Chapter V (5)

Though this prediction seemed a notable piece of Divination, yet did it not so highly magnifie his natural sagacity or knowledge of future events as was by many esteemed; he having no small assistance herein from the Prophecy of _Daniel_ concerning the Persian Monarchy, and the Prophecy of _Jeremiah_ and _Isaiah_, wherein he might reade the name of _Cyrus_ who should restore the Captivity of the Jews, and must, therefore, be the great Monarch and Lord of all those Nations.

The same misfortune was also foretold when he demanded of _Apollo_ if ever he should hear his dumb Son speak.

_O foolish_ Croesus _who hast made this choice,
To know when thou shalt hear thy dumb Son's voice;
Better he still were mute, would nothing say,
When he first speaks, look for a dismal day._

This, if he contrived not the time and the means of his recovery, was no ordinary divination: yet how to make out the verity of the story some doubt may yet remain. For though the causes of deafness and dumbness were removed, yet since words are attained by hearing, and men speak not without instruction, how he should be able immediately to utter such apt and significant words, as +Anthrope, me kteine Kroison+,[279] _O Man slay not_ Croesus, it cannot escape some doubt, since the Story also delivers, that he was deaf and dumb, that he then first began to speak, and spake all his life after.

[279] Herod. _l._ 1. 85.

Now, if _Croesus_ had consulted again for a clearer exposition of what was doubtfully delivered, whether the Oracle would have spake out the second time or afforded a clearer answer, some question might be made from the examples of his practice upon the like demands.

So when the Spartans had often fought with ill success against the _Tegeates_, they consulted the Oracle what God they should appease, to become victorious over them. The answer was, _that they should remove the Bones of_ Orestes. Though the words were plain, yet the thing was obscure, and like finding out the Body of _Moses_. And therefore they once more demanded in what place they should find the same; unto whom he returned this answer,

_When in the Tegean Plains a place thou find'st
Where blasts are made by two impetuous Winds,
Where that that strikes is struck, blows follow blows,
There doth the Earth_ Orestes _Bones enclose._

Which obscure reply the wisest of _Sparta_ could not make out, and was casually unriddled by one talking with a Smith who had found large Bones of a Man buried about his House; the Oracle importing no more than a Smith's Forge, expressed by a Double Bellows, the Hammer and Anvil therein.

Now, why the Oracle should place such consideration upon the Bones of _Orestes_ the Son of _Agamemnon_, a mad man and a murtherer, if not to promote the idolatry of the Heathens, and maintain a superstitious veneration of things of no activity, it may leave no small obscurity.

Or why, in a business so clear in his knowledge, he should affect so obscure expressions it may also be wondred; if it were not to maintain the wary and evasive method in his answers: for, speaking obscurely in things beyond doubt within his knowledge, he might be more tolerably dark in matters beyond his prescience.

Though =EI= were inscribed over the Gate of _Delphos_, yet was there no uniformity in his deliveries. Sometimes with that _obscurity_ as argued a fearfull prophecy; sometimes so _plainly_ as might confirm a spirit of divinity; sometimes _morally_, deterring from vice and villany; another time _vitiously_, and in the spirit of bloud and cruelty: observably modest in his civil enigma and periphrasis of that part which old _Numa_ would plainly name,[280] and _Medea_ would not understand, when he advised _AEgeus_ not to draw out his foot before, untill he arriv'd upon the Athenian ground; whereas another time he seemed too literal in that unseemly epithet unto _Cyanus_ King of _Cyprus_,[281] and put a beastly trouble upon all _AEgypt_ to find out the Urine of a true Virgin. Sometimes, more beholding unto memory than invention, he delighted to express himself in the bare Verses of _Homer_. But that he principally affected Poetry, and that the Priest not onely or always composed his prosal raptures into Verse, seems plain from his necromantical Prophecies, whilst the dead Head in _Phlegon_ delivers a long Prediction in Verse; and at the raising of the Ghost of _Commodus_ unto _Caracalla_, when none of his Ancestours would speak, the divining Spirit versified his infelicities; corresponding herein to the apprehensions of elder times, who conceived not onely a Majesty but something of Divinity in Poetry, and as in ancient times the old Theologians delivered their inventions.

[280] Plut. _in_ Thes.

[281] _V._ Herod.

Some critical Readers might expect in his oraculous Poems a more than ordinary strain and true spirit of _Apollo_; not contented to find that Spirits make Verses like Men, beating upon the filling Epithet, and taking the licence of dialects and lower helps, common to humane Poetry; wherein, since _Scaliger_, who hath spared none of the Greeks, hath thought it wisedom to be silent, we shall make no excursion.

Others may wonder how the curiosity of elder times, having this opportunity of his Answers, omitted Natural Questions; or how the old Magicians discovered no more Philosophy; and if they had the assistance of Spirits, could rest content with the bare assertions of things, without the knowledge of their causes; whereby they had made their Acts iterable by sober hands, and a standing part of Philosophy. Many wise Divines hold a reality in the wonders of the AEgyptian Magicians, and that those _magnalia_ which they performed before _Pharaoh_ were not mere delusions of Sense. Rightly to understand how they made Serpents out of Rods; Froggs and Bloud of Water, were worth half _Porta's_ Magick.

_Hermolaus Barbarus_ was scarce in his wits, when, upon conference with a Spirit, he would demand no other question than the explication of _Aristotle's Entelecheia_. _Appion_ the Grammarian, that would raise the Ghost of _Homer_ to decide the Controversie of his Country, made a frivolous and pedantick use of Necromancy. _Philostratus_ did as little, that call'd up the Ghost of _Achilles_ for a particular of the Story of _Troy_. Smarter curiosities would have been at the great Elixir, the Flux and Reflux of the Sea, with other noble obscurities in Nature; but probably all in vain: in matters cognoscible and framed for our disquisition, our Industry must be our Oracle, and Reason our _Apollo_.

Not to know things without the Arch of our intellectuals, or what Spirits apprehend, is the imperfection of our nature not our knowledge, and rather inscience than ignorance in man. Revelation might render a great part of the Creation easie which now seems beyond the stretch of humane indagation, and welcome no doubt from good hands might be a true _Almagest_, and great celestial construction: a clear Systeme of the planetical Bodies of the invisible and seeming useless Stars unto us, of the many Suns in the eighth Sphere, what they are, what they contain and to what more immediately those Stupendous Bodies are serviceable. But being not hinted in the authentick Revelation of God, nor known how far their discoveries are stinted; if they should come unto us from the mouth of evil Spirits, the belief thereof might be as unsafe as the enquiry.

* * * * *

This is a copious Subject; but, having exceeded the bounds of a letter, I will not, now, pursue it farther. I am

_Yours_, etc.

A PROPHECY

Concerning the future state of several Nations,

In a Letter written upon occasion of an old
Prophecy sent to the Authour from a Friend,
with a Request that he would consider it.

TRACT XII

SIR,

I take no pleasure in Prophecies so hardly intelligible, and pointing at future things from a pretended spirit of Divination; of which sort this seems to be which came unto your hand, and you were pleased to send unto me. And therefore, for your easier apprehension, divertisement and consideration, I present you with a very different kind of prediction: not positively or peremptorily telling you what shall come to pass; yet pointing at things not without all reason or probability of their events; not built upon fatal decrees, or inevitable designations, but upon conjectural foundations, whereby things wished may be promoted, and such as are feared, may more probably be prevented.

THE PROPHECY

_When_ New England _shall trouble_ New Spain.
_When_ Jamaica _shall be Lady of the Isles and the Main._
_When_ Spain _shall be in_ America _hid,_
_And_ Mexico _shall prove a_ Madrid._
_When_ Mahomet's _Ships on the_ Baltick _shall ride,_
_And Turks shall labour to have Ports on that side._
_When_ Africa _shall no more sell out their Blacks_
_To make Slaves and Drudges to the American Tracts_.
_When_ Batavia _the Old shall be contemn'd by the New_.
_When a new Drove of Tartars shall_ China _subdue._
_When_ America _shall cease to send out its Treasure,_
_But employ it at home in American Pleasure._
_When the new World shall the old invade,_
_Nor count them their Lords but their fellows in Trade._
_When Men shall almost pass to_ Venice _by Land,_
_Not in deep Water but from Sand to Sand._
_When_ Nova Zembla _shall be no stay_
_Unto those who pass to or from_ Cathay._
_Then think strange things are come to light,_
_Whereof but few have had a foresight._

THE EXPOSITION OF THE PROPHECY

_When_ New England _shall trouble_ New Spain.

That is, When that thriving Colony, which hath so much encreased in our days, and in the space of about fifty years, that they can, as they report, raise between twenty and thirty thousand men upon an exigency, shall in process of time be so advanced, as to be able to send forth Ships and Fleets, as to infest the American Spanish Ports and Maritime Dominions by depredations or assaults; for which attempts they are not like to be unprovided, as abounding in the Materials for Shipping, Oak and Firre. And when length of time shall so far encrease that industrious people, that the neighbouring Country will not contain them, they will range still farther and be able, in time, to set forth great Armies, seek for new possessions, or make considerable and conjoined migrations, according to the custom of swarming Northern Nations; wherein it is not likely that they will move Northward, but toward the Southern and richer Countries, which are either in the Dominions or Frontiers of the Spaniards: and may not improbably erect new Dominions in places not yet thought of, and yet, for some Centuries, beyond their power or Ambition.

_When_ Jamaica _shall be Lady of the Isles and the Main._

That is, When that advantageous Island shall be well peopled, it may become so strong and potent as to over-power the neighbouring Isles, and also a part of the main Land, especially the Maritime parts. And already in their infancy they have given testimony of their power and courage in their bold attempts upon _Campeche_ and _Santa Martha_; and in that notable attempt upon _Panama_ on the Western side of _America_: especially considering this Island is sufficiently large to contain a numerous people, of a Northern and warlike descent, addicted to martial affairs both by Sea and Land, and advantageously seated to infest their neighbours both of the Isles and the Continent, and like to be a receptacle for Colonies of the same originals from _Barbadoes_ and the neighbour Isles.

_When_ Spain _shall be in_ America _hid; And_ Mexico _shall prove a_ Madrid.

That is, When _Spain_, either by unexpected disasters, or continued emissions of people into _America_, which have already thinned the Country, shall be farther exhausted at home: or when, in process of time, their Colonies shall grow by many accessions more than their Originals, then _Mexico_ may become a _Madrid_, and as considerable in people, wealth and splendour; wherein that place is already so well advanced, that accounts scarce credible are given of it. And it is so advantageously seated, that, by _Acapulco_ and other Ports on the South Sea, they may maintain a communication and commerce with the Indian Isles and Territories, and with _China_ and _Japan_, and on this side, by _Porto Belo_ and others, hold correspondence with _Europe_ and _Africa_.

_When_ Mahomet's _Ships in the Baltick shall ride._

Of this we cannot be out of all fear; for, if the Turk should master _Poland_, he would be soon at this Sea. And from the odd constitution of the Polish Government, the divisions among themselves, jealousies between their Kingdom and Republick; vicinity of the Tartars, treachery of the Cossacks, and the method of Turkish Policy, to be at Peace with the Emperour of _Germany_ when he is at War with the Poles, there may be cause to fear that this may come to pass. And then he would soon endeavour to have Ports upon that Sea, as not wanting Materials for Shipping. And, having a new acquist of stout and warlike men, may be a terrour unto the confiners on that Sea, and to Nations which now conceive themselves safe from such an Enemy.

_When_ Africa _shall no more sell out their Blacks._

That is, When African Countries shall no longer make it a common Trade to sell away the people to serve in the drudgery of American Plantations. And that may come to pass when ever they shall be well civilized, and acquainted with Arts and Affairs sufficient to employ people in their Countries: if also they should be converted to Christianity, but especially unto Mahometism; for then they would never sell those of their Religion to be Slaves unto Christians.

_When_ Batavia _the Old shall be contemn'd by the New._

When the Plantations of the Hollanders at _Batavia_ in the _East Indies_, and other places in the _East Indies_, shall, by their conquests and advancements, become so powerfull in the Indian Territories; Then their Original Countries and States of _Holland_ are like to be contemned by them, and obeyed onely as they please. And they seem to be in a way unto it at present by their several Plantations, new acquists and enlargements: and they have lately discovered a part of the Southern Continent, and several places which may be serviceable unto them, when ever time shall enlarge them unto such necessities.

_And a new Drove of Tartars shall_ China _subdue._

Which is no strange thing if we consult the Histories of _China_, and successive Inundations made by Tartarian Nations. For when the Invaders, in process of time, have degenerated into the effeminacy and softness of the Chineses, then they themselves have suffered a new Tartarian Conquest and Inundation. And this hath happened from time beyond our Histories: for, according to their account, the famous Wall of _China_, built against the irruptions of the Tartars, was begun above a hundred years before the Incarnation.

_When_ America _shall cease to send forth its treasure, But employ it at home for American Pleasure._

That is, When _America_ shall be better civilized, new policied and divided between great Princes, it may come to pass that they will no longer suffer their Treasure of Gold and Silver to be sent out to maintain the Luxury of _Europe_ and other parts: but rather employ it to their own advantages, in great Exploits and Undertakings, magnificent Structures, Wars or Expeditions of their own.

_When the new World shall the old invade._

That is, When _America_ shall be so well peopled, civilized and divided into Kingdoms, they are like to have so little regard of their Originals, as to acknowledge no subjection unto them: they may also have a distinct commerce between themselves, or but independently with those of _Europe_, and may hostilely and pyratically assault them, even as the Greek and Roman Colonies after a long time dealt with their Original Countries.

_When Men shall almost pass to_ Venice _by Land, Not in deep Waters but from Sand to Sand._

That is, When, in long process of time, the Silt and Sands shall so choak and shallow the Sea in and about it. And this hath considerably come to pass within these fourscore years; and is like to encrease from several causes, especially by the turning of the River _Brenta_, as the learned _Castelli_ hath declared.

_When_ Nova Zembla _shall be no stay Unto those who pass to or from_ Cathay.

That is, When ever that often sought for Northeast passage unto _China_ and _Japan_ shall be discovered; the hindrance whereof was imputed to _Nova Zembla_; for this was conceived to be an excursion of Land shooting out directly, and so far Northward into the Sea that it discouraged from all Navigation about it. And therefore Adventurers took in at the Southern part at a strait by _Waygatz_ next the Tartarian Shore: and, sailing forward they found that Sea frozen and full of Ice, and so gave over the attempt. But of late years, by the diligent enquiry of some Moscovites, a better discovery is made of these parts, and a Map or Chart made of them. Thereby _Nova Zembla_ is found to be no Island extending very far Northward; but, winding Eastward, it joineth to the Tartarian Continent, and so makes a _Peninsula_: and the Sea between it which they entred at _Waygatz_, is found to be but a large Bay, apt to be frozen by reason of the great River of _Oby_, and other fresh Waters, entring into it: whereas the main Sea doth not freez upon the North of _Zembla_ except near unto Shores; so that if the Moscovites were skilfull Navigatours they might, with less difficulties, discover this passage unto _China_: but however the English, Dutch and Danes are now like to attempt it again.

* * * * *

But this is Conjecture, and not Prophecy: and so (I know) you will take it. I am,

_Sir_, etc.

MUSAEUM CLAUSUM

or

Bibliotheca Abscondita:

Containing some remarkable Books, Antiquities,
Pictures and Rarities of several kinds, scarce
or never seen by any man now living.

TRACT XIII

SIR,

With many thanks I return that noble Catalogue of Books, Rarities and Singularities of Art and Nature, which you were pleased to communicate unto me. There are many Collections of this kind in _Europe_. And, besides the printed accounts of the _Musaeum Aldrovandi_, _Calceolarianum_, _Moscardi_, _Wormianum_; the _Casa Abbellitta_ at _Loretto_, and _Threasor_ of S. _Dennis_, the _Repository_ of the Duke of _Tuscany_, that of the Duke of _Saxony_, and that noble one of the Emperour at _Vienna_, and many more are of singular note. Of what in this kind I have by me I shall make no repetition, and you having already had a view thereof, I am bold to present you with the List of a Collection, which I may justly say you have not seen before.

The Title is, as above,

_Musaeum Clausum_, or _Bibliotheca Abscondita: containing some remarkable Books, Antiquities, Pictures and Rarities of several kinds, scarce or never seen by any man now living_.

1. Rare and generally unknown Books.

A poem of _Ovidius Naso_, written in the Getick Language,[282] during his exile at _Tomos_, found wrapt up in Wax at _Sabaria_, on the Frontiers of _Hungary_, where there remains a tradition that he died, in his return towards _Rome_ from _Tomos_, either after his pardon or the death of _Augustus_.

[282] _Ah pudet et scripsi Getico sermone Libellum._

2. The Letter of _Quintus Cicero_, which he wrote in answer to that of his Brother _Marcus Tullius_, desiring of him an account of _Britany_, wherein are described the Country, State and Manners of the Britains of that Age.

3. An Ancient British Herbal, or description of divers Plants of this Island, observed by that famous Physician _Scribonius Largus_, when he attended the Emperour _Claudius_ in his expedition into _Britany_.

4. An exact account of the Life and Death of _Avicenna_ confirming the account of his Death by taking nine Clysters together in a fit of the Colick; and not as _Marius_ the Italian Poet delivereth, by being broken upon the Wheel; left with other Pieces by _Benjamin Tudelensis_, as he travelled from _Saragossa_ to _Jerusalem_, in the hands of _Abraham Jarchi_, a famous Rabbi of _Lunet_ near _Montpelier_, and found in a Vault when the Walls of that City were demolished by _Lewis_ the Thirteenth.

5. A punctual relation of _Hannibal's_ march out of _Spain_ into _Italy_, and far more particular than that of _Livy_, where about he passed the River _Rhodanus_ or _Rhosne_; at what place he crossed the _Isura_ or _L'isere_; when he marched up toward the confluence of the _Sone_ and the _Rhone_, or the place where the City _Lyons_ was afterward built; how wisely he decided the difference between King _Brancus_ and his Brother, at what place he passed the _Alpes_, what Vinegar he used, and where he obtained such quantity to break and calcine the Rocks made hot with Fire.

6. A learned Comment upon the _Periplus_ of _Hanno_ the Carthaginian, or his Navigation upon the Western Coast of _Africa_, with the several places he landed at; what Colonies he settled, what Ships were scattered from his Fleet near the AEquinoctial Line, which were not afterward heard of, and which probably fell into the Trade Winds, and were carried over into the Coast of _America_.

7. A particular Narration of that famous Expedition of the English into _Barbary_ in the ninety fourth year of the _Hegira_, so shortly touched by _Leo Africanus_, whither called by the Goths they besieged, took and burnt the City of _Arzilla_ possessed by the Mahometans, and lately the seat of _Gayland_; with many other exploits delivered at large in Arabick, lost in the Ship of Books and Rarities which the King of _Spain_ took from _Siddy Hamet_ King of _Fez_, whereof a great part were carried into the _Escurial_, and conceived to be gathered out of the relations of _Hibnu Nachu_, the best Historian of the African Affairs.

8. A Fragment of _Pythaeas_ that ancient Traveller of _Marseille_; which we suspect not to be spurious, because, in the description of the Northern Countries, we find that passage of _Pythaeas_ mentioned by _Strabo_, that all the Air beyond _Thule_ is thick, condensed and gellied, looking just like Sea Lungs.

9. A _Sub Marine_ Herbal, describing the several Vegetables found on the Rocks, Hills, Valleys, Meadows at the bottom of the Sea, with many sorts of _Alga_, _Fucus_, _Quercus_, _Polygonum_, _Gramens_ and others not yet described.

10. Some Manuscripts and Rarities brought from the Libraries of _AEthiopia_, by _Zaga Zaba_, and afterward transported to _Rome_, and scattered by the Souldiers of the Duke of _Bourbon_, when they barbarously sacked that City.

11. Some Pieces of _Julius Scaliger_, which he complains to have been stoln from him, sold to the Bishop of _Mende_ in _Languedock_, and afterward taken away and sold in the Civil Wars under the Duke of _Rohan_.

12. A Comment of _Dioscorides_ upon _Hyppocrates_, procured from _Constantinople_ by _Amatus Lusitanus_, and left in the hands of a Jew of _Ragusa_.

13. _Marcus Tullius Cicero_ his Geography; as also a part of that magnified Piece of his _De Republica_, very little answering the great expectation of it, and short of Pieces under the same name by _Bodinus_ and _Tholosanus_.

14. King _Mithridates_ his _Oneirocritica_.

Aristotle de _Precationibus_.

Democritus _de his quae fiunt apud Orcum, et Oceani circumnavigatio_.

Epicurus _de Pietate_.

A Tragedy of _Thyestes_, and another of _Medea_, writ by _Diogenes_ the Cynick.

King _Alfred_ upon _Aristotle de Plantis_.

_Seneca's_ Epistles to S. _Paul_.

King _Solomon de Umbris Idaearum_, which _Chicus Asculaenus_, in his Comment upon _Johannes de Sacrobosco_, would make us believe he saw in the Library of the Duke of _Bavaria_.

15. Artemidori _Oneirocritici Geographia_.

Pythagoras _de Mari Rubro_.

The Works of _Confutius_ the famous Philosopher of _China_, translated into Spanish.

16. _Josephus_ in Hebrew, written by himself.

17. The Commentaries of _Sylla_ the Dictatour.

18. A Commentary of _Galen_ upon the Plague of _Athens_ described by _Thucydides_.

19. _Duo Caesaris Anti-Catones_, or the two notable Books writ by _Julius Caesar_ against _Cato_; mentioned by _Livy_, _Salustius_ and _Juvenal_; which the Cardinal of _Liege_ told _Ludovicus Vives_ were in an old Library of that City.

_Mazhapha Einok_, or, the Prophecy of _Enoch_, which _AEgidius Lochiensis_, a learned Eastern Traveller, told _Peireschius_ that he had found in an old Library at _Alexandria_ containing eight thousand Volumes.

20. A Collection of Hebrew Epistles, which passed between the two learned Women of our age _Maria Molinea_ of _Sedan_, and _Maria Schurman_ of _Utrecht_.

A wondrous Collection of some Writings of _Ludovica Saracenica_, Daughter of _Philibertus Saracenicus_ a Physician of _Lyons_, who at eight years of age had made a good progress in the Hebrew, Greek and Latin Tongues.

2. Rarities in Pictures.

1. A picture of the three remarkable Steeples or Towers in _Europe_ built purposely awry and so as they seem falling. _Torre Pisana_ at _Pisa_, _Torre Garisenda_ in _Bononia_, and that other in the City of _Colein_.

2. A Draught of all sorts of Sistrums, Crotaloes, Cymbals, Tympans, _etc._ in use among the Ancients.

3. Large _Submarine_ Pieces, well delineating the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, the Prerie or large Sea-meadow upon the Coast of _Provence_, the Coral Fishing, the gathering of Sponges, the Mountains, Valleys and Desarts, the Subterraneous Vents and Passages at the bottom of that Sea. Together with a lively Draught of _Cola Pesce_, or the famous Sicilian Swimmer, diving into the _Voragos_ and broken Rocks by _Charybdis_, to fetch up the Golden Cup, which _Frederick_, King of _Sicily_, had purposely thrown into that Sea.

4. A Moon Piece, describing that notable Battel between _Axalla_, General of _Tamerlane_, and _Camares_ the Persian, fought by the light of the Moon.

5. Another remarkable Fight of _Inghimmi_ the Florentine with the Turkish Galleys by Moon-light, who being for three hours grappled with the _Basha_ Galley, concluded with a signal Victory.

6. A delineation of the great Fair of _Almachara_ in _Arabia_, which, to avoid the great heat of the Sun, is kept in the Night, and by the light of the Moon.

7. A Snow Piece, of Land and Trees covered with Snow and Ice, and Mountains of Ice floating in the Sea, with Bears, Seals, Foxes, and variety of rare Fowls upon them.

8. An Ice Piece describing the notable Battel between the Jaziges and the Romans, fought upon the frozen _Danubius_, the Romans settling one foot upon their Targets to hinder them from slipping, their fighting with the Jaziges when they were fallen, and their advantages therein by their art in volutation and rolling contention or wrastling, according to the description of _Dion_.

9. _Socia_, or a Draught of three persons notably resembling each other. Of King _Henry_ the Fourth of _France_, and a Miller of _Languedock_; of _Sforza_ Duke of _Milain_ and a Souldier; of _Malatesta_ Duke of _Rimini_ and _Marchesinus_ the Jester.

10. A Picture of the great Fire which happened at _Constantinople_ in the Reign of _Sultan Achmet_. The Janizaries in the mean time plundring the best Houses, _Nassa Bassa_ the Vizier riding about with a Cimetre in one hand and a Janizary's Head in the other to deter them; and the Priests attempting to quench the Fire, by Pieces of _Mahomet's_ Shirt dipped in holy Water and thrown into it.

11. A Night Piece of the dismal Supper and strange Entertain of the Senatours by _Domitian_, according to the description of _Dion_.

12. A Vestal Sinner in the Cave with a Table and a Candle.

13. An Elephant dancing upon the Ropes with a _Negro_ Dwarf upon his Back.

14. Another describing the mighty Stone falling from the Clouds into _AEgospotamos_ or the Goats River in _Greece_, which Antiquity could believe that _Anaxagoras_ was able to foretell half a year before.

15. Three noble Pieces; of _Vercingetorix_ the Gaul submitting his person unto _Julius Caesar_; of _Tigranes_ King of _Armenia_ humbly presenting himself unto _Pompey_; and of _Tamerlane_ ascending his Horse from the Neck of _Bajazet_.

16. Draughts of three passionate Looks; of _Thyestes_ when he was told at the Table that he had eaten a piece of his own Son; of _Bajazet_ when he went into the Iron Cage; of _Oedipus_ when he first came to know that he had killed his Father, and married his own Mother.

17. Of the Cymbrian Mother in _Plutarch_ who, after the overthrow by _Marius_, hanged her self and her two Children at her feet.

18. Some Pieces delineating singular inhumanities in Tortures. The _Scaphismus_ of the Persians. The living truncation of the Turks. The hanging Sport at the Feasts of the Thracians. The exact method of flaying men alive, beginning between the Shoulders, according to the description of _Thomas Minadoi_, in his Persian War. Together with the studied tortures of the French Traitours at _Pappa_ in _Hungaria_: as also the wild and enormous torment invented by _Tiberius_, designed according unto the description of _Suetonius_. _Excogitaverunt inter genera cruciatus, ut larga meri potione per fallaciam oneratos repente veretris deligatis fidicularum simul urinaeque tormento distenderet._

19. A Picture describing how _Hannibal_ forced his passage over the River _Rhosne_ with his Elephants, Baggage and mixed Army; with the Army of the Gauls opposing him on the contrary Shore, and _Hanno_ passing over with his Horse much above to fall upon the Rere of the Gauls.

20. A neat Piece describing the Sack of _Fundi_ by the Fleet and Souldiers of _Barbarossa_ the Turkish Admiral, the confusion of the people and their flying up to the Mountains, and _Julia Gonzaga_ the beauty of _Italy_ flying away with her Ladies half naked on Horseback over the Hills.

21. A noble Head of _Franciscus Gonzaga_, who, being imprisoned for Treason, grew grey in one night, with this Inscription,

_O nox quam longa est quae facit una senem._

22. A large Picture describing the Siege of _Vienna_ by _Solyman_ the Magnificent, and at the same time the Siege of _Florence_ by the Emperour _Charles_ the Fifth and Pope _Clement_ the Seventh, with this Subscription,

_Tum vacui capitis populum_ Phaeaca _putares?_

23. An exquisite Piece properly delineating the first course of _Metellus_ his Pontificial Supper, according to the description of _Macrobius_; together with a Dish of _Pisces Fossiles_, garnished about with the little Eels taken out of the backs of Cods and Perches; as also with the Shell Fishes found in Stones about _Ancona_.

24. A Picture of the noble Entertain and Feast of the Duke of _Chausue_ at the Treaty of _Collen_, 1673, when in a very large Room, with all the Windows open, and at a very large Table he sate himself, with many great persons and Ladies; next about the Table stood a row of Waiters, then a row of Musicians, then a row of Musketiers.

25. _Miltiades_, who overthrew the Persians at the Battel of _Marathon_ and delivered _Greece_, looking out of a Prison Grate in _Athens_, wherein he died, with this Inscription,

_Non hoc terribiles Cymbri non Britones unquam,
Sauromataeve truces aut immanes Agathyrsi._

26. A fair English Lady drawn _Al Negro_, or in the AEthiopian hue excelling the original White and Red Beauty, with this Subscription,

_Sed quondam volo nocte Nigriorem._

27. Pieces and Draughts in _Caricatura_, of Princes, Cardinals and famous men; wherein, among others, the Painter hath singularly hit the signatures of a Lion and a Fox in the face of Pope _Leo_ the Tenth.

28. Some Pieces _A la ventura_, or Rare Chance Pieces, either drawn at random, and happening to be like some person, or drawn for some and happening to be more like another; while the Face, mistaken by the Painter, proves a tolerable Picture of one he never saw.

29. A Draught of famous Dwarfs with this Inscription,

_Nos facimus Bruti puerum nos Lagona vivum._

30. An exact and proper delineation of all sorts of Dogs upon occasion of the practice of _Sultan Achmet_; who in a great Plague at _Constantinople_ transported all the Dogs therein unto _Pera_, and from thence into a little Island, where they perished at last by Famine: as also the manner of the Priests curing of mad Dogs by burning them in the forehead with Saint _Bellin's Key_.

31. A noble Picture of _Thorismund_ King of the Goths as he was killed in his Palace at _Tholouze_, who being let bloud by a Surgeon, while he was bleeding, a stander by took the advantage to stab him.

32. A Picture of rare Fruits with this Inscription,

_Credere quae possis surrepta sororibus Afris._

33. An handsome Piece of Deformity expressed in a notable hard Face, with this Inscription,

----_Ora
Julius in Satyris qualia Rufus habet._

34. A noble Picture of the famous Duel between _Paul Manessi_ and _Caragusa_ the Turk in the time of _Amurath_ the Second; the Turkish Army and that of _Scanderbeg_ looking on; wherein _Manessi_ slew the Turk, cut off his Head and carried away the Spoils of his Body.

3. Antiquities and Rarities of several sorts.

1. Certain ancient Medals with Greek and Roman Inscriptions, found about _Crim Tartary_; conceived to be left in those parts by the Souldiers of _Mithridates_, when overcome by _Pompey_, he marched round about the North of the _Euxine_ to come about into _Thracia_.

2. Some ancient Ivory and Copper Crosses found with many others in _China_; conceived to have been brought and left there by the Greek Souldiers who served under _Tamerlane_ in his Expedition and Conquest of that Country.

3. Stones of strange and illegible Inscriptions, found about the great ruines which _Vincent le Blanc_ describeth about _Cephala_ in _Africa_, where he opinion'd that the Hebrews raised some Buildings of old, and that _Solomon_ brought from thereabout a good part of his Gold.

4. Some handsome Engraveries and Medals, of _Justinus_ and _Justinianus_, found in the custody of a Bannyan in the remote parts of _India_, conjectured to have been left there by the Friers mentioned in _Procopius_, who travelled those parts in the reign of _Justinianus_, and brought back into _Europe_ the discovery of Silk and Silk Worms.

5. An original Medal of _Petrus Aretinus_, who was called _Flagellum Principum_, wherein he made his own Figure on the Obverse part with this Inscription,

_Il Divino Aretino._

On the Reverse sitting on a Throne, and at his Feet Ambassadours of Kings and Princes bringing presents unto him, with this Inscription,

_I Principi tributati da i Popoli tributano il Servitor loro._

6. _Mummia Tholosana_; or, The complete Head and Body of Father _Crispin_, buried long ago in the Vault of the Cordeliers at _Tholouse_, where the Skins of the dead so drie and parch up without corrupting that their persons may be known very long after, with this Inscription,

_Ecce iterum Crispinus._

7. A noble _Quandros_ or Stone taken out of a Vulture's Head.

8. A large _Ostridges_ Egg, whereon is neatly and fully wrought that famous Battel of _Alcazar_, in which three Kings lost their lives.

9. An _Etiudros Alberti_ or Stone that is apt to be always moist: usefull unto drie tempers, and to be held in the hand in Fevers instead of Crystal, Eggs, Limmons, Cucumbers.

10. A small Viol of Water taken out of the Stones therefore called _Enhydri_, which naturally include a little Water in them, in like manner as the _AEtites_ or _Aegle_ Stone doth another Stone.

11. A neat painted and gilded Cup made out of the _Confiti di Tivoli_ and formed up with powder'd Egg-shells; as _Nero_ is conceived to have made his _Piscina admirabilis_, singular against Fluxes to drink often therein.

12. The Skin of a Snake bred out of the Spinal Marrow of a Man.

13. Vegetable Horns mentioned by _Linschoten_, which set in the ground grow up like Plants about _Goa_.

14. An extract of the Inck of Cuttle Fishes reviving the old remedy of _Hippocrates_ in Hysterical Passions.

15. Spirits and Salt of _Sargasso_ made in the Western Ocean covered with that Vegetable; excellent against the Scurvy.

16. An extract of _Cachunde_ or _Liberans_ that famous and highly magnified Composition in the _East Indies_ against Melancholy.

17. _Diarhizon mirificum_; or an unparallel'd Composition of the most effectual and wonderfull Roots in Nature.

Rx _Rad. Butuae Cuamensis.
Rad. Moniche Cuamensis.
Rad. Mongus Bazainensis.
Rad. Casei Baizanensis.
Rad. Columbae Mozambiguensis.
Gim Sem Sinicae.
Fo Lim lac Tigridis dictae.
Fo seu.
Cort. Rad. Soldae.
Rad. Ligni Solorani.
Rad. Malacensis madrededios dictae an._ [-3]ij.

_M. fiat pulvis, qui cum gelatina Cornu cervi Moschati Chinensis formetur in massas oviformes._

18. A transcendent Perfume made of the richest Odorates of both the _Indies_, kept in a Box made of the Muschie Stone of _Niarienburg_, with this Inscription,

----_Deos rogato
Totum ut te faciant, Fabulle, Nasum._

19. A _Clepselaea_, or Oil Hour-glass, as the Ancients used those of Water.

20. A Ring found in a Fishes Belly taken about _Gorro_; conceived to be the same wherewith the Duke of _Venice_ had wedded the Sea.

21. A neat Crucifix made out of the cross Bone of a Frogs Head.

22. A large Agath containing a various and careless Figure, which looked upon by a Cylinder representeth a perfect Centaur. By some such advantages King _Pyrrhus_ might find out _Apollo_ and the nine Muses in those Agaths of his whereof _Pliny_ maketh mention.

23. _Batrachomyomachia_, or the Homerican Battel between Frogs and Mice, neatly described upon the Chizel Bone of a large Pike's Jaw.

24. _Pyxis Pandorae_, or a Box which held the _Unguentum Pestiferum_, which by anointing the Garments of several persons begat the great and horrible Plague of _Milan_.

25. A Glass of Spirits made of AEthereal Salt, Hermetically sealed up, kept continually in Quick-silver; of so volatile a nature that it will scarce endure the Light, and therefore onely to be shown in Winter, or by the light of a Carbuncle, or Bononian Stone.

* * * * *

He who knows where all this Treasure now is, is a great _Apollo_. I'm sure I am not He. However, I am,

_Sir, Yours_, etc.

A
LETTER
to a
FRIEND
upon occasion of the
DEATH
OF HIS
Intimate Friend
1690

A LETTER TO A FRIEND,
Upon Occasion of the
Death of his Intimate Friend.

Give me leave to wonder that News of this Nature should have such heavy Wings that you should hear so little concerning your dearest Friend, and that I must make that unwilling Repetition to tell you, _Ad portam rigidos calces extendit_, that he is Dead and Buried, and by this time no Puny among the mighty Nations of the Dead; for tho' he left this World not very many Days past, yet every Hour you know largely addeth unto that dark Society; and considering the incessant Mortality of Mankind, you cannot conceive there dieth in the whole Earth so few as a thousand an Hour.

Altho' at this distance you had no early Account or Particular of his Death; yet your Affection may cease to wonder that you had not some secret Sense or Intimation thereof by Dreams, thoughtful Whisperings, Mercurisms, Airy Nuncio's, or sympathetical Insinuations, which many seem to have had at the Death of their dearest Friends: for since we find in that famous Story, that Spirits themselves were fain to tell their Fellows at a distance, that the great _Antonio_ was dead; we have a sufficient Excuse for our Ignorance in such Particulars, and must rest content with the common Road, and _Appian_ way of Knowledge by Information. Tho' the uncertainty of the End of this World hath confounded all Human Predictions; yet they who shall live to see the Sun and Moon darkned, and the Stars to fall from Heaven, will hardly be deceiv'd in the Advent of the last Day; and therefore strange it is, that the common Fallacy of consumptive Persons, who feel not themselves dying, and therefore still hope to live, should also reach their Friends in perfect Health and Judgment. That you should be so little acquainted with _Plautus's_ sick Complexion, or that almost an _Hippocratical_ Face should not alarum you to higher fears, or rather despair of his Continuation in such an emaciated State, wherein medical Predictions fail not, as sometimes in acute Diseases, and wherein 'tis as dangerous to be sentenc'd by a Physician as a Judge.

Upon my first Visit I was bold to tell them who had not let fall all Hopes of his Recovery, that in my sad Opinion he was not like to behold a Grashopper, much less to pluck another Fig; and in no long time after seem'd to discover that odd mortal Symptom in him not mention'd by _Hippocrates_, that is, to lose his own Face, and look like some of his near Relations; for he maintain'd not his proper Countenance, but look'd like his Uncle, the Lines of whose Face lay deep and invisible in his healthful Visage before: For as from our beginning we run through Variety of Looks, before we come to consistent and setled Faces; so before our End, by sick and languishing alterations, we put on new Visages: and in our Retreat to Earth, may fall upon such Looks which from Community of seminal Originals were before latent in us.

He was fruitlesly put in hope of advantage by change of Air, and imbibing the pure Aerial Nitre of these Parts; and therefore being so far spent, he quickly found _Sardinia_ in _Tivoli_,[283] and the most healthful Air of little effect, where Death had set her broad Arrow; for he lived not unto the middle of _May_, and confirmed the Observation of _Hippocrates_[284] of that mortal time of the Year when the Leaves of the Fig-tree resemble a Daw's Claw. He is happily seated who lives in Places whose Air, Earth and Water, promote not the Infirmities of his weaker Parts, or is early removed into Regions that correct them. He that is tabidly inclin'd, were unwise to pass his Days in _Portugal_: Cholical Persons will find little Comfort in _Austria_ or _Vienna_: He that is weak-legg'd must not be in Love with _Rome_, nor an infirm Head with _Venice_ or _Paris_. Death hath not only particular Stars in Heaven, but malevolent Places on Earth, which single out our Infirmities, and strike at our weaker Parts; in which Concern, passager and migrant Birds have the great Advantages; who are naturally constituted for distant Habitations, whom no Seas nor Places limit, but in their appointed Seasons will visit us from _Greenland_ and Mount _Atlas_, and as some think, even from the _Antipodes_.[285]

[283] _Cum mors venerit, in medio Tibure Sardinia est._

[284] In the King's Forests they set the Figure of a broad Arrow upon
Trees that are to be cut down. _Hippoc. Epidem._

[285] Bellonius _de Avibus_.

Tho' we could not have his Life, yet we missed not our desires in his soft Departure, which was scarce an Expiration; and his End not unlike his Beginning, when the salient Point scarce affords a sensible Motion, and his Departure so like unto Sleep, that he scarce needed the civil Ceremony of closing his Eyes; contrary unto the common way wherein Death draws up, Sleep let fall the Eye-lids. With what Strift and Pains we came into the World we know not; but 'tis commonly no easie matter to get out of it: yet if it could be made out, that such who have easie Nativities have commonly hard Deaths, and contrarily; his Departure was so easie, that we might justly suspect his Birth was of another nature, and that some _Juno_ sat cross-legg'd at his Nativity.

Besides his soft Death, the incurable state of his Disease might somewhat extenuate your Sorrow, who know that Monsters[286] but seldom happen, Miracles more rarely, in Physick. _Angelus Victorius_[287] gives a serious Account of a Consumptive, Hectical, Pthysical Woman, who was suddenly cured by the Intercession of _Ignatius_. We read not of any in Scripture who in this case applied unto our Saviour, tho' some may be contain'd in that large Expression, that he went about _Galilee_ healing all manner of Sickness, and all manner of Diseases. Amulets, Spells, Sigils and Incantations, practised in other Diseases, are seldom pretended in this; and we find no Sigil in the Archidoxis of _Paracelsus_ to cure an extreme Consumption or _Marasmus_, which if other Diseases fail, will put a period unto long Livers, and at last makes Dust of all. And therefore the _Stoicks_ could not but think that the fiery Principle would wear out all the rest, and at last make an end of the World, which notwithstanding without such a lingring period the Creator may effect at his Pleasure: and to make an end of all things on Earth, and our Planetical System of the World, he need but put out the Sun.

[286] _Monstra contingunt in Medicina Hippoc._

[287] Strange and rare Escapes there happen sometimes in Physick.
_Angeli Victorii Consultationes._ Matth. iv. 25.

I was not so curious to entitle the Stars unto any Concern of his Death, yet could not but take notice that he died when the Moon was in motion from the Meridian; at which time, an old _Italian_ long ago would perswade me that the greatest Part of Men died: but herein I confess I could never satisfie my Curiosity; altho' from the time of Tides in Places upon or near the Sea, there may be considerable Deductions; and _Pliny_[288] hath an odd and remarkable Passage concerning the Death of Men and Animals upon the Recess or Ebb of the Sea. However, certain it is he died in the dead and deep part of the Night, when _Nox_ might be most apprehensibly said to be the Daughter of _Chaos_, the Mother of Sleep and Death, according to old Genealogy; and so went out of this World about that hour when our blessed Saviour entred it, and about what time many conceive he will return again unto it. _Cardan_[289] hath a peculiar and no hard Observation from a Man's Hand to know whether he was born in the Day or Night, which I confess holdeth in my own. And _Scaliger_ to that purpose hath another from the tip of the Ear: Most Men are begotten in the Night, Animals in the Day; but whether more Persons have been born in the Night or the Day, were a Curiosity undecidable, tho' more have perished by violent Deaths in the Day; yet in natural Dissolutions both Times may hold an Indifferency, at least but contingent Inequality. The whole Course of Time runs out in the Nativity and Death of Things; which whether they happen by Succession or Coincidence, are best computed by the natural not artificial Day.

[288] _Aristoteles nullum animal nisi aestu recedente expirare affirmat:
observatum id multum in Gallico Oceano et duntaxat in Homine
comertum_, lib. 2. cap. 101.

[289] _Auris pars pendula Lobus dicitur, non omnibus ea pars est
auribus; non enim iis qui noctu nati sunt, sed qui interdiu,
maxima ex parte. Com. in Aristot. de Animal._ lib. 1.

That _Charles_ the Vth was crown'd upon the Day of his Nativity, it being in his own Power so to order it, makes no singular Animadversion; but that he should also take King _Francis_ Prisoner upon that Day, was an unexpected Coincidence, which made the same remarkable. _Antipater_ who had an Anniversary Fever every Year upon his Birth-day, needed no Astrological Revolution to know what Day he should dye on. When the fixed Stars have made a Revolution unto the Points from whence they first set out, some of the Ancients thought the World would have an end; which was a kind of dying upon the Day of its Nativity. Now the Disease prevailing and swiftly advancing about the time of his Nativity, some were of Opinion that he would leave the World on the Day he entred into it: but this being a lingring Disease, and creeping softly on, nothing critical was found or expected, and he died not before fifteen Days after. Nothing is more common with Infants than to die on the Day of their Nativity, to behold the worldly Hours, and but the Fractions thereof; and even to perish before their Nativity in the hidden World of the Womb, and before their good Angel is conceived to undertake them. But in Persons who out-live many Years, and when there are no less than three hundred sixty five days to determine their Lives in every Year; that the first day should make the last, that the Tail of the Snake should return into its Mouth precisely at that time, and they should wind up upon the day of their Nativity,[290] is indeed a remarkable Coincidence, which, tho' Astrology hath taken witty Pains to salve, yet hath it been very wary in making Predictions of it.

[290] According to the _Egyptian_ Hieroglyphick.

In this consumptive Condition and remarkable Extenuation he came to be almost half himself, and left a great Part behind him which he carried not to the Grave. And tho' that Story of Duke _John Ernestus Mansfield_[291] be not so easily swallow'd, that at his Death his Heart was found not to be so big as a Nut; yet if the Bones of a good Skeleton weigh little more than twenty Pounds, his Inwards and Flesh remaining could make no Bouffage, but a light Bit for the Grave. I never more lively beheld the starved Characters of _Dante_[292] in any living Face; an _Aruspex_ might have read a Lecture upon him without Exenteration, his Flesh being so consumed, that he might, in a manner, have discerned his Bowels without opening of him: so that to be carried _sexta cervice_, to the Grave, was but a civil Unnecessity; and the Complements of the Coffin might out-weigh the Subject of it.

[291] _Turkish_ History.

[292] In the Poet _Dante_ his Discription.

_Omnibonus Ferrarius_[293] in mortal Dysenteries of Children looks for a Spot behind the Ear; in consumptive Diseases some eye the Complexion of Moles; _Cardan_ eagerly views the Nails, some the Lines of the Hand, the Thenar or Muscle of the Thumb; some are so curious as to observe the depth of the Throat-pit, how the Proportion varieth of the Small of the Legs unto the Calf, or the compass of the Neck unto the Circumference of the Head: but all these, with many more, were so drown'd in a mortal Visage, and last Face of _Hippocrates_, that a weak Physiognomist might say at first Eye, This was a Face of Earth, and that _Morta_[294] had set her hard Seal upon his Temples, easily perceiving what _Caricatura_[295] Draughts Death makes upon pined Faces, and unto what an unknown degree a Man may live backward.

[293] _De Morbis Puerorum._

[294] _Morta_, the Deity of Death or Fate.

[295] When Men's Faces are drawn with Resemblance to some other Animals,
the _Italians_ call it, to be drawn in _Caricatura_.

Tho' the Beard be only made a Distinction of Sex, and Sign of masculine Heat by _Ulmus_, yet the Precocity and early Growth thereof in him, was not to be liked in reference unto long Life. _Lewis_, that virtuous but unfortunate King of _Hungary_, who lost his Life at the Battle of _Mohacz_, was said to be born without a Skin, to have bearded at fifteen,[296] and to have shewn some grey Hairs about twenty; from whence the Diviners conjectur'd, that he would be spoiled of his Kingdom, and have but a short Life: But Hairs make fallible Predictions, and many Temples early grey have out-liv'd the Psalmist's Period.[297] Hairs which have most amused me have not been in the Face or Head, but on the Back, and not in Men but Children, as I long ago observed in that Endemial Distemper of little Children in _Languedock_, call'd the _Morgellons_,[298] wherein they critically break out with harsh Hairs on their Backs, which takes off the unquiet Symptoms of the Disease, and delivers them from Coughs and Convulsions.

[296] _Ulmus de usu barbae humanae._

[297] The Life of a Man is threescore and ten.

[298] See _Picotus de Rheumatismo_.

The _Egyptian_ Mummies that I have seen, have had their Mouths open, and somewhat gaping, which affordeth a good Opportunity to view and observe their Teeth, wherein 'tis not easie to find any wanting or decay'd; and therefore in _Egypt_, where one Man practised but one Operation, or the Diseases but of single Parts, it must needs be a barren Profession to confine unto that of drawing of Teeth, and little better than to have been Tooth-drawer unto King _Pyrrhus_,[299] who had but two in his Head. How the _Bannyans_ of _India_ maintain the Integrity of those Parts, I find not particularly observed; who notwithstanding have an Advantage of their Preservation by abstaining from all Flesh, and employing their Teeth in such Food unto which they may seem at first framed, from their Figure and Conformation: but sharp and corroding Rheums had so early mouldred those Rocks and hardest parts of his Fabrick, that a Man might well conceive that his Years were never like to double or twice tell over his Teeth.[300] Corruption had dealt more severely with them than sepulchral Fires and smart Flames with those of burnt Bodies of old; for in the burnt Fragments of Urnes which I have enquired into, altho' I seem to find few Incisors or Shearers, yet the Dog Teeth and Grinders do notably resist those Fires.

[299] His upper and lower Jaw being solid, and without distinct Rows of
Teeth.

[300] Twice tell over his Teeth, never live to threescore Years.