Of the interchangeable course, or variety of things in the whole world and the concurrence of armes and learning, thorough the first and famousest nations: from the beginning of ciuility, and memory of man, to this present. Moreouer, whether it be true or no, that there can be nothing sayd, which hath not bin said heretofore: and that we ought by our owne inuentions to augment the doctrine of the auncients; not contenting our selues with translations, expositions, corrections, and abridgments of their writings. Written in French by Loys le Roy called Regius: and translated into English by R.A.

OF THE VICISSITVDE AND varietie of Tongues. The second Booke. (Book 2)

GOD creating Man, gaue him for a great and excellent gift, the vse of Reason, and Speech; and by these two prerogatiues hath separated him from other Creatures: But reason would little helpe him, and would lesse ap∣peare in him, if he could not by speech expresse that which before hee had conceiued in his mind; for the beastes seeme to yeeld vnto him rather in speech then vnderstanding; doing finely and curiously many workes which he can not imitate: which because they can not speake, are called mute or dumbe, and vnreasonable creatures. And although men are more sociable, yet little would the similitude of nature which is amongst them, auaile them vnto this societie, if they did not vnderstand one an other; and would rather chuse to conuerse with the dumbe creatures, of diuers kinds▪ then with other strange men which they vnderstand not. Speech then being so necessarie to a ciuil man; who by reason alone can not haue the companie of an other, and being naturally giuen him to declare the conceits and affections of his mind; not∣withstanding it commeth to passe, that the words are not alwaies, and euery where the same, as the thinges are vnto which they are imposed: but do chaunge from countrie to countrie, and from time to time; according to the

vse and custome of those that speake; beeing receiued, and vnderstood a∣mongst them by their owne agreement, and consent: From whence pro∣ceedeth this varietie of Languages amongst men dispersed ouer the whole habitable earth, being so spacious in length, and bredth, thone not vnder∣standing thother but by signes, or interpreters. But if, as there is in all men one first principle of reason, and one common interiour intelligence, it were possible that there were also but one common tongue to serue in arts, and contracts; they would loue one another better, by the ceasing of that discord, which commeth by the diuersitie, and ignorance of tongues; and employ that time in knowledge of things, which they are now constrained to bestow in learning of words. Diodorus the Sicilian following the auncient Philoso∣phers hath written, that men at the beginning had the sound of their voice confused, and not to be vnderstood; but that by little and little, making dis∣tinction, they named euery thing by his name: And for asmuch as they were then dwelling in diuers partes of the world, they did not vse all one speach and language; whence it came to passe, that they had also different Charac∣ters, and letters. Moses declareth in Genesis, how the language of all the earth was confounded in the building of the tower of Babel; wherehence hath proceeded the diuision of Nations, and the beginning of the diuersitie of Tongues, by the pride and presumption of men. As in trueth it is a pu∣nishment for sinne that we haue so many, which are changed vncessantly at the pleasure of the common people, forging daily new words; by the birth of which the former must needes decay: Euen as the seasons of the yeare do spoile the earth of her flowers and fruites; and do after cloath it a new with others. Likewise time maketh words to fall; and vse maketh new to spring in their places, and graceth them, making them to be in request; vntill that, being by age consumed by little and little, they come also to die: because that in the end, both we, and all things that are ours are mortall. But such change and varietie commeth ordinarily of the mingling of diuers Nations, and of great faires, and armies; where are people of diuers languages, who assembling, and communing together, do continually forge new wordes; which do either endure, or perish, according as of custome they are accep∣ted, or reiected.

And howbeit that speech is natural vnto men, yet do they not speake but artificially; nor do they learne it, but in hearing others speake: first their mothers, and their nurses; and afterwards the common people. Wherefore it behoueth, that the first which imposed names on things, hauing no other of whom they might learne them, did miraculously learne them in that tongue, wherein the nature, and trueth of things agreed with their originals, and Etimologies: which men euen to this present haue endeuoured to seeke in all tongues, in the significations of words. The Hebrewes attribute this honour to their tongue, which they account the first and most auncient of the world. Herodotus writeth, that Psamneticus King of Egipt, being desirous to know which was the first language, gaue two young children of poore parentage

to a Shepheard to be kept, forbidding any word to be spoken in their hearing: but commaunded they should be kept a sunder; and that at certaine howers there should goates be brought to giue them suck: which he did for a desire he had to heare what word these children would speake first: And it hapned after two yeares, when the Shepheard opened the doore to come in to the children, they fell downe both at his feete, and holding vp their handes pro∣nounced this word, Bec, which is as much to say as Bread, in the Phrygian tongues. And so it was found, that the Phrygians were more auncient then the Egyptians, and their language the first. Vitruuius the Architect, speaking somewhat grossely of this matter, saith, that while men dwelt yet in the for∣restes, in some of the thickest places, the trees shaken by the force of the windes, and beating violently one against an other, stroke fire, wherat those that were neere being astonished, fled; and afterwards comming neere again, when the noise was stilled, they found that great commoditie came to the bodie by the heat of the fire; and putting wood into it, so maintayning it, they called the rest, and shewed vnto them by signes, the good that came of it: In this first assemblie, their voices issuing diuersly out of their brests, the words were made as they offred themselues, by the which signifying oft the same things, they began to speak at aduenture; & so formed the languages amongst them. Pythagoras did attribute soueraine wisdom to him which first found out names for euery thing. And Plato affirmeth in his Cratilus, that it was done by a power, more then humaine: for in trueth man could not of him selfe, without the helpe of God discerne innumerable thinges contained in the world by their proper names, which otherwaies had remained vnkno∣wen: I say, the Heauen, his parts, and mouings; the fixed, and wandering Starres; the Elements with their qualities; wyndes, raines, haile, snowes, thunders, and other meteors; birds, beasts, fishes, herbs, plants, trees, graines, minerals, stones, pearles, their natures and properties; seas, gulfes, climates, hauens, ports, isles, riuers, lakes, pooles, lands, countries, people, nations, vil∣lages, hamlets, townes, and cities: The inward and outward partes of the bodie; sences, and their obiects; odours, sauours, smels, and tasts; maladies, and their remedies; infinite humaine actions; victuals, garments, lawes, ma∣gistrates, iudgments, gouernments, ceremonies, warfare, reuenewes, moneies: so many arts and occupations with their instruments: so many persons with names, and surnames, the affinities and alliances betwixt them. The contro∣uersie also in times past hath bin great amongst the learned, whether words were imposed at the will and pleasure of them that speake, or els by art, and natural reason. The varietie and continuall mutation which is seen in ton∣gues, made some think that this imposition was casual, and arbitrarie, foun∣ded on the consent and custom of men: Others said, that sithence the names are as instruments ordained to present things vnto vs, which do not chaunge thorough our opinions; but according to their nature remaine alwaies in the same order; also that the true names did not chaunge after our pleasure: but were agreeable to the things signified, whose essence, and similitude they

did imitate; being first conceiued in mind, afterwards expressed in sound, and voice, and then written by letters and sillables. Which opinion some haue so farre beleeued, that they haue gone about to enquire, and search out the pro∣prietie of things, by the proprietie of words; and to insinuate so far, by the se∣cret vertue which they deemed in them, as to do miracles in pronouncing them; and to heale the diseases both of bodie and mind therwith: And that which is more, they haue affirmed, that there are some inuented by diuine in∣spiration, meaning amongst others the name of GOD, which is pronounced by fower letters onely in most languages: In which they say so manie Nati∣ons could not agree, without some maruailous mysterie of the diuinitie.

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

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

Letters then being most necessarie; after they were inuented, they which considered them neerest, diuided them into Vowels, and Consonants; then

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

The Characters of the letters are no lesse different then the tongues; & can not serue any tongue but that wherunto they were ordayned; nor represent the entier, & natural pronunciation, no, not of their owne; which changeth not onely from towne to towne, but almost from village to village; for Greek could not be written in Latin letters, nor the Latin in Greek letters: and the Greeks and Latins do not alwaies pronounce as they write; but to make the sound of their words softer, do change the pronounciation of some letters, ta∣king thone for thother: whereof ther is a complaint made in Lucian to the iudgment of the vowels. Suetonius writeth of Augustus, that he obserued not the Ortographie set down by the Gramarians, but seem rather to leane to the opiniō of those, which think that we ought to writ as we speak: In the which howbeit he were followed, yet could he not with his imperial authority, and inestimable power preuaile against custome: And therfore I wonder at some Frenchmen, who not considering that in Grammer, there is more obseruation thē reasō; & that it behoueth in such things as are speking, writing, & pronoū∣cing, with nature to mingle custom (which as Quint. saith, is the most certain

Mistresse thereof) haue of late intruded themselues, assaying to reduce the writing of that language (which they haue cleane turned vp-side downe) wholie to the pronunciation; without thinking that the French doe vse straunge letters; which if they could neuer thoroughly satisfie their owne tongue, but because of their defect haue bin often changed, and augmen∣ted; how should they then satisfie another? In somuch that it seemeth to some to bee a thing impossible, that a people hauing a peculier tongue of their owne should vse strange letters, but with great difficultie; as we see in the Dutch and English, vsing Latin letters; and in the Turke, and Persian, which vse the Arabian. As also they are of opinion, that the historie of one Nation, can not conueniently be written in another language, then that of the same countrie; induced to think so by the Romain historie, which be∣ing written in Greeke, seemeth no more to be Romain: especially where there is question of customs, lawes, magistrates, moneyes, reuenewes, and ceremonies: wherein the Greeke tongue being otherwise rich and plentiful, seemeth rude, & barbarous; where the latin is fine and eloquent. The same is befalne to the Greek Historie, written in the Latin tongue: and likewise to the French made by Gaguinus, Paulus Emilius, and others, representing lit∣tle, and ill to the purpose, the affaires of Fraunce in a strange language, vsed onely now a daies in schooles: whereas Froissard, Monstrellet, Phillip de Commines, Guill. and Martin du Bellay, are found large and conuenient. But to thend not to digresse from our commenced purpose, I will returne to speake of Letters. The Hebrewes and Latines haue twentie and two; The Slauons, and Iacobites two and thirtie; The Armenians 38; The Abissins or Ethiopians 47; The Arabians 31; The Chaldeans 28: The Latins, Greeks, and other inhabitants of Europe, and the Indians of Malabar, hauing pecu∣liar letters of their owne, do write from the left side towards the right; The Hebrewes, Chaldees, Arabians, and generally all the Asiatickes, and Afri∣cans, from the right to the left, imitating the mouing of the Heauen, which is from the right hand to the left, and is most perfect according to Aristotle, approching neerest to the vnitie, which of Plato is called the motion of simi∣litude, or of vniformity; The Cathayans, or people of China, & Iapania, from aboue downe-wards, saying that therein they follow the order of nature, which hath giuen to men their heads placed aboue, and their feete below. Diodorus the Sicilian writeth, that in a certaine Island found towards the South by Iambolus, thinhabitants did not write from one side to thother as we do, but drew their lyne straight from aboue downwards, hauing 28▪ let∣ters in number, according to the signification which they giue them. Other maners of writing there can not be; except one would write a crosse, or ouerthwart. The Eastern, and Southern nations do vse points; the Greekes their abbreuiations; the Latines their titles; the Egiptians in holy things did vse the figures of beastes for letters, which they called Hierogliphicks. The most Auncients did write, in the rynde or barke of trees, and in tables, and leaues of wood: others in Palm-leaues, according to the commoditie of their

countrey; others in lead. Their missiue letters, or Epistles were written in tables or waxe; the Lawes, and other durable things were engrauen in brasse, or copper: They did write also in fine linnen cloth. Themperor Commodus vsed the fine bark of the Linden tree, called of the Latins Tylia, or Philyra: Others the rynds of a little tree called Papyrus, (growing in the marishes of Egipt) which were thicker: from whence came the name of Paper vsed at this present: which is made of old raggs of cloth, steeped along time in water, and braied in the mill; after brought into a kind of past, which being stretched out on a gredyron of brasse, to thend to drie it, & being put betwen locks of woll, and pressed; after it is a little dried, becommeth fine, smooth, thin, & white pa∣per: we vse Parchmin also more strong, & durable then paper, which is made of sheepskins, goatskins, and calueskins, coried and dressed by the Leather∣dressers, and parchminmakers. Herodotus in his Terpsichore witnesseth, that they vsed these skins to write on in his time. And Iosephus saith, that the holy Scriptures were first written in them. M. Varro thinks they were first found out at Pergamus a Citie of Asia, (from whence they yet take their name) at such time as the two kings, Ptolomeus, and Eumenes erected their Libraries; enuying one the other. Diodorus the Sicilian writeth, that the letters of the Ethiopians were made after the likenesse of sundrie beasts; and the extremities of diuers members of man; and of diuers instruments and tooles of artificers, and their intentions, & words were not expressed by composition of sillables or letters; but by formes, and figures of Images; whose signification remained vnto them by vse in the memorie of men: for they would set downe a Kyte, a Crocodile, a mans eye, a hand, a face, and other such like things: The Kyte sig∣nified a thing soone done, because he is one of the swiftest birds; and this cha∣racter is properly applied to home affaires which are speedily dispatched; the Crocodile did note some euil thing; the eye, an obseruer of Iustice, and a gard or watchman of the bodie; the right hand with the fingers stretched out, be∣tokened libertie, or liberalitie; and the left hand closed, was hardnes and gree∣dines. After this maner the figures of other parts of the bodie, & formes of cer∣tain instruments, did notifie some other thing amongst those Ethiopians, who retayning it thorough long practize in their memorie, did readily vnderstand what the said figures ment, and signified.

Those of Malabar, and other Indians dwelling between the riuer of Inde, and Ganges, do yet at this day write in palm-leaues, either greater or lesser, ac∣cording to the matter which they intend to write: In whole ones they write such things as they would haue to endure long; as the affaires of their Religi∣on, and their Histories; the other things of lesse consequence, in a quarter, or half quarter, aswell on thone side, as thother. And when they haue written a great number, meaning to ioin them in books, they fasten them betwene two bordes, in steed of those forels or couers which we vse; after, as we sow our leaues, so do they tie theirs with strings to the said couers. For their missiue let∣ters, it suffiseth that the leaf be writtē, and rolled vp in it self, & in steed of sea∣ling of it, they bind it with a thred of the palm it self: They vse to writ with an instrumēt of yron or wood sharpned, passing lightly ouer the leaf not percing

it, and imprinting the characters of their letters in such sort, that they may write on both sides: Thother writings more permanent, as foundations of Churches, are ••••t in Copper, or grauen in stone.

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

The simple people of the new found land, not knowing the vse of Letters, did maruaile much to see that Christians by meanes of them, vnderstood one an other; and thought that the written leaues did speake by their commande∣ment, and reported their secrets: in such sort, that they touched, and caried them with feare; as if there had bin some spirite in them; and that they had spoken by some diuinitie, and not by industrie of man.

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

TO MAKE Characters for imprinting, it is requisite first to haue pon∣chions of steel, softned by the fire, on the which they graue with coūter-pon∣chions hardned, or grauing yrons steeled, the white which is within the let∣ters: perfecting and smoothing the bodies of them with fyles, where they are eminent, or vneuen; not at the right ends, but at the contrarie: after they wet these ponchions in water to harden them, and then polish them, and do strike them into little peeces of fine copper, that haue bin in the fire: which being so engrauen, do naturally represent the forme of the letters: which the artisans do call, striking of the matrices: Then do they iustify their matrices on moulds of yron, and in the white therof make their castings, with lead, tinglasse, anti∣mony, and other mixed maters; to the end to harden them: and that they may endure the longer. The Letters being thus cast & made, are put in a great case or box of wood, ful of little boxes, in to which they are distributed, according

to their seuerall sorts. From whence the Compositors (hauing layd before them the writing which they are to imprint) do take thē one by one, & dispose them by pages and formes, which they put again into other chasies or frames of yron, with one or two crosses, locked or shut fast with furnitures of wood. Then the gouernour of the Presse taketh these last chasies or fourmes, and laieth them on the marble of his Presse, then beateth them with balles of wood filled with woll, couered with white leather, and soaked or rubbed with ynke well mixed and distributed, placing the leafe that is to be printed, on a double tympan or parchmin (hauing a wollen cloth betwixt them) and a moyst linnen cloth to keepe the leafe from mackling, and putting downe the frisquet of parchmin, which couereth the white or margent of the leafe, he maketh the traine of the presse to roule▪ (which resteth on the cariage) till it come vnder the vice or spindle, vnto which the plattin is fastned; and taking the barre in his hand, he pulleth as hard as he can vntill the leafe be imprin∣ted on one side, on which they bestow halfe the day; and the other halfe, on the other side; yelding in a day twelue hundred and fiftie sheetes, or thirteen hundred imprinted. But before they do this, they make two or three proofes, which are reulewed: and on this correction continew the rest. Two men are requisite about the presse, one to take, to gather, and order the sheetes, o•• leaues; thother to beate on the fourme which is on the presse, and to distri∣bute or bray the ynke on the stone or blocke: which could not serue the turne by reason of the great trauaile required therein, if they did not drawe the presse one after the other, and by turnes. Two presses also are needfull; thone for the ordinary worke; and thother to make the proofes, and reitera∣tions: More or lesse Compositours (that is to say Collectors of letters togi∣ther) according as they are great, or small, or in a meane betweene both; and sometimes a Founder or melter is requisite to renew the letters. The ynke is made of the smoke or sweat of oyle, and dissolued in oyle which must be beaten, and distributed, because of the thicknes; and it would not sticke on the paper if it were not wett. Others haue thought it better to make let∣ters of copper, saying that they are of lesse cost, and yet will endure lon∣ger. But experience hath founde that they are not so commodious, and that they pierce the paper. This is that which wee haue vnderstoode of this Art vnknowen heretofore amongst the auncient Greekes and Romains; wherof the Almains attribute the inuention to themselues. Notwithstanding the Portugals traficking on the farthest parts of the East, and the North, into China, and Cathay, haue brought therehence books printed in the languag, and writing of that Countrey, saying that they haue vsed it there a long time: which hath moued some to thinke, that the inuention hath bin brought out of that countrey through Tartaria and Moscouia, into Germany, and so after communicated to the rest of Christiandome: and yet not receiued of the Ma∣hometistes; who superstitiously account it a great sinne to write their Alcoran by any other meane but by the hand of man.

Almost all nations haue remained a long time without letters, which hath

bin a cause of making the antiquities and originals vncertain. Touching those bookes which we haue, there are none of them written aboue 3000. yeres a∣gone, except the Hebrew, neither is there found amongst the Gentils any au∣thour more auncient then Homer. Therefore the Egiptian Priest in Platoes Timeus, reprocheth vnto Solon, that the Greekes were all yong of vnder∣standing, hauing no olde opinion deriued from antiquitie, nor any aged sci∣ēce. And Herodotus in his Terpsichore writeth, that the Phenicians arriuing with Cadmus at Berce, brought in the letters with them, which the Greekes had not before: and as Liuy writeth, they came but lately into Italy: The Ger∣man toong was not written in auncient time; and the Hongarian began not long since to be written. The Nomedes of the great Tartaria, and some Sa∣uages of the new-found Lands do vse no letters at all: But they haue amongst them, some matters touching their antiquities not written nor represented by notes which they giue by worde of mouth successiuely the one to tho∣ther. As the Iewes kept a long time the memory of the antiquities, which Moi∣ses afterward set downe in writing, continued by the successors of Adam, and of Noe, euen to his time. And the verses of Homer, before they were gathered in the forme which we see by Aristarchus, were learned and song onely by hart. And so vsed at the first the Egiptians, Chaldees, Babylonians, Greekes, Latins, and other nations.

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

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

THE ROMAINS no lesse ambitious in amplifying their tongue then their Empire, constrained the people which they had ouercome to speak Latin; and did not negociate with straungers in any tongue but their owne; to thend to spread it ouer all, with more veneration: as Valerius saith in his se∣cond booke of auncient Institutions. They made their Prouincials to change not onely their language, but also their maners, and customes; to make them more tractable. Afterward the Christian religion passing into the West, and vsing Latin in the Churches, and Schooles; and consequently in publicke

instruments, and sentences of soueraigne Iudges; hath preserued it thorough∣out Italy, France, Spaine, England, Scotland, Germany, Poland, Prussia, Sweden, Hungarie, Bohemia, and part of Slauonia. The Christians in the East, and South Countries, as the Nestorians, Iacobites and Maronites vse the Syrian tongue, as we do the Latin: The Abyssins or Ethiopians vse the Chal∣daick, in the which they haue al the holy Scripture; not giuing credite to any other language whatsoeuer. The Iewes, wheresoeuer they are thorough∣out the world, would neuer consent, that the old Testament which they vse should be translated, but do read, and singe it in Hebrew; practizing in their contracts the tongues of those Countreys where they dwell. Likewise the Mahometists haue not suffred their Alcoran, to be red, or vnderstood in any tongue but the Arabian; in which it was written: which resembling the Hebrew, Chaldaicke, and Syriack is at this day largely spred abroad. For although the Tartarians, Corasmians, Persians, and Turkes, haue a diuers language from the Arabian; the Syrians, modern Arabians, and Mores, a tongue somwhat like it; yet so is it that the Arabian-grammer tongue in re∣ligion, and sciences, amongst the learned, the Iudges, and Priests is common to all the inhabitants almost of Asia, Africke, and the third part of Europe. Amongst all the languages of Europe there is not any more ample, and large then the Slauonian; vnderstood, and spoken by the Seruians, Mysians, Bos∣nians, Dalmatians, Croatians, Slauons, Carnians, Bohemians, Morauians, Sle∣sites, Polaques, Mazouites, Pomerans, Cassubites, Sarbians, Ruthenians, and Moscouites. Moreouer the Lythuanians, Nugardians, Plescouians, Smol∣nians, and Ohalicians begin to speake Slauonian. It was also familiar amongst the Mammelucs, as it is at this present in the Turkishe Court. In Asia, the Tartarian is vnderstoode thoroughout the Northe, and a part of the East: The Moorish thoroughout Africke; and the Brasilian in the newe found Lands.

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

THE HEBREW hath lost much of his integritie by the calamitous exiles, and often mutations hapned to the Iewes vnder diuers Lords: For the Assyrians, Egyptians, Greekes, and Romains raigning ouer the Iewes, assaied for the hatred they bare to their religion, to distroy the Hebrew tongue, and the books of the Law; which they caused all to be burned, as many as they could get into their hāds; & namely the Assyrians. But they were miraculous∣ly restored againe by Esdras, or Iesus his sonne the high priest, which knew

then by hart; and changed the Hebrew letters to hinder the Iewes from being mingled with the Samaritans; which came of the Gentils in Iury as Eusebius reporteth. These letters which the Iewes haue sithence vsed, differ onely by figures, and points from those of the Samaritans; which are those that were giuen asore time by Moyses.

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

THE SARAZENS spreading abroad by armes with their religion, & lordship the Arabian tongue, first they destroied the Persian, with the letters, and learning thereof; and by the commandement of their Caliphes, they cau∣sed the bookes written therein to be burnt; imagining that while the Persians contending before with the Greekes in armes, and learning, should haue these bookes contayning naturall sciences, lawes of the Countrey, and aun∣cient cerimonies, they could not be good Mahometists: as before the Chri∣stians had indeuoured, to abolish the bookes of the Gentils, and vtterly to deface the memorie of their diuinitie. After these Sarazens going into Egipt, they banished out of Alexandria the Greek with the disciplines written therein, and out of Africk the Latin; as the Romaines before had banished the African tongue, with the learning and letters thereof. So that nations passing out of one Countrey into another, do change the maners, tongues, re∣ligions, and dominions, the victors spoyling whatsoeuer they thinke good in the land of the vanquished, defacing their titles, and destroying for enuy that which they cannot cary away: to thend to abolish the honour and ver∣tue of others; and that none but their owne may be celebrated and spoken off. So do the Turkes at this day to the Christians they rule ouer: and so did in auncient time, the Goths, Alans, Hunnes, Vandales, Seruiens, Turules, and Lombards; who diuers times conquering Countries whose languages they disdained, neither vnderstanding them, nor knowing how to read them, cor∣rupted them, in making new by mixtion of their own with those which they found: insomuch as the poore people remayning after such transmigrations, did learne the languages of the cruel, and inhumane vsurpers, to vse in speach vnto them, that they might be thought the fitter subiectes. Moreouer these

barbarous people referring all vnto warre, and contemning all other disci∣plines; burnt the libraries and all the bookes in them, vnto which the lear∣ned had recommended all their memorials: in so much that with the losse of the tongues, there ensued also the losse of the sciences which were writ∣ten in them; from whence there arose great ignorance in the world which la∣sted a long time. In this maner of the Grammaticall Greeke, proceeded the vulgar; Of the Latin, the Italian, French and Spanish; in which are found many Arabian words, by reason that the Sarazens held Spaine a long time: Of the grammaticall Arabian, the Vulgar, and Moorish, vsed from Syria, vnto the straights of Marocco; and comming as neere vnto it, as the Italian doth to the Latin: Of the Almaygne, and French, the English: The Moore which commeth of the Arabian, and the Turke of the Tartarian, vnder∣standing on an other as the Italian, and Spanyarde. And so of those which are nowe in vse are others made, and of them others will bee made in time to come.

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

THE GREEKES dwelling in true Greece, in Italy, Asia, in Sicile, and other Islandes, had fower tongues or speeches; The Atticke,

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

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

If the first Romain writings had endured till this present, we should see that Euander, and Turnus, and the other Latins of that time, spake otherwise then did afterwards the last Romaine Kings, and the first Consuls. The ver∣ses which were song by the Salian priests were scarcely vnderstood; but be∣cause they were so ordained by the first founders, they were not chaunged for reuerence of the religion. Polybius writeth that the language was so much

changed from the first Punick warr to the second, that with great difficulty were vnderstood the treaties made before betweene the Romains and Car∣thaginians: And it remained rude about fiue hundred yeres, hauing no writer in it worthy of memory. From that time forward the people gaue themselues to learning, and some became learned: yet hard in their speech; commended onely, for hauing bin the inuentours; and first teachers of the Latin tongue: which was after made most pure, and perfect, by Cicero, Caesar, and other e∣loquent men, which florished then in great number: in whom indeed the purity there of is to be acknowledged. For afterward the common wealth be∣ing changed into a monarchy, and the maners corrupted; the speach was al∣so changed and corrupted, losing his natural grace, & goodnes vnder the Em∣perours. Then the Empire being translated from Rome to Constantinople, many strange nations comming into Italy, altered the tongue, so that men left speaking it, & it remained in books only: which were not red, nor vnderstood by the space of eight hūdred yeres; some of them lost, others eaten by worms, and deuoured by age: til such time as some Greekes and Italians, did by study make these two auncient tongues to reuiue when they were almost dead: by copying out, publishing, and correcting the bookes that remained in some libraries, such as had bin preserued from the rage of those barbarous nations; which hath so happely succeeded, that the said tongues haue recouered great light, with the arts written in them; which we see restored with them; and many inuentions added to antiquitie as shalbe declared hereafter.

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

CERTAINLY it is a great Comfort, and ease found out in this variety of languages, which cannot be vnderstood, nor learned of all, to translate out of one into another. By this meanes the old Testament hath bin translated out of Hebrew into Greek, and into Latin; the new Testament out of Greek into Latin; and consequently both Testaments into Syriack, Chaldaick, E∣gyptian, Persian, Indian, Armenian, Scythian, Sclauonian, German, English,

French, Italian, and into all languages vsed by men: without which benefit the greater part of them had remayned in perpetual ignorance of God. And that there is in the same some diuine working, it appeared then, when Pto∣lomeus Philadelphus desiring to put into his excellēt library the holy books of the Pentateuch, and of the Prophets translated into Greeke, and hauing procured out of Iury 72. Interpreters skilful in both languages: to make proof of their fidelity, he caused them all to worke apart seuerally; and yet neuer∣theles found in them such consent and agreement, that there was not one differing from the other in the sence of the Scripture: hauing receiued this so meruailous a gift of God, to thend the scripture might be acknowledged to be diuine as it is; and that the translation might be of more authoritie, as being don, not by the diligence of men, seruing but for the words; but by the spirit of God, guyding and gouerning the vnderstanding of the Transla∣tors. Moreouer by such meanes Phylosophy, Physicks and the Mathematick, were translated out of the Greeke into Arabian, and out of Greek, and A∣rabian into Latin: many arts, infinite histories communicated by one nati∣on to another. Varro, and Columella, say that the Romains vnderstanding the profit which was contained in the bookes of husbandry made by Mago the Carthaginian in the Punicke tongue, ordained by decree of the Se∣nat that they should be translated into Latin: whence may manifestly bee knowen the profit of translation, fauoured by God in the exposition of his word, and holy scripture; confirmed by the consent of all nations, in the communicating of arts: and approued by the aucthoritie of the sage Senate of the triumphant Seigniory of Rome. Yet can I not deny but that it is more painefull then praiseworthy; where diligence assisted with Iudgement is more requisite, then any excellent knowledge; which appeareth more in in∣uenting of it selfe, then in translating; that is to say, writing out of one booke into another; obseruing the proprietie of both tongues without adding any thing of his owne, or taking ought from the authour: whom it is not pos∣sible to translate so faithfully, & elegantly, but there wilbe alwaies more grace in the originall then the translation; where the words are alwaies tyed to the phrase, sauouring more or less of the tongue out of which one transla∣teth, in diuers strange wordes belonging vnto the religion, state of gouern∣ment, lawes, magistrates, or sciences, which it is not lawfull to change; and hard or vncouth to make new in their places: and againe in the metaphors, al∣legories, comparisons, similitudes, and other figures, and ornaments of speach: ech seuerall tongue hauing I know not what proper, and peculiar, vnto it selfe, not to be expressed in an other. In such sort that there is no means to bring a tongue to perfection by translation; and there was neuer translator how sufficient soeuer, that deserued the like praise as his authour; whatsoe∣uer Theodorus Gaza list to say, the most excellent that is knowen in this qua∣lity. Cicero, Father of the Romain eloquence, translated into Latin Xeno∣phon his Oeconomick; the contrary orations of Eschines and Demosthenes, the Timaeus of Plato, and the Astronomical poeme of Aratus. But S. Hierome

found great difference betweene his writings, and translations; in which he found wanting his wonted elegancie and facilitie. Wherefore it were better to put forth his owne inuentions for him that hath meanes to doe it. Not∣withstanding if one doe it to helpe the ignorant of the tongues; or for his owne particular study, to thend to fashion his stile, and to settle his iudge∣ment on the best authours, as Cicero himselfe did, and I haue assaied to doe after his example and exhortation in accommodating the vertues of the most esteemed auncient writers to the manners, and affaires of this time; I recken translation very comendable. And he that with a mediocritie of vnderstan∣ding, and knowledge should be the first that had proposed to his nation, the lights or lampes of learning, namely Isocrates, Xenophon, Demosthenes, Ari∣stotle, Plato, and the Schoolemasters of mankind, as they are termed by Se∣neca, which haue long time lyen hidden in Schooles, or buried in libraries, without being put in vre, were not altogether to be reiected; especially tra∣uailing in a tongue not yet polished, nor accustomed vnto arts: which will be much amended by trauailing therein, euen as the Greeke and Latin came by little and little to their perfection, by handling of good maters in them, as Philosophy, matter of state, or publick gouernment, deeds of armes, and other honest & profitable sciences; not by writing of fabulous Romances, or amo∣rous Sonets, or such kinde of stuffe wherewith the vulgar tongues are all pe∣stered. But there is need of learned and eloquent men, such as hardly and rare∣ly are found in many hundreds and thousands of yeres worthy of admirati∣on: of whom we haue alwaies had no lesse want then other Countries: or if some such haue at any time bin found here, they haue for the most part bin delighted instrangetongues more then in their owne. But it is great reason that the learned should exactly know their own tongue, and that they should write in it sometimes to make it better; and do good to their owne Coun∣treymen rather then to straungers: so that the Greeke, Latin, Hebrewe, Chal∣daick, and Arabian which are common to many nations be not thereby for∣gotten or layd aside: wherehence would arise great obscuritie to those dis∣ciplines, which are written in them, confusion to the world, and ignorance vnto men depriued of the cōmunication which they haue by means of them, not vnderstanding one another afterward, nor conferring togither. Notwith∣standing I would neuer counsail to employ so many yeres on these learned tongues as men haue accustomed to do, and to consume the time inlerning of words, which ought rather to be bestowed in knowledge of such things, as they haue not afterward the meanes nor leasure to intend: which error brin∣geth great backwardnes and damage to the sciences.

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

The end of the second Booke.