Quest. WHat is the chief end of writing Books?

Answ. For instruction and information; where­as idle Books are no o­ther than corrupted Tales in Ink and Paper; or indeed Vice sent abroad with a License, wherein two are guilty of evil, he that writes them, and he that reads them; be­ing in effect like the brutish sin of Adultery, wherein two are concerned in the same sin; and therefore his resolution was good who said, That for bad Books he would write none, lest he should thereby hurt others in the reading of them; nor would he read a­ny of them, for fear the Author should ans­wer for his sin, by being corrupted by them.

Quest. What Book of all others is the best?

Answ. The Holy Scriptures, contained in [...] Old and New Testament, wherein the Mysteries of our Salvation are contained, being the Book of all books, and in compa­ [...]on of which no book is comparable.

Qu. Of how many chapters doth this Book consist?

[Page 2] An. In the Old Testament or Bible, there are 777. In the new Testament 260. In the Books of Apocrypha 173. The total being 1210. And for the number of Verses in the Old Testament, the Jewish Rabbins have computed them thus: In the Books of the Law, Verses 5845. In the Prophets, 9294. and in Haggai 8064. Total 23203.

Q. Are there no other Books mentioned in the Old Testament, but those which we have now at this day?

A. Yes: there were the Books of Iddo and Gad the Seers; besides, Solomon wrote three thousand Parables, and five thousand Songs, with a Book of the Nature of all Herbs, Trees, and Plants, from the Cedar to the Hysop upon the wall. Samuel also writ a Book of the Office and Institution of a King. There were also Chronicles of the Kings of Judah and Israel, besides those we have in the Scripture, being, as is judged, written far larger; all which Were supposed to be lost in the Jewish Captivity at Babylon.

Q. What was St. Augustine 's answer to one who demanded what God did before he made the World?

A. That he was ordaining a Hell for such kind of Enquirers. Where the Scripture hath not a mouth to speak, we ought no [...] to have a tongue to ask.

Q. What was the greatest love that ever w [...] shown in this World?

A. The love of God to poor sinners, wh [...] gave his only begotten Son to dye for us of which one thus writeth:

Q. In what things had woman the Prehe­minence of man in the Creation?

A. In these three: First, that whereas man 'was made of the dust or slime of the earth, woman was made of that dust or slime refined. Secondly, man was made out of Paradise, woman in Paradise. And third­ly, when God is said to be about to make woman, he is said to build her, as being a­bout to make a curious Edifice, or more ex­cellent structure than that of man.

Q. What Book next to the Holy Scripture would you chiefly desire, the rest being taken a­way?

A. Theodore Beza being asked this question, answered, Plutarch, an excellent, Author for his Lives and Morals. Another said Seneca, whose divine Sentences in his Book are so squared by the Rules of Christianity, that St. Hierom concluded him amongst the Ca­talogue of Divine Writers. Another pre­ferred the Thesaurus Historiarum, being a Compendium of most Histories and worthy Examples: And that Ornament of History, Dr. Heylin, gives the preheminency to Sir Walter Rawleigh's History of the World, which he calls Primus in Historia.

Q. St. Bernard a learned Father of the Church greatly wondred at three Conjunctions, the like whereof never was, nor never will be: and what were they?

A.

• 1. Conjunction of God and man.
• 2. Of a Mother and a Virgin.
• [Page 4] 3. Of Faith and the heart of man to believe the same.

The first whereof is most wonderful, that the Deity should be joyned to the Humani­ty, Heaven to Earth, Majesty to Infirmity. The second also very wonderful, that a Maid should be a Mother, and yet remain a pure Virgin. The third (though inferior to the two first) yet wonderful that a mans heart should have power to believe the same.

Q. How long (according to the opinion of some men) shall the world continue from the Creation to the end thereof?

A. The Thalmudists were of opinion that it should continue six thousand years; of which opinion also were some of the fathers and others of our Modern Writers; because that as God created the World in six days, and rested the seventh; so in six thou­sand years, which are in account of God but as six daies, it shall again be annihilated, when shall follow an eternal Sabbath of rest to all the Faithful. Others reckon it after this manner, two thousand years before the Law, two thousand years under the Law, and two thousand years under the Gospel. But this account agreeth not right with the Calendar of Time, and therefore we may conclude that those who account not right the years which are past must needs be igno­rant of those which are to come. Besides, [Page 5] our Saviour saith, that of that day and hour the very Angels in Heaven themselves are ignorant: Let us therefore rather labour to prepare our selves against that day, than cu­riously seek to pry into such hidden and un­revealed things.

Q. In what part of the world was it where the Cock crowed so loud, that all the men of the world heard it?

A. In Noah's Ark.

Q. What is the Anagram for the name of the Virgin Mary?

A.

MARY.

Anagramma.

ARMY.

Q. What answer gave Queen Elizabeth, when being a prisoner in the Reign of her Sister Queen Mary, she was by one of the Bishops de­manded her opinion concerning the real presence of Christ in the Sacrament.

A.

Q. Who are those that cannot, will not, may not, do rightly understand the ways of God?

A. 1 Dead men, who neither do, nor can understand his ways.

2 Wicked men, who may, but care not to understand them.

3 Fools, who desire, but have not the ap­prehension to do it.

4 The godly who both understand and practise the same.

Q. How many sorts of Fasts are used in the world?

A. Six. The sick mans Fast, the poor mans Fast, the misers Fast, the gluttons Fast, the hypocrites Fast, and the godly mans Fast; all which are set down in these fol­lowing Verses.

Q. Who be those that lye most freely, and without controul?

A.

• 1. Great men, that few dare reprove.
• 2. Old men, that few can gain-say.
• 3. Poets, who do it Poetica Licentia.
• 4. Travellers that may lye by authority.

Q. What two things are those by which ma­ny persons are quite ruined, and lost both in their Estates and Reputations?

A. Hounds and Dice; of the first of which one thus writeth:

And for Dice, the far worse of the two, it is almost an infallible fore-runner of mise­ry, accompanied with cursed swearing, banning, fighting, and many other mischiefs [Page 7] attendant to it, the final end of it being beg­gary, according as one thus Writes:

In English.

Some to evade these reasons pretend a cunning that they have in the Art, to which I answer, That the more cunning any is in this Art, the more wicked he is in his life, and therefore I conclude, that the best cast at Dice, is to cast them quite away.

Q. What witty invention was that of him who having placed the Emperor and the Pope reconciled in their Majestick Thrones, placed the States of the world before them, and what was their several Motto's?

A.

• 1 A Counsellor of State had this, I advise you.
• 2 Then a Courtier, with, I flatter you.
• 3 Then a Husbandman, I feed you.
• 4 Then a Merchant, I match you.
• 5 Then a Lawyer, I fleece you.
• 6 Then a Souldier, I fight for you.
• 7 Then a Physician, I kill you.
• 8 Then a Priest, I absolve you all.

Q. Who was he that in the confusion of Tongues, kept both his Language and Religion pure and unchangeable?

An. Heber the Father of Abraham, who when all the rest of the world fell to Idola­try, relapsed not from the truth, but kept himself free from the impiety of Nimrod and [Page 8] his followers, who sought to erect a Build­ing that should reach to Heaven, but could not go forward with their design, being confounded with the diversity of Languages which was sent amongst them, whereby one understood not the other; Of which thus writeth the Divine Du Bartus:

Q. In what place (according to the opinion of some) shall the General Judgment of mankind be?

A. In the Valley of Jehosaphat, because it is said in one place of the Scripture, Be­hold, I will bring all Nations together in the Valley of Jehosaphat, and plead with them there; though others with more reason do think that the place as well as the time is un­known.

Q. Which deserves the greatest punishment, the body or soul, for the committting of sin?

A. Some are of opinion the Soul; because without it the Body were nothing, which actuates only what the Soul infuseth. O­thers would have the Body, as being the chief organ and actor of sin: but that they are both culpable and deserve alike punish­ment, is proved by this similitude. A ma­ster committeth the charge of his Orchard to be kept by two, whereof the one is blind, the other lame: The lame man having per­sect sight, sees golden Apples hanging upon a [Page 9] Tree, of which he informs the man that is blind; they both covet after them, notwith­standing they are forbidden, and to attain their desires, the blind man that was strong of his limbs, takes up the seeing Cripple on his shoulders, by which means they accom­plish their desires, pluck the Fruit, and eat thereof: Soon after, the Master of the Orchard enters, enquires, and soon finds by whom it was done; they were both equally culpable, and so are punisht with alike punishment, according as they had equally deserved. In like manner, both Body and Soul lending their furtherance to sin, being alike guilty, are inseparably punished together for ever.

Q. What ways did Philip King of Macedon use, that he might not forget his mortality?

A. He had every morning a Page which used to awake him with these words, Re­member, Sir, that you are a man; according as writes.

Q. What said the same King Philip, when his Horse casting him on the ground, he saw the print of his body in the dust?

A. See (said he) we covet the whole earth and how little sufficeth!

Q. Whether do fools profit more by wise men, or wise men by fools?

A. Cato who himself was a wise man, saith, that fools are the most profitable to wise men, who seeing their folly endeavour to avoid it; whereas fools on the Contrary [Page 10] can make no profit of the wisdom of the wise, by reason of their folly.

Q. How came Beda that ancient Father of the English Church, to be called Venerabilis?

A. Some assign this reason, that when he was old he became blind, and keeping an unhappy Boy to guide him as he walked a­broad, this Boy one day led him to preach to a heap of stones, where concluding his Sermon with Gloria Patri, he was by them answered, Amen, Amen, Venerabilis Beda. Others say, that at his death an unlearned Monk going about to write an Epitaph on him, blunder'd thus far on a Verse,

leaving a space before the two last words, and so went to bed, which in the morning he found supplied by an unknown hand, with the Title of Venerabilis, so he made his verse and Beda got his name.

Q. What Persons of all others do lie in the greatest state?

A. Beggars, who have the Heavens for their Canopy.

Q. What is that which hath a voice, but no Body; speaks, yet understands not itself what it says; is often heard but never seen?

A. It is an Eccho said by Ovid to be a fair Maid that pined her self away to nothing for love.

Qu. Who are those amongst men that at­tempted to fly like birds?

A. Daedalus and Icarus; Also one of our British Kings (if the History of Geoffry of Monmouth be true) who attempting to play the Fowl, or rather the Fool, fell down and [Page 11] brake his neck. This King's name was Bla­dud. It is also said, that of late years an Ita­lian flew from the top of St. Mark's Tower in Venice, and did it without hurt.

Q. What likeness have false men to count­terfeit money?

A.

Q. To what are Souldiers in peace compared unto?

A. To Chimneys in Summer; for though in hot weather we have no extraordinary need of Chimneys, yet we do not pull them down, as knowing that Winter will come; in like manner Soldiers are continued in Peace, either to prevent, or to be ready if War do come.

Q. Amongst all Beasts and Birds, which are of most beautiful and various colours, yet not without some parts of great deformity?

A. The Peacock among Birds, and the Panther among Beasts; the first hath a very goodly Train, but foul Feet. The other a gay Body, but deformed Head; and there­fore it is said, that wanting Food, and being a Beast but of slow pace, she hideth her head, whereat all the other Beasts come about her to wonder at her Beauty, but coming with­in the reach of her Claws, she catcheth them, and makes them become her food.

Q. To what are out-side Gallants likened unto?

A. To Cinnamon trees, whose bark is bet­ter than their whole body.

Q. What was the old saying concerning Friends?

A. That it was good to have Friends, but bad to need their help, since true friend­ship indeed is very rare. No such friends to be found now adays as was Damon and Py­thias; Alexander and Lodowick; Musidorus and Pyrocles. Friendship extending now no further than profit, according as one wittily versifies.

Q. What makes silver look so pale?

A. To this Diogenes the Cynick answers, that it is because so many lies in wait for it.

Q. Why is it said, 'tis good to have a wolf cross the way, and bad to have a Hare cross it?

A. By this is meant that when a Wolf crosses away from us, it is good luck that we scape him; and if a Hare, it is bad luck that that scapes us: but for any future things that is boded by them, I am of the opinion of Cato, who when one would needs know what harm attended him by reason that Rats had gnawn his Hose, he answered; That it was no strange thing to see that, but it had been much more strange, if his Hose had eaten the Rats.

Q. Who was the two men, the one whereof was never born, but died; the other was born but never died?

[Page 13] Ans. Adam and Enoch.

Q. Why do so many men praise poverty, and yet covet after riches?

A. Their actions shew they mean not as they say; for although the poor are account­ed blessed, yet most of them are of Ovid's mind:

Q. Who was the greatest Traveller in his time?

A. Sir Francis Drake who first put a Gir­dle about the world; of whom a Wit in that Age thus descants:

Q. What is the most beautiful thing in the world?

A. One said, the Sun; which if so, then were blind men of all others most miserable; but certainly virtue is most resplendent of all things, and which is to be discerned by the eyes of the Soul, wherein blind men of all others have the greatest help of Contem­plation.

Q. What is the heaviest burthen that the earth bears?

A. Sin, which is more ponderous than the biggest Mountains, or greatest Piles of buildings; for it weigheth down even to Hell.

Q. Which is the longest Letter in the Al­phabet?

A. The letter L. which is more than a yard long.

Q. Which is the most unnecessary Letter in the Alphabet?

A. K. because C. is of the same sound.

Q. What three Vowels are most pernicious to Debtors?

A. These three, IOV.

Q. What two words are those that trouble the world?

A. Meum and Tuum, Thine and Mine.

Q. What are the principal causes of the greatness of Cities?

A. Although they are many in number, yet they are reduced principally to these seven.

1. A Navigable River, by which there may be continual concourse of Merchants, as may be seen by Venice, Amsterdam, Con­stantinople, and our Metropolitan City of London, which as it is thought had it not been for the River of Thames, would not have gone on so forward in the rebuilding, since that terrible conflagration thereof by fire, which may be evidenced in that the buildings towards the River side were the first begun, and are the forwardest in finish­ing.

2. The Palace of the Prince; for where the Court is, there will be continually store of Nobility and Gentry, which enriches Tradesmen by selling commodities to them; one instance whereof we have by Madrid in Spain, which is grown from a mean Village [Page 15] to a very populous City, only by the Kings Court.

3. The Residence of the Nobility, by whom beautiful Buildings and stately Struc­tures are raised to the great adornment thereof, as may be seen in the Cities of Italy, where their Nobles and Gentry constantly reside, as ours do in Towns and Villages.

4. The Seat or Tribunal of Justice, which invites Lawyers and their Clients thither in abundance, to the great enriching thereof, as may be evidenced by the Parliamentary Cities of France, and Spiers in Germany.

5. Universities, or publick Schools of Learning, which draw thither the Sons of several Noble persons and Gentlemen from the adjoyning Counties, to the great bene­fit and profit thereof, as Paris well knoweth, Oxford, Collen, and several other places.

6. Immunities from Taxes and Impositi­ons, which cause many persons to come and inhabit in such places, their Income being thereby greatest, and their Priviledges most, as in Naples, Florence, and Venice, which be­ing almost desolate by a Plague, were again very suddenly peopl'd, by granting Immu­nities to all Comers.

7. The last, but not the least, is opinion of Sanctity, as was evidenced in former times bp the City of Canterbury, to which Pilgrims from all places come to visit the Tomb of Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury, who was there enshrined, as witnesseth Chaucer.

[Page 16] fro all England do they wend The Holy blissful Martyrs Tomb to see. &c.

And now also of the City of Loretto in I­taly which at first was but a mean Village, but is now grown a rich and populous City, for the opinion that the chamber of the Vir­gin Mary is there, the Legend whereof here followeth.

This Chamber (they say) was the same wherein the Virgin Mary was saluted by the Angel, with those joyful tidings of the Con­ception of our Saviour, being then at Naza­reth in Judaea, and was after the Virgins death had in great Reverence by the Christi­ans, where it remained untouched till all Palestine was subdued by the Turks and Sa­racens, Anno 1291. then was it most mira­culously transported into Sclavonia; but that place being unworthy of the Virgins divine presence, it was by the Angels car­ried over into the Sea-cost of Italy. An. 1294. but that place proving as bad as the other, being infected with Thieves and Pirats, the Angels removed it to the little Village of Loretto, where her miracles being quickly divulged, drew thither a great concourse of People, insomuch that Paul the second Pope of Rome built over this chamber a most state­ly Church, whither Pilgrims from all places resort to this day, to the great enriching thereof, which by this means it is now from a poor Village grown to be a wealthy City.

Q. Which is the chief City in England?

[Page 17] Ans. London, which is accounted to con­tain in circuit 8 miles, is enriched with a Navigable River, the Palace of the King, divers houses of the Nobility and several Colledges for the Study of the Laws, the next to which is the City of York according to the verse,

Q. Who was the first builder of London?

A. The common received opinion is, that it was Brutus the Son of Silvius, and Grand­child to Aeneas, who having by accident killed his Father, was for the fact banished his Countrey, with whom accompanied him many worthy persons, to be partakers of his fortune; who after many wandrings and ad­verse fortunes, at last arrived in England, at a place called Totnes in Devonshire, as the Poet Neckam sings.

This Land was then inhabited with Gyants, the chief of which was named Gogmagog, with whom Corineus one of Brute's followers encounter'd, though he were a Gyant of twelve Cubits high, and of such puissance, that he could pull up a great Oak at one pull, as if it had been a small Wand: when they came together, Corineus laid by his ar­mour, and challenged his Combatant to [Page 18] Handy-gripes, who at first came upon him with such fury and violence, that he crushed in pieces three of Corineus's ribs, where with he being mightily enraged, redoubling his strength, threw him upon his shoulder, and so carried him to the top of a Rock, and threw him down head-long into the Sea, where he perished with the fall; which place is called to this day Gogm [...]gogs-Leap. In reward of his valiant act, Brute bestowed upon the noble Corineus that part of the Land which he after his name cal'd Coriner, after­wards by corruption of speech it was called Cornubia, and now Cornwal. Brute afterwards having the Land of those Gyants erected a City on the River of Thames, which he na­med (after the Seat of his Ancestors) New Troy, which is the same that is now called London, as one writes:

Q. What do the common Countrey people think of London?

[Page 19] Ans. Those who have never seen it, ac­count it a very strange wonderful place. One having a Brother living there, directed his Letter thus; To his loving Brother T. W. living at London. Another had a great mind to see the City, only he said, he was not ac­quainted with any of the Porters to open the Gates, and let him in.

Q. Which are the Principal Rivers in England?

A. The chief is the Thamesis or Thames, compounded of the two rivers Thame & Isis, the former whereof rising somewhat beyond Tame in Buckinghamshire, and the latter be­yond Cirencester in Glocestershire, meet toge­ther about Dorcester in Oxfordshire; the issue of which happy conjunction is the Thamesis or Thames, the most glorious River of all Eu­rope. The second is the Severn, which tak­eth its beginning in Plinlimon Hill in Mount­gomery-shire, and his end about seven miles from Bristol, washing in the mean space the walls of Shrewsbury, Worcester, and Glocester: this River is said to take its name from Sa­brina, the daughter of Estrild, who being taken by Queen Guendeline, was cast into this River, and there drowned. The third River of note is Trent, so call'd for that thirty kind of Fishes are found in it; or for that it receiveth thirty lesser Rivulets; it hath its Fountain in Strafford-shire, and gliding through the Counties of Notingham, Lincoln, Leicester, and York, burieth its self in the tur­bulent Current of the Humber. The fourth is Medway, a Kentish River, the Common Harbor for the Royal Navy. The fifth is [Page 20] Tweed, the North east bound of England, on whose fertile banks is seated the strong and impregnable Town of Barwick. The sixth is Tine, which mightily enricheth the Town of Newcastle, by the conveyance from thence of her plenty of Coals. These and the rest of most principal concern, are thus compre­hended in one of Mr, Drayton's Sonnets:

Q. Who is the most renowned for memory that we have heard, or read of?

An. In former times Seneca, who writes of himself, that he was able to recite two thou­sand words after they were once read unto him; and of late days we find Mr. Fuller to be therein most exquisite, who is reported that he would walk any street in London and by the strength of his memory tell how many, and what Signs they were hanging in that street, from the one end to the other accord­ing as they were in order: As also, if five hundred strange names were read unto him, [Page 21] after the second or third hearing of them, he would repeat them distinctly, according as they have been read unto him.

Qu. What difference is there betwixt Pro­phets and Poets?

An. Thus much, according to the old Verse:

Qu. What creature is that which at once brings forth, nourisheth her young, and goeth with young again?

An. The Hare, that fearful, but fruitful creature, who is represented as the Emblem of good providence, because she sleeps with her eyes open.

Qu. Why do men commonly deck their Hou­ses with Ivy at Christmas?

An. Ivy is said to be dedicated to Bacchus the God of wine and good cheer, at which time men commonly eat and drink hard; as one writes:

Q. Who brought up the first custom of Cele­brating the Twelve days in Christmas, with such Feasts and Sports, as are still retained in some Gentlemens houses?

A. The famous King Arthur one and the chief of the Worlds nine Worthies; an Institution which the Scottish Writers of these late times very much blame, as being a time fitter for our devotion than for our mirth.

[Page 22] Qu. What is it which being contained in its self, yet from it thousands do daily spring and issue?

A. The Egg, from which is produced Fowls, Fishes, Birds, and Serpents.

Q Was the beard created before the man, or the man before the beard?

A. This seems to be a ridiculous question; for most will think that the man must needs be created before the Beard; and yet we find it otherwise, for all beasts were made before man was made, and amongst others the bearded Goat.

Q Whether was the Egg or Bird first?

A. Some will say the Egg, because all Birds are produced from the Egg; but we must know that the first rank of creatures was immediately from God, without secon­dary causes, and not produced by the Egg, as is since by the course of nature.

Q. In what part of the world is it that trees bear living Creatures?

A. In the Isles of Orcades in Scotland, wherein grows a Tree that bears fruit like unto a Fowl, which dropping down into the water, becomes a living creature like to a Duck; to which Mr. Cleaveland alludeth in these verses:

Q. What Custom was that observed formerly in Scotland the like whereof we hardly read: be practised in any Country?

A. It was called Marcheta Mulieris, and took its beginning as the Scottish Write say in the reign of Ewen the third, who i [...] [Page 23] the fifteenth King in their Catalogue after the first Fergus. This Ewen being a Prince much addicted, or rather wholly given over unto lasciviousness, made a Law, That him­self and his Successors should have the Mai­den-head, or first nights lodging with every woman, whose Husband held Land imme­diately from the Crown: and the Lords and Gentlemen of all them, whose Husbands were their Tenants, or Homagers. This was it seems the Knights-service which men held their Estates by; and continued till the days of Malcolme Comner, who mar­ried Margaret the Sister of one Edgar Ethe­ling, at whose request he abolished this las­civious ungodly Law, ordaining that in the room thereof, the Tenants should pay unto their Lords a Mark in money; which Tri­bute the Historians say is yet in force.

Qu. Who was the most famous whore in her time?

An. Corinthian Lais, who exacted ten thousand Drachma's for a nights lodging, which made Demosthenes to cry out, Non emam tanti paenitere, I will not buy repent­ance at so dear a rate, and occasioned the old verse:

She was afterwards for her extortions, and spoiling the trade of the other petty whores, set upon by a company of those strumpets, and by them stoned to death, as one writes of her.

Q. What Laws were those that were so se­vere, and yet were kept and continued for the space of seven hundred years together?

A. The Laconian, or the Laws of Lacedae­monia, once a famous Commonwealth in Greece, which Laws were compiled by Ly­curgus, who going a Journey, bound the people by oath to observe all his Laws till he returned; and being gone from thence commanded, that when he was dead and buried, his ashes should be cast into the Sea, by this means his Laws endured for a long time in Sparta, which by reason thereof flou­rished in great prosperiry.

Q. What place is it that is accounted the middle or center of the Earth?

A. Some say Palestine, and in particular the Valley of Jehosaphat; of which opinion are many of our ancient and modern Divines but some of our Historians and Poets, allo [...] the same to Pytho, or Pythia, a Town in Greece; of which they say, that Jupiter de­sirous once to know the exact middle of the Earth, let flie two Eagles, one from the East, the other from the West; these Eagles meeting in this place, shewed plainly that it was the Navel or mid part of the Earth.

Q. What are the causes of ebbing and flow­ing of the Sea?

A. Several men are of several minds Some ascribe it to the Moon, who by her approaching to the South, doth by her beams and influences make warm the Sea, whence [Page 25] the rising & exhalations do proceed where­with so swelling to empty it self, it floweth to the Shores and Havens; but descending to the Horizon and Wane, as her beams by little and little diminish, the waters do fall and abate, which causeth her Eddy, or Ebb. O­thers impute it to God, and his Spirit moving upon the waters moveth the waters, which Iob expresses by the similitude of fire under a pot, saying, It is God that maketh the Sea boil like a pot: which fire is taken to be partly in the saltness of the waters, which in the night shows like fire, and causes a moving in the same: Another reason is, for that the Earth hath more fire in it than water, which fire lieth hid in the subterraneous stones, and this fire doth partly cause the motion of the Sea, an Element of it self liquid and active, and subject to motion; which thereto when once by this fire occasioned, the precedent part is thrust forward by the subsequent. Others again give this reason; that the Earth being round, and the Waters of themselves liquid and moveable, when they have run their course as much as they can one way, then meeting with the other waters drawn by the same attraction from other places, they then return back again, but encoun­tring with that huge Mountain of the Sea, are beaten back again, and so by this means forced to continual motion.

Qu. Is the Sea higher than the Earth?

An. This is affirmed to be so; and the rea­sons given therefore are these: First, be­cause it is a body not so heavy: Secondly, it is observed by Saylors, that their Ships fly [Page 26] faster to the shoar than from it, whereof no reason can be given but the height of the Water above the Land. Thirdly, to such as stand on the shore, the Sea seemeth to swell into the form of a mountain, till it putteth a bound to their sight. But some then will lay how comes it to pass that the Sea hover­ing thus over the Earth, doth not over­whelm it? To which I answer, that must be attributed to him only who hath made the waters to stand on a heap, who hath set them a bound which they shall not pass, nor turn again to cover the Earth.

Qu. Why is the form of Money round?

An. Because it is to run to every man, though it commonly runs up hill to the rich. I remember I saw once the picture of a Shilling, which had upon the top of it a pair of Wings, flying as it were from spades and oars that were pourtrayed on the one side, to the picture of an Usurer who was deciphered on the other side, underneath was the figure of a Snail, with the shilling on his back creeping a slowly peace towards the Oars. The explanation of all being set forth by these verses.

Qu. Why is Nummus Latine for Money?

An. Of Numa Pompilius, second King of [Page 27] the Romans, the first that caused Money to be made; though the Jews attribute the in­vention thereof to Cain, as the Grecians to Hermodice the wife of Midas, and some of the Romans to Janus. That money was not in former Ages the only Bartery, or way of exchange, we read in Homer, where Glaucus Golden Armour was valued at a hundred Kine, and Diomedes Armour at ten onely; which kind of bartery is to this day used amongst some of the Irish, as at the Barbadoes, and Virginia it is commonly by Tobacco, or Sugar. Our Ancestors the Britains, used brass Rings and Iron Rings for their Instruments of Exchange; The, most usual material of Money amongst the Roman Provinces was seldom Gold or Sil­ver, most times Brass, sometimes Leather; Corium forma publica percussum, as Senecae hath it. This last kind of Money was by Frederick the Second made currant when he [...]esieged Millain: the like is said to have been used here in England, at the time of the Barons wars, which is thought to be the same that is now commonly shown in the Tower, and why not? since the Hollanders no longer ago than in the year 1574 being in their ex­tremities, made Money of Past-board.

I shall therefore annex here certain Verses describing the person and quality of that [...]hild of chase, or Lady Pecunia, which is so [...]uch sought after and catcht at by every [...]e, giving you assured marks whereby to [...]ow her, if you can find her:

Qu. What City is that which is Founded the Waters, compassed in with waters, and ha [...] no other walls but the Sea?

An. The City of Venice, situate in the be some of the Adriatick Sea, which hath continued unshaken or conquered since the fi [...] building 1152 years; it hath for convenience of Passage 4000 Bridges, and very near 1200 [...] Bo us. They have an A [...]senal in which a [...] kept 200 Galleys; in their Magazine of W [...] [Page 29] they have Armour sufficient for 100000 Sol­diers, amongst which are 1000 Coats of Plate garnished with Gold, and covered with vel­vet; so that they are sit for any Prince in Christendom; there are said to be 200 Hou­ses therein, fit to Lodge any King whomso­ever; they have several Houses stored with Masts, Sayls, and other Tacklings, and are at this present, the chiefest Bulwark of Chri­stendom against the Turk.

Qu. When a Man dyes, which is the last part of him that stirs, and which of a Woman?

An.

Qu. What Answer gave one to a Barber, who bragged that Kings sate bare to their Trade?

An. He bid him that they should remem­ber, as well, that they must stand to Beggars whilst they did sit.

Qu. What is the common saying that is ap­propriated to Poland?

An. That if a man have lost his Religion, there he may find it, there being tolerated Papists, Lutherans, Calvinists, Arrians, Ana­baptists, Antitrinitarians, and all Sects what-soever. The same saying is now applied to Amsterdam in Holland.

Qn. What other thing is remarkable there?

An. It is a custom there, that when in the Churches the Gospel is reading, the Nobility and Centry of that Country draw out their Swords, to signifie that they are ready to de­fend the same if any dare oppugn it. The same reason questionless gave beginning to our [Page 30] custom of standing up at the Creed, whereby we express how prepared and resolute we are to maintain it, although in the late times of Rebellion, some tender Consciences hol­ding it to be a Relique of Popery, being more nice than wise, did undiscreetly refuse the same.

A short English Catechism.

Qu. What strange custom is that which is reported of the Muscovia women?

An. That they love those Husbands best, which beat them most, and think themselves neither lov'd nor regarded, unless they be twice or thrice a day well-favourdly bang'd. To this purpose there is a story reported of a German Shoemaker, who travelling into this Countrey, and here marrying a widow used her with all kindness that a woman could (as he thought) desire, yet still she was discontented, and the more he sought to please her, the further off was from any con­tent; at last learning where the fault was, and that his not beating her was the cause of her discontent, he took such a vein in cudg­elling her sides, that in the end he killed her. I suppose it would be a very hard matter to bring up this custom in England, or to per­swade our women that their Husbands beat them out of pure love which they bear unto them.

Qu. How comes it to pass that there be more women in the world than men?

An, Some assign this reason, because that women are freed from the Wars, which de­voureth [Page 31] many thousands of men, few of them pass the dangers of the Sea, suffer imprison­ment, and many other troubles and hazard of the Land to which men are incident, and this they think to be a sufficient reason; o­thers there are who argue more merrily, al­ledging, that in the whole course of Nature, the worst things are ever the most plentiful, hence we have more Weeds than Hearbs, more Lead than Silver, more Crows than Partridges, more Women than Men, and therefore one thus merrily writes of that Sex:

And another to the like purpose.

Qu. Who was the first that invented Prin­ting?

An. He who first taught it in Europe was one John Gutthenburg a German, about the year of our Lord 1440. at Haarlem it is said to be first practised, and at Menez perfected. M. C. T. de officiis was the first Book which ever was printed, which Copy is to this [...] reserved in the publick Library in Frankford; though many are of the opinion that the Chynoys had it long before us who print not as we use from the left hand to the right nor as the Jews from the right to the left, but from the top of the leaf downward to the bottom: whoever invented it, no question but it is a most noble and profitable Art, we having that done in one day by one man, [Page 32] that without it many could not do in a year by writing. Only I wish this most exquisite invention were not so much abus'd and prostituted to the lust of every foolish and idle Paper-blurrer, the treasury of Learning being never so overcharg'd with froth and scum, of foolish and unnecessary Discourses, as by this means; many people having a great ambition to be known in the world, though they get nothing thereby but only to become Fools in print.

Qu. Who invented Guns.

An. That fatal Instrument the Gun was first found out by one Bartholdus Swart a Franciscan Fryer, and a great Alchymist, who being one time very studious to find out some experiments in his Art, was tempering together Brimstone, dryed Earth, and cer­tain other Ingredients in a Mortar, which he covered with a stone. The night growing on, he took a Tinder-box to light him a can­dle; where striking fire, a spark by chance flew into the Mortar, and catching hold of the Brimstone and Salt-petre, with great violence blew up the stone. The Fryer gues­sing which of his Ingredients it was that pro­duced this effect, made him an Iron pipe, crammed it with Sulpher and stones, and putting fire to it, saw with what great fury and noise it discharged its self; then longing to put his invention in execution, he com­municated the same unto the Venetians, who having been often vanquished by the Gensu­ese, and driven almost to a necessity of yiel­ding to them, by the help of these Guns gave their enemies a notable overthrow. This [Page 33] was about the year of our Lord 1330. being the first battel that ever those warlike pieces had part in, which not long after put to silence all the Engins and devices where with the Ancients were wont to make their Batteries; of which Engine we may say as the Poet formerly did of that weapon the Sword.

Qu. Where was wild-fire invented?

An. At the siege of Canstantinople by Ca­liph Zulciman, about the year of our Lord 730. with which the Grecians did not a lit­tle molest the Saracens Ships. This fire we for the violence of it call Wild-fire, and the Latins because the Greeks were the inventers of it, Graecus ignis.

Qu. Who invented the Battle-Axe?

An. Penthesilea who came with a troop of brave Virago's to the aid of Priam King of Troy, she fought with the Battle-Axe, and was slain by Pyrrhus Son to Achilles, not long after her death was Troy taken by the Greeks, who lost of their own men 860000. and slew of the Trojans and those that came to help them 666000. so as that of Ovid may be truly inferred.

Qu. By whom were the games of Dice and Chess first invented?

An. By the Lydians, a Countrey of Ana­tolia, who being sorely vext with famine, in­vented the games, that by playing at them they might beguile their hungry bellies. Ne­cessity thereunto informing, according to that of Persius:

Artis Magister ingeniique largitor venter.

Qu. Who were the first Inventers of Paper and Parchment?

An. Paper was first found out in Aegypt, and made of thin Flakes of Sedgy-weeds grow­ing on the banks of Nilus called Papyri, from whence it tooks it name. By means of this invention, Books being easier to be transcri­bed and reserved, Ptolomeus Philadelphus made his excellent Library at Alexandria, and understanding how Attalus King of Per­gamum by the benefit of this Aegyptian Pa­per, strived to exceed him in that kind of magnificence, prohibited the carriage of it out of Aegypt. Hereupon Attalus invented Parchment, called from the place of its in­vention, Pergamena, from the materials there­of being Sheep-skins, Membrana; the con­veniency whereof was the cause why in short time the Aegyptian Paper was quite worn out; in place whereof succeeded our Paper made of rags. The Author of which inven­tion our progenitors have not committed to memory, the more is the pity, that he who found out the use of Paper, should not have his memory perserved by Paper. In former ages men wrote in the dust, upon stones, pen­cil'd upon Lawrel leaves, upon barks of Trees, according to the Poet.

Qu. Who first invented Letters?

An. Cornelius Tacitus an approved Latin Historian, ascribeth it to the Egyptians, his words are these: Primi per formas animali­um Egypti, &c. The Egyptians first of all expressed the conceptions of the mind by the shapes of beasts; and the most ancient monuments of mans memory, are seen graven in stones, and they say, that they are the first inventers of Letters; then the Phoenicians because they were strong at Sea, brought them into Greece, and so they had the glory of that which they received from others; for there goeth a report, that Cadmus sailing thither in a Phoenician ship, was the Inven­ter of the Art amongst the Greeks, when they were yet unexpert and rude. Some re­cord, that Cecrops the Athenian, or Livius the Theban, and Palamedes the Grecian, did find out sixteen Characters at the time of the Trojan war, and that afterward Simonides added the rest. But in Italy the Etrurians learned them of Demaratas the Corinthian, and the Aborigines of Evander the Arcadian: thus far Tacitus. But Lucan the Historical Poet attributeth the first invention of them to the Phoenicians; in these verses of his Pharsalia.

[Page 36] But notwithstanding this of Tacitus and Lu­can, no question but the Jews were herein skill'd before either of them, and that there was writing before the Flood, which St. Jude doth somewhat infinuate of the writing of Enoch; and Josephus and others write that he crected two Pillars, the one of brick, and the other of stone, wherein he wrote of the two-fold destruction of the world, the one by water, and the other by fire, which by Tradition was preserved to the days of the Apostles.

Qu. By whom was Brachygraphy or the Art of Short-writing invented?

An. This is uncertain, Dion saith that Mae­cenas that great Favorite of Augustus, and Favorer of Learning, did first find out cer­tain Rules and Figures ad celeritatem scriben­di, for the speedier dispatch of writing; and for those less vulgar Letters, which the La­tines call Ciphrae, and whereof every exer­cised States-man hath peculiar to himself, they were first invented by Julius Caesar, when he first began to think of the Roman Monarchy, and were by him in his Letters to his more private and tryed friends used; that if by misfortune they should be inter­cepted, the contents of them should not be understood. Augustus one of the greatest Politicks of the world, had another kind of obscure writing; for in his Letters of more secrecy and importance, he always used to put the Letter immediately following in the order of the Alphabet, for that which in or­dinary writing he should have used. As for the Art of Short-writing, or Brachygraphy [Page 37] aforesaid, it is grown to a great perfection in our Age, the chief Masters whereof have been Mr. Skelton, Mr. Jeremiah Rich, &c.

Qu. Who were the Inventers of Ships, and Shipping?

An. No doubt but it came first from the Ark of Noah, which he had provided for the safety of him and his, in the universal De­luge; which Ark setling on the Mountains of Ararat, and there a long time remaining, gave the Phoenicians, a Sea-people, a pat­tern whereby they might make the waters passable. The Heathen writers which knew not Noah, attribute the Inventing of Ship­ping to several persons: Strabo to Minos King of Crete: Diodorus Siculus, to Neptuno who was therefore called The God of the Sea: Tibullus the Poet referred it to the Tyrians, a famous flourishing Commonwealth among the Phoenicians, saying,

The Egyptians received this Invention from the Tyrians, and added much unto it; for whereas first the vessels were either made of an hollow tree, or of sundry boards joy­ned together, and covered with beasts skins, (which kind of Vessels are still in use in A­merica) the Phoenicians brought them to strength and form; but the Egyptians ad­ded Decks unto them; they also invented the Galley of two banks on a side, which vessels by length of time grew so large, that Ptolomy Philopater made one of no fewer than fifty banks of oars on one side, Large Ships [Page 83] of burthen called Circera, we owe to the Cy­priots: Cock-boats or Skiffs, to the Illyri­ans; Brigantines, to the Rhodians; and Fre­gats, or swift Barks to the Cyrenians. As for the Tacklings, the Boetians invented the Oar: Daedalus and his son Icarus, the Masts and Sails, which gave the Poet occasion to feign, that those two made wings to their bodies, and fled out of Crete; and that Ica­rus soaring too high, melted his wings, and was drowned: the truth indeed being, that presuming too far on his new invention, he ran against a Rock, and so perished. For Hip­pagines Ferry-boats or vessels for the tran­sporting of Horse, we are indebted to the Salaminians; for Grapling-hooks to Anachar­sis; for Anchors to to the Tuscans; and for the Rudder, Helm, Stern, or Art of steering, to Typhis, who seeing that a Kite when she flew, guided her whole body by her tayl, effected that in the devices of Art, which he had observed in the works of Nature. About the year 1300. one Flavio of Melphi in the Kingdom of Naples found out the Compass or Pyxis Nautica, consisting of eight Winds onely, the four principal, and four collateral; and not long after the people of Bruges and Antwerp perfected that excellent Invention; adding twenty four other subordinate Winds, or Points, so that now they are in all to the number of thirty two. By means of this excellent Instrument, and withal by the good success of Columbus the Portugals East­ward, the Spaniards West-ward, and the English North-wards, have made many a glorious and fortunate Expedition.

[Page 39] Qu. Having thus shown by what means Na­vigation hath arrived to the height that now it is; next tell what Commodities are most proper to several Countreys, whither our Merchants go to traffique?

An. Our most provident and wise Creator hath so ordered it, that there might be a so­ciable Conversation betwixt all Countreys, that there is none of them so plentifully stockt, but hath need of the Commodities of another Countrey; nor is any Countrey so barren or destitute, but it hath some one or more Commodities to invite Merchants to traffique with them; some of which are thus set down by the divine Poet Du Bartus in his Colonies:

Qu. What did our Ancients hold to be the greatest wonders in the world?

An. The Tower of Pharoah, the walls of Babylon, the Temple of Diana at Ephesus, the Tomb of Mausolus, and the Pyramids of Egypt, which are supposed by some to be in part built with the same Bricks which the children of Israel did burn. Of those Pyra­mids two are most famous; the first and greatest was built by Cheops, who in this Work employed 100000 Men the space of twenty years. The charges of Garlick, Roots, and Onions onely, came to sixteen hundred Talents of Silver. The Basis of this Pyramis contained in circuit sixty Acres of Ground, and was in height ten thousand Foot, being made all of marble. Now when Cheops wanted money, he prostituted his Daughter to all comers, by which dishonest means he finished his Building; and she be­sides the money due unto her Sire, (for father I cannot call him) desired for her self of every man that had the use of her body, one stone, of whom she got so many, that with them she made the second Pyramis, almost equal to the first, as Herodotus a Grecian Author observeth:

Qu. What Trees were those that brought­forth their fruit at the instant of their first plan­ting?

An. The Trees which God made in the beginning of the world, which immediate­ly brought forth their fruit, according as God spake the word.

[Page 41] Qu. What two Countreys are those which are endued with these two most excellent pre­rogatives, of breeding no venomous worms or hurtful Creature, neither will any live if brought thither from foreign Countries?

An. Creta or Candie, an Island of Greece, now in the possession of the Venetians, and our neighbour Country of Ireland; of which last, one writing thus maketh that Land to speak;

Qu. What is accounted the worthiest sign of liberty above all others?

An. The covering of the head, or wear­ing of the Hat; as is well known to those which are conversant in Antiquity. The Lacones a people of Peloponnesus, after they had obtained to be made free Denizons of Lacedaemon, in sign of their gotten Liberty, would never go into the Battel but with their Hats on. Amongst the A­fricans as it is written by good Authors, the placing of a Hat on the top of a Spear, was [Page 42] used as a token to incite the people to their liberty which had been oppressed by Ty­rants. But amongst the Romans we have more variety. The taking off the Hat o [...] Tarquinius Priscus by an Eagle, and the put­ting of it on again, occasioned the Augur to prophesie unto him the Kingdom, which fell out accordingly. In their Sword-plays when one of the Gladiators, had with credit slain his adversary, they would sometimes ho­nour him with a Palm, sometimes with the Hat; of these the last was accounted the worthier, the Palm only honouring the Victor, but the Hat enfranchised him on whom it was conferred. Erasmus in his Chiliads maketh the Hat to be the sign of some eminent worth in him that weareth it; on this he conjectureth that the putting on of Caps on the heads of such as are created Doctors or Masters, had its original; which custom is still of force in the Universities of England, the putting on of the Cap being never performed but in the solemn Comitia, and in the presence of all such as are either Auditors or Spectators of that days exercise.

Qu. Why have some people affirmed that wo­men have no souls, and how is it to be proved by Scripture that they have?

An. It is to be proved by Scripture that they have out of those words in Luke, 1. 46. My soul doth magnifie the Lord, &c. which were the words of a woman, yet some envying against that Sex, and because of the faults of some few, condemn them all; amongst others hear these verses of the Comedian:

Qu. By what Aera or computation do they in Transilvania compute their time, besides that of the birth of our Saviour Christ?

An. The transmigration of their Children; which hapned the 22. of July Anno 1376. which marvelous accident is thus delivered by Verstegan, an Author of good credit, who saith; that the Countrey being beyond credit troubled with Rats, a Musician whom they call'd the Pied Piper, undertook for a great mass of money to destroy them: they agree, hereupon he tuneth his Pipes, and all the Rats in the Countrey came after him dancing, and were drowned in a great River: this done he asketh his pay, but is denyed, whereupon he striketh up a new fit of mirth [Page 44] and all the Children Male and Female follow after him dancing into the Hill Hamele [...] which presently closed again; since which time the Transilvanians permit not an [...] Drum, Pipe, or other Instrument to be soun­ded in that place; and established a Decree that in all writing of Contract or Bargain after the date of our Saviours Nativity, th [...] date also of this their Childrens Transmi­gration should be added thereto.

Qu. What three Creatures are the Dutch French, and Spanish Nations compared unto?

An. The French is said to be like a fle [...] quickly skipping into a Countrey, and a [...] soon leping out of it: the Dutch is compa­red to a [...]ouse, slowly mastering a place and as slowly being driven from their hold the Spaniard is likened to a crab, which be­ing crept into a place almost at unawares is there so fast rooted, that nothing but the extremity of violence can force him ou [...] again.

Qu. In what things do the French, Dutch and Italians agree?

An.

Moreover of these three Nations it thus further added,

• That the Italian is wise before hand;
• The German wise in the Action,
• And the French after it is done.

Qu. In what three properties doth England exceed all other Countreys?

[Page 45] An. For the fairest Women, the goodliest Horses, and the best breed of Dogs whatso­ever.

Qu. How many things are required in a [...]oman to be perfectly beautiful?

An. It is said that all the beauties in the world serve but to make up one perfect beauty, where one brings a good Cheek, another a comely nose, a third a fair forehead, a fourth ruby Lips, a fifth an Alabaster neck, &c. so one is wise till she speaks; ano­ther handsom till she goes; a third pretty till she laughs; one hath a slender body, another a winning eye, some carry loveliness, and others Majesty in their very coun­tenances, all which must concur to make up one absolute beauty. And therefore it is said that when Apelles the fanious Painter of Greece, was to pourtray the Goddess Venus, he assembled all the chief beauties of the Countrey, that from the several perfec­tions of them he might make one excellent composition; to which one alludes in this Son­net:

Some other there are that say, that a woman to be perfectly beautiful should have [Page 46] all these endowments and oppositions, viz three hard, three soft, three short, three long, three black, three white: which they thus distinguish, three hard, her two breasts and buttock; three soft, her two hands and her belly; three short, her nose, and her two feet; three long, her fingers and her side; three black, her two eyes and her hair; three white, her two hands and her neck.

But now for the most part instead of these perfections, the imperfections of women are so covered by Art, that the most piercing understanding may be deceived, according to that of the Poet,

Sir Thomas Moor in his Utopian Common­wealth, telleth us how there is the Custom, for some Reverend Old-Father, to bring in naked the young man; and some hoary Old­matron to present naked the young wo­man, between whom a marriage is motion'd, for (saith he) in buying a Horse the Chapman not only vieweth his naked carcass, but ta­keth off also his Trappings and Saddle, lest under him some blame might lie hidden, and why then in choosing of a wise should we take one of whom we see no more than the face. (unius palmae spatium) and perhaps scarce that. These are the words of Sir Thomas Moor, which though I do not like his plot, as being too libidinous, yet no question but the hasty [Page 47] marriages, and want of due acquaintance be­ [...]re the celebration of the Nuptials, makes many to be sped with such a fortune as is here [...]escribed by the Poet:

Qu. What three Nation's parts is it said that required to the making up of an absolute wo­man?

An. The Italians will tell you, that for the performance of this, there is required, first the parts of a Dutch-woman from the Girdle downwards. Secondly, the parts of French-woman from the Girdle to the Shoulders; over which must be placed an English Face for a grace to all the rest; and [...]et Dr. Heylin in his Survey of France, saith, that this position doth not hold good in the French women; their shoulders and backs [...]ing so broad, that they hold no proporti­on with their middles:

Qu. In what Countrey is it that women have the greatest Prerogatives?

An. In England, where there are not kept to severely submiss as the French, nor so jea­ously guarded as the Italian, as being, as of a finer mould, so of a better temper than to yield to an inordinate servility, or incon­tinency, which makes them endued with so many priviledges amongst us, that England [Page 48] is termed by Foreigners The Paradise of women as it is by some accounted The Hell of Horses and Purgatory of Servants. And it is a com­mon by word among the Italians, that there were a Bridge built over the Narrow Seas, all the women in Europe would run int [...] England; they having here the upper hand i [...] the streets, the uppermost place at the Table the Thirds of their Husbands Estates, an [...] their equal shares in all Lands, yea, eve [...] such as are holden in Knights service; pre­viledges wherewith women of other Coun­treys are not acquainted. So that we see is as well a Paradise for women, by reason [...] their priviledges, as a Paradise of women, b [...] reason of their unmatchable perfections.

Qu. Who was accounted the most brave Vi­rago woman that ever France bred?

An. Joan D' Arc, a Maid of Vancolem [...] Lorrain, whom they call La Pusille; wh [...] when the English had almost over-run a France, stoutly stood up for the defence her Countrey; and having obtained an A [...] ­my, marched up and down with the sam [...] in the habit of a man, giving to the Engli [...] many overthrows, and taking some of the prime Commanders prisoners. At last s [...] was taken prisoner her self at the siege [...] Compeigne, and delivered over to the Du [...] of Bedford, then Regent of France, who se [...] her unto Rouen, where she was burnt for Witch on the sixth of July, Anno 1431. thou [...] some adjudge it extream cruelty in the Eng­lish, and that she was rather a Saint than Witch: of which two different opinions he [...] one thus writing her Epitaph.

The Statute of this noble Virago all in Brass, being habited all in compleat Armor, standeth at this day in Orleans, upon the middle of their Bridge.

Qu. Wherein doth Man chiefly differ from Beasts?

An. In two things especially, Ratione & Oratione, Reason and speech.

Qu. How do Philosophers divide the parts of Life?

An. Into three; the Vegetive, the Sensitive, and the Rational: the Vegetive is that of Plants, Trees, &c. the Sensitive is of Beasts, Fowls, Fishes, and the like; but the Rational is only peculiar to Man; though I must con­fess many are of opinion, that several beasts are endued with more than an ordinary rea­son, of which they instance the Elephant, and of whom they deliver this story, That in the great Battel betwixt Alexander the Great, and King Porus (an Indian Emperor) the Elephant which King Porus rode on, see­ing his Master strong and lusty, rushed into the thickest of Alexanders Army; but when he [Page 50] perceived Porus to grow faint, he withdrew himself, and kneeling down, received all the Arrows shot against his Master in his own Trunk.

Qu. By what means may every man be ac­counted an honest man?

An. By endeavouring to be what he desires to seem.

Qu. What was an excellent Motto which comprehendeth it in the means whereby a man may quickly grow rich? (Counsel I know will quickly be hearkned unto by all.)

An. Nec habeo, nec careo, nec curo: I have not, I want not, I care not; which he enjoyeth that hath only content, as the Divine Poet said,

Qu. What are the differences or kinds Musick?

An. Among the Ancients I have met with three kinds of Musick, viz. First, that of the Greeks, which consisteth altogether of lon [...] Rules, or Spendans. This was the gravest and saddest of the rest, called by Aristotle Moral, because it setled the affections Boetius, whom we account the Classical Au­thor in this Faculty, calleth it Lydian, because in much use with those of that Nation, and now as generally received by the Italian This is the Musick which Elisha called for [...] invite unto him the Spirit of prophecy, King. 3. 15. and this is it which is yet sung [...] Churches, a practice which we derive fro [...] the Ancients, though some of late have opp [...] ­sed it, and which is much commended [...] [Page 51] that Doctor of the Latin Church, St. Austin. The second kind consisteth of a mixture of long and short Notes, or of the Dactylus, which is termed active, because it raiseth up the af­fections. Boetius calleth it the Dorian, because it had been in much esteem amongst the Dori­ans, a Greek People: we may now call it En­glish, as being much used by us; and is that Musick which cleareth the Spirits, and is so soveraign an Antidote to an afflicted mind. The third sort is that which consisteth altoge­ther of short Notes, or Tribrachy, and is by Aristotle said to be ravished, because it unhin­geth the Affections, and stirreth them up to lasciviousness. Boetius termeth it Phrygian, as being the strain of that wanton and luxu­riant people; in these days we may call it French, as being most delighted in by the stri­ving Spirits, and lightness of that Nation.

Qu. In what do several Nations differ, concern­ing their Aera, or computation of Time, from which every reckoning takes its beginning?

An. The Christians make their Epoch the Birth of Christ, which happened in the year of the world 3962. but this reckoning they [...]sed not till the year 600. Follow in the mean [...]ime the civil Account of the Empire. The Mahumetans begins their Hegira, or Compu­tation, from the return of their Prophet to Mecha, after he was driven thence by the Philarchae, Anno Christi 617. The Grecians reckoned by Olympiads, the first of which is placed in the year of the World 3187. but this Account perishing under the Donstontino­politan [Page 52] Emperors, they reckoned by Indictions, every Indiction containing 15 years; the first beginning whereof was about the year of Christ 313. which among Chronologers is still used. The Romans reckoned first from the building of their City, which was A. M. 3213. and afterwards from the 16 year of the Emperor Augustus, A. M. 1936. which be­ginneth somewhat before our Epoch from the Birth of Christ. This reckoning was used among the Spaniards, till the Reign of Ferdi­nand the Catholick. The Jews had divers E­pochs, as the Creation of the World in the beginning of Time. Secondly, from the uni­versal Deluge, Anno 1565. Thirdly, from the confusion of Tongues, Anno 1786. Fourth­ly, from Abraham's Journey out of Chaldea into Canaan, Anno 2021. Fifthly, from the departure of the Children of Israel out of Aegypt, Anno 2451. Sixthly, from the year of Jubile, Anno 2499. Seventhly, from the buil­ding of Solomons Temple, Anno 2432. And eightly, the Captivity of Babylon, Anno 3357 The most usual reckoning in England, is only that of the Worlds Creation, and Christ's ap­pearance in the flesh: the first seldom used but only by Chronologers, and Writers of Histories.

Qu. Since Adam, Methusalem, and some o­ther of the Patriarchs lived nine hundred and odd years, why did God never suffer any man to accomplish a thousand?

An. Some learned Persons give this reason, because a thousand years hath in it a type of perfection; and God never suffered any to fulfil it, to shew that there is no absolute per­fection in this world.

[Page 53] Qu. What two Philosophers were those who were so eminent for two notable qualities where­with they were endued, the like of them not to be foundin our modern Histories?

An. Democritus and Heraclitus; the first whereof alwayes laughed, the other continu­ally wept: which two different passions are much canvased by Authors, which of them is most suitable to humane Nature; indeed our appetites are most greedy to desire the first, but sound reason rightly weighed will conclude for the last: Solomon tell us, that it is better for us to go into the house of mourning, them into the house of laughter: and that the laughter of fools is madness. Besides, History tells us, that Agelastus, the Grandfather of Crassus, a very wise man, was so reserv'd, that he never laughed in all his life but once, which was when he saw the Ass eating of Thistles. But what need we go any farther than [...] Holy Wtit? if we consider our blessed Savi­our, we cannot find in the Scripture that he laughed, but that he wept, we read of these three times,

• 1. When Lazarus was dead.
• 2. Over Jerusalem.
• 3. Upon the Cross, when he delivered up his Spirit with cryes and tears.

Qu. What four things are those which we are by Divinos advised often to meditate upon?

An. Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell; to which may be added the death of Christ, and the Temptations of the World, as one hath neatly couched in these Verses:

Qu. What was the Sentence, according to the opinion of some, that Christ wrote with his Fin­ger in the dust of the pavement of the Temple, when they brought the Woman before him which was taken in adultery?

An. Some say it was that which he then spake, He that is without fault, let him throw the first stone at her: Others imagine it to be thus, Festucam in oculo fratris cernis, trabem in tuo non vides, Thou feest the mote in thy Bro­thers eye, but not the beam in thy own. But this case is doubtful, and for such questions I like the answer of him that said, Where the Scripture hath not a Mouth to speak, do not thou have a Tongue to ask.

Qu. In what respect is our Birth and Death compared the one to the other?

An. In grief and sorrow, onely herein is the difference, that the first is most painful to our Mothers, the last to our selves.

Qu. What is Life? and what is it to Live?

An. The beginning of mans life is sorrow, the end of it sorrow, and the middle nothing but grief and sorrow; which conjoyns both the middle and end, and makes one compleat mass of sorrow; of which one writes,

Hear therefore what old age adviseth youth, Young men, hear us old men; that being young men, heard old men, and have both by relation [Page 55] and experience found the truth hereof.

Qu. Which is the best way to overcome wrongs?

An. By neglecting them, according to that of the Poet,

Qu. How many are they among other Faculties, that the whole world is governed by?

An. Three, Divinity, Law, and Physick, as one wittily explains it in this Verse.

Much to the same purpose is that which an excellent Poet writ concerning our humane Bodies;

Qu. How many times was that stately Fa­brick at Jerusalem built?

An. Three, the first by Solomon, in providing the Materials whereof there were thirty thousand Workmen, who wrought by the ten thousand a moneth in Lebanon, seventy thousand Laborers that bear Burthens, eight thousand Quarry-men that hewed in the Mountains; and to expedite the business, that it should not be according to the Proverb, Church-work goes on slowly, there were no less than three thousand and three hundred Officers and Overseers.

What manner of Fabrick this was, you may read in the first of Kings, the sixth and seventh chapters, where it is fully described: It was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar King [Page 56] of Babylon, An. Mundi 3350. After the return of the Jews again from the Babylonian Captivity it was re-built, but far short of that stateliness and grandeur which it had at first; so that the Prophet Haggai had good occasion to say unto the People, Who is left among you that saw this House in her first glory? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? Haggai 2. 5. Now besides the state­liness of the building, in five other things it was defective: for first it wanted the Pot of Manna; which the Lord commanded Moses to lay up before the Testimony for a memorial, Exod. 6. 22. Secondly, the Rod of Aaron, which only amongst all the Rods of the Prin­ces of Israel budded, and was by God com­manded to be kept before the Testimony, for a token against the Rebels, Corath, Dathan, and Abiram, Num. 17. 10. Thirdly, the Ark of the Covenant, which was placed in the Sanctum Sanctorum, 1 King. 6. 19. Fourthly, the two Tables of the Law, written by Gods own Finger, which were by Moses placed in the Ark of the Covenant, Exod. 4. 20. And fifthly, the Fire of sacrifice which came down from Heaven, which Fire was by the Priests to be kept continually burning.

The third Building thereof was by Herod the Ascalonite, who plucked down the second Building, and erected it more sumptuous and magnificent than before. In this Temple our blessed Saviour and his Apostles preached Sal­vation to Jew and Gentile; so that we may say the glory of this latter Temple exceeded that of the first. It was finally destroyed by the Romans under the conduct of Titus the [Page 57] Son of Vespasian, according to the words of our Saviour, that that generation should not pass away, untill they should not see one stone thereof lying upon another.

Qu. Which is accounted the chief Church of all Paris in France?

An. That of Nostre Dame, said to be first foun­ded by St. Saminian, afterwards re-edified, or rather new built by Philip Augustus, Anno 1196. It is a very fair and awful Building, adorned with very beautiful Forts, and two Towers of especial heighth: At your first entrance on the right hand, is the Effigies of St. Christopher, with our Saviour on his shoul­ders, of a very Gigantick stature: It hath in it four ranks of Pillars, thirty in rank, and forty five little Chappels, or Mass-closets, built between the outermost range of Pillars, and the Walls; it is in length one hundred seventy four paces, and sixty in breadth, and just so many high. The two Towers are se­venty yards higher than the rest of the Church, and is indeed a very beautiful Building, yet far short of what our Church of St. Paul in London was, when it was in its glory:

Qu. What three English Churches are those that have their several Prerogatives before any other in the Land?

[Page 58] An. Pauls, Westminster, and Salisbury; Pauls for her Antiquity, Westminster for her curious Workman-ship, and Sansbury for va­tiety of Pillars, Windows, and Gates, Se­condly, Pauls before the late conflagration of Fire was famous, for the continual Society of the Living, Westminster is renowned for her Royal Sepulchre of the Dead; and Salis­bury famous for her Tripartile Calculation of the Year, having in it as many Windows, Pillars, and Gates, as there are Days, Hours and Moneths in the Year; of which Mr. Camb­den the famous Antiquary thus writeth:

For our other Churches, the most renow­ned is; First, the Cathedral of Lincoln. 2 For a private Parish-Church, that of Ratcliff in Bristol. 3 For a private Chappel, that of Kings-Colledge in Cambridge. 4 The Minster of Ely, though now much defaced by the in­jury of the late rebellious times. 5 For the curious workman-ship of the Glass; that of Christ-Church in Canterbury. 6 For the ex­quisite beauty of the Fronts, those of Wells [Page 59] and Peterborough. 7 For a pleasant lightsom Church, the Abbey-Church at Bath. And 8 For an ancient and reverend Fabrick, the Minster of York: though many of these Chur­ches which our hot-headed Zealots pretended, were beautified by superstition, were in the late times of rebellion, by sacrilegious igno­rance, much defaced and ruined.

Qu. Who was it (according to report) that built the Church of Sopham in Norfolk?

An. Tradition tells us, that in former times there lived in that Town a certain Pedlar, who dreamed that if he came up to London, and stood on the Bridge there, he should hear very joyful News, which he at first slighted; but afterwards his Dream being doubled and trebled unto him, he resolved to try the Issue of it, and accordingly to London he came, and stood on the Bridge there for two or three days, but heard nothing which might give him any comfort in the least, that the profit of his journy would be equal to his pains. At last it so happened, that a Shop-keeper there hard by, having noted his fruitless standing, seeing that he neither sold any Wares nor ask­ed an Alms, went to him, and demanded his business; to which the Pedlar made answer, that being a Country-man he dreamed adream that if he came up to London he should hear News. And art thou (said the Shop-keeper) such a fool to take a Journey on such a foolish Errand? why I tell thee this last night I drea­med that I was at Sopham in Norfolk, a place utterly unknown to me; where me-thought behind a Pedlars house, in a certain Orchard, and under a great Oak-tree, if I digged there I should find a mighty Mass of Treasure: now [Page 58] [...] [Page 59] [...] [Page 60] think you that I am so unwise to take so long a Journey upon me, only by the instigation of a foolish Dream! No, no, far be such fol­ly from me, therefore honest Country-man, I shall advise thee to make haste home again, and not to spend thy precious time in the ex­pectation of the event of an idle Dream. The Pedlar, who noted well his words, and know­ing all the things he had said to concenter in himself, glad of such joyful News, went speedily home, and digged under the Oak, where he found an infinite Mass of Money, with part of which, the Church happening to fall down, he very sumptuously re-edified the same; having his Statue therein to this day cut out in stone, with his pack at his back, and his dog at his heels; his memory being also preserved by the same form of picture in most of the glass-windows in Taverns and Alehouses of that Town to this day.

Qu. Wherefore on the top of Church-steeples is the Cock set upon the Cross, of a long continu­ance?

An. The Papists tell us, it is for our in­struction; that whilest aloft we behold the Cross, and the Cock standing thereon, we may remember our sins, and with Peter seek and obtain mercy.

Qu. What is the cause why the Pope Christens his Bells?

An. That being by him thus sanctified, the sound of them might drive devils out of the air, clear the Skies, chase away storms and tempests, quench fires, and give comfort to all the dead that hear them: as the Bells them­selves will tell you, being rung to this tune:

Qu. What three things is it wherein the Town of Saffron-walden in Essex doth ex­cel?

An. A Magnificent House, a sumptuous Church, and a large pair of Stocks. The House that is commonly called Audley-End House, built by Thomas Howard Earl of Suf­folk, in the time of King James, a most gal­lant uniform Building, little inferior to any of the choicest Statues in Europe. The Church stands in the middle of the Town upon a Hill, having an ascent each way un­to it, which makes it appear the more grace­ful: It is very large, and adorned with cu­rious Workman-ship, hath an excellent Ring of Bells, and hath from time to time been continually kept in good repair. The Stocks are made of one entire Tree, and will by the legs, wrists, and Thumbs, hold above forty several persons, and are by the Inhabitants of that town shown to strangers as a great rarity.

Qu. In what place did the Ancients, commonly use to bury their dead?

An. Former Ages would not permit any dead Corps to be buried within the walls of their Cities. Thus we read that Abraham bought a field wherein to bury his dead; and we finde in the seventh of Luke, that the wi­dow of Naims son was carried out to be buri­ed. [Page 62] This instance also we find to be used a­mongst the Athenians, Corinthians and other of the Graecians. Amongst the Ro­mans it was the fashion to burn the bodies of the dead within their City, which custom continued till the bringing in of the Laws of Athens, commonly called The Laws of the Twelve Tables; one of which Laws runneth in these words, In urbe ne sepelito, nemo urito. After this Prohibition, their dead Corps were first burned in Campus Martius, and there was covered in sundry places in the fields. The frequent Urns, or Sepulchral Stones digged up amongst us here in Eng­land, (as of late days were many in Spittle­fields near London) are sufficient testimonies of this assertion. Besides, we may find in Appium, that the chief reason why the rich men in Rome would not yield to that Law, called Lex Agraria or the Law of dividing the Roman possessions equally among the people was, because they thought it an ir­religious thing that the monuments of their Fore fathers should be sold unto others. The first that is Registred to have been buried in the City, was Trojanus the Emperor; after­wards it was granted as an honorary to such as had deserved well of the Republick: but afterwards when Christian Religion prevail'd o're heathenism, Churchyards (those Dormi­tories of the Saints) were consecrated, and the liberty of burying within the walls was alike granted to all.

Qu. Which is the surest way to make a man's name immortal, either by strong stone buildings and calling them after their own names; or like [Page 63] Homer, Virgil, or Ovid, by leaving behind them some witty Poem, or Invention in Paper?

An. To this the Poet will give you a ready Answer.

Qu. What death (according to History) do we find that Aristotle that great Philosopher, and Searcher out of the Secrets of Nature, died of?

An. History tells us that he drowned him­self in the River Euripus, which being a small River betwixt Eubeo and Achata, and ebbing and flowing seven times in a day, contrary to the nature of other Rivers, when he could not find out the reason thereof, it is said that he threw himself therein, with these words: Quia ego non capio te, tu capias me. If I cannot contain thee, thou shalt contain me.

Qu. Who was the first man that publickly in writing set forth a tractate of the Antipodes?

An. Many are of opinion that the Anti­podes was known to the Ancients, although they were by them never discovered; and therefore it is said, That in former times it was known that there were Antipodes, although the Antipodes were not known: but the first that declared it in writing, was Virgilius Bishop of Salizburg in Germany, which Boniface Bi­shop of Mentz in that Country happening to see, and supposing that under that strange name some damnable Doctrine was contain­ed, [Page 64] made complaint first to the Duke of Bohe­mia, and next to Pope Zachary, Anno 745. By whom the poor Bishop (unfortunate onely in being learned in such a time of Ignorance) was condemned of Heresie for that which now every ordinary Seaman can demonstrate for truth.

Qu. Who first broacht the opinion of the mu­tability of the Earth, that it turns round about the Center of the Sun?

An. The first that publickly declared him­self of this opinion was Copernicus, a Do­ctrine so strange in those times, that an able Poet thus writ to him:

And yet now this opinion is taken up by our ablest Astrologers, as Mr. Vincent, Wing, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Leyburn, and others.

Qu. Why is virtue more talked of, than prac­tised?

An. Because every one desires the name of Virtuous, although he do not deserve it, ac­cording to the Poet:

The old Romane built a Temple to Honor, which whosoever would come to, must first pass through the Temple of Virtue, intimating thereby that Honor was the reward of Vir­tue, and that without virtuous actions none could come to Honors preferments.

Qu. What people lie in most state?

An. Beggars, who have the Heavens for their Canopy.

Qu. What is the right part of a Judge?

An. To hear both sides indifferently, and not to be prepossessed in any case, for thereby though he do Justice, yet himself errs, accor­ding to the Poet;

Qu. What is that that bears all, forms all, nourisheth all, increaseth all, creates all, buries all, and receives all into her again?

An. The Earth.

Qu. Why can no man be said to be truly happy, or miserable in this life?

An. Because as the Poet said,

Qu. Who first found out the use of weights and measures?

An. One Phidon an Argine, in the time of Arbanes the Mede, An. M. 3146.

Qu. What makes it that few people are content with their condition?

An. Because the desire of riches encreases [...]n the getting of them, few people being [...]ontented with that state which God hath al­otted to them.

Qu. Why was Diogenes accounted an Epicure?

An. Because out of love to Wine, when it was all drunk out, he would live in the Cask.

Qu. Why do Beggars go with hungry bellies?

An. Because it is Money rules the Roast.

Qu. What is that is spoken of in the Hebrew, Greek, and Latine Tongues?

An. That the Hebrew is most sacred, the Greek most rich, and the Latine most copious.

Qu, How came the word Harlot first in use among the English?

An. From Arlet, King William the Con­querors Mother, whose Father Robert Duke of Normandy, passing through Falaise a town in France, and seeing this Arlet being a Skin­ners daughter, nimbly to trip it in a dance, he thought he would not be sluggish in a bed, and therefore sent for her to accompany him that night; to which she readily condescen­ded, and the Duke that night begat on he [...] William the Bastard, King of England; in­spight to whom and disgrace to his Mother, the English called all whores Harlots, a word yet in use with us unto this day,

Qu. Who first brought up that use of pledg­ing one another, being drunk unto?

An. This Custom took its original on such time as the Danes Lorded it in this Land, who used when the English drank, to stabb them, or cut their throats: to avoid which vill any, the party then drinking would request some of the next sitters by, to be his surety or pledg, whilst he paid Nature his due. And hence have we our custom of pledging one another which begun at first upon necessity, is now grown to be a Complement, and common to all.

Qu. What two Letters are those, that at ou [...] entrance into the world we all cry out upon?

An. A and E, as the Poet explains in this verse.

Qu. What is delivered in Histories concerning the three Kings of Collen, or the wise men that came out of the East to worship our Saviour?

An. It is said that those wise men were three Kings, and that they came out of A­rabia; first in respect that Arabia is East from Jerusalem and secondly because it is said in the 72 Psalm, The Kings of Arabia shall bring gifts. Their bodies are said to have been translated from Palestine by Helena the Mother of Constantine, to Constantinople, from thence by Eustasius Bishop of Millain, unto Millain; and finally brought to Collen in Germany by Rainoldus Bishop thereof, Anno [...] 164. where they lie interred; the first of them being called Melchior, an old man with a long beard, who offered Gold as unto a King. The second called Gaspar, a beard­ [...]ess young man, who offered Frankincense [...]s unto God. The third called Balthasar, a Black Moor with a spreading Beard, who offered Myrrh, as unto a man ready for his sepulchre.

Qu. Wherefore did Pilate wash his hands af­ter he had condemned our Saviour?

An. Vainly thinking by that Ceremony to [Page 68] wash the blood off from his guilty Conscience▪

We before spoke of the Popes Christening of Bells, now we will shew you in what manner it is done.

The Bell that is to be baptized, is so hanged that it may be washed within and without. Then in comes the Bishop in his Episcopal Robes, attended by one of his Deacons, and sitting by the Bell in his Chair, saith with a loud voice, the 50, 53, 56, 66, 69, 85, and 12 Psalms, or some of them: then doth he exercise severally, salt and water, and having conjured these ingredients into an Holy­water, he washeth with it the Bell, both on the inside and the outside, wiping it dry with a Linnen Cloth, he then readeth the 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, and 150 Psalms, then he draweth a Cross on it with his right thumb dipped in hallowed Oyl, (Chrisme they call it) and then prayeth over it. His Prayer finished, he wipeth out that Cross, and having said over the 48 Psalm, he draweth on it with the same Oyl, seven other Crosses, saying, Sanctificetur & consecretur, Domine, Campana ista, in nomine, &c. After another Prayer the Bishop taketh the Censor, and putting into it Myrrh and Frankincense, setteth it on fire, and putteth it under the Bell, that it may receive all the fume of it. This being done, the 76 Psalm read, and some other prayers repeated, the Bell hath received his whole and entire bap­tism, [Page 69] and is from thenceforth very fit and able to ring out, Ding, Dong, Dong.

Qu.

An. In the representation of an ancient picture, it was thus resolved: The Pope with his Clergy says, I pray for you all; The Empe­ror with his Electors, I defend you all: The Clown with his sack of Corn, I feed you all; at [...]ast comes Death and says, I devour you all; For,

Further Verses upon Death.

Qu. Why do the affections of Parents run up­wards to their Children, and not their Childrens un downward to them?

[Page 70] An. Experience tells us, that Parents are more tender and loving to their Children by far, than Children are dutiful and obsequious to their Parents. Even as the Sap in the Root of a Tree ascends into the Branches thereof, but returns not from the branches to the Root again, but runs forth from thence into seed; so parents love their Children, who return not that love to them again, but their affecti­ons run forwards to a further procreation. Hence comes it to pass, that one father with more willingness brings up ten children, than ten children in his want, will sustain one Fa­ther. And whereas you hear of one unnatu­ral Parent, you shall hear of ten disobedient children.

Qu. Have the Heavens a particular influence upon the same Climate, though the Inhabitants be changed?

An. Yes they have; for as these Caelestial bodies considered in the general, do work upon all sublunary bodies in the general, by light, influence, and motion; so have they a particular operation on particulars. An ope­ration there is wrought by them in a man, as born at such and such a minute, and again as born under such and such a Climate. The one derived from the setting of the Houses, and the Lord of the Horoscope at the time of his Nativity, the other from that Constel­lation which governeth as it were the Pro­vince of his birth, and is the Genius, or Deus Tutelaris loci.

Qu. In what Points doth the Greek and Mus­covite Church differ from that of the Romesh and the reformed?

[Page 71] An. In these ten.

1. Denying the Holy Ghost to proceed from the Father and the Son.

2. Denying Purgatory, but praying for the dead.

2. Believing that holy men injoy not the presence of God before the Resurrection.

4. Communicating in both kinds, but u­sing leavened bread, and mingling warm wa­ter with wine: which both together they distribute with a spoon.

5. Receiving children of seven years old to the Sacrament, because then they begin to sin.

6. Forbiding extream Unction, Con­firmation, and fourth Marriages.

7. Admitting none to Orders but such as are married, and prohibiting marriage to them that are actually in Orders.

8. Rejecting carved Images, but admir­ing the painted.

9. Observing four Lents in the year.

And tenthly, reputing it unlawful to fast on Saturdays.

The main points in which the Grecians and Muscovite differ, is in this manner of distributing the Sacrament, and the ex­acting of Marriage at the Ordination of Priests.

Qu. Wherein do the Cholchians differ from other Christians their Neighbours?

An. In three circumstances.

1. In not Baptizing their Children till the eighth year.

2. In not entering into Churches till the sixtieth year, but hearing Divine Service without the Temple.

[Page 72] 3. In dedicating their youth to theft and rapine; their old Age to the difficult work of Repentance.

Qu. Whereon do the Jacobites differ from the Greek and Roman Church?

An. In four several opinions.

1. They acknowledge but one Will, Nature, and operation in Christ.

2. They use circumcision in both Sexes.

3. They sign their children with the sign of the Cross, imprinted with a burning Iron.

4. They affirm Angels to consist of two substances, fire and light.

These Jacobites are so called from Jaco­bus Syrus, who lived Anno 530. the Patri­arch of this Sect is always called Ignatius, he keepeth residence at Garani in Meso­potamia, and is said to have 160000 Fami­lies under his jurisdiction.

Qu. Of what Sect are those Christians called Melchites?

An. They are of the same Tenets with the Graecians, excepting only that that they cele­brate Divine Service as solemnly on the Sa­turday, as the Sunday. They take their de­nomination from Melchi, which in the Syriac [...] signifieth a King; because in matters of Re­ligion the people followed the Emperors In­junctions, and were of the Kings Religion, a [...] the saying is.

Qu. What Sect of Christians are those calles Maranites?

An. They are a People found onely in Moun [...] Libanus: their Patriarch is alwayes called Peter, he hath under his jurisdiction nine Bishops, and resideth commonly at Tripolis▪ [Page 73] They held heretofore divers opinions with the Graecians, but in the Papacy of Clement the eighth, they received the Roman Religi­on, which they do still adhere to.

Qu. What different Tenets are those of the Armenian Christians from the rest of their Neighbours?

An. Four.

1. In receiving Infants to the Lords Table immediately after Baptism.

2. In abstaining from unclean Beasts.

3. In fasting on Christmas-day.

4. In holding their Children over the fire, as a necessary circumstance in Baptism, be­cause John the Baptist told the people which followed him, that Christ should Baptise them with the Spirit, and with fire.

This Sect is very numerous, and is gover­ned by two Patriarchs, whereof the one hath under his jurisdiction all Turcomania, a great Province in Armenia the greater, comprehen­ding 150000 Families, besides very many Monasteries: and the other hath under him the two Provinces of Armenia the lesser, and Cilicia, comprehending 20000 Families or thereabouts.

Qu. What are those Christians called Geor­gians?

An. They are the inhabitants of Georgia and consent in most Doctrinal points with the Grecians, onely they acknowledge not the Patriarch of Constantinople, but have a Patriarch of their own, who is for the most part resident in his house on Mount Sinai in Palestina, and hath under his jurisdiction eighteen Bishops

[Page 74] Qu. What were the different opinions of the Indian Christians, before such time they imbra­ced the Doctrine of the Church of Rome?

An. 1. To administer the Sacrament with bread season'd with salt.

2. In stead of Wine, to use the iuice of Rai­sons, softned in water one night, and so dres­sed forth.

3. Not to baptize their children till forty days old, unless in danger of death.

4. To permit no Images in their Churches, but of the Cross onely.

5. To debar their Priests from second marriages.

And sixthly, to paint God with three heads on one body, denoting thereby the Trinity.

Qu. Wherein do the Copties or Christians of Egypt differ from other Christians?

An. In these four particulars.

1. They confer all sacred orders, under the Priesthood, upon Infants immediately af­ter Baptism, their Parents till they come to sixteen years of age, performing their office for them.

2. They allow marriage in the second degree of Consanguinity, without any dispensation.

3. They observe not the Lords-day, nor any other Festivals, but onely in the Cities.

4. They embrace and read in their Litur­gies a Gospel, written (as they say) by Nico­demus.

Qu. What special Sects were amongst the Jews?

An. These four, Scribes, Pharisees, Essenes and Sadduces.

Qu. What were the Scribes?

[Page 75] An. Their office was double; first to read and expound the Law in the Temple and Synagogues; and secondly to execute the office of a Judge, in ending and composing actions.

Qu. What were the Pharisees?

An. The Pharisees owe their name to Phares, which signifieth both interpretari & separare, as being both interpreters of the Law, and Separatists from the rest of the Jewish Church, besides the Pentateuch, or five Books of Moses, they adhered also to traditions. They denyed the sacred Trinity, and held the fulfilling of the Law to consist in the outward Ceremonies. They relyed more on their own merits than Gods mercy, attributing most things to destiny, and refu­sed commerce with Publicans and Sinners.

Qu. What were the Essenes?

An. The Essenes had their name from Ascha, that is, facere; because they wrought with their hands. They lived together as it were in Colledges, and in it every one had their Chappel for their devotion. All their estates they enjoyed in common, and received no man into their fellowship, unless he would give all that he had into their Treasury; and not then under a three years probationership.

Qu. What were the Sadduces?

An. The Sadduces received their Name from Sedec [...], which signifieth Justice. They be­lieved not the being of Angels or Spirits, the resurrection of the body, nor that there was a Holy Ghost: and received for Scripture onely the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses.

Qu. Wherein doth [...] Fundamentals of the Mahumetan Religion consist?

[Page 76] An. The whole is delivered in the book of their Religion called the Alcoran, and is but an Exposition and Gloss of these eight Com­mandments.

1. Every one ought to believe that God is a great God, and onely God, and Mahomet is his Prophet.

2. Every man must marry to encrease the Sectaries of Mahomet.

3. Every one must give of his wealth to the poor.

4. Every one must make his prayers five times in a day.

5. Every one must keep a Lent one month in the Year.

6. Be obedient to thy parents.

7. Thou shalt not kill.

8. Do unto others, as thou wouldest be done unto thy self.

Many other Injunctions he laid upon them, as forbidding them Wine, and the eating of Swines-flesh. Fryday he ordained to be the Sabbath day, to distinguish his Followers from Jews and Christians, who solemnize the days following. To those who observed his Re­ligion, and faithfully kept his Laws, he pro­mised Paradise, spread here and there with Silk Carpets, adorned with verdant flowery Fields, watered with Christaline Rivers, and beautified with trees of Gold, and Arbors of pleasure, in whose cool shade they shall spend their time with amorous Virgins, whose mansion shall not be far distant. The men shall never exceed the age of thirty years, nor the women of fifteen; and both shall have their Virginities renewed as fast as lost.

Many idle, ridiculous Opinions do they hold concerning the end of the world; that at the winding of a Horn, not all flesh only, but the Angels themselves shall die; That the Earth with an Earthquake shall be knead­ed together lke a lump of Dough: That a second blast of the same Horn, shall after forty days restore all again: That Cain shall be the Captain or Ring-leader of the Dam­ned, who shall have the countenances of Dogs and Swine: That they shall pass over the Bridge of Justice laden with their sins in Satchels; that the greater sinners shall fall into Hell, the lesser into Purgatory only. That all those who professed and practised any Religion should go into Paradise; the Jews under the Banner of Moses, the Chri­stians under the Banner of Christ. And that himself should be metamorphosed into a great Ram, and all those of his followers in­to little fleas, who should shroud themselves in his long fleece, when he would jump into Heaven, and so convey them all thither. With a thousand of the like fopperies.

Qu. Which Heretick in his time had the most followers?

An. Arius, a priest of Alexandria, who hatched that devilish Doctrine against the perpetual Divinity of Christ; to beat down which Heresie, the first Council of Nice was called, wherein was made the Nicene Creed, [Page 78] and the Clause, of one substance with the Father, proved to be agreeable to the Word. Con­stantine being then Emperor, sent for Arius to subscribe to the Decrees of this Council, who went to Constantinople with his own he­retical Tenets written in a paper, and put in­to his bosom; where reading before the Em­peror the Decrees of the Council, he writ a Recantation of his Heresie, laying his hand on his breast, and swearing, he meant as he had written: but though thereby he blinded the Emperor, God manifested his hypocrisie; for passing in great triumph through the streets of the City, a necessity of Nature enforcing him, he withdrew aside into a House of Ease, where he voided out his Guts, and sent his soul as a Harbinger to the Devil, to provide room for his body. However his Heresie died not with him, but overspread so far, that one of the Fathers complained, The whole world is turned Arian. And long time it was ere this Serpent of Error was knocked on the head by the Hammer of Gods Word, though very powerful then in the mouths of many faithful Ministers.

Many other Heresies might be reckon'd up, which were frequent in the primitive times, as the Nicholaitans, Donatists, &c. but we descend to speak of some more modern.

Qu. Who was the first that broached that ridiculous Schism of the Adamites?

An. One Picardus a Native of Belgia, or the Low Countreys, who coming into Bohe­mia, drew a great sort of men and women unto him, pretending to bring them to the same state of perfection that Adam was in [Page 79] before his fall: and having gotten a great many disciples, they betook themselves to an Island called Paradise, and went stark naked, having no respect unto marriage, yet would they not accompany any woman until the man coming to Adam, said unto him, Father Adam, I am enflamed towards this woman: and Adam made answer, In­crease and multiply. But long they had not lived in this lascivious course of Irreligion, but Zisca that renowned Bohemian Captain hearing of them, with a selected Band of Soldiers, entered their Fools Paradise, and put them all to the Sword, An. Dom. 1416:

The same pretence to bring men to Pa­radise, though in a different way, was once practised by Aladine a seditious Persian, who inhabited a Valley in that Countrey, which he fortified with a strong Castle. Hither he brought all the lusty Youths, and beautiful Maidens of the adjoyning Provinces; The women were confined to their Chambers, the men to prison, where having endured much sorrow, they were severely cast into dead sleeps, and conveyed to the women, where they were entertained with all the pleasures youth and lust could desire, or a sensual mind affect. To the eyes were pre­sented curious Pictures, and other costly Sights, the Ears were charmed with melo­dious Musick, the Nose delighted with o­doriferous Smells, the Taste satiated with costly Viands, and the Touch satisfied with whatsoever might be pleasing unto it, no­thing was wanting which a sensual appe­tite could desire to enjoy. Having lived in [Page 80] this happiness a whole day, they were in a like sleep conveyed to their Irons. Then would Aladine come unto them and inform them how they had been in Paradise, in which place it was in his power to seat them eternally, and which he would do if they would hazard their lives in his Quarrels. They (poor souls) thinking all to be real, swore to perform whatsoever he requested: whereupon he destinated them to the mas­sacre of such Princes as he had a mind to be rid out of the way; which for the hopes of this Paradise, they willingly put in execution, refusing no dangers to be there the sooner. One of these was he who so desperately wounded our King Edward the first, when he was in his Wars in the Holy Land.

Qu. Who was the most notorious Heretick of these latter times?

An. One David George, born at Delft in Holland, who called himself King, and Christ immortal. He fled with his wife and chil­dren Anno 1544 to Basil, where he divulged his doctrine; the chief heads whereof were,

1. That the Law and the Gospel were unprofitable for the attaining of Heaven, but his doctrine able to save such as received it.

2. That he was the true Christ and Messias.

3. That he had been till that present kept in a place unknown to the Saints.

And fourthly, that he was not to restore the house of Israel by death or tribulation, but by the love and grace of the Spirit.

He died in the year 1556. and three years after his doctrine was by them of Basil con­demned, his Goods confiscated, and his bones [Page 81] taken up and burned. He bound his disciples to three things.

1. To conceal his name.

2. Not to reveal of what condition he had been.

And thirdly, Not to discover the Articles of his doctrine to any man in Basil.

Qu. From whence had the Sect of the Ana­baptists their first original?

An. From Germany about the year 1527. being very ripe in the Province of Helvetia, where one of them in the presence of his Father and Mother, cut off his brothers head, and said (according to the humour of that Sect, who boast much of dreams, visions, and enthusiasms) that God had commanded him to do it. Since which time this Sect, like a per­nicious infection, hath spread it self into ma­ny Countries, having been very baneful to England, in our late uncivil wars.

I might instance many examples more of our late Schismaticks; as of the Ranters, Fifth-Monarchy-men, &c. but we will now turn our pen to other matters.

Qu. What women of all others are most fruit­ful?

An. Beggars wives, that of all others, one would think, should be most barren.

Qu. What is mans ingress and egress in this world?

An. He is born head-long into this world, and carried to the grave with his feet fore­most; of which one thus writes:

Qu. What is that State comparable unto, wherein is most Nobles and Gentry, and the Hus­bandmen are made their meer drudges?

An. Sir Francis Bacon in his History of Henry the Seventh, likens them to Coppice­woods, in which if you let them grow too thick in the stadles, they run to bushes or briars, and have little clean under-wood. This may be evinced by the Countrey of France, which is very numerous of Nobles and Gentry, but the poor Peasants kept in a miserable servitude; by which means al­though their Cavalry or Horse be very good, yet their Infantry or Foot comes infinitely far short of those of ours in England, where the Commons enjoy such priviledges as the French Peasants neither have, nor can hope for.

Qu. What said the Poet concerning those who first adventured to plough the Ocean waves with a Ship?

An.

Hard was his heart as brass, which first did venture

In a weak Ship, on the rough Seas to enter.

Qu. What King of Scotland was he, on whom the Prophecy concerning Jacobs stone was fulfil­led, that a King of that Nation should live to be crowned thereupon?

An. King James, the first of that name of England, and the sixth of Scotland, who was [Page 83] Crowned at Westminster, whither the same was brought by our Edward the first at such time as he harassed Scotland with Fire and Sword, on which stone was this written:

This Stone is said to be the same on which Jacob slept, when to avoid his brothers fury he fled to Padan-aram, to Laban his mother Rebeckahs brother. Of which stone one thus further writes:

Qu. What three things are those which are accounted very strange, or rather miraculous in the Countrey of Scotland?

An.

1. The Lake of Mirton, part of whose waters do congeal in winter, part of them not.

2. The Lake of Lenox twenty four miles round, in which are thirty Islands, one of which is driven to and fro in every tempest.

3. The Deaf-stone twelve foot high, and thirty three cubits thick; of this rare quality, that a Musquet shot off on the one side, cannot be heard by a man standing on the other.

Qu. In how many forms doth a Physitian ap­pear to his Patient?

An. In these three.

1. In the form of a skilful man, when he pro­miseth help.

[Page 84] 2. In the shape of an Angel, when he per­forms it.

3. In the form of a Devil, when he asketh his reward.

And therefore it is the Physicians Rule.

Take the second Fee, while the Sick hand giveth it.

Qu. What Trade is set up at the least charge?

An. A Scriveners: for the Wing of a Goose sets up forty of them.

Qu. Of what four parts should a good History consist?

An. Of Annals, Diaries, Commentaries, and Chronologies, borrowing from them all somewhat to beautifie her self withal; espe­cially from Annals the year, and Diaries the day in which any remarkable business happen­ed; from Commentaries is derived matter, and from Chronologies consent of Times, and Coetanity of Princes.

Qu. What is it that makes Physicians well?

An. Other mens sickness, according to the Poet:

Qu. What were the names of the seven wise men of Greece?

An. Bius, Solon, Chilon, Cleobules, Pita­rus, and Periander, but now our age is grown [Page 85] so wise, or self-conceited, that as the Poet hath it,

And yet I think I may safely say with an­other Poet,

Qu. Into how many parts is the world di­vided?

An. Into four parts and four Religions, Asia, Africa, America, Europe,

Jewish, Mahometan, Pagan, Christian hope.

Qu. Why did Godfrey of Bulloign, when he took upon him the Title of the King of Jeru­salem, yet by no means would be perswaded to he crowned King?

An. Because he judged himself unworthy to wear a Crown of Gold, where his Lotd and Saviour was crowned with thorns.

Such was the humility of great men in for­mer times; thus we read of Saladine, Em­peror of the Turks, that at his death he cau­sed a black shirt to be fixt on a spear, and car­ried round about his Camp with this procla­mation, This black shirt was all that Saladine Conqueror of the East, (after all his Victories and successes) carried with him to his grave,

Qu. By what means (according as it is de­liver'd [Page 86] by Authors) was Constantine the great first converted to the Christian Faith?

An. Socrates Scholastius writing thereon, saith, That when Constantine was appointed Emperor in Britain, Maxentius was by the Pretorian Soldiers chosen at Rome, and Ly­cinius nominated Successor by Maximinius. Against these Constantine marching, and being in his mind somewhat pensive, he cast his eyes up to Heaven: where he saw in the Sky a lightsome Pillar in the form of a Cross, where­in were engraven these words, In hoc vince. The night following our Saviour appeared to him in a Vision, commanding him to bear the figure of that Cross in his Banners, and he should overcome his Enemies. Constantine obeyed the vision, and was accordingly vict­orious, after which he not only favoured the Christians, but became himself also one of that Holy profession,

This Constantine, as most Writers agree, was the Son of Helena, daughter to Caelus or Coylus a British Prince; and Colchester was the place where he beheld the light, as the Poet Necham learnedly sung,

Helena his Mother was she that built the Temple of the Sepulchre at Jerusalem, and found out the Holy Cross; much ado had the good Lady to find the place where Christ was buried, for the Jews and Heathens had raised great Hillocks thereon, and built there [Page 87] a Temple to Venus. This Temple being plucked down, and the Earth digged away, she found the three Crosses whereon our blessed Saviour and the two Thieves had suffered; to know which of these was the right Cross, they were all carried to a woman, who had long been visited with sickness, and now lay at the point of death. The Crosses of the two thieves did the weak woman no good; but as soon as they laid on her the Cross on which our Lord dyed, she leaped up, and was resto­red to her former health; or this Cross there are in several places shown so many pieces, that (as one saith) were they all put together, they would break the back of Simon of Cyrene to carry them: but these are pious frauds, and so much the more tolerable, in that they bring great gain into the Popes Treasury.

Of the Temple thus built, was afterwards instituted an Order of Knights Templers, by Hugh of Payennes, Anno 1113. and confir­med by Pope Eugenius; their Ensign was a red Cross, in token that they should shed their blood to defend Christs Temple. They were Cross-legged, and wore on their backs the figure of the Cross, for which they were by the common people called cross-back or crouk-back, and by corruption crook-back. Edmund Earl of Lancaster, second Son to our Henry the third, being of this Order, was vulgarly called Edmund Crook-back, which made Henry the fourth conceited, that this Edmund (from whom he was descended) was indeed the eldest Son of King Henry, but that for his crookedness and deformity, his youn­ger Brother was preferred to the Crown be­fore [Page 88] him. These Knights in process of time grew very rich, having in all Provinces of Europe their subordinate Governors, in which they did possess no less than 16000 Lordships. The House of our Law Students in London, called the Temple, was the chief House of the Knights of this order in England, where at this day some of their Images are to be seen, with their legs across, as they were here buried; amongst whom was William Marshal the Elder, a most powerful man in his time, William and Gilbert his Sons, Marshals of En­gland and Earls of Pembroke; upon Willa [...]m the Elder his Tomb, some years since, was read in the upper part Comes Pembrochia, and on his side this verse,

This Order, which at first was very poor, insomuch that their common seal, was two riding upon one Horse; in little time with in­satiable greediness, they hoarded up great wealth, by withdrawing Tithes from the Church, appropriating spiritual things to themselves, and other bad means; which riches of theirs turned to their ruine; for Philip the fair King of France, having a plot to invest one of his Sons with the Title of King of Ierusalem, procured of the Pope the revenue of this Order, which he thought to do the better, because Clement the fifth then Pope, for the love he bare to France, had transferred his seat from Rome to Avignon. But though he affected the one, he was decei­ved in the other; for this Order being dissol­ved, and many of them cruelly, and (as it is [Page 89] thought) unjustly put to death, the Lands thereto belonging were by a general Council given to the Knights Hospitallers, of St. John: which said Knights of that Order in England, (whose principal mansion was in Smithfield,) sold the aforesaid House of the Templers, to the Students of Laws, for the yearly rent of ten pound, about the middle of the Reign of Edward the third, in whose hand it is continued unto this day.

Qu. What four Countreys in England are those which are famoused for four principal quali­ties?

An. Staffordshire, Darbyshire, Cheshire, and Lancashire.

Qu: What place in England is accounted most safe in the time of War, according as we find it proverbially said?

An.

Qu. What may be said of these four Latine words?

Quid Puer, Quid Senex.

An. Take away the first letter from Puer, or a Boy, and there remains Ver, which signi­fieth the Spring.

Take two first letters from Senex, for an old man, and there remaineth Nex, which signifieth death: and thus are both their na­tures expressed in both their Names.

[Page 90] Ver. Nex.

Qu. What may we think of such as are Je­sters to Noblemen or Princes, or such as are Jaok-puddings on Mountebanks stages?

An. That a fool cannot perform the place, and none but Fools will undertake it.

Qu. What Book do not married men love to learn in?

An. The Horn-book.

Qu. What be the three properties belonging to a Whore?

An. Nimble of her hand, quick of her tongue, and light of her tayl.

Qu. Whether are Whores or Thieves most pre­judicial to a Common-wealth?

An. Whores by far; for Thieves do only steal and purloyn from men, and the harm they do is to embellish mens goods, and bring them to poverty, this is the only end of mens thieving, and the prejudice that grows from robbing and filohing: but if a man fall into the company of a Whore, she flatters him, she inveagles him, she bewitcheth him, that he spareth neither goods nor lands to content her, that is onely in love with his coyn. If he be married he forsakes his Wife, leaves his Children, despiseth his friends, only to satisfie his lust with the love of a base whore, who when he hath spent all upon her, and he brought to beggery, beateth him out like the prodigal Son, and for a small reward brings him, if to the fair'st end, to beg; if to the second, to the Gallows; or at the last and [Page 91] worst, to the Pox, or as prejudicial diseases.

Qu. What is the Art and cunning of a Whore?

An. Their eyes are Stauls, and their hands Lime-twigs; Cyrces had never more charms, Calipso more inchantments, nor the Syrens more subtile tunes, than they have crafty sleights, to inveagle young Cullies to their deceitful embraces.

Qu. Who were the most famous whores in for­mer Ages?

An. Lais, Thais, Rhodope, the Lady Rosa­mond, Jane shore, &c. nor must we think our present age to be altogether free.

Qu. What is the Character of an honest Man?

An. That his Tongue is the Interpreter of his heart, though now considering the hypo­crisie and falshood of most men, we may say with the Poet,

Qu. What is that which of running becomes staid, of soft becomes hard, of weak becomes strong, and of that which is infinite becomes but one?

An. Ice.

Qu. Who were the first that brought Tobacco into England?

An. It was first brought hither by the Mari­ners of Sir Francis Drake, Anno 1585. but brought into more request and custom by Sir Walter Rawleigh, who is reported to have ta­ken [Page 92] two pipes thereof as he went to execu­tion. This Drug, as it hath found many friends, so hath it met with divers enemies, who re­port it not only consumptive to the purse, but that it impaireth the inward parts, corrupt­eth the natural sweetness of the breath, stu­pifieth the brain, and is so prejudicial to the general esteem of our Countrey-men, that one saith of them, Anglorum corpora qui huic plantae tantopere indulgent, in Barbarorum natu­ram degenerasse videntur. The two chief ver­tures ascribed to it are, that it is good against Lues Venerea, that loath some disease, the Pox; and that it voideth Rheum: for the first like enough it is, that so unclean a disease may be fitted with so unwholesome a medicine: for the second good quality attributed unto it, I think it rather to consist in opinion than truth, the Rheum which it voideth, being only that which it self ingendereth. We may as well conclude that Bottle-Ale breaketh wind, for that effect we find to follow the drinking of it, though indeed it is only the same wind which it self conveyed into the stomack. I confess in some respects being moderately taken, it may be serviceable for Physick; but Tobacco is by few taken now as medicinal, it is grown a good fellow, and fallen from a Phy­sician to a Complement.

Hear his farewel to it, who once much doted on this heathenish weed.

Qu. What Country in all the whole world is most commended for the equal and just manner of the Rule thereof?

An. England; wherein there is referred to the King, absolute Majesty; to the Nobles, [Page 94] convenient Authority; to the People, an in­corrupted Liberty: all in a just and equal proportion, a rare mixture of government, a perfect and happy Composition; wherein the King hath his full prerogative, the Nobles all due respects, and the people, among other blessings, perfect in this, that they are Masters of their own purposes, and have a strong hand in the making of their own Laws.

Qu. Who was the first that planted the Chri­stian Religion in England?

An. Ioseph of Arimathea, whose body is affirmed to be buried at Glassenbury in So­mersetshire, in which place grew a Tree, that on the 24 of December would be bare and naked as other trees, but on the next day being Christmas day, it would be full of blossoms, and flourishing as other trees in Summer. This Hawthorn (for such it was) by ignorant zeal in the late times of Rebel­lion, was hewn down. I have heard also of an Oak in Staffordshire, that every year on the same day, would bring forth green leaves fresh and flourishing, though the day before it were sear and dry; an evident ar­gument of the truth of Christs appearing in the flesh: though of late, some more nice than wise, reject all such things, account­ing them no other than meer superstitions, the rags and reliques of the Smock of the Whore of Babylon.

Qu. Who first erected Charing-Cross?

An. Edward the first, in honor of his wife Queen Elenor, whom he loved so dearly, that dying in his company in the North Coun­trey, [Page 95] intending to bury her in Westminster-Abbey, in every place where her Corps rested, he erected a most magnificent Cross, the last of which was this at the end of the Strand, commonly called Charing-Cross; which having stood the space of 350 and odd years, it was by avaritious blinded zeal commanded to be pulled down.

It being built of fine Marble, there were many useful things made of the same; else, had not the profit thereof been more than the superstition, it might (for ought I know) have stood there still.

Qu. What was Diogenes's opinion concerning Marriage?

An. That for young men it was too soon, for old men too late. So that by his rule, men should not marry at all.

Qu. What was the Epitaph, or Writing upon Diogenes grave?

An. Epitaphium Diogenis Cynici, in cujus Sepulchro, pro Titulo, Canis signum est. Dic Canis, hic cujus tumulus? Canis. At Canis hic quis? Diogenes obiit? Non obiit sed abit.

Englished.

Diogenes Epitaph written on his Tomb, with a Dog standing over it.

Qu. How many Letters are there in the holy Tongue?

An. As many as there are Books in the Old [Page 96] Testament: of which one thus further ob­serves, that as two and twenty Letters forms our Voice, so two and twenty Books con­tains our Faith.

Qu. What is the difference betwixt Art, For­tune and Ignorance?

An. I shall tell you in the words of the Poet.

Qu. In what place was it, wherein there was together, a whole world of men and Languages?

An. In Noahs Ark.

Qu. What said Budoeus concerning Plutarchs Books?

An. That if all the learning in the world were lost, it might be found again in his Works.

Qu. What do you finde to be abominable su­perstition in the Papists?

An. The carrying about of their breaden God, or the Hoast, as they call it, being of the Sacrament reserved; which is carried of a couple of Priests under a Canopy, usher­ed with Torches, and attended by a com­pany of people which have no other em­ployment. Before it, goes a Bell continually tinkling, at the sound whereof all such as are in their houses, being warned that then their God goeth by them, make some shew of Reverence; those which meet it in the street, with bended knees and elevated hands doing it honour. The Protestants of [Page 97] this Bell make a use more religious, and use it as a warning, or watch-peal, to avoid that street through which they hear it coming▪ This invention of the Bell hath some what in it of Turkism, it being the custom in all those Countries where the Mahumetan Re­ligion is professed, that at their Canonical hours, when they hear the Cryers bawling in the Steeples, to fall prostrate on the ground wheresoever they are, and kiss it thrice, so doing their devotion to Mahomet. The car­rying it about the streets hath, no question, in it a touch of the Jew, this Ceremony being borrowed from that of carrying about the Ark on the shoulders of the Levites. The other main part of it which is the Adoration, is derived from the Heathens, there never being a people but they which afforded di­vine honors to things inanimate. But the people indeed I cannot blame for this Ido­latrous devotion, their Consciences being perswaded, that which they see pass by them is the very body of their Saviour. Certainly could the like belief possess the understand­ing of Protestants, they would meet it with as great devotion. The Priests and Doctors of the people therefore, are to be condemn­ed onely, who impose and enforce this sin upon their Hearers, and doubtless there is a reward which attendeth them for it. Pope Innocent about the year 1215. in a Council at Rome, was the first ordained it, or­dering that there should be a Pix made to cover the Bread, and a Bell bought to ring before it. The Adoration of it was enjoyn­ed by Pope Honorius, An. 1226. both after­wards [Page 98] encreased by the new Solemn Fast of Corpus Chrisbi day; by Pope Urban the fourth, An. 1264. and confirmed for ever with mul­titudes of Pardons, in the Council of Vien­na by Clement the fifth, An. 1310.

Qu. What other Popes were they which brought up as ridiculous Customs, stil used a­mongst them?

An. Sergius the second, was the first that changed his name, for thinking his own name Bocca de Porco, or Swines mouth, not consonant to his dignity, he caused himself to be called Sergius, which president his Successours have followed, varying their names contrary to their natures: So if one be a Coward he is called Leo; if a Tyrant, Clement; if an Atheist, Pius, or Innocens; if a Rustick, Urbanus; and so of the rest.

Sextus the fourth brought in Beads, and our Ladies Psalter.

Sergius the third, instituted the bearing about of Candles, for the purification of the blessed Virgin Mary.

Celestine the second, was the Inventer of that mad kinde of Cursing by Bell, Book and Candle

Sergius the fourth, was the first that on Christmas night, with divers Ceremonies, consecrated Swords, Roses, or the like, which afterward are sent as a Token of love and honor to such Princes as they like best. Leo the tenth sent a consecrated Rose to Frederick Duke of Saxony, desiring him to banish Luther. The like did Clement the se­venth to our Henry the eighth, for writing against Luther. Paul the third sent an hal­lowed [Page 99] Sword to James the fifth of Scotland, when he began the War with our Henry the eighth: The like did Julius the second to our Henry the seventh in his Wars against his Rebels.

Boniface the eighth instituted the Roman Jubile, and decreed that it should be solem­nized every hundred years; but by Clement the sixth it was brought to fifty.

Clement the fift first brought in Pardons, and Indulgences, and such like trumpery.

Qu. What is the Popes chief stile, wherein the number of the Beast is reckoned, as in the thirteenth of the Revelation, and the last Verse is manifested in these words: Here is wisdome; let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666?

An. VIcarIVs generaL Is DeI In terris.

Englished,

Gods General upon Earth.

Thus reckoned,

DCLVVIIIIII.

Qu. What is the Anagram of Roma, the Latine word for Rome?

An. Amor, or Love, which one cast into this Distich.

Qu. What number was most fatal to Rome?

An. The sixth number according to this Verse;

What other names or numbers to her won,

In the sixth still she lost, was Rome undone.

Qu. Why is Rome taken to be Babylon, men­tioned in the Revelations?

An. Because it is said there, that the whore thereof sitteth on a beast with seven heads, which cannot so properly be understood of any place as this, being built upon seven hills, namely; 1 Palatinus, 2 Capitolinus, 3 Vimi­nalis, 4 Aventinus, 5 Esquilinus, 6 Caetius, 7 Quirnialis; governed by seven Kings, viz. 1 Romulus, 2 Numa, 3. Annus Martius, 4 Tul­lus Hostilius, 5 Tarquin Priscus, 6 Servius Tul­lus, 7 Tarquin superbus; And acknowledging several sorts of Rulers, 1 Kings, 2 Consuls, 3. Decemviri, 4 Tribunes, 5 Dictators, 6 Emperors, and 7 Popes.

Qu. How many times hath Rome been taken by forraign Nations?

An. Ten.

1. By the Gauls, under the conduct of Bren­nus, the brother of Belinus King of Britain.

2. By Alarick King of the Gothes, who con­quered Rome, Campania and Naples.

3. By Genserick King of the Vandals, a peo­ple which inhabited the Countrey now called Swethland.

4. By Totila King of the Gothes.

5. By Odoarer King of the Heruli, who drave Augustus out of Italy, and twice in thir­teen years laid the Countrey desolate.

6. By Theodoricus, King of the Gothes, cal­led by Zeno the Emperor, to expel Odoarer.

[Page 101] 7. By Gundebald King of the Burgundians, who having ransacked all Italy, returned home, leaving the Gothes in possession of the same, who after they had continued there seventy two years, were at last subdued by Belisarius and Narses, two of the bravest Captains that served the Roman Emperors. This Belisarius was a true Example of the mutability of Fortune, who having served his Countrey in great Command for many years, was at last brought to that necessity, as to stand by the high-wayside and beg, Date obolum Belisario, Give a half-penny to Belisarius.

8. The eight time was by the Moors and Sarazens, followers of Mahomet his Law, Gregory the fourth being Pope.

9. By Henry the fourth Emperor of Germa­ny, Gregory the seventh being Pope.

10. By Charles Duke of Burbon, An. 1528. in which Rome suffered more, than by the siege and sacking of the most barbarous Nations, Clement the seventh being then Pope.

Qu. How many Natural Languages, or Mother Tongues, which have no affinity with others, are spoken in Europe?

An. Fourteen.

1. Irish, spoken in Ireland, and the West of Scotland.

2. British, in Wales.

3. Cantabrian, or Biscany, nigh unto the Cantabrian Ocean, and about the Pyrenian Hills.

4. Arabique, in the Mountains of Granada.

5. Finnique, in Findland and Lapland.

Dutch (though with different Dialect) in Germany, Holland, Denmark, Swethland, and Norway,

[Page 102] 7. Chanchian, which the East Friezland­ers (or Canchi) speak among themselves; for to strangers they speak Dutch.

8. Slavonish, of great extent and use, espe­cially in the Turkish Countreys.

9. Illyrian, on the East side of Istria, and in the Isle of Veggin.

10. Greek.

11. Hungarian.

12. Epirotique, in the Mountainous parts of the Kingdom of Hungary.

13. Jaxygian, on the North-side of Hunga­ry, between Danubius and Tibisius.

14. Tartarian, in the Taurica, Chersones­sus, and European seats of that people.

Besides these fourteen several Languages, there is another us'd generally in most coun­treys of Europe, called the Canting tongue or Language, and spoken by a company of stout Rouges, Vagabonds, and Gypsies, which are divided into these eighteen sorts of the Male kind:

• 1 An Upright-man.
• 2 A Ruffler.
• 3 An Angler.
• 4 A Rogue.
• 5 A wilde Rogue.
• 6 A Prigger or Praneer.
• 7 A Palliard.
• 8 A Frater.
• 9 A Quire Bird.
• 10 An Abraham man.
• 11 A Whip-Jack.
• 12 A Counterfeit Crank.
• 13 A Dummerar.
• 14 A Jack-man.
• [Page 103] 15 A Patrico.
• 16 An Irish Toyl.
• 17 A Swigman.
• 18 A Cynchin-Co.

Of all which I shall give you a short de­scription; and first, the Upright-man is the Chief or Prince of the rest, who commonly walks with a short Truncheon in his hand, which he calls his Filchman, he claims a share of whatsoever is gotten by any others, and can command any of their Morts or Doxies to leave another man, and to lie with him.

2. Rufflers, are such as go under the pretence of maimed Souldiers, robbing country people that come late from Markets, exacting also tribute of the other inferior sorts of Rogues.

3. Anglers, are such as with a Rod having an Iron hook at the end of it, angle at mens windows about midnight, where all is fish to them that comes to net; in the day time they beg from house to house, to spy best where to plant their designs, which at night they put in execution.

4. Rogues, whose very name denote their natures, they have fingers as nimble as the Upright-men, have their Wenches and meet­ing places, where whatsoever they get, they spend; and whatsoever they spend, is to satis­fie their lust. Their company is dangerous, their lives detestable, and their ends miser­able.

5. Wild Rogues, are such as are begotten of Rogues, and marked for villains in their swad­ling Clouts, which all their lives after they put in practice.

6. Priggers or Prancers, are Horse-stealers [Page 104] for to Prig in the Canting language signifies to steal; and Prancer signifies a Horse. These have their female spies, that survey Meadows and Closes, whereby the better to take their prey.

7. Palliards, who are also called Clapper­dudgeons, are such as with their Morts beg from door to door; who to draw the greater pity towards them, with Spere-wort or Arsenick will draw blisters on their Legs, which at their pleasure they can take off again.

8. Fraters, are such as with a counterfeit Patent beg for some Hospital or Spittle-house; they are dangerous persons for any to meet alone, by reason of the frequent robbo­ries which they commit.

9. Quire Birds, are those who have sung in such Cages as Newgate, or some Country Goal, who having got loose, fall to their old trade of roguing and thieving again.

10. Abraham-men, are those we call Tom­a Bedlams, terrible enemies to Poultery­ware, shifting their Wenches ofter than most people shift their linnen.

11. Whip-jacks, are counterfeit Marri­ners, who talk of nothing but fights at Sea, Piracies, Drownings and Shipwracks; they are very expert in robbing Booths at Fairs, which they call Heaving the Booth; they have alwaies about them a conterfeit License, which they call a Gybe, & the Seals to it Jarks.

12. Counterfeit Cranks, are such as coun­terfeit the Falling-sickness, to kindle in men the greater compassion, foaming at their mouths, which they do by conveying a piece of white Soap into one corner of their Jaws, [Page 105] that causeth the froath to come boyling forth.

13. Dummerars, are those that dissemble dumbness making a strange noise in stead of speech, to move peoples charity towards them.

14. Jack-men, are such as can write and read whose office it is to make them counterfeit Licenses and Passes, for which he is well re­warded of them.

15. Patricos, are their Priests, every hedge is his Parish, and every wandring Rogue and Whore his Parishioners; the service he says is only the marying of couples, the solemnities whereof is thus. The parties to be wedded finde out a dead Horse, or any other beast, and standing one on the one side, and the other on the other; the Patrico bids them live to­gether till death them part, and so shaking hands the Wedding is then ended.

16. Irish Toyls, are such as carry Pins, Points, Laces and such like wares about, who under the pretence of selling such commodities, com­mit many villanies as it were by warrant.

17. Swig-men, are such as we call Pedlars, who carrying a pack at their back, and are little different from the Irish Toyls.

18. Kynchin-Coes, are little boys whose parents (having been Beggars) are dead, or else such as have run away from their Ma­sters, and in stead of a Trade to live by, fol­low this kind of life to be lowsie by. These Kynchins the first thing they do is to learn how to count and the onely thing they pra­ctise, is to creepin at Windows or Cellar doors.

Of the women kind there are only these seven several sorts.

• [Page 106]1 Glymmerers.
• 2 Bawdy Baskets.
• 3 Autem Morts.
• 4 Walking Morts.
• 5 Doxies.
• 6 Dels.
• 7 Kynchin Morts.

1. Glymmerers, are such as travel up and down with Licenses to beg, because their Houses have been consurned with fire; they shed great store of tears at the mention of their losses, and tell a lamentable story, how the fire destroyed their Barns, Stables, and out-houses, to move the people to the great­er charity. These Glymmerers are defended by the Upright-men, who never walk along with them but kept aloof.

2. Bawdy-Baskets, are such as walk about with baskets on their arms, wherein are Pins, Needles, Laces, &c. under pretence of selling which, they steal Linnen, Pewter, or what comes next to their hand.

3. Autem Morts, are such as are married, being alwaies attended with children, whom they employ to pilfer away what they can light on, which in their Language they call, Nilling of the Ken.

4. Walking Morts, are such as pretend themselves Widows, travelling about from County to County, making Laces upon staves, Beggars tape: or the like, they are subtil Queans, hard-hearted, light-finger'd, cun­ning in dissembling, and dangerous to meet, if any Ruffler or Rogue be in their company.

5. Doxies, are such as are neither Maids, Wives, nor Widows; they will for good vict­uals, [Page 107] or a small piece of money prostitute their bodies, are common pick-pockets, and oft­entimes secret murtherers of those infants which are begotten of their bodies.

6. Dels, are young Wenches, ripe for the act of Generation, but as yet not spoild of their Maiden-heads, which is commonly done by the Upright-men, and then are they free for any of the brother hood.

7. Ky [...]chia Morts, are Girls of a year or two old, which the Morts their Mothers carry at their backs in their Slates, (which in the Canting tongue are Sheets) if they have no Children of their own they will steal the, from others, and by some means disfigu [...]g, them, that by their Parents they shall never be known.

Qu. Wherein are beggars and rich men alike?

An. In the Grave; which shade Diogenes to say, being searching in the Charnelhouse amongst the dead skuls: that he could find no difference betwixt the skull of King Philip and another mans.

Qu. What would become of a great sort of men, if every one were served in their kind?

An. A number of Tailors would be damn'd for keeping a Hell under their Shop-board: many Broakers would make their Wills'at Tiburn, if the searching for stolen Goods which they have received, should like a plague but once come amongst them. Two parts of of the Land, should be whpped at Bridewel for Leachery, and three parts be set in the stocks for drunkenness.

Qu. Wherein hath the Beggar a priviledge over great persons?

An. In that he cannot fall lower than he is; whereas the great man is subject to that of the Poet,

Qu. What was the dyet of former ages, in those days which were called the Golden Age of the world?

An. They catcht not their surfeits with eating of Capon, Partridge, and Pheasant; their dyet was, Apples, Roots, Nuts, Dates, [...]igs, &c. and sometimes for rarities, Butter, Cheese, and Eggs; and for drink instead of Sack, Claret, Muscadine, Ippocrass, Mum, Beer or Ale, their beverage was the cool streams distilling from some uncorrupted Fountain; a description whereof we have in the eighth Book of Ovids Metamorphosis, con­cerning the entertainment, which Philemon and Bancis gave to Jupiter and Mercury.

Qu. What passion is most natural unto Man?

An. Love, which entereth in at the eyes, and pierceth the heart, many setling their loves on such objects for which they can give no reason.

Qu. Whether is Love the cause of likeness, or likeness the cause of love?

An. Both.

Qu. What creatures are those, some living, and some dead, that rule all the world?

An. The Sheep, the Goose, and the Bee; for the Sheep yields Parchment, the Goose Quils to write it, and the laborious Bee brings Wax to seal it, as one hath wittily deliver'd in these verses,

Qu. What is the general saying concerning the Italian women?

An. That they are Mag-pies at the door, Saints in the Church, Goats in the Garden, Devils in the House, Angels in the Streets, and Syrens in the Windows.

Qu. What Passion is most prevailing over the nature of man?

[Page 110] An. Fear; of which we read that it hath in one night turned the hair of the head from black to white, but most memorable is that example of one, who was pretended to be let blood to death, for being blinded, and his arms bound, the Chyrurgions that were about him only saying, How bravery he bleeds on his arm; How gallantly on that, although they did nothing to him, at last one saying, Now the blood comes from his very heart; when they came to unblind him, they found him liveless, struck stark dead with a panick fear.

Qu. Why is man called Microcosmus, or the little world?

An. As being the Epitome of the great Volume of Nature, borrowing from the An­gels, soul; from the brute Animals, sense; from Plants, life; from other creatures, big­ness: but above all inferiors is endued with that prerogative of casting up his eyes to Hea­ven, to behold the excellencies of the Crea­tion; wherein other Creatures are deficient.

Qu. What Art is that which makes use of the vilest things in the world?

An. Physick, which makes use of Scorpi­ons, Flies, Wasps, Serpents, Ear-wiggs, Toads, and such like; nothing, though to our apprehension never so seeming vile, but serves [Page 111] to some use, according to that of the Poet;

Qu. Whether is the life of a rich covetous Citi­zen, that swims in wealth and treasure, caring for none, nor beloved of any; or the lives of a Coun­trey Yeoman or Farmer, who lives in a mediocrity betwixt poverty and riches, yet content with his estate; which of these two is first to be preferred?

An. Better it is in the solitary woods, and in the wild fields to be a man among beasts, than in the midst of a peopled City, to be a beast among men. In the homely village art thou more safe, than in a fortified Castle; the stings of Envy, nor the bullets of Treason, are never shot through those thin wal: Sound Healths are drunk out of the wooden dish, when the Cup of Gold boyls over with poy­son. The Countrey cottage is neither bat­ter'd down by the Cannon in the time of War, nor pestered with clamorous Suits in time of Peace. The fall of Cedars that tumble from the tops of Kingdoms, the ruine of great Hou­ses that bury families in their overthrow, and the noise of shipwrack that beget even shricks in the hearts of Cities, never send their terrors thither; that place stands as safe from the shock of such violent storms, as the Bay­tree does from lightening.

Qu. Who are the subjects that pay tribute to the Countrey Farmer?

[Page 112] An. The Meadow gives him her pasture, the Trees pay custom with their fruit, the Plough sends him in Corn, the Ox bestows upon him his labor, and the Sheep cloathes him with his wool.

Qu. How came the famous Poet Buchanan off, when travelling into Italy, he was for the freeness of his writing, suspected of his Religion and taken hold of by some of the Popes Inquisitors?

An. By writing to his Holiness this Dis­tich:

Thus Englished.

For which Encomion he was set at liberty, and being gone out of the Popes Jurisdicti­on, he sent to his Holiness, and desired accord­ing to his own true meaning, to read the self same verses backward, which then run thus,

Englished.

Qu. What Inscription. or Motto, was that which Martin de Arsello fixing over his Gate, by reason of false pointing of the Painter, cost him his Bishoprick?

An. Porta patens esto nulli, claudaris hones­to.

[Page 113] Where the Painter mistaking himself, made the Comma at nulli, by which it was thus: Gate be open to none, but shut out all honest men.

The Pope riding that way, before Martin had corrected his inscription, taking it for a a grand abuse towards him, discarded him of his bishoprick, and placed another in his house; who kept the inscription still, but on­ly added the Comma, and made it thus;

Gate open to the good and shut out none; For one poor point, all is from Martin gone.

The like fallacy was used to our King Ed­ward the second, who being made a prisoner by his Rebellious Subjects; to his Keeper was sent this verse;

Where his Keeper making the comma at fear, when it should have been at refuse, the unhappy Prince by that disloyal Legerdemain of words, lost his life.

Qu. In what Aenigma, or Riddle, was that Grand Traitor, Oliver Cromwel's name inclu­ded?

An.

The heart of the Loaf is the Crom, and the Head of the Spring is the Well, which put to­gether is Cromwell.

Qu. Which were the ten general Persecutors so famously known in the primitive Church?

[Page 114] An. The first was under Nero that bloo­dy persecutor, and enemy of mankind, who set the City Rome on fire, and ript up his Mothers belly to see the place of his concep­tion, Anno 67. The second was under Do­mitianus, Anno 96. The third under Tra­jan, Anno 100. The fourth under Marcus Antoninus, Anno 167. The fifth under Se­verus, Anno 195. The sixth under Maximi­nus, Anno 237. The seventh under Decius Anno 250. The eight under Valerianus, Anno 259. The nineth under Aurelianus, Anno 278. The tenth under Dioclesian, Anno 293. Yet notwithstanding these cruel Persecutions, wherein (as one of the Fathers writeth) there were murthered five thousand every day in the year, excepting onely the first day of January, yet were they like Cam­omile, the more they were trode on, the thicker they grew, and the blood of the Martyrs proved to be the seed of the Church.

Qu. How many were the Sybils, and what were their names?

An. They were in number ten viz 1 Persica, 2 Lybica, 3 Delphica, 4 Cumea, 5 Samis, 6 Helespontiaca, 7 Tiburtina, 8 Albunea, 9 Ery­threa, 10 Cumana.

The first was of Persia, called Samberta, which among other prophecies, said, The womb of the Virgin shall be the salvation of the Gentiles.

The second was of Lybia, one of her Pro­phecies were, The day shall come that men shall see the King of all living things,

The third was Themis sir-named Delphi­ca, because she was born and prophesied at [Page 115] Delphos, where was the Oracle and Temple of Apollo; one of her Prophesies runs thus, A Prohet shall be born of a Virgin.

The fourth was Cumea, born at Campag­nia, in Italy, of whom Virgil maketh mention in his book of Aeneids, who prophesied, That God should be born of a Virgin, and converse among sinners.

The fifth was called Samia, born in the Isle of Samos which said, He being rich should be born of a poor Virgin; the creatures of the earth should adore him and praise him for ever.

The sixth was called Hellespontiaca, born at Marmiso in the Territory of Troy, she pro­phesied, A woman shall descend of the Jews, called Mary, and of her shall be born the Son of God, his Kingdom shall remain for ever.

The seventh was Albunea, sir'named Ty­burtina, because she was born at Tybur, fif­teen miles from Rome; one of her prophe­sies was this, The invisible word shall be born of a Virgin, he shall converse among sinners, and shall of them be despised.

The eighth was Albunea, who prophesied, The Highest shall come from Heaven, and con­firm the Counsel in Heaven, and a Virgin shall be shewed in the Valleyes of the Desarts.

The ninth was the famous Erythrea, born in Babylon, who especially prophesied a great part of our Christian Religion, in certain Verses recited by Eusebius; the first Letters of every which Verses being put together, makes these words. Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour. These verses are translated into Latine by St. Augustine, Lib. 11. Cap. 25. of The [Page 116] City of God, where they may be read at large and are excellently well translated be Sir John Beaumont, where they may be found amongst his Poems.

The tenth was called Cumana, from the name of the place where she lived; she pro­phesied That he should come from Heaven, and reign here in poverty.

This last Sybil is affirmed to be she who writ the Nine Books of the Sibyls, which were by an old woman presented to Tar­quinius Superbus, demanding for the same a great sum of money, which he being unwil­ling to pay, the old woman burnt three of them before his face, requiring as much money for the other six; which being deni­ed, she also burned three more of them, ask­ing as much for the three remaining, as for the rest; which Superbus amazed, gave, and the old Trot vanished. These books contain­ned manifest Prophecies of the Kingdom of Christ, his Name, his Birth, and Death. They were all afterwards burned by the Arch-traitor Stilico, so that those Prophe­sies which are now extant, are onely such as are extracted out of others writings, where­in mention of them was made.

Qu. What is it that may be said concerning the ubiquity of Marriage?

An. One Bed can hold a loving man and wife A whole house cannot hold them being at strife.

Qu What is the difference between the love and lust of a Courtezan?

An. That her love is like breath on steel, soon on and soon off; but her lust is as the O­cean, [Page 117] still ready for an anothers embraces, and prostitutes her body to every new commer.

Qu. What is the difference betwixt saying nothing, and doing nothing?

An. The Poet will tell you in these verses.

Qu. What may Law in the abuse thereof, fitly be compared unto?

An. To a thicket of Brambles, into which by tempest the poor sheep being driven from the plains, come there for refuge, and so loose their fleeces; or like to the Spiders web, in which the little flies are catcht, but the great ones break through with ease.

Qu. Wherein did the old Romans shew the love that they bear unto Virtue?

An. In erecting a Temple to Honor, into which none could come but he must first pass through the Temple of Virtue; to signifie that those that trode in the paths of Justice and Virtue, should at last be crowned with honor and dignity.

Qu. What is the reason that women love their ease more than men?

An.

Qu. Wherein consists the praises of a Country life?

An. The Countrey-man is thrice happy in this, that he plays not with his wings in the golden flames of the Court, nor setteth his [Page 118] foot into the busie throngs of the City, nor runneth up and down in the intricate mazes of the Law; but resting contented in the Winter to sit by a countrey fire, and in the Summer to lay his head on the green pillows of the Earth; where his sleep is soft slumbers, and his waking pleasant as golden dreams; His highest ambition is to get up unto the Mountains, where he thinks himself a petty King, the greatest Trees standing trembling before him, to do him reverence, which he calleth his Nobles, on each side of him, he beholdeth ranks of Oaks▪ which he counteth his Guards, the Willows that bend at every blast, he accounteth his flatterers, and the Vallies humbled at his feet, he termeth his slaves. No Prince in the world keeps more skilful Musicians, the Birds are his consort, and the wind instruments they play upon, yield ten thousand several tunes.

Qu. Who are the most proud and imperious of all others?

An. Such as have been raised from the Dunghil to some preferment, according to that old English Proverb of ours, Set a Beggar on Horseback, and he will ride to the Devil; With which agreeth that of the Poet,

Qu. What is the difference of valour in seve­ral persons?

An. Some are truly valarous, and those are such who will nobly engage in a just quarrel; others are cowardly valorous, to which allu­deth [Page 119] the Proverb, Make a Coward fight, and he will kill the Devil; and to this purpose we have a story of a Gentleman that kept a Welshman to his man: It so fortuned that as they rid a­broad, they were set on by two thieves; The Gentleman defended himself for a good space, while his man stood still looking on, but of­fering no help to his master: At length the Gentleman having received some wounds, was forced to yield and deliver up his money to the thieves, but withal requested them, that since his man would not fight, he yet might receive some of the blows, and there­fore desired them to give him three or four good stroakes over the back: this was no sooner desired, but as readily granted, and as soon performed: But Taffy feeling the smart of the blows, his welsh blood was soon up, he thunders lightning and revenge upon them, soon disarms one of the thieves, and with his sword deeply wounds the other, so that in a little space they both became the objects of his mercy, the money they received is re-de­livered, and upon their knees they ask pardon. The third are such as are only valiant in their drink; of which last the Poet thus writes;

Qu. Who onlie in his Cups will fight, is like,

A Clock that must be oyl'd well e're it strike.

Qu. How many veins are there in the body of a man?

An. As many as there are days in the year, according as it is set down in this verse.

Qu. How many bones are there in a perfect man?

[Page 120] An. 284. which are thus singlely collected; i [...] the head forty nine, in the breast sixty seven in the arms and hands sixty one, in the fee [...] sixty; in all 284. according to the Poet.

Qu. How many teeth hath a man, according to the Poets Rule?

An. Sunt homini dentes triginta duo come­dentes.

Qu. Which were the most famous Tyrants in their time?

An. 1. Nero, a Heathen Roman Emperor, who commanded Rome to be set on fire and then accused the Christians for doing it, he also most unnaturally caused his Mothers belly to be ripped up, that he might see the place of his conception.

2. Caligula, another Roman Emperor, who wished that all the people of Rome had but one neck, that he might strike it off at a blow.

3. Phalaris, a Tyrant of Agrigentum in Si­cily, for whom Perillus made a brazen Bull, into which, those whom he intended to tor­ture, were put, a fire being made under it, the extremity of the heat, causing them to roar out, made the brazen statue to bellow like a Bull; the Tyrant (only just in this) causing Perillus to hansel it first himself, upon which Ovid thus writes,

4. Dionisius, a King of the said country of Sicily, whose Tyrannies were so odious that there were continual execrations poured on him, only one old woman prayed for his life, who being asked the cause, made answer, that she knew his Grand-father to have been bad, and after by prayers, they had obtained his death, his Son succeeded far worse than the Father: and after their curses had also prevai­led over him, came the present Tyrant worse than either: for whose life she was resolved to pray, lest after his decease the Devil himself should come amongst them.

Qu. Why do great persons bear themselves up high over their inferiors, seeing we are all made of one mould?

An. Because too much familiarity breeds contempt, the Eagle scorns to meddle with the Kite, the Lyon with the Mouse; to con­end with an ignoble enemy is an act inglo­rious, and to conquer them almost as much dishonour, as by them to be overcome.

Qu. Wherefore do the Jews break the Glass in which the Bride, and Bridegroom drink?

An. To admonish them that all things in this world are transitory and brittle as the Glass, and therefore they must be moderate in their pleasure and desires.

Qu. What custom had they of Baeotia in Greece, concerning their marriage of the daugh­ters?

An. When the Bride was carried home to her betrothed Husband, they used to burn before the door the Axel-tree of the Coach [Page 122] in which she came thither; giving her by that ceremony to understand, that she must restra in her self from gadding abroad, and that being now joyned to an Husband, she must frame her self to live and tarry with him, without any hope of departure.

Qu. Wherein is a good wife compared to a Snail?

An. Because she carries her house on her head; but a bad wife makes her husband headed like a Snail.

Qu. Whether is better wealth, or wit?

An. This may be resolved by several cir­cumstances, that folly is the most hatefullest thing in the world; a man without wisdom is but a moving block, and though adorned with golden trappings, his long ears will show him to be an Ass; for folly in a mans breast like the sin of murther, will not be hid.

Qu. Why do rich men love more servently than poor men?

An. Though some do say that in Love there is no lack, yet when once wealth Loves fuel is spent, we oftentimes see Love thereby is also extinguisht, according to that of the Poet: Love is maintain'd by wealth when all is spent, Adversity then breeds the discontent.

Qu. What four things be those that be grie­vous to our eye sight?

An.

• 1. Smoke out of the moist Wood.
• 2. Wind in a storm.
• 3. An empty purse.
• 4. To see our enemies fortunate, and our [...].

Qu. In what place of Europe is it where the Barrels are so much preferred before the Bar?

An. Hamburg in Germany, in which Town are 777 Brewers, and but one Lawyer: the reason why there is such a huge disproportion between the number of Brewers and Law­yers, is because their differences are sooner divided over a Can than by course of Law; thus strong beer, which in some Countries breeds quarrels, here ends them, & where strife ceaseth, there is little need of the Lawyer.

Qu. What man of all others is most worldly miserable?

An. He who having once sate on the top of Fortunes Wheel, is after by the blind Goddess brought to want and penury, accord­ing to the Poet:

Qu. Of which Countrey were the seven Slee­pers, what were their names, and how long (ac­cording to tradition) was the time that they slept?

An. History tells us that they were born in Ephesus, and lived in the time of the seventh persecution under Decian the Emperor, their names were 1. Maximilian, 2. Malchus, 3. Marcianus, 4. Denis, 5. Iohn, 6. Seraphion, and 7. Constantius: These men to avoid the heat of the persecution fled to a Cave in the mount of Celion, where they fell fast a sleep; which Caves mouth was stopped up by their persecutors, and they remained sleeping there­in 208 years, until the time of Theodosius the Emperor, when it being again opened, they came out of the same well and lively,. as if they had slept but one night.

Qu. Who is the Father of all Lies and un­truths?

An. We read in the Scripture that the De­vil is the Father of lies, to which we may add as a second cause wide-mouth'd tatling Fame, according to that of the Poet:

To which also we may add that of Ovid.

Qu. What is the Character that one giveth in his censure of several Kings in Europe?

An. That the Emperor of Germany, is Rex Regum, because he hath under him such a num­ber of Reguli, or free Princes, the King of Spain, Rex Hominum, because of his subjects reasonable obedience; the King of France, Rex Asinorum, because of their infinite Taxes and impositions; and the King of England, Rex Diabolorum, because of his subjects often in­surrections against, and depositions of their Princes.

Of the River Nilus in Egypt.

It is uncertain where this famous River hath its head or Fountain, whether in the Moun­tain of the Moon, or the Lake Zembre in Aethiopia interior: but certain it is that it run­neth in one continual Channel, till it washeth the midland of Aegypt, having in the mean space several Cataracts, which is a great fall of the waters that maketh such a hideous noise, as not only deafeth the by-dwellers, but the Hills also are torn with the sound, as Lucan hath it.

Before it taketh its influx into the Sea, it divideth it self into seven Channels or Mouths namely, 1. Heracleoticum, 2. Bolviticum 3. Schanitium, 4. Patinicum 5. Mendesium, 6, Caniticum, 7. Pebusiacum. This Nilus from the 15. day of June, swelleth above his banks the space of forty days, and in as many more gathereth his waters again to their proper bounds. If it flow not to the height of fifteen Cubits, then the earth is deficient in her abundance of encrease for want of moisture; and if the waters surmount the superficies of the earth, more than seventeen Cubits, then like a drunken man it cannot produce its na­tural operations, as having its stomach (as it were) over-laid, and surcharged with too much liquor: but if the mean be granted, no Countrey can brag of such abundance; where­of the aforesaid Lucan,

During this inundation, the Beasts and Cattel live on the Hills, and in the Towns to which they are before hand driven; and [Page 126] there are till decrease of the waters fodderd As for the Towns and Villages, they stand all on the tops of the Hills, and at the time of the Flood appear like so many Islands; commerce and entercourse is not a jot di­minished; for Skifs and the like Boats, supply the places of Horses and Camels, transport­ing safely and speedily the market-men and their commodities, from one Town to another, Now beside the fertility, a second commodity arising from this inundation of the Nile, is the health it bringeth with it; for the plague, which here often miserably rageth, upon the first day of the Flood doth instantly cease▪ insomuch that whereas 500 die in Caire the day before, the day follow­ing there dyeth not one. A third strangeness in this River is, that keeping its waters to­gether, it changeth the colour of the Sea far­ther into the Mediterranean than the Sea can thence be discerned. A fourth miracle is, that not in fruit onely, but in producing live creatures also, it is even to wonder fruitful, according to Ovid:

[Page 127] This River is in length almost 3000. miles, being the only River of Egypt, and is for its varieties sufficiently famous all the World over.

Of the fortunate Islands.

The Air of those Islands is reported to be of that singular temperature, and the Earth of that fruitfulness, that the Husbandmen have their Harvest in March and April. Here all good things do abound useful or delightful for the life of man, plenty of Fruits, store of Grapes, the Woods and Hedges bringing forth excellent Apples of their own accord. The grass being mowed down, in five days space will grow up to the length of a Cubit, the ground is so fertile, At Christmas they have Summer, and all fruits ripe. The Earth yields her fruit five or six times a year; the Mountains are always beautified with variety of Flowers, the Trees and Hedges-rows ever­more green, Dame Flora hath here her con­tinual habitation, and Ceres therein a continual Mansion: In their sowing, every two grains bringing forth a thousand.

Qu. How many Kings did formerly [...] in these Countrys, whereof our now [...] Soveraign King Charles the second, is the most absolute Monarch?

An. In England it self were seven, du­ring the time of the Saxon Heptarchy; which were,

1. The Kingdom of Kent, containing Kent only, begun by Hengist the Saxon Captain, and ending in Baldred, having a succession of eighteen Kings, and the continuance of two hundred forty and two years.

[Page 130] Queens County, Weishford, and Dublin,

Scotland had formerly two Kings, whereof one was of the Scots, the other of the Picts: Besides these there was a King of the Isles of Scotland, and one of the Isle of Man, and Henry the sixth created Henry Beauchamp Earl of Warwick, King of the Isle of Wight: so that reckoning seven Kings in England, three in Wales, five in Ireland, two in Scotland, and three in the other Islands, and you will find the whole number to amount to twenty King­doms.

SAint Denis is said to be the same Dionisius of Areopagita, mentioned in the Acts of [Page 161] the Apostles; who being converted himself, [...]hirsted after the conversion of others, and [...]o that end he with Rusticus and Elutherius [...]ravelled into France, then called Gauls, where he converted many to Christianity, and [...]ecame the first Bishop of Paris, making Rus­ [...]icus his Arch-Priest, and Elutherius his Dea­ [...]on. Afterwards in the Reign of Domitian the Emperor, persecution growing hot, Fes­ [...]ennius Governor of Paris commanded that [...]e should bow before the Altar of Mercury, and offer Sacrifice unto him, which St. Denis with the other two beforenamed refusing to do they were all three of them condemned to be beheaded, which was accordingly exe­cuted on Mont-Matre, distant about a mile from Paris. Now it came to pass that when the Executioner had smitten off Saint Denis his head, that he caught it up, between his Arms, and ran with it down the Hill as fast as his legs could carry him; half a mile from the place of his Execution, he sate down and rested; and so he did nine times in all, till he came to the place where his Church is now built, where he met with a very old woman whom he charged to bury him in that place, and then fell down and died, being three En­glish miles from Mont-Matre, and there he was buried together with Rusticus and Elu­therius; who were brought after him by the people. Afterwards by the succeeding ages, when Christianity had gotten the upper-hand of Paganism, in the nine several places where he rested, are erected so many handsome Crosses of stone all of a making.

To the memory of this Saint, did Dagobert [Page 162] the first build a Church in the place where he was buried; for so it happened that this Dagobert during the life of Clotoyre the second his Father, had cruelly slain Sadrasegille h [...] Governor. To avoid the fury of his Father much incensed with that Unprincely action, he was compelled to wander up and down France, hungry and thirsty. In this misera­ble condition coming to the Sepulchre of S [...] Denis, he laid him down and slept, when there appeared to him an old man with a staff i [...] his hand, who told him that his Father wa [...] dead, and that he should be King, and desired him that when it came so to pass, he would build a Church there in the honour of St. Denis; which Dagobert coming to be King accordingly did, and a Bishop was sent for i [...] all haste to bless it. But it hapned the night before the Bishops coming, that there cam [...] to the Town an ugly Leper, who desired to lie in the Church. And when he was ther [...] about twelve a clock at night, our Saviour came into the Church in white Garments, and with him the Apostles, Angels, and Martyrs with most delicious Musick. And then Christ blessed the Church, and bid the Leper tel [...] the Bishop, that the Church was already bles­sed, and for a token of it, he gave the Lep [...] his health, who on the next morning wa [...] found to be sound and perfectly whole.

The Legend of Saint Romain.

SAint Romain was Bishop of Roven i [...] France; It happened that in his time there was a poysonous Dragon, which had done much harm to all the country therea­bouts, many ways had been tryed to destroy [Page 163] him but none prospered; at last Romain being then Bishop of the Town undertook to do it; and accompanied onely with a Thief and a Murtherer, he marched towards the place where the Dragon lay; upon sight of the Dragon the Thief stole away, but the Mur­derer went on, and saw the Holy man van­quish the Serpent and onely with a Stole [...] which is a neck habit sanctified by his Holi­ness of Rome, and made much after the man­ner of a Tippet) with this stole tyed about the neck of the Dragon, doth the Murderer [...]ead him prisoner to Roven, the people much admiring at the same, highly extolling the Bishop, pardoned the Murderer, and burned the Dragon to ashes. In memory of this marvellous act, King Dagobert the first, (who Reigned in France Anno 632) granted unto Andoin or Owen, successor to St. Romain, that from that time forwards the Chapitre of the Cathedral Church of Roven, should every As­cension day, have the faculty of delivering [...]ny Malefactor, whom the Laws had con­demned. This that King then granted, and all the following Kings even to this time have successively confirmed it.

Of Saint Dunstan.

SAint Dunstan was Arch-bishop of Can­terbury in the time of Etheldred the Sax­on King; he was (according to the opinion of these times) of great sanctity of life, being [...] sleep one day in the Church he dreamed some thing of the Devil, whereupon he ran about pursuing him even to the top of the Church, and came down again in his sleep without any hurt. At another time the [Page 164] Devil came to tempt him in the likeness of a beautiful Damosel, but St. Dunstan caught up a pair of tongs being red hot, and there­with so pincht the Devil by the Nose, a [...] quite spoiled his countenance, and for ever taking Tobacco throw the nose again. He also coming once into a Gentlemans house where were several Instruments hanging up against the Wall, at his entrance in, they of their own accord fell on playing. It is re­ported of him that when he Christened King Ethelred, the child with his ordure defiled the Fount, whereupon Sr. Dunstan said, By Gods Holy Mother, this Child if he live will prove a sloathful person, which accordingly came to Pass, the Danes in his time over-running England. This Saint Dunstan flourishing about the year of our Lord 978.

Of Thomas Becket.

THomas Becket was the Son of one Gilbert Becket which Gilbert being taken priso­ner among the Sarazens, the Kings daugh­ter of that countrey fell in love with him, gained his liberty, and came over into Eng­land, where she was baptiz'd in the Church of S. Paul, and married to this Gilbert, who up­on her begot this Thomas, afterwards made Arch-bishop of Canterbury by King Henry th [...] second, in which place he behaved himself very high; as well against the King as against the Nobles; nor was he it seems much beloved of the Commons, for coming one day into Town in Kent, the people cut off his Horse tail, whereupon the Children of that Count for a long time after (as the Legend reports were born with long tails like Horses, he was [Page 165] at last slain in his Cathedral Church of Canter­bury by four Knights; and after his death by the Pope Canonized for aSaint. Many miracles are said to be by him performed, as namely, how a fellow for stealing a Whetstone was deprived of his eyes, but praying to St. Tho­mas, he had his sight again restored; nay a Bird flying out of a Cage, and being pursued by a Hawk, and ready to be seized on, the Bird crying out only Saint Thomas help me, the Hawk immediately fell down dead, and the Bird escaped. His Tomb was afterwards much enriched with costly gifts and visited by Pilgrims from all places, according to what we find in Chaucer,

A new way to know the Father of a Child.

A Wench that lived in a Knights service was gotten with child, and brought to bed of a goodly Boy, before it was pub­lickly known in the house: after her upri­sing, being examined before a Justice of the Peace, to know who was the Father of the child, she said, she could not tell well her self; for there was two of the Knights ser­vants that had to do with her about the same time, whereof one was a Welsh man, the o­ther an English man: one of them she said was the father, but which of the two she was not certain. This doubtful case put the Ju­stice in a great quandary, upon which of them to lay the charge of bringing up the [Page 166] child, but the Clerk said he would soon de­cide the controversie whose the child was; and thereupon went into the Kitchen, and toasted a bit of Cheese, and then brought it and offer'd it the child, putting it to his mouth, which made the Child to cry, refusing it as much as it could. Whereupon the Clerk said, upon my life the Welshman is not the fa­ther of it, for if he were, it would have eaten toasted cheese at a day old.

The King of Swedens Goose.

THe King of Swethland coming to a town of his enemies with a very little com­pany, they to slight his force, did hang out a Goose for him to shoot at; but perceiving before night that these few soldiers had inva­ded, and set their chiefest Holds on fire, they demanded of him what his intent was? To whom he answer'd, To roast your Goose.

Upon Latine.

A Company of Countrey fellows dispu­ting of Learning, and what a crooked, hard, and intricate a thing it was to be a good Scholar: Truly says one, and so it is; for I have heard your best Latine is in Crooked-Lane.

The Fellow and Miller.

ONe being much abused by a Miller, the fellow at last told him, that he thought that there was nothing that he could imagine more valiant than the Collar of a millers shirt; and being asked what reason he had to think so? he answered, Because every morning it had a thief by the neck.

Of Womens pride.

AN ancient Tradesman living in London, had a wife who carried a very stately [...]ind, and delighted very much in brave ap­ [...]rel. Upon a time walking abroad with other women her neighbors, they espied pair of silk Stockings upon her Legs; which made them not to let their Husbands [...]e in quiet, till they also had the like. Their [...]sbands unwilling to be at that charge, and [...]t loth to displease their wives, went to the [...]cient Gentleman, and said, Sir, the suffe­ [...]nce of your wifes pride, hath spoiled all [...]rs, for since she hath worn Silk Stockings, [...]r wives have grown so importunate, that [...]ey must needs have the like, and you are [...]e chiefest cause in suffering her to wear the [...]me. O my good neighbors (said the Gentle­man) I have great cause in doing so, for seeing I [...]nnot please my wife above the knees, I must [...]eds please her below the knees, and the only [...]ay to please a woman, is to let her have her will.

A Gentleman and his Huntsman.

A Gentleman that used to hunt very much, being at the fall of a mighty Stag, whi­ [...]st he was breaking open, he began to fall in­ [...] discourse with this Huntsman, averring, [...]at not any creature upon earth had a more [...]ick and tough skin, than a well grown Stag. [...]o which the Huntsman answer'd. Sir, if it [...]e not offensive to correct you, I am not of [...]our Worships mind; for I do think many [...]ke creatures have skins tougher than any [...]ag in the Forrest. His Master desirous to [...]ow the reason of his opinion, askt him that creatures those were? To which the [Page 168] Huntsman answered, Marry Sir, Cuckolds for I could never meet with any Stag whose hide was so tough, but that his horns would break out, and branch from his brows: but the skin of a Cuckolds forehead is so hate and impenetrable, that be his horns never so wide and large, they are kept so within, that they are never known to be outwardly visible.

On a Spanish Soldier.

A Spanish Souldier being very sick, ex­pecting death every moment, made hi [...] Will, bequeathing amongst other things hi [...] Pistol, in an especial manner to his Physician who demanding his reason for so doing? O Sir (said he) that Instrument joyn'd with you [...] Practice, you need not to fear, but you may kill whom you please.

On a Gallants Cloak.

ONe seeing a Gallant who had on a Cloa [...] which was all plain without, and plush within, said, that Cloak is far different from the Wearer, who is worst within, and be [...] without.

Horses to be Lett.

A Countrey fellow riding to London, by chance casting his eyes upon a Sign read these words: Here are Horses to be Lett 1664. which was the year when the Sign wa [...] first set up, but he imagining it to be th [...] number of the Horses; turned to his Com­panion and said, so many Horses in one plac [...] to be hired* I much marvel what shift they make for stable-room.

Upon a Pint of Claret.

TWo Gentlemen coming into a Tave [...] one of them call'd for a pint of Clare [...] [Page 169] why do you love Claret, said the other! for my part I'le see it burnt before I'le drink a drop of it.

Of Rape-seed.

A Handsome young fellow having seen a Play at the Red-Bull, after it was done came to one of the Players, and desired him [...]f his leisure would permit to accept of a bottle of Wine, for his better acquaintance, which being accepted, the Player desir'd him [...]o go as far as the Kings-head in St. Johns­ [...]treet, and he would, as soon as he had made himself ready attend him there. In the mean time to keep him company, he desired [...]s friend of his to go along with him, promi­ [...]ing to come to them instantly. But staying [...] pretty space, his friend desired to be excu­ [...]ed, he having some business to do, but enga­ [...]ed to be there in a quarter of an hour. The [...]layer comes in the mean space, and finding [...]he Gentleman alone, when his friend came, [...]e began to chide him, for his absence: He [...]resently craved pardon, and begins to ex­cuse himself, that he had been abroad to buy Rape-seed, and that he stayed to feed his birds. [...]t the word of Rape-seed, the man rose from [...]he Table in great anger, telling the Player, [...]hat he came in courtesie to desire his ac­quaintance, and to bestow the Wine upon [...]im, not thinking he would have called that [...]ellow up to abuse him, (they wondring that he meant) he proceeded. 'Tis true in­deed I was arraigned the last Sessions at [...]ew-gate for a R [...]pe, but I thank God I came [...]ff like an honest man, l [...]le thinking to be w [...]ted of it here. Both began to excuse [Page 170] themselves as well as they might, pleading ignorance of the knowledge of any such thing. But he that gave the offence, thinking the better to express his innocence; young Gentleman, said he, to shew you how far I was from any intention of wronging you, look you here; as I have Rape-seed in one pocket for one Bird, so here is Hemp-seed on this side for another. At which word Hemp-seed, saith the young man, why villain dost the [...] think I have deserved hanging? and took up the pot to fling at his head, but his hand was stayed; and as error and mistake began the quarrel, so wine ended it.

A Ladies Serving-man.

A Lady sending her Serving-man to the Play-house to know what was playd that day, one of the Players told him, 'Tis pity she was a Whore, (a Play so called) which the fel­low mis-understanding, told them they were base rogues to call his Lady Whore, who was as honest as any of their Mothers.

On a Play-book.

ONe having a Play-book call'd the Wit [...] which he much valued, by chance lo [...] it, for which he fell in a very great passion one of his friends coming in the interim, an [...] asking the cause of his distemper: it was answered, that he had lost his Wits.

An Ignorant Constable.

TWo Gentlemen of Stepny, going home wards over Moor-fields, about twelve of the Clock at night, were staid by an impe­tinent Constable with many frivolous questi­ons, more by half to shew his Office than [...] [Page 171] wit: one whereof was, If they were not afraid to go home at that time of the night? They an­swering no: Well said he, I shall let you pass at this time, but if you should be knockt on the head before you get home, you cannot but report that there was a good Watch kept in Moor-Fields.

On the Hangman

ONe hearing that the Hang-man was for­ced to noose up the Vintners Boy at Ratcliff-Cross, twice, before he was quite dead; said, that he thought the Hang-man thereby had so much discredited his place, that after his death an honest man would scarcely accept of it.

On a drunken Husband.

A Fellow that was drunken, fell a beating of his wife, telling her of many faults that she had committed; to which she answe­red, you tell me of a great many crimes, but you will not stand to a word of what you speak

A Country-man and Constable.

A Simple Country-man having Term-busi­ness in London, and being somewhat late abroad in the night, was staid by a Constable, [...]nd somewhat hardly entreated; the poor man observing how imperiously he comman­ded him, asked him what he was? to which he replyed, I am the Constable, and this is my Watch; and I pray you Sir (said the man) for whom do you watch? the Constable replyed, [...] watch for the King; for the King said the Countryman simply, then you may let me pass quietly home to my Lodging, for I can give you a Certificate from some of my Neigh­bors who are now in Town, that I am not the [Page 172] King, but Gaffer Jobson of Darby-shire.

The Reversion of a house.

ONe came bragging from the Court of Al­dermen, overjoy'd with the obtaining of a Suit, for saith he, they have promised me the Lease of the next House that falls. To whom one standing by replied, but had it been my case I should rather have petition'd for a House that had stood.

The Thiefs Destiny.

A Fellow being tryed for his life before a Judge, alleadged for himself, that he could not avoid it, because it was his destiny, that he should steal; If so, said the Judge then know also, It is your destiny to be hanged.

A Spaniard whipt.

A Spanish Cavaleiro being for some faults by him committed, whipped through the principal streets of Paris, and keeping a sober pace, was advis'd by a friend to make more haste, that he might the sooner be ou [...] of his pain; but he half in choler replyed, That he would not loose the least step of his pace for all the Whipping in Paris.

The distressed Mariner.

A Mariner in a great storm prayed de­voutly to the Virgin Mary, promising her, that if she would deliver them from that danger, when he came on shore, he would of­fer at her Altar a Candle as big as the Main Mast of his Ship; which when one of h [...] Companions over-heard, he jogged him o [...] the elbow, telling him, it was impossible to be done, Tush (said he) we must now speak h [...] fair because we are in trouble, but if I get safe [...] shore, I will make her be content with one of si [...] in the pound.

Lame Verses.

ONe was telling his friend of some Ver­ses which he made as he was riding up­on the Road on a trotting Horse; to whom the other answered, Nay if you had not told me, I should have known by your verses what pace your Horse went.

A Medicine for the Tooth ache.

A Gentleman and a Gentlewoman sate together talking, which Gentleman had a great pain in one of his teeth, and said thus; Mistriss, I have a tooth in my head that grieveth me sore, I would it were in your tail: to whom she answered, in faith, Sir if your tooth were in my tail, it could do but little good: but if there be any thing in my tail that can do your tooth good, I would it were in it.

The Countrey-fellow and Doctor.

A Country-fellow was sent with his Fa­thers urine to the Doctors, and knock­ing at the door, the Physitian opening unto him, he presented him the Urinal; who, as he took it from his hand, asked him withal from whence he came? to whom the fellow made answer, I hope your Worship is wise enough to find that in the water.

The Countrey-fellow and Judge.

A Countrey-fellow was sub-poena'd for a witness upon a Tryal of an action of defamation, at a quarter Sessions holden in the country, he being sworn, the Judge bid him to say the very same words that he heard spoken; the fellow was loth to speak, and hum'd and haw'd for a good space; but be­ing urged by the Judge, he at last spake, [Page 174] My Lord, said he, you are a Rogue. The Judge seeing the people begin the laugh, called to him, and bid him speak to the Jury, for there were twelve of them.

A Lame Horse.

UPon a Fryday in Smithfield one willing to put off a lame Horse, and therefore not willing to have him rid, had tyed him by the Bridle to the Rails, a Chapman liking the Nagg, came somewhat near the price, because the Seller warranted him sound of wind and limb; but before he would part with his mony desirous to see what mettal he had, he rid him upon the stones, and per­ceived the poor Jade to halt down right: at which the Chapman vexing, asked the o­ther if he was not ashamed to put a lame unserviceable Jade upon him, and warrant him sound. To whom the other answered, I assure you, he is as sound as any Horse in England, but that it was your fortune to try him when his foot was asleep.

The Unthrift and his Sweet-heart.

A Fellow that was a great Spend-thrift told his Sweet-heart that he loved her like any thing, what thing do you mean said she: Any thing Sweet-heart, quoth he what you please. Then (replyed she) do not love me like mony. for then I am sure you will not keep me.

A farewel to folly by Sir Kenelm Digby.

Humane Life Charactered by Francis Vis­count St. Albanes.

THe World's a Bubble,

In his Conception wretched,

Curs'd from his Cradle,

Yet whiles with sorrow

[Page 177] Courts are but

The Rural parts

Domestick Care

Those that love single,

Some wish for Children,

Our own affections

To cross the Seas

Wars with their noise affrighe us,

What then remains? but that we still should cry,

Not to be born, or being born, to die,

A Prisoners Complaint.

The Description of a Chast Mistress.

The Surprizal: Or Loves Tyranny.

The Baseness of the Whores.

A Song.

A Song.

The Invitation.

To make much of Time.

The Prisoner.

A Song.

The Lover.

Upon passionate Love.

A Fancy upon words.