The holy court in five tomes, the first treating of motives which should excite men of qualitie to Christian perfection, the second of the prelate, souldier, states-man, and ladie, the third of maxims of Christianitie against prophanesse ..., the fourth containing the command of reason over the passions, the fifth now first published in English and much augemented according to the last edition of the authour containing the lives of the most famous and illustrious courtiers taken out of the Old and New Testament and other modern authours / written in French by Nicholas Caussin ; translated into English by Sr. T.H. and others.

The second SECTION. The eminent wisdom and learning of Boetius.

EXperience, the wisest Mistress of the world, hath sometimes caused the saying of Plato to be questioned, who thought Common-wealths happy when they fell into the hands of Philosophers, or of men who sought to become Philosophers. For in effect it is observed, that those so knowing men meet not always with the bent of common under∣standing, having their spirits more estranged from ci∣vil life. They please themselves with great Ideaes, as if they conversed in the Common-wealth of Plato with demy-gods, not at all yielding to infirmities of nature. And although they use some endeavour to render themselves conversable, yet doth the sweetness of repose inebriate and withdraw them from affairs: but if they force themselves to attend them, noise amazeth them, diversitie of humours not always suitable to their understanding distasteth them, la∣bour somewhat painfull overwhelmeth them, and the heap of so many incident occasions confound∣eth them.

Adde hereunto, that there is much malice in the manners of men, not found in books, and that their actions being very innocent, when they come to mea∣sure others by their own level, they find themselves deceived. Besides, the sedentary and retired life spent in the entertainment of their books, rendereth them very timorous, and softeneth their brow, which should always be as it were of brass, to endure the shock of strong impudencies, which may insinuate themselves into the corruptions of the times.

This may be confirmed by the example of Theoda∣tes King of the Goths, who with all the Philosophy of Plato, wherein he was exceedingly studious, very ill mannaged his affairs.

As also by Michael the Emperour, surnamed of the Grecians, Parapanicius, as who would say, The Schollar: for he perpetually had table-books and pens in his hand, to compose Orations, Verses, and Histories, resigning the whole government of his af∣fairs to an Eunuch, named Nicephorus, who through his insatiable avarice drew much hatred upon the head of this Emperour.

I verily affirm, if you take learning in these exces∣ses, one may very well say, that it would not onely become unprofitable, but also dangerous to princi∣pality. It is not my intention to prove learned men are capable of the mannage of great affairs for the onely consideration of the advantage they have in letters, for then Governours of Provinces were to be taken out of the Regencies of schools; but I say, that sciences well mannaged, adde a marvellous lu∣stre to one in government. For first, they vindicate him from stupidity and a savage life, which maketh a man without sight or knowledge of virtue, to be in a State, as was Poliphemus, made blind by Ulys∣ses, in his den. Besides, they cleanse, refine, and store the soul, made to know great and divine lights. Af∣terwards, they open the understanding by the read∣ing of so many excellent books, and even unloose the tongue, which is an instrument very necessary to mannage hearts. Finally, they make a man more mild, civil, and courteous, and I could say also more awfull and worthy of credit.

For if some unhappy Princes were produced, who being unfurnished of other talents, have made ill use of letters, by abusing them through want of judgement, as one may all the best things in the world; this nothing at all in substance lesseneth the truth of our proposition, since we may oppose against them a large list of Law-makers, Princes, and Gover∣nours, who have exceedingly well made use of the knowledge of learning. For if we make account of the policie of God, which is ever the most assured, know we not, that he having chosen Moses to consti∣tute him the Governour of so great a State, was wil∣ling he might have a good tast of all the sciences then in request among the Aegyptians? And Philo saith, that he there learned Arithmetick, Geometrie, Mu∣sick, and all the greatest secrets of their Philosophie, contained in their Hieroglyphicks. Know we not that Solomon had a heart as large as the sea, wherein God lodged so many knowledges of things both di∣vine and humane, that he penetrated whatsoever the understanding of man, enlightened with rays from God, might comprehend?

Are we so little versed in History, that we cannot reckon up the names of all the greatest Princes, who have been very learned, as Alexander, Julius Caesar, Augustus, Adrian, Antoninus, Constantine, Theodosius, Gratian, Charlemaigne, Alphonsus, yea, even Solyman the great Turk? What a could of witnesses should we have, did we now collect all the names and histo∣ries of learned States-men? For if letters give orna∣ment to such as are wholly eminent in military pro∣fession, by a much stronger reason we are to think they are able to advance the lustre of an excellent

Governour, vowed to the Robe, and to a life peace∣able, as Seneca and Cicero.

I have been the more willing purposely to use this Preface, to the end that coming presently to speak of the great learning of our Boetius, it might not diminish the credit we ought to have of his abilitie in state-affairs. It is sometimes so dangerous to be * 1.1 learned among gross spirits, that the tenth Age, which was very dull, made as it were the good Pope Silvester the II. pass for a Magician, because he un∣derstood Geometrie. And it is not above four-score years ago, that to know Greek and Negromancie, were as it were one and the same thing in the opini∣on of the ignorant.

He that proceedeth by such bruitish ways, would take Boetius for a Devil, such knowledge had he: for it must be confessed, that in the revolution of so many ages, there hath not been many seen who ar∣rived to such a degree of science. As our spirits are limited, so every one freely taketh his share, accord∣ing as his inclination leadeth him, his aim moveth him, his understanding transporteth him, his la∣bour supporteth him: and he that cannot prevail in one science, applieth himself to another, since the di∣versitie of arts is so great, that it is able to satisfie the most curious, allure the most nice,, and encou∣rage the weakest. But as for our Boetius, he entred into the secrets of all sciences, and as there was no∣thing too holy for his great virtue, so might not any thing be found so elate, as to exempt it self from the vivacitie of his spirit.

Julius Scaliger hath very well given testimonie of * 1.2 him according to his merit, when he said, the wit, learning, industry, and wisdom of Severinus Boetius, challenged all the Authors of the world as well Graecians as Latines, not excepting any. He addeth, that all which he composed in Poesie was divine, and that nothing might be found either more elegant or grave; in such manner, that the abundance of su∣pereminent conceits choaked not the grace, nor curi∣ositie, took any thing from the proprietie thereof.

And whereas he writeth, that his prose seemed not equal to the verse, but retained somewhat of the barbarism of that Age, I assure my self Scaliger may have taken some works falsly attributed to Bo∣etius, as there are in the great Mass compiled under his name, which have likewise deceived Car∣dinal Baronius, who imputeth the book of the Disci∣pline of Schollars to him, which is one of the most sil∣ly pieces that could come from a man alienated from common sense.

Among other things this Author saith, that he hath been in the Citie of Julius Caesar, called Paris to take the air, and that he there hath seen many bad schollers, discoursing of Nations, and giving a face to the Universitie, as it had in later times; which will seem ridiculous to every one who shall consider the life of Boetius, and the times wherein he flourished. It is no wonder, if those who have ad∣mitted such works for pieces of Boetius, not through want of judgement, which hath been in these two personages, whom I mention very great, but for fault of giving time to examine them, they there have found matters, which with them have lessened the opinion of such an Author.

But this is very certain, that all which is extant of this brave Writer, hath in it vigour, grace, puritie, spirit, and excellent good consequence: as appear∣eth in the books of Consolation. As for the rest he hath not so confined himself in this great elo∣quence, but that he entereth into the most profound questions of Philosophie and Theologie: and should he have no other honour, but to make Aristotle first speak Latine, who was unknown in the West, I should make much more account of him, than if he had raised Orpheus up again with his Harp. The great knowledge he had of Geography, Arithme∣tick, Musick, and all which concern the Mathe∣maticks, was the cause, when any one stood in need of some piece of wit, they went presently to Boetius, as the onely man of the Empire, who was esteemed a true Library, animated with the spirit of all Arts. It is a pleasant thing to read what the King Theodorick wrote to him in requiring a dial of him, to present it to the King of Burgundy. Behold the words of his great Secretarie Cassiodorus.

It is not reasonable to contemn the requests which Kings our neighbours with all confidence make unto us, and especially when they require some slight things, which they account in the number of great treasures, It happeneth oftentimes that the dalliances and conceits of wit obtain that by sweetness, which arms cannot gain by force. If we needs must play, let us so use the matter our sports may be made for the good of the publick, and let us search for things serious even in pleasures. The K. of Burgundie intreateth of me with much instance twodyals, the one circumvolved with water, the other with the sun, and he prayeth me to send skilful masters to shew him this invention. Let us afford entertainment to this Nation, to the end they may hold those things for miracles, which we here daily use for recreation. I understand the report which their Embassadours have made of these & the like workmanships, which hath much amazed them, as a thing very extraordinarie. Now I know you are so accomplished in all sorts of sciences, that you have tasted in the fountain of all the indu∣stries, what others seek to practise by rote. For you, for this purpose remained in the Universitie of Athens, and have so fairly allied together the Romane robe with the Grecian mantle, that their doctrine by your means is become wholly Latine. You are ignorant of nothing that is in the speculative, nothing which is in the pra∣ctick; and all that, which the Athenians would attri∣bute to themselves of singularitie, you have transported into our City of Rome. Your translations have made Ptolomy the Astrologian, Nichomachus the Arithme∣tician, Euclid the Geometrician, Plato the divine, Aristotle the Logician, Archimedes the Mathematici∣an to speak Latine. All sciences dispersed among so ma∣ny men, and so many wits, through all ages, are in you altogether united: you have interpreted them all with such perspicuitie of discourse, retaining the proprie∣tie of language, that should these Authours return to life again they would prefer your translation before their own originals.

Afterward he enlargeth himself upon the praise of * 1.3 the Mathematicks, then returning to his diall, he saith, it is an admirable thing to see, that a little immoveable steel every day performeth as much way as the sun, and that if the stars had understan∣ding, they would envy dials, and return back again, for fear to be surprized by this prettie sport of men, the hours would be ashamed, that being the daugh∣ters of the day and night, they were painted with shadows. In the end, having given full scope to his wit, he concludes and saith: I pray you send us two dials so soon as you can, to the end you may be known by the figures of your spirit, in a Country, where no man shall see the print of your foot-steps. I would have them understand that our Senatours here are as learned as Doctours, that they may ad∣mire your inventions, and esteem them as dreams, so that being awakened, they may confess they have no∣thing comparable to us.

Cassiodorus amassed together all the strength of * 1.4 his wit, when he was to dispatch letters to Boetius in the behalf of his King. Witness whereof yet is that o∣ther excellent Epistle of Musick, where we learn that our great K. Clodovaeus, having demanded a sin∣gular Player on the Lute of Theodorick, who then raigned in Italy, address was presently made to Boetius to chuse him, with a magnificent letter,

which still retaineth a notable testimony of his ability.

Angelus Politianus, who had throughly read him, holdeth opinion, that there is nothing to be found more sharp than He in Logick, more subtile in the Mathematicks, more rich in Philosophy, not more sublime in Theology, adding the judgement of Al∣bertus Magnus, and of S. Thomas, who have com∣mented upon his works, and assuring us that his sentences were all as it were without appeal. Lau∣rentius Valla calleth him the last of the learned, there∣by willing to say, that all the glory of the excellent wits of antiquity, was buried with him.

But why go we about to search out the testimo∣nies of Authours, since we have still some of his true works in our hands, which are the mirrours, wherein the wit of Boetius makes it self to be seen with more advantage to all posterity? It may be said, he had too much Philosophy for a States-man, but the bird is not burdened with her feathers, no more than the tree with his leaves and flowers. What wrong hath he done to the City of Rome, if when he saw himself to be taken from the Common-wealth, and in tearms where he could not assist it with his counsels, he honoured it with the riches of his wit, charming the sharpness of troubles with the sweetness of his retirement, and giving an ac∣count to posterity of the time which he husbanded for it?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vide Boro. Ann. 990.
• * 1.2

  Scalig. in Hy∣percriti••o.
• * 1.3

  Fugam solis a∣quiparat, quod motum semper ignorat. Invi∣derent talibus, si astra senti∣rent. Ʋbi est illud horarum de lumine ve∣nientium sin∣gulare miracu∣lum, si hos & umbra demon∣strat? Cassiodo∣rus l. variar. Epist. 45.
• * 1.4

  Cassiodorus variarum 16. Epist. 40.