sir, i do most earnestly desire you to assist me in removing the neglect of wearing the university habits at solemn meetings according to the statutes ... university of oxford. 1678 approx. 2 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a53865 wing o962b estc r218177 99829794 99829794 34237 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a53865) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 34237) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2010:11) sir, i do most earnestly desire you to assist me in removing the neglect of wearing the university habits at solemn meetings according to the statutes ... university of oxford. 1 sheet ([1] p.) by l. lichfield, [oxford : october 1678] signed at end: joh. nicholas vice-can. imprint from madan. title taken from first lines of text. copy annotated in ms. at head of page: directed to the severall heads of houses, respectively; at the beginning of michaelmas term. 1678. reproduction of the original at the oxford university archives. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng universities and colleges -england -oxford -early works to 1800. clothing and dress -social aspects -early works to 1800. 2008-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-06 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-07 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2008-07 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion directed to the severall heades of houses , respectively ; at the beginning of michaelmas term .1678 . sir , i do most earnestly desire you to assist me in removing the neglect of wearing the vniversity habits at solemn meetings according to the statutes : which is generally complained of . especially the neglect of hoods at st. maries at latine sermons and sunday mornings in the term time . and 1. that you would now bring your whole house to the latine sermon on the first day of this next term , and require of the batchelors of divinity , and masters , to appear then in their hoods : giving them notice of it some time before hand , that they may not excuse it by want of warning . and let them be admonished to come to st. maries on the sunday mornings in term afterwards in habits required : which is according to the oath at the time of their first taking their degrees . 2. that you would admonish all batchelors of arts to wear their hoods at the same times at st. maries , under the penalties of the statute . and let them know that the gallery keepers shall have express orders to admit none into the gallery without their hoods . and further that i shall desire the proctors and pro-proctors to exact penalties of such as after this warning shall neglect to appear in their hoods and caps at such times . joh . nicholas vice-can . advertisements from the delegates of convocation for his majesties reception, for the heads of houses to deliver with great charge unto their companies. university of oxford. 1695 approx. 6 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a53772 wing o860a estc r214676 99826769 99826769 31175 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a53772) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 31175) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1769:10) advertisements from the delegates of convocation for his majesties reception, for the heads of houses to deliver with great charge unto their companies. university of oxford. adams, fitzherbert. 1 sheet ([1] p.) printed at the theater, oxford, : m.dc.xcv. [1695] signed at end: fitzherbert adams vice-can. reproduction of the original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng william, -iii, -king of england, 1650-1702 -early works to 1800. university of oxford -early works to 1800. universities and colleges -england -oxford -early works to 1800. visits of state -england -oxford -early works to 1800. 2008-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-06 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-07 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2008-07 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion dominvs illvminatio mea blazon of oxford university advertisements from the delegates of convocation for his majesties reception , for the heads of houses to deliver with great charge unto their companies . 1. that they admonish all such as are under their charge , that they appear no where during the kings abode in the university , without their caps and gowns suitable to their degree and condition . 2. that no scholar of what condition soever , shall presume to go out to meet the king , either on foot or on horseback , or to be at , or upon the way where the king is to come ; but shall attend in that place and posture wherein he shall be required to be , upon notice from his superiors . 3. that on saturday morning novemb. the 9th . immediately upon the ringing of st. maries great bell , all persons , graduats and others , ( that do not ride out with mr. vice-chancellor ) forthwith repair to the schools quadrangle , there to remain till they have further orders , where to dispose of themselves for the more convenient and better reception of his majesty . 4. that at what time his majesty shall be pleased to accept of a banquet in the theater , the masters , who have procuratorial power , repair unto the apodyterium , to assist the curators in providing that all things may be performed with decency and order . 5. that during his majesty's stay in the theater , the area will be the place for his majesty and his retinue ; and that no person whatever presume to press or go into the said area , but such persons only as are of his majesties retinue , or otherwise appointed . it is strictly required , that during the time of this solemnity , all persons observe the aforesaid orders , and comport themselves with that sobriety and modesty , as may tend to the honour and reputation of the university . doctors in all faculties appointed to meet the king . dr. fitzherbert adams vice-can . dr. finch è coll. omn. an. dr. mill ex aula s. edm. dr. edwards è coll. jesu . dr. meare è coll. aen. nasi . dr. pudsey è coll. magd. dr. mander è coll. baliol. dr. sykes marg. prof. dr. dunster è coll. wadh. dr. charlett è coll. univers . dr. painter è coll. exon. dr. royse è coll. oriel . dr. luffe r. p. med. dr. king è , coll. mert. dr. bouchier r. p. jur. civil . dr. irish è coll. om. an. dr. aldworth è coll. d. j. bapt. dr. gibbs è coll. om. an. dr. traffles è coll. nov. dr. martin è coll. mert. dr. hanns ex aede christi . dr. hellier è c. c. c. dr. creed è c. c. c. dr. aldworth hist . camd. prof. masters of arts appointed to meet the king . proctors . mr. bagwell mr. waugh mr. codrington è coll. om. an. mr. almont è coll. trin. mr. bertie è coll. univers . mr. bourne ex aede christi . mr. watkins ex aede christi . mr. walker è coll. oriel . mr. white è coll. bal. mr. holland è coll merton . mr. whiting è coll. wadh. mr. wase è c. c. c. mr. greenway è coll. nov. mr. bisse è coll. nov. mr. bernard è coll. d. j. bapt. mr. bartholomew è coll. linc. mr. brown è coll. aen. nas . mr. tho. holt. è coll. magd. mr. sam. adams è coll. magd. mr. davies è coll. jesu . mr. sloper è coll. pemb. mr. whitehall ex aula b. m. v. the names of the masters of arts that have a procuratorial power given them during his majesty's abode in the university . mr. freind ex aede christi . mr. wells ex aede christi . mr. kenton è coll. mag. mr. bagshaw è coll. mag. mr. barker è coll. nov. mr. creech è coll. om. an. mr. offley è coll. om. an. mr. tisser è coll. mert. mr. buckeridge è c c. c. mr. smith è coll. d. j. bapt. mr. norris è coll. aen. nasi . mr. allen è coll. univers . mr. wise è coll. exon. mr. atkinson è coll. reg. mr. fifeild è coll. trin. mr. theed è coll. lincoln . mr. gerard è coll. wadh. mr. baron è coll. baliol mr. winne è coll. jesu . mr. goddard è coll. pembr . mr. randall ex aula magd. mr. martin ex aula cerv. fitzherbert adams vice-can . oxford , printed at the theater , m. dc . xcv . publish'd nov. 8 1695 the case of the founders kinsmen with relation to the statutes of ---------college, in the university of ----------/ humbly proposed and submitted to better judgments. cawley, j. (john), 1632?-1709. 1695 approx. 32 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 14 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a31455 wing c1649 estc r36291 15633036 ocm 15633036 104264 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a31455) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 104264) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1183:26) the case of the founders kinsmen with relation to the statutes of ---------college, in the university of ----------/ humbly proposed and submitted to better judgments. cawley, j. (john), 1632?-1709. [2], 23 p. printed for j. whitlock ..., london : [1695?] attributed to j. cawley as referring to all souls college, oxford university--nuc pre-1956 imprints. reproduction of original in the huntington library. includes bibliographical references. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng all souls college (university of oxford) -admission. universities and colleges -england -entrance requirements. 2006-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-07 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-08 jason colman sampled and proofread 2006-08 jason colman text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the case of founders kinsmen . the case of founders kinsmen : with relation to the statutes of — college , in the university of — humbly proposed and submitted to better judgments . london , printed for j. whitlock , near stationers-hall . the case of founders kinsmen , &c. a. founds a college 250 years ago , dies unmarried ; by the statutes of his college , he gives preference in election of fellows , to those , qui sunt vel erunt de consanguinitate nostra , & genere . q. whether there are any such persons now who can claim the preference as kinsmen ? and who can claim ? it is not unlikely , but that i shall be charged with ingratitude , upon account of these papers , which scruple at the pretensions of kindred , having my self eaten a founders bread : a charge indeed , which of all things i abominate ; and tho' the argument may be popular , yet i hope it will not appear conclusive . suppose this a. had been my founder ; yet , since gratitude is but one part of duty to a founder , if this which is called gratitude , shall interfere with the observance of his statutes , i conceive he acts most consistently , who keeps to them , which are the rule of his obedience , as to every particular . besides , i thought my self oblig'd in common justice to propose somewhat of this nature ; for tho' in acts of mere favour and grace , the respect had to any ( tho' never so remote ) relation to a founder , or benefactor , be truly commendable , yet when they pretend to a strict right , and many additional advantages , to the prejudice of others it may be more deserving , nay sometimes of their seniors in the college ; i thought i say in common justice , such a pretension ought to be scrupled and examined , and , if groundless , utterly discountenanced . i shall therefore propose these queries , collections , and observations , intirely submitting them to better judgments how far they are conclusive against such pretensions , for to be peremptory and positive ; besides , that 't is a disgrace to fail in such undertakings , i shall not take the confidence , or pretend to that authority magisterially to assert . i come now to the thing in hand , which is to be satisfied in these three points . first , what this consanguinity is . secondly , who are these consanguinei . thirdly , how far this right of consanguinity extends . as to the first point , i find , that by the civil and canon law , this consanguinity must be defined * and stated . now by the civil law there is no proper consanguinity strictly taken , as i think , but between brothers , and sisters of the same father . all other relation , being either agnatio per lineam masculinam , or else cognatio per lineam foemininam . but the difference of these two being taken away † , kindred may be more largely called cognatio generalis , or jus eorum quos ab eodem stipite descendentes sanguis conjunxit : and according to this definition we find consanguinitas , q. sanguinis unitas , to signifie this cognatio generalis , by the civil law ‖ . thus much for the strict , and for the more large acceptation of the word by the civil law ; consonant to which large use of the word the canonists take the same ; the laws therefore agreeing , consanguinity is it not that relation which one person has to another as descended lineally from him , or that relation which two persons have to each other as coming from the same common stock , whether by the male or female side ? this consanguinity i find also is threefold : 1o. ascendentium , the relation of the father , grand father and their wives , to their children , grand-children , & sic ascendendo . 2o. descendentium , as of the children , &c. to their father , &c. & sic descendendo . 3o. transversalium , as between brothers and sisters and their children , uncles and aunts and their children , & sic de caeteris ex utroque latere per dictam novellam , 118. thus much for the usual definition , description , and division of consanguinity allowed by all , as i conceive . i come now to the second point , who are these consanguinei . eos consanguineos dicimus , says the canon law * , quos divinae , & imperatorum ac romanorum atque graecorum leges , consanguineos appellant , ac in haereditate suscipiunt , nec repellere possunt . in some books indeed i find , affines , so termed ; and bartolus says , quod communis usus loquendi , consanguineum appellat , etiam quocunque modo sanguine conjunctum . but if we consider that in our case , a. the founder was never married ; that cuts off all pretensions by affinity , and of children , and their descendants : ascendants cannot be supposed by any means ; and they being to be de nostra consanguinitate , and de nostro sanguine ; none sure can be his kin , but by the fathers , and mothers side , and that will exclude all remoter alliance , or those quocunque modo ; i. e. remotissimo sanguine conjuncti . these things being premised , are not the consanguinei to the founder , those allied to him ex linea transversali , as brothers and their children , &c. sisters children , &c. & sic de caeteris in linea transversali , of statutable age ? now these , ex utroque latere , being equally privileged * , they all claim to the very same degree . which brings me to the third point , how far , or to what degree this right of consanguinity extends . now because the civil and canon law differ in the computation of their degrees , this difference must first be stated : it must therefore be observed , what is said , that the chief design of the canon law , is to reckon the degrees , so as not to interfere with prohibited bloud , to prevent incestuous mixtures , and to promote relation and publick decency and honesty . and because marriage cannot be , but between two * persons , therefore the canons place two in one degree , who , according to the civil law , are in two . for the civil law respecting only the conveyance of estates , and the right of succession ; and because that right is convey'd down from one to another , therefore generata persona gradum adjicit . the rules of each law 's computation , see in the decretum immediately preceding † . this being observed , the next thing is , to ascertain which computation we ought to follow : and , say our books ‖ , certum est sequendum esse computationem legalem pro gradibus , nam quoad successiones & in earum materia servanda est in utroque foro , computatio legalis & non canonica : and that this is a sort of succession , may appear by and by . now consanguinity extends it self more or less , according to the different matters , it is referred to , as may be seen at large * . but without doubt there cannot be a more substantial and favourable consideration , upon which account kindred may claim the greatest privileges , than in case of succession ; and if the greatest are there allow'd , there can be no reason to complain : and tho' in a fellowship of a college , non succeditur jure haereditario , & successionis merae ; yet where kindred are called , it may be said it is successio aliquo modo , seu ad instar . now a. the founder having made over his estate to a certain number of men , and having appointed them and their successors , his heirs , he did illorum fidei committere , to admit his kindred into some part of the inheritance in common with them , and to allow them a maintenance among them . and tho' fidei commissum may not take in , in all respects the true notion of such a fellowship ; yet where we cannot be punctual , i conceive the law will justifie a reference to what is most likely . a fellowship therefore in relation to kindred , especially if we either consider the obligation the law then laid upon the clergy to provide for their consanguinei ( and the founder was of very high rank in that order ) or the design of the foundation , namely . a maintenance for students : i say , if we consider this , a fellowship is a provision , a livelyhood , by way of a singulare fidei commissum , to be given them by the college ; as the haeredes fidei commissarii , or fiduciarii in this respect . and succession in fidei commissis , being to be regulated according to the order of succession ab intestato * , the ascendants and descendants succeed in infinitum ; the collaterals , who are meant here , only to the tenth degree , as you treat of simple and particular succession , as this is . now that the tenth degree is the very last , may it not appear with submission ? first , from the letter of the law. secondly , from reason . thirdly , from the universal consent of the doctors . and first from the letter of the law , as by the quotations † . 2ly . from reason . for why should the tenth degree be mentioned , if a longer succession was designed ; and tho' some think decimus quasi numero rotundus & certus pro incerto ponitur ; yet when we find an allowance ‖ , etsi decimo : etsi there , without any force , may signifie thus much ; namely , that they might succeed , etsi , nay tho' , in the very utmost degree ; namely , the tenth . again , why should the law be less restrain'd in its computation in one case than in another , barely as to the use of words ; for here all the commentators agree , that when it says cognati shall claim usque ad sextum gradum * ; there sextus est ultimus & non certus pro incerto : but when the same paragraph says , the agnati shall succeed etsi decimo , then we must have an evasion , sed ratio non pati videtur , ut dicamus uno numero successionem terminari , altero non item . and altho' it may seem that there is some ground to extend it to longissimus † yet that longissimus must be de jure longissimus , and that is explained by vinnius ‖ upon the place to be decimus . once more in vain would be the provision for the succession of the fiscus * or ecclesia † , or unde vir & uxor ‖ , whose respective rights in cases of failures are setled by law , if all relation was perpetually privileged to succeed , tho' never so remote , even in infinitum . and therefore the jus agnationis & cognationis being aequatum by novella 118 , are not both admissable only in the tenth degree , and no farther ? i come now to the third point the authority of the d. d. who may be consulted * ; as also sanchez † and lynwood ‖ . but to instance more particularly in those who have with submission decided the case in terminis . and first for sanchez , in the place afore-cited , he says from ancharanus , propinqui ( who are the same as consanguinei by the law ) sunt illi tantum qui vocantur de jure civili ad successionem ab intestato . and again from tiraquellus , leges concedentes consanguineis retractum , sanguinis ratione , intelligi debent de consanguineis usque ad eum gradum in quo de jure civili succedunt . and again , ad legatum consanguineis relictum , tantum habent jus collaterales qui succedunt ab intestato , caeteri omnes pro extraneis habendi ; and there quotes d. d. again , fidei commissum consanguineis relictum iis tantum relictum intelligitur , qui vocantur de jure civili ab intestato ad successionem , scilicet usque ad decimum gradum . and this holds not only in temporalibus , but also in perpetuis ; for tho' , as he goes on , quidam j. christi in legatis perpetuis , consanguineos collaterales in quocunque gradu extraneis praeferendos dicunt , & rationem ponunt ex praesumptâ voluntate testatoris , cum enim velit legatum esse perpetuum , & nôrit consanguinitatem intra gradum successibilem non durare in perpetuum , censendus est , velle in hoc casu consanguinitatem durare in perpetuum . sed idem tenent d. d. says sanchez , in perpetuis ac temporalibus , and quotes mantica , who is my second author . now mantica says * , si relictum sit cuilibet ex consanguineis , omnes admittuntur ad decimum gradum , quia eo usque protenditur & defertur successio , & ideo qui vult admitti tanquam ex progenie , debet probare se esse in aliquo gradu , qui non sit ultra decimum . quinetiam generaliter licet in legato , vel fidei commisso familiae , vel propinquis relicto , ex aequitate defendi possit , ut ultra decimum gradum protendatur , inspectâ testatoris voluntate & consideratâ communi horum fidei commissorum ( i. e. perpetuorum ) interpretatione , quae sunt conservandae agnationis gratiâ ; yet , says sanchez † , this consideration , namely , conservandae agnationis gratiâ , is instar majoratûs , & sic aperte vult successionem esse perpetuam . to reconcile this difference , he goes on , that , si perpetuitas cadit solum in eos : i. e. consanguineos ne reddatur caducum , tum succedunt in infinitum , sed cum perpetuitas non cadit solum in consanguineos , sed in aliis servatur , tum non est clara testatoris voluntas , quod eos vocaverat in infinitum , & sic standum est communi sententiae d. d. quod solum usque ad decimum gradum extenditur . and this is also mantica's * opinion , that if the will of their being so called in infinitum , non potest ex verbis testamenti , sive ex legitimis conjecturis colligi , à communi d. d. opinione non est recedendum , nam mutanda non sunt quae certam interpretationem semper habuerunt ; & in dubio crebrior sententia accipienda est , nam integrum est judicium quod plurimorum sententiis comprobatur . my third author is grassus † , who agreeing , 't is needless to transcribe him . now if neither from the letter of the statutes , or from any reasonable conjectures it shall appear , that a. the founder designed this right of consanguinity to extend ad infinitum , then will not this point be cleared ? the statute then runs thus : insuper cum secundùm apostolum teneamur bonum facere ad omnes ; maxime autem ad domesticos fidei , statuimus , ordinamus & volumus , quod in omni electione scholarium praedictorum futuris temporibus in dictum collegium faciendâ , principaliter & ante omnes alios , illi , qui sunt vel erunt de consanguinitate nostrâ , & genere , ( si qui tales sint ) ubicunque oriundi , dum tamen sint reperti habiles & idonei secundùm conditiones superius & inferius recitatas , sine aliquo probationis tempore in veros dicti collegii socios , ab initio eligantur , & etiam admittantur : quibus deficientibus , tunc illi qui sunt vel erunt de locis vel parochiis , in quibus possessiones & res spirituales & temporales dicti collegii consistunt , si juxta ordinationes praedictas habiles sint , prae caeteris eligantur . quod si tales in dicta vniversitate , tempore electionis hujusmodi celebratae , minime reperti sunt , tunc pauperiores & indigentiores scholares clerici in dicta vniversitate studentes hoc ordine praeferantur ; viz. prae caeteris oriundi de diocaesi a. & deinde seriatim de comitatu , b. c. d. e. & sic de caeteris comitatibus infra provinciam f. dummodo in grammatica sufficienter , & in cantu ut praedicitur competenter eruditi sint , & secundùm qualitates & conditiones superius & inferius recitatas habiles & idonei reperti & probati fuerint , ad dictum collegium eligantur ac etiam assumantur , tot quot supplere poterint deficientem numerum . quos omnes sic electos seu assumptos ( his qui de nostro sanguine fuerint duntaxat exceptis ) per unum annum in eodem collegio stare volumus antequam in veros socios ejusdem collegii admittantur . this then being the statute , let us see whether this right in perpetuum follows from the letter of the statute . a. the founder begins , quia secundàm apostolum , &c. which also we find enforced by the canon law * . and since he takes the hints from the law , may we not reasonably suppose he pursues the law according to the obligation of it . and this being the obligation , in case any one should happen to die intestate , and so the consanguinei to be unprovided for , by the party whilst living : here the law did enjoyn the bishops and other ordinaries to distribute what the person died possessed of in pias causas , personis decedentium consanguineis , servitoribus , & propinquis , seu aliis : and this is ordained also by a provincial constitution * . again , from the using the words consanguinitas nostra , genus , & sanguis noster ; for without doubt , had it been designed that all manner of relation , how distant soever , should have been privileged , the founder might have had terms of a less strict sence : and therefore , as we have good reason to suppose that he was not ignorant of that constitution in lynwood , so may we not suppose , that according to the same law from which he took the hint , he would intend also the persons , he was obliged to take care for . and accordingly lynwood , on the constitution aforementioned , says , et consanguinei , & qui sunt consanguinei , patet ex hostiens , summa † ; where they are explained to be communem sanguinem habentes : and again the same lynwood ‖ says they are , qui de nostro sanguine sunt : consonant to which acceptation , the founder says , consanguinei , & qui de nostro sanguine . and if we should allow genus to be more large than either consanguinitas , or sanguis noster , yet is it not restrained by those two ? it being never once more mentioned , but the founder keeps to consanguinei and sanguis . and having thus far proceeded to shew the founder had respect to the law , both for the obligation of providing for his kindred , and also for what persons were truly so , come we now to see to what degree he meant them . and here according to lynwood * , of whom i cannot suppose the founder ignorant ; and what say you , if lynwood made this statute ? we find the tenth degree to be the utmost , for which the church was to provide , in the distribution of intestate's goods ; and the church being only to supply the testator's neglect , and supplying it only to the tenth degree , can we suppose the law to oblige farther ? his words are these † , unde breviter scias , quod in successione ab intestato , prima causa est , liberorum . secunda , ascendentium cum quibusdam collateralibus , si extent . tertia , transversalium . primae duae in infinitum protenduntur , tertia usque ad decimum gradum . et sic in bonis laici , & sic in bonis clerici intestati , deficientibus praedictis , ecclesia praefertur fisco . and the more to confirm this , that the founder had an eye to lynwood in this provincial ; or if it was lynwood's opinion and draught , he meant it pursuant thereto , we find the persons to be provided for , in the college , are ranked in the same order . consanguineis servitoribus , & propinquis , seu aliis . the statute says , illi qui sunt vel erunt de consanguinitate nostra . the provincial consanguineis . the statute says , illi qui sunt vel erunt de locis in quibus possessiones , &c. the provincial , servitoribus & propinquis , and the gloss & propinquis , tam ratione loci quam sanguinis . lastly , the statute says , tum pauperiores scholares , &c. the provincial , aliisque , which the gloss upon aliisque , calls extraneis , dummodo sint pauperes . come we now to consider , whether he designed a perpetuity to his kindred . if the founder had intended they should claim in perpetuum , he might have used more express words . and tho' he says , qui sunt vel erunt , yet erunt may be understood , of those which should be in the tenth degree ; for 't is likely there were some then capable when the statute was made . again , erunt must be kept to de nostra consanguinitate ; and what that is , has been endeavour'd to be explained . nor is futuris temporibus only to be restrained to the consanguinei , but relates also to elections in general , which were to be made in cases of vacancy for ever . besides , what ever these words may signifie , yet may not , quibus deficientibus , well agree with what has been proposed ? a word used in all books to express the extinction of kindred , and as it were purposely put here to prevent all ambiguity : and that deficere does imply a total extinction , a final period , may it not appear , from the constant use of the word , when joyned to terms , signifying stock , family , kindred , and lineage ; being also explained in that sence , from the founders making after a new degree of privileged persons , a new substitution ? again , because when he provides for the pauperiores scholares , &c. in case of want of those in locis ubi possessiones , &c. he is so far from using that word deficere , as well conceiving , there would not be a want of people in those places , a total extinction as i may say ; but he uses these words , quod si tales tempore electionis minime reperti fuerint . and thus doth it not appear from statute , and fair conjectures , that here is a new substitution , et perpetuitas non cadit in consanguineos , sed in aliis servatur ; which is the difference required by sanchez , in the place afore-cited , to fix it to a certain degree , and not to extend it in infinitum . since therefore neither according to law , the general opinion of the d. d. statute , or fair conjectures it does appear ( with submission still ) that there is any privilege beyond the tenth degree , may we not conclude with mantica , afore-cited , ideo qui vult admitti tanquam ex progenie , debet probare se in aliquo gradu , qui non sit ultra decimum ? and that too , ascending to the very founder ; for altho' in other cases , a relation to the last immediate possessor , is a good claim for the next heir , yet here the law looks no farther than a possession continued from the immediate to the next taker : but in our case , no one claims by right of succession , strictly so called ; or as related to a former kinsman , but from his own next a-kin , as mediately related to the founder ; so that a flaw in immediate or mediate kindred spoils the line . besides , suppose i am indisputably related to one who speed as a founders kinsman , the proof he made of his relation is unknown to the present college ; and since i found my right upon a special qualification , even to the prejudice of others else eligible , i ought to shew my pretensions , and the society are to judge of the clearness of my title . it may not be amiss perhaps to say , how improbable now it is to fix any tolerable descent ; and where such memoirs , which require all the punctilio's of niceness , which are so difficultly adjusted , and which are often so carelesly neglected : i say , where such memoirs have great chasms and discontinuances , and cannot carry the relation up to the first of the branch . again , where the ancientest memorandums are an hundred years short of such a founder , there is , i say , just reason to suspect the exactness of such a descent . besides , the methods of such registrings are very faulty , and so far from being exact , and to be relied upon , that they deserve little credit , it having been ingeniously confessed , that the very persons words have ( and that usually too ) been taken , for what family they have been related to . but however unlikely it may be , to bring an exact and nice title ; yet where there is some specious show , especially since the electors are sworn when admitted fellows , to preferr the consanguinei , 't is best to err on the safest side . 't is true indeed , this may be so , where no one else is like to be wronged by these pretensions , who may be equally , nay more eligible ; and here we ought to judge rather nicely than favourably ; especially too , where he claims other advantages , besides those of a bare election . and as to the oath , the clause indeed is still administred ; but it was then made , when there were , or would be , in some time , kindred . however , the intent of the founder , and the law having determined this right of consanguinity , according to what we have proposed , the obligation must cease on course . and besides , that there are also other clauses or things deducible from them , now sworn to likewise in that oath , not now warrantable . and thus much for these queries , collections , observations , or what else you will call them . but put the case the most favourable for the consanguineus : either he claims upon the title of mere consanguinity ; or , of consanguinity back'd with the other necessary statutable qualifications . he cannot claim upon the first account , because that very statute which gives him a right as consanguineus , gives it not merely as such , but upon these terms , dummodo sit habilis , &c. if he claims upon the second , there the college are judges of his qualifications , both by statute of the founder , and orders of their visitor ; which orders provide , that the candidates shall approve themselves by a three-days examination , to every fellow singly if he requires it , tam quoad quam ad doctrinam ; by which examen , the fellows are to judge . now this right of judging and choosing is not to be taken from the college ; and if they elect in due time , the election is good , nor can a fellow be put upon them . first , because none are elected , but by the head and majority of the fellows ; and if the choice be made in due time , there can be no lapse or devolution . secondly , the college are upon their oaths ; and when they have judged and elected under that obligation , which is the highest can be laid upon them , the election of a qualified person is irreversible . i have nothing more to add , but that these papers are entirely submitted , to the more knowing and experienced . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a31455-e140 * c. 2. 35. quaest . 3. † novell . de haered . ab intestato , 118. §. nullam vero . ‖ l. descriptionis c. de imponend . lucrat . descript . & consanguinitate in gloss . * c. 2. 35. quaest . 3. * novella , de haered . ab intestato , 118. §. nullam vero . * c. 2. 35. quaest . 4. † ibid. c. 6. ‖ garcias de beneficiis 7. par . c. 15. nu . 25. * bertachini repertorium verb. consanguinitas . * grassi recept . sent. lib. 1. §. fidei commissum , quaest . 19. nu . 4. † §. fin. instit . de success . agnat . gloss . ibid. auth. de haered . ab intestato venientibus . §. si vero neque fratres verticulo agnatorum . l. de legitimis haeredibus & d. d. covarrav . lib. 1. tit . 13. de success . ab intestato . anton. gomez . l. 8. nu . 5. ad l. tauri . cabed decis . lusitan . 51 , 52. & 61. surdis de aliment . tit . 1. quaest . 11. joan. fab. ang. porc. myns . schneid . wesembec . & grot. lib. ‖ introduct . cap. 30. * instit . de cognat . success . §. 5. † instit . de legitima agnat . success . §. 3. ‖ vinnius ibidem . * l. variiae causae , ss . divus pius , d. de jure fisci . † c. 5. & 7. 12. quaest . 5. &c. 21. 12. quaest . 1. c. sed hoc de success . ab intestato , & abbas ibidem . ‖ l. maritus , c. unde vir & vxor . * vid. d. d. citatos in pag. 10. nempe covarrav . gomez . cabed . s●rdum , &c. † sanchez consil . moral . lib. 4. cap. 1. dub. 24. ‖ lynwood provinciale , c. ita quorundam , de testamentis . * mantica de conject . ultim . volunt . lib. 8. tit . 12. † loco prius citato . * mantica lib. 8. tit . 12. num. 46. † grassus recept . sent. lib. 1. §. fidei commissum , q. 19. * c. 14. & 16. distinct . 86. c. 5. de poenitent . distinct . 2. c. inhibendum est . de cohabit cleric . & mulierum , & subministrent , c. 1. 12. quaest . 3. &c. 4 , 5 , 6 , & 7. 12. quaest . 5. * cap. ita quorundam , de testamentis in lynwood . † hostiens . summ. tit. de consanguin . & affin . §. 1 , &c. ‖ c. ecclesiarum , de rebus eccles . non alienand . & consanguineis . * c. ita quorundam , de testamentis & decedentium . † ita quorundam & decedentium . de testamentis . princeps rhetoricus or pilomachia· ye combat of caps. drawn forth into arguments, general and special. in usum scholæ masonensis : et in gratiam totius auditorii mercurialis. [mason, john, of cambridge]. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a89633 of text r20049 in the english short title catalog (thomason e426_15). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 44 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 13 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a89633 wing m923a thomason e426_15 estc r20049 99861222 99861222 113351 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a89633) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 113351) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 67:e426[15]) princeps rhetoricus or pilomachia· ye combat of caps. drawn forth into arguments, general and special. in usum scholæ masonensis : et in gratiam totius auditorii mercurialis. [mason, john, of cambridge]. [2], 2, [2], 3-20 p. printed for h.r. at the three pigeons in s. pauls church-yard, london : 1648. foreword signed: j.m., i.e. john mason. an academic satire. the first eight words of title are xylographic; the fourth is in greek characters. annotation on thomason copy: "ffebr. 9th"; the 8 in imprint date is crossed out and the date altered to 1647. reproduction of the original in the british library. eng universities and colleges -curricula -humor -early works to 1800. satire, english -17th century. a89633 r20049 (thomason e426_15). civilwar no princeps rhetoricus or pilomachia· ye combat of caps.: drawn forth into arguments, general and special. in usum scholæ masonensis : et in g [mason, john, of cambridge] 1648 6555 19 295 0 0 0 0 479 f the rate of 479 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the f category of texts with 100 or more defects per 10,000 words. 2007-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-06 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-07 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-07 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion princeps rhetoricus or {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ye combat of caps . drawn forth into argvments , general and special . in usum scholae masonensis : et in gratiam totius auditorii mercurialis . veni , vide . nella {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} la {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . london , printed for h. r. at the three pigeons in s. pauls church-yard . 1648. duci rhetorico , et toti decentiarum satellitio , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . salve peculium dulce-triste meum , suavissima maceries ; egovobis commendo haec principis rhetorici argumenta ; quasi multum in parvo ; * nam de integra fabulâ conclamatum est . ne igitur totus pereat princeps noster , decerpsi ( quasi rediviva principis hippolyti membra ) haec quae sequuntur collectanea , ut fiat virbius quid plura ? state vos in procinctu virtutis , nobilitatis , eloquentiae & religionis . fiat . valete . j. m. chori princeps rhetorici . the schoole moderator : or , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . the combat of caps , decemb. 21. 1647. the whole draught of the invention moves upon two principall hinges : 1. the maine plot , or {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . 2. the counter-plot , or {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . the first designes forth the orders of the place in point of government ; the other , the didacticall part , in way of method , thus , in order following . 1. the maine plot represents the fundamentall discipline in ordine ad regimen usitatum loci : and is wrapt up in the first part of the title , ( princeps rhetoricus ) in relation to the authority of the schoole prince , his five seniors , and twelve sub-seniors or keepers , throughout the whole yeere , and consisteth of two dramaticall parts : 1. citement . 2. inditement . the citement summons the officers , seniors , sub-seniors , and juniors in the five first classes , at the instalment of their prince . the inditement belongs to the fresh-men and sub-juniors of the fift and sixt forme , according as they stand severally charged by their seniors . 2. the counter-plot layes forth ( {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ) our methodicall exercise , alternis diebus , three dayes a week , i. e. grammatically and rhetorically on tuesday ; poetically on thursday ; logically on saturday , viz. upon some thema simplex , some one word problematically given forth upon munday morning : as cubus , aera , sphaera , annus , severall weeks , severall words , canvased philologically through the grammarians , lexicons , glossaries , nomenclators , criticks , historians , quasi opus philologicum : and also hunted through the arithmeticians and cosmographers quasi exercitium mathematicum : and forthwith out of the present result the declamers come forth , quasi praxis rhetorica : this for tuesday perennitèr : the books being laid by the librarie keepers prae manibus , in ordine ad classes ; and the exercise recorded in three severall books , and kept by {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , the keeper of the weekly papers . now the thesis or controversall word for the present was pileum , a cap , being the garbe of the place . but occasionally at this time è re naetâ ; for a negligent young student of the house had lost his colledge bonnet , whose name , together with his losse , renewed the old schoole-game , the parson has lost his cap , and so fell in accidentally to be the basis of the counter-plot , and gave the title {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . the subject of the second , third , fourth acts , debated academically . and thus the two plots interweave all the yeare scholasticè , methodi gratiâ . and to day dramaticè , compendii causa , ut mundus in tabellula , the essay of a fortnights study . and thus much for the argument at large . the persons of the rhetoricall drama , are the same with the domesticall students , distinguished by a three-fold degree : in ordine ad 1. officia . their titles and offices . 2. classes . formes and places . 3. aetates . ages . 1. the office is two-fold : 1. schoole-officers , 2. court-officers ; yet both mercuriall : onely the first more properly attend the businesse of the publique weale , or schoole ; the other the pleasure of the prince , or moderator . that respects substance , this ceremony . 2. the classes are ever six , with an entrance , termed vestibulum . 3. the ages were not here much materiall to the plot ; yet the plot is materiall to the ages . fiat aemulatio , & pudor . now as for the termes of the distinct titles and places , they will hardly admit of english ; being originally imposed , and still use in greek or latine , which are the indispensable dialect of the province ; and yet we will venture here to rank them in a triple paralles 1. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , or {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . seniores . old standers . 2. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . juniores . succeeders . 3. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} tyrones . fresh-men . the two first , in order to their charge , are called {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , keepers , or guards-men ; but in another sense , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , or {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , quasi e specula decernentes : in a grammaticall acception , overseers , watchmen , spies . for in this vtopia , the main businesse is {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , custodia , tuitio , excubatio . watch and ward , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , where every officer stands centinel in the defence of decencie , and defiance of rudenesse : for as {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , decent ofder , is {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , so it is the {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , the guarded treasure , the golden apple of our hesperian garden . o●do anima rerum , and needs many watchfull eyes to guard it ; tot argi oculati , vigilesque dracones . and thus in order following stands the posture of our schoole model , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} : and therefore in rank and file , see them here upon their march , facing the spectators . officiorum tituli specifici : the officers in their three-fold order .     1. office . 2. classis . 3. aetat. anno. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . princeps rhetoricus . school-moderator . ● ●● {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} moderator mercurialis . decider of controversies . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . & monitor monitorum . keeper of keepers . 1. 13. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} legumque custos . defender of the laws , and mr. of requests . the foure prime monitors . 1. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . praeses succelli . president of the chappel . ● . 13. 2. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . decentiarum explorator . quest-man of decencie . 2. 12. 3. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . linguarum custos . monitor of language . 2. 13. 4. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . ingenii speculator . observer of invention . 3. 13. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . the twelve sub-officials , or subordinate monitor or keepers .     offic. class. aetat. 1. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . praefectus scrinii rhetorici . chiefe register of exercise . 3. 14 2. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . librarius . producer of auth. keeper of the three school libraries . 3. 14 3. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . ostiarius . commander of the keyes and hatches . 3. 14 4. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , sive {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . nolae curator . the timer of the bell & hourglasse . 3. 13 5. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . lucifer . orderer of the lights . 4. 13 6. cubiculorum decurio . chief chamberlain and searcher of studies . 4. 14 7. praeses limitaneus . marquesse of the bounds . 4. 14 8. aulae mensor . controller of the hall . 4. 13 9. silentarius . vsher of the peace . 5. 13 10. ambulantion ductor . leader of the fieldwalks . 5. 14 11. sigillorum procurator & productor . overseer of the sigillums . 5. 9 12. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . pileorum monitor . overseers of gowns and caps . 3. 15 the court-officers . insignium {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} .   offic. clas. ae t●● 1. ceremoniarum , rituumque custos , ordinunique magister urbanus . master of ceremonies . 2 15 2. nequitiarum regulus , five atlas minor , tyronumque patronus . master of misrule . 2 11 3. caducifer , ●eciali● her●cticus . mace-bearer , and herauld at armes . 4 14 4. aman●cuses rhetorici . the two rhetoricall text bearers , aristotle on the right hand , quintilian the left . 5 10 5 10 5. diademifer . the cap of rhetoricall maintenance . 5 15 6. tyro●●●● {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . master-keeper of the fresh-men . 3 15 personae personantes orchestri●●s . 1. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . sir sh●●ulus the parson , or cap-loser . 3. 15 2. merlins chorista merlins chorister , or fo●d hope .     3. eccho . empty fame . 5. 9 the fresh-men and sub-juniors of the 6. forme . 1. sir antonio draggle-gowne . 2. sir henrico srud●e-hawke . 3. monsieur le card-●●ummer . 4. monsieur le tittle-tattle . monsieur le incongruo . the vestibulum , or petty tyrones . the habit. the habit was uniform , pro more loci , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , gown and cap , differing in the colour of the phancy , quasi significator officii , the ensigne of office . onely the prince and six prime seniors wore beavers , to shew the priviledge of their long standing , with brims also reverst , in token of freedome above the rest ; and deckt with stars of severall magnitudes ; having in their right hands trunchions of severall colours , & silk bends ore their shoulders , emblemata honorum , types of their calling . all white gloves . white pumps , linnen stockins , knots differing in colour . the symbolicall properties . 1. a mercuriall mace argent . caduceus , with two snakes , interwinding , and plumed argent . signifying the power of serpentine eloquence . this is the fexanima pytho , insinuating perswasion . 2. a mercuriall bonnet , plumed argent , edged or ; typifing the gallant rationall head-piece , a princely presence , and a free-borne speaker , whose braines are laid with gold , and his tongue tipt with silver . aurum argentumque loquitur . againe , the snakes have respect to the will , the cap to the the intellect , the wings to the fancy , and the colours to the passions . 3. a scutchion or mercuriall sheild , which bore gules , three keyes , or. on the dexter hand ; but on the sinister , a bend azure charged with foure stars of equall radii ; over them sol , under that a cube , triangle , and circle , all or. the crest or rose with wings argent . quasi rosa volans . observe farther , that the allusion was mathematicall , and chiefly astronomicall , from beginning to the end , as thus : the two designes are as the artick and antartick poles , bearing the axis of the maine worke . the five strophae , antistropta , or acts , doe bear the number and office of the zones ; the seven chiefe seniors wander as the planets through the zodiack , the planets proper stage ; the twelve sub-monitors , as the twelve signes , fixt to the zodiack , the intire number of actors , the same with the constellations ; some southerne , some northerne moving , all according to their longitude , latitudes , and altitudes , according to their place & magnitudes , in the upper & lower division of the school place . all in time and order of vicissitude , moving through the degrees of the zodiack , till they have reacht to the {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , the highest pitch of schoole honour , viz. princeps rhetoricus , the sol scholae ; {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , the mercuriall moderator of the whole regiment ; for it is sceptrum successivum , in ordine ad meritum ascensionis . the prologue two-fold : 1. the mock-prologue . 2. and the serious . 1. the first layes the contrivance of the anti-plot or counterdesigne : vbi consulitur de inductione pilei in scenam & curiam principis rhetorici . the contrivets five , misrule , corister , custos pileorum , ostiarius , and monitor scholae . 2. the second gives the argument of the maine plot or fixt work in hand . being two-fold . 1. in greek iambic , ad doctos . 2. ad populum . in english . the english prologue . all haile thrice faire assembly . vvhat orders , laws , rights , constitutions , here run yearly round in this schoole hemisphere : and what our elders , and our classes doe , are this day tendred to your publique view . our prince is king of bees ; whose well-mann'd throne , no peevish vvaspe can clime , nor lazie drone . under whose ver ge our new atlantis lies , and comes well-neere th'utopian paradise . as for the scene that lies in grecian-rome , a piece new weaved i th greek and latian lome ; yet for your sakes ( sweet ladies ) all along , the work 's imbroder'd in our mother tongue . sirs , you are wise , accept what is not ill , who are not wise , let them do what they will . the expression of the mercuriall coat-armour . 1. the scutchion is also allusive every way ; by the plumed rose in the crest is declared , that fragrancy and celerity are the top-work of eloquence : swiftnesse , and sweetnesse , are the last and highest parts of this science : again , invention must not drag low , language must fly high . 2. the 3 golden keys lay open this conceipt ; that logick , rhetorick , and grammar , are by way of entrance , taught fundamentall in schools ; but the work is left to be crowned and matured in the academies : therefore as we the 3 keys , oxford gives the 3 crowns , which also decypher the 3 principall scienences , 1. theology , 2. law , 3. physick : and why may not we here have a key for them also ? 3. by the cube , arithmetick ; by the triangle , geometry ; by the circle , cosmography are here intended , and stand quartered under the 4 stars , as taught in a different place and manner from the other three arts before . 4. the bend of stars with eight radii , represent the prime 4 seniors or ministers , each man being keeper of 8 distinct laws or canons ; himself shining amongst his fellows as a star in his place : again , these stars denote the 4 cardinall qualities here ( under this prince ) professed , attained , kept , 1. language , 2. invention , 3. manners , 4. religion , each consisting of eight severall branches , cleare and starlike . 5. the sun hath the chief influence , as the glory and light of the rest ; {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , and stands mounted in the highest angle above the bend of stars , locus principis rhetorici , the princes place ; but by the sun is chiefly intended religion , without which , all arts are but meer darknesse , or at least , ignis fatuus . yet our sol appears quartered in a sinister side , because the pulpits doth challenge the upper hand of the schools , and theology the wall of philologie . but if the parson at any time shall lose his cap , and turn tityre tu patulae , a coridon of our arcadia ; then will we quarter our sol upon the right , and his cap upon the left ; for then he is our junior : his sheep-hook hath done homage to our rod ; divinity hath struck top sayle to grammar , and the liturgy in syntacticall obeysance hath vayled his bonnet to the accidence . 6. the two fields , gules on the right hand , azure on the left in a philosophicall acception lively depaint the will and the wit , the heart and the brain , the two fixt seats of our fourfold learning . thus much for the blazounrie in brief , sed aliquid latet , quod non patet , qui nucleum vult nacem frangat . and now we come to the argument in speciall , and correlative to each act . princeps rhetoricus , the schoole captaine . but why princeps , and why rhetoricus ? that fals in next to be scand , for non est in promptu ubique o edipus , all teeth are not nut-crackers . therefore observe , that the whole allusion brancheth it self , into five strains of rhetorick , or acts oratoricall distringued here by 5 titles : the first act we call inauguratio , the instalment , the second , pompa , the entertainment . the third , criticus , the linguist . the fourth , the disputant . the fifth , the judge or moderator . and in order to these is personated a prince thus qualified : in the first , princeps legitime inauguratus . in the second , princeps pompaticus . third , philologicus . fourth , philosophicus . fifth , judicialis . and in the catastrophe of the scene , princeps religiosus : and through the whole acts , princeps heroicè moratus : of noble deportment ; alluding to the seven fold buckler of ajax , under which vlysses lay protected . homers prince of eloquence : and thus much for our prince , quatenùs princeps : invested with title , authority , quality ; now view him quatenus rhetoricus . his prince-part was a notion assumed , faigned , and allegorically borrowed : but the rhetorick part and title are in earnest , & ( ex professo ) opus loci & personae . for now one was to make good in himself ( by way of president to the rest ) the character of a compleat rhetorician , and that by the exact test of our two rhetoricall text-men , aristotle and quintilian : for one while he cunningly insinuates ; as at his first ascent to the chaire . detur , ait , dignori , ego enim ( comparativè ) non merui . like caesar in tacitus , waving finely his new imposed dignity ; and yet at the same instant , policetur abundè , promiseth mountains , to rule like an angel . again , sometimes his speech becomes demonstrative , praising and inveigling : sometimes deliberative , pondering the future good : sometime juciciall ; according as the lost-cap finds argument through the five acts , occasionally , & ex ansâ datâ : for still the matter is before the iudge , coram judice lis . and still the parsons cap makes work for all . argumentativè . then next , touching those three aristotelian requisites , 1. natura , 2. ars , 3. exercitatio . they were better there seen , then here spoken . as candid spectability , a tongue well hung , firm sides , retentive memory , fancy clear , a princely undanted presence , & cujus ex ore melle dulcior s●uebat oratio , &c. but to compleat the matter , after some faire essayes of 1. invention , 2. disposition , 3. elocution , and 4. pronunciation , he falls upon the moderating part of oratory ; and exhibits a rhetoricall skill in the bee-like use of authours , culling out for his own hive , the flowers inservient to his present purpose , mutatis mutandis 3 tèr , i. e. alterum , alteratum , or aliud . sometimes again he leaves moderating , and falls to debating , syllogysticè , upon the argument , till being victor in the truth , he concludes by a double power , argumento 1. recti . 2. sceptri . and so becomes in fine , both princeps and rhetoricus , co-incident in nature and title , the rhetoricall princesse : for , in vero conveniunt rex & lex . the arguments of the 5 acts severally and particularly ; and these in twofold notion , 1. historical . 2. morall . act. i. princeps legitimè inauguratus , or , the instalment . the argument historicall . scena i. a curtain is displaied , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , the prime school monitor appears in a studying posture : is interrupted by the entrance of the 2 text-bearers , inducing {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} the wandring schollar lose-cap to the sight and speech of the monitor , with a petition tendered de recuperand● parsonuli pilco , for recovery of his cap , defunct ; the petition is accepted by phylophylax the monitor ; with promise to be presented in court , and to have fair audience in the businesse ( for his office is not only school-superintendent , but also libellorum custos , master of request and complaints ) and here is the first stone laid in the arch-fabrick of the counterplot . scena ii. lord of mis-rule enters with his bonny fresh men , undertakes their protection , contra gentes & jura ; and against the imperious wand of custos tyronum , his main antagonist and theirs . and this is the second trick of wit in the crosse plot , so to disturb the main plot . scen. iii. here the maine plot begins . the master of ceremonies appears with the keeper of the fresh-men : t is consulted de curiâ rectè curandâ , that things be done in place , time and order . exit ceremonius . custos induces his fresh charge , pearcheth them up at the bar : succeeds again ceremonius with his whole court-traine . and first , marshalleth his fourth classis , next his fift ; then fall in the officers , seniors , attendants , prince , in ceremoniall order . ceremonius leads the way , next him , lord mis-rule , then two monitors abrest . singly succeeds them monitor monitorum ; next , praeco fecialis , the mercuriall herauld at armes , princeps rhetoricus in the midst . after him the two text-bearers ; then the other two monitors abrest , the cap of maintenance after them , and last , custos ▪ tyronum , proclaimer and guards-man generall . they proceed to election , on a fourefold ground ; 1. sucession , 2. merit , 3. suffrages , 4. lawes and customes . invenitur caduceo habilis & idoneus , proclaimed fit for the mercuriall scepter . the quaeries are ten : as first , whether he hath orderly ascended from classis to classis , non faciens saltum , not making a skip . 2. whether he be patiens inediae , frigoris , & sudoris . an multa tulit , fecitque sudavit & alsit : whether he be snow-proofe , able to endure heats and colds , and to watch by the lamp of cleanthes . againe , whether he hath learned obedire & imperare , to obey and command , as junior and senior ; and whether well verst in the lawes appertaining to the chaire mercuriall : whether bene moratus , bene linguatus , religiosus , & humilis . and being approved by the register generall , proclaimed prince by the herauld , and voiced by the rest , he ascends the chaire of eloquence . then followes the citement of officers ; after that , the canto or hymne of congratulation● ; the speeches encomiasticall ad principem . after the citement , the indictment is read against the tyroes , whose penalties are imposed in way of severall theames , and liberty to speak for themselves , par poenae culpa . their patron is lord of mis-rule . scen. iv. ex improviso , abruptly breaks in sir shone , molestus interpellator curiae , in a great fume , impatient of longer attendance , a blunt , unbred , rude , insulse scholar , and as roughly entertain'd by the guards-man : they chop logick at staves end dilemmatically ; here i can have ye , & there ; but pates find mediums . master keeper assaults the parson , argumento baculino , with halberd eloquence , the parson indoctrinates the keeper with crab-tree logick , but is foyled at his owne weapon ; till misrule , and the schoole-monitor , his fratres fraterrimi , complotters and sworn partners , step in to his rescue ; by whose provision and request , his petition is heard , registred , and deliberated on , but deferred till the next court sessions mercuriall . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . ode acclamatoria . the congratulatory canto . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . the humble partishon of sir shone of wales , in formâ paperis following . be it knowne to all and some , that her hath a partishon in her packets , ad hunc venarabilem collegium , propter facere huc and cry , post cappum sumum ( misere defunctum , & lostum ) per omnes chamberos , studies , & corneros . and also her desires to enter her actions , or rather her passions in te law , for a scire facias , through te six mercuriall classes , with a non est inventus , as touching her pileus ; and a quare latitat , amongst all her cozen scholers , and her shall be pound to pray , for her six venerable said monitors while her may , for ever and a day , and longer too , when her hath nothing else to do . the morall argument of this act , for want of roome , wee passe by . the authors , like so many flourie fields , campi rhetorici , were tacitus , justine , justinian , quintilian , eutopia mori , atlantis verulamei , apuleius : the greeks , homer , aristophanes , plutarch , zenophon de cyropaedia , longinus , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . aristotles rhetorick , plato , aeschylus , &c. the language chiefly greek ; but auditorii gratiâ , translated here and rhere into english . act. ii. princeps pompaticus : or , the entertainment . the argument historicall . atlas minor , alias misrule , ascends his astronomical cabinet . a scematicall figure is erected at the command of the prince de pileo restaurando . his censure upon astrologie . this course failing , by the consent of the court , a hue and cry is voiced . sir shone the proclaimer . an eccho answers within ; he runs in after the eccho , his supposed countriman ; instead of him , fals upon merlins chorister , the old welch bard ; who by the harmonious power of his voice , summons in ( in three severall dances ) 18 caps distinct . the song between chorister and eccho . choris . eccho , o eccho ; thou oracle , o eccho , eccho tel . eccho . what shall the eccho , eccho tell ? choris . the scholars cap is lost , how shal't be found ? eccho . charm atlas , charme the caps from under ground ; by six and six , so shall the cap be found . choris . caps all , o caps all , appeare at ecchoes call , six great , six small . eccho . here , here we rise at ecchoes call . choris . when you the viols heare , brave sprights appeare . eccho . sound viols sound , for at your sound we 'l venter . roome , roome for caps , by six and six we enter . the first dance , consisting of the six grammaticall persons . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. i. thou . he. we . ye . they . after the dance they impeach each other de furto pilei . i puts it off to thou , thou to he , so the rest alternative ; but neither i , thou , nor he , we , ye , nor they : ergo tandem nemo , nemo is the man , no body has it . morally alluding to the depraved nature of children ; accusing and excusing ; peevish lyars : the tutors taske to cure . and also implies , that men themselves act the childrens scean ; instead of vindicating , often recriminating , waspish , serpentine , childish , saying , unsaying , gain-saying . quis enim non ab ovo mendax ? and thirdly , it alludes to the academians contradictory humour , affirmo , nego . the second dance consisted of six gipsies , cap-men , of severall colours . the intent of this , was like the other , but in a higher way . suggere jam quintiliane colorem ; every man hath some colour for what he sayes , or does ; in a severall cast of naturall rhetorick . but by these colours is primely intended the principles and depth of mysticall philosophie : in which the idle scholars cap is seldome found . the third dance was of the chiefe faculties , personated lively . 1 a cardinall . a miter . signifying degrees of preferment . 2 a master of arts square cap. degrees of learning . 3 the falkner . montero . degrees of gentry . 4 seaman . saylors thrum . degrees of travell . & forrain . 5 souldier . an helmet . degrees of martial officers . 6 smith . fuddle-cap . degrees of trades . morall . thus every cap what ere it be , is still a sign of some degree . the dance ends merily . lose-cap breaks his confining circle , and chops in among the caps , dancing ; is defended from their battouns by the souldiers buckler , and carried away upon his shoulders ; the seamen advancing one leg , fuddle-cap the other , shooing him in the exit . the sum of the intendment , belongs to oratoricall practice ; these 6 be subjects of eloquence ; work for a wise head , and a winning tongue . a sight proposed to the prince , what manner of men he has to deal with ; that will be great or wise . act. ii. scena ii. after that all vanish and nothing effected , atlas demands further of the merlins chorister what 's to be done . he answers again in song . cho. eccho , o eccho , for merlins sake o eccho , once more tell , eccho . what shall the eccho once more tell ? cho. tell who the cap doth weare , and who goes clear , eccho . no figure cast by spel , or charm , or magick : but scholar-like , by grammar , wit , and logick . atlas interprets the oracle , the prince likes and consents ; and commands a preparation scholasticall , de pilei disquisitione etymologica . act. iii. princeps rhetoricus , or , criticus the linguist . the argument . the philologicall books are fetcht forth from the trino-musaeum ; the triple library , 1. grammaticall , 2. philosophicall , 3. mathematicall ; the grammarians are first scann'd ; then the glossaries & dictionaries , then the declamers ex tempore deliver their cap-verdit etymologically . the prince in his chair moderating ; monitor scholae , and two head monitors maintaining the table in the middle , the other two at desks ex opposite , and formes ex adverso to forms . this way also proving invalid , command is given by his highnesse elegance ; for an academicall certamen , logically controverted . exeunt omnes . act. iv. princeps academicus , or , the disputant . the authours scientificall , and in order to the 7 arts are produced . then a set dispute between the three main sciences ; de melioritate praerogativâ pilei ; the question is stated two waies , 1. which is guilty of the parsons cap. 2. which most worthy among themselves of the three : next intervenes a question between the two princes , rhetorick and misrule , de prioritate galeri & pilei , the preheminence of the hat and the cap ; but while the disputes grew hot , enters a message from the cantabrigian fellow-commoners , desiring of the court a conference touching the new lost cap , as a maine case concerning their coppy-hold , 't is condescended to , and the court dissolves for the present . act. v. princeps judicialis , or , the judge . here is a set form of a sessions ; a court of judicature , more judiciali . the tyroes declame : the theams five , 1. horn-book , 2. the hawke , 3. long tayle , 4. knave of clubs , 5. a noune is the name of a thing . before the declamation each fresh declamer takes his briny dos of water and salt ; from the hand of the tyro-guardian : at every stand , or dead lift , they are helpt out , by their suggester , and nimble-tongu'd patron monseiur de la misrule ; and at last by his mediation , annuit princeps , the bils of indictment are expunged ; et donantur pileo tyrones : made free of the colledge . exit misrule . misrule within sends message to the monitor monitorum ; he craves excuse for his absence a while ; a flourish of cornets . forthwith return in form of a pontificall train the 5 counter-plotters ; misrule in the midst as a prince ; and the schollars cap advanced upon a trunchion , more triumphali : he is made to give account of his device , that no offence be given or taken ; and after some questions problematically propounded by the prince ; he and his seniors are invited to an astronomicall dance in reference to the planets , with laurels , each bearing a star advanced frontwise . after this the prince returns to his chaire , gives his charge to the tyrones , juniors , and seniors in their turns , concluding that religion is the finis ultimatus , the ultimate end of all our sudies ; and humility the last work of religion , ending with this motto , quantò doctior , tantò submissior ; withall couching briefly in a fourfold distinction , the four ends of all mens academicall labours , 1. mechanicall , ditescere , 2. sophisticall , clarescere , 3. philosophicall , cognoscere , and 4. angelicall , videre deum . i. e. practic●s , se abnegando . the questions in this act accidently emergent were these . 1. whether the mercuriall cap be more injured by the fathers indulgence , the sons negligence , or the masters insufficience ? 2. whether a lying humour be rather suckt from the dugs of the nurse ; or the paps of custome , or rather , an mendacium be ex traduce ? hereditary ? 3. whether the parsons cap hath received more cuts and blows , from the blunt weapons of bacchus , or the sharp sword of mars ? 4. whether a-wel-bred rhetorician did ever want a mocenas , or his cap mendicant ? 5. whether every noble and great gentlemen ought to be princeps rhetoricus , a prime good speaker ? 6. whether every master of arts be princeps rhet. et e contra ? 7. whether the greatest enemy to the cap , be not the cap ? science against science more persecuting then ignorance ? 8. an pileum sir-shonnuli fit ex lana caprina ? 9. an fiat pileorum transmigratio ? 10. pileus an tandem fataliter — exeat omnis ? epilogvs . as soon as the court-scene closed , and had as it were bid good-night to action and invention , prince-misrule-atlas ( now left singly on the stage ) presents the audience with a caution or two , by the horarie advise of his quadrant ; which being elevated to a just height , he calculates the howrs of the day , 3 of clock , 33 min. and 3 digits . then warns them , maturare reditum , imminet ursa ; to hasten homewards , lest {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} the keeper of the great bear meet with them after all . the beare being a starting-enemy to the coach-horse ; and twilight a dangerous time for caps . venit hesperus ite . so atlas bids his star-like guests adieu , as you have shin'd on vs this day , with friendly influence : so may the new year shine on you. e fonte cambrino , jan. 19. 1648. finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a89633e-200 * {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . notes for div a89633e-350 princeps . rhetoricis . the glory of chelsey colledge revived by john darley. darley, john, 1622?-1699. 1662 approx. 115 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 30 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a36875 wing d259 estc r24871 08630174 ocm 08630174 41498 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a36875) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 41498) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1255:6) the glory of chelsey colledge revived by john darley. darley, john, 1622?-1699. [7], 42 p. : ill. printed for j. bourn, london : 1662. "wherein is declared, i. its original, progress, and design, for preserving and establishing the church of christ in purity, for maintaining and defending the protestant religion against jesuits, papists and all popish principles and arguments, ii. how this design was by the renowned king james and the three estates of his first parliament highly applauded : as also by the most illustrious prince henry, and king charles the first of ever blessed memory, with the right reverend the bishops &c., iii. by what means this excellent work of such incomparable use and publick concernment hath been impeded and obstructed." reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng chelsea college. universities and colleges -england -london. 2006-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-09 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-06 taryn hakala sampled and proofread 2008-06 taryn hakala text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the glory of chelsey colledge revived . wherein is declared ; i. its original , progress , and design , for preserving and establishing the church of christ in purity , for maintaining and defending the protestant religion against jesuits , papists , and all popish principles and arguments . ii. how this design was by the renowned king james , and the three estates of his first parliament , highly applauded ; as also by the most illustrious prince henry , and king charles the first of ever blessed memory , with the right reverend the bishops , &c. iii. by what means this excellent work of such incomparable use and publick concernment hath been impeded and obstructed . by john darley , b. d. and of northill in the county of cornwall rector . now the prophetess dwelt in jerusalem in the colledge . 2. chron. 34. 22. but when divers were hardned and believed not , but spake evil of that way , he departed from them and separated the disciples , disputing daily in the school of one tyrannus . acts 19. 9. london , printed for j. bourn at the south entrance of the royal exchange , 1662. 〈…〉 dell of chelsey colledge as it was intended to be built . depiction of chelsey colledge truth shall bud out of the earth and righteousnes break downe from heaven . ps : 81. 11. this stately structure , royall in designe yea more , for mighty reasons , most divine ( which sov'raign's senat 's , synods , wisedome too , did vote promote and fort , the kingdome woo ) els not malign'd soe , had it its end ? vowes heresyes to choake , truth to defend : bee-hive , a trojan horse , you may it call heav'ns fire , to church & state for happy wall . hells hate , romes horror , of our poyson'd tymes the best of antidotes , to purge the crymes shal't sinke ? o shame ! may 't shine yet to god's glory and sound the parliaments aeternall story . to the most sacred majesty , charles ii. of great britanny , france & ireland king , defender of the faith . most dread sovereign , and ever blessed of the lord , may it suffice to shew and say unto your most high and sacred majesty , that the design of chelsey college ( which i now , in the demonstration of it , prudently and most humbly dedicate unto your majesty ) was first of all by your royal grand-father king james graciously and greatly applauded , whose most excellent sagacity having understood the wisdom of god in it , gave thereunto , with his parliament , it 's feat and glorious form. afterwards it was no less approved off by your royal father of ever blessed memory ; by him it was abundantly commended , who with great zeal commanded his late archbishop laud to promote to the utmost this admired design , and speedily to put it into all good posture and accommodation . and therefore this plot is of most pretious concernment in all sorts of due reverences , for the great and incomparable wellfare of the church of christ : for so it was in the real and tender account of those noble sons of honour and true prudency of the first parliament of your royal grand-father : which is therefore above all recommended to your gracious majesty , whom the most high and holy one hath so miraculously preserved , so wonderfully and blessedly restored , to be in many things and waies the repairer of decayed persons and places . and especially , because the case and dignity of chelsey college had a known and very large interest in the pious affections of your famous and glorious uncle , prince henry , which he set his heart upon , to get immortal honour by his most endeared favour and princely respects thereunto , studying with all his power and prudence to advance this college to be the pillar , yea , the standing and living monument of his flourishing fame and deserved glory . but the lord made and found him fully ripe for his celestial throne ; that he might make your blessed father ( the mirrour of princes ) most fit to sway the scepter of these kingdoms , whose princely affections and commands were full of integrity for the compleating of this seat and nurse of learning and truth . now , if your majesty shall be pleased in regard of this , with the aforesaid respects , to espouse this college , and to meditate the perfecting of it , for the most blessed imployment thereof ; oh then , how shall the hearts and tongues of all good men ( whose eyes behold you as most happy , propense , and pretious ) blesse your sacred self , and multiply their delight and most holy prayers in and for you , that from the first entring upon your temporal , you readily contemplate to make this your eternal praise and dignity ? the rather let your most admired majesty humbly be beseeched to set your kingly countenance on this design of so much weight and worth , for that the king of kings hath in his amazing and astonishing way of never-to-be-forgotten mercy , now at length , like noah's dove , returned you without gall ( in all gracious clemency ) with an olive hopefull branch of long-desired and blessed peace into the ark of our most happy church and state ; where , let the high and lofty one ever delight in and over your majesty to doe you good , with the richest and choicest blessings of this and the next life poured out both into and upon your gracious heart and head. and the lord grant that you may be crowned with the glory of a long , prosperous , and uninterrupted reign over us , that holy truth and peace being perfected , you may so have the heavenly and eternal kingdom begun in you , which is the utmost flame of the zeal of the most holy and hearty prayer of the humblest of your majesties liege subjects , john darley . the epistle to the reader . if thou shalt wonder that a man so near his grave , and withall so far from chelsey , should labour to revive and give a resurrection to a design so long buried in its dust ; let me then assure thee , it is not from any hope or desire of self-preferment in this world , being daily about to strike saile , and run my aged , weak , and infirm vessel into the harbour of common ( but sure ) rest. nor is it from any corrupt principle of vain-glory and applause . that were to leave my spirit in the greatest darkness , by sinning against the clear light of knowledge taught in the princely preacher , prov. 25. 27. for men to search their own glory , is no glory . but forasmuch as some broken thoughts upon this subject had for sundry years last past lyen by me , which were perused by some of my judicious friends and faithfull fellow-labourers in the gospel , after a review , they exhorted me to print my schedules and papers in these halcyon-times ( and to trust the lord with issues , who can make this good work so joyfully begun , yet to flourish for sion's higher rise , and babylon's deeper ruine . ) which i have done , not so much in full hope of effecting what i would , as being unwilling to refuse them , and desirous of making tryall : for i had rather ( as peter du moulin once said ) that godly and learned men should find in me want of prudence , then accuse me of negligence . besides , some worthies having gone before me in this way , i was thereby further perswaded to cast my mite into their treasury , that they might be thankfully remembred by me , and diligently followed by others . again , that which did set a little sharper edge on my willingness herein was , that i might take an occasion to clear the innocency of dr feately , ( the late provost of chelsey college , and one that is honoured in his dust for his known vertues , eminent piety , abundant learning , and labours ) somewhat blotted by dr fuller's pen , proceeding rather ( in my judgment of charity ) from an error in his judgment , then will. but that which principally moved me was , a clear perswasion of heart , how much the perfecting and compleating of this college would contribute glory to god , honour to the true religion , encouragement to learning and learned men in every age ; what invincible help and assistance it might afford our gracious king and his royal successors against the many subtil and unwearied adversaries of christ's kingdom , gospel , faith , doctrine , and holy discipline ; lastly , what chearfull and beautifull light of divine and heavenly knowledge , what soul-reviving and refreshing satisfaction the lords people in these three nations ( yea , in all the world ) continually in every age and condition might receive from the studies , disputations , and writings of such eminentlyqualified persons , as ought to have been chosen into the orthodox society and learned fellowship of this college , so richly provided for , and happily accommodated with encouragements of every kind . prolixity must be avoided : i therefore reine in , imploring the choicest blessings of heaven upon my dear sovereign , his royal relations , and great councel , that the work of righteousness may be peace , and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance in our land. now the great counsellor give thee ( good reader ) peace , and understanding in all things , and that by all means . which is the prayer of the unworthiest of those that serve thee in the faith , john darley . erratum . pag. 7. lin . 3. ( for , read ( but. the glory of chelsey college revived . i shall not by any needless flourish of my own words begin this treatise of chelsey college , but first , deliver the disert words of the act of parliament made in the seventh year of king james of blessed memory in the behalf of the same college ; as also a declaration published by authority in the year 1616. concerning the reasons that moved his majesty and the state to erect the same ( god assisting me ) as i find it diligently collected and extracted to my hand by the author of the most remarkable monuments of london and the precincts thereof : then , secondly , give you bishop hall's judgement and recommendation , with dr. fuller his more special report of it ; as also mr. baxter's instigation for it , and grounds of the necessity of prudent provision of able and adequate men for the work : and so i shall in the conclusion adde something concerning dr. sutcliffe his being the first mover ( under god ) to advance the design in this beginning of the embryo that it now appears in . thirdly , i shall intimate the obstructions and impediments of it : fourthly , adjoin some prevalent motives for the renewing , or rather the reviving of the design to it 's original intended perfection : fifthly , stop the mouth of the chiefer objections against it : sixthly , propose the means ( though in these hard and exhausted times ) to compleat it : lastly , conclude with prayer for grace , grace unto it . first , the abstract of the act runs thus : whereas his majesty , of his royal and zealous care for the defence of true religion now established within this realm of england , and for the refuting of errors and heresies repugnant to the same , hath been graciously pleased by his letters patents under the great seal of england , to found a college in chelsey near london , and therein to place certain learned divines , and to incorporate the same by the name of the provost and fellows of the college of king james in chelsey , of the foundation of the same james king of england ; and hath of his most gracious goodness and bounty not only endowed the same with certain lands , privileges and immunities , but hath also , for their further maintenance and sustentation , given unto them a capacity and ability to receive and take from his majesty , or any of his loving subjects , any lands , tenements , hereditaments , gifts , benefits and profits whatsoever , not exceeding in the whole the yearly value of three thousand pounds , as in and by the said letters patents doth more at large appear : and whereas also it is manifest and evident , that the bringing in of such streams of running water to the city of london is very convenient , necessary and profitable , as well for the private use of such as shall rent the same , for the help of cleansing the said city in the time of sickness , and preserving the same against all suddain adventures of fire , &c. whereby they had the free grant of and for draining the field and marishes between the bridge called lock-bridge in or near the parish of hackney in the county of middlesex , and the bridge called bow-bridge at straford-bow , in the parish of stepney in the said county , &c. which by reason of the ample grant , may seem to be a royal privilege indeed ; yet by reason of the vast labour and cost , not only of digging and trenching , but of buying leave of the owners of the grounds , fields and limitations , may seem ( with reverence be it spoken , and regard had to clergy-men not versed in such affairs ) not only like that in holland , but somewhat resembling that of hercules his labour of cleansing augeas his stable , wherein 3000 oxen so long were tyed up , by drawing the river alpheus to run through it . when i consider the many provisions in that grant , it appears somewhat like the arduousness of their task and undertaking . notwithstanding christian duty ought ( especially when back'd with so many advantageous incouragements ) to swallow up greater difficulty . it is the most holy exhortation jude 3. earnestly to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints . and it is the delight of the holy one , to behold his enabled servants studying and labouring to ridd the land of the immense dunghill of errors and heresies ; which is not for every hand that can make of scripture fine posies in preaching , but are too tender to pluck up or thrust away thorns : this can be done only by men fenced with iron , and the staffe of a speare , 2 sam. 23. 6 , 7. and this above all is now ( if ever ) especially to be looked unto , that the cause of christ be not betrayed and lost in this age abounding with so many anti-christian deceipts . a brief declaration of the reasons that moved his majesty and the state to erect a college of divines and other learned men at chelsey ; together with a copie of his majesties letters in favour of the same , and an addition of some motives very forceable to excite the zeal of good christians to a voluntary and liberal contribution . vnderstanding by experience that want of information hath much hindred mens devotion in contributing towards the erection and donation of chelsey college , we have thought it very fit , together with his majesties letters , seconded by my lord archbishop of canterbury , to declare the reasons that caused this work to be undertaken , and to adde such motives as we have supposed may be most effectual to give satisfaction to his majesties desire , and perfection to this honourable design . first , it was considered , that the popes agents travelled sea and land , wrote books in favour of their faction , devised lyes and slanders to bring religion and professors thereof into hatred , and not sparing any standing in their way , by falshood and treachery oppugned kings and princes that could not endure the popes tyrannical government : and to this end , men of ready wits , good speech , long experience and competent learning , have been maintained in colleges , furnished with books , holpen with counsell and direction , bound with laws and oaths to uphold the papal hierarchie and heresie , and ( which moveth most with most men ) encouraged with great promises and large rewards : whereunto albeit private men , piously affected , have from time to time opposed themselves ; yet because they wanted incouragement to undertake so great a labour , counsels of the ancients to direct them , books and libraries to instruct them , forms of proceedings to keep them in compass , and rewards to maintain them , ( those excepted that are due for ecclesiastical cures ) it was further advised , that to make a sufficient defence for the truth of religion and honour of the state , and a strong and continued opposition against the continued lyes , slanders , errors , heresies , sects , idolatries , blasphemies of our adversaries , that it was necessary to unite our forces , and to appoint special men that without other distraction might attend the cause of religion and of the state ; being furnished with directions , instructions , counsels , books , presses , competent maintenance , and other necessaries . this then was the reason why this college by his majesty and the state was first designed , and a corporation granted , with large privileges , viz. that a select number of divines and others should be gathered together into one body , and united with one form of laws , and there maintained , who being furnished with books , and directed by men of experience and action , might alwaies be ready to maintain our christian faith , to answer the adversaries calumniations as wel against religion as the state , to defend the majesty of kings and princes against the vsurpation of popes , the liberty of christians against the yoke of superstition , to supply the defect of teaching where appropriations have devoured ministry , by teaching and conference to convince the obstinate papist and atheist , and by all means to maintain truth and discover falshood . this is the college commended to his majesty , and intended by the state , and easie to be perfected , if it please all true christians to further it with their help and favour , according to some proportion of their means . his majesties letters directed to my lord of canterbury follow in these words . right trusty and welbeloved counsellor , we greet you well . whereas the enemies of the gospel have been forward to write and publish books for confirming of erroneous doctrine and impugning the truth , and now of late seem more carefull then before to send daily into our realms such their writings , whereby our loving subjects , though otherwise wel-disposed , may be seduced , unless some remedie thereof should be provided : we , by the advice of our councel , have lately granted a corporation , and given our allowance for erecting a college at chelsey , for learned divines to be imployed to write ( as occasion shall require ) for maintaining the religion professed in our kingdoms , and confuting the oppugners thereof . whereupon dr sutcliffe , designed provost of the said college , hath now humbly signified unto vs , that upon divers promises of help and assistance towards the erecting and indowing the said college , he hath at his own charge begun and well preceeded in the building , as doth sufficiently appear , by a good part thereof already set up in the place appointed for the same . we therefore , being willing to favour and further such a work , will and require you to write your letters to the bishops of your province , signifying unto them in our name that our pleasure is , they deal with the clergy and others of their diocese , to give their charitable benevolence for the perfecting of this good work so well begun . and for the better performance of our desire , we have given order to the said provost and his associates , to attend you and others unto whom it may appertain , and to certifie vs from time to time of their proceeding . thetford the 5th of may , 1616. these letters the lord of canterbury , archbishop , sendeth abroad to the bishops of his province , and secondeth them , in these terms . now because it is so religious and pious a work , conducing both to god's glory and the saving of many souls within this kingdome , i cannot but wish that all devout and well-affected persons , should by your self and the preachers in your diocese , as well publickly as otherwise , be excited to contribute in some measure to so holy an intendment , now well begun . and although these and the like motions have been frequent in these latter times : yet let not those whom god hath blessed with any wealth be weary of well-doing , that it may not be said , that the idolatrous and superstitious papists be more forward to advance their falshood , then we are to maintain god's truth . whatsoever is collected , i pray your lordship may be carefully brought in to me ; partly , that it pass not through any defrauding hand ; partly , that his majesty may be acquainted with what is done in this behalfe . your lordships very loving brother , g. canterb. the like letters are written to my lord chancellor , and my lord maior of london . so that by this that has been said it must manifestly appear , that chelsey college has not only king james his majesties and his first full parliament's and convocation's ( the intire representative body , with the head of church and state ) but that of the prime powers and prudencies of both of them , the archbishops , the chancellour , and the lord maior of london , the acclamation of their energetical prudence and zeale . by these letters it may appear that this college is not an idle project merely of any private man , but a most pious work , projected , or rather approved and applauded , by the king and state ( for dr sutcliffe must have the eternal honour , in that his most pious and sedulous wisdome moved the first stone , as from god , about it ; ) and that all that profess religion , and desire the continuance and advancement thereof , yea , all that honour his majesty , and wish the prosperity of the state , and desire the increase of learning , have interest therein , and i hope shall receive comfort , content and good satisfaction by the same , if they put their hands and hearts unto it . being then such a work of piety , for the maintenance of true religion , who can be accounted truly pious and religious , and yet yield no help to advance it ? being a project to maintain the honour of the state , what good subject will not contribute to set forward this project ? but to touch only the point of gods honour , let us remember the words of the wise man , honour the lord with thy substance : let us also consider what the lord himself saith , them that honour me , i will honour ; and they that despise me , shall be despised . now who can say that he honoureth god , that suffereth him by idolatry , superstition , blasphemy , to be dishonoured , and will give nothing to suppress baal's priests , but is content that the pope be worshipped like the idol bel ? can god's honour stand with the superstition , heresie , idolatry and blasphemy of papists , and the prophaneness of atheists ? it is not sufficient for true christians to profess true religion , but they must with zeal maintain it , and with heart abhor , and with hand suppress idolatry and superstition . who will rise up with me against the wicked ? saith the prophet . and psal . 139. 21. he saith , he hated those that hated the lord , with a perfect hatred . the law deut. 13. is direct against such as intice us to serve other gods : our eye may not pitty them , nor may we shew mercy unto them ; no although they be our brothers , our wives that lye in our bosoms . an odious thing also it is either to suffer truth to be suppressed , or lyes to be received . st. augustine , in his epistle ad casulanum , saith , it is a foul fault to hide truth , as well as to tell lyes : vterque reus est , & qui veritatem occultat , & qui mendacium dicit chrysostome hom. 25. in matth. doth charge him to be a traitor to truth , that dares not boldly utter it , to defend it . non ille solum est proditor veritatis , qui veritatem transgrediens , pro veritate mendacium loquitur ; sed etiam qui non liberè veritatem pronuntiat , quam pronuntiare tenetur , aut non liberè veritatem defendit , quam liberè defendere convenit . some suppose that christianity and popery may stand together , and themselves as newters stand between both , or as mediators would reconcile both . but can christ be reconciled to antichrist ? there is no concord between christ and belial ( saith the apostle ) 2 cor. 6. 15 , 16. upon which place dr. featly's paraphrase is here fitly to be inserted . mark the apostles gradation ( saith he ) what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness ? what communion hath light with da●kness ? and lastly , what concord hath christ with belial ? no more agreement may we have , who are temples of the living god , with idols . there is great opposition between righteousness and unrighteousness , greater between light and darkness , greatest of all between christ and belial . righteousness and unrighteousness , the one being a vertue and the other a vice , are opposed contrarily ; but light and darkness privatively , which is a greater opposition : but christ and belial contradictorily , which is the greatest of all . righteousness and unrighteousness so opposite , as that they cannot subsist in the same soul ; light and darkness so opposite , as that they cannot subsist in the same room ; christ and belial so opposite , as that they cannot subsist in the same heaven . righ●eousness fighteth with unrighteousness wheresoever it meeteth with it , gal. 5. 17. but light doth more , it presently banisheth darkness . but christ doth yet more , he utterly confoundeth belial . so true religion not only fighteth with all heresie and superstition wheresoever it meeteth with it , but banisheth it , and in the end confoundeth it . dr. featly vertum. rom. p. 156. no toleration then of false and true religion together ( no more then truce of the dogg and the hyaena , ecclus. 13. 18. ) no halting , no halfing between god and baal , no sodering of religion ; no pulling of rome to protestancy , no more then the fisher's pulling the rock to his boate , who the more he pulls , the more he brings his boate to the rock . the bishop of the church of pergamus was reproved for suffering them that taught the doctrine of balaam , and the bishop of thyatira for permitting jezabel to teach and to deceive the people . and shall the church of england any longer suffer the romish balaamites , the false priests of baal ( maintained by the romish jezabel and her consorts ) to seduce god's people ? the false priests of bel used all arts and cunning practices to deceive , and now will not suffer any religion but that of their god bel , the pope . and shall not true christians use equal diligence to maintain holy truth , most pure protestant , holy and saving truth , and suppress popery , and all other idolatrous and false religions ? ingemui ( fateor ) ( saith hierome ) minus nobis inesse voluntatis ad propugnandum veritatem , quàm inest illis cupiditas ad inculcandum mendacium . i sighed ( saith he ) seeing less desire in us to defend truth , then in our adversaries to maintain lies . are not here motives of moment enough to be mighty with any that have any true tender conscience , more then to perswade them , even to make them zealous after the work ? yet there is added more yet moving ones , as followeth . the college being erected then for the maintenance of truth and god's true service , and for a resolute opposition against errors and false worship of god , it cannot but please god and content godly men , if it be help'd onward . the same also will be a means to increase learning , and prevent the dangers of places haunted with the spirits of antichrist , the jesuits and mass-priests ; and therefore cannot chuse but be well accepted of all that either desire a learned ministry , or love learning . finally , seeing the church hath received no greater dishonour by any then by insufficient and unlearned church-men ; i hope this may be a means to recover some part of their lost honour . wherefore , whether we regard the service of god , or the honour we owe unto the king , or the love we bear unto our country and state , and above all , that which omnes omnium complectitur charitates , the piety to our church , let us not shew our selves sparing and backward in yielding our aid to set forward a work so religious and profitable for the church , so honourable for the state , so necessary in regard of our adversaries malice , and the defects and discouragement of our own forces . other collections have been either for private persons , or strangers , or places remote , or matters concerning some particular occasions : this concerns a general good , and toucheth every man both in honour and conscience . heretofore we have endeavoured to maintain religion , and favour others abroad : let us not therefore now neglect our selves , and our own honour and profit and necessary service at home . neither let any man think it strange , that a work of such greatness should be advanced by this weak means ; or that a project so necessary should proceed so slowly . almighty god , albeit sufficient , yet would have his own tabernacle built by the voluntary offerings of his own people . speak ( saith he to moses exod. 25. 1 , 2 , &c. ) to the children of israel , that they bring me an offering of every man , whose heart giveth it freely : and exod. 36. 3. there it followeth , they brought still unto moses free gifts every morning , and they ceased not till they were stayed from offering . king solomon likewise was greatly holpen in the building of the temple by the contribution of his subjects , as appeareth by the words of scripture , 1 chron. 29. 6 , 7. further , by voluntary offerings and contributions the temple was repaired by joash , 2 kings 12. and by josiah 2 chron. 34. and this has been the use and practice of ancient times , in building and endowing most famous churches , colleges , schools , and other monuments of religion and learning , both in our own and other countries . our adversaries by this course have had means to build many monasteries , colleges and schools , for their jesuits and friers , as propugnacles of superstition , heresie and idolatry , and antichrist his tyranny , to uphold and make good their own corruptions in religion , and usurpations upon the magistrates government , and every christian mans liberty . and this have they done not only in europe , but also in the indies ; and not only one in every kingdom , but in some states divers , and almost in every city one . and shall not our flourishing kingdom build and endow one college for the maintenance of god's true service , and the honour of the whole state ? it were a dishonour to our nation , and the whole church and state , to think the contrary . the work hath ( we confess ) hitherto proceeded slowly ; and no marvell , seeing great works are not easily atchieved . noa●'s arke , god's tabernacle and temple , and famous schools and colleges , albeit founded by kings and great men , were long in building : and do we wonder that this college is not yet finished ? further , it pleased god to deprive us of prince henry , our principal hope , and the chief author of this designe . lastly , who knoweth whether god hath appointed these weak means to set forward a great work , that his power in our weakness might have the whole glory ? let us therefore ( good brethren and country-men , yea christians ) hearken willingly to his majesties motion , and readily follow his example : let it appear by our bounty , how blessedly zealous we are to maintain the everlasting truth , and to root out error and idolatry : let us by effects declare how studious we are to doe good works , and to advance god's and our churches honour . they that have much may give of their abundance ; the rest , according to the measure of their means : god as well accepteth of the widows mite and poor mans good will , as of the rich mans treasure . if we honour god with our substance , he will honour us , and increase our substance : if we build an house for the maintenance of his truth , that it may continue in our posterity , god will build us an house , restore it to us , and double it to our posterity . abraham by offering his sonne to god , was made a father to many sons , yea and of many nations . and solomon , that shewed his royal magnificence in building god a temple , in honour and riches passed all other kings , 1 kings 3. 13. how can we excuse our selves at the last day , if we now deny god a small offering , who daily offereth unto us many graces , and giveth to us all good things that we possess ? psal . 68. 9 , 10. yea , our souls are a sacrifice due unto him , 1 cor. 6. 20. and rom. 12. 1. and then much more our external things . and therefore no christian may deny to him an offering out of his wordly goods , if god's service ( for god's members and church ) require it . that in 1 thes . 5. 23. and , indeed , whatsoever it is that we have , more or less , is god's ; and whatsoever we give , we give unto god but of his own , which he hath first given unto us , 1 chron. 29. 14. for all that is in heaven and earth is his . for the lords is the kingdome , and he is to be exalted as head above all . both riches and honour come of him , and he reigneth over all , and in his hand is power and might , and in his hand it is to make great and to give strength unto all , 1 chron. 29. 11 , 12. as for those that draw back in this his service , and refuse to concur in promoting god's honour , let them marke the words of our saviour , matth. 12. 30. he that is not with me is against me : and the curse of the angel on the people of meroz , curse ye meroz ( saith the angel ) for they came not up to help the lord. but we hope we shall not need many more words , to move them that are ( already ) so well perswaded , nor perswade men that in religion and devotion are so forward , who know and take to heart that severe increpation of the prophet esay 32 , 6 , 7 , 8. against the evil-eyed , hard-hearted , fast-handed churle , and vile man ; but withall , that the liberal deviseth liberal things , and by liberal things ( especially in this kind ) he shall stand : for he sowes unto the spirit gal. 6. 8. to reap life everlasting . it is the duty of good christians to advance god's honour , and repress superstition , heresie , idolatry , blasphemy . it is the office of good subjects to defend the honour of the state against the sycophancies of english fugitives , and the secret practices of foreign enemies their adherents . the adversaries using all their skill , and joyning their forces against religion and the state ; it behoveth us likewise to unite our forces , and to joyn in confultation how to resist them . this common business requireth common help ; the practice of our adversaries provokes us to use speed ; and there is too much precious time already let run in waste , almost , if not altogether , or more then full forty years , from the first commencement . and since the work has been let lye absolutely dormant , if not dead , what tares of heresies of all sorts has the vigilant and indefatigable envious man sown and fomented , as in the field of the sluggard ? so as there is nothing appearing but camelions of monstrous uncouth errors . the quality of the work , being for the defence of true [ pure ] religion , and the state , will move any ( whose heart is not hardned and leavened in errors ) chearfully to give : for whosoever shall give , shall receive of god a full reward in this life , and when they dye , their works shall follow them ; and then whatsoever they have sown in righteousness on earth , that shall they reap in heaven in mercy ; whatsoever they contributed to god's work on earth , they shall be rewarded in heaven , measure heaped together and running over into their bosomes . wherefore recommending the college of chelsey to every religious christians devout thoughts , we cease further to press them , but only desire them , in the words of st paul , respectively to the excellency of this good deed , in advancing and laying out themselves , to advance this college ; whatsoever things are true , whatsoever things are pure , whatsoever things are honest , and lovely , and of good report ; if there be any vertue , any praise , think upon these things , phil. 4. 8. lastly , for satisfaction of those that desire to know why this college is erected at chelsey , and not in one of the universities , this we thought fit to add ; that this place was thought fittest to receive directions from our superiours , to consult with men of best experience , to obtain intelligence from foreigne parts , to print books and to disperse them , and lastly , to obtain the favour of the state and city . farther , hereby as all emulation may be avoided , so the help of both the universities may as well be had by intercourse , as if the college stood in either of the universities . thus all things now stand , god bless the proceeding of this college , &c. and give grace , grace unto it . thus have you ( by the author of the remarkable monuments of , and in , and about london ) a just and full narrative of chelsey college in the constitution , cause moving and promoving , sovereign care and sollicitation , the use and ends of it , with some fair and forward provision for it , and great and gracious motives of perswasion to stir up mens hearts to contribute , and that not in a sparing but liberal way , unto it , and not to let the gates sink in the foundation of it , lament . 2. 9. the affair , not only auspicated by king james his wisdome , but forwarded by his zealous care in writing unto and calling upon the archbishop , and in his writing to the bishops , and the chancellor of england , and the lord mayor of london ; as also the pithananches of vulgar prudence , either from the grave archbishop himself , or some one of the reverend fellows , as i gather from the latter words of his goads , of his wise words , where he saith , that the reason of this college it's fitness to be more respectively at chelsey , is because of receiving directions from our superiours . in which exhortation , even in the whole carriage of it , i appeale unto the godliest judgements , whether he has not spoken as with the tongue not only of men , but as of an angel of god ; so that now , nihil supra . and yet to him let me joyn or adde another angel of our church , doctor joseph hall , sometimes our diocesane bishop of exceter , afterwards of norwich , who , upon this commencing of chelsey college , may well come after and second the business , as nathan after bathsheba ; who in his peace-maker ( wherein he most truly saith , one of the principal means of peace-making in the church and state for ever is , by absolute silencing of schismaticks and heresies ) is pleased in his prudence to shew and say , and set down at full his judgement of this chelsey college , suppositively , if promoted and perfected , and so according to the end prosecuted and adorned , as to be the undoubted and blessed means both to purifie truth , and to set up peace for ever ; not peace alone without truth , nor truth alone without peace , but both peace and truth together , as the two chapiters upon solomon's two pillars with their carved works , called jachim and boaz , that establishment , and this strength , 1 kings 7. 21. for the most reverend bishop and father in god , ( as i must ever in honour mention him ) in that precious piece of his peace-maker , ( for which he must of future generations be blessed ) o that he had not had the fate of cassandra , to prophesie truth , but not to be believed and obeyed ! for upon rich grounds , his divinely-illuminated heart , foreseeing the calamities which turbulent spirits in malecontents would bring by storm , through civil warrs and intestine contentions , bethought himself ( as a true prometheus ) of this remedy , shewed to k. james and to his parliament , ( whilst god's good spirit was with them and in them , and before he suffered the evil spirit , the foul and rebellious spirit , to possess the hearts of belials , to open the postern to act his horrid deeds of darkness . ) he foreseeing ( i say ) yea presuming , that if the design of chelsey college had been advanced into a forwardness , and faithfully effected , so as to have made choice of and placed these 20 colleagues , with two historians , sworn to defend the publick professed truth of our church , according to the articles , they might have effected so much by their wisdome , as with a caduceus to have stilled the furious spirits of very many bad ones , and so charmed them to have worshipped the blessed peace of god , and so prevented a world of blood , mischief and confusion and misery , and still pestilent conspiracies , to souls as well as bodies on all sides , that we might have enjoyed to this day the blessed of the lord , and so only have fed and feasted with the banquet of the peace of the kingdom of god in our consciences , and they have had all their donatives and honours blessed unto them : the bishop representeth his judgement ( respectively about chelsey college ) thus . it is great pitty ( saith he ) that the late chelseyan project was suffered so foully to fall to the ground ; whereof had not the judicious king seen that great use might have been made of it , he had not condescended to so gracious privileges as his majesty was pleased to inrich it withall . the wise and learned prince well observed how great an advantage our adversaries have of us in this kind , who come with conjoined forces ( on every side being ready to be ingruent upon us with preparations , as flood-gates set open and inlarged ) whilst we stand upon single resistance . and therefore , without a marvellous providence of almighty god , we might have verified the old word , dum singuli pugnant , universi vincuntur . blessed be god , the world hath had ample proof of single ( yet singularly ) learned champions , and seen and heard such learned advocates to plead for the protestant profession , such stephens , such jewells , such mortons , such fields , whites , abbotts , reynolds , featlyes ; who ( that is featly especially ) alone , as in single duell , incountred abroad in france , dr bagshaw and smith , and at home in england , alone also sustained and incountred fisher , sweete , eagle-stone , everard , muskett , and ever came off from all intaminatis honoribus : as also university professors , peter martyr , holland , prideaux , whitakers , collins ; so as one has been able , in spiritual polemicks , to resist a thousand . but if these heads and hands have been so powerfull , what would they have done if united together ? ne hercules contra eorum duos . certainly none of these upstarts , pernicious , prodigious late heresies , would have stood before them , [ for the associating divines of the province of london , in their testimony to the truth of jesus , in detecting and detesting the errors and heresies , have given them their deadly wound ] nor have breathed so long under their hands , to have brought such disturbances [ yea such distractions , schisms , factions , divisions , as of late we have seen to have crept in , with their infestings amongst us , and to be lamented , if not possible by single hands to be amoliated , making our present england an african scene of new heretical swarming monsters , threatning an hellish chaos of libertinisme , licentiousness , &c. but yet ( if chelsey college find favour ) i hope that rome's word of hope , for all their insulting , may never be found to be verified upon us : i will set ( and men shall see it ) the egyptians against the egyptians ; that is ( say they ) the protestants against the protestants , the lutherans against the calvinists ; as bishop morton reports it , and breerly has seemed to have done it ; as bishop morton ( i say ) in his catholick appeale to breerly the priest in his protestants plea. ] but if we may not be so happy to see such a sure established preservation of holy truth and peace , zach. 8. 16 , 19. ( as our palladium , or holy arke , which will keep us safe unto salvation , so long as we keep it ) it will be requisite yet , that order be taken , that none may be allowed to enter into the lists to maintain the combat with heretical seducers , but those who ( upon egregious experiment ) are approved champions . for certainly there cannot be a greater advantage to prevalency of error , then a weak oppugnation . i remember st austine professes in his manicheism , this was it that heartned him , that he met with feeble opponents , and such as his nimble wit was able easily to overturn . when therefore any overbold champion shall step forth , and cast down his gauntlet in defiance of truth , it is fit that he be incountred with an assailant that hath brawn in his arms and marrow in his bones ; [ and holy spirit in his head and heart ] not with some weak and wearyish combatant , whose heart may be , as his hand is , feeble , and so may rather betray the better cause with an imprudent and impotent managing . now this strong plea for chelsey college thus far having so much sanctuary-weight in it and witness for it , i need not adde any graine more to it , for it will hold certainly currant in the ballance of sanctified judgment , so that it will be vanity to draw a line after protogenes . but yet further , for the establishing your judgments and the attracting of your affections , in the third place ( for a threefold cord is not easily broken ; and , vnder the mouth of three witnesses shall every word be established , 2 cor. 13. 1. ) let me produce the venerable relation and judgement of one who may be well called a chrysostome , and so be joyned with a bishop , that is , dr thomas fuller , out of his church-history . this college was intended ( saith he ) for a spiritual garison [ of stationary church-champions ] with a magazine of books to that purpose [ as a well-furnished armory ] where learned divines should study , and write in maintenance of all controversies against the papists [ the grand wolves , and also against the subserving heresies of the little foxes . ] indeed the romanists in this may rise up and condemn those of the protestant profession : for as solomon used not his military men for any servile work in building the temple , whereof the text assigneth the reason , for they were men of war : so the romish church does not burden their professors with preaching , or any parochial incumbrances , but reserves them only for polemical exercises and studies ; whereas in england the same man reads , preaches , catechises , disputes , delivers sacraments , &c. so that were it not for god's marvellous blessings on our studies , and the infinite odds of truth on our side , it were ( in humane probability ) impossible that we should hold up the bucklers against them . and further , this college was further intended to be acted with 20 choicer school-divines , and to have amongst them two able and prudent historians , to be maintained in this college , faithfully and learnedly to record and publish all memorable passages in church and commonwealth . and further , this college or corporation was to consist of such a competent and steady number of divines , as i said before , at least 20. and let us hear dr fuller's going on still , to furnish us with the first list of first heroes who engaged themselves to be on the frontiers , our scipioes & fulminae belli . 1. matthew sutcliffe , deane of exceter , provost , and promoter of this college , a man worthy to be captain , because a champion , whose skill as well as zeal , whose art as well as heart , adorned him with prudence as well as spirit . 2. john overall deane of pauls . 3. thomas morton deane of winchester . 4. richard field deane of gloucester . 5. robert abbott . 6. john spencer . 7. miles smith . 8. william covett . 9. john howson . 10. john layfield . 11. benjamin carrier . 12. martin fotherby . 13. john boys . 14. richard brett . 15. peter lilly. 16. francis burley . doctors of divinity . 17. william hellier archdeacon of barnstable . 18. john white fellow of manchester college . 19. william cambden clarenceaux 20. john haywood doctor of law historians . loe here ( saith dr fuller ) none who were actual bishops were capable of places in this college , and when some of these were advanced to bishopricks [ as deane morton and doctor abbott ] and others translated to heaven , king james , by his new letters patents 1622. november 2 substituted others in their places . and yet since such rapine , and sacrilegious sale of bishops revenues has of late been made , so as that they are rather titular then real bishops ; this college ( if bishops in true christian high magnanimity will submit their necks to this yoak of christ , and what can be more honourable ? may best fit and be ordained for such a patriarchy of bishops , as a jericho , till their beards be grown , and their garments be repaired . for jericho was not only the city of palm-trees , but the city , and the great school , yea the college , of , and for prophets ; whereof the two great prophets ( that were in their time called the chariots and horse men of israel ) were the heads , having younger prophets under them , 2 kings 4. 38. o that by their superintending in this school , they might shew against baal's prophets the spirit of eliah and elisha doubled upon them ! in which college of iericho elisha succeeded eliah , as father of the sonnes of the prophets ; healing both their city fountain , and their college common pot of infected pottage , and multiplying the loaves of barley . so these prophets are fittest to heal the pot of protestants , which is so poisoned with the coloquintida of the popish wild gourds of traditions , falshoods , and corrupting of scriptures , that there may be no more evil in them , 2 kings 4. 41. now to these , for the building of their college and their mansion ( as dr fuller saith ) k. james gave all the timber requisite thereunto , which was to be fetched out of windsor forrest . and that long range which alone is extant , scarce finished at this day , yet thus the college made , not of free-stone , but of free timber , cost ( o the dearness of college and church work ! ) full three thousand pounds . but ( alas ! ) what is this piece ? not an eighth part to a double quadrant , besides wings on each side , as it was intended . if the ancient fathers , which remembred the magnificence of solomon's , wept at the meanness of the second temple ; such must needs be sad who consider the disproportion betwixt what was performed , and what was projected in and about this college [ as in the synopsis of the model in the frontispice may be observed . save that ( i confess ) the destruction of beautifull buildings once really extant , leaves greater impressions in mens mindes , then the miscarriages of only intentional structures , and the faint ideas of such future things as are seriously propounded , but fail to be effected . but this college when once the act was made for it , in pursuance thereof , his majesty incorporated the said foundation , by the name of king james his college in chelsey ; and bestowed upon the same by letters patents , the reversion of good land in chelsey , ( then in possession of charles earl of nottingham , the lease thereof not expiring till thirty years hence : ) and also his majesty was pleased further to grant his letters patents for a general collection all over england and wales , of the free benevolence of the willing people , and the bishops were carefully to urge it : so that to go on with , much monies were gathered ; but ( saies dr fuller ) it was kept in some pockets , and withall wisheth ( as well he might ) that those pockets which yielded not the monies to the right use , might rot , and be broken baggs . something i have said before of king james his commendation , and confessing dr sutcliffe his diligence in soliciting about the college work , to put this fair project into a full and faithfull effect , who ( that is , dr sutcliffe ) also bequeathed a good part of his own revenues unto it . and thus may i echo out the work unto the world , in the angelical trumpet of dr fuller , whose expressions sweeter then hony , or any musick , thus proclaim and warble it forth . next king james , let me place dr matthew sutcliffe , deane of exceter ; who , though no prince by birth , seems little less by his bounty to this college . but as a subject ( araunah ) gave things as a king to god's service ; such was the royal liberality of dr sutcliffe , bestowing on this college the farms of kingstone the farms of hazzard the farms of appleton the farms of kemerland in the parish of staverton in the parish of harberton in the parish of churchston in the parish of stoke-rivers all in the county of devon , and put together richly worth 300 li per annum . besides these , by his will dated november 1. 1628. he bequeathed unto dr john prideaux and dr clifford , ( the feofsees in trust to settle the same on the college ) the benefit of an extent on a statute of 4000 li acknowledged by sr lewis steukley . to all which , as a precious signet , he gave his library too , and that no mean one : as also archbishop bancroft promised his ; but neither archbishop abbott nor archbishop laud did part with it . a bountifull benefaction , and the greater , because the doctor had a daughter , and she children of her own . and although this endowment would scarce make the pot of the sons of the prophets to seeth ; yet what feasts would it have made in his private family , if continued therein ? seeing therefore so publick a mind in so private a man , the more the pitty that the good doctor was deserted , vriah-like , ingaged in the front , to fight these battels alone against an army of difficulties ; which he incountred [ or rather took truce with ] in this design , whilst such men as were to be the wings retreated from him , not seasonably succouring and seconding him in this action , to face the enemy ; which dr sutcliffe , the first mover of the first fundamental stone of this business , and ( as far as in him lay ) the promoter of chelsey college , was in readiness to doe . it may well therefore be said of him , as paul said of timothy , there was no man like-minded , who did naturally care for the college , or for the cause of christ and of his church , as dr sutcliffe did , in that vigorousness of spirit , and energy of zeale , and that erogation of large and wise charity , to his power . for all men seek , and hugge their own ape-cubbs , their own things , the minervals and reaches of their own braines ; and not the man-child of their labouring mother the church , which mystically is christ and his cause , rev. 12. 3. the child of god , whom the dragon waites even in the birth to devour , who yet is to rule all nations with a rod of iron , and who is caught up to god , ver . 5. to his throne . now this chelsey college project , howsoever maligned and obstructed in the birth thus long and strongly , ( as the beginning of the building of the second temple was for 40 years , from the first year of cyrus to the second year of darius , ezra 4. 24. ) yet though it hath by the negligence of our side , and the policy and malignancy of the other side , been thus treacherously impeded and oppugned , we may not think but in it self , and in the approvement and purpose of god , it is most honourable , and to be advanced in the lords season , and by the men whom he has ordained and sanctified : and why not at this shining instant ( by raising up the spirits of the prophets in the convocation to speak for it , and by prophesying to promote it ? ) that the college adornation may be as michael and his angels fighting with the dragon and his angels , til the dragon not prevailing , his place may be no more found in the heaven of our church , but he be utterly for ever cast out of it . which impediments and obstructions , though they have tended almost unto destruction ( as the enemies applaud and hugge themselves , saying , have not our foxes , going up with secret and subtile policies and underminings , broken down their stone wall ? nehem. 4. 3. ) yet we must and do say , as the church in the prophet micah's time , yea the college of this our church may say , rejoyce not against me , o mine enemy : though i am let and left to fall , i shall arise ; though i sit in silence and in darkness , the lord shall be a light unto me , &c. micah 7. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. and england might goe on and say , in her late long suffering , because of our late long sinning , and our long not perfecting our general repentance , i will bear the indignation of the lord , because i have sinned against him ; untill he plead my cause , and execute judgement for me . he will bring me forth to his light , and i shall behold his righteousness . but here is yet the great wonder unto many godly mens hearts , that such a gracious work , in all likelyhood and great probability , of god , and also according to the most holy way of his wisdom , so wisely commenced by dr sutcliffe , approved and promoted by king james and his parliament , so far proceeded in and to such a measure , in building and endowing , having by king james his letters patents so much and such contributions so far and fairly advanced , should yet at length , after so long expectation , be let fall , and sinke , and dye , and lye in it's foundation : what might be the cause of so great a calamity ? to doe , what ithacus velit , what the roman adversary would have to be done , and that without him , yea and for him too . let me here give you the impediments , first in the discerning and discreetness of dr fuller , who has gathered and expressed the obstructions , not only in oppressing the college by william lord mounson , but even in the suppressing it , unto desperateness of never any more emerging or resurrection , in all humane judgment , unless the lord , who does great and wonderfull things alone , does give it a joyfull resurrection . and therefore may you receive them in his own more prudent words . first , the decay of the college ( saith he ) is ascribed to the large , loose , and lax nature of it ; no one prime person ( sutcliffe excepted , whose shoulder sunk under the weight thereof ) zealously ingaging therein : king james his maintenance making , or amounting but to little more then countenance of the work . those children will have but thin chapps and lean cheeks , who have every body ( and yet no body ) nurses unto them . secondly , the decay of the college is to be ascribed to the original means of the college , principally founded on the fluid and inconstant means ( element unstable as water ) the rent of a new river ( when made ) which at the best ( thus imployed ) was beheld but as a religious monopoly . and seeing that design took no effect ( though afterward in another notion and nature it was perfected ) no wonder if the college sank with the means thereof . for this first tender and plot for the college profit was cut off by another allowance of middleton's plot , of bringing water actually from ware to islington , to be conveyed to pipe through every street in london . and now , — quis virtutem amplectitur ipsam , praemia si digna justa negentur ei ? thirdly , some of the greatest prelates ( how much self-ingrossing is there in all men ? ) though seemingly forward , yet really remiss , in the matter : supposing those controversial divines would be looked upon as the principal champions of religion , or more serviceable in the church then themselves , and haply might therefore acquire privileges prejudicial to their ecclesiastical jurisdiction . fourthly , the jealousies of the universities , beholding this design with suspicious eyes , as which in process of time might prove detrimental unto them too . fifthly , the suspicion of some patriots and commons in parliament too , such as carried the keys of countrey-mens coffers under their girdles ( may i safely report what i heard from no mean mouths ) that this college would be too much courtier ▪ and that the divinity ( but especially the history ) of it would 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , propend too much in favour of king james , and report all things to the disadvantage of the subject : wherefore though the said patriots in parliament countenanced the act , ( as counting it no policy publickly to cross the project of the then king james ) yet when returned home , by their suspicious items and private instructions , they beat off and retarded the peoples charities thereunto . the same conceived this foundation superfluous , to keep men to confute popish opinions by writings , whilst the maintainers of them were every where connived at and countenanced , and the penal laws not put in any effectual execution against them . sixthly , its being begun in a bad time , when the world swarmed with a world of prowling projectors and necessitous courtiers , contriving all waies to get monies we know , that even honest persons ( if strangers and casually coming along in the company of those that are bad ) contract a suspicion of guilt to themselves , in the opinions of those to whom they are unknown . and it was the unhappiness of this innocent college , yea the usefull good design of it , that it appeared in a time when so many monopolies were on foot . but was not christ himself prejudiced for being with publicans ? so sad a thing it is , not to discern things that are excellent , and to distinguish the instruments . to all this , seventhly , may be added the papists their conjuring up again their project for toleration ( by their great potent patrons , especially henry earl of northampton , so mainly for the bringing of that trojan horse ) to be introduced to be stationary amongst us , partly because chelsey college was not advanced , ( but rather kept under hatches , for non progredi est regredi ) and partly because of king james his age , and fears , which then were most awakened and revived in him , and inhaunced , and meeting him in every way , eccles . 12. 5. yea more created ; and partly because of the popish interest which was got on high , near at him , re-inforcing their petition for toleration so far as that ( in effect ) it was said , the king is not he that can deny you any thing . and this was about the year 1623. immediately after the dismal downfall of the assembly of papists and black-friers , where almost 300 of them perished suddainly in the pit. king james was not long after again solicited so strongly as he was on the point of inclining , or ( as i may say rather ) of seeming to incline , ( as wise kings many times , jehu king of israel , who succeeded ahab , and constantine being president . ) partly therefore to be ridd of tedious importunities , and partly to explore which of his servants in weighty and right religious affaire were truly faithfull and constant , he began to seem only ( i say ) so far to take the sticklers reasons into consideration , as to suffer a proposition at length for a toleration of popery , ( that religion which yet before he had been so long and strong against , and in his soul abhorrent from ) by the chancellor , on a sunday , to be made at the councel-table . but god stirred up , and was with the spirit of the archbishop of canterbury ( dr g. abbott ) our of great dislike , as became him , though with hazard of his high favour , to speak against the toleration , and not a little charge the chancellor for it ; and though his majesty himself came to the councel-table that or the next day , expressing some seeming high displeasure , the archbishop , like a true father of the church and master in the place , vented his mind upon the keeper in a sharp reprehension of his error , that suited his conscience to the time . but the proposition the archbishop absolutely refused , and desired the rest of the lords to second him ; of whom there were so many for him as made this resolution , and so it was laid aside . the king understanding soon what was past at the councel-table , came in himself , and expressed some discontent , &c. the archbishop maintained the fidelity of his judgement , humbling himself at his majesties feet , and seeking to qualify him with an oration . first , he acknowledged the honours he had received of the king , which he laid down at his majesties feet , remonstrating the affections he had served him with , &c. the issue whereof was , that all the kings great heat of anger was by meanes thereof allayed and appeased . ille regit dictis animum , & pectora mulcet . and in his inward secret affections he was altogether pleased ; which the archbishop afterwards found , in that , afterward , after the fatal unhappy killing of the keeper by him in the lord zouch his park , the king was not pleased to hear the aggravation of the crime against him , but suffered him to live in place and grace to his last period ; having received his faithfull admonition , as the duty of a good conscience and zeal from a religious counsellor , for the king 's and christ's honor , as to this effect . — quin aspice quantum aggrediare nefas , & dum licet , effuge crimen . and this , knowing how , and being indeed happily in season admonished , eccles 4. 13. according to the wisdom which cometh down from heaven , being first pure , peaceable , gentle , easie to be intreated , full of mercy and good fruits , james 3. 17. without partiality , and without hypocrisy . and this fruit of righteousness was sown thus , in peace , of him that , according to his royal motto ( beati pacifici ) made peace . he ( that is , his majesty ) therefore considered further , preferring the leniment of a good conscience before all the sirens songs of seducing , vel tantillum , from the right way ; and concluded as he began , according to queen elizabeth's motto , and his own resolution and religion , not only in style defensor fidei , but in zealous vindication , as well in his apology for the protestant faith , as in the oath of allegiance . and therefore he held out through the good hand of god helping him , without having that blame as the angel of thyatira had , i have something against thee , because thou sufferest that woman jezabel : and so concluded , as the sun in his setting , as we see , intaminatis honoribus , & ut esse phoebi dulcius lumen solet jamjam cadentis . chelsey college institution was his extream aim , to have had it compleated in his life-time , for after-ages to have the fruit and the fruition of it , and to bless god for his so gracious indulgence . hereupon the king considered further ( i say ) and would be no more at leisure to hear of the toleration , but rather , as prov. 25. 23. the north wind driveth away rain ; so did the kings angry countenance the intolerable solicitors for toleration . i might goe on yet further , in shewing not only that middleton's aquaeduct from ware to london spoiled the water-project for chelsey college ; but that the design for repairing of pauls church likewise quite eclipsed and damped the building of chelsey college : but above all , the untimely death of prince henry , as is afore mentioned , who was the stately elm by which the vine of chelsey college did hope to rise and spread ; but the divine hand having cut him off , the poor and weak vine of this project fell to crawle on the ground , and to be trod under the feet of wild and impure beasts . let us hereupon still hear and heed what dr fuller saies , and he is ever most worthy to be heard . at this time the college hath but little of the case , and nothing of the jewel for which it was intended : almost rotten before ripe , and ruinous before it was finished . it stands bleak , ( like a lodge in a garden of cucumbers ) having pleasant waters [ the river thames ] near it , and store of wholesom aire about it ; but very little of the necessary element of earth belonging unto it . yea since i am informed , that sith the college taketh not effect according to the desire and intent of the first founders , it hath been decreed in chancery , by the joynt consent of dr daniel featly , the third provost of the college [ wherein by the way , and favour of dr fuller , there is a gross mistake , when he calls dr featley the third provost , for dr featley was indeed next to dr sutcliffe himself , and but the second provost , whom indeed the lord mounson commenced his suit with for the land whereon that part of the college is built , to whom dr sutcliffe travelled to london , on purpose to seek out dr featley , and actually and personally to resign the provostship unto him , and invest dr featley with it , in all the dignity and rights unto it belonging : and therefore no likelyhood of suit with dr featley in chancery , either by dr sutcliffe or his heirs , but more likely rather with the third provost indeed , which was dr slater , with whom perhaps the chancery suit was commenced , and dr prideaux the surviving feoffee , intrusted in dr sutcliffe's will ] that the aforesaid farms of kingstone , hazzard and appleton , should return again to the possession of mr halee esq ; , as the heir general to the said dr sutcliffe : on what consideration i leave , and cease to inquire ; it is enough to perswade me , ( saith dr fuller ) it was done in equity , because done by the lord coventrie [ but i say , if dr featley had had any hand in it , then dr sutcliffe resigning to him , a condition or word of caution had been enough , what needed a suit with dr featley ? more probable rather that the suit was commenced ( i say ) with and against dr slater ( or if not with dr slater , with dr wilkinson , the present ( i know not by what means ) since dr slaters death , self-surping provost ) and that the transaction was from him rather , because the disert mention is of the third provost , which was not dr featley , but dr slater ; or by dr wilkinson , from himself imposed upon dr slater . ] so that now only the farm of kemerland in devon of dr sutcliffe's donation remains to the college . all that i will adde ( saith dr fuller ) is this : as this college was intended for controversies , so now there is a controversie about the college ; costly suits lately being commenced betwixt william lord mounson , ( who married the widow dowager of the aforesaid william earl of nottingham ) and the present provost [ viz. dr samuel wilkinson ] about the title of the very ground whereon it standeth : and that but for a lease of some few years , the land it self being crown-land . to say nothing concerning its calamity in the extent of late fury , the abuses , the abominations in the desolation , it becoming as a cage of ( horresco reputans ) unclean birds , a prostibulum for whores , a stable for horses , &c. and not only a place petitioned for to make leather guns in , but desired also for a palaestra to manage great horses and practise horsemanship . now to all these three great witnesses , in their wisdom approving and improving the design of chelsey college ; archbishop abbott wisely and sedulously soliciting the bishops , and perswading the kingdom with most grave and gracious motives to contribute unto it ; bishop hall sweetly commending and insinuating the project to be promoted , that it might not perish ; and dr fuller amply setting forth the institution , nature , provision , uses , and end of it at full : let me adde but one more , that is mr richard baxter , who is so learnedly verst , especially in the most subdolous devices of the papists , and expresly the panurgy of adam contzen , jesuit , his directions for preserving and restoring popery , and changing religion in a nation before the people are aware : in the said adam's politicks , lib. 2. pag. 16 , 17 , 18. who ( i. e. ) mr baxter , in his holy common-wealth , or his political aphorisms , expresseth his mind thus , ( in his additions to his preface ; ) consider how suitable popery is with a carnal inclination : secondly , what plausible reasons papists have to delude poor souls with from their pretended universality , antiquity , &c. thirdly , how few of the vulgar are able to defend their faith , or to answer to the two great sophistical questions of the papists ; ( viz. ) where hath your church been visible in all ages ? [ only dr featley , not only in his disputation with fisher , but in his manuscript dedicated to the lord craven , not yet printed , and in his grand sacriledge , particularly concerning the taking away the cup from the laity , has fully ( as much as they demanded ) answered that other point . for the nameless romanist thus contrives and moulds his subtilties , not as cases of conscience , to be resolved by some learned divine , but as it were laying ( as dr featley resenteth ) a snare to intangle the answerers therein . let ( saith he ) those points be propounded one after another , and receive their positive answer under their hands to the first , before they know the second , and so in order to the rest : when that is done , you shall hear further from me . what is this ( saies dr featley ) but in effect to say , draw the protestant respondents by degrees , and by little and little , into the snares which i have laid for them , and when they are intangled in them , i will come and take them , and intangle them with their own subscriptions ? which tract of dr featley's , yea the very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of it , is in the right honourable the lord craven's hands , who is extreamly desired that he would be pleased to communicate it for the churches good , if he have it by him ; or else i have a transcript , which i shall crave his leave to put forth . ] and how prove you the scripture to be the word of god ? though not only the papists themselves , but especially our divines , as whitakers against stapleton , and in a large tract besides , yea arminius himself , vrsinus , and all our catechetical divines , especially the confession of our english churches faith , against the popish traditions and papal decretals , have abundantly proved the sufficiency , perfection and divinity of the scriptures unto salvation , 2 tim. 3. 16. that they be the word of god only , and not of man , as spoken and delivered by holy men of god , as they were moved by the holy ghost , 1 pet. 1. 21. and therefore we may say , what is the chaff to the word of god ? what are traditions , legends of saints , to the word of god ? jer. 23. 28. alphonsus de villega his more refined legends of the saints . fourthly , how will it take with the people , to be told that their forefathers all dyed in the roman faith ? which reverend mr hocker , that wrote the ecclesiastical policy in five books , wil abundantly resolve them in . and fifthly , above all , what a multitude of jesuits and friers and priests they can prepare for the work , and pour out upon us at their pleasure , from flanders , france , and rome , and other places : and how those sorts of men are purposely trained up for this deceivable and illusive work , and have their common arguments at their fingers end ; which though they are thred-bare and transparent fallacies to the wise , yet to the vulgar , and to our unstudied gentry , they are as good as if they had never been confuted , or as the best . [ i appeal unto that gloriosum certamen between king charles the first and the marquess of worcester at ragland castle , who ( i say , the marquess ) wanted not his college of priests and popish jesuits : with what hazzard did the kings majesty encounter , and escape the most subtile circumventings of that night in single combats , having only for his second dr bayley , a single chaplain ? ] sixthly , what a world of wealth and secular helps is at their becks , in france , flanders , italy , spaine , and germany ? they have millions of gold , and navies and armies ready to promote their work , which other sects have none of . [ so as that the jesuitical collegiated hives , for them in all countries , in italy , france , spaine , germany , as one of credible intelligence has mustred ( only the jesuits ) and reported them , smal and great , tyrones , veterani , pupils , tutors , pensioners , governors , maintained in their armies and pay , are ten times more then all the students in both universities , and in all the inns of court in london too , ( viz. 2000000. ) which computation is taken out of the muster-book of harley's defence des jesuits . and therefore no marvel that these hives every where so swarm , and such multitudes of them are sent to seek their hiving quarters in our england . for they account scotland as yet too poor for them , or too cold and barren to thrive in , as not having those flores inscripti nomina regum , for them to suck their hony out of . ] seventhly , what worldly motives have their priests and friers to promote their zeal ? their superiors have such variety of preferments and ample treasures to reward them with , and their single life alloweth them so much vacancy from domestick avocations , and withall , they so much glory in a zeal , in compassing sea and land to make proselytes , that it is an incredible advantage that they get by their industry , the envious man by them sowing his tares , whilst others sleep , and are not half so industrious to resist them . eighthly , what abundance have they lately wone in england ? notwithstanding they have wanted publick liberty , and have only taken secret opportunities to seduce persons , many of the nobility , gentry , yea and of the clergy , as well as of the common people , and zealous professors of religion ( lately , ) as well as of the profane , have been seduced by them , and by them princes in other countries have been won , and the protestant religion cunningly worm'd out . and what a lamentable increase they had made in england before our wars , by that countenance and favour which through the queen was procured them , ( though incomparably short of this absolute liberty ) is sufficiently known . ninthly , it is not the least of our danger , that the most of our ministers are unable to deal with a cunning jesuite or priest . and this is not to be wondred at , considering how many of them are young men , put in of late in the necessity of the churches , ( which the world knows who have caused ; ) and there must be time before young men can grow to maturity , and an unfurnished nation can be provided with able , experienced men . and the cessation of popish assaults of late hath disused ministers from these disputations . the reformation had seemed to have brought down popery so low , that we grew secure , and thought there was no danger of it ; and the papists of late have forborn much to meddle with us barefac'd , and have played their game under the vizor of their sects . and withall , young ministers have been so taken up with the greater work of winning souls from common profaneness , that most have laid by their defensive arms , and are grown too much unacquainted with controversies . we have so much noted how controversie in other countries hath eaten out much of the power of godliness , that we have fallen by disuse into an unacquaintedness with the means of our necessary defence : and whilst we thought that we might lay by our weapons [ as sampson his jaw-bone , or david his goliah's sword ] and build with both hands ; we are too much unready to withstand the adversary . alas ! what work would liberty for jesuits and friers make in our congregations in a few months space ? i must confess this ( though some will think it our dishonour ) it is not from any strength in their cause , but from their carnal advantages and our disadvantages [ because we are not stored with our learned garison , with the magazine of library and maintenance ] for it is easier to pull down then to build , and to set a town on fire then to re-edife one house , and to wound then to heal . [ but as the fountain was hid at the present from hagar's eyes ; so mr baxter for the present did not see , nor think on the adequate remedy of this ( viz. ) chelsey college project and design ; this being to this present utterly , to all seeming , as it were dead and buried , without hope of recovery , and so discovery , unless some angel awaken and open our eyes to see it . ] and then if popery should come in again [ through our giving over our watch and guards , and then doubtless if so , not without seven worse devils of infection , rage , thraldom , superstition , tyranny , gross idolatry , perniciousness ] what measure protestants may look for at their hands , we need not go out of england and ireland for proof . to use therefore a little more mr baxter's words for chelsey college , which he urgeth indeed for another thing . i leave it therefore to the judgment of all men that are not asleep in their security , and utterly unacquainted with the advantages and vigilancies of papists , whether this design of restoring and endowing chelsey college , according to the first wisdom of it , for the defense of our church articles and oppugnation of the adversaries , be not altogether of christ , of the angel of the new covenant , having discovered it unto our eyes , and caused us to see this fountain , for our selected and choice men to draw water out of the well of salvation , gen. 21. 19. as the strong men of david out of the well of bethlehem , 2 sam. 23. 16. with joy , for the establishing of the hearts of the saints in the true grace , that they be sound in the faith , and so be able and furnished ( when need is ) to convince the gainsayers , and that the simple at length may be able to confound even the scribes and the wise of the world , who beat their brains with the deceivableness of that unrighteousness , to build , or rather daube up , the mystery of iniquity , the deceivableness of unrighteousness . thus have i at large related the nature and condition of chelsey college , the nature of the causes , form , uses , and ends of prudence , for happiness to our church , if we can receive it , and the condition for the present of it in its impediments and obstructions ; so that if it be not now religiously looked unto , it must and will be everlastingly forlorn and lost , and such an opportunity never more can be hoped for . and this i have related as principal and princely bezaliels have meditated and designed it , as a well-drawn and wrought fair piece of arras , and a pattern to be made up accordingly , and as it were from god , in the words of ezekiel , chap. 40. 4. son of man , behold with thine eyes , and hear with thine ears , and set thy heart upon all that i shall shew thee : for to the intent that i might shew them , am i sent unto you . wherein you have not only a synopsis and clear declaration of a tower of ophel , a church garrison ; but also motives pregnant and powerfull enough of archbishop abbott's , or one of the fellows , even flexanimous to hearten and help onward the affair : 1. from the papists and jesuits their industry and lavishing of gold , for defence of their idolatry and antichristianism ; 2ly , from the necessity ( as they account it ) to uphold the mystery of iniquity , and from the necessity for us also to work counter unto them ; 3ly , from the danger that our church and cause may be in , if we provide not in time ; 4ly , from the excellency of being valiant for the truth ; 5ly . from the honour of christ and his church , and our king and country ; 6ly , from the reproach which otherwise will redound unto us ; 7ly , besides the suffering of the abomination of desolation suddenly to overspread us , and so the adversaries to work their pleasure upon mens souls , and have occasion to upbraid us , saying , why is there a price in the hand of foolish english men to get wisdom , and they have no heart to lay it out for wisdom ? so that after all this remonstrance about the matter , and heads of the motives so faithfully inforced and improved , there needs no more inculcating of them , but only praying to remember and consider what has been so carefully and conscionably urged ; and the lord give us understanding in all things . only may i humbly crave leave to urge in fine , what we have found , and what was not considered , and what the spirit advertiseth the church of philadelphia , rev. 3. 10. because thou hast kept the word of my patience ( that is , as the apostle does paraphrase 1 thes . 1. 3. the work of faith , the labour of love , the patience of hope , for all these are joyntly to be ingaged in the work ) therefore i will keep thee from the hour of temptation , which shall come upon all the world , to try them that dwell upon the face of the earth ; that is , to try their faith , to try their love , to try their hope : their faith , whether it work by love ; their love , whether it be sincere and zealous for the truth ; their hope , whether it indure unto the end in patience , heb. 6. 10 , 11 , 12. rejoycing in hope , patient in tribulation : and out of faith , hope and love , laying out themselves for this college , leaving the success , prospering and blessing to the lord christ . and this the rather , if our expectation be according to the fifth-monarchy mens perswasion , which is not an heresie , and so not to be condemned , but to be looked for , but to be endeavoured after , but to be prayed for , that christ his second coming , in bringing and setting up his kingdom , may so appear . and , in a sort , is not this hour of temptation come upon us of england ? and has it not been even for no less then fourty years almost trying our faith , whether we will and do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for it ; our love and charity , whether we will contribute any thing liberally to maintain the champions of our faith , whether we will cast this sure anchor in the most holy place , heb. 6. 19. ? knowing and believing this most certainly , that , ( as mr archer expresseth , in his forerunner of christ's personal reign on earth , pag. 50. and 55. and mr mede , rev. 11. 7. his opinion is ) that popery shall yet again , for a while , universally prevail in those countries and nations out of which it hath been expelled . mr cartwright's preface to the gloriosum certamen . and therefore ought we not of england to advance this college ? thus to prepare to give the head of the dragon his last deadly wound ? that the prince of peace may set up his scepter of peace , and be the solomon of peace , in governing his saints in all the blessings of peace and beauties of holiness ? that we may seek , and love to have , and keep the saving truth in love and peace , zach. 8. 19. but as one saith , si nos iri perditum vult dominus jesus , h●c●tamen solamini erit , nos nihil omisisse virtutis ad eluctandum ruinam ; as the two witnesses in sackcloth , or rather as becomes a couragious souldier stantem in bellow mori , in hope of a most glorious resurrection ; like that which the roman florus speaks of the holding out the last siege of carthage , vt morsus morientium sunt maximè mortiferi ; sic plus negotii fuit cum semiruta quam cum integra carthagine : or as it is said of sampson , judg. 16. 30. the dead which he slew at his death were more then they which he slew in his life-time . and then the hope of everlasting rest after all our labours , shall sweeten all our labours , ease our torments , mitigate our sorrows , comfort our hearts that they faile not in their labour , nor faint in their travail , nor sink under their burden , nor fall under their crosses , nor dye for sorrow of their wound ; but may say , i have fought the good fight , and finished my course , and kept the faith , 2 tim. 4. 7 , 8. henceforth the spirit hath said , we shall be pillars ( rev. 3. 12. ) in the temple of our god. finally , may i humbly adde a word of the probable means of ( as it were ) buoying up this ship of the sunk college , to be rigged and to ride again as a pretorian ship , in its haven ; with respect to his most gracious majesty , and the great wisdoms of his councel and parliament : because it is said expressly , that kings shall be nursing fathers and queens nursing mothers to the church , esay 49. 23. whatsoever the penury may seem to be in regard of the late great losses and exhaustings , because of the sweeping tempests , that have left ( as it were ) nothing , or little good ; yet is it not the word of the lord by haggai , the silver is mine , and the gold is mine ( saith the lord of hosts ? ) so that if it please almighty god to stir up , and put into the kings majesties heart an heroick care and resolution to set about the advancing and restoring of this ruinous college , by taking the course which his royal grand-father did , viz. granting forthwith his letters patents once again , generally all over england , for a collection of three years to be made ; and that the archbishops graces would be earnest with the bishops of their dioceses to sollicit their particular ministers ; and that the peers of the upper house and the burgesses of the commons house would by their munificence be exemplary leaders unto the collective body ; more respectively , the new bishops , revived and restored ( as men of god ) to their sees and dignities , to act as intelligences and angels of the churches in their own spheres , though possible their sees are much impaired , as having had the line of ahab upon them , and plummet of samaria : yet if they shall meditate liberal things , esay 32. 8. or devise liberal things , and out of their grave and gracious wisdoms prompt and promote unto the kings majesty a more probable way of wisdom then at first was projected , and become also not only exhortative but exemplary , to their power , for so important , godly , and necessary a work , especially the most reverend fathers , canterbury , winchester , london , lincoln , yorke , durham , &c. this may doe much , and much contribute towards the speedy adorning and advancement of the college to its due perfection , and placing it in its sphere of activity , yea and to the settling of it , to become a pattern and president for imitation to foreign protestant churches also in christendom , not yet in the popes captivity and dungeon of darkness , of his mystery of iniquity and deceivableness of unrighteousness . and if the late archbishop laud could have imagined that such wolves and monsters of heresy , upon his being put to death , would have been in such readiness , like serpents and toads and venemous creeping , noxious beasts , at the root of the stately palm-tree of our church , in readiness , i say , thronging with their fry , whose word was , viam inveniam aut faciam , to crawle up even so all over the fruitfull branches of this palm ( for the shepheard being smitten , how would the sheep be scattered ? ) how would he have roused up and awakened himself as the cock , who with his wings clappeth himself , to have been most vigilant over them ? especially when dr featley ( being assigned the provost of chelsey college by dr sutcliffe his studious and solicitous obtaining of him , and resigning all his authority and power unto him ) sollicited bishop laud ( at london house ) to favour and further the college , when the church looked upon him as a son upon his father and patriot , because of his fair opportunity , by his high advancement , for the greatest affaires of the church , which king charles the first was pleased to grace and intrust him withall . how would he have known and remembred , that it was incumbent upon him to have served 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as well as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and have looked upon chelsey college as a grand business of christ's , as well as to be so zealous for the re-edifying of pauls ; and not have daunted dr featley's suit with that short hasty word , cui bono ? as pilate once seemed to have done to christ , what is truth ? his eye , with his heart , being so immoveably fixed upon the repairing of the dead and decaying walls of pauls church , not in the interim providently eying and spying the mischiefs , calamities , chaos of heresies , sects and schisms , by satan's panurgy , and by the madness of the people , to be drawing in upon us , like the trojan horse , for want of that publick armature , sword and spear of the spirit , the spiritual sword of god's word in the mouths of his more select ministers , those living stones of his spiritual tower of armory . could , i say , his graces wisdom ( i mean archbishop laud's , who was omni laude dignus ) have commanded his heart to have beheld and heeded the angelical face of chelsey college project , as dr featley presented it unto him , and on a time did it more fully and freely at fulham , when he was better at leasure ; had not the importunity of pauls still been too clamorous in his ears , for expediting it , how would he not ( doubtless ) have blessed dr featley , and blessed his counsell , and blessed god , who filled his heart to lay before him indeed the summum bonum of chelsey college , as david did blesse abigail ? so that ( as i said ) though that church , that carnal church , ( carnal , i say , in comparison of this chelsey college its pure spiritual consideration and intention ) the specious repairing whereof could not be without immense charge , did much dazle the archbishops eyes ; yet the apprehension and contemplation of future spiritual fruit and advantage from right qualified persons in chelsey college had it been entertained in his heart , how might it make his soul now living under the altar , though the vasculum of his precious body be layed in the dust , yet ( i say ) how might it make his soul say , and sigh , and still wish , me mortuo , me occiso , seu mactato , floreat collegium chelcianum ? much more therefore , how may it move the present archbishop , dr juxton , with his brethren , to say , yea labour and indeavour it , imo nobis quasi à mortuis resuscitatis , unà nobiscum revirescat in aternum collegium chelcianum ? and therefore we will give no sleep to our eyes , nor slumber to our eye-lids , until we have obtained this chelsey college to be set upon its own basis , and to be the place for the lord to dwell amongst us , as between the cherubims , and for the most honourable and glorious service of his most sanctifying and saving truth , so to prepare the way of the lord , and to make his paths straight , that our , lord and great master when he cometh may find us thus doing . most diligently with all our best prudence and piety advancing his precious work , for his glory , and the sovereign soul-good of his people . and though i prudently confess , and most humbly acknowledge , that non est meae tenuitatis dictare viris tantis , & tam rerum sapientiam divinam pariter ac gloriam spectantium perquam sagacissimis : yet may i ( with craving of pardon ) say , that if the present archbishop his grace ( as being the last and only man that was , at the dying of king charles on the scaffold , privy to the counsel and bosom of his majesties royal heart , and to many desires of his not yet uttered ) if he shall think good , yea if god command him to acquaint his blessedly-succeeding majesty ( so as it may be no prejudice any way unto him ) with a convenient way for settling a determined certain revenue on this college , then ( i say ) the affair may easily , speedily , and happily be promoted , and no prejudice done to , or complaint made by any man : but rather , by the secret blessing of the lord in his acceptance , it may be made to emerge in glory . yet with all most prudent and provident caution , that in case the members thereof so amply provided for , should not answer the trust which they are sworn unto , and the articles of unity , love and truth which they are ingaged in , but suffer their fountain to be defiled , and their waters ( like those of jericho ) at length to become bitter ; that then all indulgences , privileges , provision , return to the king and state. for , o the sacred covetousness , with the envy and hate that satan may possess the hearts of the adversaries with , the ecclesia malignantium , especially against christ and his cause , even to corrupt and to cause prevarication in the best and most blessed things , to cause even them to be the more doubly and dreadfully cursed ! according to my comparison which i have before hinted of snakes , toads and vipers crawling at and corrupting the royal root of the palm-tree . but absit omen ! but i hope the kings majesty will see not only great reason for it , but gracious religion flourishing in it too ( which overbalances all carnal respects ) and find that god will , as he well can , multiply his seed of royal munificence thus sown , an hundred fold into his bosom , and heap upon and load him in lieu thereof with riches and honour and obedience and hearty love of his subjects , so as to make him the joy and delight of mankind , and as the man of his right hand , by multiplying still more riches and honour upon him , as he did to jehosaphat the son of asa , who walked in the first waies of david , and abhorred baalim . the like his majesty does , and has resolved to doe ; for which god has established the kingdom in his hand , by inclining the hearts of parliaments and citizens to bring presents unto him in earnest thereof . i say , riches and honour shall be multiplied upon him , for those that honour god , god will honour , especially , that in the midst of their deep poverty meditate liberal things , and study to abound unto rich liberality , 2 cor. 8. 2. esay 32. 8. and esay 30. 15. in returning and rest ye shall be saved . but esay 7. 9. if ye will not believe — but absit omen ! if then , men being moved by god's spirit shall chearfully and readily lay out themselves for this college , they shall not repent of this good deed , but find profit by it ; as the widows oil and flower was multiplied by her contributing to the prophet . and he that ministreth seed to the sower , both minister bread for your food , and multiply your seed sown , and increase the fruits of your righteousness , 2 cor. 9. 10. especially if there be withall a chearfulness of heart ; as in sowing our seed in hope , how gladly with full hands do we distribute it , and what rich return doth the earth recompense us again withall ? as oil therefore which flows of its own accord from the olives fatness , without pressing , is much more excellent and precious , and for many medicaments more usefull then that which is forced by pressing : so a prompt , voluntary and chearfull contribution , without any importunate begging , is most gratefull to god , and most rich for reward . but for the work faithfully done to the end , o how rich and blessed a reward is there ! the promised and hoped effects from this college when first constituted , formed and manned , having its provision of maintenance to sustain it , a library and revenue for helps to it , let me set forth , first , in beza's emblem , and next in zachary the prophets . first , beza's , which is a vast circle , made up of intwined serpents , all langued and armed , every way facing the assailants , about the immense body of a cerastes , whereof these are , as it were , the life-guard : which orbe or circle is the same with one oecumenical bishop , an arch old serpent , with an erected most formidable head and neck , bearing a triple crown upon it , but having an hand above it with an armed sword , to smite at and cut off the head at his time . the emblem speaketh thus . hi colubris colubri ( crist as tollente ceraste ) contexti pariter , sinuosa volumina quorum dextra secat , gladium coeli quae vibrat ab arce , quos signant , rogitas ? satis & re & nomixe notos : quos satan armavit ; justi quem numinis ira terrarum exitio funesto excivit ab orco . ast hominis tandem sortem miseratus acerbam , exterto verbi christus nunc dissecat ense . which speaks thus ; cerastes ( loe ! ) that serpent fell and horn'd , with his proud head in hellish wrath and scorn exalted , against heights to hiss suborn'd , his immense body how it is adorn'd with adders , snakes , capt , mitred , cowl'd , and bald , which so in order have about him crawl'd ? which monster yet , an arm with sword from high at his mad head and circle does let fly . if any ask , what means all this ? 't is plain , that 't is hells rabble , which unto mans bane ( god's wrath permitting ) satan does excite , to bring upon the world an hell-black night . but mercy moving god to help mans case , with his mouths sword he smites the monsters face . zachary's emblem of the repairs , zach. 1. 18 , 19. loe ! whilst that rome thus sets and sinks in night , sion shall rise , christ's church shine and be bright . four carpenters in grace the lord adorns , of hellish heresie to fray the horns . which four fierce horns are heresies and factions , base state-defamings , bitter church-distractions : with the sad issue , as the fiend expects , to blast our churches face with his infects . whilst christ church shines in the perstringing beams , to cloud rome's synagogue in tragick schemes . and the four carpenters are truth , grace , love , with unity , for blessing from above ; the cage of unclean birds who may dispell , raising a temple in which christ may dwell ; consterning adversaries perilous , because immanuel , god so with us . this to effect , god workmen send to doe it ; we 'll bless his name , and then cry grace , grace to it . finis . catalogue of books sold by j. bourn , at the south entrance of the royal-exchange . lex mercatoria , or the ancient law-merchant , divided into three parts , according to the escential parts of traffick , by gerard mulins merchant . fol. the merchants mirror , or directions for the better ordering and keeping of his accompts by way of debtor and creditor after the italian manner , by richard dafforne accomptant , 3d edition . fol. the accomptants closet , directions for keeping accompts after a new method , by abraham liset accomptant . fol. several pieces of the reverend dr daniel featley against the papists and against the anabaptists . an abridgment of dr preston's works ; an excellent practical piece . 8o. b p downam's exposition on the lord's prayer with a tract on practical praying in 4o. also a treatise against lying , by the same author . eliptical dyalling ; and a treatise demonstrating the use of a ruler ; both written by mr samuel foster late professor of astronomie in gresham college . 4o. the survey of london ; containing the original , increase , modern estate and government of the famous city , &c. by john stow. fol. the chirurgeons mate , or military and domestick chirurgery discovering faithfully and plainly the order and method of a chirurgeons chest , by john woodal master in chirurgery . fol. notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a36875-e870 prov. 3. 9. 1 sam. 2. 30. psal . 94. 16. zach. 1. 20 and 4. 7. an appendix to the history of the church of scotland containing the succession of the archbishops and bishops in their several sees from the reformation of the religion until the year 1676, as also the several orders of monks and friers &c. in scotland before the reformation : with the foundation of the universities and colledges, their benefactours, principals, professours of divinity and present masters : and an account of the government, laws and constitution of the kingdom. middleton, thomas, 17th cent. 1677 approx. 225 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 29 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a50800 wing m1990 estc r29541 11168754 ocm 11168754 46492 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a50800) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 46492) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1426:16) an appendix to the history of the church of scotland containing the succession of the archbishops and bishops in their several sees from the reformation of the religion until the year 1676, as also the several orders of monks and friers &c. in scotland before the reformation : with the foundation of the universities and colledges, their benefactours, principals, professours of divinity and present masters : and an account of the government, laws and constitution of the kingdom. middleton, thomas, 17th cent. [4], 47 p. printed by e. flesher for r. royston ..., london : mdclxxvii [i.e. 1677] preface signed: thomas middleton. reproduction of original in the harvard university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng universities and colleges -scotland. scotland -church history. scotland -history. 2005-06 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-01 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-03 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2006-12 spi global rekeyed and resubmitted 2007-01 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2007-01 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion an appendix to the history of the church of scotland . an appendix to the history of the church of scotland ; containing the succession of the archbishops and bishops in their several sees , from the reformation of religion , until the year 1676. as also the several orders of monks and friers , &c. in scotland , before the reformation : with the foundation of the vniversities and colledges , their benefactours , principals , professours of divinity , and present masters : and an account of the government , laws and constitvtion of the kingdom . london , printed by e. flesher , for r. royston , bookseller to the king 's most sacred majesty , anno domini mdclxxvii . the preface . i may be justly ashamed to appear in print near so great an authour , whose work is received and entertained with such universal applause , that it comes to be reckoned among the patterns of historie . but many do still complain of one defect , that his historie being written chiefly for his own countrie , those things that relate to the constitution and government there , are rather hinted , and supposed to be understood , then fully opened . this has made many desire a clear account of those things ; and the humour of writing the present state of kingdoms being now common to most nations , many have wished to see the present state of scotland . therefore the quick sale of this excellent historie encouraging the bookseller to give the world a fourth edition of it , he was earnest with me , to write such an appendix to it as might adde somewhat to its value and sale . he was importunate to find out one who would write a continuation to it : but i knew well , that both my abilities in writing and my informations were too defective to adventure on such a work. and the bookseller receiving a full satisfaction to his design in the memoires of the duke of hamilton , ( from which , though it be not a full history of all that passed , yet it is hoped the world will receive more light about the late troubles then has been yet published , ) there remained nothing to be done , but to give the succession of the bishops from the time where the former history ends , with the account of religious orders and houses , the foundations of the universities , and the learned men that flourished in them , together with the true state of that kingdom in its government , laws , and supreme courts . which i have endeavoured to doe as fully as seemed needfull . i did not adventure on so hardy a work without communicating it to learned and knowing persons , by whose directions i have now finished these sheets . i have long searched into those things , and have used all the endeavours that were possible , to get any mistakes that might have crept in with such a variety of informations rectified : so that i am very confident there are no considerable errours in matters of fact in the account that follows . i once intended to have published a collection i have made of the noble families in scotland : but hearing there was a person of quality ingaged in it , who intends to write from very authentical grounds an account of the nobility and gentry of scotland , i have stifled that part of my collection . if my style or way of writing be not according to what the reader expects ; as i need great allowances for my defects , so i know upon what disadvantages i appear after such a grave and masculine writer . so that , as when one comes out of a very lightsom place , where his eyes were filled with brightness , into a darker room , it appears quite dark unto him ; i have no reason to wonder , if after so clear a light , all my informations look like night and darkness . thomas middleton . i may be justly ashamed to appear in print near so great an authour , whose work is received and entertained with such universal applause , that it comes to be reckoned among the patterns of history . but many do still complain of one defect , that his history being written chiefly for his own country , those things that relate to the constitution and government there , are rather hinted , and supposed to be understood , then fully opened . this has made many desire a clear account of those things ; and the humour of writing the present state of kingdoms being now common to most nations , many have wished to see the present state of scotland . therefore the quick sale of this excellent history encouraging the bookseller to give the world a fourth edition of it , he was earnest with me , to write such an appendix to it as might adde somewhat to its value and sale . he was importunate to find out one who would write a continuation to it : but i knew well , that both my abilities in writing and my informations were too defective to adventure on such a work : therefore all that i could undertake was onely to give the succession of the bishops from the time where the former history ends , with the account of religious orders and houses , the foundations of the universities , and the learned men that flourished in them , together with the true state of that kingdom in its government , laws , and supreme courts . which i have endeavoured to doe as fully as seemed needfull . i did not adventure on so hardy a work without communicating it to learned and knowing persons , by whose directions i have now finished these sheets . i have long searched into those things , and have used all the endeavours that were possible , to get any mistakes that might have crept in with such a variety of informations rectified : so that i am very confident there are no considerable errours in matters of fact in the account that follows . if my style or way of writing be not according to what the reader expects ; as i need great allowances for my defects , so i know upon what disadvantages i appear after such a grave and masculine writer . so that , as when one comes out of a very lightsome place , where his eyes were filled with brightness , into a darker room , it appears quite dark unto him ; i have no reason to wonder , if after so clear a light , all my informations look like night and darkness . the contents . a list of the kings nobility arch-bishops and bishops of scotland . the first chapter containeth the succession of the archbishops and bishops , in their several sees , from the reformation of religion , to the year 1676. the second chapter containeth the several orders of monks and friers and other religious persons that were in scotland , with a catalogue of their convents and founders . the third chapter containeth the erection of vniversities , the foundation of colledges , with a catalogue of the benefactours , principals , professours of divinity , present masters and professours therein , and learned writers . the fourth chapter containeth an account of the government , laws and constitution of the kingdom ; with a catalogue of the peers , shires , burroughs , lords of his majestie 's privy council , senatours of the colledge of justice , officers of state , &c. whereunto is added a catalogue of the lord chancellours of the kingdom , writers of the scotish history , and high commissioners . with a compleat catalogue of all the arch-bishops and bishops . an appendix to the history of the church of scotland . chap. i. containing the succession of the bishops , in their several sees , from the reformation of religion , to the year 1676. archbishops of saint andrews . after that cardinal david beaton was murthered in his castle of saint andrews by normand leslie and his complices , james hamilton , duke of chattelrault , governour of the realm , did nominate his base brother john hamilton , abbot of pasley , to the place ; who thereupon was elected by the canons , and soon after confirmed by pope paul the third : who , fearing that scotland would follow the example of england , in casting off the yoak of the roman see , was glad to gratifie the governour in that particular . about this time , the estimation of the clergy began to decrease , because of their corrupt lives and gross ignorance ; which induced divers of that number to relinquish their order , and to make open profession of the truth : multitudes also of monks and friers , leaving their cloisters , began to exhort the people to renounce the romish fopperies and superstitions , and to submit to the doctrine of christ , every-where crying out against the corruptions of the church . the prelates , in stead of composing matters calmly , took the contrary course , exercising great severity against them , and cruelly burning such of the new religion ( as they termed it ) as fell into their hands : those who fled they prosecuted with the highest censures of the church , burning them in effigie , and cursing them by book , bell , and candle . but all this cruelty served to no purpose ; for the death of walter mill ( who was the last martyr that suffered for religion ) was the very bane of popery in scotland ; mens minds being now wholly alienated from the clergy , and their consciences convinced , that the doctrine of jesus christ did neither allow such cruel principles , nor countenance such bloudy practices . to return then to archbishop john hamilton , who was attainted of treason under the government of the earl of murray : he lurked a while amongst his friends in the west of scotland ; but finding little security there , he betook himself to the strong castle of dumbarton , whereof the lord fleming was then governour . but this fort be●ng negligently kept , was afterwards surprised by three companies of foot sent thither by the earl of lennox , then regent , commanded by three captains , ramsay , crawford , and hume ; who seising upon the prisoners , sent them to sundry places , and the archbishop with a strong guard to striveling , where he was publickly hanged on a gibbet erected for that purpose , 1570. he was the onely bishop that suffered by form of justice in this kingdom . at this time the rents of this bishoprick were by the regent conferred upon the earl of morton for some years , as a recompence of his great charges in his embassy to england . that earl , that he might enjoy them legally , made choice of john douglas , provost of the new colledge of saint andrews , ( before a carmelite frier , and chaplain to the earl of argile , ) to be titular bishop ; who was , with much opposition of the presbytery , ( for at that time there was no chapter , ) admitted and installed , 1572. this bishop sate little above two years , and died at saint andrews , 1575. after his death , the earl of morton , then regent , did prefer patrick adamson , his chaplain , to the bishoprick of saint andrews . this bishop was sorely vexed by those of the kirk-party , who prosecuted him with the highest censures of their church , and excommunicated him ( very informally ) for not submitting to their judicatory : but the business was afterwards compounded , and the bishop relaxed . he was a man of great learning , but an ill administratour of the churche's patrimony . he sate fifteen years , and died at saint andrews , 1591. hereupon the see continued void , and the profits thereof were by king james the sixth bestowed on the duke of lennox , till the parliament 1606. wherein the temporalties of bishopricks ( in former times annexed to the crown ) were restored ; the want of which had rendered the bishops of unserviceable both to church and state. about this time , george gladstanes , bishop of cathnes , was translated to saint andrews ; a man of ready utterance , and of great invention , but of an easie nature , as appears by his being induced so easily to lease out his benefice for so many ages to come , to the great detriment of his successours . but in this he was not singular , for the rest of the clergy , both papists and protestants , did let leases of their benefices , to their friends and others , for hundreds of years , and that for a pitifull pittance . which extravagancy was afterwards restrained by the wisedom of king james , when he was of age : for he enacted , that bishops should let leases for nineteen years , rectours , &c. for their life-time and three years , and other beneficed persons for their life-time and three years , with consent of their patrons . bishop gladstanes governed the see ten years , and dying at saint andrews 1615. was interred in the south-east isle of the parish-church . upon his death , john spotiswood , archbishop of glasgow , was translated to saint andrews ; who procured to this see ( whose rents were almost wholly alienated by his predecessours ) the revenues of the priory of saint andrews , then in lay-hands , as also the restauration of three hundred pounds of english money per annum , of a long time swallowed up in the crown-rents . the office of the chancellary in the state , conferr'd upon him by that glorious martyr king charles the first , he discharged to the satisfaction of his royal master , and the churche's advantage . he was a person of rare endowments , and in all things compleatly qualified for his imployment . yet did he not escape the hard measure which other loyal subjects afterward tasted of ; for by the covenanters he was forced to retire into england , where he met with entertainment more suitable to his worth . he ended his days in a good old age , and was honourably interred in westminster-abby , anno 1639. after he had governed the see twenty four years . about this time our long peace , and the plenty which did accompany it , made us wanton , our prosperity puft us up with pride , we were enemies to our own welfare , weary of our present estate , too much desirous of revolutions , and greedy of novelties . our private discontents begat jealousies and animosities , which ( since they could be no longer smothered ) must needs burst out into a flame . we were afraid of we knew not what ; nothing but the preservation of religion must be the pretext , and the cloak to cover the knavery which was afterwards acted : and notwithstanding the satisfaction given unto us by the best of kings , in laying aside the book of common-prayer , book of canons , and high commission ; yet still we continued dissatisfied . all the favours conferr'd upon us by the best of princes could not ingage us to continue in our duty and allegeance to him. all the good fruit we brought forth was , our ingaging in a most desperate and horrible rebellion , such as former ages could hardly parallel . like aesop's envious dog , we would neither be at rest our selves , nor suffer our neighbours , and such who continued firm in their allegeance to his majesty , to be at quiet , and live in peace . alas ! we metamorphosed our plough-shares into swords ; the son rose up against the father , brother against brother ; parishes were divided , shires went into factions ; yea , the whole kingdom was divided against it self , sheathing the sword in its own bowels . which way soever we look'd , we saw nothing but that which might consume our eyes , and grieve our hearts . if towards the church , 't was rent by schism ; the bishops , and many of the reverend clergy , were thrust out , imprisoned , plundered , and banished ; the house of prayer made ( in the most literal sense ) a den of thieves . if towards the state , we saw the anointed of the lord imprisoned , arraigned , and , under colour of justice , most barbarously murthered , by those who slew him , like the heir in the gospel , that they might seise on his inheritance . alas ! when church and state were come to this pass , the case of the poor land must needs be deplorable . we saw the loyal subjects , under the names of malignants , traitours , and rebels , imprisoned , banished , and miserably butchered ; their estates and lands forfeited and sold ; their houses garrisoned , plundered , and burnt ; and their posterity almost reduced to poverty and misery . alas ! how quickly did our after-games of loyalty vanish through our own divisions ? was there any possibility of prospering , so long as we continued traitours to our selves ? when we had almost ruined our selves by our own intestine divisions , we became a prey to a tyrannical crue of usurpers : and to compleat our miseries , our estates , our friends , yea our very consciences groaned under the grievous burthen of that insupportable yoak , which our own sins had prepared , and other mens sins had put on . nine years did we groan under the tyranny of these usurpers ; till it pleased almighty god to remember us in mercy , and to free us from the house of bondage , blessing us , after so many calamities and miseries , with peace , by the miraculous restauration of our most sacred sovereign to the throne of his ancestours ; whom god long preserve , for the good of this church and kingdom . now the face of affairs began to change , and his majesty , that he might settle the kingdom , summoned his first parliament to meet at edinburgh , january the first 1661. giving a commission under the great seal to john earl of middleton , to represent his person therein . in the first session , the solemn league and covenant was condemned , as an unlawfull and wicked oath , imposed on the subjects by a prevailing faction , contrary to authority ; the pretended triennial parliaments from 1640. to 1649. with the assembly of glasgow 1638 , &c. were annulled ; the unjust transactions at newcastle 1646. and 1647. condemned ; duke hamilton's ingagement 1648. approved ; the pretended forfeitures of the marquesses of huntly and montross , the earl of forth , barons of glengarey , haddo , dunerub , delgaty , harthill , and others , who had suffered for their loyalty , and all acts made in prejudice of lawfull authority , were rescinded . in the second session , the hierarchy was restored , which had suffered an eclipse for twenty four years . dr. james sharp , professour of divinity at saint andrews , ( who had been professour of philosophy in saint leonard's colledge , ) was preferred archbishop of saint andrews , primate and metropolitan of scotland , who now governs the see. the present chapter of saint andrews ( the old one being dissolved with the priory in the time of the reformation ) had its beginning anno 1606. by act of parliament , and consists of the persons following : the prior of portmollock , dean ; the archdeacon of saint andrews ; the vicar of saint andrews ; couper ; craill ; dysert ; kircaldy ; pittenweem ; lewchars ; kinkell ; dearsie ; fordun ; kennoway ; merkinch ; abercromby ; forgund ; fowlis ; rossie ; balmerino ; longforgund ; the vicar of eglisgreig ; and others , to the number of twenty four . the cathedral , which was an ancient and magnificent fabrick , was demolished with the priory ; since which time the parish-church serves for one . the diocese of saint andrews contains the whole country of fife , part of perthshire , and part of angus and mernis . the coat of arms belonging to the archiepiscopal see of saint andrews , is saphir , a saltier ( being the cross of saint andrew the apostle ) pearl . bishops of edinbvrgh . the bishoprick of edinburgh was founded by king charles the first of glorious memory , about the year 1633. and by him amply endowed . the first bishop thereof was william forbes , doctour of divinity , one of the preachers in edinburgh , ( before , principal of the marischal colledge of aberdene , ) a very worthy person . his works shew him to have been a man of vast learning and sound judgment . he sate but a little while , and died at edinburgh about the year 1634. upon his death , david lindsay , bishop of brichen , was translated to edinburgh . the fury of the rude multitude fell heavy upon this bishop , even to the manifest danger and hazard of his life , upon the first reading of the book of common-prayer in edinburgh , july 1637. he was thrust out , with the rest of the bishops , by the covenanters , 1638. george wishart , doctour of divinity , was , upon the restitution of the hierarchy , anno 1662. promoted to the bishoprick of edinburgh . this worthy man was 1638. preacher at leith , and for his loyalty had very hard measure from the covenanters , being thrice plundered of all that he had , and thrice imprisoned in a filthy stinking gaol . but being delivered from thence , he went beyond sea with the marquess of montross 1646. he was a person of great integrity , and well seen in history . having in his time seen many changes and alterations , from better to worse , and from worse to better , he had his nunc dimittis in peace , at edinburgh , anno 1670. upon his death , alexander young , archdeacon of saint andrews , was preferred to the bishoprick of edinburgh , who now governs the see. the cathedral-church is that of saint giles , ( of old a collegiate church , ) a vast and magnificent structure . it is at present divided into four partitions , three whereof are allotted to god's publick worship . the diocese of edinburgh containeth the shires of edinburgh , linlithgow , and berwick , the constabulary of haddington , and bailiary of lawderdail . bishops of dvnkeld . after the death of bishop robert creighton , james patton was preferred bishop of dunkeld , anno 1572. how long he sate i know not . after whose death , the bishoprick had one or two titulars , lay-men ; but i cannot recover their names . about the year 1606. james nicolson , parson of meigle , was preferred to the see. to whom succeeded alexander lindsay , ( brother to the baron of evelick , ) rectour of saint madoe . this bishop being threatned with the censures of the assembly of glasgow , did abjure episcopacy , and submitted to presbyterian government , 1639 , and betook himself to the charge of a particular parish . anno 1662. george halyburton , preacher at perth , was preferred to the see ; a very worthy person : he sate little above two years . upon his death , henry guthry , rectour of — was promoted to the bishoprick of dunkeld , who died in the year 1676. the chapter of dunkeld consists of the persons following : the rectour of kinelevin , dean ; tibbermure , cantor ; couper , archdeacon ; lethindy , chancellour ; dunkeld , thesaurer ; the parson of rattray , subdean ; the rectour of fungart ; the parson of ruffill ; kepit-mack in athol ; the rectour of inch-mack-grannoch ; logy-alachie ; the parson of moneidy ; the rectour of blair in athol ; eliot ; the prebendary of fearn ; menmure ; aberdaigy . i can give no account of the cathedral-church , in what condition it stands at present , seeing i never saw it , nor had any information concerning it . the diocese of dunkeld contains the most part of perthshire , part of angus , and part of west-lothian . bishops of aberdene . the bishoprick of aberdene suffered very much by bishop william gordon ; for he alienated the profits thereof , and in a short time brought the revenues of that see almost to nothing . and indeed this benefice was at his death scarce worth the accepting . about the year 1579. david cunninghame , parson of saint nicolas , was preferred to the see. this bishop was a grave , learned , and wise man ; imployed by king james the sixth in an embassy to the king of denmark , and the princes of germany , wherein the bishop did faithfully discharge his trust , to his great commendation . he died about the year 1603. unto him succeeded peter blackburn , rectour of saint nicolas , who governed the see about twelve years , and dying anno 1615. was buried in saint nicolas church in new aberdene . upon whose death , alexander forbes , ( of the house of ardmurdo , ) bishop of cathnes , was translated to aberdene . he sate little above three years , and dying anno 1618. was buried in the cathedral-church . to him succeeded , upon king james's nomination , and the chapter 's election , patrick forbes of corse . this worthy man , at the earnest importunity of the bishops of aberdene and murray , did enter into orders in the forty eighth year of his age , an. 1612. and was preferred to the benefice of keath in strath-yla ; in which station he continued six years : and after the death of bishop alexander forbes , at the importunity both of the clergy and laiety , he did accept of the bishoprick of aberdene . he was in great esteem and favour with king james and king charles , being privy councellour to both kings . in his old age he was much troubled with the palsie . seventeen years did he faithfully and wisely govern the see , and died in his house in old aberdene 1635. in the seventy first year of his age , being interred in the south isle of the cathedral-church , near the sepulchre of bishop gawan dumbar . his commentary upon the revelations , and a discourse of the ministerial office , do shew his learning and judgment . upon his death , adam bannatyn , bishop of dumblane , was translated to aberdene , who being thrust out by the covenanters , retired into england , where he died shortly after . his house in old aberdene , for magnificence in all things like a palace , was plundered by a regiment of the covenanters , and afterwards quite demolished by the english usurpers . several learned and worthy men , in the diocese of aberdene , were at this time thrust out of their livings . the most considerable were , john forbes of corse , doctour and professour of divinity in the king's colledge of aberdene ; robert baron , doctour and professour of divinity in the marischal colledge of aberdene ; william leslie , doctour of divinity , principal or warden of the king's colledge of aberdene ; alexander scroggie , doctour of divinity , minister in old aberdene ; patrick dune , doctour of physick , principal of the marischal colledge of aberdene ; alexander ross , doctour of divinity , parson of saint nicolas ; james sibbald , doctour of divinity , minister in aberdene ; john forbes , parson of auchterless ; andrew logie , parson of rayne ; john ross , parson of birse ; john gregory , rectour of drummaok ; john logie , rectour of raphan ; thomas thoires , minister at vdny . after the restauration of the hierarchy , his most sacred majesty , king charles the second , preferr'd david mitchel ( one of the prebendaries of westminster ) to the bishoprick of aberdene . this worthy man was anno 1638. one of the preachers of edinburgh ; and being thrust out by the assembly of glasgow , retired into england . he lived not a whole year after his consecration : he died in old aberdene , and was interred in the south isle of the cathedral-church , 1663. to him succeeded alexander burnet , rectour of — in the county of kent ; who sate little above a year , being translated to glasgow , which was then void by the death of archbishop fairfoul . upon this translation , anno 1664. the reverend patrick scougal , parson of salton , was promoted to the bishoprick of aberdene ; who is yet alive , and governs the see wisely and piously . the chapter of aberdene consists of the persons following : since the rectory of saint machar was annexed to the king's colledge , the principal thereof is dean ; the parson of auchterless , cantor ; rayne , archdeacon ; birse , chancellour ; daviot , thesaurer ; the rectour of saint peters , subcantor ; the parson of kinkell , who is the patron of seven churches , kinkell , drumblait , monkeigie , kintor , kemnay , kinnellar , and dyce ; the parson of morthlick ; the rectour of monimusk ; kincairden of neill ; the rectour of turreff ; belbelvies ; banchory-devoneif ; logie-buchan ; the parson of clatt ; methlick ; innernochty ; the rectour of coldstane ; the parson of oyn ; crowdan ; tillinessill ; forbes ; phillorth ; lonmay ; the prebendary of deir ; ellen. the cathedral of aberdene , dedicated to saint macbar , was founded by bishop kinninmouth , who died before the work was raised six cubits high , anno 1370 , bishop leighton , 1430 , built saint john's isle , laid the foundation of the great steeple , and of the two lesser steeples , and advanced the fabrick mightily . the roof was laid on , and the floor paved with free-stone , by bishop lindsay , anno 1445. bishop spence adorned the chancel with many brave ornaments 1460. bishop elphingston did perfect the great steeple , ( which was a mark for sailours in those days , ) and furnished it with costly and tunable bells , 1489. bishop dumbar did perfect the two lesser steeples , cieled the church , and built the south-isle , 1522. and his successour , bishop stewart , built the consistory-house anno 1539. this glorious structure ( being near ninescore years in building ) did not remain twentie years in its integrity , when it was almost ruined by a crue of sacrilegious church-robbers : for anno 1560. the barons of mernis , accompanied with some of the towns-men of aberdene , having demolished the monasteries of the black and gray friers , fell to rob the cathedral , which they spoiled of all its costly ornaments and jewels , and demolished the chancel . having shipped the lead , bells , and other utensils , intending to expose them to sale in holland , all this ill-gotten wealth sunk ( by the just judgment of god upon sacriledge ) not far from the gridle-ness . the body of the cathedral was preserved from utter ruine by the earl of huntly . afterwards , an. 1607. the church was repaired , and covered with slate , at the charge of the parish , and so continues yet in pretty good repair . the diocese of aberdene contains the shire of aberdene , most part of bamff-shire , and part of mernis . bishops of mvrray . after the death of bishop patrick hepburn , this benefice was conferred upon alexander lindsay , lord spinie , who possessed it many years ; so that the see continued vacant till about the year 1606 , at which time alexander douglas , parson of elgin , was promoted to the bishoprick . how long he sate , i cannot learn. his successour was john guthry , one of the preachers in edinburgh ; in whose time fell out our second reformation . most of the bishops left their bishopricks , having wisely withdrawn themselves into england , to avoid the storm which threatned them ; whereas this bishop stay'd at home till his bishoprick left him . being thrust from his benefice by the covenanters , he retired to his ancient inheritance of guthry in angus , where he lived very contentedly and hospitably , exercising his charity amongst the poor . he died much lamented , during our civil wars . anno 1662. murdo mackenzie , rectour of elgin , was preferred bishop of murray , who now governs the see. the cathedral-church of elgin , founded by andrew bishop of murray , 1230. was one of the rarest monuments that this kingdom afforded , equal almost to saint paul's in london ( as i am informed ) in length , but surpassing it in breadth . it was demolished at the reformation , yet some of the stately ruines are still to be seen and admired . the parish-church , dedicated to saint peter , was ( as i am informed ) founded by george the second earl of huntly , about the year 1490. the diocese of murray contains the shires of elgin , nairn , and part of innernes and bamff-shires . bishops of brichen . bishop sinclair's successour in the see of brichen was one campbell , cousin to the earl of argile , about the year 1567. how long he sate , i cannot learn. anno 16 — andrew lamb , rectour of burnt-island , was preferred to the see , and afterwards translated to galloway , then void by the death of bishop william cowper . upon this translation , anno 1619. david lindsay , parson of dundee , was promoted to the bishoprick of brichen : he was translated to edinburgh 1634. unto whom succeeded walter whitfurd , ( of the house of milnton , ) rectour of — who was outed by the covenanters 1639. and his house plundred . anno 1662. david straughan , parson of fettercairn , was preferred bishop of brichen , he sate nine years , and dying 1671. was buried in the cathedral-church . his successour was robert lowry , dean of edinburgh , who now governs the see. the cathedral-church of brichen is a pretty handsom fabrick : it hath on the south-side a small steeple , not unlike the monument on fish-street-hill , london , save that it is broader at the top then at the bottom ; by whom built , i cannot learn. the chancel was demolished by our first reformers . the diocese of brichen contains part of angus and mernis . bishops of dvmblane . about the year 1572. andrew grhame , uncle to the earl of montross , was preferred bishop of dumblane . — and translated to orkney 1615. to whom succeeded adam bannatyn of kilconqhuar , rectour of fawkirk , who governed the see till anno 1635. at which time he was translated to aberdene , then void by the death of bishop patrick forbes . his successour was james wedderburn , professour of divinity in saint andrews , who was thrust out by the covenanters 1639. anno 1662. robert leighton , principal of the colledge of edinburgh , was promoted to the bishoprick of dumblane . he was a man of singular and wonderfull piety , of great learning ; and in him most of the eminent vertues we admire in the primitive bishops seemed to be revived . his life was most exemplary and severe , he preached constantly , and seemed like one in heaven when he preached : his humility was astonishing ; his meekness and charity were extraordinary ; his expence on himself very small , but all he had he laid out on the poor : he was very tender of all the concerns of his clergy , and by his excellent deportment , and heavenly discourses , did much edifie and instruct them all : and he studied by the most gentle methods possible to overcome the peevishness of the schismaticks ; but all was in vain , for they became more insolent and stubborn . he was translated to glasgow 1670. upon which translation , james ramsay , dean of glasgow , was preferred to the see , now living 1676. the bishop of dumblane is always dean of the king's chappel royal. the diocese of dumblane contains part of perth and striveling-shires . bishops of ross . john leslie , doctour of the canon law , and one of the senatours of the colledge of justice , ( before canonist in the king's colledge , and official of aberdene , ) was , upon the death of bishop sinclair , preferred to the bishoprick of ross 1564. he was a person of great integrity , and a faithfull servant to queen mary in the time of her troubles . he wrote the history of his nation , together with a description of the kingdom . he died at bruxels in flanders 1596. to him succeeded anno 1599. david lindsay , ( of the house of edyell , ) preacher at leith , a worthy , pious , and learned prelate . he sate — years , and dying 161 — was buried in the parish-church of leith . after his death , patrick lindsay , parson of saint vigens in angus , was preferred to the see , who being translated to glasgow , anno 1635. left for his successour john maxwell , one of the preachers of edinburgh , a very learned man , a great preacher , and of excellent parts ; but was generally censured for meddling too much in civil affairs , and for being too violent , which was thought a great occasion of the troubles that followed . he was thrust out by the covenanters anno 1639. and afterwards much prosecuted by them as an incendiary . anno 1662. john paterson , preacher in aberdene , was promoted to the bishoprick of ross , who now governs the see. the cathedral of chanonry ( where the bishop of ross his seat is ) was demolished by our first reformers ; some part whereof ( as i am informed ) is lately rebuilt . the diocese of ross hath under its jurisdiction the shires of tayn , cromarty , and the greatest part of innernes-shire . bishops of cathnes . after the death of bishop robert stewart 1586. the see continued vacant till the year 1599. at which time george gladstanes , preacher in saint andrews , was preferred bishop of cathnes . he was translated to saint andrews about the year 1606. unto whom succeeded alexander forbes , rectour of fettercairn in mernis , who was translated to aberdene , then void by the death of bishop peter blackburn , 1615. upon this translation , john abernethy was promoted to the see , a learned and worthy prelat , thrust out by the covenanters 1639. upon the restitution of hierarchy , 1662. patrick forbes was preferred to the see , now living , 1676. the diocese of cathnes ( whereof dornoch in sutherland is the bishop's seat ) contains the shires of cathnes and sutherland . i can give no account of the cathedral , having neither seen it , nor received any information concerning it . bishops of orkney . about the year 1565. adam bothwell was preferred to the bishoprick of orkney , and deposed 1568. for marrying queen mary to the earl of bothwell , but was the year after restored . he exchanged his bishoprick of orkney ( with robert stewart , one of the base sons of king james the fifth , ) for the abby of holy-rood-house ; by which means he became a senatour of the colledge of justice , and a temporal lord , being the ancestour of the lord holy-rood-house . upon this exchange , robert stewart became bishop of orkney , and afterwards ( upon the forfeiture of james hepburn earl of bothwell , and the obtaining of these isles for a temporal estate , ) sole lord of the country , being created earl of orkney 1581. about the year 1606. james law was bishop of orkney , and translated to glasgow 1615. to bishop law succeeded andrew grahame , bishop of dumblane . how long he sate , i cannot learn. george grahame was after him preferred bishop of orkney . this bishop being terrified with the censures of the assembly of glasgow , did abjure episcopacy , and submitted to presbyterian government , betaking himself to the charge of a particular parish , 1638. hereupon king charles the first did promote robert baron , doctour and professour of divinity in the marischal colledge of aberdene , to the bishoprick . this learned and worthy man having incensed the covenanters , by expressing his loyalty so publickly in the disputes between the doctours of aberdene , and mr. henderson , mr. dickson , and mr. cant , the three great champions for the covenant , was forced to flee to berwick , where he died shortly after , before his consecration . anno 1662. thomas sydserfe , bishop of galloway , the onely bishop then alive of all those who had been outed by the covenanters , was translated to orkney . he sate but a few years , and died anno 1663. unto whom succeeded andrew honniman , a learned and pious man , and a good preacher . this bishop accompanying the archbishop of saint andrews at edinburgh , received a wound in the arm by pistol-shot , aimed at the archbishop by an obscure fellow , 1668. he died anno 1676. and was buried at kirkwall in the cathedral-church . the diocese of orkney hath under its jurisdiction all the northern isles of orkney and schetland . archbishops of glasgow . upon the death of archbishop gawin dumbar , anno 1552. james beaton , of the house of balfour in fife , was preferred to the see. this prelat , being attainted of treason , went into france , carrying with him all the ornaments , plate and writings of the church of glasgow , which he put into the hands of the carthusians in paris , to be restored when scotland became popish again . anno 1572. james boyd , of trochrig , was promoted to the bishoprick ; a wise , worthy and religious prelat . he died 1578. and was interred in the sepulchre of bishop dumbar . unto whom succeeded robert montgomery , preacher at striveling ; who being much vexed by the kirk-men , was glad , for peace sake , to betake himself to the charge of a particular parish in kile , 1587. resigning his bishoprick in favour of william erskine , parson of campsey , who injoyed it but a short time : for archbishop beaton was by king james the sixth restored . he was a person honourably disposed , faithfull to queen mary , while she lived , and to king james , whose embassadour he was , a lover of his country , and liberal , according to his means , to all his country-men . he died 1603. a full jubilee of years from his consecration . after his death , john spotiswood , parson of calder , was preferred archbishop of glasgow . he sate twelve years , and was translated to saint andrews , 1615. hereupon james law , bishop of orkney , was translated to glasgow , who dying anno 1635. patrick lindsay , bishop of ross , was preferred to the see , and outed by the covenanters anno 1638. the first archbishop after the restitution of the hierarchy was andrew fairfoul , preacher in dunce , who sate little above a year . upon whose death , anno 1664. alexander burnet , bishop of aberdene , was translated to glasgow , and outed 1669. and robert leighton , bishop of dumblane , preferred to the see , who resigning anno 1674. archbishop burnet was restored , and now governs the see. the cathedral of glasgow , a very magnificent structure , was built by bishop john achtian 1135. it oweth thanks to the memory of king james the sixth for its preservation from utter ruine . for the ministers of glasgow persuaded the magistrates to pull it down , and to build two or three churches with the materials thereof : the magistrates condescending , a day is appointed , and workmen ready to demolish it . the crafts or tradesmen , having notice given them of this design , convene in arms , and oppose the magistrates , threatning to bury the workmen under the ruines of that ancient building . whereupon the matter is referred to the king and council , who decided the controversie in the tradesmens favours , reproving the magistrates very sharply . the diocese of glasgow contains the counties or shires of dumbarton , ranfrew , air , lanerick , part of the shires of roxburgh , dumfreis , peeblis and selkirk . bishops of galloway . about the year 1606. gawin hamilton was bishop of galloway , a very worthy person . his successour , anno 1614. was william cowper , preacher at perth , a learned and pious prelat : he died 1619. of whom see the former history , page 540. upon whose death , andrew lamb , bishop of brichen , was translated to galloway . how long he sate , i cannot learn. after him , thomas sydserfe was preferred to the see , a learned and worthy prelate : he was outed by the covenanters 1638. and upon the restitution of the episcopal estate , anno 1662. translated to orkney . about which time james hamilton , rectour of cambusnethan , was promoted to the bishoprick . unto whom succeeded anno 1674. john paterson , dean of edinburgh , who now governs the see. the diocese of galloway hath under its jurisdiction the shire of wigton , stewartry of kirkubright , regality of glenluce , and part of dumfreis-shire . bishops of argile . after george laird of balcomie , ( who is the last bishop of argile mentioned by our reverend authour in his second book , ) i meet with some who have been bishops before the reformation . the first was robert montgomery , one of the sons of hugh the first earl of eglington . then , one campbell , who spoiled the benefice , about the time of the reformation . after the reformation , there was one kerswell bishop of argile : how long he governed the see , i cannot learn. to him succeeded — boyd . [ see the addenda . ] to whom succeeded james fairley , who was thrust out by the covenanters 1638. and afterwards renounced his bishoprick , and accepted a private charge . anno 1662. — fletcher , rectour of — was preferred to the see ; who dying anno 1665. william scrowgie , parson of rapban in aberdene-shire , was preferred to the place . he governed the see nine years , and died at dumbritton anno 1675. unto him succeeded arthur ross , parson of glasgow , who now governs the see. the diocese of argile contains the countries of argile , lorn , kintire , and lochabyr , with some of the west isles , such as lismore , &c. bishops of the isles . about the year 1606 , andrew knox , rectour of pasley , was preferred to the see. how long he sate , i know not . his successour was john knox , rectour of — how long he governed the see , i cannot learn. anno 162 — john leslie was bishop of the isles , and after translated to the bishoprick of rapbo , in the province of armagh in ireland . to him succeeded anno 162 — neil campbell , rectour of — who was thrust out by the covenanters 1638. since the restauration of bishops , robert wallace , rectour of barnwell in the sheriffdom of air , was made bishop of this see. he governed it seven years , and died an. 1669. and the see hath been void ever since . every bishop hath under him an official or commissary , who is judge of the spiritual court within his diocese . unto this court are referred matters of testaments , bastardy , divorce , tithes , perjury , &c. and many civil cases . it sits in the months of november , december , january , february , june , and july . commissaries of scotland . sir david falconer of glenfarqbuar , henry fowlis , james aikenbeid , john wishart , commissaries of edinburgh . john lindsay , official of saint andrews . sir william fleeming , official of glasgow . john stewart , commissary of dunkeld . john scougall , commissary of aberdene . alexander mackenzie , official of murray . george paterson , commissary of ross . james straughan , commissary of brichen . james innes , official of cathnes . — monro , commissary of — william scrougie , commissary of argile . the officials of dumblane . galloway . orkney . the isles . having given an account of the succession of the bishops in their several sees , let us take a short view of the several courts , subordinate to them , wherein is exercised ecclesiastical discipline . the first and lowest ( which is in every parish ) is called the session . it consists of the chief and most grave men of the parish , who are termed elders and deacons . in this small court ( whereof the minister is president ) all fornicatours , adulterers , blasphemers , swearers , prophaners of the lord's-day , &c. are convented , and put to make publick confessions of their sins , and professions of their repentance , according to the degree or hainousness of them . for fornication , they make publick confession in the church three several lord's-days ; in the last of which they receive absolution . for an adultery , they make their profession of repentance , for half a year , every lord's-day ; and for six lord's-days they stand in sackcloath at the church-door half an hour before morning-prayers : and then in the end receive absolution . and for other faults , they doe penance according to their several degrees . the deacon's office is , to collect the money for the use of the poor , to delate delinquents , &c. and that of the elder is , to be carefull of the fabrick of the church , to assist in the censuring scandalous persons , and to wait on the minister at the celebration of the lord's supper , &c. this court sitteth once a week . the number of the parishes in scotland is uncertain : i conjecture them to be about a thousand . the next court is called the presbyterie , consisting of twelve or twenty ministers , more or less . that sits once in two or three weeks . the moderatour or president thereof is chosen by the bishop . in this court are discussed appeals from sessions , and other difficult cases . here are convented all those who refuse to submit to church-discipline , and all such as apostatize to popery or quakerism ; who , if they remain obstinate , are prosecuted with the censures of the church . here also all such as enter into holy orders are examined , and an account taken of their learning , and other qualifications , in a course of many several trialls ; as making homilies , sermons , and common-places ; which hold two or three months : and then they are returned to the bishop well qualified , who upon that proceeds to ordain them . presbyteries of scotland . the presbyteries of dunce , chirnside , kelso , ersilton , jedburgh , melross dumbar , haddington , dalkeith , edinburgh , peeblis , linlithgow , perth , dunkeld , auchterardor , striveling , dumblane , dumfreis , penpont , lochmabane , middlebie , wigton , kirkubright , stranraver , aire , irwing , pasley dumbarton , glasgow , hamilton , lanerick , biggar , dunnune , kinloch , inneraray , kilmoir , skye , saint andrews , kirkaldy , cowper , dumfermling , meegle , dundee , arbroath , forfair , brichen , mernis , aberdene , kincairden , alford , gareoch , deir , turreff , fordyce , ellon , strathbogy , abernethie , elgin , forress , aberlower , chanrie , tayne , dingwell , dornoch , week , thirso , kirkwall , scalloway , colmkill . a third court ( whereof the bishop is president ) is the provincial assembly , or synod . in this court are discussed all appeals from presbyteries , and all other difficult cases . from hence are issued warrants for visiting of churches . here also the lives of scandalous ministers are tried , who , if found guilty of crimes laid to their charge , are either deposed , suspended , or excommunicated . the sentence of excommunication cannot be pronounced against an obstinate person but after a long process of near a years continuance , and many citations , and much pains to bring the scandalous person ( against whom onely it is denounced ) to a due sense of his sins , and a willingness to submit to the censures of the church : and then it must be ratified and approved by the bishop . the provincial synod meets twice in the year , in april , and october . the highest ecclesiastical court is the general assembly ; which , as its constitution and authority was settled in king james's minority , was made up of two ministers commissioners from every presbytery , and one lay-elder , a commissioner from every royal burrough , one from every university , and one from the king. these had the supreme authority about all church-matters ; and how much trouble they bred king james , the former history has fully discovered . a shadow of this still remains : for the supreme ecclesiastical court is declared to be a national synod made up of bishops and deans , and two members from every presbytery , one of whom is of the bishops nomination , and a commissioner from every university . but nothing is to be proposed but by the king or his commissioner : nor can any thing that they doe be of any force , till it be ratified by the king. but as the calling of this synod is wholly in the crown , so there is little need of it , since the king's supremacy is so large , that he needs not their concurrence , to adde their authority to any thing that he shall think fit to doe about church-affairs . the bishops of scotland take their places thus : saint andrews , glasgow , edinburgh , galloway ; the rest according to the seniority of their consecrations . chap. ii. containing a short account of the several orders of religious persons in scotland , together with a catalogue of their convents , suppressed at the reformation . in the infancy of christianity , when persecution was grown so hot , that most cities and populous places were visited therewith , many godly men fled into desarts , there to live with more safety , and serve god with less disturbance . these were called monks . from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , solus , because living alone by themselves . their houses were either caves , grots , or little cells ; what would hide and heat , cover and keep warm , served them for cloaths ; herbs and roots were their diet , and water their drink . in these solitary places they spent their lives constantly in prayer , reading , meditating , and such like pious employments . they vowed no poverty , chastity , or obedience . thus continued they during the heat of persecution ; and when peace was restored , they returned to their former dwellings , resuming their callings , which they had not left off , but for a time laid aside . afterwards there sprung up another sort of monks leading a solitary life , when no persecution forced them thereunto . these considering the inconstancy of humane affairs , that though they had prosperity for the present , it might be soon changed into a contrary condition , if either the restless endeavours of satan took effect , or sinfull christians were rewarded according to their deserts , and prompted also thereunto by their own melancholick dispositions , chose a lone life , and lived in desarts . afterwards they were gathered together to live under one roof , because their company would be chearfull in health , and needfull in sickness one to another . they sustained themselves by their labour , ( for every one had a calling whereby to gain his livelihood , ) and relieved others by their charity ; and very strict were they in their lives and conversations . but afterwards , monks having sufficiency turned lazie , then getting waxed wanton , and at last endowed with superfluity became notoriously vicious ; and so they continued till they were finally extirpated . thus much concerning their original : proceed we next to their several orders . the first are the benedictines or black monks , so called from saint benedict or bennet , an italian , ( who flourished about the year 500 ) . first father and founder of that order . the benedictines and augustinians came into scotland about one time . their convents . 1. the abbey of icolmkill , in the isle jona , founded by saint columba , about the year 590. 2. the abbey of dumfermling , in fife , founded by saint david the first , king of scotland , about the year 1130. the church whereof was built by king malcolm the third , and was , for several hundreds of years , the sepulchre of the scotish kings . this abbey was , at the reformation , annexed to the crown . 3. the abbey of saint colme , in inch-colme in the river forth , founded by king alexander the first , about the year 1120. 4. the abbey of aberbrothock or arbroath , in angus , founded by king william , 1178. this was the richest of our scotish abbeys . at the reformation it was conferred upon james , duke of chattelrault and earl of arran , who gave it to his second son lord john hamilton . at this day it is in the possession of the earl of panmure , and the stately ruines thereof are yet to be seen . 5. the priory of vrqhuart , in murray , founded by king alexander the third , 126 — a cell belonging to dumfermling . 6. the priory of coldinghame , in the mers , founded by edgar king of scots , 1106. a cell belonging to durham in england . 7. the monastery of south-berwick , founded by king david the first . 8. the monastery of three wells , or trefontana , in lamermoor on the borders of lothian , founded by the countess of march. a cell belonging to south-berwick . 9. the monastery of kilconqhuar , in galloway , founded by ethred ( or rather fergus ) lord of galloway . the cluniacks are benedictines sifted through a finer fearce , with some additionals invented and imposed upon them by odo abbot of clugny or cluni in burgundy , who flourished anno 913. their convents . 1. the abbey of pasley , in ranfrew-shire , founded by alexander the great steward of scotland , 12 — . the monks whereof wrote a history of the nation . at the reformation it was bestowed upon claud hamilton , third son to the duke of chattelrault . 2. the abbey of rewls-cross , or corsraguel , in carrict , founded by thomas earl of carrict , 126 — . the cistercians are so called from robert abbot of cisteaux in burgundy , who anno 1088. did the second time refine the drossie benedictines . their convents . 1. the abbey of sanudell , in kintyre , founded by saint coule milicora . what this founder was , i know not . 2. the abbey of souls-seat , sedes animarum , in galloway , was founded by fergus lord of galloway . 3. the abbey of dundrennan , in galloway , was founded by fergus lord of galloway . 4. the abbey of melross , in teviotdail , founded by king david the first . 5. the abbey of newbottle , in lothian , founded by king david the first . 6. the abbey of culross , in clackmannan-shire , founded by malcolm mackduff , earl of fife . 7. the abbey of glenluce , in galloway , founded by rolland lord of galloway . 8. the abbey of sweet-heart , dulcis cordis , or new abbey , in galloway , founded by dornogilla , daughter of alan lord of galloway , and wife to john balliol . 9. the abbey of balmerino , in fife , founded by emergards , wife to king william . 10. the abbey of deir , in buchan , founded by william cummin earl of buchan , 1218. 11. the abbey of cowper , in angus , founded by king david the first . 12. the abbey of kelso , in teviotdail , founded by king david the first . 13. the priory of machlein , in kile . a cell belonging to the abbey of melross . 14. the monastery of elcho , in strath-jern , founded by david lindsay , ancestour to the earls of crawfurd . the monks of the order of the valley of reeds , vallis caulium , are a branch of the reformed cistercians , whose institutions , both in habit , diet , divine offices , &c. they punctually observe ; but with greater strictness , confining themselves to much narrower bills . they possess very mean revenues , being wholly intent upon their devotions ; and may not goe without the bounds of the monastery , it being onely lawfull for the prior and one of the order to goe abroad upon necessary occasions , and to visit the monasteries under their charge . they are daily imployed in dressing the gardens of fruits and herbs , which are within the bounds of the monastery , and improved for the use of it . this order had four convents in scotland . 1. the priory of ardehattan , in lorn , founded by duncan mackowle of lorn . 2. the priory of lismehago , in clidisdail , founded by fergus lord of galloway . 3. the priory of bewley , in ross , founded by john lord bisset . 4. the priory of pluscardy , in murray , founded by king alexander the second : the monks whereof did write a scotish chronicle . it was afterwards turned into a convent of black monks . the augustinians are older in europe then the benedictines . these do observe the institutions of saint augustine bishop of hippo , who was saint bennet's senior by sixty years . the augustinians are also called regular canons . their convents in scotland were , 1. the abbey of jedburgh , in teviotdail , founded by king david the first . 2. the abbey of holy-rood-house , in lothian , adjoyning to the canon-gate in edinburgh , founded by king david the first . this abbey is now one of the king's palaces . 3. the abbey of cambuskeneth , in striveling-shire , founded by king david the first . 4. the abbey of inchassray , in strath-jern , founded by gilbert earl of strath-jern . 5. the abbey of scoon , in gowry , founded by alexander the first , king of scotland . 6. the priory of crusa , in the west isles , founded by saint columba . 7. the priory of omistai , in the west isles , founded by saint columba . 8. the priory of holy-cross , at peeblis in tweedail , founded by fergus lord of galloway . 9. the priory of saint mary isle , in galloway . a cell pertaining to the abbey of holy-rood-house . 10. the priory of saint colonor's isle , in menteith , founded by edgar king of scotland . 11. the priory of saint andrews , in fife , founded by king alexander the first , 1122. it is annexed to the archbishoprick of saint andrews . 12. the priory of may , in the mouth of forth . a cell belonging to saint andrews . 13. the priory of pittenweem , in fife . a cell belonging to saint andrews . 14. the priory of monimusk , in mar. a cell belonging to the priory of saint andrews . 15. the priory of restennot , in angus . a cell belonging to the abbey of jedburgh . 16. the priory of straphillan , in athol , founded by king robert the first , 132 — . 17. the priory of blantyre , in clidisdail . a cell belonging to the abbey of jedburgh . 18. the priory of port-mollock , in loch-leiven in fife . a cell belonging to the priory of saint andrews . it is annexed to saint leonard's colledge . 19. the priory of loch-tay , in broad albain . the order of the praemonstratenses was founded by norbert , born at colein , and afterwards , as is said , archbishop of memberg . he is said to have done it at the command of the blessed virgin , who appear'd to him ; whereupon with some companions he retired into a desolate place called praemonstratum , ( thence comes the title of the order ; ) where they settled their society , anno 1120. they are under the rule of saint augustine , which they tell us norbert in a vision immediately received at the hand of saint augustine himself . the habit of their order is a white garment , and over that a white cloak or mantle , with a cowl upon their head of the same colour . the monks of this order had five convents in scotland . 1. the abbey of tungland , in galloway , founded by alan lord of galloway . 2. the abbey of holy-wood , in nithisdail . 3. the abbey of dryburgh , in teviotdail , founded by hugh morvil , high constable of scotland . 4. the abbey of ferne , in ross , founded by ferqbuard earl of ross . this abbey is annexed to the bishoprick of ross . 5. the priory of whiteborn , in galloway , founded by fergus lord of galloway . the tironenses ( as i conceive ) are not a distinct order of monks , but rather young novices , or fresh-water monks . in a catalogue of the religious houses in scotland , which i have by me , i find some styled or termed ordinis tironensis ; which if it were written turonensis , it would relate to tours in france ; and the rather , because there is in france a conventus turonensis of augustinian monks : but wherein , or whether they differed from others , i know not . but leaving that to the reader 's farther inquiry , let us take a view of their convents . 1. the abbey of kilwining , in cunninghame , founded by hugh morvil , constable of scotland . 2. the abbey of lindoris , in fife , founded by david earl of huntington , brother to king william . 3. the priory of fyvie , in forumarten . a seminary belonging to the abbey of arbroath . we proceed next to the monks of the order of saint antony , whose original was from saint antony an egyptian , who about the time of the later persecutions , not long after decius , retired into the desarts , where he lived the best part of an hundred years , and became the father of an eremitick life , wherein he educated all those disciples that resorted to him . after whose example other orders were set up . about the time of the wars in palestine , his body was translated from constantinople to mota , ( now called saint antony ) a town in the province of viennoys in france , where it was honourably laid up in a church built to his memory , and became famous for miraculous cures . among which , gasto , a nobleman of that province , and his son girond , being heal'd of a mortal plague , dedicated themselves and all that they had to saint antony , wholly devoting themselves to the curing and attending of the sick that came thither . to whom shortly after eight more joyned themselves , who combined into a society . this was about the year 1121. their order was confirmed by several popes , especially ▪ boniface the eighth , anno 1297. who prescribed unto them rules , and conferred upon them their privileges . they observe the rule of saint augustine's order , and as the peculiar and distinguishing badge of their order , wear about their necks the letter t in gold or silver hanging upon their breasts , and carry a little bell about with them . the monks of this order had onely one convent in scotland , at leith , but who was the founder thereof , i cannot learn. the carthusians were instituted by saint bruno , a native of colein , who being a parisian doctour of divinity , and a canon of rheims , abandoned the world , and with six associats began his austere eremitical course of life on the carthusian mountains , in the diocese of gratianopolis , with the licence of hugh then bishop thereof . this bruno flourished under pope vrban the second , and died anno christi 1101. king james the first did bring the carthusians into scotland , and built them a convent in perth , ( known afterwards by the name of charter-house , ) about the year 1430. from monks we proceed to friers . these were differenced from monks , in that monks were confined to their cloisters ; whilst more liberty was allowed to friers to go about , and preach in neighbouring parishes : as also monks had nothing in propriety , but all in common ; friers had nothing in propriety nor in common but being mendicants , begg'd all their subsistence from the charity of others . but they met with very bountifull benefactours ; and in scotland , when their nests were pull'd down , were too rich to profess poverty . the dominicans , or black friers , called also praedicatores , preaching friers , were instituted by saint dominick , a spaniard , anno 1206. and confirmed by pope honorius the third , anno christi 1216. the dominicans had their convents at 1. wigton , 2. air , 3. glasgow , 4. edinburgh , 5. perth , 6. dundee , 7. striveling , 8. monross , 9. cowper of fife , 10. aberdene , 11. elgin , 12. innerness , 13. saint andrews , 14. haddington , 15. jedburgh , 16. dumfreis , 17. cowper of angus , 18. innerkeithing , 19. dysert , 20. linlithgow , 21. kinghorn , 22. forres , 23. selkirk . the franciscans , or gray friers , called also minorits , were instituted by saint francis , an italian , about the year of our lord 1198. and confirmed by pope innocent the third . his rule prescribed chastity , obedience , poverty , much fasting , and other austerities , to all that should be admitted of that order . the franciscans are , minores tam observantes , quàm conventuales . the conventuals had their houses at 1. ronburgh , 2. dumfreis , 3. haddington , 4. innerkeithing , 5. lanerick , 6. dundee . the friers observant had their monasteries at 1. edinburgh , 2. striveling , 3. air , 4. glasgow , 5. saint andrews , 6. perth , 7. aberdene , 8. elgin , the carmelite friers had their beginning at , and name from , mount carmel in syria , being instituted by almerieus patriarch of antioch , anno 1122. they are also called white friers , and had their convents at 1. dumbar , 2. linlithgow , 3. tillilume , 4. queens-ferry , 5. aberdene , 6. irwing , 7. bamff . the trinity friers , or mathurins , follow . these were also called robertines , and de redemptione captivorum , whose work was to beg mony of well-disposed people for ransoming of christian captives from the slavery of the turks . these friers had their houses at 1. falle , 2. houstoun , 3. dornoch , 4. cromarty , 5. scotland-well , 6. aberdene , 7. peeblis . i can give no account concerning the several orders of nvns in scotland . their convents were , 1. the priory of north-berwick , in lothian , founded by duncan earl of fife . 2. the priory of haddington , in lothian , founded by ada countess of northumberland , wife to prince henry , onely son of king david the first . 3. the priory of saint bothans , in lammer-moor , founded by christiana countess of march. 4. the priory of manuel , in lothian , founded by king malcolme the fourth . 5. the priory of coldstream , in mers , founded by the countess of march. 6. the priory of ecclis , in mers , founded by king david the first . the gray sisters had their houses at 1. dundee , 2. aberdene , 3. sheens near edinburgh . what kind of monks were in the following monasteries , i have not as yet learned . 1. the monastery of abernethy , in strath-jerne , founded by caranachus , the — king of the picts . 2. the monastery of saint andrew de beugh , founded by king constantine the second . 3. the abbey of soutre , in lothian , founded by king malcolm the fourth . 4. the priory of cannabie , in eskdail . 5. the priory of star-inch , in lewis , founded by maclewid baron of lewis . 6. the priory of rowadill in harrigh , founded by maclewid baron of harrigh . 7. the priory of inchmahomo , in perth-shire . 8. the monastery of elbottle , a cell belonging to south berwick . 9. the priory of gulane , in lothian , a cell belonging to south berwick , founded by king david the first . 10. the priory of aberdowr , in fife . thus much concerning monks and friers . besides the convents of regulars , there were colledges erected for secvlar priests , and amply endowed with revenues . the chief person of the colledge of secular canons was called the provost , and the colledge it self the provostry . let us take a view of them . 1. the colledge of bothwell , in clidisdail , founded by archbald the first , earl of douglas . it was before a cloister of nuns . 2. the colledge of linclowden , in nithisdail , founded by the same archbald . 3. the colledge of bothans , in lothian , founded by william hay baron of yester . 4. the provostry of minniboll , in carrict , founded by sir gilbert kennedy knight . 5. the colledge of dumbar , in lothian , founded by george , earl of march. 6. the colledge of carnwath , in clidisdail , founded by thomas lord summervile . 7. the colledge of methuen , in strath-jerne , founded by walter stewart earl of athol . 8. the provostry of dalkeith , in lothian , founded by james douglas , the second earl of morton . 9. the provostry of fowlis , in angus , founded by andrew gray of fowlis . 10. the colledge of kilmund , in cowal , founded by sir duncan campbell knight . 11. the provostry of dirlton , in lothian , founded by sir walter haliburton of dirlton . 12. the colledge of rosseline , in lothian , founded by william sinclair earl of orkney . 13. the provostry of dunglas , in mers , founded by alexander hume lord hume . 14. the king's colledge of striveling , founded by king james the third . 15. trinity colledge in edinburgh , founded by mary , widow of king james the second . 16. the provostry of restalrig , in lothian , founded by king james the fourth . 17. the provostry of seaton , in lothian , founded by the lord seaton . 18. the provostry of costorphine , in lothian founded by the baron of costorphine forrester . 19. the colledge of creighton , in lothian , founded by the earl of bothwell hepburn , 20. the provostry of sempill , in ranfrew-shire , founded by the lord sempill . 21. the colledge of kilmawers , in cunninghame , founded by the earl of glencarn . 22. the colledge of hamilton , in clidisdail , founded by the lord hamilton . 23. the colledge of dumbarton , in lennox , founded by one of the countesses of lennox . 24. the provostry of tillibarden , in strath-jerne , founded by the baron of tillibarden murray . 25. the provostry of tayne , in ross , founded by king james the fourth . 26. the provostry of abernethie , in strath-jerne , founded by one of the earls of douglas . the chief church in great towns was a collegiate-church ; as saint giles in edinburgh , &c. last of all follow the knights templars . this order was instituted by pope gelasius , about the year of our lord 1120. their office and vow was , to defend the temple and the holy sepulchre at jerusalem , to entertain christian strangers that came thither for devotion , and to guard them in safety when they went to visit the places of the holy land. their habit was a white cloak , with a red cross , and a sword girt about them . they were suppressed by pope clemens the fifth , about the year 1310. and their lands were ( by a general council held at vienna ) conferr'd on the knights of the order of saint john of jerusalem , called also joannites , and after knights of the rhodes , and lastly of malta , where they live at this day . the templars and their successours ( spoken of before ) had onely one house in scotland , which was the hospital of saint germans in lothian . this house was dissolved anno 1494. and the greatest part of its revenues by king james the fourth conferr'd upon the king's colledge of aberdene , then newly founded by bishop william elphingston . though i cannot give an account in what year every particular monastery in scotland was founded , yet their general dissolution was about the year 1560. there was also a convent of red friers at the mouth of teviot near kelso ; but by whom built , i cannot learn. chap. iii. the universities of scotland . there are four universities in scotland , saint andrews , glasgow , aberdene , edinbvrgh . the vniversitie of saint andrews was founded by bishop henry wardlaw , anno christi 1412. it is endowed with very ample privileges . the archbishops of saint andrews are perpetual chancellours thereof . the rectour is chosen yearly , and by the statutes of the universitie he ought to be one of the three principals . his power is the same with that of the vice-chancellour of oxford or cambridge . there are in this universitie three colledges ; viz. saint salvator's , saint leonard's , new colledge . saint salvator's colledge . james kennedy , bishop of saint andrews , founded this colledge , built the edifice , furnished it with costly ornaments , and provided sufficient revenues for the maintenance of the masters and professours . persons endowed at the foundation were , a doctour a bachelour a licenciate of divinitie ; four professours of philosophy , who are called regents ; eight poor scholars , called bursars . benefactours . i can give little or no account of the benefactours . the earl of cassils hath founded a professour of humanitie to teach the latin tongue . george martyn cieled the great hall. present professours . george weemis , doctour of divinity , provost . james rymer , professours of philosophy . george thomson , professours of philosophy . edward thomson , professours of philosophy . james strachan , professours of philosophy . the arms of saint salvator's colledge are the globe and saint salvator's cross . saint leonard's colledge was founded by john hepburn , prior of saint andrews , anno 152 — . persons endowed are , a principal or warden , four professours of philosophy , eight poor scholars . benefactours . of these i can give no account . the priory of portmuck is annexed to this colledge . and lately , the parsonage of kinkell in aberdeneshire . present professours . james weemis , doctour of divinity , and dean of saint andrews , principal . william sanders , professours of philosophy . alexander skene , professours of philosophy . alexander grant , professours of philosophy . new colledge was founded by james beaton , archbishop , anno 153 — . the professours and scholars endowed are of divinity ; for no philosophy is taught in this colledge . present professours . walter comrie , doctour and professour of divinity , principal . david faulconar , professour of divinity . there was lately founded in the universitie of saint andrews a professour of mathematicks . the present rectour of the universitie is andrew bruce , doctour of divinitie , archdeacon of saint andrews . the short and bad account which i have given of this universitie proceeds meerly from want of information . learned men and writers . john mayor , provost of saint salvator's , a person , according to the learning of those times , very famous . his history of the scotish nation is not so much esteemed , being very short , and in the style and way of writing scholastical and quodlibetical . he wrote also on the master of the sentences : but see his character page 68. he flourished about the year 1520. andrew melvill , professour of divinitie in the new colledge , a man well seen in the hebrew language and the rabbinical writings . he was the first who kindled the great combustions in this church , by introducing the discipline of geneva amongst us , as may be more fully seen in the foregoing history . john baron , doctour and professour of divinitie in the new colledge , was a person of great worth and learning , and of great candour . he died in the time of our late combustions . sir john wedderburn was a professour of philosophy in this universitie ; but that was too narrow a place for so great a person , who became since so celebrated for his great learning and skill in physick : and though his infirmities and great age forced him to retire from publick practice and business , yet his fame attracts all the nation to him , and his noble hospitality and kindness to all men that are learned and vertuous makes his conversation no less loved then his advice is desired . samuel rutherfurd , professour of divinitie in the new colledge , was very famous in those times , for quickness and subtilty in disputing and writing . he was judged to be very devout : he wrote exercitationes de gratia , and disputationes de providentia : he was a wonderfull assertour of the supralapsarian hypothesis : he wrote also many books in english ; some controversial , as the divine right of presbytery , others pieces of devotion and sermons : he wrote also a seditious book , condemned by law , about the power of the king , and the priviledges of the people , called lex rex . he died 1661. alexander colvill , doctour and professour of divinitie in the new colledge : he was before professour at sedan . he was learned in the hebrew , and was a great textuary , and well seen in divinitie . he died about the year 1664. james wood , professour of divinitie , and provost of saint salvator's , was a person both judicious and wise , as also of considerable learning : he wrote a book against independency : he died about the year 1664. john johnston , professour of divinitie in the new colledge , wrote a paraphrase of the psalms , and other most excellent poems , and for his skill in the latin tongue and poesie was second to none in his time : he flourished about the year 1610. david calderwood , a man of great reading and study , but very unhappy in his way of expressing himself , both which appeared in his altare damascenum . he was at first very factious , and banished the kingdom by king james ; yet was afterwards much neglected by that violent party , who judged him too moderate , though from his book none would imagine him guilty of it . james durham , a gentleman of a good family and learned , was bred in this famous university : he wrote a judicious book of scandal , with good learning in it : there are also expositions of his upon the revelation , and on the song of solomon , and the ten commandments , all published since his death . george gillespie was also bred here , who was a very pregnant young man , had great freedome of expression and much boldness , which raised him to make a very considerable figure among the covenanters . he had some good learning , but was very factious : he wrote against the ceremonies , and many pieces against the erastians . he died an. 1649. james gregory , professour of the mathematicks in this university , was a person of most extraordinary learning in those sciences . he had a strange faculty of resolving the hardest problems , and seems to have found a non plus ultrà in geometry . he was fellow of the royal society , and much admired both in england , france and italy , where he travelled ; but lost both his eyes , and soon after died , 1674. in this universitie many of the chief nobility are bred , among whom none has done greater honour to saint leonard's colledge , where he was bred , then his grace the duke of lauderdail : to whom as learning seemed entailed , ( his family for four descents having been most famed for learning of any of their quality ; ) so he received those impressions in this universitie , that , being since much improved , have rendered him so eminent for learning ; of which onely my subject leading me to speak , i shall say nothing of his other extraordinary qualities . archbald lord napier of merchiston was a profound scholar , and of great worth . his logarithms have rendered him famous throughout the whole world : he wrote also an exposition on the revelation . he died 162 — . sir robert murray , a great promoter and fellow of the royal society , was a person of wonderfull abilities , vast apprehensions , great depth of judgment , and universally knowing in every thing , but more particularly in the mathematicks . he was a great ornament to the age he lived in , and an honour to his country . he died anno 1674. the vniversitie of glasgow was founded auspiciis , pietate & benignitate eximii principis , jacobi secundi , scotorum regis serenissimi ; indulgentiam faciente , & jus ac facultatem studii generalis sanciente , nicolao quinto , pontifice romano ; ejus erectionem & constitutionem magno labore & sumptibus procurante reverendo antistite gulielmo turnbullo , episcopo glasguensi . the words of the bull are , vt studium generale vigeat tam in theologia ac jure canonico & civili , quàm artibus & qualibet alià facultate ; quódque doctores & magistri ibidem omnibus & singulis privilegiis , libertatibus , honoribus , immunitatibus , exemptionibus , per sedem apostolicam vel alios quomodolibet magistris , doctoribus & studentibus , in studio nostrae civitatis cononiensis concessis , gaudeant & utantur . the persons founded were , a rectour , a dean of facultie , a principal or warden , who was to teach theologie , three professours to teach philosophy . afterwards some clergy-men professed the laws here , being invited to that profession rather by the commodity of a collegiate life , and the immunities of the universitie , then by any considerable salary . king james the sixth , anno 1577. did establish twelve persons in the colledge ▪ viz. a principal , three professours of philosophy called regents , four scholars called bursars , an oeconomus or provisor , who furnisheth the table with provisions , the principal 's servant , a janitor , and a cook. benefactours . the kings of scotland have been great benefactours to this universitie . king james the second , the founder of it , did bestow considerable revenues , and endue it with many privileges and immunities . the words of the letter under the great seal 12. kal. maii 1453. are , omnes & singulos rectores qui pro tempore fuerint , facultatum decanos , procuratores nationum , regentes , magistros & scholares in hac vniversitate studentes , sub nostra firma pace & custodia , defensione & manutenentia suscipimus ; eosdemque rectores , &c. ab omnibus tributis , exactionibus , taxationibus , collectis , vigiliis , custodiis , eximimus , & postea eximendos statuimus . the same privileges were confirmed by king james the third , anno 1472. by king james the fourth , 1509. by king james the fifth , 1522. and by queen mary , 1547. about the time of the reformation , the universitie was almost brought to desolation , and had been ruined , had not king james the sixth , in his minority , restored it by his royal bounty and munificence . he confirmed all its privileges , and bestowed upon it the tithes of the church of govan , anno 1577. afterwards he ratified all the former acts made in favour of the universitie , and made some new donations , anno 1617. king charles the first did ratifie all the old privileges , and bestowed money for repairing the fabrick . king charles the second , by the advice of the estates of parliament , gave also money for the same purpose . bishop william turnbull , by whose procurement the pope's bull was obtained , was very liberal to the colledge , bestowing upon it both lands and revenues ; and so were several of the bishops and archbishops who succeeded him . the citie of glasgow were also benefactours to the colledge . the ground on which the colledge stands , with a field adjacent thereunto , was the donation of james lord hamilton . since the reformation , sundry private men have given considerable summs of money towards the maintenance of poor scholars or bursars ; as william struthers , zachary boyd , thomas crawford , ministers . others have bestowed money for repairing the fabrick , as alexander boyd , matthew wilson , ministers . james law , archbishop of glasgow , was very bountifull to the colledge ; for he much augmented the revenues thereof , and bestowed many choice books , which are in the library . william earl of dundonald , anno 1672. gave about 1000 pounds sterling towards the maintenance of bursars . john snell hath of late bestowed 6000 marks scotish for enriching the library , and adorning the fabrick . the archbishops of glasgow are perpetual chancellours of the universitie . the rectour is chosen once every year . david cadyow , canon of glasgow , was the first rectour ; and william elphingston , official of glasgow , afterwards bishop of aberdene , was the first dean of facultie . principals . 1454. david bineb first principal . his successours are not known , because the old records and registers of the colledge were either destroyed or taken away at the reformation . 1577. andrew melvin . 1580. thomas smeton . 1600. patrick sharp . 1615. robert boyd of trochrig . 1622. john cameron . 1626. john strang , doctour of divinitie . 1650. robert ramsay : he lived but a month after his instalment . 1653. patrick gillespie . 1660. robert bailie . 1662. edward wright , present principal . professours of divinitie . the principals taught theologie till anno 1640. at which time there was a salarie settled for maintenance of a professour of divinitie . 1640. david dickson . 1649. robert bailie . 1660. john young. 1668. gilbert burnet . 1674. david liddell , present professour of divinitie . there is not a coat of arms peculiar to this universitie , but they use the arms of the citie of glasgow . present professours . sir william fleming of ferm , rectour . doctour matthew brisban , dean of facultie . edward wright , principal or warden . david liddell , professour of theologie . william blair , thomas nicolson , john tran , john boyd , professours of philosophy . learned men and writers . john sharp , doctour and professour of divinitie , a man well learned , and a good textuary . john cameron , principal , of whom i need say no more , but that he was the great cameron so well known to the world by his excellent prelections on the new testament . he acquired so much fame in france , where he was professour of divinitie in saumur , that king james brought him to scotland , hoping that his learning and worth would have had some effects on the puritans : but he finding them untractable , went back to france , where he lived and died in great esteem . robert boyd , principal , was a very excellent person , and of considerable learning : he wrote a large commentary on the ephesians . john strang , doctour of divinity , principal , a man of great parts , extraordinary subtilty , and of a most solid reason , as appears by his excellent books de voluntate dei in actibus humanis , and de scriptura sacra . david dickson , professour of divinitie , a man wonderfully esteemed and reverenced for his piety by the covenanters , not unlearned : he wrote a commentary on s. matthew's gospel , on the psalms , and the epistles to the romans and hebrews ; also a book of practical divinitie , called therapeutica sacra , which he wrote in latin. robert bailie , professour of divinity , and afterwards principal , a learned and modest man : though he published some very violent writings , yet those flowed rather from the instigation of other persons , then his own inclinations . he has left a great evidence of his diligence and learning in his opus chronologicum . alexander nubet and james ferguson , two ministers much esteemed , were bred in this university : they wrote each of them commentaries on some of the epistles . george hutchinson was also bred here , who was accounted one of the greatest preachers of the presbyterian party , and was a learned man : he wrote on the twelve minor prophets , on job , and on the gospel of saint john. he died anno 1674. george buchanan was a person that deserves a higher character then i can give him : but it is done to such advantage in the foregoing history , that i must referre the reader to it , page 325. the vniversitie of aberdene . in the reign of king alexander the second , anno 121 — there was a studium generale in collegio canonicorum , where there were professours and doctours of divinitie , and of the canon and civil laws , and many learned men have flourished therein . king james the fourth , and william elphingston , bishop of aberdene , procured from pope alexander the sixth the privilege of an universitie in aberdene , anno christi 1494. it is endowed with as ample privileges as any universitie in christendom ; and particularly the foundation relates to the privileges of paris and bononia , but hath no reference to oxford or cambridge , because of the wars between scotland and england at that time . the privileges were afterwards confirmed by pope julius the second , clement the seventh , leo the tenth , and paul the second ; and by the successours of king james the fourth . the bishop of aberdene is perpetual chancellour of this universitie , and hath power to visit in his own person and to reform abuses : and although he be not a doctour of divinitie , yet the foundation gives him power of conferring that degree . the office of vicechancellour resides in the official or commissary of aberdene . the rectour , who is chosen yearly , with the assistence of his four assessours is to take notice of abuses , &c. in the universitie , and to make a return thereof to the chancellour . if one of the masters happen to be rectour , then is his power devolved upon the vice-chancellour . the colledge was founded by bishop william elphingston , anno 1500. and was called the king's colledge , because king james the fourth took upon him and his successours the special protection of it . persons endowed were , a doctour of theologie , who was principal ; the canon law ; the civil law ; physick ; a professour of humanity to teach grammar ; a subprincipal to teach philosophy ; a cantor ; a sacrist ; six students of divinitie ; three students of the laws ; thirteen students of philosophy ; an organist ; five singing-boys , who were students of humanitie . benefactours . bishop william elphingston , the founder , built most part of the fabrick , furnished the great steeple with ten bells , gave many costly ornaments , as hangings , books , &c. king james the fourth bestowed upon the colledge the rents of the hospital of saint germans in lothian , whereof the tithes of the parishes of aberluthnot in mernis , of glenmuik and glengairden in mar , are a part ; as also the tithes of the parishes of slanes and furvie in buchan . king james the sixth bestowed upon it the rents of the carmelite friers of bamff , the chaplainries of westhall and fallowroull . king charles the first gave to the colledge two parts of the revenues of the bishoprick of aberdene , so long as the see should remain vacant , anno 1641. upon which donation , eight bursars more were endowed , and the universitie was called the caroline universitie . king charles the second , by the advice of the estates of parliament , did bestow upon it , anno 1672. the stipends of all those churches which should happen to be vacant within the dioceses of aberdene , murray , ross , and cathnes , and that for seven years following the date of the act. gawin dumbar , bishop of aberdene , built the south-quarter of the colledge , and the houses belonging to the prebendaries , and did perfect whatsoever bishop elphingston left unfinished . william stewart , bishop of aberdene , built the library , chapter-house , vestry-house , a school , and chambers for the chaplains . duncan sberar , parson of clat , gave certain lands towards the maintenance of bursars . nicolaus hay , professour of the civil law , and official of aberdene , gave maintenance to bursars . robert maitland , dean of aberdene , procured the annexation of the deanry to the colledge , 1579. walter stewart , principal , procured the annexation of his rectory of methlick to the colledge . sir thomas burnet of leyis endowed three bursars . james wat , rectour of snaith in yorkshire , gave certain lands towards the maintenance of a student of divinitie . alexander reid , doctour of physick , left in legacy to the colledge two hundred pounds of english money : he also left his books to the library . john forbes , doctour and professour of divinitie , did purchase two houses , and left the one for the accommodation of his successours professours of divinitie , and the other for the use of the cantor . the following persons left their books to the library . andrew strachan , doctour and professour of divinitie . george clerk , a minister . thomas garden . george anderson . sir francis gordon . alexander blackball , student of divinitie , resident at london . thomas mercer , burgess of aberdene . principals . 150 — . hector boeth , or boyes , ( descended from the boeths of panbride in angus , ) born in dundee , and bred up in letters in the universitie of paris , was the first principal . besides his history of the scots , he wrote the lives of the bishops of aberdene . 153 — . william hay , subprincipal , was his successour . 1552. john bissait continued six years , and resigned his place ( because of his infirmitie proceeding from long sickness ) to 1558. alexander anderson , subprincipal , who was also parson of tyrie , and vicar of kinkell . this man was a great scholar , and a subtil disputant , but no great friend to the colledge . for the hatred he bare to the reformed religion , he alienated some of the colledge-revenues , destroyed many of its writings and evidences , whereby many lands and other rents belonging to saint germans are quite lost ; sold the ornaments , books , and other furniture belonging to the colledge . commendable he was in one thing ; for when some of the reformers would have taken away the lead and bells , repulit vim ferro . he was afterwards turned out , and the place conferred upon 1569. alexander arbuthnot , ( brother to the baron of arbuthnot , ) parson of arbuthnot and logy buchan , a modest , learned , and pious divine . 1584. walter stewart , subprincipal , was his successour , a very hopefull person , taken away in the thirty-sixth year of his age . 1593. upon his death , david rait , ( of the house of halgreen in the mernis , ) sub-principal , was preferred to the place . he continued principal fortie two years . 1634. to him succeeded william leslie doctour of divinitie , subprincipal , a man of great learning . in his time , anno 1634. a storm of wind beat down the top of the great steeple , which afterwards was built more stately , consisting of four arches supporting a crown with a globe and cross . principal leslie was for his loyalty thrust out by the covenanters , and in his room was elected 1640. william guild , doctour of divinitie , minister in aberdene and one of the chaplains to king charles the first ; a learned and worthy person . he built the tradesmens hospital in aberdene , left considerable legacies to the poor , and bequeathed his books to the library of saint andrews . anno 1649. the general assembly gave a commission to some ministers and lay-elders to reform the colledge , and to expell the malignants . persons thrust out . doctour william guild , principal ; alexander middleton , subprincipal ; patrick gordon , george middleton , professours of philosophy . persons put in . the commissioners at that time did not unanimously agree whom to put in ; and considering ( winter drawing near ) that the colledge could not be well governed , unless there were a principal or subprincipal , therefore they ordered the subprincipal to continue , till his place were supplied by another . shortly after , the masters restored the principal ( in despite of all opposition ) to his place . but anno 1651. general monk , sent five colonels to reform the coledge ; colonel fenwick , moseley , owen , disborough , and smith . at this reformation both principal and subprincipal were again turned out : gilbert rewle was substituted in the room of the latter , and the place of the former was conferred upon 1652. john row , an independent minister in aberdene , a person well seen in the latin and greek languages , and not ill in the hebrew . in his time , anno 1657. was laid the foundation of the new work in the north-east corner of the colledge , of six stories high , consisting of twenty four chambers with chimneys and conveniences , a school , and a bulliard-house . the money that built it was given by the masters , and other well-disposed persons , whose names are written in a register called album amicorum collegii regii aberdonensis . mr. row continued principal till anno 1661. at which time william rait , minister at brichen , was preferred to the place . he stayed onely a year , and returned to brichen . 1662. alexander middleton , minister in old aberdene , and subprincipal , of whom before , succeeded him . professours of divinitie . the professour of divinitie was founded by the bishop , synod , and colledge of aberdene , anno 162 — . the first professour was 162 — . john forbes , doctour of divinity , a most pious , peaceable and learned divine . he continued till the year 163 — . and being by the magistrates of aberdene chosen to be one of the ministers of the town , left for his successour 1634. andrew strachan , doctour of divinity , who lived little above a year after his instalment . 1635. doctour forbes was chosen professour again , and continued till for his loyalty he was thrust out by the covenanters , anno 1639. shortly after he went over into holland , where he published his instructiones historico-theologicae , and returning home died in his house of corse , anno 165 — . 164 — . william douglas , minister at forgue , succeeded doctour forbes . he died anno 1665. 1673. henry scongal , parson of achterless , was after some years vacancy preferred to the place . the election of the rectour , dean of facultie , professour of the oriental languages , professours of philosophy , janitor , &c. is by the major part of the masters : but the principal and the rest of the prebendaries are chosen not onely by the major part , but also by four procuratores nationum . in all the elections the foundation gives the principal one great privilege : volumus enim ut in omnibus hisce electionibus , principalis habeat vocem nominativam , electivam , & conclusivam : which seems to be a negative voice inherent in him . if a place be vacant , a bursar ( alumnus ) is to be preferred before any other , if he be sufficiently qualified . if a vacant place be not filled within one month , then it falls to the chancellour jure devoluto , who presents one for that time . the procuratores nationum their having a voice in the elections , imports the like to be in the scholars , from whom they derive their power of voting . the scholars are divided into four classes , according to the number of the dioceses or provinces wherein they live . the provinces are these . 1. provincia aberdonensis contains the shires of aberdene and bamff . 2. provincia moraviensis includes all those countries that lie on the north side of the river spey . 3. provincia angusiensis contains angus and mernis . 4. provincia landoniensis comprehends ( besides lothian ) all the rest of scotland . the students of each province do chuse a procuratour to give up their vote in the election . every michaelmas , the masters convene after ending of the ten weeks vacation , and a probleme is affixed on the colledge-gates , inviting young scholars to come and dispute for a burse , ( which is their maintenance at the colledge . ) to these are prescribed exercises or themes to make , then latin authours in prose and verse to expound : and the first four ( for so many burses are void at every commencement ) who are reckoned to be the best scholars , are preferred . in october the students begin to convene . they wear a red or scarlet gown with hanging sleeves ; but those who are bursars , a black gown with a girdle . their time of continuance at the universitie is four years . they are ranked into four classes . to those of the first class is taught the greek language . the students of the second class do learn logicks and metaphysicks . those of the third class ( who at the year's end are bachelours of arts ) do learn ethicks and general physicks . the fourth and highest class do compleat their course with special physicks and mathematicks . the time of the commencement of masters of arts is in july ; the manner thus . before the day appointed , those who are to receive their degree do publish their theses , inviting all learned men and scholars to come and dispute . at the day appointed , great preparation is made , the candidati are apparelled in black , with black gowns , and at ten of the clock all go into the publick school , where the professour of philosophy or regent , who is to conferre the degree , makes a long speech ( beginning with a prayer ) to the auditours : which being ended , the disputes begin , and continue till four or five of the clock . then they take a little refreshment , and so return to the graduation , ( laureation . ) the regent doth tender to the candidati the following oath : ego , a.b. coram omniscio & omnipotenti deo , religionem & fidem , unicam & solam orthodoxam , in ecclesia scoticana palàm propositam , professurum me , & ab omnibus pontificiorum & aliorum quorumcunque haeresibus longè abhorrentem , spondeo , voveo , juro . insuper , universitati buie , almae parenti , cui banc ingenii culturam debeo , liberaliter relaturum me nutritiam quam potero , eâdem fide solenniter promitto . quòd si fidem sciens & volens fefellero , arcanorum cordis recessuum scrutstarem deum , ultarem & vindicem non recuso . ità me adjuvet deus . after the oath one of the candidati ascends the desk , and the regent taking into his hand a hat or cap , with these following words doth give him his degree . ego eâdem authoritate , quam summi ac potentissimi principes almae buic vniversitati amplissimam indulsêre , te a.b. in artibus liberalibus , & disciplinis philosophicis , magistrum creo , proclamo , constituo , renuncio : tibíque potestatem do , legendi , scribendi omniáque id genus alia committendi , quae bîc , aut ubivis gentium , artium magistris concedi solet . et in signum manumissionis tuae , caput tuum hoc pileo ( putting the cap on the scholar's head ) adorno : quod ut tibi felix faustúmque sit , deum optimum maximum precor . insuper , librum hunc tibi apertum trado : ut ingenii tui aliquod specimen coram celebri hoc coetu edas , rogo . then the graduate hath a short speech to the auditours , and so the ceremony is ended with clapping of hands , founding of trumpets , shouting , &c. thus are all the candidati graduated one after another . the same way almost is used in all the universities of scotland . concerning the graduation of bachelours and doctours of divinitie , law , and physick , i can give no account . present masters and professours . john menzeis , professour of divinitie in the marischal colledge of aberdene , rectour . doctour lewis gordon , dean of facultie . alexander middleton , dean of aberdene , principal . henry scougal , professour of divinitie . george nicolson , professour of the laws . patrick vrqhuart , doctour and professour of physick . andrew massie , subprincipal . patrick gordon , professour of humanitie , and of the oriental languages . robert forbes , george middleton , john buchan , professours of philosophy . there are also a student of divinitie , fifteen bursars of philosophy , a cantor , who is master of the musick-school in the town , an oeconomus , a janitor , a cook , a gardener , and other inferiour servants . learned men and writers . hector boeth , principal according to the learning of the times he lived in , was very considerable : for whose character see page 68. in the foregoing history . john leslie , canonist in the king's colledge , and official of aberdene , was a very worthy person , and of great learning in those days he lived in : he suffered much for his loyalty to his princess queen mary . john forbes , doctour and professour of divinity . all i shall say to this great man is , that he was one of the best scholars that ever our kingdom bred , as will apppear to all that ever read his instructiones historico-theologicae , which these unhappy times suffered him not to finish , to the great regret of all learned men . his irenicum does also shew both his learning and moderation . but his piety and devotion was so signal , that his name will be alwaies remembred there with great honour . william guild , doctour of divinity , principal . he wrote commentaries on several books of the old testament , a systeme of divinity , and many treatises against the papists . he had a fair estate , which he left wholly to pious uses . arthur johnston , doctour of physick , and rectour of the universitie , was an excellent poet. william douglas , professour of divinity , a man of great industry : he wrote some little treatises . there were also three brothers descended from a noble family , duncan , thomas , and gilbert burnet , who were bred here , and were in great esteem . the first was a doctour of physick , and practised in norwich : he was a learned , holy , and good man. the second was of the same profession , and likewise in great esteem in braintrey , where he practised physick . the third was a professour of philosophy , first at basil , then at montaubon ; and was in such esteem there , that a national synod of the protestants in france appointed his philosophical writings to be printed at the expence of the clergy . but he dying before his manuscripts were put in order , onely his book of ethicks was printed . they all three flourished about the year 1630. george middleton , doctour of physick , was once a professour of philosophy here ; a man of considerable parts , of good learning , and well skilled in the practice of physick . he died very lately . william gordon , doctour and professour of physick here , was a very worthy person , of great judgment , and well seen in that science . he died anno 164 — . james sandilands , doctour and professour of the laws here , and official of aberdene , was a learned man , and a great civilian . he died anno 164 — . many other learned men have been professours here , besides those who have had their education in this colledge . the marischal colledge of aberdene was founded by george keith earl marischal , anno 1593. persons endowed were , a principal , three professours of philosophy . since that time there have been added , a professour of divinitie mathematicks , a fourth professour of philosophy . twenty four poor scholars , benefactours , george earl mariscbal , founder , gave towards the maintenance of the professours certain lands lying near aberdene , and at bervie in mernis . the town of aberdene built most part of the edifice . thomas reid left an annual salary to a library-keeper . bernard cargill gave a considerable summe of money towards the maintenance of a professour of divinitie . duncan liddell , doctour of physick , left a considerable summe of money towards the maintenance of a professour of mathematicks . sir alexander irwing of drum left in legacy towards the maintenance of poor scholars , or bursars , of philosophy and divinity , a thousand pounds sterling mony . king charles the first bestowed on the colledge the third part of the rents of the bishoprick of aberdene , so long as the see should continue vacant , anno 1641. alexander reid , doctour of physick , left in legacy to the colledge and grammar-school two hundred pounds of english mony . alexander ross , doctour of divinity , minister in aberdene , william guild , doctour of divinity , minister in aberdene , patrick dune , doctour of physick , each of them gave mony to maintain bursars . several of the benefactours left their books to the library . principals . 1593. robert howy , first principal . 159 — . gilbert gray . 160 — . andrew aidie . 161 — . william forbes , doctour of divinity , afterwards bishop of edinburgh . 162 — . patrick dune , doctour of physick . 1639. william moir . 1663. james leslie , doctour of physick . professours of divinity . 162 — . robert baron , doctour and professour of divinity afterwards bishop elect of orkney . 164 — . john menzeis . present professours . george meldrum , minister in aberdene , rectour . james leslie , doctour of physick , principal . john menzeis , professour of divinity . duncan liddell , professour of mathematicks . robert paterson , george peacock , john farqbuar , john paton , professours of philosophy . the earl marischal is the onely patron of this colledge . learned men and writers . william forbes , doctour of divinity , principal , was a person of rare endowments , vast learning , and a celebrated preacher . he was the first bishop of edinburgh , and indeed a most holy person , of whom all that ever knew him give this character , that they never saw him but they thought his heart was in heaven . he was indeed a fit pattern to all that should come after him . robert baron , doctour and professour of divinity , was a person of incomparable worth and learning . he had a clear apprehension of things , and a rare facultie of making the hardest things to be easily understood . he is well known by his book de objecto formali fidei , and his metaphysicks and other small treatises : there are many other excellent manuscripts of his that are not yet published : and he bare the greatest share of that famous debate anno 1638. between the doctours of aberdene and the covenanters . alexander reid , doctour of physick , was bred here : he grew very famous in london , and left a great part of his estate to pious uses in and about the places of his education . duncan liddell , doctour of physick , was a person much esteemed for his learned writings , as his book de febribus , and several other books which he wrote . but since i have named some physicians educated in aberdene , i must not pass over sir alexander fraser , his majesties's first physician , whose great learning and happy practice of physick , as they have raised him to such esteem and dignity , so his constant loyalty and high generosity do answer that noble race of the frasers from whom he is descended . the vniversity of edinbvrgh was founded by king james the sixth of blessed memory ; for anno 1580. upon the magistrates of that citie 's supplication and address to him for that effect , he granted to them a charter under the great seal , allowing them the full liberty and privilege of an university within their town . but the foundation was not perfected till anno 1582. the privileges of this university are the same with those of any other university in the kingdom . the dignity of chancellour and vice-chancellour doth reside in the magistrates and town-council of edinburgh , who are the onely patrons . i do not find that ever the dignity was conferred upon any single person . the persons founded were , a principal or warden , a professour of divinitie , four masters or regents ( for so they are called ) of philosophy , a professour or regent of humanitie ( humanarum literarum and philologie . since the first foundation , the town hath added a professour of hebrew , anno 1640. and doctour conradus otto , a learned jew , was the first professour : and a professour of mathematicks , preferring james gregory , fellow of the royal society , to the place , anno 1674. benefactours . king james the sixth , founder . the colledge was built , and the masters and bursars are maintained , by the publick and private benevolence of the citizens of edinburgh . some donations have been by others , but not considerable . all the benefactours names are inserted in the books of the town-council , and in the register of the library ; and are also drawn in gold letters upon several places on the walls of the library , together with their several donations ; and also at the time of the publick commencement ( which is once every year ) they are recited ( vivâ voce ) in the hearing of all . the library was founded by clement litle , one of the officials or commissaries of edinburgh , anno 1635. since which time it is much increased , both by donatives from the citizens , as also from the scholars , who are more in number here then in any other colledge in the kingdom . principals . 1583. robert rollock , one of the ministers of the citie , who was likewise professour of divinity , ( for all the principals here are primarii professores theologie , ) was the first principal , and rectour of the universitie . 1600. henry charters . 1620. patrick sands . 1622. robert boyd . 1625. john adamson . 1653. robert leighton , who was afterwards preferred to be bishop of dumblane . 1662. william colvil . 1675. andrew cant. professours of divinitie . 162 — . andrew ramsay . 1630. john sharp , doctour of divinity . 1650. david dickson , 1664. william keith , doctour of divinity . 1675. lawrence charters . present professours . andrew cant , principal . lawrence charters , professour of divinity . alexander dickson , hebrew professour . james pillan , john wishart , john wood , william paterson , professours of philosophy . gilbert mackmurdo , professour of humanity . william henderson , library-keeper . no professour of mathematicks since mr. gregorie's death . there is no coat of arms peculiar to this universitie ; but the magistrates allow them to use the arms of the city . learned men and writers . robert rollock , principal a person of great worth and learning . he wrote commentaries on the psalms and some of the prophets : some sermons and pieces of devotion were also published by him : but of him see the former history , page 454. henry charters , principal , a person of great modesty and humility , and well seen in theological learning . patrick sands , doctour of divinity , principal , a man very learned in the mathematicks . john adamson , principal , a man of great learning , and of very quick parts . alexander henderson , rectour of the universitie , and one of the ministers in the city , the greatest ring-leader of the covenanters , and often employed by them in the affairs of church and state , both in scotland and england , was a person of great gravity and composedness , and of considerable learning . that debate between his late majesty and him at newcastle 1646. about church-government , and the occasion he then had of knowing that blessed martyr , wrought much upon him , so that he went bak to scotland much changed in his principles ; and it was believed , that if he had lived , he would have been very instrumental in the king's service ; but he died soon after , and was much lamented , being the most universally-esteemed man of all the party . william colvil , principal , a man of very moderate temper . he was deposed by the covenanters , and yet he would never accept preferment , though divers bishopricks were profered to him . he wrote divers pieces , which are printed , in english , and ethica christians in latin. william keith , doctour and professour of divinity , a man of great learning , who had diligently studied both the fathers and schoolmen , and was a great master of languages , being very well skilled in the hebrew and rabbinical learning . he was wholly mortified and denied to the world , and led a most severe and ascetical kind of life . he died anno 1674. i forbear to mention those learned professours in the four universities who are yet alive ; and therefore i leave it to those who shall follow , to celebrate their fame to posterity . chap. 4. of the government and laws of scotland the kingdom of scotland hath been governed by kings in as long a succession as any nation in the world . the king is an absolute and unaccountable monarch , and ( as the law calls him ) a free prince , of a sovereign power ; having as great liberties and prerogatives by the laws of this realm , and privilege of his crown and diademe , as any other king , prince or potentate whatsoever . so that it is delivered as a maxim in the heads of our law , that all jurisdiction stands and consists in the king's person , by reason of his royal authority and crown , and is competent to no subject , but flows and proceeds from the king having supreme jurisdiction , and is given and committed by him to such subjects as he pleases . the crown of scotland descends by inheritance , the heir female not being excluded ; and the undoubted right to it has been for above three hundred years in the family of the stewarts , and is now in the person of king charles the second , whom god long preserve . upon the death of a king , the next heir is presently king and the coronation is onely a solemn instalment in that which was his right before . all the difference between our kings before and after their coronation is , that they hold onely conventions of estates , but no parliaments , before they are crowned : of the distinction of which an account shall be given afterwards . when a king is crowned , he swears the oath appointed to be taken at the coronation , which before the reformation was no other then the oath set down in the roman pontifical to be sworn by kings ; for there is no provision made about it in our laws : but at the reformation it was enacted , that all kings at the time of their coronation should make their faithfull promise by oath , &c. which oath is to be found in that act , and to it the reader is referred . the prerogatives of the crown are great ; the power of peace and war , the power of raising and arming the subjects , the power of the mint , the nomination of all officers , both of the state , and of war and justice , ( except some sheriffs that are such by inheritance , ) the power of calling , adjourning , ( prorogation is not in our law ) and dissolving of parliaments , the giving the votes of parliament the authority of laws , the executing of the law , and the pardoning of offences , are clearly and onely in the crown . but to these , other great additions have been made in the two parliaments held since his majestie' 's restauration . for whereas the supremacy in ecclesiastical affairs was always in the crown since the reformation ; yet in the reign of king james the sixth the power of the general assembly was raised very high by law , which was the chief foundation of the late troubles ; it being pretended , that it was contrary to law for the king to introduce any thing into the church without the consent of a general assembly . it was therefore enacted in parliament , that the external government and polity of the church was wholly in the king's power ; and that his orders sent to the privy council , and published by them , about all ecclesiastical matters , meetings and persons , were to be obeyed by the subjects , any law or practice to the contrary notwithstanding . so that in all matters that relate to the chuch-government the king's power is absolute . the second point is about the militia . by the ancient laws of scotland , a all the king's subjects were to assist him in his wars . upon which a great enlargement of the king's prerogative was grafted of late by two b acts of parliament ; the kingdom of scotland offering to the king , to raise and arm twenty thoussand foot and two thousand horse , and to furnish them with forty days provision , to march into any of his majestie 's dominions of scotland , england or ireland , for suppressing any foreign invasion , intestine trouble or insurrection , or for any other service wherein his majestie 's honour , authority or greatness may be concerned . and these forces , by another act , are to give due obedience to all such directions as they shall receive from his majestie 's privie council . a third point is the ordering and disposing of trade with forein nations , c and the laying of restraints and impositions upon forein imported commodities ; which is declared a prerogative of the crown . with these sacred rights is the crown of scotland cloathed . the king's revenue consisted anciently most in the crown-lands which could not be alienated but by act of parliament , and in the wards and marriages of the vassals of the crown . but most of these have been of late years given away , and most of the tenures of lands are changed , although there has been no general law for taking away the wards . the revenue is now raised out of the customes and the excise . the last is given to this king for life , but the former is in the crown for ever . the rest is raised out of what remains of the crown-lands and the wards . the persons nearest in bloud to the king are , first , all the issue of king james and king charles ; which are so well known to every one , that they need not be repeated . next to them are all that are descended from the daughter of king james the second , ( since whom , till the queen of bohemia , no collateral branch sprung from the royal family of whom any issue remains , ) who was married to james lord hamilton , and had issue , first , james , created earl of arran , whose son was the duke of chastelberault , from whom by two sons and two daughters are descended the families of hamilton and abercorn , and the families of huntly and launderdail . and by an act of parliament , signed by all the three estates , ( the original whereof is yet extant , ) in the reign of queen mary , the duke of chastelberault's family is declared , next the queen and her issue , the rightfull heir of the crown . the sister of king james the third bare likewise to the lord hamilton a daughter , married to the earl of lennox , from whom descended the family of lennox . there is no other branch of the royal family , since it was in the line of the stewarts , except the earl of cassils his family , whose ancestour , the lord kennedy , married king james the first 's sister , from which mariage that family is descended . and so much of the royal family . the chief and supreme court is the high court of parliament , which is made up of three estates . the first is the ecclesiastical , that of old consisted of the bishops and mitered abbots , but since the reformation consists onely of archbishops and bishops . the second estate is the nobility , who were anciently divided into the greater barons and the lesser , ( for every man that holds lands of the crown with a privilege of holding a court , much like the lord of a manour in england , is called a baron , ) and all were obliged to appear personally in parliament , ( for proxies were never allowed by the law of scotland , ) and give the king counsel . this proved a very heavy burthen to the small barons , upon which they desired to be excused from their attendance in parliament : and this was granted to them as a favour in king james the first 's reign . and though by that act they might have sent two or three , or more , to represent them from every shire ; yet they made no use of that for above 150 years : but king james the sixth , to balance the nobility , got them restored to that right ; so that ever since there are two sent from every shire , who are commissioners for the shires . the third estate is the burroughs , every one of which chuseth one commissioner ; onely the city of edinburgh , as the metropolis , chuseth two . the parliament is summoned by proclamation made at the head-burrough of every shire 40 days before they meet ; upon which the shires and burroughs meet about their elections . every man that holds lands of the crown , that in the rolls of the taxation ( the ancient name of subsidies or assessments ) are valued at 40 shillings scotish mony of taxation to the king , which will be in real value about ten pounds sterling a year , is an electour , and may be elected , so he be rightly vested in the land , or ( according to the scotish terms ) infeoft and seised , and be not at the king's horn , ( that is , under an outlawry . ) the electours subscribe the commissions they give , and so their commissioner is returned : and if there be cross elections , the parliament is the onely judge . in the burroughs the common-council of the town makes the election . when the day comes in which the parliament is to be held , the regalia , the crown , sceptre , and the sword of state , which are kept in the castle of edinburgh , are brought down in state to the king's palace , and are to be carried by three of the ancientest earls that are upon the place , bare-headed , before the king or his commissioner . in the great court before the king's palace all the members of parliament do mount on horseback with foot-cloaths , &c. the burgesses ride first , the commissioners of the shires next ; then the lords , viscounts , and earls , in their robes , the last of whom do carry the regalia , the lion herauld , with some heraulds and pursevants riding before the honours ; last of all , when the king is present in person , rides the lord chancellour , bearing the great seal : but this is not done before a commissioner . after these rides the king or his commissioner , with the high constable ( who is by inheritance the earl of arroll ) on his right hand , with a white batton on his hand ; and the great marischal ( who is also by inheritance the earl marischal ) on his left hand , with a silver batton in his hand . if the king be present in person , the marquesses and dukes ride after the earls ; but if his commissioner onely be there , they follow him at some distance . at the outward gate of the parliament-house they all alight off their horses , and the earl marischal receives and conducts the king to the inner gate , where he is received by the high constable , and led into the house where the parliament is held . the throne is raised six steps high , with a state over it ; and there the king , or the commissioner in his absence , sits . and in the first step under him , on a bench , sits the lord chancellour , with other officers of state on both hands of him . in the next step under these sit the lords of session , or judges . on the right hand of the throne is the bishops bench , that rises up three steps and rows of benches . on the highest the two archbishops sit , and in the lower steps sit the bishops according to the dignity of their sees . on the left hand of the throne there is another great bench of three steps and rows of benches , on which sit the nobility according to their precedency . in the middle of the floor there are two tables ; on the one of them the regalia are laid , and in two great chairs by them sit the constable and the marischal : at the other table sits the lord clerk of registers with his deputy-clerks , who are the clerks of the parliament . there are also fourms placed on the floor : those on the right side are for the commissioners of the shires , and those on the left hand are for the commissioners of the burroughs . when all are placed , the parliament is fenced ( as the phrase is ) in the king's name . then the king speaks to them , ( if he be present , ) sitting in his robes , with the crown on his head , all standing up bare-headed : but when a commissioner represents him , he is in an ordinary sute , and stands and speaks also bare-headed , ( nor is the commissioner covered but when there is pleading at the bar , but continues bare-headed , as all the members are , ) and tells them the reason for which they are called together ; which is enlarged upon by the lord chancellour . then they goe about the chusing of the lords of the articles , who are eight for every state , who have been chosen in different ways . sometimes the bishops did chuse the eight lords of the nobility , and the nobility eight for the bishops ; at other times the bishops did chuse their own eight , and the nobility their eight : but now it is settled by an act of parliament , that the king or his commissioner names eight of the bishops , the lords chuse eight for themselves : and those sixteen do chuse eight commissioners for the shires , and as many commissioners for the burroughs . these thirty two are the committee of parliament to prepare matters . when a bill is drawn by them , it is brought into the parliament . and anciently all these bills were brought in the last day of parliament , on which the members ride in the same state as they do the first day : and the bills being read , they were put to the vote of parliament , and either were approved , or not : and then being approved , were presented to the king , who by touching them with the sceptre gave his assent to them , which also is done by his commissioner in his absence ; if he refused to touch them , they were of no force . but of late times matters have been at full length and freely debated in parliament . they sit all in one house , and every one answers distinctly to his name , and gives his vote , which is in these terms , i approve , or not : onely those who are not satisfied one way or another . say , non liquet ; which is a great ease to those who are consciencious , and a common refuge to the cunning politician : the major vote carries it . no dissents or protests are allowed in publick acts , but are accounted treasonable ; but in private acts , that relate to mens properties and rights , any one may protest for his interest . after all business is ended , the king or his commissioner makes a speech to them , and dissolves them . a convention of estates is made up of the same members that constitute a parliament , but can make no laws ; onely that can lay impositions on the subjects : they do not sit in state , and have been most used before the kings were crowned . the lord chancellour is president in both these courts , and the votes are taken and numbered by the clerk of registers . and whatever acts are passed in parliament or convention , are to be proclaimed soon after their dissolution at the publick mercat-cross of edinburgh , by the lion herauld , ( who is at present sir charles erskin of cambo , ) with a great deal of state and ceremony ; after which they are obligatory on the subjects . and so much for the parlaiment and the three estates , whose authority is supreme : and it is enacted , that none of the lieges shall presume to impugn the dignity and authority of the three estates , or to seek or procure the innovation or diminution of the power and authority of the same three estates , or any of them , in time coming , under the pain of treason . the government of the kingdom being wholly in the crown , the king administers it by his officers of state and privy council . the officers of state are eight . the first is the lord chancellour , who is keeper of the great seal , and president in all courts where-ever he is , except in the exchequer . this office is now in the person of the right honourable john leslie earl of rothes . the second officer is the lord high treasurer , who governs the revenue , and presides in the exchequer . this office is now in commission . the third officer is the lord privie seal , who is at present the marquess of athol . these three take place of all the nobility . the fourth officer is the lord secretary , who keeps the signet , and is a lord by his office , and takes place of all of his rank . the office of secretary is executed by his grace the duke of lauderdail . the fifth officer is the lord clerk of registers , who has the charge of all the publick records , rolls and registers , and names all the clerks of parliament and session , and the keepers of publick registers . the sixth officer is the king's advocate , who is also called the lord advocate . he is commonly a judge , except in causes in which the king is concerned ; and in those he pleads in the king's name . the present advocate is sir john nubet of dirlton . the seventh officer is the lord treasurer deputy , who is assistent to the lord high treasurer , and is a check upon him , and presides in the exchequer in his absence . this office is executed by sir charles maitland of hatton . the eighth officer is the lord justice clerk , who assists the lord justice general in criminal causes . the present justice clerk is sir thomas wallace of craigie . all these have the title of lord , and the precedency of all under noblemen and their eldest sons . the privy council is chiefly employed about publick affairs , and judges of riots and any disturbance given to the peace of the kingdom . anciently the lords of the session were the king's council , and so are still called the lords of council and session : but the power of the privy council has been most raised since king james got the crown of england , that by reason of the king 's necessary absence from scotland , the king hath lodged much of his power with the privy council . lawyers do plead the causes of riots before them ; and when sentence is given , every privy councellour gives his vote , and the major vote carries it . lords of his majestie 's privy council . john earl of rothes , chancellour of the kingdom , lord president of the privy council . james lord archbishop of saint andrews his grace . john duke of lauderdail his grace . alexander lord archbishop of glasgow his grace . william marquess of douglas . john marquess of athol . archbald earl of argile . john earl of errol . george earl marischal . william earl of morton . alexander earl of murray . charles earl of mar. — earl of linlithgow . john earl of wigton . patrick earl of kinghorn . alexander earl of kelley . david earl of weemis . james earl of airley . william earl of dundonald . george lord ross . sir charles maitland of hatton . sir james dalrymple of stair . sir john nisbet of dirleton . sir thomas wallace of craigie . sir james fowlis of collington . sir william sharp of stainibill . sir william scot of ardross . sir george kinnaird of rossie . sir john wachop of nidrie . sir gerge monro of culkairn . lieutenant general thomas dalyell . the supreme court of judicature about the property of the subject is called the colledge of justice , or the session ; which was anciently an ambulatory court , but was settled as it now is by king james the fifth , anno christi 1532. to consist of fourteen , who are called senatours of the colledge of justice , or lords of councill and session , and a president ; to whom are added the lord chancellour , and four extraordinary lords , who are of the chief nobility . the extraordinary lords have no salary , and are not obliged to attendance ; but when they come , they have a vote . this court sits from the first of june till the last of july , and from the first of november till christmas-eve , and from the first of january till the last of february : they sit from 9 a clock in the morning till 12 , all the days of the week except sunday and monday . there is an outer house , and an inner . in the outer there is a bench , where one of the senatours sits a week , ( and all of them except the president have their turns in it , ) who hears all causes originally ; and where the case is clear , he gives sentence : but if it be difficult , or if either party desires it , he reports it to the rest of the senatours ; who either send out their answer by him , or if it be very intricate , and the parties or either of them desire it , do appoint it to be heard before themselves . this is a court of great dispatch . but besides the judge on the bench , there is a side-bar , to which one of the judges comes out weekly by turns , as in the former , and receives and answers all petitions and bills . the inner house , where all the rest of the senatours sit , is a court of great state and order . the senatours sit in a semicircle in robes : under them sit their clerks , who write the most material heads of all that is pleaded at the bar , where the pleadings are long and very learned . when the senatours have ( after all the parties are removed ) reconsidered their arguments , they give their sentence , and the major vote carries it . their final sentence determines the business , there lying no appeal from them , ( onely the parliament , as the supreme court , may review and repeal their sentence : ) and they are called decreets , from the latin decreta . senatours of the colledge of justice . sir james dalrymple of stair , president . sir john nubet of dirleton . sir thomas wallace of craigie . sir charles maitland of hatton . sir james fowlis of collington . sir robert nairn of strathurd . sir david nevoy of nevoy . sir peter wederburn of gosfurd . sir john baird of newbyth . sir john lockart of castlehill . sir richard maitland of pitrichie . sir david balfour of forret . sir thomas murray . sir james fowlis of — sir david falconar of newton . the law of scotland is made up of the municipal and civil laws . the municipal consists either of acts of parliaments , or of the customes and practicks of the colledge of justice , which are held of no less force then acts of parliament : and where neither of these contradicts the civil law , the roman law is of force . this makes our lawyers generally great civilians ; for they goe either to leiden , poictiers , or bourges , and study the civil law , in which some are learned to a high degree . the law of scotland is easie and regular , by reason of our registers , which are so full , that titles are much more easily cleared here then can be done where those registers are not : which may appear from the following instances . no man can have a right to any estate but by his being seised of it , which is done by the delivery of earth and stone ; upon which an instrument is formed called a sasine , and this must be registred within 60 days , otherwise it is of no force : by which means all secret conveyances are cut off : for if no sasine be passed upon them , or if these be not put in the publick registers , ( which every one may search , ) the conveyance is of no force . all bonds have a clause in them for inserting them in the publick registers ; and they being registred , without any farther action , by a charge of six days the debitor must make payment , otherwise writs called letters of horning , caption and poynding , are given out : by the first of which the party is under outlawry and rebellion , and forfeits to the king his personal estate ; and if he continues a year under it , the life-rent of his real estate : in which the creditor is to be preferred for his interest , the rest goes into the exchequer . by the letters of caption the party is seised on , and put in prison : nor is his house a place of security , but may be searched for him . by the letters of poynding the debitor's goods may be distrained , where-ever they can be found . a third instance , to which i shall adde no more , is , that any creditor may serve a writ on his debitor , called letters of inhibition , by which he can make no disposition of his goods or estate , till the party be satisfied ; and all is null that he does after that , if these letters be returned and registred within 21 days after they are served , otherwise they have no force . the next supreme court is the justice court , where all criminals are tried . it consisted anciently of a lord justice general , and a lord justice clerk , who was his assistent . the earls of argile had this office by inheritance : but king charles the first agreed with the earl of argile , and gave him the hereditary justiciarship in the high-lands , for which he laid down his pretensions to the other . the justice general is not bound to serve in person , but might doe it by deputies , and he commonly named two : but the parliament changed this anno 1669. and appointed four of the judges to sit in this court with the lord justice general and the lord justice clerk. all trials for life are in this court , which sits every friday in the time of session in the afternoon . here all the subjects , peers as well as commons , are tried : nor is there any difference between the trial of a peer and of a commoner , but that the greater part of the peers jury ( called by the scotish law an assize ) must be peers . fifteen make a jury . the foreman , who is called the chancellour of the assize , gathers and reports their votes : the major vote determines the matter . the present justice general is the earl of murray . the next supreme court is the exchequer . that consists of the lord treasurer , ( or the commissioners of the treasury , when it is in commission , ) the lord treasurer deputy , and some assistents , called the lords of exchequer , who have little power , the lord treasurer and the lord treasurer deputy carrying all matters in it as they please . here all the king's grants , pensions , gifts of wards , letters patents , and such like , are to be passed . and these are the supreme civil courts . the seat of those courts is edinburgh , which has been long the chief seat of the government : and though the making of circuits for giving justice has been oft begun ; yet the charge it puts the country to is found a greater inconvenience , then the bringing up all their affairs to edinburgh . next to these supreme courts there are other inferiour courts . and , first , there are many regalities in the kingdom , where the lord of the regality has a royal jurisdiction within his grounds , and power of life and death , besides many other great immunities and privileges . this began chiefly in church-lands ; for all the bishops and most of the abbots had these regalities granted them : some of the ancient and great peers likewise got the same power bestowed on them , but many more have lately got their lands erected into regalities . the judge is called the bailif of the regality , who sits as often as there is cause . most of the bailifs of the bishops are so by inheritance ; for these were given by the king , since a church-man cannot give a commission in causa sanguinis . there are also in all the shires of scotland sheriffs , who are the judges in all matters of meum and tuum , in thefts , and in all lesser crimes , as likewise in murthers , if the murtherer be taken in hot bloud , as they call it , when the person is newly slain . but though there lies no appeal in any court in this kingdom , yet there is somewhat equivalent to it ; for the supreme courts by a writ called an advocation may take any cause out of the hands of inferiour judges , and order it to be brought before themselves . most of the sheriffs were anciently such by inheritance : and it being in this kingdom no matter of charge , but of profit , it gave the hereditary sheriffs so great a power in their shires , that our kings of late have thought sit to agree with many of those sheriffs for their rights , by which it comes to pass that divers of them are now in the king's gift . the sheriffs may either sit and give judgment themselves , or doe it by a deputy ; which they most commonly doe , except in some greater cases . shires or counties of scotland , and their sheriffs . shires . sheriffs . the shire of edinburgh containeth middle lothian . sir charles maitland of hatton . the shire of berwick containeth mers . the earl of hume . the shire of peeblis containeth tweeddail . the earl of tweeddail . the shire of selkirk containeth the forrest of etterick .   the shire of roxburgh containeth teviotdail , lidisdail , eskdail , ewsdail , &c. duke of buckleugh . the shire of dumfreis containeth nithisdail , and annandail . earl of queensbury . the shire of wigton containeth the west part of galloway . sir patrick agnew of lochnaw . the shire of aire containeth kyle , carrict , and cunninghame . earl of dumfreis . the shire of renfrew containeth the barony of renfrew . earl of eglington . the shire of lanerick containeth clidsdail . duke of hamilton . the shire of dumbritton containeth lennox . duke of lennox . the shire of bute containeth the isles of bute and arran , &c. sir james stewart of — the shire of innerara containeth argile , lorn , kintyre , the most part of the west isles , as ila , jura , mull , wyist , terife , coll , lismore , &c. earl of argile . the shire of perth containeth athol , goury , glenshee , strath-ardel , braid albain , rainach , balwhidder , glenurqhuay , stormont , menteith , and strath-jern . marquis of athol . the shire of striveling lieth on both sides of the river forth . earl of mar. the shire of linlithgow containeth west lothian . earl of calendar . the shire of clackmannan containeth a small part of fife lying on the river forth towards striveling . sir david bruce of clackmannan . the shire of kinross containeth so much of fife as lieth between loch-leiven and the ochell hills . earl of morton . the shire of cowper containeth the rest of fife . earl of rothes . the shire of forfar containeth angus with its pertinents , as glen-ila , glen-esk , glen-prossin , &c. earl of south-esk . the shire of kincairden containeth mernis . earl marischal . the shire of aberdene containeth mar with its pertinents , as birse , glen-taner , glen-muik , strath-dee , strath-don , bray of mar and cromar , most part of buchan , forumarten , gareoch , and strathbogie-land . earl of dunfermline . the shire of bamff containeth a small part of buchan , strath-dovern , boyn , enzie , strath-awin and balveny . sir james baird of auchmedden . the shire of elgin containeth the eastern part of murray . robert dumbar of — the shire of nairne containeth the west part of murray .   the shire of innerness containeth badenoch , lochabyr , and the south part of ross . earl of murray . the shire of cromarty containeth a small part of ross lying on the south side of cromarty firth . sir john vrqhuart of cromarty . the shire of taine containeth the rest of ross , with the isles of sky , lewes , and harrigh . earl of seaforth . the shire of dornoch containeth sutherland , and strath-navern . earl of sutherland . the shire of weik containeth cathnes . earl of cathnes . the shire of orkney containeth all the isles of orkney and schetland .   the constabularie of hadington containeth east lothian , and lauderdail . duke of lauderdail . stewartries . stewards . strath-jern , earl of perth . menteith , earl of menteith . annandail . earl of annandail . kirkubright containeth the east part of galloway . earl of nithisdail . bailiaries . bailiffs . kile .   carrict . earl of cassils . cunninghame . earl of eglington . besides these , every man that holds a barony of the king has a baron-court , in which lesser matters are also judged , and they may fine and distrain . anciently these baron-courts might judge of life and death ; but that is now out of use . for all the other particulars that relate to the regalities , superiorities , and other things of the law of scotland , such as are curious may find full satisfaction in that most learned work of craigs de jure fendali , written in latin , and printed at edinburgh in folio . the military government in scotland of every county is not lodged in one person , but the regiments of foot are commanded by colonels , and the troups of horse by captains , named by the king , without any dependence upon one lord lieutenant : nor are there deputy-lieutenants , but the lieutenant-colonels and other officers are named by the king , as is usual in an army . the court of admiralty sits in leith , the chief sea-port of this kingdom ; but has not much business , except in times of war to judge of prizes . the present high admiral is his royal highness , james duke of york . the burroughs of scotland are of three sorts ; either royal burghs , burghs of regality , or burghs of barony . the former have commissioners in parliament , and besides are a state apart , for they meet yearly in a convention called the convention of burroughs , to which a commissioner comes from every one of them . there they make laws for themselves about trade , and other things relating to their corporations . they hold these meetings in a circuit around the chief , or , as they call them , the head burghs : and at the end of one convention , they name the time and place for the next . in these burghs there is a provost , who has the chief power ; and there are four bailiffs that are next to him in the government : there is also a dean of gild , who is the chief judge among the merchants , likewise a treasurer , and a common council ; the one half of which is chosen yearly by the merchants , the other half by the tradesmen ; who have likewise a court of their own , in which there is one from every trade , who is called the deacon of the trade , and a deacon conveener , who is their president , and calls a meeting of them when he pleases . those deacons are chosen yearly by all the freemen of their trade , and have a little jurisdiction over them . there are in most burghs great animosities and factions between the merchants and tradesmen . the burghs of regality are the towns where these lords hold their courts . the chief magistrates are named by the lord , the rest they chuse themselves . they have also great freedoms , little inferiour to the royal burghs ; onely they have no commissioners in parliament . the burghs of barony are mercat-towns , where the lord of the barony names some of their magistrates , and the corporation chuses the rest . in all these burghs the magistracy is no matter of burthen nor charge , but of power and advantage ; from whence arise great factions almost in them all . a catalogue of the free corporations or royal bvrghs in scotland . edinburgh , in lothian . linlithgow , in lothian . hadington , in lothian . north-berwick , in lothian . dumbar , in lothian . saint andrews , in fife . cowper , in fipe. dunfermlin , in fipe. kirkaldy , in fipe. craill in fipe. anstruther , in fipe. pittenweem , in fipe. dysert , in fipe. earles-ferry , in fipe. kinghorn , in fipe. burnt-island , in fipe. culross , in fipe. clackmannan , in fipe. queens-ferry , in fipe. dundee , in augus . montross , in augus . forfar , in augus . brichen , in augus . arbroath , in augus . kirkubright , in galloway . wigton , in galloway . whithorn , in galloway . stranraver , in galloway . glasgow , in clidisdail . lanerick , in clidisdail . elgin , in murray . nairn , in murray . forres , in murray . ranfrew , in ranfrewshire . pasley , in ranfrewshire . ruglen , in ranfrewshire . aberdene , in mar. kintor , in mar. bamff , in boyn . cullen , in boyn . innerness , in ross . tayne , in ross . air , in kyle . irwing , in cunninghame . rothsay , in bute . dumbarton , in lennox . innerara , in argile . jedburgh , in teviotdail . peeblis , in tweeddail . selkirk , in forrestshire . striveling , upon forth . dumblane , in menteith . innerkeithing , in fife . dornoch , in sutherland . annand , in annandail . dumfreis , in nithisdail . sanqbuar , in nithisdail . bervie , in mernis . innerowrie , in gareoch . the people of scotland are naturally candid and honest , stout and resolute , which makes them so much valued beyond the seas , the onely school of war to them since the happy conjunction of this island under one king. they naturally love their king. the nobility have great power , chiefly in the high-lands , where their families ( commonly called clannes ) depend absolutely upon the head of the name , whom they commonly call their chief . but the great power of the nobility of late years is much abated , yet they are still very considerable . the property of the subject is fully secured by law : and though the king has great prerogatives , yet the people have also great liberties and freedoms . the commissioners that have represented our kings since k. james was settled on the throne of england were as follows . king james the vi. john grabame , earl of montross , commissioner , 1604. george hume , earl of dumbar , commissioner , 1606. george keith , earl marischal , commissioner , 1609. alexander seaton , earl of dunfermlin , commissioner , 1612. james hamilton , marquess of hamilton , commissioner , 1621. anno 1625. king charles the i. crowned anno 1633. james hamilton , marquess of hamilton , commissioner , 1638. john stewart , earl of traquair , commissioner , 1639. james grahame , marquess of montross , governour , 1644. anno 1649. king charles the ii. crowned anno 1651. john middleton , earl of middleton , commissioner , 1660. john leslie , earl of rothes , commissioner , 1663. john maitland , duke of lauderdail , commisioner , 1669. a catalogue of the chancellovrs of the kingdom , since the year 1198. collected out of histories . 1198. william malvoisin , bishop of glasgow . 1220. william de boseo , bishop of dumblane . 1226. matthew kinninmouth , bishop of aberdene . 1239. william babington , bishop of glasgow . 1247. — abbot of — 1248. richard of innerkeithing , bishop of dumblane . 1259. gamelinus , bishop of saint andrews . 1273. william wishart , bishop of glasgow . 1280. william fraser , bishop of saint andrews . 1298. maurice , bishop of the isles . 1363. adam , bishop of brichen . 1372. patrick , bishop of brichen . 1380. john lyon , lord glammes . 1390. gilbert grimlaw , bishop of aberdene . 1409. william lawder , bishop of glasgow . 1434. john , bishop of brichen . 1436. sir william creighton of creighton . 1444. james bruce , bishop of dunkeld . 1448. patrick lyon , lord glammes . 1453. william sinclare , earl of orkney . 1463. george shorswood , bishop of brichen . 1474. john lang , bishop of glasgow . 1476. andrew stewart , lord evendail . 1484. william elphingston , bishop of aberdene . 1494. archbald douglas , earl of angus . 1497. george gordon , earl of huntlie . 1502. james stewart , archbishop of saint andrews . 1512. alexander stewart , archbishop of saint andrews . 1518. james beaton , archbishop of glasgow . 1526. gawin dumbar , archbishop of glasgow . 1534. william stewart , bishop of aberdene . 1539. cardinal david beaton , archbishop of saint andrews . 1561. george gordon , earl of huntlie . 1563. james douglas , earl of morton . 1567. george gordon , earl of huntlie . 1570. james douglas , earl of morton again . 1572. archbald campbell , earl of argile . 1575. john lyon , lord glammes . 1578. john stewart , earl of athol . 1579. coline campbell , earl of argile . 1584. james stewart , earl of arran . 1591. john maitland , lord of thirlstane . 1598. john grahame , earl of montross . 1604. alexander seaton , earl of dunfermlin . 1622. george hay , earl of hinnoule . 1635. john spotiswood , archbishop of saint andrews . 1641. john campbell , earl of lowdoun . 1660. william cunnighame , earl of glencairn . 1665. john leslie , earl of rothes , present lord high chancellour of scotland , 1676. writers of the scotish history . cornelius hibernicus . veremundus , a spaniard , archdeacon of saint andrews , wrote the history of the nation from its original till the reign of king malcolm the third . joannes à campo bello , or campbell . turgot , prior of durham , and bishop of saint andrews , wrote the lives of king malcolm canmoir and of his queen margaret . liber sconae , a chronicle written by the monks of scoon . liber pasletensis , the black book of paislay , a chronicle written by the monks of paislay . liber pluscartensis , a chronicle wriiten by the monks of pluscardy . one blind henry wrote the history of sir william wallace in scotish meeter . john barbour , archdeacon of aberdene , did write the life of king robert bruce in scotish meeter . john major , provost of saint salvator's colledge in saint andrews , wrote the history of the nation . william elphingston , bishop of aberdene , wrote a treatise of the scotish antiquities . hector boeth , or boyes , principal of the king's colledge of aberdene , wrote the history of the nation till the reign of king james the first ; continued till the reign of king james the sixth by john ferrerius a piemontoise , a monk of pluscardy . john balenden , archdeacon of murray , did translate boyes history into english . george buchanan , schoolmaster to king james the sixth , wrote the history of the nation till the year 1572. robert johnston wrote a continuation of the scotish history from the year 1572. to the year 1628. in latin , folio . john leslie , bishop of ross , wrote the history of the nation till the year 158 — . raphael holinshed , wrote the history of the nation till the reign of king james the sixth , centinued by francis thin . william cambden wrote a description of the kingdom . john dempster wrote an introduction to the scotish history . david chalmer wrote a treatise of the scotish saints . david hume of godscroft did write the history of the earls of douglas and angus . william drummond of hawthornden , did write the lives of the five king jameses . william sanderson wrote the lives of queen mary , king james the sixth , and king charles the first . john spotiswood , archbishop of saint andrews , did write the history of the church of scotland , from the first plantation of the christian faith therein , till the death of king james . george wishart , doctour of divinity , did write the actions of james marquess of montross . robert gordon of stralogh did write the theatrum scotiae , being a description of the whole kingdom , with the maps of every particular country , printed by john janson bleaw at amsterdam ; a very excellent work. the mercenary printer did him a double injury . first , in printing with his book , buchanan's seditious pamphlet de jure regni apud scotos ; it being sufficiently known that the authour was of no such principals , but always loyal . then , in dedicating that work to the usurper o. cromwell ; whereas the authour sent over to the printer , a dedication of his book to his most sacred majestie , at that time prince of wales : and the copy of that dedication , written with his own hand , is yet in the custody of his son , the reverend james gordon , parson of rothinay . thus much i thought fit to say in vindication of that worthy gentleman , who was one of the most learned persons of the age he lived it . dempster , in his apparatus to the scotish history , has promised a great many things to the world which he never performed : some have thought , that he onely amused people by the undertaking he mentions in that book : others believe that he knew of a great many scotish manuscripts beyond the seas , which were carried thither by monks and friers at the reformation . in most religious houses there was a chronicle written of the times , divers of which i have seen , that yet remain in scotland , some written in rithme , english and latine , some in prose : but there cannot be much made out of them , they being full of legends and idle stories . there are besides , very considerable manuscripts in scotland , that relate to private families ; but give an account of several publick transactions : as , the history of the families of the drummonds , the gordons , &c. but for a publick history of the kingdom , there is little more to be expected of past times , then what hath been already published : for as when edward the first conquered scotland , he carried the records and registers of that kingdom with him to london , so in the late invasion , cromwell thought it a very valuable pledge of the scotish nation to send up to the tower of london , all the publick records , rolls , and registers of the kingdom , which lay there till his majesty's happy restauration : after which , by the king's orders , they were sent down by sea , to be laid up in the castle of edinburgh ; but the ship that was loaded with them was cast away near the holy island . so they were all irrecoverably sunk and lost : therefore we must rely upon the credit of our ancient historians , since there are no means left to correct them by . a compleat catalogue of the bishops and archbishops succeeding each other in their several sees . bishops in scotland before its division into dioceses . 277. 1. amphibalus 370. 2. regulus 450. 3. ninian 460. 4. palladius 490. 5. hildebert 606. 6. columba 520. 7. servanus 650. 8. colman 669. 9. adamannus 689. 10. wiro 681. 11. plechelmus 700. 12. bonifacius 700. 13. macharius 700. 14. glacianus 700. 15. gervadius 496. 16. trevanus . 600. thomianus chromonus dagamus bathanus bishop bishops and archbishops of saint andrews . 840. 1. adrian 872. 2. kellach 896. 3. malifius 904. 4. kellach 2 d. 939. 5. malmore 6. malifius 2 d. 7. alwinus 8. maldwin 970. 9. tuthaldus 10. fothadus 1010. 11. gregorius 12. edmundus 1063. 13. turgot 1098. 14. godricus 1110. 15. eadmerus 1114. 16. robert 1159. 17. arnold 1161. 18. richard 1178. 19. hugo 1188. 20. roger * 1202. 21. william malvoisin , lord chancellour . 1231. 22. david benham 1251. 23. abel 1253. 24. gamelinus , lord chancellour . 1274. 25. william wishart 1280. 26. william fraser , lord chancell . 1300. 27. william lamberton 1328. 28. james bane 1332. 29. william landels 1385. 30. stephen 1386. 31. walter trail 1401. vacat sedes annis . 13. 1409. 32. henry wardlaw 1444. 33. james kennedy * 1466. 34. patrick grhame , first archbishop * . 1478. 35. william sbevez 1497. 36. james stewart * 1503. 37. alexander stewart * 1513. 38. andrew forman 1522. 39. james beaton , lord chancell . 1539. 40. david beaton , chardinal and lord chancellour . 1545. 41. john hamilton 1572. 42. john douglas 1575. 43. patrick adamson 1591. vacat sedes annis 15. 1606. 44. george gladstanes 1615. 45. john spotiswood , lord chanc , 1639. vacat sedes annis 23. 1662. 46. james sharp . bishops of dvnkeld . 1130. 1. gregorius 1172. 2. richard 1176. 3. cormacus 1180. 4. walder de bidden 1186. 5. john scot 1206. 6. richard provand 1213. 7. john leicester * 1217. 8. hugo de sigillo 1226. 9. matthem , lord chancellour . 1236. 10. galfride liverance 1249. 11. richard 1250. 12. richard of jennerkething , lord chancellour . 1272. 13. robert sutevile 1300. 14. matthew 1312. 15. william sinclare 1338. 16. duncan 1364. 17. michael of monimusk . 1376. 18. john peeblis 1396. 19. robert carden 1436. 20. donald macknaugtan 1437. 21. james kennedy * 1439. 22. alexander lawder 1441. 23. james bruce , lord chancellour . 1447. 24. john ralston 1450. 25. thomas lawder 1476. 26. james levington 1484. 27. george brown 1514. 28. gawan dowglas * 1522. 29. george creighton 1572. 31. robert creighton 1572. 31. james patton 1603. 32. peter . 1607. 33. james nicolson 34. alexander lindsay 1662. 35. george haliburton 1665. 36. henry guthry bishops of aberdene . 1010. 1. beanus 1040. 2. bornotius 1082. 3. cormachus 1121. 4. nectanus 1154. 5. edward 1163. 6. matthew kinninmouth . 1197. 7. john 1206. 8. adam 1227. 9. matthew , lord chancellour . 1228. 10. gilbert striveling 1239. 11. radolph 1246. 12. peter ramsay 1256. 13. richard pottock 1269. 14. hugh benham 1281. 15. henry cheen * 1329. 16. alexander kinninmouth 1341. 17. william deyn 1351. 18. john rait 1357. 19. alexander kinninmouth 1380. 20. adam cunninghame 1390. 21. gilbert greinlaw , lord chancellour . 1424. 22. henry leighton 1441. 23. ingram lindsay 1457. 24. thomas spence 1480. 25. robert blaceader 1484. 26. william elphingston , lord chancellour . 1514. 27. alexander gordon 1518. 28. gawan dumbar 1532. 29. william stewart , lord chan. 1546. 30. william gordon 1579. 31. david cunninghame 1603. 32. peter blackburn 1615. 33. alexander forbes 1618. 34. patrick forbes 1635. 35. adam ballanden 1662. 36. david mitchel 1663. 37. alexander burnet 1664. 38. patrick scougal bishops of mvrray . 1150. 1. william 1171. 2. simon 1184. 3. richard 1203. 4. brieius 1227. 5. andrew 1247. 6. simon 1256. 7. archbald 1303. 8. david murray 1330. 9. john pilmore 1367. 10. alexander barre 1397. 11. william spinie 1406. 12. john innes 1414. 13. henry leighton 1424. 14. columba dumbar 1434. 15. john winchester 1448. 16. james stewart 1450. 17. david stewart 1464. 18. william tulloch 1469. 19. andrew stewart * 1488. 20. andrew forman 1513. 21. james hepburn 1528. 22. robert schaw 1530. 23. alexander stewart * 1537. 24. patrick hepburn 1573. vacat sedes annis 33. 1606. 25. alexander douglas 26. john guthry . 1662. 27. murdo machenzie . bishops of brichen . 1260. 1. edward 2. turpinius 3. rodolphus 4. hugo 5. gregorius 1275. 6. william 1311. 7. john 1363. 8. adam , lord chancellour . 1372. 9. patrick , lord chancellour . 1384. 10. stephen 1414. 11. walter forrester 1434. 12. john , lord chancellour . 1463. 13. george shoreswood , lord chancellour . 1483. 14. john 1500. 15. walter meldrum 1542. 16. john hepburn 1556. 17. henry sinclare 1567. 18. — campbell 1606. 19. andrew lamb 1619. 20. david lindsay 1634. 21. walter whitfurd 1662. 22. david straughan 1671. 23. robert lowry bishops of dvmblane . 1160. 1. jonathus 1203. 2. simon 1210. 3. abraham 1218. 4. william de boseo , lord chan. 5. osbert 1233. 6. clement 1256. 7. robert 8. alpin 9. nicolaus 10. maurice 11. william 1363. 12. walter cambuslang 1400. 13. finlaw 1419. 14. william stephen 15. michael ochiltrie 16. robert lawder 1471. 17. john hepburn 1508. 18. james chisholme 1534. 19. william chisholme 1572. 20. anhrew grhame * 1615. 21. adam ballanden 1635. 22. james wedderburn 1662. 23. robert leighton 1671. 24. james ramsay bishops of ross . 1132. 1. gregorius 2. reynaldus 1213. 3. andrew murray 4. robert 1274. 5. matthew 6. thomas dundie 7. roger 8. alexander 9. thomas vrqhuart 10. alexander kilbuines 11. william bullock 12. thomas tulloch 13. henry cockburn 14. james woodman 15. thomas hay * 16. john guthry 17. john fraser * 18. robert cockburn 19. william elphingston 1481. 20. james hay * 1534. 21. robert carncross 1544. 22. david panter 1550. 23. henry sinclare 1564. 24. john leslie 1597. 25. david lindsay 1614. 26. patrick lindsay 27. john maxwell 1662. 28. john paterson bishops of caithnes . 1066. 1. s. darrus 1110. 2. andrew 3. john 4. adam 1223. 5. s. gilbert murray 1245. 6. william 1261. 7. walter 1271. 8. archbald 1288. 9. andrew 1301. 10. ferqbuard 1328. 11. david 1348. 12. thomas fingask 1360. 13. alexander 1404. 14. malcolm 1421. 15. robert strabock 1440. 16. john innes 1448. 17. william mudie 1460. vacat sedes annis 24. 1484. 18. andrew stewart 1517. 19. andrew stewart * 1542. 20. robert stewart * 1586. vacat sedes annis 13. 1599. 21. george gladstanes p606 . 22. alexander forbes 1617. 23. john abernethy 1662. 24. patrick forbes bishops of orkney . 1390. 1. william 1450. 2. william tulloch 1468. 3. william 4. andrew 1498. 5. edward 1530. 6. robert maxwell 1546. 7. robert reid 1559. 8. adam bothwell 1569. 9. robert stewart * 1606. 10. james law 1615. 11. andrew grhame * 12. george grhame 1639. 13. robert barron elect. 1662. 14. thomas sydserfe 1665. 15. andrew honniman bishops of edinbvrgh . 1633. 1. william forbes 1634. 2. david lindsay 1662. 3. george wishart 1671. 4. alexander young bishops and archbishops of glasgow . 599. 1. s. mungo 1129. 2. john achaian 1146. 3. john 4. herbert 5. angelramus , lord chancel . 6. joceline 7. eugenius 8. hugo , lord chancellour . 9. william malvoisin 1200. 10. florentius * 1207. 11. walter 1234. 12. william babington , lord chan. 1261. 13. john de chyan 1268. 14. nicolas mossat 1270. 15. william wishart , lord chancel . 1274. 16. robert wishart 1316. 17. john lindsay 1325. 18. stephen dundie 19. john wishart 20. william rae 1367. 21. walter wardlaw , cardinal . 1387. 22. matthew glendunning 1408. 23. william lawder , lord chanc. 24. john cameron 1446. 25. james bruce 26. william turnbull 27. andrew moorehead 28. john lang , lord chancellour . 1481. 29. robert blaccader , first archbish . 1500. 30. james beaton 1522. 31. gawan dumbar , lord chanc. 1552. 32. james beaton 1572. 33. james boyd 1581. 34. robert montgomery 1587. 35. william erskine vacat sedes james beaton restored 1603. 36. john spotiswood 1615. 37. james law 1634. 38. patrick lindsay 1662. 39. andrew fairfoul 1664. 40. alexander burnet 1670. 41. robert leighton 1674. alexander burnet restored bishops of galloway . 450. 1. s. ninian 681. 2. pleehelmus 740. 3. frithwaldus 768. 4. pethumus 778. 5. ethelbert 6. radulpbus 7. john 1440. 8. thomas spence 9. david 10. alexander 11. henry 12. george 1550. 13. andrew dury 1557. 14. alexander gordon 15. gawan hamilton 1615. 16. william cowper 1619. 17. andrew lamb 18. thomas sydserfe 1662. 19. james hamilton 1974. 20. john paterson bishops of argile . 1200. 1. evaldus 2. william 1240. 3. william 1350. 4. david 1425. 5. finlaw 6. george learmouth 7. robert montgomery 8. — boyd 9. — campbell 10. — kerswell 1636. 11. james fairlis 1662. 12. david fletcher 1666. 13. william scrowgie 1675. 14. arthur ross bishops of the isles . 277. 1. amphibalus 518. 2. macilla 3. michael 1203. 4. nicolas 1217. 5. reginald 1257. 6. richard 1289. 7. onacus 8. mauricius 9. marcus , lord chancellour . 1606. 10. andrew knox 11. john knox 1630. 12. john leslie 13. neil campbell 1662. 14. robert wallace vacat sedes . those bishops who have been the sons of kings , &c. or noblemen , are marked with an asterisk * . addenda . pag. 4. after the bishops of edinburgh , adde , the arms of the see of edinburgh are , azure , a saltier argent , in chief a miter of the second , garnished or. pag. 8. after the bishops of ross , adde , the arms of the bishoprick of ross are , argent , a bishop standing on the sinister , habited in a long robe close girt , purpure , mitred and holding in his left hand a crosier or , and pointing with the right to s. boniface on the dexter side , clothed , and both his hands placed on his breast , proper . pag. 10. after the bishops of galloway , adde , the coat armorial belonging to the see of galloway is , argent , s. ninian standing full-faced proper , cloathed with a pontifical robe purpure , on his head a miter , and in his dexter hand a crosier , or. ibid. in the bishops of argile , adde , then was — boyd promoted to this see , an. 162 — who , as he was descended from one of the noblest families in the kingdom , being brother to the lord boyd , so he was a very extraordinary person : he found his see full of ignorance and barbarity , scarce any churches or schools in it ; and in many places the very name of christ was not known : he set himself wholly to the work of the gospel , and planted many churches : he resided constantly in his diocese . and was a great example of piety and vertue . and for all the prejudices that are in these parts against that order , yet he is never named among them to this day but with great honour as an apostolical person . ibid. after the bishops of argile , adde , the arms of the see of argile are , azure , two crosiers disposed in saltier , and in chief a miter , or. the end . a catalogue of some books reprinted , and of other new books printed since the fire , and sold by r. royston , viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the works of king charles i. defender of the faith. with the history of his life : as also of his trial and martyrdom . books written by h. hammond , d.d. a paraphrase and annotations upon all the books of the new testament in folio . fourt edition . the works of the said reverend and learned authour , containing a collection of discourses chiefly practical , with many additions and corrections from the authour 's own hand ; together with the life of the authour , enlarged by the reverend doctour fell , dean of christ-church , in oxford . in large folio . books written by jer. taylor , d.d. and late lord bishop of down and connor . ductor dubitantium , or , the rule of conscience , in five books , in fol. the great exemplar , or , the life and death of the holy jesus , in fol. with figures sutable to every story , ingrav'd in copper : whereunto is added , the lives and martyrdoms of the apostles , by will. cave , d.d. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or , a collection of polemical discourses addressed against the enemies of the church of england , both papists and fanaticks , in large folio . third edition . the rules and exercises of holy living and holy dying . the eleventh edition , newly printed , in octavo . books written by the reverend dr. patrick . the christian sacrifice : a treatise shewing the necessity , end and manner of receiving the holy communion : together with sutable prayers and meditations for every month in the year ; and the principal festivals in memory of our blessed saviour . in four parts . the third edition corrected . the devout christian instructed how to pray and give thanks to god : or , a book of devotions for families , and particular persons , in most of the concerns of humane life . the second edition , in twelves . an advice to a friend : the third edition , in twelves . a friendly debate between a conformist and a nonconformist : in octavo , two parts . jesus and the resurrection justified by witnesses in heaven and in earth : in two parts , in octavo , new. the works of the learned mr. joseph mede , in folio . the fourth edition . memoyres of the late duke hamilton , or , a continuation of the history of the church of scotland , beginning in the year 1625. where bishop spotswood ends , and continued to the year 1653. fol. new. the lives of the apostles in folio alone : by william cave , d.d. chirurgical treatises ? by r. wiseman , serjeant-chirurgeon to his majesty , fol. new. xxxi . sermons , by charles gibbes , d.d. prebendary of saint peter's westminster , in quarto , new. the end of the catalogue . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a50800-e1020 an. christi 1546. 1556. 1558. 1571. 1637. 1660 1662 3. sess . 1. par. car. 2. notes for div a50800-e29480 15. par. jac. 5. c. 25. title 8. by sir john skeen . 1. parl. jac. 6. c. 8. anno 1567. act 1.2 . par. held by the duke of lauderdail . a the laws of alex. 2.1 . par. jac. 1. cap 4. 13. par. jac. 2. cap. 57. b 1. parl. car. 2. third session , act 25. 2. par. car. 2. act 2. c 1. parl. car. 2. third session , act 26. parl. 7. c. 101. parl. 11. jac. 6. c. 113. par. 8. jac. 6 cap. 130 a discourse not altogether vnprofitable, nor vnpleasant for such as are desirous to know the situation and customes of forraine cities without trauelling to see them containing a discourse of all those citties wherein doe flourish at this day priuiledged vniuersities. written by samuel levvkenor gentleman. lewkenor, samuel. 1600 approx. 286 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 84 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-08 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a05414 stc 15566 estc s108534 99844192 99844192 8983 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a05414) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 8983) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 965:07) a discourse not altogether vnprofitable, nor vnpleasant for such as are desirous to know the situation and customes of forraine cities without trauelling to see them containing a discourse of all those citties wherein doe flourish at this day priuiledged vniuersities. written by samuel levvkenor gentleman. lewkenor, samuel. [6], 76 leaves imprinted by i[ohn] w[indet] for humfrey hooper, and are to be sold at his shop in chauncery lane, at the signe of the beare, london : 1600. printer's name from stc. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 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2004-06 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2004-06 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-07 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a discovrse not altogether vnprofitable , nor vnpleasant for such as are desirous to know the situation and customes of forraine cities without trauelling to see them . containing a discourse of all those citties wherein doe flourish at this day priuiledged vniuersities . written by samvel levvkenor gentleman . celeritas in desiderio mora . london imprinted by i. w. for humfrey hooper , and are to be sold at his shop in chauncery lane , at the signe of the beare : 1600. to the right worshipfull , my singular good vncle , richard lewkenor , sergeant at the law. the emperour claudius made an inuiolable decree , that whatsoeuer bondman in rome , being manumitted , and set free from seruilitie , if he neglecting the loue and bountie of his friend that did enfranchise him , requited him at any time with vnkindnes , he should be againe reduced to his former bonde and slauish condition . whereby most euidently appeareth , that this inhumaine and barbarous vice ingratitude , hath beene euen of wicked men in all ages detested and abhorred : but to the vertuous and best disposed persons , hath it euer beene so extreamely odious , that they haue left to their posterity innumerable multitude of examples , for the rooting out of so consagious a pestilence from all societies : vvherefore to cleare my selfe from all suspition of any guilte or faultines herein , which you ( my singular good vnckle ) most iustlie may conceiue against me , for letting slip so many proffered occasions , and deferring so much time before i present some essentiall testimony of my dearest loue , and most dutifull affection to your worshippe : hauing run into so deepe adebt , for many & those no meane curtisies receyued at your bandes , i haue at last , i fear , too and atiously attempted to straine the small & slender talent , which i haue to pleade my cause in this behalfe , most humbly beseeching you now to shew your accustomed humanity in pardoning the defectes , wherewith these my simple labours are disgraced and blemished through my owne vnskilfulnes , and want of learning , which of it selfe will easilie appear , in laying open to your iudicial & cleare seeing view , a learned subiect in so naked cloathing , i meane a worhy treatise in so disioynted , harsh , and vnpolished a stile : howbeit i most humbly beseech you not to measure the earnest zeale & dutifull affection i beare you by this simple testimony , whereby i goe about to shew it , but rather vouchsafe to know how greatly i am ashamed , that my abilitie can afforde no better meanes , nor my inuention , as yet bring forth a better present , fit to be offered vp to so learned a sur ●ay . but yet if it please you to allow of this my simple trauel , such as it is , and thinke it worthy of your patronage : i most faithfully do promise hereafter to imploy the vttermost of my endeuours in amending of this faulie , and shall from henceforth the better bee enocuraged to assay some matter of greater moment , and more worthy of your protection . vouchsafe therefore gratiously to accept these my gatheringes and gleaninges out of other mens haruestes , a worke though not greatly profitable , yet pleasant and pithie , which i haue garnished with sondrie excel●ent histories , and i dare boldly promise that you looking thereon at some idle howers for your recreation , shall finde therin some pleasur & content , the rather because no man to my knowledge hath euer assayed the same before , & for that many of these vniuersities & cities are by me truly described , i hauing beene thereof in my trauelles oculatus testis . the almighty god , who hath hetherto many yeares most louingly and liberally endued you with a plentifull and happie ●sta●e , blesse and prolong your daies , that wee all to the exceeding comforte of our name and family , may behold in you the happie consummation of old age , before you shall be summoned to the euerlasting ioyes of the celestiall paradise . your worshippes dutifull and most affectionately louing nephew , samuell lewkenor . to the gentle and curteous reader . i had no sooner begun ( gentle reader ) to take this taske in hand , but entring into a true and iudiciall consideration how weake & slender my forces were to bring to any good perfection a work of so great moment and importance , i began immediately to faint & fall vnder my burthen , knowing that by perseuering therein , i should but set forth vnto the view of this captious age mine owne vnskilfulnesse , and euer liue obnoxious to the malicious tongs of such barking mastifes , as thinke the reproofe of other mens labors to be the greatest parcell of their owne praises , though then themselues none are more ignorant . notwithstanding , being at last earnestly entreated to finish what i had begun , and the same being finished , vehemently vrged to the publication thereof , by some friends of mine whome i am bound by dutie to obey , since of two euils wise men are wont to chuse the least , i thought it better to lay open to the world my follies , and discouer mine owne vnlearned ignorance , then by curious and nice reiecting the aduised counsel , & enforcing perswasions of my dearest & nearest friends , to be touched or thought guilty of that fowle and of all good men detested vice ingratitude . but least any one looking in this booke for the description of our english academies , and finding them placed in the latter end , shold by a misconstruction of my well meaning intention lay vnto my charge either negligence , or ignorance , or both , for not giuing vnto these two noble nurseries of the artes ( whose resplendent fame hath dilated it selfe to the vttermost confines of the earth ) their due & deserued places , i will for his satisfaction & mine own excuse speake onely a word or two . i am not ignorant , that these vniuersities of our natiue country deserue for their degree & worthinesse to be placed in the foremost ranke , and that in all europe are not to be found more ancient , more magnificent , more plentifull , better accommodated , nor more in all kinds of learning flourishing vniuersities . but so great of late haue beene the controuersies , and so sharpe and bitter the contentions betweene the learned doctors & professors in either of these sacred , and most worthily renowned habitations of the muses : while they of eyther side with tooth and naile did labour to maintaine the prioritie of that place wherein they had remained students , that i as one weakely armed , and fearing the encounter , not daring to descend into the listes , was once determined plainely to giue ouer the fielde : for with what face shoulde i by any meanes presume ( my learning being little , and my skill in the arte of antiquaries lesse ) to interpose my poore opinion , among the stifly maintained allegations of so many graue & learned men ? i therefore was resolued rather to bee accused and blamed of ignorance for leauing of them out , then by going about to giue superioritie vnto the one , to incurre the displeasure of the other . but being againe aduised how great a maime & blemish i should seeme to giue vnto this present treatise , if going about to incorporate in one bodie the moderne vniuersities of our christian world , i should cut off two of the most noble and principall limmes or members of the same : i haue at last ( altering my first resolution ) annexed them to the end thereof , in such manner , as neither of these vniuersities shall finde cause of discontentment , and the curious reader depart ( as i hope ) well satisfied . concerning the antiquities , priuiledges , and erection of colledges in the one and the other , i write nothing of mine owne inuention , what i haue found in m. camdens chorographicall description of england , concerning oxforde , and other chronicles , that haue i gathered and set downe , to cambridge some thinges haue i added not of my self , but extracted out of certaine papers , printed in paules churchyearde , in the yeare of our lorde , one thousand fiue hundred , seauenty two , and written by a learned maister of that vniuersity . accept therefore ( curteous reader ) in good part what here thou findest offered to thy view , and discourage me not with thy frowne in my first attempt : the faultes that are herein escaped , if they proceede from the authors vnskilfulnes , forgiue them , considering that he is one that hath more vsually beene acquainted with the warlike sounde of martiall drums , then with the schooles and lectures of philosophy : if committed by the printer , amend them gentlie with thy penne , so shall i euer rest . thine to vse samuell lewhenor . the names of those authors , whose authorities are alleadged in his worke . aeneas sil●ius , amnionus marcellin●s . annales coloniae . angelus aretinus . angelus politianus . andraeas alciatus . architremius . arnoldus ferronus in historia galliae . aulus gellius . ausonius . baldus iurisconsultus . blondus . caesaris commentaria . cicero . cornelius tacitus . erasmus roterodamus . hubert thomas . iacobus paiua andradius in lib orthodoxarū explicationū . iohannes bohemus de moribus gentium . iohannes calamaeus . iahannes goropius . leander . machiauell in historia florentina . marlianus . martialis poeta . martinus cromerus in histori● paloniae m●●●ndorpius de academijs . munsterus . nauclerus . ortelius . osorius . paulus iouius . paulus manutius . perotus . petrus anchoranus . philippus de commines . platina . plinins . polidorus virgilius . possidonius . ptolomaeus . rhodoginus . raphael volateranus . sabellicus . saluianus episcopus massiliae . sarabellus . seneta . suetonius . strabo . solinus polyhistor . a table containing the names both latine and english , of such cities as are described in this booke . colonia agrippina colen . moguntia ments . herbipolis wirtsburge . treueris tryer. tubinga . tubinge . ingolestadium ingolestate . erfordia erford . lypsia leipsige . wittenberga wittenberge . francofordia ad oderam frankforde vpon oder . rostochium . rostoch . gripswaldum . gripswalde . friburgum . friburge . martpurgum . martpurge . dilinga . dilinge . vienna austriae . vienna . louanium louaine . duacum . douay . leodium . leige . lugdunum batauorum . leiden . hafnia . copenhagen . roma . rome . venetia . venice . patauium padua . bononia   ferrara .   mediolanum . millan . papia . pauia taurinum . turin . florentia . florence . pisa.   sienna .   mutinum . modena . parisii aliàs   lutetiae . paris . pictauia . poictiers . lugdunum . lions . andegauum . angiers . auignion   aurelia . orleance . biturigum . bourges . cadonium . caen.   rhemes burdegalis . burdeux . tolosa . tholouse . nemansus . nimes . mons pessulanus mompeliers . visontium . bisanson . dola . dole . cracouia . cracow . posnania . posne . vilna . the wilde . mons regius koningsperg . praga . prage . olmutium . olmuts . toletum . toledo . hispalis . siuille . valentia .   granatum granada . compostella s. iago . vallis oletana alias pintia . valladolit . complutum . complute , called of the spaniards , alcala de henares salmantica . salamanca . lerida . ilerda . osca . huesca . vlissipona . lisbone . combra .   maiorica .   oxonium . oxforde . cantabrigia . cambridge aberdonium . aberdone . s. andraeae . s. andrews the vniversities of germanie . colen . it was in times passed an order vsed by most worthy & excellent princes , and best gouerned commonweales , when they had conquered any forraine region , to send into that place dwellers and inhabitants ; which people were then called colonies . whereby occasion was giuen for new townes to be builded , & their countries conquered to be more assured to the conquerors thereof . the romaines , a people excelling in all kinds of policie and discipline , obseruing this order , when they had placed their victorious ensignes in germanie , that they might with greater securitie defend and keepe the same , which with great trauaile they had atchieued , placed one of these colonies on the banke of the riuer rhenus , neere to the ruines of an auncient citie , called vbiopolis , erected by the vbij , a nation inhabiting those territories long before our sauiours natiuitie . whence it came to passe , that the antique name of that citie being quite forgotten and extinguished , it was by reason of the colonie therein , remaining euer after called colonia . in processe of time , about the yeare from the first creation of the world 4028. agrippa the sonne in law of augustus , being by the romains sent to gouerne those countries , augmented , reedified and fortified the same , adding to the former name thereof agrippina . the inhabitants of this citie were first conuerted vnto christian religion by s. materne , the disciple of s. peter . after whose time although theology was in colen continually professed ( as writeth wolphelme abbot of bruuiller ) yet was it taught rather in cloysters & monasteries , then in any publike schoole or place authorized for the same . the vniuersitie was instituted by pope vrbane the sixt , at the instance of the senate and people of colen , in the yeare of our sauiours incarnation 1388. this bishop for the great loue and singular affection hee did beare to this flourishing commonwealth , & ancient colonie of the romains , did not onely giue them full power and authoritie to conferre all degrees of scholasticall honour to the studentes therein , but also confirmed vnto them by a publique charter the priuiledges of paris . this academie consisteth now of foure parts of faculties , that is to say , diuinitie , law , phisicke & philosophie . vnder philosophie are contained the mathematikes , poettie and profession of languages . out of each of these faculties quarterly is chosen a rector of the vniuersitie . on the euen of our ladies annunciation , as the friers carmelites : on saint peter and paules euen at the praedicants : on the vigile of s. dionise at the minorites : on the vigile of s. thomas the apostle at the augustine fryers . the office of this rector is to assemble together the whole congregation of students , & to propound such thinges as are amongst them in the conuocation to be considered of by the common councell & consent of all the graduates to establish and ratifie decrees , to execute law and iustice , to maintaine their priuiledges , and his rectorship expired , by some publike testimonie of his learning to adorne the vniuersity . beside many excellent places of exercise for diuinitie , law , & phisicke ; there are three publike schools , wherein humanitie and philosophie , with the other liberal sciences are of learned men learnedly professed and deliuered . the first founder thereof gerardus de monte is called montanum . the second from laurence of groning the first regent laurentianum . the fellowes and schollers of this colledge follow the doctrine of albertus magnus , and are named by the other students albertists , like as those of the other colledge are called thomists , for religiously obseruing the doctrine of saint thomas of aquine . the third colledge in times passed was called cucanum , but is now named nouum coronarum gymnasium , wherein the iesuites are placed . the artists haue also a godly colledge in s. gereons streete , called rubra porta . there is also in colen another faire & well adorned colledge , called schola trilinguis , wherein the three sacred tongues , hebrew , greeke & latine , together with the artes , rhetorique , and the mathematikes are taught with great industrie and elegancie . three things there are in colin , whereby the citie is especially beautified , namely the senate , the clergie , and the vniuersitie . the senate of this place for grauitie , op●lencie and maiestie , farre surmounteth all other cities in the world . in no place of christendome may be found a better adorned or more flourishing estate of clergie men , whether you consider their nobility of birth , their profoundnes in learning , their pietie in manners , or their opulence and aboundant riches . in the cathedrall church , a place most sumptuous & magnificent , are enshrined the bodies of the three kings , which by the direction of a star were led from out the east to bethleem , where they did worship & adore our sauiour immediatly after his hatiuity . therein also are reserued the reliques of 11000. virgines , which for the constant confession of their faith , did in the time of persecution suffer martyrdome . besides this place , there are other collegiat churches of canons . there are moreouer 19. parish churches , besides many cloisters , monasteries and nunneries . the archbishop of colen is a prince elector of the romaine empire , chancelor of italie , duke of westphalia , and angaria ; which sea , since the reuolt of truchses late archbishop thereof , hath beene gouerned by ernestus duke of bauaria and palatine of rhene : which prelate by reason of the amplenes and great circuite of his diocesse , being himselfe not able to discharge all matters belonging to his function , hee hath his vicar or suffragane , the bishop of gy●ene . many intestine seditions , and ciuill discordes did long hinder the prosperitie of this famous citie . as for example , in the yeare 1074. the bishop vsurping in the cittie too much secular authoritie , seemed to diminish & abrogate the libertie of the citizens : wherefore they betaking themselues to armes , expulsed him thence , and recouered their libertie . which indignitie the bishop desirous to reuenge , gathered immediately a puissant armie of countrey pesants in the territories adioyning thereunto , and set forth vpon the citizens vnawares , who suspecting no such thing , were suddenly surprised , and their citie miserably ransacked . after in the yeare 1236. engelbertus , archbishop of colen , exercised the censure of the church against a certaine earle called frederike , for many wrongs and violences by him offered to the clergie , which earle being enflamed with the desire of some bitter reuenge , one day , as the bishop came into the countrey to consecrate a certaine church , he with many of his followers armed set vpon him , and with 28. mortall wounds murdered him in the place . for which impious murther , henry his successor tooke of this earle a most sharpe and bloudy reuenge : for raysing a great power , he made vpon him fierce and cruell warre , ouerthrew his holds and fortresses , and in fine tooke his person , which he carried prisoner to colen , and there put him to a most shamefull death , breaking all his bones a sunder , and casting his dead carkase on a wheele , there to bee deuoured by the fowles of the aire . the brothers of this earle ceased not to vse the vttermost of their endeuours in reuenge of their brothers death . this hatred and enmitie continued betweene the elergie and 〈◊〉 implacable , vntill the time of 〈◊〉 their archbishoppe , who entreated of the emperour the restitution of the citie , which if the citizens would denie , he desired they might bring the keyes thereof two miles from the towne , where hee would bee contented to make triall of his title by dint of sword . which condition the townes men willingly accepting , brought the keyes thereof in a wagon to a little village called woringen , where by their prowesse and manhood , they recouered quiet possession of this citie , which vnto this day is free and gouerned by the senate . in colen ( as we reade ) was held a councell about the yeare 34● . vnder constantius the emperour , and pope iulius , against euphrata an arrian heretike , who denied the diuinitie of christ. there were in this councell twentie holy and learned bishops and fathers ( among whom was s. seruatius ) by whose sentence & iudgement the said heretike euphrata was condemned and depriued of his bishopricke , which was afterward giuen to s. seuerine . basile . basile is a mightie cittie of great note & fame , situated on both sides of the rhene , which maketh therof as it were two seueral townes , the one lying in a valley betweene two hils , is watered with a little brooke called byrseca , and is named great basile : the other called little basile , lyeth on the south side of the riuer in a plaine champion . concerning the originall thereof , some are of opinion , that it was first builded in the yeare after christ 382. during the raignes of the emperours gratian and valentinian . but annianus marcellinus ( who seruing vnder iulian the apostata in his warres , wrote with great diligence whatsoeuer hee saw and obserued ) proueth this to be a meere imagination of men : for in his 30. booke of histories , he maketh mention of a certaine fortresse , erected by gratian against the germaines , not farre from basile . whereby it may appeare , that in germany was a cittie so called before gratians time . concerning the name thereof , some write ( but without either proof or authoritie ) that it was deriued from a basiliske , which haunting the woods & deserts thereabout , did much annoy the countrey before the citie was there erected . other imagine that it was first called passell , from the passages that were in that place ouer the rhene . but annianus marcellinus plainely sheweth the name thereof to be deriued from the greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which signifieth a kingdome , because it is in deed a royall citie seated in a princely place . some affirme that panthalus was the first bishop of basile , about the same time that the 11000. virgines suffered martyrdome , but of the truth of this history , many doubt . for certaine wee find , that in the yeare 740. in the time of pipin , father to charles the great , walanus was possessed of this bishopricke . in the yeare 897. was this cittie by the hunnes vtterly destroyed at what time they passed with a puissant armie through almaigne into burgundie and fraunce : it was againe restored by henrie the holy emperour of the romaines , who also reedified the cathedrall church , and gaue vnto the same goodly tenements and possessions . although concerning the erection of this vniuersitie ( as for the most parte of all others ) historiographers doe among themselues exceedingly disagree : yet in my opinion all doubtes touching this matter ought to be decided , and all dissention taken away by this onely epistle of enaeas siluius , called afterward pope pius the second , which in his owne words i haue here cited , as followeth . dudum dum nos minor status haber et per multorum annorum curricula , quibus grato incolatu in inclyta ciuitate basiliensi potiti fuimus , per euidentiam cognouimus , quòd ciuitas ipsa vberrima , ac inpartibus illis salubritate aeris , ex quibuslibet vtilitatibus praeelecta , nec non ad multiplicanda doctrinae semina , germinaque falubria producenda , apta & accommoda existeret . propterea nos , postquam ad summi apostolatus apicem prouecti sumus , desiderantes ciuitatem praedictam , ac illi adiacentem patriam , diuini muneris largitate concessa , inextinguibili sapientiae lumine illustrari , easque sanis peritorum consiliis et maturitate fulciri : generale studium in eadem ciuitate statuimus et ordinauimus inchoandum , et tam in sacrapagina et vtroque ture , quàm alia quauis licita facultate perpetuis temporibus vigere . datum mantuae , anno dominicae incarnationis 1459. pridie kalendarum ianuarii , pontificatus nostri anno secundo . in the yeare 1431. was a generall councell held in basill , vnder pope eugenius and sigismunde the emperour , which was before summoned by pope martin the fifte , for the extirpation of the hussites and their heresies . the bodie of erasmus roterodamus is vnto this citie no smal ornament , who deceasing the yeare 1536. was there enterred . ments . ments is a citie of so great antiquitie , that i cannot in any chronicle or antiquarie find any thing which i dare set downe for truth , concerning the first foundation and originall thereof . it is situated in a fruitful & delectable countrey , where the moene descending out of franconia , falleth into the rhene . on which riuer there is no one citie bordering , that hath so many monuments of antiquitie as ments . among other things the huge colossus of stone therein is most remarkable , which was erected by drusus , sonne in law to augustus caesar , waging war in germanie , and is called of the inhabitants echelsteine , from the forme and figure thereof , which much resembleth an acorne . charles the great in the yeare of grace 813. built in this place a mightie bridge of wood ouer the rhene , a thing so chargeable and difficult , that it scarcely was in tenne yeares space with incredible labour and industrie brought to perfection : which costly and laborious worke was not long after in three houres so consumed with fire , that there remained not one pile thereof to be seene aboue the waters . in the yeare 410. carocus king of the wandales hearkening to the detestable counsell of his damned mother , razed to the ground many of the most noble citties in germany : among the which were ments , spire , trier , and wormes : for which impious fact not long after falling into the hands of his enemies , the frenchmen , he suffered deserued punishment . in former ages , the emperours of germany constituted therein seuen archbishoprickes : whereof the first was ments , the 2. collen , the 3. trier , the 4. magdeburge , the 5. saltspurge , the 6. breme , and the last riga in le●fland . the first bishop of ments is said to bee s. crescentius , a hearer and scholler of s. paules . in the time of ruthardus the 14. archbishop of this cittie , dagobertus king of france , did reedifie and fortifie this cittie ouerthrowne and laide waste by attilas . the 17. archbishop of this place was s. boniface an englishman , who gouerned that sea 35. yeares , instructing the germanes in christian religion , who was afterward martired in friseland . the 32. archbishop thereof was hatto , who for causing certaine poore and innocent men to bee burned , was by the iust iudgement of god prosecuted by a multitude of rattes , with such violence , that hee at last was constrained to build in the middest of the rheine a tower of stone , whither he fledde , thinking there to liue safe from the furie of these vermine , which so continually haunted him , but neither were those walles of sufficient strength to keepe them out , neither could the violent course of waters betwixt him and the land asswage their fury : wherefore in fine , about the yeare 9●9 . he was by them deuoured . the 34. archbishop was willigisus a saxon borne , and counsellor to the emperour otho the second . this bishoppe was alwaies wont to haue in his oratorie a painted wheele , with this motto or inscription : willigise memineris quid sis , & quid olim fueris : which wheele was after giuen to the archbishop of that sea for their armes by the emperour henry the second . this prelate built the faire and sumptuous temple of s. stephen , wherein about the yeare 1011. himselfe was buried . he was also the first of the archbishops of ments , that aspired to the electorship of the empire . since whom , his successors haue alwaies retained the place and dignity of the chief & principall of the 7. electors , and are vntill this day high chauncellors of germanie . dietherus of eisenburge was the 68. archbishop of ments , chosen by the greatest parte of the canons , but against him was erected by pope pius adolph , earle of nassau : from which schisme and intestine discord proceeded a ciuill warre , whereby the church of that place suffered irreparable losse and damages . in fine adolph obtained the possession , & gouerned thirteene yeares , after whose decease dietherus was restored , and sate seuen yeares : in which time he newly builded the castle from the ground . by this archbishop was the vniuersity first instituted and erected in the yeare 1482. wherein at the first beginning , all artes in generall were professed . but at this day onely that doctrine which concerneth the knowledge of god and our saluation , ( i meane theologie ) is there professed , by the iesuites , which lately were admitted into this cittie , by the reuerend father and renowned prince daniell , the moderne archbishop and elector . in the yeare 1501. a decree was by the superiors of that vniuersity enacted , that no man whatsoeuer , shold bee permitted to receiue any scholasticall degree or dignitie that did not according to the councell of bafill rightly belieue of our blessed ladies conception . this citie hath deserued no small praise and commendation of all christendome , for that ingenious & most necessarie art of printing , therein first inuented , & put in practise by the famous and worthy gentleman , iohn gutenberge , in the yeare 1459. by which meanes our christian world hath recouered the works of sundry auncient fathers , which were almost readie to suffer shipwracke , and preserued sundry notable histories and discourses of most singularly learned men , which had otherwise to the inestimable detriment of christendome ( men being at this day for the most part giuen to ease and idlenes ) vndoubtedly beene suffered to lie hidden in eternall obscuritie . in the 1118. in this cittie was held a generall councell , vnto which an infinite number of princes resorted , to decide the controuersie depending betweene henry the emperour , and the bishop of rome : which emperor , because he would not ratifie or allow of certaine of the popes actes , was by him thrise excommunicated . wirtsburg . wirtsburg is a beautifull and well adorned citie built in forme of an halfe moone , on the banke of the meine , almost in the verie center of franconia . concerning the first originall & foundation of this cittie , the most learned antiquaries set nothing downe for certaine . some say , that the grecians at their returne from troy being wearied with their long and redious wandring in the ocean , arriued at last neere to the mouth of the rheine , searching the secrets of which riuer , they at last entred the meine , and came vnto this place where they erected a cittie ; which from their god herebus ( to whome they there offered sacrifice ) they named herebipolis : but this opinion tacitus reiecteth , as vaine and fabulous . whensoeuer therefore , or by whom soeuer this citie first was founded , this much we find for certaine , that it was then a cittie , when that holy and learned father s. khilian , conuerted the franconians to the christian faith , which was about the yeare 686. the antiquitie thereof was made manifest by certaine images of idols digged out of the meine , when the foundation of the new bridge was laide , which were cast into the riuer by the franconians , when they first embraced the christian religion . concerning the etimologie of the name thereof , there are sundry opinions . it was called of the ancient inhabitantes wirtsburge : which iohannes gallicus ( in certaine hymnes and sonets of s. khilian , by himselfe set forth about the yeare 1150. ) desiring to conuert into a good latine worde called herbipolis , was deceiued ( as it should seeme ) by the equiuocation of the two dutch wordes , wirtes and wurtes , the one of them signifying an hearbe or roote , the other muste or new wine , from which men thinke the cittie rather to haue taken his name , because the territorie of franconia yeeldeth wine in greater aboundance then any other prouince of germany conradus celtis a poet of that country calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , alluding vnto herebus the idole of the grecians , which before i mentioned . the situation of this towne is in a plaine valley , enuironed about with greene medowes , pleasant gardens , and fruitfull vineyardes . it is within replenished with many stately and magnificent temples , and also pompously adorned with a great number of goodly and sumptuous edifices of priuate citizens . on the other side of the meine , is a pleasant mountaine , on the highest top whereof is erected our ladies castell , a place of most impregnable strength and curious architecture . s. boniface archbishop of ments , erected in this citie a bishops sea , wherein hee placed burcharde an englishman , and descended of a noble family , vpon whom charles the great , or ( as others say ) king pipine bestowed the dukedome of franconia , which before belonged to gozbertus , by whose concubine kisila , ( or as some write , geilana ) s. khilian was martired , because he perswaded the duke to forsake his incestuous life with her , which before had beene his brothers wife . this bishop first laide the foundation of the cathedrall church in this cittie dedicated to our sauiour , whereunto belong 54. canons , commonly called domeherne , that is to say , lordes of the house ; into which societie can no man bee admitted , that is not descended from some noble and auncient family in germany ; for the confirmation whereof he must bring witnesses of honest life and noble parentage , to bee sworne before his admittance . this church was reedified and augmented by arnus gotebaldus , the tenth bishop thereof , a man of excellent wisedome & integritie , who going with arnolphus the emperour , against zwentebaldus duke of morauia , was in the campe slaine by the enemies , as hee was celebrating masse at the aultar . during the time of embricus the 27. bishop of this citie , was assembled there a generall councell , at the commandement of lotharius the second , wherein pope anacletus was deposed , and innocentius confirmed , and acknowledged for the true and legitimate successor in s. peters chaire . this bishop erected and instituted that famous monasterie ebrach , wherein with many rites and solemne ceremonies is enterred before the high aultar , the hart of euery bishop of wirtsburge deceased . in the yeare 1168. fredericke barbarossa confirmed vnto harold the 31. bishop of this citie , and to his successors the dukedome of franconia , before giuen them by charles the great , since whose time the bishops in all solemne feasts , and publike conuentions , haue a sword carried before them , in token of their regained dukedome . in the yeare of saluation 1403. iohn the 2. of that name , and 55. bishop of wirtsburge , instituted therein an vniuersitie , priuiledged and authorized by pope boniface the 9. and called thither out of the most renowned schools of christendome , diuers learned professors of philosophie , diuinitie , & the other inferior studies , but not long after the decease of this bishop , the cleargie and commonaltie , falling into great contentions and discord , the one prosecuting the other with more thē capitall hatred , the students for the most part prouiding for their safetie & quietnes , departed to erford , wherby the vniuersity seemed to decline towards an end , before it fully had receiued his beginning . but the same was lately restored by the reuerend father & renowned prince iulius de echteren , by whose aide & authoritie it hath againe recouered the antique splendor and dignitie it before enioyed . for the better augmentation thereof he assigned in the cittie two goodly colledges to the iesuites , which are by him liberally prouided , for hee graced and adorned the studentes and professors therein with many ample priuiledges , graunted by pope gregorie the 13. and maximilian the 2. emperour of the romaines . this prince is of so great authoritie and puissance , that in the yeare 1591. when the royters and forces of germany would haue passed through his territorie , to the aide of henry then king of nauarre , now king of fraunce , he stoutly forbad them , boldly letting them vnderstand , that if they attempted to march that way , he with his owne forces would encounter them . because the rites and ceremonies vsed by the franconians and citizens of wirtsburge , as well after the election & consecration , as in the sepulture and funerals of their prince , are somewhat rare and vnusuall , i haue thought good for the readers recreation , briefly to write somewhat of eyther of them . when the new elected bishop intendeth to take possession of his episcopall chaire , he approcheth neere vnto the cittie on horseback in great pompe & glory , accompanied with al the nobility of the country : wherunto being admitted , he is dispoiled of his robes & habilements , and led by the 4. earles officials of the dukedome ( that is to say , the earles of hennenberge , castell , wertheim , and rheineck ) from the bridge porte through the market place , bare headed and bare legged in vile and base clothing , girt with a corde , in which order he proceedeth , euen vnto the entrance or porch of the cathedrall church , where the clergie meeting him , demand of him by their deane what he desireth , who answereth , that hee being most vnworthy , is there at hand readie to vndertake , and with all diligence to execute that charge whereunto he is called : vnto whom the deane immediately replyeth : i in the name of the whole chapter commit vnto thy care and charge , this church of our sauiour , and the dukedome thereunto belonging : in the name of the father , of the son , and of the holy ghost , amen . whereupon hee presently followeth the cleargie , returning into the church , where putting on his pontificall ornamentes , he is present at diuine seruice , which ceremonies being finished , he departeth , accompanied with the clergie , & such neighbour princes as had beene purposely inuited , together with the principal men , & chiefe nobilitie of franconia towards our ladies castle , which hauing entred , he casteth gold and siluer vp & downe in great aboundance , and entertaineth the whole companie with a most royal , bountifull , & costly banquet . againe , when the same prelate departeth this life , his bodie presently is opened , his bowels taken thence , are buried with great solemnitie in the chappell of our ladies castell on the hill , his hart is apart reserued in a glassen vessell , prepared for that purpose . the day following , the corse adorned with the pontificall robes , is laid vpon a rich and costly beere , hauing in the one hand his crozier staffe , as a bishop : in the other a sword , in token of his dukedome : he is catied with great pompe and maiestie from the castle to saint iames his monasterie ( which is without the towne , in the farther side of the meine ) where that night he remaineth : the next day with great solemnitie and many ceremonies , hee is conueied ouer the bridge into the towne , and through the market place into the cathedrall church , where for that night it resteth , the cleargie enuironing the hearse with many psalmes and orisons , expect the ensuing morning , which being come , they remoue the corps into the temple of the new monasterie , where after many dirges & prayers for the saluation of his soule , the same is againe reduced into the cathedrall church , where in his episcopall attire , with a naked sword in his hand , he is at length enterred , his heart is laide in a wagon , and with an honorable conuoy of knights brought to the cloyster of ebrach , where by the abbot & monks it is with great honour laide into the ground , before the high altar . trier . trier is a goodly citie on the banke of the riuer mosell , exceeding famous , as wel for the incredible antiquitie thereof , as for sundry notable gests & exploits by the inhabitants atchieued & performed . it is ( as eneas siluius writeth ) 1300 yeares ancienter then rome , and was founded in the time of abraham 1947. yeres before the comming of christ , by trebeta the sonne of ninus , which was founde engraued on a stone , in the yeare of grace 1200. they say that trebeta being wrongfully excluded from the kingdome of babilon by his mother in law semiramis ( when she vsurped the rule & gouernment of the realme ) after long and tedious trauaile endured on the seas , arriued at last at the mouth of the rheine , and passing vp the riuer , hee entred the mosell , where finding a sweet and pleasant valley , he there remained , and began to build a cittie , which after his owne name he called treberis . in the cathedrall church of trier , in an old peece of tapestrie is to be seene the type and figure of this citie , wrought with cunning artifice and great curiousnesse , and about the same in great letters , altera roma . vnderneath the which are these verses following . nini semiramis quae tanto coniuge foelix , plurima possedit , sedplura prioribus addit , non contenta suis nec totis finibus orbis , expulit è patrio priuignum trebetam solo , insignem profugus nostram qui condidit vrbem . which may thus be englished . semiramis great ninus wife , so happie in her chance , possessing much , desired more , her glory to aduance . the world her mind could not content , much lesse one kingdomes bound . wherefore she chased trebeta far frō his natiue ground , who liuing here in exile did this famous citie found . wherefore it is euident , that this citie may more iustly glory in her antiquitie , then in any other in all germany . it was first conuerted vnto christianitie by saint materne the disciple of saint peter , and his companions , eucharius and valerius . marcellinus calleth this citie , clarum domicilium principum , because that constantine etected therein a most royall and sum ptuous pallace , the ruine whereof are at this day visible . wherein it is credible , that the succeeding emperors of the romaines had often their residence . trier was in iulius caesars time a most warlike citie , furnished continually ( as himselfe writeth ) with more troupes of horse , and squadrons of footmen , then any other citie or region of fraunce . the vniuersitie in this citie is thought to be one of the oldest academies in europe , but when it was first erected , i cannot reade , neither haue the citizens any recorde thereof , by reason of the manifold and often chaunges their citie hath endured : for saluianus , bishop of marseile , in his sixt booke of the true iudgement and prouidence of god , writing much of the magnificencie and opulencie of this citie , seemeth at last with great griefe and anguish of mind , to bewaile and lament the drunkennesse , gluttonie , and lasciuious dissolute liues of the inhabitants , which he imputeth to be the cause , why their citie was foure times ouerthrowen and ransacked . vidiego triuires , ( saith he ) virosetiam sublimes , calamitatibus suis factos peiores . lugubre est referre quae vidimus ; senes honor atos , & christianos , imminēte iam ciuitatis excidio , gulae ac lasciuiae seruientes . iacebant in conuiuijs , obliti honoris , oblitiaetatis , professionis & nominis sui . principes ciuitatic cibo confects , in v●nolentia dissoluti , clamoribus rabidi , bacehatione suriosi &c. et cùm haec ita essent , plus multo est quod dicturus sum finem perditioni , huic nec ciuitatis excidiasecerunt , nam expugnata est quater vrbs gallorū treuiris opulentissima , &c. for this cause also we cannot learne who first instituted the archiepiscopall dignity in this cittie , being one of the greatest and most ancient archbishoprickes of germany . that all studies vniuersally did in this citie flourish in the time of gratian the emperour , appeareth manifestly by an epistle , written from the saide emperour to antonius , prefect and regent of gaule , where hauing set down donations of prouision for sundry vniuersities , hee allotted greater proportion to tryer , then to any of the rest , because therein remained a greater number of students and professors . which vniuersity being by the vicissitude and iniury of time exceedingly decayed , was by the reuerend fathers iohannes de lapide , iacobus ab else , and iobannes hugo , late archbishops thereof againe restored , who therein placed the iesuites , which with great labour , industry and diligence , doe there professe the arts. the manners of the inhabitantes are for the most parte sower and seuere , their complexion inclining to melancholy , whereof ausonius writeth among many other thinges in commendation of the treuiri in this manner . quin etiam more● , & laetum fronte seuera ingenium natura suis concessit alumnis . the ayre hereabout is commonly cloudy and often subiect to rayne , wherefore the city in derision is vsually called , cloaca planetarum . heidelberge . heidelberge is the metropolis of the phaltes , or palatinacy of rheine , wherein the phalsgraues or countes palatines continually holde their courtes and residence . some are of opinion , that this cittie receiued his name from the colony of the gentiles , which in the german tongue , are called heyden . others there are which affirme that it should be written eàelberge , that is to say a noble hill , from the situation thereof , which is on the side of a pleasant mountain , from whence the neccar springing , descendeth into the playn and champion countries , the land therabout is exceeding fruitfull ; and bringeth forth great store and plenty of wine , oyle , corne , chestnuts , and such like fruites . this city together with the whole country adioyning is gouerned by the rheingraues , or countes palatines of rheine , who by succession , doe hold the first & chiefest place among the secular electors of the empire . the first of the palatines , that aspired to that dignity , was sifridus , who liued in the raigne of otho the third , this emperour being well striken in yeares , and hauing no issue to inherite the emperiall diademe after his decease , desiring before his death to establish the empire which he foresaw wold after his departure , by the ambition of many competitors be much molested , and endamaged by ambassadors , made earnest suite vnto the pope , that certaine princes might be ordayned & constituted , which should haue full power and absolute authority to elect the roman emperour , vnto which his so lawfull and reasonable request the pope condescending , there were nominated 7. princes , 3. spirituall , that is to say , the archbishops of ments , colen , & trier , and 4. temporall , the king of bohemia , the phaltsgraue of rheine , the marquesse of brandeburge , & the duke of ●axony . sifridus therefore the palatine , being chosen amongst the rest , liued not long after , but deceased before he could make any benefite of his new authority . in his place succeeded henry his son , by whose meanes henry after called the holy , the husband of his sister s. kunegundis ; was chosen emperour in the yeare of our lord , 1003. rupertus the 10. palatine of rheine , after the separation of the dukedome of bauaria from the palatinacie , receyuing the administration of the gouernment from his brother adolphus , a man of too small iudgement and weake vnderstanding to direct the helme of so great a charge , erected in this citie an vniuersity , which in succession of time , grew to be reckoned among the most worthy and famous nurseries of the arts . at the same time also , that is to say , in the year , 1346. was by the same earle founded a church and colledge of priestes in the newe towne , wherein he lyeth buried . the abbot of spanheyme discoursing of ecclesiasticall writers , maketh mention of one marsilius de ingen , whome some imagine to haue beene an englishman , as the first planter of this academy . pope vrban the sixt confirmed the same with the priueledges & prerogatiues of parise . many learned men hath this academy fostered , & in our age sent into the world , as iohannes dalburgius , rudolphus agricola , iohannes virdungus , with many others , which left behinde them sondrie monumentes of their greate wisedome and learning . also in this vniuersity did that iudustrious and excellently learned scholler sebastian munster publikely professe the hebrew tongue . tubinge . tvbinge is a small citty in the dukedome of wirtenberge , situated on the higher side of the necchar , and was in times past the principall seate and habitation of the countes palatines of tubinge , which now for the most parte reside in leichtenecke , a strong and goodly castell in brisgewe , not farre from kentzigen . in the yeare 1477. at the instance and most earnest entreaty of eberhard , the elder earle of wirtenberge , and mompelgard , and his mother mech●ildis , the pope licensed and authorized in this citty , a generall profession of the liberall arts , which academy yet maintayneth well his place and dignity among the most learned and florishing vniuersities of germany . many excellent learned schollers haue issued from this vniuersitie , among the which most worthily may bee numbred iohn stoflerus , a sage and profound mathematician , who did write a learned treatise of astronomy . this cittie ( as i saide ) bordereth on the necchar , and lyeth in the middest of a most pleasant and fertile soyle , which yeeldeth vnto the inhabitants , wine , corn , and other necessarie prouisions in great plenty and aboundance . the towne being before the erection of the vniuersity therein in great want and pouerty , and the houses meanely builded without eyther cost or curiousnes , is now growne to that wealth and opulencie , that for artificiall and well proportioned aedifices , it may , and not vnworthily be compared to the proudest cittie of the germans . it contayneth a magnificent & most sumptuous castell , standing on the toppe of a mountayne , strongly sortified beyond all credite and comparison . ingolestate . ingolestate is a strong citty in the dukedome of bauaria , lying neare vnto the danon , the greatest , swiftest , and most famous riuer of christendome , which passing with a violent current through germany , hungary , and moldauia , finally disgorgeth it selfe into the euxine sea . this cittie earst belonged to the monastery of altach , and was by free gift deliuered vnto lewes the last king of bauaria , since whose time it hath alwaies beene gouerned by his successors the dukes of bauaria , and by little and little hath beene by them so mightily encreased , that within those fifty yeares last passed , what with the magnificence of the dukes and priuiledges of the popes , it is become the most excellent and renowned vniuersity of the vpper partes of germany . the vniuersity was first instituted by lewes the d. in the yeare of saluation 1471. and is at this day fauoured , defended , and mightily enriched by a●bertus the moderne duke thereof , who hath builte therein not onely a peculiar colledge , for the publique profession of diuinity , but also a fayre and goodly schoole for the education of youth , wherein the iesuites professe rhetorique , philosophy , and the liberall artes. pope pius the second adorned the same with many priuiledges and prerogatiues . stra●o writeth that bauaria is a region , sterill , desert , and vnfruitfull , which perchance in his time was so for want of being well inhabited , assuredly at this day it is one of the most happie and plentifullest prouinces of germany , whence it commeth to passe , that the studentes of ingolestate , are better accommodated , and do liue with lesse expence then they well coulde in any other place of christendome , that i haue seene or reade of , from whence also it proceedeth , that the dyet or great assembly of the german princes is most vsually held in regensburge , another cittie of bauaria , one dayes iorney distant from ingolestate , wherein i my selfe liued eight weekes in the yeare of our lorde , 1594. when the emperour with all his traine , and the most parte of the greatest princes of germany , remayned in the towne many of them with three thousand , and foure thousand horse apeece , yet was there neuer found any want or scarsitie of victuals therein , nor the price of corne or any other prouision in the market , any one iot enhaunced , wine onely excepted , of which the country yeeldeth no great aboundance , but that want is by the rheine and mecchar supplyed : for the possession of this city , was that calamitous and bloudy warre raysed ( remembred yet by the name of bellum bauaricum ) which so much troubled all the prouinces of germany in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred and foure . erforde . erforde called of ancient writers , erphelfurt , is the metropolis of thuring , an old and memorable citty , abounding with wine , corne and other necessaries . in the middest of this cittie ariseth a little mountain , called s. peters hill , wherein in times passed stood a goodly castell , in the place whereof dagobertus king of france founded a cloyster for fryers of the order of s. benedict , which was consecrated to s. peter : after him boniface archbishop of ments , layed the foundation of our ladies church on the same hil , and erected there a bishopricke euen in the infancie of the gospell , among the germans , as plainly appeareth in an epistle of his , which he wrote to zachary , high bishop of rome . scias ( sayeth hee ) per gratiam dei , germaniae populum , adviam veritatis reductum : ordinauimusque apud eos tres episcopos , vnum locauimus in castellum wirtzburge , alterum in buraburge , tertium in euphesfurt . in this church is a bell of most huge and incredible circumference , which the citizens shewe to all straungers repayring thether , as the thinges most remarkable in their cittie , about the yeare 1066. was this cittie first enuyroned with a wall , and fortified with towers , and beautified with manie rich and sumptuous aedifices both diuine and prophane : at which time it was made the metropolis of thuringe , because it lyeth in the middest thereof . an vniuersity was therein instituted in the yeare 1391. which with many priuiledges confirmed & authorized by pope boniface the 9. & pius the 2. in this academy haue liued many sage men much renowned for their singular learning , among the which are numbred nicholaus de bibera , henricus de erfordia , conradus de monte puellarum , and many others . when the german professors oppressed by the multitude of hussites , departed from prage , many of them retyred themselues to erforde . there is no citty in europe hath so often made experience of the calamities and irreparable damages , which fire vsually bringeth with it , as erforde hauing many times therewithall beene vtterly wasted and consumed . the last fire therein happened in the year 1392. on the festiuall day of s. geruasius , whereby the third part of the cittie perished , which incredible losse it is not yet recouered of : for at my being there some 5● yeares since , it was scarsely with low and slender buildinges of wood reedified . out of this vniuersity issued martin luther . leiptzige . liptzige is a citty ( as some say in ostland , others would haue it to lye in misina , both territories now gouerned by the noble and puislant family of saxony ) thogh of no great circuite , yet for pride and statelines of building , and excessiue traffique of merchants , scarce inferior to the best adorned citty of germany three times euery year are therein held certaine famous martes or fayres whereof one writeth saying . mercibus augetur ter lipsia magna quotannis . the houses of this citty are re ared al of free stone , within richly paued , and without curiously paynted with great artifice and maiestie ; the streetes are builded in excellent proportion and vniformitie . the senate hereof consisteth not ( as in other cities ) of mechanicall and vnlearned citizens , but of men skilfull , and well seene in the artes : who haue full power and authority to heare , decide , and determine of all lites , causes and controuersies depending in meissen , thuringe , and the nether sazonie . about the yeare 1480. when the hussites began to domineere & tirannize in prage , then was the vniuersitie from thence remoued hither , and the yeare following , confirmed by pope pius the 2. and alexander the 5. it was afterward much augmented and repaired by the worthy prince george duke of sazonie , in the yeare 1554. this vniuersitie at this day most exceedingly flourisheth through the innumerable multitudes of germaine students , which dayly repaire thither , because they liue therein with lesse charge and expence then in any other citie , by reason of the admirable fertilitie of the soyle , whereof one saith . gratus & immenso lucro concredita terrae semina reddit ager . the inhabitants of this citie haue one innated & vncorrigible vice , which custome hath drawen into a nature amongst them , that is , they almost continually wallow in immoderate drunkennesse , in so much that he which can euacuate the greatest number of pottes , and can in receiuing his drinke , hold out longest without any swimming or perturbation in his braine , is accounted a personage among them of greatest qualitie and worth . enaeas siluius writeth , that when one leonardus a noble gentleman came to visite a certaine kinsman of his , that was then a student in leipzig , enquiring among students how hee had profited in learning , he was answered by one of the yong mans companions , that he had profited himselfe exceedingly : for ( quoth he ) among 1500. good swallowers that are in this vniuersitie , he hath deserued the name and title of the best and most noble drinker . not farre distant from this place is dresden , where the dukes of saxonie electors of the empire , do most commonly reside . wittenberge . wittenberge is a conspicuous & well knowne citie in the vpper saxonie , the seate and court of the dukes electors , situated on the banke of the elbe , a riuer which springing among the mountaines of bohemia , passeth through germany , receiuing into it selfe , or as it were , drinking vp by the way many other riuers ( as the muldaue , the sall , the spre , &c. ) and at last being growne to an immeasurable greatnesse , and nauigable for ships of the greatest burthen , disgorgeth it selfe into the germaine ocean , not farre from stoad , where late was a staple of english marchants . this city receiued his name ( as some imagine ) from wittikind duke of angria , & saxonie , which was baptized in the yeare 785. being compelled thereunto by charles the great , who first caused the saxons to embrace the christian religion . duke fredericke , the son of ernestus elector , erected in this citie an vniuersity , about the yeare 1502. which since in this latter age is growen famous , by reason of the controuersies and disputations of religion , there handled by martin luther , and his adherentes : the doctors thereof are at this day the greatest propugnators of the confession of ausburge , and retaine in vse the meere lutherane religion . many worthy writers haue in this learned seminary of the artes receiued their education , as hennigus , schurfius , clingius , and oldendorpius , famous professors of the ciuill law , and in our latter age , martin luther , and phillip melancthon there haue florished . frankford vpon oder . there are in germany two frankfords , both cities of great fame and worth : the one lyeth in franconia vpon the meine , well knowne to all marchants & trauellers , by reason of two rich and famous marts yearely held therein . the other is situated neere to the oder , a goodly riuer , passing through the marke or dominion of the marquesse of brandeburge , one of the seuen electors . this is that franckford , which i now intend to speake of . this citie ( as some thinke ) was built and named by the franckes , about the yeare 146. at which time wee reade a nation so named to haue inhabited neere vnto the rheine . but in their owne chronicles we find , that this citie was first founded , & extructed by gedinus of hertzberge , in the yeare 1253. by the commission & licence of iohn the first of that name , marquesse of brandeburge , as a storehouse for such marchandise as should be brought thither , as well ouer land , as vp the riuer . ioachime , marques of brandeburge , to his euerlasting praise , first founded in this place an vniuersitie in the yeare of grace 1506. and bountifully prouided for the maintenance thereof , enduing the same with large reuenewes and rich possessions : it was afterwarde authorised by pope alexander the 6. and by pope iulius the 2. and maximilian the first of that name emperour , enfranchised with many priuiledges . the first chancelor thereof is said to haue beene theodorus de bulan , the first rector , conrade wippina , a learned diuine and subtill philosopher : the first deane of artes therein created , was iohn lindholtz . in the yeare 1344. rudolph duke of saxony , the bishop of magdeburge , barnaim duke of pomerland , and the duke of anhalt conspiring in armes against lewes , created marquesse of brandoburge , by the emperour lewes of bauaria his father , besieged franckford , but the citizens doing homage vnto lewes , quickly caused them to dislodge and withdraw their forces . the hussites also attempting the siege therof in the yeare 1432. were in like sort repulsed : so strongly fortified is their cittie . in this citie the three tongues are with great and profound learning professed : also the ciuill law , phisicke , & the mathematiques are there publikely taught with much wisedome and excellencie . rostoche . rostoche is a maritine citie , bordering on saxonie , populous and opulent , the aire thereabout is pure and healthie , and the land fertile , from whence arise great cheapnesse and plentie of victuailes . in the yeare of christes natiuitie 1415. the princes of meckleburge , and the citizens of rostoche obtained licence to erect in this citie an vniuersitie , wherein the artes in generall haue euer since beene learnedly professed , they are in religion partly lutheranes , partly caluinistes . gripswalde . gripswalde is a towne in the dukedome of wolgaste , subiected to the d. of pomerland , which by long ciuil discord impouerished is now grown obscure . about the yere of our lord 1456 liued herein a certaine learned doctor of the lawes , which being proconsul or burgomaster of the towne , obtained for the same many goodly priuiledges and licence to erect an vniuersitie , which being by him onely begun , was perfited and enlarged by the great care and diligence of phillip duke of pomerland , in the yeare 1547. friburge . friburge is a noble and conspicuous citie , at this day the metropolis of brisgew , which prouince belongeth to the earles of furstenberge . it was first a little village , & in the yeare 1120. was walled about by bertholdus duke of zeringe , as by those olde rithmes appeareth . anno milleno centeno bis quoque deno , friburge fundatur , bertholdus dux dominatur . there was in times past not aboue a mile distant from this towne a mine of siluer , whereby the citizens were so greatly enriched , that they began to adorne & beautifie their citie with temples , monasteries , & sundrie other edifices , built in most pompous and magnificent manner . amongst the rest at that time was erected that costly & curious pyramis or tower of stone vpon our ladies church : the like whereof is not in germany to be seene , ( the steeple of strasburge excepted ) which by the gentiles was numbred among the miracles of the world . then did the citizens through the affluence of their wealth take vppon them the degree of nobilitie , and the noble men & gentlemen of the countrey sued to bee made free of that incorporation , insomuch that they ordinarily had 12. knights sitting in their senate house . at that time was the citie able to produce into the field of their owne cittizens 30000. armed men . there remaine yet therein 14. religious houses , besides a temple of croitzhiers , or knights of the crosse , and an other belonging to the knightes of the dutch order . in the yeare of our sauiour 1250. or as some write , 1460. albert duke of austria founded in this citie an academy , and liberally endued the same with large reuenewes and possessions . in the yeare 1467. this vniuersitie receiued many statutes and ordinances from vienna in austria : from whence also came many great & learned clerkes , here publikely to professe theologie , the lawes , ciuill , & canon , & the other artes. and at length the emperour fredericke , in the yeare 1472. much augmented and encreased the same : the chiefest colledge herein , is that which is called ●omus sapientiae . in this place is great plentie of the stones , called chalcedonij , whereof they vsually make beads , which being halfe blacke , halfe white , when they are polished , resemble ieat and iuory glewed together . they are digged out of the ground at westrich in lorrayne , and are in this citie cut and garnished . there runne through friburge many little brooks , the channels whereof are diuided into euerie streete , which purge the citie of all noysomnesse , and are in the winter time , when all the riuers without the citie are congealed , neuer frosen . neere vnto the walles hereof is a riuer , replenished with sundrie kinds of fishes , called triese , which springeth out of the same mountaine , from whence the danow ariseth . the danow carrying his current with great celerity toward the east , and the triese softly sliding to the west . martpurge . martpurge is the metropolis of hessen , vnder the laudsgraue his dominion , & is situate in the middest thereof , on the banke of lon , a small riuer falling into the rheine . some are of opinion that it was so called from mars the god of warre , among the heathen : others think it receiued his name from marcomire prince of the franckes . an vniuersitie was in this citie instituted about the yeare 1526. which was afterward repayred and reinstituted by philip the landgraue in the yeare 1536. it was authorized by charles the fift at regensberge , who endued it with priuiledges of vienna . they professe in this place caluinisme . dilinge . dilinge is a citie in switserland , seated ncere vnto the danow , vnder the gouernment of the bishop of ausburge , wherein he is often resident , nauing there a castle , pleasant and commodious . therein also are two good cloisters of nuns . in the yeare 1●64 . otto trucheses , cardinall of the romaine church , bishop of ausburge , and protector of germanie , for the great and singular loue wherewith he alwaies embraced learning , brought the iesuites into this citie , & erected therein an vniuersitie at his owne charge and expence , where the artes haue euer since beene with great diligence and learning professed . vienna . vienna is the most renowned metropolis & residence of the archdukes of austria , situate vpon the shore of danubius , a citie for continuance most ancient , for wealth most opulent , and for strength most inuincible , the only bulwark of the christians against their perpetuall , immane , & barbarous enemie the turke . certaine it is , that this was a strong and well adorned citie before our sauiour came into the world , & was inhabited by the sarmatians , a people driuen frō the confines of istria , vnto this place by octauius augustus , for infecting italy with sundry thefts , and robberies : but by what name it then was called , the most learned antiquaries are ignorant . some say it was knowne by the name of vindebona , a worde of the pagans , and therefore was called of ptolomey , by the chaunging of one word iuliobona : others are of opinion that the name of vienna was deriued from fabiana , from which taking the two first letters there remayneth btana , and changing b into v. ( a common thing among the germans ) is made viana , which opinion seemeth best to agree with the truth , because that cornelius tacitus in his 18. booke , maketh mention of titus fabianus praefect of panonia , from whome this cittie might well receiue that name , or else from annius fabianus , whome to haue gouerned the tenth german legion in panonia , many ancient monuments there dayly found , doe clearely testifie . 400 yeares since , the cittizens casting a new ditch neare to the scottish porte , found engraued in the fragment of a piller digged out of the grounde , eyther of those names , wherein were written certaine latine wordes , to this sense , marcianus decurio and aedile of the municipie of vindobana , and praefect of the fabian cohort . in this cittie is a publike and famous vniuersitie of great name and worthines , first founded and instituted after the rules of rome and paris , in the year ( as some write ) 1239 , by the emperour fredericke the 2. to the end he might leaue vnto his sonne conradus an empory , strongly guarded and defended with men learned and skilfull in the liberall sciences , which afterward rudolphus the 4 albertus the 3. and leopoldus the 2. three brothers , archdukes of austria , with sondry priuiledges , enfranchised , and remoued the same from the place wherein it first was instituted , neare to the pallace of the archdukes , but the studentes being there often interrupted and hindred in their course of studies , by the tumult and insolency of the courtiers , the same albertus chose for them a more fitte and commodious place near to the monastery of the fryers predicantes , where he purchased for scholasticall vses a spatious and fayrely builded house , which once was by the templars enhabited , and is now called the archdukes colledge : he gaue vnto the same sufficient reuenewes for the perpetuall maintenance of 12. readers of philosophy , and professors of the artes. this prince obtayned lycence of pope vrban the 6. that diuinity might in this academy publikely be professed , and that it might be lawfull for the students and teachers to receiue and giue all degrees of scholasticall honour and promotion . the colledge called bursa agni , was founded in the year 1408. by christopher ottersdoffe , citizen of vienna . the colledge of the silesians was in the yeare 1420. bought and finished by nicholaus clebetius canon of vratislauia , or breslow . the colledge of the rose , was in the yeare 1432. crected by vdelricus gruenualdorus , and one nicholaus burger of vienna . the colledge of lillies was in the year 1457. founded by burcharde krebs , canon of padua . pruche colledge was instituted in the year 1491. by oswaldus of wichersdorpe . in the yeare 1517. paules schoole founded by paulus wannus , was altered and translated , and the name therof changed , it is now called heiden herein colledge . this vniuersity consisteth of fower principal members or faculties , the principall professors of ech facultie haue chosen vnto themselues , peculiar saintes , which they with great reuerence and deuotion dayly worship , as their patrons and mediators , the diuines s. iohn the enangelist , the lawyers s. iuon , the phisitions the saintes , cosima , and dam●anus , and the artists that is philosophers , orators , poets , linguistes , and such like , s. katherine . this company of artists erected among them anno 1421. two goodly colledges , whereof the one is named vniuersity hall , the other noua structura , or the new building . the rector of this vniuersity in all publique artes , taketh place next vnto the prince , and administreth iustice , as supreme iudge to all studentes thereof , as well in criminall , as ciuile controuersies : hee was wont yearely to be chosen , neither could anie one be admitted to that magistracy , that had euer been linked in matrimony , but since the time of the emperour ferdinand the first , that custome hath beene altered , & now married men are licensed to enioy that dignity , but on condition that they substitute some cleargy man vnmarried to exercise their iurisdiction vppon ecclesiasticall persons . in the yeare of christ , 464. s. seuerine the apostle of austria , taught the inhabitantes of this cittie , the principles of christian religion , and beganne therein to institute a bishopricke , which decaying was againe renewed about the yeare 636. at what time gisalaricus , sent thether by s. rudbert , preached among them the gospell , from whome the catalogue of the bishops of vienna beginneth . in this cittie are many sumptuous and magnificent temples , amongst which the cathedrall church of saint stephen is of greatest beautie and estimation , whereon is erected a rich and goodlie pinacle or steeple , hauing on the highest pointe there of an halfe moone , the badge or cognisance of the turkes , which was there set vp vpon this occasion . in the yeare 1529. the turkish army lying neare vnto the wals of this cittie , raysed their artilery against the steeple , as the thing most eminent therein , intending to leuill it with the ground : which the emperials perceyuing , caused forth with an heraulde to be sent into the enemies campe to let them vnderstand how greatly they should damnifie their cittie by depriuing it of so beautifull an ornament , without any one iot benefitting themselues , promising them withal if they would desist from so prophane an enterprise , there should in perpetuall memory of them , and honour of their name , be erected on the top thereof an halfe moone : whereupon the turke diuerted his ordinance from thence , & the citizens kept their word . in this citty are yet to be seene the ancient ruines of a goodly basilique , erected by charles the great in honour of s. peter . henry the first duke of austria , founded herein an abby to the vse of the scottes . richard the first surnamed ceur de lyon king of england , being by lupoldus duke of austria taken prisoner about the yeare 1192. in a small village neere to vienna , called erdpurge , as he returned from the holy land , was enforced by the sayde duke ( if their owne chronicles be true , ) to enuiron this cittie with a new wall , which included the former . about that time also was therin an empory for marchāts constituted , wherby the citizens increasing dayly in wealth , obtayned of the emperour fredericke the 2. liberty , and were adorned with the emperiall armes , and numbred among the free towns of the empire . the vniversities of the low countries . louaine . louaine one of the fower townes of the marquisate of the sacred empire , is the principall and mother of all the townes in brabant , and maketh the first member of the third estate of that prouince . it is builded in figure round , contayning fower miles compas within the walles , and sixe in circumference without , among many other beautifull and sumptuous aedifices therein , the church of s. peter , and the publike pallace , are wrought with greatest magnificence and most curious arte . it was called louaine ( as some say ) from the dutch word louen , which signifyeth to praise or honor , because the idoll mars was there helde in time of paganisme in great honor and estimation . this towne is situated neare to the riuer dele , the houses and streetes thereof are not closely compacted together , but wide open and scatteringly builte , by which meanes there are within the same many fayre gardens , valleis , mountaines , medowes , springes , and vines , the land about this towne is pleasant and fruitefull , and the ayre temperate , for which cause our auncesters , not without great iudgement and discretion , chose out this place , as most fitte for the habitation of the muses . we finde written in the chronicles of colen , that iohn duke of brabant obtayned of pope martin the fift , the approbation of an vniuersitie in this cittie , & that letters and good discipline beganne there publikely to be taught about the yeare 1426. afterwards pope eugenius the 6 , licensed therein the profession of theologie . this academy in processe of time , by the bounty and magnificence of popes , emperours , kinges , cardinals , and bishops , whereof some graunted thereto ample priueledges and prerogatiues , some erected therein stately and magnificent colledges , others bequethed to the same for the vse of the students , goodly landes and legacies , is now growne to that higth of glory and celebrity , that it worthily hath vsurped the name of a most flourishing academy , and renowned empery of learning . iohannes goropius affirmeth that no vniuersity of italy , france , or germany , may with this bee compared for pleasant ayre , and delectable walkes . and that although salamanca in spaine farre excelleth all other christian academies , in magnificent and sumptuously builded colledges , yet it is farre inferior to loucine , for the delightsome and beautifull situation thereof : pope adrian the 6. erected in louaine ( whereof himselfe had beene rector and chancelor ) a goodly colledge for studentes and professors of diuinity . charles the fift emperour of germany , and philip the second king of spaine , did extend the vttermost of their endeuors to encrease , amplifie and a dorne this royall vniuersity . in it are for the vse of the studentes , 20 colledges , the principall whereof are fiue , lilium , castrum , porcus , falco , trilingue . this cittie is the first that receiueth , and giueth oath to the prince . it was sometimes an eatledome ; but in the yeare 1247. henry the second of that name , earle of louaine deceasing , henry his successor vsurped the title of duke of brabant . douay . douay is a good and strong town in flanders gallicant , one mile distant from cambray . it was founded as some write by one arcanalkus in the yeare of our lorde 500. it is now a chasteleny , hauing iurisdiction ouer a good country , and a great number of villages : it is accommodated with many fountaines , and adorned with many fayre & sumptuous aedifices , the manner and forme of building therein , is an inuincible argument of the great antiquitie thereof . in this cittie not long since was erected a famous vniuersitie by philip late king of spaine , and authorised with the priuiledges of louaine , where theologie , philosophy , and the inferior artes are learnedly professed . at douay is a staple of corne , brought thether out of sondry regions , wherof , as also of diuerse other marchandizes in this cittie is great traffique . leige . leige is a citty fayre and large , comprehending within the walles thereof , many hils , vallies , riuers , and vine groundes , which philip de comines , lorde of argenton , accounteth to containe in circuite foure italian miles , and maketh it in circumference equall with rouen . it is situated on the side of the riuer mouse , which entreth into it with 2 branches , and maketh therein many pleasant isles , all which are frequented and enhabited . many other little riuers passing through this towne , doe clense the streetes thereof , namely , the leige , from which riuer the cittie is thought to haue receiued her name . also three litle brookes , vte , vese , & ambluar , all three replenished with exceeding store of excelēt fish , especialy vte , wherin are taken certaine delicate fishes named by the inhabitants vtins , these people speake a kinde of barbarous french , and are of the frenchmen called ligeois , of the germans lutticherne and luicknarren . leige is a cittie imperiall , but their tenure is onely to furnish the emperour with some few men at armes in his wars against the turke . the bishop thereof is lord spirituall both of the towne and countrie : but the people haue so large priueledges , that they liue almost in perfect liberty and freedome . their appeales spirituall go to collen . the archbishop thereof is their primate , and from thence to rome . their temporall appeales goe to the emperiall chamber at spire . in this citie flourished in times passed a most famous and renowned academie , wherein as hubert thomas writeth , were studentes at one time the children of 9. kings , 24. dukes , 29. earles , besides the sons of many barons and gentlemen . this worthy vniuersitie by the iniurie of time , & often subuersion of the citie , it is at this day decaied , and almost vtterly extinguished : onely some triuiall schooles for the institution of youth in the inferior studies , are there remayning . in this cittie are 8. collegiall churches , the canons whereof are inestimable rich , and held of the citizens in great reuerence and reputation , especially the canons of the collegiall church of s. lambert , the patron of the towne , who are ioyned with the bishop in gouernment of the state , and haue so great libertie , that they may at pleasure giue ouer their places , and marrie , before they haue taken the order of priesthood : into this societie can no man be admitted , that is not a gentleman , or a doctor , or licentiate . in this church of saint lambert , among diuers other rich iewels and reliques , is to be seene a great image of saint george on horsebacke , all of pure gold , which charles duke of burgundie gaue for amendes of his rough handling this citie , when he wan it by force . also in this towne are foure rich abbeyes , hauing euerie one a goodly librarie : the principall whereof is the abbey of s. laurence , there are three nunneries , and all the foure orders of fryers , some of the which haue two couentes . there are 32. parish churches , & so many other chappels , monasteries , and hospitals within and without the towne , that the whole number of churches amounteth in all to one hundred . further in this citie are 32. companies , which haue so great authoritie in the gouernment of the state , that without their consent nothing can bee concluded or agreed on . ernestus duke of bauaria and archbishop of colen , is at this day bishop of that sea. the bishopricke of leige was first erected by hubert sonne to bertrand duke of aquitaine , who being at rome , was made by the pope bishop of maestricht , in the place of saint lambert , whome the people of maestricht had murthered in the yeare 710. but he being come to take possession of this citie , so much detested the inhabitants thereof , for the foresaid impious and most haynous murther , that he transported his episcopall sea to liege , and there built the church of saint lambert , and the colledge afore mentioned , all which he did with pope constantines consent , about the yeare 713. and here at liege he died , and was after canonized for a saint . since whome are numbred 57. bishops of leige . the bishop is chosen by the chapter of s. lambert , confirmed by the people , and lastly approued by the pope . he is not onely a bishop , but also a prince of the empire , duke of buillon , marquesse of francimont and earle of lootes and hasbaine . the reuenews of this bishopricke are aboue 30000. duckats by the yeare , besides the beneuolence of his s●biectes , ( which is a matter of no small importance , if he vse them well ) and his spirituall iurisdiction , and an infinite number of prebends , benefices and offices , which he bestoweth at his pleasure . leiden . leiden is one of the sixe capitall townes of holland , and chiefe of rheineland , situate in a flat and low countrey , full of ditches and channels , & is beautified with many pleafant medows , gardens , arbors & walks round about it . within it are enclosed 31. ilands , from one of the which to the other , men go by boates , and ouer and aboue these , there are nine or ten other ilands : from the one of the which to the other bridges , are built to passe ouer : so that in this towne are 145. bridges : whereof 104. are of stone , and the rest of wood . in this citie was erected an vniuersitie , about the yeare 1564. by william late prince of orenge , who was in the yeare 1584. suddenly slaine with a pistoll . this academie doth at this day exceedingly flourish , and therein are with liberall stipendes maintained sundry learned professors of the liberall sciences . in leiden is a strong castle , which was said to bee founded by hengist , returning from the conquest of england , and therein is a notable well , from whence the ancient family of wassenar taketh name . this cittie hath vnder it 49. boroughes and villages , the most part whereof once a weeke bring all their good victuailes to sell in the towne , which causeth it to abound with all thinges arising of the earth . it hath also great plentie of fish , both sea fish and fresh water fish , and of water fowle , beyonde all measure . the women are excellently faire , and the aire passing holsome . but a little league from leiden , is the famous abbey of reinsburge , consisting of nunnes , all of noble houses : the abbesse whereof hath iurisdiction spirituall and temporall ; and the abbey is endowed with so great reuenewes , that euerie day aboue 2000. persons come thither to receiue reliefe . another such like abbey of ladies is also neere to leiden , called terlee . in all these monasteries of ladies and gentlewomen , they may vntill they be entred into profession , come forth and marrie : and ordinarily they liue there many yeares before they professe themselues , obseruing notwithstanding in the meane time their rules and orders very duely , soberly , and religiously . copenhagen in denmarke . in the mouth or entrance of the sounde , called by latine writers s●nus venedicus , which diuideth the two kingdomes of denmarke and sweden , lyeth an iland , named selandia : wherein are many strong townes and castles , and among the rest coppenhagen , the feare of the king and metropolis of the realme . in this citie was erected an vniuersitie by christian earle of oldenburge , in the yeare of saluation 1478. after he had gained the regall diademe . for the which he obtained at the hands of pope sixtus the 4. the priuiledges of bonònia . this academie was afterward augmented and enlarged by king christian the third , in the yeare 1498. and after him fredericke the second , in the yeare 1549. we reade that in the time of king erec , the sonne of siwardus anscharius bishop of hamburge , caused the gospell to be preached in denmarke , which the inhabitants for a short time seemed willingly to embrace : but their king deceasing , they againe returned ( as a dogge to his vomit ) to their infide●ity and paganisme : wherein they liued , vntill the raigne of swenotto , father to canutus , the great so called , because hee vanquished & held in subiection fiue kingdomes , namely , sweden , norway , england , denmarke , and normandie . about those times poppo a religious man , comming into the countrey againe , instructed them in the principles and rudiments of christian religion , which from that time vntill this day they haue retained . the vniuersities of italie . rome . alllearned historiographers do with one common consent agree , that rome was so named from romulus the sonne of numitor & rhea siluia , who layed thereof the first foundation . how the inhabitants thereof in processe of time by warlike chiualry dilated their empire & dominion ouer al the westerne world , whosoeuer is desirous to know , i must refer him to the learned decades of titus liuius , and sundry other ancient writers , who haue alreadie filled the world with whole volumes of romaine histories . it being a matter of greater import , then wel can be conteined in the breuitie of my vndertaken taske . wherefore although i find recorded in auncient hystories , that the romaines foreseeing the great vtilitie that would ensue by nourishing the artes , receiued into their citie in the first infancie of their greatnesse , with singular admiration the profession of learned sciences , and that therein hath flourished a renowned academie of long continuance , erected 700. yeares before our sauiours incarnation : yet mine onely intent and purpose is to write of such patrones and benefactors , as haue promoted and furthered the same , and such priuiledges as haue thereunto beene graunted since it first embraced christian religion . nauclerus writeth , that vrbane the fourth of that name , being seated in the papall chaire , was much grieued to see the course of studies in the romaine academie intermitted , and all good discipline neglected : wherefore immediately he caused to bee sent for that famous and most learned clearke thomas of aquine , to direct and gouerne it , who setting aside all care and respect of worldly promotion , applyed his mind wholly to reforme , restore , & adorne the same : during which time , at the popes entreatie he did write many excellent commentaries vpon diuine and humane philosophie . we reade also concerning the ratification of this vniuersitie , of a decree sancited and enacted by pope innocent the 4. as followeth . whereas infinite multitudes of people from sundry parts and regions of the world , haue recourse to the sea apostolique , as their common mother , wee of our fatherly care , minding the profit and commoditie as well of them as all other in generall , to the end that by their staying here , they may by bettering their vnderstanding , benefite themselues , haue prouided that here from henceforth , besides the inferior artes , the studies of humane and diuine , that is , ciuill and canon law shall publikely bee taught and professed . wherefore we decree and ordaine , that these schooles shall receiue and enioy all manner of priuiledges , liberties , & immunities , which haue beene giuen and granted to any other lawfull & allowed vniuersitie . pope clement the fift , in a councell held at vienna , ordained : that at rome , or wheresoeuer the pope in person should be resident , the hebrew , arabicke , and chalde tongues should publikely be taught . pope eugenius the fourth , a man zealously affected to the loue of learning , restored many decayed vniuesities in sundry parts of christendome , but heespecially gaue testimonie of his great bountie and singular munificence , in setting forth and adorning the romaine academie . pope nicholaus the fift , being himselfe a learned prelate , highly fauouring all learned men , did more labour in repayring and beautifying the glorious academie then any of his predecessors : in so much that in rome , since the first foundation thereof , neuer were letters held inso great veneration , nor learned men so much honoured and esteemed , as appeareth by the testimonie of perotus , a man then liuing : what is ( saith he ) the cause why learninges schooles are now more vsually then heretofore frequented ? verily , because thou pope nicholaus the fift , art become their prince and gouernour : who as thou art thy selfe in all kinds of learning excellent , so thou doest receiue , nourish , honour and embrace all such whose mindes are studiously enclyned &c. this worthy prelate hauing finished his daies , his sepulcher was adorned with this glorious epitaph . hic sita sunt quinti , nicholai pontificis ossa , aurea qui dederit saecula roma tibi : consilio illustris , virtute illustrior omni , excoluit doctos doctior ipse viros . vnder this stone pope nicholas is interde , by whome rome golden dayes enioyde of yore , more learn'de himselfe , he learned men prefer'de , famous for counsell , much for vertue more . pope leo the tenth , to his incredible charge , called from forth forraine nations , sundry graue and leatned men , vnto whome he liberally exhibited pensions and annuities , which by their paines and industry vphelde and maintained the maiesty of this renowned academy . the grecian language , being among the latines almost quite forgotten and abolished , was againe by this bishop restored , and brought in vse , as appeareth by an epistle of his written to marcus masurus a grecian in the yeare of our lorde one thousand fiue hundred and thitteene , wherein among sondry other requests he entreateth him to bring with him certaine young men out of greece , from whome the romans might receiue the true vse and pronountiation of greeke characters . pope iulius the third founded in rome the german colledge , an aedifice stately and magnificent , wherin at this day are educated & maintayned a greate number of almaines , vnder the tutele and gouernmēt of the sesuites . the colledge of wisedome was first erected by claudius the emperour , and called alhemeum wherein ( as saveth saint hierome , ) all manner of doctrine , did in his time greatly flourish : it was afterwarde restored and brought to perfection by pope alexander the 6. wherein the professors of all artes are most bountifully prouided for . there is also in rome another fayre and beautifull colledge , belonging to the iesuites , which is deuided into two schooles or partes : the one is called parthenia , into the which they onely are admitted that haue passed 18. yeares of their age , and are of sufficient learning and capacity to frequent the lectures of philosophy or diuinity , the other serueth for a seminarie to the former , and therein is professed onely rhetorique and humanity . this colledge hath for armes theology , in forme of a royall queene , seated in a rich & stately temple , hauing on eyther side of her a ladie kneeling , whereof the one is phisica , or naturall philosophy , holding betweene her handes a terrestriall globe : the other mathematica , holding in like manner a celestiall sphere : between them is this motto or inscription : leges impone subactis . pope pius the fifte conuerted an ancient house in rome , belonging to englishmen , to a goodly colledge , wherein a greate number of english youthes doe at this day receiue their education , the praesidentes and rectors wherof are alwayes esuites . of the libraries in rome . the ancient romans foreseeing that the onelie meanes whereby learning might euerlastingly be preserued , and letters with good discipline vndefiled and incorrupt be transmitted to their succeeding posterity , was by the especiall preseruation and safe keeping of bookes , containing the heroicke actes of their progenitors , which had beene compiled by sondry graue and learned men , they vsed therein extreme trauaile , and industry : which gaue occasion to the first erecting of libraries in rome . the first that designed in rome a place for the conseruation of bookes , was tarquinius superbus , for the workes of sybilla . wee find recorded in the ancient annales of italy , that a certaine olde woman disguised and vnknowne , presenting herselfe before tarquinius , offered him nine volumes to be solde , wherein as she saide diuine oracles were contayned , but she set vpon them so immense and incredible a price , that tarquinius imagining the woman to be distract and ●unatike , could not withholde himselfe from laughter , wherewithall shee seeming to be displeased , cast immediately three bookes of the nine into a burning flame , demaunding of the king , whether he would buye the other six , not diminishing one iot of the former price , whereat the king much more exceedingly laughed , making now at all no question of her phrenesie : shee forthwith cast other three into the fire , and with a pleasant countenance , asked the king whether hee would yet buy those three remayning as dearly estimated as the former nine . tarquinius wondring from whence so confident and resolute a determination should proceede , beganne now more seriously to attend her strange demaund , and bought of her those three at no lesse a rate , then shee at first demanded for the whole , and forthwith commanded that they should be reposed in the capitoll , in which place they were reserued as most religious & sacred thinges , vntil cornelius sylla his time , when together with the capitoll they were consumed with fire . iulius caesar afterward ( as suetonius writeth ) vsed great care and diligence in erecting of libraries , the charge whereof he committed to marcus varro . marlianus in his sixt book , and second chapter , maketh mention of two goodly libraries , erected by paulus aemelius , and octauia the sister of augustus , and wife of anthony . blondus writeth , how that famous library of apelico , wherein were found the bookes of aristotle and theophrastus , was by lucius sylla , when he subdued athens , from thence remoued vnto rome . but all those learned workes of so many excellent wits , with painefull and laborious trauaile , acquired in forraine nations by romes victorious captaines , and there layed vp for monumentes , consecrated vnto euerliuing sempiternity , were by the impious and detestable fact of nero , when he set the citty of rome on fire , to the inestimable losse and detriment of europe vtterly consumed : which pernitious deede of his , is the onely cause , why we at this day want so many antique histories of forepassed times , neither had there now beene left vnto vs any memory of sondry commonweales , many hundred yeeres ago , with greatest policy and wisedome gouerned , had not the succeeding magistrates and emperours of rome , with industrious and carefull diligence , and incredible expence of treasure , caused the dispersed reliques of defaced histories to be searched out , and againe compiled by sondry wise and learned men . suetonius writeth that vespatian vndertaking againe to restore the capitoll , disdayned not among the meanest labourers , with his owne shoulders to exporte such ordure and filth , as long had lyen therein , and that by searching out obscure fragments of olde exemplars , he againe recouered 3000. brasen tables , wherein were contayned the seuerall actes of sondry roman magistrates , the decrees of their senate , and priueledges of their cittizens . domitian also carefully repayred such libraries , as by fire in former times had beene consumed , and caused to be sent for from alexandria skilfull pen men , which might againe write ouer and amend such olde blotted copies of sondry authors , as he had with long search recouered . great care and diligence was concerning this matter vsed by sondry other emperours , as traian , adrian , valens , valentinian and gratian , &c. yet neuer did the roman libraries attaine vnto any perfection , vntil the high bishops had gotten the principality and dominion of the citty . pope hilary the first left behind , two goodly libraries of his own erection . pope zacharie the first , restored saint peters librarie . pope nicholaus the fift sent sondry excellently learned schollers into all quarters of europe , to search and seeke out the workes of antient authors , and by edicte did make promise of 5000. duccats to any man that could bring vnto rome the gospel of s. mathew written in the hebrew tongue . leo the tenth , sent into turky , iohn lascarus , who robbing all the heathen vniuersities of their best , and worthiest authors , did therewith plentifully furnish & adorne the roman libraries . sixtus the fourth builded in vaticano that famous and renowned librarie , called palatina , then which the world hath not at this day a place of greater worth and admiration , hee with maruailous expence of his treasure made search and inquiry throughout all realmes of christendome for bookes of greatest esteeme and rarity : all which he placed in this pretious librarie , whereunto hee appointed sondrie keepers and gardians , allowing monthly , greate summes of money for the perpetuall maintenance thereof . much was this goodly library defaced and endamaged , when rome was by the duke of burbon , ( charles the fifte possessing the emperiall diademe ) conquered and ransacked . but by the carefull prouision of succeeding popes , it hath againe recouered in full proportion the beauty and celebrity which it before enioyed . raphaell volaterranus in his sixt book of geography , sayeth , that there were in his time 24. libraries in rome , the principall whereof were vlpia , which was that founded by traian , and palatina , which is this in vaticano . venice , wee reade that king attila at such time as hee besiedged aquilegia , the inhabitantes of that towne , hauing long defended themselues , and dispayring , fledde with their goodes to the rockes within the pointe of the adriaticall sea . the paduans seeing the fire at hand , and fearing that aquilegia being wonne , the barbarous enemie would not so desist , but prosecute his warres on them , carried all their moueables of greatest value , neare the same sea into a place , called riuo alto , whither they also sent their wiues , children , and aged men , leauing the youth to defend the cittie walles . aquilegia being taken , attila defaced padua , vincenza , and verona , the paduans therefore and the chiefe of the other citties , to auoide the hostile and furious pursute of their enemies , seated themselues about riuo alto . likewise all the people of that prouince ( which was anciently called venetia , ) being driuen out by the same misfortune , did flie thither for reliefe , and beganne there to builde as well , strong , and inuincible fortresses , for defence , as beautifull and sumptuous pallaces for pleasure , which in short time growing to a well ordered cittie , was by them named , after their forsaken territorie , venetia . thus constrayned by necessitie , they abandoned fayre and fertile countries to enhabite these sterill and paludious places ; voide of all commodity , and yet because great numbers of people , were at one instant come thether , they made that place not onely habitable , but also pleasant , ordayning among themselues lawes , and orders , which amiddest so great ruines of italy they obserued , and within short space so much increased in force and reputation , that in the time of pipin , king of france , when at the popes request , hee came to driue the lumbardes out of italy , it was agreede in capitulations betwixt him , and the emperour of greece , that the duke of beneuento , and the venetians should be subiect neither to the one , nor to the other , but among themselus enioy liberty in continuance of time they grew to such greatnes , that their name by sea became terrible , & vpon the firm land of italy vene rable , so that at this day their citie is become the most rich and renowned empory of christendome , and they are admired of all other commonweales , for their opulency and manner of gouernment . they vse not as in other places the ciuill law , but liue and are gouerned by their own lawes and peculiar course of iustice , which liberty was ( as blondus writeth ) first granted thē by charles the great , the high bishop of rome thereto giuing his assent . when the vniuersity therein was priuiledged , i do not reade , onely this i find , that many men excellently learned in rhetorique , philosophy , and theology , haue there florished and professed . volaterranus writeth , that iohannes rauennas ( who liued about that time , when the memory of letters hauing long in italy beene forgotten and extinguished , beganne to bee againe reuiued ) taught at venice , from whence as it were from an other troian horse , did issue many excellent wits , which againe restored schooles and discipline . sabellicus affirmeth , that he professed in riuoaltino gymnasio , anthonius cornelius , being then rector of the vniuersity . after the latine tongue was againe restored , emanuell chrysolor as beganne to teach the greeke . many other singular schollers haue in this cittie taught and liued , as hermolaus barbarus , guarinus varonensis , anthonius mancinellus , iohn babtista egnatius , caelius secundus , curio , peter bembus , aldus manutius , and paulus his sonne , &c. bessarion cardinall of rome , and patriarch of constantinople , bestowed on a librarie , which he caused in venice to be erected 30000. crownes , which afterward the dukes thereof exceedingly augmented and adorned . petrus de assisio maister to bartholus the famous ciuill lawyer , builded in this academie , the colledge of pierie , for the education of poore mens children , and such orphanes , as in the street should happen at any time to be taken vp . padua . although padua ( saith strabo ) what by reason of the vertue and sincere integritie of the inhabitants , what by the dayly exercise of learned sciences , hath long continued in a most prosperous and flourishing condition , yet most antiquaries are of opinion , that charles the great , about the yeare of our lord 791. was the first that granted priuiledges to the vniuersitie therein , leander writeth , that in padua is a free and publike academie , wherein all studies and sciences vniuersally are professed : erected by frederike the 2. in contempt of the bononian students . sarabellus saith , that in padua by a long continued custome , hath beene a general exercise and profession of the liberall artes . concerning this academie iason the lawyer writeth , as followeth . if there be any man who will be moued neither with the long continued antiquitie of padua , which resteth beholding to antenor the troian for her first foundation , neither with the spatious greatnes thereof , nor the circumference of her triple wals , hauing the poe for pleasure sweetly passing by them . neither with the stately and most sumptuous magnificencie of her senate house , then which europe enioyeth not a worthier , nor more excellent peece of workemanship : yet let him be moued with the world amazing glorie of her farre renowned academie , which in fame and dignitie surmounting all other italian vniuersities , is as it were an other athenian areopage , which hath alwayes carefully nourished , and studiously brought vp men excellently learned in the liberall sciences . there is no citie in italie , which for beautie and statelinesse of edifices , may with this place worthily be paragoned . and although it be most true , that antenor after his flight from troy , first erected this citie , yet are all her buildinges both publike & priuate new , and of no long continuance . for we reade , that it was often by the hunnes , vnder attila their king , and the lumbardes vnder fredericke barbarossa their captaine , ruinated and laide waste . the cathedrall church therein was founded by the germaine emperour henrie the fourth : and the state-house or councell hall ( then which the worlde hath not at this day a more curious or beautifull plot of architecture ) when it was by casualtie set on fire , and thereby much decayed and damnified , was againe by the venetians in most sumptuous sorte repaired : in the highest and most conspicuous place whereof were laide the bones of titus liuius , the learned writer of the romaine historie . erasmus calleth this academie the most illustrious and renowned emporie of good letters & ingenious artes . in this vniuersity are many goodly colledges deputed onely for the vse of such studentes , as are of poore and meane abilitie . three principall causes are alleadged , why this academie adorned with so many priuiledges and prerogatiues hath obtained so great splendor and celebritie . the first is the opportune , sweet and fruitfull situation of the place , which ministreth to the studentes great aboundance of all things necessarie . constantinus paleologus ( as writeth rhodogine ) was wont to say , that were it not for the testimonie of the holy and learned fathers , which affirme , that paradise was in the east : he verilie would belieue it no where could be found , but in the amene and fruitfull fieldes of padua . the bread of that countrey is more pure and white then in any other place of italie , and the wine plinie esteemeth to be of the best and noblest sort . the second cause why it hath so long flourished , is because it alwaies hath beene found faithfull , firme & constant to the commonwealth of rome , and euen in their greatest calamities , and most pernurious warres hath assisted them with men , money , and muuition : wherefore the romaines a people euer thankful to their friends , & of singular faith & constancie to their confederates , omitted nothing that might serue to further & promote the glorie & emolument of the paduans . finally , the third and last cause of the preseruation of their happie estate , is because the paduans beyond all other haue euer beene full of humanitie and curtesie , whereby they did often winne the heartes of all men , and moued great princes and potentates to fauour them , and become their benefactors . chastity was of them euer held in so great esteeme , that it grew into a prouerbe , as chaste as one of padua : whereunto martiall in these verses alludeth . tu quoque nequitias nostrilususque libelli , v da puella leges sis patauina licet . many learned professors and teachers haue laboured in this fruitfull vineyard . the first that reuealed vnto this people the arcane and secrete misteries of christian religion , was prosdocimus the disciple of s. paule . after him was saint anthonie of padua . also caietanus a learned diuine , a profound philosopher & most excellent phisition , long flourished in this vniuersitie . thomas penketh an englishman , for his admired learning and eloquence , was with much follicitation and entreatie called out of oxford , to gouerne and direct in padua their scholasticall discipline . sabellicus writeth , how the students of padua vnderstanding that iohn campegius ( a personage for his grauity and great learning much in those dayes admired and esteemed ) was in person approched neere their towne , the rector , rulers and maysters of the vniuersitie , together with the magistrate of the citie , with pompe went out to meete him on the way ( which thing they onely are accustomed to do to high & mightie princes ) & going on foot before him , they conducted him into their towne . whereby of all men easily may bee perceiued , the dignitie , honour , & respect , they beare vnto worthy professors of learned sciences . it were ( no question ) to be wished , that in al other places men would doe the like , then would letrers and good discipline againe beginne to flourish : for as the old prouerbe is , honos alit artes , there is nothing that wil more encourage students to perseuere in their painefull and laborious course , then to attribute due worship and respect to such as haue attained to any perfection in the artes. bononia . although all the learned writers of antique histories do with one consenting opinion agree , that the vniuersitie of bononia is of long continuance , and was first founded , when theodosius swayed the scepter of the romaine empire : yet in what yeare of our sauiours natiuitie , or the said emperours raigne it should bee instituted , they are of discrepant and sundry opinions . the originall of this controuersie seemeth to proceede from hence , because there haue beene two theodosii possessed of the imperiall diadem . for from the selfe same cause haue many profound and iudiciall antiquaries fallen into more pernicious and daungerous errours . baldus the learned pillar of the law affirmeth , that this academie was in most flourishing estate 1000. yeares before his time . others write , that it was first priuiledged by theodosius the yonger , which ( as in those chronicles , which containe the greatest likelihood of verity we may reade ) was elected emperor about the yeare of our lord 420. and raigned 27. yeares . for testimony whereof they alleadge this publike charter of his . whereas the manners of men , health , and warre , & such like , are all gouerned and preserued by the best disciplines , least all good artes and principles of learning should decay , we theodosius by the grace of god , emperour of the romaines , euer augustus , moued with the commodiousnesse and fertilitie of the place , hauing 25. monthes taken sounde and deliberate aduise thereon , sitting in our seate of maiestie , a generall councell of christians being assembled , in the presence of coelestine high bishoppe of rome , twelue cardinalles , archbishoppes and bishops innumerable , and sundrie other dukes and princes , of diuers degrees and callinges , baldwin earle of flaunders , and gualter earle of poictiers embassadors , the one representing the person of the king of fraunce : the other of the king of england , sitting the whole colledge of an hundred senators , doe by this inuiolable acte ordaine and decree , that bononia shall for euer hereafter be a place of exercise for all learned sciences , and a perpetuall seate and habitation for the muses . moreouer wee will that all determinate and finitiue sentences , pronounced by such iudges as haue not beene students in this vniuersitie the space of at least fiue yeares , shall be voide and of none effect . also if any shall proceed maister of artes , and receiue the booke of any other then the archdeacon of bononia , although the most learned artistes shall doe and approue the same , yet by our royall authoritie wee depriue him of all degree and dignitie . if any man bee so bold or hardie , iniuriously to offend any student going or comming from this vniuersitie , he shall be punished with death : which if the president shall neglect to execute , our will is that hee incurre the same penaltie . this copie of our sacred ordinance & constitution , signed with our imperiall seale , and written with the hand of cicero our notarie , we grant & deliuer to the perpetual memorie thereof , to petronius bishop of bononia , descended from the constantinopolitane emperors , at his earnest entreatie and request , to bee kept and executed to the vttermost of his power . giuen at rome in the capitoll , in the yeare of our lord 423. the 11. day of may. how great authoritie this academie enioyed in former ages , we may imagine , when pope gregorie the ninth , pope boniface the 8. & pope iohn the 23. writing sundrie learned treaties , did dedicate them all to this vniuersitie . petrus anchoranus calleth bononia the mother of sciences . pope clement the 5. in a councell held at vienna , decreed , that beside the studies of all the liberall arts , the hebrew , arabicke , and chaldean languages , should be there publikely deliuered . we reade that the emperour fredericke the 2. did much damnifie this vniuersitie , because it tooke parte against him with the sea apostolique , when he held his warres in italie . the students of this place at what time pope martin too seuerely persecuted the bononians , departed from the vniuersity , some to one place , and some vnto another , so that in short time it became a solitarie desarte : vntill afterwarde it was by the popes eugenius the 4. nicholaus the 5. and leo the 11. againe restored . bessarion patriach of constantinople , when this academie , was by negligence and ciuill contentions almost vtterly ouerthrowne , by sundry meanes endeuoured to repaire the same , both by encreasing the yearely pensions and stipendes allowed for the publique readers and professors , and also by building costly and sumptuous edifices , for the maintenance & reliefe of such schollers , as for meere pouertie were constrained to giue ouer their vndertaken course of studies . hierome osorius that famous portugall , and onely cicero of this our latter age , writeth in his first booke de gloria , that the more to enrich himselfe with learning he was especially moued to seeke out this cittie , because in all italie there was no place for the glory and renowne of letters comparable to bononia . for there ( saith he ) doe flourish men in the greeke and latine tongues exquisitely learned : many there are which excell in all kind of philosophie : many famous for eloquence and oratorie , and many which haue in all the liberall sciences with great admiration long beene conuer●ant . what shall i speake of the studies of the canon and ciuill lawes ? when such as in bononia haue professed them , haue obtained the supreme principalitie ouer all other that euer haue beene students in that learned facultie , &c. the excellencie of this vniuersitie may easily bee gathered out of the learned treaties & commentaries , written by sundry famous clearkes , whereof some were in this place schollers , some professors of learned sciences . iohannes andreae , which of ciuill lawyers is commonly called the decyder and expounder of doubtfull questions , professed in this academy the law , with great fame and estimation , and there at length dyed of the pestilence . azo that mirror and bright shining lampe of learning , was here also a publique professor of the ciuill law , pope innocent not disdayning to be his auditor , at what time he wrote that worke of our age , so much admired , called summaiuris . herein also taught bartholus , who being but one and twentie yeares of age , proceeded doctor of the ciuill law . accursius , that famous and renowned clearke , being forty yeares of age , beganne first in this vniuersity to apply his minde to studie , wherein hee so much profited , that his name was knowne throughout all the italian academies , and whereas before there had been alwaies two sects and heresies among the lawyers , they were by him reconciled , and brought into one vniforme opinion . socinus likewise was in this place for his great learning so highly esteemed , that hee was called the monarch of the law , and his schollers often would complayne of nature , saying , she was too auaritious to hide a witte so excellent and admirable in a body so small deformed and vnfashionable . to recite all those renowned wittes , that haue in this famous nursery receyued their education and institution , were a labour tedious and superfluous , wherefore i will conclude with salicet though the last , yet not the least of such learned writers , as haue from hence proceeded : this salicet was by a strange and wonderfull vision animated , to write his commentaries vppon iustinian , for sitting on a time in his study in great solitarines , he heard a certaine heauenly voice crying vnto him , arise , arise , and at length he awakened , when looking about , there appeared vnto him a most beautifull queene , holding in her left hand a scepter , in her right hand iustinians booke , whome followed a reuerende assembly of learned lawyers , of them he demaunded what queene this might bee , who aunswered that shee was the lawe her selfe , and grieuously seemed to lament that her selfe together with the workes of those , which followed her , should by the fraudulent or vnskilfull handling of vpstart and ignorant writers , be so shamefully corrupted , wherefore they sayd , it belonged vnto him , who onely was worthy to vndertake a taske so honorable , as well to reforme those abused commentaries , as also to write some newly of his owne : promising that they would continually assist his labour and inuention : by whose perswasion being moued , he presently applyed his minde to write and absolue these learned commentaries vppon iustinian , so much admited for their worthines and singularity . finally , although this vniuersity by the magnificence and priuiledges of sondry popes , emperours , kinges and princes , seemed already to haue aspired to the heigth of all felicity , yet least any thing shoulde be wanting to the fulnes of her glory , the emperour charles the fift receyuing in this cittie , at the handes of pope clement the emperiall diadem , adorned the same with many great and royall prerogatiues . ferrara . some are of opinion , that fredericke the emperour being highly displeased with the bononians , for fauoring pope alexanders side , by whome he was excommunicated , and his territories interdicted , in hatred and despight of them erected a new vniuersity in ferrara . but volaterranus writeth , that salicet was in the yeare of christs natiuity 1316. sent for by albertus duke of ferrara , to institute a common schoole , in this cittie , which was afterwarde confirmed and priuiledged by pope boniface the eight , and exceedingly augmented by the bounty and liberality of the succeeding princes of este. angelus aretinus , a learned professor of the ciuill lawe , writeth vnto the duke of ferrara , in the proeme of his imperiall institutions in this manner . when you had established in this your noble and most flourishing cittie , a receptacle for learned arts , and liberal sciences , with how great desire and diligence you did labour to haue me brought hether , being not moued thereunto by any fame or brute of mee , that beeing but slender and obscure , but rather by the singular loue and affection , wherewith you alwayes haue embraced such as affect the muses : not onely my selfe doe well perceiue , but all men easily doe vnderstand . wherfore reuoluing these things in my mind , how that i to vndertake the office of a reader , was sent for by such & so great a prince , in whom the cleare brightnes of vertue and honesty , is most resplendishing , i feared least if i should not giue some manifest testimony of my duty and deuotion towardes you , i meane of aretines zeale and affection to the thrice noble and renowned family of est , i iustly might bee reckoned in the number of the most vngratefull men : for euen as your selfe is the first which hath restored vnto this decaying vniuersity , her former place and dignity , so these my labors laying open the first natiuity and infancie of the lawes , ought to bee to your selfe onely consecrated , &c. marry worthy writers and professors haue sucked sweete milke from the muses breastes in this renowned nursery , as felinus sandaeus , the interpreter of the canon law , andraeus alciatus , theodorus gaza , caelius caleagninus , baptista gnauinus nicolaus leonicenus , peter bembus , his maister and many others . millan . millan is a fayre and beautiful citie in lumbardy , seated at the foote of the alpes , which for the great and spatious circumference thereof , is by the italians graced with this epithite la grand . pope alexander the fift , a learned father , writeth that millan is situated in the most cleare , temperate , & wholesome ayre of christendome , and that the first reuealer of christian misteries therein , was s. barnabas the apostle . the writer of the commentaries , vppon bartholus the lawyer affirmeth , that millan hath by long and ancient custome enioyed a free and publike vniuersity . many excellent and worthy schollers haue issued from hence , to the incredible benefite of our christian church and commonwealth . demetrius cydonius borne in thessalonica , forsaking his natiue countrie , came to millan , where he studied first the latine tongue , and afterwardes diuinity : during which time he turned out of latine into greek the learned bookes of s. thomas of a●uine , that euen the grecians themselues might reape some commoditie out of the sacred workes of so holy a man : two goodly ornaments of this cittie were s. ambrose , and s. augustine , and of latter time , uierome cardanus , that great mathematician and learned doctor of phisicke . out of the fellowship of doctors in millan , pope pius the fourth , because hee once was one of the number , granted that the auditor of the wheele , and an aduocate in the consistorie , should perpetually be elected . leander sayeth , that in the colledge of fryers praedicantes , is a fayre and well furnished library . pauia . the vniuersitie in pauia , is thought to haue beene crected by charles the great , not long after paris : for this emperour ●●alously affecting the propagation of christian religion , se●t vnto this cittie one of those priestes , which came to him into france , out of england , from venerable bede , crying out in all places , that they carried about them wisedom to sell , at which time beg●nne the first institution of this academie . rochus de curte a graue professor of the canon law , ( whose learned commentaries are in all places receiued with great applause and admiration , ) in an epistle of his to iohn syluanus chancelor of millan , nameth pauia to be a most happie and flourishing vniuersitie . curtius writing to iafredus , praesident of millan , thou ( sayeth he ) hast vndertaken the charge , not onely of preseruing , but also of augmenting the tottering estate of the pauian academy : so that by thy onely helpe and assistance , it now most worthily is , and may be called the most enobled and resplendishing seminaty of good letters in this our christian world , thou prouidest for the teachers and professors of liberall sciences , large and princely pensions : thou by thy great bounty and singular magnificence , doest attract and draw hither the most ripe and ready wittes of christendome , the better to adorne this royall vniuersitie . in this place did baldus reade his extreme and latest lectures , for here he died , and was buried in the couent of the fryers minorites . many and most grieuous damages did this academy of late time endure , when the cittie was by frances the french king besieged before hee was taken prisoner by charles the emperour : for arnolde ferronus writeth in his seuenth booke of french histories , how anthonius leua , being by charles the fifte appointed captaine and gouernour of pauia , he conuerted vnto his owne vse , euen the siluer maces , which vsually were accustomed to bee borne before the rector or president of the vniuersity , the better to giue his souldiers paye . also a goodly library , which ( as iason sayeth ) was placed in the castell , was then much perished , notwithstanding afterwarde by the singular bounty and liberality of the bishops of rome and other princes , it was againe repayred and restored . pope pius the 4 , ●ounded herein a fayre and sumptuous colledge . bernardus saccus affirmeth the ayre about pauia to bee pure and piercing , whereby the wittes of schollers are sharpened and excited to the desire of studie . he sayeth moreouer that the first teacher and professor of christianisme therein , was syrus of aquilegia : in those dayes that saint peter did teach at rome , whose doctrine , because euen vntill this daye , they haue with greate constancie kept and mantayned , it was decreed , that this cittie shoulde no more bee called by her auncient name ticinum , from the riuer passing by it , but papia , quasi piorum virorum patria . turin . tvrin a cittie of piemonte , was ( as writeth caelius secundus , who was therein borne , ) in former ages called augusta ta●rinorum , because it was the heade cittie or metropolis of the nation and people so called , who by iulius caesars gifte , were made free denizons of the citty of rome . this cittie was by the gothes ruinated and ouerthrowne , and afterwarde againe reedified , though not of so greate circumference as before it was , yet in better for me and fashion . it taketh name from the riuer duria , which runneth through the same . it is situated in a smooth playne , hauing on the east side thereof , a mile distant from the town , the riuer poe , on the north and west the alpes , on the south a fertile champion , contayning fiue miles in bredth . in this cittie was wont to bee helde the courte and residence of the princes , together with the whole councell of riemont : it was afterwarde by the pope graced with the title of an archbishopricke . a goodly vniuersity was here instituted by the dukes of sauoy , which excelled all other italian academies , for their exquisite perfection in tipography , or the arte of printing . erasmus roterodam●s did in this vniuersity proceede doctor of diuinity , where hee after became a publike professor of the same . for the possession of this place , was fought between the emperour charles the fift , and the king of france , in the yeare 1544. that fierce and bloudy battell , wherin of the emperours side 12000. or as some write , 13000. souldiers were put to the sword . florence . florence is a strong and beautifull cittie in hetruria , sited in a play n betwixt the foot of a mountaine , and the riuer arno : it was first begunne by the people of fiesole , & enlarged afterwardes by the romaine colonies . it had then to name armina , and from whence this name of florence should bee deriued , diuers men doe diuersly hold opinion . some suppose it to bee so called from florino , one of the chiefe of the colonie . others will not consent that it was called florentia at the beginning , but fluentia , because of the riuer arno , flowing neere the walles thereof : and they alledge the authoritie of pl●●●● , where he saith , that the people fluentini be neere vnto arno : which may be false , saith machiauel the florentine , because plinie maketh mention where the florentines were seated , not how they were called : and that word fluentum must needes be corrupted , because frontinus and cornelius tac●tus ( who wrote almost in the time of plinic ) doe call the towne florentia , and the people florentini , saying , that long since in the time of tiberius they were gouerned according to the custome of other citties in italie . cornelius also reporteth that the florentines had sent embassadors vnto the emperour , praying that the waters of the chiane might not descend vppon their countrey . it seemeth not then to stand with reason , that the citie should at one time haue two names : it is therefore most credible , that it was alwaies called florentia . for what cause soeuer it was so named , or for what cause soeuer it had the beginning , most sure it is , that vnder the empire of rome , it had the first foundation , & in the raigne of the first emperors , writers did make mention thereof . long time it continued base and obscure , not being able to doe any thing worthy of memorie , for the authoritie of them vnto whome they were subiect , but being at length wearie of that yoke , in the yeare 1010. on the day of saint romulus ( a solemne feast with the fiesolan ) they surprised fiesole , & demolished the same . afterward all italie being deuided into open factions betweene the popes and emperors , they alwaies held on the strongest side : by which meanes florence being now much enlarged , & well replenished with buildings , men , & other things necessary for ciuill life , began to bee numbred among the principall citties of italie . and had ( no question ) growen to as much celebritie , as any cittie of europe , had not the ciuil discords and intestine factions of the cittizens , hindered her greatnesse . but so exceedingly was it alwaies pestered with mutuall dissentions , that it neuer could attaine vnto any height of glory , vntill cosmio de medices obtained the principalitie thereof , & reduced it from an aristocraticall gouernment , to a monarchie . who hauing passed in the beginning of his greatnesse many troubles and calamities , after hee had exceeded fortie yeares of his age , liued most happily : in so much as not onely they which ioyned with him in publique actions , but all other men also that managed his treasure in euery place of europe , did participate of his felicitie : and euery man depending vpon his counsell and fortune , became wealthie . he was the most esteemed and most famous citizen , ( being no man of warre ) that euer had beene in the memorie of man , eyther in florence , or any other cittie : because he did not onely excell all others of his time in authoritie and riches , but also in liberalitie and wisedome . for amongst other qualities , which aduanced him to be chiefe of his countrey , he was more then other men , bountifull and magnificent . his chiefest care and endeuour was to preserue , adorne , and beautifie this cittie . for which cause hee builded and erected in the same many sumptuous edifices . he builded the abbeyes and temples of saint marke , saint laurence , and the monasterie of saint veridiana , and in the mountaines of fiesole , saint gerrolano , with the abbey thereto belonging . also in mugello hee did not onely repaire the church for the fryers , but tooke it downe and builded it a new . besides those magnificent buildinges in saint croce , in saint agnoli , and in saint miniato , hee made altars and sumptuous chappelles , besides the building of them were by him paued , and throughly furnished with all things necessary . to these publike buildings wee may adde his priuate houses , wherof one is within the cittie , meete for so great a personage , & foure other without at cariaggi , at fiesole , at caffagiuolo , & at trebio , all pallaces fitter for princes then priuate persons : and because his magnificent houses in italie , did not in his opinion make him famous enough , he builded in ierusalem a goodly hospitall to receiue the poore and diseased pilgrims . and albeit these buildinges and euery other his actions were princely , and that in florence he liued like a prince , yet hee so well demeaned and gouerned himselfe by wisedome , as hee neuer exceeded the boundes of ciuill modestie . now hauing in this manner adorned the citie with costly buildings , he thought he could adde thereto no greater ornament then to erect therein an vniuersitie , and licence publike profession of the artes : to the end that as well the citizens of florence , as inhabitantes of hetruria , by good discipline and literature might become more ciuill and lesse barbarous . wherefore he caused to be sent for vnto florence , argyrophilus a grecian borne , and at that time in the studies of rhetorike & philophie singularly learned , to the end that the youth of florence might by him bee instructed in the greeke tongue , and the liberall sciences . he entertained also in his house marsilius ficinus , a second father of platonian philosophie : him he entirely loued , and to the end hee might with commoditie exercise the studie of learning , and more aptly vse his helpe therein , he bestowed on him a certaine plotte of grounde , neere to his house at carregi . this academie being by cosmio begunne , was afterward by laurence de medices his sonnes sonne , finished and brought to a full , absolute and flourishing perfection . this laurence was a great louer of good letters , highly fauouring learned men . he held marsilius ficinus ( whom as we said before , his grandfather had caused to come to florence ) in great esteeme . he nourished in his house that excellent scholler angelus politianus , who in his youth did first make the grecian poet homer speake in the latine tongue . he entertained with liberall pensions and exhibitions , demetrius chalcondilas , picus mirandula , and sundry other admired , and much renowned for their singular learning . pope paulus the third , although he dayly heard in the romaine academie , pomponius laetus , a man excellently learned , yet was he exceedingly desirous to studie in the florentine vniuersitie , because the greeke and latine tongues , together with the other artes , were there professed with greatest sinceritie and profoundnesse . this prince much augmented , and with great cost adorned the librarie , which his grandfather cosmio had erected neere the temple of s. marke : from whence of late time haue beene brought to light many excellent bookes , which long haue line obscured , and were in no other place of christendome to bee found : as eusebius caesariensis , againe hierocles , and the workes of clemens alexandrinus , and others . another librarie was in this citie erected at s. laurence his church , by pope clement the seuenth . this noble mecaenas and patrone of the muses , laurence de medices , so famous for his singular wisedome , and whose losse was long lamented of his countrey , being troubled with intolerable paines of the stomack , dyed in april , in the yeare of our lord 1492. in the 43. yeare of his age . pisa. pisa is a great and goodly citie of much antiquitie in hetruria , enuironed about with high and mightie walles of marble stone : which although now through the manifold iniuries of time , and miserable calamities , which hath beene thereon inflicted by the oppression and tyranicall vsurpation of sundrie kinges and princes , it remaineth in the florentines iurisdiction : yet hath it in former age beene a place much renowned for warlike discipline , and most feared of her neighbouring prouinces : as appeareth by sundry seuerall conquestes the pisans atchieued , when by force of armes they endeuoured to enlarge & propagate the bounds of their dominion . in the yeare 1020. they brought sardinia vnder their subiection , hauing thrice expulsed the sarracens from thence . likewise in the yeare 1108. they inuaded the isles of maiorica and minorica : from whence hauing slaine the king thereof ( a man wholly adicted to the law of mahomet ) they returned conquerours , bringing captiues home the queene and her infant sonne : which childe being by them instructed from his infancie in the principles of christian religion , they afterward did reinuest with his fathers diademe . such happie and fortunate successes in all affaires did pisa long enioy , vntill the time of rudolphus the emperour , by whose tirannicall oppression , they seemed from height of all prosperity , to be deiected to an humble and inseparable estate . in the yeare 1369. it was sold by charles the emperour , to peter gambacurta for twelue thousande crownes . afterwardes comming from the hands of one man vnto another , it was sold to iohn galeace , vicount of millan . galeace solde it to the florentines : to whose proud and tirannizing gouernment the pisans not brooking to bee subiected , by a seditious & rebellious attempt , expulsed them , & recouered their pristine libertie : which they not long enioyed : for in short time after the florentines againe did conquere them , and made them slauishly subiect to their imperie and commaund . this base and seruile condition the noblest sorte of the pisan cittizens much repining at , chose rather to bee diuorced from their natiue soyle , and to liue in voluntarie exile , then to bee at home commanded by those , whose auncestors in times past their forefathers were accustomed to commaunde . vppon which occasion the cittie grew to bee in manner of a voide and solitarie desart ( the better sorte of inhabitantes hauing all forsaken it ) and so continued , vntill the first erection therein of the vniuersitie , the onely cause why it was againe frequented : which was ( as leander writeth ) erected about the yeare 1339. not long after it excedingly beganne to flourish , as appeareth by the many graue and reuerend doctors , which therein receiued their instruction & education , namely , pope eugenius the third , a religious and learned father . also raimerus and bartholomeus , two deepe and profound schollers of the order of fryers predicantes , whereof the one did write that egregious worke of pantheologie : the other set forth the summe of cases of conscience . learned professors in this vniuersitie haue beene , helinus sandaeus , franciscus aretinus who was held to be the best read , and most iudiciall ciuill lawyer of his time . bartholus after that hee had in bononia proceeded , did in the pisan academie ( as himself confesseth ) publikely professe the ciuil law , cosmio de medices restored againe this academy , which in his time exceedingly was decayed . after him laurence his nephewe so much adorned and augmented the same , that volaterranus in his fift booke of geographie , and machiauell in his last booke of the florentine historie , name him as the first founder and erector thereof . in this cittie is a most magnificent and sumptuous temple with brasen gates : not farre from which is a tower of rare and admirable artifice , which on the outside bendeth downeward so exceedingly , that a stranger would continually feare the fall thereof , but within it standeth perpendicularly right . the thing of greatest wonder and admiration in this cittie , is the churchyard , whose earth doth in foure houres consume and conuert into it selfe the deceased carkase of a man. sienna . we find recorded in auncient histories , that sienna was once one of the romaine colonies , which since in successe of time hath beene of much greatnesse and command , hauing subiected vnto her dominion , many lands and territories . others write , that when bremius led his armie of gaules , called senonenses , into italie , about 382. yeares before christes natiuitie , this citie was by them founded and so named . some other number among the new and latest erected citties of italie , because therein appeare no markes or footsteppes of antiquitie . whensoeuer or by whomsoeuer the first foundation thereof was laide , i finde for certayne , that it is a most fayte and spatious cittie , well fenced and munited with towers and fortresses . the countrey thereabout being full of pastures and herbage , exceeding all the neighboring prouinces in fruitfulnes and fertility , doth cause in the citty great plenty and aboundance of corne , wine , oyle , sheepe , and oxen , and whatsoeuer else is necessarie to sustaine the life of man. that an vniuersity was herein long since erected , appeareth by the autentique testimony of sondry learned historiographers . cardinall sarabellus , a learned ciuill lawyer , affirmeth , that this academy did in the first beginning thereof suffer so many vexations and indignities , that it no sooner beganne a little to flourish , but it was againe depressed and extinguished : which i the rather am induced to belieue , when i reade of the implacable hatred and irreconciliable enmity , that was betweene them and the florentines , during the furious outrages committed in italy , by the factions of the guelphy and gibellini . they were also much vexed and molested by spanish garrisons , maintayned in the towne , which in the yeare 1552. shee violently expelled thence , it enioyed afterwardes much peace and tranquility vnder the protection of the almaine emperours , but in the yeare 1558. it was wholy rendred to the duke of florence , vnder whose iurisdiction it now continueth . petrus ancoranus confesseth that himself being sent for by the counsell of sienna in the yeare 1357. did in this vniuersity three yeares publikely professe the ciuill law . volaterranus writeth , that in the time of pope iohn the second , ( a great enemy to the bononian academy ) dinus came to sienna , where then al manner of studies exceedingly did flourish , panormitanus , paulus gastrensis , bartholomeus soenius , philippus decius , hugo senensis , augustinus dathus , and many other of great learning and singular wisedome , did with their liues adorn and make famous this renowned academy . franciscus philelphus being at variance with cosmio de medices left florence , where before he had professed rhetorike , and taught at sienna . pope iulius the third , and marcellus the second , were both schollers in this vniuersity . in this citty was borne a eneas siluius , who afterwarde aspiring to the papacy , was named pius the second , by whose bounty and beneuolence this academy was with many priuiledges adorned . this vniuersity sayeth panormitane enioyeth the priuiledges of panonia . therin as writeth cacciolupus , is a goodly colledge called domus sapientiae , where the studentes by daylie practise and disputations , and priuate exercises are greatlie profited . modena . azo a learned professor of the ciuill law , writing of the liberall sciences , studied , & with priuiledge professed in rome , and constantinople , sayeth , that it was at first onely lawfull for the ciuill law to be taught publikely in those imperiall citties , notwithstanding the same was afterward by the popes and emperours licensed openly to bee reade and expounded in sondry other citties , especially in the vniuersities of banonia and modena . when this cittie was erected , or by whome the vniuersitie was priuiledged , i do not remember , that i haue reade in any author . the vniversities of france . paris . paris the metropolis of france , was founded as some say by iulius caesar , and first called iulia , others referre the originall thereof to further antiquitie , and contend that the foundation thereof was layed by one parise descended of the line of ●aphet , from whence they will haue the cittie to bee named . whomsoeuer we shal imagine to haue been the first author thereof : ( the discussion of which matter i will leaue to more learned antiquaries , ) this is most certaine , that shee may at this day worthilie contend for soueraignity with the proudest citie of the world . shee surmounteth far all other citties , not of france onely , but of europe , for huge and incomparable greatnes , for concourse of marchantes , no emporie of christendome is more frequented , for the commodiousnes of the vniuersity , no studentes in this vast and wide circuite of the world are better accommodated . it was called lutetia , from the latine word lutum , which signifieth durt , because that the streets in her for mer age , being then not paued with stone , abounded with durt and myte , by reason of the innumerable multitude of people that repayred from all quarters & corners of the world . the riuer sequana deuiding this cittie in the middest , maketh thereof two partes or sides . the first side contayneth the vniuersity and colledges of the studentes . the other side onely beareth the name of the cittie . the emperour charles the great , to his eternal memory and euerlasting praise , did first ordayne and institute this reuerend and most worthy to bee renowned mother of so many forrain vniuersities , at the earnest suite and instigation of alcuinus , whose scholler he had beene . for wee reade in ancient chronicles , that when venerable bede sent ouer into france those two learned fryers , of whome we had occasion to speake in the description of the pauian vniuersity . alcuinus perceyuing the prompt and ready minde the emperour did beare vnto men skilfull in learned studies , made earnest request vnto him to design in paris , some conuenient place for publike profession of the artes , whereunto the emperour condiscending , immediately this new erected academic exceedinglie beganne to flourish , and is at this time the most renowned nursery of the arts , that euer was in europe planted . since the time of that renowned emperour , it made great experience of the bounty and liberality of the kinges of france , who haue beautified it from time to time , with many sumptuous aedifices , adorned it with many high and noble priuiledges , and endued it with many rich and princelie reuenewes . king lewes the ninth imitating the fact of iulius caesar , to the end that the number of studentes dayly might be encreased in this renowned seminarie of good letters , graunted vnto them by charles tl ese ample priuiledges : we will and command that all and euery person or persons , borne in whatsoeuer climate or nation of the world , being or willing to be of the body and incorporation of the parisian academy , shall come vnto , stay in , or returne from the same , and send their messengers and baggage eyther thether or from thence to any other place , quietly & without troble or molestation , as to themselues shall seeme best , &c. the like charter was to them graunted by king philip the sixt , which rebulphus rehearseth in this manner . we of our especiall grace , and from the fulnes of royall authority , do expressely forbid all lay men , of what condition or calling soeuer , and euery priuate person vppon any occasion to disturbe or molest any maister or scholler , eyther going to , or comming from the parisian vniuersity , or any other that shall by his oath affirme , that hee eyther is , or meaneth to bee one of the saide incorporation . king charles the 6. did release and set free all students in paris , from al maner of subsidies , taxes , & impositions of wine , corn , or whatsoeuer goodes besides they should buy eyther by parcels , or by great , to serue their necessarie turnes . euen this king charles not long after taking part with clement the antipape , against pope vrban , by apprehending and imprisoning the rector of this vniuersitie , for publike reciting the saide popes letters in the schooles , did much impayre the happie and florishing estate thereof , for the students thinking thereby their priuiledges to bee infringed , departed from the vniuersity , and left it in a manner desolate and voide of schollers . in like manner wee reade that the vniuersity was forsaken in the time of king lewes the holy , vnder whose raigne the schollers ( many outragious iniuries being offered them by the cittizens ) complayning that their auncient customes and priuiledges , against all law of god and man , were violated and abrogated departed in swarmes from thence , whereof some thousandes came into england , and studied in oxford , wherat the kings charge they were wel prouided for . many likewise are the priuiledges , which haue by sondry popes beene granted to this vniuersity , but to auoide prolixity , i will set downe one letter of pope innocents written to this academie . we being desirous to doe you an especiall grace and fauour , do ordayn and decree , that it shall not bee lawfull for any man to pronounce any sentence of excommunication or interdiction against eyther rector , proctor , maister , or scholler of your vniuersitie , of what degree or facultie soeuer hee be , or against any other for any fact concerning the vniuersitie , without especial licence from our sea apostolike , without which if any such sentence shal be pronounced , wee will that it be helde as friuolous , and of no effect . from this vniuersity , as from a clearespringing fountaine , haue beene deriued many excellent academies of france and germany . therein are at this day to be seen an hundred goodly colledges for the vse of students , builded all of costly marble stone . robert brother to king lewes the holy , founded in this academie in the yeare 2 , 3. that famous colledge of the learned sorbonistes , vnto whome all vniuersities of europe with one consent giue place , as to the greatest clarks , & most profound diuines of christendome . in the yeare 1286. queene iohan erected the magnificent and goodly colledge of nauarre . francis of valois king of france , did send for sondry learned professors of the greek and hebrue tongues , vnto whome he allowed liberall exhibitions , vnto the which he added afterward ( being moued thereunto by the counsell and perswasions of william budye , & iohn bellay , two singularly learned men ) the profession of phisicke , philosophy , and the mathematikes . so great a quantity and proportion of corne , and other prouisions necessary for the life of man , are from all quarters of the realme brought into this cittie , that there is nothing wanting for the sustenance of so many thousande persons , for within this cittie are sayde to be 500. parishes and 100. colledges . s. dionisius areopag●ta first taught in this cittie , the principles of religion . that the reader may the better conceiue the excellencie of this cittie , i haue annexed hereunto for a conclusion , certaine old verses written in commendation thereofby architremius , a poet of our owne countrie . exoritur tandem locus , altera regia phoebi , parrisius , cyrraea viris , chrysaea metallis , graeca libris , inda studiis , romana poetis , attica philosophis , mundi rosa , balsamus orbis , sidonis ornatu , sua mensis , & suapotu , diues agris , foecunda mero , mansueta colonis , messe ferax , inoperta rubis , nemorosa racemis , plena feris , fortis domino , pia regibus aura , dulcis , amaena situ , bona quolibet omne venustum , omne bonum si sola bonis fortuna faueret . poictiers . poictou is a great and goodly earledom of france , contayning 1200 parishes , deuided into three dioceses , or bishoprickes . it hath also within the confines thereof many proud and mighty citties , amongst which appeareth that beautifull and far renowned cittie poictiers , seated at the foote of the riuer claine or clanus , the principall seate and metropolis of the earldome , for antiquitie and long continuance , not inferior to any towne of france , second to paris , onely in greatnes , power , and maiesty : therein are yet to this day remayning certaine reliques and monumentes of most incredible continuance , as the olde ruines of an ancient theater , gallienus his pallace , and the vaultes of certaine conduits yet standing , called in french arceaux de parigne . in this citie hath long flourished a most learned vniuersitie of great fame and authoritie in degree and preheminence next to paris . we read in the ecclesiastical histories , that s. hiliary called the apostle of aquitaine , first reuealed vnto this people the light of the gospell , and became the first bishop of poictiers , who after many miseries and torments constantly endured for the catholike faith , deceased in the yeare 371. leauing behind him many excellent treatises , which do sufficiently testifie his singular wisedome and learning . lions . lions is a rich and plentifull cittie seated on a little neck or point of land between the two noble riuers araeris & rhodanus , now called sosne and rhosne . we reade in plutarch , that lucius plancus munatius , hauing the conduct of some romaine soldiers , finding in this place the aire to be sweet and healthy , the soyle pleasant and fruitfull , & the riuers so commodious for conueying thither all things necessarie from the territories neere adioyning , hee layed here the foundation of this worthy cittie , which dayly increasing in wealth , and swarming with innumerable multitudes of matchants , grew to be so mighty and populous , that strabo reporteth it to haue beene in his time the most noble and opulent cittie of all france , narbone onely excepted , which in those daies was the most flourishing emporie of that kingdome : this cittie being about that time at the height of her glorie became a seate and habitation of the romaine princes , who often forsooke rome the garden of the world , and onely paradise of earthly pleasures to recreate themselues therein . about which time ( see how all mortall thinges are subiect to vicissitude and chaunge ) she seeming to haue aspired to the toppe of all felicitie , was in one day consumed with fire , and became vnto beholders a most miserable & dolefull spectacle of ruine and desolation : of which seneca in a certaine consolatorie epistle of his to liberalis a cittizen of lions , writeth as followeth : vnius noctis incendium totum strauit vrbem , vt vna scilicet nox interfuerit inter vrbem maximam & nullam , tant a fuit incendij vis & celeritas . in this cittie flourished an academie of great fame and celebritie , which hath sent forth into the worlde many excellent men , renowned for their great learning & holinesse of life , as irenius and eucherius both archbishops of lions , and primates and metropolitanes of fraunce : which dignitie belongeth vnto this cittie , though in the yeare 1306. the archbishop alienated from himselfe the gouernment thereof , receiuing for the same a yearely pension or annuitie . we reade of most barbarous and tirannicall cruelties exercised on the professors of the christian faith in this cittie , during the raigne of marcus antonius the romaine emperour , in the yeare of our saluation 175. in which persecution dyed 19000. martyrs . angiers . aniou , in times past an earledome , and in the yeare 1350. enobled with the title of a dukedome , is a region in fraunce , of no great circumference , but full of goodly riuers , forrests and mountaines , & therefore for aboundance and fertilitie , not inferior to any countrey neere thereunto . it is confined on the east side thereof with tourraine and vendosme , on the west with britannie , on the south with poictou , and on the north with the earledomes of maine & laualle : the metropolis of this dukedome , is an ancient citie called by ptolomey , iuliomagus , now named of the angeuines , angiers . a publike vniuersitie was in this cittie instituted and erected by lewes the 2. about that time that rupertus phaltsgraue of rheine founded heilderberge in germany , which was about the yeare 1346. others will haue it to be founded in the yeare 1362. at which time casimere erected cracow in polonia . henry valoise duke of aniou , brother to king charles the 9. not long since with much industrious care , laboured to augment & restore the same : the which good worke , that he the better might performe , hee with great munificence inuited thither sundry excellently learned schollers : among the which was frauncis baldewin , who therein to his eternall praise and euerlasting memory , did establish the profession of the ciuill law . of this city & dukedome in our country chronicles is often mention made , as of a territorie which long was annexed to the english crowne , and alienated by king henry the 6. in the 22. yeare of his raigne , in the yeare of our lord 1444. at the mariage , solemnized betweene him and margaret daughter to reyner , king of sicily and hierusalem . auignion . avignion is an ancient cittie of prouuence , situated on the banke of rhodanus , wherein is an vniuersitie of long continuance , which then began first to flourish , and be famous in other nations , when the bishops of rome were therein resident . we reade in the histories of the church , that pope iohn the 22. transferred the seate apostolique from rome vnto this citie , after whom it remained there 74. yeares , or thereabout . likewise we reade , that after the decease of benedictus the 11. when clement the sift , was declared pope , in the yeare 1305. the apostolike seat was againe translated from rome to auignion , and from thence afterward , in the yeare 1376. returned againe to rome , at the instance and entreatie of saint katharine , nunne of sitnna . the cittie and church of auignion , are at this day immediately subiected to the popes or bishoppes of rome , who first became lordes thereof , by meanes of a certain neapolitane queene , who being indebted to the church of rome , resigned this cittie to the bishops thereof , and his successors for euer . paulus castrensis , by sundrie learned works he wrote , did much enable this vniuersitie . andraeas alciatus comming into fraunce , was hired ( as himselfe in an oration he made to the schollers of pauia confesseth ) for 600. crownes to be a publike reader in this vniuersitie . orleance . orleance is a rich and plentifull cittie , placed on the banke of the riuer ligeris , now called loire . some auncient hystoriographers write , that the foundation of this cittie was laide by aurelian the emperour , in the yeare 276. and from him was called aurelia , which name vnto this day it retaineth . in this cittie was erected an vniuersitie , by philip le beau , king of france , in the yeare from our sauiours natiuitie 1312. wherein the ciuill law is with such learning and admiration professed , that this academie hath beene often of graue and learned writers , entituled the nurse or mother thereof . it enioyeth the same priuiledges with thoulouse . this citie among many other hath not escaped the taste of those miserable calamities inflicted vppon fraunce , by the furie of the late ciuill warres . bourges . bourges is a citie in fraunce of great same , rich , spatious , and much frequented . it is seated in a pleasant and fruitfull countrey , replenished with all kind of graine , hearbes , wines , beastes , fishes and fowles , and whatsoeuer els is necessary for the vse of man. concerning the first originall of this citie , and the etimologie of the worde bituriges , there are sundrie strange opinions . ioannes callamaeus in his treatise de origine biturigum , saith : that in the yeare from the begining of the world 1791. the foundation of this citie was laide by one gomer , descended from noah , who in honor & remembrance of his great grandfather , called the inhabitants of that countrey , ogyges . but ( as it often commeth to passe , that words by long continuance and custome are corrupted ) from bytogyges they were called bituriges . others there are that say it was called byturis , quasi biturris , from two ancient towers , which they affirme to haue beene in this citie erected by two brethren , which there together raigned : one of which towers ( if we giue credite to antiquitie ) is that which remaineth yet to bee seene , built in forme round , of a great circuite without , & within of a huge capacitie , and is made at this day a castle of most inuincible strength . to confirme this opinion , they recite an old verse of an ancient grammarian . turribus à binis inde vocor bituris . in this cittie is a most glorious & resplendishing vniuersitie , an other pernassus , a place of such fame and excellencie , and of all learned authors so much admired , that whensoeuer they haue occasion to write thereof , they call it the ornament of letters , & habitation of the muses . it was many yeares since founded by a certaine duke of burges , but after in continuance of time falling to decay , and being almost vtterly extinct , it was againe restored and brought vnto his former glorie & perfection by sundry kings of france . it was authorized and endued with many great priuiledges and high prerogatiues , by pope paulus the 2. of that name . in this academie is a diuinitie schoole , wherein theologie is professed with great sinceritie and profoundnesse : there are also continuall & dayly exercises of philosophie , phisicke , and the ciuill law . caen. an vniuersitie was erected at caen in normandie , vpon this occasion . henry the fift , king of england , who subdued the kingdome of france , and left the title to his posterity after many great and glorious conquests atchieued against the french king , hee at last bereaued him of normandy , in the yeare 1418. in token and memorie of which victorie , as an eternal trophie and monument of his glorie , he caused to be laid in caen the foundation of this vniuersitie . rhemes . rhemes is a goodly cittie , and the metropolis of champaigne , wherein not long since was erected an vniuersitie by the prince charles guise , cardinall of lorraine , archbishop & duke of rhemes , whose glorie and renowne dayly more and more encreaseth , by reason of the ar●s so learnedly there professed . of this citie was bishop s. remigius , a man of most holy conuersation and excellently learned , as by the commentaries which he wrote vpon the old & new testament it euidently appeareth . he baptized clodouaeus a mightie and puissant king of fraunce , together with chr●tildis his wife , daughter to the king of burgundie : he died in his venerable old age , in the yeare 498. burdeux . bvrdeux is the principall or head cittie of aquitane , called by the french men guienne , seated at the mouth of garomne , a mightie riuer issuing out of languedoc . it is a place of incredible antiquitie , strongly fortified and beautified with many sumptuous edifices . in this citie hath long flourished a most renowned vniuersity , commonly called the schoole of aquitaine , where the artes are publikely taught and professed , from whence issued those mirrors of holinesse and learning , seuerinus & maximinus , the one bishop of colen , the other of tryer , both after their deathes canonized for saintes . vnto this citie also resteth the worlde indebted for the birth & education of ausonius the homer of these latter times . neere vnto this citie on the waters side standeth a castle inexpugnable , fortified beyond all credite & comparison . tholouse . in the extreamest confines of languedo● , not farre distant from the pyrenaean mountaines standeth tholouse , called by antique writers teotosagum , an auncient and goodly cittie , built neere to the riuer garomne . the first foundation whereof is referred to a certaine trotane . it was afterward amplified and enlarged by the romaines . wee reade , that theodericus king of the gothes , and thorismonde his sonne , finding about this cittie , a happie & fertile soile enuironed with a sweete and holesome ayre , chose the same for their habitation , as the place of all france , most pleasant and most opulent , most fit for the preseruation and augmentation of their empire , whose posterity was afterwarde expelled of the frenchmen with great difficultie . it was raised to an archbishopricke by pope iohn , the 22. who also was the first institutor of the vniuersity therein , which as yet was erected not long after paris , so doth it enioy the same priuiledges , that heretofore haue beene to paris granted . saint saturnine was the first bishop thereof , who afterward being with vnsufferable torments excruciated by the pagans , yeelded his soule into the hands of his redeemer , & was in this cittie buried , the reliques of whose body are by the inhabitantes often visited with great reuerence and deuotion . there was sayde in times past to haue beene in this cittie a temple , wherein was continually reserued in secret vaultes and dungeons vnder ground , as poss donius sayeth 15000. talents of golde , which if any man by chance had touched , he shortlie after came to some vnfortunate end , which was verified in caepio & other roman captaines , from whence proceedeth the prouerbe applyed commonlie to those , whose attemptes are euer vnfortunate and without successe , aurum habet tolosanum . the earle of tholous is one of the twelue peeres of france . nismes . nismes called by ptolomye , pomponius mela , trabo , and other learned searchers of antiquities , nemansus , is an antient citty in dolphine , wherein was lately erected an vniuersity . the soyle in this prouince is of such incredible fertilitie , that being with neuer so little labour mannured , it bringeth forth sondry kinds of excellent fruites . it hath such plentie of figge-trees , and bringeth such aboundance of grapes , that a greate parte of europe is with figges and raisins from thence accommodated . mompehers . mons pessulanus , called of pomponius mela , mesua , of ptolomye , agathopolis , and now vulgarly named mompeliers , is a cittie in dolphinie , not far distant from the mediterranesea , an vniuersity was therein erected ( as some writers affirm ) in the yeare of our lord 1196. which afterwarde was endued with many priuiledges by pope vrban the fift , who layed the foundation of a goodlie house , called popes colledge . in times past the profession of phisicke was there in greatest request : but now the schooles of the ciuil law are most vsually frequented : much was the vniuersity augmented and promoted by the bounty and liberality of henry the second king of france : so great is the rectors authority in this vniuersity , that whensoeuer he hath occasion to walke into the towne , the studentes are bound to follow and attend him . henry the first granted to this academic many royall praerogatiues , and founded therein the kings colledge : here also is an other sayre and sumptuous colledge , called duuergier , wherein sondry ingenious youthes are ten yeares trayned vp in letters and good discipline . bisanson neare to the side of doux or doubis ( a small riuer passing through the french counte , and falling into the sone , standeth bisanson , a great , goodly and well munited citcie , a towne imperial , and the metropolis of eyther burgundy . in the yeare of saluation 1540. by the authority of pope iul●us the third , and the emperour charles the 5. a new vniuersity was therein erected , which hath exceedingly since flourished , and sent forth many learned and godly labourers into the church . the reuerend father anthony peronotus archbishop of mechlin , was a great benefactor to this academie , who so desireth to know more particularities of this cittie , let him reade the workes of george bruno , and gilbertus cognatus paradinus , in whose bookes he shall finde the same at large described . dole . in burgundy also on the banke of the said riuer dubis , is to bee seene dola , a cittie for strength , opulencie , and sumptuousnes of buildinges to bee preferred before all other places of burgundy . an vniuersity is therin of great continuance , wherin among many other sciences the ciuill law is most learnedly reade and professed . the vniuersities of polonia , prussia , and lituania . cracouia . wee reade in the historie of polonia , that lechus and zechus , two sons of iauan , going to seeke a place of habitation for themselues & their posterity , zechus with his people remayned in those territories , which now are knowne by the names of bohemia , and morauia : but lechus proceeding further to the northeast , some twelue dayes iorney there seated himselfe , and called the region polonia , by reason of the playnenes of the continent , being altogether voide of mountaines or vallies . pole in their language signifyeth smooth or playne : here the saide prince commaunded his armie to stay , and to builde for themselues and their , children , townes , and villages , whereby hee established vnto himselfe a principality . but the people in succession of time , daylie more and more encreasing and multiplying , after the lyne of lecus fayled , beganne to wax wearie of a monarchie , wherefore they made choice of twelue . magistrates , which they named woyuuods , ( that is countes palatines ) to haue the administration of their lawes and gouernment of their common wealth : which magistrates or earles doe vnto this day retayne their auncient name and dignitie , though they enjoy not fully so gieat authoritie : but not long after the wauering and vnconstant multitude neuer contented with their present estate , but desirous of change and alteration , waxed weary of this oligarchie gouernment of their woyuuods , and with one consent named one gracchus a principall leader amongst them , to bee their prince and gouernour . this gracchus about 400. years after the natiuitie of our sauiour , gouerning this barbarous nation , builded on the banke of the riuer vistula , a goodly cittie , which after his owne name hee called graccouia , and for the better defence thereof , hee erected a strong castel or fortresse on the mount vaeuel . many ages after , namely in the yeare 1320. vladislaus loko●k praesiding , sent his embassadors vnto the pope , being then at auignion in france , with request that hee might be crowned king of polonia , which suite of his being obtayned , he receyued the diademe and regall ornamentes in the cathedrall church of graccouia , which city was then by the kinges praerogatiue made the metro polis of the kingdome . an academie was in this citie instituted by casimire the second in the yeare of saluation 1361. which afterwarde , namelie in the yeare 1400. was by vladislaus at the instant and importune intercession of heduigis his queene ratified and confirmed with the popes authority . the vniuersity is not in the principall cittie , but in that parte which lyeth on the other side of the riuer , & is named from the first founder therof , cazimiria , therin are two goodly colledges , in the one is professed philosophy and diuinity , in the other phisicke & the ciuil law , the other inferior studies are there also learnedly taught with great diligence of the readers . in this cittie haue i seene the bones of stanislaus , once bishop thereof , since canonized for a saint , carried about the towne in procession , enclosed in a fayre siluer coffin , with great reuerence and veneration of the beholders . this bishop was impiously martyred by boleslaus a most dissolute and libidinous king , because hee was by him once reproued with greater austerity , then his patience could endure , for his inordinate and adulterous life ; but the iust iudgement of god suffered him not long to remaine vnpunished : for being shortly after by his owne subiectes , ( the pope first absoluing them from their obedience ) expelled his kingdome , hee fell into a rauening lunacy , and so miserablie ended his dayes . the moderne archbishop of that cittie is a cardinall of the familie of the radziuilles , the principall and most noble race of polonia , the palatine of this cittie is next vnto the king in degree and authority , who is therein most commonlie resident . posnania . posne is a cittie of no great circumference , but exceedingly beautified with fayre & sumptuous aedifices , it is situated in the vpper polonia , and contayneth a palinacie . an vniuersity was in this cittie of late yeares erected by sigismonde the present king of that nation , and confirmed by pope clemēt the eight , now presidinge . the iesuites enioy there in a goodly colledge , wherin they professe theology , philosophy , and the other inferior studies . koningsperge . mons regius , commonly called koningsperge , is the metropolis of the great dukedome of prussia : it was so called by the first founder thereof ottocharus king of prussia , who being continually molested with the often inuasions of the princes of germany , for the defence of himself , & the confine of his kingdome , hee erected this cittie on the highest toppe of a mountaine in samogitia , in the yeare of saluation , 1255. this region was conuerted vnto the christian faith in the yeare 1000. by adlobertus bishoppe of prage , but afterwarde falling into a relapse , they were againe reduced thereunto by the knightes of the dutch order , in the yeare 1220. who with licence of the emperour fredericke the second , inuaded , vanquished e and a long time possessed that countrie : these knights were in the yeare 1525. expelled by sigismonde king of polonia , who annexed it to his owne kingdome . george marquesse of brandeburge then great maister of that order being contented to holde the same as furdotarie from the king , who beganne his warre in the time of albertus marquesse of brandeburge . this albertus first erected in roningsberge the vniuersitie , which hath euer since , euen vntill this present time , continually flourished . neare vnto that cittie is the isle of glessaria , now knowne by the name of sudaw , where when the sea is troubled and tempestuous , it casteth vppe amber in great aboundance , which from thence the inhabitants ( who by reason their countrie was so many yeares by the germans possessed , speake natiuely dutch ) call at this day glesse , some imagine it to proceede from the gumme of firre trees , where with all those ilands of the sounde are replenished : others there bee which affirme that it groweth as corall doth on the rockes , which being by the violence of winde and weather washed from them by the often reuerberation of the waues , congealeth and waxeth hard , & so is gathered of the borderers : i haue neare vnto this citty seene in the desertes and forrestes consisting all of mighty firre trees , great store of wilde bores . ours which is a kinde of wilde oxe , & alxes , not vnlike vnto our fallowe deere , but thrice so big there are also great plentie of beares . vilna . vilna , commonly called the wilde , is a large and opulent cittie in the great dukedome of lithuania or littow , whereof it is the metropolis . it lyeth 57. degrees from the eleuation of the north pole : it is seated on the banke of the riuer vilias , in a valley betweene many mountaines and mightie forrests of firre trees . the lithuanians in the yeare 1386. first embraced christian religion , in the dayes of iagello great duke , who ioyning himself in mariage with heduigis , daughter to the king of polonia annexed vnto that kingdom the dukedome of lithuania . in former times the lithuanians worshipped trees , aspes , and serpentes , and especially holy fire : for which they erected in the suburbes of vilna a goodly temple of free stone , which was by iagello , when he had obtained the crowne of polonia , conuerted vnto a cathedrall church , and is now consecrated vnto s. stanislaus , whose name i had occasion before to mention in the description of craccouia . neere vnto the church of s. iohn baptist , was lately erected a goodly and spacious colledge , possessed by the iesuites , in the base courtwherof are 6 schooles faire and large : the first for grammer , the second for poetrie , the third for rhetorique , the fourth for philosophie , the fift for diuinitie , the sixt for cases of conscience , named of schoolemen positiua theologia . therein also are many faire and spacious roomes , purposely prouided for publike disputations . this cittie containeth many goodly monasteries , especially one belonging to the friers bernardines of most curious and excellent architecture . therein also is allowed one church for the protestants , because the woywod or count palatine thereof , the noblest of the radziuilli professeth ( if any ) that religion . an other church in like manner is granted vnto the professors of luther anisme , with a peculiar place of buriall . the religion in this citie generally professed , is that of the russes , who haue there many sumptuous temples . they hold in all points the religion of the grecians , which because in some few articles it differeth from the romaine faith , is by the catholiques helde as schismaticall . the iewes also are here permitted to haue their sinagogue , wherein weekely they solemnize their sabbothes . neere vnto this cittie , namely in the suburbs thereof , and villages neere vnto adioyning , dwel great multitudes of tartars , which vse their natiue tartarian language , and the mahumetane religion . they serue as cariers for the inhabitants , & marchants of the countrey , to transport wares from one cittie vnto another , and from one kingdome to another : in one of these tartars sleddes ( which are wagons without wheeles ) i trauelled from reuell in leifland vnto this citie , where hauing spent fiue weekes in my iourney , i arriued about the latter end of october , and stayed there vntill the easter following . the reason that i trauelled in winter , was because the countrey is in the spring and summer time , so full of fennes and marishes , ( proceeding from the dissolution of the snow , which all the winter long couereth the grounde ) that the passages through the same are then most difficile & laborious , but in the depth of winter the riuers & the marishes , as also the snow is by the cold northerne wind so harde congealed , that the cariages most heauily laden haue then their easiest passages : the grounde at that season being all white with snow , is not vnlike to the ocean , wherein the trauellers are constrained to vse the sunne by day , and obserue the stars by night for their direction . there are in vilna two castles at the northeast end of the towne , the one old and ●uinous , standing on the top of a hill : the other new , lying in the plaine at the foot thereof , where is also the kings pallace . the lithuanians , polonians , russians , and muscouites , vse all one manner of attire and armes , though in language they all differ the one from the other : their apparrell is like vnto the turkes , which vse altogether long robes : their armes are launces and short semitares : their armies consist altogether of horsemen , footmen in that countrey being able to performe smal seruice . they vse in their dyet immoderate gluttonie and drunkennesse , though the whole countrey is voide of wine : their drink is an excellent kind of meade , wherewith euery priuate mans house is plenteously furnished . the reason why this countrey yeeldeth such plenty therof , proceedeth from the innumerable multitudes of bees , which of themselues breed in the forrests of fyrretrees , in so much that i haue seene aboue 1000. trees in one place burnt to ashes , onely for the honie which they contained . the vniversities of bohemia , and morauia . prage . prage is a great and renowned citie , lying in the middle or center of bohemia , whilome a dukedome , & exalted to a kingdome by the emperous henry the fourth , in a dyet or generall assembly of the princes of germany at ments , where vladislaus was declared king. this citie containeth foure seuerall townes , euery towne hauing their peculiar market places , prisons , magistrates , lawes , and customes . the chiefe and principall is that which they call the old towne , a place adorned with many ancient and goodly edifices , a faire and spacious market place , with a stately and sumptuous senate house , whereunto is annexed a clocke of curious and costly workemanship : which clocke hath on the top this inscription in great romaine letters . praga capvt regni . and vnderneath , hoc monumentum s. p. q. pragensis aeternitati dicauit . the second part they name the new towne , which is diuided from the old with a ditch of great depth & widenesse , it hath also a market place of huge and incredible largenesse , called the oxe market : at the west ende thereof is also a strong and well builded senate house , with a clocke curiously wrought , yet not so full of cost nor cunning as the former . at the west end is a monasterie of incredible antiquitie , called emaus , contayning many goodly pictures most artificially limmed : in this cloister the people are by the popes indulgence permitted to receiue the sacrament of the altar vnder both kindes . the third part , because in magnitude and spaciousnes it is inferior vnto the two former ( though in sumptuousnes of buildings it exceedeth both of them ) is called the little towne , which diuideth it selfe from the old towne , with a costly and magnificent bridge of free stone , ouer the multaue , containing 24. arches , which was erected at the cost and charges of vladislaus before mentioned : on the south side of this bridge lyeth a small iland , called by the inhabitants little venice , wherein the citizens on sundaies & holidaies for their recreation vse all manner of pastimes & gaming . this riuer in winter season ( though it bee fully as broade , or broader then the thames at london ) is yearely so hard frozen , that carts loden do dayly passe ouer the same : at which time the citizens do fill their sellers with the ice thereof , which in summer time they drinke mingled with their wines . this part of the towne hath also his peculiar lawes , customes , magistrates , prisons , market place , and senate house , and is inuironed on all partes , saue on that side which with the riuer is sufficiently defended with a wall of great circumference , contayning within the same many waste grounds and vineyardes . this part ofthe of the cittie lyeth at the foote of a hill , called the rachine , whereon are many faire and beautifull pallaces of sundry noble men . on the top thereof standeth the castle , wherein the emperour is continually resident , ouer looking with great maiestie the whole cittie , lying vnderneath . vnto this castle adioyneth the cathedrall church , consecrated to s. vite , wherein is to bee seene the shrine of the said saint , together with the tombes and sepultures of many kinges and emperours . at the westerne end of this church is erected a little chappell , built of rich iasper stone , with most curious and costly workemanship , wherein is enshrined the bodie of s. vinceslaus , before whose sepulcher diuine seruice is dayly celebrated . the memory of this saint is to this day among the bohemians held in great regard and estimation . he was sonne to vladislaus the second christian duke , after whose decease hee was by his mother drahomitia , and his brother boleslaus inuited to a banket , where on the sodaine hee was by them most impiously murthered . his bodie being afterwarde conue●ed to prage there to bee enterred , in a carte drawen with sixe oxen : which cart passing through the market place of the lesser towne , the oxen could not by any meanes bee enforced to passe beyond a little round tower , wherein were imprisoned many capitall offenders , vntill all the said prisoners were set at libertie . wherevpon this prison was presently conuerted to a chappell , wherein once a yeare in memory of the saint , diuine seruice is wont to be celebrated . in this cittie was borne charles the great , emperour of the romaines , and king of bohemia , who therefore vsing all his endeuors to beautifie , and adorne the same , in the yeare of grace 1360. erected there an vniuersitie . martin cromer in the 12. booke of his polonian historie affirmeth , that when cazimier king of polonia founded the academie of cracouia , in the yeare 1361. prage was then a knowne vniuersitie . this schoole by reason of the accesse of the germains thither , grew to bee exceedingly frequented , and so flourished vntil the springing vp of wicklisse , who amongst them being fauoured of the bohemians , made his partie so strong , that aboue 2000. germaines were in one day constrained to depart to lipsike , three daies iourney fiō thence , where they obtained licence & priuiledges for an vniuersity . not long after wickliffe , arose amongst them hierome of prage and iohn hus , so named from a little village wherein he was borne , called hus , which in the bohemian language signifieth a goose : they were after condemned for heretickes by the counsell of constance , and in that cittie openly burned . their errors you may reade in munster , fol. sor. after these schismes and sectes among them , the vniuersitie dayly more and more decayed , and was almost vtterly extinguished , had it not by the liberality of ferdinand the first , and maximilian the 2. emperours ( who are there in the cathed●all church both enterred ) been againe raised and restored . there is now a goodly colledge newly builded , not far from the cast end of the bridge , containing 3. churches , though of no great capacity , yet exceeding beautiful , the one for bohemians , the other for germains , the 3. for italians . in this colledge are by the iesuits lernedly professed theologie , & the other inferior artes . the 4. and last towne contained in this citie , is that of the iewes , who within themselues haue their peculiar lawes and liberties : they haue 5. sinagogues therein , in the which they celebrate their sabbathes . the bishopricke of prage did many yeares sithence belong to the archbishop of mentz : but after it was by charles the great separated , and raised to the degree of an archbishopricke . neere vnto the cathedrall church milada , sister to boleslaus the 4. christian duke of bohemia , by the permission & authoritie of the pope , builded s. george his church , and adioyned thereunto a nunnerie , wherein she her selfe became a votarie . as well in this cittie as neere about in the bordering regions are to be seene the ruines of many goodly monasteries ouerthrowne by ziska , because a monk of s. august . order rauished his sister , whose portrayture i haue often seene at prage , with this subscription : iohannes ziska superbiae & auaritiae clericorū seuer us vltor . olmuts . olmuts is a faire and ample cittie in morauia , a dukedome whilome free , now annexed to the crowne of bohemia . in the yeare nine hundred , zuantocopius prince thereof had vnder his dominion polonia , silesia , and bohemia , who moued with the greatnesse of his power , to an intollerable pride , denyed the tributes , which he was accustomed to pay vnto lewes the emperour , vpon which occasion offered , the said emperor inuaded his dominion with fire and sworde , but finding greater resistance then heeexpected , hee was constrained to call the turke to his aide : by whose assistance the morauites were easily vanquished , and the race of zuartocopius vtterly extinguished . about these times came gyrullus the apostle of the sclauonians , into this countrie accompanied with melodius , who first layed there the foundation of christian religion , and crected a cathedrall church in tielagrade , which since was transferred to this cittie olmuts . the people and inhabitantes of this cittie entertaine strangers with incredible humanity , of which i my self had good experience at my being among thē . the language as well of the countrie people , as of the citizens , is a kind of corrupt and barbarous dutch. the ayre is healthy , and the land very fruitfull . i imagine the vniuersity therein not to haue been of any long continuance , because i doe not remember that i euer haue reade or heardany mention made of the same in any antique author , it seemeth therefore to haue bin erected lately since the comming thether of the iesuites , for whome there was builded a magnificent and sumptuous colledge at the popes charges , for the resorming of lutheranisme in those territories generally professed . the monastery of the prouince like as we saide of bohemia , were all by zusca defaced and ruinated . the vniversities of spaine . toledo . carpetana regio , now called the kingdome of toledo , lyeth in the hearte and center of spaine , the metropolis where of is toledo , frō whence the whole kingdom hath taken his name . this cittie is situated on the banke of the riuer * tagus , now known by the name of tay. it was recouered from the saracens in the yeare of our lord 1216. by ferdinand the third , who caused them to fiie to granada and malaga , where they remayned vntill the yeare 1480. aboute which time ferdinande king of spaine grandfather to charles the fift , by the mothers side , beganne to make fierce and cruell warres vppon them , by the vertue of which valiant and renowned prince , their name was in spaine vtterlie extinguished . this is a citty beautified with many pallaces of rare and excellent architecture , fenced about and munited with an hundred and fifty towers , the concourse of people hether is exceeding great , it hath continually within the walles many troupes of horsemen , for defence a great parte of the nobility of spaine , for pleasure , and an infinite multitude of marchantes , as well forraine , as inhabitantes for traffique and commoditie . it is also enriched with great store of venerable and learned men , and adorned with the profession of all attes and sciences , aswell mechanicall as liberall . in this cittie was the vniuersity first erected by a certaine bishoppe of the same sea , and was afterward confirmed by the priuiledges and praerogatiues of many popes and kinges of spaine . the chiefe sciences therein professed are the canon and ciuill law , which are there taught with so exquisite diligence and learning , that whosoeuer shall remaine , but some few monethes among them , if hee bee not altogether stupide and voide of capacity , hee cannot chuse but returne much amended in knowledge and learning . in this vniuersity was s. alphonsus a student of diuinity , who as they say receiued a peculiar cope or holy vestment , which in the celebration of masse he was accustomed to weare from the handes of our blessed ladie , because hee had with great learning defended her perpetuall virginitie against the heluedian heretiques , which did oppugne the same . the archbishoppe of this cittie is chancelor of castile , the metropolitane and chief of al the ecclesiasticall persons in spaine , the reuenewes of this church amounteth to the summe of 200000. duckats , whereof the archbishop receyueth 80000. siuille . andolusia is that parte of spaine , which lyeth betweene portugale and the streytes of gibralter , it is in latine called wandolicia , from the wandales , which long time possessed that countrie . it was in former ages called baetica , from the riuer betis , which to the spaniardes at this day is knowne by the name of * guadalquiuer , neare to the side of this riuer is situated that famous and renowned cittie siuille , vnto the which for neatenesse and magnificence of aedifices , both diuines and prophanes , for profession and exercises of the liberall sciences , for infinite aboundance of wealth and cōmodiousnes of liuing , no one citty that euer i haue heard or read of , scarse rome herself flourishing in the height of her glory , may worthily bee paragonde : it excelleth all other citties of spaine in fertility of the soyle , which bringeth forth all kindes of grayne , and oliues in great aboundance , and is enuironed and hedged about with trees , greene and fruitfull . in this cittie are alwayes maintayned 30000. genettes for seruice of the king . the riuer guadalquiuer running thorough the same , deuideth it into two partes , that part which lyeth on the west side thereof is called triana , which is a suburbe contayning three thousand cittizens , and is ioyned to the maine cittie , with a fayre & goodly bridge ; on this side standeth a castell of greate strength and maiesty . this cittie contayneth 24000. citizens , euery one hauing his priuate & peculiar house , which are al diuided into eight tribes , whereof the first and chiefest is s. maries tribe , wherein is a church of so rare and admirable workemanship , and such venerable maiesty , that our christian world can hardly shew the like . this church hath a tower erected in forme of a pyramis , of most incredible height , with much laborious arte and industry , from whence all the coast and country adioyning may easily bee seene . out of this citty the king receyueth yearely by way of custome , 500000. crownes . a prouinciall councell was held in this citty , in the yeare of our lord 584. in the time of mauritius the emperour and pope pelagius the second . an other councell was here assembled vnder heraclius , & pope honorius the first , in the yeare 636. the archbishoppe of siuill is in decree next vnto the archbishop of toledo , and hath vnder him three bishoppes suffragans , that is to say , the bishoppe of cales , malaga , and the fortunate slandes , he receyueth yearly out of the church reuenewes 24000. duckats . the vniuersity herein is of great antiquity , & hath sent forth into the world many learned and excellent men , as pope siluester the second , auiccn a profounde philosopher , and most excellently learned phisition , and leander , who by their industry and wisedome , reclamed hermigilde , and richarde , kinges of the gothes , from arianisme to the catholike faith : herein also flourished isidorus , a man much renowned for sincerity & profoundnes in learning . in this vniuersity is a rich and most renowned library , neare to the fryers predicants . valentia . valentia is a region of spaine , confined on the east side therof with the mediterrane sea , on the north with arragon , on the south with nurcia , and on the west with castile : through this kingdome runneth a riuer , called by salust , priscian , pomponius mela ; & other ancient writers , turia , or durias , which since of the moores , which inhabited that country , was called guetalabiar , neare to the mouth of which riuer is situated that noble and famous citty valentia , the chief and principall cittie of that kingdome , a place of maruailous antiquity , wherein are reserued euen vnto this day , many auncient marbles with roman inscriptions on them : among the which there is one with this inscription , colonia , iulia , valentia , wherby it most euidentlie appeareth , that it hath in former ages been a colony of the romans . some there bee which affirme that this citty was first called roma , vntill being by the romans vanquished , they called it by a worde in their owne language of the same signification valentia . in this citty is an vniuersity , which in the yeare of grace 1470. did admirably flourish . herein saint dominicke , the first founder of the fryers praedicantes , did absolue the courses of philosophy , and theology . herein also did s. vincent a fryer of the same order , in his youth study , and in his elder yeares publikely teach diuinity . wee read that in valentia was assembled a generall councell in the yeare of saluation 466. the yearely reuenewes of the bishopricke in this cittie amount to 1●000 . duckats . in this countrie are made those porceline dishes , which for pure temper of the mettall , and exquisite artifice and workemanship , so much desired in forrain nations . the inhabitants of this kingdome retain yet a smacke or taste of the ancient arabique tongue , and some spices of the mahumetane religion . granada . the kingdom of granada , is on the south side thereof limitted with the mediterran sea , it hath on the east side the kingdome of murcia , and on the west andolusia : in the middest of this kingdome standeth the metropolis and chiefe and principal cittie thereof : granada , from whence the realm hath deriued his name . this cittie and countrie was possessed of the moores and saracins 800. yeares , and were at last by the great and singular vertue of ferdinand grandfather to charles the fift , together with their king melis , expulsed not onelie out of this kingdome , but out of spaine . since which time they neuer attempted any matter of great moment against the christians , neyther durst they insinuate themselues into any one parte or corner of their dominions , which wee haue spoken of before in the description of toledo . the greatest happinesse of this place consisteth in the fruitfulnesse and faecundity of the soile . the houses of the cittie are builte all of free stone with curious and artificiall masonrie , shewing great magnificence . it is within replenished with many springes & waters , exceeding cold and most profitable for the cōseruation of health , without it is enuironed with a large & statelie wall , contayning in the circumference thereof twelue gates , and a hundred and thirty turrets or towers . by the great bounty and liberality of the king of spaine in this cittie , was founded and erected a most sumptuous and magnificent colledge to the vse of the iesuites , who are authorized therein to professe philosophy , diuinity and the other triuiall and inferior studies . in this place had that mirror of christendome lewes of granada , ( whome all men haue admired , but no one euer could imitate , ) his birth and education . s. iago . gallicia is a region lying on the northwest side of spaine , and maketh a headland or promontarie farre out into the sea , commonlie called capo de finisterre , or the north cape , which seemeth in a manner violentlie to seperate the sea of bisca , from the isles of bayona : neare to the promontary standeth the cittie of compostella , vulgarly called s. iago , more noble and famous by reason of many pilgrimages , made thether by persons of great place and qualitie , then for any other matter worth the obseruing therin contayned . we read in ancient histories of the church that s. iames after theascention of our sauior trauelled into spain , & preached the gospel to the inhabitāts therof , being as yet pagans & infidels . but reaping there smal fruit of his excessiue labour & paines by reason of the iniquitie and naughtinesse of those times , he returned againe to hierusalem , where at the commandement of herode being slaine , he obtained a glorious crowne of martirdomes vnto this saint the spaniards ascribing their first conuersion , caused in honor and remembrance of him a rich and sumptuous temple to be erected in compostella , where his reliques are at this day visited with a wonderfull concourse of people , and worshipped with incredible deuotion . this church was by pope calixtus the second highly aduanced and honored in the yeare of our lord 1122. whence it proceedeth , that this church is immediately subiect vnto the pope and to no other prelate or gouernor . the emperour charles the great founded herein a goodly colledge , now gruerned after the rule of s. isidore . he also caused this church to bee accounted among the seates apostolique , where is to bee vnderstood , that in christendome are three seates , called apostolique , which before all other places of the worlde the christian religion hath alwaies held in greater esteeme , that is to say , s. peters , at rome . s. iohns at ephesus , and s. iames at ce●postella . this cittie of ancient historiographers was called in time passed brigantium , from whence the irish nation , the scots in galloway , & our northerne yorkeshire men , called in old authors brigantes , glory & boast , that they haue receiued the first originall of their race . valladolit . on the east side of gallicia , bordereth the kingdome of legio , which endured the cruell and heauie yoke of seruitude vnder the sarracens aboue three hundred yeares , and was restored vnto libertie in the yeare of grace 1216. by the kinges of arragon , castile , portugall , and nauarre , who assembling a mightie and puissant armie made here against hilminolmius , the king of the moores , returning from auinion in fraunce ( whither hee passed before as a conquerour , harrying and spoiling the countrey as , hee went with fire and sword ) and after a sharpe and bloudy battell , vanquished his armie , and recouered this kingdome . in this realme is valladolit , named in olde authors pintia , a cittie though of no great circuite , nor spaciousnesse , yet of much and long antiquitie . it was wont to be numbred among the seuen most auncient vniuersities of spaine . it hath beene long drowned in obscuritie , euen vntill the dayes of king phillip late deceased , who because he was there borne , did restore vnto it the antique priuiledges and prerogatiues thereto belonging , and did his vttermost endeuors to raise it to his former dignitie . he there hath lately erected a colledge for the institution of yong english gentlemen , which haue abandoned their countrey . alcala de henares . vnto the kingdome of legio is adioyned caslile , an earledome , which was by ferdinand the third sonne to the earle of castile , raised to a kingdome in the yeare 1017. & vnited to the realme of legio . among many great and goodly cities in that kingdome , complute , which of the spaniard , is commonly called alcala de henares , is not the meanest . an vniuersitie was herein erected and instituted by an archbishop of toledo , named franciscus xinerie●sis , who was by profession a franciscan frier , in the yeare 1317. salamanca . in this kingdome of castile lyeth that worthy and famous cittie salamanca , situated on the banke of the riuer thormes , which falleth into the maine riuer duero in portingall . although concerning the first erection and institution of this vniuersitie , few writers ( as saith sarabellus ) affirme any thing for certainetie : yet are there not wanting some which hold for vndoubted truth , that it first was founded in the yeare of christs in carnation 1404. which in these our daies hath gotten great fame and credite , and is well knowne throughout christendome , by reason of diuers and sundry priuiledges , wherewith many kings and high bishoppes of rome haue liberally adorned the same . pope clement the sift , in a councell held at vienna , made a decree , that the hebrewe , arabicke , and chaldie tongus should in this academie be continually taught , & iohn goropius affirmeth , that for magnificent and sumptuously builded colledges , scarce any vniuersitie of europe may therewith worthely be paragond . the which pope hauing in his court certaine young gentlemen of spaine , which he desired should bee trained vp in some place where they most might profit in vertue and good literature , thought no academie in christendome so fit for that purpose as salamanca , because all kind of learning was there by most excellent men with incredible industrie professed . in this academie pope adrian the sixt , before his papacie , liuing in spaine , tooke great pleasure and delight , and after his election he held it in great price and estimation , adorning , amplifying , and authorizing the same with many great and vnusuall prerogatiues . ignatius loyola first founder of the societie of iesu , was in this vniuersitie a student . saragossa . in the extreamest confines of this kingdome of castile , euen on the banke or shore of the riuer ebro , wherewith it is diuided from nauarre and aragon , standeth an auncient cittie , called of the romaines caesaraugustana , or augusta caesariae , which of the inhabitants is named saragossa , wherein the kings of arragon are vsually accustomed to be crowned . this church was by pope iohn the 22. ( who was alwaies thereunto exceedingly well affected ) eleuared to the dignitie of an archbishopricke : by him also were the priuiledges of the vniuersitie restored and ratified . because in this cittie had beene shed the bloud of many holy martirs , which suffered for the constant profession of the christian faith , during the raigne of those bloudie , vnmercifull , and impiously tirannous idolaters datian , and richiouarus , whose inexpleble thirst was neuer satiated with the bloude of innocent christians : it is at this day commonly entituled saragossa the holy . siguença . siguença is also a cittie of castile , lying three daies iourney from saragossa , and three leagues from medinacoeli , wherein is an vniuersitie much frequented : but concerning the foundation thereof , or donation of the priuiledges thereto , i haue not in any author read ought which i dare set downe for certainty . lerida . arragone is that part of spaine , which lyeth at the foote of the pyraenean mountaine , betweene nauarre and catallonia , and is separated from the continent of castile & valentia , with the riuer ebro . in this kingdome are to be seene many faire and well fortified citties : among the which is larida , a beautifull towne , situated on cinga , a small riuer , which keeping his course through this realme disburdeneth himselfe into the ebra . in this cittie flourisheth an academie of maruellous antiquitie , wherein pope calixtus the third , before hee obtained the papacie , proceeded doctor of either law , who afterward became a publike professor of the ciuill law in the same place . also s. vincent a dominican frier ( which for his religious and holy life was after his death canonized for a saint ) was there made doctor of diuinitie . we reade of a prouincial counsell of eight bishops assembled in this citie vnder anastatius the emperour , & pope gelasius the first , in the yeare of our lord 494. huesca . osca or isca , called in the vulgar tongue huesca , is an other goodly cittie of arragon , containing an vniuersitie of most admirable antiquitie , which is said to haue beene erected before the comming of christ , as a nurserie for the institution of noble mens children . lisbone . that part of the continent , which coasteth along the westerne shore betweene the iles of bayone and the promontorie or cape of saint vincent , is knowne to vs by the name of portugall , numbred amongst the most wealthie and opulent kingdomes of europe . through the middest of this region passeth the riuer tagus or tayo , neere vnto the mouth whereof is seated lisbone , the most faire and flourishing emporie of portingall , the metropolis of the kingdome , the most beautifull and best adorned cittie in the west . we reade that henry earle of lorraine , a man renowned in feates of armes , had in guerdon of many conquestes by him atchieued against the moores , giuen him to wife tyresia , daughter of alphonsus the 6. king of castile , vnto whome was assigned for her dowrie all that part of gallicia , which now is subiect to the crowne of portingal . of these princes was borne alphonsus , who first named himselfe king of portingall . this young king nothing degenerating from the vertue of his auncestors ceased not to vexe and wearie out the moores with continuall warres : so that he vanquished and subdued siue kinges of them , in memorie whereof the kings of portingall beare in their coate of armes euen vntill this day fiue shieldes azure in field argent . he also recouered from them lisbone , and restored it to libertie about the yeare 1110. since that time , what with the fauor & munificency of their kinges ( who haue for the most parte therein continually kept their courts ) what by the incredible accesse of marchants thither , from all nations of the world . this cittie is growen to that height of glorie & maiestie , that she easily surmounteth all other citties whatsoeuer contained in this westerne world . a most renowned vniuersitie was by the bountie of their kinges in this citie erected , where euen vntill this day the liberall sciences are professed with great sinceritie and profoundnes , to the incredible benefite of christendome . there are in this cittie 26. parishes , and 20000. mansion houses . in the yeare 1531. the 7. kalendes of februarie , there was a most strange and admirable earthquake throughout all places in portingall , whereby were cast downe to the ground 1050. houses , and sixe hundred were there withall so rent and shaken , that their fall and ruine dayly was expected . this earthquake continued the space of eight dayes , causing the ground to shake and tremble at least three or foure times a day , in such sort that the inhabitantes were therewith so affrighted and terrified , that they were glad to forsake their houses , and lie on tops of mountaines in the open aire . coimbra . coimbra is also a most pleasant and goodly cittie in portingall , seated neere vnto the riuer mondego . an vniuersitie was therein founded in these latter daies , by iohn the seconde , king of portingall . iacobus payua andradius in the preface of his booke , entituled : liber orthodoxarum explicationum , writeth of this vniuersitie in this manner : coimbricensis academia est loci natura amaenissima , & omni literarum genere clarissima est , inqua ipse ab eunte aetate literarum studij● incubui non insoeliciter . euora . evora is an ather cittie of portugall , not to bee contemned , it is illustrated with the dignity of a bishops sea. an vniuersity was herein lately erected by henry , cardinal of portugall , a prelate of worthy memory , who was bishop of that place he was a man endued with aboundant wealth , & exceedingly affected tothe muses . maiorica . the isles of maiorica and minorica , adioyning so neare to the continent of spaine , that one may with great facility saile from the one to the other in foure , or at the most in fiue howers , and also being parcelles of the kings dominion , i thought it not amisse to annexe this cittie , to the other vniuersities of spaine . maiorica is the greatest islande of the two , and hath lying on the east side thereof a goodly cittie , which is the metropolis of both islandes , and hath neare adioyning vnto it , an ample and most commodious porte . the inhabitantes hereof are constrayned to endure many iniurious outrages , and most misetable calamities at the handes of the moores and saracens their opposite neighbours on the coast of africa , who oftentimes making incursions into this isle , do in an euening fire many of their houses standing neare to the sea , and carry away the owners thereof as prisoners , to bee for money of their friendes , and the kindred redeemed , for whose ransome there are continually on all sondayes and holydayes publike collections in their churches . the land of these ilands neare vnto the sea , is sweet , pleasant , and fertile , but vp further within , ●is sterill , ful of craggy rockes , vnpleasant and vnprofitable . in this cittie is an antient priuiledged and authorised vniuersitie , where the artes vniuersall are publikely with great learning professed . among the students of this academy , the memory of raimundus lullius is with great admiratiō retayned , because he receyued therein his birth and education : insomuch , that euen vntill this present time , a learned man is there with liberall exhibition entertayned to maintain and teach the doctrine in times passed by lullius professed . i would that the learned reader should vnderstād that although the spanish academies are by me briefly runne ouer , yet are there not more goodly , more opulent , nor more in all kindes of learning flourishing vniuersities in any region of europe , which i am constrayned to setdowne without any exact descriptiō of them , because i neuer could find ( though i haue therefore made great search and enquiry ) any author which discourseth of that subiect . the vniversities of england . oxford . oxsorde is a fayre and beautifull citty , whose situation is in a playne champion , neare to the side of the thames , being enuironed with many pleasing groues & wooddy mountains : from whence ( as some writers affirme ) it was in times passed named bellositum : concerning the etymologye of the name thereof , there are sondry opinions . lelandus imagineth , that it first was called ouseforde , from the riuer ouse , in latine isis : but the most true and probable coniecture is , that it was named of the saxons oxenford , in the same sense that the grecians named their bosphoros , and the germans ochensfurt , a cittie standing at this day on the banke of the riuer odor , from a fourde or shallownes of the riuer in that place , through the which cattell might safelie passe , for which cause it is at this day of the auncient brittaines called in their language rhyddichen . we find written in our chronicles , that this cittie was in the time of the brittaines , the first inhabitantes of this iland , consecrated vnto the muses : whose names and memorie were afterwarde , during the furie of the saxon warres therein , vtterly extinguished , and the cittie much obscured , knowne onelie for certaine reliques of s. frideswid , a religious votaresse therein reserued , and with much deuotion often visited . but in succession of time 873. yeares after our sauiours incarnation , alfred a holy and religious saxon king , restored againe the muses to their former dignity , which had beene thence so long exiled : who the better to encourage their abode therein , caused three colledges to bee erected : one for grammarians , another for philosophers , and a thirde for professors of diuinity : but this felicity not long endured : for the danes in the time of ethelred consuming all with fire and sworde , burned a great parte of the cittie , and not long after harald lightfoote , exercised in the same , such immane and batbarous cruelties , that the students flying from their colledges and habitations , left the vniuersity desolate and forsaken , in which estate it remayned vntill william the norman by his conquering arme obtayned the regal diadem , after which prince his entrance robert de oilgi a gentleman of normandie , in guerdon of his valour , trauell , and expence , receyuing of the conquerour a grant of certaine landes neare the wals of this citty , erected at the west end thereof a strong & well fortified castell , which after was by king stephen during the warres betweene him and maude the empresse , long in vaine besidged : hee also as some thinke enuironed oxford with a wall , which now by long continuance is decayed , robert his brothers sonne in the yeare 1130. founded neare vnto this cittie , a spatious and goodly priorie : which from the riuer before mentioned , enuironing the same , hee called ousney , the ruines of whose walles remain onely at this day to be seene , in these times the cittie being againe with many fayre and goodly aedifices adorned , newly beganne to flourish , and great multitudes of students from euery parte and corner of the realme , for their better encrease in learning , beganne to repayr thether , and now the fountaines of the muses , which had long seemed to be drie or stopped vp , were againe ( all obstructions of barbarisme being taken away ) opened and reuiued ; for the which much doth this noble vniuersity remaine indebted to the worthy memorie of robert polenius a learned man , by whose onely laborius and painefull industry , it hath recouered the place and dignity , which at this day it holdeth among other academies in our christian world , vnto so happie effect , did sorte the labours of this worthy man , that in the raigue of king iohn , three thousand studentes were numbred in this vniuersity . all which in short time after departed some to reading , and some to cambridge for certaine iniutious wronges offered vnto them by the cittizens , which dissention being not long after againe appeased , they all returned , others affirme the cause of this secession to haue beene because the king caused three students to be apprehended in their colledges , & presently hanged , for the murther of a certaine woman , of which fact they all were innocent , and guiltlesse . not long after , i mean , in the times of the next succeeding princes , sondrie vertuous and well disposed persons , beganne to lay the foundations of diuers goodly colledges , intending therby to leaue some monument of their name and worthinesse to all posterities : by whose example since many famous princes , and reuerent prelates , haue beene excited to doe the like : so that it comprehendeth at this daye sixteene fayre and goodly colledges , all endued with large tenements & possessions , and eight hals . merton colledge was in the time of henry the thirde , or as others write , in the beginning of edward the first , founded by walter merton , sometime canon of salisbury , and after bishop of rochester . not long after , or as some think before , during the raigne of william the conquerour , was the auncient foundatiō of holy alfred renued by one william , archdeacon , or as other say , bishop of durisme , and called vniuersity colledge . in the yeare of our sauiours incarnation 1263 , during the raigne of edwarde the first , was founded balioll colledge , by iohn balioll king of scots , or rather as others imagine his parents , iohn and deruorguidis : about this time , as writeth armachanus , were numbred in oxford 30000 students . in the yeare from our sauiours natiuity 1126. in the time of edward the second , walter stapleton bishop of excester , layed the foundation of excester colledge , and hart hall , which colledge lately hath beene much augmented in the days of our soueraign lady queen elizabeth , by sir william peter , knight . king edward the second desirous to imitate the worthy example of this reuerend praelate , erected oriall colledge , so called , because it was indeede a worke , which most worthily might beseeme a king , & thereto he added s. mary hall . lady philip , wife vnto king edwarde the thirde , layed the foundation of a goodly colledge , which shee named the queenes colledge , about the year of our lord 1340. william wicham , a famous and worthy prelate , for his singular wisedome , highly esteemed of king edwarde the third , and by his meanes made bishoppe of winchester , in the yeare 1358. layed in oxford the foundation of a magnificent and sumptuous colledge , now called new colledge , into the which yearely are sent many rare and excellent wits : from the colledge neare winchester , a most sertile seminarie of good letters founded by that thrice worthy bishoppe , and by him committed to the tutele and protection of the blessed virgin mary . richard fleming bishoppe of lincolne in the dayes of henry the fift , about the yeare of our lorde one thousand foure hundred and thirty , founded lincolne colledge , which was afterward in richarde the thirdes time , in the yeare of our lord 1479. by thomas rotheram bishoppe of the same sea , much augmented and encreased . henry chichley archbishoppe of canterburie , in the yeare 1439. layed in oxforde the foundation of two goodly colledges , the one dedicated to the memory of all soules , the other to s. bernard , which being afterwarde suppressed by king henry the eight , was of late in the raigne of queene mary restored and reedified by sir thomas white , lord maior of london , and by him named s. iohns colledge . durin the raigne of henry the sixt , about the yeare of our lord 145● . william wainsflet bishop of winchester builded magdalen colledge , hee builded also a great parte of eaton colledge , before begunne by king henry the sixt . william smith bishop of lincolne , during the raigne of king henry the seauenth , layed the foundation of brasen nose in the yeare 1513. the which hath beene lately by that reuerende olde man alexander nowel , deane of s. paules church in london , much helped & increased . during the raigne of the saide king henry the seauenth , richarde foxe bishop of winchester , founded corpus christi colledge , himselfe hauing before beene a fellow of pembrooke hall in cambridge , the which colledge of his in the yeare 1516. hee endowed with forty pound eight shillinges two pence yearely rent for euer . in the time of king henry the eight , thomas wolsey cardinall of rome , archbishoppe of yorke , and lorde high chancelor of england , beganne in sumptuous manner to lay the foundation of a most ample and spatious colledge , but falling into the kinges heauie displeasure before the same could bee brought to perfection , the king after his decease , enriched the same with many goodly reuenewes , annexing thereunto canterburie colledge , which had beene before erected in the time of edward the 3. by simon islep archbishop of canterburie . this worthy king of famous memory , the more to grace & adorne the citie , erected therein a bishops sea : and out of his treasurie appointed yearely to be paid certaine annuities , for the perpetuall maintenance of publique readers in each seuerall schoole . in the raigne of queene mary , sir thomas pope reedified duresme colledge , which was in former ages erected by thomas of hatfield bishop of duresme , and now by continuance of time exceedingly decayed , by which knight the name therof being altered , it is now called trinitie colledge . not long since hugh prise doctor of the ciuill law , hath founded a new colledge , which in honour of our sauiour is knowne by the name of iesu colledge . many other rare and excellent ornamentes there are wherewith this famous and farre renowned academie exceedingly is beautified , as churches , libraries , publique schooles , and many sumptuous priuate edifices , the which to auoid prolixitie , i will omit , imagining that such triuiall things must of necessitie bee famialiarly knowne to euery learned reader , wherefore with this assertion i will finally conclude , that more pietie in religion , more profoundnesse in learning , more strictnes in discipline , & more integritie in life , is not to be found in any one vniuersitie , in whatsoeuer part or region of the world . cambridge . concerning the first originall and foundation of the cittie and vniuersitie of cambridge , among the learned searchers of antique lustories , two seuerall and discrepant opinions strongly are maintained . iohn caius in his booke of the antiquity of cambridge , with many arguments laboureth to proue the foundation thereof to haue beene laide , and the name deriued from one cantabar a prince of spaine , brother to partholinus king of ireland , and sonne in law to gurguntius king of britaine , in the yeare 4317. after the worlds first creation , which was 539. yeares before our sauiours natiuitie . for proofe of which opinion hee alleadgeth the authoritie of iohn lidgat monke of berri● , and scholler to that famous poet , and onely homer of our english nation , geffrey chaucer , whose verses in old english , as i found them written , i haue here vnderneath set downe . by true record of the doctor bede , that sometime wrote so mickle with his hand , and specially remembring as i reade , in his chronicles made of england , among other things as we shall vnderstand , whom for mine author i dare alleadge , sith the translation and building of cambridge , with him according a●fred the chronicler , seriously , who list his bookes for to see , made in the time when he was thresurer of beuerley an old famous cittie , affirme and saine the vniuersitie of cambridge , and studie first began , by their writing as i report can . he rehearsing first for commendation , by their writing how that old cittie was strongly walled with towers many one , built and finished with great libertie , notable and famous of great authoritie , as their authors according saine the same , of cantabar taking first his name . like as i find report i can none other : this cantaber time of his liuing , to partholine he was germane brother , duke in those daies , in ireland a great king , chiefe and principall cause of that building . the wall about and towers as they stood , was set and built vpon a large floud , named cantebro , a large broad riuer , and after cante called cantebro . this famous citie , this write the chronicler , was called cambridge , rehearsing eke also , in their booke these authors both two , touching the date as i rehearse can , fro thilke time that the world began , foure thousand complete by account cleare , and three hundred by computation , ioyned thereto eight and fortie yeare , when cantebro gaue the foundation , of this cittie and this famous towne , and of this noble vniuersitie , set on this riuer which is called cante . and fro the great transmigration , of kings reckoned in the bible old , fro ierusalem to babilon two hundred winter & thirtie yeares told , thus to write mine author maketh me bold : then cantebro as it well knoweth , at athens schooled in his youth , all wits greatly did apply , to haue acquaintance by great affection , with folke expert in philosophie : from athens he brought with him downe , philosophers most soueraigne of renowne , vnto cambridge plainely this is the cause , anaximander and anaxagoras : with many other mine authors doth fare , to cambridge fast can him speed with philosophers , and let for no cost spare , in the schooles to studie and to reede , of whose teaching great profit that gan spread , and great increase rose of his doctine . thus of cambridge the name gan first shine , as chiefe schoole and vniuersitie , vnto this time fro the day it began , by cleare report in many a far countrey , vnto the raigne of cassibelan , a worthy prince and full knightly man , as saine chronicles , who with mighty hand , let iulius caesar to arriue in this land , fiue hundreth yeare ful thirty yere & twenty fro babilons transmigration , that cassibelan raigned in britaine , which by his notable royall discreation , to encrease that studie of great affection , i meane of cambridge the vniuersitie , franchised with many a libertie . by meane of his royall fauor , from countries about many a one , diuers schollers by diligent labour , made their resort of great affection , to that studie great plentie there came downe , to gather fruites of wisedome and science , and sundrie flowers of sugred eloquence . and as it is put eke in memorie , how iulius caesar entring this region , one cassibelan after his victorie tooke with him clearkes of famous renowne frō cambridge , & led them ●● rome towne , thus by processe remembred heretoforne , cambridge was founded long ere christ was borne , fiue hundred yere , thirty & eke nine . in this matter ye get no more of me , rehearse i will no more at this time , these remembrances haue great authority , to be preferd of long antiquitie , for which by record all clearkes saine the same , ofheresie cambridge bare neuer blame . but sundry other historiographers there are , which ( imagining this antiquitie to be somewhat too far fetched ) affirme , that the vniuersitie of cambridge was long since erected in the time of sigebert king of england , sixe hundred and thirtie yeares after our sauiors incarnation . moreouer they auerre , that the name of this cittie was not deriued from that cantaber , but rather frō a bridge , builded ouer the riuer came passing by the towne . which opinion seemeth not absurd , because this riuer being in former ages knowne by the name of grant : old writers affirme that the cittie was in the saxon tongue commonly called grantbridge . whensoeuer this cittie first was founded , or by whom soeuer the vniuersitie was first erected ( which matter i will referre to the discussion of more learned antiquaries , since mine intent is onely to set downe such schooles & colledges , as the same at this day doth containe ) most certainely true it is , for the antiquitie and worthinesse thereof , it may at this time worthily contend with the most ancient & flourishing vniuersities of the world . in cambridge , besides many other sumptuous and fairely builded edifices , as publique schooles for lectures , churches , and such like , there are at this day to be seene 15. goodly halles and colledges . in the yeare of our redemption 1284. during the raigne of king edward the first . hugh balsham the 15. bishop of ely builded saint peters colledge , commonly called peter-house , in a place , where before had beene two ostles of schollers , of exceeding great antiquitie . the which colledge at this day maintaineth one maister , 15. fellowes , fi●e bibleclearkes , and eight poore schollers . clare hall was first founded by one richard badew , at that time chancellor of the vniuersitie , and was by him named vniuersity hall : howbeit afterward by the assistance of gualler thaxted maister of the same hall , not without the assent of the said r. badew , it was ann. 1347. ( 21. yeares after the foundation thereof ) resigned to the lady elizabeth de burgo widdow , sometime the wife of iohn de burgo or burgh , earle of vlster in ireland , & daughter to gilbert clare carle of gloster . the which lady by the licence of k. edward the 3. established & finished the same , & changing the name therof , willed that for euer after it should in memory of her family , from whence she was descended , be called clare hall. in the yeare from our sauiors incarnation 1347. the lady mary of s. paule , wife to adomarus de valentia , earle of pembroke , obtained licence of k. edw. the 3. ( whose kinswoman she was ) to lay in cambridge the foundation of a colledge for the which she bought 2. mesuages , & named it pembroke hall. it sustameth at this present , 1. maister , 24. fellowes , & 7. bibleclearks . edmond gunuiel parson of terington in norfolke , in the 22. yeare of king edward the 3. obtained a licence at the suite of sir gualter de manney , to erect a colledge in cambridge , in a place where old houses dayly ready to fall did stand , the which he with his money purchased . this edmond gunuiel hauing at his decease great store of coine , cōmitted it to the fidelity & trust of william batemā bishop of norwich , to finish & bring to perfection the work which he in his life had begun : whose will the bishop most faithfully did execute , and not sparing his owne co●ers , did much augment and increase the same . long after in our time , iohn caius , a wise and learned professor in the arte of phisicke , hath made the same more ample and more famous , as well by adding new buildings thereunto , as by increasing the number of students therein . in so much that by the queeues letters pattents , it was granted him to be written & accounted a founder thereof , and the house to be called gunuiel & caius colledge . the fraternitie and guilde of corpus christi , and of blessed mary in cambridge , henry duke of lancaster being at that time alderman of the same guild , founded corpus christi colledge , in the 24. yere of the raign of k. edward the 3. obtaining licence of the same king to appropriate vnto this colledge for euer , the aduouson of s. bennets church standing before their gate . william bateman bishop of norwich , in the yeare of our lord god 1353. founded in cambridge a colledge for studentes of the law , and enduing the same with lands and possessions , in honour of the blessed trinity , would haue it called trinitie hall of norwich : by the rents and reuenewes whereof are at this day maintained one maister , ten fellowes , & as many bible clearks . king henry the 6. a man in his life time much giuen to deuotion , and alwaies enclined to do good , in the 19. yeare of his raigne laid in cambridge the foundation of a goodly colledge , in honor of our blessed ladie & s. nicholas , the which then consisted of one maister and 12. schollers . not long after in the 21. yeare of his raigne , altering the forme of his first foundation , he changed the name of maister into a prouost , & much increased the number of studentes . king edwarde the fourth by authoritie of the parliament in great displeasure withdrew from this colledge so much land , as his predecessor by the same authoritie had procured : but being at last with dayly intreatinges perswaded , and ouercome with importunitie , restored againe vnto the same the yearely value of ●00 . markes : on condition that they would account him for their founder , and that in his name all their suites and writinges should be made . this colledge as appeareth by sondry euident signes , king henry once had purposed to make one of the most beautifullest houses in this land , the platforme whereof who so desireth more particularly to know , he shall find the same in m. stowes chronicle , in the life of henry the sixt at large described . queene margaret wife to henry the 6. and daughter to rheiner king of sicilie and ierusalem , began first to lay the foundation of queenes colledge , and obtayned licence of the king to purchase for the same , landes , and rentes to the valew of two hundred poundes by the yeare , but leauing the same vnperfect , queene elizabeth , wife to ed. the 4. obtayning licence of the k. brought the same to a perfect end : this colledge standeth in the parish of s. botolph , in a common grounde called goosegreene , which was to that vse , purchased by one andrew ducket , with money which he did get by begging of well disposed people . katherine hall was founded by one robert woodlarke , doctor of diuinity , and prouost of kinges colledge in cambridge , in the honour of s. katherine virgin , and martyr , in the yeare 1475. the which king edwarde the 4. did allow for him and his successors , and by his letters patentes did confirme it to endure for euer , therein at this day are sustained and nourished one maister , six fellowes , and one bible clearke . iesu colledge was of old time a monastery of religious women of s. radegunde , which monastery being destitute of gouernement , the aedifices fallen in decay , the goodes and ornaments of the church wasted , the lands diminished , and in conclusion a small number of nuns left , being but two , whereof the one ready to depart , and the other an infant , were brought into such pouerty , that they were not able to relieue themselus , and therefore forced to depart , they left the house desolate , whereupon iohn alcote the 29. bishop of ely , obtayned licence of king henry the 7. in the yeare 1497. to founde in the place thereof a colledge for 6. fellowes and 6. schollers , the rentes whereof being afterward at seuerall times much amplified by fondry benefactors , it now maintayneth , one maister , 17. fellowes , and as many schollers . christes colledge was first begunne by king henry the 6. and after his decease brought to perfection by the lady margaret , countesse of richmonde and derby , daughter and heire of iohn duke of somerset , and mother of king henry the 7. in a place , where sometime stoode the colledge of gods house , which colledge because it neuer was fully finished , shee obtayned of the king her sonne his charter , dated the first day of maye , in the 20. yeare of his raigne , and the yeare of our lord 1505. to encrease the number of students there , translating it according to her disposit on . it sustaineth at this day one maister , thirteen fellows , fifty nine schollers , and fifteene sisers . the same lady margaret countesse of richmond , procured licence of her nephew , king henry the eight , to conuert into a colledge in the honour of s. iohn the euangelist , a certain house of religious persons , which first was an hospitall of regular canons , founded by nigellus the second bishop of ely 1134 , and translated from that order many yeares after , by hugh balsam , bishoppe of ely. the said lady departing out of this world , before that princely worke of hers was fullie finished , gaue in charge the performance thereof to her executors . richard foxe bishoppe of vvinchester , iohn fisher bishop of rochester , charles somerset , l. herbert , after created earle of vvorcester , sir thomas louel , sir henry marney , and sir iohn , s. iohn , knightes , henry horneby , and hugh ashton clearkes , who wel discharged the trust committed vnto them , and faithfully did execute the will of the deceased lady ; it maintayneth at this day , one maister , fifty one fellowes , seauentie schollers , and nine sisers . edwarde duke of buckingham comming to cambridge in the yeare of our lord 1519. and remayning there the space of certaine dayes , conuerted a certain house builded for monks , of fondry abbyes sent to the vniuersity to studie into a colledge , and builded thereto a hall . at length after the generall suppression of monasteries , thomas audley baron of vvalden and chancelor of england , endowing the same with lands and possessions by act of parliament , and charter of king henry the eight , in the 3● . year of his raign , became sole founder thereof , committing the same vnto the tutele & protection of s. marie magdalen , in the yeare of our lord 1●42 . but being preuented by suddaine death , before hee could bring to passe what hee intended , he left his colledge vnperfect and vnfinished so that at this day there are therein sustained onelie one maister , fiue fellowes , and one bibleclearke . trinity colledge was first founded and erected by the king of famous memory , henry the eight , the royall father of our gratious soueraigne queene elizabeth , in the yeare of our lorde 1546. the 20. day of ianuary the kinget hall , s. michaels house , and phisicke ostle , were ioyned together for the better sustentation and aide of so noble an enterprise , and worke to endure for euermore : which colledge doth at this present flourish with one maister , 60. fellowes , 62. schollers , 4. chaplaines , 13. sisers , 24. poore almesmen , 6. singing men , one maister of the choristers , 10. choristers , three readers , one of diuinity , another of greeke , and a thirde of hebrew . emanuel colledge , was lately founded on the house & groundes of the dominicke fryers , in the preachers streete , at the cost and charges of sir walter mildmay knight , chancelor , & vnder treasurer of the exchequer , one of the priuie councell to our soueraigne ladie queene elizabeth , about the year 1584. the vniuersities of scotland . in scotland onely are two priuiledged academies , whereof the most ancient and best knowne is s. andrewe , erected in the yeare after our sauiours incarnation 1411 the other is aberdon instituted by vvilliam elphinstone bishop of aberdone , in the yeare of our lorde god 1480. vnder the raigne of iames the third of that name king of scots . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a05414-e2360 colonia agrippina . what a colonie is . colen reedified , and so named by the romaines . the cōuersion of colen vnto christian religion . the first erection of the vniuersitie . the vn●uersity in colen consisteth of foure parts . the office of the rector or president of the academy . the colledges for students in colen . collegium montanum . collegium laurentianū . collegium nouum coronarum . schola trilinguis . three thinges wherewith colen is chiefly adorned . the flourishing estate of the clergie in colen . these are cōmonly called the 3. kings of colen , whose reliques were brought from millan , at the instance of reinold , archbishop of colen , when that cittie was surprised by the emperour fredericke , in the yeare 1165 the archbishop of colen a prince elector . the flourishing estate of colen much hindered by ciuill dissention . engelbertus archbishop of colen murdered by earle fredericke . earle fredericke put to death . a battaile fought betwixt the citizens & cleargie for the gouernment of the citie , wherein the citizens preuailed . a generall councell held at colen . euphrata an arrian here● tike condemned . basilia . basi●l diuided by the rheine into two parts sundry opinions concerning the etimologie of the name of basill . basill destroyed by the hunnes . the erection of the vniuersitie in basill . the charter of pope pius the second , for the ratification thereof . a generall councell held in basill . erasmus rot. buried . moguntia . the situation of ments . a bridge built ouer the rhein by charles the great . ments destroied by carocu● 7. archbishops in germany . the citie repaired by dagobertus . s. boniface an englishman . hatto deuoured with rats . willigisus the first archbishop that aspired to the electorship . dietheru● founder of the vniuersitie . this councell decreed , that men should belieue , as an article of their faith , that our ladie was conceiued without sinne . but this councell was not confirmed in anything it decreed , quoad sidem , vt pates in bulla nicholai 5. the arte of printing first inuented in this citie , by iohn gutenberge . some say it first was inuented at harlem in holland , and brought to perfection at ments . a generall councell assembled at ments . henry the 3. emperour excommunicated by the pope . herbipolis the originall of wirtsburg . the antiquity thereof . sundry opinions concerning the name thereof . the situation of wirtsburg . the bishopricke erected . the cathedrall church founded . the domeherne . a generall councell assembled . the institution of the vniuersitie . the vniuersitie dec●ied by ciuil dissention . the vniuersitie restored by iulius de echteren . priuiledges thereto granted . the great power of this bishop . diuers ceremonies obserued by the franconians in the installation , and in the funerals of their princes worthy to be obserued . the manner of his installation . the manner of his buriall . treueris . the antiquity of trier . the fruitfull foundation thereof . monuments of antiquitie . the antiquitie of the vniuersitie . saluianus lib. 6. de vero iudicio , & prouidētia des. the vniuersity restored . the name of this cittie whence deryued . the situation thereof . sifridus the ● . palatine of rheine that aspired to the rectorship and vpon what occasion . rupertus founder of the vniuersity . learned men who haue ●●ued in this vniuersity . tubinge . the vniuersity erected and authorised . the situation of tubinge . ingolesttdum the institution of the vniuersity . the fertility of bauaria , contrary to that which strabo writeth hereof regensburge . erfordia . the erection of the vniuersitie . 10. cochleus lib. 2. hist. hussi tarum . great losses by fier . ●ypsia . the senators learned . the beginning of this vniuersitie . the fertility of this countrey . immoderate drunkennes . the elbe . the erection of the vniuersity . franckfordia ad oderam . the vniuersity erected . rostochium . a mine of siluer . 12. knights senators in friburge . the vniuersitie erected . l●pi● chalcedonias . the antiquity of vienna . sundry opinions concerning the ancient name of vienna . the vniuersity erected . collegium arch●ducale . bursa agni . bursa silesitarum . bursa rosae gymnasium ●●herum . bursa pruchia two new colledges . s. seuerine conuerted the austrians vnto christianity why the citti zens of vienna erected a halfe moone on the toppe of s. stephens church , being the turkes cognisance . vienna walled about by ric. ceur●de lion k. of england notes for div a05414-e11400 louanium . some write that this marquisate was erected by iust●man , some by the children of constantinus magnus : but p. aemili● us most truly writeth , that it was erected by the emperour otho the 2. anno 973. for the dowry of his aunt gerberge , mother to lothaire , k. of france , and that it comprehend ed these 4. towns nibell , louaine , bruxelles , and andwarpe . louaine why so called . iohn duke of brabant founder of the vniuersity . 20. colledges in louaine . an vniuersity erected . leodinm . philip de comines . the vniuersitie d●e●●ed . libertie of the canons . 4. abbeyes containing 4. libraries . notes for div a05414-e13120 pope vrban the fourth . pope innocent the 4. pope clement the 5. pope eugenius the 4. pope nicholas the 5. pope leo the tenth . pope iulius the third foun der of the ger man colledge collegium sapientiae . collegium societatis iesu. the english seminary . tarquinius superbus the first that erected libraries in rome . iulius caesar ; rome set on fire by nero. vespatian restored the capitoll . the library in vaticano erected by p. sixtus the fourth . the building of venice . the venetians gouerned by their owne peculiar lawes the vniuersity . learned clearkes that haue liued & taught in venice . collegium pietatis . patauium . the erection of the vniuersitie in padua . iason iu●iscō . de academia patauina . antenor the first founder of padua . the bones of t● liuius reser●ed in padua . three causes why padua hath so long flourished . the 1. cause . the 2. cause . the 3. cause . the conuersion of the paduans to christianisme . thomas penketh an englishman sent for to padua . the honour that was wont by the paduans to be giuen to learned men . theodosius , founder of the bononian academie . the publique charter of theodosius , for ratification of the vniuersitie . violence offered to a student , to be punished with death . bookes written by sundry popes , dedicated to this vniuersitie . the vniuersity impayred by fredericke barbarossa . the same repaired by bessarion patriarch of constantinople . osorius his opinion of thts academic . leaned professors in this vniuersity . the ●ision of salicet . charles the 5 a great benefact●r to this vniuersity . the erection of the vniuersity in fe●rar . sondry learned writers which haue proceeded from this academy . mediolanum the situation of millan . the vniuersity of great antiquitie . demetrius cydonius translated the i atine bookes of s. thomas of aquine in to greeke . a graunt of pope pius the fourth . the librarie pauia . charles the great , founder of the pauia● academy . rochus de curte. curtius . baldus . the misery this cittie endured when it was besieged by the frenchmen . the first professor of christianisme in pauia . taurinum . the situation thereof . the institution of the vniuersity . sondry opinions concerning the true name of t●us citty . the prosperity of florence hindered by ciuill discords . cosmio de medices . the costly buildings wherewith cosmio de medices ado●ned florence . the vniuersitie established argyrophilus . ma●silius ficinus . the academy augmented & restored by laurence de medices . angelus politi●nus . pope paulus the 3 became a 〈◊〉 in fl●rence . the library neere s. marke the death of laurence de medices . sardinia conquered by the pisans . maiorica and minorica inuaded . the happie estate of pisa impaired by the tyranny of rudolphus the emperour the magnanimity of the nobler sort of pisans . the vniuersitie erected . munsterns lib. 2. cosmographiae . sienna once a romaine colonie . the fertility of the country about sienna . the vniuersity in sienna of great antiquitie . sienna subiected to the duke of florence . the vniuersity the birth of pope pius the 2. collegium sapientiae . notes for div a05414-e19910 paris why called lutetia . the foundati-of the vniuer sity . lewes the 9. priuiledges granted to this vniuersity by sondry kinger of franc. phili p the 6. charles the 6. great numbers of the pa risian students forsaking that vniuersity came to oxford . priuiledges granted by sondry popes . ● . innocent . in paris are an 100 colledges s. dionise the apostle of france . pictauia . monumentes of antiquity in poictiers . the vniuersitie . s hilarie the apostle of aquitaine . lugdunum . lions founded by plancus munatius a romaine . lions consumed with fire . the vniuersity a great persecution in lions . the confines of aniou . the vniuersity erected . henry valoise a great benefactor to this academie . the dukedome aniou alienated from the crowne of england . auignion the popes cittie . aurclia . the vniuersity erected . biturgiun● . sundry opinions concerning the ●timologie of the word bituriges . the vniuersity bardegalis . the vniuersity . s. saturnine martyred . the occasion of this prouerbe aurum habet tolosanum . notes for div a05414-e23580 polonia why so called . polonia gouerned by twelue woyuuods . gracouia builded by crachus . vladislaus loktek , the 1. k , of polonia . the erection a● the vniuersity . stanislaus archbishop of cracouia , murdered by the king . the vniuersity in posne erected . prus●ia conuerted to the christian faith the erection of the vniuersity . the finding of amber . the great dukedome of lithuanie annexed to the kingdome of polonia . the idolatrie of the lithuanians the erection of the vniuersitie vilna . the diuersity of religions in vilna . the po●●nians 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 their dyet , notes for div a05414-e24980 prage . prage diuided into 4. seuerall rownes . the sacrament of the altar permitted to be receiued in both kinds . the rachine . s. vinceslaus by the treason of his mother and brother murdred . the erection of the vniuersitie . wicklisse . hierome of prage & iohn hus. the restoring of the vniuersitie . the colledge of ●aluites , s. georges church builded by milada . the reuenge of iohn ziske taken on the bohemian fryers for the rape of his sister . olmutium . the emperor lewes called the turke to his aid against zuantocopius the morauits conuetted vnto christianismt . the humanity of the morauites entertaining strangers . the vniuersity lately erected . iohn zosca . notes for div a05414-e26030 * this riuer runnneth thorough castile . toledo and portugale , and falleth into the sea at lisbon . the saracins expelled out of sdaiue . the vniuersity the reuenewe of the church of toledo 3500000. a● is most certain hispalis . * this is an arabicke word signifiing a great riuer . the fertility of the ground about siuill . syuill diuided into 2. parts . the kinges reuenewes out of s●u●ll . councels assē bled in siuill . 300000. by generall report . learned men that haue li ued in this academy . valentia once a colonie of the romans . rhomn signifieth strength . the vniuersity the reuenews of the bishopricke . porceline dishes made . granado deliuered from the yoke of the saracins by ferdinande . the fertility of granado . the professiō of artes licensed . lewes of granado . compostella . s. iames preached in sdaine pintia . the antiquity of this academic . the restoring thereof . complutum . the erection of the vuiuersity . the erection of the vniuersity in salamanca . pope clement the fist . pope adrian the sixt . the kings of arragon crowned . the vniuersity priuiledged . sarogossa sancta . monuierdo , olim sagū●● . ●ierd● . an ancient academie . a prou●nciall councell . an ancient vniuersitie erected before our sauiours natiuity . vllscipona . the first king of portingall . the reason why the kinges of portingall bear 5. shields for their arms . a strange earthquake in portingall . the ●land●● often v●xed by the moo●s . notes for div a05414-e29600 marald harefoott . rob. de olley . merton colledge . vniuersity col ledge . baliol colledge exceter colledge . harts hall . orial colledge s. mary hall . queenes colledge . new colledge . lincolne colledge . all soules colledge . s. iohns colledge . magdalen colledge . brasen ose colledge . corpus christi colledge . christs church trinitie colledge . iesu colledge s. peters colledge . c●are hall . pembroke 〈◊〉 gunuill and caius colledge . corpus christs colledge . trinity hall . kings colledge . queenes colledge . katherine ha● iesu colledge . christes colledge . s. iohns colledge . magdalen colledge . trinity col●edge . emanuell colledge . s. andrewes . aberdone . academiarum examen, or, the examination of academies wherein is discussed and examined the matter, method and customes of academick and scholastick learning, and the insufficiency thereof discovered and laid open : as also some expedients proposed for the reforming of schools, and the perfecting and promoting of all kind of science ... / by jo. webster. webster, john, 1610-1682. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a65356 of text r827 in the english short title catalog (wing w1209). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 272 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 64 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a65356 wing w1209 estc r827 11946340 ocm 11946340 51321 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a65356) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 51321) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 44:5) academiarum examen, or, the examination of academies wherein is discussed and examined the matter, method and customes of academick and scholastick learning, and the insufficiency thereof discovered and laid open : as also some expedients proposed for the reforming of schools, and the perfecting and promoting of all kind of science ... / by jo. webster. webster, john, 1610-1682. [16], 110 p. printed for giles calvert ..., london : 1654. reproduction of original in harvard university libraries. eng education, higher -early works to 1800. learning and scholarship. universities and colleges -great britain. a65356 r827 (wing w1209). civilwar no academiarum examen, or the examination of academies. wherein is discussed and examined the matter, method and customes of academick and scho webster, john 1653 49905 169 60 0 0 0 0 46 d the rate of 46 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the d category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 2002-11 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2002-12 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-01 rina kor sampled and proofread 2003-01 rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion academiarum examen , or the examination of academies . wherein is discussed and examined the matter , method and customes of academick and scholastick learning , and the insufficiency thereof discovered and laid open ; as also some expedients proposed for the reforming of schools , and the perfecting and promoting of all kind of science . offered to the judgements of all those that love the proficiencie of arts and sciences , and the advancement of learning . by io. webster . in moribus et institutis academiarum , collegiorum , et similium conven●uum , quae ad doctorum hominum sedes , & operas mutuas destinata sunt , omnia progressui scientiarum in ulterius adversa inveniri . franc. bacon . de verulamio lib. de cogitat . & vis . pag●●nihi 14. london , printed for giles calvert , and are to be sold at the sign of the black-spread-eagle at the west-end of pauls , mdcliv . to the right honourable major general lambert . right honorable , i present not these rude lines , thereby to beg protection ; for if they be not able to stand of themselves , i desi●e they should no● be supported by others ; but onely because some years agoe a short draught of them was brought to your hands , and your honour was then pleased to judge it worthy of your view and consideration , which makes me bold to mind you of what then i intimated unto you , which was and is thus much , that seeing divine providence hath made you ( with the rest of those faithfull and gallant men of the army ) signally instrumental , both in redeeming the english liberty , almost d●owned in the deluge of tyranny and self interest , and also unmanacling the simple and pure truth of the gospel , from the ch●ins and fetters of cold and dead formality , and of restrictive and compulsary power , two of the greatest blessings our nation ever yet enjoyed , i hope the same providence will also direct you to be assistant to continue the s●●e , against all the bitterness and cruelty of those , who , having obtained liberty for themselves , care not though others be bound up and persecuted , and moreover guide you to set to your hand and endeavour for the purging and reforming of academies , and the advancement of learning , which hitherto hath been little promoted or look'd into . and i am the more imboldned in this confidence , having experimental knowledge and trial , not onely of your honours abilities that way , but also of your sincere affection and unparalleld love to learning , and to all those that are lovers and promoters therof ; which have been the principal motives to incite me to tender this rude essay , and these few unpolish'd lines to your profound and mature judgement , which , besides the good will of the author , have little in them worthy your deliberate consideration : yet i suppose , if rightly weighed and examined , there will appear something in them of necessary consequence for the promoting of learning , or at least to stir up some more able wits to make a s●●●tiny into these things that are here controver●ed , which is the greatest aim of my flagging desires . bu● l●st while i speak for truth and learning , i may speak my self in stead thereof , which is natures epidemical disease , and in not glorying may seem to glory , i only leave them to your honours ●●●jure , and my self your honours devoted servant , io. webster . october 21. 1653. to all that truly love the advancement of learning in the universities of cambridge and oxford , or elsewhere . gentlemen , though my stoical and rigid humor might rather have induced me to have practised that severe maxim , that men in publishing their writings should neither make use of fear nor care , as having that sufficient testimony in their own breasts of the sincerity of their intentions , and the perspicuity , certainty and utility of those things they divulge , that they need not fear their pains shall want protection , nor care for or fear the censures of men ; yet knowing i have to deal with creatures more humane , civil , debonayre and ingenuous than the many headed multitude , out of tenderness to give any jnst scandall or offence and out of care to give all candid and free spirits the ultimate content that lies in my power , i will give some few reasons of this my present undertaking , especially considering that he who goes about to censure and refute the opinions of others , cannot but stand in need of an apology for himself . some , i make no doubt , will at the first sight of this artless rapsody , look upon me as some goth or vandal , hunne or scythian , coming like a torrent from the boreal and barren mountains of cold stupidity and dark ignorance , violently labouring to bring a deluge or inundation upon all the pleasant gardens of arts and sciences , and to make an universal conquest of all the flourishing kingdomes of antient and long-esteemed literature , thereby to erect the monarchy of feral bru●ishness and savage barbarism . well , whatsoever they may or can think or say of me , i am sure they cannot more experimentally and apodictically anatomize mine idiocrasie than my self , nor be better acquainted with my weakness , nescience , ignorance & errors than i am my self and i have truly more to say against my self than all the world can say of me or by me ; yet if i may be thought to know the interior motions and intentions of mine own heart better than others , then i can truly and cordially testifie , that my soul is altogether inscious and innoc●nt of any such purpose . doubtless i may through mistake and want of ability to discern what is truth , and what is falshood , what is true learning , and what is but opiniative , painted and seeming misse the way , and shoot far from the mark ; yet hath my will and affections no other end but onely to hold out what is homogeneous to truth , and of real tendency to advance science . others may imagine that confidence of self-sufficiency , or hope of fame and vain glory , to be said to have attempted great things ; or like scaliger with cardan to think to gain credit , to intermeddle with the splendor of the great name of aristotle ; or to be so audacious , being but as an ant or pygmie , to undertake to combate with the sons of anac , in entring so boldly upon an examination of the academies , which are , and have been the fountains of learning , have been the motives that have had the most principal impulse upon my spirits in this iuterpriz● ; or that in the vain confidence of my abilities in oratory , i have plaid but agrippa's ape , to make a declamation against the approv'd scholastick learning thereby to be accounted more learned : to these i plainly answer , my own breast is mine own sanctuary & let them judge what they please , for if affection to simple and naked truth had had no more influence upon my spirit than desire of fame and repute , i could have been willing to have been silent untill i had been returned into that universal silence into which all must goe ; and if i be not guilty of too much dubitation with pyrrho , i am not culpable of too much considence with aristotle . but i must needs confess , as i never attempted any adversary through the incouragement of his weakness , so i never feared any because of his supposed strength ; those that teach in the academies are but as others , and homo is a common name to all men . and if these men understood that i know better how to live without the most men in the world , than many in the world know how to live without me , they would never have judged me by their own measure , nor have imagined that either fear or favour , repute or disrepute , could have drawn me to this undertaking . and my unskilfulness in oratory is so sufficiently manifest in these unelegant lines , as it cannot be of much weight to beget a belief of gaining credit by that means , whereof i am absolutely conscious i am utterly void ; and if agrippa have done well , why should i be troubled to be accounted his imitator ? others will look upon me as an absolute leveller , and imagine that i would but have the tree digged up by the roots , that if i get none of the main timber , yet i may have some of the tops , or at least to warm my self with the chips ; and will say , that as the presbyters rooted out the episcopants , yet it was but to gather the tythes into their own barns ; and as the independents dismounted the presbyterians , yet it was but to ride in their saddle : so we that talk of reforming the academies and schools , do it but that we might divide some of the spoil , or step into the places of those that are turned out . wel , it is an easie exposition to expound other mens aymes by their own , and to judge what others intend to do , because we our selves have either done or intend to do the like in like cases ; but facility and verity are not alwaies twins , others are not necessarily corrupt because we are so , minds as well as faces may have the same difference . but however i must needs so far own levelling , that i hold plai● dealing to be a jewel , and he that loves rugged , knotty and uneven paths may chuse them for me , i shall not willingly follow him therein ; smooth and plain waies to me seem more amiable , secure , and comfortable . for the prelacy though it sought to bow me , yet it could not break me ; though the presbyterian pride did seem to threaten me , yet it could not hurt me , and the independent forms could never inform me beyond the basis of a better building than man can erect : nor can the spoil of academies ever please my mind , nor shall fill my purse . and therefore i would have such to know that i am no dean not master , president nor provost , fellow nor pensioner , neither have i tyths appropriate ▪ nor impropriate , augmentation , nor state pay , nor all the levelling that hath been in these times , hath not mounted nor raised me , nor can they make me fall lower , qui cadit in terram , non habet unde cadat . and he that would raise himself by the ruins of others , or warm himself by the burning of schools , i wish him no greater plague than his own ignorance , nor that he may ever gain more knowledge than to live to repent . some also will inquire who , and what i am , how bred and educated , that i dare be so audacious and insolent to examine and oppose that learning , which hath been received and approved for so many years , as●ented unto , and extolled by so many great wits and profound judgements , and defended , and patronized by all the academies in the universe : and will think it fit i should give an account of my self , that the world may judge of mine abilities , lest my shoulders be found too weak to support so ponderous a burthen . to all which i might return this , si respondere noluero , quis coacturus fit ? yet shall i not be so cynical , but plainly tell them that hercules is easily known by his foot , and the lion by his paw , the treatise it self will sufficiently speak both my strength and weaknesse , my science and ignorance , and causes are best known by their effects , and the tree by its fruits , and therefore they need no cleerer rules , or means to judge by , than the things herein laid down . and if i know little ( as i am most conscious that i only know this , that i know nothing at all , at least as i ought to know ) let not my education be blamed , but my negligence and stupidity , though i must confess i ow little to the advantages of those things called the goods of fortune , but most ( next under the goodness of god ) to industry : however , i am a free-born englishman , a citizen of the world , and a seeker of knowledge , and am willing to teach what i know , and learn what i know not , and this is sufficient satisfaction to modest inquirers . furthermore , some may object and say , that this treatise is but like plato's republick , sir thomas moor's vtopia , or the lord bacon's new athlantis , fraught with nothing but heterodoxal novelties , and imaginary whimseys , which are not to be imitated , and are meerly unpracticable . to this i answer , that phantastical heads may very well be filled with such roving thoughts , and conceited crotches , yet i would have them to know that in plato's common-wealth , and sir thomas moor's vtopia , are more excellent things contained than figments and impossibilities , though the general blindness , and curse upon the sons of adam keep them frō seeing or practising any thing that may break the yoak or remove the burthen : and for the arcana et magnalia naturae , aimed at by sir francis bacon , they might be brought to some reasonable perfection , if the waies and means that he hath prescribed , were diligently observed , and persued ; and if these poor lines of mine contained but any treasure comparable to any of their rich mines , i should set an higher character of esteem upon them , than now i ought , or they any way merit . and it is true , that supposed difficulty , and impossibility , are great causes of determent from attempting , or trying of new discoveries , and enterprises , for the sloathful person usually cryeth , go not forth , there is a lion or bear in the way ; and if columbus had not had the spirit to have attempted , against all seeming impossibilities , and discouragements , never had he gained that immortal honour , nor the spaniards been masters of the rich indies , for we often admire why many things are attempted which appear to us as impossible , and yet when attained , we wonder they were no sooner set upon , and tried , so though the means here prescribed may seem weak and difficult to be put into use , yet being practised may be found easy and advantagious . and i hope newness need not be a brand to any indeavor , or discovery , seeing it is but a meer relative to our intellects , for that , of which we were ignorant , being discovered to us , we call new , which ought rather to mind us of our imbecillity and ignoranee , than to be any stain or scandal to the thing discovered , for doubtlesly he said well that accounted philosophy to be that , which taught us nihil admirari , and admiration is alwaies the daughter of ignorance . and if some shall allege that here is nothing mine own but what is gleaned and collected from others , and so is nothing else but a transcription , and that if every bird take her own feather , i shall be but left naked and bare . well , suppose all this be true , and that nihil dictum quod non prius , yet is this no more blameable in me than in others , for i confess the most of the arguments i have used have been borrowed from those learned authors whose names i have used , or whose writings i have cited , yet are there many things also of mine own , at least the methode and manner of arguing , so that i may say with macrobius , omne meum , nihil meum . and if the things therein contained be hinted at and taught by others , then i only am not paradoxal but they also , and i have produced their testimony , that the world may see how many valiant champions have stood up to maintain truth against the impetuous torrent of antiquity , authority and universality of opinion ; and though they be not so numerous , yet are they no babes , but strong men , who fight not with the plumbeous weapons of notions , syllogism , and putation , but with the steely instruments of demonstration , observation , and experimental induction , so that i hope i shall not be accused of novelty and singularity , seeing i have so many noble heroes to bear me company . however i may be censured , i intend not to asperse the persons of any , nor to traduce nor calumniate the academies themselves , but only the corruptions that time and negligence hath introduced there , but simply to attempt ( according to my best understanding ) some reformation , not eradication of their customes , and learning , which though i have ( peradventure ) but weakedly mannaged , yet i hope my poor mite , with the can did and ingenuous will be accepted , and for the rest i value them not , and i intreat the more able to supply what my want of strength hath left incompleat , and imperfect . lastly , i have rather intended this as an essay to break the ice to some more able judgement , than as sufficient of it self to perform what is aimed at , because i have neither performed what i should have done , nor what i could , but only traced out some few cleer things as a guide to higher and more noble undertakings : in a word , if i have said or done any thing that may truely advance science , i have mine end , if otherwise , blame the weakness , not the will of him , who subscribes himself , servant to all those that truely love learning . jo. webster . octob. 21. 1653. sagacissimo et doctissimo viro johanni websterio carmen acrosticon et encomiasticon . j in an aegyptian darknesse men do live , o o'recome with fancies which the schoolmen give ; h high-building-tower men , who such notions make , n nothing but babel we from them can take . w weave now such damask , webster , that this age e eternize may thy name with th' graecian sage . b build thou a school , whose strong foundation may s sacred remain , when thou art laid in clay . t time then shall write in brazen sheets thy fame , e englands guard-angel shall preserve thy frame , r rebuking schoolmen with thy very name . r. h. n. & medicus . to the reader concerning this book , and his worthy friend , the composer of it . who fears the same of academick sense must blame this author , saying , a bonny sconce is fitter for him , than a weed that springs in any grove , that 's shadowed by the wings of pegasus , that nimble horse that runnes among the goths , the vandals , and the hunnes ; but we are christians , say the men that bottle all their extractions out of aristotle ; we are the men that must amuze the world with what he hath broach'd , and still amongst us hurl'd : but here 's a man that tells the truth indeed , and shewes our human learning but a weed , a dream of yesternight , and no such thing as men from oxford , or from cambridge bring . reader consider what he saies , and mark what artifice of mischief lyes i'th'dark , how ignorance hath brav'd it out , and still goes veil'd and mask'd under the name of skill ; how men pretend to that which is divine , and yet discern not what is but humane . how earnest should we be , and valiant then against those idols of the times , who when they know not god , or what is taught by him , would yet in lower waters drink and swim of human learning ? but how vain and odd is his conceit , that knowes neither man nor god , and yet would fain perswade the world that he can handsomely unfold each mystery ? away with fond conceits , let us lament our not perceiving what may us content , which lies not in the creatures view , much less can any see it , who themselves do bless , in groping after that which men enhaunce , and yet what is it , but meer nescience ? well-fare the author of this learned book , whose pains from us frauds of this nature took . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . i. c. a. m. the contents . chap. i. of the generral ends of erecting publique schools . chap. ii. of the division of academick learning , and first of that called school-theology . chap. iii. of the division of that which the schools call humane learning , and first of tongues or languages . chap. iv. of logick . chap. v. of the mathematical sciences . chap. vi . of scholastick philosophy . chap. vii . of metaphysicks , ethicks , politicks , oeconomicks , poesie , and oratory . chap. viii . of their custome and method . chap. ix . of some expedients or remedies , in theology , grammar , logick , and mathematicks . chap. x. of some helps in natural philosophy . chap. xi . some expedients concerning their custome and method . academiarum examen , or the examination of academies . chap. i. of the general ends of erecting publick schools . it is a truth clearly evidential to all , who in a small measure have but convers'd with history , or are not absolute infidels against the fidelity and facts of former ages , that there have been few nations so feral and savage , who have not honoured literature , and in some way or other have not instituted means for the propagating of learning . which is sufficiently witnessed by the most nations of note ; for the indians had their brachman's , and gymnosophists ; the persians their magusaei , or magicians ; the antient gaules , and britaines their druides ; the iewes their rabbies , both cabalists and talmudists ; and the graecians their masters and philosophers . the aegyptians also had their priests , who were men of great learning , and did but account of the graecians in point of knowledge as children , as one of them objected , vos graci semper estis pueri ; and this was that great learning , which moses being skilled in , is commended by s. stephen , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , and moses was instituted from a body in all the learning of the aegyptians . now these had their gymnasia or publick schools , wherein they instructed their youth , as apollonius tyaneus witnesseth of the indians , and so st. paul testifieth of himself , that he was brought up at the feet of gamalie . and doubtless in imitation of these eastern nations the graecians erected their schools , and academies ; for pythagoras , democritus , socrates , plato and others , having travelled into forein parts , to participate of their knowledge , and returning home abundantly inriched therewith , did open their schooles to instruct their countrimen , and to let them in some measure tast of the sweet fruit of their far-fetched and dear-bought science . yet had they not ( as far as i can gather ) any publick salaries , but their merit was their maintenance , and their excellency in arts , and diligent industry , the only trumpet to blow abroad their fame , and to procure them both advancement , and auscultators , i shall not need to enlarge my self to speak of their antiquity , or the commendable ends of their first erection , it being manifest that the chief ends , in the institution of them amongst the heathen , were first to inable men for their undertaking in the commonwealth ; and secondly to fit them for the service , or worship of their idols , and imaginary gods ; which ends ( though diversified in the object ) were ( in all probability ) the same that christians aymed at in setting up their schools and universities : the first of which was good , politick , usefull and profitable , inabling men for all kind of undertakings , both military and civil , without which men do not much differ from brute animants ; the perfection of which is the greatest acquisition that men in this frail life can be partakers of , and in comparison of which all other worldly treasures are but as vapours and emptiness . but the other end , namely by these acquirements to fit and inable men for the ministry , and thereby to unlock the sealed cabinet of the counsel of god ( as it hath been commonly received in judgement , and used in practice ) hath not onely failed of the principal end aimed at , but been quite contrary and opposite thereunto . for every thing stretched and elevated beyond its own proper sphear and activity , becomes not onely vain and unprofitable , but also hurtfull and dangerous : boni oculi , & usui necessarii , sed cum sine lumine aspicere volunt , nihil eis species proficit , nihil propria vis , sed affert nocumentum , the eies are good , and necessary for use , but when they will see without light , the species of things doth not profit , their own vertue doth not profit , but bring nocument : so humane knowledge is good , and excellent , and is of manifold and transcendent use , while moving in its own orb ; but when it will see further than its own light can lead it , it then becomes blind , and destroyes it self . so if the academies had kept within their own sphear , and onely taught humane science , and had not in pride and vain glory , mounted into the chariot of the sun like phaeton , they had then neither disordered nor injured theologie that is above them , nor the things of nature , which they account below them ; nor had they attempted to send labourers into the lords vineyard , which none but he himself alone can do ; nor been negligent in that burthen , and labor , that was peculiar unto them , and incumbent upon them . and to cleer this we shall only touch some few arguments , because elsewhere we have said more . 1. the chief scope and drift of the gospel is to humble the proud , and towering imaginations of lost man , and to let him see that he is ( notwithstanding the excellency of all his acquisitions ) utterly blind , and knows nothing as he ought to know . and so while this vain tradition pretends to enable man to understand the mysteries of the gospel , it makes him ( through confidence in his attainments ) uncapable of being taught them , as iobs friend truly said , vain man would be wise , though he be born as a wild asses colt. tantò fit quisque vilior deo , quantò pretiosior sibi , tantò pretiosior deo , quantò propter eum vilior sibi , every one becomes so much more vile unto god , by how much more he is precious unto himself , so much more precious unto god , by how much more because of him he is vile unto himself . 2. the end of the gospel is to discover the wisdome of the world ( in the height of its purity and perfection ) to be meer foolishness , that so it may not be ballanced or compared with those divine raies of caelestial light that the spirit of god reveals in and unto man . haec tota est scientia magna hominis scire , quia ipsa nihil est per se , & quoniam quicquid est , ex deo est , et propter deum est , this is the whole knowledge of man , to know that it is nothing of it self , and that whatsoever it is , it is of god , and for god . but this opinion makes man confidently walk on in the light of his own sparks , and by the fire that he hath kinkled unto himself , and to prize it above the glorious and given light of the spirit of grace , and therefore ( as saith the prophet ) to ly down in sorrow . ad veram sapientiam pervenire non possunt , qui falsae suae sapientiae fiduciâ decipiunt , those can never attain unto true sapience who deceive themselves in the confidence of their own false wisdome . 3. the teaching of spiritual and gospel knowledge is onely and peculiarly appropriated and attributed unto the spirit of god , it is neither of man , nor by man , flesh and blood reveals it not , but the father which is in heaven ; and every scribe fit for the kingdome of heaven is taught of god . doctus autem scriba , qui magisterium universalis scientiae adeptus , habet thesaurum , de quo proferre potest nova et vetera , for the taught scribe , who having attained the magistery of universal science , hath a treasury out of which he can bring new things and old . now this tenent doth attribute it to a fleshly power , contrary to the truth of god , which denies it to be in the power of humane acquisition . the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of god , for they are foolishness unto him : neither can he know them , because they are spiritually discerned . 4. the weapons and instruments of a minister of the gospel are of a more transcendent and sublime nature , than those that one man can furnish another withall , they are not carnal , but spiritual , not mighty through us or our power , but through christ , not for the elevating and blowing up , but for the pulling down of strong holds , casting down imaginations , & every thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of god , and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of christ . now is it not manifest that all the science that men or schools can teach is but carnal , and tends to exalt & not pull down the imaginations of man ? and therefore true of them , as one of the antients said , nugas tenemus , et fonte veritatis amisso , opinionum rivulos consectamur , we hold trifles , and the fountain of verity being lost , we follow the rivulets of opinions . 5. the apostles and disciples neither taught nor practised any such matter , but bad us beware of philosophy , which is after the rudiments of the world , and not after christ : nay the apostle forbad us even to speak or declare the things of christ in the wisdome of mens words , because thereby the cross of christ is made of none effect , and thereby mens faith doth but stand in the wisdome of man , and not in the power of god . there is a very remarkable and apposite relation recorded by chrysostome of two men disputing , the one a christian , the other an heathen , and the question betwixt them was , whether paul or plato were more eloquent , the christian arguing for st. paul , and the heathen for his master plato , of whom he affirms that the christian had the argument that belonged to the ●eathe● , and the heathen that which belonged to the christian , and draweth this conclusion . si platone disertior paulus fuisset , multi non immeritò asserere potuissent , non gratiâ vicisse paulum , sed facundiâ ; ex quo satis constat , non in sapientiâ humanâ praedicationem factam esse , sed in divinâ gratiâ . if paul had been more eloquent than plato , many not unworthily might have asserted , that paul had been victor , not by grace , but facundity , from whence it is sufficiently manifest that the preaching of the gospel was not made in the wisdome of man , but in divine grace . therefore is this teaching and practice contrary to the apostles rule and canon . 6. all things that by the spirit of christ are revealed unto , or wrought in man , are for this end , to take away from the creature totally all cause and ground of boasting or glorying , and to give the glory to god solely , to whom it is due . he that rejoiceth , let him rejoice in the lord , and let no flesh glory in his presence . non confidat praedicator , vel auditor verbi divini , de acumine ingenii , de subtilitate scrutinii , de sedulitate studii : sed magis considat de bonitate dei , de pietate oraculi , de humilitate cordis intimi , let not the preacher or hearer of the divine word , trust in the acuteness of his wit , the subtilty of his scrutiny , the sedulity of his study : but rather let him trust in the goodness of god , in the piety of the oracle , in the humility of his inward heart . but this tenent of schools inabling men for the ministery , teacheth man to glory in his gotten learning , and acquired parts , and so is contrary to the truth of christ . object . 1. to this i know it will be objected , that schools teach the knowledge of tongues , without which the scriptures ( being originally written in the hebrew and greek ) cannot be truly and rightly translated , expounded , nor interpreted : and therefore it is necessary that schools and academies should teach these , as properly and mainly conducible to this end . to which i shall give this free and cleer responsion . responsi . 1. it is not yet infallibly concluded , either which are the true original copies ( especially concerning the hebrew , and the oriental languages ) the iewish tongue having been often altered and corrup●ed by their several intermixtures with , and transmigrations into other nations ; or that they have been purely and sincerely preserved unto our hands . for languages change and alter , as fashions and garments . multa renascentur , quae nunc cecidere , cadentque ; neither have we any thing to assure us in this point , but bare tradition and history , which are various , perplex , dubious , contradictory and deficient . and that it which in it self is dubious and uncertain , should be the means of manifesting the indub●table truth to others , seems not very probable or perswasive . 2. knowledge of tongues can but teach the grammatical construction , signification , and interpretation of words , propriety of phrases , deduction of etymologies , and such like ; all which tend no further than the instamping of a bare literal understanding , and all this may be , the mystery of the gospel being unknown , for the letter killeth , but the spirit giveth life . and saul before his conversion , & the rest of the iewish rabbies , understood the hebrew and greek tongues , and yet by them understood nothing of the saving mystery of grace , for they stumbled at the stone of offence , and though they were princes in humane learning and wisdome , yet did they not know god in his divine wisdome , for had they known it , they would not have crucified the lord of life . and therefore is not tongues the right key to unlock the scriptures , but the spirit of christ , that opens , and no man shuts , and shuts , and no man opens . 3. this is built upon no surer a foundation than a traditional faith , for oportet discentem credere , every man must believe his teacher , & therfore hath no more in this but what is taught by man , who is not able to receive the things that are of god , for they are spiritually discerned . so that in this case he that understands the original tongues , in which the text was first written , conceives no more of the mind of god thereby , than he that only can read or hear read the translation in his mothers tongue : for the reasons are every way pareil , and parallel ; for what difference is there between him that relies upon his teachers skill , and he that relies upon the skill of a translator , are they not both alike , since they are but both testimonia humana , full of errors , mistakes and fallacies ? 4. the errors and mistakes that still remain , and are daily discovered in all translations , do sufficiently witness mens negligence and ignorance , that in the space of sixteen hundred years , have not arrived at so much perfection , as to compleat one translation , to be able to stand the hazard of all essaies , and as the herculean pillar with a ne plus ultra ; especially if unto this be added , the uncertainty ( if not deceit ) of all or the most translations , men usually pretending skill in the original tongues , do draw and hale the word to that sense and meaning that be●● suited with their opinions and tenents , which is cleer in arrius and those others that men have branded with the name of hereticks , ( how justly god knows ) and in those that many do call fathers , as origen , ambrose , and many such ; and in these times the papists , socinians , arminians ( as men have given them names ) and those that have appropriated unto themselves the name of being orthodox : these all pretending exact skill in the original tongues , do all wrest the scriptures to make good their several tenents , and traditional formes , which plainly demonstrates the uncertainty , if not vanity , in boasting of , and trusting in this fleshly weapon , of the knowledge of tongues . 5. lastly , while men trust to their skill in the understanding of the original tongues , they become utterly ignorant of the true original tongue , the language of the heavenly canaan , which no man can understand or speak , but he that is brought into that good land that flowes with milk and honey , and there to be taught the language of the holy ghost , for he that is from heaven is heavenly , and speaketh heavenly things , and all that are from the earth , do but speak earthly things : so that he that is most expert , and exquisi●e in the greek and oriental tongues , to him notwithstanding the language of the holy ghost , hid in the letter of the scriptutes , is but as hiroglyphicks , and cryptography , which he can never uncypher , unless god bring his own key , and teach him how to use it , and otherwise the voice of saints will but be unto him as the voice of barbarians , even as a sounding brass , and a tinkling cymbal , as not giving any perfect or distinct sound . and therefore as no●hing that i have spoken is intended against the learning and use of languages simply , so i am not averse to mens endeavours about the same , not their pains in perfecting translations , but could heartily wish it were ten times more : yet principally i would have men to know , that it is the spirit of god onely that freely gives men to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven , and if any good or benefit accrew unto the truth and church of christ by the knowledge of tongues or translations , it ariseth not from their excellency , but solely and onely from the mercifull operation of his spirit , who worketh all and in all , and maketh all things to cooperate for the benefit of those whom he hath called according to his own purpose . chap. ii. of the division of academick learning , and first of that called school-theology . there are three things concerning academies , that do obviously offer themselves to our examination ; first , that learning which is the subject of their labours . secondly , their method in the teaching and delivering it unto others . thirdly , their constitutions and customes , of which we shall speak in order ; and first of that learning which they subjectively handle ; for they very proudly , and vaingloriously pretending to make men doctors in divers sciences , and masters , and batchelors in or of arts , it will be very necessary to consider what these sciences and arts are , in or of which men are by them made masters , lest it prove that when men vainly boast , & imagine that they are masters of arts , they be masters of none , but rather ignorant of all or the most . it is no less ingenuous than true , which the learned renatus des cartes acknowledgeth of himself , that having been from his very young years stimulated with a mighty ardor and desire of knowledge , and having run thorough the course and curricle of the scholastick studies , after which by custome and order he was to be received into the number of the learned , even then ( saith he ) tot medubiis totque erroribus implicatum esse adimadverti , ut omnes discendi conatus nihil aliud mihi profecisse judicarem , quàm quod ignorantiam meam magis magisque detexissem , i understood my sel● implicated with so many doubts and so many errors , that i did judge all my desires of learning to have profitted me no more , than that more and more i had detected mine own ignorance . memorable , faithfull , and vastly modest is that free confession of that miracle of learning baptist a van-h●lmont , who when he had accomplished his course in philosophy , and was to receive his degree of a master of arts , ●e begun to examine what a great philosopher he was , and what science he had gained , saith , comperi me literâ inflatum , et veluti manducato pomo vetito planè nudum , praeterquam quod artificiose altercari didiceram . tum prius enotui mihi quod nihil scirem , et scirem quod nihili , i found my self puffed up with the letter , and plainly naked , as though i had eaten of the forbidden apple , except that i had learned artificially to chide . then first it was known to me , that i knew nothing , and what i knew was of no value . and therefore modestly makes this conclusion ; peracto ergo cursu , cum nil solidi , nil veri scirem , titulum magistri artium recusavi ; nolens , ut mecum morionem professores agerent , magistrum septem artium declararent , qui nondum essem discipulus , therefore the course of my studies being finished , seeing i knew nothing of solidity , nothing of truth , i refus●d the title of master of arts , unwilling the professors should play the fool with me , that they should declare me master of the seve● ar●s , w●o as yet was not a disciple , or taught . and i cou●d wish that all those that boast of being masters of arts had the true insight of their own self●insufficiency , then would they be more willing to learn , than to undertake to teach . the first usual div●sion of scholastick learning is into divine and humane ; the first of which they commonly stile by that improper and high-flown title of school-divinity : and sometimes more modestly and aptly , school-theology , and by some metaphysicks , or natural theology , the vanity , vselessenesse , and hurtfulnesse of which we shall shew in some few clear arguments . first , the vanity of it appeareth in this , that men and academies have undertaken to teach that which none but the spirit of christ is the true doctor of , and so contrary to the truth call men teachers and masters upon earth , when we have but one father ( to teach these things ) which is in heaven , and one true master ( who only can disciple us in these things ) even christ , and so ought not vainly ( because of mans pretending to teach us those things in the ordinary way of humane teaching ) to be called , or to call one another rabbies ; for every good gift , and every perfect gift is from above , and commeth down from the father of lights , with whom is no variablenesse , neither shadow of turning . i do not deny nor envy men the titles of being called doctors and masters for their knowledge in natural and civil things , and for to have a civil reverence and honour , but to have these titles given them as able , or taking upon them to teach spiritual things , is vanity and pride , if not blasphemy : for i must conclude with chrysostome , omnis ars suis terminis non contenta , stultitia est , every art not content with it own bounds , is foolishnesse . and therefore sober and christian-like is that conclusion of cartesius speaking of theology , sed cum pro certo et explorato accepissem , iter quod ad illam ducit doctis non magis patere quam indoctis , veritatosque à deo revelatas humani ingenii captum excedere , verebar ne in temeritatis crimen inciderem , si illas imbecilae rationis meae examini subijcerem , et quicunque iis recognoscendis , atque interpretandis vacare audent , peculiari ad hoc dei gratia indigere , ac supra vulgarium hominum sortem positi esse debere , mihi videbantur , but when i had received it for certain , and indubitable , that the path which leads unto it , is not more open to the learned than to the unlearned , and that the truths revealed of god do exceed the capacity of humane wit , i did fear lest i should fall into the crime of temerity , if i should subject them to the examination of my weak reason , and whosoever did attend the handling and interpreting of those things , did seem to me to stand in need of the peculiar grace of god for that work , and ought to be placed above the condition of vulgar men . so that it is the proper and peculiar science and art of the holy ghost , which none can teach but god onely , vid. cusan , in apol. doctae ignorantiae , bapt. van helm . in promis . stud. author . et de venatione scientiarum , paracels . lib. de fundamento scientiarum et sapientiae , et in lib. de inventione artium , et alios . secondly , from this putrid and muddy fountain doth arise all those hellish and dark foggs and vapours that like locusts crawling from this bottomlesse pit have overspread the face of the whole earth , filling men with pride , insolency , and self-confidence , to aver and maintain that none are fit to speak , and preach the spiritual , & deep things of god , but such as are indued with this scholastick , & mans idol-made-learning , and so become fighters against god , and his truth , and persecutors of all those that speak from the principle of that wisedome , that is from above , and is pnre and peaceable : not consessing the nothingnesse of creaturely wisedom , but magnifying , and boasting in that which is earthly , sensual , and devillish . frustra enim cordis oculum erigit ad videndum deum , qui nondum idoneus est ad videndum seipsum , for in vain doth he lift the eye of his heart to see god , who is not yet fit to see himself . and therefore these thinking themselves wise , they become fools , and proudly taking upon them to teach others the things of god in the way of worldly wisdome , are not onely untaught of god , but are enemies to his heavenly wisdome . excellent is that of the cardinal , in his discourse between the doctor and the idiot , for the idiot saith , haec est fortassis inter te & me differentia , tu , te scientem putas , cum non sis , hinc superbis ; ego verò idiotam me esse cognosco , hinc humilior , in hoc fortè doctior existo , this perhaps is the difference betwixt me and thee , thou thinkest thy self knowing , when thou art not , from hence thou art proud ; i truly know my self to be an idiot , from hence i am humbled , in this perhaps i am more learned . 3. from this ariseth the dividing and renting of the seamless coat of christ , which is indivisible , and admits no schism , but must pass all one way , according to the lot of the father . but how have they attomized the unity and simplicity of that truth ? when there is but one body , and one spirit , and one hope in the calling of all saints : one lord , one faith , one baptism , one god and father of all , who is above all , and through all and in all . for first they have proudly under taken to define theologie , as they have done other arts and sciences , and so make it habitus acquisitus , and attainable by the wit , power and industry of man , when it is peculiarly and onely donum altissimi , and meerly the fruit of grace , and that also gratis datum : and yet sometimes they divide sciences into two sorts , infusive , and acquisitive , and number this as that which is infused , and yet not remembring their own dichotomy , do vainly pretend to teach men that which is onely instilled and infused by the spirit of god : and therefore might more exactly keep their own division , to have left that inspired knowledge , which is onely infused and given from above , to the teaching of the holy ghost . and if they would have considered theologie as natural , which is such a spark of knowledge as can be had of god by the light of nature , and the contemplation of created things , which in regard of the object may be called divine , in respect of the information , natural , and so kept it within its own bounds , it were tolerable ; for , hujus scientiae limites ita verè signantur , ut ad atheismum confutandum , & convincendum , & ad legem naturae informandam , se extendant ; ad religionem autem astruendā non proferantur , the limits of this science may be so truly assigned or set out , that they may extend themselves to the confuting and convincing if atheism , and to teach the law or order of nature ; but should not be brought forth to assert or build up religion . secondly , they have laid down positive definitions of god , who cannot be defined but by his own logick , for with him is the fountain of life , and it is in his light that we see light : and their own rules teach them that there cannot be a perfect definition , where there is not a proxime genus ; but he doth supereminently transcend all their whole praedicamental skale , nay the heaven of heavens cannot contain him , how much less the narrow vessell of mans intellect , or the weak and shallow rules of logical skill ? and therefore if they had but humbly and modestly attempted no more , but what is attainable by the poor scintillary glimpse of natural light , and have confessed the same constantly and freely , and that all their best descriptions of the immense and imcomprehensible one , were but infinitely weak and short to make out his ineffable wisdome , power , and glory , and so have used it but to convince atheists , or to make manifest the cause of causes , and being of beings , and not thereby to have reared up an high-towring babell of confused , notional , fruitless and vain religion , it might have passed without reproof , and the schoolmen without condemnation . for if we could handle these high and deep mysteries of god , and his spirit , then ought we to have not the spirit of the world ( which is carnal wisdome and reason ) but that spirit which is of god , which searcheth all things , even the deep things of god , that we might know the things that are freely given to us of god : and so to go out of our selves , and out of the weak and rotten vessel of humane reason , into that ark of noah , which guided by the divine magnetick needle of gods spirit , can onely direct us to rest upon the mountains of ararat , even upon himself in christ jesus , who is the rock of ages , and the stone cut out without hands , that crusheth and breaketh in pieces all the strong images of mans wisdome , power , strength and righteousness . 4. they have drawn theologie into a close and strict logical method , and thereby hedged in the free workings and manifestations of the holy one of israel , who by his spirit bloweth where he listeth , like the wind , and men may hear the sound thereof , but cannot tell from whence it cometh , nor whither it goeth : as though the holy ghost had not had an higher and more heavenly method and way to teach divine things in and by , than the art of logick ( which is meerly humane , and mans invention ) seeing the foolishness of god is wiser than the wisdome of men , and the weakness of god is stronger than men , when indeed the spirit of god hath a secre● , divine and heavenly method of its own , and onely proper to it self , which none can know but those that are taught it of god , and therefore they onely understand it , and speak out the things of god , but not in the words which mans wisdome teacheth , but which the holy ghost teacheth , comparing spiritual things with spiritual . but these men accumulating a farraginous heap of divisions , subdivisions , distinctions , limitations , axioms , positions and rules , do chanel & bottle up the water of life ( as they think ) in and by these , and again powre it forth as they please , and this is spiritual sorcery or inchantment , like saul , when god had left him , to seek for baal oboth , the lord in a bottle , or the lord bottled up , and not to look for his truth as a fountain of life , or as a wel springing up to eternal life ; and so forsook the lord the fountain of living waters , to draw water out of their own broken cisterns that will hold no water ; these think abanah and pharpar rivers of damascus , better than all the waters of israel , and that they may wash in them and be clean ; and are not willing to draw water with joy out of the wels of salvation , and know not that there is but one river the streams whereof make glad the city of god , the holy place of the tabernacle of the most high : when he that drinketh at any other fountain , shall thirst again , but this shall be and ever is a well-spring unto eternal life . 5. if we narrowly take a survey of the whole body of their scholastick theologie , what is it else but a confused chaos , of needless , frivolous , fruitless , triviall , vain , curious , impertinent , knotty , ungodly , irreligious , thorny , and hel-hatc'ht disputes , altercations , doubts , questions and endless janglings , multiplied and spawned forth even to monstrosity and naus●ousness ? like a curious spiders web cunningly interwoven with many various and subtil intertextures , and yet fit for nothing but the insnaring , manacling and intricating of rash , forward , unwary and incircumspect men , who neither see nor know the danger of that cobweb-net untill they be taken in it , and so held fast and inchained . and while they pretend to make all things plain and perspicuous , ( by the assistance of their too much magnified logick ) puffing men up , by making them think themselves able to argue and dispute of the high and deep mysteries of christ , and to conclude as certainly and apodictically as of any other science whatsoever ; they do but lead and precipitate men into the caliginous pit of meer putation , and doubtfull opination ; making the word of god nothing else but as a magazine of carnal weapons , from whence they may draw instruments to fight with and wound one another ; or like a tennis ball to be tossed and reverberated by their petulant wits and perverse reasons , from one to another , untill truth be lost , or they utterly wearied ; while in the mean time the power and simplicity of faith lies lost in the dust of disputations , and they like masters of fence seem to play many doubtfull and dangerous prizes , seemingly in good earnest , and to the hazard of their lives , when in verity it is but to inhance their own reputations , and to suck money out of the purses of the spectators ; so that their fit motto and impress may be , disputandi prurigo , fit ecclesiarum scabies . now how vain this is in it self , how pernicious , injurious , deadly and destructive to the truth of the gospel , the apostle sufficiently admonisheth us , warning timothy to keep that which is committed to his trust , and to avoid , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , profanos illos , de rebus inanibus clamores , & oppositiones falso nominatae notitiae ; prophane , vain bablings and oppositions of science falsly so called ; and also exhorteth to eschew foolish and unlearned questions , which do engender strife , and to titus , that he should avoid foolish questions , and genealogies , and contentions , and strivings about the law , because they are unprofitable and vain : and therefore chrysostone said well in the person of st. paul , non veni syllogismorum captiones , non sophismata , non aliud quiddam hujusmodi vobis afferens praeter christum crucifixum ; i came not unto you bringing the subtilties of syllogisms , nor sophisms , nor any other thing of like sort , except christ crucified . 6. the whole scripture is given that man might be brought to the full , and absolute abnegation of all his wit , reason , will , desires , strength , wisdome , righteousness , and all humane glory and excellencies whatsoever , and that ●elfhood might be totally annihilated , that he might live , yet not he , but that christ might live in him , and that the life which he liveth in the flesh might be by the faith of the son of god , who loved him , and gave himself for him . but if man gave his assent unto , or believed the things of christ , either because , and as as they are taught of and by men , or because they appear p●obable and consentaneous to his reason , then would his faith be statuminated upon the rotten basis of humane authority , or else he might be said to assent unto and believe the things , because of their appearing probable , and because of the verisimilitude of them , but not solely and onely to believe in and upon the author and promiser of them , for his faithfulness and truths sake , and nothing else ; and so his faith should stand in the wisdome of man , but not in the power of god , and so the cross of christ should become of none effect . but abraham believed god , and it was counted to him for righteousness , though the things promised seemed neither probable nor possible ; and therefore sarah , who is the type of carnal reason , laughed at the promise , conceiving it impossible in reason that she should have a child ; and therefore it is not that assent nor consent that reason gives unto the things of god , as they appear semblable and like , that is the faith of abraham , but a simple and naked believing and relying upon the bare and sole word of the lord , though reason & mans wisdom can see no way how possibly it can cowe to pass , but with mary and nicodemus question how can these things be ; for reason is a monster , and the very root and ground of all infidelity ; for the carnal mind is emnity against god , and is not subject to the law of god , neither indeed can be : but faith is that pure and divine gift and work of god that leads the heart of man in the light and power of the spirit of christ , with faithfull abraham even against hope to believe in hope , and not to stagger at the promise of god through unbelief ; but to be strong in faith , and to give glory to god . concludamus igitur ( saith learned verulam ) theologiam sacram ex verbo , & oraculis dei , non ex lumine naturae , aut rationis dictamime hanriri debere ; therefore we conclude that sacred theologie ought to be drawn from the word and oracles of god , not from the light of nature , or the dictate of reason . chap. iii. of the division of that which the schools call humane learning , and first of tongues or languages . those sciences that the schools usually comprehend under the title of humane , are by them divided divers and sundry waies , according to several fancies or authors ; but most usually into two sorts , speculative and practick : wherein their greatest crime lies in making some meerly speculative , that are of no use or benefit to mankind unless they be reduced into practice , and then of all other most profitable , excellent and usefull ; and these are natural philosophy and mathematicks , both of which will clearly appear to be practical , and that in a few reasons . 1. can the science of natural things , whose subject they hold to be corpus naturale mobile , be only speculative , and not practical ? is there no further end nor consideration in physicks but onely to search , discuss , understand , and dispute of a natural movable body , with all the affections , accidents and cir●umstances thereto belonging ? is he onely to be accounted — faelix , qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas ? then surely we may justly conclude with seneca , nostra quae erat philosophia , facta philologia est , ex qua disputare docemus , non vivere ! that which was our philosophy is made philologie , from whence we teach to dispute , not to live . surely natural philosophy hath a more noble , sublime , and ultimate end , than to rest in speculation , abstractive notions , mental operations , and verball disputes : for as it should lead us to know and understand the causes , properties , operations and affections of nature ; so not onely to rest there and proceed no further ; but first therein and thereby to see and behold the eternal power and god-head of him , who hath set all these things as so many significant and lively characters , or hieroglyphicks of his invisible power , providence , and divine wisdome , so legible , that those which will not read them , and him by them , are without excuse ; and not to rest there , but to be drawn to trust in and to adore him , who is the causa causans , ens entium , and god of nature ; and not to become like the heathen , when we know god , not to glorifie him as god , neither to be thankfull ; but to become vain in our imaginations , and to have our foolish hearts darkned . and secondly , not onely to know natures power in the causes and effects , but further to make use of them for the general good and benefit of mankind , especially for the conservation and restauration of the health of man , and of those creatures that are usefull for him ; for ubi desinit philosophus incipit medicus , and is practicably applicable to many other things ; as we shall shew when we speak of magick . 2. can the mathematical sciences , the most noble , useful , and of the greatest certitude of all the rest , serve for no more profitable end , than speculatively and abstractively to be considered of ? how could the life of man be happily led , nay how could men in a manner consist without it ? truly i may justly say of it as cicero of philosophy , it hath taught men to build houses , to live in cities and walled towns ; it hath taught men to measure and divide the earth ; more facilely to negotiate and trade one with another : from whence was found out and ordered the art of navigation , the art of war , e●gins , fortifications , all mechanick operations , were not all these and innumerable others the progeny of this never sufficiently praised science ? o sublime , transcendent , beautifull and most noble mistress ! who would not court such a celestial pallas ? who would not be inamoured upon thy seraphick pulchritude ? surely thy divine and harmoniacal musick were powerfull enough to draw all after thee , if men were not more insensible than stones or trees . is the admirable knowledge that arethmetick afords worthy of nothing but a supine and silent speculation ? let the merchant , astronomer , mariner , mechanick and all speak whether its greatest glory stand not principally in the practick part ? what shall i say of geometry , astronomy , opticks , geography , and all those other contained under them , as they are reconed up by that myrror of manifold learning dr. iohn dee in his preface before euclide ? it were but to hold a candle to give the sun light , to deny that they are practical . nay are not all the rest also practical ? what is grammar , lodgick , rhetorick , poesie , politicks , ethicks , oeconomicks , nay metaphysicks ? if they serve to no other use than bare and fruitless speculation ? i will onely conclude in this case as they do in that maxim of philosophy , frustra est potentia , si non reducitur in actum , in vain is power to speculate , if it be not reduced into action and practice . therefore omitting the division of humane sciences , as either the academies or others have ordered them ; i shall proceed to divide them according to that way which i conceive most convenient and commodious for mine intended purpose , and so shall put them under a threefold consideration . 1. those arts or sciences , that though they seem to confer some knowledge , yet is it in order to a further end , and so are instrumental , subordinate , and subservient to other sciences . in the number of which i first reckon grammar , or the knowledge of tongues , which in some sort and measure is instrumental , and subservient to all the rest . secondly , logick which i account instrumental , and helpfull to mathematicks , natural philosophy , politicks , ethicks , oeconomicks , oratory , poesie , and all the rest as it especially teacheth a synthetical , and analytical method . thirdly mathematicks , which are not onely subordinate amongst themselves , but especially instrumental , and very usefull to physicks . 2. those sciences that confer knowledge of themselves , and are not instrumental or subservient to others , as natural philosophy , metaphysicks , politicks , ethicks , and oeconomicks . 3. those that though they conferre some knowledg , and have some peculiar uses , so they seem necessary as ornamental , and such i account oratory and poesie . which divisions i put not so much because they agree in this order in their proper subjects , and ends , as to accommodate them to my present disquisition . and i shall speak in the order as i have put these , and first of the grammar . 1. the knowledge of tongues beareth a great noise in the world , and much of our precious time is spent in attaining some smartering and small skill in them , and so we do all servire duram servitutem before we arrive at any competent perfection in them , and yet that doth scarcely compensate our great pains ; nor when obtained , do they answer our longing , and vast expectations for there is not much profit or emolument by them , besides those two great and necessary uses , to inable to read , understand , and interpret or translate the works and writings of other men , who have written in several languages ; so that in this regard they are as a key to unlock the rich cabinet of divers authors , that there by we may gather some of their hidden treasure ; and also to inable men to converse with people of other nations , and so fit men for forein negotiations , trade , and the like , which indeed are very useful and extremely beneficial to all mankind . yet besides what i have formerly spoken of tongues in relation to the interpretation of the scripture , thus much also is evident , that if a man had the perfect knowledge of many , nay all languages , that he could give unto man , beast , bird , fish , plant , mineral , or any other numerical creature or thing , their distinct and proper names in twenty several idioms , or dialects , yet knows he no more thereby , than he that can onely name them in his mother tongue , for the intellect receives no other nor further notion thereby , for the senses receive but one numerical species or ideal-shape from every individual thing , though by institution and imposition , twenty , or one hundred names be given unto it , according to the idiome of several nations . now for a carpenter to spend seven years time about the sharpning and preparing of his instruments , and then had no further skill how to imploy them , were ridiculous and wearisome ; so for scholars to spend divers years for some small scantling and smattering in the tongues , having for the most part got no further knowledge , but like parrats to babble and prattle , that whereby the intellect is no way inriched , is but toylsome , and almost lost labour . excellent and worthy was that attempt of the renowned and learned comenius in his ianna linguarum ( if it had been as well understood , and seconded by others ) to lay down a platform and seminary of all learning and knowable things , that youth might as well in their tender years receive the impression of the knowing of matter , and things , as of words , and that with as much ease , brevity and facility . 2. for grammar which hath been invented for the more certain and facile teaching , and obtaining of languages , it is very controvertible whether it perform the same in the surest , easiest and shortest way or not ; since hundreds speak their mother tongue and other languages very perfectly , use them readily , and understand them excellent well , and yet never knew nor were taught any grammatical rules , nor followed the wayes of conjugations , and declensions , n●un , or verb. and it is sufficiently known , that many men by their own industry , without the method or rules of grammar , have gotten a competent understanding in divers languages : and many unletter'd persons will by use and exercize without grammatical rules learn to speak , and understand some languages in far shorter time than any do learn them by method and rule , as is clearly manifest by those that travel , and live in divers countries , who will learn two or three by use and exercize , while we are hard tugging to gain one by rule and method . and again , if we conceive that languages learned by use and exercize , render men ready , and expert in the understanding and speaking of them , without any aggravating or pusling the intellect and memory , when that which gotten by rule and method , when we come to use and speak it , doth exceedingly rack and excruciate the intellect and memory ; which are forced at the same time , not onely to find fit words agreeable to the present matter discoursed of , and to put them into a good rhetorical order , but must at the same instant of speaking collect all the numerous rules , of number , case , gender , declension , conjugation , & the like , as into one center , where so many rayes are united , and yet not confounded , which must needs be very perplexive & gravaminous to memorative faculty ; and therfore none that attains languages by grammatical rules do ever come to speak and understand them perfectly and readily , until they come to a perfect habit in the exercitation of them , and so thereby come both to lose and leave the use of those many and intricate rules , which have cost us so much pains to attain to them , and so to justifie the saying , that we do but discere dediscenda , learn things , which afterwards we must learn to forget , or learn otherwise : when those that get them by use and exercitation , attain them in shorter time , have a more perfect and ready way in speaking of them , and are freed from all these tedious pains and fruitlesse labour . much to be commended therefore was the enterprise of doctor web , who found out a more short , certain and easie way to teach the latine tongue in , than the tedious , painful , intricate and hard way of grammar , and that by a brief and easie clausulary method , in farre shorter time to attain perfection therein , and if it had been well followed and improved , would have produced an on incredible advantage to the whole nation ; but we are in this like tradesmen , who all bandy and confederate together to suppresse any new invention though never so commodious to the commonwealth , lest thereby their own privare gain should be obstructed or taken away . 3. if the way to attain to languages by grammatical method and rule were the best and most certain , ( which yet we have made appear not to be so ) yet the rules comonly used are guilty both of confusion and perplexity . how darkly and confusedly do they go to work ? leading youth on in an intricate laborinth , wherein he is continually toyling like an horse in a mil , and yet makes no great progress , and all because the method is perplex and obscure , void of evidential perspicuity , rightly co-aptated to the tender capacities of young years , which is the cause of the other , namely its prolixity , as we can all witnesse by wofull experienc● ; and little hath been endeavoured for a remedy herein , that hath not been worse than the disease , except the elaborate pains of our countreyman mr. brinsley , who therein deserves exceeding commendation . 4. i shall also touch some of its material defects : how probable , pleasant and useful is the hieroglyphical , emblematical , symbolical and crytographical learning , and all relative unto grammar , and yet therein nothing at all touched of any of them ? was not the expressions of things by emblems , and hieroglyphicks , not onely antient , but in and by them what great mysteries have been preserved and holden out to the world ? and who can be ignorant of the admirable , easie and compendious use of all sorts of symbolisms , that have but any insight into algebraick arithmetick , or have but slenderly consulted with the learned pieces of our never sufficiently praised countreyman mr. oughtrede , or the elaborate tracts of the laborious harrigon ? or are the wonderful and stupendious effects that polygraphy , or steganography produce to be omitted or neglected ? which are of such high concernment in the most arduous occurrents of humane affairs , of what price and value these are , let that monopoly of all learning , the abbot of spanheim speak , let porta , let cornelius agrippa , let claramuel , let gustavus silenus , frier bacon , and many others speak , who have written so learnedly and accurately therein , even to wonder and amazement . vid. lib. polygrap . steganog . trithem . hen. cor. agrip. de occult . philos. lib. io. claram . in lib. trithem . expositio . gustav . silen . crytoman●ices lib. frat. rog. bacon . de mirabili potestate artis et naturae lib. et alios . 5. what a vast advancement had it been to the re-publick of learning , and hugely profi●able to all mankind , if the discovery of the universal character ( hinted at by some judicious authors ) had been wisely and laboriously pursued and b●ought to perfection ? that thereby nations of divers languages might have been able to have read it and understood it , and so have more easily had commerce and trafick one with another , and thereby the sciences and skill of one nation , might with more facility have been communicated to others , though not speaking or understanding that language in which they were first written . this would have been a potent means ( in some measure ) to have repaired the ruines of babell , and have been almost a catholick cure for the confusion of tongues : for do we not plainly see that those which are deaf and dumb have most pregnant and notable waies by signes and gestures to express their minds , which those that do much converse with them can easily understand and unriddle , and answer them with the like ? that doubtlesly compleat waies might be found out to convey out notions and intentions one to another , without vocal and articular prolation , as some have all ready invented and practised by dactylogy , and doubtlesly might be brought to pass by the eies and motions of the face onely . sir kenelm digby hath an apposite , though almost incredible story of one in spain , which being deaf and dumb , was notwithstanding taught to speak and understand others , which cerrainly was performed chiefly by the eye ; and though it may seem a romance to some , yet whosoever shall seriously consider the vast knowledge , cautiousness , curiosity , sincerity , and punctual account of the relator therein , will be convinced of the possibility hereof . and it is recorded , and believed with authors of repute and credit , that in china , and some other oriental regions , they have certain characters , which are real , not nominal , expressing neither letters nor words , but things , and notions : so that many nations differing altogether in languages , yet consenting in learning these catholike characters , do communicate in their writings , so far that every nation can read and translate a book written in these common characters , in and into their own countrey language . which is more manifest , if we do but consider that the numeral notes , which we call figures and cyphers , the planetary characters , the marks for minerals , and many other things in chymistry , though they be alwaies the same and vary not , yet are understood by all nations in europe , and when they are read , every one pronounces them in their own countreys language and dialect . and to make it more evident , let a character denoting man be appointed , as suppose this * , and though to persons of divers languages , it would receive various denominations according to their several vocal prolations , yet would they all but understand one and the self same thing by it : for though an hebrew or iew would call it {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , a graecian {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} or {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , one that speaks the latine homo , a frenchman vn home , an high german der mann , a spaniard vn hombre , and the english , man , yet would the intellect receive but only the single and numerical species of that which it represented , and so one note serve for one notion to all nations . 6. i cannot ( howsoever fabulous , impossible , or ridiculous it may be accounted of some ) passe over with silence , or neglect that signal and wonderful secret ( so often mentiond by the mysterious and divinely-inspired teutonick , and in some manner acknowledged and owned by the highly-illuminated fraternity of the rosie crosse ) of the language of nature : but out of profound and deep consideration , must adumbrate some of those reasons , which perswasively draw my judgement to credit the possibility thereof . 1. for when i look upon the protoplast adam , created in the image , or according to the image of the g●eat archetype his father and maker , creavit deus hominem ad imaginem suam , god created man in his own image , and also find the never-erring oracle of truth declaring evidently what that image is , namly the only begotten son of the father , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , who being the effulgence or brightnesse of glory , and the character and image of his subsistence : and this image of his subsistence , being that out-flown , and serviceable word by which he made the worlds , and that in the beginning was the word , and the word was with god , and the word was god ; from this is manifest that adam made in this image of god which is his eternal word , was made in the out-spoken word , and so lived in , understood , and spoke the language of the father . for the divine e●sence living in its own infinit , glorious , and central being , having this eternal word , or character of his subsistence , in and with himself , and was himself , did by the motion of its own incomprehensible love , expand and breath forth this characteristical word , in which man stood , and so spoke in from , and through this out-flown language of the father , which is the procedure of the all-working and eternal fiat , in which all things live stand , operate , and speak out the immense and unsearchable wisdome , power and glory of the fountain and abysse from whence they came , the heavens declare the glory of god , and the firmament sheweth his handy work , and every thing that hath breath prayseth the lord , and so every creature understands and speaks the language of nature , but sinfull man who hath now lost , defac't and forgotten it . and therefore it is not without a deep and abstruse mystery , that the seraphical apostle speaks that he knew a man caught up into the third heaven , into paradise , and heard {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , ineffable words , which are not lawfull or possible to be spoken , for this was the paradisical language of the out-flown word which adam understood while he was unfaln in eden , and lost after , and therefore the same illuminated vessel in another place mentions the tongues of men and angels , which would profit nothing , if they were not spoken in , and from the eternal word , which is the love-essence , or essence of love . for this angelical and paradisical language speaks and breaths forth those central mysteries that l●y hid in the heavenly magick , which was in that ineffable word that was with god , and lay wrapped up in the bosome of the eternal essence , wherein were hidden and involved in the way of a wonderful and inscrutable mystery , all the treasury of those ideal signatures , which were manifest and brought to light by the peripherial expansion and evolution of the serviceable word , or outflowing fiat , and so became existent in the matrix or womb of that generative and faetiferous word , from whence sprung up the wonderfull , numerous and various seminal natures , bearing forth the vive and true signatures of the divine and characteristical impressions : like so many harmoniacal and symphoniacal voices , or tones , all melodiously singing , and sounding forth in an heavenly consort , the wisdome , power , glory , and might of the transcendent central abysse of unity , from whence they did arise , and all speaking one language in expressing significantly in that mystical idiome , the hidden vertues , natures and properties of those various sounds , which though one in the center , become infinitely numerous in the manifested , existence and circumference , as saith the oracle of mysteries , there are , it may be so many kinds of voices in the world , and none of them {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} mute , or without signification . many do superficially and by way of analogy ( as they term it ) acknowledge the macrocosm to be the great unsealed book of god , and every creature as a capital letter or character , and all put together make up that one word or sentence of his immense wisdome , glory and power ; but alas ! who spells them a right , or conjoyns them so together that they may perfectly read all that is therein contained ? alas ! we all study , and read too much upon the dead paper idolls of creaturely-invented letters , but do not , nor cannot read the legible characters that are onely written and impressed by the finger of the almighty ; and yet we can verbally acknowledge , praesentemque refert quaelibet herba deum , but alas ! who truely reads it and experiences it to be so ? and yet indeed they ever remain legible and indelible letters speaking and sounding forth his glory , wisdome and power , and all the mysteries of their own secret and internal vertues and qualities , and are not as mute statues , but as living and speaking pictures , not as dead letters , but as preaching symbols . and the not understanding and right reading of these starry characters , therein to behold the light of abyssal glory and immortality , is the condemnation of all the sons of lost adam ; for the invisible things of him from the foundation of the world are clearly seen , being understood by the things that are made , even his eternal power and divinity , so that they are without excuse . but if we look more narrowly in to the great fabrick or machine , we shall find that it is a● a pamphoniacal and musical instrument , and every individual creature is as a several cord or string indued with a distinct and various tone , all concurring to make up a catholick melody , and every one of these understanding the sound and cure of each other , otherwise the harmony would be discordant , and man himself makes up one string of this great instrument , though in his faln condition he neither understands the sound of his fellow-strings , neither knows how he concords with his musick , neither by his own will or knowledge would concur in this heavenly consort , for to him the pipe is not understood , neither distinguisheth he the tunes , and so knoweth not what is piped or harped . 2. further , when i find the great and eternal being , speaking and conversing with adam , i cannot but believe that the language which he uttered , was the living and the serviceable word , and that it was infinitely high , deep and glorious like himself , and that which was radically and essentially one with him , and proceeded from him , and was indeed the language of the divine nature , and not extrinsecally adventitious unto him : and when i find adam understanding this heavenly dialect ( which had been uttered in vain if he had not understood it ) i cannot but believe that this was the language of nature infused into him in his creation , and so innate and implantate in him , and not inventive or acquisitive , but meerly dative from the father of light , from whom every good and perfect gift doth come and descend . 3. again , when i find the almighty presenting all the creatures before adam to see what he would call them , and whatsoever adam called every living creature , that is the name thereof , i cannot but conceive that adam did understand both their internal and external signatures , and that the imposition of their names was adaequately agreeing with their natures : otherwise it could not univocally and truely be said to be their names , whereby he distinguished them ; for names are but representations of notions , and if they do not exactly agree in all things , then there is a difference and disparity between them , and in that incongruity lies error and falshood : and notions also are but the images or ideas of things themselves reflected , in the mind , as the outward face in a looking-glasse , and therefore if they do not to an hair correspond with , and be identical one to the other , as punctually and truly as the impression in the wax agrees with the seal that instamped it , and as face answers face in a glass , then there is not absolute congruency betwixt the notion and the thing , the intellect and the thing understood , and so it is no longer verity , but a ly , and falsity . and therefore if adam did not truly see into , and understand their intrinsecall natures , then had his intellect false notions of them , and so he imposed lying names upon them , and then the text would be false too , which avers that what he called them was their names . also adam was in a deep sleep when eve was framed of his bone , and yet when she was brought before him being awaked , he could tell that she was bone of his bone , and flesh of his flesh , and therefore he called her woman , because she was taken out of man . now if it be denyed that he understood by his intrinsick and innate light , what she was , and from whence she was taken ( which i hold altogether untrue ) and that god by extrinsick information told adam from whence she was taken , yet did he immediately give unto her an adaequate name , suiting her original , which most significantly did manifest what was her nature , and from whence it came , and doubtless the name being exactly conformable , and configurate to the idaea in his mind , the very prolation , and sound of the word , contained in it the vive expression of the thing , and so in verity was nothing else but that pure language of nature , which he then spake , and understood , and afterwards so miserably lost and defaced . and if it be objected , that if adam did understand the internal natures , vertues , effects , operations , and qualities of the creatures , then he would have known that the effect of eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil , would have made him wretched , and discovered his nakedness , and then he would not have been so mad as to have tasted thereof : to this i answer , first , that god had plainly told him , that if he did eat thereof he should surely dy , and yet notwithstanding he did eat thereof , rather believing the serpent and eve , than the words of the almighty . but if it be supposed , that if he had known the operation , and effect of that fruit , he would not have credited the word of the serpent , more than his own evidential knowledge : to this , it is cleer , that though the serpent denyed that the effect , or eating of it , would procure death , so likewise he cunningly affirmed and insinuated , that the eating of it would open their eyes , and that thereby they should be like gods , knowing good and evil : and therefore it was the promise of deifying them , that did inflame their desires , for it seemed to the woman good for food , and pleasant to the eyes , and a tree to be desired to make one wise , and therefore this made her put forth her hand , and eat of the fruit , and give also unto her husband , and he did eat . but to answer this fully it is a deep mystery , and for man to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil , was to judge of god or his works , and creatures , by the creaturely , womanish , earthly , and serpentine wisdome , and so to feed it self , and find both good and evil , and not to abide in the union , and to know all things in the light and image of god , and so to have seen them exceeding good , and to this the apostle alludeth , saying , adam was not deceived , but the woman being deceived was in the transgression . 3. when i consider that the voices of birds , and beasts ( though we account them inarticulate ) are significative one to another , and that by the altering , and varying of those sounds , they express their passions , affections and notions , as well as men , and are thereby understood of one another , i cannot but believe that this is a part of the language of nature ; for the lamb knoweth the individual bleating of the ewe that is the dam , from all the rest of the ewes ; and the young chickens will all run under the hens wings , at a certain sound of the cocks voice , and all the hens will run unto him at a certain call , and therefore doubtless there is something more in that which cornelius agrippa relates of apollonius tyaneus , than every one takes notice of , that he understood the language of birds and beasts : and i cannot but admire how when we hear one laugh , and another howl and weep , though the sounds be not articulate , we can readily tell the one is the expression of sorrow , and grief , and the other of mirth and joy : now from whence do we know this ? this is not acquired by us , or taught us by others , for even children cry immediately after they be born , and though it be said to be by reason of the sensation of cold which they felt not in the womb , it is true , but then what is the cause that crying or weeping is in all creatures the sign of sorrow , pain or grief , might not some other kind of sound be the sign of it , or might it not in several creatures be expressed by different and various tones ? no truly , the mind receiveth but one single and simple image of every thing , which is expressed in all by the same motions of the spirits , and doubtlessly in every creature hath radically , and naturally the same sympathy in voice , and sound , but men not understanding these immediate sounds of the soul , and the true schematism of the internal notions impressed , and delineated in the several sounds , have instituted , and imposed others , that do not altogether concord , and agree to the innate notions , and so no care is taken for the recovery and restauration of the catholique language in which lies hid all the rich treasury of natures admirable and excellent secrets . chap. iv. of logick . in the next place i am to consider of that which they call ars dialectica , or most commonly logick , the principal ends of which they make to be discovery of sophisms and fallacies , producing probability and opinion , and bringing forth of certitude and apodictical science , the last of which being indeed its true and proper end : and so as to this end is subservient to some other sciences , but especially to natural philosophy . i have formerly said something of the prejudice that it hath done to theology , where i treated of that subject , and therefore shall onely now speak of it as it relates to humane and acquired sciences , and so lay out some of its chief defects , irregularities and abuses . 1. as it is now used in the schools it is meerly bellum intestinum logicum , a civil war of words , a verbal contest , a combat of cunning , craftiness , violence and altercation , wherein all verb●l force , by impudence , insolence , opposition , contradiction , derision , diversion , trifling , jeering , humming , hissing , brawling , quarreling , scolding , scandalizing , and the like , are equally allowed of , and accounted just , and no regard had to the truth , so that by any means , per fas aut nefas , they may get the conquest , and worst their adversary , and if they can intangle or catch one another in the spider webs of sophistical or fallacious argumentations , then their rejoicing and clamour is as great as if they had obtained some signal victory . and indeed it is the counsel of the arch-sophister their master , to speak ambigously while they dispute , to obfuscate the light with darkness , lest the truth should shine forth , nay rather to spatter and blurt out any thing that comes into the budget , rather than yield to our adversary , for he saith , quare oportet respondentem non graviter ferre , sed ponendo quae non utilia sunt ad positionem , significare quaecunque non videntur , therefore it behooves the respondent not to take the business grievously , but by putting those things which are not profitable to the position , to signifie whatsoever doth not appear . o excellent and egregious advice of so profound and much-magnified a philosopher ! is this to be a lover of verity , or indeed to play the immodest sophister and caviller ? now how adverse , and destructive to the investigation of truth these altercations and abjurgations are , is cleerly manifest , for as dionysius said against plato , sunt verba otiosorum senum , ad imperitos invenes , they are the words of idle old men unto unexperienced youth , and nothing but vanity and trifles can arise from this way of cavillation . 2. logick is all applied , for the discovery and finding forth of verity , and therin proceeds very praeposterously : for seeing we know nothing in nature but à posteriore , and from the affections and properties of things must seek forth their causes , it required more powerful means , than verbal and formal syllogisms , to find out , and denudate natures hidden operations . and whereas the best part of logick for that purpose is induction , which backt with long experience and sound observation , might be prevalent to discover the working of mother nature ; yet that hath been altogether laid aside , while the glory of syllogisms hath been highly predicated : but syllogismus ad principia scientiarum non adhibetur , ad media axiomata frustrà adhibetur , cum sit subtilitati naturae longè impar . assensum itaque constringit , non res . syllogism is not applyed to the principles of sciences , it is applyed in vain to the middle axiomes , seeing it is far unequal to the subtility of nature . therefore it binds the assent or consent , but not things . for whereas we should from particulars proceed to generals , this preposterously laies down universal axiomes without due proof of them , thereby to make good particulars . 3. the main defect of logick is , that it teacheth no certain rules , by which either notions may be truly abstracted and gathered from things , nor that due and fit words may be appropriated to notions , without which it fails in the very fundamentals , and falls as an house built upon sand . for , syllogismus ex propositionibus constat , prepositiones ex verbis , verba notionum testerae sunt : itaque si notiones ips●e ( id quod basis rei est ) consusae sint , & temerè à rebus abstractae , nihil in iis , quae superstruuntur , est firmitudinis . syllogism consists of propositions , propositions of words , words are the special signs of notions : therefore if notions themselves ( which is the very bottom of the matter ) be confused , or rashly abstracted from things , there is nothing of firmitude in those things that are superstructed . so that untill a certain way and infallible rules be found out for the adaequation of notions and things , and fitting of genuine denominations to notions , all the force and use of syllogisms , as it should demonstrate , and bring forth science , are but fruitless and vain . haud leve quiddam nominis impositionem esse , nec imperitorum , & quorumvis hominum esse opus . plato saith , that the imposition of names is no such light matter , nor that it is the work of the unskilfull and of any sort of men . 4. though logick be as it were organ●n organorum , an instrumental science , they seem in some sort to make it a part of physicks , and so intricate it with an innumerable commixture of the most difficult disputations , as any philosophy hath : as though the unskilful and tender wits of young men were to be overwhelmed with those thorny questions of universal , and metaphysical things . and as though logick ( if it were necessary and useful ) were not to be contained in a few plain and easie precepts , and that it which pretends to teach a short , cleer , and easie methode applicable to all other sciences , should be so intricate and perplex in it self , as not to be able to resolve of it self whether it be as art , or a science ? practical or speculative ? whether e●s rationis , or something else be the subjectum of it ? so that they do not see that they act as foolishly , while they dispute of the very art of disputing , as he that endeavours to see the proper vision of his own eye . moreover , that which might be concluded in a plain , and short proposition , must be drawn into mood , and figure , and after the framing , repeating and answering some scores of syllogisms , the matter is further off from a certain and apodictical conclusion than in the beginning , and so most extremely becomes guilty of battology , and tautologie , which it pretends to eschew and condemn . the grave seneca said well , speaking of these nugations . idem de istis captionibus dico : quo enim nomine potius sophismata appellem ? nec ignoranti nocent , nec scientem juvant . i say the same of these insnarements : for by what name may i rather call them than sophisms ? they neither hurt those that know them not , nor help those that know them . 5. if we examine the logick of the stagyrite , who pretends himself the master of methode , and prince of perfection , we shall first find his organon , which should be his great instrument , and master-piece , to be a confused , and headless piece , wanting those lights wherewith all legitimate tractation ( even plato , cicero , and other great men bearing testimony ) is made out , and illustrated ; for it wants a definition of logick , it wants the proposition of the subject , it wants the distribution and partition of the matter : and what should it want more necessary than these ? and though some may say that these things are added by his interpreters ; that nevertheless argues his defect , and besides the additions are not so very compleat as might be desired . and secondly , in his book de categoriis , definitions are usually wanting , for he defines not what a category is , not what substance is , nor what quantity is : but if any reply , and say he could not define these because they are the summa genera , how could he define a relative , or quality , which are likewise summa genera ? or to what end do the aristotelians define all the categories ? thirdly , in his book de interpretatione , what a noise doth he keep about his modal propositions , which he will needs limit neither to more nor fewer than four , that which is necessary , impossible , possible , contingent ? but i pray you , why may there not be more ? for if that be a mood , which doth modificate the proposition , that is to say , indicates how the praedicate is in the subject , may not all adjectives by the like right be moods ? for if this be a modal proposition , it is a necessary thing that man is a living creature ; these also are modal , it is an honest thing that man should be studious of vertue , it is a just thing that a son should obey his father , it is a gallant thing to die for ones countrey ; but what shall i say more of many other defects , that may be seen even of a blind man ? these as instances are enough , seeing they are but pleasant deceits , and cunning trifles ; freesilaus the philosopher us'd to say , dialecticos similes praestigiatoribus calculariis , qui jucunde decipiunt , that logicians are like to cunning jugglers , who do deceive pleasantly . so i leave many other petty absurdities , superfluities , defects , and mistakes , and pass to things more material . 6. lastly i shall sum up all in few words to eschew tediousness . and first of that principal part concerning definitions as to matter and subject ( for we have said somthing of it formally as to methode and tractation ) which is the basis of all , wherein if there be a defect , the whole edifice falls to the ground ; for whereas it determines all perfect definitions to consist of the next genus , and a constitutive difference , and since there is scarcely any other difference known , except rational , and irrational , that is specifical , and proxim to the individuals , the one of which is negative , and so can positively prove nothing , and the other not only is , and may justly be controverted , but also made apparent , that brutes have reason gradually as well as man , how lame and dilacerate this member is , needs no further demonstration . 2. to say nothing of division , how defective , and imperfect it is , but to come to argumentation , of all the 19 several sorts of syllogisms , seven onely conclude affirmatively , the other twelve negatively , and it is sufficiently known , that de negativis non datur scientia , and therefore there is but narrow and straight room left for the certainty of demonstration : and it is undeniably true , that the knowledge of the premisses is more certain than the knowledge of the conclusion , and therefore undoubtedly certain that the knowledge of the conformity betwixt the premisses and the conclusion doth preexist in us , and is onely excited by syllogising , and therefore , quid te torques , & macer as in ea quaestione , quam subtilius est contempsisse , quam solvere ? why dost thou torment and macerate thy self in that question , which is more subtill to despise than to dissolve . 3. aristotle forbids dispute , unless with those that do admit his principles , which he first thinketh to be true , and yet notwithstanding from unlike principles , doth sometimes follow a strong conclusion : as from false premisses : nullum adorabile est creator : omne simulachrum est adorabile . ergo , nullum simulachrum est creator : which is a true conclusion . from whence it cannot be judged that the conclusion of syllogisms doth of necessity compel assent , nor that the conclusion doth necessarily depend upon the premisses . itaque prout in mendacio non continetur , aut latet veritas , ejusque cognitio : ita consequens est , quod in praemissis non claudatur necessariò conclusionis cognitio . therefore as the truth is not contained or hid in a ly , nor the knowledge of it : so the consequent is , that the knowledge of the conclusion is not necessarily included in the premisses . 4. it is cleer , that syllogizing , and logical invention are but a resumption of that which was known before , and that which we know not , logick cannot find out : for demonstration , and the knowledge of it , is in the teacher , not in the learner , and therefore it serves not so much to find out science , as to make ostentation of it being found out ; not to invent it , but being invented to demonstrate and to shew it others . a chymist when he shews me the preparation of the sulphur of antimony , the salt of tartar , the spirit of vitriol , and the uses of them , he teacheth me that knowledge which i was ignorant of before , the like of which no logick ever performed : for , accurata syllogismi forma , argumentoso , et luxurianti ingenio incongrua , inventioni adversissima , & res per se satis manifest as simplici verborum texturâ , praeceptorum impertinentium multitudine involuit . the accurate form of syllogism is incongruous to an argumentative , and luxuriant wit , most adverse to invention , and doth involve things manifest enough among themselves in the simple contexture of words , with the multitude of impertinent precepts . 5. it is true that syllogistical disputations do bring forth conclusions , but these conclusions beget but bare opinations , and putations , no infallible science , and so all things remain but as probable and conjectural , not as firm and certain . and yet men are puft up with this vaporous , and airy sound of words , growing insolent and confident in the vain glory of syllogizing sophistry , and so are taken off from seeking any other more solid knowledge , causa verò & radix ferè omnium malorum in scientiis ea una est ; quod dum mentis is hum nae vires falso miramur , & extollimus , v●r●●j●s ●uxilia non quaeramus . the cause truly , and root almost of all evils in sciences , is this one , that while we falsly wonder at , and extol the force of humane understanding , we do not seek its true helps . so that as cardan said of his countreymen , i may say of our logicians , one may find three gods amongst them sooner than one man , so highly confident are they through these dialectical delusions . cum quis illa quae nescit , scire se putat , ab hac nimirùm omnes quaecunque nos fallunt opiniones , profiscuntur . when any one thinketh he knoweth those things of which he is nescient , from this verily doth spring up all those opinions whatsoever that do deceive us . neither is there any thing in the universe that is more deadly and destructive to the progress and proficiency of science , than the opinion and conceit of self-sufficiency , and with socrates the more that we are sensible of the shallowness and nothingness of our knowledge , the more it will stir us up to inquire and seek after it , and therefore precious was that advice of the divine plato his schollar : decet sanè eum qui magnus vir futurus est , neque seipsum , neque sua diligere , sed justa semper , sivè à seipso , seu ab alio quovis gerantur . ex hoc ipso delicto accidit omnibus , ut ignorantiam suam esse sapientiam opinenter . hinc fit , ut quamvis nihil ( ut ita dicam ) sciamus , seire tamen omnia arbitremur . verily it becomes him who should be great , neither to love himself , nor humane things , but to love alwaies things that are just , whether they be done of himself or any other ; from this very fault , it hapneth unto all , that they opinionate their ignorance to be sapience . from hence it comes to pass , that although ( as i may so say ) we know nothing , yet notwithstanding we think we know all things . 6. and whereas raymund lully invented an alphabetical way for syllogizing , improved and opened by agrippa , paulus schalichius , and others , in which picus mirandula and some did far excel , even to wonder and astonishment , which indeed is a far more certain , copious , easie , and compendious way for argumentation , especially to overcome all opponents , to be amply furnished to dispute de omni scibili , to answer all objections , and to confirm the mind in those opinions that it holds , and so deserves wondrous great praise and commendation : yet for all that it leaves the intellect nude and unsatisfyed , because it produces no certitude , nor evidential demonstration , and so fills the mind full of opinions , but not of apodictical science , and makes men parrat-like to babble , argue , and say very much , but still to remain nescious , and ignorant , so vast is the difference betwixt putation and true knowledge . humanam scientiam in negatione quodam falsi , potiùs quàm in veri affirmatione consistere . it is true , that humane science doth consist in a certain negation of falsity , rather than in the affirmation of verity . i will only conclude with that remarkable saying of the lord bacon , logica , quae in abusu est , ad errores ( qui in notionibus vulgaribus fundantur ) pabiliendos , et figendos valet , potius quam ad inquisitionem veritatis , ut magis damnosa sit , quam utilis . logick which is abused , doth conduce to establish and fix errors ( which are founded in vulgar notions ) rather than to the inquisition of verity , that it is more hurtful than profitable . chap. v. of the mathematical sciences . for the mathematical sciences , the superlative excellency of which transcends the most of all other sciences , in their perspicuity , veritude and certitude , and also in their uses and manifold benefits ; yet in the general they are but either sleightly and superficially handled in definitions , divisions , axiomes , and argumentations , without any solid practice , or true demonstrations , either artificial or mechanical ; or else the most abstruse , beneficial , and noble parts are altogether passed by , and neglected , which we shall discover in tracing over some of the several parts thereof . 1. for the prime and main stone in the building upon which all the rest of the fabrick is erected , the noble art of arithmetick , so highly esteemed ( and that not without cause ) in the schools of pythagoras , plato , euclide , nay and of aristotle himself , is quite rejected of our academick masters , who notwithstanding would be esteemed the great and most expert master-builders , though they throw away the chief corner stone : and is not only sleighted and neglected as useless , and of no value , but transmitted over to the hands of merchants and mechanicks , as though it were not a liberal science , or not worthy the study and pains of an ingenuous & noble spirit : and but that some private spirits have made some progreis therein , as napier , briggs , mr. oughtredge , and some others , it had lain as a fair garden unweeded or cultivated , so little have the schools done to advance learning , or promote sciences . 2. and for the noble , and most necessary art of geometry , their handling of it hath been with the same superficial sleightness , and supine negligence , never bringing into perfect practice , nor clear demonstration , that which many years ago euclide compiled with so much pains and exactness : and therefore are far from making any further discoveries therein , contenting themselves with the sole verbal disputes of magnitude , quantity , and the affections thereof , leaving the practice and application thereof to masons , carpenters ▪ surveyors , and such like manual operators , as though they were too good to serve so divine and noble a mistres . 3. there hath been no more progress made in the optical art , which though it affords many , and wonderful secrets , both for profit and pleasure , for by it things far off are seen as at hand , minute and small things magnified , the wonderful intersection of various species , without confounding one another , demonstrated , the sight of men thereby succoured , the systeme of the world thereby more perfectly viewed , and innumerable other rarities both of art and nature thereby discovered ; yet have the schooles proceeded no further therein , than to verbal disputes , and some axiomatical institutions and doctrines ; and but for the noble attempts of some few gallant men , such as galalaeus , scheiner , aguillonius , hevelius , and the like , the grand mysteries of it had lain buried in oblivion , and this age never seen those s●upendious effects that through their industry in this art hath been brought forth . 4. as for musick it hath had some little better fortune , for that vulgar and practical part , which serves as a spur to sensuality and voluptuousness , and seems to be the companion of melancholicks , fantasticks , courtiers , ladies , taverns , and tap-houses , that hath had some pains taken about it , and some honour done unto it , that the professors thereof might become graduats : yet for the mysterious part thereof , which consists in the discovering the nature , quality , distinction , sympathy , dyspathy , significancy , and effects of all sounds , voices , and tones that are in nature , these are altogether unknown and neglected ; as also how far it might be serviceable to natural philosophy , and the laying open of the universal harmony of the whole mundane fabrick , that remains untried and unattempted . 5. the astronomy that the schools teach being according to the peripatetick , and ptolemaick systeme , which they maintain with much rigor , severity , and earnestness , is by ●hem extolled to the heavens , as an harmoniacal , regular , and stately fabrick , which without any demonstration , or punctual observation they obtrude upon the tender understandings of unwary youth : holding it forth with that magisterial confidence , as though it would cleerly salve all the phaenomena , and render the true causes , grounds , and reasons of the motions , and effects of all the caelestial bodies , and as though no fault , exorbitancy , or defect could be found in this so compleat , beautiful , and orderly structure . yet i must confess , that in all the scholastick learning there is not found any piece ( to my apprehension ) so rotten , ruinous , absurd and deformed as this appears to be , and which may from most evident principles be everted , and cast down , and therefore i shall take the more time in enervating the same , and that from undeniable principles both of physicks and mathematicks . 1. they take that for granted , or at least unproved , which is not onely controvertible and indemonstrable , but untrue , namely that the earth is the center of the universe , and that the heavenly bodies do in their motions so observe it , and from thence deduce the causes of gravity and levity ; the contrary or uncertainty of which appears thus . first , it is manifest that the earth is not the center of the most of the planetary o●bs , because by their own confession , some of them , as ☉ and ♂ , are sometimes in their apogaeum , and sometimes in their perigaeum , that is sometimes neerer and sometimes further off from the earth ; which they could not be if the earth were their true and proper center , because according to the definition of euclide , the circumference of a circle is every where equidistant from the center , and all lines drawn from the center to the circumference are equal , otherwise it would cease to be a circle , and one circle can have no more than one center ; and therefore the earth is not the center of the planetary orbs. secondly , if the earth were the center of the orbs of the planets , the dissection of the orbs would be needless into excentricks and concentricks ▪ which being their own tenent , manifests that the earth is not their true , and proper center . thirdly , if the earth were their center , the aequinoctial line dividing both the earth and heavens into 2 equal parts , the sun in his annual motion could not be longer time in the one half circle than in the other , unless he did not pass over equal intervals , or spaces of the line , in equal times , and so should intend and remit his motion , which is denyed of all : and therefore it being found by certain , and yearly observation , that he staies some daies longer on the northside the aequator , than on the south , it is manifest that the earth is not the center of his orb. fourthly , there are divers planetary bodies that move circularly , that observe not the earth as their center at all , as those medicaeal , and iovial planets about iupiter , and those about saturn , mercury , and venus about the sun , and the sun about his own center , and none of these respect the earth , and therefore cannot be their center , and so not the center of the universe . fiftly , for the eighth sphere , no certain rules of art can demonstrate that the earth is its center , because it bears no sensible magnitude unto it , so that no angle can be assigned to know the distance , and the eye cannot be a certain , and proper judge , because it judges not of distance as its proper and immediate object , but to do that is the office of the common sense , and where the distance is great and vast , though the eye be far distant from the center , yet the things seen will seem to stand in a circle about it , though they be not truly and exactly so , and therefore this is rather a postulate than a proof , and may justly be denyed , because it cannot be proved : and that all the stars that we call or account fixt ( though we cannot prove that any of them are so ) stand all in one circle or orb , cannot be true , for doubtless the difference of their apparent magnitude is a certain argument that they are not all equidistant from the earth , and therefore is not the earth the center of the universe . sixtly , for their arguments taken from gravity and levity , they do but therein usually petere principium , beg the question , and thereby commit a most palpable paralogism , for they define gravity to be that quod tendit deorsum , which tends downwards , and if the cause is demanded why bodyes severed from the earth do tend downwards thither again , they answer quia gravia sunt , which in effect is this , they tend to the earth , because they do tend to the earth , which is idem per idem : and if it were granted that the earth were the center of the universe , how could a center any way understood be the cause of any motion at all , or locality which is defined to be a space void of bodies , and capable of them , have any power to give or cause motion in a body ? these are the groundless chymaera's of the schools , not knowing that bodies separate from the earth do move thither again from an intrinsick magnetick quality , which in the earth is by way of attraction , and in the part separate by motion of coition , besides some other clear reasons that may be given from statical principles , which for brevities sake i am forced ●o omit : for from this is cleerly evident , that the earth not being the center of the universe , the whole order and frame of the scholastick systeme is dissipaated , and out of course . 2. and as they have mistaken the mark in making the earth the center of the universe , they are as far wide in their determinations of the circumference or orbs , which they make to be of a quintessential nature ( as they term it ) and so to be incorruptible , and free from change , and mutarlon : and it is believed that this opinion is chiefly grounded upon this , that the heavenly bodies remain still in the same state wherein they have been observed to be many ages before , and no sensible alteration could ever be perceiv●d in them . to which i answer , that this concludes nothing , because it argues from knowing to being , when being hath no dependance of , nor connexion with our knowing , for our knowledge is not the cause , nor measure of the universe , nor of the things therein contained . falso enim asseritur , sensum humanum esse mensuram rerum ; quin contra , omnes perceptiones , tam sensus , quam mentis , sunt ex analogia hominis , non ex analogia vniversi . it is falsely asserted that mans sense is the measure of the vniverse ; but on the contrary , all perceptions , as well of the sense as of the intellect , are from the analogy of man , and not from the analogy of the vniverse . again , there may be many alterations in the caelestial bodies , which by reason of their vast distance , we do not , nor can perceive , especially if we consider , that mutation is understood either as it relates ad totum , or ad partes , therefore there may be ( and without doubt are ) many alterations in the parts of the heavenly bodies , though no change at all as to the whole of any of them : for the earth is as immutable , and incorruptible , in relation to the whole , as any other of the starry or planetary bodies are , for the change that appeareth in it , is but in the external and superficial parts , and though sensible to us , yet is not perceiveab●e at a great distance , for we can discern diverse mountains , and parts of the earth , far remote from us , yet cannot discern the alterations that are in the parts thereof : and so if ones eye were placed in the moon , mars , iupiter , or any of those stars which we call fixt , we should perceive as little change then here on the earth , as we being placed here see in those starry bodies . neither is it true that there appears no mutation in the heavenly bodies or orbs , because many men of great note , experience and skill , have observed that comets have been above the sublunary orb , and evidently demonstrated the same by there paralax , as tycho br●he , copernicus , kepler , galalaeus , and others , which clearly demonstrates ( beyond the refutation of logick ) that there are changes and mutations in the heavens , and so they are not incorruptible bodies as is falsely asserted : and the evidence that appears to the eye in the use of the telescope doth plainly evince that there is an atmosphere about the body of the moon , which could not be if the heavens were unchangeable . 3. another thing that they grossly maintain is , that the heavens or orbs are as hard as steel , and as transparent as glass , and yet have so many several sorts of solid orbs , ecc●ntricks , and concentricks , epicycles , and the like , which are all concamerated one within another , the absurdities and impossibilities of which i shall demonstrate in some cleer arguments . for first , if they were solid bodies , and that every star were but densior pars sui orbis , then either the convex superficies of the contained orb , must ex●ctly touch the concave superficies of the circumambient orb , or else not , but some space to intercede between , which must either be implete with some other body , or else be a meer inanity and vacuity ; neither of which can possibly be according to their own tenents , not indeed according to the truth it self . for if the convex superficies touch the concave exactly in all parts and there be neither vacuity , nor body interjacent , then as the mathematicians truly say , they must touch in infinite points , and so there could be no motion at all , because there could be no appulsion , nor retrocession , and where there is neither of those , it is impossible there should be local motion , or lation ; ●or two exact smooth , and equal superficiesses of hard and solid bodies joined together , the uppe●most will if it be taken up , list up the lower also , if the force of elevation be in the center of the solid bodies so fitted , as may be seen in brass , marble , and the like , so that consequently there could be no motion at all . and if there were any motion at all it must needs be with confrication , and attrition , and so without plenty of some oily substance , would not cause pythagoras his spherical musick but an unheard-of rumbling noise , such surely as possessed the brains of those that were the fi●st authors of this mad and extravagant opinion . and if they say there is a vacuity interjacent , then there could be no motion neither , because according to the schools motus in vacuo non datur ; and if they say there is some other body between , then what is it ? for if it be any elemental body , that cannot be , because they have incarcerated them all within the concave superficies of the moon ; and if there were some other body included between , then seeing according to aristotle that motus est causa caloris , how could it be but that body would be heated even to ignition ? seeing that all heat doth continually rarifie , and the orbs continually moving with such an incredible swiftness , and no place for evaporation , but it close pent in by the superior orb , how could all not be of a flame , or forcibly torn , and rent assunder ? unless we must have all solved with that frivolous shift , that they are eternal , and ingenerable bodies , and are but analogously like ours , and so suffer none of these things that elemental bodies do : when they have cleerly shewed what that analogy is , and wherein they are neither absolutely like our sublunary bodies , nor absolutely different from them , then it will be time enough to return them a more plenary responsion , until then let this suffice . secondly , if the orbs were solid , how could it possibly be that there could be eccentricks , and concentricks , the one having a more dense or thick part in one side of the circle or orb , and the other having so likewise on the parts opposite ? now how these should have motions of their own , if they be solid , to me seems impossible ; or how or which way epicycles should be affixed to these extending onely from the concave superficies , to the convex , how this should be in spherical solids , or orbs , without either penetration of dimensions , admitting of vacuity , or some other fluid body to be interjacent , to me seems more difficult to unloose , than the gordian knot was to alexander , and will never be untyed unless aristotle have learned of his great patron to cut that asunder which he cannot unty ? thirdly , if the orbs were solid , and impenetrable , then could not possibly any comets be above the superficies of the moons orb , or if it be certain that they have been observed above ( which is true ) then of necessity the orbs are not solid , but fluid bodies : neither could any new star ever appear if they were solid , but such have been known undoubtedly to be seen sometimes , and yet were no comets , therefore of necessity they are fluid , and not solid bodies . and it is undeniably true , that if the orbs were hard as steel , and of such solidity as is alleged , then they could not possibly intersect or enter into the orbs of one another ; but it is certainly known by exact observation , and mathematical demonstration , that when mars is in the lowest part of his epicycle , or in perigaeo , he is then within the orb of the sun , which he could not penetrate if it were solid , and therefore unquestionably they are not hard , but fluid bodies ; and so the scholastick systeme is ruinous , and groundless . fourthly , i shall urge one optical argument , which is this , that if the heavens were all solid , and divided into so many orbs , and they again subdivided into others , then it must follow necessarily that according to the multitude of superfic●●sses , so must the multiplicity of refractions be , which in this case would be very numerous , and so none of the stars or planets would ever be seen in their true places , but either confounded , or numerously multiplyed , which how absurd , let the abbetters of this opinion themselves judge . 4. from these they ground the motion of the tenth , ninth , and eighth sphere , making the tenth sphere move most rapidly from east to west in that space which we call 24. hours , and so snatcheth , and forceably whirleth about with it , all the inferior orbs , which innately , and properly have a reluctancy , and contranitency against it . the absurdity of which appears thus . first , that the diurnal motions of all the orbs in 24. houres , except the tenth sphere , are meerly violent , and compulsive , and only the motion of it natural , and proper . now how could they conceive , who hold that nullum violentum est perpetuvem , that a motion that is violent could be perpetual in nature , especially to these pure bodies which they hold to be eternal and immutable ? or how can it be that the first sphere should communicate its velocity to all the inferiours , and the second should communicate none at all ? why is not iupiter carried with the motion of saturn ? or the sun with mars ? hoc mihi si solvas oedipus alter eris . secondly , if the extreme and incredible velocity of the tenth sphere , be seriously considered , it will exceed all possibility of belief , nay even swifter than thought or imagination : for of diverse orbs moved about in the same space of time , the least moves the most slowly , and the greatest most swiftly , for if it be computed according to the least diametre given unto it , and how it moves more swiftly than the orb of the moon , by so many times as it exceeds the greatness of its circumference , it will be past all humane sense , and understanding to imagine the extreme velocity of it , so that no creature can believe it to be so , but also be compelled to confess , that it is most likely either to be set on fire , or else by the most vehement swiftness to be whirled into attomes . thirdly , if the eight sphere be conceived to move , wherin as they fancy to themselves that all the stars are fixt , like so many nayls in a wheel , or bowl , considering the immensity of its compass , the exceeding velocity of its motion , and that the earth ( which they suppose the center of it ) to bear proportion unto it , but as an insensible point or prick , then it could not possibly be but that it would appear all as an inflamed light , or a concave globe of fire , because at one and the self same instant the multitude of raies would all be united in this small center , the earth ( or eye of the beholder ) and infinite rayes strike the eye successively in a manner , ere the others passed from it , and so must of necessity appear all intirely as fiery and luminous ; so as we behold a piece of wood whose end is fired being quickly whirled about in the air in a circular manner , doth appear to the eye as a true circle of fire or brightness : so that this would of necessity follow upon the structure of their systeme . by all which arguments may evidently appear , the impossibility of the truth of that astronomical composure which the schools cry up for so certain , neat , and beautiful , so that i may conclude with a learned author , non enim quae de arthuro et ipsius equitibus finguntur , vel homericas fabulas persuasu magis difficiles opinor , quam illam caelorum compositionem , quam proxima nos saecula erudierunt . for i think the things that are feigned of arthur , and his knig●ts of the round table , or the fables of homer , are not more difficult to be perswaded , than that composure of the heavens , which the age preceding us hath taught . 5. for the other parts of mathematicks , some of them are utterly unknown and unpractised in the schools , and some of them are taught there , but so fleightly , and superficially , that small or no profit doth redound from thence . for they usually teach cosmography , and the several species thereof , as geography , hydrography , chorography , and topography , yet whereas cosmography is the whole , and perfect description of the heavenly and also elemental part of the world , and their homologal application , and mutual collation together , and so is no small or simple art , but high and of manifold use , there hath little or nothing been done to the perfection thereof , especially in the mutual correspondence and application of the heavens , and earth : neither are the other brought into practice , especially the theoremes of hydrography , whereby men might be made able and fit for navigation , one of the most necessary imployments and advantages of our nation . 6. what shall i say of the science , or art of astrology , shall the blind fury of misotechnists , and malicious spirits , deter me from giving it the commendations tha● it deserves ? shall the academies who have not only sleighted and neglected it , but also scoffed at it , terrifie me from expressing my thoughts of so noble and beneficial a science ? shall the arguments of picus mirandula , and others , who have bitterly inveighed against it , fright me from owning the truth ? shall the thundering pulpit men , who would have all mens faith pinned upon their sleeves , and usually condemn all things they understand not , make me be silent in so just a cause ? no truly , i must needs defend that which my judgement evidences to me to be laudable , and profitable ; not but that i utterly condemn the ignorance , knavery , and impostorage of many pretending sciolists , that abuse the same ; but shall the art of medicine or chymistry be condemned , and rejected , because many ignorant empericks , and false alcumists do profess them ? surely no , let the blame be upon the professors , not upon the profession it self . for the art it self is high , noble , excellent , and useful to all mankind , and is a study not unbeseeming the best wits , and greatest scholars , and no way offensive to god or true religion . and therefore i cannot without detracting from worth and vertue , pass without a due elogy in the commendation of my learned , and industrious country-men mr. ashmole , mr. william lilly , mr. booker , mr. sanders , mr. culpepper , and others , who have taken unwearied pains for the resuscitation , and promotion of this noble science , and with much patience against many unworthy scandals have laboured to propagate it to posterity , and if it were not beyond the present scope i have in hand i should have given sufficient reasons in the vindication of astroloy . 7. what shall i say of staticks , architecture , pneumatithmie , stratarithmetrie , and the rest enumerated by that expert and learned man , dr. iohn dee in his preface before euclide ? what excellent , admirable and profitable experiments do every one of these afford ? truly innumerable , the least of which is of more use , benefit and profit to the life of man , than almost all that learning that the universities boast of and glory in , and yet by them utterly neglected , and never lookt into : but what huge , stupendious effects these can bring to pass , let our learned countreyman roger bacon , let cardinal cusan , let galalaeus , let vbaldus , let marcus marci , let baptista benedictus , and many others speak , who remain as a cloud of witnesses against the supine negligence of the schools , who for so many centuryes have done nothing therein : is this to be the fountains of learning , and wellspring of sciences ? let all rational men judge and determine . chap. vi . of scholastick philosophy . for the philosophy which the schools use and teach , being meerly aristotelical , let us examine the ground and reasons why it should be imbraced and cryed up more than all other , or why he should be accounted the prince of philosophers , the master-piece of nature , the secretary of the universe , and such an one beyond whose knowledge there is no progression . which however applauded to the heavens by his scholars , who are jurati in verba magistri , will upon exact and due test prove , both weak , groundless , false , unsatisfactory , and sterile , which we shall labour to elucidate in some clear arguments . 1. it will evidently appear that there is no reason why the aristotelical philosophy as it stands now received , according to the comments , glosses , expositions & interpretations of the schools , should be preferred before any , or all others . because aristotle was but a man , and so might err ar soon as others , neither was he more than other men any way privileged from human imperfections ; nay considering him as an heathen , who did not know nor acknowledge the fountain of life , which is god , and therefore by so much less was able to teach the truth , by how much he was distant from the knowledge of the true god , who is the primary verity : so that what he hath written was rather by a diabolical than a divine instinct , for philoponus recordeth that he begun to philosophize by the command of the oracle of apollo , which the most acknowledge to have been uttered from the devils advice and afflation . 2. neither were his principles and tenents any whit differing from such diabolical directions , for he makes god an animal in his metaphysicks , and chained him to the exteriour supe●ficies of the highest heaven , and made him bound to the laws and necessity of fate , which his most obsequious and sworn interpreters cannot deny . he denies in the twelfth of his metaphysicks that god takes care of minute , and small things ; in his books de coelo he makes the world eternal and increate ; in his physicks he teacheth that nothing can be made ex nihilo ; in his books de anima , and of ethicks , he denies the possibility of the resurrection of the dead , and in many places doth deny the immortality of the soul , so that lactantius said truely of him , aristoteles deum nec coluit , nec curavit , and yet this is the man that is onely thought worthy to be the father of christian philosophy . 3. if the qualities and conditions of the man be lookt into , there will be found no such integrity in him ▪ as may be any just cause of much confidence , nor such manners as may ex●oll him above the rest , for doth not eusebius and others relate that he betrayed his countrey to the macedonians , and to blot out the infamy thereof that he prevailed with alexander to restore it again ? and doth not pliny relate , speaking of the poison , cum id dandum alexandro magno antipater mitterit , magnâ est aristotelis infamiâ excogitatum , that he was guilty of administring the same ? was he not accused for being guilty of immolation to his meretricious mistris ? was he not guilty of ingratitude ( the worst of vices ) against his divine master plato , who therefore did justly and fitly call him his mule , because he kickt against the dugs from whence he suckt his knowledge ? what shall i recount his avarice , which makes lucian so nippingly feign alexander in hell upbraiding him , that he had constituted riches a part of the chief good , that by that specious pretext he might obtain of him greater store of riches ? shall i recount his intemperance , voluptuousness , and obscaene manner of living ? or his impious , doubtful or wicked end ? no , let them be buried with his ashes . but these things do sufficiently declare , that there is no just cause so much to esteem and applaud him above others , seeing it is impossible to congest so many things against plato , zeno , or epicurus . 4. but i know they will say , they respect not his life so much , as his most excellent wit , great judgement , and laudable diligence ; well , i easily grant that he was such an one , but to prefer him notwithstanding before all others , cannot be done without too much temerity . and when arguments are comparative , between the abilities of one person and another , it behooves him that will judge , and determine rightly , thorowly to understand and preponderate what there is of value and price in either of them . so when there is a question made of phythagoras , thales , democritus , zeno , plato , phyrrho , epicurus , and others , it is fitting he should understand whatsoever they all knew , or else he cannot discern wherein aristotle doth exceed them all : unless he will give his sentence before the one party be heard speak . for how can any boast to be more wise than all the other philosophers , without being guilty of intollerable pride and arrogance ? and truly i believe that socrates who confessed that he knew nothing , understood far more than the stagyrite , who would hardly acknowledge himself ignorant of any thing . 5. but perhaps it will be said that he hath been received , and approved of by thomistius , abenrois , thomas aquinas , scotus and other men of great and vast learning , and knowledge ; well , it is truth he hath been so ; but who hath ever been the builder , or rayser of any sect that hath not had multitudes to cry him up , to follow him , and earnestly to defend him ? have not the academicks as much applauded plato , as the peripateticks have done aristotle ? and have not the sceptists as much extolled phyrrho ? and the epicureans , their master epicurus ? of whom it is said , qui genus humanum ingenio superavit , et omnes praestrinx it , stellas exortus ut aethereus sol . nay is it not common to all , extremely and hyperbollically to applaud the authors , and builders of their sect ? neither hath he been , or is so generally received , and commended , but many men of as greatnote as any that have stood for him , have disceded from him , or opposed him ; for in his own times the whole schools of the academicks and stoicks did oppugn him , epicurus in many things did contradict him , and pyrrho in all , nay his famous disciple theophrastus ( as themistius relateth ) did tax his master in many things : neither in all succeeding ages hath there wanted able and learned men who have strenuously opposed him , in many things if not in all , as thomas himself , albertus magnus , scotus , gregorius , durandus , harvaeus , maronaeus , alliacensis , nicolaus cusanus , and many others ; neither ought we therefore to follow or extoll him because multitudes have esteemed and adhered to him , for as cicero well said , philosophia multitudinem consultò devitat , paucisque est contentae judicibus . philosophy consultively escheweth the multitude , and is content with a few judges . and as seneca witnesseth , haec pars major esse videtur ; ideò enim pejor est . non tam bene cum rebus humanis agitur , ut meliora pluribus placeant . argumenti pessimi turba est . this part seemeth the greater , therefore it is the worse . it goes not so well with humane affairs , that the better things should please the most . the multitude is an argument of the worst . neither if his philosophie had been sound and perfect , need his sectators appeal to authority , and compliance of others , because truth is able to stand of it self , without the authority of others : what is the cause that since the time that euclide writ his elements of geometry , there is not any one found that hath rejected them ? or who hath not followed them ? truly because the indubitable verity is in them , and it is impossible the intellect should not assent unto them when they are known . and would not the same thing have happened to the tenents of aristotle if they had been true , and indubious ? 6. but they will urge further and say , that he is praised , and extolled of other famous men that were not of his sect , as cicero , plinius , and quintilian , and that he hath the testimony of phil●p and alexander that were great , and knowing men . it is true , and no way to be denyed , for cicero sa●th of him , quis doctior ? quis acutior ? quis in rebus vel inveniendis vel ●udicandis acrior aristotele unquàm fuit ? who hath been more learned ? who hath been more acute at any time than aristotle either in the invention , or judging of things ? and pliny one while calls him summum in omni doctrinà virum ! the chief man in all learning ! sometimes he calls him virum immensae subtilitatis , a man of immense subtil●y . and quintilian saith , quid aristotelem ? quem dubito scien●iâ rerum , an scriptorum copiâ , an eloquendi suavitate , an inventionum acumine , an varietate operum clariorem putem . what shall i say of aristotle ? whom i doubt whether i might think more famous by his knowledge of things , or by his copiousness of writings , or by his suavity of eloquence , or by the acuteness of his inventions , or by the variety of his works . well , admit all this to be true ( as who would deprive him of his due honour ) yet these are but the judgements of men that might err as well as he ; and what if others have thought otherwise ? must we altogether stand to these mens judgements ? or hath nature appointed them to be final and infallible determiners , from whose judgement there is no appeal ? might not aristotle and these men err in something ? or were they privileged from the common frailty of all men ? no , i believe not but that the proverb is true in them , and all men besides , humanum est errare . but shall we not find that the self-same men have given as great , or greater commendation to others ? yes truely , for being oratours they had all the liberty of a profuse and hyperbolical stile , and often bringing in a commendatory catalogue of learned and worthy men , there was no cause why they should omit the noble stagyrite . but have they not often celebrated and preferred others before him ? yes verily there is hardly any thing more vulgarly known , than that iterated saying of cicero , when he was commending any of the philosophers , alwaies added semper excipio platonem , which manifested the high esteem that he had of him , accounting no other worthy to be compared with him , whom he judged superlative to all : and for pliny we shall find him giving the precedence of wit and knowledge to homer above all others , and calling plato sapientiae an●istitem , than which elogy i know not what can be given more illustrious , and also openly professing his repugnancy to aristotle , and that he had added many things which that great man was ignorant of . and for quintilian you may hear him preferring plato , philosophorum quis dubitet platonem esse praecipuum , sive acumine disserendi , sive loquendi facultate divina quadam , et homerica ? ut mihi non hominis ingenio , sed quodam delphico videatur oraculo instructus . who doubteth that plato is the chief of philosophers , whether in the acuteness of disputing , or in a certain divine and homerical faculty of speaking ? that he seems to me instructed not with the wit of man , but with a certain delphical oracle : and in a word , if thou wilt credit quintilian thou shall find him extolling cicero beyond aristotle , plato , or any other of the foregoing ages ; so that the same mouths that commend him , do also prefer others before him . but if the authority of men , the credit of the best esteemed , and the number of voices could certainly decide the truth , then what store of witnesses might be brought against him , and those also men of the greatest esteem and repute of any in the christian world ? for is not the whole peripatetick philosophy rejected of all the antient fathers ? what need is there to memorate tertullian , irenaeus , and the more antient ? what need is there to mention lactan●ius who so often carpeth at aristotle , tanquam secum dissid●ntem , et repugnantia dicentem , et sentientem , as one disagreeing with himself , and speaking , and thinking repugnant things ? why should i name iustin martyr , who so often reprehendeth h●m ? or hierome , who with so open , and tart a word taxeth versutias ejus , his subtilties ? why should i recite ambrose , augustine , theodoret , and the rest ? who impugning humane philosophy in general , have not intended to spare aristotle alone . but in the name of them all hear gregory nazianzen who saith so elegantly , and truly , abjice aristotelis minutiloquam sagacitatem , abjicite mortiferos illos super anima sermones , et universe humana illa dogmata . throw away the minutiloquious sagacity of aristotle ; throw away those mortiferous sermons of his upon the soul : and universally all those human opinions of his . so that if the judgement of the fathers be of any weight , the philosophy of aristotle is not much to be regarded . as for that which is alleged concerning philip chusing aristotle for a tutor to his son alexander , it merits but a slight confutation : for admit that philip was a very wise and prudent prince ( as no doubt but he was ) yet did the excellency of his skill principally consist in political , and military prudence , and knowing arms better than arts , was not adaequately fit to judge of the abilities of aristotle , except by vulgar rumour , and common fame . and it is not to be denyed that in his time the fame of aristotle was exceedingly blown abroad ; but who is ignorant of the inconstancy and levity of the popular croud in propagating , and spreading of rumours ? but let it be granted that aristotle did excell not only all the learned men in greece that lived in his time , but all the men of the whole world that lived in the time of philip ; yet what is this to the number and abilities of those that have lived both before and since ? or how comes the judgement of philip to oblige us who are not under his empire , and who could not compel the minds of men , under the tyranny of one mind ? for it is easier to inslave bodies than to captivate minds . and for alexander , though he had aristotle in singular esteem , yet did he much value other learned men , as xenocrates , whose aemulator aristotle was , and also pyrrho ; so that both these received for gifts many talents . but this is not to be denyed , that the splendor of alexanders name did bring much credit , and authority to aristotle , both living and dead : but this notwithstanding amongst the vulgar and those of vulgar wits , who as they are onely moved with external showes , so they think that a great prince cannot but have a great master : when for the most part princes chuse not tutors for princes , either for their abilities in judging of the solidity of literature , or for the love they have to vertue , truth , or sincery , but rather for worldly or politick ends ; that their sons may be instructed , and fitted both to keep and acquire large dominions , and territories ; and for the most part true science scorns the bondage , flattery , and vanity of courtly splendor . 2. again , there is no reason why the peripatetick philosophy should have the palm and preheminence above all other , because there is a great uncertainty both of the books and doctrine of aristotle , as we shall evince in some few reasons . 1. it is uncertain whether any book of aristotle , or which owns him for author , be extant or no ; for if it were not dubious to what end do his interpreters , as simplicius , themistius , and almost all the rest , which write in this age , prepose this question at the beginning of every book that they expound , sitne hujusmodi liber aristotelis an non ? is this book aristotles or not ? certainly if this thing were not dubious , there were no cause for propounding this question ; for we use not to scruple about things that are certain , but about things that are doubful . for it is inquired concerning his book de interpretatione , whether it be his or no , the later men do affirm it , but long ago andronicus rhodius ha●h denyed it , whether therefore shall we give our suffrage to these modern men , or to him that is more antient ? who by the verdict of boetius , and porphyrius , is said to have brought aristotles writings out of greece , and to have digested them into order ; who shall loose this knot ? who shall resolve this doubt ? 2. another argument ariseth from hence ; that laertius hath drawn the order and catalogue of aristotles books , and yet many are wanting which he enumerates , and we have many as 12. or 14. of metaphysicks , 8. of physicks , 4. de coelo , 2. de generatione , 4. of meteors , and 3. of the soul , which are not mentioned in his catalogue , and therefore who need doubt but these are supposititious ? for if they had been extant in the daies of laertius , would he have concealed them ? or could he have had no suspition of them , who was so diligent to know , and commit to posterity both the lives and books of the philosophers ? and it appears that when ptolomaus philadelphus did erect that huge library at alexandria , using the help and pains of demetrius phalereus , who was a peripatetick , this man , as he did promise great rewards in the kings name to those that brought books from anywhere , so he hath not thought those to be neglected which were said to be aristotles ; and therefore ammonius writeth , that many books were brought under the hope of gain bearing the title of aristotle , that notwithstanding were spurious and none of his : and therefore who can be certain in such a caliginous labirynth , to know whether these that we have be truly his , or but false and adulterate ? seeing many of them are suspected rather to belong to architas than to aristotle . 3. seeing according to laertius , and some others , that there were many that bore the name of aristotle , might not easily all their works be ascribed to this one stagyrite ? as in other things it often falls out : for there were many iupiters , yet all things were ascribed to one son of saturn , and there were many called by the name of hercules , yet all their labours made onely one son of al●mena famous . and did not theophrastus and others ( who are said to have imitated the stile of aristotle ) compose many books under the same title with those of his ( as many be gathered from laertius catalogues ) & so might not they in continuance of time have the inscription creep in , one instead of the other ? and is it not controverted whether the beginning of the metaphysicks , and the books of plants , and others belong to theophrastus , or to aristotle ? and doth not cicero in his books de finibus witness that those books moralium nichomachiorum , which are commonly ascribed to aristotle , are to be attributed to nichomachus his son ? and lest any should object ( as they usually do ) that they are written in his stile and methode , doth he not conclude , non video , cur non potuerit patri similis est filius , i do not see why the son might not be like the father ? and are there not some books amongst those vulgarly accounted the works of aristotle , as the book of plants , that of the world to alexander , and others , that none dare positively assert to be aristotles ? neither is this any new thing in him , for the same suppositition of books hath happened to plato , cicero , seneca , origen , cyprian , hierom , augustine , and other great men . 4. let it be concluded , that we have the books which may justly and legitimately be ascribed to aristotle , yet notwithstanding how dubious is it to know in these books what is properly and truly his , and what is not ? for strabo , plutarch , and others , do memorate that when theophrastus had left neleus scepsius heir to his own , and aristotles library , their books lay long hidden in the ground and that many years after , when they were corroded with worms , and moths , and almost consumed , and wasted , they were digged up and sold to apellicon teius , who took care to export them to athens , and took upon him to amend and correct the defects according to his own mind : and 〈◊〉 not long after lucius sylla had carried them to rome forth of greece , he committed them to tyrannion the grammarian , that he might correct and alter them ; and so that he added detracted or changed what he judged appellicon had depraved , or might better agree to the mind of aristotle . and that afterwards succeeded andronicus rhodius who again turned all upside down and altered as he thought fit . therefore how shall we believe that the pure text of aristotle , passing the hands of so many correctors ( that i may not more truly say corruptors come to our hands without being viciated in innumerable places ? first suffering by the injury of time , and then by the conjectures of so many censurers . especially if to this we shall add , the variety , oscitancy , and unskilfulness of transcribers , we shall find that in this author , which is common to almost all , that of one and the self-same place there will be various lections , that it will be hardly possible to divine , which are the primary and proper footsteps of the author . 5. but let this also be given , that there is nothing contained in his works but what is his own , yet the style and manner of aristotles writing doth render his doctrine so uncertain , and obscure , that to fish out his meaning there is need of a delian urinator . for though he might be copious and elegant in easie matters , yet in things that are more difficult , and which require more perspicuous explication , he is so ambiguous , brief , lame , and intricate , that he seems from thence to have raised plenty of matter , and occasion to make his sectators wrangle and conjecture . therefore atticus did worthily , and appositely compare him , and his writings , to that black humour poured forth by the cuttle fish , under which lying hid she escapeth catching ; for he seems to have spoken so on purpose , as though he be taken in some sense , yet in another he makes an escape , and so eludes the catchers . and some of his followers do acknowledge that he hath used this kind of equivocal speaking of purpose ; but what need we any further witness , behold aristotle himself openly declaring that he used this affected obscurity in his physicks , for labouring to consolate alexander complaining that he had divulged them , he saith , scripsisti ad me de libris auscultatoriis , existimans in arcano custodiendos fuisse . seito igitur ipsos editos , et non editos esse . cognosci enim , percipique ab iis tantum poterunt , qui nos audierint . thou hast written to me touching my books of auscultation , thinking that they were to have been kept in secret . therefore know that they are published , and not published . for they can onely be understood , and perceived of those who have heard us . which things being thus , we may marvail to what end they have called and accounted him as a daemon ? for verily he hath imitated the cunning of a cacodaemon , who is said to speak by his prophets and sibylls after such a manner , that his words may be used in divers and contrary senses : is this the honour of aristotle , or the glory of the schools ? 6. but further let it be conceded that aristotle hath spoken , and written perspicuously , yet nevertheless his doctrine is left very uncertain : for he for the most part still useth a rhapsodie , and is a great compiler of other mens works , and that without taking time to digest or censure all things in them , so that it is difficult to discern when he produceth any thing of his own , when of another mans . and therefore who is there , who when he perceives himself to be urged and pressed with any place in aristotle , may not oppose , and say , that it is not he that speaks there , but some of the antients under his person , and so never be without a subterfuge , and way for evasion ? again , it is not seldome that he doth openly declare the fallaciousness , and uncertainty of his doctrine by inserting of adverbs of doubting , as in his book of the categories speaking of relatives he saith , fortassis autem difficile sit de rebus hujusmodi vehementer asserere : perhaps it is difficult to affirm any thing vehemently of such like matters . and further where he hath reckon'd up the four species of quality , he addeth , fortassis quidem igitur alius quispiam apparuerit qualitatis modus , sed ferè qui maxi●è dicuntur , hi sunt . for perhaps truly some other mood of quality may appear , but these are almost all that are especially spoken of . there are many such like places which i omit , these being sufficient to manifest the man to be no other but such an one as the author of the censure commonly prefixt before his works , who after many commendations given him , saith , accedebat ad haec , ingenium viri tectum et callidum , et metuens reprehensionis , quod inhibebat eum , ne proferret interdum apertè quae sentiret . inde tam multa per ejus opera obscura , et ambigua . there happened to these things , the closs wit of the man , and crafty , and fearing reprehension , which did inhibit him , that sometimes he durst not utter openly those things which he thought . from whence it is that so many things , throughout his works , are obscure and ambiguous . 7. but let us omit these , and give it for granted that aristotle hath uttered his opinion plainly , and doth speak altogether dogmatically , and without haesitation ; will it not still remain of necessity that his doctrine is uncertain and obscure , seeing it is beset with continual altercations amongst the peripateticks themselves , differing about the interpretation of his text ? neither is there any possible hope of their reconciliation , but that we may sooner see a conjunction of the poles of heaven , one holding this , and another that , and yet all affirming that their meaning was aristotles mind : for when they make the question , whether , and what kind of matter he did ascribe to the heavens , some affirm that he did attribute matter to the heavens , and some deny that he did attribute any : some hold that he appropriated the same matter to the heavens , that he did to the elements , and other some affirm that he gave them a divers matter . wherefore suppose any one not preoccupated desired to be instructed in the peripatetick doctrine , what should he do , or whither should he turn himself , when he should see about some one difficulty propounded , divers and sundry opinions differing one from another , and aristotle wrested against himself ? would he think it possible that aristotle at one and the self-same time , did hold things absolutely contrary one to another ? 8. and if all this were granted that the aristotelians did not disagree amongst themselves , and had a genuine interpretation of aristotles mind , yet would there remain much doubt and uncertainty in his doctrine : because in it there are many things omitted , and insufficient , many things tautological ▪ and superfluous , many things false , impious , and calumnious , and many things repugnant , and contradictory , which we shall make out hereafter , and so pass them in this place . 3. neither ought the throne be yielded to aristotle alone , nor his philosophy onely adored , and admitted , because in his writings innumerable things are wanting , and defective , that are essentially necessary to the compleating of physical knowledge , which we shall something at large demonstrate . 1. i shall pass by the defects in his organical learning , as having been touched before when we handled logick , and onely come to open his defects in physicks : and here first is required a definition of physick , the declaration of the subject matter is wanting , a general partition , and distribution is required : neither is it shewn to what end , how or in what order he will proceed to speak of the heavens , the meteors , the animants , and the like , which all belong to physical speculation , this is all the order of this great methode-monger . and when he had laid it was to be proceeded ex notioribus nobis ad notiora naturâ , and that even by common sense singulars are better known to us , and universalls more known in nature , yet presently after he preposterously concludes , ab universalibus ad singularia procedendum . 2. what a brave definition doth he give of nature , to wit , natura est principium , & causa motus , & quietis ejus , in quo inest primò et per se , et non secundum accidens , in which there are more defects and errours than words ? for hereby nature is not distinguished from the efficient cause , art may be a principle as well as nature , and many more which i shall not stand to recite , seeing the most acute , and learned helmont hath demonstrated no fewer than thirteen errors , or defects , in this so short a definition , and so concludeth , atque tandem valdè anxius , nescit quid vocet , aut vocare debeat naturam , naturalis auscultationis scriptor . and at the length being very anxious , the writer of natural auscultation is ignorant what he should or ought to call nature . and also confutes some other descriptions of aristotle with many pregnant and undeniable arguments : and in the most of all his divisions and definitions , as may be seen in his definition of motion , and of alterarion , and divers others , which were tedious and fruitless to reckon up . 3. his proofs and demonstrations for the most part have the same lameness with the rest , ex uno disce omnes . he goes about to prove the world to be perfect , because it doth contain bodies , and that a bodie is perfect because it containeth trinal dimension , and that trinal dimension is perfect , because three are all things : but three are all things , because if they be either one , or two , yet we have not named all things ; but as soon as there are three , we may call them all things . o how egregious ! o how super-sufficient is this proof ! o how wonderfully beseeming so great a philosopher ! o how fit is he to be the prince of learning , and the dictator in the academies ! and the same absurdities may be seen every where in his writings . 4. the like appears in his argumentations against the antient philosophers , whom he seems every where to confute , calumniate and contradict , but with the same imperfections and defects , as to instance in two or three . he taxeth democritus , leucippus , and others very insufficiently , who did hold that generation was by congregation , and that no continuum was compounded of indivisible things , which they speaking of physical impartibilitie , he impugns as of mathematical . doth he not unworthily tax plato , that besides matter and idaea , he had put no efficient cause of generation ? when he himself besides matter and form , rather hath put privation , which is a non ens , than any efficient cause : quapropter cum aristoteles nesciat naturam , proprietates , itemque generationum causas , ac quidditatem ; quis non judicaverit , ex aridis cisternis scholorum aquas philosophiae haustas hactenus ? octo enim libri ausultationum physicarum , somnia et privationes , pro naturae cognitione exponunt . wherefore seeing aristotle is ignorant of nature , proprieties , and also the causes , and quiddity of generations ; who shall not judicate the waters of philosophy hitherto drawn from the drie cisterns of the schools ? for the eight books of physical auscultations , do expound dreams , and privations , instead of the knowledge of nature . 5. this philosophy is meerly verbal , speculative , abstractive , formal and notional , fit to fill the brains with monstrous and airy chymaeras , speculative , and fruitless conceits , but not to replenish the intellect with sound knowledge , and demonstrative verity , nor to lead man practically to dive into the internal center of natures abstruse , and occult operations : but is only conversant about the shell , and husk , handling the accidental , external and recollacious qualities of things , confusedly , and continually tumbling over obscure , ambiguous , general and equivocal terms , which are onely fit to captivate young sciolists , and raw wits , but not to satisfy a discreet and wary understanding , that expects apodictical , and experimental manuduction into the more interiour clossets of nature . here in the schools is found no such thing , but objurgations , and clamours , fighting and contending andabatarum more , like blind , or madmen , not knowing where they wound others , nor where they are hurt or offended themselves . 6. and whereas names should truely express notions , and they be co●gruous to things themselves , the aristotelian philosophy leads us into an endless labyrinth , having nothing in manner but syllogisms , or rather paralogisms to statuminate and uphold the fabrick thereof : for they have altogether laid aside induction as too mechanical and painful , which onely can be serviceable to physical science , and have invented and introduced words , terms , definitions , distinctions , and limitations consonant enough amongst themselves , but no way consorting or sympathizing with nature it self . scientiae enim , quas nunc habemus , nihil aliud sunt quam quaedam concinnationes rerum ante à inventarum ; non modi inveniendi aut designationes novorum operum . for those sciences that we have now , are nothing else but certain concinnations of things formerly found out ; not the wayes , or designations of inventing new works . and one thing more , instead of establishing the mind in physical truths , most usually they confound the judgement with mathematical terms , which in aristotles writings is no small error : for though the mathematicks be exceedingly helpful to natural philosophy , yet is confusion of terms very hurtful ; for if a mathematical point or superficies be urged in a physicall argument it will conclude nothing , but onely obfuscate , and disorder the intellect . 7. this school philosophy is altogether void of true , and infallible demonstration , observation , and experiment , the only certain means , and instruments to discover , and anatomize natures occult and central operations ; which are found out by laborious tryals , manual operations , assiduous observations , and the like , and not by poring continually upon a few paper idols , and unexperienced authors : as though we could fathome the universe by our shallow imaginations , or comprize the mysteries of mother nature in the narrow compass of our weak brains ; or as though she would follow us into our chambers , and there in idlenesse communicate her secrets unto us ; no verily , dii bona sua laboribus vendunt , ease and idleness are not the way to get knowledge . therefore here i shall shew what noble parts of physical knowledge have been , and are neglected by the schools , onely because they abhor taking of pains , and think they can argue dame na●ure out of her secrets , and that they need no other key but syllogisms to unlock her cabinet . 1. therefore that noble , and almost divine science of natural magick , is by them not only repudiated , abominated , and prosecuted with fire and sword , but also the very name s●ems nauseous and execrable unto them ; so little have they done either to advance learning , or to vindicate truth . a great wonder that men that profess themselves almost ignorant of nothing , and think themselves the most skilful wordmen or logodaedalists in the world , should either not understand or be unwilling to acknowledge that the word magick was in its primary and proper acceptation , taken in a good and honourable sense , and appropriated to those that the world accounted most wise and learned : and never was abusively taken , until many impostors , and knaves did abuse and pervert that so noble a science , as though the name of doctor were dishonourable , or unworthy to be an epithite for the able and learned , who have justly merited and taken that degree , because every montebank emperick and quacksalver , have usually that title attributed unto them . was not magick amongst the persians accepted for a sublime sapience , and the science of the universal consent of things ? and were not those men ( supposed kings ) that came from the east styled by that honourable name {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} m●gi , or wisemen , which the holy ghost gives unto them , thereby to denote out that glorious mystery of which they were made partakers by the revelation of that spirit of life and light . neither do i here apologize for that impious and execrable magick , that either is used for the hurt and destruction of mankind , or pretends to gain knowledge from him who is the grand enemy of all the sons of adam , no , that i truly abominate , quia ( as learned mirandula saith ) pendet ex manu hostium primae veritatis , potestatum harum tenebrarum , quae tenebras falsitatis malè dispositis intellectibus obfundunt . because it dependeth upon the hand of the enemies of the primitive verity , of the powers of these darknesses , which do infuse the tenebrosities of falsity into evilly disposed intellects . but that which i defend is that noble and laudable science , quae cognitionem formarum abditarum ad opera miranda deducat , at que activa passivis conjungendo , magnalia naturae manifestet ; which leadeth cognition of occult forms unto wonderful works , and by conjoining actives to passives , doth manifest the grand secrets of nature . and indeed is that worthy , and wonderful science , not unbeseeming the noblest person , or greatest scholar , and is that sublime knowledge whereby the wondetful works of the creator are discovered , and innumerable benefits produced to the poor creatures . mirabilia artis magicae non sunt nisi per unionem & actuationem eorum , quae seminalitèr , & separatae sunt in natura . the wonderful things of art magick are not brought to pass , except by the union , and actuation of those things that are seminally , and separately in nature : so that indeed , magicam operari , non est aliud nisi maritare mundum . to operate by magick is nothing else but to marry the world , that is , fitly and duly to join and connex agents to their patients , masculines to faeminines , superious to inferiours , caelestials to terrestrials , that thereby nature may act out her hidden and latent power . and this is that which the greatest doctor need not be ashamed of , whether physician or philosopher , but that which is commendable both before god and man , and that wherin if the schools had been exercised , their works and fruits would have been more manifest , and they then owned not as the disseminators of vain controversies , and frivolous disputes , but as the true interpreters of nature , patriots of true learning , and benefactors to mankind . but i pray god they may repent and amend , and imbrace the truth , and also practise it . 2. the next thing i shall mind them of , as one of their greatest defects , is that sublime , and never-sufficiently praised science of pyrotechny or chymistry ; which though it hath suffered much through the corruption of time , and the wickednesse of cov●tous impostors , and ravenous harpies , who gaping after mountains of gold , do either suck the purses of others as greedy as themselves , or else do willingly suffer themselves to be deluded , and circumvented by these broilers and smoak ●ellers , and so bring an injust infamy upon this so profitable and laudable an art . and though in former times it was had in honour by trismegist , geber , raymund lully , arnoldus de villâ novâ , roger bacon , and many others , yet was it for many ages in a manner buried in oblivion , or banished to the monastick cells , until basilius valentinus , isaac hollandus , and paracelsus that singular ornament of germany , did revive and restore the same , and since more cleerly manifested by him , who is justly stiled philosophus per ignem , and many other famous men . the benefits of which are now so openly known , esspecially the common and vulgar part of it ( though the grand mysteries are hid in the brests of those who are truly called adepti ) and so much written by the elaborate pens of many learned and industrious men therein , that it would be needless to relate its transcendent uses , and excellencies : it being in a word that art that doth help more truly and radically to denudate , and discover the secret principles and operations of nature , than any other in the world , and i dare truly and boldly say , that one years exercise therein to ingenious spirits , under able masters , will produce more real and true fruit , than the studying aristotelian philosophy hath brought forth in many centuries . o that the schools therefore would leave their idle , and fruitless speculations , and not be too proud to put their hands to the coals and furnace , where they might find ocular experiments to confute their fopperies , and produce effects that would be beneficial to all posterities . i will onely mind them of this one rule . discendae primum ergo digestiones , distillationes , sublimationes , reverberationes , extractiones , solutiones , coagulationes , fermentationes , fixationes , & omne quod ad opus hoc instrumentum requiritur , cognoscendum est usu , prout vitra , cucurbitae , circulatoria , gallinarum ova , terrea vasa , balnea , furni ventales , reverberatorii similesque , nec non carbones atque tenacula : sic in alchimia medicinaque proficere poteris . neither despise this counsel because the author is no friend to aristotle , nor be ashamed to cast off thy fine clothes to work in a laboratory , for without this thou mayest wax old in ignorance , and dy with guilt , because thou hast served thy generations with no better stuff than aristotles dreames , and scholastick fables . nam utut naturale ingenium , & acumen judicii , philosophus habeat , nunquam tamen ad rerum naturalium radicem , aut r●dical●m scientiam admittitur , sine igne . for howsoever a philosopher may h●v● a natural wit , and acuteness of iudgement , notwithstanding he is never admitted to the root , or radical science of natural things , without the fire . 3. another thing of no less weight than the former i shall denote unto them , which is that part of natural philosophy , that concerns medicine , which of all other is most necessary , and behooful for conserving and restoring the health of man ; and yet is no less imperfect , and defective than any of the rest . for first it is turned into a way of meer formality , flattery , cunning , craft and covetousness , nothing being so much sought after by its professors as popular applause , repute , and esteem with rich and mighty men , that thereby the larger fees may be drawn from them , while in the mean time , the poor are neglected and despised . is this the office of a physician ? is only riches got by hook or crook , whether the patient reeeive benefit or none , live or dy , the sole end of their profession ? and must these things have the countenance of law , and confirmation by charters ? must these things be applauded and cryed up , while the sincere and faithful endeavors of simple and honest-meaning men , are disdained and trampled upon ? but the world hath alwaies loved deceivers , and therefore must be deceived . secondly , the rule being most sure , that ubi desinit philosophus , incipit medicus , it must of necessity follow , that if philosophy be false , uncertain , and ill bottomed of it self , then the medicinal knowledge that is built thereon ▪ and drawn from thence , must needs be faulty and ruinous . now how false the aristotelian philosophy is in it self is in part made cleer , and more is to be said of it hereafter , and therfore truth and experience will declare the imperfection of that medicinal knowledge that stands upon no better a basis . for galen their great coryphaeus and antesignanus hath laid down no other principles to build medicinal skill upon , than the doctrine of aristotle , as that all bodies mixt are compounded of the four elements , and that the total parity or disparity , temperament , complexion , and constitution of all bodies do arise from the equal or unequal conflux and commixture of these four : and that from these do result four prime qualities , and four humours , and that the abounding , defect , repugnancy , or alteration of he●e are the causes of all diseases . mirum sanè , quantum in his rixatum , et scriptum sit : ac miserandum , quantum baec laxa nugarum somnia , mundum hactenus circumvenerint . truly it is a wonder how much hath been disputed and written in these things : and it is to be commiserated , how much these loose dreams of trifles , have hitherto circumvented the world . for this same author makes it good by undeniable arguments and experiments , that there are not four elements , nor humours , in rerum natura , and hath said enough , sufficiently to confute and overthrow the whole fabrick of the galenical learning , which here i forbear to insert . and therefore it is very strange that the schools , nay in a manner the whole world , should be inchanted and infatuated to admire , and own this ignorant pagan , who being ambitious of erecting his own fame , did traduce , and darken the writings of those that preceded him , and pretending to interpret and open the doctrine of learned hippocrates , he altogether obscured and perverted the same : and yet can the schools be so wilfully mad to adore this idol ▪ and follow this blind guide . thirdly , if the ground of galenical physick had been sound and firm , and that it were the true and certain way both to find out the causes , and to cure diseases , yet notwithstanding hath it been but loosly prosecuted , and smally promoted , seeing for the space of so many hundred years , there is not by the schools found out any more certain , safe , or easie way to cure diseases than was in the daies of hippocrates , and galen : it is very strange that it should grow up and flourish with them , and never since come to any more perfection , when it is usually observed that nothing is simnl & semel invented and perfected . for it is plain that in botanical knowledge nothing of value is found out or discovered since the daies of dioscorides ; for though some plants be now found out that were not then known , and many species of others also , and their cuts and figures more perfected , as beside much confusedly heaped up concerning their qualities of heat and cold , driness and moisture ; yet is nothing more added by real experience , and diligent observation of their specifick vertues , and intrinsick properties , so that in regard of the vegetable kingdom the art of medicine hath got little advance . fourthly , though medicinal knowledge have received some melioration especially in the anatomical part , wherein men have laboured with much acuteness , diligence , and observation , so that this part seems to be growing , and arising towards the zenith of perfection , especially since our never-sufficiently honoured countryman doctor harvey discovered that wonderful secret of the bloods circulary motion : yet for all this there comes small advantage by it in practice , and application , for the more certain , safe , and easie curing of diseases : for though it bring great satisfaction to a speculative understanding , and help to cleer many intricate doubts , yet doth it little to remove dolor , danger , or death . and moreover though it be grown to a mighty height of exactness , in vulgar anatomy and dissection of the dead bodies of men , or the living ones of beasts , birds , and fishes ; yet is it defective as to that vive and mystical anatomy that discovers the true schematism or signature of that invisible archeus or spiritus mechanicus , that is the true opifex , and dispositor of all the salutary , and morbifick lineaments , both in the seminal guttula , the tender embrio , and the formed creature , of which paracelsus , helmont , and our learned countryman dr. pludd , have written most excellently . fiftly , the most excellent art of chirurgery , though much advanced by the help of anatomy in all that belongs to manual operation , or the use of instruments ; yet in the curing of great and dangerous sores , as the lupus , cancer , fistula , carcinoma , elephantiasis , strumaes , virulent and malign ulcers , and the like , it is much defective , and can perform little , without mineral and chymical medicaments . not because nature and providence have ordained no remedies for them , but because of the sloathfulness and negligence of professors and artists , who sit down contented with galenical medicaments , thinking there is nothing of greater virtue , and operation than they ; and so become slaves and captives to some few authors , whom they think it not lawful to relinguish , or that natures whole mysteries were comprized in their paper monuments , and no search further to be made : not knowing that their scrutiny should be through the whole theatre of nature , and that their only study and labour ought to be to acquire and find out salves for every sore , and medicines for every malady , and not to be inchained with the formal prescriptions of schools , halls , colleges , or masters , but to seek continually that these things might be made known unto them , and not to imagine it is sufficient to have served an appenticeship to it as to a trade , except they arrive at higher attainments . quia medicus ad imaginem dei agere ac laborare jussus est , constat ipsum non nugacibus rebus , sed secretioribus magiae ac cabalae studiis operam suam locare debere : non enim ut iurisconsultorum vel physicorum scientia , sic et medicina humanis speculationibus comprehendi potest , cum ipsa supra omnes artes admirabilis ac occulta existat . because the physician is commanded to act , and labour according to the image of god , it is manifest that he ought not to place his pains in trifling things , but in the more secret studies of magick , and cabalistick science : for not as the knowledge of lawyers and naturalists , so also can medicinal skill be comprehended by human speculations , seeing it is admirable and occult above all arts . therefore what great error , and how haynous a crime is it to leave the great book of the macracosm , nay and the writings of others , only to adhere to the doctrine of ignorant , wicked , malicious , and blind pagans ? i shall onely add this , adeoque cum omne donum bonum , nedum virtutum , sed & cognitionum , descendat à patre luminum ; quis poterit à scholis gentilitiis scientiae medicae tesseram ediscere ? dominus enim creavit medicum , non scholae . therefore seeing every good gift , not onely of vertues , but also of sciences , doth descend from the father of lights ; who can perfectly learn the sum of medicinal knowledge from the heathenish schools ? for the lord hath created the physician , not the schools . 4. there remaineth diverse excellent discoveries of many mysterious things in nature that do properly belong to physicks , which yet the schools take small or no notice of , and as little pains in , either to know , teach , or improve them ; and so are a witness against them of their sluggishness , and deficiency of their too-much-magnified peripatetick philosophy . as first , they pass over with a dry foot that laudable , excellent , and profitable science of physiognomy , which hath been admired , and studyed of the gravest and wisest sages that have been in many generations : which is that science which from and by certain external signs , signatures , and lineaments , doth explicate the internal nature and quality of natural bodies either generally or specifically . and this so necessary a knowledge both in the genus and species of it is altogether omitted by the school ; they understand and teach nothing of caelestial signatures , which are in some measure made known by the quantity , light , colour , motion , and other affections of those bodies : they teach nothing of sub-caelestial physiognomy , whether elementary , meteorological , or mineralogical , but are utterly ignorant in all these , as also in botanical , and anthropological physiognomy , contenting themselves with a few frivilous , false and formal definitions , and notions , and so never seek to penetrate into the more interiour nature of things , by which it comes to pass that they know little in the vegetable , and animal kingdomes , and least of all in the subterranean , or mineral ; and but that paracelsus , crollius , quercetan , baptista porta , and some others had taken pains in it , there had no footsteps of it almost been visible . and my lord bacon doth reckon also as defective the interpretation of natural dreams ; for though aristotle himself hath said something of this , yet those that pretend most to admire and honour him , have taken as little pains in this as the rest , to improve it to the glory of their great master . secondly , they are as ignorant in the most admirable , and soul-ravishing knowledge of the three great hypostatical principles of nature , salt , sulphur , and mercury , first mentioned by basilius valentinus , and afterwards clearly and evidently manifested by that miracle of industry and pains theophrastus paracelsus . which however the schools ( as hating any liquor that is not drawn out of their own cask , and despising all things that come by toyl and labor ) may sleight and contemn it , and please themselves with their ayery chimaera of an abstracted and scarce intelligible materia prima , or hyle , which is neither planè ens , nec non ens , and think to make fools believe their masters description of it , that it is neque quantum , neque quale , neque quid , neque quicquid eorum quae cernuntur , and so the delphick devil cannot expound it , nor sphinx nor o●dipus be able to unriddle it ; is notwithstanding so cleer , certain , and apodictical a truth , that all the academies in the universe will never be able to eradicate , and whose verity is made so evident by pyrotechny , that he must needs distrust his own senses that will not credit it ; but what avails it to sing to a deaf man ? and though helmont with the experiments of his gehennal fire , and some other solid arguments labour the labefactation of this truth , yet doth he not prove that they are not hypostatical principles , but onely that they are not the ultimate reduction that the possibility of art can produce , which he truly proves to be water ; yet are the most compound bodies in the universe to be reduced into them , and by that introversion is the secrets of nature more laid open than by all the peripatetitk philosophy in the world , and if this be not so , let experience speak . thirdly , what shall i say of that wonderful and most beneficial discovery of the magnetical philosophy , by our worthy , learned , and industrious countreyman doctor gilbert ? what rare and unheard-of mysteries doth it disclose ? what huge light , and advantage doth it bring to natural philosophy , and the mathematicks ? what helps to navigation , and almost all other arts , and trades ? how vastly is it improved , inlarged , and adorned by those great wits , and unwearied persons , such as ridley , carpenter , barlow , cabaeus , and the grand gatherer of all kind of learning athanasius kercherus ? can the schools say , or make it good , that in the space of fifteen hundred years they ever invented any such like thing ? nay it were well if they had not been , and still were the opposers , contemners , and condemners of all new discoveries , how transcendent , useful , or profitable soever they were . fourthly , what shall i say of the atomical learning revived by that noble , and indefatigable person renatus des cartes , and since illustrated and improved by magnenus r●gius , white , digby , phocyllides , holwarda , and divers others ? hath the schools any thing of like firmness , do they demonstrate after euclides most certain and undeniable way , as democritus reviviscens doth ? no surely , all theirs is but like dross and chaff in comparison of this . what shall i say of that notable conceit of the most happy genius these latter ages have had , iohn kepler , of the continued emission of raies from the body of the sun , that causeth all the rest of the planets to move ? deserves this no further investigation ? what shall i say of the epicuraean philosophy , brought to light , illustrated and compleated by the labour of that general scholar petrus gassendus ? surely if it be rightly examined , it will prove a more perfect , and sound piece , than any the schools ever had , or followed . 4. the philosophy of aristotle maintained by the schools ought not to be prised so much above others , because in it there are many things superflu●us , tautological , frivolous , and needless ▪ as we shall in a few instances make cleerly evident . for first , omitting many superabundant reiterations , and repetitions in his organicks and animasticks , i shall only touch some few contained in his physicks : as in that much celebrated definition wherein nature is said to be principium , & causa motus , & quietis ejus , in quo inest primò , & per se , & non secundùm accidens . 1. this particle causa seems to be put superfluously ; seeing every cause is a principle . 2. that of quietis ; seeing the faculty of contraries are the same , for that which is the faculty of speaking , and holding ones peace , is the same . 3. that ejus , in quo est , seeing also art is the principle of the motion of the artificer , in whom it is . 4. that primò . 5. and that per se ; for also art is the cause of artificial motion , primarily , and by it self , quatenus as far as it is of this sort . 6. that particle , & non secundùm accidens , is needless ; for wherefore was that necessary seeing before he had put per se ? i shall omit the rest of his nauseous tautologies in the 3 , 5 , and 7. chapters of the forcited book , and in the most of the books of physicks following , as obvious to every one that will take pains to examine and consider them . secondly , in his book de coelo he reiterates this , simplicis corporis simplex est motus , & simplex est motus simplicis corporis , as though these two were much different : and there twice or thrice is repeated the probation , that circular motion doth agree to some body according to nature . the like to which may be seen in the 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , and 12. chapters of the same book , and in all the books following of the same subject . i shall onely name one other , and so pass this point , in lib. 1. de or●u , et interitu , cap. 6. he propounds the question of the elements , whether they be , or they be not ? and whether they be sempiternal , or not ? as though they had not been agitated in his third book de coelo , and at last brings in that vain repetition , est igitur tangens ut plurimùm id , quod tangit tangens : apparet tangens tangere quod tangit , necesse videtur esse quod tangitur tangere , &c. o how egregiously is this disputed of him who must needs be accounted the prince of philosophers ! o how excellent needs must those disciples be that are taught by so worthy a master ! 5. this philosophy ought not so much to be magnified above other , because in it are very many things that are apparently , and absolutely false , to make which appear , i shall onely name two or three manifest particulars . first he affirms that nothing is contrary to substance , which he again asserts in his logick , and repeats elsewhere , which to me seems absolutely false : for certainly the substance of the fire is contrary to the substance of the water . but thou wilt say the contrariety is solely in the qualities . but seeing these qualities are every one proper to their substances , and do arise out of them , and accept their esse from them : and therefore doth not this also argue contrariety in them ? for let the substance be of the same nature on both sides ; from whence is it that these qualities do arise rather than others which are contrary unto them ? and again in the same chapter it is false that he teacheth that contraries cannot suffer of themselves : for do not cold things strive with hot , and moist things with dry ? and do not these qualities mutually beat back , and expel one another . secondly , it is false which he affirms lib. 2. phys. cap. 7. that the formal , final , and efficient causes are coincident , to wit in respect of the same effect : for how can the father be the same with the essential form of the son ? and it is also false which he defends in the eighth chapter , that art doth not deliberate ; otherwise artists do all things rashly . but although the mason do not deliberate , whether he ought to prepare a foundation rather than an house , therefore doth ●e not consult , whether he shall build it now rather than at another time ? or whether of this matter , rather than of other ? or whether in this manner , rather than in another ? thirdly , how false is that which he laies down in the 6 , and 7. chapters of the third book of physicks , that no number can be given , than which a greater may not be excogitated : but that a magnitude may be given , to wit the world , than which no greater can be excogitated ? i pray you why may it not be lawful and possible to conceive a magnitude greater than this world ? nay ten thousand times greater , wherein lies the impossibilitie ? he also defines there infinitum to be that beyond which something alwaies may be taken ; but how is that possible to be infinite that hath something extrase ? or that it can be made infinite by something without it self ? these are brave fancies , and fine dreams . fourthly , in the 8. book , besides innumerable falsityes that may be observed in the 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , and 9. chapters , that is a most signal one , which in the first chapter he labours to build up , of the eternity of motion : that thereby he may make out the ingeniture , and eternity of the world . let us therefore see with what reasons he can evince , and perswade it . 1. is this , motion is the act of a movable thing : therefore that which is movable hath preceded motion . i pray you doth he not wound himself with his own weapon , and strangle himself by his own consequence ? for if any thing hath preceded motion : therefore motion is not eternal . 2. he argues , the thing moving , and the thing moved are either made , or are eternal ; but neither can be said to be so . but wherefore cannot the one or both be eternal , and nevertheless without motion ? he adds , because this is absurd . an egregious instance truly , and indeed philosophical ! for where appears this absurdity ? he further urges : if the thing movable had preceded motion , then it had rested : and so another motion had been necessary before , of which that rest had been a privation . verily as though he who is born blind , ought to have seen in the womb , that blindless might be accounted the privation thereof . 3. he proceeds , power ought to be neer to the act. as though stones that have lain hid from the framing of the world under the earth , had not as well power to be framed into an house which is made to day , as they have a few daies before they be digged up . 4. he saith , time is eternal , therefore motion also : he confirms the antecedent , 1. because all philosophers , except plato , do affirm it . as though the matter were pleaded in the court , where voices are numbred ? yet some have accounted plato's judgement more than a thousand ; but this were to try things by authority , not by truth . 2. because time is not sine nunc : but every nunc is the beginning of the sequent , and the end of the praecedent time . as though there could not be a nunc first , and last ; if either the motion of heaven hath begun , or also if we believe that motion is not measured by time , which were not hard to demonstrate . 5. i shall onely instance in one place more , and that is lib. 1. de coelo cap. 3 , cap. 4. there he assumes , and endeavours to prove , that circulary motion hath nothing contrary un●o it : what if of two wheels or orbs , the one were moved towards the orient , and the other towards the occident , were they not to be said to be moved towards contrary parts ? and is not this to have something contrary unto it ? nay may not the motion of something in a straight line , be contrary to motion that is circular , seeing all motion is considered in relation unto the term , or point from whence , and unto which it moves ? and how this cannot be possible , to me seems neither probable nor possible . and though i have but taken these few things to instance in , yet were it no hard matter ( but that it belongs not to my present purpose ) to evert the whole ground and fabrick of his philosophy , and that with arguments unanswerable , and infallible , but these are sufficient for this place and purpose . 6. aristotle's ipse dixit , or the school's sic habet aristoteles , ought no longer to pass for oracles , nor his tenents for truths before others : because innumerable things in his philosophy do contradict , and are diametrically contrary ; and that i may make out what i say , i shall call in for witness his own words , and instance in some few particular places , that it may be manifest how in constant and wavering he was in his own opinions . first , in his book of categories there is plain contradiction , seeing he makes ten : and notwithstanding elsewhere sometimes three , sometimes six , sometimes eight . he saith the first substance is rather substance than the second , and not long after he affirmeth that the property of substance is to receive more and less . he makes time a species of continued quantity : and notwithstanding in the 4 book of physicks , he will have it to be number , which is discrete quantity . he also indeavours in the 1 book priorum analyticorum , to demonstrate the definition of the figures , and in the 2 after teacheth that definition cannot be demonstrated . in the 1 book posteriorum he will have us in demonstration to proceed from things more known to us : and for all that he defines demonstration to be that which proceeds from causes , but causes are more unknown to us than effects ; and in the same books he hath many such like , which for brevity i omit . secondly , in his first book of physicks he impugneth that immovable principle of parmenides , and melissus : and after in the 8 book he proveth that there is one immovable principle of motion . he teacheth in the fifth chapter , that contraries are not made , by course , of themselves , and not long after he holdeth , that whatsoever is generated , is generated of its contrary , and that whatsoever is corrupted goes into its contrary . in the second book , and seventh chapter , he disputeth against empedocles affirming that the works of nature are made by chance ; and yet confesses that monsters are the misses and lapses of nature : and in the seventh book of metaphysicks the seventh chapter , he holdeth that those things that do grow withou● seed are made casually , from whence also in the 3 de animâ the 12. chapter , he saith , quae naturâ sunt , propter aliquid sunt , aut casus eorum , quae sunt propter aliquid . and many other of the like sort , from which i purposely supersede , these being sufficient to make good the assertion . thirdly , one more may be joined to these out of his book de coelo the 2 chapter , where he saith , that every natural body is movable : and yet for all that in the third chapter , and more expresly in the fourteenth of the second book , he contendeth that the earth doth rest immovable in the center of the world . in the seventh chapter in the words cited not long before he altogether supposeth the heaven not to be animated : and notwithstanding he expressely saith it is animated in the second book , and second chapter ; and also the first de anima the third chapter , and elsewhere . in the second book , and second chapter , he holdeth that a sempiternal motion is in god : and in the eighth of the physicks he maintaineth the primum movens to be immovable which is god : in the eight he saith the heaven is not an organical body , and notwithstanding ( as it is already seen ) he hath made it to be indued with a soul : for the soul , as he defines it , is the act of an organical body : as also in the twelf he saith , actionem astrorum talem esse , qualis est plantarum , & animalium . but of these things enough ; by all which ( i conceive ) it is cleerly manifest that the peripatetick philosophy ought not to be preferred before all other , nay rather to be utterly exterminated , and some better introduced in the place therof , and that is the thing was attempted to be proved . chap. vii . of metaphysicks , ethicks , politicks , oeconomicks , poesie , and oratory . though there be something in the most of these , that might tollerably pass , yet are many things in them so useless , false , uncertain , superfluous , wicked and defective , that they stand in need of reformation , melioration , or eradication , as we shall shew of every one of them in their order . 1. for the metaphysicks , which they call their philosophia prima , and do usually define it to be scientia entis , quatenus ens est , the abuse and vanity of it appears in this . that it being nothing else but an abstract consideration of things by way of prescision , or cutting off from all other cocomitant cogitations , and so to weigh and examine the things nudely and barely under the respect of their being , all other notions there about being separate from it , doth bring no better instruments , nor effective means for the discovery of truth , than the weak and bare operation of the intellect , or indeed of phantasie , or the imaginative faculty , and therefore no marvail that it hath spider-like weaved forth so many slie and cunning cobweb-contextures of slender conceits , and curious niceties , fit for nothing but to insnare and intangle : and hath been so luxuriously petulant in the faetiferous production of so many monstrous , fruitless , and vain chimaeras . for they holding the soul to be tabula rasa , in which nothing is insculpt , and that science comes not by reminiscence , or resuscitation , but meerly acquisitively de novo , and that there is nothing in the intellect that hath not first some way or other been in the senses , then must it needs follow that the operations of the intellect are but weak means to produce scientifical certitude , and so metaphysical learning but barren and fruitless . 2. it hath neither laid down , nor assumed any certain principles , that are necessary or helpful to promote science ; for whereas it obtends this for a maxim , that not any thing can be , and not be at the same instant of time ; what fruitful products was there ever yet drawn from this unprofitable fundamental ? neither ever hath it proceeded so far as to find a sure , and ultimate resting place , which notwithstanding the learned renatus des chartes hath happily performed , having gone back to the very basis of all , which is , that there is mens cogitans , which can no way feign , or excogitate it self not to be , which is a more certain and undeniable principle than ever the schools invented , or built upon . 3. it is of no use nor advantage to other sciences , nor ever hath brought any good or profit unto the sons of men , but onely seduced them into strange labyrinths of notional chymaeras , and speculations , like idle and vain dreams , filling and feeding the fansie , but yielding nothing of solidity to inrich the intellect , nor any thing of use or profit to accomodate mankind : except that may be accounted an advantage , to obscure the truth , and lead the phantasies of men into the crooked meanders of conceit , and nutation , and so with the assistance of its twin logick ( both sisters of the same mother nox ) bring men to imagine and argue much , but in truth and verity to know little . 4. if it had been able ( as it proudly pretends ) to have taught any thing truly and certainly of those things that are metaphysical , or supernatural , that either are not corporeal or materiate , or else much transcend the nature of physical bodies both caelestial and elementary , then might it justly be received , and have its due commendation . but alas ! what weak , frivolous and groundless opinions hath it produced concerning god , angells , separate substances , and the like ? not seeing so much in these things as the ethnicks , who , in the fable of the golden chain , did affirm , that neither men , nor the gods could draw iupiter from heaven to the earth , but that iupiter could easily draw men from the earth to heaven . quare frustra sudaverit , qui caelestia religionis arcana , nostrae rationi adaptare conabitur . therefore he in vain sweats , who indevours to fit the heavenly mysteries of religion to our reason . 5. what shall i say of those strange , vain , and poisonous cockatrice eggs that it hath hatched , full of nothing but useless questions and altercations , to as little purpose as the disputes de lanâ caprinâ , or moonshine in the water ? what shall i say of it , is it not altogether defective of all solid , and fruit-bearing knowledge ? doth it not superfluously abound with vanities and follies ? was ever any made either wise or happy by it ? and yet this is the schools prime philosophy or metaphysical learning , which is nothing but vain opination , void of scientifical demonstration , and cleer verity . fa●eamur , rerum divinarum paucissimarum demonstrationes habemus , omnia ferè opinionibus definentes . we must confess , we have the demonstrations of very few divine things , defining all things by opinions . in the next place comes the ethicks to be considered of , which how fruitless and vain they are may appear in a few reasons . for 1. how can he be supposed to be the fittest teacher of that art , who was himself an heathen , and neither knew nor acknowledged god , who indeed is the summum bonum , and so placed felicity in fading , and momentary things , as riches , and honour : or at the best made but vertue the chief good , which cannot however be happiness it self , but at the most but the way and means to attain it ? and it must necessarily follow that he that understands not the real , and true end , cannot teach the indubitate means that leads to that end , and therefore must needs be a blind guide , especially to christians , as lambertus danaeus hath sufficiently manifested ; and yet the schools must needs follow , and prefer the dark lamp of a blind pagan , before the bright-shining sun of the prophets ▪ and apostles . 2. though the schools have disputed much of the chief good , of vertues , and of vices , yet have they either taught nothing at all that is practicable , whereby vertue might be obtained , and vice eschewed , or felicity enjoyed , or but touched it very slenderly , perfunctorily , and unprofitably : as though it were sufficient to teach a pilot the many dangers of his voyage in respect of tempests , storms , winds , sands , shelves , rocks , and the like , and to make a large commendation of the peace , plenty , fruitfulness , and happiness of the place to which his journey were intended ; yet leave him altogether ignorant and untaught how to escape those dangers , and unfurnished with means to attain to the harbour unto which his navigation is purposed . 3. they have chosen to themselves such a way , whereby the mass of ethical knowledge might be set forth as a splendid and beautiful thing , bearing forth the brightness of wit , and vigour of eloquence , rather than any truth in the matter , or benefit to the readers and hearers , and so have made it facilely disputable , but difficultly practicable , seeking themselves , more than truth , or the benefit of others ; as se●eca truly saith , nocet illis eloquentia , quibus non rerum facit cupiditatem , sed sui : eloquence hurteth those , to whom it causeth not the desire of things , but of themselves : for water is better in an earthen vessel , than poison in a golden cup , and he that speaks truly and to profi● others is to be preferred before him that speaks rhetorically , and elegantly to small profit or purpose . 4. it cannot but be matter of much wonder to all ingenuous men that shall more seriously perp●nd , and weigh the business , why not onely the moral philosophy of aristotle should take place above that which is deduced from principles of christianity ; but also why he should have therein the preheminence above socrates , plato , zeno , and many others , who truly taught many divine and pretious things for the eradicating of vice , the planting of vertue , and the establishing of mental tranquillity , and moral felicity , which aristotle and all his sectators never either understood , or had fruition of . what shall i say of that man of men the severe seneca ? are not his writings about vertue , tranquillity , and curing the minds diseases , infinitely beyond all those needless , fruitless , vain and impertinent discourses of the proud stagyrite ? let all that ever loved vertue and tranquillity , and have perused the one , and the other , speak , and declare their judgements : nay doth not that one little enchiridion of epictetus contain more pretious treasure , than all the great volumes of aristotle ? let vertue speak , and truth determine . now for the political and oeconomical learning taught by the schools out of aristotle , as it hath many things of singular use , and commoditie in it , so is it not without its chaff , and tares , deserving rather purging , and refining , than the estimation of being compleat and perfect : for as there are many things in it frivolous , obscure , immethodical , superfluous , and false , so also is it very defective , and imperfect ; for if we look upon what plato hath written de legibus , and de republica , though there may be found many things unpracticable , and incompleat , yet compared with the other , it is no way inferiour , but deserves as great , if not an higher commendation ; and so the writings of bodin , nay macchiavel and divers other modern authors may duly challenge as much praise in this point , as that of aristotle , which the schools do so much adhere to and magnifie , yea even our own countreyman master hobbs hath pieces of more exquisiteness , and profundity in that subject , than ever the graecian with was able to reach unto , or attain ; so that there is no reason why he should be so applauded , and universally received , while more able pieces are rejected , and past by . lastly , for rhetorick , or oratory , poesie , and the like , which serve for adornation , and are as it were the outward dress , and attire of more solid sciences ; first they might tollerably pass , if there were not too much affectation towards them , and too much pretious time spent about them , while more excellent and necessary learning lies neglected and passed by : for we do in these ornamental arts , as people usually do in the world , who take more care often time about the goods of fortune , than about the good of the body , and more nice and precise sollicitousness about fashions and garbs , than either about the body it self or the goods of the mind , regarding the shell more than the kernel , and the shadow more than the substance . and therefore it was not without just cause that plato ( though by some censured for it ) did reckon rhetorick amongst the voluptuary arts , for we most commonly use it either for the priding and pleasing of our selves that we may appear eloquent , and learned to others , or else use it cunningly and sophistically to captivate , and draw over the judgements of others to serve our ends and interests : and thereby make false things appear true , old things new , crooked things straight , and commodious things unprofitable , as augustine saith , imperitior multitude , quod ornatè dicitur , etiam verè dici arbitratur , the more unskilful multitude thinketh that what is spoken elegantly , is also spoken truly . and therefore seneca saith , seest thou a man neat and compt in his language , then is his mind occupied in minute things . 2. both eloquence and poesie seem rather to be numbred amongst the gifts of nature , than amongst the disciplines , for those which excell much in reason , and do dispose those things which they excogitate in a most easie method , that they may be cleerly , and distinctly understood , are most apt to perswade , although they did use the language of the goths , and had never learned rhetorick : and those that are born to invent most ingenious figments , and to express them with the greatest elegance and suavity , are to be accounted the best poets , although they are ignorant of all the precepts of the poetical art ; for nascitur , non fit poeta , and therefore plato most truly concludeth , omnes itaque carminum poetae insignes , non arte , sed divino afflatu , mente capti omnia ista praeclar a poemata canunt . therefore all the famous makers of verses , do not sing all these excellent poems by art , but by a divine afflation , being carried above themselves . 3. though aristotle were a great master in oratory , and a very eloquent man , yet in that point might justly give the palm to his master plato , unto whom all the attributes of honour in that particular are worthily accumulated , of whom it is said , that if iupiter would speak in mans language , he would speak in that of plato . thus have i briefly run over some of the faults , and defects of academick learning , but am far from having touched all , for to have done that would have reached beyond both my time , and purpose , and also mine abilities ; for benardus non videt omnia : yet if the lion may be known by his paw , and hercules by his foot , then i hope there is enough said to make it cleer , that the aristotelian , and scholastick learning , deserves not the preheminence above all other , nor those great commendations that the corruption of times , and sloathful ignorance of the most have ascribed unto it , but that a great part of it doth deserve eradication , some of it reformation , and all of it melioration , and so i proceed . chap. viii . of their customes , and methode . having hitherto spoken of the subjective learning that the schools handle , it follows in order to examine their customes and methode , not that i mean to meddle either with their manners , or maintenance , but leave that to the judgement of others , lest it happen to me , as erasmus said of luther , that it was dangerous to meddle with the popes crown , and monks bellies : but only to note some things in the way , and methode of their teaching , which are obvious to my weak observation , and so shall lay them down as they present themselves to my low apprehension . 1. though in one academy there be usually divers colleges , or houses , yet must all the scholars in those several places be tyed to one methode , and carried on in one way , nay even bound to the same authors and hardly allowed so much liberty , and difference , as is between aristotle , and ramus logick : as though they in the way of their teaching had arrived at the highest point of perfection , which could no way be improved , or no other as profitable could be discovered and found out , and so are all forced like carriers horses , to follow one another in the accustomed path , though it be never so uneven or impassable . 2. their scholastick exercises are but slenderly , negligently , and sloathfully performed , their publike acts ( as they call them though but verbal digladiations ) being but kept four times in the year , that is in the terms , which if one should tell them in plain terms , are but usually idle termes : as though time of all other things here below , were not to be accounted most pretious , and that there can be no such detriment done unto youth , as to lose or mispend it . 3. their custome is injurious , and prejudicial to all those that desire to make a speedy progress in learning , nay unequal , and disproportionable in it self , namely to ty men to a set time of years , or acts , before they can receive their laureation , or take their degrees : as though all were of one capacity or industry , or all equally able at their matriculation , and so the sloathful , and painful , the most capable , and most blockish , should both in the same equal time have an equal honour , which is both disproportionable and unjust . for some will attain to more in one year than some in three , and therefore why should they not be respected according to their merits and proficiency , and not bound to draw in an unequal yoak ? and what matter were it whether a man had been there one moneth or seven years , so he had the qualification required , and did subire examen , and perform the duties of the place , surely it is known that gradus non confert scientiam , nec cucullus facit monachum . 4. their custome is no less ridiculous , and vicious , in their histrionical personations in the performance of their exercises , being full of childishness , and scurrility , far from the gravity , and severity of the pythagorean school where a five years silence was enjoined : using so much lightness as more befits stage-players than diligent searchers of science , by scoffing and jeering , humming and hiffing , which shewes them like those animals they imitate , nay rather hur●ful geese , than labourious bees , that seek to gather into their hives , the sweet honey of learning , and knowledge . 5. what is there in all their exercises , but meer notions , and quarrelsome disputations , accustoming themselves to no better helps for searching into natures abstruse secrets than the chymaeras of their own brains , and converse with a few paper idols ? as though these alone were sufficient keyes to open the cabinet of natures rich ●●easurie , without labour and pains , experiments and operations , tryals and observations : surely if he that intends to prove a proficient in the knowledge of agriculture , should onely give himself over to contemplation , and reading the books of such as have written in that subject , and never put his hand to the plough , nor practise the way of tilling and sowing , would he ever be a good husbandman , or understand thorowly what pertains thereunto ? surely not , and no more can they be good naturalists that do but onely make a mold and idaea in their heads , and never go out by industrious searches , and observant experiments , to find out the mysteries contained in nature . 6. their custome is no less worthy of reprehension that in all their exercises they make use of the latine tongue , which though it may have custome , and long continuance to plead its justification , and that it is used to bring youth to the ready exercise of it , being of general reception almost through the whole world : yet it is as cleerly answered , that custome , without reason and benefit , becomes injurious , and though it make them ready in speaking the latine while they treat of such subjects as are usually handled in the schools , yet are they less apt to speak it with facility in negotiations of far greater importance . and in the mean time , the way to attain knowledge is made more difficult , and the time more tedious , and so we almost become strangers to our own mother tongue , loving and liking forein languages , as we do their fashions , better than our own , so that while we improve theirs , our own lies altogether uncultivated , which doubtless would yield as plentiful an harvest as others , if we did as much labour to advance it : neque hodiè ferè ulla est natio , quae de idiomatis sui praestantia non glorietur , aut contendat . and therefore were the romans so careful to propagate their language in other nations , and to prohibit the greek language or any other to be spoken in their publike contentions : and so likewise pythagoras , plato , and aristotle did teach in their own mother tongues , and hippocrates , galen , euclide , and others writ in the vulgar language of their own nation , and yet we neglecting our own , do foolishly admire and entertain that of strangers , which is no lesse a ridiculous than prejudicial custome . 7. another is no less faulty and hurtful than the precedent , and that is their too much admiring of , and adhering to antiquity , or the judgement of men that lived in ages far removed from us , as though they had known all things , and left nothing for the discovery of those that came after in subsequent ages ; it was appositely said of seneca , in re maximâ , & involutissimâ , in quâ cum etiam multum actum erit , omnis tamen aetas quod agat inveniet . in the greatest , and most intricate thing , in which when also much is done , notwitstanding every age shall find what it may further do ; and so profoundly censures those great men that went before us , to be as our leaders , but not our masters , and so most excellently concludeth , multùm restat operis , multumque restabit : nec ulli nato post mille saecula praecludetur occasio aliquid ad●uc adjiciendi . much work doth remain , and much will remain : neither will the occasion be cut off to any born after a thousand ages , still of adding something . and indeed we usually attribute knowledge and experience to men of the most years , and therefore these being the latter ages of the world should kn●w more , for the grandaevity of the world ought to be accounted for antiquity , and so to be ascribed to our times , and not to the junior age of the world , wherein those that we call the antients , did live , so that antiquitas saeculi , juventus mundi . 8. they usually follow another hurtful custome not unlike to this preceding , which is too much to bind in themselves with the universality of opinions , and multiplicity of voices , as though it were not better to stand single and alone with truth , than with error to have the company of the multitude , or as though the multitude could not err , or that the greater number must necessarily be in the truth , when as the wiseman saith the number of fools are infinite , and aristotle himself tells us , that though we speak as the most , yet we should think as the fewest , and cicero informs us that philosophy is content with a few judges , and seneca most egregiously saith , nihil magìs praestandum est , quàm ne pecorum ritu sequamur antec●dentium gregem , pergentes non quò eundum est , sed quò ●tur : nothing is more to be performed , than that we may not , according to the manner of cattel , follow the s●ock of those that went before , not following whither it ought to be gone , but whither it is gone . and again , nulla res nos majoribus malis implicat , quàm quod ad rumorem componimur , optima ra●i ea , quae magno assen●u recepta sunt : nothing doth insuare us with greater evils , than that we compose our selves to rumours , supposing those things the best , which are received with great assent . 9. consonant to this is that other of their adhering to authority , especially of one man , namely aristotle , and so do jurare in verbi magistri , when according to their own tenents , arguments drawn from authority , are numbred amongst the weakest , and what could aristotle know more than all other , that his opinions should be received as oracles ? he both might and did err , as well as other mortals : and may not we as justly recede from him as he from his master plato , and the rest of the antient philosophers ? is it any thing but a just liberty that we ought to maintain , and pursue , thereby to be admitted into the court of lady verity ? for which all chains ought to be broken , and all fetters fyled off . 10 ▪ neither is their methode , and order in teaching any whit less vicious than the rest , for whereas aristotle himself presupposeth his auscultator or scholar in physicks to have been already trained up in the mathematical sciences ( which are indeed instrumently subordinate to natural philosophy as introductive thereunto ) the schools immethodically , and preposterously teach youth logick , and natural philosophy , not having at all tasted the very rudiments of mathematical knowledge , which how much out of due order and methode , nay contrary unto it , i leave to all judicious persons to judge and consider . chap. ix . of some expedients , or remedies in theologie , grammar , logick , and mathematicks . i know it will be objected , that facile est reprehendere , it is an easie thing to find fault , but difficult and arduous to repair and amend , and that one fool may mar , and spoil that in an hour , which many wise men cannot make right again in many ages : and the most ignorant may easily disorder , and deface the master-piece of the most curious artist , when he is not able to repair the least part of it . and therefore that it is not sufficient to demolish an antient , and goodly fabrick , upon pretence that it is either unprofitable in the site , and figure , or that the materials are ruinous , and decayed ; unless we bring better in their room , have laid a better platform , and know certainly how to erect a better fabrick . to which i answer , by a cleer confession , that before we throw down we should know wherewithal , and how to build , and that it is far more easie to demolish , than to erect a sufficient and compleat structure , and especially for a single person ( and he also of the lowest , and least abilities ) which is & ought to be the work of many , nay all persons and ages : for as i verily believe that what i have produced for demonstrating the groundlesness , ruinousness , and ill composure of the scholastick fabrick of learning is not far from the truth , so also am i confident of mine insufficiency to erect a better in the place thereof , yet in magnis voluisse sat est , i shall do mine endeavour , hoping that those that are more able will put to their hands to help to supply my defects , and so shall offer the best materials and art that i have to erect a new , and better building , and in the same order that i have handled the several parts . 1. therefore for theology which is a speaking of god , or a speaking forth the things of god , it is expedient that men should lay aside the suffering of themselves to be styled by that blasphemous t●●le of divines , which is such an impropriety of language as all their learning will never be able to justify , it being an attribute that doth onely predicate essentially of the being of god , and is indeed incommunicable to the creature , who hath nothing that is divine or spiritual but by participation ; for though the text saith that saints are partakers of the divine nature , yet will it not follow that because they are said to be partakers of divine things that therefore they are divine , because participations do not truly predicate of those essences to which they are communicated , but of that being from whence they flow : for men participate of the light and heat of the sun , but it cannot be truly predicated of men that either they are the sun , nor truly and univocally that they are of a solary nature , but onely that participating of its influences and operations , they may be truly said to be heatned , and inlightned : for though it be in the english translated iohn the divine , whereby those that understand not the greek are misled , and thereby drawn to give that title to their priests , who blasphemously assume it to themselves , yet i hope there is much difference betwixt {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , and {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , one that speaks of god or divine things , and one that is divine , the scots therefore have a more apposite and warrantable epithite , who seldome or never call their ministers divines but theologues , and we have many could cry out against the bishops for having the title of lord , or grace given them , and yet they themselves can swallow this title of being divines , which is more unseemly , unfit , and unwarrantable . 2. another expedient that i shall offer in this case is , that the scriptures which are as the seamless coat of christ may not be rent and torn with the carnal instruments of mans wit and reason , nor modell'd , or methodiz'd as an humane art or science , but laid aside in scholastick exercises , as a sacred and sealed book , lest they offering strange fire upon gods altar , perish as others have done : for in the day of mans light the tabernacle of the lord will be covered with a cloud , and in the night of his darkness there will be fire ; therefore let not men journey until the cloud be taken up , or the fire appear , otherwise they must know the lord doth not lead them nor go before them . and indeed , whatsoever the proud and deceitful heart of man may imagine , the scriptures are a sealed book , for so the prophet saith , the vision of all is become as the words of a book that is sealed , which men deliver to one that is learned , saying , read this i pray thee : and he saith , i cannot , for it is sealed . and the book is delivered to him that is not learned , saying , read this i pray thee , and he saith , i am not learned . what can be more plain than this , that it is as a sealed book both to the learned , and unlearned ? and this is it that is sealed with seven seals , and no man in heaven , nor earth , nor in the sea , that is found worthy to open this book , and to unclose the seaven seals thereof , but only the strong lion of the tribe of iuda , and therefore let schools not touch it , lest it be their destruction . for unless they leave the lords own work to himself , and cease to sit in the seat of the scornful , the lord will laugh them to scorn , and vex them in his sore displeasure , neither will he bless them in their labours , nor prosper them in their exercises : nay , until all the magistrates , and elderships of the earth that profess his name , take off their crowns , and lay them at the feet of the lamb , and learn to practise , and put in execution our saviors counsel , to give unto god the things that are gods , and to caesar the things that are caesars , and not at all to intermeddle with the things of god , misery and destruction will follow them to the grave , and of them shall be required the blood of all the saints . o therefore that they would kisse the sonne lest he be angry , and so they perish from the way of everlasting truth : for when his wrath is kindled but a little , blessed are all they that put their trust in him . 3. the last expedient i shall present in this subject is , that what can be discovered of god , and supernatural things , by the power of reason , and the light of nature , may be handled as a part of natural philosophy ( unto which it doth belong ) because it is found out by the same means and instruments that other natural sciences are : and what may from thence cleerly be demonstrated , and deducted , may be holden forth as a means to overthrow atheism , gentilism , and the like , but not to statuminate , or build up any thing in religion , nor like a wild bore to enter into the lords vineyard to root up and destroy it . in the next place are languages , and grammar , which is the means or instrument by which they are taught , unto which i shall offer these few helps . 1. that care may be had of improving , and advancing our own language , and that arts and sciences may be taught in it , that thereby a more easie and short way may be had to the attaining of all sorts of knowledge : and that thereby after the example of the romans we may labour to propagate it amongst other nations , that they may rather be induced to learn ours , than we theirs , which would be of vast advantage to the commonwealth , in forrein negotiations , trading , conquest and acquisitions , and also of much domestick advantage within our own territories . for if we should arrive at any extraordinary height of learning , and knowledge , though we should but speak and write in our own mother tongue , then would other nations be as earnest in learning it , and translating our books , as former ages have been in labouring to attain the language , and translate the books of the graecians , and romans , and we at this day of the french , and germans . 2. that some compendious way for both teaching and learning forein languages , may be established by use and exercise , without the tedious way of rule , or grammar , which doubtless upon diligent , skilful , and exact tryal , would prove more short , easie , certain , and beneficial , as is manifest by ordinary people that never knew any thing of grammatical order , being kept in families that speak another language , and having none to converse with that speaks their own , will in a wonderful short time learn to speak , and understand it ; for when necessity is joined with industry , it produceth great and stupendious effects . 3. that in the way of teaching languages the order prescribed by comenius in his ianua linguarum may be practised , and means used to improve it , that both words and matter , names and things , may be learned together , which may be done both with the same facility , and in the same shortness of time ; that so the tender intellects of young children may not onely inbibe the names , but also the natures and qualities of things . 4. that in the methode of teaching grammar , master brinsleys way laid down in his grammar school may be put into practice , that children may be taught in their mother tongue to know perfectly the several parts of speech , declinable , and indeclinable , and punctually to vary the declinable parts , especially noun , and verb , and to construe and parse in their own tongue , that so they may be ready to make use , and to apply it when they learn the latine , or any other language , without which they shall never have any sure foundation , nor proceed in any way of ease and certainty , nor arrive at any height of perfection , for none learns more than what the intellect clearly compre●ends , and what it knows how to practise , and make use of . 5. in the grammatical way of teaching it is a most certain axiom , that what is one part of speech in one language , is so in all , and four parts being indeclineable , it is manifest that they are learned by no rules , but only by use and exercise , as the memory can congest and record them : so that there remains but other four to be obtained by rule , and two of them , which is pronoun and participle , either are but very few , as the pronoun , and so are easily known wherein they agree or differ from the noun & verb ; or the participle , which hath nothing but what agrees either with the noun , or verb , or with both : so that the whole difficulty is in the noun and the verb , of both which some are regulars , and some are irregulars , anomala , defectives , or heteroclytes . now for the irregulars , the best , easiest , and shortest way were to learn them by use and exercise , without rule , which for the most part is done , and the rules usually are but superfluous , and render the way more perplex and tedious ; and this being observed , the way of regulars would be facile and brief , as being but one rule for all . and this i suppose being observed would render the way of grammar teaching of more bevity , facility , and certainty , but greater experiences may know better waies . it may be imagined that i should proffer some auxiliary means for the promoting of symbolical , and cryptographical learning , as being a part of grammar , but therein i must rather acknowledge mine inability , and onely wish that so much of it as is discovered , and made clear by others , might be put in practice , then would the benefit of it be better understood by use , than i can demonstrate in words . and for the universal character that would require a peculiar tract , not a cursory touch : and for the language of nature , i fear it is not acquisitive but dative , and therefore shall not be so weak in that particular , to prescribe a rule , which none hath power to follow , or strength to perform . next in order followeth logick , which being that art or science that should administer expedients and helps for the promoting and finding out of all other sciences , doth notwithstanding stand in need it self : from whence then should it have it ? truly it is hard to determine , for it is such a groundlesse , intricate , and perplex piece , that it is very doubtful from whence it had its original , and therefore most difficult to know how to find its remedies ; yet shall offer my best assistance to its regulation and amendment . 1. it is necessary that its radical ground be found forth in nature , and likewise its extent , without which it is not possible to lay open its nature and efficacy ; for though it undertake to reason and argue of all things , yet bears it forth but little light and evidence of its own power and strength . and therefore in the first place it is requisite to inquire , what reason and ratiocination are in their intrinsick nature , and what they can operate , and effect , both solely by themselves , and conjunctively with the senses , because it is clear that the work of reason is posterior to that of sense , and doth but compound , divide , and compare the several species that are received by the senses , and make deduction , and draw conclusions from them , and this is necessary that its distinct power and efficacy may be known . also it is expedient to examine wherein man in reason exceeds other animants ; for though man to maintain his unjust tyranny over the other fellow creatures ( excuse the phrase it is no ranting term , for iob confesseth , i have said to corruption thou art my father , to the worm thou art my mother and my sister ) hath assumed to himself the title of being rational , and excluding all other living creatures from that prerogative , when it is certain that many other creatures excell man in the acuteness of some senses , and it is questionable that some exceed him in reason too , though therein he be to be preferred before the most , so that if it be diligently searched into , it will be found that there is no specifical but a gradual difference . 2. before any great good can be effected with logick , especially with the syllogistical part , it will be very expedient that its principles be demonstratively cleared and proved , either in some other science from whence they are taken , or be briefly and compendiously laid down , and defined , that they may more certainly be assented to , and the grounds known , as in the mathematicks , where a few definitions , petitions , and axioms , serve to demonstrate the whole operations by , with such certitude , that none since the daies of euclide have denyed , or rejected them , that so by this means the conclusions in logick may be certain and profitable . 3. that some prevalent way might be found out , for discovering and rectifying the delusions and fallacies of the senses , and for drawing adaequate ▪ and congruous notions from things , and giving ●pposite and significant denominations to notions , that so the fountain may be made cleer at the head , and rise of it , that all the several rivulets , and streams that run from thence may be lympid and pure , without which it will be but as a muddy puddle , whose streams cast forth dirt and myre . 4. that the chiefest and most beneficial part , which is induction , may be improved , that it may be serviceable and helpful for the discovering of science , which cannot be unless some carefull , diligent , and exact means be brought into practice , for the making , trying , and observing of all sorts of experiments , both frugiferous , and luciferous , that time may not be vainly spent in needlesse altercations , disputations , speculations , and notions , but in reall , and profitable experiments , and observations ; that so the end of logical labour may not be to bring forth opinion , and errour , but certainty of science , and solidity of truth . the mathematicks should now come in order , but of them i need say little , as to their advance , because they contain sufficient expedients in themselves for the progresse of their promotion , and indeed do want nothing but diligent and faithful prosecution , and practice , that they may arrive at a compleat period . and therefore the onely help i shall offer in this case , is , to desire that this so noble , and excellent a science , with all the parts of it , both general , and special , vulgar , and mystical , might be brought into use and practice in the schools , that men might not idlely lose their time in groundlesse notions , and vain chymaeras , but in those reall exercises of learning that would both profit themselves , succeeding generations , and other sciences . and i could also wish that the sound , and apodictical learning of copernicus , kepler , ticho brahe , galilaeus , ballialdus , and such like , might be introduced , and the rotten and ruinous fabrick of aristotle and ptolomy rejected and laid aside . chap. x. of some helps in natural philosophy . now when i come to lay down some expedients for the reformation and promotion of physical knowledge , two things ( i know ) will be questioned , and inquired of . and first , whether all the whole body of the aristotelian philosophy should be eliminated , and thrown away . to which i answer , no ; for there are many things in his history of animals , and some things in his politicks , ethicks , logick , metaphysicks , and rhetorick , that are commodious and useful , yet do they all stand in need of reformation and amendment : but for his natural philosophy , and his astronomy depending thereon , it admits of no reformation , but eradication , that some better may be introduced in the place thereof . and for his expositors , and commentators , they instead of reforming what was amisse in his writings , carried with a blind zeal to make him the onely oracle of truth , have increased the corruption , and not supplyed the defects , nor removed the errouts . secondly , it will be urged , that if the peripatetick philosophy which the schools maintain , should be taken away , where would any such perfect , compleat , and methodical piece be found to supply the place thereof . to which it is answered , that i have already demonstrated , and laid open the faults and defects thereof , that there is no such perfection in it at all as is supposed , and therefore no inconvenience to remove it . and admit there were no such compleat piece , as were requisite to substitute instead of the aristotelian learning being taken away , the greater were the shame of academies , that within the compass of so many centuries have done no more for the advancement of learning , for the greater the defect is , the more it ought to stir up all mens endeavours to repair , and make good the same . and also there are some pieces of philosophy more compleat than aristotles , as i shall shew in the following expedients . 1. it cannot be expected that physical science will arrive at any wished perfection , unlesse the way and means , so judiciously laid down by our learned countreym●n the lo●d bacon , be observed , and introduced into exact practice ; and therefore i shall humbly desire , and earnestly presse , that his way and method may be imbraced , and set up for a rule and pattern : that no axioms may be received but what are evidently proved and made good by diligent observation , and luciferou● experiments ; that such may be recorded in a general history of natural things , that so every age and generation , proceeding in the same way , and upon the same principles , may dayly go on with the work , to the building up of a well-grounded and lasting fabrick , which indeed is the only true way for the instauration and advance of learning and knowledge . 2. how unfit , and unsuitable is it , for people professing the christian religion to adhere unto that philosophy which is altogether built upon ethnical principles , and indeed contrary and destructive to their tene●ts ? so that i shall offer as a most fit expedient , that some physical learning might be introduced into the schools , that is grounded upon sensible , rational , experimental , and scripture principles : and such a compleat piece in the most particulars of all human learning ( though many vainly and falsely imagine there is no such perfect work to be found ) is the elaborate writings of that profoundly learned man dr. fludd , than which for all the particulars before mentioned ( notwithstanding the ignorance and envy of all opposers● the world never had a more rare , experimental and perfect piece . 3. that the philosophy of plato , revived and methodized by franciscus patritius , marsillius ficinus , and others ; that of democritus , cleared , and in some measure demonstrated , by renatus des cartes , regius , phocylides holwarda , and some others ; that of epicurus , illustrated by petrus gassendus ; that of philolaus , empedocles , & parmenides , resuscitated by telesius , campanella , and some besides ; and that excellent magnetical philosophy found out by doctor gilbert ; that of hermes , revived by the paracelsian school , may be brought into examination and practice , that whatsoever in any of them , or others of what sort soever , may be found agreeable to truth and demonstration , may be imbraced , and received ; for there are none of them but have excellent , and profitable things , and few of them but may justly be equallized with aristotle , and the scholastick learning , nay , i am confident upon due and serious perusal and tryal , would be found far to excel them . 4. that youth may not be idlely trained up in notions , speculations , and verbal disputes , but may learn to inure their hands to labour , and put their fingers to the furnaces , that the mysteries discovered by pyrotechny , and the wonders brought to light by chymistry , may be rendered familiar unto them : that so they may not grow proud with the brood of their own brains , but truly to be taught by manual operation , and ocular experiment , that so they may not be sayers , but doers , not idle speculators , but painful operators ; that so they may not be sophisters , and philosophers , but sophists indeed , true natural magicians , that walk not in the external circumference , but in the center of natures hidden secre●s , which can never come to pass , unless they have laboratories as well as libraries , and work in the fire , better than build castles in the air . 5. that the galenical way of the medicinal part of physick ( a path that hath been long enough trodden to yield so little fruit ) may not be the prison that all men must be inchained in , and ignorance , cheating and impostorage maintained by lawes and charters ; but that the more sure , cleer and exquisit way of finding the true causes , and certain cures of diseases , brought to light by those two most eminent and laborious persons , paracelsus , and helmont , may be entertained , prosecuted and promoted ; that it may no longer be disputable whether medicine ( as it stands in the common road of use and form ) be more helpful than hurtful , or kill more than it cures ; and whether the republique of rome were more happy in the health of her subjects which wanted physicians for five hundred years , than we that have them in more abundance than caterpillers , or horseleaches . and unless these few expedients be put in practice , we may wax old in ignorance , and never see physical knowledge arrive at any height of perfection ; and so i pass to the others following . the next is metaphysicks , to help which i shall only offer this expedient , that it might be reduced to some certain grounds and principles , from whence demonstrations might be drawn , that men might proceed with some certainty , and not wander in the dark they know not whither , and so that the most sure way of rena●us des cartes may be brought into use , and exercise , who hath traced it unto the head of the spring , and shaken off the loose and superfluous questions , notions , and frivolous chimaeras thereof : that so it might become useful and beneficial , which as it now stands , and is used ( or rather abused ) serves for little else but o●ly to amuse , and amaze the understanding , to blow up the phantasie with ayrie and empty notions , and to make men vainly and fruitlessly wast their most pretious time , which should be bestowed in things of more necessary use , and of greater concernment . as for ethical knowledge , i suppose it better taught by president and practice , than by words and precepts , for seeing vertue doth consist in action , it must of necessity be far more laudable , that men be brought up to live vertuously , than to talk and dispute of vertue , and therefore could wish it more practical and less speculative . and yet could desire that the nature of passions and affections , vertues and vices , might be more radically demonstrated , and sought into , than they are in the scholastick way , and therefore shall onely propose that what melancthon and cartesius have discovered of them , might be made documental , and practicable , and that the doctrine of them might be made more consonant to that christian religion which men so much profess , and glory of , and that seneca and epictetus might not be sleighted , and neglected , while aristotle is only applauded and imbraced , betwixt whom there is no small difference . lastly for rhetorick and poesie , i shall prescribe nothing , but leave every man to the freedome of his genius , only to add this , that emperours and kings can make and create dukes , marquesses , and earls , but cannot make one orator or poet , and so shall conclude with the lyrick poet , tu nihil invitâ facies , dicesve , minervâ . chap. xi . some expedients concerning their custome , and method . in order to the prescription of remedies concerning their customes and method , though ( as in the rest ) i cannot do what should or ought to be done in so weighty a matter , yet shall i contribute what lies in my weak power , and at least expresse my good will , if not my skill . 1. and so shall first desire that men may no● be tyed up all to one method or way , lest as it may keep them in a good path , so it may hinder them from imbracing , or following a better : and it is cleer that there may be many waies to one place , and divers methods for the attaining the same end of knowledge , so as we would not exclude men from tryals that they may find out the best , so we would not ty them to any one , lest it prove the worst . 2. that above all other things care may be had that time be not mispent , or trifled away , which is an irreparable loss , and utterly irrevocable , and therefore i could wish that apelles motto might be had in everlasting remembrance , nulla dies sine linea ; and therefore long vacations , relaxations and intermissions are to be looked upon as scylla and charibdis , the rocks and shelves whereon youngmen may easily suffer shipwrack . 3. i shall tender this , that all should not be tyed to one term or time , but every one have his honour according to his industry and proficiency , that therby those that are painful may be incouraged , and those that are idle and sluggish may be ashamed : and that none may be debarred of his degree or grace , how short a time soever he hath been there , if he be but able to perform the requisites and exercises injoined , by which means merit , not years , sufficiency , not formality , shall take place and be rewarded . 4. that their exercises may not only be verbal and disputative , but practical and operative , that they may not onely be tryed what they can say , but what they can do , not only what they opinionate , but what they can perform , that as nature hath given them two hands , and but one tongue , so they may learn to work more and speak less . 5. that their exercises may be in the english as well as other tongues , that while they labour to make other languages familiar unto them , they become not altogether strangers unto their own : and that scurrility , and childishnesse may be laid aside , and all things performed with more sobriety and gravity . 6. that neither antiquity nor novelty may take place above verity , lest it debarre us from a more diligent search after truth and science : neither that universality of opinion be any president or rule to sway our judgements from the investigation of knowledge ; for what matter is it whether we follow many or few , so the truth be our guide ? for we should not follow a multitude to do evil , and it is better to accompany verity single , than falsity and errour with never so great a number . neither is it fit that authority ( whether of aristotle or any other ) should inchain us , but that there may be a general freedome to try all things , and to hold fast that which is good , that so there might be a philosophical liberty to be bound to the authority of none , but truth it self , then will men take pains , and arts will flou●ish . 7. as to the order to be observed in teaching the arts , and sciences , doubtless there can be no better method , than leading them into the fair fields of mathematical learning , which by reason of its perspicuity and certitude would so settle and season the understanding , that it would ever after be sufficiently armed to discern betwixt truth and opinion , demonstration and probability : and render it more fit and able to proceed in natural philosophy , and other sciences , and so to proceed to the tongues , then to physicks , and so to logick , metaphysicks , and the like , which order without question , would prove more advantagious , than that which the schools have pursued for so many years with so little fruit . and these are the expedients that for the present i have to present , hoping they may be acceptable until better be found out ; and if any thing herein may appear to be erroneous , let it be but candidly made manifest , and he will be willing either to give further satisfaction , or to reclaim his mistakes , who in these things judgeth himself but as the meanest of men , and so no way privileged from frailty and infirmity . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a65356e-2430 act. 7.22 . philostrat. in vilâ apoll. tyan . act. 22.3 . chrysostome in epist ad cor. 1. cap. 2. hom. 6.7 . mat. 9.38 . ioh. 11.12 . gregor. li . 28 moral . 1 cor. 1.19 , 20 august . sup . psal. 70. isa. 50.11 . greg. lib. 9. moral . gal. 1 . 1.1● . mat. 16.17 . job 6.45 . nich. de cusa . de filiatione dei . 1 cor. 2.14 . 2 cor. 10 ▪ 4 , 5. vid. chrysost. sup. loc. hieronim . in epist. de duobus filiis . col. 2.8 . 1 cor. 1.17 . 1 cor. 2.4 , 5. chry. hom. 3. in 1 ad cor. cap. 1. v. 17. 1 cor. 1.29 , 31. hug. de sanct. victor . in dida●calic . 2 cor. 3 6. 1 cor. 2.8 . rev. 3 7. jo. 3.31 , 32. rom 8.28 . disserta . de methodo . lib. pag. 3. lib. stud. author . pag. 16. matth. 23.9 . james 3.1 . jam. 1.13 . chrysost. in ep. ad cor. 1. cap. 2. hom. 7. renat . des cartes in method . iam. 3.15.17 . hug. lib. 3 de anima . cap. 6. nic. de cusa . lib. idiotae . eph 3.4 5 6. francis . bacon . de verulam . lib. de aug scient. cap. 2. psal. 36.9 . 1 king 8.27 . 1 cor. 2.10 , 12. gen. 8.4 . dan. ● . 34 . ioh. 3.8 1 cor. 1.25 . 1 cor. 2.13 . 1 sam. 28.7 . io. 4.14 . ier. 2.13 . 2 kings 5.12 . isai. 12.13 . psal. 40 4. 1 tim. 6.20 . 2 tim. 2.23 . tit. 3 9. chrysost. in ep ad cor. 1. cap. 2. gal. 2.20 . 1 cor. 1.17 . 1 cor. 2.5 . gen. 15.6 . gen. 18.13 . rom. 4.18.19 , 20. lib. de aug. scient 9. cap. rom. 1.20 , 21. harrigon . lib. curs . mathem . c●st . s●len . ●●tograph . lib. 7. sir kenelm digbies book of bodies and spirits . fr. bacon de au. sci. l. 6. c 1. jac. e●hem book of the 3 ●old life of man , and in other places of his works . gen. 1.27 . heb. 1.3 . jo. 1.1 . psa. 19.1 , 2 , 3 , 4 psa. 150.6 . 2 cor. 12.4 . 1 cor. 13.1 . 1 cor. 14.10 rom. 1.20 . i cor 14.7 , 8. jam. i. 17. gen 2 19 , 20. gen. 2.23 . gen. 3.5.6 . 1 tim 2.14 . aristot. lib. topic . 2. verulam . nov. org. aph. 13. verulam nov. org. aph. 14. plat. in cratyl . petr. gassend . exer. per. con . arist. exer. 1. cor. agrip. li . de van . scie . c. 7. & 8. de dial. et sophist . sen. ep. 45. lip. in epist. sen. 45. helm . li . log. inutilis dio . sen● ep. 49. joh. bap. van hel. li . antecit . nic. hil. l. de phil. e●icur . vernlam . nov org. aph. 9. pla l. de soph. plat. dialog. 5. de leg. cor. agrip. li . in art. brev. lul. paul . sch. de li. me●h . mars . ficin in dia● 1. de rep. verulam . nov. o●g . aph. 12. verul. lib. de augm. scient. 3. cap. 6. gal. galal . lib. de syst. mund. gil. l. de mag. ●t lib. de ●●il . nov. verulam . nov. o●g . aph. 14. white dial. de mundo . kepler . astro . ep●● . philolai de syst. mund. liber . white dial. de mund. fol. 84. kepler ▪ de stella martis lib. white dial. de mundo fol. 45. nath. carpen . geograph . jo. dee in his preface before euclide . arist. li . phys. 8 prior . de coel. et de mund. arist. l. 2. phy. hel. lib. phys. arist et gal. ign. . pet. gas. exer. 5 contr. arist. arist. l. 3 phy. cap. 3. arist. lib. de coel. et mun. ca. 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 , 9 , 10. prim . lib. arist lib 1. de gen. et cor. cap. 2 , 9. helm . lib. ante citato . verulam . nov. org. aphor. 8. jo. bapt. port. mag . natu . l. 1. cap. 1. matth. 2.1 , 7. jo. pic. miran . con. m●g . nu . 26. verul. l 3. de aug. sci. c● . 5. jo. pic. miran . loco . citato . paracel . li . de . tinct . phys. helm li . phys. arist. et gal. ign. . jo. bapt. van hel●li . elem. rob. de fluct . lib de anato . mia mystica . paracel . lib 4. de caus. luis gal. cap. 9. hel de prom . author . verul. lib. 4. de aug. sci. ca. 1. arist. lib. de som. et vig . cap. 3. beguin . tyr. chy. c. 2. par. de trib. princ . gilb. de mag● kercher . de arte magn. reg. de fundam . phys. kepler epit. astron . arist. lib. 2. phys. cap. 1. arist. l. 1. de coel. et mun. cap. 2. arist. lib. 1. phys. cap. 6. renat . des cha●● . de me●hod . verul. de au. scient. lib. 3 cap. 2. vid. metaphys. campanel . et pet. gasl●nd . contra arist. aug. alst●mde nobil. institut . lib. lamb . d●nae . de e●hick . christ . lib. verulam . d● aug. scien● . lib. 7.1 . arist. nich. l. 1. cap. 5. pet. gassend . con . arist ex . 7. verul. de au. sci. l. 6 c. 3. sen. epist. 115. aug. alst. de nobil. institut . ren. de char. de method . aug. alst. de nobil ▪ institut . verul. de au. scient. l. 1. ●t nov. o g. lib. aphor. 84. lev. 10.1 , 2. exod. 40.36 , 37 , 38. isa. 29.11 , 12. rev. 5.1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. psalm 1.7 . psal. 2.12 . job 17.14 . 