The Royal Exchange Contayning sundry aphorismes of phylosophie, and golden principles of morrall and naturall quadruplicities. Vnder pleasant and effectuall sentences, dyscouering such strange definitions, deuisions, and distinctions of vertue and vice, as may please the grauest cittizens, or youngest courtiers. Fyrst written in Italian, and dedicated to the Signorie of Venice, nowe translated into English, and offered to the cittie of London. Rob. Greene, in Artibus Magister.

Animale. Creatures.

Foure creatures liue seuerally and solie in the foure Elements.

• 1. The Herring in the water.
• 2. The Salamander in the fire.
• 3. The Moule in the earth.
• 4. And the Camelcon in the ayre.

Plinie in his naturall Histories, assignes these foure creatures to the foure El••ments, proouing that nature hath so particulerlie tied them to these seuerall limits, as otherwise they cannot liue: for proofe, hee saith that the Herring séeing the North star, leapeth at it, but by thru∣sting her head out of the water, ly••th a long while after

dazeled. The Salamander (saith Aristotle) in his bookes De natura Animalium, is of a cold c••nstitution, and there∣fore harboureth neere to the Mount Etna, where amidst the continuall flames he batheth himselfe in the fire: whereof comes the foolish comparisons of our Poets, that séeing Louers scorch••d with affection, like••eth th••m to Salamanders. The Cameleon féeding onely with the ayre, hath this propertie, that hee can change his colour, and turne himselfe into the likenesse of euery obiect, wher∣vpon flatterers that by their ad••lation feède euery mans humour, are compared to Cameleons.

Foure creatures aboue others are most fruitefull.

• 1. Sheepe.
• 2. Oxen.
• 3. Hennes.
• 4. Bees.

These cr••atures saith Auicen in his Aphorismes, are as they are most familiar to men, so most fr••endly to men, yeelding for euery benefite a requitall, and paying them due with thankfulnesse: for béeing nourished by the hand of man, they yeeld the fruites of their bodi••s, their liues or labours for paiment, appeaching vs thereby of ingra∣titude, that shew not the like gratefull mindes to our be∣nefactors.