Ptōchomuseion [sic]. = The poore mans librarie Rapsodiæ G.A. Bishop of Exceter vpon the first epistle of saint Peter, red publiquely in the cathedrall church of saint Paule, within the citye of London. 1560. Here are adioyned at the end of euery special treatie, certaine fruitful annotacions which may properly be called miscellanea, bicause they do entreate of diuerse and sundry matters, marked with the nombre and figures of Augrime. 2.

Laicus. 41.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 commeth of this nowne. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. that is a stone, for some authors re∣port that Deucalion, and Pyrrha his wife, did procreate and make men by the casting of stones, as Virgill writeth saying, Vnde homines nati durum genus.

Certayne doe make a difference betwene these two wordes, Saxum and Lapis, that the one (that is Lapis) is more lesse and more tendre, & that the other (that is Saxum) is greater, sharper and harder, wherupō they call precious stones Lapides, and not Saxa, as Pliny writeth.

Plinie his wordes be these: Nunquam hic vtilior,* 1.1 quam in Italia gig∣nitur, Lapisque nō saxum est. This stone is no where more profitablie brought forth, then in Italie, and it is called, Lapis, non Saxum.

The same Pliny writeth after this sort. Est & viridis Lapis vehemē ter igni resistens, sed nusquam copiosus, & vbi inuenitur, Lapis non Sa∣xum est. There is a greene stone which doth vehemently resiste fire, but it is no place plentifull, and where it is founde, it is Lapis, & not Saxum.

But this difference doth nothing seeme to agree with Pliny him selfe, who maketh no difference betwene Lapis, and Saxum, in quantitie and greatnes: for he affirmeth that great pillers were made, Ex vno Lapide, & y^t the image of one Laocoon, (who was the first that thrust his speare into the woden horse at Troye) was cut out Ex vno Lapide. But it is ra∣ther to be sayd that Saxum is properly that which is cut out of rockes, or quarries: And that Lapis, is y^t which is digged or takē out of the groūde.

Also bycause in olde time the end of miles, were signified and shewed by the setting vp of stones in the same place, Lapis, doth sometime signi∣fie a mile, wherupon we say, Ad tertium aut quartum Lapidem, three or foure miles.

Of this word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, are the common people called Laici, lay men, euen as the cleargy are called Clerici, of this worde 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Clerus.

Clerus signifieth Sortem, a chaunce, a lot, an inheritaunce.

Basilius Magnus, doth vse it, Pro ordine sacerdotū. In my simple iud∣gement (yet I do referre it to the determination of the learned) the cler∣gy were called Clerici, originally of the History of Mathias the Apo∣stle, who succeded in Iudas place, bycause that Clerus doth signifie electiō or lot, for that Mathias was chosen into the Colledge of the Apostles by geuing forth of lots as it is recorded in the actes of the Apostles,* 1.2 and this was the maner of the Hebreues.* 1.3 For Ionas (sleaping in the ship) was de∣prehended by lot, that he was the occasion of the terrible tempestes that came vpon the Marriners,* 1.4 And likewise Ionathas was espied, for that he tasted of a litle hony contrary to the edict of his father, And in like maner was Achan espied of his sacrilege.* 1.5 The Apostles vsed these lottes for that as yet they had not fully receaued the giftes of the holy ghost, and had certaine steppes of the Iewishe rites remaining with them, and they thought it lawfull to execute that figure vntill the veritie were accom∣plished, by the comming of the holy ghost.

Obseruatio.

Note here that the lot fell vpon Mathias, although Ioseph were com∣mended by his surre name, and by kinred vnto Christ.

By the which we may learne, that in such elections and lots, nothing is to be attributed to the affections of mā, But that where there be two equall and like in worthines of life, we should rather fauour him, whom fleshe and bloud doth not commēde: And yet this Ioseph, called Iustus, did not disdaine his equall to be preferred before him. Nor yet Mathias did not flatter him selfe for that he was chosen of the .11. to fulfill the holy number of the twelue.

Questio.

Here is to be demaunded, whether it be lawful or vnlawfull (as they say Simpliciter,) to vse lottes or no.

Responsio.

You must vnderstand that there be three kindes of lots.

• 1. Diuisoria.
• 2. Consultoria.
• 3. Diuinatoria.

THe lot called Sors diuisoria, whether it be by casting of chaūces, by drawing of cuttes, by taking of balles, or anye other meanes, for ta∣king part of thinges deuided, is not vnlawfull, so that there be no super¦stition, no inuocation of sprites, nor looking for any euent or effect from the constellations or power of the Planets aboue.

Saint Austen in his booke De doctrina Christiana, writeth after this maner. Si forte fortuna duos haberes obuios, aequalis piaetatis at{que} neces∣sitatis, & tantum haberes quo solum alteri eorum subuenire posses. Ita

cōstitutus in ancipiti, nihil melius ageres, quam vt sortito deligeres, vtri benefaceres. Sic existimabis, quadam sorte hunc vel illum ex dei volun∣tate, tibi adiunctū esse, aliquo necessitudinis gradu. If thou chaūce (sayth he) to meete two persons equally to be pitied and releaued, & hast onely so much about thee, wherewith thou canst releaue but one of them, being so set in a certaine perplexitie and doubt, thou canst do no better then to cast lots, to which of them thou mayest dispose thine almes. So shalt thou iudge as it were by a certaine lot, whether this mā or that mā be nerest vnto thee, in some degre of kinred or friendspip.

Sors consultoria.

The lot called Consultoria, whiche is practised to do this, or not to do this determinatly, as if any man should consulte by lots or by any other chaūce, whether he should ride fourth, go to the faire or market, or take any other iournie, is not lawful. As I my self knew a certain mā of honor, who being commaūded, by his prince to resiste the enemies (who attemp∣ted to inuade certeine borders of this realme) did retire backe to his house, bycause his horse stumbled in the morning.

Sors diuinatoria.

The lot called Sors diuinatoria, is that which is exercised to know by it, what shall come hereafter, which is directly against the word of God.

To end, concernyng this worde Clerus. It signifieth sometime, patri∣monie, inheritaunce or any portion which came by lot. It is sometime ta∣ken for an acre of ground, or an orchard or garden. It is taken likewise for a worme whiche hurteth and destroyeth honie combes, which of some is called Pyrausta.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lib. 36. cap. 38.
• * 1.2

  Act. 1.
• * 1.3

  Ion. 1.
• * 1.4

  1. Sam. 14
• * 1.5

  Iosu. 7.