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 IN∣VENTION OF ARTS, AND HOW men from their first simplicitie and Rudenes, haue come to the present Commoditie, Magnificence, and Excellency. The third Booke. (Book 3)

PLato a most renowmed Phylosopher amongest all that euer were celebrated for the knowledge of learning, re∣presenting vnder a fable the first estate of mankinde, say∣neth, that at the beginning the Gods were alone afore there were any mortall Creatures: but that the fatal de∣stiny of generation being come; they framed them in the bowels of the earth, and made them of fire, and of earth, with other thinges mingled with them; And that being willing to bring them into light, they gaue the charge to Prometheus, and Epimetheus to distribute to euery one his forces, and proprieties: Then Epi∣metheus prayed Prometheus to let him make the distribution in his presence; And so goeth about it alone, giuing to some, force without lightnesse, to o∣thers lightnesse without force: he armed some, and for those which were without armes he inuented other succour: Those which he had inclosed in a little body, he lifted them vp into the aire with feathers; or commaunded them to craule on the earth: He fortifyed such as were growen into a great Masse with their Masse it selfe: And likewise he proceeded with the rest gi∣uing to euery one his vertues. After he had so furnished them, to thend they should not distroy one another, he gaue them meanes to defend them thone from the other; and to remaine abroad without couert. Clothing some of them with thicke heare, little houses, or shells and skales of diuers sorts, with feathers, or hard skinnes, against the vntemperatenes of Winter, & Sommer: and of the same things made them beds, and natural couches: ioining to their feet, clawes, nailes, and callosites: to their heads, hornes, teeth, and tronks: then distributed to them food, making some to eate grasse on the earth; others to feed on fruits, & roots of trees; & others more greedy to deuoure one another.

Prouided that they which liued on pray should be in some sort barren, and the others that were subiect to be deuoured, more fruitful: to thend that the kind should continue. For the diuine prouidence hath bin wise therin, making al fearful beasts, and such as are good to ••eed on, very fruitful, lest by being of∣ten eaten there should faile of the kind: euen as hurtfull, and harmeful beasts are of small increase. Therefore the hare is very fruitfull, and alone of al kind of venison, surchargeth the burden in his belly, because that men, beasts, and birds, do prosecute him to death. Likewise the Cony is sound so ful of rabets that some of them are yet without heare, others somewhat riper, and others going out of the belly. But the Lyonesse which is the strongest, and hardiest of all beastes, neuer bringeth but one; and but once in her life. But Epime∣theus being not very wise, he gaue all to the brute beastes, reseruing nothing for man, whom he left alone without force, without power, without pro∣pertie, starke naked, without armour, without clothing, vnhosed, and vn∣shood, without conuenient food, and wanting all things: In such sort that he could not resist other creatures being then more excellent then himselfe. For the staggs ran swifter; the beares, and Lions were stronger; the Peacock was fairer; the fox was craftier; the Emmet more diligent; and the snayle better lodged then he: Euery beast found a medicine fit for his malady and hurt; whereof man was ignorant. Of this came such a confusion that men perished by little and little thorough diuers sorts of cruelt••e: In such sort that their kind had soone bin consumed, without the aduise of prudent Prometheus; who seeing so great a fault, to redresse it, stole from Vulcan, and Minerua the artificial wisedom, togither with the fire: being not possible to obtaine it, or to vse it without fire; and so did distribute it to mankinde: by meanes where∣of men began for their common commoditie to assemble togither for feare of the be astes, and to thend to resist them, helping one another, and seeking here and there after safe places for their habitation, they learned to make houses, and garments to auoid the sharpnes of cold, and the force of heate; to reserue fruits for their necessitie; to prepare armes for their defence; and to finde out other commodities for their life. Which finally necessity it selfe be∣ing inuentour of all things maketh knowen particularly to the vnderstanding of men; vnto whom were giuen for helpes, their hands, speach and reason; Reason to inuent, speach to cōmunicate▪ the hands to accomplish that which they should either inuent themselues by reason, or learne of others by speach: for no other creature doth speak in deed, for as much as speach proceedeth of reason; nor hath hands; though peraduenture somewhat like vnto handes. Wherefore man hath first found out by reason the most necessary thinges; as food, clothing; and armes: and afterward such as serue for pleasure, ornament and magnificence: he hath imposed names on euery thing, inuented letters of diuers sorts, and sundry kinds of writing; made all arts both mechanical and liberall: proceeding so farr as to measure the earth, and the sea; to reduce by instruments the mighty masse of heauen, scarse to be comprehended by vnder∣standing, and to propose it before our eyes. Moreouer the same Plato affirmeth

that before men liued in company, and spake togither, or that they had begun to inuent; and exercise arts; for as much as they alone of al other creatures did participate of the diuine nature, being indewed with an immortall soule; that they by reason of this diuine affinitie, did thinke first that there were Gods, and so honoured them; and prayed to them: from thence, had religion her begin∣ning, publicke gouernment, iudgement, negotiation and traficke by Sea, and by land, lawes were established, magistrates created, innumerable trades in∣uented, houses, villages, and townes builded, consequently cities, castles, and fortresses; and then kingdoms, and Empires erected: Wherehence hath suc∣ceeded, the greatnes, and excellency of mankind such as we see it at this day. From thence I say began religion which is more natural to men then all their other arts, and inuentions: no nation in the world hauing bin found so rude, so cruel, & barbarous; but that it had some appearance of religion. For how∣beit that the greater part is ignorant, what God, & how they ought to wor∣ship him; yet al notwithstanding do agree that we ought to honour, pray, and feare one God the authour of all things: which is confirmed not only in the first, and most auncient nations, as the Ethiopians, Indians, Armenians, Chal∣dees, Hebrewes, Assyrians, Egyptians, Greekes, Romains, and Gaules: but also in the Goths, Vandales, Sarazens, Tartarians, Turkes, Persians, Cathay∣ans or Chinoys: And not onely in our hemisphere; but also amongst the An∣tipodes; and Sauages of the new found lands: of whom heretofore we neuer had any knowledge. They which haue nauigated thither, haue found many people liuing yet as the first men, without letters, without Lawes, without Kings, without common wealthes, without arts; but yet not without reli∣gion: who beleeue, that the soules of the dead go into other places according to such workes as they haue done in this life. To intertaine it, haue bin ap∣pointed cerimonies, praiers ordained, temples edifyed, oratories, chapels, hos∣pitals, almeshouses, cloisters, and couents: Sacrificers or priests haue bin in∣stituted, and much respected in all Countries. And if it pleased God that hee woulde be worshipped thoroughout all the world in one selfe same maner, men shoulde be deliuered of great hatred, and cruel discorde, happening a∣mongst them thorough the diuersitie of Religions.

AT THE beginning men were very simple and rude in all thinges, little differing from beastes. They did eate in the fieldes and mountaines, the rawe fleshe of beastes, or herbes, with their rootes, stalkes, and leaues, which the earth brought foorth of his owne accorde; and in the woodes the fruictes of wilde trees; or venison: on the bankes of the Sea, Riuers, Lakes, Pooles, and Marishes, they fedd on fishes and birdes: They clad them selues with skinnes, in steede of garments; to bee defended from heat and colde, from winde, raine, and snow, they withdrewe themselues into great holow trees; or vnder their thick leaued branches; or into low dy∣ches, hideous caues, holow vautes, cabins, and lodges made of great logges of wood, and lightly couered with boughes, stalkes, canes, and reeds. Then hauing strong bodies, they nourished themselues with strong meates, and

also liued longer. They abode euer almost in the open aire, in continuall tra∣uaile, and lying on the hard ground, wheresoeuer sleep ouertooke them. When they waxed weaker; and could not digest such meates, nor dwell in the open aire naked, and vncouered, they were constrayned to seeke by little and little, to soften this wild and sauage maner of lyuing, which they could no longer endure: learning to sow Corne, which before grew vp vnknowen amongst herbes and weeds; and to dresse the vines, which likewise the earth brought forth amongst other plants; to transplant, and to graffe fruict-trees, to thend to make the fruicts better; and to dresse and season both flesh and fish: and then to build, and to assemble themselues in companies, that they might liue the more safely, and commodiously. In such maner were they reduced, from that brutish life which they led, to this sweetnes, and ciuili∣tie; beginning from that time forward, to feed, cloath, and lodge them∣selues in better sort, and more commodiously.

Now whereas men haue taken nourishment, first of tame beastes, before either of graine, or of fruits: there is no doubt but that pasturage, grasing, & shepheardrie, were before husbandrie and tillage; as it appeareth by the most auncient nations, who hauing so liued from the beginning, haue taken their names there hence, as the Hebrewes, and the Italians, which is to say shepheards, and that many Nations vse it euen at this day, exerci∣sing (as may be said) a kind of liuelie tillage. The tilling and planting of the earth haue bin both inuented after pasturage, and vnto both haue bin added hunting, fouling, and fishing. On the one side they haue found out the vse of Wheat, which in these partes is found the best and most com∣modious nourishment: as also Barley, Millet, Rye, and all other knowen kind of graine. On the other side, they haue found Ryce, Mahiz, and Iuca: the maner to sow, and gather them, to thresh, fan, and winnow, to boult and sift flower, to knead it, and to make dowe, to mould it, and raise past, to make loaues, and to bake them in the ouen: whereunto are appointed and doe serue, the Millers and Bakers. Then haue they added pease and beanes, and other sortes of pulse, both new and old: Herbes of diuerse sorts, and rootes; as persley, lettice, spinage, tyme, pepperwort, marioram, buglosse, maloes, beetes, endiue, succorie, purslain, sage, col∣worts, melons, cucombers, gourds, artichocks, sperage, mugwort, onyons, garlick, leekes, chibols, carrets, parsnebbs, nauets, radishes, and turnepps, mingling with them salt, oiles, butter, and suet, to giue them a better tast, and make them the more sauorie. Moreouer the fruits of trees, cheries, plums, peares, apples, peaches, apricocks, mulberies, medlers, quinces, raisins, figgs, oliues, citrons, orenges, dates, chestnuts, and marrons. And not content with graine, fruits, herbes, and rootes, they haue bin giuen to eat the flesh, first of themselues, which they haue left for the most part with horrour; thē of other creatures both tame and wild; of the land, of the water, and flying in the aire; neither leauing inward nor outward part of them, which they haue not foūd mean to season, boile, & seeth, roast & frie, or put in past & bake with saulces,

and spices, brought from the fardest parts of the earth, making puddings, saul∣ciges, haggasses, tripes, and chitterlings, which they serue at the beginning of meales with potages, broathes, and sallets; and at the end therof cheeses, tarts, and creames; wafers, iunkets, and march-panes, prepared and dressed by Cookes and pybakers: Neither hath their pompe and riot bin any lesse with fishes, both of the sea, and of freshwater. In somuch, that Plutarch in his Symposiacke proposing this question, whether that the Sea or the Earth brought forth most delicate and delicious meates, findeth businesse, and diffi∣cultie enough in the decision therof. Moreouer being not pleased with milk, nor faire water to drink; they found out a way to brew Beere, and Ale; to draw and presse out Syder of apples and peares; wyne out of grapes, and palmes; and to make sweet drinkes, compounded with honie, as bragget, meath, and metheglem, which they call Medons in Moscouia, and Polonia; and infinite other artificial drinks, which they haue dronk in cuppes of gold, siluer, cristall, and glasse, spicing them in diuers maners. Besides, to make their drink fresher, they haue found meanes in some places to keepe snow, and y••e, all the yeare. At the first sitting on the ground they tooke their repast on the grasse, & vnder the shadow of leaues: after they made stooles, formes, benches, tables, and tressels: Table clothes, table napkins, trenchers; salt∣sellers, cupbords, vessel, and vtensiles of diuers sorts, and fashions; appointing officers fit for these charges: as Stewards of the house, pantlers; cellerers, caruers, cupbearers, cookes, boylers, and rosters. Salust blameth the Ro∣mains, which sought in his time by sea and by land, after all sorts of delica∣cies, not expecting hunger, nor thirst, nor cold, nor wearinesse; but preuen∣ting all these things by disordinate appetite. Liuie telleth how after the Con∣quest of Asia, all sorts of superfluities and delicacies came vnto Rome, and that then the Romains began to make banquets with more curiositie, and cost: And a Cooke, which before was held amongst them for a seruile drudge, began to come in reputation. Seneca complaineth, that the kitchins were more celebrated, then the Schooles of Philosophers, & Rhetoricians. Who would not wonder to heare tell of the excessiue feasts of Anthonius and Cleopatra? or of the Emperour Caligula, who consumed on one supper the reuenues of three prouinces? of Heliogabalus; of Lucullus; or of the pro∣digalitie of Esope, and Apicius, who shortned his life, fearing least goods would faile him to the maintayning of his sumptuousnes? In one feast made to Vitellius by his brother, were serued two thousand dainty fishes, and seuen thousand birds. Good God, how much paine hath bin procured vnto men by their insatiable gluttonie and gurmandise! how manie sorts of workmen, and their seruants hath it set on work! But their curiositie in apparell hath not bin lesse; to the furnishing whereof many occupations haue bin applied: as the spinner, carder, tucker, weauer, clothworker, fuller, sherman, dyer, taylor, cutter, hosier, doubletmaker, linnen draper, semster, capper, and felt∣maker, feathermaker, lacemaker, embroderer, felmonger, skinner, furrier, leatherdresser, tanner, currier, cordwayner, and shoomaker. They haue spon

and wouen flaxe, hempe, woll, cotton, silke, made of wormes, and of it haue made Veluet, Satin, Damaske, Taffeta; and of goats haire, and camels haire, Grogram, and Chamlet: whereunto haue bin added fustians, bombasies, sarges, cloth of Gold, and Siluer, purple, and skarlet, with other infinite co∣lours: making of these stuffes▪ shirts, rochets, wimples, doublets, caps, hats, hoods, gowns, coats, cloaks, cassocks, ierkins, & iackets, enriched with orna∣ments, trimmings, embroderies, and laces, after diuers fashions, whith change from Countrie to Countrie, and from day to day, thorough the lightnes of persons. Of tanned and coried leather they haue made Ierkins, buskins, bootes, shooes, and pantofles, and lyned and faced them with veluet. They haue applied Carcanets and Chaines to their necks, brasselets to their hands, rings to their fingers, spectacles to their eies, paynting to their cheekes, iewels to their eares, tyres and borders of gold to their heads, and garters to their leggs: distinguishing by the habits, the Princes from the subiects; the Magistrats from priuate men; the noble from the base; the learned from the ignorant; and the holie from the prophane. What shall I say of the skinns of Wolues, Sables, Martins, and other precious furres, fet from the farthest parts of the North, which they buy for excessiue prices. Plinietel∣leth it for a wonderfull strange thing, and full of great superfluitie, that he had seen Lollia Paulina a Romain Ladie, widow of the Emperour Caligula, at a wedding banquet, hauing her head, necke, and bosome couered, and her handes likewise, with pearles, and Emeraudes, ioyned together, and enterlaced: which iewels were esteemed to bee worth a Million of crownes.

The Queene Cleopatra comming to meete Antonius in Cilicia, put her selfe on the ryuer Cydnus, into a boate, whose sterne was all of gold, the sayles of Purple, the oares of Siluer, which kept stroke in rowing with the sound of Musicke: Touching her person, shee was laied vnder a pa∣uilion of gold tyssued, decked like the Goddesse Venus, and round about her were maruailous odoriferous and sweet smells, and perfumes. Helio∣gabalus slept on a tyke full of hares heares, and partridge-feathers. The bed of Darius the last King of the Persians, was sumptuouslie garnished, and couered with a vine of golde, in maner of a grate or lettice, enriched with raisins and grapes hanging in it, all of precious stones: And at his bedds head, there was in Treasure fiue thousand Talents of golde; at his bedds foote, three thousand Talents of Siluer: So much and so deerely he esteemed and valued his nights pleasure, that he would haue his head rest on so great cheuisance.

But yet, the excesse in buylding hath bin more outragious, for comming out of hollow trees, houells, bowers, cabins, and lodges, couered with straw, and reedes, and going into houses buylded with brickes, stones, and marble, cut, squared, and fastened with morter, plaister, lyme, and varnish, hanged with Tapistrie and painted, couered with slattes and tyles, the roofe hollow with arches and vaults, and the flower curiouslie paued

and wrought, diuided by halles, vpper and lower chambers, vtter chambers, inner chambers, with-drawing-chambers, bedchambers, wardrobes, cabi∣nets, closets, staires, entries, galleries, and terrasses: They haue accomodated arts and artificers for the buylding and furnishing of them: as Architects, masons, plaisterers, tylers, carpenters, smithes, glasiers, tapisters, painters, grauers, cutters, caruers, melters, casters of Images, goldsmithes, gilders, lock∣smithes, and others: buylding pallaices, castles, townes, cities, bridges, con∣duicts, pyramides, sepulchers, theaters, amphitheaters, bathes, and porches; turning the course of streames, and raising of mounts, and throwing downe mountains, with prodigalitie exceeding all boundes of reason; hoping thereby to make their names immortall. And whereas it was necessarie for them, intertayning that varietie and magnificence, to trafique by sea and by land, and to haue Cariers on them both; to thend to receiue from other pla∣ces, such commodities as they wanted, or to send abroad such things as a∣bounded with them; to nauigate, they hollowed first the bodies of trees after the maner of the Indian Canoes, and afterwards made boates, schiffes, pina∣cies, and gallies, with three, fower, fiue, sixe, seauen, eight, and ten Oares on a side, yea; to thirtie on a side: foistes, brigantines, barkes, caruels, ships, hulks, gallions, galliasses, armadoes, and argosies, with their tackling, and furniture, of anchors, cabels, mastes, sayles, artillerie, ordinance, victuals, and compas, or boxe: To receiue, keepe, and repaire them, arsenals, portes, and hauens; To guide, and to man them were appointed Pilots, mariners, sailers, rowers, and gallyslaues: euen as carters, wagoners, coachmen, and horse-keepers were ordayned for trafick, and trauaile by land. And for both cariages, cursitours, regraters, porters, balencers; Masters of ports, customers, controllers, reuisitors, and serchers. To serue which turne with more ease, it was needfull to coine money of gold, siluer, brasse, and copper, defined in value by the quantitie and waight; marked with diuerse figures, according to the diuersitie of the Countrie where it is made: being not possible to vse per∣mutation in euery thing: and therefore were brought in money-tellers, and changers. Moreouer it was necessarie to haue Notaries or Scriueners, to passe the contracts of Markets, sergeants, huissiers, solicitors, proctors, infor∣mers, auditors, iudges, counsailors, presidents, registers, criers, and executours of sentences. For the expedition of roiall letters, Secretaries, Maisters of re∣quests, Chauncelors, or Keepers of seales. The Physicians, Chirurgians, and Apothecaries do serue for health, vsing druggs, comming for the most part out of strange Countries: as Rheubarbe, Cassia, Aloe, Agarike, and such others. Gymnasts, pedotribes, athletes, fencers, wrastlers, runners, swim∣mers, leapers, and tumblers, for the exercise of the bodie. For pleasure, and recreation, singers, minstrells, musicians, plaiers on instruments, organists, dauncers, and ballad-makers, rymers, iesters, iuglers, barbers, perfumers, drawers of flowers, and curious workes. Also not contented with stickes, and stones, which the simplicitie of nature furnished vnto their Choler, they haue inuented infinite sorts of armes, and weapons, both offenssiue and

defensiue; long-bowes, and crosse-bowes; with arrowes and quiuers, slings, darts, iauelins, lances, pikes, partysans, halbards, swords, bucklers, rapiers, and daggers, shieldes, targets, cuyras••es, brigandines, headpeeces, helmets, caskes, morions, and salads: gorgets, pauldrons, vantbrasses, tasses, gauntlets, cuisses, and greues: engines to shoote in the field, or to batter wals, catapults, and ramms in old time; and of late canons, double-canons, demy-canons, basilisks, coluerins, sakers, faulcons, minions, and chambers: and for smaller shot, and maniable, muskets, caliuers, harquebuzes, daggs; and pistols: Ser∣uing for the warres, armorers, furbishers, spurriers, sadlers, ryders, horse∣breeders, horsekeepers, smithes, and farriers, founders, and mounters of great ordinance, saltpeter-men, powder-makers, canoniers: Colonels, Captains, souldiers, with their Ensignes, trumpets, drummes, and other Officers. Going farther yet, they haue found out other estates, offices, and exercises, imploying some about conducting and managing the publick reuenewes: as Receiuours, Treasorers, Masters of accompts, Auditours, Controllers: Others about the counsaile of Princes, and of States: Others to the esta∣blishing and preseruing of the Lawes, seeing to the publick gouernment, to discipline, and correction of maners.

Then amongst so many commodities, idlenesse increasing with ease, and wealth, they applied themselues to the studie of learning; by reason that all naturally desire to know new things, strange, admirable, faire, and variable, and to vnderstand the causes therof; cherishing principally amongst all their senses, their sight and hearing, which do helpe them to haue knowledge, but the sight most of all, where hence hath begun this knowledge by admi∣ration; for seeing the Heauen, the Sunne, the Moone, the Starres; and hauing knowen by their eyes the difference of daies, and nights, the reuo∣lutions of the monethes, and the yeares; they applied themselues to con∣template the disposition of the world, and to seeke out the secrets of nature: First, necessitie (as hath bin said) taught them the arts necessarie vnto life; after followed those which serue for pleasure, ornament, and magnificence: And after they had gotten opportunitie and leasure, they began to consider all things contayned in the world, being innumerable in multitude, and ad∣mirable in beautie; inquiring after their properties, agreements, and diffe∣rences, whereof they were made, what they became, when, and how they perished, what in them was mortall, and corruptible, and what diuine, and perpetual. They were so desirous to learne, that dwelling and liuing here on earth so little while, they durst vndertake to know, not onely what is a∣boue, vnder, and in the earth; as the nature of all sortes of liuing creatures, and qualities of mettals: but also the nature of the Ocean, and of all waters, and fishes that liue therein: Then mounting into the aire, they inquired of the winds, of the raines, haile, snow, thunder, lightning, and other accidents ap∣pearing in the middle Region thereof: they ascended by vnderstanding and by art euen into Heauen, which they haue indeuoured to compasse round, imagining two Poles, and one Axeltree to sustain it, distinguishing the planets

from the fixed starres, inuenting the Zodiack, obseruing the Solstices, and Equinoxes; the causes of the equalitie, shortnes, and length of daies, and nights; the reasons of shadowes; the maner of discribing, and measuring the world; of sayling out of one Countrie into an other, guiding the way by the windes, and starres: whose mouings, coniunctions, and oppositions they haue diligently obserued; their greatnes, quicknes, or slownes, colours, shi∣nings, serenities, heats, colds; and the power which they haue on theis infe∣riour things, and the good or ill which they signifie: And wholie and alto∣gether the agreement, and sympathie of heauen, and earth; from whence as from a perpetuall spring floweth this vniuersall aboundance, by which this world is vncessantly restored, and renewed. Their industrie hath pierced thorough all; neither the thicknesse of the earth, nor the depth of the Sea, nor the varietie of the aier, neither the heat and brightnes of the fire, nor the spacious largenesse of Heauen, could amaze their vnderstanding. Moreouer, they which were most speculatiue, considering the feeblenes of the senses, the multitude of sensible things, so small that they can not be perceiued; or so moueable, that they are without certaintie; that our life is short; all full of opinions, and customes; and all enuironed with darknes, and hidden; haue thought that by humane discourse, nothing could be certainly knowen, no∣thing vnderstood, and comprehended: but that, separating our selues from sight, and hearing, and from the whole bodie, we ought to take the thought of the mind, and by the vnderstanding (which is in the Soule, as the sight is in the bodie) to endeuour to know the reason of euery thing, and that which is in it pure and cleane, alwaies simple, and vniforme, without euer being changed by generation, and corruption. These haue passed the vault of hea∣uen, so far distant from the earth, and came to the place aboue; with-drawing themselues by contemplation from the world towards God, from darknes to light, from corruption to eternitie, from ignorance to wisdom, satisfied (as they say) of all their desire; and inioying the knowledge of the trueth: which is of things that are alwaies alike, not receiuing any mutation; wherefore they haue called this inferiour part of the world, (where there is almost no∣thing certain, and few things certainly knowen) the region of falshod, and opinion: and the other superiour knowen by reason, and intelligence (where are the formes, and exemplaries of things) the seat of trueth. In this progresse of knowledge, they haue knowen some things by natural instinct, without learning; others by obseruation, vse, and experience: others by reasonable discourse, and demonstrations; and others by diuine inspiration. But there is such pleasure in this contemplation, that they which with a good will giue themselues to it, do easily forgo all other delights, and are so constant, and perseuerant, that they admit them not at any time; neither fearing domage, nor losse of goods, nor the blame of the people, and ignominie but are readie to endure all kind of crosses, and calamities, euen to the suffering of volun∣tarie pouertie: which gaue occasion to people in times past to say, that Atlas sustained heauen on his shoulders; and that Endymion had long time slept

with the Moone; and that Prometheus was tied to the high mountain Cau∣casus, with a Vulture feeding on his liuer: Meaning by such tales to signifie vnto vs, the great and maruailous studie, which these excellent persons be∣stowed, in contemplation of celestiall and naturall things. Democritus ha∣uing begun to withdraw his mind from his senses, put out his owne eies. Anaxagoras forsook his patrimonie. What exceeding pleasure had Aristo∣tle, teaching not onely Athens, and all Greece, but also the vniuersal world, discouering the secrets of nature, before vnknowen, and hidden in profound obscuritie, magnifying and boasting himselfe with good reason, that he had attayned thither, whereno other Greeke nor Egiptian had euer come? What contentment receiued Plato, who did write at 90. yeares of age, and euen the verie day that he deceased; who was for his excellent knowledge honoured in Greece, Sicile, and Italie, aboue the common estimation of men, esteemed by Kings, admired of people: and hath alwaies bin reuerenced by all such as desired to haue knowledge of diuine and humaine things. So men mo∣ued by nature with a desire of knowledge, and of the pleasure which is found therein, haue inuented Grammer, Rhetoricke, and Logicke; for speach, Oration and disputation: Poesie for composition of verses, and rimes: Arithmeticke to number; Geometrie for measure and weight: And passing farther haue come to Musicke, consisting in concord of voices and sounds; and in obseruation of due proportions; Astrologie which serues for consideration of celestiall things; Physicke of naturall things; and Me∣taphysicke of supernaturall: Theologie of diuine things; Ethicke for in∣stitution of priuate maners; Economicke for houshold; Politicke for go∣uernments, and states; and Nomotechnicke for knowledge, exposition or interpretation of Lawes. Such hath bin their dexteritie in the inuenting of liberall, and mechanicall sciences.

But although there are euery where found people, capable of knowledge, so that they be duely instructed; yet notwithstanding, there are some more ingenious, and inuentiue then the rest, and more apt to certaine sciences, either by naturall inclination, and influence of the heauens, or by the situa∣tion of the Countrie wherein they are borne, or by exercise which they vse while they are young, or by honour which is nurse of all arts whatsoeuer, and the rewards which are proposed for the learned and expert therein.

THE Babylonians dwelling in spacious plaines, and hauing nothing to hinder them the whole sight of the heauens, they placed all their studie in obseruing of the Starres: The like hath bin done by the Egiptians, who haue alwaies their aire cleare without cloudes: And by reason of the yearely ouerflowing of the riuer Nilus, which couereth and watereth their Coun∣trie, they were constrained to bestow some time on Geometrie. The Phe∣nicians being giuen to marchandize, inuented Arithmeticke; and dwelling neere the Sea, began first nauigation; which the Castilians, Portugals, and Englishmen, bordering likewise on the sea, haue brought to perfection. It was vnseemly amongst the Arcadians not to be skilfull in Musick; which

they learned not for pleasure and delight, but for necessitie, to thend to make sweete and gentle by custome, that which was rude in them by nature, by reason of the coldnes of the aire, whereof we participate in our birth, and by their continuance of trauaile, in tillage, pasturage, and brutishnes of life. Eloquence flourished at Athens, and at Rome, because that by means therof they were aduanced to honours and wealth. In Augustus time, who took pleasure in Poetrie, euery one made Verses: and all were Musitians, vnder Nero. The nations which desired to be great, and grow vp by armes, haue directed their Lawes and exercises to dominion, honouring and recom∣pensing valiant men, and dishonouring and punishing the cowardes: Such were the Scythians, Egiptians, Persians, Thracians, Lacedemonians, Can∣dians, Gaules, Iberians, Macedonians, and Indians, accounting all noble and gentle that made profession of armes; and the artisans base, and seruile. At this day in Turkie, where all is reduced vnto force, euery one applieth armes, being assured, that in well doing they shall be aduanced in pay, re∣uenew, and publick charge: as also the punishment is certaine there for cowardize. The greatest part of good witts in France applie themselues to the Ciuil Law, and to the practize of it, for the profit which they find therein; and for the honour of innumerable offices of iudgement orday∣ned both in the soueraigne, meane, and inferiour iurisdiction; being both profitable and honourable. The Hetrurians, which had their aire grosse and thicke, subiect to thunders, inuented the diuination by lightning. The Arabians, Cilicians, and Phrygians, being great shepheards, inuented that diuination which is made by entrailes of beastes, or by the voice of birdes. Philosophie hath bin professed in Greece, full of subtle and sharpe wi••ts. Architecture began in Asia, by the abundance of wealth, and leasure of the great Kings there, hauing neede of large and ample houses for inter∣tainment, and magnificence of their Courts: Afterwardes it flourished in Greece, whence it was banished; and from thence passed into Italie, re∣couering his ripenesse there: namely, vnder the Emperours; who as they had subdued the rest of the world by armes, would also surmount them in wonderfull buildings with incredible expences. The Ethiopians, by the abundance of all good herbes, and vigorous simples, which grow in their Countrie, inuented the naturall Magick, obseruing by it, the wonders hidden in the secret proprieties of thinges; their agreements, and contra∣rieties. Plato in his Charmides, and his first Alcibiades maintayneth, that Zoroaster the Bactrian, and Zamolsis the Scithian, made profession therof: Then it was transported into Persia, where it remayned long; as we will de∣clare hereafter when we speake of the Persians, and of their Mages.

BVT as following the generall disposition to vertue, there haue alwayes bin heere and there some making profession of wisedome, as the Druides in Gaule, and in great Britayne; the Chaldees in Assy∣ria; the Brachmanes, and Gymnosophistes in the Indies; the Mages in Persia; the Priestes in Egypt; the Philosophers in Greece; the Pharisees

in Iurie; the Theologians or Diuines in Christendome: yet antiquitie hath giuen the first praise of Letters to the Ethiopians, attributing the inuention to them, which they communicated with the Egiptians their neighbours; where they haue bin augmented: from thence they came to the Libians, Ba∣bylonians, and Chaldeans; consequently to the Greeks; then to the Ro∣mains; the Arabians, Italians, Frenchmen, Almains, Englishmen, Spaniards, and Polonians. ON which course of letters, if we think attentiuely as far forth as is possible to consider all the time past, and to call to mind againe the memorie of so many yeres ouerslipped, repeating from thence where in histo∣ries, beginneth the age of people, and of Cities; that is to say, about three or fower thousand yeares since men began to write bookes; we shall find that there hath not bin any Authour amongst the Gentiles, more auncient then Homer: And that letters haue not bin sithence with like earnestnes followed; nor in all times and countries equally esteemed: but onely in certaine famous ages, which we may tearme Heroicall. In the which (humaine power and wisdom, keeping companie one with the other) men haue commonly seen, the art Militarie, Eloquence, Philosophy, the Mathematicks, Physick, Mu∣sick, Poetrie, architecture, painting, caruing, and grauing, to florish toge∣ther, and to fall together: as it hath especially hap••ed in the kingdoms of Sesostris, Ninus, Cyrus, Alexander; of Augustus and Traian; of the Ara∣bians and Sarazens; and in this age, in the which after they had bin long time a sleepe, they haue bin wakened againe, and haue recouered their former strength: which is not to say, that there haue not hapned many other admi∣rable euents in other seasons; but these are most notable: in the which many extraordinarie maruailes haue met together in matter of armes, and of let∣ters; and which haue most similitude betweene them; as it will appeare in reciting of them.

WHERFORE is it so come to passe, rather at these times then at others? and what reason can we giue thereof? to thend the better to vnder∣stand the present consideration, being of so great waight, and long deducti∣on: It seemes to some, that we ought not to maruaile, that in an infinite space of time, as fortune turneth, and varieth diuersly, there hapneth by casuall chance, some accidents like vnto others. For be it that there is no certaine number set downe of accidents that may fall out; fortune hath fruitful mat∣ter enough to produce effects resembling one an other: or else be it that hu∣maine chances are comprehended in a determinate number, there must needs sometimes happen like cases, considering that they are brought to passe by the same causes, and by the same meanes: Others say, that in length of yeares are certaine periods of the whole world; and in thone, that all arts do grow in reputation, and in the other do fall, and come to be neglected. Others at∣tribute it to honour, and to rewards, which are more proposed at one time then at an other: for 〈…〉〈…〉uch as by good intertainment all men are induced to vertue. And assayi〈…〉〈…〉nder a reason wherefore many notable personages meete in the same 〈…〉〈…〉, or little distant thone from thother, and trauayling

in diuers exercises do obtaine alike excellencie, and reputation; they thinke that mens wits are nourished by emulation, and that sometimes enuie, some∣times admiration, doth stir them vp, and maketh them mount by little and little to the highest; where it is hard to remaine, since euery thing that can not go forward, or vpward, doth naturally discend, and retire, yea commonly much faster then it ascended. And as they are prouoked to follow or imitate the first, so after they dispaire of going beyond them, or attayning to them, they lose their courage of trauayling, and labouring with their hope; lea∣uing the matter as alreadie possessed: which falleth after by negligence, and commeth to contempt. Aristotle, who affirmeth the world to be eternall, and Plato, who said that it had a beginning, but that it should haue no end, do both affirme, that infinite things haue bin in one, and the same kind, and should bee infinitely; that there is nothing whose like hath not bin; that there should be nothing which had not bin; and that nothing hath bin, but should be againe: That in this maner the Arts and sciences, and other hu∣maine inuentions cannot be perpetual (those Nations being distroied where they flourished) by reason of extreme heats and inundations, which must needes happen at certaine times by the mouing, and progresse of the starres: either by the fire and water, discending from aboue in exceeding quantitie; or fire breaking out of the earth; or the sea forcibly ouerflowing his bankes, or by the increase and swelling of riuers, which can not runne into the sea; or that the earth trembling and quaking open it selfe, and violently cast forth the water before inclosed in his entrailes.

But howbeit the Starres haue some power towards the disposing of infe∣riour things; the situation of places; and temperature of the seasons of the yeare do helpe, concerning vnderstandings and maners; the reward and ho∣nour proposed vnto mans industrie; the learned ages, and liberall Princes, giue great aduancement vnto Arts; and emulation serueth for a spur there∣vnto: Notwithstanding for my part, I thinke that God being carefull of all the parts of the world, doth grant the excellencie of Armes and of Learning, sometimes vnto Asia, sometimes vnto Africk, sometimes vnto Europe; esta∣blishing the soueraign Empire of the world, once in the East, another time in the West, another time in the South, another in the North: and suffering vertue and vice, valiancie and cowardize, sobrietie and delicacie, know∣ledge and ignorance, to go from countrie to countrie, honouring and diffa∣ming the Nations at diuers times: to thend that euery one in his turne might haue part of good hap and ill; and that none should waxe proude by ouer∣long prosperitie: as it will appeare to haue fallen out vnto this present, by particuler recitall of the Nations accounted the first or chiefest of the world.

The end of the third Booke.