LUSUS SERIUS: OR, Serious pastime. A philosophical Discourse concerning the Superiority of Creatures under MAN.  
Written By Michael Mayerus, M. D.  
LONDON, Printed for Humphrey Moseley, at the Prince's Arms in S. Paul's churchyard, and Tho: Heath in Covent-garden, near the Piazza. 1654.   

To the Honourable, CARY DILLON Esq. Son to ROBERT, late Earl of Roscommon.  
SIR,  
I Have neither by the Nobility of your Birth, your great and generous services in Jreland under immortal Jones (that admirable Prodigy and proof of English valour) but by ●hat greatness and goodness of Nature which shines in your Conversation, been charmed into this address; And I profess also to have eve● since my first knowledge of you, to have placed you so much in my esteem, that I now repen● the boldness of so small an offer; and the rather▪ looking on you as one that were pleased to take me into your friendship before I could imagine you had reason to do it; and that I found in you all those moral virtues which the Schools so unnecessarily dispute about, I thought I could not put this little foreigner into better hands than yours, and teach it to tell Posterity (for that is the Age of Books) that you have infinitely obliged a person that adores nothing more than those Heroical virtues which are constellated in your Soul.  
The design of the Discourse (which I have libelled from a learned pen) shall not be told you, saving in the general, that it is philosophical and virtuous; And as in Romances and Jnterludes, the chief art and virtue is to conceal the Plot: So in hopes to betray you to a full perusal, I shall suffer the Scene to open, and the Actors to enter, & therefore in an humorous desire of entertaining you, will leave you in the embrace of your fair and noble Lady, who may justly claim from me the same inclinations and devoir, as being both hers and  
(SIR) Your most Affectionate and most humble servant, J. de la Salle.   

Lusus SERIUS: SERIOUS pastime.  
Wherein Hermes or Mercury is declared and established King of all Worldly things, &c.  
AFter it had been very hotly debated in the great Amphitheatre of this World, to whom of all those, that presented themselves as Competitors the pre-eminence & sovereignty were most due, and that by reason both of the number and variety both of the persons and things, the whole matter found so many several, or rather innumerable Opinions, that there appeared not more Judges than differences of judgements; It was agreed by common consent, that out of the whole populace of Worldly things there should be elected a Representative, that is to say, from out the fourfooted, as being the largest, at the most two, and for Birds, Fishes, Insects, creeping things, Vegetables and minerals one a piece, these to be chosen by common consent, and to be sent to the next Parliament, where before Man, as the wisest and fittest judge, out of these eight a King should be chosen. For it was thought better and more agreeable with reason, that a few of the Nobles, chosen out of every Tribe or Nation, should be empowered by the consent of their whole people to elect one, then that so great a Rabble (which is the beast of many heads and dam of confusion) should be again assembled, and it may be not only fall into different debates, but dissent themselves into a civil war. After great bandying in Elections privately carried in every County of this lower World, a Parliament of EIGHT was at last called, to wit, as it was set down in the Instrument, out of the County of the first, that is the fourfooted the calf and the SHEEP, out of the second the GOOSE, of the third the oyster, of the fourth the be, out of the fifth the silkworm, out of the six●h, FLAX, out of the seventh MERCURY. All these meet together, and, as it became so great Heroes that were in emulation for sovereignty, made their address to Man, whom by common consent they had agreed to be their Umpire. He was then very well apparelled, his Doublet and Breeches were of the richest black Velvet, and very richly covered with Gold lace; his gown was of a fine silk suitably trimmed; His cap was of velvet too: bound about with a chain of pearl, which were very fair and of great value; his Band was very neat and of the purest Holland, and about his neck he had a Golden chain of excellent workmanship; and to save me the labour of telling you the rest, he wanted nothing, which a Man would require to be splendid and magnificent, and to all this he had a mind pol●sh●d and enriched, not only with sweeter literature, but an insight of the severer Sciences, which indeed was very requisite in a Judge of so weighty a cause. To him sitting at that time in the air on a little tufted Hillock, which swelled itself up in the midst of a flowery ground, the above said Representatives made their address, and having chosen the calf for their Speaker▪ put in their P●…  

The calf.  
WE that are here assembled, most prudent Man, come hither with submission to thy judgement, therefore we beseech thee take it not amiss, if we bring our cause before thee at an unseasonable and busy time. Be pleased to hear the case, and I will briefly open it. There is lately a great contest happened among us the Inhabitants of the whole World, that is to say, the three degrees of Animals, Vegetables and minerals, unto which of us next unto Man, our Emperor, precedency is due: And therefore when the Parliament and People of the World were divided in their judgements, and rent into such several factions as could not be composed without a purge, they chose us from all the rest, and having empowered us by their Instrument, have given us instructions that we should appeal to you, as not only our Lord Protector, but rational and fit for Government, and that we should fully remonstrate and report to your Highness the whole state and case of the matter brought before you, that you may at length from this council here present, choose one, who by his worth and service to mankind you should think fit for to name your viceroy. In which honest and humble proposition we hope we shall not receive a denial, and that after you have heard us all speak for our several Rights, we expect your judgement, unto which we all humbly submit.  
To this when MAN had consented, and in his countenance and behaviour had shown as much civility as he possibly could; Open severally unto me, says he, your several cases, for you have taken me in a day, which I had designed for a period and interval of serious businesses, which notwithstanding I will bestow upon you, if I can by hearing and stating of your differences be a means of your peace, reconciliation or advantage. Speak then in the same order in which you came hither, and first, you calf, when you have done I shall hear the sheep, than the Goose, than the Oyster, than the Bee, the silkworm, and Flax, and then I shall call for Mercury, but one after another; with this Rule, that you speak one after another, jar not together, nor offer any disturbance or interruption, and especially, that you forbear any smart touches or abuses: which being a Law that I have at first made, I expect obedience unto till I have heard the whole matter▪ This being assented unto▪ the judge prepared himself for Audience, and the calf begun to speak thus.  
May it please thy highness, MAN, Lord high Steward of all things, we present ourselves here before thee, to know which of 〈◊〉 thou wilt be pleased to assume into a part of thy sovereignty, not for the largeness of our stature, or for handsomeness of shape, or agility of body, or readiness in motion, but by such deserts and profits, as we shall be found most eminently to contribute unto mankind: which issue being once joined, I shall not doubt but that you will be pleased to pass your judgement for the Family I here plead for above all the rest. And the inducement which I shall offer to you shall be partly our labours, by which while we are so usefully assistant, partly from those things which even during life we contribute from our own bodies, partly from the spoils which are gathered from our carcases. On which three heads as so many settled arguments, I shall especial insist, nor shall I one way or other vary from this method: THE LABOURS, O Man! which we endure for you, are extremely great, and to any of our Competitors here present impossible and intolerable. For as to those that are absent I shall not much debate it, since the Election of King is limited to those here present, all the absent, be what they will, being in an incapacity. First of all than we are serviceable to mankind in tillage, which without us cannot at all or at the least so commodiously be performed. I must confess that we are not otherwise much employed, unless it be for drawing of the Plow and Cart, but these are services so necessary, that they are infinitely more useful than any other. For if the fields were not turned over and torn with Ploughs, painfully haled along upon our necks, it were impossible to sow the seed with any hope of harvest, which not answering expectation, I would know where man should have his subsistence. I believe, Sir, you rational Creatures would not be very well content to return to your diet of acorns, or do you think you could be content for to live all your hungry days on such poor Ordinaries as Apples, nuts and herbs? This I believe you would hardly be persuaded to, and since you have found by experience the necessity of bread, I necessarily infer the use of Oxen. Suppose our species were lost, there is a stop upon all husbandry, and instead of rich harvests of corn, you shall have your fields pestered with weeds, and withal you must consider, how these Northern Countries are supplied with drink, marry Oates and Barley, and these come out of the Fields ploughed by us, I shall say nothing to Pease, or other kind of fruits, which without stirring or preparing of the Earth were not to be expected, as Wheat, Spelt, Oates, Rice, Beanes, Pease, Vetches, Lintels, and others of that kind. All these are the fruits of Agriculture, and we next to man are the most effective in it. Besides, I need not tell you how great is the use of Wagons, which yet we draw in Italy (which if you will believe Timaeus and Varo, had its name from an ox, for in the ancienter Greek ITALOS signified an ox) in respect at that time both in number, shape, and greatness we excelled there above all other Countries. And in many other places I cannot express how advantageous we are, in drawing of loads from the Country to the City and back again. And yet all these important services we perform merely out of duty to mankind; services I repeat it again such, as I challenge any Creature to perform the thirtieth part of: So useful I am sure the old wise Egyptians found us, that they heaped all possible honours upon an ox, and gave him adorations proper to deities; And the reason was that the life of Man could not but be unpleasant without his assistance: The ox APIS as sacred and privileged had Vul an's Temple for his stall, where instead of an ordinary manger he had one of Gold, and of furniture of straw, was provided for with fresh Tapestry, and when natural death had taken him away, and ●e for addition of honour named Serapis, he was magnificently buried, and covered with a most stately tomb, being from the time of his decease accounted a divinity of that Country. The ox, say even those men that professedly write of Husbandry, of all cattle is the most considerable. He is companion and fellow labourer with man in all businesses in the country, and chief servant of the goddess Ceres, for which reason it was of old enacted, that no man should kill an ox, and the wise Romans had us in so much esteem, that it was banishment for any man to kill one of us, though it were but to feed upon: and the reason is apparent; Bos comes {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, that is to say, to eat, because Men eat from our labours, of which no further.  
I shall now pass to those things which we yield during life for your use. These are our Dung and our Milk. Our dung indeed may seem but a poor business, yet it is the food of the Fields that feed you, 'tis their joy, their recreation, without which they are barren and melancholy. From this had Saturn (the great Grandsire as I may say of the Gods) his name of Stercurius, as a title of honour for his useful invention of dunging the ground. That Arch. Heros Hercules was employed in carrying out ox-dung, and cleansing the stable of Augeas Ph●bus●s own Son, which thing certainly had it not been of very great moment might have been performed by other hands than those great and noble ones of immortal Hercules the Son of Jupiter. Neither is it only that our dung fattens the fields, but it serves Man for medicine, and for fuel for fire instead of Wood or Coale: It is outwardly applied to a great many Maladies, as to the Gout in the hands and in the Feet, and indeed to any Gout whatsoever proceeding from a hot cause, and there is a Water distilled from it in May, which is called the Water of all Flowers, which name is not given to any other Medicine whatsoever, be it never so precious, in the shop of any Apothecary. Not to tell you that ox-dung is most fortunately applied to the resolving of all hard tumors, and in Dropsies for drawing out of the restagnant Water. I need not to add the benefits of it when taken into the body, as in the jaundice and Diseases of that kind, nor is it that you should be offended with the smell, for it is sufferable enough, and in Gardens doth both refresh and nurse the sweetest and pleasantest herbs and flowers, whether they be cherished there for their beauty, or their medicinal use. Then for want of fuel, how much it furnishes the hearts of several people, and suffers them not to eat their victuals raw, let the people, who enjoy the use of it, experimentally confess.  
For milk and all those several dainties it is varied into, I am at a stand, in respect I cannot sufficiently declare the profits of it. What I beseech you is more profitable to House keeping? What more agreeable to the life of Man? What more pleasant and more healthful, not only to all in health, but to most of the diseased? Of cows-milk you make Butter, Cheese, and Whey, three divers substances educed out of one matter, and they are of such excellent use of mankind, that that Table is indeed unfurnished which wants some of them. Nay even in the Scripture itself, that Land which was described to be greatly fruitful, was said to overflow rather with milk than Honey; For Honey may be found in deserts, and places untilled, where plenty of milk cannot be expected. How many millions of men are there that live mostly of cows-milk? How many that live altogether on Cheese? What a vast income from hence is this to some Countries! And indeed from what I have said will appear, not only bread, and drink, but also, Butter, Cheese and all things made of Milk, are the contributions of our species, the last immediately paid a Tax by us, the former obtained by the Meditation of our pains: so that you, O Man, when you come to cast up your accounts, will find all your conveniencies and enjoyments a debt to the Oxen, which that I may more clearly manifest, I shall instance those things which we yield by our death, after we have wasted our Lives in your service.  
What vast emolument do we afford by our Flesh, our entrails, Fat, Bones, horns, Hides, Bladders, hair, and other things which I think not worth the mentioning? For our flesh, 'tis not only the daily relief of the needy, but is the delicacy, and entertainment of the most sensual. Let those people witness for me, that will acknowledge a piece of beef to be the bravest food, and eat as heartily for delight, as a hungry Man would do for necessity, thinking no means better to quiet and silence a barking and a craving stomach. Nor do our Guts make worse fare; how many sorts of puddings and other Dishes are made out of them? As for our Tallow, it not only serves for the making up of many excellent services and Pies, but as I may say shares Empire with the sun, since it affords candles and light in his absence; which how inestimably it is to be valued I cannot say. For what benefits soever the Sun by his light scatters in the day, are general and universal: now our Fat lighted, as it doth the same, so it doth more particularly, not refusing the obscurest places or Chambers where the Sun possibly hath no access in the day, and entertaining us in the night, when by the rules of nature he cannot be present with us. Our Bones, horns, Bladders, and hair, want not likewise their profits: what a many instruments are made of them, which I shall not attempt to express (being willing to observe my time limited,) by reason of their variety and number. Bottles and Galley-pots, are closed with Bladders to prevent the ingression of air, or the evaporation of the things enclosed. Nor is our hair useless to the working of mortar and many other occasions. Now for our Hides flayed off from our carcase and well tanned, in respect of the great advantage they bring, I can so little pass them without mentioning, that I confidently affirm they are one of the principallest utensils in man's economy, nay so principal, that were it out of no other reason, setting aside all that I have hitherto alleged, I would safely presume the diadem we contest for should be ours. Nor is it of one kind only, younger and elder are here serviceable, the one is stripped of his Skin, the other of his Hide, from whence else would you have your Boots, Shoes and bellows swelling with a tympany of wind? What would you do for Trappings, and harness for Horses, and for Leather, for other innumerable occasions? I do not you will require demonstration▪ of the necessity of shoes, for there is none but a beggar of a vagabond that is able to be without them. And for other things their use is so known and necessary, that as a thing of knowledge I shall not otherwise mention. Now as for Calves-skins, I shall quote unto you but these two considerable utilities, (for the petty ones I shall pass.) In regard they are universally serviceable to M●nkinde. The first is their use in war, by being made into drums, without which Discipline could not be observed; the other is the subserviency to Arts, that is to say, that books, Patents, Letters, or other Writings are made of them, and they are the Preservers, and Treasurers of Arts and Sciences faithfully conveying the memory of former times into the minds and instruction of posterity. Now if all the World be governed by such Arts as owe their very preservation and tradition to a Calves-skin, who sees not the empire of all Worldly things given and devised unto us, as it were by last will and testament, from all Antiquity? I shall only ask whether this may not be said to be the common memory of mankind, since it preserves things from age to age, when themselves cease to have a being, since it hands unto us all things necessary for knowledge, whether sacred or profane, old or new, since in this womb, as in a Treasury, are preserved all laws and Ordinances which are so essentially useful to Kings and States, that without them the frame of Government is immediately dissolved. This furnishes and directs the Clergy with hymns and Anthems in the Church; This is that which rears up all famous Libraries, those invaluable Magazines of time. In a word, all the crafts and subtleties of statesmen, all the truth and fidelity of Records, all the wholesome Prescriptions of physic must be here necessarily deposited and preserved, and those books that are filled with them are called faithful counsellors and dumb Teachers, for they cannot flatter men of greatness, although they be silent they teach; though they be lifeless, yet they breath and inspire Learning; and though they are mute, they speak all eloquence. And this is all that I have to say concerning those my superiors that have sent me hither, not doubting, my Lord chancellor, that when you have fully considered all that I have remonstrated unto you, you will, after hearing how little the rest will bring to weaken my claim, vote me into that dignity, for which before you I stand as Candidate.   

The sheep.  
THE sheep seeing the eyes and expectations of both Judge and Assembly fixed upon him; Now (says he) it is my turn to speak, who am the meekest and mildest Creature that ever nature made: and if this virtue may not put in for the crown, 'tis vainly attempted by peremptoriness, and impudence. 'Tis not without great reason that we call tyrants Wolves, and that with a general consent, for they like so many savage beasts (which are the most hateful to us that may be) exercise all the cruelty they can against those that are in any subjection to them; Which if once granted, the contrary Doctrine must be the more certain, viz. That a sheep would prove the most merciful King, and such as should be wished and obeyed by all. But if the greatest Deserts from mankind be that which must determine the case, and confer the sovereignty, as appears by what hath been before alleged, there is no Creature whatsoever, that while living is more liberal, nor when dead yields greater advantage to Man, than the sheep, to which two heads I shall confine my speech. The sheep supplies man's necessities with its wool, Milk▪ and Dung. The milk is such an advantage that it harldy gives place to any other: We unclothe ourselves to apparel Man, which is a Charity the greatest can be done to mankind. What greater act of mercy can there be done, then for us to bestow what is truly our own upon another? Then to clothe the naked? Then to lend defence against the injuries and assaults of Summer and Winter? Our wool is taken away from us without any violence or resistance, nay we willingly permit it to be done: which appears in that when we are shorn we do not so much as bleat against the wills of our shearers. It is not therefore a prey taken from us, but a present given by us, the sheep's wool is not the spoil but the reward we owe to Man, who disposeth of it at his pleasure; Sometimes he caused it to be died in several colours, sometimes he works it up several ways in its native colour and fashion. View a man from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot, and thou wilt find that whatever ornament he hath about him consists of our relics. Look but on his hat, that ancient badge of Liberty, thou shalt find it to be a circular texture of our wool: Look on his Coat, cloak or clothes, nay put in his very stockings, they will prove so many woolly-coverings of his nakedness. The whole man is covered and furnished with our presents, whence it should be inferred the greatest obligation he hath to any is to us, and consequently aught to pass his judgement for us: and as we have put him into possession of all that was ours, so is it but just he should give his verdict for us.  
Is it possible he can be guilty of no returns of that affection which we bear him? Or hath he lost all memory of the benefits we heap upon him? We are indeed a sort of Creatures neither injure nor entrench upon any other whatsoever: grass and the poorest shrubs, are our nourishment, yet the benefits we return to our shepherds are not a few. I might here take occasion to boast of our milk, as being the fattest, the sweetest and most advantageous man is acquainted with: far beyond that of divers other Creatures; but my modesty obliges me to contain myself: This boiled with a little salt in it, thickens into an excellent and wholesome sauce for divers meats. The Cheese that's made of it is extreme fat, and therefore becomes a great delicacy among many Nations. For the Dung, there is no man so much as doubts but that it is the welcomest to the ground of any, and that both Husbandmen and shepherds have well observed, and that is the reason that our folds are so often removed, that by that means the whole Field may at length be sufficiently dunged. The ground of the pens wherein we are shut up, when it comes to be digged up, confess the advantage of our imprisonment, for its sufficiently Levened with Salt-petre, drained into it by the means of the Lie of our Urine, and by which that terrible receipt, by which gunpowder is made, cannot be performed, that Powder, which being put in so brass Gunns, with Iron-bullets once set on fire, overthrows the strongest Walls and Castles, and suffers not opposition. Besides our Dung and the Salt lately mentioned drawn from it, is an excellent medicine in several Diseases, as inwardly the jaundice and the like obstruction, outwardly in Scalds and Burnings, mingled with other things, it makes an excellent plaster, and thus much good we afford during our Life.  
After death, behold our Lambs brought in their several seasons, as matter of delight and rarity at the greatest Feasts, we ourselves constantly making part also of the furniture. Though I could wish men would rather follow the saying of that noble Emperor, That a good shepherd ought to shear and not to flay his sheep, notwithstanding we are perpetually sacrificed to the palate of man, and those, whom the Scab or diseases destroy not, are led to slaughter, and made the employment of Butchers. Our patience and serenity, even when death is before our eyes is singular, and exemplary: we make no resistance to the Executioner, but voluntarily offer our throats to his knife. Our flesh and fat help to make a share in the greatest Feasts, even where there is the most abundance of other dainties. Our skins employ the Skinners, who make of them not only many useful ornaments for Women, but many several distinctions of Habits and Gowns for Men. Now if the wool were pulled off them, as it serves for innumerable uses, so the bare pelt would be serviceable in an equell diversity, especially for Parchment, and Rolls for Records, in which benefit to mankind I am in all Justice a rival equal with the calf, nay I stick not to affirm that for what praise he arrogates to himself is not only due to me, but in a larger and more especial manner, for I afford no assistance to the tumults of war as he doth, since drums, that are commonly made of his skin are not made of mine; but instead of that damnable subserviency to the rage and fury of Man, my bowels make strings for musical Instruments, which charm his mind with a purer pleasure than the noise of alarms. Consider but the nature of Man, and see how it is fashioned and sympathized to Harmony, since nature it seems intended him not to be a Military Creature, since she did not assign him any particular arms to fight with, as she hath done lions, whom she hath made terrible by their teeth and claws, Wolves and bears formidable with the thunder of their tusks; Horses provoked can revenge with their heels, Bulls with their horns, but Man came naked and disarmed into the World, in which he bears a great likeliness to us, and we to him. But above all other things, he seems by a special pre-eminence of nature to be particularly inclined to music, which made divine Plato say, That he was not harmonically composed, that was not delighted with Harmony. Now we give such particular and eminent assistance unto music, that we clearly outvie all other Creatures. We afford strings to the Lute and other instruments, which the finger of Man touches into so much harmony, and so entertaining with noble delight several ways, in the Phrygian, Jonick, Doric and Lyidian moods; and according to the design of Art raise and and allay several passions. We shall say nothing of the greater and thicker strings, which men so diversely abuse; yet it is we that furnish them with strings too for bows, and give fury and force to their arrows, which if singly without the assistance of other Weapons determined the controversy between divers nations, & have made lesser Nations bring greater into obedience, merely through their want of skill and dexterity in them. These are also mighty useful in the performing of sundry Handicrafts, but I shall wave particulars, but one there is that I cannot omit, that one parcel of our body, destroys the greatest wolf of all Mankind, or to say better his Whelps, lest the World by increase of such Wolves might be destroyed by them, which words, if you conceive to have too much of riddle in them, I thus explain. What greater wolf than the Turk, he strangles his Brothers, and it may be his sons with a string made of our Guts: that he may tyrannize alone. Now if these things have any consideration with you, I may modestly say that I possess those virtues, which carry the greatest conformity to man, as meekness, Patience, Innocency of Life and Simplicity; and if you look on my services to mankind I know not who can compare with me, let them be of what rank or species whatsoever.   

The GOOSE.  
THe sheep had scarce made a close of his harangue, but a good fat GOOSE stood up and gaggled in this manner. We have with sufficient patience (most equal Judge!) heard all that the fourfooted Creatures can say for themselves, For my part as I shall lay little to their charge, so I conceive it not my duty to compliment them with any excess of praise; They are such, who as they want not due causes of commendation, so I believe may easily be brought to yield pre-eminence to some more worthy, If you consider Kind in the Creation of a King, none I am sure can be equal with us, much more preferred; ours is sublime and airy, nay, we affirm that not only the air is part of our dominion, but the Earth and Water, for in which of the three Elements we please to live we are able to subsist, a privilege enjoyed by no other animal, that he should dwell and govern in three Elements, as three parts of the World. But if these things be not thought considerable, and that it is only the services and profits yielded to Man, that must cast the balance in this dispute about sovereignty, I shall no further press them, but urge only those things that may seem more close and proper for the Question. For my course of Life I have not much to say in it, since I may be rather thought to live for myself than the use of others, yet nevertheless in some places I yearly suffer my Wings to be plucked, and my quills to be rent from me for the service of Men, withal I am employed in Laying and Hatching of eggs, which are no contemptible Viands. Some also make very good use of my dung in several Diseases. But when my fatal time comes, about Michaelmas, or at other times, then is it that Man reaps his greatest advantage by me: my flesh is put on the Spit and roasted, so that I may be now said to enjoy a fourth Element, my Guts and Gibblets well cooked with my own blood are boiled and baked, and so I furnish the Luxury of Men with two excellent Dishes, which want not the esteem due unto them; my softer feather● serve to stuff beds, in which men may enjoy their repose, so that being well said with my flesh and entrails they may softly sleep in my old clothes, and by this means, Man spends half of his Life, which he commonly sleeps out among us, a privilege no Creature else can lay claim to. What shall I say of these accidents when they are so known to be advantageously helpful to mankind, since in them the species is propagated, and preserved from discontinuance? My Quills and Feathers are variously ordered and dy'd and applied to several uses, some are fitted to arrows, who by ou● means receive that assistance which nature hath not provided for them, nor art cannot acquire. These serve for war, the rest of our Quills is most commodiously applied in writing, and consequently to the government of the World. 'Twas we that in the Capitol long since gave the alarm, and preserved it, and for that cause were accounted sacred and kept at the public charge, being for watchfulness and diligence accounted better, and certainer night sentinels than the dogs themselves, so that we may without raillery aver that we saved the City of Rome, which is a very high commendation for us. But this much higher that by our Quills, we have propagated all Arts and Sciences, we have preserved them and protected against all injuries and violences of time? 'tis in vain to prepare a calf or a sheep-skin to write upon, unless our Quills be called to assistance, and be made dance, turn, and play upon them. Their skins suffer only and are the patients, our Quills the Agents, they are but the subjects, we the efficient causes, and of a much nobler nature; if the Goose and the sheep join in league together, the greatest Creatures are not able to resist, nay Man himself is proved to be taught by a Goose, when he reads the writings of the wisest Ancients. The sheep without the Goose is of no value at all, that is to say, no more than a blank parchment; but on the other side the Goose can join in confederacy with the calf, or Flax excluding the sheep, by which appears the superiority of our power, and the prehemienc● we hold above all the rest, and methinks the controversy of our kind with the rest here present, might easily be decided, since that formerly our Quills have obtained the prize from all others, whether Eagles or other martial Birds whatsoever. In witness of which victory, our Quills are worn in Caps, hence the Poet,  

Penna beat coelo, penna volare facit,  
The Pen gives Heaven, the Pen gives wings to fly.   
Why should not we therefore carry away the Diadem, and the Title royal from those that are not for this to be compared with us? By us and by our quills the Emperor commands Kings and Princes, as it was very truly said by one, That the imperial Majesty ought not only to be adorned with arms, but armed with laws, for laws once Enacted are by our means propagated and made useful to their Legislators. By our quills Kings, Princes and Dukes govern their Dominions: suppose there never were, nor ever had been any books written, it would follow there should be no Letters, no laws, no Histories, no physic, nor any other Arts or Sciences put upon the file of memory, and so the life of Man would nothing have differed from the life of bruits, mankind would have been as unacquainted with himself and things, as Children shut up in a Cave and there continued. Now all those that have gotten the reputation of wise, learned and experienced Men, and have arrived at the Arts and Sciences, have done it by the advantage of our quills. These are they that govern the World, with their learning policy and science, which have been only propagated by pens, the use whereof whosoever know not are accounted of a contemptible condition and disesteemed. Pens often rescue the most despicable poverty into vast wealth, Pens throw honour and lustre on wealth itself, nay there is no condition; which receives not ornament and advantage from them. Pens comprise and establish all human Literature; what anciently was with difficulty put down with an Iron bodkin, is now more easily performed by Pens; what honour was ever given to learning by the greatest Princes, is now due to Pens, and to those to whom they are owing, Geese. Whence I infer that our esteem ought to be such, that it should be far more considerable than to receive a denial in this claim of Royalty. I will only add two advantages of quills more, though they be not so much important; The first is in hunting, for the frighting of Beasts by the sticking them up; the other in Musical instruments, besides their use in▪ Arrows which we formerly mentioned. Let the Sheep brag the necessity of his strings, my quills can no more be spared in the Sittarne and virginals: Let him brag that his greater guts are useful for bowstrings, without my feathers I am sure no Arrow will fly. Let him and the calf prate of their Parchments as so needful in writing, without my quills to write upon them, they will signify nothing, not to mention even the smallest uses of our quills, we shall omit to tell you how they help Anglers in fitting of their hooks and Files, and are employed in several mechanical works; Let this, which for the time allotted us we have shortly but firmly and demonstratively argued, suffice, since I cannot but believe, that they will justly evict the Royalty to be granted me.   

The OYSTER  
THe OYSTER, who was in the fourth place as burgess for the Fishes suffered not another to assume the discourse, but hastily begun to plead in this manner; If the sovereignty over the Creature must be adjudged and conferred either upon largeness of body, Strength, Industry, Sagacity or Docility, I believe my pretention will be very weak, for I am little and without strength, nor can I lay claim to any of the other endowments, yet withal I am of opinion that none of these here present may justly hope that upon those grounds, the election will be carried for them, since there are others in their several kinds that far excel us in all those qualities, as well as they. But if Nobility, Birth, Profit conferred on Man, great value and price prevail any thing with your judgement, I see no competitor here present, whose interest I think I shall have cause to fear,  
For my Nobility I have this to affirm, that I am borne and bred in the waters, the noblest element, and have been ever accounted Prince of all the Aquatiles, which yet in variety and greatness far exceed the terrestrials, the Waters are my Castle, and yet out of the waters (I vouch no worse authority than Scripture itself) God in the beginning created all things, nor am I confined to some little brook, or narrow River: The vast Ocean, where ever it spreads itself, the Indian, the Western Seas are but at the first our Cradles, after that our dwelling house and Demesne. Now if it be borne in a noble and a famous Country, adds no small Nobility to any person, I think I may safely presume to claim precedency, in this point. But this you will say may be as well claimed by the rest of my neighbours of the waters, and therefore I shall not much press it, but direct my discourse to that which most properly concerns me, that is my descent and manner of birth, far more illustrious than any creature whatsoever. Chastity is a peculiar property and endowment of our kind, as appears in that we do not propagate in the common manner, but by a particular, to wit, by a secret and sweet distillation of the influences of the stars shed into us, from whence we conceive. 'Tis true nature granted us not offensive, arms, but she gave us▪ defensive, and these of the best proof. Hence is that we are neither offensive to one another, and are very well secured against the assaults of strangers. In those parts where Heaven by reason of the nearness of the sun operaes more purely and efficaciously, as in the crooked windings of the Indian Sea, we there, by the indulgence of its kinder heat, are impregnated with such seed as is indeed invaluable▪ we get up to the top of the water, and opening the Gates of our strong Castles, we lie gaping and yawning till we have sucked in so much of the most precious morning dew, as, after being miraculously congealed within our Testicles, and tinctured with the pellucid liquour of our bodies, becomes albified into an incomparable lustre, and make the noblest presents, that man can rece●●●● whether you look 〈…〉 for delight and 〈…〉 'cause they are never found but single, or that they only exceed in price and value. Now in medicine, thus they are advantageous they are great strengtheners and comforters of the heart, whose spirits and radical moisture they powerfully restore and cherish, and your greatest physicians are of opinion, that nothing more sovereign, nothing more gentle, than confections of Manus Christi prepared with pearl. They have also several kinds of Diamargaritons' both hot and cold, which they very successfully use in diverse Diseases, where the patient needs reparation of strength. There want not also some of the curious that prepare them into milk, oil, liquor, Water, and Salt, and that to the same end. But what shall I say, do not Margarites themselves and their matrices exceedingly assist the wombs of Women, both in preventing sterility and furtherance of conception? Besides all this, we have performed three other notable services. First, 〈…〉 little being of ours, which nature 〈…〉 and so strongly 〈…〉 the food of supporters, both in respect, that we are extremely grateful to the palate, as also for that we do so greatly cherish and fill the spermatic vessels of either Sex, and there is no doubt but Man will be so grateful as to acknowledge this truth, which once granted, it will follow, that we are powerful assistants in the Generation of Men, since possibly many there are that owe their being, and procreation unto us, an obligation so high and so noble, that I see not how it cannot be equalled by any. For so far as the life of man is worthier, and of more concernment than all the utilities that accrue unto us, even so is this utility given by us greater than life itself. Nor are the Shells of Oysters of contemptible use, in adorning the hilts and handles of several Instruments, which are too numerous to relate in this place. Look into the Cabinets of the magnificoes, look on their Tables and on their Furniture, you will see them all furnished with our Shells, and glittering only with our spoils. But I must be forced to say somewhat of Margarites themselves, and I am afraid I shall rather be struck with the deepest amazement and confusion, than be able to express their unspeakable worth and preciosity. The proud Egyptian Cleopatra had among her other treasures some Margarites, which were valued at the rate of 2000 Oxen, or as many Acres of Land, nay it is thought they were richly worth a good large Island. These exceeded Gold in value a thousand times, nay a hundred thousand, nay more, if you would cast both into the scales and judge of the weight of either. Hence was it that the whole Earth could produce nothing of greater estimation, nothing of greater rarity or price, yet this Luxurious Woman, destroyed one of them at one draught, when she designed to outvie Mark-antony the Roman general, in the cost and magnificency of a collation. Whence Pliny said, Margarites have the principality, and are placed in the highest degree of grace above all other earthly things. Now if that which is conceived and nursed in us be that which dazzles the World with the extremity of its value, why should not we be thought equally noble, and assumed into that Royalty, which we have so well deserved. It were inhuman and irrational for to confer the highest advancements on any one's child or offspring, and in the mean time let the miserable parents sordidly languish in poverty and contempt. Now if we had not been, men had not had that which they so eagerly desire and passionately covet. 'Tis we that prepare and present it to Man, whose acknowledgement we desire and precedency accordingly▪ 'Tis we that cover even Queens themselves, and the wives of the greatest Princes and Nobles, and make them flame and sparkle like stars in comparison of the other. 'tis we that give ornament and Majesty to Kings and their Grandees, and we conceive it but equitable, that those, on whom we throw so much splendour and glory, should accordingly prefer and honour us. This is but what Lex Talionis, and the justice of reciprocal obligation doth require 'Tis we that cast a greater lustre on the very Crowns of Princes, and make them flame and radiate like so many counterfeit Divinities. 'tis we that make sceptres brighter, and more splendid by the light which we contribute. 'tis we that make the royal Robes so stiff, and therefore as we pay so high a tribute to the service of the royal dignity, so we make our just and legal claim to the same pre-eminence above all other, still remaining as Tributaries to man, and this we hope will not be denied us, unless those, whom we with so much care and diligence have always obliged, be pleased either to forget, or not understand those great services we have performed unto them, and instead of acknowledging of courtesies, incur the censure of the highest ingratitude; having said thus much, he held his peace, and retiring within his Shell, enclosed himself.   

The be.  
AFter him stood up the be, a Creature extremely little, and of the smallest making, but one that with his noise and humming filled the Court with clamour enough; besides he was very formidable with his Sting, in case of provocation or affront. This magnanimous little one thundered it out thus. And I am also here before thee Man, O judge, to lay a claim unto the kingdom, which I suppose you will easily admit me to, in regard nature hath already decided the controversy, and shaped and framed me as it were purposely for that end. For what Creature acknowledges a King, but a Man and a Bee? What Creature excels us in political wisdom? None at all. Therefore as Man commands us, so we command all other Creatures and things. Indeed our kingdom is held of Man, Man is Lord of the manor of the Universe, we are his freeholders, what we enjoy we hold under him. He serves God, we him, all things us. There is nothing that can destroy the kingdom established among ourselves, and we may easily enlarge it to this, if Man would be pleased to invest it in us. No Creature comes near us in Nobility of kind and splendour of birth; none hath a motion comparable with ours, none so offensively armed, as we with our stings, none so grateful to their benefactors, none approaches us in our art of music, none that contributes so liberally to the uses of Man, nay to the Gods, nay to all Estates and Degree●, as we shall easily manifest in our ensuing discourse.  
For our Nobility and Generosity, none will doubt it, that knows our family are not propagated by any nasty venereal ●oition, but by the peculiar indulgence and warmth of Heaven. For at first we are a sort of little worms, lurking in the ●ombes, which our noble Ancestors had curiously built, but after a little time we are strangely ennobled, and become Bees. Hence is it that in our very beginning we carry all the badges of honour about us, and are not made honourable but are borne so. They only are properly said to be ennobled that are advanced to a better or higher condition by a greater King or Prince, from whom they deserve it; but nature itself, who is the Queen of all things, ennobles us in the highest manner, that is to say, naturally and immediately whilst we lie in our Honey●ombs, which are our swathing-bands. And this she doth by a kind of remaking us, calling us as it were into the higher house of Animals. For a creeping worm and a flying fly differ very much both in kind and shape, for the aerial▪ Creature is of quality far greater than the reptile. And as our proportion is most chaste and innocent, so doth our kind retain a virginal kind of pudicity, and modesty, a matter which adds no small commendation to any Prince. What made Alexander the Great, and that excellent chieftain Scipio so famous, so esteemed of old, so cried up by all posterity, but their chastity? 'tis not so much violence and force of arms, which commend Man, and become him, as this only virtue, by which even bruits may obtain victory, but arrive at, or exercise chastity they cannot. Now if you will but put a just estimate upon celerity, as requisite in a King, whom it renders formidable and victorious, there is no Creature swifter than we, even through the air itself. Alexander, whom I just now mentioned, and Julius C●sar used always incredible celerity, and by this means victoriously overran the best part of the known World, which doubtless they had never done, had they ever admitted doubts into council, or delays in execution. Hence Alexander being asked by what means he subdued so many kingdoms in so short a time, answered {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, by delaying nothing. The other in a very short space fought over all Pompey's parties in three parts of the World, never failing of victory in respect his swiftness prevented all the counsels and designs of the Enemy, even so we by their example very nimbly and quickly strike our enemies with our little Javelins, but 'tis only when we are provoked by an injury, our indulgent Mother nature having given us these weapons for the rooting out drones, hornets and other mischievous infects. For as the common proverb says very truly, He that puts up one injury proffers himself to receive another Besides, A generous mind most easily awakes.  
'tis true we are slow to anger, but if we be provoked, much more furious than possibly could have been imagined such petit Animals could be.  

Magna etenim est nobis in parvo corpore virtus.  
We in small Bodies make great virtues shine.   
It was said of Tyd●us a very little man, but of a vast and gigantic spirit, For virtue enclosed in a narrow room becomes stronger by compression, and rushes out with a more vigorous violence upon its enemies. Notwithstanding all this, though we be so powerful in arms, and enjoy so great a command, we do not offer injury to any, no, we offer no affront or injustice to our professed enemies▪ the sordid robbers of our Hives, those people who absolutely desertless, do not only envy us the fruits of our own labours, but in seeking them seek our lives also. Yet in the heat of our wrath and agitation, with a little tinkling of music we are presently pacified, as great warriors have been said to be charmed out of their warlike humour into softness and retirement. We are therefore a musical Creature, and in this not unlike to Man. Let no Creature brag here, that his garbage is fit for music and instruments, we ourselves are living and moving instruments, perpetually cheering ourselves, while we labour in our chemical extractions, and upon the hearing of any other noise easily appeased.  

Hic Rhodus, hic salta: nam quae non fecimus ipsae,  
Vix ea nostra voco.—  
Here's Rhodes! here Dance; what's by another done,  
Belonging not to us we cannot own.   
We during life sing, and not as mutes after death are inspired by others, as the sheep and Goose ridiculously glory; we send forth a sound which is very pleasant, and all agreeable tunes are welcome to us, of which we ourselves are the fittest judges, none other. But as to the profits accrueing by us unto Man, I shall speak a little, and were there nothing else, certainly we ought not to be debarred this claim of Royalty. The benefits accrueing from our little Nation are large and vast, and they especially consist in two things. What have you sweeter, what pleasanter, what more healthful than Honey? Hence an old man very fresh and lusty in his old Age being demanded by what means so many happy and healthy years had attended him, he replied, it was by using Honey within his Body and oil without. Honey therefore is an ingred●ent principally contributing both to length of Life and Preservation of sanity, 'tis most delightful to children, acceptable to Women and salubrious to the aged. Of this many Nations make drink as good as Wine, but much more convenient for many maladies. This is made use of in colder Diseases, to which the Northern Nations are subject to, with very happy effect they call it Hy● dromel, or Mead or Metheglin, &c. because it is made of Water and Honey, as they do oenomeli, because it is made of Wine and Honey. From Honey and us the Mothers of it, that invincible hero, Samson put a considerable riddle as we read in Scripture. Of the making of Honey and the Government of Bees, Virgil and other excellent Writers ●●ade it their business to write whole volumes, which with so much curiosity and diligence they had not performed had they not seriously considered our utility to mankind. In medicine, Honey is of divers great uses, (besides the former drinks which we have mentioned) both in preserving and assisting the virtues of simples, as in Roses and innumerable others, and though to the choleric and splenetic it is not so convenient by reason of their incumbent distemper, yet to phlegmatic and melancholy men, it is an excellent remedy joined with other things. So much shall suffice as to Honey, whose excellencies to enumerate in particular, I might spend the whole day, but I must confine myself. We are now to speak of our Wax, from which Man reaps three extraordinary advantages. The first is that of Wax-candles, which are not only exceedingly useful in Churches and sacred places, but also in private Houses. In Churches it is apparent, in that we burn a perpetual Holocaust, as it were unto the Almighty, prolonging our flame much more longer than any thing else, which is accensible, which is known to the generality of mankind, where we have been in use, not only Christians but Heathens themselves, for the one courts their Idols and Devils, the other their Saints & Confessors with wax and ceremonies. 'Tis we that offer our first fruits to God, and our T●thes to the Church: We are the principal Architects that design our wax in our Escurials, in which all the wit of man hath not been to understand or follow us, nor the ingenuity of Artificers to counterfeit us. And in this consideration we must needs appear to be not only subservient to Religion, but very contributory to Man himself, in which double discharge of out duty, we far outstrip all other. For private houses none will call it in question, that hath been in the Palaces and hostels of Kings and Princes, at whose tables in the night we diligently watch, consuming ourselves to be serviceable to them, which istruly the character of a King, and therefore owing to us as the authors of so great a benefit.  
Secondly, it must be remembered, that in all medicines outwardly, applied to the body of man, as in plasters, salves, and ointments; it is Wax that gives its assistance and that to all affections of parts and diseases; besides, the oils that are drawn from it, are of very great use. The last, but most considerable, is, that the Ancients had waxen Tables, and books enriched and embellished with all kinds of Sciences, and at this day, as formerly men preserve seals, those faithful witnesses of all contracts impressed upon it, to the great profit of all commonwealths. As for Books and Tables, all agree, that are versed in Antiquity, how they were used, before searchfull and restless mankind had found out other things to write upon: For then, in tables covered with Wax, or else upon linen, tempered with it, they engraved and writ all their business with a sharp Puncheon, and so conveyed them away by couriers. Therefore Kings and Princes, and all others whatsoever, were enforced to make use of our help for the communicating of counsel, and our spoils were their ambassadors. And not so only, but volumes of Wax were the great conservators of all Arts and Sciences, especially laws; without which, the life of man is miserable and belluine. Now it is apparent, how much the impression of Wax, upon a seal, hath force and authority; nothing is firm and constant in all compacts, unless Wax, as Umpire, close up the league; unless Bees, with the ruin of part of their own dwelling-houses, gave them strength, force and virtue: Therefore as all human things are governed by Wax, so are they preserved and confirmed, not by a waxen, but rather Adamantine chain. For it was truly said of the Poet,  

Pan primꝰ calamus cerâ conjungere plures Instituit.  
Pan was the first taught many reeds to join with Wax, &c.   
For all human businesses, if we well mind it, are by this coagulated and cemented together: for what any man hath promised to another by his seal impressed in Wax, whether it be for service, or debt, or mean promise, it is the ligament and the tie that Pan, that is to say, all business requires. Let my Competitors, the calf, Sheep, and Goose, flourish out their deserts in this kind, this is a business proper only to me. What are Letters without Seales? Marry what bells are without Clappers. What are Men without Faith? Shades and Speeches, nay things civilly dead. Pray what are Calves or Sheep-skinnes made with a great deal of do into Parchment, and scribbled with goose-quills, which have made such a noise, to what end or purpose are they, unless we afford them Wax for their Labels? None at all; nay if the Wax be but taken off, or broken, or defaced, they are taken as invalid, and not writ It is Wax therefore that gives them credit, & brings them into reputation, that they may be valid; take it once off, and they are employed in the most sordid us●s. Therefore no man is doubtful of recovering any thing that is past under another man's seal, since by this means, the writing which in itself is dead and unactive, recovers life and strength. While we are speaking of seals, it must also be remembered, how much other Images and plastics are concerned in it. In many Churches, we observe many Images merely cast of Wax, as also in profaner places, where they had the Statues of themselves and Ancestors religiously preserved in an orderly Series. Hence, even in Rome itself, they were called fumosae cerae, that is, smoky wax-Images, and he was accounted of the most ancient and noble Family that could produce most of them, and on the contrary otherwise. Besides, there are often made Images to the life, coloured after several manners; which, since they are as various as inidividuals themselves, I forbear to mention. From what I have said will be easily evin●ed, that the royal preeminency is due to them for whom I plead, above all other, and no doubt but you will think fit that we, who so justly administer justice to our own nation, may also be thought the fittest to exercise government over others. For in our Monarchy (I fear me I shall not have time enough to insist at large) there is so much Majesty, Prudence, and harmony of Order, that even Man himself may seem from us to have learned the Arts and Secrets of Monarchical Government, rather than we from him, as many Writers have affirmed. Our King is borne with marks so visible, both by his beauty, bigness, and singular wisdom, yet without sting or passion, that we all yield an unanimous obedience, and never acknowledge any but himself: 'Tis on him we labour, as our governor; 'tis for him doing justice, and disposing of affairs in his palace-royal in the midst of his Hive, that we attend; 'tis for him, when he makes his Cavalcade, that we join together to make a triumph; nor do we ever break the order in which we are marshaled, without his particular command; we wait on him out, we bring him back. This and other things of this nature, some speculative men have looked upon with so much admiration, that relinquishing all other business, they have spent all their days in this employment, manifestly inferring the ineffable wisdom of the divine disposer of all things from this one demonstration. All which things, if you also, worthiest chancellor, be pleased to weigh in your maturest judgement, I question not but you will award the Regality unto me, who by so many Endowments, Services, and Obligations to Man, conceive all other, be they of what bu●k they will, are much inferior; nor doubt I, that your judgment will either be so biased, or misinformed, as that I may ever have occasion to complain of your discretion or equity.   

The silkworm.  
THe silkworm was for a long time desirous to speak, but the rule and order of the Court enjoined him silence, but now strutting and swelling, and impatient, of further delay, he broke out thus;  
Though these my competitors have had priority of speech, yet I doubt not of obtaining so much, as the assignment of priority of reign, if I may but be fairly heard, that is to say, if the praise of my nobility or birth, the artifice and skill of my work, the vast and several profits which I liberally bring unto Man, can confer upon me this high and royal dignity; in all which, how gloriously and justly I triumph, I shall now show you. For the first, though I shall not be very lavish, yet since others have insisted on it as an especial Character of their eminency, and worth; I see not how I am in the least beneath any of them: For who was ever able by the subtlest enquiry, to search out my nature, which is admirable in so many changes? From a little seed warmed by the heat of the Sun, or the breasts of Virgins, there are produced certain little worms, both living and active. These in the springtime, being laid open in the lesser leaves of Mulberry-trees, daily, like other worms, increase and enlarge themselves every way, till at length they become very great worms, and of divers colours. This is our rise, this the manner of our birth, which is therefore admirable, that an Insect with four wings sheds that seed, and a little worm is produced by it. There is a very great difference between these two Animals, yet one is the Cause and Womb of the other; But that is the excellent artifice which is woven out of the bowels of this Worm, while it lies glutted and surcharged with the juice of the leaves of Mulberries: For it begins to spin and wind up about itself certain silken threads, which no imitation of man can possibly follow. These threads are reeled by man, and gathered into divers skeins, which are employed in severeall uses, the utilty whereof, how great it is I cannot so well demonstrate, it is so vast and large. The Raw-silk undied is pale and yellowish, but by dying is taught to lie an infinity of colours. Hence are there threads wound up to a thousand uses, and some woven into stuffs of different kinds▪ Hence see you so many different silks▪ differently made with great workmanship which employ the heads and hands of most Artificers, who severally, as their Genius and design leads them, disguise us into things suitable to the pleasure or profit of Man. Consider, I pray you, only this, how many men, women, and children, earn their bread by our service, that is to say, by unweaving what we weave to their hands: Hence the dyers and their great families live merely by doing us service, that they may change and vary the Fruits of our Labours into divers colours. Next to these, the Weavers have a share, who with our skeins once died, make Stuffs, and taffatas of different natures. Hence comes Velvet, and indeed all other kind of Silks whatsoever. These come to be bought by the Mercers, and make a great part of his stock, being afterwards dispersed into several Nations and Cities, for the use of Man: And these four sorts of people are so populous and excessive in number, that there is no Prince, be▪ he never so potent, be his Dominions never so wide, that dare vie with us to number so many Subjects: yet these vast multitudes acknowledge us, and confess they receive their Bread and Sustenance from us. But besides these, those who have their clothing from us, as being without number, cannot be reckoned; not to say any thing of Emperors and Kings, nor of lesser Princes, though they glitter in what they borrow from us, I will only instance in private persons. Do but see how any inferior fellow, when ●e hath once got upon his back a piece of Stuff, which our kind had carefully provided for him, how he struts, looks big, and domineers: There is nothing that more usually changes the minds of men, than clothes, which is a business owing unto us: Nay even some adorned with our excrements, think themselves safe and concealed from those vices which they carry in their bosoms. Have you not, I pray you, a good opinion and esteem of him, that being followed by a long train of servants, is wrapped up and covered with our webs? Although▪ consider him in his inward man for his worth or honesty, he be the basest and w●●kedest creatur● living. On the other▪ side, do you not take him to be a vile and an object creature, who appears only in bare and pittifll rags, although▪ it may be the cover of never so honest, a great and candid soul? Thou thyself, O Man, very well knowest, that even he that is arrived at the greatest pitch of Letters and Science, is either not at all, or very little esteemed, if he be not well clad, and appear in a garb suitable to his quality; and yet you will not find any man, be he never so inconsiderable and low of spirit, if he be but gaily clad in Silk, but he thinks he ought to be esteemed and take place before him: such a prerogative have our webs, which if you will deny, I am ready to justify it by a true story. Philip, D. of Burgundy, surnamed the Good, found one night in Gaunt, a fellow very drunk, and fast asleep: This fellow he made some of his followers take up and carry with him to the Palace, where they stripped him of his nasty and dirty rags, and putting him on a fair holland shirt, laid him in one of the Duke's beds; the next morning a company of Pages, who were very handsome youths, and well clad, attend him till he awak●d, which when they perceived, humbly▪ addressing▪ themselves▪ to him with the same speeches and gestures, with the same courtship and submission that they used toward the Duke himself; they asked him what clothes he would wear that day, and withal, showed him several rich suits, that he might make his choice. The fellow at the first was plunged in a million of doubts, whether this was a vision or no; he could not be satisfied within himself about the place, or whether he was the man they intended, or himself was changed from his former person into another; but when he saw that persons of honour attended him with precise obedience, and who with all respect, demanded of him, whether his Highness would be pleased to rise and return to his wonted exercises; He began to be really persuaded, that himself was the Duke they intended. Having therefore put on one of the Duke's suits, and finding it fit for him, he was confirmed in his belief, that he was the Master of so many Servants, and (wonder at that sudden impression made upon his spirit) the most powerful Prince of the whole Region; then with a great train following him▪ he is conducted to the Park adjoining to the Palace, then to the fishponds, then▪ to Breakfast, after that he spent his time in visiting other places, discoursing about several matters, in which whole occurrence the slave as to shape and habit, counterfeited the Duke well enough; but his understanding and the rest of his deportment, spoke him (what really he was) a cobbler. At length he is solemnly called on to dinner, where there bore him company the greatest Beauties of the Court, and men of the best Quality; thence is he brought abroad to hunt, attended by all the Court, furnished with the best dogs, and mounted on the best Horses. At his return supper stayed for him, where he was entertained with variety of choicest dishes, and while they about him very ceremoniously drunk his health in the strongest Wine, he very naturally (as loving it with all his heart) became as drunk as before, and fell into a sleep that approached death as near as possible, then D. Philip, (who all this while among the Courtiers, had attended the fellow in a disguise, whilst the other sustained the person of a Prince) commanded him to be clothed again in his former vestments, and to be carried to the place from whence he was brought, and there left. This late Duke measured out the night with a sound sleep, but when he awaked and found his lodging changed he began to be very doubtful of his condition, enquiring of himself whether he were he that he now seemed, or rather that Duke which he lately thought himself: but when he could not otherwise persuade himself, there being present so many circumstances, especially his torn and old clothes to convict him, that he was a mean cobbler, but more in regard there was nothing at all to witness he had been a Duke, he returned home and related unto his wife the adventure as a dream he had had the last night, that he had been in the Duke's Palace, how he had been treated, how he recreated himself with walking and hunting, how he had fared, and (in short) All. From all which it is apparent, that garments made of our silk, have a strange power of persuasion upon the minds, not only of them that wear them, but also upon the beholders of the quality and worth of the persons; For many when they see themselves laden with the spoils of silkworms, although they be men of the meanest rank, and of souls not tinctured with the least generosity or literature, begin to persuade themselves that they are really such as they are accounted (as the cobbler did) when they see every man humour, flatter, and fawn upon them: others when they see a man shining in Silk, never at all consider him as a silkworm, or for a Bird whose nest is only made of skeins of Silk, but mistake him for such an one, as who being more powerful, we ought to obey, who being the more lovely we ought to court, who being more learned, we ought to assent unto, and who being superior, we ought to give place unto; you see what strange charms there are in our webs; the loadstone does not more powerfully allure the Needle, than those attract the eyes of men to them, and bewitch them, Hence came these Verses.  

Hunc homines decorant quem vestimenta decorant,  
In vili veste nemo tractatur honest;  
Vir bene vestitus pro vestibus esse peritus  
Creditur à mille quamvis idiota sit ille;  
Si careas vestte nec sis vestitur honestè  
Nullius es laudis quamvis sis omne quod audis.   

Men honour him, to whom clothes honour give,  
None in Course clothes does civil usage find:  
Men, a well-cloathed man, well learned▪ believe,  
Be he a sot and ignorantly blind.  
If thou want cloaches, and if they be not neat,  
They'll scorn thee, though thou know'st all they repeat.   
Nam talis primà fancy presumitur quis esse qualem vestes eum indicant, l. item apud 15. sec. si quis virgins, F. de injur. & famous. Libel. A man at the first sight is to be judged according to his babit. I confess indeed, some Barbarous Nations know not the use of our webs, going naked, mangled and tanned, not being able to put a right estimate upon them. But than we are to consider, that as they know no shame, so they know no ornament; having no sober and rectified judgement, whereby to put a value upon our work: we, in some forests of Asia, voluntarily adorn the Trees with our webs, few or none there esteeming their price, which we perceiving, thought fit to remove, but not unto the negroes in Africa, a naked and unarmed people; but we choosed rather to pitch our tents in Europe, which hath treated us with so much tenderness: But we cannot but express our piety and gratitude to so careful a Foster-mother. Here are we fed with the lesser leaves of the Mulberry-tree, and we, by way of gratitude, for our nursing leave them our Silks: Some have been said to have bred us in the breasts of Virgins, we in requital cover not only their breasts, ●ut adorn and fashion their whole bodies by our labours, so that they seem to be rather made and brought up by us, than we by them; they indeed may give colour to our skeins, but we add lustre and splendour unto them. There is one thing which I am very much astonished at, and whose cause cannot find out▪ after my most curious research, from whence Man, cloath●d by us, grows proud, when we ourselves are neither proud, nor are at all adorned by our webs: whence their spirits come to be so raised and blown up, while we quietly labour in all humilty: our diet's homely, and of a single dish, nay all our business is still one and the same: How comes it then that so ma●● different passions should attend silken garments? Indeed I see no other reason, but those several accidents and usages by which silk is varied, by dying, by weaving, by sewing. By dying, because the colours with which we are inbued, are not only divers, but of divers properties; some are made of Vegetables, some of minerals, nay indeed, some of animals themselves, in all these, there is a several variety which differently touches and works upon the heart. The Red and Purple are belived to be very restorative unto it: so others also imprint their little influences upon it, though it be not so easy to assign the Reason▪ And it is very possible, that by weaving such an effect may likewise happen: but especially by sewing, we see the figure and new shape of any new matter, gives it a great deal of grace. Now by the shape of any thing, the heart is easily won to esteem, or any other passion: Whatever is the cause, be it in the matter, be it in the form, be it in the subject itself, that is to say, the body, or the mind of Man; 'tis the same thing, since we by our Threads contribute nothing to it, unless there be some hidden cause in it which is too nice and subtle for my indagation. This I know, our diet is Mulberry-leaves, and methinks they should not nourish us with any pride: But Man using our threads laboured and spun out of the leaves of trees, not forgetting his ancient nakedness in Paradise, which he would have covered with Fig. leaves, seems to be proud now that he has found out so excellent a remedy, as instead of them to be clothed with the leaves of Mulberry, lest he might appear naked, or, according to his old barbarity, be glad of a sheepskin. For my part I shall not much press it home unto him, that he uses only the leaves of a Mulberry tree, transformed and altered in the maw of a Worm; and thus only to hide his nakedness, to disesteem the simplicity of his first Fathers, or that it is but justice that he should be covered with the excrements of Worms, who is after to become their nourishment: Man in this being very prudent to consider, first what he was when he came into the world naked, and what he shall be after death, either putrefactive, or putrefaction: and if we well consider it, I may well infer, that we are noble, and of a nature friendly to man, when we prevent his unhappiness by covering him with our labours, and furnishing him with good instruction, rather than offensive to him, in putting him in mind of his fragility by our own. What is more noble and generous than Man? What more wise, more prudent? Yet he himself acknowledges, that we are not unworthy to provide him fleeces, and furniture to cover and adorn himself, whereby to heighten and manifest his reputation: Therefore I know none who will deny us to be most noble creatures, since we add nobility unto the noblest: 'Tis nothing that the Sheep be she English or Spanish, or of any other Country, should bring his Wools in competition with us, since we have had priority of esteem, by prescription of long time, and keep at the present possession: 'tis fit therefore the Sheep do homage to the silkworm, and not the contrary: We, as fed with the leaves of tall trees, whilst they, content with roots, and a little short grass, are penned up in bare and barren pastures; there we seated in an higher fortune, derived by nobler birth, and better nature, leave our rich fleeces to serve the magnificence of Man; they are of an inferior condition to their wools unless admirable skill, dying, workmanship make it somewhat, is only sought after and used by the meanest persons. From what I have said there evidently results thus much, What profit accrewes unto man by our Webs, and how great it is, that the Royalty can with no right, but rather all the injustice of the world be denied me. The merits of the CALF, SHEEP, GOOSE, are very great; The OYSTER, and the BEES, are indeed very considerable, yet the silkworms, are the most ample unto man, especially him who richly clothed 〈◊〉 our webs, is master of higher and sharper reason, and for most part sits Chanc●●or in those weighty differences of this nature.   

FLAX.  
HItherto the animals of several Classes, sought praeheminence by declaring their several worths. Liberty of Speech now devolved to the Vegetables, which as they want sense and motion, are accounted of an inferior and meaner degree: FLAX, therefore, though it seemed for this reason to be slighted by the others began to speak in this manner, I believe none of this assembly, much less yourself, most worthy Judge! will wonder why the orders which in this dispute you commanded us to observe, did assign me this turn of speaking, because I may seem the most inconsiderable among you: but since I am clearly of a far other opinion, and it is known by experience, that the youngest and most unworthy in all counsels, are first demanded their Opinion, and afterwards the Ancients and Sages, I take it not ill at all, but rather render my thanks to the L. President for being pleased to place me in the order wherein I stand, you have heard Sir the animals and so many of them all this while pleading for themselves, and therefore I hope you will grant me who am chosen single to represent the whole vast number of VEGETABLES some little Time to remonstrate our Rights.  
But if any one may speak of the advantages rendered unto Man, no doubt the praeheminence of Flax will o'ertop all the rest. And although it be not easily accommodated to that end, But requires abundance of labour in the preparation, yet once obtained, it is crowned with the greatest advantages, nay so great that the life of Man would be much more sad and disadvantageous without it; and therefore they have thought it no matter of shame to employ all their industry in their several managements of it, in order to fit it to their own use, which doubtless they had never done, had they not been allured by great hopes, and confirmed by equal success; for all things which in themselves are handsome and good, and least noxious, are scarce and rare, and seldom obtained by Man, but after the greatest difficulties, and hardest labours, as is witnessed by Hesod, That the God's place Sweat before Glory, and the old Romans permitting any man to set his foot into the temple of Honour, before they had past through the chapel of virtue. Nay, even in common things, before we can eat the Nut, we must first crack it, and throw away the shells; So before man can use flax to the best advantage, it must be so prepared, that first the seeds must be thrown into a ground excellently well manured, and when 'tis grown up so much as to carry the shape of a plant, it must be often freed from some other more unworthy weeds as may pester it. When 'tis ripe, then 'tis to be plucked up, than the seeds are to be separated by drawing them through combs or rakes; next, these being reserved, all the rest must be macerated in water, that it may putrify for almost 12. days. Then it must be laid in some dry and windy place, that it may be dried either by the sun, wind, or ayr.. After this drying of it, it must further endure the heat of a Furnace, till it become fragile and friable, than it must be broken and pounded, not all, but the grosser part of it, for there will remain a rind, which cannot be broken, as being of too ductile and easy a substance. Then must it be separated by wooden Cleavers, as it were with Hatchets, or to say better, the hard substance made more soft, and separated from the thinner parts. Then is it fit that it be kemed through with Iron-Hatchels, and next that, by finer than these, it be purged from his thicker and shorter threads, that so at length it may be fit to be spun: Then is it wound up into hanks to be washed, both with Water and Lee, and when once dried, is brought together into bundles, which by the means of the Weaver are made linen, which having tried both the sun, and rain, and Water, is purged into a curious whiteness; and lastly, it comes to be appropriated to the use of man, by cutting it, and stitching it together. The profit of this linen, which is so exceedingly various, is obtained through all this labour; and I believe nothing in all the world needs so much preparation, therefore it was very fit I should have mentioned it.  
What the silkworm hath said of her threads may be possibly true, but if they were to be made serviceable by so many tedious ways, I cannot but imagine they would be of rarer use; yet all this hath so little affrighted mankind, that by how much their pains are greater, they have been so much the more pleasant in obtaining the use of flax, of which I shall say little and briefly; The profits of it are so many, both in the seed, threads, or linen made of them, nay of linen itself after it hath been decayed. In the Seed, either for itself, or for the oil drawn out of it: in itself, as in medicine, the seed is applied for emolliency and maturation; the oil extracted from it, is of so piercing a tenuity, that it can only be preserved in Glasses or Bladders, not in any Earthen vessels, be they never so well prepared, for it sweats and evaporates through them.  
The use of this oil extends itself to the tempering of Colours, and several other things, besides what it is in physic, but all these I pass by. I proceed to threads, which are of various use both to tie and bind up any thing, or to stitch up any thing, whether it be for use or ornament. Nay, there are made from them several stuffs, though they be not called linen, such as are Linsey-wolsyes, and kerseys, and silks, and half silks, which serve not only for clothes, but other uses of Men. But linen above all the rest is the most desired and prized. Man might want the others, or supply himself with something in their stead, but if he wanted linen (as unexperienced Antiquity did before it knew how to use flax) he would be obliged to a great deal of troublesome and vexatious labour.  
For to instance in the first place, Shirts and Wascoats, if he wanted them, we should be forced to use only Woollen, from whence we should have a great putrefaction arise from the Wool taken from the Beasts, by the warmth of the skin into dirt and foetor, from whence we should have worms plenty enough, or the lousy disease, which once creeping upon him, would either engage him to change his clothes often, or every day be troubled with the voidance of so much nastiness as we know by experience, for those that use Woollen next their skin, are the most subject to this disease, a thing not known where they wear good linen, and that often changed.  
Hence in former times, when the use of linen was not so common, as it is in this age, they were forced in Italy (where the warmer air did in Summer cause their bodies to transpire more) every day to wash themselves, which occasioned so many magnificent Baths to be built in Rome and other places, in which the Emperors themselves often, and all people else washed themselves, and so spent their time in Frictions and unctions, as though they had been borne for no other end▪ Nay many there were, who, content to abuse this matter of necessity, into an entertainment of pleasure, were so immoderate in it, that Galen the Emperor is said to wash four or five times a day, which I would not have said as if I understood not but that the old Romans knew what linen was, but that I would intimate that it was in greater esteem, and rarer use than it is at present. Thus we read that Caesar covered the whole Roman Forum with linen, Virgil. l. 1. Georg.  

Urit enim campum Lini seg●s—  
For hempseed burns the field.   

Plautus in Mostel.  
Linteum cape tuque exterge tibi manus.  
Take the Towel and wipe your hands.   
Therefore the Egyptian Priests in all Antiquity, used linen Surplices, witness even the Poets, Ovid 1. Metam.  

Nunc Dea Linigerâ colitur celeberrima turbâ.  
Yet men in linen vestments still adore this famous goddess.   

And Invenal. Sat. 6.  
Qui grege linigero circundatus & grege calvo  
Plangentis populi currit derisor Annbis.  
Followed by linen Priests, and a bald train,  
Anubis runs and laughs, poor men complain.   
Ilius Apol●nius Thiganeus the Philosopher, is reported to have the same habit, because this as is said, was accounted more pure and clean, than that which was torn and fl●●d off other animals. Besides, by reason of the scarceness or want of linen, the ancients used to anoint themselves with oil, and exercised themselves in public places, even to sweating, after which they employed themselves in swimming near the Campus Marti●s and other places, which as they did not only very much conduce to cleanliness, so did it very much further all martial exercises. Hither must we refer the Art of wrestling, and Leaping, and dancing, which is only a motion of the Body, directed according to Art, as also Frictions of the Limbs, so often repeated every day, of all which physicians have thought them elves concerned to write, as of matters belonging to Health: But of them which look throughly into the Matter, the chief end of all the pains, and hardy exercise, was only the preservation of cleanness of Body. But afterward custom and habit of these things, turned it into another nature, and made it be believed as necessary for Health, which may hence appear, that without Lotions and clearing the Body of its frequent superfluities, they were so pestered, that they contracted the diseases I have mentioned, and by this means the whole day was unprofitably spent in Bathings, Frictions, Unctions, sweating exercises, wrestlings, and dancings, especially by those great ones that seemed to live for no other end but to please themselves, when all others of a meaner rank, they were forced by the sweat of their brows to earn their bread, seldom or never cleansing themselves by such chargeable ways, were vexed with an hundred diseases, which may well make appear, that the life of man is very miserable and uncomfortable without the use of linen, which we find to have been not only the experience of former Ages, but the misery of some Nations at present, which I conceive I have demonstrated enough to the ignorant themselves. For in purging of linen, they are of so different a Nature from the Body of Man, that filth is not so easily contracted and putrified into worms, whereas it is otherwise in silk and cloth: The cleanliness of Man is therefore chiefly to be attributed to linen, to which that must be solely attributed, and is withal that which defends him from those humours, which in itself it dries up. And consequently we are to infer all that time, which men of all Ages and Qualities wast in Bathings and idle care of their bodies, whilst their greater business, graver Studies, employments or Devotions, are neglected, is now merely owing to us, as a benefit so mainly conducible to the commodious Conduct of life. But if Princes were to Bathe four or five times a day, and so often to be rubbed or exercised in so many manners, allowing them their times of eating, I should ask of you when they should be at leisure to assist in the weightiest counsels for the welfare of their Subjects? When shall they hear the Petitions and the cries of the oppressed poor? When shall they judge them? When shall they relieve them? Not to speak of the lesser points of their duties. The use of linen therefore is absolutely as necessary as bread, nay, I say, more profitable, the want of bread may be endured, Nay, recompensed with other delicacies, but the want of linen cannot possibly. In Tables and Beds they yield the same cleanliness, as also in Towels, Shirts, and handkerchiefs: and thus much for their necessity.  
But if we will consider the habit of women, and the pride they solely derive from hence, we shall find that by several kinds of linen, they appear not only so acceptable and graceful, but they appear as ugly and contemptible without it, but I rather choose to wave this topic, in respect I am afraid I am not able to enlarge it according to the merits of its cause. To all this we shall add, (though very briefly) two other uses of linen, whereof no Antiquity hath been ignorant, to wit, that all Navigation, which stretches as far as the world itself, hath been performed by linen and Canvas sails. Virg. 3. AEneid.  

— Certum est dare Lintea retro.  
Let's draw our Canvas back;   
that is to say our sails. Which gift how great it is, a small space of Time suffers me not to declare; above all this, that books anciently were made of linen, as those of the Sibyls which Livy mentions in his 4th. Book. So Pliny, Lib. 13. Chap. 13. tells us, that all used to be written in Leaden and linen volumes. Nay, and in our age, we many times find somewhat either to be written or painted, or printed upon the purest Holland. What we have for the present said, for the use of linen, while it is whole, though we have in a manner but touched at it, and cursorily argued, may I think suffice: but when linen hath been so oft fouled and applied to so many uses, and that so long, till it fall in pieces, behold a new production. For the rags both of linen and cloth, be they never so much sullied, or torn, are gathered together to be carried to the Paper-mill, where they make their choice and wash them, and then steep them in water till they be in a manner putrified, than they beat them into a kind of poultice, which being made very thin, and besprinkled with water, or laid upon little nets of Wire, is made Paper, whether it be course and fit to wrap Wares in, or Writing Paper, or royal Paper; which being once dried, smoothed, spread, and done with Allome water, brings innumerable helps to the conversation of man. I beseech you now let Calves-skins▪ sheepskins, the waxen table, which the calf, Shee● and Bee have passionately pleaded for desist any farther competition, since that from flax and linen there arises a new thing, that like the phoenix out of her own ashes, shades and darkens all their utilities, and renders them inconsiderable. I sh●ll not quote to you the several uses of Merchant-paper▪ fitted not only for the wrapping up of things, but I shall say there is no man that can be ignorant, that Books and Letters are written in Paper, and printed in such abundance, that the Skins of any other Animals, nor wax would be able to supply so great a defect. By the use of Paper, the world hath enlarged the use of Learning, Arts, and Sciences, and indeed all other excellencies. Now though we should grant that the ancients writ in plates of metals or wax, or in the barks of Trees, or in leaves of the Paper of Nilus, or indeed upon the Skins of Creatures, yet scarce any man could possibly achieve the use of so many books, without the greatest toil, irksomeness and cost; or carry them with him from place to place, although he were a Man of a most plentiful estate. From whence we must necessarily infer, that in that time men of lower Fortunes were withdrawn and deterred from their Study, by those two great difficulties, the matter upon which they should write, and the dearness of books. To instance, Ge●metricians were then forced to make their figures upon the Sand, that was therefore called the wisest part of the Earth, as appears in Archimedes (who also while he was in the Bath, drew Figures in oil upon his own body) who whilst he was in contemplation of some Diagramm's drawn in Sand, was slain at the taking of Syracuse by the Soldiers of Marcellus. Others that were very poor, have made use of several things, whereupon they might write the Lectures of their Masters, as Cleanthes did the hooves of Mules and divers other things. But at the present, we have such abundance of what may serve them in this kind, that merely by the courtesy of flax, the poorest man may have enough wherewithal to read, whereby to learn, and wherein he may dispose all things he hath either read, or hath been taught.  
And hence it comes, that so many Arts and Sciences have ascended into their Meridian, not by the use of Parchment or wax, but of Paper only. To Paper I say you must ascribe it, you, whoever are embellished with pure literature or sober Science, if your many and noble Books reach all Posterity, and oblige unto yourselves an eternal memory which will preserve both your names and works. For I must tell you, the use of Paper hath as much distinguished that of Pelts and Wax, as the invention of Bread did that of acorns. All Princes and Noble men study only Paper, to which they trust their most dark counsels, never considering that they are made of the most dirty rags of linen. For as a Potter once, came to be a King, and his golden Close-stool became an idol to the people, so the most shattered rags of linen are made Paper, which Princes are proud to guild and receive for addresses. The business of the greatest counsellors of Kings, lies only in poring upon Papers, and by this means they talk with dumb Teachers. What needs many words? Empires, kingdoms, Principalities are governed by Papers, all businesses entrusted unto them, and by that means preserved from Oblivion. The trust of the Chancery is to preserve these, out of which Papers once being let fly like Doves out of the Ark, they command, prohibit, perfect and enjoin all that Law and Equity requires. Papers therefore are the Messengers of Law, and Equity, which though silent speak, and though innocent betray all deceits. In Papers the physicians make their prescriptions, and therefore we may well call them the Causewayes to health. In Papers the Philosophers write their Theorems, and bring them home to the eyes of their scholars; so that we need not Sand or any other matter to blot and scratch upon, and therefore may conclude Paper to be the wisest of any thing. To Paper Lovers trust all their blandishments, and all their Courtships, and how oft do they receive the happiness of a kiss, which it may be the sender only lives in hope for?  
By Paper, one friend whispers himself in the ear, and enjoys his distant soul at distance. And indeed if Man first trusted his Body to linen before ever he knew that Paper was thought upon, now since it is found out, he finds it the only fit messenger to which he thinks fit to trust his mind, and of this must flax only glory; this is one of the most faithful of Man's lifeguard, to which as the most faithful Scout, he hath entrusted and resigned himself like some ancient Princes, or else some modern, to a German cohort.  
Flax needs not the help of any, all of it; no garment can be stitched together without flax, or it● daughter, Thread; but all linen garments consist of themselves by their own Threads and parts, without the help of any other. Pray look upon printed books, of what consist they? marry flax, and for the Letters the greatest part of them is oil of Linseed thickened, unto which I add, some Paper burned till it be black, (as it well may be) or any other smoke made of Linseed, you have an ink fit to print any Book. Therefore a whole printed book consists only of flax. Nor can any other claim a share in it, whether you will consider the Threads, or any thing else by which it is bound.  
flax carries all things within itself, all that it hath need of is its own dowry; The oil, which is extracted from its seed, is in the plant itself, nay, 'tis in linen and in Paper, which being fashioned into a pyramidal shape, and the Base set upon a broad piece of plain Copper, there will appear an oil, not without singular admiration, that through so many washes and vexations, it should be still steadfast to its old matter, to wit, Paper or flax.  
Now to sum up all these together, and to collect them into the nicest consideration, they are such and so great, as will not admit of any rival. Therefore unto me, as the most profitable to Man, as without whom he could not only live well, but must live very miserably, to me, without whom, neither Arts nor Sciences, nor affairs of Man in any condition, could either be delivered or received, I affirm this Diadem we now strive for, to be due above all the rest. And this I believe none will deny me, but such sottish Beasts, as never had the happiness to be acquainted with Letters, and therefore you, most Learned Arbiter, end this strife, and give your verdict for me who have the most right to it, nor envy me so great an honour, unless you have the mind to incur the reputation of injustice, by giving Sentence otherwise than you ought in equity.   

MERCURY.  
IT remained only, that he who was to speak last, MERCURY, should take his turn, a thing which being gathered out of the Mines by the Industry of Man, and accounted the meanest of all the rest, wanting sense and Motion which the animals possess, and the vegetative of Flax, none of the company feared to be entertained with a long Harangue, and therefore they desired him to dispatch with all brevity, that the Judge might at length satisfy their Expectations, by giving Sentence; But Mercury who very well knew their minds, did desire of the Judge liberty to speak at large in this manner. Hitherto, most prudent Judg●, you have most attentively and patiently listened, to the Remonstrances of all the rest, and no doubt do perfectly remember how much strength and weight there is in each of them, and therefore I humbly move that you will be pleased to hear me, in all that I shall offer to bring before you. I shall not study to gratify my Competitors by contracting or cutting off any thing that conduces to my purpose, but rather shall be engaged in necessity copiously, (with your permission) to discourse of all such things, as I may conceive essential & material to insist upon, which when the Judge had granted, now I shall very easily (says Mercury▪ save the rest a Labour of ever (for the future) disputing the prerogative either with me, or among themselves; For my nobility of Birth I shall not say much, though I find some that have spoke before have very much pleased themselves in this topic, I shall content myself to insist only upon the utility which I bring to Man, which is the rule of speaking prescribed. But this is so immense and so rich, that like the Prince of Rivers, the Nile (which dischargeth itself by a sevenfold stream unto the Mediterranean Sea) spreads and divides itself into so many branches, according to the number of metallic forms, which merely draw their rise and being from me. That I may therefore speak for myself, I shall first mention these half metals produced by my means Secondly of Lead, thirdly, of tin, fourthly of Copper, fifthly of Iron, sixthly of Silver, seventhly of Gold▪ For what concerns myself, I will justify I am in the greatest capacity to serve Man. Not to lose time in representing unto you the vain and unprofitable works of common chemists, whilst they labour about me, being but rude and volatile. I must confess all this toil is deplorable, and neither Laudable nor Profitable, yet notwithstanding out of all this erroneous practice, there results an Ingenuity of considerable advantages, four where of I shall chiefly select, First, That I am employed in separation of Gold and Silver; Secondly, For Guilding and Silvering; Thirdly, In other mechanical works, and lastly, in physic. Now by my means is that Gold brought into a body, which lies scatteredly dispersed in the Mudd or sediment of Rivers or Pools, and there is a mass of People, that by this means hunt Gold, as one would say out of the Waters, wherein their subtle and curious particles are strangely mixed, and upon trial subside all below in the manner of dregs. And by this means in Hungary, Sclavonia, and other Nations, where Rivers steer their course from mountains impregnate with Gold, as also in Germany and Silesia, they are gathered into a body merely by the help of Mercury, that is to say, those small Particles of Gold, which are washed and gnawed away from the main substance, by the violence of the waters, and by their motion dispersed, are by this means gathered, united and bodied, which were impossible without Mercury. For he, like an indulgent Mother of Gold, when ever she finds her Son gadding through other Elements or Waters, carefully takes it into his lap, until he restore it unto itself, and either direct it what to do, or what to declare, no otherwise than Virgil. AEneid 1. feigns Venus to appear before her son AEneas wandering in the woods near Carthage, and bring him into the right way.  
Gold being therefore gathered into a deductible substance, Mercury is percolated through Leather, and made serviceable to the same end again. Now is Gold melted in the Fire, and so reduced to its fresh continuity, that Gold so collected and gathered together in so great quantities, is to be ascribed to Mercury, that is to say, myself; otherwise it had perished or been neglected or lost, and consequently never have been serviceable unto Man; and in this point, I appeal only to Experience. Thus only profit surmounts all other considerations, in the like manner the Silver that is gathered out of the Mines of Peru, beaten and mingled with quicksilver, returns itself in incredible plenty, as may appear by the reports of those that have seen and managed it, and indeed the increase is so great, that it infinitely exceeds any Treasure. In the same manner Gold, though it be mouldered and brought into the most insensible particles by any Mill or Engine, is by this means brought together in case any remain, and this by the intercourse of Mercury, as the Reconciler and peacemaker. Any man may from hence think, that the defect of Mercury may be supplied with a violent heat, which might cause liquefaction, but in this they are deceived, for by reason of the Earthy and Clammy substance, in which the purer alums are immixed and buried, it were impossible to make a right separation with the single use of Fire.  
Now for Guilding and Silvering, I myself, Mercury am the sole Agent, for without me all endeavours of Artists are fruitless, and the reason is, the likeness of my substance with that of Gold and Silver; And this is not the least of my profits, that although Men by way of ostentation, may make use of Silver, or other kind of Plate, yet they enforce me to serve either their use or Magnificence: I am also employed in abundance of mechanical operations, some use me in Fishing, for the light and splendour I throw about me; some use me for the fourbishing of arms; some for the better moving and poizing of Engines, which particularly to insist on, I think not necessary in this place: But in Medicine I contribute such admirable advantage unto Man. When I am pulverised either with Gold or any other Body (so it be not corrosive or noxious) that I am the best Purgative Nature hath given us. This dust, although it be but meanly prepared, as it hath the name and attribute of Aurelian is a Panchymagôgon [a general Medicine] which I cannot aver to purpose without a particular discourse of all particular physic; yet see here, most sage Judge, to make good this point, I shall deliver some things that may very much conduce to the service of yourself and the rest of your Brethren, and my method shall be this; First, I will tell you the virtue of this Aurelian powder, then of the use and way of Administration, and lastly, I shall mention its admirable operation and effects. For the first, as to its virtues it is highly sovereign for all these diseases and affections, which proceed from any humours, whether antecedent or restaynant. With time, they are immunerable, I shall not bring them hither upon a precise account, but only in general, that it roots out and chases away all putrid fevers, Gouts, Swellings and Obstructions of any part, as also the great Pox, Palsies, lesser Apoplexyes, hypocondriac, Melancholy, paleness and jaundice in Women, the jaundice, chachexies, and growing Dropsies, for drawing out and evacuating any humours descending unto, and fermenting in the Bladder; which it does most powerfully, whether it be Wind, phlegm, Choler or Melancholy, as any matter Joyntly-Coagulated by them: In the Gout, it is the surest remedy which may well suffice, since under that name there are almost an hundred diseases comprised, though frequently lurking under more Common or different shapes: In Fluxes, inflammations and the like affection●, the dissolution of continuity, it may be very advantageously used, and upon experience hath done a great deal of good, but never any hurt, but rather (as in the maladies before mentioned) hath ever afforded present relief with God's assistance. Secondly, For the Dose, it is one two or three grains, to six or more, commonly three in children of three years old, two to them of two, in other that are stronger four or six; for the increase of the Dose is not dangerous, and the reason is, because it gently draws the Humours into the Stomach, as the Magnet does Iron to it, works not violently at all; it is taken most commonly in fountain water, or some Hot-water, as spirit of Wine, Cinnamon water, Aniseed water, Agnus Castus, spirits, or any other, especially in diseases not extremely hot in themselves, as Burning fevers, hot distempers or inflammation of the Liver, in which cases it is better taken in cold water, Carduus Benedictus, Endive or Rhenish Wine, or any other liquour, or in Diet or meals, in which it is m●st proper. Thus used, put one Dose into a spoonful of liquour, and stirring it well up with your finger, drink it off hastily, that so it may descend into the Stomach, if there stay any thing either in the Spoon or the Throat, wash it so often with the same liquour, till you have drunk it all, and are sure to have taken the full Dose: But this must be done in the morning, keeping yourself warm in Bed, neither sleeping, eating, nor drinking upon it. But in case of necessity it may be taken out of Bed, and business may be dispatched, some, as melancholy persons may stir abroad (if the sky be clear) and persons in health. It is given without any danger to all ages, as to children of two or three years old; nay to old Men, in whom you must consider abundance of Humours, lest they be too much stirred, but in children there needs not so much Caution: Thirdly, for the Operation it is thus, if the air be warm, or the Patient keep himself so, and drink warm broths, if he have a full body the humours work well and Plentifully; otherwise, if the air be cold, and he keep not himself warm, nor make use of an hot Vehicle, and his body be thin and extenuated, this Medicine will work much less, or not at all: if any should suddenly sleep, drink, or eat upon it, or casually take it in Pills, he would not want acquaintance of the effects of it▪ violently, moderately, or not at all; it never does any harm, for it hath not the Nature of other violent Purgatives, to do mischief, in case it fail of Operation: But commonly this is the effect of it, after you have taken it in a fitting liquour, if the disease be phlegm or any crude matter, this, though it be thick, tough, and clammy, is drawn out of the Mesariack veins, and the parts adjacent into the bottom of the stomach, where the Medicine seats itself, where if any considerable quantity be gathered, there arises a little loathing, which if it increase, it causes a desire of vomiting, which provoking and causing frequent spitting, throws out and egests all, but more easily by putting the finger in the throat: and by this means the ventricle being eased and evacuated, and freed from all that filthy matter that clogged it, which being preserved in a basin, till there be no further Spitting or Vomiting, you will find that sometimes one, two or three pound of ugly matter, is gently drawn out without much straining, and that with immediate ease, and relief of the Patient: And when all trouble of spewing or Spitting ceases, let him take ●●rme broth or meat. If the humour be 〈…〉 some Ginger in Wine or Beer, if the disease be hot and proceeding from a bilious matter, the Operation will be somewhat different; the like it is if Melancholy predominate. These humours for the most part work upward, the rest convey away themselves both upwards and downwards: Where, by the way, take these Cautions, that in Women or cachectick old Men, or any infected with the Pox, that you only give it once, and in warm drinks, as I said, and then stay till you see the effect of its working, after this it may be given again, (unless the disease be overcome) lest the Humour being plentiful should ascend to the upper parts, and the Patient falling asleep might find some vexation in his jaws, occasioned by such putrid vapours, which yet with any abstergent gargarism, as of Wine, Bole Almoniack, honey, or alum, boiled either with themselves, or with Betony, Mint▪ Plantain, &c. are washed away and Educt; In Melancholy diseases it draws away and cleanses all Humours like Pitch.  
This one Medicine being so gentle, so harmless, yet so effectual, is employed as the noblest Panchymagogon, both for the preservation of the Healthy, and may also be made use of in the cure of most of the maladies which I have mentioned, and in this particular you will acknowledge yourself not to be a little obliged to me, after you have made experience. Now although by sublimation with several kind or Salts, I am changed into a poison, which most properly is called Sublimate; or else by Abstraction, or reinfusion of strong or separating waters, upon the same Mercury. I am transformed into a ruddy substance, impregnant b● the dregs of those dangerous waters, with a fiery poisonous quality, which is commonly called precipitate, yet must not this be attributed to any Pravity inhaerent in me, but the mixture of such hurtful Salts, and the abuse of mankind. For Mercury is of itself an Antidote, not only against the Plague, but many other diseases, which is apparent from hence, that where it is most commonly found and managed, the Plague is most unknown, as in Istria: It is put also into plasters for Ulcers, and the lousy disease, and that without any danger. Nay to some it is given inwardly, mixed with conserve of Roses, as to children against the Worms; from whence you may observe its harmless and Innocent Nature. But I hasten unto other things, what I have said relates only to me in the state of my Fluor and Crudity. But when Nature hath once advanced me unto Semi-metalls, as Bisomuthum, Antimony, Zinkium, I am extremely commodious unto Man, and what is received from them, must be acknowledged also from me, as being their Crearix and Mother.  
The excellency of Tutia lies in curing the Eyes, in Cankerous Ulcers, and making Latin of Copper; the rest mingled either with other things, or singly prepared, produce an infinite variety of medicinal preparations, and those of as different forms and Colours, which since they are so innumerable, neither ought nor can be reckoned here; and for this reason also, impossible to put an estimate of the vast gains that Artists make by them: How Many Artificers, Merchants, chemists and physicians have huge incomes hereby, is above all account, and so I pass unto the second part of the progeny derived from me. To wit, Lead, adding only this to what I have formerly said; that the use of Antimony is so great, both in physic and chemistry, that it is scarcely to be demonstrated in a great volume, and therefore since others have written whole Tractates of the same subject, I shall rather acquiesce in them, than trouble you with repetition, or hazard my eloquence upon so Noble a theme; and besides this, my time is very narrow. But Lead is of principal use in all Metallshops, where Silver, Gold, Copper, and other mixtures, without the use of Lead could not be purified or separated. For melted Lead puts on the nature of Mercury, which gathers all fluxible matters unto itself, and among the rest Silver and Gold, from whence it is after separated by the Coppell, and draws away the other metals that are nearer a kin to it, as Copper and others, the Gold or silver remaining untouched upon the shell or Coppell of burnt Lead, is made Lythargury, which is most fortunately used in plasters and ointments. Nay, even Lead itself, either in powder, or the substance of a Leaden mortar bruised small, or else outwardly applied in plates, which are found to do a great deal of good in many diseases: In plates it is applied to wrested Sinews, swollen lips, inflamed reins, and the like, in the substance bruised, to Cancerous Ulcers, and all fistulas: Besides this, the uses of Lead are divers, Hence is coverings for Houses, Cisterns, Conduit-Pipes, and weights: Among the rest, what effect Leaden Bullets have in war, is a thing so known, that it needs not mentioning. But you will ask whether this be for advantage or detriment? slight, or strength? I stick not to confess it to be an abuse, but yet such an one, as men cannot well want, both for defence and convenience, therefore that they are able to make War, & destroy their Enemies, is all my gift, that is to say I myself changed into Lead. That several Medicines are applied, both inwardly, and outwardly, to several diseases, otherwise incurable; as the French Pox, Pthyryasis, vermiculation of Ulcers, inflammations of the Eyes and reins, Cankers, fistulas, and innumerable others, is merely the liberality of Mercury, and his children Tutie, Lythargury, Lead, and none other: Neither is it a wonder that Mercury should be both soldier and physician, since Apollo himself owns both qualities, and Pallas was ever equally addicted to Study and war; you know what the Poets have told us, that the Caduceus of Mercury, was endowed with two several Powers, that it could discharge the Souls of men out of their Bodies, and again remand them; send them to Hell, and afterward release them; which is most apparent in this, I sometimes heal the diseases of Men, & being transformed by Arts into good Medicines, free from death: I am another times poison & destruction unto him, as in the Wars or otherwise. But if any hurt arise from me, it must be imputed to the preposterous endeavours and designs of Men, which can turn the greatest Cordials into the most violent poisons. I come now to the third branch of my offspring, which is tin, this appears in more beauty and lustre than Lead, and therefore is employed in more noble and splendid uses, of this are all kind of Vessels, Dishes and Platters made, which Man makes use of, either in his Diet, or physic. Many Nations eat and drink out of it, and they hold it in great estimation, as very harmless, extremely bright and handsome. But of all kinds the English is clearly the best, as coming nearest Silver, and therefore it is most prized, it changes or infects nothing with its Sulphurous fume and contagion, but faithfully preserves all that is shut up and trusted to it. Therefore as Lead covers the outside of houses, so tin adorns the insides & the kitchen. Of the one are greater Vessels or Instruments made, of the other the Lesser and Finer. So both of them, though of a weak and ductile bulk and substance, serve and attend the uses of Man, as much as possibly lies in them.  
I shall say nothing of the profitable use of tin in Medicine, and in the colourings of Potters, which is very considerable. But to avoid prolixity, I shall step unto the next Branch, to wit, Copper, a substance of hotter Nature, and greater strength; of this there is much use in several instruments necessary for Man, especially those that require firmness, Capacity, and withal, Beauty; such are all those Brasse-pots, that must endure the hardship of the fire, Caldrons and Kettles, as big as tons, which are used in the boiling of many things, (as cloth, beer, and many others) of which it is impossible to give an account: The utensils of householdstuff made either of Copper or Latin are so many, that we shall pass them by, as being continually in the eye, and generally known. Two things I must needs admire, and they are instruments made of Copper, which much exceed and excel all the rest, and these are Bells and Canons: By Bells we account the time of the day and night, and whether you will reckon at the rate of 12. hours, or 24. every hour is declared and proclaimed so well, that we need not the voice of Stent●r or any other means to assemble the people, because the Bells do this, both by their high ringing and sound, and by a noise that the nearest approaches to Thunder.  
What profit ariseth from Clocks through the whole Christian world (for I speak not of the Turkish Barbarity, which is afraid lest their Tyranny might be suppressed by the people gathered by this means) is indeed inestimable. We need not now a Cynsophalon as they did in Egypt, to calculate either by her pissing or shiting, to distribute the day and night into 12. equal spaces, when by the noise of Bells all this is not only heard and computed, but it is the same in night as in the day. 'Tis also needless that we should measure time by an hourglass, or water-glass, as the Romans did, because Bells give a writ of ease and silence to all these Instruments, and they only tell us the time of the day. Not to mention the crowing of Cocks, the measuring of shadows, whilst the sun is in the Meridian, and the like observations of Day and Night, which it may be may serve, where Bells are not in use, otherwise not at all▪ Besides, Bells call the people to Sermons, meetings, assemblies, funerals, and what not. To Sermons, that every man by his devotion may approach to God and come nearer him; to Meetings, that they may either commonly join together, against an Enemy or wild Beasts, or thieves, or Fire, or Water, or whatever prejudices else they are like to receive, without the remedy and assistance of common hands and common help. We declare Fire an Enemy by Bells, as is believed, that Thunder is dispersed by the commotion of the air (Caused by Bells.) The office assigned to Bells is expressed in great Letters in a Sapphick verse, and that in one of the greatest in all Germany, and (for aught I know) in the Christian world, as the inscription witnesses. For it weighs two hundred seventy five hundred weight, that is, 27500. pound weight. 
Laude Patronos cano Gloriosâ,  
Fulgur arcens & Doemones malignos,  
Sacra Templis à populo sonanda,  
Carmine pulso.  
I ring my founder's praise with joy,  
Preserve from Thunder, fiends annoy,  
And by my noise tell people where  
To Holy duties to repair.   
Mercury therefore that in the founding of Bells, gives both sound and matter, doth all those duties, that is to say, calls people to their Devotions, and Summons them to whatever else they are to perform, and therefore in this point, may very well claim the greatest part of the prerogative. The things that have been said before, may be accounted common & easily imitated and supplied by others, but these that I now insist on, must be solely attributed to Mercury.  
No Man can of Wood, Stones or Glass make a Bell, unless for deaf men or paralyticks, which either cannot hear it, or stir upon it. 'Tis Mercury, who though he be mute, yet by the least impulse hath a voice; 'Tis he who makes others leap and gather together; 'Tis he that is the Sexton to the Church, and Clerk to the Market, a faithful Scout, and Informer of all Dangers, that any may incur or avoid them. 'Tis he that calls the hungry and the barking stomach to its diet, that awakes the sleepy and the slothful to industry, and gaining their bread. 'Tis he that commends dead men to burial, and declares their last farewell to the world. But lest I may chime too long in this tune, I shall pass to Artillery; And here what shall I say, or what shall I not say? Shall I tell you of the profits accrueing to Mankind? Shall I suggest it as an invention sent up from the devil into the Earth, or found out by the inquisition of Man? Whatsoever it is, if any evil happen upon it, it must not be imputed to Mercury or the matter, but the way and invention or rather the misuse. For in all these Treasons to Man, Mercury, is not in the least accessary, but still continues faithful to himself, to hurt nobody and profit all men. If it hurt, blame others, that either employ it to so dangerous uses, or have brought it into such a form, or made use of such means as they think may contribute to satisfy their own wills and Lusts. Hence come so many Thunders and dreadful noises, and great breaches in Walls, made only by Canon; for if Mercury or metallic substance be founded in a long and a hollow fashion, closed in the britch, and open in the bore, it then becomes an engine of mischief, otherwise not. But let it be so, it is altogether innoxious unless that cursed gunpowder be employed in it, which being rammed in, and set on fire, see how by the violence of Man, breaking out of it, it does the highest mischief; yet not singly by itself, but by a Bullet made of mettle or Stone, which may restrain the egression of the fire, and force it like Thunder to break out and destroy all that's near it, and that to the greatest damage and ruin.  
If mettle therefore stay in its own first form, it is harmless, nay suppose it be changed, it is the same; but if you bring the third and the fourth, that is to say Powder and Bullet, and put fire to it, than indeed it becomes mischievous; nay that all the harm is in powder only, may appear from hence, that being laid in mines, sprung under Castles or Towns, and blown up, it overthrows all above it with incredible celerity, noise and violence.  
This is the only thing which the Monk found out, which hath dispatched away 10000 more lives, than all your other ancient Machines, whether Slings, Catapults, Onager's, rams, bows, Darts or Arrows, which were but boyish trifles in respect of the modern Artillery. What ever therefore hath been famously done against the Enemies of Christianity, is merely performed by these guns. 'Twas merely done by the hand and mouth of Mercury. It was I that took into my mouth Iron and Leaden bullets, but I was heightened by Gunpowder, and that in such a degree, as I have laid many Enemies flat before me; the blast of my mouth is very pernicious, nay, it is Thunder. I break down Walls, Forts, Castles, towns, and all fortresses whatsoever. There are several sorts of Guns made of me, some of Laton and Copper, some of Lead, some of Iron▪ some whereof are great and busky, some of them middle sized, some little, some long, some thick, some short, and some thin, and from hence, according to their several forms, they have arrived at several names; as Cannons, Mortar-pieces, Drakes, muskets, &c. for they are too many to particularize. All these are aiding to the death of Man, but by the design of Man, not the will of Mercury, for it were better for me that things fitter for the health of Man were brayed in mortars, than that bullets of great weight should be shot through me, to the destruction of Man. It were better for me that you made Engines and Pumps to quench Fires in great Cities, (if they would but make them of mettle) than on the contrary employ me to bring fire and destruction. But because Man hurried by his passions, rushes upon mutual slaughters and Massacres, I whether I will or no, am forced to do the office of a hangman; For them let them discharge their own consciences if they can, I as their servant do but my duty.  
My fifth child is, Iron, which as chemists call it Mars, so it yields all assistance to that God of war, that is by Swords, falchions, Tucks, Rapiers, Hatchets, Muskets, &c. Iron though it may be accounted the basest of metals, does the greatest services to mankind; generals and warriors use it not only for to invade others, but oppressed men, and people enforced to a necessary defence, make use of it themselves. The Robber will be armed, and the traveller must, that Iron may meet Iron, and one strength may repress or overcome the other. This is that which Tyrants make use of against all disobedience and noncompliance.  
This is that which Kings and Princes employ against Enemies and traitors, by this the Judges punish the offences of the bad, for the safety of the good. Of Iron you make Bolts, Chains, and Shackles, and that for so many uses, that I cannot count them. 'Tis Iron makes all Scales and Weights, and firmly and strongly joins together, all Coaches, Ships and Houses. 'Tis Iron that makes the greatest and strongest Instruments for the life Man, without which he could not subsist any time. Of Iron is made nails, Hammers, Axes, and Anviles, and what not from the Instruments that are made of these instruments. Iron well purified is Steel, which rightly managed, is such, that it cuts and severs the hardest things, as Wood, Iron itself, horns, Stones, and whatever. Of Iron is made Saws, and the Locks of all doors and Tre●suries, what you will not trust to anybody else, is entrusted to this only. This keeps away thieves and Filchers, this preserves things ready stolen and made a prey, nay, this is that which makes Fetters for thieves. By Iron chains the ways are rendered safe, both against Force and Inundation. By Iron, Bridges, Towers, nay Pyramids, are enabled to endure. What more necessary to a Man than a Knife? What fitter than a Needle to sow his clothes together? What more convenient for Man, than tongues, Fire-shovels and Grates; yet all this Iron does, and Iron does it by the means of Mercury. All these things therefore are made of coagulated Mercury, and by it they are all strengthened. But withal there are made so many Medicines of it, that it may be rationally called in question, whether it have more or more royal uses in physic or in Policy. Nothing doubtless is more advantageous, than to give present relief to a sick body, and that to be taken inward, which is a clear proof that it is of an inoffensive nature. For Iron several times is taken in Electuaries, Conserves, syrups, Decoctions, and other ways of prescript, and to that inwardly, not only without any danger, but a great deal of benefit, though I must confess if it be ill prepared, and if the managing of Man be ill, it gnaws, corrodes, and pierces through; but if it be made a Medicine, it opens obstructions both of the Veins and bowels, both by its penetrative and attenuating faculty. Hence it often heals cachexies and the Green sickness, and restores them to their former Vigour, Colour, and Beauty, so that they said not amiss, who said that Mars was the most well-beloved of Venus. But I am willing to wave any further speech of Iron, 'tis so much in sight and use, that any man may from hence draw other things, and from what I have said speak much more.  
I come now to my fairer progeny, and 'tis my sixth child, to wit, Silver, a mettle most precious and most valuable. What love, what admiration, what esteem all people put upon it, is not worth my business, since 'tis a thing so commonly known: With what labour, danger, care, it is drawn out of the deepest recesses of the earth, nay in a manner the suburbs of Hell, they know that have been upon the places, of which I shall not trouble you in saying much, but this is the great Magnet of mankind, that more allures and entices them and their understandings than the Loadstone does Iron. This is that Proteus that turns himself into all shapes, and therefore is accounted the price and measure of all the rest. This is that cornucopia, whence fruits of all kinds all wealth plentifully proceeds. Money though it be dumb of of itself, speaks for all, and makes the speechless talkative; Though it be immovable in its own Nature, yet it gives motion to all things, animate or inanimate, and though it be dead in itself, and a thing not enjoying life, yet to Man ●ivilly dead among the living, I mean a ●oore man, it yields life, and more than ●●at, joy, cheerfulness, credit, virtue, ●●putation, and all other things which ●…e account most desirable There is ●…o more present Nepenthe in the world ●…an Silver, which of a sad Melancholy ●●an, engaged in To●es and sorrows, makes ●…im joyful and complacent, and puts him 〈…〉 to quiet. How men may obtain such a recipe, how they toil themselves about it, how they anxiously spend away their best days, nay their life, how they employ all their estates and interest, is a business which the time allotted me will not suffer me to make out, some sail to the East, some to the West-Indies, nay to our Antipodes with indefatigable industry they endeavour to find out new Lands, new Islands, to furnish them with money or commodities that may bring it. Some people have adventured so far, as to trust themselves under the Northern pole, that being engaged in Ice, they could never have hope to return to their own country, or at best became a prey to Bears and other wild Beasts. Some like swift couriers have by their sails as with wings, surrounded the world, that Jupiter cannot only be said to have sent Eagles out of the Delphos, to fly about the World, and return to the same place, when three Ships in stead of his Eagles in the latter times, and among men have done the same performance, and to this end only, that they might know that famous Silver River near the Straits of Magellan, and from thence bring great profits, which how happily it hath succeedeth every man knows. Silver it is, I affirm it, that is sought and gathered out of another world into this, and from this the great Queen money raises, which gives not only Nobility and Birth, but Power, Favour, Love, wisdom and Learning to the World, whether it be by ordinary Right or Attribution.  
For the first, Kings, Princes, and other Magistrates reign lawfully by it, not in order to gain, but in governing their People. For attribution, it gives many power who were unfit for it, it gives to Men, which the Law would not, it makes men reverenced, that were more worthy of hatred, it gives wisdom to fools and Learning to the illiterate. 'Tis Mercury, who clothed in Silver, and eminent in his witness, splendour, and other properties commands all this. Grant me, there was never Mercury, and the consequence will be, there was neither Silver nor Gold, nor any other mettle. Mercury is an Hermaphrodite, he is Father and Mother to other metals, though in making of imperfect metals he admits an extraneous Sulphur different from his own Nature. For what you say of Mercury in perfect metals, is nothing else but a maturer part of Mercury, and better concocted, and it hath nothing common with the common sulphur, but the name. But I come to my seventh son, which indeed is my first borne, because it is every way more perfect than the other. Gold is of the Masculine sex, Silver of the feminine. Now the right of primogeniture falls ever upon the Males, the females by a Salic Law of nature being excluded. If you look but on the brightness and the splendour of this my son Gold, you will find nothing to be more gallant, nothing more amiable if you consider his durability, and faithful tenacity, nothing so strong in fire, nothing less yielding, of its price nothing worthier or of greater value; if the weight, colour, expansion, tenuity of substance, in all these, you will easily grant that he exceed all others. And if I should enlarge myself in his praises as next unto man the epitome of the terrestrial world, none would be justly angry with me, but I must also be angry with him, for wanting common sense. The Beauty of Gold is such that will not undeservedly say it is an ectype of the sun itself, which is the noblest and fairest of all creatures, and the most profitable to mankind. For without him we should live in continual darkness, we should not discern common businesses and affairs, nor distinguish one man from another. In like manner, unless Gold dissipated the clouds of human things by its own light, we should be absolutely confounded, and not able to make distinction of any thing. Hence hath the Altar of Gold so many unanimously sacrificing to this idol, as fair and precious. For what is fair, is lovely, and on the contrary, as Theognis witness, for the Muses sung this Epitaphium at the Marriage of Cadmus, 
{non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}  
{non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}  What's fair is lovely, what's not so's not fair.  
Nay, Beauty is accounted a kingdom without an Army, a conquest without opposition, and a Monster without irregularity of nature, which since it is so eminently seated in Gold, it presently possesses itself of Dominion over all those that addict themselves, and sue to it. Therefore no man seems to contemn it, but will value it at the highest rate; no man's humour can so much vilify it, but he must be forced to obey it. For its fixedness and enduring of the fire and other qualities it may especially boast, like some invincible Hero or Hercules Alexicacus. It valiantly sustains all the buffets of Antaeus, all the sleights of Achelous, let them turn themselves into Fire, Water, or any form whatsoever. 
— Unisiquidem nil deperit auro  
Ignibus.—  Gold only loses nothing by the fire. As the Poet says. And therefore out of excellent reason, Gold, which is in itself incorruptible, is on earth accounted the Symbol, the mark and the shadow of that eternity, which we shall enjoy above. For other bodies made of the four Elements are of a weak nature, and corruptible; this is that hundred handed giant, the son of the Earth, who as often as he touches his Mother, recovers his lost strength, and gathers new; This is that invulnerable Cycnus, that yields neither to Hercules nor Mars, armed by his own nature with a shield of proof. 'Tis Apollo the Archer, the destroyer of Diseases, the soldier, the Knight of the Golden-Fleece, the Inventor of physic, whom no Disease or Monster can resist, to whom nothing in the Earth is like or equal, excepting only the soul of Man: In Gold all things are most temperate, nay, contraries of the highest degree, so that Heat doth not prevail over Cold, nor Drought over Moisture, but they are reciprocally restrained, and temper one another, and conform themselves to an anatick equality, which is the greatest temper imaginable. What is said of that most temperate Region, which is beyond the tropic of Cancer, in the Western part of the World, where there is neither Frost, Heats, rains, immoderate Droughts, nor any Disease to assault man, nor any infectious or venomous Creatures, by which means the Inhabitants live to a great age, as though they were seated in paradise or the Elysian Fields, may be more truly said of the Temperarure of Gold, which is impassible of any corruption or ill digestion. In it a● the Elements remain unchanged, firm, and lusty in their pristine vigour and temper, and in which no rottenness or putrefaction can assault them. Whether one or the other may exceed in power, is a business that never comes into contest, none of them complains that he is undervalued. What they say of a certain bone in the thumb of Man (the Hebrews call it Luz) some stick not to affirm that it can neither spoil nor be consumed, that it may remain as a kind of seed for the Resurrection, and the ground and material of the future superstructure; but if it be so, what affinity and hidden correspondence it holds with Gold that is incorruptible, it may appear, since Albertus Magnus hath recorded that Gold hath been found in skulls of dead men, between their suitors and in their Teeth. Hence questionless men desire so much to finger Gold, as a hint and document of their Resurrection, & the Eternity they shall enjoy after this life, and therefore they look after it, not only with greedy eyes, but possessed minds and utmost intentions, desirous, if it were but digestible, to make it their food and repast, and by a pleasing artifice, to guild their own bowels, as it told of Artemisia Queen of Caria, that she had herself rather be the Sepulchre and the Mausoleum of her Mausolus, than he should putrify anywhere but within herself. By this means the virtue of Gold begets affection, and its beauty continues it, for it is most durable.  
What virtue there is in Gold (besides its contempt of fire) is well enough understood by Physicians, who give it to their Patients either in leaf, Filings or powder, with Electuaries, Conserves, or Syrups, as a singular restorative of the heart, and in this they are not deceived, for 'tis dictated by reason, and confirmed by experience. For why should there not in that little citadel, which is so strongly fenced and fortified, that scarce any endeavour of Man (Unless very rare'y it meets success) can find entrance, contain within it, all the Magnalities and Mysteries of Nature? We see that our creator hath shrouded the corn under ears and chaff, hath given the Nut a Shell, the Chestnut a thick and rugged one, and hath fenced the Almond with a kind of Stone, yet all these are most profitable for Man. He had in vain therefore given Gold such a strength and guard, unless there had been a more considerable thing contained in it, than in these Nuts, {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} fine things, handsome and rare, pass ever at a great Rate. In Man, there is a most lively and true Image of all things spiritual and corporeal, and Gold represents the same of Man. Gold cheers and refreshes his heart, which as it receives a general virtue, infused by the heart of the World, the Sun, so it very gratefully repays what is received from the celestial sun to the heart of Man, who is the lesser world. Hence comes the general consent of all Nations, in Gold as the measure of all things measurable, and the rate of all things merchantable, and these excellent qualities, all people, though they differ in Tongues, very well understand, as though they read it in an open book, which doubtless aught to give it precedence above any thing else. This golden Book study all chemists, physicians, Politicians, all Men of traffic and mechanics, but I must impeach the first, as knowing but the first Letter of it, the second scarcely understand the next Letter, but few are able to dive into the Mysteries of all five. Merchants and Usurers, that so much adore it and abound with it, stay only as its surface, as boys do if they find any thing rare, or of an odd colour in Beanes. And this they know themselves, they know it is necessary for traffic, Diet, or delight, but nothing else, and in this very little differ from Beasts, which very well know the use of Hay, but are absolutely ignorant what it is, or from whence it comes.  
I shall add nothing of the weight and other accidents of Gold, because they are in another place 〈…〉 copiously related; All these scattered things, which I have rather gleaned up, than made a harvest of by a remonstrance fitting for the subject, will easily give the prerogative unto Gold above all other things, though they be most precious (since some of them are very dear in point of scarceness, but not their medicinal faculty, since some of them are poison taken into the body of Man, (as the Load stone itself) and will make the others disclaim, and so assign and confirm the kingdom of all worldly things under the power of Man unto myself, who only gives Gold all the power and operation it hath.  
There is another Benefit by which I Mercury have blessed mankind in this last age, and made it most happy, and 'tis so great, that Men had better want the services of all that have spoke before me, than this one convenience, and this is the Art of Printing, by Letters made of mettle, founded and shaped of Lead, tin, and Antimony. The profit is so great, that all Praises, and all Memory comes short of it. Germany no less than old Egypt, the Mother and Nurse of the refinedest Sciences, may rightly glory in the first invention of that, and the communication to other parts, Hence Philippus Beroaldus in a certain Hendecascillable,  

O Germania muneris reportrix,  
Quo nil utilius dedit vetustas,  
Libros scribere qui doces prem●ndo.   
The same Germany found out the terrible thunder of Guns and Gunpowder, which I have spoke of before, she found them out, propagated them; to pass by abundance of Mechannicall inventions which I shall mention no otherwise, which may stop the mouths of those envious and unjust censurers, I will not say Liars, that say these things are to be attributed only as to the matter, to us Germans, but as to the form and perfection, would ascribe it to some other, I know not what Nation. As though these pitiful triflers, could by their poor suggestions render a thing undone, or make black white. These two contributions which I have paid, both to Arts and arms, are so great, that all others, though they be prepared of metals, must needs yield unto them. For the former, take two instructed in it, they will in one day dispose of more Letters, than two thousand others can write, which indeed is a matter worthy of admiration and astonishment. There is no need therefore that the Goose should brag of her quills, the calf of their hides or pelts, I have rendered all these things contemptible by the invention of this on Artifice, and therefore as inconsiderable leave them. For if I metallic Mercury be in good Mattrices made into Letters or Figures, I am able to peforme all that they brag of, provided that Flax, with the Paper made of it, with Printing Ink, come as drudges to my assistance. I am Mercury the Father of Metals, under me they are all in pay, by my command they do their duty according to their stations and functions; some of them adorn the Palaces of Kings and Princes, and there watch and keep guard, some are commanded to other employments, as to soldiery and mechanical works, as being things of the hottest and strongest nature; some I commanded to serve in kitchens, and in apothecary's Shops; some there are whom I place as Sentinels under Earth, and these attend the health and use of Man, all this is merely from my indulgence, which yet I proportionably distribute. Gold my eldest son hath my first care, next Silver, next tin, than Copper, then Lead, than Iron, according to their several endowments and ingenuities, I favour or cherish them, according as they nearest comply with my own nature. For the three last are clogged with much sulphurous matter, which they derive not from me at all. The fourth, to wit, tin hath less, Silver less than that, but Gold nothing at all. What Scyleurus, the King of Scythia, that had eighty children begot upon several ventures, left as his last direction unto them, that they should keep peace among themselves, and that by a bundle of of arrows, which taken a together could not be broken, but might easily, taken severally, the same is the case of six, Legitimate children of mine; besides Semi-metalls, who are very strong in themselves if they assist one another, and indeed very invincible, otherwise they are easily overcome, and this I would not only say, but desire to press home.  
Let Gold enjoy the pre-eminence, let him have his right of primogeniture and maintain it, after him let Silver take place, and so the rest, but let Mars or Iron be a servant to them all, he is of a stiff body and great strength. Let not strong things oppress the weaker, and force them to obedience. But of them all, you will find the noblest temperament, if you can make somewhat that is not too hard, nor too soft, nor too hot, nor too cold, but moderate, and e●c●●ning to warmth and moisture; in which temper, not only the life of Man consists, but my Primogeniall form and Spirit, which if any man can extract out of such things as I plentifully reside in, but in Ambuscado, and either join me with my other Sons, or reunite me to myself, the same right I now claim will become his. Of all my children you will find none but is of my humour, but it may be changed by a little breeding; for that hard substance [Mars] is begotten by me in too hot, and too dry places, and in which sulphurous fumes were very plentiful. Hence he is adust and swarthy, little resembling me in his Countenance, but in his bowels, hath as lively and natural Lineaments of me, as any of the rest. Despise not therefore this Negro, because he is black, and is very feculent, for if the other five should chance to be lost or extinguished, the kingdom would fall to him. Saturn is very like him in a colour, for he is tawny and bluish, but he is of a soft nature and easily guided, but of a very ill memory. He is conceived in clayish and dirty parts, I mean in a womb stuffed with phlegm and Melancholy; hence his spirit sends forth a very ill savour, especially if it be warmed. No small share of this Empire would fall to him, if his four other Brothers would assent, but they have greater Interest, yet notwithstanding he is the Tryer and Searcher of them all, because he approaches my nature nearest in softness, which is not so much as mine, because he is tainted with abundance of sulphurous dregs.  
The Birth of my third son promiseth more, for he appears ruddy, and of a stronger constitution, and full of blood, and is very able to endure all the assaults of Summer weather, yet notwithstanding he brings from his womb an adust Melancholy of a greenish red, and therefore is not fit to perform the most duties. He is vexed commonly with the Scab like a leper, especially if any violent fire externally annoy him, for it puts him into extreme thirst, and inflames his Bowels. After these three, another must be my successor, who though he be elder than two of them, yet they much exceed him in fineness, equality and temper. Jupiter is the most choice of all, of a most royal ingenuity and complexion, which wants nothing but a redder face, and an ability to endure the Sun. He may be heir to a great deal of wealth, if he made a legal agreement with some of his Brothers, so that from them both, there may arise an Hermaphroditick substance. This is he that may profit many, if he be rightly understood, and the Father may be taken for the Son, and the Son for the Father. In some cases his Father and his Son may do more than he himself, yet such he is, as his Grandchild may command the Empire from his Grandfather, though it be a wickedness to do it without the consent of the Father, if he be then living. These four, according to their orders, must follow us, if ever there were occasion to confer the Government upon others, From all which, most just Judge, you will very well understand, as well in candour and equity, as necessity of Judgement, by what right I lay claim to that Government, for which we debate, and that, not only from my particular deserts, but my great advantages to mankind, which if it will prevail me nothing, and you will give your verdict for any other, from the meaner of my Posterity, will arise a powerful revenger of my quarrel and injury. It shall accuse thee of a Bribery, it shall bring a Bill of review for my right, and enforce restauration. If the business be to be done either by Iron or Gold, I believe we shall not want Parti●ans; if it be to be done by Cannon, or any warlike Engines, whatever you deny us of right▪ we will enforce you to, and do not think we can want followers. Consider you only unto whom you will give your judgement & determination of this Realm, which all here so passionately strive for, that at length you may make an end of a long suit, and satisfy the impatient expectations of so many concerned in it, that so a firm peace and quiet may be established in the Common wealth of the world. For my part, if you will never suffer yourself to be carried away from Truth and Justice, I shall profess myself bound to do homage to you in all kinds of services, and the most zealous of your honour of any other.  
Thus ended Mercury, whose speech was attended by a deep and a long silence. Then the Judge, who with the greatest attention and caution had heard them all, began to speak thus—   

The JUDGE.  
HAving considered all things, and called them into the most strict and impartial scrutiny of my Judgement, which you have severally said before me, and put in plea, I do think there remains no farther question to whom I should assign this royal Title. For indeed your deserts and services are so great unto Man, that all of you deserve to be remembered unto Posterity with the greatest Praise and longest Memory; yet as the several Planets have their several Influences, yet one of them moves above another, so I conceive one of you ought more especially to enjoy this Royal Crown. You calf, in the beginning of this dispute told us, great and high services you did to mankind; and you Sheep no less; you also Goose must be listed among these Heroes, for you endeavour by all means to profit Man: You Oyster are Mistress of a great many rarities, as praiseworthy as any of the rest; None will despise thee, Bee, though thou be small; as thou art a fruitful Mother of sweetness, so thou carriest within thee a Dart which occasions much pain and trouble. And my tender silkworm, who would not admire thee for thy deserts, that being so little, payest so great a tribute to mankind. And thou flax, hast filled the world by thy benevolences, and Mayst justly claim a praise that shall last to all ages; But thou MERCURY, Thou art he, whom of all the rest I most admire, whom I reverence, whom I pronounce the worthiest; Thy deserts, I say, are so known, so necessary to mankind, that I cannot, as convinced both by Necessity and Reason, but appoint & establish thee King. Thy worth so much exceeds thy Competitors, thy pre-eminence, thy Honour, as the light of the Sun outshines the other Planets. Thou balancest all the deserts of the other, all their duties end and acquiesce in Thee. Those gifts, which are severally dispersed among them, are united and gathered in thee. Thou art the miracle, splendour and light of the world. Thou art the glory, ornament, and supporter of the Earth. Thou art Asyle, Anchor, and tie of the Universe. Next to the mind of Man, God Created nothing more Noble, more Glorious, or more Profitable. What therefore thy virtue endowed thee with, what thy services have deserved see here, and take thy recompense, the ROYAL CROWN that henceforth thou Mayst be proclaimed and declared, whether the other will or no, THE KING OF ALL WORLDLY THINGS BEING UNDER THE COMMAND OF MAN, which said, he took out a crown of Gold, which he had hid under his Cloak, and causing Mercury to kneel, set it on his head.  
And thus, though all the Assembly were mad with anger and envy, to see him whom they accounted the meanest, declared their King & Lord; yet since the Decree of the Judge could not be reversed, each returned to his own home, everywhere proclaiming Mercury their King. The Judge having dismissed the Assembly, retired home. To God the giver of all good things be all glory for ever.  
Amen.   
THE END.   

Courteous Reader, these Books following are printed for Humphrey Moseley, and are to be sold at his Shop at the Prince's arms in St. Paul's churchyard.  

Various Histories, with curious Discourses in human Learning, &c.  

1. Historical Relations of the united Provinces of Flanders, written in Italian by Cardinal Bentivoglio, and now rendered into English by the Right Honourable Henry Earl of Monmouth. Fol.  
2. The History of the wars of Flanders, written in Italian by that learned and famous Cardinal Bentivoglio; Englished by the Right Honourable Henry Earl of Monmouth. The whole work Illustrated with a Map of the 17. Provinces, and above 20 Figures of the chief Personages mentioned in this History. Fol. 1654.  
3. The History of the wars of the Emperor Justinian, with the Persians, Goths, and Vandals, written in Greek by Procopius of Caesarea in eight Books, translated into English by Sir Henry Holcroft: Knight. Wherein the City of Rome was taken and retaken above eight times, when it was the seat of the Empire Fol.  
4. De Bello Belgico, the History of the Low-Country wars written in Latin by Famianus Strada, in English by Sir Robert Sapylton, Illustrated with divers Figures. Fol.  
5. The use of Passions, written by I. F. Senalt, and put into English by Henry Earl of Monmouth 8o.  
6. Judicious & Select essays & Observations, written by the Renowned and learned Knight, Sir Walter Raleigh, with his Apology for his Voyage to Guiana.  
7. The complete Horseman and Expert Farrier in two books, by Thomas De Gray Esquire, newly printed with additions.  
8: Unheard of Curiosities concerning the talismanical Sculpture of the Persians. The Horoscope of the Patriarchs, and the judgement of the stars, by James Gaffarel, Englished by Edmond Chilmead, Ch. Ch. Oxon. 8ᵒ  
9 The History of the Inquisition, composed by the R. F. P. Servita, the compiler of the History of the council of Trent, in 4o. translated out of Italian.  
10. Biathanatos, a Paradox of self-murder, by Dr. Jo. Donne, Dean of St. Paul's London. 4o.  
11. The gentleman's Exercise, or the Art of limning, painting, and blazoning of Coats and arms, &c. by Henry Peacham Master of Arts. 4o.  
12. M. Howels History of Lewis the thirteenth King of France, with the life of his Cardinal de Richelieu. Fol.  
13. Mr. Howel's Epistolae Hoelianae, Familiar letters domestic and foreign, in six Sections partly historical, political philosophical, the first Volume with additions. 8o.  
14. Mr. Howel's new volume of Familiar letters, partly historical, political, philosophical, the second Volume with many Additions. 8o.  
15. Mr. Howel's third Volume of Additionall letters of a fresher date, never before published. 8o.  
16. Mr. Howel's Dodona's Grove, or the Vocal Forest, the first part in 12o. with many Additions.  
17. Mr. Howel's Dodona's Grove, or the vocal Forest, the second part, in 8ᵒ never printed before.  
18. Mr. Howel's England's tears for the present wars.  
19 Mr. Howel's preeminence and pedigree of Parliament, in 12o.  
20. Mr Howel's Instructions and Directions for foreign Travels, in 12ᵒ with divers Additions for Travelling into Turkey, and the Levant parts.  
21. Mr. Howel's Vote, or a Poem royal presented to his Majesty, in 4o.  
22. Mr. Howel's Angliae Suspiria & lachrymae, in 12ᵒ  
23. Marques Virgilio Malvezzi's Romulus and Tarquin, Englished by Hen. Ea●l of Monmouth, in 12o.  
24. Marques Virgilio Malvezzi's David persecuted, Englished by Ro. Ashley. Gent. in 12o.  
25. Marques Virgilio Malvezzi, of the success and chief events of the Monarchy of Spain, in the year 1639. of the revolt of the Catalonians from the King of Spain. Englished by Rob. Gentilis Gent. in 12o.  
26. Marques Virgilio Malvezzi's considerations on the lives of Alcibiades, and Coriolanus, Two famous Roman Commanders Englished by Rob. Gentilis.  
27. Policy unveiled, or maxims of State, done into English by the Translator of Gusman, in 4o.  
28. Gracious privileges granted by the King of Spain to our English Merchants, in 4o.  
29. England's looking in and out by Sr. Ralph Maddison, Knight, 4o.  
30. Gratiae Ludentes, jests from the University by H ●  
31. The Antipathy between the French and the Spaniard, an ingenious translation out of Spanish.  
32. Mr. Bird's grounds of Grammar, in 8ᵒ  
33. Mr. Bulwer's Philocophus, or the Deaf and Dumb man's friend, in 12o.  
34. Mr. Bulwer's Pathomyotomia, or a Dissection of the significative Muscles of the Affections of the Mind, in 12o.  
35. An Itinerary containing a voyage made through Italy in the years 1646, 1647. illustrated with divers Figures of Antiquity, never before published, by John Raymond, Gent in 12ᵒ    

Books in Humanity lately Printed.  

36. THe History of Life and Death, or the prolongation of Life, written by Francis Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban in 12ᵒ  
37. The natural and experimental History of Winds written in Latin by Francis Lord Verulam Viscount St. Alban, translated into English by an admirer of the learned Author. 12o.  
38. The life of the most learned Father Paul Author of the History of the Council of Trent, translated out of Italian by a person of quality. 8o.  
39 Paradoxes, Problems, Characters, &c. by Dr. Donne Dean of St. Paul's, to which is added a book of Epigrams, written in Latin by the same Author, translated by Jasper Main D▪ D. 12o.  
40. Ignatius his Conclave, a satire written by Dr. Donne Dean of St. Paul's. 12o.  
41. A Discovery of Subterraneal Treasure, viz of all manner of Mines and Minerals, from the Gold, to the Coal, with plain Directions and Rules for the finding of them in all Kingdoms, and countries, written by Gabriel Plat. 4o.  
42. Richardi Gardiner, ex AEde Christi Oxon. specimen Oratorium. 8o.  
43. The sovereignty of the British Seas written by that learned Knight Sir John Burroughes Keeper of the Records in the Tower. 12ᵒ  
44. Grammatica Burlesa, or a new English grammar made plain and easy for Teacher and Scholar, composed by Edward Burles Master of Arts.  
45. Artificial arithmetic containing the Quintessence of the Golden Rule, the true valuation of all Annuities, also to find the distance at one station; An Art never till now published, useful for Gunners, Seamen, and Surveyors, by Rob. Jager Gent. 8o.  
46. Natural and Divine Contemplations of the Passions and Faculties of the Soul of Man in three books, written by Nicolas Mosley Esq. 8o.    

Several Sermons, with other excellent Tracts in Divinity written by some most eminent and learned Bishops, and Orthodox Divines.  

47 A manual of private Devotions and Meditations for every day in the week, by the right reverend Father in God, Lancelot Andrews late Lord Bishop of Winchester, in 24o.  
48. A manual of Directions for the Sick, with many sweet Meditations and Devotions, by the right reverend Father in God, Lancelot Andrews, late Lord Bishop of Winchester, in 24o.  
49. Ten Sermons upon several occasions, preached at St Paul's Cross, and elsewhere, by the right reverend Father in God, Arthur Lake, late Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells, in 4o.  
50. Six Sermons upon several occasions, preached at Court before the King's Majesty, and elsewhere, by that late learned and reverend Divine, John Donne, Dr. in Divinity, and Dean of St. Paul's London, in 4o.  
51. Private Devotions in six litanies, with directions and Prayers for the days of the week and Sacrament, for the hour of Death and the day of Judgement, and two daily prayers, one for the morning, another for the evening, written by Doctor Henry Valentine. 24o.  
52. A Key to the Key of Scripture, or an exposition with notes upon the Epistle to the Romans, the three first chapters, by William Sclater, Dr. in Divinity and Minister of the word of God at Pitmister in Somersetshire, in 4o.  
53. Sarah and Hagar, or the sixteenth Chapter of Genesis opened in nineteen Sermons, being the first legitimate Essay of the pious labours of that learned, Orthodox, and indefatigable Preacher of the gospel, Mr. Josias Shute. B. D. and above 33 years' Rector of St Mary Woolnoth in Lombardstreet, in Folio.  
54. Christ's tears with his love and affection towards Jerusalem, delivered in sundry Sermons upon Luke 19 v. 41, 42. by Richard Maden, B. D. Preacher of the Word of God, late of Magdalen college in Camb. in 4o.  
55. Three Sermons viz. 

The benefit of contentation. By Mr. Henry Smith in 4o.  
The Affinity of the faithful, By Mr. Henry Smith in 4o.  
The lost sheepfound. By Mr. Henry Smith in 4o.    
56. Ten Sermons preached upon several Sundays, and Saints days, by Peter Hausted Mr. in Arts, and Curate at Uppingham in Rutland, in 4o.  
57 Eighteen Sermons preached upon the Incarnation and Nativity of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, wherein the greatest mysteries of godliness are unfolded, to the capacity of the Weakest Christian, by John Dawson Oxon. in 4o.  
58. The History of the Defenders of the Faith, discoursing the state of Religion in England during the Reign of King Henry 8. Edward 6. Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth. by C. L. in 4o.  
59 Christian Divinity, written by Edmund Reeve bachelor in Divinity, in 4o.  
60. The Communion-Book Catechism expounded by Edmund Reeve bachelor in Divinity, in 4o.  
61. The true and absolute Bishop, wherein is showed how Christ is our only shepherd and Bishop of ●u● souls▪ by Nicholas Darton, Master in Arts, in 4o.  
62. description of the newborn Christian, or a lively pattern of the Saint militant, child of God, written by Nicholas Hunt, Master in Arts, in 4ᵒ  
63. Divine Meditations upon the 91. Psalm, and on the History of Agag King of Amalek with 〈…〉  
65. Lazarus his Rest, a Sermon preached at the funeral of that pious, learned, and Orthodox Divine, Mr. Ephraim Udall, by Thomas Reeve, bachelor in Divinity, in 4o.  
66. The Survey of Man, in a Sermon as it was delivered by Mr. John Bishop at his father's funeral,  
67. Enchiridion containing Institutions Divine and moral, written by Francis Quarles 24o.    

Books in Divinity Lately Printed.  

68 THE psalms of David from the new Translation of the Bible, turned into Meter, to be sung after the old tunes, used in the Churches by the Right Reverend Father in God Henry King Bishop of Chichester. 12o.  
69. Choice psalms in music for three voices, and a thorough-Base composed by Mr. Henry & Mr. William laws, brothers and servants to his late Majesty; with divers Elegies set in music by several friends upon the death of Mr. William laws. 4o.  
70. Letters between the Lord George Digby and Sir Kenelm Digby Knight, concerning Religion. 8o.  
71. Essays in Divinity by Dr. Donn D. of Saint Paul's, before he entered into holy orders 12o.  
72. Public Devotions, or a Collection of Prayers used at sundry times by divers Reverend and godly Divines, together with divine implorations, and an introduction to prayer. 24o.  
73. The Sinners Tears in Meditations and Prayers by Thomas Fettiplace of Peterhouse. Camb. 12o.  
74. Quaestio Quodlibetica, or a discourse whether it be lawful to take use for money by R. F. Knight.  
75. zions Prospect in its first view presented in a summary of Divine Truths consenting with the faith professed by the Church of England, confirmed from ●…on, composed by Mr. Robert 〈…〉    

Choice Poems with excellent Translations by the most eminent wits of this Age.  


76. EPigrammata Thomae Mori Angli. 16o.  
76. Fragmenta Aurea, a Collection of all the incomparable Pieces written by Sr. John Suckling Knight. 8o.   
77. Poems, Songs, Sonnets, Elegies, and Letters by John Donne, with Elegies on the author's death, to which is added divers Copies under his own hand, never before in print. 8o.  
78. All juvenals 16. Satyrs translated by Sir Robert Stapylton, wherein is contained a Survey of the manners and actions of Mankind, with Annotations. 8o.  
79. Musaeus on the loves of Hero and Leander, with Leander's letter to Hero, and her answer, taken out of Ovid, with Annotations by Sir Rob. Stapylton, in 12o.  
80. Poems, &c. written by Mr. Edward Waller of Beconsfield Esq 8o.  
81. Pastor Fido, the faithful shepherd, a Pastoral, newly translated out of the Original, by Mr. Rich. Fanshaw, Esq 4o.  
82. Poems, with a discovery of the Civil wars of Rome, by Mr. Richard Fanshaw, Esq in 4o.  
83. Europa, Cupid crucified, Venus' Vigils, with Annotations, by Thomas Stanley, Esq 8o.  
84. Coopers-Hill, a Poem written by Mr. John Denham Esq the 2d Edition with Additions. 4o.  
85. Medea, a Tragedy written in Latin by Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Englished by Mr. Edward Sherburn Esq with Annotations, 8o.  
86. Seneca's answer to Lucilius his Quaere, why good men suffer misfortunes, seeing there is a Divine providence, translated into English verse by Mr Edward Sherburn Esq 8o.  
87. Madagascar with other Poems written by Sir William Davenant. 12o.  
88 Poems with a Masque by Thomas Carew Esq Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to his late Majesty, revived and enlarged with Additions. 8o.  
89. Poems of Mr John Milton, with a Masue presented at Ludlow Castle before the Earl of Bridgewater, than president of Wales, 8ᵒ  
90. Poems, &c. with a Masque called The Triumph of Beauty, by James Shirley, Gent. 8o.  
91. The Mistress, or several Copies of love-verses, written by Mr. Abraham Cowley. 8o.  
92. Steps to the Temple, sacred Poems with the delights of the Muses upon several occasions by Richard Crashaw of Cambridge, 12o.  
93. Divine Poems written by Francis Quarles 8o.  
94. Clarastella, with other occasional Poems, Elegies, Epigrams and Satyrs written by R. Heath, Esq 12o.  
95. Poems written by Mr. William Shakespeare Gent. 8o.  
96. Arnalte & Lucenda, or the melancholy Knight, a Poem translated by L. Laurence. 4o.  
97. The Odes of Gasimire, translated, by Mr. George Hills of Newark. 12o.  
98. Alarum to Poets by I. L. 4o.  
99 Fragmenta Poetica or Miscellanies of poetical Musings, by Nich. Murford Gent. 12o.  
100 Hymnus Tabaci Authore Raphaele Thorio. 8o.  
101. Hymnus Tabaci, a Poem in honour of Tobacco, Heroically composed by Raphael Thorius, made English by Peter Hausted Mr. of Arts, Camb. 8o.  
102. Olor Iscanus, a Collection of some select Poems, and Translations, written by Mr. Henry Vaughan Silurist in 8o.  
103. Argalus & Parthenia written by Francis Quarles.  
104. The Academy of compliments wherein Ladies, Gentlewomen, Scholars and strangers may accommodate their Courtly practice with gentile Ceremonies, complemental, amorous, high expressions and forms of speaking, or writing of Letters, most in fashion, with Additions of many witty Poems & Pos●es, Fancies and pleasant New songs. 12o▪    

Poems lately Printed.  


105. Poems and Translations, the complete works of Thomas Stanley Esq 8o.  
105. Choice Poems with Comedies and Tragedies, by Mr. William Cartwright late student of Christ Church in Oxford, and Proctor of the University. The A●res and songs set by Mr. Henry laws, servant to his late Majesty in his public and private music. 8o.   
106. Herod●an of Alexandria, his imperial History of twenty Roman Caesars, and Emperors of his time, first written in Greek, now converted into an heroic Poem by C. B. Stapleton. 4o.  
107. the Card of Courtship or the Language of love fitted to the humours of all degrees, sexes and Conditions. 2o.    

Incomparable Comedies and Tragedies written by several Ingenious Authors.  

108 COmedies and Tragedies written by Francis Beaumont▪ and John Fletcher, never printed before, and now published by the Authors original Copies, containing 34 plays, and a Masque, Fol.  
109. The Elder Brother by Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher. Gent.  
110. The Scornful Lady by Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher. Gent.  
111. The Woman Hater by Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher. Gent.  
112. Th●erry & Theodoret 4ᵒ by Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher. Gent.  
113. Cupid's Revenge by Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher. Gent.  
114 Mounsieur Thomas by Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher. Gent.  
115. The two Noble kinsmen by Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher. Gent.  
116. The Country Captain and the Variety, two Comedies written by a person of Honour. 12o.  
117. The Sophy, a Tragedy written by Mr. John Denham Esq Fol.  
118. Brennoralt or the discontented colonel, a Tragedy written by Sir John Suckling Knight. 4o.  
119. The deserving favourite by Mr. ●odowick Carlel. 4o.  
120. Albovine King of Lombardy by Sir William Davenant.  
121. The Just Italian. 4o. by Sir William Davenant.  
122. The Cruel Brother▪ 4o. by Sir William Davenant.  
123. The Unfortunate Lovers by Sir William Davenant.  
124. Love and Honour. 4. by Sir William Davenant.  
125. The Sophister by Dr. Z. 4o.  
126. Revenge of Bussy D. Ambois Georg Chapman.  
127. Byron's Conspiracy. 4o. Georg Chapman.  
128. Byron's Tragedy. Georg Chapman.  
129. Contention for Honour & riches I. Shirley.  
130. Triumph of Peace. 4o. I. Shirley.  
131. The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster.  
132. The Northern lass by Richard Brome.  
133. The Cid, a Tragicomedy translated out of French into English by Joseph Rutter Gent. 12o.    

Plays lately Printed.  

134. THe Wild-Goose-Chase a Comedy written by Fr. Beaumont and John Fletcher. Fol.  
135. The Widow, a Comedy by Ben. Johnson, John Fletcher, and Thomas Midleton. 4o.  
136. The changeling by T. Midleton and W. Rowley.  
137. Six new plays. 1. The Brothers. 2. The Sisters. 3. The doubtful Heir. 4. The Imposture. 5. The Cardinal. 6. The Court-Secret, by James Shirley Gent. 8o.  
138. Five new plays. 1. A mad couple well matched. 2. The Novella. 3. The Court Beggar. 4. The city Wit. 5. The Damo●selle by Richard Brome Gent. 8o.  
139. The Tragedy of Alphonsus Emperor of Germany, by George Chapman 4o.  
140. Two Tragedies, viz. Cleopatra Queen of Egypt, and Agrippina Empress of Rome, by Thomas May Esquire▪ 12o.    

New and excellent Romances.  

141. CAssandra the famed Romance, the whole work in five parts, written in French, and now Elegantly rendered into English by a person of quality. Fol.  
142. Ibrahim or the Illustrious Bassa, an excellent new Romance, the whole work in four parts, written in French by Mounfieur de Scudery, and now Englished by Henry Cogan Gent. Fol.  
143. Artamenes, or the Grand Cyrus, an excellent new Romance, written by that famous wit of France, Monsieur de Scudery Governor of Notre dame, and now Englished by F. G. Esq Fol.  
144. The Continuation of Artamenes, o● the Grand Cyrus, that excellent new Romance▪ being the third and fourth parts, written by that Famous wit of France, Monsieur de Scudery Governor of Notre dame, and now Englished by F. G. Esq Fol.  
145. The third Volume of Artamenes or the Grand Cyrus, that excellent new Romance, being the fift and sixt parts, written by that famous wit of France, Monsieur de Scudery Governor of Notre dame, and now Englished by F. G. Esq Fol. 1654.  
146. The fourth Volume of Artamenes, or the Grand Cyrus, that Excellent new Romance, being the seventh and eighth parts, written by that famous Wit of France, Monsieur de Scudery Governor of Notre dame and now Englished by F. G. Esq Fol. in the press.  
148. The History of Polexander a Romance, Englished by William Brown Gent. Fol.  
149. The History of the Banished Virgin, a Romance translated by I. H. Esq Fol.  
150. Gassandra the famed Romance, the three first books written in French, and Elegantly rendered into English by the Right honourable the Lord George Digby. 8o.  
151. The History of Philoxipes and Policrite taken out of Artamenes or the Grand Cyrus, made English by an honourable person. 8ᵒ  
152. The History of Don Fenise, a new Romance written in Spanish by Francisco de las Coveras, treating of the several effects of love and fortune, Englished by a Person of honour. 8o.  
153. Aurora, Ismeni●, and the Prince, with Oronta the Cyprian Virgin, translated by Thomas Stanley Esq the 2d Edition corrected and amended, 8o.  
154 Cleopatra a new Romance, written in French by the famed Author of Cassandra, and now Englished by a Gentleman of the Inner Temple. 8o.  
155. La Stratonica or the unfortunate Queen, a new Romance written in Italian and Englished by I. B. Gent. 4o.  
156. Choice Novels, and Amorous Tales written by the most refined wits of Italy, newly translated into English by a person of quality. 8o.  
157. Nissena, an Excellent new Romance, written Originally in Italian, and now Englished by an honourable person. 8o.  
158. Dianea an excellent new Romance written in Italian by Gio Francisco Loredano, a Noble Venetian in four books, translated into Englsh by Sir Aston Cockaine. 8o.    

Books newly printed this term for me Humphrey Moseley  

159. A German Diet o● the balance of Europe, wherein the Power and weakness, glory, & reproach, virtues and Vices, Plenty and Wants, Advantages and Defects Antiquity and moderns of all the kingdoms and states of Christendom are Impartially poised by James Howel Esq Fol.  
160 Renatus des Cartes', Excellent compendium of music with necessary and judicious nimad versions thereupon by a person of Honour, Illustrated with divers figures. 4o.  
161. The Scarlet Gown, or the History of the lives of all the ●●esent Cardinals of Rome, written in Italian, and translated into English by Henry Cogan.  
162. discourse of Constancy in two Books written in Latin by Justus Lipsius, and now faithfully rendered into English by R. G▪ sometimes of Ch. Ch. Oxon. containing many comfortable consolations for all that are afflicted in Body or in mind. 12o.  
163. Le Chemin Abrege or a compendious Method for the attaining of Sciences in a short time, together with the Statutes of the Academy of Cardinal Richelieu, Englished by R. G. Gent. 12o.  
164. The Academy of Eloquence containing a complete English rhetoric, with common places and forms to speak and write fluently according to the present mode together with letters amorous and moral, by Thomas Blunt. Gent. 12o.  
165. The Secretary in fashion, or a compendious and refined way of expression in all manner of letters, with instructions how to write letters of all sorts, composed in French by P. Sr de la Serre, and now Exactly Rendered into Englishee 8o▪  
166. Curia Politiae, or the Apologies of several Princes justifying to the World their most eminent actions by the strength of reason, and the most exact rules of Policy, written in French by the accurate pen of Monsieur de Scudery, Governor of Notre dame, and now faithfully rendered into English with the figures of many Emperors and Kings. Fol.  
167. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, or observations on the present manners of the English, briefly anatomising the living by the dead, with an useful detection of the Mountebanks of both sexes by Richard Whitlock M. D. late fellow of all soul's college in Oxon. 8o.  
168. Scholae Wintoniensis Phrases Latinae, the Latin Phrases of Winchester School, corrected and much augmented with poeticals added, and four Tracts: 1. Of words not to be used by elegant Latinists. 2: The difference of words like one another in sound or signification. 3. Some words governing a subjunctive mood not mentioned in Lilies Grammar. 4. Concerning {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} & {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} for entering children upon making of Themes, by H. Robinson D. D. sometimes schoolmaster of Winchester college, published for the common use and benefit of Grammar schools.  
169. Flores Solitudinis certain rare and elegant pieces, viz. Two excellent discourses. 1. Of Temperance and patience. 2. Of life and death by I. E▪ Nierembergius. The World contemned by Eucherius Bishop of Lions. And the life of Paulinus Bishop of Nola, collected in his sickness and retirement, by Henry Vaughan Silurist. 12ᵒ  
170. Atheismus Vapulans, or a Treatise against Atheism rationally confuting the Atheists of these times by William Towers, sometimes student of Christ Church in Oxford. 8o.    

These Books I do purpose to print very speedily  

171. DE juramenti obligation promissorij Praelectiones Septem. Of the Obligation of Promissory oaths, seven Lectures read in the Divinity Schools at Oxford by Robert Saunderson D. D. and translated into English by his late majesty's special command. 8o.  
172. Politic Maxims and observations written by the most learned Hugo Grotius, translated for the case & benefit of the English statesmen by H. C. S. T. B.  
173. The perfect Horseman or the experienced secrets of Mr. Markham's fifty years' practice, showing how a man may come to be a general Horseman by the knowledge of these seven Offices, viz. 

The Breeder  
The Feeder  
The Ambler  
The Rider  
The Keeper  
The Buyer  
The Farrier.   
Never printed before and now published with some Additions by Lancelot Thetford Practitioner in the same Art. 40 years   
174. Divers Sermons on several Texts of scripture with a Catechism written by William Gay Rector of Buckland, in 8o.  
175. Divine Poems written by Tho. Washborn. B. D.  
176. Buxtorf's Epitome of his Hebrew Grammar Englished by John Davis Mr. of Arts.  
177. Fasciculus Poematum & Epigrammatûm Miscelan●orum Authore Johanne Donne. D. D.  
178▪ Poemata Graeca & Latina à Gulielmo Cartwright è C. C. Oxon.  
179. The Marrow of compliments containing Amorous Epistles, complemental entertainments, Dialogues, songs, and sonnets, presentations of gifts, instructions for wooers, with other pleasant passages never before published by S. S.  
180. Parthenopoeia, Or the History of the most Renowned kingdom of Naples, with the Dominion thereunto annexed, and the lives of all their Kings.   
The first part, By that famous Antiquary Scipio Mazzella, made English by Mr. Samson Lennard, Herald of arms.  
The second part Compiled by James Howell Esq Who, besides some Supplements to the first part, draws on the thread of the Story to these present Times 1654. Illustrated with the figures of the Kings, and the arms of all the Provinces.