Page 350
The LXXIII. ADVERTISEMENT.
Seneca having bought great store of Poultrey in a Countrey-house of his, which lies in the Gnides Territories, those people come to the true reason of that his forestalling the Market.
SOon after that (as you have heard) the most excellent Annaeus Sene∣ca obtained a Writ of Ease from his Majesty, from further exer∣cising his place of Chairman in the Moral Philosophy-School, he, that he might refresh his eminent wit, which was much harras'd in his perpe∣tual studies, withdrew himself to a pleasant Countrey-house of his, seated in the Territories of Gnido, from whence they write, That this so famous Literato, at his very first coming thither, made so great a provision of Cocks, Hens, and Capons, as they that saw them in the place where they were kept, judged them to amount to the number of above five hundred; a thing which all the Inhabitants of Gnido did much wonder at; and those speculative Wits, who spend more time in vainly prying into other mens actions, then in the well govern∣ing of their own, were of opinion, that Seneca had avarice joyned to the other faults which were imputed to him; and that therefore he had forestalled, and bought up all those Poultrey (which was an action misbecoming a man of his parts) only that he might inhance the price of them. And it was said by the same Letters, that some thought that he had added the detestable vice of gluttony, to his infinite thirst after riches.
But it being observed in process of time, that Seneca spent three hours daily after dinner, in looking upon those his Poultrey: it was at last known, that this great Philosopher learn'd from that sort of Poultrey, the art, wherein he did not only exceed all other Writers, but hath been followed therein by an infinite number of others, of crowing well, and scraping ill▪