly, By what Law he would make them infamous, that, when there was sedition in the Commonwealth, held with neither side.  
The first was unjust, because he did not enjoin his friends to restore the great sums of money they had taken up before, upon trust, being forewarned by him what design he had in hand; and without Examining the reasons of particular debts, he at once abolished them all. The other was so, because it takes away the means of repressing sedition in the Commonwealth. For it must needs be that reconciliation be made by those that are mediators between them both. Lycurgus' directed all his Laws to Valour, and to erect a Warlike Government. He published that it was lawful for Men to rob for victuals, and he would not have them punished though they were taken in the act. He decreed that Boys and Girls should wrestle naked, in public; and that it should be lawful for old men's young wives, to make choice of what young man they pleased, and to lie with them for to have children by them; and as peace is not ordained for war, but the contrary way; so the Commonwealth should be instructed for Peace, rather than for War. They that in their childhood are addicted to ill things, in their youth, having gained a custom, they will forbear none how great soever. That Law that draws men on to deceive in some things, doth invite men to deceive in all, and as oft as we can: Nor can robberies be better put in practice than under the protection of a Law, that doth not punish a Man for thieving, but for not doing it with dexterity. Lastly, to prompt men to Lust, and to permit Adulteries, what an impiety this is? Plato hath deserved the same reward that Lycurgus did, by the Law he made for breeding up young men and Maids in Schools. And by that law he made, To have all things common, He decreed that form of Government that was contrary to nature. If marriages were taken away, and men might indifferently use what women they pleased, all natural love between parents and children would be lost; and upon quarrels, very brothers would murder one the other; and those things should be honest and lawful, that are wont to be adjudged heinous & filthy. The propriety of things contains matter both of virtues and vices, but the community of them contains nothing but a liberty of vices.  
Aristotle seems the most absurd of them all.  
For I. He bade to cast forth deformed chilrens; But Nature cannot desire the production of any thing, and not love that it produceth. Can any man expect that they should spare the blood of other men, 
Lactan. l. ●. c. 23.  that do not spare their own? They cannot be thought innocent who cast their own bowels to the Dogs for a prey, and as much as lies in them, they kill them more cruelly than if they had strangled them.  
II. He enjoined Abortion. But, for that, at Malta a woman was condemned to die. For she was thought to have taken away a Citizen designed for the Commonwealth. Lastly, he commanded those pictures of the Gods to be kept, in which custom allowed lasciviousness, otherwise they were to be rejected. But men sin more by imitation of the Gods. Lucian confesseth plainly, that when he heard of the rapes and adulteries of the Gods, he fell in love with the same. And Cherea in Terence saith, that when he saw the Picture of Jupiter descending into the Lap of Danae, in a Golden Shower, he was provoked thereby to do the like. But what God? saith he, He that shakes the Heavens with a Noise, and should not I a contemptible man do the like? Yea, I did that, and willingly; For men mark more what Jupiter did, than what Plato taught, or Cato decreed. To this purpose are the Saxon Laws, that are altogether as absurd. For in doubtful causes, when there wanted manifest proofs to confirm the truth, sometimes they used Duels, sometimes to make men touch burning iron, or scalding water, sometimes they cast them into the bottom of a deep river, or Keel-Haled them. They that were killed in duels were guilty; the conqueror was disgraced, if he did not kill him that was worsted: they that escaped in the other punishments were acquitted; they that were carried to the bottom, were held to be innocent, they that swum on the top were guilty, as if the water rejected them.   

Part. III.  
The cruelty of the Roman people was extreme.  
BUt let us proceed to the wickedness of the Romans, and let us observe whether they did not equal, or exceed the wickednesses of our times, or of those that went but little before us. But whether this or that do appear to be manifest, it will be false to conjecture from thence, that there is a general decay of manners.  
First, therefore I shall speak of their cruelty, which I shall show by the Jews, Christians, and other Nations, and from the Romans themselves, amongst themselves, as being invincible Arguments. 
Lipsuis de Constant.  They killed of the Jews in the siege of one only City, Jerusalem 1000000. and they took captives 97000. In the time of Trajan innumerable companies of them were slain, saith Eusebius, julius Severus, being sent by Adrian the Emperor into Judaea, did almost depopulate the whole Country. For he beat down fifty most strong Castles, burned nine hundred eighty five Cities & Towns, and slew 50000 Jews. As for the Christians, it was their name only that was condemned, and not any fault they committed. Whence at Lions there was a Table carried before Attalus, The Martyr, This is Attalus the Christian. In Asia they cried out against Polycarpus; Polycarpus hath confessed himself to be a Christian: 
De civet. Dei. l. 18. c. 52.  And so great were the Persecutions, that Augustine compares them to the plagues of Egypt. Under Nero, they were burnt for lights in the night. Lactantius writes of Dioclesian; No man can write the cruelty of this Savage Beast, 
Tacit in Annal. l. 5. c. 11.  so much as it deserves, which lying but in one place, yet did rage with Iron teeth, all the world over; and did not only dissipate the limbs of men, but broke their bones, and was mad against their ashes, that there might be no place for their burial. Hierom saith, 
In Epist. ad Chrom. & Heliod.  that there was no day wherein there were not 5000 men slain, thirty Roman Bishops were put to death from Peter to Sylvester, who died Martyrs. And to speak all, I will, in three words, The whole world almost was polluted with the Sacred blood of the Martyrs, 
Sulpit. l. 2. Sacra. Histor.  and it was never spilt more in any wars. And if we should reckon up the kinds of torments we might boldly use these verses in Virgil. 
Had I a hundred Tongues, 
Aeneid. l. 6.  and mouths likewise,  
A voice of Iron, I could never comprise  
Their forms of pains, or names of Torments show.   
They were burnt in Furnaces, they were cast into hot Oil, they had their eyes pulled out, their tongues cut out, they were cast to Beasts, they were wrapped in husks and given to the Hogs, they were roasted at an easy Fire, and they were basted with Salt, and Vinegar, they were cast headlong from Rocks, they were torn by Trees bound down, and presently let lose, etc.  
To touch upon other Nations. 
Lips. l. 2. de const. c. 22.  Only the second Carthaginian war.  
In Italy Spain and Sicily alone, it consumed above 1500000 in less than seventeen years. And what speak I of wars that were either waged or led on with the good success of Many? Only one Caius Caesar (Oh plague and ruin of mankind's) confesseth, and boasts of it, that he had slain in Battles, 1192000 men. To him we may join Q. Fabius, who slew 1000000 French men; and C. Marius who destroyed 200000 Danes; and in this latter Age Aetius who in that notable sight in Catalaunia, slew 160000 Hungarians. What shall I now say of Octavianus Augustus, who at Perusia, sacrificed on Julius his Altar 300 Citizens? What of Caracalla, who at once almost destroyed all Alexandria a most populous City? What of Volesus Messala, who when he had beheaded 300 in one day, 
Seneca l. 2. de Ira. c. 5.  he passed amongst the dead bodies, looking proudly, as if he had done some brave action to be noted, he spoke aloud in Greek, O Kingly action? You shall find in Lipsius, 
Admire. l. 4. c. 6.  the cruel fact of Sulpitius Galba. By a most damned treachery, he destroyed almost all Portugal in a certain Valley, by sending out his Soldiers three ways. Nor were the bruit beasts free from the cruelty of the Romans. For Polybius writes; It is frequently seen, that when the Romans take Cities, they do not only kill men, but dogs also, and mangle other creatures.  
I will show the cruelty they used against themselves, only in their Civil Wars, the Reigns of their Emperors, and in their playings at sharps on the Stage. For should I mention what is sufficient, my Enchiridion would become a tedious Volume. For Seneca writes, 
De iral. 2. c. 8.  That wickedness was grown so common, and was so prevalent in every man's breast, that innocence was not to be thought, to be rare but not to be all. And Tacitus speaks of those times only. We read that when Petus Thrasca was commended by Arulenus Rusticus, and Priscus Helvidius by Herennius Senecio, that it was a capital crime, and rage was not only exercised upon the Authors, but also upon their books, the Office being committed to the Triumvirs, that the Monuments of the most famous wits should be burnt in public Assemblies and Market place. For by that fire they hoped to abolish the voice of the Roman people, the Liberty of the Senate, and the conscience of Man kind; In the mean time, they expelled all learned Professors, and banished every laudable art, that nothing that was honest might remain. We showed indeed a great proof of our patience: And, as the old Commonwealth saw what was the height of Liberty; So we see what is the extremity of slavery, the very liberty of speaking and hearing, being taken from us by their Inquisitions, that we had lost our very Memories with our Voice, if we had as much power to forget, as we have to hold our peace. 
Valer. l. 9 c. 2.  What concerns Civil Wars, Sylla most cruelly made the whole City, and all the parts of Italy to overflow with rivers of men's blood in Civil-wars. He recorded in the public Tables, four thousand 700 that had their throats cut by an Edict of a cruel Proscription, that the Memory of so famous a business might not be forgotten. He would have the heads of miserable men that were cut off, brought before him, whilst their countenance was yet fresh with spirits, that he might feed on them with his eyes because he might not eat them without great wickedness. He would not kill M. Marius the Praetor, (who was drawn to the Sepulchre of the Family of Lutatia by the cry of the Common people) before he had miserably plucked out his eyes, and broken all the parts of his body. Also he presently butchered M. Plaetorius, because he swooned at the punishment of Marius; A new Tormenter of Mercy, for with him it was held wickedness, to be unwilling to behold wickedness. Moreover he commanded four Legions of the contrary part, that kept their trust, to be slain in a public place that was in Campus Martius, and they did not at all ask for mercy from his deceitful hand. Those whose lamentable cries were heard in the City, their bodies were cut with the sword and cast into Tiber, which was overburdened with the multitudes of them, and the waters ran like blood. And when the Senate was amazed at that cry; He added, Senators, let us do this? A few seditious fellows are punished by command. This man was formerly a great Officer under C. Marius, though afterwards he proved to be his enemy, and caused Marius his ashes to be dug up, and scattered into the River Anio. The Triumvirs did not leave to follow his example, for they exposed to the like Proscription 300 Senators & 2000 Gentlemen. It is no wonder therefore that Saint Augustine writes. That in that War between Marius & Sylla, 
De C. D l. 3 c. 27.  besides those that fell in Asia abroad, that in the very City the Streets, Market places, Theatres, Temples were full of dead bodies; that it was hard to say, when the Conquerors killed most, either before to get the victory, or afterwards, because they had obtained it. And Lipsius useth these words: Oh the Wickedness! Than which the Sun nor did, 
De Const. l. 2. c. 24.  nor can can see any greater from East to West; Let me perish, if you will not say that manity itself was perished in that cruel and savage Age. It shall suffice for the Emperors to mention Caligula only. For all the common shores of cruelty seem to have met in this Man. 
Sucton. in Calig.  He condemned many of good rank, first being deformed and stigmatised, to the Mines, or to the keeping of High Ways, or to wild beasts, or else he shut them up like four footed beasts in dens, or caused them to be sawn in sunder. Nor were all used thus for great offences, but such as thought amiss of his Government, or because they had never sworn by his Genius; He compelled Parents to be present at the punishment of their Children, and one of them excusing himself, because he was sick, he sent him a Horsel●tter. Another, so soon as he had seen the execution, he presently set to a banquet, and used all ways possible, to provoke him to rejoice and be merry. He would not kill him that had the charge of his business, and hunting sports, till for some days together, he made him be beaten in his sight, as he was bound in chains, and that his brains being corrupted offended him with the stink of them. When he would have a Senator to be to●n in pieces, he suborned some that should run upon him suddenly, when he came into the Court, and call him Traitor, and should wound him with pen knives, and deliver him over to others to rend him ●n pieces; and he would never be satisfied till he saw his limbs and bowels and joints drawn through the streets, and then piled up upon heaps. He seldom suffered any man to be punished, but with frequent and small wounds, giving always this common precept, That he should be so wounded that he might feel his death. Being offended with the people that favoured not his actions, he cried out; Oh that all the Roman people had but one neck! Oft times when he eat or drank, he would cause men to be tormented before him, to make them confess. A Soldier that was the Headsman, cut off all men's heads that he pleased, that were imprisoned. At Puteoli, when the bridge was consecrated, after he had called many men to him from the shore, he suddenly caused them all to be cast down headlong. At a great Banquet he suddenly fell into a great laughter, the Consuls that sat near him, did ask him pleasantly what he laughed at; At what else, saith be, but that I can with one Nod cause you both to be strangled. As often as he kissed his Wives or concubines neck, he added. So fair a neck shall be taken off, if I say the word; And he also boasted withal, That he would search out by wracking from his Caesonia, wherefore he loved her so much. Wherefore Seneca speaks rightly of him, I knew long since, that under him Humane affairs would come to that condition, 
Praefat. ad 4. Natur. quaest.  that to be killed would be an act of mercy. 
L. 1. c. 26.   
Concerning C. Piso: see the same Author, de Ira. Sword plays on the Theatre, were ordained to purge the spirits of great men, in which sports men fought naked, nor was their fight so delightful, as the various wounds they made. This kind of celebration passed afterwards from the honouring of dead men, to honour living men with; and at length, they used these sacrifices in memory of private men, that left Legacies for that end. At last they ascended to multitudes. For Caesar when he was Aedilis, showed 320 Duels. Gordianus sometimes 500 Trajan, in space of 123 days without Intermission, had 2000 Nero caused 400 Senators, and 600 Roman Gentlemen, to fight it out with the sword. Commodus himself was amongst these Sword players. But at first only Slaves were put to it. 
Serm. Saturn 1. 12.  Yet that is most true that Lipsius writes. That matter began not unfitly, from funerals, which indeed was the funeral, and plague of the whole World. I believe, nay I know, that no War ever brought so great misery and desolation to mankind, as these plays for pleasure did: think with yourselves, of the number of the days, and the men I spoke of: I am a Liar, if one Month did not cost Europe 2000 or 3000 men's lives. 
Orat. pro Sextio.  Yet Cicero testifies, that that kind of show was made and celebrated with great multitudes, and all sorts of men, and in that spectacle the multitude deligh●d most, They were often angry with the Fencers unless one of the two were suddenly slain, 
Lactant. l. 6. c. 20.  and as if they thirsted after man's blood, they hated delays. This must not be understood only of the people, but this cruelty was observed even in their Vestal Nuns.  
, Decisions, and by the great troubles they put them to, that were admitted by them. In the Mines of Gold at Ictimulum, there were 50000 to dig; 
L. 2. N. H. c. 63. L. 33. c. 4.  and in those that were by new Carthage in Spa●n there were 40000. How they were used, Pliny describes at large. Moreover it is known what Verres did in Sicily, what C. Graccus coming Victor from Sardinia, said. Sylla out of the lesser Asia every year had 20000 Talents; Brutus, and Cassius within two years exacted the Tribute for ten years, and Antonius did extort it in one year's time. The sum amounts to 200000 Talents, Pleminius that was Scipio his Tribunus plundered the treasuryes of Proserpina, that were untouched in any age before. 
Sueton. in Galba. c. 12  Sulpitius Galba, when he had melted a Crown of Gold, taken out of the old Temple of Jupiter, and was given to him by the Tarraconenses, whose weight was fifteen pounds, because there wanted three ounces in the weight, he compelled them to make it good. Julius Caesar when he was first made Consul, robbed the Capital of 3000 pounds' weight of Gold, and he laid up so much guilded brass in the Treasury. He took from Ptolemy alone, 
Sueton. in Julio c. 54.  in his own name, and Pompey's, 6000 Talents. Nor did Tiberius want this vice; 
Sueton. in Tiberio c. 49.  For it is clear enough that C. Lentulus the Augur, who was very rich, for fear and grief was made weary of his life by him, and that he must make no heir when he died, but him: But, what was the basest act, he compelled one by threats that when he was sick he should name him for his Heir, 
Fulgosus.  and when he recovered afterwards he killed him with poison.  
Lastly, he went sometimes by heaps of Gold and Silver, and sometimes he would tumble naked in them. But it may be objected that it is no wonder that Monsters had such vices. 'Tis true, Yet Vespasian who was counted a good Emperor, was sick of the same disease. For he openly did exercise negotiations that a priutae man would be ashamed of; by buying only somethings, that he might sell them afterwards for more. Also it is believed that he was wont of purpose to promote the most greedy Officers, that when they were grown rich he might condemn them; and he was said commonly to use those for Sponges, that when they were dry he might wet them, and when they were well wet, he might crush them out. I will Speak nothing of his Custom upon urine, which when his son Titus accused him for it as disgraceful, he put to his nose a piece of silver collected from thence, and asked whether it stank of Piss at all: and he added moreover. That the smell of gain, was good from any thing. But it should seem that they were all subject to that vice. 
Sueton in Vespas. c. 16.  For when the Aricini and the Ardeates, had yielded to make the Romans umpires in a controversy concerning Land, they decreed the fields to be their own. Also they receiving moneys from some Cities to enjoy their Liberties, they gave them not their moneys back again, yet they exacted tribute from them Cicero thought that so foul a fault in Government, that he saith, It were better to trust Pirates than the Senate. Wherefore Salvian seems to speak trne. The unhumanenesse of Covetousness was the proper vice of the Romans: and well may that of Claudian to Ruffinus be applied to them. 
A cruel man whose mind doth burn for Gain, 
L. 7. de Providentia.   
Nor all the Golden sands of Tagus can suffice,  
Pactolus' wealth, and Hemus in his eyes  
Are small; this drunk, he thirsts with greater pain.    

Part. V.  
Infinite was the Luxury of the Romans for Venery and Drinking.  
I Pass from their covetousness to their Incontinence, which I suppose I shall show sufficiently in their Venery, Drinking, Eating, Buildings, and Apparel. That manifold and horrid Venery they used, I will not speak of, that I may not offend chaste ears. Saint Paul hath plainly noted that in his Epistle to the Romans. Their Feasts alone called Floralia, may well show that, wherein Whores Prostitutes under some ceremonies and Rites, ran naked through the streets, using obscene words and gestures, and exposed themselves for all men to look upon them.  
Ovid speaks thus, 
Young Maids and Men and boys are they that do  
Gaze on them, and great part of th' Senate too.  
'tis not enough to hear them speak what's naught,  
But we must see what's worse, as we are taught.   
Their drunkenness is evidently detected by their long continued drinking, their great draughts, the multitudes of Bibbers, and the love of them, and also by the measure of their Cups.  
For continued drinking, they imitated the Laws of the Greeks in drinking: whereof one was, to drink till the Morning star rose. Another, to drink so many healths as the maids Names had Letters in it, hence Martial. 
Let Navia six, Justina seven bc,  
Lycus five, Lyda four, and Ida three.   
The greatness of their draughts. Nivellius Torquatus, before Tiberius drank three Gallons at one draught, and thence he deserved to be called, Three Gallons. M. Cicero the younger, drank two Gallons at one tug. 
Philip 1.  M. Antonius writ of his own drunkenness, and Cicero writ of him. Thou with those ●awes, those sides, that strong Fencer-like force of thy body, drankst so much wine at the Marriage of Hippia, that thou wert forced in the sight of the Roman people to vomit the next day. 
Serm. 2.  What shall I say of Cleopatra who at one draught drankup 3124 crowns? What of Clodius the son of Aesop the Tragedian? Horace speaks thus of him. 
The son of Aesop from Metella's ear  
Took out a Pearl that she was wont to wear,  
Was worth ten Solids, and the same he drinks  
Dissolveed in Vinegar, what ere he thinks.  
To cast it down the River were less fault,  
Or to have thrown it in a stinking vault.   
Also Firmus drank two Buckets full of wine. Adrian the Emperor speaks thus of B●nosus: He was not born to live, but to drink, and it was a common jeer upon him when he was hanged, That a great vessel hangeth there, and not a man. Maximinus as Capitolinus writes, drank often in one day, a vessel of wine of the Capitol measure, which contained eight Gallons. Phagon drank more than an Orca, that is, a vessel for wine greater than the Amphora was.  
Lastly there is an Epitaph made of one thus. 
Drunken Offellius Buraetius is this; 
Camer. cent. 1. c. 34   
Who ever whilst he lived did either drink or piss.   
As for the number of drunkards, and their love; It is well known that Tiberius gave to Piso the Praetorship, for drinking three nights continually together: and to Pomponius Flaccus the Province of Syria, and in his Letters he called them the most pleasant friends he had for all times. He also did prefer a man that was unknown and sought for the Quaestors Office, before the most Noble Men, for pledging at a Banquet, an Ample hora of wine, that he drank to him. And at that time when the Lex Fannia was published, the matter was come so far, that many of the people of Rome would come drunk into the Senate house and so consult of the affairs of the Commonwealth. Also Seneca writes thus of women. They do not watch less, 
Natural quaest. 4. c. 13.  they do not drink less, and with oil and wine they entice men, and they cast it up again by their mouths, what they have taken in their entrails, refusing it; and by Vomit they measure the wine they drank, and they eat snow as well as men do, to cool their hot stomaches. As for their Utensils, they used not only great Cups, but, as Ammianus saith, very heavy handles, and they were adorned with most precious Emblems. two Cups of this kind made by Mentor a●are workmen, cost 100000 Sesterii. Also there were some made of perfect Jewels. 
L. 22. Plin. l. 33.  Hence Pacatus in Latin, unless that Riot had ●banged the year, unless that winter Roses swum upon the cups, unless Muscadels had Broken the Summer Ice in their capacious Jewels. And Cicero, 
● in Verrem. De benef. l. c. 9  Also there was a wine vessel made of one Jewel made hollow like a great Mazer with a handle of gold. Also Seneca, I saw their Crystal vessels, whose brittleness increased their price; For the pleasure of all things, amongst ignorant people proceeds from that danger should make a man avoid them. I have seen Murrine cups: for Luxury were small, 
L. 37. c. 2.  should not men vomit, and drink to one the other in capacious Jewels. Lastly, Pliny, The Luxury of that matter increaseth daily: a Murrine stone that cost 80 Sestertii, was made a cup holding about three Sextary. C. Petronius is said to have broken one of this kind that cost 300000 Sestertii, that he might difinherit Nero's Table. A Matron not very rich is reported to have bought another for 150000 Sestertii. What if I should say more?  
Juvenal writes.  
He drinks in a Priapus made of glass. And Pliny.  
They delight to engrave their lust upon their cups, and to drink by obscene ways.   

Point. VI  
The Gluttony of the Romans in meats was extraordinary.  
I Show the Roman Luxury in their meats, by four Arguments chiefly, drawn from their Vessels, Servants, Meats, and the quantities they eat. Their vessels were of two sorts, their Tables and their Dishes. They had Silver Tables, & some of Gold, & yellow ones that were made of Earth dug out Africa. 
Plin. l. 13. c. 15.  Tully had one cost 10000 Sestertii Asinius Gallus had one cost 11000. Also that wood was thought worth a Senators Estate, 
Sutton.  which was 12000 Sestertii; the dearer, 
Octau. 42.  the more knots it had by the unhappynesse of the Tree. 
Seneca deal benefic. l. 7. c. 9  And Seneca had 300 such, as Dion reports. The feet they stood upon, were of Ivory; and that was held so necessary as Juvenal writes. 
A Turbet or a Do, is nothing worth,  
And Oils and Roses stink that are set forth.  
Unless the Table stand on Ivory feet,  
And a tall Libard Yawning make them sweet.   
To pass to their dishes, 
Plin. l. 33. c. 11.  Drusillanus Rotundus had one, (he was Free Man of Claudius the Emperor, it was of Silver, and weighed 500 pound weight, he had 8 more that weighed fifteen pound weight. Whilst Vitellius was Emperor, he had one, that according to Budaeus account, cost ten times H. S. and Hottoman saith, 200 Sestertii. It was so great that Vitellius called it Minerva's Buckler. Mucianus called Vitellius, The More of Dishes. As for the multitude of their servants, 
Epist. 93.  Seneca cries out, Good God, how many men doth one belly employ! For there were whole troops of unhappy boys, that after their banquets were ended, were for other disgraceful uses in their chambers. There were whole herds of those that were out of use, described by their Nations and Colours; so that they might be all of the same age, and the first down of their chins alike, the same kind of hair of their heads, that none that had smooth hair, should be set amongst curled locks: and that I may speak fully to the point, they did carefully ordain silver, 
Seneca de vitae brevitat. c. 12.  and they diligently girded the Coats of their exolete boys, that they should be very careful, to see how the Boar died when the cook killed him, how nimbly the smooth faced boys, when the sign was given, ran after their business, with what Art the Sheep were cut into small pieces, how curiously the unhappy boys did wipe away the spittle off those that were drunk. But that which is most wicked; Tiberius Caesar promised to sup with Sestius Gallus, a (voluptuous old man, full of Lechery and prodigality, whom Augustus formerly had marked with ignominy, and not many days before, Tiberius had checked him before the Senate's upon condition that he should not change or abate any thing of his common custom, And that they might have naked wenches to attend upon them at supper. 
Sueton. in Tiber. c. 42.  To this, belongs their Multitude of Cooks, who first of all were hired at the rate of a Horse, but at length they grew to that height, that hardly any Mortal man was of more value, 
Seneca ad Helvid. c. 10.  than he that best knew how to drowned his I. s. Estate. But Apicius was the most famous of all those who professed to know Kitchen affairs, Who when he had spent a thousand Sestertii in his Kitchen, & had wasted so many Prince's donations, and a vast tribute of the Capitol, at several banquets, when he was deep in debt, and oppressed by his crediditours, than he was first forced to look into his estate. And he found he should have, when he had paid his debts, a hundred thousand Sestertii remaining for himself, and fearing that he must suffer great hunger if he should live with a hundred thousand Sestertii, he poisoned himself and died.  
As for their meats they had variety, and very costly. For our world would be two narrow for their Throats. For they valued their dainty meats not by the taste, but by the cost. They were content with no meats but those were brought from the farthest East, 
Petat in pa●eg.  or from Colchis, that was out of the bounds of the Roman Empire, or came from those Seas that were noted for Shipwrecks; and the greater price was, the more they were pleased with them. The common number of their Messes of meat was seven. 
Lampridius  But Heliogabalus, made such a Feast, that had 22 Courses of huge dainties. Also it is reported that at a supper of his Brother Vitellius, made to entertain him, there were 2000 of the choicest fishes, and 7000 birds set upon the Table. And he also exceeded this at the dedication of his great Dish. 
Sueton. in vitel. c. 12.  For in this, there were the Livers of Giltheads, the brains of Pheasants and Peacocks, the tongues of crimson winged birds, the small guts of Lampreys, brought as far as from Carpasium and the Spanish Seas, by Mariners and Galleys, and these he mingled together. I might add to these one Clodius the son of Aesop the Tragedian, a young man was mightily Luxurious; 
Valer. l. 9 c. 1.  For it is certain, that he bought at vast rates, the best singing birds, and served them up at supper for Gnatsappers: and he was wont to dissolve pearls of great value in vinegar, and drink them, desiring by this means, as fast as he could, to cast away a large patrimony as a sore burden. What shall I say now of Caligula, who in riotous expenses exceeded the wits of all the prodigal persons that were, inventing most hideous kinds of meats and suppers, for he would sup up the dearest pearls dissolved in vinegar, and would set bread and meats of gold before his Guests, saying, that a man ought to be either very thrifty, or an Emperor. What shall I write of Asinius Celer, who bought one Barbel for 6000 Sestertii? of Lucullus, who at one sudden supper, that he entertained Tully and Pompey at, who thrust themselves in to see what feasts he made, expended 50000 Drachmas, that is 5000 Crowns as Budeus makes the reckoning? Lastly, 
Seneca Epist. 95.  what shall I say of Octavius who bought a very great Barbel for 5000 H. S. (wherefore should I not set down the weight of it, 
Macrob. Saturn. l. 3. c. 26.  and provoke the gluttonous throats of others? They say it was four pound weight and a half.) And by a new example, he bred Guiltheads in the sea, like corn upon the ground. In a word. These things are incredible if we compare them with our age. Yet the Roman Luxury was most wanton about Fishes and birds. For as for them, to say nothing of that of Juvenal.  
Whether that Oysters were near Sandwich bred.  
In Campania, or Apulia fed,  
They knew by tasting once, and more,  
They'd tell by sight which was Echinus shore.  
I will speak nothing also of that in Ammianus Marcellius. 
Lib. 28.  At their banquets they often called for scales to weigh the Fish and Birds were brought to the table, and Dormice, who were sometimes very great, which was tedious to those that were present, and formerly not used; but now it is continually commended, especially when as there were near thirty Scrivener's with their boxes and writing tables that assisted them. A Barbel seemed not fresh enough, unless he died in the hands of one of the guests. Wherefore the fishes swum in the Chamber, and were ca●e●ed under the Table, and are presently set upon the Table. An Elops in the banquets of Severus, 
Seneca Nature. qu●st. l. 3. c. 17.  was brought in by Servitors with Crowns on their heads, and a Trumpeter with them, as if it had not been a feast for delight but some triumph of the Gods. 
Macrob. Satur. 3. 16.  Also so great was their curiosity about their Fishponds, that it is hard to set it forth. In their Fishponds they had some Fish would come when Caesar was but named. Hi●tius sold his Manor house, that had many fishponds for 40000 S●stertia. 
Varro de re rustica c. 17.  Cato the Tuto. of Lucullus sold the fish came out of his Fish ponds, for as many. And if that price of the Fish ponds Columella mentions, 
Lib. 8. c. 16.  be to be granted, it was for 400000. though they were something less curious about birds; 
G●ll. l. 13. c. 8.  yet they were riotous enough. In the time of Favourinus the Governor. Victualling houses and Luxury, held no supper to be costly, but where men eat freely; then that should be taken off, and better and more costly meat should be set on. Then that was accounted to be the principal part of the supper, amongst them, that made cost and loathing of meats to serve for sports. Who denied that men ought to eat any bird except Gnatsappe●s: as for other birds, and crambd fowls, they thought the banquet fordid and deficient, unless so much was set upon the Table that they might fill their bellies with the haunches of them on the lower parts; but those that eat the upper part of birds or crambd fouls, they thought they had no palate. They were most delighted with Crimson coloured birds called Phaenicopteri, Peacocks, Thrushes and Pigeons. Hence it was that they said whole companies of these, and they set a vast price upon them. 
L. 3. c. 6.  For Peacocks, as Varro reports, Aufidius made above 60000 pieces of Money in a year. 5000 Thrushes were sold at three denarii, and that part of his far●m yielded 60000. As for Pigeons, each pa●● of them in Varroes' days was wont to be sold for a thousand sestertii, and in Columell● his days there were some that sold two birds for 4000 pieces of Money. 
L. 3. c. 8.  As for the quantities they did eat, Maximinus sometimes eat forty pounds of flesh in a day: 
Capitolinus  Cordus saith, sixty pounds. Claudius' Albinus. eat so much as it is incredible. For he eat 500 dried Figs, which the Greeks call Callistruthi●; & 100 Peaches of Campania, and ten Melons of Os●ia, and 20 pounds of Grapes of Le●ce, and a 100 Gnatsappers, and forty Oysters. Lastly, 
Vop●sc●● in Aureli. no.  Phago, of whom I spoke before, eat at one dinner, a whole Boar, a hundred loases, a Weather and little a Hog. I will say no more. Though I might speak of their bread and their sauces, but I should be too tedious. For a conclusion, it may be observed that this force of Luxury grew strong as the Empire did. For in the time of the second Panic war, Cato complained, that a City could not stand, in which a fish was sold for more than Bes: 
Sueton in Tiber. c. 34.  and Tiberius complained that in his days three Barbels, were sold for 3000 pieces of money.   

Point. VII.  
The Luxury of the Romans in their Buildings was extreme.  
THeir riotousness in their buildings is seen partly in their public, & partly in their private houses. Amongst the Transient public houses, that offer themselves, in the first place, the excess whereof would astonish us, are the Theatre of Marcus Scaurus, and the bridge of Caligula. That was a temparary work, and the use thereof was to be, scarce f●r one month, yet it had three Floors, 
Plin. l. 36. c. 15.  in which there were 360 Marble pillars. The Lowest part of the Theatre was all of Marble, the middle was of glass, and the uppermost was guilded: The inferior pillars were forty foot long, and between them there were 3000 brazen Statues. The whole theatre was so capacious, that it would contain 80000 Men. Caligula built a Bridge, 
Sueton. in in Caligula c. 19  all the space through between the hot Baths, and the City Puteoli almost 3600 paces, procuring from all places, Merchants Ships, and fastening them with Anchors in a double row, and casting earth upon them, and making the form of it like to Via Appia. He went upon this Bridge forward and backward, for two days together. The first day he rid upon a Horse with trappings, and Crowned with a Crown of Oak, and with an Axe, and a Target, and a sword, and with a horsemans' coat, very richly made. The next day following, he road in the habit of a Coachman, in a Coach with two gallant Horses, representing Darius, a Boy one of the hostages of the Parthians, the Praetorian Troop, accompanying him, and in Chariots were some bands of his friends. Wherefore that work seems to have been made for that end, that it might be destroyed.  
Caracalla also, wheresoever he did or purposed to stay in Winter, caused Amphitheatres, and playhowses to be builded, and suddenly they were to be demolished: amongst those that lasted, it shall suffice me to make mention only of the Theatre of Titus. 
Ammian.  A man could hardly see to the top of it, and a whole river of wealth was spent in the building of it, wherefore Martial writes. 
Caesar's Amphitheatre hath the Name.  
Let all give place, this doth deserve the fame.   
And though such stately structures consumed infinite wealth, yet if we regard the furniture, and such things as were employed besides, we shall find that the cost they were at, would have served for great Cities. And that the Magistrate did prodigally waste in Theatres, Plays, Wrestlers, Fencers, and such kinds of men all their patrimony, that they might win the people's liking for an hour's time. In a word; The workmanship was more than the matter. Nero, to show his wealth to Thiridates King of Armenia, covered all the Theatre with gold. & the very hangings that hung up, were of purple, and bossed with golden Stars, whence that was called a Golden day, and Lucretius all udes unto it.  
Yellow and Golden Hangings commonly,  
And murry coloured in the Theatres  
Hung, twinkling like to stars within the sky.  
Also Caligula when he set forth some principal Sports, 
Sueton. in Calig. c. 18 Vopiscus. in Probo.  He commanded that the floor round about, should be made with Minium and Chrysocolla; Probus commanded to let loose at once 1000 Ostriches, 1000 Stags, as many Bears, 1000 Dogs, with wild Goats and many other beasts, and at these sports he gave them to the people by way of Magnificence▪ and it was free for every one to kill as many as he could: And to add to this; The next day he caused to be showed openly a 100 he Lions, a 100 Leopards of Africa, as Many of Syria, a 100 she Lions, and 300 Bears. And Titus, who though he were called the delights of mankind, did the like. 
All kinds of beasts, 
Martial.  that on the Mountains be,  
Caesar, thy Theatre affords to thee:  
The Rocks did creep, the woods did run, Men guess,  
Such was t●e Wood of the Hesperideses.   
But Heliogabalus was the maddest man of them all: 
Lampridius  For it is reported of him that he made at these sports, his Ships store in Channels that ran with Wine. And Carinus was not far short of him. For Calphurnius writes thus of his plays. 
Not only monsters that in woods are fed  
But also such as in the seas are bred.  
I saw sea Calves and Bears, and Horses fight,  
Ill shapen creatures, yet their names were right.   
I will say nothing of those La●geries that were cast amongst the people of all kinds of things, 
Sueton in Neron. c. 11.  when Nero reigned, and this was done daily with some thousands of each. Multitudes of all kinds of birds, Tickets for Corn, Garments, Gold, Silver, Jewels, Pearls, Painted Tables, Slaves, cattle, and wild Beasts made tame, and lastly Ships, Islands, Fields. And if I shall add that private men did such things, 
Vopiscus in Carino.  that Milo spent three patrimonies, in these vanities. Junius Messala gave his estate to stage plays, and not to his posterity; will not all men think that they were mad? Vopiscus speaks thus, I therefore writ this that those who should set forth stage plays, and sports hereafter, might be ashamed, and that they should not defraud their Heirs, & spend their estates on Players and vaia fellows. What I said of Theatres, I may say the same of their Baths and Temples. For though they in Artimedorus his days, were nothing else but passages to their feasts, and so they were in other ages too; Yet was there an infinite number of them, and the ornaments were too superfluous. Agrippa when he was Aedilis, built a 170 of them. 
Lib. 36.  Pliny writes, that in his days they were infinite. Cassiodorus saith, they were wonderful great. 
L. 16. Olimpiad in Excerptis.  Ammianus saith they were built in a Provincial way. Dioclesian's contained 1600 seats, all made of polished Marble. It appears by Seneca his Epistle, that their ornaments were superfluous. 
Epist. 86.  For when he had described the bath of Scipio Africanus, he breaks out into these words. But now who is there, that would be at the charge to be so washed; He seems to himself to be poor and base, unless the walls shine with great and precious circles; unless Marbles of Alexandria be rough cast with Pargeting of Africa, unless it be painted over with a great deal of labour, and varied picture-like, unless the roof be covered with glass; unless the Thasian stone, that was formerly a rare fight in any Church, be laid round our fishponds; unless the water run forth by Silver Cocks; and yet I speak of only common Conduit pipes. What shall I say when I come to the Baths of the Libertines? What multitudes of Statues were there? How many pillars that supported nothing, only they were set for ornament, and for greater cause of expense? We are grown so dainty, that we scorn to tread on any thing but jewels. 
In Antiq▪ Rom.  Rosinus adds further that their walls were anointed with the most fragrant Balsams, and sprinkled with the sweetest Oils. There were at Rome 421 Temples. And they were all almost built of huge marble, shining with guilded roofs, wherein Jewels shined forth, & appeared like stars, set at several distances. Augustus bestowed 16000 pounds' weight of Gold upon the seat of Jupiter alone, set in the Capitol, and 500000 Sestertii, 
Dio 55.  in Jewels. And Domitian adorned the Capitol itself so richly that Martial thought, 
If that the Heavens were for to be sold.  
And that the Gods should mortgage all they hold.  
Yet could they not equal this largesse.  
He adds, Augusta thou art forced to stay.  
For Jove's Cantore hath not wherewith to pay.   
And indeed in gilding thereof he spent above 12000 Talents; and the Gate was covered over with plates of Gold, until the Reign of Honorius. Nor did the Temple of Peace, erected by Vespasian come short much of this. For Herodian writes, that it was not only the largest and the most beautiful of all works in the City, but it was the richest, adorned with ornaments of Gold and silver. 
L. 7. excidii.  But Josephus saith, All things were conferred and disposed upon this Temple, to find which, Men went before over all the world. 
L. 34. c. 8.  Lastly, Pliny sait, Of all things, I have spoken of, the most famous of all in the City, are now dedicated by the Emperor Vespasian in the Temple of of Peace. And because they thought that Statues of brass would make them continue for ever, they much affected them also, yet so that in them they discovered their luxuriousness. For at last they exceeded so much in them, that there were almost as many of these statues in the City, as there were living men. 
Cassiod l. 7.  They were not only laid over with plates of Gold, but some were made of Silver, and some of pure Gold. Domitian would let none be placed in the Capitol for him, unless they were of Gold or of silver and they must be of such a weight. And Commodus had his Image of a 1000 pounds' weight. 
●e.  Statius seems to intimate that weight, when he writes. 
Give to the Capitol of lasting Gold,  
Faces of Hundred weights, we may behold.   
Thus much for public prodigality. 
Seneca de benef. 7. 10.  Two things principally show their luxuriousness in private matters. Their houses, and householdstuff. These were larger than some Cities. They supposed their houses to be narrow, 
Valer. l. 4. c. 6.  that were not larger than Cincinatus his fields. Some had Orchards on the tops of their houses, and others had woods that grew upon their roofs; from thence their roots sprung up, 
Seneca Epist 122.  whence their aspiring tops would have but reached from the ground. Vast naturally varied pillars brought out from Egyptian sands, or from the deserts of Africa, supported the galleries or large Parlours of some of the common people. 
Seneca Epist. 115.  If you ask the number of them, Martial speaks boldly, 
Houses by hundred pillars are supported.   
If the price, Crassus durst write, that ten pillars cost 100000 pieces of money. 
Valerius●  The house that Gordianus built had 200 pillars for one walking place. 
Capitol in Gordiano.  The beams were guilded, and the roofs laid over with plates of Gold, also their Chambers & Vessels were guilded. The vaults of their parlours were made to turn at pleasure, 
Seneca Epist. 50.  that one might succeed another, and so they changed their rooms so often as they changed their messes. 
I speak not of their Groves which in their chambers spring;  
Wherein with war●ling notes in's time each bird doth sing.   
Heliogabalus in his feasting-rooms, 
Lampridius  loaded his Parasites with Violets and other Hours, so that some of them died by it, when as they could not be drawn forth presently. But above all the rest, Domitian, Nero, and Caligula were mad in their buildings. Plutarch writes of him thus; If any man admire this magnificent furniture of the Capitol, how, should he but behold one gallery of Domitian, or a Palace, or a bath, or his room to sup in of so many inches, would he cry out with Epicarmus! 
He was not bountiful or liberal,  
But rather to be called prodigal.   
Suetonius, thus sets forth, Nero his Golden house. 
C. 31.  The entrance of it was, where a Colossus stood with his Image, a hundred and twenty foot high. It was so large that the gallery was three miles, and there was a Pool like to a Sea, set about with buildings like Cities. Also there was the Country diversfyed with Fields, Vineyards, Pasture grounds and Woods, with multitudes of all kinds of cattle and wild beasts, in the other parts all things were daubed over with gold, adorned with Jewels, and with Cases of pearls. The vaulted Parlours were set with Ivory Tables, that were made to turn, that Flowers might be scattered; and they were made hollow that Unguents might be sprinkled upon them. The chief of their dining rooms were made round, and they were carried about day and night as the world is. When he had ended such a house, and consecrated it, he commended it thus by saying, that now he began to dwell like a Man. The same speaks thus of Caligula, that he made Foists of Cedar, 
Chap. 37  and their Castles were of Jewels, their Sails of divers colours, with large Baths, Galleries, and Parlours, and with great variety of Vines, and apple Trees, and in these he would sit at meat, & pass over the shores of Campania in the day time, with dance and Music. In the buildings of his Country Palaces, and Manors, he set all reason aside, striving most to do that which men though impossible to be done, and therefore buildings were made in troublesome and deep Seas, Rocks of the hardest flint were cut up, and plain fields were raised as high Mountains, 
Plin. l. 33. c. 11.  and tops of Mountains were leveled like plain fields, all done with wonderful expedition, For if they delayed, it cost them their lives. As for householdstuff, 
Lampridius  it shall suffice to say that Caesar lay in a Bedstead of Gold. And that Heliogabalus had not only a golden plough set with Jewels, 
Plin. l. 33. c. 3.  but he made water in vessels of Myrrah Stones and of Onyx stones. Antonius, in despite of Nature vilified Gold, a work he deserved to be condemned for, by proscription; and Bassa did his excrements in Gold. Moreover it is true, that candlesticks have been sold for 400000 pieces of money. And there is no doubt but that Horatius had his Whores in a Chamber made of transparent Glass. 
C. 43.  Of Tiberius, Suetonius speaks thus. He adorned his chambers with Tables and Prints of lascivions' Pictures and Images placed here and there.   

Point VIII.  
The Luxury of the Romans in their garments was extreme.  
I Shall show their Luxury in Clothing, by two Arguments, namely, the trimming of their bodies, and the clothing of them. 
Natur. quest. 7. c. 31.  The former was so curious, that Seneca writes, All that is left of good manners we deface by our Levity, and trimming of our bodies; we exceed Women in curiosity, we that are Men put on Whorish colours that civil Matrons ought not to wear, we stop as we go, by a tender, and soft manner of going, and we do not so much go as creep. And Julius Caesar was not only diligently shaved and barbed, but he was plucked also as some upbraded him; 
Sueton. c. 45.  Nero was so shameless in his decking, and trimming of himself, that his locks were always laid in order: and in his voyage into Greece, he let them hang down behind the crown of his head. 
Sueton c. 51.  Otto was wont to shave his face every day, and to smear it with wet bread, as the same Author reports, and that he used from the first putting forth of his downy hairs, that so he might never have a beard.  
What concerns their garments, Hortensius thought it a capital crime, because a plait was changed upon his should er, from the place it should be. Lucullus affirmed that he had 5000 short cloaks at home. 
Horat.  It was their common custom to shift their clothes oftentimes in a day, 
Ep. 9  & Nero was never seen twice in one garment. A cloak called Lacerna cost 10000 Sestertii. Nonnius had one Ring, 
Plin. l. 37. 16.  Valued at 20000 Sestertii. The custom was for all of them to adorn their fingers with rings, and to have a Jewel on every joint. Charinus wore six upon every finger, and he did not lay them by in the night. And Probus saith, that Luxury had found out Summer Rings, and winter rings. And this was used promiscuously amongst all. 
Seneca de Benef. 7. c. 9  Women had silk Garments, if they may be called Garments, that could neither defend their bodies or their chastiry. When they had put on these, a woman almost naked would swear she was not naked. The trimming and Garments of Lollia Paulina, the Wife of Caligula, and that at ordinary banquets sometimes, was valued at 400000 Sestertii. Hierome writes that one string of Pearls was worth many Manors. 
In vita Pauli Eremit. de habitu muliebri. c. 9  Tertullian saith, that upon one Necklace 10000 Sestertii were strung, and that her tender neck wore upon it, whole Groves and Islands. Julius Cesar bought one Pearl, for 60000 Sestertil, that was bought for Servilia Brutus his Mother. 
Suoton. c. 59  And if you respect the Multitude; I see, saith Seneca, Pearls, 
De benef. 7. c. 9  not in every ear one (for now their ears are used to carry burdens) they are coupled together, and others are placed over them, women's madness cannot subdue their husbands sufficiently, unless they hang two or three Patrimonies at their ears on both sides. 
L. 2. c. 35.  If you seek for the place. Tertullian saith, They wear them upon their feet also, and that not only on the Latchets of their Pantofles, but all over their Startups. For it is not now sufficient to wear Pearls, unless they may tread upon them, and walk upon them as they go.  
Lastly, if we regard their Looking-Glasses, one cost sometimes more than the dowry of the Ancients was, 
Seneca. Natur. quest. l. 1. c. 17.  that was publicly paid for the daughters of the poorer Emperors. Nor was that dowry sufficient for freemens daughters, to buy them a Glass, which the people of Rome gave to Scipio his daughter. And that was 11000 pieces of Money.  
And further, the glasses of Servants cost sometimes 10, sometimes 20000 pieces of money. Not to make profit by, as Nicias the richest of the Grecians was wont to do, but only to keep company with, 
Athen. 6.  when they went abroad. And thus much for the Luxury of the Romans, which C L. Meursius, and the Noble Kobicrzycus have sufficiently described. As much might be spoken of their Pride, Boasting, Flattery, Ingratitude. For they called the City Rome, a Goddess, and they placed their Emperors amongst the Gods; and they expelled those that deserved excellently well of the Commonwealth, Camillus and Scipio. The five Cornelii are so many noted Examples of an unthankful Country. But because Authors are full of examples of these vices, and our age wants not the like to oppose against them, I pass them over.   

Point. IX.  
The Justice, Fortitude, and Prudence of the Romans was nothing.  
MAny suppose that the Romans went before other nations for their Justice, Prudence and Valour; but they are deceived. For if we regard these jointly, all virtues are linked together, by a certain band, so that he that hath one cannot want the rest.  
But we have already showed the many vices of the Romans, and if we take them severally, neither of them can truly be attributed to the Romans; 
Lactant Instit. l. c. 10  Not Justice. For how should they abstain from blood, who adored bloody Gods, as Mars and B●llona? How shall they spare their own Parents that adore Jupiter that expelled his Father? or their own children, who worship Saturn, that devoured his own? How shall they keep chastity that adore a naked and an adulterous Goddess, and one that was a prostitute almost amongst the Gods? How should they abstain from rapine and deceit, who were acquainted with Mercury his thieving qualities, who taught them, It was no Deceit to deceive any man, but it was Wit? How should they refrain lust, who adored Jupiter, Hercules, Bacchus, Apollo, and the rest, whose Whoredoms and Adulteries, and Villainies towards Males and Females, are not only known to Scholars, but are also acted upon the Stages, and are sung up and down, that all men may be well acquainted with them? Can there be any just men amongst these things? Who though they should be naturally good, yet their Gods would teach them injustice? For to please that God you adore, you must use those things you know that he is pleased with, and so it falls out, that their Gods frame the minds of those that adore them, to be as they are themselves: For the most religious worship is to imitate. As for their Prudence, I dare say openly with the most Generous Gentleman Andreas de Rey. 
De consil. & Consultatione.  If the Counsels of the Romans, as they are in part described by Livy, and partly by Dion, and other very grave writers, should be compared with those, which since a hundred years have been invented and undertaken in Spain, Italy, and Venice, in part since it was a Commonwealth; France, Germany, England, Poland, whether they concerned peace or war, and are noted by Commineus, Guicciardine, Sleiden, and also by some new writers of the French History, M●taranus, and others in some parts we must confess that this age for readiness and Acuteness of Invention, and exact dexterity of judgement, doth not only equal but exceed Antiquity. And indeed I cannot conceive how they were wise men, who destroyed the Common Wealth of their choicest men, in sword plays upon the Stage, that poured forth vast treasures upon things of no value, and exercised all manner of cruelty both upon their own people and strangers.  
As for their Valour; As it is not the punishment that makes a Martyr; So, not fight, but the cause makes a valiant man. If Justice be set aside, Kingdoms are nothing but great Thefts. Wherefore Pirates being asked by Alexander, By what law they did it, they answered, By the same that he did.  
And the Poet calls him, 
Earth's fatal mischief, for that he did strike,  
Like unto Thunder all the world alike, Unlucky to the Nations—   
The same may be applied to the Romans. For to pass over Mithridates and Galgacus, Enemies to the Romans, of whom he speaks in his Epistle to Arsaces. 
Tacitus in vita Agricolae.  The Romans wage war with all, but they are more fierce against those where they hope to get the greatest booties, when they have conquered them. And Galgacus saith to his confederates, These Plunderers of the World, when they have plundered all they can on land, they Rove the S●as; if their Enemy be rich, they are covetous; if he be poor, they are ambitious; for neither East nor West can satisfy them. The war they first made against the Carthagenians was by reason of the Mamertini; it is certain almost that it was unjust. Nor can a heap of cutthroats, win the name of a civil Society, by their good success, though they make a Covenant.  
The same was done afterwards in Sardinia, when the Carthagenians had been compelled to pay 1200 Talents. Moreover if if we be not called the less valiant because we manfully endure troubles and sharp miseries, our Martyrs may be preferred before the Romans. For (to let men pass) children and maids have silently conquered their Tormentors, and the fire itself could not make them groan. And Eusebius speaks of Dorotheus, 
L. 8. c. 6.  Of all those that ever were amongst the Greeks, or Barbarians, famous for the greatness of their Minds, and that are renowned in the mouths of Men, none can be compared with the divine and notable Martyrs of our age, Dorotheus and his fellows that were servants to the Emperors. If they object their defending of their Country, we shall presently answer them with the examples of the men of Calais under Philip Valesius: and with the examples of the Dutch and others; who devoted themselves for their Country's good. Again if we shall recollect the Acts of the Britain's, French, 
L. 5. P. l. c. 5. 1.  Germans, of Pyrrhus, and of the Carthagenians, against them, we shall find these inferior to them in very few things. He that desires to see an exact comparison between the Britain's and the Romans, let him read Rawleghs' History of the World. Moreover if unity be respected amongst virtues. It is most certain that there was no example of Amity amongst the greeks or Romans that may be compared with the examples of Marcus Tarvisanus, and Nicolaus Barbadicus, Senators of Venice. Alexander de Galtis, hath described it, prefixing before it an Historical Argument.   

Point. X.  
And the last, It is probable as some think that the Church shall be in greater glory upon the earth yet, than ever it was before.  
THough the matter be as I have showed, yet many places of Scripture are objected, which seem clearly to speak the contrary of the last times. 
Matth. 24. 12.  And indeed it is express in Saint Matthew, Because iniquity shall abound, the charity of many shall wax cold. When the Son of Man comes shall he find faith in the Earth? 
Luc. 18. 8.  In Saint Paul, The spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times some shall fall from the faith. 
1 Tim. 4. v. 1. vers. 17.  Wicked men shall grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. In Saint Peter, 
2 Peter. 3.  There shall come Scoffers in the last days, walking after their own lusts, etc.  
But all this cannot evince so much as to subvert our Opinion. And I may answer to those places, both in general and in special.  
Generally, I. For though it were true that about the end of the world, men's manners should grow worse, yet it follows not, that therefore, there was an universal perpetual decay.  
II. It cannot be understood how we shall expect a conversion of Jews and Gentiles, and yet men's manners should grow worse.  
III. The last days seem not to mean those that are nearest to Christ's coming, but for all that time that is between his first and second ●●mming. 
Isa. 2. 2.  So in Isaiah. And it shall be in the last days, when the Mountain of the House of the Lord shall be set in the top of the Mountains and lifted above the hills; that all Nations shall come unto it. Man is a little World, and as his age is divided into many parts, so is the age of the World divided into many periods. Therefore as old age only may equal all the other periods past; so may the last times also. 
Job 42. v. 12. 16.  Nor may that seem strange, For the time from Jobs restitution until his death, is called his last age, though it comprehends a 140 years.  
IV. The last days may be taken for the latest, 
C. 2. v. 28.  whence as Joel speaks of Prophecies, 
C. 2. v. 17.  And it shall be after that, saith he. Peter in the Acts of the Apostles pronounceth the same by saying, that shall be in the last times. And that appears most clearly in the Prophecy of Jacob preceding his death. For he promiseth to certify unto his sons, what should happen in the last days. Yet he sets, between those times, the taking away of the Sceptre from Judah, and the coming of Shiloh; Wherefore the last times seem not here only to be meant, but also as a learned man explains it in his Comment upon the Epistle of Judas, the Kingdom of Christ; And thus much for the general.  
In special,  
I. The Predication of S. Paul, concerning forbidding to marry, is fulfilled in Eustatius, the Tatiani, Marcionists, Manichees Catharists, and Montanists.  
The same reason serves for the other. For he doth not compare his age with ours, but rather teacheth us what shall be the condition of the kingdom of Christ. Nor is that increase of wickedness joined with the succession of time, any thing to a universal and perpetual ruin of nature. For as some fall off to wickedness, others hold the faster to what is good. And S. Paul himself saith, But they shall proceed no further, but their folly shall be made manifest unto all.  
II. The Prophecy of Peter came to pass then in Judes times: 
vers. 9  for Judas useth almost the very same words, and the difference is no more but this, that one foretells it, and the other shows it fulfilled.  
III. The predictions of Christ are to understood, concerning the Persecutions of the Christian Religion, and the subversion of the City of Jerusalem, and in this sense, Maldonat and Aretius allege Saint Paul's words, 2 Tim. 4. v. 6.  
Those words in Saint Luke signify nothing else, than that from the time that Christ asscended into Heaven, until his coming again, Men will be always incredulous. Divines interpret them, and Jansenius saith, They do not only signify Paucity, and want of faith in men, who shall be found alive in the last day, but also in men of all times. Some things also are alleged for the coming of Antichrist: but of this subject you may read Whitaker, Downam, and others.  
The most certain Argument; is the removing of that which hindereth, or the overthrow of the Roman Empire, which the popish party, 
In Memor.  as Thomas, Lyra, Ribera, and Salmeron confess to be done already. 
Fran. l. 2. Histor.  Who succeeded into his place, Pasquier, Matchiavel and Sigonius show. 
Flor. l. 3. de regno.  But the clearest of them all is Lipsius, whose most memorable words are these. 
Ital. l. 4.   
Wonderful is God's goodness to this City: When he took away the force of arms, he gave force to the Laws: When he would not let the sword rule, he granted power to the Church; and so also he made it to be the honour, the defence and the support of things. But they say that old Senate is not! Not that, but an other, and behold in that Purple, select Judges, out of all our World, who are to be regarded for their Manners, Prudence, and Arms. Should the old Cynic live again, & should see this Assembly, he would make no question, to compare it with Kings or Noblemen. What are the Tributes? Not so great but they are more innocent also, and more willingly paid. What are the Embassies, of Nations? Nor are they wanting, but they come from the known and unknown world, so wide doth this Majesty spread itself and hence they fetch Rights and Laws of Sacred things. Kings and Princes come and how themselves, and submit their obedient heads to this one head. But as it is no doubt but that Antichrist is come, and is also revealed to the world; so, many places of Scripture, according to some pious Interpreters, seem to intimate the nearness of his Ruin, upon which they say, will follow such a peace of the Church, as the like was never before. To this peace some adjoin, a more full conversion of Jews and Gentiles, to which the noble D. Makovius, the Light of his Country amongst strangers, adds their return into the land of Canaan; The restitution of all things by Elias, the ceasing of all Heresies, Foreign persecutions, and of all Impiety. Some add further to this, the Resurrection of the Martyrs, and a Reign with Christ upon the Earth for a thousand years. Of that opinion are, Carolus Gallus Professor formerly of the University at Leyden, in his Clavis Prophetica nova Apocalypseos. In which work he confesseth that he laboured twenty five years, in reading, meditating, searching, writing, and debating; And also George Hawkwell in his Apologia Providentiae Divinae, out of which we have taken a great part of this small Tract: as also Mathias Martinus, My Master, in his Epistle by way of answer to my letters, whererein I desired his opinion of this matter, Anno, a thousand six hundred twenty eight. Alsted and Piscator are of this mind. But this man makes that kingdom to be in the Heavens; the other saith, it is not only upon the Earth, but makes the thousand years to begin about the year, a thousand six hundred ninety four. Carolus Gallus seems to join with them. 
In Diatriba & Chr●nol.  For in his eighth Observation, on the 20 Chapter of the Revelations, he writes thus.  
The Prophetical Spirit briefly doth prophesy in this Revelation of S. John, of a singular, and wonderful Resurrection of the Church, Renovation and restitution thereof, Namely, that in this last age it shall be conspicuous, consisting of Jew's and Gentiles, quick and dead, and it shall after a wonderful manner Revive, be Renewed, Restored, and Flourish again more Gloriously than ever it did formerly, and that from those that were dead the very first death.  
If you inquire of their Arguments, they are partly taken from the certainty of the conversion of Jews and Gentiles, partly out of some places in the Scripture expressly promising peace, partly out of the prophecy of a thousand years, described in the twentieth Chapter of the Revelations, not yet fulfilled. And though that matter, as Enigmatical, cannot be decided before the event; and if it might, it is beyond my abilities, nor doth it concern this place:  
Yet, 
In stella Serpent. delegat. Evangel ad Indos.  I. It seems to be most true, that there shall be a more full conversion of Jews and Gentiles, as Keckerman and Justus Heurnius, have demonstrated out of the Scripture. But after the Ruin of Antichrist, not only that which shall oppose Idolatry, but the matter itself doth show it; to say nothing of the shutting up of the Devil, which is written of, after the casting of the false Prophet and the Beast into the Lake.  
II. No Article of the Faith should be violated, though we should maintain the coming again of Elias, and the returning of the Jews again into the Land of Canaan. For that which is spoken of Elias by the Evangelist, to come again and restore all things, Christ did not ascribe to John the Baptist. Nor is that in Micha spoken of him, ascribed to this man. To say nothing that the first coming of Christ was not terrible, but joyful. The promise made to the Israelites, Deuteronomie 30 is too glorious; and that it is not yet fulfilled, is apparent by the dispersion of the Jews nor yet restored.  
III. It is very probable that the notable ruin of Antichrist is hard at hand. For since it is evident that the History of the Revelations describes unto us three periods of the Church, and each of them is bounded with seventy seven years, and from thence it certainly follows that the Denunciation of the Ruin of Babylon fell about the Reign of Charles the Fifth, and there is nothing more written of the restitution thereof, but that those late tumults in that battle, described in the nineteenth of the Revelations, seem to be prefigured, and the success on that side, showeth nothing else, than what appeared in Carthage half destroyed. Namely, that the bitings of beasts when they are ready to die are most violent; It can hardly be thought that it can last long. Nor are all those Prodigies; 
What is to be thought of the modern Presages.  Presages, and Predictions to be neglected, which are written to have fallen out both in former times, and in these last ten years.  
Indeed they are more obscure than that they may be easily looked into, and too serious to be rejected with scoffing prejudice. And though I find that ambitious and ignorant men challenge this to themselves; Yet Men of better minds hold it better to wait on the event with hope and patience, than by rash Judgement to accuse the Scriptures of falsehood, and to make things false to be true, or to ascribe Divinity to Humane actions; or supernatural Power to natural things. ay, though I had rather be silent, both concerning Divinity and the Truth, yet I profess that I have hardly found any thing in Histories, I have read, that is not foretold either by Divine or Diabolick, or Humane, or Natural predictions, or by them altogether. All the order of the four Monarchies lies couched in daniel's Images, the brief of all the Ecclesiastical History is contained in the Apocalyptick writings. And out of these the Devil hath taken some things.  
The birth of Christ was fore showed by the Sibyls, Oracles, and Stars, besides the writings of the Holy Prophets. What Figures of men's Nativities, and what all the rest can do is taught by a work of Julius Caesar, Bullinger de Divinatione, and by the History of the Duke of Byron. Yet there is a mean to be used in these things; they must be made use of occasionally, and not fundamentally.  
IV. It is probable that the thousand years in the Revelations are not yet fulfilled. For were they fulfilled, that must be, either in the first, second or third period.  
Not in the first.  
For then the seven Seals had their event, nor did then any thing fall out besides, but what is written of the Woman's driving away, and the battle with the Dragon: also then there was an Infinite number of Heretics, and a mighty flood of persecution.  
Not in the second.  
For under that both Anti-Christianisme sprang up, and Mahumetism.  
Not in the third.  
For than they say he was let loose. But than began the Church to rise again, with the two Witnesses that were slain in the former period; and Babylon began to decline. Of the same opinion is Dr. Mede, a Divine of Cambridge my Honourable friend, 
In libro de succesione.  who is the Author of the Clavis Apoca●yptica, fetched out of the innate and imbred characters of the visions, and demonstrated from them. The most reverend Doctor usher Primate of Ireland saith that there is a two fold Millenary. But Martinius takes it for a long time by Synccdoche, and more rightly. But I will say no more of this matter than I have said; for I would show only what may be said thereof, and not what may be certainly said; if you except the first and second.  
In the mean while I desire to be instructed of two things. Namely, Whether the Ruin of Antichrist shall be total? And whether after that Satan is bound up so, there must needs follow a cessation of all Heresies, 
Dionis. Alexand.  of all Impiety, and of all Persecutions in the visible Church? Far be it from me any farther to favour the Millenaries, that were defended by Papia, Ireneus, Apollinarius, Tertullian and Lactantius, who dreamt of a glorious Jerusalem upon the earth for a thousand years, after the Resurrection, The blood of Sacrifices, Rest of the Sabbath, Circumcision, Marriages, Children, Education, Delightful Banquets, the obedience to them of all Nations, the Moon to shine as bright as the Sun, and that the Sun should shine seven fold clearer than it doth. Let us rather pray that God would be pleased to look upon his afflicted Church with a Gracious Eye, and grant unto it what is for the good thereof. This is sufficient, if it be not too much. But, Whether it be so or so, Thanks be given vuto thee, O Lord Jesus.  
FINIS.       

Books Printed for John Streater, and are to be sold by the Booksellers of London.  
THe Vale-Royall of England; or, The County Palatine of Chester, Illustrated. Wherein is contained a Geographical and Historical Description of that Famous County, with all its Hundreds, and Seats of the Nobility, Gentry, and Freeholders; Its Rivers, Towns, Castles, Buildings Ancient and Modern: Adorned with Maps and Prospects, and the Coats of Arms belonging to every individual Family of the whole County. Unto which is added, An excellent Discourse of the Island of Man.  
The Refinement of Zion: Or, The old Orthodox Protestant Doctrine justified, and defended against several Exceptions of the Antinomians: methodically digested into Questions, wherein many weighty and important cases of conscience are handled, concerning the nature of Faith and Repentance, or Conversion to God. By Anthony Warton.  
De Morbis Foemineis: The Woman's Counsellor; or, The Feminine Physiian: Modestly treating of such occult▪ Accidents, and secret Diseases, as are incident to that Sex.  
Pharmacopaea: Or, Rhaenodaeus his Dispensatory. Treating of the whole Body of Physic: Performing the Office of an Herbal, as well as an apothecary's Shop.  
An History of the Wonderful things of Nature: set forth in ten several Classes. Wherein are contained, 1. The Wonders of the Heavens. 2. Of the Elements. 3. Of Meteors. 4. Of Minerals. 5. Of Plants. 6. Of Birds. 7. Of fourfooted Beasts. 8. Of Infects, and things wanting blood. 9 Of Fishes. 10. Of Man.