The philosophie, commonlie called, the morals vvritten by the learned philosopher Plutarch of Chæronea. Translated out of Greeke into English, and conferred with the Latine translations and the French, by Philemon Holland of Coventrie, Doctor in Physicke. VVhereunto are annexed the summaries necessary to be read before every treatise

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Title: The philosophie, commonlie called, the morals vvritten by the learned philosopher Plutarch of Chæronea. Translated out of Greeke into English, and conferred with the Latine translations and the French, by Philemon Holland of Coventrie, Doctor in Physicke. VVhereunto are annexed the summaries necessary to be read before every treatise
Author: Plutarch.
Publication: At London :: Printed by Arnold Hatfield,; 1603.
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Link to this Item: http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A09800.0001.001
Cite this Item: "The philosophie, commonlie called, the morals vvritten by the learned philosopher Plutarch of Chæronea. Translated out of Greeke into English, and conferred with the Latine translations and the French, by Philemon Holland of Coventrie, Doctor in Physicke. VVhereunto are annexed the summaries necessary to be read before every treatise." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A09800.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 23, 2025.

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CHAP. II. What difference there is betweene a principle and an element. [ 20]

ARistotle and Plato are of opinion, that there is a difference betweene a Principle and an Element; but Thales Milesius thinketh they be both one: howbeit, there is a great diffe∣rence betweene the one and the other; for elements be compounded; whereas we holde, that the first Principles neither be compounded, nor are any complet substance: and verily, earth, water, aire, and fire, we tearme Elements; but Principles we call other Natures in this respect, that there is nothing precedent or before them, wherof they are ingendred; for otherwise, if they were not the first, they should in no wise be Principles, but that rather were to be so called, wher∣of they be ingendred. Now certeine things there are precedent, whereof, earth and water, &c. be [ 30] composed; to wit, the first matter, without all forme and shape; as also the first forme it selfe, which we call Entelechia; and thirdly, Privation. Thales therefore is in an error, when he saith, that water was both the Element and Principle or first beginning of all things.