Hydriotaphia, with The Garden of Cyrus

HYDRIOTAPHIA, ƲRNE-BƲRIALL, OR, A Diſcourſe of the Sepulchrall Urnes lately found in NORFOLK.

Together with The Garden of CYRƲS, OR THE Quincunciall, Lozenge, or Net-work Hantations of the Ancients, Artificially, Naturally, Myſtically Conſidered. With Sundry Obſervations.

By Thomas Browne D. of Phyſick.

LONDON, Printed for Hen. Brome at the Signe of the Gun in Ivy-lane. 1658.

TO MY Worthy and Honoured Friend THOMAS Le GROS of Croſtwick Eſquire.

WHen the Funerall pyre was out, and the laſt valediction over, men took a laſting adieu of their interred Friends, little expecting the curiofity of future ages ſhould comment upon their aſhes, and having no old experience of the duration of their Reliques, held no opinion of ſuch after-conſiderations.

But who knows the fate of his bones, or how often he is to be buried? who hath the Oracle of his aſhes, or whether they are to be ſcattered? The Reliques of many lie like the ruines of ^[1] Pompeys, in all parts of the earth; And when they arrive at your hands, theſe may ſeem to have wandred far, whoin a direct ^[2] and Meridian Travell, have but few miles of known Earth between your ſelf and the Pole.

That the bones of Theſeus ſhould be ſeen again ^[3] in Athens, was not beyond conjecture, and hopeful expectation; but that theſe ſhould ariſe ſo opportunely to ſerve your ſelf, was an hit of fate and honour beyond prediction.

We cannot but wiſh theſe Urnes might have the effect of Theatrical veſſels, and great ^[4] Hippodrome Urnes in Rome; to reſound the acclamations and honour due unto you. But theſe are ſad and ſepulchral[•] Pitchers, which have no joyful voices; ſilently expreſſing old mortality, the ruines of forgotten times, and can only ſpeak with life, how long in this corruptible frame, ſome parts may be uncorrupted; yet able to out-laſt bones long unborn, and nobleſt pyle ^[5] among us.

We preſent not theſe as any ſtrange ſight or ſpectacle unknown to your eyes who have beheld the beſt of Urnes, and nobleſt variety of Aſhes; Who are your ſelf no ſlender maſter of Antiquities, and can daily command the view of ſo many Imperiall faces; Which raiſeth your thoughts unto old things, and conſideration of times before you, when even living men were Antiquities; when the living might exeeed the dead, and to depart this world, could not be properly ſaid, to go unto the ^[6] greater number. And ſo run up your thoughts upon the ancient of dayes, the Antiquaries trueſt object, unto whom the eldeſt parcels are young, and earth it ſelf an Infant; and without ^[7] Aegyptian account makes but ſmall noiſe in thouſands.

We were hinted by the occaſion, not catched the opportunity to write of old things, or intrude upon the Antiquary. We are coldly drawn unto diſcourſes of Antiquities, who have ſcarce time before us to comprehend new things, or make out learned Novelties. But ſeeing they aroſe as they lay, almoſt in ſilence among us, at leaſt in ſhort account ſuddenly paſſed over; we were very unwilling they ſhould die again, and be buried twice among us.

Beſide, to preſerve the living, and make the dead to live, to keep men out of their Urnes, and diſcourſe of humane fragments in them, is not impertinent unto our profeſſion; whoſe ſtudy is life and death, who daily behold examples of mortality, and of all men leaſt need artificial memento's, or coffins by our bed ſide, to minde us of our graves.

'Tis time to obſerve Occurrences, and let nothing remarkable eſcape us; The Supinity of elder dayes hath left ſo much in ſilence, or time hath ſo martyred the Records, that the moſt ^[8] induſtrious heads do finde no eaſie work to erect a new Britannia.

'Tis opportune to look back upon old times, and contemplate our Forefathers. Great examples grow thin, and to be fetched from the paſſed world. Simplicity flies away, and iniquity comes at long ſtrides upon us. We have enough to do to make up our ſelves from preſent and paſſed times, and the whole ſtage of things ſcarce ſerveth for our inſtruction. A compleat peece of vertue muſt be made up from the Centos of all ages, as as all the beauties of Greece could make but one handſome Venus.

When the bones of King Arthur were digged up ^[9], the old Race might think, they beheld therein ſome Originals of themſelves; Unto theſe of our Urnes none here can pretend relation, and can only behold the Reliques of thoſe perſons, who in their life giving the Laws unto their predeceſſors, after long obſcurity, now lye at their mercies. But remembring the early civility they brought upon theſe Countreys, and forgetting long paſſed miſchiefs; We mercifully preſerve their bones, and piſſe not upon their aſhes.

In the offer of theſe Antiquities we drive not at ancient Families, ſo long out-laſted by them; We are farre from erecting your worth upon the pillars of your Fore-fathers, whoſe merits you illuſtrate. We honour your old Virtues, conformable unto times before you, which are the Nobleſt Armoury. And having long experience of your friendly converſation, void of empty Formality, full of freedome, conſtant and Generous Honeſty. I look upon you as a Gemme of the ^[10] Old Rock, and muſt profeſſe my ſelf even to Urne and Aſhes,

Your ever faithfull Friend,
and Servant, Thomas Browne.

Norwich May 1,

TO MY Worthy and Honored Friend NICHOLAS BACON of Gillingham Eſquire.

HAd I not obſerved that ^[11] Purblinde men have diſcourſed well of ſight, and ſome ^[12] without iſſue, excellently of Generation; I that was never master of any conſiderable garden, had not attempted this Subject. But the Earth is the Garden of Nature, and each fruitfull Countrey a Paradiſe. Dioſcorides made most of his Obſervations in his march about with Antonius; and Theophraſtus raiſed his generalities chiefly from the field.

Beſide we write no Herball, nor can this Volume deceive you, who have handled the ^[13] maſſieſt thereof: who know that three ^[14] Folio's are yet too little, and how New Herbals fly from America upon us, from perſevering Enquirers, and ^[15] old in thoſe ſingularities, we expect ſuch Deſcriptions. wherein ^[16] England is now ſo exact, that it yeelds not to other Countreys.

We pretend not to multiply vegetable diviſions by Quincuncial and Reticulate plants; or erect a new Phytology. The Field of knowledge hath been ſo traced, it is hard to ſpring any thing new. Of old things we write ſomething new, If truth may receive addition, or envy will have any thing new; ſince the Ancients knew the late Anatomicall diſcoveries, and Hippocrates the Circulation.

You have been ſo long out of trite learning, that 'tis hard to finde a ſubject proper for you; and if you have met with a Sheet upon this, we have miſſed our intention. In this multiplicity of writing, bye and barren Themes are beſt fitted for invention; Subjects ſo often diſcourſed confine the Imagination, and fix our conceptions unto the notions of fore-writers. Beſide, ſuch Diſcourſes allow excurſions, and venially admit of collaterall truths, though at ſome diſtance from their principals. Wherein if we ſometimes take wide liberty, we are not ſingle, but erre by great ^[17] example.

He that will illuſtrate the excellency of this order, may eaſily fail upon ſo ſpruce a Subject, wherein we have not affrighted the common Reader with any other Diagramms, then of it ſelf; and have induſtriouſly declined illuſtrations from rare and unknown plants.

Your diſcerning judgement ſo well acquainted with that ſtudy, will expect herein no mathematicall truths, as well underſtanding how few generalities and ^[18] V finita's there are in nature. How Scaliger hath found exceptions in moſt Ʋniverſals of Ariſtotle and Theophraſtus. How Botanicall Maximes muſt have fair allowance, and are tolerably currant, if not intolerably over-ballanced by exceptions.

You have wiſely ordered your vegetable delights, beyond the reach of exception. The Turks who paſſt their dayes in Gardens here, will have Gardens alſo hereafter, and delighting in Flowers on earth, muſt have Lillies and Roſes in Heaven. In Garden Delights 'tis not eaſie to hold a Mediocrity; that inſinuating pleaſure is ſeldome without ſome extremity. The Antients venially delighted in flouriſhing Gardens; Many were Floriſts that knew not the true uſe of a Flower; And in Plinies dayes none had directly treated of that Subject. Some commendably affected Plantations of venemous Vegetables, ſome confined their delights unto ſingle plants, and Cato ſeemed to dote upon Cabbadge; While the Ingenuous delight of Tulipiſts, ſtands ſaluted with hard language, even by their own ^[19] Profeſſors.

That in this Garden Diſcourſe, we range into extraneous things, and many parts of Art and Nature, we follow herein the example of old and new Plantations, wherein noble ſpirits contented not themſelves with Trees, but by the attendance ef Aviaries, Fiſh-Ponds, and all variety of Animals, they made their gardens the Epitome of the earth, and ſome reſemblance of the ſecular ſhows of old.

That we conjoyn theſe parts of different Subjects, or that this ſhould ſucceed the other; Your judgement will admit without impute of incongruity; Since the delightfull World comes after death, and Paradiſe ſucceeds the Grave. Since the verdant ſtate of things is the Symbole of the Reſurrection, and to flouriſh in the ſtate of Glory, we muſt firſt be ſown in corruption. Beſide the ancient practiſe of Noble Perſons, to conclude in Garden-Graves, and Ʋrnes themſelves of old, to be wrapt up flowers and garlands.

Nullum ſine venia placuiſſe eloquium, is more ſenſibly underſtood by Writers, then by Readers; nor well apprehended by either, till works have hanged out like Apelles his Pictures; wherein even common eyes will finde ſomething for emendation.

To wiſh all Readers of your abilities, were unreaſonably to multiply the number of Scholars beyond the temper of theſe times. But unto this ill-judging age, we charitably deſire a portion of your equity, judgement, candour, and ingenuity; wherein you are ſo rich, as not to loſe by diffuſion. And being a flouriſhing branch of that ^[20] Noble Family, unto which we owe ſo much obſervance, you are not new ſet, but long rooted in ſuch perfection; whereof having had ſo lasting confirmation in your worthy converſation, constant amity, and expreſſion; and knowing you a ſerious Student in the higheſt arcana's of Nature; with much excuſe we bring theſe low delights, and poor maniples to your Treaſure.

Norwich May 1.

Your affectionate Friend and Servant, Thomas Browne.

HYDRIOTAPHIA Ʋrne-Buriall. OR, A Brief Diſcourſe of the Sepulchrall Urnes lately foundin NORFOLK.

CHAPTER I.

IN the deep diſcovery of the Subterranean world, a ſhallow part would ſatisfie ſome enquirers; who, if two or three yards were open about the ſurface, would not care to rake the bowels of Potoſi ^[21], and regions towards the Centre. Nature hath furniſhed one part of the Earth, and man another. The treaſures of time lie high, in Urnes, Coynes, and Monuments, ſcarce below the roots of ſome vegetables. Time hath endleſſe rarities, and ſhows of all varieties; which reveals old things in heaven, makes new diſcoveries in earth, and even earth it ſelf a diſcovery. That great Antiquity America lay buried for a thouſand years; and a large part of the earth is ſtill in the Urne unto us.

Though if Adam were made out of an extract of the Earth, all parts might challenge a reſtitution, yet few have returned their bones farre lower then they might receive them; not affecting the graves of Giants, under hilly and heavy coverings, but content with leſſe then their owne depth, have wiſhed their bones might lie ſoft, and the earth be light upon them; Even ſuch as hope to riſe again, would not be contenr with centrall interrment, or ſo deſperately to place their reliques as to lie beyond diſcovery, and in no way to be ſeen again; which happy contrivance hath made communication with our forefathers, and left unto our view ſome parts, which they never beheld themſelves.

Though earth hath engroſſed the name yet water hath proved the ſmarteſt grave; which in forty dayes ſwallowed almoſt mankinde, and the living creation; Fiſhes not wholly eſcaping, except the Salt Ocean were handſomely contempered by a mixture of the freſh Element.

Many have taken voluminous pains to determine the ſtate of the ſoul upon diſunion; but men have been moſt phantaſticall in the ſingular contrivancss of their corporall diſſolution: whileſt the ſobreſt Nations have reſted in two wayes, of ſimple inhumation and burning.

That carnall interment or burying, was of the elder date, the old examples of Abraham and the Patriarchs are ſufficient to illuſtrate; And were without competition, if it could be made out, that Adam was buried near Damaſcus, or Mount Calvary, according to ſome Tradition. God himfelf, that buried but one, was pleaſed to make choice of this way, collectible from Scripture-expreſſion, and the hot conteſt between Satan and the Arch-Angel, about diſcovering the body of Moſes. But the practice of Burning was alſo of great Antiquity, and of no ſlender extent. For (not to derive the ſame from Hercules) noble deſcriptions there are hereof in the Grecian Funerals of Homer, In the formall Obſequies of Patroclus, and Achilles; and ſomewhat elder in the Theban warre, and ſolemn combuſtion of Meneceus, and Archemorus, contemporary unto Jair and Eighth Judge of Iſrael. Conſirmable alſo among the Trojans, from the Funerall Pyre of Hector, burnt before the gates of Troy, And the ^[22] burning of Penthiſilea the Amazonean Queen: and long continuance of that practice, in the inward Countries of Aſia; while as low as the Reign of Julian, we finde that the King of Chionia ^[23] burnt the body of his Son, and interred the aſhes in a ſilver Urne.

The ſame practice extended alſo farre Weſt ^[24], and beſides Herulians, Getes, and Thracians, was in uſe with moſt of the Celtae, Sarmatians, Germans, Gauls, Danes, Swedes, Norwegians; not to omit ſome uſe thereof among Carthaginians and Americans: Of greater Antiquity among the Romans then moſt opinion, or Pliny ſeems to allow. For (beſide the old Table Laws of burning ^[25] or burying within the City, of making the Funerall fire with plained wood, or quenching the fire with wine.) Manlius the Conſul burnt the body of his Son: Numa by ſpeciall clauſe of his Will, was not burnt but buried; And R[•]mus was ſolemnly buried, according to the deſoription of Ovid ^[26].

Cornelius Sylla was not the firſt whoſe body was burned in Rome, but of the Cornelian Family, which being indifferently, not frequently uſed before; from that time ſpread, and became the prevalent practice. Not totally purſued in the higheſt runne of Cremation; For when even Crows were funerally burnt, Poppaea the Wife of Nero found a peculiar grave enterment. Now as all cuſtomes were founded upon ſome bottome of Reaſon, ſo there wanted not grounds for this; according to feverall apprehenſions of the moſt rationall diſſolution. Some being of the opinion of Thales, that water was the originall of all things, thought it moſt equall to ſubmit unto the principle of putrefaction, and conclude in a moiſt relentment. Others conceived it moſt natural to end in fire, as due unto the maſter principle in the compoſition, according to the doctrine of Heraclitus. And therefore heaped up large piles, more actively to waft them toward that Element, whereby they alſo declined a viſible degeneration into worms, and left a laſting parcell of their compoſition.

Some apprehended a purifying virtue in fire, refining the groſſer commixture, and firing out the Aethereall particles ſo deeply immerſed in it. And ſuch as by tradition or rationall conjecture held any hint of the finall pyre of all things; or that this Element at laſt muſt be too hard for all the reſt; might conceive moſt nanaturally of the fiery diſſolution. Others pretending no natural grounds, politickly declined the malice of enemies upon their buried bodies. Which conſideration led Sylla unto this practiſe; who having thus ſerved the body of Marius, could not but fear a retaliation upon his own; entertained after in the Civill wars, and revengeful contentions of Rome.

But as many Nations embraced, and many left it indifferent, ſo others too much affected, or ſtrictly declined this practice. The Indian Brachmans ſeemed too great friends unto fire, who burnt themſelves alive, and thought it the nobleſt way to end their dayes in fire; according to the expreſſion of the Indian, burning himſelf at Athens ^[27], in his laſt words upon the pyre unto the amazed ſpectators, Thus I make my ſelfe Immortall.

But the Chaldeans the great Idolaters of fire, abhorred the burning of their carcaſſes, as a pollution of that Deity. The Perſian Magi declined it upon the like ſcruple, and being only ſollicitous about their bones, expoſed their fleſh to the prey of Birds and Dogges. And the Perſees now in India, which expoſe their bodies unto Vultures, and endure not ſo much as feretra or Beers of Wood, the proper Fuell of fire, are led on with ſuch niceties. But whether the ancient Germans who burned their dead, held any ſuch fear to pollute their Deity of Herthus, or the earth, we have no Authentick conjecture.

The Aegyptians were afraid of fire, not as a Deity, but a devouring Element, mercileſly conſuming their bodies, and leaving too little of them; and therefore by precious Embalments, depoſiture in dry earths, or handſome incloſure in glaſſes, contrived the notableſt wayes of integrall conſervation. And from ſuch Aegyptian ſcruples imbibed by Pythagoras, it may be conjectured that Numa and the Pythagoricall Sect firſt waved the fiery ſolution.

The Scythians who ſwore by winde and ſword, that is, by life and death, were ſo farre from burning their bodies, that they declined all interrment, and made their graves in the ayr: And the Ichthyophagi or fiſh-eating Nations about Aegypt, affected the Sea for their grave: Thereby declining viſible corruption, and reſtoring the debt of their bodies. Whereas the old Heroes in Homer, dreaded nothing more than water or drowning; probably upon the old opinion of the fiery ſubſtance of the ſoul, only extinguiſhable by that Element; And therefore the Poet emphatically implieth the totall deſtruction in this kinde of death, which happened to Ajax Oileus ^[28].

The old ^[29] Balearians had a peculiar mode, for they uſed great Urnes and much wood, but no fire in their burials, while they bruiſed the fleſh and bones of the dead, crowded them into Urnes, and laid heapes of wood upon them. And the ^[30] Chinois without cremation or urnall interrment of their bodies, make uſe of trees and much burning, while they plant a Pine-tree by their grave, and burn great numbers of printed draughts of ſlaves and horſes over it, civilly content with their companies in effigie, which barbarous Nations exact unto reality.

Chriſtians abhorred this way of obſequies, and though they ſtickt not to give their bodies to be burnt in their lives, deteſted that mode after death; affecting rather a depoſiture than abſumption, and properly ſubmitting unto the ſentence of God, to return not unto aſhes but unto duſt againe, conformable unto the practice of the Patriarchs, the interrment of our Saviour, of Peter, Paul, and the ancient Martyrs. And ſo farre at laſt declining promiſcuous enterrment with Pagans, that ſome have ſuſſered Eccleſiaſtical cenſures, for making no ſcruple ^[31] thereof.

The Muſſelman beleevers will never admit this fiery reſolution. For they hold a preſent trial from their black and white Angels in the grave; which they muſt have made ſo hollow, that they may riſe upon their knees.

The Jewiſh Nation, though they entertained the old way of inhumation, yet ſometimes admitted this practice. For the men of Jabeſh burnt the body of Saul. And by no prohibited practice to avoid contagion or pollution, in time of peſtilence, burnt the bodies of their friends ^[32]. And when they burnt not their dead bodies, yet ſometimes uſed great burnings neare and about them, deducible from the expreſſions concerning Jehoram, Sedechias, and the ſumptuous pyre of Aſa: And were ſo little averſe from ^[33] Pagan burning, that the Jews lamenting the death of Caeſar their friend, and revenger on Pompey, frequented the place where his body was burnt for many nights together. And as they raiſed noble Monuments and Mauſolaeums for their own Nation ^[34], ſo they were not ſcrupulous in erecting ſome for others, according to the practice of Daniel, who left that laſting ſepulchrall pyle in Echbatana, for the Medean and Perſian Kings ^[35].

But even in times of ſubjection and hotteſt uſe, they conformed not unto the Romane practice of burning; whereby the Prophecy was ſecured concerning the body of Chriſt, that it ſhould not ſee corruption, or a bone ſhould not be broken; which we beleeve was alſo providentially prevented, from the Souldiers ſpear and nails that paſt by the little bones both in his hands and feet: Not of ordinary contrivance, that it ſhould not corrupt on the Croſſe, according to the Laws of Romane Crucifixion, or an hair of his head periſh, though obſervable in Jewiſh cuſtomes, to cut the hairs of Malefactors.

Nor in their long co-habitation with Aegyptians, crept into a cuſtome of their exact embalming, wherein deeply ſlaſhing the muſcles, and taking out the brains and entrails, they had broken the ſubject of ſo entire a Reſurrection, nor fully anſwered the types of Enoch, Eliah, or Jonah, which yet to prevent or reſtore, was of equall facility unto that riſing power, able to break the faſciations and bands of death, to get clear out of the Cere-cloth, and an hundred pounds of oyntment, and out of the Sepulchre before the ſtone was rolled from it.

But though they embraced not this practice of burning, yet entertained they many ceremonies agreeable unto Greeke and Romane obſequies. And he that obſerveth their funerall Feaſts, their Lamentations at the grave, their muſick, and weeping mourners; how they cloſed the eyes of their friends, how they waſhed, anointed, and kiſſed the dead; may eaſily conclude theſe were not meere Pagan-Civilities. But whether that mournfull burthen, and treble calling out after Abſalom, had any reference unto the laſt conclamation, and triple valediction, uſed by other Nations, we hold but a wavering conjecture.

Civilians make ſepulture but of the Law of Nations, others doe naturally found it and diſcover it alſo in animals. They that are ſo thick skinned as ſtill to credit the ſtory of the Phoenix, may ſay ſomething for animall burning: More ſerious conjectures finde ſome examples of ſepulture in Elephants, Cranes, the Sepulchrall Cells of Piſmires and practice of Bees; which civill ſociety carrieth out their dead, and hath exequies, if not interrments.

CHAP. II.

THE Solemnities, Ceremonies, Rites of their Cremation or enterrment, ſo ſolemnly delivered by Authours, we ſhall not diſparage our Reader to repeat. Only the laſt and laſting part in their Urns, collected bones and Aſhes, we cannot wholly omit, or decline that Subject, which occaſion lately preſented, in ſome diſcovered among us.

In a Field of old Walſingham, not many moneths paſt, were digged up between fourty and fifty Vrnes, depoſited in a dry and ſandy ſoile, not a yard deep, nor farre from one another: Not all ſtrictly of one figure, but moſt anſwering theſe deſcribed: Some containing two pounds of bones, diſtinguiſhable in skulls, ribs, jawes, thigh-bones, and teeth, with freſh impreſſions of their combuſtion. Beſides the extraneous ſubſtances, like peeces of ſmall boxes, or combes handſomely wrought, handles of ſmall braſſe inſtruments, brazen nippers, and in one ſome kinde of Opale ^[36].

Near the ſame plot of ground, for about ſix yards compaſſe were digged up coals and incinerated ſubſtances, which begat conjecture that this was the Ʋſtrina or place of burning their bodies, or ſome ſacrificing place unto the Manes, which was properly below the ſurface of the ground, as the Arae and Altars unto the gods and Heroes above it.

That theſe were the Vrnes of Romanes from the common cuſtome and place where they were found, is no obſcure conjecture, not farre from a Romane Garriſon, and but five Miles from Brancaster, ſet down by ancient Record under the name of Brannodunum▪ And where the adjoyning Towne, containing ſeven Pariſhes, in no very different ſound, but Saxon Termination, ſtill retains the Name of Burnham, which being an early ſtation, it is not improbable the neighbour parts were filled with habitations, either of Romanes themſelves, or Britains Romaniſed, which obſerved the Romane cuſtomes.

Nor is it improbable that the Romanes early poſſeſſed this Countrey; for though we meet not with ſuch ſtrict particulars of theſe parts, before the new Inſtitution of Conſtantine, and military charge of the Count of the Saxon ſhore, and that about the Saxon Invaſions, the Dalmatian Horſemen were in the Garriſon of Brancaſter: Yet in the time of Claudius, Veſpaſian, and Severus, we finde no leſſe then three Legions diſperſed through the Province of Brittain. And as high as the Reign of Claudius a great overthrow was given unto the Iceni, by the Romane Lieutenant Oſtorius. Not long after the Countrey was ſo moleſted, that in hope of a better ſtate, Praſtaagus bequeathed his Kingdome unto Nero and his Daughters; and Boadicea his Queen fought the laſt deciſive Battle with Paulinus. After which time and Conqueſt of Agricola the Lieutenant of Veſpaſian, probable it is they wholly poſſeſſed this Countrey, ordering it into Garriſons or Habitations, beſt ſuitable with their ſecurities. And ſo ſome Romane Habitations, not improbable in theſe parts, as high as the time of Veſpaſian, where the Saxons after ſeated, in whoſe thin-fill'd Mappes we yet finde the Name of Walſingham. Now if the Iceni were but Gammadims, Anconians, or men that lived in an Angle wedge or Elbow of Brittain, according to the Originall Etymologie, this countrey will challenge the Emphaticall appellation, as moſt properly making the Elbow or Iken of Icenia.

That Britain was notably populous is undeniable, from that expreſſion of Caeſar ^[37]. That the Romans themſelves were early in no ſmall Numbers, Seventy Thouſand with their aſſociats ſlain by Boadicea, affords a ſure account. And though many Roman habitations are now knowne, yet ſome by old works, Rampiers, Coynes, and Urnes doe teſtifie their Poſſeſſions. Some Urnes have been found at Caſtor, ſome alſo about Southcreake, and not many years paſt, no leſſe then ten in a Field at Buxton ^[38], not near any recorded Gariſon. Nor is it ſtrange to finde Romane Coynes of Copper and Silver among us; of Veſpaſian, Trajan, Adrian, Commodus, Antoninus, Severus, &c. But the greater number of Diocleſian, Conſtantine, Conſtans, Valens, with many of Victorinus Poſthumius, Tetricus, and the thirty Tyrants in the Reigne of Galliėnus; and ſome as high as Adrianus have been found about Thetford, or Sitomagus, mentioned in the itinerary of Antoninus, as the way from Venta or Caſtor unto London ^[39]. But the moſt frequent diſcovery is made at the two Caſters by Norwich and Yarmouth ^[40], at Burghcaſtle and Brancaſter ^[41].

Beſides, the Norman, Saxon and Daniſh peeces of Cuthred, Canutus, William Matilda ^[42], and others, ſom Brittiſh Coynes of gold have been diſperſedly found; And no ſmall number of ſilver peeces near ^[43] Norwich; with a rude head upon the obverſe, and an ill formed horſe on the reverſe, with Inſcriptions Ic. Duro. T. whether implying Iceni, Durotriges, Taſcia, or Trinobantes, we leave to higher conjecture. Vulgar Chronology will have Norwich Caſtle as old as Julius Caeſar; but his diſtance from theſe parts, and its Gothick form of ſtructure, abridgeth ſuch Antiquity. The Britiſh Coyns afford conjecture of early habitation in theſe parts, though the City of Norwich aroſe from the ruines of Venta, and though perhaps not without ſome habitation before, was enlarged, builded, and nominated by the Saxons. In what bulk or populoſity it ſtood in the old Eaſt-angle Monarchy, tradition and hiſtory are ſilent. Conſiderable it was in the Daniſh Eruptions, when Sueno burnt Thetford and Norwich ^[44], and Ʋlfketel the Governour thereof, was able to make ſome reſiſtance, and after endeavoured to burn the Daniſh Navy.

How the Romanes left ſo many Coynes in Countreys of their Conqueſts, ſeems of hard reſolution, except we conſider how they buried them under ground, when upon barbarous invaſions they were fain to deſert their habitations in moſt part of their Empire, and the ſtrictneſſe of their laws forbidding to transfer them to any other uſes; Wherein the ^[45] Spartans were ſingular, who to make their Copper money uſeleſſe, contempered it with vinegar. That the Brittains left any, ſome wonder; ſince their money was iron, and Iron rings before Caeſar; and thoſe of after ſtamp by permiſſion, and but ſmall in bulk and bigneſſe; that ſo few of the Saxons remain, becauſe overcome by ſucceeding Conquerours upon the place, their Coynes by degrees paſſed into other ſtamps, and the marks of after ages.

Then the time of theſe Urnes depoſited, or preciſe Antiquity of theſe Reliques, nothing of more uncertainty. For ſince the Lieutenant of Claudius ſeems to have made the firſt progreſſe into theſe parts, ſince Boadicea was overthrown by the Forces of Nero, and Agricola put a full end to theſe Conqueſts; it is not probable the Countrey was fully garriſon'd or planted before; and therefore however theſe Urnes might be of later date, not likely of higher Antiquity.

And the ſucceeding Emperours deſiſted not from their Conqueſts in theſe and other parts▪ as teſtified by hiſtory and medall inſcription yet extant. The Province of Brittain in ſo divided a diſtance from Rome, beholding the faces of many Imperiall perſons, and in large account no fewer then Caeſar, Claudius, Britanni[•]us, Veſpaſian, Titus, Adrian, Severus, Commodus, Geta, and Caracalla.

A great obſcurity herein, becauſe no medall or Emperours Coyne encloſed, which might denote the date of their enterrments. obſervable in many Urnes, and found in thoſe of Spittle Fields by ^[46] London, which contained the Coynes of Claudius, Veſpaſian, Commodus, Antoninus, attended with Lacrymatories, Lamps, Bottles of Liquor, and other appurtenances of affectionate ſuperſtition, which in theſe rurall interrements were wanting.

Some uncertainty there is from the period or term of burning, or the ceſtation of that practiſe. Macrobius affirmeth it was diſuſed in his dayes. But moſt agree, though without authentick record, that it ceaſed with the Antonini. Moſt ſafely to be underſtood after the Reigne of thoſe Emperours, which aſſumed the name of Antoninus, extending unto Heliogabalus. Not ſtrictly after Marcus; For about fifty years later we finde the magnificent burning, and conſecration of Severus; and if we ſo fix this period or ceſſation, theſe Urnes will challenge above thirteen hundred years.

But whether this practiſe was onely then left by Emperours and great perſons, or generally about Rome, and not in other Provinces, we hold no authentick account. For after Tertullian, in the dayes of Minucius it was obviouſly objected upon Chriſtians, that they condemned the practiſe of burning ^[47]. And we finde a paſſage in Sidonius ^[48], which aſſerteth that practiſe in France unto a lower account. And perhaps not fully diſuſed till Chriſtianity fully eſtabliſhed, which gave the finall extinction to theſe ſepulchrall Bonefires.

Whether they were the bones of men or women or children, no authentick deciſion from ancient cuſtome in diſtinct places of buriall. Although not improbably conjectured, that the double Sepulture or burying place of Abraham, had in it ſuch intenſion. But from exility of bones, thinneſſe of skulls, ſmallneſſe of teeth, ribbes, and thigh-bones; not improbable that many thereof were perſons of minor age, or women. Confirmable alſo from things contained in them: In moſt were found ſubſtances reſembling Combes, Plates like Boxes, faſtened with Iron pins, and handſomely overwrought like the necks or Bridges of Muſicall Inſtruments, long braſſe plates overwrought like the handles of neat implements, brazen nippers to pull away hair, and in one a kinde of Opale yet maintaining a blewiſh colour.

Now that they accuſtomed to burn or bury with them, things wherein they excelled, delighted, or which were dear unto them, either as farewells unto all pleaſure, or vain apprehenſion that they might uſe them in the other world, is teſtified by all Antiquity. Obſervable from the Gemme or Berill Ring upon the finger of Cynthia, the Miſtreſſe of Propertius, when after her Funerall Pyre her Ghoſt appeared unto him. And notably illuſtrated from the Contents of that Romane Urne preſerved by Cardinall Farneſe ^[49], wherein beſides great number of Gemmes with heads of Gods and Goddeſſes, were found an Ape of Agath, a Graſhopper, an Elephant of Ambre, a Cryſtall Ball, three glaſſes, two Spoones, and ſix Nuts of Cryſtall. And beyond the content of Urnes, in the Monument of Childerick the firſt ^[50], and fourth King from Pharamond, caſually diſcovered three years paſt at Tournay, reſtoring unto the world much gold richly adorning his Sword, two hundred Rubies, many hundred Imperial Coyns, three hundred golden Bees, the bones and horſeſhoe of his horſe enterred with him, according to the barbarous magnificence of thoſe dayes in their ſepulchral Obſequies. Although if we ſteer by the conjecture of many and Septuagint expreſſion; ſome trace thereof may be found even with the ancient Hebrews, not only from the Sepulcrall treaſure of David, but the circumciſion knives which Joſuah alſo buried.

Some men conſidering the contents of theſe Vrnes, laſting peeces and toyes included in them, and the cuſtome of burning with many other Nations, might ſomewhat doubt whether all Vrnes found among us, were properly Romane Reliques, or ſome not belonging unto our Brittiſh, Saxon, or Daniſh Forefathers.

In the form of Buriall among the ancient Brittains, the large Diſcourſes of Caeſar, Tacitus, and Strabo are ſilent: For the diſcovery whereof, with other particulars, we much deplore the loſſe of that Letter which Cicero expected or received from his Brother Quintus, as a reſolution of Brittiſh cuſtomes; or the account which might have been made by Scribonius Largus the Phyſician, accompanying the Emperour Claudius, who might have alſo diſcovered that frugall Bit ^[51] of the Old Brittains, which in the bigneſſe of a Bean could ſatisfie their thirſt and hunger.

But that the Druids and ruling Prieſts uſed to burn and bury, is expreſſed by Pomponius; That Bellinus the Brother of Brennus, and King of Brittains was burnt, is acknowledged by Polydorus, as alſo by Amandus Zierexenſis in Hiſtoria, and Pineda in his Ʋniverſa historia. Spaniſh. That they held that practiſe in Galiia, Caeſar expreſly delivereth. Whether the Brittains (probably deſcended from them, of like Religion, Language and Manners) did not ſometimes make uſe of burning; or whether at leaſt ſuch as were after civilized unto the Romane life and manners, conformed not unto this practiſe, we have no hiſtoricall aſſertion or deniall. But ſince from the account of Tacitus the Romanes early wrought ſo much civility upon the Brittiſh ſtock, that they brought them to build Temples, to wear the Gowne, and ſtudy the Romane Laws and language, that they conformed alſo unto their religious rites and cuſtomes in burials, ſeems no improbable conjecture.

That burning the dead was uſed in Sarmatia, is affirmed by Gaguinus, that the Sueons and Gothlanders uſed to burne their Princes and great perſons, is delivered by Saxo and Olans; that this was the old Germane practiſe, is alſo aſſerted by Tacitus. And though we are bare in hiſtoricall particulars of ſuch obſequies in this Iſland, or that the Saxons, Jutes, and Angles burnt their dead, yet came they from parts where 'twas of ancient practiſe; the Germanes uſing it, from whom they were deſcended. And even in Jutland and Sleſwick in Anglia Cymbrica, Vrnes with bones were found not many years before us.

But the Daniſh and Northern Nations ^[52] have raiſed an Aera or point of compute from their Cuſtome of burning their dead: Some deriving it from Ʋnguinus, ſome from Frotho the great; who ordained by Law, that Princes and Chief Commanders ſhould be committed unto the fire, though the common ſort had the common grave enterrment. So Starkatterus that old Heroe was burnt, and Ringo royally burnt the body of Harald the King ſlain by him.

What time this cuſtome generally expired in that Nation, we diſcern no aſſured period; whether it ceaſed before Chriſtianity, or upon their Converſion, by Auſgurius the Gaul in the time of Ludovicus Pius the Sonne of Charles the great, according to good computes; or whether it might not be uſed by ſome perſons, while for a hundred and eighty years Paganiſme and Chriſtianity were promiſcuouſly embraced among them, there is no aſſured concluſion. About which times the Danes were buſie in England, and particularly infeſted this Countrey: Where many Caſtles and ſtrong holds, were built by them, or againſt rhem, and great number of names and Families ſtill derived from them. But ſince this cuſtome was probably diſuſed before their Invaſion or Conqueſt, and the Romanes confeſſedly practiſed the ſame, ſince their poſſeſſion of this Iſland, the moſt aſſured account will fall upon the Romanes, or Brittains Romanized.

However certain it is, that Vrnes conceived of no Romane Originall, are often digged up both in Norway, and Denmark, handſomely deſcribed, and graphically repreſented by the Learned Phyſician Wormius ^[53], And in ſome parts of Denmark in no ordinary number, as ſtands delivered by Authours exactly deſcribing thoſe Countreys ^[54]. And they contained not only bones, but many other ſubſtances in them, as Knives, peeces of Iron, Braſſe and Wood, and one of Norwaye a braſſe guilded Jewes-harp.

Nor were they confuſed or careleſſe in diſpoſing the nobleſt ſort, while they placed large ſtones in circle about the Vrnes, or bodies which they interred: Somewhat anſwerable unto the Mounment of Rollrich ſtones in England ^[55], or ſepulcrall Monument probaby erected by Rollo, who after conquered Normandy. Where 'tis not improbable ſomewhat might be diſcovered. Mean while to what Nation or perſon belonged that large Vrne found at Aſhburie ^[56], containing mighty bones, and a Buckler; What thoſe large Vrnes found at little Maſsingham ^[57], or why the Angleſea Urnes are placed with their mouths downward, remains yet undiſcovered.

CHAP. III.

PLayſtered and whited Sepulchres, were anciently affected in cadaverous, and corruptive Burials; And the rigid Jews were wont to garniſh the Sepulchres of the ^[58] righteous; Ʋlyſſes in Hecuba ^[59] cared not how meanly he lived, ſo he might finde a noble Tomb after death. Great Princes affected great Monuments, And the fair and larger Urnes contained no vulgar aſhes, which makes that diſparity in thoſe which time diſcovereth among us. The preſent Urnes were not of one capacity, the largeſt containing above a gallon, Some not much above half that meaſure; nor all of one figure, wherein there is no ſtrict conformity, in the ſame or different Countreys; Obſervable from thoſe repreſented by Caſalius, Boſio, and others, though all found in Italy: While many have handles, ears, and long necks, but moſt imitate a circular figure, in a ſphericall and round compoſure; whether from any myſtery, beſt duration or capacity, were but a conjecture. But the common form with necks was a proper figure, making our Iaſt bed like our firſt; nor much unlike the Urnes of our Nativity, while we lay in the nether part of the Earth ^[60], and inward vault of our Microcoſme. Many Urnes are red, theſe but of a black colour, ſomewhat ſmooth, and dully ſounding, which begat ſome doubt, whether they were burnt, or only baked in Oven or Sunne: According to the ancient way, in many bricks, tiles, pots, and teſtaceous works; and as the word testa is properly to be taken, when occurring without addition: And chiefly intended by Pliny, when he commendeth bricks and tiles of two years old, and to make them in the ſpring. Nor only theſe concealed peeces, but the open magnificence of Antiquity, ran much in the Artifice of Clay. Hereof the houſe of Mauſolus was built, thus old Jupiter ſtood in the Capitoll, and the Statua of Hercules made in the Reign of Tarquinius Priſcus, was extant in Plinies dayes. And ſuch as declined burning or Funerall Urnes, affected Coffins of Clay, according to the mode of Pythagoras, a way preferred by Varro. But the ſpirit of great ones was above theſe circumſcriptions, affecting copper, ſilver, gold, and Porphyrie Urnes, wherein Severus lay, after a ſerious view and ſentence on that which ſhould contain him ^[61]. Some of theſe Urnes were thought to have been ſilvered over, from ſparklings in ſeveral pots, with ſmall Tinſell parcels; uncertain whether from the earth, or the firſt mixture in them.

Among theſe Urnes we could obtain no good account of their coverings; Only one ſeemed arched over with ſome kinde of brickwork. Of thoſe found at Buxton ſome were covered with flints, ſome in other parts with tiles, thoſe at Yarmouth Caſter, were cloſed with Romane bricks. And ſome have proper earthen covers adapted and fitted to them. But in the Homericall Urne of Patroclus, whatever was the ſolid Tegument, we finde the immediate covering to be a purple peece of ſilk: And ſuch as had no covers might have the earth cloſely preſſed into them, after which diſpoſure were probably ſome of theſe, wherein we found the bones and aſhes half mortered unto the ſand and ſides of the Urne; and ſome long roots of Quich, or Dogs-graſs wreathed about the bones.

No Lamps, included Liquors, Lachrymatories, or Tear-bottles attended theſe rurall Urnes, either as ſacred unto the Manes, or paſſionate expreſſions of their ſurviving friends. While with rich flames, and hired tears they ſolemnized their Obſequies, and in the moſt lamented Monuments made one part of their Inſcriptions ^[62]. Some finde ſepulchrall Veſſels containing liquors, which time hath incraſſated into gellies. For beſide theſe Lachrymatories, notable Lamps, with Veſſels of Oyles and Aromaticall Liquors attended noble Oſſuaries. And ſome yet retaining a ^[63] Vinoſity and ſpirit in them, which if any have taſted they have farre exceeded the Palats of Antiquity. Liquors not to be computed by years of annuall Magiſtrates, but by great conjunctions and the fatall periods of Kingdomes ^[64]. The draughts of Conſulary date, were but crude unto theſe, and Opimian ^[65] Wine but in the muſt unto them.

In ſundry Graves and Sepulchres, we meet with Rings, Coynes, and Chalices; Ancient frugality was ſo ſevere, that they allowed no gold to attend the Corps, but only that which ſerved to faſten their teeth ^[66]. Whether the Opaline ſtone in this Urne were burnt upon the finger of the dead, or caſt into the fire by ſome affectionate friend, it will conſiſt with either cuſtome. But other incinerable ſubſtances were found ſo freſh, that they could feel no ſindge from fire. Theſe upon view were judged to be wood, but ſinking in water and tried by the fire, we found them to be bone or Ivory. In their hardneſſe and yellow colour they moſt reſembled Box, which in old expreſſions found the Epithere ^[67] of Eternall, and perhaps in ſuch conſervatories might have paſſed uncorrupted.

That Bay-leaves were found green in the Tomb of S. Humbert ^[68], after an hundred and fifty years, was looked upon as miraculous. Remarkable it was unto old Spectators, that the Cypreſſe of the Temple of Diana, laſted ſo many hundred years: The wood of the Ark and Olive Rod of Aaron were older at the Captivity. But the Cypreſſe of the Ark of Noah, was the greateſt vegetable Antiquity, if Joſephus were not deceived, by ſome fragments of it in his dayes. To omit the Moore-logs, and Firre-trees found under-ground in many parts of England; the undated ruines of windes, flouds or earthquakes; and which in Flanders ſtill ſhew from what quarter they fell, as generally lying in a North-Eaſt poſition ^[69].

But though we found not theſe peeces to be Wood, according to firſt apprehenſion, yet we miſſed not altogether of ſome woody ſubſtance; For the bones were not ſo clearly pickt, but ſome coals were found amongſt them; A way to make wood perpetuall, and a fit aſſociat for metall, whereon was laid the foundation of the great Epheſian Temple, and which were made the laſting teſts of old boundaries and Landmarks; Whileſt we look on theſe, we admire not Obſervations of Coals found freſh, after four hundred years ^[70]. In a long deſerted habitation ^[71], even Egge-ſhels have been found freſh, not tending to corruption.

In the Monument of King Childerick, the Iron Reliques were found all ruſty and crumbling into peecees. But our little Iron pins which faſtened the Ivory works, held well together, and loſt not their Magneticall quality, though wanting a tenacious moiſture for the firmer union of parts, although it be hardly drawn into fuſion, yet that metall ſoon ſubmitteth unto reſt and diſſolution. In the brazen peeces we admired not the duration but the freedome from ruſt, and ill ſavour; upon the hardeſt attrition, but now expoſed unto the piercing Atomes of ayre; in the ſpace of a few moneths, they begin to ſpot and betray their green entrals. We conceive not theſe Urnes to have deſcended thus naked as they appear, or to have entred their graves without the old habit of flowers. The Urne of Philopaemen was ſo laden with flowers and ribbons, that it afforded no ſight of it ſelf. The rigid Lycurgus allowed Olive and Myrtle. The Athenians might fairly except againſt the practiſe of Democritus to be buried up in honey; as fearing to embezzle a great commodity of their Countrey, and the beſt of that kinde in Europe. But Plato ſeemed too frugally politick, who allowed no larger Monument then would contain for Heroick Verſes, and deſigned the moſt barren ground for ſepulture: Though we cannot commend the goodneſſe of that ſepulchrall ground, which was ſet at no higher rate then the mean ſalary of Judas. Though the earth had confounded the aſhes of theſe Oſſuaries, yet the bones were ſo ſmartly burnt, that ſome thin plates of braſſe were found half melted among them: whereby we apprehend they were not of the meaneſt carcaſſes, perfunctorily fired as ſometimes in military, and commonly in peſtilence, burnings; or after the manner of abject corps, hudled forth and careleſly burnt, without the Eſquiline Port at Rome; which was an affront continued upon Tiberius, while they but half burnt his body ^[72], and in the Amphitheatre, according to the cuſtome in notable Malefactore; whereas Nero ſeemed not ſo much to feare his death, as that his head ſhould be cut off, and his body not burnt entire.

Some finding many fragments of ſculs in theſe Urnes, ſuſpected a mixture of bones; In none we ſearched was there cauſe of ſuch conjecture, though ſometimes they declined not that practiſe; The aſhes of ^[73] Domitian were mingled with thoſe of Julia, of Achilles with thoſe of Patroclus: All Urnes contained not ſingle aſhes; Without confuſed burnings they affectionately compounded their bones; paſſionately endeavouring to continue their living Unions. And when diſtance of death denied ſuch conjunctions, unſatisfied affections, conceived ſome ſatisfaction to be neighbours in the grave, to lye Urne by Urne, and touch but in their names. And many were ſo curious to continue their living relations, that they contrived large, and family Urnes, wherein the Aſhes of their neareſt friends and kindred might ſucceſſively be received ^[74], at leaſt ſome parcels thereof, while their collaterall memorials lay in minor veſſels about them.

Antiquity held too light thoughts from Objects of mortality, while ſome drew provocatives of mirth from Anatomies ^[75], and Juglers ſhewed tricks with Skeletons. When Fidlers made not ſo pleaſant mirth as Fencers, and men could ſit with quiet ſtomacks while hanging was plaied ^[76] before them. Old conſiderations made few memento's by ſculs and bones upon their monuments. In the Aegyptian Obelisks and Hieroglyphicall figures, it is not eaſie to meet with bones. The ſepulchrall Lamps ſpeak nothing leſſe then ſepulture; and in their literall draughts prove often obſcene and antick peeces: Where we finde D. M. ^[77] it is obvious to meet with ſacrificing patera's, and veſſels of libation, upon old ſepulchrall Monuments. In the Jewiſh Hypogaeum ^[78] and ſubterranean Cell at Rome, was little obſervable beſide the variety of Lamps, and frequent draughts of the holy Candleſtick. In authentick draughts of Anthony and Jerome, we meet with thigh-bones and deaths heads; but the cemiteriall Cels of ancient Chriſtians and Martyrs, were filled with draughts of Scripture Stories; not declining the flouriſhes of Cypreſſe, Palmes, and Olive; and the myſticall Figures of Peacocks, Doves and Cocks. But iterately affecting the pourtraits of Enoch, Lazarus, Jonas, and the Viſion of Ezechiel, as hopefull draughts, and hinting imagery of the Reſurrection; which is the life of the grave, and ſweetens our habitations in the Land of Moles and Piſmires.

Gentile Inſcriptions preciſely delivered the extent of mens lives, ſeldome the manner of their deaths, which hiſtory it ſelf ſo often leaves obſcure in the records of memorable perſons. There is ſcarce any Philoſopher but dies twice or thrice in Laertius; Nor almoſt any life without two or three deaths in Plutarch; which makes the tragicall ends of noble perſons more favourably reſented by compaſſionate Readers, who finde ſome relief in the Election of ſuch differences.

The certainty of death is attended with uncertainties, in time, manner, places. The variety of Monuments hath often obſcured true graves: and Cenotaphs confounded Sepulchres. For beſide their reall Tombs, many have found honorary and empty Sepulchres. The variety of Homers Monuments made him of various Countreys. Euripides ^[79] had his Tomb in Africa, but his ſepulture in Macedonia. And Severus ^[80] found his real Sepulchre in Rome, but his empty grave in Gallia.

He that lay in a golden Urne ^[81] eminently above the Earth, was not like to finde the quiet of theſe bones. Many of theſe Urnes were broke by a vulgar diſcoverer in hope of incloſed treaſure. The aſhes of Marcellus ^[82] were loſt above ground, upon the like account. Where profit hath prompted, no age hath wanted ſuch miners. For which the moſt barbarous Expilators found the moſt civill Rhetorick. Gold once out of the ^[83] earth is no more due unto it; What was unreaſonably committed to the ground is reaſonably reſumed from it: Let Monuments and rich Fabricks, not Riches adorn mens aſhes. The commerce of the living is not to be trrnsferred unto the dead: It is not injuſtice to take that which none complains to loſe, and no man is wronged where no man is poſſeſſor.

What virtue yet ſleeps in this terra damnata and aged cinders, were petty magick to experiment; Theſe crumbling reliques and long-fired particles ſuperannate ſuch expectations: Bones, ^[84] hairs, nails, and teeth of the dead, were the treaſures of old Sorcerers. In vain we revive ſuch practices; Preſent ſuperſtition too viſibly perpetuates the folly of our Fore-fathers, wherein unto old Obſervation this Iſland was ſo compleat, that it might have inſtructed Perſia.

Plato's hiſtorian of the other world, lies twelve dayes incorrupted, while his ſoul was viewing the large ſtations of the dead. How to keep the corps ſeven dayes from corruption by anointing and waſhing, without exenteration, were an hazardable peece of art, in our choiſeſt practiſe. How they made diſtinct ſeparation of bones and aſhes from fiery admixture, hath found no hiſtoricall ſolution. Though they ſeemed to make a diſtinct collection, and overlooked not Pyrrhus his toe. Some proviſion they might make by fictile Veſſels, Coverings, Tiles, or flat ſtones, upon and about the body. And in the ſame Field, not farre from theſe Urnes, many ſtones were found under ground, as alſo by carefull ſeparation of extraneous matter, compoſing and raking up the burnt bones with forks, obſervable in that notable lump of Galuanus Martianus ^[85], who had the ſight of the Vas Ʋſtrinum, or veſſell wherein they burnt the dead, found in the Eſquiline Field at Rome, might have afforded clearer ſolution. But their inſatisfaction herein begat that remarkable invention in the Funerall Pyres of ſome Princes, by incombuſtible ſheets made with a texture of Asbeſtos, incremable flax, or Salamanders wool, which preſerved their bones and aſhes ^[86] incommixed.

How the bulk of a man ſhould ſink into ſo few pounds of bones and aſhes, may ſeem ſtrange unto any who conſiders not its conſtitution, and how ſlender a maſſe will remain upon an open and urging fire of the carnall compoſition. Even bones themſelves reduced into aſhes, do abate a notable proportion. And conſiſting much of a volatile ſalt, when that is fired out, make a light kind of cinders. Although their bulk be diſproportionable to their weight, when the heavy principle of Salt is fired out, and the Earth almoſt only remaineth; Obſervable in ſallow, which makes more Aſhes then Oake; and diſcovers the common fraud of ſelling Aſhes by meaſure, and not by ponderation.

Some bones make beſt Skeletons ^[87], ſome bodies quick and ſpeedieſt aſhes: Who would expect a quick flame from Hydropicall Heraclitus? The poyſoned Souldier when his Belly brake, put out two pyres in Plutarch ^[88]. But in the plague of Athens ^[89], one private pyre ſerved two or three Intruders; and the Saracens burnt in large heaps, by the King of Caſtile ^[90], ſhewed how little Fuell ſufficeth. Though the Funerall pyre of Patroclus took up an hundred foot ^[91], a peece of an old boat burnt Pompey; And if the burthen of Iſaac were ſufficient for an holocauſt, a man may carry his owne pyre.

From animals are drawn good burning lights, and good medicines ^[92] againſt burning; Though the ſeminall humour ſeems of a contrary nature to fire, yet the body compleated proves a combuſtible lump, wherein fire findes flame even from bones, and ſome fuell almoſt from all parts. Though the ^[93] Metropolis of humidity ſeems leaſt diſpoſed unto it, which might render the ſculls of theſe Urnes leſſe burned then other bones. But all flies or ſinks before fire almoſt in all bodies: When the common ligament is diſſolved, the attenuable parts aſcend, the reſt ſubſide in coal, calx or aſhes.

To burn the bones of the King of ^[94] Edom for Lyme, ſeems no irrationall ferity; But to drink of the aſhes of dead relations ^[95], a paſſionate prodigality. He that hath the aſhes of his friend, hath an everlaſting treaſure: where fire taketh leave, corruption ſlowly enters; In bones well burnt, fire makes a wall againſt it ſelf; experimented in copels, and teſts of metals, which conſiſt of ſuch ingredients. What the Sun compoundeth, fire analyſeth, not tranſmuteth. That devouring agent leaves almoſt allwayes a morſell for the Earth, whereof all things are but a colonie; and which, if time permits, the mother Element will have in their primitive maſſe again.

He that looks for Urnes and old ſepulchrall reliques, muſt not ſeek them in the ruines of Temples: where no Religion anciently placed them. Theſe were found in a Field, according to ancient cuſtome, in noble or private buriall; the old practiſe of the Canaanites, the Family of Abraham, and the burying place of Joſua, in the borders of his poſſeſſions; and alſo agreeable unto Roman practice to bury by high-wayes, whereby their Monuments were under eye: Memorials of themſelves, and memento's of mortality into living paſſengers; whom the Epitaphs of great ones were fain to beg to ſtay and look upon them. A language though ſometimes uſed, not ſo proper in Church-Inſcriptions ^[96]. The ſenſible Rhetorick of the dead, to exemplarity of good life, firſt admitted the bones of pious men, and Martyrs within Church-wals; which in ſucceeding ages crept into promiſcuous practiſe. While Conſtantine was peculiarly favoured to be admitted unto the Church Porch; and the firſt thus buried in England was in the dayes of Cuthred.

Chriſtians diſpute how their bodies ^[97] ſhould lye in the grave. In urnall enterrment they clearly eſcaped this Controverſie: Though we decline the Religious conſideration, yet in cemiteriall and narrower burying places, to avoid confuſion and croſſe poſition, a certain poſture were to be admitted; Which even Pagan civility obſerved, The Perſians lay North and South, The Megarians and Phoenicians placed their heads to the Eaſt: The Athenians, ſome think, towards the Weſt, which Chriſtians ſtill retain. And Beda will have it to be the poſture of our Saviour. That he was crucified with his face towards the Weſt, we will not contend with tradition and probable account; But we applaud not the hand of the Painter, in exalting his Croſſe ſo high above thoſe on either ſide; ſince hereof we finde no authentick account in hiſtory, and even the croſſes found by Helena pretend no ſuch diſtinction from longitude or dimenſion.

To be knav'd out of our graves, to have our ſculs made drinking-bowls, and our bones turned into Pipes, to delight and ſport our Enemies, are Tragicall abominations, eſcaped in burning Burials.

Urnall enterrments, and burnt Reliques lye not in fear of worms, or to be an heritage for Serpents; In carnall ſepulture, corruptions ſeem peculiar unto parts, and ſome ſpeak of ſnakes out of the ſpinall marrow. But while we ſuppoſe common wormes in graves, 'tis not eaſie to finde any there; few in Churchyards above a foot deep, fewer or none in Churches, though in freſh decayed bodies. Teeth, bones, and hair, give the moſt laſting defiance to corruption. In au Hydropicall body ten years buried in a Church-yard, we met with a fat concretion, where the nitre of the Earth, and the ſalt and lixivious liquor of the body, had coagulated large lumps of fat, into the conſiſtence of the hardeſt caſtle-ſoap; whereof part remaineth with us. After a battle with the Perſians the Roman Corps decayed in few dayes, while the Perſian bodies remained dry and uncorrupted. Bodies in the ſame ground do not uniformly diſſolve, nor bones equally moulder; whereof in the opprobrious diſeaſe we expect no long duration. The body of the Marqueſſe of Dorſet ſeemed ſound and handſomely cereclothed, that after ſeventy eight years was found uncorrupted ^[98]. Common Tombs preſerve not beyond powder: A firmer conſiſtence and compage of parts might be expected from Arefaction, deep buriall or charcoal. The greateſt Antiquities of mortall bodies may remain in putrified bones, whereof, though we take not in the pillar of Lots wife, or Metamorphoſis of Ortelius ^[99], ſome may be older then Pyramids, in the putrified Reliques of the generall inundation. When Alexander opened the Tomb of Cyrus, the remaining bones diſcovered his proportion, whereof urnall fragments afford but a bad conjecture, and have this diſadvantage of grave [•]nterrments, that they leave us ignorant of moſt perſonall diſcoveries. For ſince bones afford not only rectitude and ſtability, but figure unto the body; It is no impoſſible Phyſiognomy to conjecture at fleſhy appendencies; and after what ſhape the muſcles and carnous parts might hang in their full conſiſtences. A full-ſpread Cariola ſhews a well-ſhaped horſe behinde, handſome formed ſculls, give ſome analogie of fleſhy reſemblance. A criticall view of bones makes a good diſtinction of ſexes. Even colour is not beyond conjecture; ſince it is hard to be deceived in the diſtinction of Negro's ſculls. ^[100] Dantes Characters are to be found in ſculls as well as faces. Hercules is not onely known by his foot. Other parts make out their comproportious, and inferences upon whole or parts. And ſince the dimenſions of the head meaſure the whole body, and the ſigure thereof gives conjecture of the principall faculties; Phyſiognomy outlives our ſelves, and ends not in our graves.

Severe contemplators obſerving theſe laſting reliques, may think them good monuments of perſons paſt, little advantage to future beings. And conſidering that power which ſubdueth all things unto it ſelf, that can reſume the ſcattered Atomes, or identifie out of any thing, conceive it ſuperfluous to expect a reſurrection out of Reliques. But the ſoul ſubſiſting, other matter clothed with due accidents, may ſalve the individuality: Yet the Saints we obſerve aroſe from graves and monuments, about the holy City. Some think the ancient Patriarchs ſo earneſtly deſired to lay their bones in Canaan, as hoping to make a part of that Reſurrection, and though thirty miles from Mount Calvary, at leaſt to lie in that Region, which ſhould produce the firſt-fruits of the dead. And if according to learned conjecture, the bodies of men ſhall riſe where their greateſt Reliques remain, many are not like to erre in the Topography of their Reſurrection ^[101] though their bones or bodies be after tranſlated by Angels into the field of Ezechiels viſion, or as ſome will order it, into the Valley of Judgement, or Jehoſaphat.

CHAP. IV.

CHriſtians have handſomely gloſſed the deformity of death, by careful conſideration of the body, and civil rites which take of brutall terminations. And though they conceived all reparable by a reſurrection, caſt not off all care of enterrment. And ſince the aſhes of Sacrifices burnt upon the Altar of God, were carefully carried out by the Prieſts, and depoſed in a clean field; ſince they acknowledged their bodies to be the lodging of Chriſt, and temples of the holy Ghoſt, they devolved not all upon the ſufficiency of ſoul exiſtence; and therefore with long ſervices and full ſolemnities concluded their laſt Exequies, wherein ^[102] to all diſtinctions the Greek devotion ſeems moſt pathetically ceremonious.

Chriſtian invention hath chiefly driven at Rites, which ſpeak hopes of another life, and hints of a Reſurrection. And if the ancient Gentiles held not the immortality of their better part, and ſome ſubſiſtence after death; in ſeverall rites, cuſtomes, actions and expreſſions, they contradicted their own opinions: wherein Democritus went high, even to the thought of a reſurrection ^[103], as ſcoffingly recorded by Pliny. What can be more expreſſe than the expreſſion of Phocyllides ^[104]? Or who would expect from Lucretius ^[105] a ſentence of Eccleſiaſtes? Before Plato could ſpeak, the ſoul had wings in Homer, which fell not, but flew out of the body into the manſions of the dead; who alſo obſerved that handſome diſtinction of Demas and Soma, for the body conjoyned to the ſoul and body ſeparated from it. Lucian ſpoke much truth in jeſt, when he ſaid, that part of Hercules which proceeded from Alchmena periſhed, that from Jupiter remained immortall. Thus ^[106] Socrates was content that his friends ſhould bury his body, ſo they would not think they buried Socrates, and regarding only his immortall part, was indifferent to be burnt or buried. From ſuch Conſiderations Diogenes might contemn Sepulture. And being ſatisfied that the ſoul could not periſh, grow careleſſe of corporall enterrment. The Stoicks who thought the ſouls of wiſe men had their habitation about the moon, might make ſlight account of ſubterraneous depoſition; whereas the Pythagorians and tranſcorporating Philoſophers, who were to be often buried, held great care of their enterrment. And the Platonicks rejected not a due care of the grave, though they put their aſhes to unreaſonable expectations, in their tedious term of return and long ſet revolution.

Men have loſt their reaſon in nothing ſo much as their religion, wherein ſtones and clouts make Martyrs; and ſince the religion of one ſeems madneſſe unto another, to afford an account or rationall of old Rites, requires no rigid Reader; That they kindled the pyre averſly, or turning their face from it, was an handſome Symbole of unwilling miniſtration; That they waſhed their bones with wine and milk, that the mother wrapt them in Linnen, and dryed them in her boſome, the firſt foſtering part, and place of their nouriſhment; That they opened their eyes towards heaven, before they kindled the fire, as the place of their hopes or originall, were no improper Ceremonies. Their laſt valediction ^[107] thrice uttered by the attendants was alſo very ſolemn, and ſomewhat anſwered by Chriſtians, who thought it too little, if they threw not the earth thrice upon the enterred body. That in ſtrewing their Tombs the Romans affected the Roſe, the Greeks Amaranthus and myrtle; that the Funerall pyre conſiſted of ſweet fuell, Cypreſſe, Firre, Larix, Yewe, and Trees perpetually verdant, lay ſilent expreſſions of their ſurviving hopes: Wherein Chriſtians which deck their Coffins with Bays have found a more elegant Embleme. For that he ſeeming dead, will reſtore it ſelf from the root, and its dry and exuccous leaves reſume their verdure again; which if we miſtake not, we have alſo obſerved in fures. Whether the planting of yewe in Churchyards, hold not its originall from ancient Funerall rites, or as an Embleme of Reſurrection from its perpetual verdure, may alſo admit conjecture.

They made uſe of Muſick to excite or quiet the affections of their friends, according to different harmonies. But the ſecret and ſymbolicall hint was the harmonical nature of the ſoul; which delivered from the body, went again to enjoy the primitive harmony of heaven, from whence it firſt deſcended; which according to its progreſſe traced by antiquity, came down by Cancer, and aſcended by Capricornus.

They burnt not children before their teeth appeared, as apprehending their bodies too tender a morſell for fire, and that their griſtly bones would ſcarce leave ſeparable reliques after the pyrall combuſtion. That they kindled not fire in their houſes for ſome dayes after, was a ſtrict memoriall of the late afflicting fire. And mourning without hope, they had an happy fraud againſt exceſſive lamentation, by a common opinion that deep forrows diſturbed their ghoſts ^[108].

That they buried their dead on their backs, or in a ſupine poſition, ſeems agreeable unto profound ſleep, and common poſture of dying; contrary to the moſt naturall way of birth; Nor unlike our pendulous poſture, in the doubtfull ſtate of the womb. Diogenes was ſingular, who preferred a prone ſituation in the grave, and ſome Chriſtians ^[109] like neither, who decline the figure of reſt, and make choice of an erect poſture.

That they carried them out of the world with their feet forward, not inconſonant unto reaſon: As contrary unto the native poſture of man, and his production firſt into it. And alſo agreeable unto their opinions, while they bid adieu unto the world, not to look again upon it; whereas Mahometans who think to return to a delightfull life again, are carried forth with their heads forward, and looking toward their houſes.

They cloſed their eyes as parts which firſt die or firſt diſcover the ſad effects of death. But their iterated clamations to excitate their dying or dead friends, or revoke them unto life again, was a vanity of affection; as not preſumably ignorant of the criticall teſts of death, by appoſition of feathers, glaſſes, and reflexion of figures, which dead eyes repreſent not; which however not ſtrictly verifiable in freſh and warm cadavers, could hardly elude the teſt, in corps of four or five dayes.

That they ſuck'd in the laſt breath of their expiring friends, was ſurely a practice of no medicall inſtitution, but a looſe opinion that the ſoul paſſed out that way, and a fondneſſe of affection from ſome ^[110] Pythagoricall foundation, that the ſpirit of one body paſſed into another; which they wiſhed might be their own.

That they powred oyle upon the pyre, was a tolerable practiſe, while the intention reſted in facilitating the accenſion; But to place good Omens in the quick and ſpeedy burning, to ſacrifice unto the windes for a diſpatch in this office, was a low form of ſuperſtition.

The Archimime▪ or Jester attending the Funerall train, and imitating the ſpeeches, geſture, and manners of the deceaſed, was too light for ſuch ſolemnities, contradicting their Funerall Orations, and dolefull rites of the grave.

That they buried a peece of money with them as a Fee of the Elyſian Ferriman, was a practiſe full of folly. But the ancient cuſtome of placing coynes in conſiderable Urnes, and the preſent practiſe of burying medals in the Noble Foundations of Europe, are laudable wayes of hiſtoricall diſcoveries, in actions, perſons, Chronologies; and poſterity will applaud them.

We examine not the old Laws of Sepulture, exempting certain perſons from buriall or burning. But hereby we apprehend that theſe were not the bones of perſons Planet-ſtruck or burnt with fire from Heaven: No Reliques of Traitors to their Countrey, Self-killers, or Sacrilegious Malefactors; Perſons in old apprehenſion unworthy of the earth; condemned unto the Tartara's of Hell, and bottomleſſe pit of Plato, from whence there was no redemption.

Nor were only many cuſtomes queſtionable in order to their Obſequies, but alſo ſundry practiſes, fictions, and conceptions, diſcordant or obſcure, of their ſtate and future beings; whether unto eight or ten bodies of men to adde one of a woman, as being more inflammable, and unctuouſly conſtituted for the better pyrall combuſtion, were any rationall practiſe: Or whether the complaint of Perianders Wife be tolerable, that wanting her Funerall burning ſhe ſuffered intolerable cold in Hell, according to the conſtitution of the infernall houſe of Plato, wherein cold makes a great part of their tortures; it cannot paſſe without ſome queſtion.

Why the Female Ghoſts appear unto Ʋlyſses, before the Heroes and maſculine ſpirits? Why the Pſyche or ſoul of Tireſias is of the maſculine gender; who being blinde on earth ſees more then all the reſt in hell; Why the Funerall Suppers conſiſted of Egges, Beans, Smallage, and Lettuce, ſince the dead are made to eat Aſphodels about the Elyzian medows? Why ſince there is no Sacrifice acceptable, nor any propitiation for the Covenant of the grave; men ſet up the Deity of Morta, and fruitleſly adored Divinities without ears? it cannot eſcape ſome doubt.

The dead ſeem all alive in the humane Hades of Homer, yet cannot well ſpeak, propheſie, or know the living, except they drink bloud, wherein is the life of man. And therefore the ſouls of Penelope's Paramours conducted by Mercury chirped like bats, and thoſe which followed Hercules made a noiſe but like a flock of birds.

The departed ſpirits know things paſt and to come, yet are ignorant of things preſent, Agamemnon foretels what ſhould happen unto Ʋlyſſes, yet ignorantly enquires what is become of his own Son. The Ghoſts are afraid of ſwords in Homer, yet Sybilla tels Aeneas in Virgil, the thin habit of ſpirits was beyond the force of weapons. The ſpirits put off their malice with their bodies, and Caeſar and Pompey accord in Latine Hell, yet Ajax in Homer endures not a conference with Ʋlyſſes: And Deiphobus appears all mangled in Virgils Ghoſts, yet we meet with perfect ſhadows among the wounded ghoſts of Homer.

Since Charon in Lucian applauds his condition among the dead, whether it be handſomely ſaid of Achilles, that living contemner of death, that he had rather be a Plowmans ſervant then Emperour of the dead? How Hercules his ſoul is in hell, and yet in heaven, and Julius his ſoul in a Starre, yet ſeen by Aeneas in hell, except the Ghoſts were but Images and ſhadows of the ſoul, received in higher manſions, according to the ancient diviſion of body, ſoul, and image or ſimulachrum of them both. The particulars of future beings muſt needs be dark unto ancient Theories, which Chriſtian Philoſophy yet determines but in a Cloud of opinions. A Dialogue between two Infants in the womb concerning the ſtate of this world, might handſomely illuſtrate our ignorance of the next, whereof methinks we yet diſcourſe in Platoes denne, and are but Embryon Philoſophers.

Pythagoras eſcapes in the fabulous hell of Dante ^[111], among that ſwarm of Philoſophers, wherein whileſt we meet with Plato and Socrates, Cato is to be found in no lower place then Purgatory. Among all the ſet, Epicurus is moſt conſiderable, whom men make honeſt without an Elyzium, who contemned life without encouragement of immortality, and making nothing after death, yet made nothing of the King of terrours.

Were the happineſſe of the next world as cloſely apprehended as the felicities of this, it were a martyrdome to live; and unto ſuch as conſider none hereafter, it muſt be more then death to dye, which makes us amazed at thoſe audacities, that durſt be nothing, and return into their Chaos again. Certainly ſuch ſpirits as could contemn death, when they expected no better being after, would have ſcorned to live had they known any. And therefore we applaud not the judgment of Machiavel, that Chriſtianity makes men cowards, or that with the confidence of but half dying, the deſpiſed virtues of patience and humility, have abaſed the ſpirits of men, which Pagan principles exalted, but rather regulated the wildeneſſe of audacities, in the attempts, grounds, and eternall ſequels of death; wherein men of the boldeſt ſpirits are often prodigiouſly temetarious. Nor can we extenuate the valour of ancient Martyrs, who contemned death in the uncomfortable ſcene of their lives, and in their decrepit Martyrdomes did probably loſe not many moneths of their dayes, or parted with life when it was ſcarce worth the living. For (beſide that long time paſt holds no conſideration unto a ſlender time to come) they had no ſmall diſadvantage from the conſtitution of old age, which naturally makes men fearfull; And complexionally ſuperannuaated from the bold and couragious thoughts of youth and fervent years. But the contempt of death from corporall animoſity, promoteth not our felicity. They may ſet in the Orcheſtra, and nobleſt Seats of Heaven, who have held up ſhaking hands in the fire, and humanely contended for glory.

Mean while Epicuras lyes deep in Dante's hell, wherein we meet with Tombs encloſing ſouls which denied their immortalities. But whether the virtuous heathen, who lived better then he ſpake, or erring in the principles of himſelf, yet lived above Philoſophers of more ſpecious Maximes, lye ſo deep as he is placed; at leaſt ſo low as not to riſe againſt Chriſtians, who beleeving or knowing that truth, have laſtingly denied it in their practiſe and converſation, were a quaery too ſad to inſiſt on,

But all or moſt apprehenſions reſted in Opinions of ſome future being, which ignorantly or coldly beleeved, begat thoſe perverted conceptions, Ceremonies, Sayings, which Chriſtians pity or laugh at. Happy are they, which live not in that diſadvantage of time, when men could ſay little for futurity, but from reaſon. Whereby the nobleſt mindes fell often upon doubtfull deaths, and melancholly Diſſolutions; With theſe hopes Socrates warmed his doubtfull ſpirits, againſt that cold potion, and Cato before he durſt give the fatall ſtroak ſpent part of the night in reading the immortality of Plato, thereby confirming his wavering hand unto the animoſity of that attempt.

It is the heavieſt ſtone that melancholy can throw at a man, to tell him he is at the end of his nature; or that there is no further ſtate to come, unto which this ſeemes progreſſionall, and otherwiſe made in vaine; Without this accompliſhment the naturall expectation and deſire of ſuch a ſtate, were but a fallacy in nature, unſatisfied Conſiderators; would quarrell the juſtice of their conſtitutions, and reſt content that Adam had fallen lower, whereby by knowing no other Originall, and deeper ignorance of themſelves, they might have enjoyed the happineſſe of inferionr Creatures; who in tranquility poſſeſſe their Conſtitutions, as having not the apprehenſion to deplore their own natures. And being framed below the circumference of theſe hopes, or cognition of better being, the wiſedom of God hath neceſſitated their Contentment: But the ſuperiour ingredient and obſcured part of our ſelves, whereto all preſent felicities afford no reſting contentment, will be able at laſt to tell us we are more then our preſent ſelves; and evacuate ſuch hopes in the fruition of their own accompliſhments.

CHAP. V.

NOw ſince theſe dead bones have already out-laſted the living ones of Methuſelah, and in a yard under ground, and thin walls of clay, out-worn all the ſtrong and ſpecious buildings above it; and quietly reſted under the drums and tramplings of three conqueſts; What Prince can promiſe ſuch diuturnity unto his Reliques, or might not gladly ſay,

^[112] Sic ego componi verſus in oſſa velim.

Time which antiquates Antiquities, and hath an art to make duſt of all things, hath yet ſpared theſe minor Monuments. In vain we hope to be known by open and viſible conſervatories, when to be unknown was the means of their continuation and obſcurity their protection: If they dyed by violent hands, and were thruſt into their Urnes, theſe bone[•] become conſiderable, and ſome old Philoſophers would honour ^[113] them, whoſe ſouls they conceived moſt pure, which were thus ſnatched from their bodies; and to retain a ſtranger propenſion unto them: whereas they weariedly left a languiſhing corps, and with faint deſires of re-union. If they fell by long and aged decay, yet wrapt up in the bundle of time, they fall into indiſtinction, and make but one blot with Infants. If we begin to die when we live, and long life be but a prolongation of death; our life is a ſad compoſition; We live with death, and die not in a moment. How many pulſes made up the life of Methuſelah, were work for Archimedes: Common Counters ſumme up the life of Moſes his man ^[114]. Our dayes become conſiderable like petty ſums by minute accumulations; where numerous fractions make up but ſmall round numbers; and our dayes of a ſpan long make not one little finger ^[115].

If the nearneſſe of our laſt neceſſity, brought a nearer conformity unto it, there were a happineſſe in hoary hairs, and no calamity in half ſenſes. But the long habit of living indiſpoſeth us for dying; When Avarice makes us the ſport of death; When even David grew politickly cruell; and Solomon could hardly be ſaid to be the wiſeſt of men. But many are too early old, and before the date of age. Adverſity ſtretcheth our dayes, miſery makes ^[116] Alcmenas nights, and time hath no wings unto it. But the moſt tedious being is that which can unwiſh it ſelf, content to be nothing, or never to have been, which was beyond the male-content of J[•]b, who curſed not the day of his life, but his Nativity: Content to have ſo farre been, as to have a Title to future being; Although he had lived here but in an hidden ſtate of life, and as it were an abortion.

What Song the Syrens ſang, or what name Achilles aſſumed when he hid himſelf among women, though puzling ^[117] Queſtions are not beyond all conjecture. What time the perſons of theſe Oſſuaries entred the famous Nations of the dead, and ſlept with Princes and Counſellours, might admit a wide ſolution. But who were the proprietaries of theſe bones, or what bodies theſe aſhes made up, were a queſtion above Antiquariſm. Not to be reſolved by man, nor eaſily perhaps by ſpirits, except we conſult the Provinciall Guardians, or tutellary Obſervators. Had they made as good proviſion for their names, as they have done for their Reliques, they had not ſo groſly erred in the art of perpetuation. But to ſubſiſt in bones, and be but Pyramidally extant, is a fallacy in duration. Vain aſhes, which in the oblivion of names, perſons, times, and ſexes, have found unto themſelves, a fruitleſſe continuation, and only ariſe unto late poſterity, as Emblemes of mortall vanities; Antidotes againſt pride, vain-glory, and madding vices. Pagan vain-glories which thought the world might laſt for ever, had encouragement for ambition, and finding no Atropos unto the immortality of their Names, were never dampt with the neceſſity of oblivion. Even old ambitions had the advantage of ours, in the attempts of their vain-glories, who acting early, and before the probable Meridian of time, have by this time found great accompliſhment of their ddſignes, whereby the ancient Heroes have already out-laſted their Monuments, and Mechanicall preſervations. But in this latter Scene of time we cannot expect ſuch Mummies unto our memories, when ambition may fear the Prophecy of Elias ^[118], and Charles the fifth can never hope to live within two Methuſela's of Hector ^[119].

And therefore reſtleſſe inquietude for the diuturnity of our memories unto preſent conſiderations, ſeems a vanity almoſt out of date, and ſuperanuated peece of folly. We cannot hope to live ſo long in our names, as ſome have done in their perſons, one face of Janus holds no proportion unto the other. 'Tis too late to be ambitious. The great mutations of the world are acted, or time may be too ſhort for our deſignes. To extend our memories by Monuments, whoſe death we dayly pray for, and whoſe duration we cannot hope, without injury to our expectations, in the advent of the laſt day, were a contradiction to our beliefs. We whoſe generations are ordained in this ſetting part of time, are providentially taken off from ſuch imaginations. bAnd eing neceſſitated to eye the remaining particle of futurity, are naturally conſtituted unto thoughts of the next world, and cannot excuſably decline the conſideration of that duration, which maketh Pyramids pillars of ſnow, and all that's paſt a moment.

Circles and right lines limit and cloſe all bodies, and the mortall right-lined circle ^[120], muſt conclude and ſhut up all. There is no antidote againſt the Opium of time, which temporally conſidereth all things; Our Fathers finde their graves in our ſhort memories, and ſadly tell us how we may be buried in our Survivors. Grave-ſtones tell truth ſcarce fourty years ^[121]: Generations paſſe while ſome trees ſtand, and old Families laſt not three Oaks. To be read by bare Inſcriptions like many in Gruter ^[122], to hope for Eternity by Aenigmaticall Epithetes, or firſt letters of our names, to be ſtudied by Antiquaries, who we were, and have new Names given us like many of the Mummies, are cold conſolations unto the Students of perpetuity, even by everlaſting Languages.

To be content that times to come ſhould only know there was ſuch a man, not caring whether they knew more of him, was a frigid ambition in Cardan ^[123]: diſparaging his horoſcopal inclination and judgement of himſelf, who cares to ſubſiſt like Hippocrates Patients, or Achilles horſes in Homer, under naked nominations, without deſerts and noble acts, which are the balſame of our memories, the Entelechia and ſoul of our ſubſiſtences. To be nameleſſe in worthy deeds exceeds an infamous hiſtory. The Canaanitiſh woman lives more happily without a name, then Herodias with one. And who had not rather have been the good theef, then Pilate?

But the iniquity of oblivion blindely ſcattereth her poppy, and deals with the memory of men without diſtinction to merit of perpetuity, Who can but pity the founder of the Pyramids? Heroſtratus lives that burnt the Temple of Diana, he is almoſt loſt that built it; Time hath ſpared the Epitaph of Adrians horſe, confounded that of himſelf. In vain we compute our felicities by the advantage of our good names, ſince bad have equall durations; and Therſites is like to live as long as Agamemnon, without [•]he favour of the everlaſting Regiſter: Who knows whether the beſt of men be known? or whether there be not more remarkable perſons forgot, then any that ſtand remembred in the known account of time? the firſt man had been as unknown as the laſt, and Methuſelahs long life had been his only Chronicle.

Oblivion is not to be hired: The greater part muſt be content to be as though they had not been, to be found in the Regiſter of God, not in the record of man. Twenty ſeven Names make up the firſt ſtory, and the recorded names ever ſince contain not one living Century. The number of the dead long exceedeth all that ſhall live. The night of time far ſurpaſſeth the day, and who knows when was the Aequi[•]ox? Euery houre addes unto that current Arithmetique, which ſcarce ſtands one moment. And ſince death muſt be the Lucina of liſe, and even Pagans could doubt whether thus to live, were to dye. Since our longeſt Sunne ſets at right deſcenſions, and makes but winter arches, and therefore it cannot be long before we lie down in darkneſſe, and have our light in aſhes. Since the brother of death daily haunts us with dying memento's, and time that grows old it ſelf, bids us hope no long duration: Diuturnity is a drean and folly of expectation.

Darkneſſe and light divide the courſe of time, and oblivion ſhares with memory, a great part even of our living beings; we ſlightly remember our felicities, and the ſmarteſt ſtroaks of affliction leave but ſhort ſmart upon us. Senſe endureth no extremities, and ſorrows deſtroy us or themſelves. To weep into ſtones are fables. Afflictions induce calloſities, miſeries are ſlippery, or fall like ſnow upon us, which notwithſtanding is no unhappy ſtupidity. To be ignorant of evils to come, and forgetfull of evils paſt, is a mercifull proviſion in nature, whereby we digeſt the mixture of our few and evil dayes, and our delivered ſenſes not relapſing into cutting remembrances, our ſorrows are not kept raw by the edge of repetitions. A great part of Antiquity contented their hopes of ſubſiſtency with a tranſmigration of their ſouls. A good way to continue their memories, while having the advantage of plurall ſucceſſions, they could not but act ſomething remarkable in ſuch variety of beings, and enjoying the fame of their paſſed ſelves, make accumulation of glory unto their laſt durations. Others rather then be loſt in the uncomfortable night of nothing, were content to recede into the common being, and make one particle of the publick ſoul of all things, which was no more then to return into their unknown and divine Originall again. Aegyptian ingenuity was more unſatisfied, contriving their bodies in ſweet conſiſtences, to attend the return of their ſouls. But all was vanity, feeding ^[124] the winde, and folly. The Aegyptian Mummies, which Cambyſes or time hath ſpared, avarice now conſumeth. Mummie is become Merchandiſe, Mizraim cures wounds, and Pharaoh is ſold for balſoms.

In vain do individuals hope for Immortality, or any patent from oblivion, in preſervations below the Moon: Men have been deceived even in their flatteries above the Sun, and ſtudied conceits to perpetuate their names in heaven. The various Coſmography of that part hath already varied the names of contrived conſtellations; Nimrod is loſt in Orion, and Oſyris in the Dogge-ſtarre. While we look for incorruption in the heavens, we finde they are but like the Earth; Durable in their main bodies, alterable in their parts: whereof beſide Comets and new Stars, perſpectives begin to tell tales. And the ſpots that wander about the Sun, with Phaetons favour, would make clear conviction.

There is nothing ſtrictly immortall, but immortality; whatever hath no beginning may be confident of no end. All others have a dependent being, and within the reach of deſtruction, which is the peculiar of that neceſſary eſſence that cannot deſtroy it ſelf; And the higheſt ſtrain of omnipotency to be ſo powerfully conſtituted, as not to ſuffer even from the power of it ſelf. But the ſufficiency of Chriſtian Immortality fruſtrates all earthly glory, and the quality of either ſtate after death, makes a folly of poſthumous memory. God who can only deſtroy our ſouls, and hath aſſured our reſurrection, either of our bodies or names hath directly promiſed no duration. Wherein there is ſo much of chance that the boldeſt Expectants have found unhappy fruſtration; and to hold long ſubſiſtence, ſeems but a ſcape in oblivion. But man is a Noble Animal, ſplendid in aſhes, and pompous in the grave, ſolemnizing Nativities and Deaths with equall luſtre, nor omitting Ceremonies of bravery, in the infamy of his nature.

Life is a pure flame, and we live by an inviſible Sun within us. A ſmall fire ſufficeth for life, great flames ſeemed too little after death, while men vainly affected precious pyres, and to burn like Sardanapalus, but the wiſedom of funerall Laws found the folly of prodigall blazes, and reduced undoing fires, unto the rule of ſober obſequies, wherein few could be ſo mean as not to provide wood, pitch, a mourner, and an Urne.

Five Languages ſecured not the Epitaph of Gordianus; The man of God lives longer without a Tomb then any by one, inviſibly interred by Angels, and adjudged to obſcurity, though not without ſome marks directing humane diſcovery. Enoch and Elias without either tomb or buriall, in an anomalous ſtate of being, are the great Examples of perpetuity, in their long and living memory, in ſtrict account being ſtill on this ſide death, and having a late part yet to act upon this ſtaye of earth. If in the decretory term of the world we ſhall not all dye but be changed, according to received tranſlation; the laſt day will make but few graves; at leaſt quick Reſurrections will anticipate laſting Sepultures; Some Graves will be opened before they be quite cloſed, and Lazarus be no wonder. When many that feared to dye ſhall groane that they can dye but once, the diſmall ſtate is the ſecond and living death, when life puts deſpair on the damned; when men ſhall wiſh the coverings of Mountaines, not of Monuments, and annihilation ſhall be courted.

While ſome have ſtudied Monuments, others have ſtudiouſly declined them: and ſome have been ſo vainly boiſterous, that they durſt not acknowledge their Graves; wherein ^[125] Alaricus ſeems moſt ſubtle, who had a River turned to hide his bones at the bottome. Even Sylla that thought himſelf ſafe in his Urne, could not prevent revenging tongues, and ſtones thrown at his Monument. Happy are they whom privacy makes innocent, who deal ſo with men in this world, that they are not afraid to meet them in the next, who when they dye, make no commotion among the dead, and are not toucht with that poeticall taunt of Iſaiah ^[126].

Pyramids, Arches, Obelisks, were but the irregularities of vain-glory, and wilde enormities of ancient magnanimity. But the moſt magnanimous reſolution reſts in the Chriſtian Religion, which trampleth upon pride, and ſets on the neck of ambition, humbly purſuing that infallible perpetuity, unto which all others muſt diminiſh their diameters, and be poorly ſeen in Angles of contingency ^[127].

Pious ſpirits who paſſed their dayes in raptures of futurity, made little more of this world, then the world that was before it, while they lay obſcure in the Chaos of pre-ordination, and night of their fore-beings. And if any have been ſo happy as truly to underſtand Chriſtian annihilation, extaſis, exolution, liquefaction, transformation, the kiſſe of the Spouſe, guſtation of God, and ingreſſion into the divine ſhadow, they have already had an handſome anticipation of heaven; the glory of the world is ſurely over, and the earth in aſhes unto them.

To ſubſiſt in laſting Monuments, to live in their productions, to exiſt in their names, and praedicament of Chymera's, was large ſatisfaction unto old expectations, and made one part of their Elyziums. But all this is nothing in the Metaphyſicks of true belief. To live indeed is to be again our ſelves, which being not only an hope but an evidence in noble beleevers; 'Tis all one to lye in St Innocents ^[128] Church-yard, as in the Sands of Aegypt: Ready to be any thing, in the extaſie of being ever, and as content with ſix foot as the Moles of Adrianus ^[129].

Lucan

—Tabesne cadaveraſolvats

An rogus hand refert.—

THE GARDEN OF CYRƲS. OR, The Quincunciall, Lozenge, or Net-work Plantations of the Ancients, Artificially Naturally, Myſtically Conſidered.

BY Thomas Brown D. of Phyſick

Printed in the Year, 1658.

The Garden of Cyrus. OR, The Quincunciall, Lozenge, or Net-work Plantations of the Ancients, Artificially, Naturally, Myſtically conſidered.

CHAPTER I.

THat Vulcan gave arrows unto Apollo and Diana the fourth day after their Nativities, according to Gentile Theology, may paſſe for no blinde apprehenſion of the Creation of the Sunne and Moon, in the work of the fourth day; When the diffuſed light contracted into Orbes, and ſhooting rayes, of thoſe Luminaries. Plainer Deſcriptions there are from Pagan pens, of the creatures of the fourth day; While the ^[130] divine Philoſopher unhappily omitteth the nobleſt part of the third; And Ovid (whom many conceive to have borrowed his deſcription from Moſes) coldly deſerting the remarkable account of the text, in three words ^[131], deſcribeth this work of the third day; the vegetable creation, and firſt ornamentall Scene of nature; the primitive food of animals, and firſt ſtory of Phyſick, in Dietetical conſervation.

For though Phyſick may pleade high, from that medicall act of God, in caſting ſo deep a ſleep upon our firſt Parent; And Chirurgery ^[132] finde its whole art, in that one paſſage concerning the Rib of Adam, yet is there no rivality with Garden contrivance and Herbery. For if Paradiſe were planted the third day of the Creation, as wiſer Divinity concludeth, the Nativity thereof was too early for Horoſcopie; Gardens were before Gardiners, and but ſome hours after the earth.

Of deeper doubt is its Topography, and locall deſignation, yet being the primitive garden, and without much ^[133] controverſie ſeated in the Eaſt; it is more then probable the firſt curioſity, and cultivation of plants, moſt flouriſhed in thoſe quarters. And ſince the Ark of Noah firſt toucht upon ſome mountains of Armenia, the planting art aroſe again in the Eaſt, and found its revolution not far from the place of its Nativity, about the Plains of thoſe Regions. And if Zoroaſter were either Cham, Chus, or Mizraim, they were early proficients therein, who left (as Pliny delivereth) a work of Agriculture.

However the account of the Penſill or hanging gardens yf Babylon, if made by Semiramis, the third or fourth from Nimrod, is of no ſlender antiquity; which being not framed upon ordinary levell of ground, but raiſed upon pillars, admitting under-paſſages, we cannot accept as the firſt Babylonian Gardens; But a more eminent progreſs and advancement in that art, then any that went before it: Somewhat anſwering or hinting the old Opinion concerning Paradiſe it ſelf, with many conceptions elevated, above the plane of the Earth.

Nebuchodonoſor whom ſome will have to be the famous Syrian King of Diodorus, beautifully repaired that City; and ſo magnificently built his ^[134] hanging gardens; that from ſucceeding Writers he had the honour of the firſt. From whence over-looking Babylon, and all the Region about it, he found no circumſcription to the eye of his ambition, till over-delighted with the bravery of this Paradiſe; in his melancholy metamorphoſis, he found the folly of that delight, and a proper puniſhment, in the contrary habitation, in wilde plantations and wandrings of the fields.

The Perſian Gallants who deſtroyed this Monarchy, maintained their Botanicall bravery. Unto whom we owe the very name of Paradiſe: wherewith we meet not in Scripture before the time of Solomon, and conceived originally Perſian. The word for that diſputed Garden, expreſſing in the Hebrew no more then a Field encloſed, which from the ſame Root is content to derive a garden and a Buckler.

Cyrus the elder brought up in Woods and Mountains, when time and power enabled, purſued the dictate of his education, and brought the treaſures of the field into rule and circum-ſcription. So nobly beautifying the hanging Gardens of Babylon, that he was alſo thought to be the authour thereof.

Ahaſuerus (whom many conceive to have been Artaxerxes Longi-manus) in the ^[135] Countrey and City of Flowers, and in an open Garden, entertained his Princes and people, while Vaſthi more modeſtly treated the Ladies within the Palace thereof.

But if (as ſome opinion) King Ahaſuerus were Artaxerxes Mnemon, that found ^[136] a life and reign anſwerable unto his great memory, out magnified Cyrus was his ſecond Brother: who gave the occaſion of that memorable work, and almoſt miraculous retrait of Xenophon. A perſon of high ſpirit and honour, naturally a King, though fatally prevented by the harmleſſe chance of poſt-geniture: Not only a Lord of Gardens, but a manuall planter thereof: diſpoſing his trees like his armies in regular ordination. So that while old Laertas hath found a name in Homer for pruning hedges, and clearing away thorns and bryars; while King Attalus lives for his poyſonous plantations of Aconites, Henbane, Hellebore, and plants hardly admitted within the walls of Paradiſe; While many of the Ancients do poorly live in the ſingle names of Vegetables; All ſtories do look upon Cyrus, as the ſplendid and regular planter.

According whereto Xenophon deſcribeth his gallant plantation at Sardis, ^[137] thus rendred by Strebaeus. ^[138] Arbores pari intervallo ſitas, [•]ectos ordines, & omnia perpulchrè in Quincuncem directa. Which we ſhall take for granted as heing accordingly rendred by the moſt elegant of the ^[139] Latines; and by no made term, but in uſe before by Varro. That is the rows and orders ſo handſomly diſpoſed; or five trees ſo ſet together, that a regular angularity, and through proſpect, was left on every ſide, Owing this name not only unto the Quintuple number of Trees, but the figure declaring that number. which being doubted at the angle, makes up the Letter χ, that is the Emphaticall decuſſation, or fundamentall figure.

Now though in ſome ancient and modern practice the area or decuſſated plot, might be a perfect ſquare, anſwerable to a Tuſcan Pedeſtall, and the Quinquernio or Cinque-point of a dye; wherein by Diagonall lines the interſection was regular; accomodable unto Plantations of large growing Trees; and we muſt not deny our ſelves the advantage of this order; yet ſhall we chiefly inſiſt upon that of ^[140] Curtius and Porta, in their brief deſcription hereof. Wherein the decuſſis is made within a longilaterall ſquare, with oppoſite angles, acute and obtuſe at the interſection; and ſo upon progreſſion making a Rhombus or Lozenge figuration, which ſeemeth very agreeable unto the Originall figure; Anſwerable whereunto we obſerve the decuſſated characters in many conſulary Coynes, and even in thoſe of Conſtantine and his Sons, which pretend their pattern in the Sky; the crucigerous Enſigne carried this figure, not tranſverly or rectangularly interſected, but in a decuſſation, after the form, of an Andrean or Burgundian croſs, which anſwereth this deſcription.

Where by the way we ſhall decline the old Theme, ſo traced by antiquity of croſſes and crucifixion: Whereof ſome being right, and of one ſingle peece without traverſion or tranſome, do little advantage our ſubject. Nor ſhall we take in the myſticall Tau, or the Croſſe of our bleſſed Saviour, which having in ſome deſcriptions an Empedon or croſſing foot-ſtay, made not one ſingle tranſverſion. And ſince the Learned Lipſius hath made ſome doubt even of the Croſſe of St Andrew, ſince ſome Martyrologicall Hiſtories deliver his death by the generall Name of a croſſe, and Hippolitus will have him ſuffer by the ſword; we ſhould have enough to make out the received Croſſe of that Martyr. Nor ſhall we urge the labarum, and famous Standard of Constantine, or make further uſe thereof, then as the firſt Letters in the Name of our Saviour Chriſt, in uſe among Chriſtians, before the dayes of Conſtantine, to be obſerved in ^[141] Sepulchral Monuments of Martyrs, in the Reign of Adrian, and Antoninus; and to be found in the Antiquities of the Gentiles, before the advent of Chriſt, as in the Medall of King Ptolomy, ſigned with the ſame characters, and might be the beginning of ſome word or name, which Antiquaries have not hit on.

We will not revive the myſterious croſſes of Aegypt, with circles on their heads, in the breaſt of Serapis, and the hands of their Geniall ſpirits, not unlike the character of Venus, and looked on by ancient Chriſtians, with relation unto Chriſt. Since however they firſt began, the Aegyptians thereby expreſſed the proceſſe and motion of the ſpirit of the world, and the diffuſion thereof upon the Celeſtiall and Elementall nature; implyed by a circle and right-lined interſection. A ſecret in their Teleſmes and magicall Characters among them. Though he that conſidereth the ^[142] plain croſſe upon the head of the Owl in the Laterane Obelisk, or the ^[143] croſſe erected upon a picher diffuſing ſtreams of water into two baſins, with ſprinkling branches in them, and all deſcribed upon a two-footed Altar, as in the Hieroglyphicks of the braſen Table of Bembus; will hardly decline all thought of Chriſtian ſignality in them.

We ſhall not call in the Hebrew Tenapha, or ceremony of their Oblations, waved by the Prieſt unto the four quarters of the world, after the form of a croſs; as in the peace-offerings. And if it were clearly made out what is remarkably delivered from the Traditions of the Rabbins, that as the Oyle was powred coronally or circularlly upon the head of Kings, ſo the High-Prieſt was anointed decuſſatively or in the form of a X; though it could not eſcape a typicall thought of Chriſt, from myſticall conſiderators; yet being the conceit is Hebrew, we ſhould rather expect its verification from Analogy in that language, then to confine the ſame unto the unconcerned Letters of Greece, or make it out by the characters of Cadmus or Palamedes.

Of this Quincunciall Ordination the Ancients practiſed much diſcourſed little; and the Moderns have nothing enlarged; which he that more nearly conſidereth, in the form of its ſquare Rhombus, and decuſſation, with the ſeverall commodities, myſteries, paralleliſmes, and reſemblances, both in Art and Nature, ſhall eaſily diſcern the elegancy of this order.

That this was in ſome wayes of practice in diverſe and diſtant Nations, hints or deliveries there are from no ſlender Antiquity. In the hanging Gardens of Babylon, from Abydenus, Euſebius, and others, ^[144] Curtius deſcribeth this Rule of decuſſation. In the memorable Garden of Alcinous anciently conceived an originall phancy, from Paradiſe, mention there is of well contrived order; For ſo hath Didymus and Eustachius expounded the emphatical word. Diomedes deſcribing the Rurall poſſeſſions of his father, gives account in the ſame Language of Trees orderly planted. And Ʋlyſſes being a boy was promiſed by his Father fourty Figge-trees, and fifty ^[145] rows of Vines producing all kinde of grapes.

That the Eaſtern Inhabitants of India, made uſe of ſuch order, even in open Plantations, is deducible from Theophraſtus; who deſcrribing the trees whereof they made their garments, plainly delivereth that they were planted [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] and in ſuch order that at a diſtance men would miſtake them for Vineyards. The ſame ſeems confirmed in Creece from a ſingular expreſſion in ^[146] Ariſtotle concerning the order of Vines, delivered by a military term repreſenting the orders of Souldiers, which alſo confirmeth the antiquity of this form yet uſed in vineall plantations.

That the ſame was uſed in Latine plantations is plainly confirmed from the commending penne of Varro, Quintilian, and handſome Deſcription of ^[147] Virgil.

That the firſt Plantations not long after the Floud were diſpoſed after this manner, the generality and antiquity of this order obſerved in Vineyards, and Wine plantations, affordeth ſome conjecture. And ſince from judicious enquiry, Saturn who divided the world between his three ſtones, who beareth a Sickle in his hand, who taught the plantations of Vines, the ſetting, grafting of trees, and the beſt part of Agriculture, is diſcovered to be Noah, whether this early diſperſed Husbandry in Vineyards, had not its Originall in that Patriarch, is no ſuch Paralogicall doubt.

And if it were clear that this was uſed by Noah after the Floud, I could eaſily beleeve it was in uſe before it; Not willing to fix ſuch ancient inventions no higher originall then Noah; Nor readily conceiving thoſe aged Heroes, whoſe diet was vegetable, and only, or chiefly conſiſted in the fruits of the earth, were much deficient in their ſplendid cultivations; or after the experience of fifteen hundred years, left much for future diſcovery in Botanicall Agriculture. Nor fully perſwaded that Wine was the invention of Noah, that fermented Liquors, which often make themſelves, ſo long eſcaped their Luxury or experience; that the firſt ſinne of the new world was no ſin of the old. That Cain and Abel were the firſt that offered Sacrifice; or becauſe the Scripture is ſilent that Adam or Iſaac offered none at all.

Whether Abraham brought up in the firſt planting Countrey, obſerved not ſome rule hereof, when he planted a grove at Beer-ſheba; or whether at leaſt a like ordination were not in the Garden of Solomon, probability may conteſt. Anſwerably unto the wiſedom of that eminent Botanologer, and orderly diſpoſer of all his other works. Eſpecially ſince this was one peece of Gallantry, wherein he purſued the ſpecious part of felicity, according to his own deſcription. I made me Gardens and Orchards, and planted Trees in them of all kindes of fruit. I made me Pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth ^[148] forth Trees, which was no ordinary plantation, if according to the Targum, or Chaldee Paraphraſe, it contained all kindes of Plants, and ſome fetched as far as India; And the extent thereof were from the wall of Jeruſalem unto the water of Siloah.

And if Jordan were but Jaar Eden, that is, the Riuer of Eden, Geneſar but Ganſar or the Prince of Gardens; and it could be made out, that the Plain of Jordan were watered not comparatively, but cauſally, and becauſe it was the Paradiſe of God, as the Learned ^[149] Abramas hinteth, he was not far from the Prototype and originall of Plantations. And ſince even in Paradiſe it ſelf, the tree of knowledge was placed in the middle of the Garden, whatever was the ambient figure, there wanted not a centre and rule of decuſſation. Whether the groves and ſacred Plantations of Antiquity, were not thus orderly placed, either by quaternio's, or quintuple ordinations, may favourably be doubted. For ſince they were ſo methodicall in the conſtitutions of their temples, as to obſerve the due ſcituation, aſpect, manner, form, and order in Architectonicall relations, whether they were not as diſtinct in their groves and Plantations about them, in form and ſpecies reſpectively unto their Deities, is not without probability of conjecture. And in their groves of the Sunne this was a fit number, by multiplication to denote the dayes of the year; and might Hieroglyphically ſpeak as much, as the myſticall Statua of ^[150] Janus in the Language of his fingers. And ſince they were ſo criticall in the number of his horſes, the ſtrings of his Harp, and rayes about his head, denoting the orbes of heaven, the Seaſons and Moneths of the Yeare; witty Idolatry would hardly be flat in other appropriations.

CHAP. II.

NOt was this only a form of practiſe in Plantations, but found imitation from high Antiquity. in ſundry artificiall contrivances and manuall operations. For to omit the poſition of ſquared ſtones, cuneatim or wedgwiſe in the Walls of Roman and Gothick buildings; and the lithoſtrata or figured pavements of the ancients, which conſiſted not all of ſquare ſtones, but were divided into triquetrous ſegments, honey-combs, and ſexangular figures, according to Vitruvius; The ſquared ſtones and bricks in ancient fabricks, were placed after this order. And two above or below conjoyned by a middle ſtone or Plinthus, obſervable in the ruines of Forum Nervae, the Mauſoleum of Auguſtus, the Pyramid of Ceſtius, and the ſculpture draughts of the larger Pyramids of Aegypt. And therefore in the draughts of eminent fabricks, Painters do commonly imitate this order in the lines of their deſcription.

In the Laureat draughts of ſculpture and picture, the leaves and foliate works are commonly thus contrived, which is but in imitation of the Pulvinaria, and ancient pillow-work, obſervable in Ionick peeces, about columns, temples and altars. To omit many other analogies, in Architectonicall draughts, which art it ſelf is founded upon ^[151] fives, as having its ſubject, and moſt gracefull peeces divided by this number.

The Triumphal Oval, and Civicall Crowns of Laurel, Oake, and Myrtle, when fully made, were pleated after this order. And to omit the croſſed Crowns of Chriſtian Princes; what figure that was which Anaſtatius deſcribed upon the head of Leo the third; or who firſt brought in the Arched Crown; That of Charles the great, (which ſeems the firſt remarkably cloſed Crown,) was framed after this ^[152] manner; with an interſection in the middle from the main croſſing barres, and the interſpaces, unto the frontal circle, continued by handſome network-plates, much after this order. Whereon we ſhall not inſiſt, becauſe from greater Antiquity, and practice of conſecration, we meet with the radiated, and ſtarry Crown, upon the head of Auguſtus, and many ſucceeding Emperors. Since the Armenians and Parthians had a peculiar royall Capp; And the Grecians from Alexander another kinde of diadem. And even Diadems themſelves were but faſciations, and handſome ligatures, about the heads of Princes; nor wholly omitted in the mitrall Crown, which common picture ſeems to ſet too upright and forward upon the head of Aaron: Worne ſometimes ſingly, or doubly by Princes, according ^[153] to their Kingdomes; and no more to be expected from two Crowns at once, upon the head of Ptlomy. And ſo eaſily made out when hiſtorians tell us, ſome bound up wounds, ſome hanged themſelves with diadems.

The beds of the antients were corded ſomewhat after this faſhion: That is not directly, as ours at preſent, but obliquely, from ſide to ſide, and after the manner of network; whereby they ſtrengthened the ſpondae or bedſides, and ſpent leſs cord in the work: as is demonſtrated by ^[154] Blancanus.

And as they lay in croſſed beds, ſo they ſat upon ſeeming croſſelegg'd ſeats: in which form the nobleſt thereof were framed: Obſervable in the triumphall ſeats, the ſella curulis, or Aedyle Chayres, in the coyns of Ceſtuis, Sylla, and Julius. That they ſat alſo croſſe legg'd many noble draughts declare; and in this figure the ſitting gods and goddeſſes are drawn in medalls and medallions. And beſide this kinde of work in Retiarie and hanging textures, in embroderies, and eminent needle-works; the like is obvious unto every eve in glaſs-windows. Nor only in Glaſſie contrivances, but alſo in Lattice and Stone-work, conceived in the Temple of Solomon; wherein the windows are termed feneſtrae reticulatae, or lights framed like nets. And agreeable ^[155] unto the Greek expreſſion concerning Chriſt in the ^[156] Canticles, looking through the nets, which ours hath rendered, he looketh forth at the windows, ſhewing himſelfe through the latteſſe; that is, partly ſeen and unſeen, according to the vifible and inviſible ſide of his nature. To omit the noble reticulate work, in the chapters of the pillars of Solomon, with Lillies, and Pomegranats upon a network ground; and the Craticula or grate through which the aſhes fell in the altar of burnt offerings.

That the networks and nets of antiquity were little different in the form from ours at preſent, is confirmable from the nets in the hands of the Retiarie gladiators, the proper combatants with the ſecutores. To omit the ancient Conopeion or gnatnet, of the Aegyptians, the inventors of that Artifice: the ruſhey labyrinths of Theocritus; the noſegaynets, which hung from the head under the noſtrils of Princes; and that uneaſie metaphor of Reticulum Jecoris, which ſome expound the lobe, we the caule above the liver. As for that famous network of Vulcan, which incloſed Mars and Venus, and cauſed that unextinguiſhable laugh ^[157] in heaven; ſince the gods themſelves could not diſcern it, we ſhall not prie into it; Although why Vulcan bound them, Neptune looſed them, and Apollo ſhould firſt diſcover them, might afford no vulgar mythologie. Heralds have not omitted this order or imitation thereof, whiles they Symbollically adorn their Scuchions with Maſcles Fuſils and Saltyrs, and while they diſpoſed the figures of Ermins, and vaired coats in this Quincuncial method.

The ſame is not forgot by Lapidaries while they cut their gemms pyramidally, or by aequicrural triangles. Perſpective pictures, in their Baſe, Horiſon, and lines of diſtances, cannot eſcape theſe Rhomboidall decuſſations. Sculptors in their ſtrongeſt ſhadows, after this order do draw their double Haches. And the very Americans do naturally fall upon it, in their neat and curious textures, which is alſo obſerved in the elegant artifices of Europe. But this is no law unto the woof of the neat Retiarie Spider, which ſeems to weave without tranſverſion, and by the union of right lines to make out a continued ſurface, which is beyond the common art of Textury, and may ſtill nettle Minerva the Goddeſſe ^[158] of that myſtery. And he that ſhall hatch the little ſeeds, either found in ſmall webs, or white round Egges, carried under the bellies of ſome Spiders, and behold how at their firſt production in boxes, they will preſently fill the ſame with their webbs, may obſerve the early, and untaught finger of nature, and how they are natively provided with a ſtock, ſufficient for ſuch Texture.

The Rurall charm againſt Dodder, Tetter, and ſtrangling weeds, was contrived after this order, while they placed a chalked Tile at the four corners, and one in the middle of their fields, which though ridiculous in the intention, was rationall in the contrivance, and a good way to diffuſe the magick through all parts of the Area.

Somewhat after this manner they ordered the little ſtones in the old game of Pentalithiſmus, or caſting up five ſtones to catch them on the back of their hand. And with ſome reſemblance hereof, the Proci or Prodigall Paramours diſpoſed their men, when they played at ^[159] Penelope. For being themſelves an hundred and eight, they ſet fifty four ſtones on either ſide, and one in the middle, which they called Penelope, which he that hit was maſter of the game.

In Cheſſe-boards and Tables we yet finde Pyramids and Squares, I wiſh we had their true and ancient deſcription, farre different from ours, or the Chet mat of the Perſians, and might continue ſome elegant remarkables, as being an invention as High as Hermes the Secretary of Oſyris, figuring the whole world, the motion ^[160] of the Planets, with Eclipſes of Sunne and Moon.

Phyſicians are not without the uſe of this decuſſation in ſeverall operations, in ligatures and union of diſſolved continuities. Mechanicks make uſe hereof in forcipall Organs, and Inſtruments of Inciſion; wherein who can but magnifie the power of decuſſation, inſervient to contrary ends, ſolution and conſolidation, union, and diviſion, illuſtrable from Ariſtotle in the old Nucifragium or Nutcracker, and the Inſtruments of Evulſion, compreſſion or inciſion; which conſiſting of two Vectes or armes, converted towards each other, the innitency and ſtreſſe being made upon the hypomochlion or fulciment in the decuſſation, the greater compreſſion is made by the union of two impulſors.

The Roman ^[161] Batalia was ordered after this manner, whereof as ſufficiently known Virgil hath left but an hint, and obſcure intimation. For thus were the maniples and cohorts of the Haſtati, Principes and Triarii placed in their bodies, wherein conſiſted the ſtrength of the Roman battle. By this Ordination they

readily fell into each other; the Haſtati being preſſed, handſomely retired into the intervalls of the principes, theſe into that of the Triarii, which making as it were a new body, might joyntly renew the battle, wherein conſiſted the ſecret of their ſucceſſes. And therefore it was remarkably ^[162] ſingular in the battle of Africa, that Scipio fearing a rout from the Elephants of the Enemy, left not the Principes in their alternate diſtances, whereby the Elephants paſſing the vacuities of the Haſtati, might have run upon them, but drew his battle into right order, and leaving the paſſages bare, defented the miſchief intended by the Elephants. Out of this figure were made too remarkable forms of Battle, the Cuneus and Forceps, or the ſheare and wedge battles, each made of half a Rhombus, and but differenced by poſition. The wedge invented to break or work into a body, the forceps to environ and defeat the power thereof, compoſed out of the ſelecteſt Souldiery and diſpoſed into the form of an V, wherein receiving the wedge, it incloſed it on both ſides. After this form the famous ^[163] Naſses ordered his battle againſt the Franks, and by this figure the Almans were encloſed, and cut in peeces.

The Rhombus or Lozenge figure ſo viſible in this order, was alſo a remarkable form of battle in the Grecian ^[164] Cavalry, obſerved by the Theſſalians, and Philip King of Macedon, and frequently by the Parthians, As being moſt ready to turn every way, and beſt to be commanded, as having its ductors, or Commanders at each Angle.

The Macedonian Phalanx (a long time thought invincible) conſiſted of a long ſquare. For though they might be ſixteen in Rank and file, yet when they ſhut cloſe, ſo that the fixt pike advanced before the firſt, though the number might be ſquare, the figure was oblong, anſwerable unto the Quincunciall quadrate of Curtius. According to this ſquare Thucydides delivers, the Athenians diſpoſed their battle againſt the Lacedemonians ^[165] brick wiſe, and by the ſame word t[•]e Learned Guellius expoundeth the quad[•]a[•]e of ^[166] Virgil, after the form of a brick or tile.

And as the firſt ſtation and poſition of trees, ſo was the firſt habitation of men, not in round Cities, as of later foundation; For the form of Babylon the firſt City was ſquare, and ſo ſhall alſo be the laſt, according to the deſcription of the holy City in the Apocalyps. The famons pillars of Seth before the floud, had alſo the like foundation, if they were but Antidiluvian Obelisks, and ſuch as Cham and his Aegyptian race, imitated after the Floud.

But Nineveh which Authours acknowledge to have exceeded Babylon, was of a ^[167] longilaterall figure, ninety five Furlongs broad, and an hundred and fifty long, and ſo making about ſixty miles in circuit, which is the meaſure of three dayes journey, according unto military marches, or caſtrenſiall manſions. So that if Jonas entred at the narrower ſide, he found enough for one dayes walk to attain the heart of the City, to make his Proclamation. And if we imagine a City extending from Ware to London, the expreſſion will be moderate of ſix ſcore thouſand Infants, although we allow vacuities, fields, and intervals of habitation, as there needs muſt be when the monument of Ninus took up no leſſe then ten furlongs.

And, though none of the ſeven wonders, yet a noble peece of Autiquity, and made by a Copy exceeding all the reſt, had its principall parts diſpoſed after this manner, that is, the Labyrinth of Crete, built upon a long quadrate, containing five large ſquares, communicating by right inflections, terminating in the centre of the middle ſquare, and lodging of the Minotaur, if we conform unto the deſcription of the elegant medall thereof in ^[168] Agoſtino. And though in many accounts we reckon groſly by the ſquare, yet is that very often to be accepted as a long-ſided quadrate, which was the figure of the Ark of the Covenant, the table of the Shew-bread, and the ſtone wherein the names of the twelve Tribes were engraved, that is, three in a row, naturally making a longilaterall Figure, the perfect quadrate being made by nine.

What figure the ſtones themſelves maintained, tradition and Scripture are ſilent, yet Lapidaries in precious ſtones affect a Table or long ſquare, and in ſuch proportion, that the two laterall, and alſo the three inferiour Tables are equall unto the ſuperiour, and the angles of the laterall Tables, contain and conſtitute the hypothenuſae, or broader ſides ſubtending.

That the Tables of the Law were of this figure, general imitation and tradition hath confirmed; yet are we unwilling to load the ſhoulders of Moſes with ſuch maſſie ſtones, as ſome pictures lay upon them, ſince 'tis plainly delivered that he came down with them in his hand; ſince the word ſtrictly taken implies no ſuch maſſie hewing, but cutting, and faſhioning of them into ſhape and furface; ſince ſome will have them Emeralds, and if they were made of the materials of Mount Sina, not improbable that they were marble: Since the words were not many, the letters ſhort of five hundred, and the Tables written on both ſides required no ſuch capacity.

The beds of the Ancients were different from ours at preſent, which are almoſt ſquare, being framed ob-long, and about a double unto their breadth; not much unlike the area, or bed of this Quincuncial quadrate. The ſingle beds of Greece were ^[169] ſix foot, and a little more in length, three in breadth; the Giantlike bed of Og, which had four cubits of bredth, nine and a half in length, varied not much from this proportion. The Funeral bed of King Cheops, in the greater Pyramid, which holds ſeven in length, and four foot in bredth, had no great difformity from this meaſure; And whatſoever were the bredth, the length could hardly be leſſe, of the tyrannical bed of Procruſtes, ſince in a ſhorter meaſure he had not been fitted with perſons for his cruelty of extenſion. But the old ſepulchral bed, or Amazonian ^[170] Tomb in the market-place of Megara, was in the form of a Lozenge; readily made out by the compoſure of the body. For the arms not lying ſaſciated or wrapt up after the Grecian manner, but in a middle diſtention, the including lines will ſtrictly make out that figure,

CHAP. III.

NOw although this elegant ordination of vegetables, hath found coincidence or imitation in ſundry works of Art, yet is it not alſo deſtitute of naturall examples, and though overlooked by all, was elegantly obſervable, in ſeverall works of nature.

Could we ſatisfie our ſelves in the poſition of the lights above, or diſcover the wiſedom of that order ſo invariably maintained in the fixed Stars of heaven; Could we have any light, why the ſtellary part of the firſt maſſe, ſeparated into this order, that the Girdle of Orion ſhould ever maintain its line, and the two Starres in Charles's Wain never leave pointing at the Pole-Starre, we might abate the Pythagoricall Muſick of the Spheres, the ſevenfold Pipe of Pan; and the ſtrange Cryptography of Gaffarell in his Starrie Booke of Heaven.

But not to look ſo high as Heaven or the ſingle Quincunx of the Hyades upon the neck of Taurus, the Triangle, and remarkable Cruſero about the foot of the Centaur; obſervable rudiments there are hereof in ſubterraneous concretions, and bodies in the Earth; in the Gypſum or Taleum Rhomboides, in the Favaginites or honey-comb-ſtone, in the Aſteria and Astroites, and in the crucigerous ſtone of S. Iago of Gallicia.

The ſame is obſervably effected in the Julus, Cutkins, or pendulous excreſcencies of ſeverall Trees, of Wallnuts, Alders, and Hazels, which hanging all the Winter, and maintaining ^[171] their Net-worke cloſe, by the expanſion thereof are the early foretellers of the Spring, diſcoverable alſo in long Pepper, and elegantly in the Julus of Calamus Aromaticus, ſo plentifully growing with us in the firſt palmes of Willowes, and in the Flowers of Sycamore, Petaſites, Aſphodelus, and Blattaria, before explication. After ſuch order ſtand the flowery Branches in our beſt ſpread Verbaſcum, and the ſeeds about the ſpicous head or torch of Tapſas Barbatus, in as fair a regularity as the circular and wreathed order will admit, which advanceth one ſide of the ſquare, and makes the ſame Rhomboidall.

In the ſquamous heads of Scabious, Knapweed, and the elegant Jacea Pinea, and in the Scaly compoſure of the Oak-Roſe, which ſome years moſt aboundeth. After this order hath Nature planted the Leaves in the Head of the common and prickled Artichoak; wherein the black and ſhining Flies do ſhelter themſelves, when they retire from the purple Flower about it; The ſame is alſo found in the pricks, ſockets, and impreſſions of the ſeeds, in the pulp or bottome thereof; wherein do elegantly ſtick the Fathers of their Mother. To omit the Quincunciall Specks on the top of the Miſcle-berry, eſpecially that which ^[172] grows upon the Tilia or Lime-Tree. And the remarkable diſpoſure of thoſe yellow fringes about the purple Peſtill of Aaron, and elegant cluſters of Dragons, ſo peculiarly ſecured by nature, with an [•]mbrella or skreening Leaf about them.

The Spongy leaves of ſome Seawracks, Fucus, Oaks, in their ſeverall ^[173] kindes, found about the Shoar, with ejectments of the Sea, are over-wrought with Net-work elegantly containing this order, which plainly declareth the naturality of this texture; And how the needle of nature delighteth to work, even in low and doubtful vegetations.

The Arbustetum or Thicket on the head of the Tearell, may be obſerved in this order: And he that conſidereth that fabrick ſo regularly paliſadoed, and ſtemm'd with flowers of the royall colour; in the houſe of the ſolitary maggot, may finde the Seraglio of Solomon. And contemplating the calicular ſhafts, and uncous diſpoſure of their extremities, ſo accommodable unto the office of abſter[•]ion, not condemne as wholly improbable the conceit of thoſe who accept it, for the herbe ^[174] Borith. Where by the way, we could with much inquiry never diſcover any tranſfiguration, in this abſtemious inſect, although we have kept them long in their proper houſes, and boxes. Where ſome wrapt up in their webbs, have lived upon their own bowels, from September unto July.

In ſuch a grove doe walke the little creepers about the head of the burre. And ſuch an order is obſerved in the aculeous prickly plantation, upon the heads of ſeveral common thiſtles, remarkably in the notable paliſados about the flower of the milk-Thiſtle; and he that inquireth into the little bottome of the globe-thiſtle, may finde that gallant buſh ariſe from a ſcalpe of like diſpoſure.

The white umbrella or medicall buſh of Elder, is an Epitome of this order: ariſing from five main ſtemms Quincuncially diſpoſed, and tollerably maintained in their ſubdiviſions. To omit the lower obſervations in the ſeminal ſpike of Mercurie weld, and Plantane.

Thus hath nature ranged the flowers of Santfoyne, and French honey ſuckle; and ſomewhat after this manner hath ordered the buſh in Jupiters beard, or houſeleek; which old ſuperſtition ſet on the tops of houſes, as a defenſative againſt lightening, and thunder. The like in Fenny Seagreen or the water ^[175] Souldier; which, though a militarie name from Greece, makes out the Roman order.

A like ordination there is in the favaginous Sockets, and Lozenge ſeeds of the noble flower of the Sunne. Wherein in Lozenge figured boxes nature ſhuts up the ſeeds, and balſame which is about them,

But the Firre and Pinetree from their fruits doe naturally dictate this poſition. The Rhomboidall protuberances in Pineapples maintaining this Quinouncial order unto each other, and each Rhombus in it ſelfe. Thus are alſo diſpoſed the triangular foliations, in the conicall fruit of the firre tree, orderly ſhadowing and protecting the winged ſeeds below them.

The like ſo often occurreth to the curioſity of obſervers, eſpecially in ſpicated ſeeds and flowers, that we ſhall not need to take in the ſingle Quincunx of Fuchſius in the grouth of the maſle fear[•], the ſeedie diſpoſure of Gramen Iſchemon, and the trunk or neat Reticulate work in the codde of the Sachell palme.

For even in very many round ſtalk plants, the leaves are ſet after a Quintuple ordination, the firſt leaf anſwering the fifth, in lateral diſpoſition. Wherein the leaves ſucceſſively rounding the ſtalke, in foure at the furtheſt the compaſs is abſolved, and the fifth leafe or ſprout, returns to the poſition of the other fift before it; as in accounting upward is often obſervable in in furre pellitorye, Ragweed, the ſproutes of Oaks, and thorns upon pollards, and very remarkably in the regular diſpoſure of the rugged excreſcencies in the yearly ſhoots of the Pine.

But in ſquare ſtalked plants, the leaves ſtand reſpectively unto each other, either in croſſe or decuſſation to thoſe above or below them, ariſing at croſſe poſitions; whereby they ſhadow not each other, and bettter reſiſt the force of winds, which in a parallel ſituation, and upon ſquare ſtalkes would more forcibly bear upon them.

And to omit, how leaves and ſprouts which compaſſe not the ſtalk, are often ſet in a Rhomboides, and making long, and ſhort Diagonals, doe ſtand like the leggs of Quadrupeds when they goe: Nor to urge the thwart encloſure and furdling of flowers, and bloſſomes, before explication, as in the multiplyed leaves of Pionie; And the Chiaſmus in five leaved flowers, while one lies wrapt about the ſtaminous beards, the other foure obliquely ſhutting and cloſing upon each other; and how even flowers which conſiſt of foure leaves, ſtand not ordinarily in three and one, but two, and two croſſe wiſe unto the Stylus; even the Autumnal budds, which awaite the returne of the ſun, doe after the winter ſolſtice multiply their calicular leaves, making little Rhombuſes, and network figures, as in the Sycamore and Lilac.

The like is diſcoverable in the original production of plants, which firſt putting forth two leaves, thoſe which ſucceed, bear not over each other, but ſhoot obliquely or croſſewiſe, untill the ſtalke appeareth; which ſendeth not forth its firſt leaves without all order unto them; and he that from hence can diſcover in what poſition the two firſt leaves did ariſe, is no ordinary obſervator.

Where by the way, he that obſerveth the rudimental ſpring of ſeeds, ſhall finde ſtrict rule, although not after this order. How little is required unto effectual generation, and in what diminutives the plaſtick principle lodgeth, is exemplified in ſeeds, wherein the greater maſs affords ſo little comproduction. In Beanes the leaf and root ſprout from the Germen, the main ſides ſplit, and lye by, and in ſome pull'd up near the time of blooming, we have found the pulpous ſides intire or little waſted. In Acorns the nebb dilating ſplitteth the two ſides, which ſometimes lye whole, when the Oak is ſprouted two handfuls. In Lupins theſe pulpy ſides do ſometimes ariſe with the ſtalk in a reſemblance of two fat leaves. Wheat and Rye will grow up, if after they have ſhot ſome tender Roots, the adhering pulp be taken from them. Beanes will proſper though a part be cut away, and ſo much ſet as ſufficeth to contain and keep the German cloſe. From this ſuperfluous pulp in unkindely, and wet years, may ariſe that multiplicity of little inſects, which infeſt the Roots and Sprouts of tender Graines and pulſes.

In the little nebbe or fructifying principle, the motion is regular, and not tranſvertible, as to make that ever the leaf, which nature intendeth the root; obſervable from their converſion, until they attain their right poſition, if ſeeds be ſet inverſedly.

In vain we expect the production of plants from different parts of the ſeed, from the ſame corculum or little original proceed both germinations; and in the power of this ſlender particle lye many Roots, that though the fame be pull'd away, the generative particle will renew them again, and proceed to a perfect plant; And malt may be obſerved to grow, though the Cummes be fallen from it.

The ſeminall nebbe hath a defined and ſingle place, and not extended unto both extremes. And therefore many too vulgarly conceive that Barley and Oats grow at both ends; For they ariſe from one punctilio or generative nebbe, and the Speare ſliding under the husk, firſt appeareth nigh the toppe. But in Wheat and Rye being bare the ſprouts are ſeen together. If Barley unhulled would grow, both would appear at once. But in this and Oat-meal the nebbe is broken away, which makes them the milder food, and leſſe apt to raiſe fermentation in Decoctions.

Men taking notice of what is outwardly vifible, conceive a ſenſible priority in the Root. But as they begin from one part, ſo they ſeem to ſtart and ſet out upon one fignall of nature. In Beans yet ſoft, in Peaſe while they adhere unto the Cod, the rudimentall Leafe and Root are diſcoverable. In the seeds of Rocket and Muſtard, ſprouting in Glaſſes of water, when the one is manifeſt the other is alſo peeceptible. In muddy waters apt to breed Duckweed, and Periwinkles, if the firſt and rudimentall ſtroaks of Duckweed be obſerved, the Leaves and Root anticipate not each other. But in the Date-ſtone the firſt ſprout is neither root nor leaf diſtinctly, but borh together; For the Germination being to paſſe through the the narrow Navell and hole about the midſt of the ſtone, the generative germ is faine to enlengthen it ſelf, and ſhooting out about an inch, at that diſtance divideth into the aſcending and deſcending portion.

And though it be generally thought that Seeds will root at that end, where they adhere to their Originals, and obſervable it is that the nebbe ſets moſt often next the ſtalk, as in Grains, Pulſes, and moſt ſmall Seeds, yet is it hardly made out in many greater plants. For in Acornes, Almonds, Piſtachios, Wallnuts, and accuminated ſhells, the germ puts forth at the remoteſt part of the pulp. And therefore to ſet Seeds in that poſture, wherein the Leaf and Roots may ſhoot right without contortion, or forced circumvolution, which might render them ſtrongly rooted, and ſtraighter, were a Criticiſme in Agriculture. And nature ſeems to have made ſome proviſion hereof in many from their figure, that as they fall from the tree they may lye in Poſitions agreeable to ſuch advantages.

Beſide the open and viſible Teſticles of plants, the ſeminall pores lie in great part inviſible, while the Sun findes polypody in ſtone-wals, the little ſtinging Nettle, and nightſhade in barren ſandy High-wayes, Scurvy-graſſe in Greeneland, and unknown plants in earth brought from remote Countries, Beſide the known longevity of ſome Trees, what is the moſt laſting herb, or ſeed, ſeems not eaſily determinable. Mandrakes upon known account have lived near an hundred yeares. Seeds found in Wilde-Fowls Gizards have ſprouted in the earth. The Seeds of Marjorane and Stramonium careleſly kept, have grown after ſeven years. Even in Garden-plots long fallow, and digged up, the ſeeds of Blattaria and yellow henbane, and after twelve years burial have produced themſelves again.

That bodies are firſt ſpirits Paracelſus could affirm, which in the maturation of Seeds and fruits, ſeems obſcurely implied by ^[176] Aristotle, when he delivereth, that the ſpirituous parts are converted into water, and the water into earth, and atteſted by obſervation in the maturative progreſſe of Seeds, wherein at firſt may be diſcerned a flatuous diſtenfion of the husk, afterwards a thin liquor, which longer time digeſteth into a pulp or kernell obſervable in Almonds and large Nuts. And ſome way anſwered in the progreſſionall perfection of animall ſemination, in its ſpermaticall maturation, from crude pubeſcency unto perfection. And even that ſeeds themſelves in their rudimentall diſcoveries, appear in foliaceous ſurcles, or ſprouts within their coverings, in a diaphonous gellie, before deeper incr-ſſation, is alſo viſibly verified in Cherries, Acorns, Plums.

From ſeminall confiderations, either in reference unto one mother, or diſtinction from animall production, the holy Scripture deſcribeth the vegetable creation; And while it divideth plants but into Herb and Tree, though it ſeemeth to make but an accidental diviſion, from magnitude, it tacitely containeth the naturall diſtinction of vegetables, obſerved by Herbariſts, and comprehending the four kinds. For ſince the moſt naturall diſtinction is made from the production of leaf or ſtalk, and plants after the two firſt ſeminall leaves, do either proceeed to ſend forth more leaves, or a ſtalk, and the folious and ſtalky emiſſion diſtinguiſheth herbs and trees, and ſtand Authentically differenced, but from the accidents of the ſtalk.

The Aequivocall production of things under undiſcerned principles, makes a large part of generation, though they ſeem to hold a wide univocacy in their ſet and certain Originals, while almoſt every plant breeds its peculiar inſect, moſt a Butterfly, moth or fly, wherein the Oak ſeems to contain the largeſt ſeminality, while the Julus, Oak, apple, dill, woolly tuft, foraminous roundles upon the leaf, and grapes under ground make a Fly with ſome difference. The great variety of Flyes lyes in the variety of their originals, in the ſeeds of Caterpillars or Cankers there lyeth not only a Butterfly or Moth, but if they be ſterill or untimely caſt, their production is often a Fly, which we have alſo obſerved from corrupted and mouldred Egges, both of Hens and Fiſhes; To omit the generation of Bees out of the bodies of dead Heifers, or what is ſtrange yet well atteſted, the production of Eeles in the backs of living Cods and ^[177] Perches.

The exiguity and ſmallneſſe of ſome ſeeds extending to large productions is one of the magnalities of nature, ſomewhat illuſtrating the work of the Creation, and vaſt production from nothing. The true ^[178] ſeeds of Cypreſſe and Rampions are indiſtinguiſhable by old eyes. Of the ſeeds of Tobacco a thouſand make not one grain, Th[•] diſputed ſeeds of Harts tongue, and Maidenhair, require a greater number. From ſuch undiſcernable ſeminalities ariſe ſpontaneous productions. He that would diſcern the rudimentall ſtroak of a plant, may behold it in the Originall of Duckweed, at the bigneſſe of a pins point, from convenient water in glaſſes, wherein a watchſull eye may alſo diſcover the puncticular Originals of Periwincles and Gnats.

That ſeeds of ſome Plants are leſſe then any animals, ſeems of no clear deciſion; That the biggeſt of Vegetables exceedeth the biggeſt of Animals, in full bulk, and all dimenſions, admits exception in the Whale, which in length and above ground meaſure, will alſo contend with tall Oakes. That the richeſt odour of plants, ſurpaſſeth that of Animals, may ſeem of ſome doubt, ſince animall-musk, ſeems to excell the vegetable, and we finde ſo noble a ſcent in the Tulip-Fly, and ^[179] Goat-Beetle.

Now whether ſeminall nebbes hold any ſure proportion unto ſeminall encloſures, why the form of the germe doth not anſwer the figure of the encloſing pulp, why the nebbe is ſeated upon the ſolid, and not the channeld ſide of the ſeed as in grains, why ſince we often meet with two yolks in one ſhell, and ſometimes one Egge within another, we do not oftener meet with two nebbes in one diſtinct ſeed: why ſince the Egges of a Hen laid at one courſe, do commonly out-weigh the bird, and ſome moths coming out of their caſes, without aſſiſtance of food, will lay ſo many Egges as to out-weigh their bodies, trees rarely bear their fruit, in that gravity or proportion: Whether in the germination of ſeeds according to Hippocrates, the lighter part aſcendeth, and maketh the ſprout, the heavieſt tending downward frameth the root; Since we obſerve that the firſt ſhoot of ſeeds in water, will ſink or bow down at the upper and leafing end: Whether it be not more rational Epicuriſme to contrive whole diſhes out of the nebbes and ſpirited particles of plants, then from the Gallatures and treddles of Egges; ſince that part is found to hold no ſeminal ſhare in Oval Generation, are quaeries which might enlarge but muſt conclude this digreſſion.

And though not in this order, yet how nature delighteth in this number, and what conſent and coordination there is in the leaves and parts of flowers, it cannot eſeape our obſervation in no ſmall number of plants. For the calicular or ſupporting and doſing leaves, do anſwer the number of the flowers, eſpecially in ſuch as exceed not the number of Swallows Egges; as in Violets, Stichwort, Bloſſomes, and flowers of one leaf have often five diviſions, anſwered by a like number of calicular leaves; as Gentianella, Convolvulus, Bell-flowers. In many the flowers, blades, or ſtaminous ſhootes and leaves are all equally five, as in cockle, mullein and Blattaria; Wherein the flowers before explication are pentagonally wrapped up, with ſome reſemblance of the blatta or moth from whence it hath its name: But the contrivance of nature is ſingular in the opening and ſhutting of Bindeweeds, performed by five inflexures, diſtinguiſhable by pyramidcall figures, and alſo different colours.

The roſe at firſt is thought to have been of five leaves, as it yet groweth wilde among us; but in the moſt luxuriant, the calicular leaves do ſtill maintain that number. But nothing is more admired then the five Brethren of the Roſe, and the ſtrange diſpoſure of the Appendices or Beards, in the calicular leaves thereof, which in deſpair of reſolution is tolerably ſalved from this contrivance, beſt ordered and ſuited for the free cloſure of them before explication. For thoſe two which are ſmooth, and of no beard are contrived to lye undermoſt, as without prominent parts, and fit to be ſmoothly covered; the other two which are beſet with Beards on either ſide, ſtand outward and uncovered, but the fifth or half-bearded leaf is covered on the bare ſide but on the open ſide ſtands free, and bearded like the other.

Beſides a large number of leaves have five diviſions, and may be circumſcribed by a Pentagon or figure of five Angles, made by right lines from the extremity of their leaves, as in Maple, Vine, Figge-Tree: But five-leaved flowers are commonly diſpoſed circularly about the Stylus; according to the higher Geometry of nature, dividing a circle by five radii, which concurre not to make Diameters, as in Quadrilaterall and ſexangular Interſections.

Now the number of five is remarkable in every circle, not only as the firſt ſphaerical number, but the meaſure of ſphaerical motion. For ſphaerical bodies move by fives, and every globular figure placed upon a plane, in direct volutation, returns to the firſt point of contaction in the firſt touch, accounting by the Axes of the Diameters or Cardinall points of the four quarters thereof. And before it arriveth unto the ſame point again, it maketh five circles equall unto it ſelf, in each progreſſe from thoſe quarters, abſolving an equall circle.

By the ſame number doth nature divide the circle of the Sea-Starre, and in that order and number diſpoſeth thoſe elegant Semi-circles, or dentall ſockets and egges in the Sea Hedgehogge. And no mean Obſervations hereof there is in the Mathematicks of the neateſt Retiary Spider, which concluding in fourty four Circles, from five Semidiameters beginneth that elegant texture.

And after this manner doth lay the foundation of the circular branches of the Oak, which being five-cornered, in the tender annual ſprouts, and manifeſting upon inciſion the ſignature of a Starre, is after made circular, and ſwel'd into a round body: Which practice of nature is become a point of art, ^[180] and makes two Problemes in Euclide. But the Bryar which ſends forth ſhoots and prickles from its angles, maintains itt pentagonall figure, and the unobſerved ſignature of a handſome porch within it. To omit the five ſmall buttons dividing the Circle of the Ivy-berry, and the five characters in the Winter ſtalk of the Walnut, with many other Obſervables, which cannot eſcape the eyes of ſignal diſcerners; Such as know where to finde Ajax his name in Gallitricum, or Aarons Mitre in Henbane.

Quincuncial forms and ordinations, are alſo obſervable in animal figurations. For to omit the hioides or throat-bone of animals, the furcula or merry-thought in birds, which ſupporteth the ſcapulae, affording a paſſage for the windepipe and the gullet, the wings of Flyes, and diſpoſure of their legges in their firſt formation from maggots, and the poſition of their horns, wings and legges, in their Aurelian caſes and ſwadling clouts: The back of the Cimex Arboreus, found often upon Trees and leſſer plants, doth elegantly diſcover the Burgundian decuſſation; And the like is obſervable in the belly of the Notonecton, or water-Beetle, which ſwimmeth on its back, and the handſome Rhombuſſes of the Seapoult, or Werrell, on either ſide the Spine.

The ſexangular Cels in the Honey-combs of Bees, are diſpoſed after this order, much there is not of wonder in the confuſed Houſes of Piſmires, though much in their buſie life and actions, more in the edificial Palaces of Bees and Monarchical ſpirits; who make their combs ſix-corner'd, declining a circle, whereof many ſtand not cloſe together, and compleatly fill the area of the place; But rather affecting a ſix-ſided figure, whereby every cell affords a common ſide unto ſix more, and alſo a fit receptacle for the Bee it ſelf, which gathering into a Cylindrical Figure, aptly enters its ſexangular houſe, more nearly approaching a circular Figure, then either doth the Square or Triangle. And the Combes themſelves ſo regularly contrived, that their mutual interſections make three Lozenges at the bottome of every Cell; which ſeverally regarded make three Rows of neat Rhomboidall Figures, connected at the angles, and ſo continue three ſeveral chains throughout the whole comb.

As for the Favago found commonly on the [•]ea ſhoar, though named from an honey-comb, it but rudely makes out the reſemblance, and better agrees with the round Cels of humble Bees. He that would exactly diſcern the ſhop of a Bees mouth, need obſerving eyes, and good augmenting glaſſes; wherein is diſcoverable one of the neateſt peeces in nature, and muſt have a more piercing eye then mine; who findes out the ſhape of Buls heads, in the guts of Drones preſſed out behinde, according to the experiment of Gomeſius; wherein ^[181] notwithſtanding there ſeemeth ſomewhat which might incline a pliant fancy to credulity of ſimilitude.

A reſemblance hereof there is in the orderly and rarely diſpoſed Cels, made by Flyes and Inſects, which we have often found faſtened about ſmall ſprigs, and in thoſe cottonary and woolly pillows, which ſometimes we meet with faſtened unto Leaves, there is included an elegant Net-work Texture, out of which come many ſmall Flies. And ſome reſemblance there is of this order in the Egges of ſome Butterflies and months, as they ſtick upon leaves, and other ſubſtances; which being dropped from behinde, nor directed by the eye, doth neatly declare how nature Geometrizeth, and obſerveth order in all things.

A like correſpondency in figure is found in the skins and outward teguments of animals, whereof a regardable part are beautiful by this texture. As the backs of ſeveral Snakes and Serpents, elegantly remarkable in the Aſpis, and the Dart-ſnake, in the Chiaſmus and larger decuſſations upon the back of the Rattleſnake, and in the cloſe and finer texture of the Mater formicarum, or ſnake that delights in Anthils; whereby upon approach of outward injuries, they can raiſe a thicker Phalanx on their backs, and handſomely contrive themſelves into all kindes of flexures: Whereas their bellies are commonly covered with ſmooth ſemicircular diviſions, as beſt accommodable unto their quick and gliding motion.

This way is followed by nature in the peculiar and remarkable tayl of the Bever, wherein the ſcaly particles are diſpoſed, ſomewhat after this order, which is the plaineſt reſolution of the wonder of [•]ellomius, while he ſaith, with incredible Artifice hath Nature framed the tayl or Oar of the Bever: where by the way we cannot but wiſh a model of their houſes, ſo much extolled by ſome Deſcribers: wherein ſince they are ſo bold as to venture upon three ſtages, we might examine their Artifice in the contignations, the rule and order in the compartitions; or whether that magnified ſtructure be any more then a rude rectangular pyle or meer hovell-building.

Thus works the hand of nature in the feathery plantation about birds. Obſervable in the skins of the ^[182] breaſt, legs and Pinions of Turkies, Geeſe, and Ducks, and the Oars or finny feet of Water-Fowl: And ſuch a naturall Net is the ſcaly covering of Fiſhes, of Mullets, Carps, Tenches, &c. even in ſuch as are excoriable and conſiſt of ſmaller ſcales, as Bretts, Soals, and Flounders. The like Reticulate grain is obſervable in ſome Ruſſia Leather. To omit the ruder Figures of the oſtracion, the triangular or cunny fiſh, or the pricks of the Sea-Porcupine.

The ſame is alſo obſervable in ſome part of the skin of man, in habits of neat texture, and therefore not unaptly compared unto a Net: We ſhall not affirm that from ſuch grounds, the Aegyptian Embalmers imitated this texture yet in their linnen folds the ſame is ſtill obſervable among their neateſt Mummies, in the figures of Iſis and Oſyris, and the Tutelary ſpirits in the Bembine Table. Nor is it to be over-looked how Orus, the Hieroglyphick of the world is deſcribed in a Net-work covering, from the ſhoulder to the foot. And (not to enlarge upon the cruciated character of Trismegiſtus, or handed croſſes, ſo often occurring in the Needles of Pharaoh, and Obelisks of Antiquity) the Statuae Iſ[••]cae, Teraphims, and little Idols, found about the Mummies, do make a decuſſation or Jacobs Croſſe, with their armes, like that on the head of Ephraim and Nanaſſes, and this decuſſis is alſo graphically deſcribed between them.

This Reticulate or Net-work was alſo conſiderable in the inward parts of man, not only from the firſt ſubtegmen or warp of his formation, but in the netty fibres of the veins and veſſels of life; wherein according to common Anatomy the right and tranſverſe fibres are decuſſated, by the oblique fibres; and ſo muſt frame a Reticulate and Quincunciall Figure by their Obliquatio[••], Emphatically extending that Elegant expreſſion of Scripture. Thou haſt curiouſly embroydered me, thou haſt wrought me up after the fineſt way of texture, and as it were with a Needle.

Nor is the ſame obſervable only in ſome parts, but in the whole body of man, which upon the extenſion of arms and legges, doth make out a ſquare, whoſe interſection is at the genitals. To omit the phantaſtical Quincunx, in Plato of the firſt Hermaphrodite or double man, united at the Loynes, which Jupiter after divided.

A rudimentall reſemblance hereof there is in the cruciated and rugged folds of the Reticulum, or Net-like Ventricle of ruminating horned animals, which is the ſecond in order, and culinarily called the Honey-comb. For many diviſions there are in the ſtomack of ſeverall animals; what number they maintain in the Scarus and ruminating Fiſh, common deſcription, or our own experiment hath made no diſcovery. But in the Ventricle of Porpuſes there are three diviſions. In many Birds a crop, Gizard, and little receptacle before it; but in Cornigerous animals, which chew the cudd, there are no leſs then four of diſtinct poſition and office.

The Reticulum by theſe croſſed cels, makes a further digeſtion, in the dry and exuccous part of the Aliment received from the firſt Ventricle. For at the bottome of the gullet there is a double Orifice; What is firſt received at the mouth deſcendeth into the firſt and greater ſtomack, from whence it is returned into the mouth again; and after a fuller maſtication, and ſalivous mixture, what part thereof deſcendeth again, in a moiſt and ſucculent body, it ſlides down the ſofter and more permeable Orifice, into the Omaſus or third ſtomack; and from thence conveyed into the fourth, receives its laſt digeſtion. The other dry and exuccous part after rumination by the larger and ſtronger orifice beareth into the firſt ſtomack, from thence into the Reticulum, and ſo progreſſively into the other diviſions. And therefore in Calves newly calved, there is little or no uſe of the two firſt Ventricles, for the milk and liquid aliment ſlippeth down the ſofter Orifice, into the third ſtomack; where making little or no ſtay, it paſſeth into the fourth, the ſeat of the Coagulum, or Runnet, or that diviſion of ſtomack which ſeems to bear the name of the whole, in the Greek tranſlation of the Prieſts Fee, in the Sacrifice of Peace-offerings.

As for thoſe Rhomboidal Figures made by the Cartilagineous parts of the Wezon, in the Lungs of great Fiſhes, and other animals, as Rondeletius diſcovered, we have not found them ſo to anſwer our figure as to be drawn into illuſtration; Something we expected in the more diſcernable texture of the lungs of frogs, which notwithſtanding being but two curious bladders not weighing above a grain, we found interwoven with veins not obſerving any juſt order. More orderly ſituated are thoſe cretaceous and chalky concretions found ſometimes in the bigneſſe of a ſmall fech on either ſide their ſpine; which being not agreeable unto our order, nor yet obſerved by any, we ſhall not here diſcourſe on.

But had we found a better account and tolerable Anatomy, of that prominent jowle of the ^[183] Sperma Ceti Whale, then queſtuary operation, or the ſtench of the laſt caſt upon our ſhoar, permitted, we might have perhaps diſcovered ſome handſome order in thoſe Net-like ſeaſes and ſockets, made like honey-combs, containing that medicall matter.

Laſtly, The inceſſion or locall motion of animals is made with analogy unto this figure, by decuſſative diametrals, Quincunciall Lines and angles. For to omit the enquiry how Butterflies and breezes move their four wings, how birds and fiſhes in ayre and water move by joynt ſtroaks of oppoſite wings and Finnes, and how ſalient animals in jumping forward ſeem to ariſe and fall upon a ſquare baſe; As the ſtation of moſt Quadrupeds, is made upon a long ſquare, ſo in their motion they make a Rhomboides; their common progreſſion being performed Diametrally, by decuſſation and croſſe advancement of their legges, which not obſerved begot that remarkable abſurdity in the poſition of the legges of Caſtors horſe in the Capitol. The Snake which moveth circularly makes his ſpires in like order, the convex and concave ſpirals anſwering each other at alternate diſtances; In the motion of man the armes and legges obſerve this thwarting poſition, but the legges alone do move Quincuncially by ſingle angles with ſome reſemblance of an V meaſured by ſucceſſive advancement from each foot, and the angle of indenture great or leſſe, according to the extent or brevity of the ſtride.

Studious Obſervators may diſcover more analogies in the orderly book of nature, and cannot eſcape the Elegancy of her hand in other correſpondencies. The Figures of nails and crucifying appurtenances, are but precariouſly made out in the Granadilla or flower of Chriſts paſſion: And we deſpair to behold in theſe parts that handſome draught of crucifixion in the fruit of the B[•]rbado Pine. The ſeminal Spike of Phalaris, or great ſhaking graſſe, more nearly anſwers the tayl of a Rattle-Snake, then many reſemblances in Porta: And if the man ^[184] Orchis of Columna be well made out, it excelleth all analogies. In young Wallnuts cut athwart, it is not hard to apprehend ſtrange characters; and in thoſe of ſomewhat elder growth, handſome ornamental draughts about a plain croſſe. In the root of Oſmond or Water ſern, every eye may diſcern the form of a Half Moon, Rain-bow, or half the character of Piſces. Some finde Hebrew, Arabick, Greek, and Latine Characters in Plants; In a common one among us we ſeem to reade Acaia, Viviu, Lilil.

Right lines and circles make out the bulk of plants; In the parts thereof we finde Helicall or ſpirall roundles, voluta's, conicall Sections, circular Pyramids, and fruſtums of Archimedes; And cannot overlook the orderly hand of nature, in the alternate ſucceſſion of the flat and narrower ſides in the tender ſhoots of the Aſhe, or the regular inequality of bigneſſe in the five-leaved flowers of Henbane, and ſomething like in the calicular leaves of Tutſon. How the ſpots of Perſicaria do manifeſt themſelves between the ſixt and tenth ribbe. How the triangular capp in the ſtemme or ſtylus of Tuleps doth conſtantly point at three outward leaves. That ſpicated flowers do open firſt at the ſtalk. That white flowers have yellow thrums or knops. That the nebbe of Beans and Peaſe do all look downward, and ſo preſſe not upon each other; And how the ſeeds of many pappous or downy flowers lockt up in ſockets after a gomphoſis or mortis-articulation, diffuſe themſelves circularly into branches of rare order, obſervable in Tragopogon or Goats-beard, conformable to the Spiders web, and the Radii in like manner telarely inter-woven.

And how in animall natures, even colours hold correſpondencies, and mutuall correlations. That the colour of the Caterpillar will ſhew again in the Butterfly, with ſome latitude is allowable. Though the regular ſpots in their wings ſeem but a mealie adheſion, and ſuch as may be wiped away, yet ſince they come in this variety, out of their caſes, there muſt be regular pores in thoſe parts and membranes, defining ſuch Exudations.

That ^[185] Auguſtus had native notes on his body and belly, after the order and number in the Starre of Charles wayne, will not ſeem ſtrange unto aſtral Phyſiognomy, which accordingly conſidereth moles in the body of man, or Phyſicall Obſervators, who from the poſition of moles in the face, reduce them to rule and correſpondency in other parts. Whether after the like method medicall conjecture may not be raiſed, upon parts inwardly affected; ſince parts about the lips are the critical ſeats of Puſtules diſcharged in Agues; And ſcrophulous tumours about the neck do ſo often ſpeak the like about the Meſentery, may alſo be conſidered.

The ruſſet neck in young Lambs ſeems but adventitious, and may owe its tincture to ſome contaction in the womb; But that if ſheep have any black or deep ruſſet in their faces, they want not the ſame about their legges and feet; That black Hounds have mealy mouths and feet; That black Cows which have any white in their tayls, ſhould not miſſe of ſome in their bellies; and if all white in their bodies, yet if black-mouth'd, their ears and feet maintain the ſame colour, are correſpondent tinctures not ordinarily failing in nature, which eaſily unites the accidents of extremities, ſince in ſome generations ſhe tranſmutes the parts themſelves, while in the Aurelian Metamorphoſis the head of the canker becomes the Tayl of the Butterfly. Which is in ſome way not beyond the contrivance of Art, in ſubmerſions and Inlays, inverting the extremes of the plant, and fetching the root from the top, and alſo imitated in handſome columnary work, in the inverſion of the extremes; wherein the Capitel, and the Baſe, hold ſuch near correſpondency.

In the motive parts of animals may be diſcovered mutuall proportions; not only in thoſe of Quadrupeds, but in the thigh-bone, legge, foot-bone, and claws of Birds. The legs of Spiders are made after a ſeſqui-tertian proportion, and the long legs of ſome locuſts, double unto ſome others. But the internodial parts of Vegetables, or ſpaces between the joints, are contrived with more uncertainty; though the joints themſelves in many plants, maintain a regular number.

In vegetable compoſure, the unition of prominent parts ſeems moſt to anſwer the Apophyſes or proceſſes of Animall bones, whereof they are the produced parts or prominent explantations. And though in the parts of plants which are not ordained for motion, we do not expect correſpondent Articulations; yet in the ſetting on of ſome flowers, and ſeeds in their ſockets, and the lineal commiſſure of the pulpe of ſeverall ſeeds, may be obſerved ſome ſhadow of the Harmony; ſome ſhow of the Gomphoſis or mortis-articulation.

As for the Diarthroſis or motive Articulation, there is expected little Analogy, though long-ſtalked leaves doe move by long lines, and have obſervable motions, yet are they made by outward impulſion, like the motion of pendulous bodies, while the parts themſelves are united by ſome kinde of ſymphyſis unto the ſtock.

But ſtanding vegetables, void of motive-Articulations, are not without many motions. For beſide the motion of vegetation upward, and of radiation unto all quarters, that of contraction, dilatation, inclination, and contortion, is diſcoverable in many plants. To omit the roſe of Jericho, the ear of Rye, which moves with change of weather, and the Magical ſpit, made of no rare plants, which windes before the fire, and roſts the bird without turning.

Even Animals near the Claſſis of plants, ſeem to have the moſt reſtleſſe motions. The Summer-worm of Ponds and plaſhes makes a long waving motion; the hair-worm ſeldome lies ſtill. He that would behold a very anomalous motion, may obſerve it in the Tortile and tiring ſtroaks of ^[186] Gnatworms.

CHAP. IIII.

AS for the delights, commodities, myſteries, with other concernments of this order, we are unwilling to fly them over, in the ſhort deliveries of Virgil, Varro, or others, and ſhall therefore enlarge with additionall ampliations.

By this poſition they had a juſt proportion of Earth, to ſupply an equality of nouriſhment. The diſtance being ordered, thick or thin, according to the magnitude or vigorous attraction of the plant, the goodneſſe, leanneſſe, or propriety of the foyle, and therefore the rule of Solon, concerning the territory of Athens, not extendible unto all; allowing the diſtance of ſix foot unto common Trees, and nine for the Figge and Olive.

They had a due diffuſion of their roots on all or both ſides, whereby they maintained ſome proportion to their height, in Trees of large radication. For that they ſtrictly make good thei[•] profundeur or depth unto their height, according to common conceit, and that expreſſion of ^[187] Virgil, though confirmable from the plane Tree in Pliny, and ſome few examples, is not to be expected from the generation of Trees almoſt in any kinde, either of ſide-ſpreading, or tap-roots: Except we meaſure them by lateral and oppoſite diffuſions; nor commonly to be found in minor or hearby plants; If we except Sea-holly, Liquoriſh, Sea-ruſh, and ſome others.

They had a commodious radiation in their growth; and a due expanſion of their branches, for ſhadow or delight. For trees thickly planted, do runne up in height and branch with no expanſion, ſhooting unequally or ſhort, and thinne upon the neighbouring ſide. And therefore Trees are inwardly bare, and ſpring, and leaf from the outward and Sunny ſide of their branches.

Whereby they alſo avoided the perill of [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] or one tree periſhing with another, as it happeneth ofttimes from the ſick effluviums or entanglements of the roots, falling foul with each other. Obſervable in Elmes ſet in hedges, where if one dieth the neighbouring Tree proſpereth not long after.

In this ſituation divided into many intervals and open unto ſix paſſages, they had the advantage of a fair perflation from windes, bruſhing and cle[•]nſing their ſurfaces, relaxing and cloſing their pores unto due perſpiration. For that they afford large effluviums perceptible from odours, diffuſed at great diſtances, is obſervable from Onyons out of the earth; which though dry, and kept until the ſpring, as they ſhoot forth large and many leaves, do notably abate of their weight. And mint growing in glaſſes of water, until it arriveth unto the weight of an ounce, in a ſhady place, will ſometimes exhauſt a pound of water.

And as they ſend forth much, ſo may they receive ſomewhat in: For beſide the common way and road of reception by the root, there may be a refection and imbibition from without; For gentle ſhows refreſh plants, though they enter not their roots; And the good and bad effluviums of Vegetables, promote or debilitate each other. So Epithymum and Dodder, rootleſſe and out of the ground, maintain themſelves upon Thyme, Savory, and plants, whereon they hang. And Ivy divided from the root, we have obſerved to live ſome years, by the cirrous parts commonly conceived but as tenacles and holdfaſts unto it. The ſtalks of mint cropt from the root ſtripped from the leaves, and ſet in glaſſes with the root end upward, & out of the water, we have obſerved to ſend forth ſprouts and leaves without the aid of roots, and ſcordium to grow in like manner, the leaves ſet downward in water. To omit ſeverall Sea-plants, which grow on ſingle roots from ſtones, although in very many there are ſide-ſhoots and fibres, beſide the faſtening root.

By this open poſition they were fairly expoſed unto the rayes of Moon and Sunne, ſo conſiderable in the growth of Vegetables. For though Poplars, Willows, and ſeverall Trees be made to grow about the brinks of Acharon, and dark habitations of the dead; Though ſome plants are content to grow in obſcure Wells; wherein alſo old Elme pumps afford ſometimes long buſhy ſprouts, not obſervable in any aboveground: And large fields of Vegetables are able to maintain their verdure at the bottome and ſhady part of the Sea; yet the greateſt number are not content without the actual rayes of the Sunne, but bend, incline, and follow them; As large liſts of ſoliſequious and Sun-following plants. And ſome obſerve the method of its motion in their owne growth and converſion twining towards the Weſt by the South, as Bryony, Hops, Woodbine, and ſeveral kindes of Bindeweed, which we ſhall more admire; when any can tell us, they obſerve another motion, and Twiſt by the North at the A[••]ipodes. The ſame plants rooted againſt an erect North-wall full of holes, will finde a way through them to look upon the Sunne. And in tender plants from muſtard ſeed, ſown in the winter, and in a plot of earth placed inwardly againſt a South-window, the tender ſtalks of two leaves aroſe not erect, but bending towards the window, nor looking much higher then the Meridian Sun. And if the pot were turned they would work themſelves into their former declinations, making their converſion by the Eaſt. That the Leaves of the Olive and ſome other Trees ſolſtitially turn, and preciſely tell us, when the Sun is entred Cancer, is ſcarce expectable in any Climate; and Theophraſtus warily obſerves it; Yet ſomewhat thereof is obſervable in our own, in the leaves of Willows and Sallows, ſome weeks after the Solſtice. But the great Convolvulus or white-flower'd Bindweed obſerves both motions of the Sunne, while the flower twiſts Aequinoctionally from the left hand to the right, according to the daily revolution; The ſtalk twineth ecliptically from the right to the left, according to the annual converſion.

Some commend the expoſure of theſe orders unto the Weſtern gales, as the moſt generative and fructifying breath of heaven. But we applaud the Husbandry of Solomon, whereto agreeth the doctrine of Theophrastus. Ariſe O North-winde, and blow thou South upon my garden, that the ſpices thereof may flow out; For the North-winde cloſing the pores, and ſhutting up the effluviums, when the South doth after open and relax them; the Aromatical gummes do drop, and ſweet odours fly actively from them. And if his garden had the ſame ſituation, which mapps, and charts afford it, on the Eaſt ſide of Jeruſalem, and having the wall on the Weſt; theſe were the windes, unto which it was well expoſed.

By this way of plantation they encreaſed the number of their trees, which they loſt in Quaternio's, and ſquare-orders, which is a commodity inſiſted on by Varro, and one great intent of nature, in this poſition of flowers and ſeeds in the elegant formation of plants, and the former Rules obſerved in naturall and artificiall Figurations.

Whether in this order and one Tree in ſome meaſure breaking the cold, and pinching guſts of windes from the other, trees will not better maintain their inward circles, and either eſcape or moderate their excentricities, may alſo be conſidered. For the circles in Trees are naturally concentricall, parallell unto the bark, and unto each other, till froſt and piercing windes contract and cloſe them on the weatherſide, the oppoſite ſemicircle widely enlarging, and at a comely diſtance, which hindreth ofttimes the beauty and roundneſſe of Trees, and makes the Timber leſſe ſerviceable; whiles the aſcending juyce not readily paſſing, ſettles in knots and inequalities. And therefore it is no new courſe of Agriculture, to obſerve the native poſition of Trees according to North and South in their tranſplantations.

The ſame is alſo obſervable underground in the circinations and ſphaerical rounds of Onyons, wherein the circles of the Orbes are ofttimes larger, and the meridionall lines ſtand wider upon one ſide then the other. And where the largeneſſe will make up the number of planetical Orbes, that of Luna, and the lower planets excede the dimenſions of Saturne, and the higher: Whether the like be not verified in the Circles of the large roots of Briony and Mandrakes, or why in the knotts of Deale or Firre the Circles are often eccentricall, although not in a plane, but vertical and right poſition, deſerves a further enquiry.

Whether there be not ſome irregularity of roundneſſe in moſt plants according to their poſition? Whether ſome ſmall compreſſion of pores be not perceptible in parts which ſtand againſt the current of waters, as in Reeds, Bullruſhes, and other vegetables toward the ſtreaming quarter, may alſo be obſerved, and therefore ſuch as are long and weak, are commonly contrived into a roundneſſe of figure, whereby the water preſſeth leſſe, and ſlippeth more ſmoothly from them, and even in flags of flat-figured leaves, the greater part obvert their ſharper ſides unto the current in ditches.

But whether plants which float upon the ſurface of the water, be for the moſt part of cooling qualities, thoſe which ſhoot above it of heating vertues, and why? whether Sargaſſo for many miles floating upon the Weſtern Ocean, or Sea-lettuce, and Phaſganium at the bottome of our Seas, make good the like qualities? Why Fenny waters afford the hotteſt and ſweeteſt plants, as Calamus, Cyper[•]s, and Crowfoot, and mudd caſt out of ditches moſt naturally produceth Arſmart, Why plants ſo greedy of water ſo little regard oyl? Why ſince many ſeeds contain much oyle within them, they endure it not well without, either in their growth or production? Why ſince Seeds ſhoot commonly under ground, and out of the ayre, thoſe which are let fall in ſhallow glaſſes, upon the ſurface of the water, will ſooner ſprout then thoſe at the bottome? And if the water be covered with oyle, thoſe at the bottome will hardly ſprout at all, we have not room to conjecture.

Whether Ivy would not leſſe offend the Trees in this clean ordination, and well kept paths, might perhaps deſerve the queſtion. But this were a quaery only unto ſome habitations, and little concerning Cyrus or the Babylonian territory; wherein by no induſtry Harpalus could make Ivy grow: And Alexander hardly found it about thoſe parts to imitate the pomp of Bacchus. And though in theſe Northern Regions we are too much acquainted with one Ivy, we know too little of another, whereby we apprehend not the expreſſions of Antiquity, the ^[188] Splenetick medicine of Galen, and the Emphaſis of the Poet, in the ^[189] beauty of the white Ivy.

The like concerning the growth of Miſſeltoe, which dependeth not only of the ſpecies, or kinde of Tree, but much alſo of the Soil. And therefore common in ſome places, not readily found in others, frequent in France, not ſo common in Spain, and ſcarce at all in the Territory of Ferrara: Nor eaſily to be found where it is moſt required upon Oaks, leſſe on Trees continually verdant. Athough in ſome places the Olive eſcapeth it not, requiting its detriment, in the delightfull view of its red Berries; as Cluſius obſerved in Spain, and Bellonius about Hieruſalem. But this Paraſiticall plant ſuffers nothing to grow upon it, by any way of art; nor could we ever make it grow where nature had not planted it; as we have in vain attempted by inocculation and inciſion, upon its native or forreign ſtock. And though there ſeem nothing improbable in the ſeed, it hath not ſucceeded by ſation in any manner of ground, wherein we had no reaſon to deſpair, ſince we reade of vegetable horns, and how Rams horns will root about ^[190] Goa.

But beſides theſe rurall commodities, it cannot be meanly delectable in the variety of Figures, which theſe orders open, and cloſed do make. Whileſt every incloſure makes a Rhombus, the figures obliquely taken a Rhomboides, the intervals bounded with parallell lines, and each interſection built upon a ſquare, affording two Triangles or Pyramids vertically conjoyned; which in the ſtrict Quincunciall order doe oppoſitely make acute and blunt Angles.

And though therein we meet not with right angles, yet every Rhombus containing four Angles equall unto two right, it virtually contains two right in every one. Nor is this ſtrange unto ſuch as obſerve the naturall lines of Trees, and parts diſpoſed in them. For neither in the root doth nature affect this angle, which ſhooting downward for the ſtability of the plant, doth beſt effect the ſame by Figures of Inclination; Nor in the Branches and ſtalky leaves, which grow moſt at acute angles; as declining from their head the root, and diminiſhing their Angles with their altitude: Verified alſo in leſſer Plants, whereby they better ſupport themſelves, and bear not ſo heavily upon the ſtalk: So that while near the root they often make an Angle of ſeventy parts, the ſprouts near the top will often come ſhort of thirty. Enen in the nerves and maſter veins of the leaves the acute angle ruleth; the obtuſe but ſeldome found, and in the backward part of the leaf, reflecting and arching about the ſtalk. But why ofttimes one ſide of the leaf is unequall unto the other, as in Hazell and Oaks, why on either ſide the maſter vein the leſſer and derivative channels not directly oppoſite, nor at equall angles, reſpectively unto the adverſe ſide, but thoſe of one part do often exceed the other, as the Wallnut and many more deſerves another enquiry.

Now if for this order we affect coniferous and tapering Trees, particularly the Cypreſſe, which grows in a conicall figure; we have found a Tree not only of great Ornament, but in its Eſſentials of affinity unto this order. A ſolid Rhombus being made by the converſion of two Equicrurall Cones, as Archimedes hath defined. And theſe were the common Trees about Babylon, and the Eaſt, whereof the Ark was made; and Alexander found no Trees ſo accomodable to build his Navy; And this we rather think to be the Tree mentioned in the Canticles, which ſtricter Botanology will hardly allow to be Camphire.

And if delight or ornamentall view invite a comely diſpoſure by circular amputations, as is elegantly performed in Hawthorns; then will they anſwer the figures made by the converſion of a Rhombus, which maketh two concentricall Circles; the greater circumference being made by the leſſer angles, the leſſer by the greater.

The Cylindrical figure of Trees is virtually contained and latent in this order. A Cylinder or long round being made by the converſion or turning of a Parallelogram, and moſt handſomely by a long ſquare, which makes an equall, ſtrong and laſting figure in Trees, agreeable unto the body and motive parts of animals, the greateſt number of Plants, and almoſt all roots, though their ſtalks be angular, and of many corners, which ſeem not to follow the figure of their Seeds; Since many angular Seeds ſend forth round ſtalks, and ſphaericall ſeeds ariſe from angular ſpindles, and many rather conform unto their Roots, as the round ſtalks of bulbous Roots, and in tuberous Roots ſtemmes of like figure. But why ſince the largeſt number of Plants maintain a circular Figure, there are ſo few with teretous or longround leaves; why coniferous Trees are tenuifolious or narrowleafed, why Plants of few or no joynts have commonly round ſtalks, why the greateſt number of hollow ſtalks are round ſtalks; or why in this variety of angular ſtalks the quadrangular moſt exceedeth, were too long a ſpeculation; Mean while obvious experience may finde, that in Plants of divided leaves above, nature often beginneth circularly in the two firſt leaves below, while in the ſingular plant of Ivy, ſhe exerciſeth a contrary Geometry, and beginning with angular leaves below, rounds them in the upper branches.

Nor can the rows in this order want delight, as carrying an aſpect anſwerable unto the dipteros hypoethros, or double order of columns open above; the oppoſite ranks of Trees ſtanding like pillars in the Cavedia of the Courts of famous buildings, and the Portico's of the Templa ſubdialia of old; Somewhat imitating the Periſtylia or Cloyſter buildings, and the Exedrae of the Ancients, wherein men diſcourſed, walked and exerciſed; For that they derived the rule of Columnes from Trees, eſpecially in their proportionall diminutions, is illuſtrated by Vitruvi[•]s from the ſhafts of Firre and Pine. And though the inter-arboration do imitate the Areostylos, or thin order, not ſtrictly anſwering the proportion of intercolumniations; yet in many Trees they will not exceed the intermiſſion of the Columnes in the Court of the Tabernacle; which being an hundred cubits long, and made up by twenty pillars. will afford no leſſe then intervals of five cubits.

Beſide, in this kinde of aſpect the ſight being not diffuſed but circumſcribed between long parallels and the [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] and adumbration from the branches, it frameth a penthouſe over the eye, and maketh a quiet viſion: And therefore in diffuſed and open aſpects, men hollow their hand above their eye, and make an artificiall brow, whereby they direct the diſperſed rayes of ſight, and by this ſhade preſerve a moderate light in the chamber of the eye; keeping the pupilla plump and fair, and not contracted or ſhrunk as in light and vagrant viſion.

And therefore providence hath arched and paved the great houſe of the world, with colours of mediocrity, that is, blew and green, above and below the ſight, moderately terminating the acies of the eye. For moſt plants, though green above-ground, maintain their Originall white below it, according to the candour of their ſeminall pulp, and the rudimental leaves do firſt appear in that colour; obſervable in Seeds ſprouting in water upon their firſt foliation. Green ſeeming to be the firſt ſupervenient, or above-ground complexion of Vegetables, ſeparable in many upon ligature or inhumation, as Succory, Endive, Artichoaks, and which is alſo loſt upon fading in the Autumn.

And this is alſo agreeable unto water it ſelf, the alimental vehicle of plants, which firſt altereth into this colour; And containing many vegetable ſeminalities, revealeth their Seeds by greenneſſe; and therefore ſooneſt expected in rain or ſtanding water, not eaſily found in diſtilled or water ſtrongly boiled; wherein the Seeds are extinguiſhed by fire and decoction, and therefore laſt long and pure without ſuch alteration, affording neither uliginous coats, gnatworms, Acari, hair-worms, like crude and common water; And therefore moſt fit for wholſome beverage, and with malt makes Ale and Beer without boyling. What large water-drinkers ſome Plants are, the Canary-Tree and Birches in ſome Northern Countries, drenching the Fields about them do ſufficiently demonſtrate. How water it ſelf is able to maintain the growth of Vegetables, and without extinction of their generative or medicall vertues; Beſide the experiment of Helmonts tree, we have found in ſome which have lived ſix years in glaſſes. The ſeeds of Scur[•]y-graſſe growing in waterpots, have been fruitfull in the Land; And Aſarum after a years ſpace, and once caſting its leaves in water, in the ſecond leaves, hath handſomely performed its vomiting operation.

Nor are only dark and green colors, but ſhades and ſhadows contrived through the great Volume of nature, and trees ordained not only to protect and ſhadow others, but by their ſhades and ſhadowing parts, to preſerve and cheriſh themſelves. The whole radiation or branchings ſhadowing the ſtock and the root, the leaves, the branches and fruit, too much expoſed to the windes and ſcorching Sunne. The calicular leaves incloſe the tender flowers, and the flowers themſelves lye wrapt about the ſeeds, in their rudiment and firſt formations, which being advanced the flowers fall away; and are therefore contrived in variety of figures, beſt ſatisfying the intention; Handſomely obſervable in hooded and gaping flowers, and the Butterfly bloomes of leguminous plants, the lower leaf cloſely involving the rudimental Cod, and the alary or wingy diviſions embracing or hanging over it.

But Seeds themſelves do lie in perpetual ſhades, either under the leaf, or ſhut up in coverings; And ſuch as lye bareſt, have their husks, skins, and pulps about them, wherein the nebbe and generative particle lyeth moiſt and ſecured from the injury of Ayre and Sunne. Darkneſſe and light hold interchangeable dominions, and alternately rule the ſeminal ſtate of things. Light unto ^[191] Plato is darkneſſe unto Jupiter. Legions of ſeminall Idaea's lye in their ſecond Chaos and Orcus of Hipocrat[•]s; till putting on the habits of their forms, they ſhew themſelves upon the ſtage of the world, and open dominion of Jove. They that held the Stars of heaven were but rayes and flaſhing glimpſes of the Empyreall light, through holes and perforations of the upper heaven, took of the natural ſhadows of ſtars, while ^[192] according to better diſcovery the poor Inhabitants of the Moone have but a polary life, and muſt paſſe half their dayes in the ſhadow of that Luminary.

Light that makes things ſeen, makes ſome things inviſible, were it not for darkneſſe and the ſhadow of the earth, the nobleſt part of the Creation had remained unſeen, and the Stars in heaven as inviſible as on the fourth day, when they were created above the Horizon, with the Sun, or there was not an eye to behold them. The greateſt myſtery of Religion is expreſſed by adumbration, and in the nobleſt part of Jewiſh Types, we finde the Cherubims ſhadowing the Mercy-ſeat: Life it ſelf is but the ſhadow of death, and ſouls departed but the ſhadows of the living: All things fall under this name. The Sunne it ſelf is but the dark ſimulachrum, and light but the ſhadow of God.

Laſtly, It is no wonder that this Quincunciall order was firſt and ſtill affected as gratefull unto the Eye: For all things are ſeen Quincuncially; For at the eye the Pyramidal rayes from the object, receive a decuſſation, and ſo ſtrike a ſecond baſe upon the Retina or hinder coat, the proper organ of Viſion; wherein the pictures from objects are repreſented, anſwerable to the paper, or wall in the dark chamber; after the decuſſation of the rayes at the hole of the hornycoat, and their refraction upon the Chriſtalline humour, anſwering the foramen of the window, and the convex or burning-glaſſes, which refract the rayes that enter it. And if ancient Anatomy would hold, a like diſpoſure there was of the optick or viſual nerves in the brain, wherein Antiquity conceived a concurrence by decuſſation. And this not only obſervable in the Laws of direct Viſion, but in ſome part alſo verified in the reflected rayes of ſight. For making the angle of incidence equal to that of reflexion, the viſuall raye returneth Quincuncially, and after the form of a V, and the line of reflexion being continued unto the place of viſion, there ariſeth a ſemi-decuſſation, which makes the object ſeen in a perpendicular unto it ſelf, and as farre below the reflectent, as it is from it above; obſervable in the Sun and Moon beheld in water.

And this is alſo the law of reflexion in moved bodies and ſounds, which though not made by decuſſation, obſerve the rule of equality between incidence and reflexion; whereby whiſpering places are framed by Ellipticall arches laid ſide-wiſe; where the voice being delivered at the focus of one extremity, obſerving an equality unto the angle of incidence, it will reflect unto the focus of the other end, and ſo eſcape the ears of the ſtanders in the middle.

A like rule is obſerved in the reflection of the vocall and ſonorous line in Ecchoes, which cannot therefore be heard in all ſtations. But happening in woody plantations, by waters, and able to return ſome words; if reacht by a pleaſant and well-dividing voice, there may be heard the ſofteſt notes in nature.

And this not only verified in the way of[•]ence, but in animall and intellectuall receptions. Things entring upon the intellect by a Pyramid from without, and thence into the memory by another from within, the common decuſſation being in the underſtanding as is delivered by ^[193] Bovillus. Whether the intellectual and phantaſtical lines be not thus rightly diſpoſed, but magnified diminiſhed, diſtorted, and ill placed in the Mathematicks of ſome brains, whereby they have irregular apprehenſions of things, perverted notions, conceptions, and incurable hallucinations, were no unpleaſant ſpeculation.

And if Aegyptian Philoſophy may obtain, the ſcale of influences was thus diſpoſed, and the geniall ſpirits of both worlds, do trace their way in aſcending and deſcending Pyramids, myſtically apprehended in the Letter X, and the open Bill and ſtradling Legges of a Stork, which was imitated by that Character.

Of this Figure Plato made choice to illuſtrate the motion of the ſoul, both of the world and man; while he delivereth that God divided the whole conjunction length-wiſe, according to the figure of a Greek X, and then turning it about reflected it into a circle; By the circle implying the uniform motion of the firſt O[•]b, and by the right lines, the planetical and various motions within it. And this alſo with application unto the ſoul of man, which hath a double aſpect, one right, whereby it beholdeth the body, and objects without; another circular and reciprocal, whereby it beholdeth it ſelf. The circle declaring the motion of the indiviſible ſoul, ſimple, according to the divinity of its nature, and returning into it ſelf; the right lines reſpecting the motion pertaining unto ſenſe, and vegetation, and the central decuſſation, the wondrous connexion of the ſeverall faculties conjointly in one ſubſtance. And ſo conjoyned the unity and duality of the ſoul, and made out the three ſubſtances ſo much conſidered by him; That is, the indiviſible or divine, the diviſible or corporeal, and that third, which was the Syſtaſis or harmony of thoſe two, in the myſtical decuſſation.

And if that were clearly made out which Juſtin Martyr took for granted, this figure hath had the honour to characterize and notifie our bleſſed Saviour, as he delivereth in that borrowed expreſſion from Plato; Decuſſavit eum in univerſo, the hint whereof he would have Plato derive from the figure of the brazen Serpent, and to have miſtaken the Letter X for T, whereas it is not improbable, he learned theſe and other myſtical expreſſions in his Learned Obſervations of Aegypt, where he might obviouſly behold the Mercurial characters, the handed croſſes, and other myſteries not throughly underſtood in the ſacred Letter X, which being derivative from the Stork, one of the ten ſacred animals, might be originally Aegyptian, and brought into Greece by Cadmus of that Countrey.

CHAP. V.

TO enlarge this contemplation unto all the myſteries and ſecrets, accomodable unto this number, were inexcuſable Pythagoriſme, yet cannot omit the ancient conceit of five ſurnamed the number of ^[194] juſtice; as juſtly dividing between the digits, and hanging in the centre of Nine, deſcribed by ſquare numeration, which angularly ^[195] divided will make the decuſſated number; and ſo agreeable unto the Quincunciall Ordination, and rowes divided by Equality, and juſt decorum, in the whole com-plantation; And might be the Originall of that common game among us, wherein the fifth place is Soveraigne, and carrieth the chief intention. The Ancients wiſely inſtructing youth, even in their recreations unto virtue, that is, early to drive at the middle point and Central Seat of juſtice.

Nor can we omit how agreeable unto this number an handſome diviſion is made in Trees and Plants, ſince Plutarch, and the Ancients have named it the Diviſive Number, juſtly dividing the Entities of the world, many remarkable things in it, and alſo comprehending the ^[196] generall diviſion of Vegetables. And he that conſiders how moſt bloſſomes of Trees, and greateſt number of Flowers, conſiſt of five leaves; and therein doth reſt the ſetled rule of nature; So that in thoſe which exceed there is often found, or eaſily made a variety; may readily diſcover how nature reſts in this number, which is indeed the firſt reſt and pauſe of numeration in the fingers, the naturall Organs thereof. Nor in the diviſion of the feet of perfect animals doth nature exceed this account. And even in the joints of feet, which in birds are moſt multiplied, ſurpaſſeth not this number; So progreſſionally making them out in many, that from five in the fore-claw ſhe deſcendeth unto two in the hindemoſt; And ſo in fower feet makes up the number of joynts, in the five fingers or toes of man.

Not to omit the Quintuple Section of a ^[197] Cone, of handſome practiſe in Ornamentall Garden-plots, and in ſ[•]me way diſcoverable in ſo many works of Nature; In the leaves, fruits, and ſeeds of Vegetables, and ſcales of ſome Fiſhes, ſo much conſiderable in glaſſes, and the optick doctrine; wherein the learned may conſider the Cryſtalline humour of the eye in the cuttle fiſh and Loligo.

He that forgets not how Antiquity named this the Conjugall or wedding number, and made it the Embleme of the moſt remarkable conjunction, will conceive it duely appliable unto this handſome Oeconomy, and vegetable combination; May hence apprehend the allegoricall ſence of that obſcure expreſſion of ^[198] Heſiod, and afford no improbable reaſon why Plato admitted his Nuptiall gueſts by fives, in the kindred of the ^[199] married couple.

And though a ſharper myſtery might be implied in the Number of the five wiſe and fooliſh Virgins, which were to meet the Bridegroom, yet was the ſame agreeable unto the Conjugall Number, which ancient Numeriſts made out by two and three, the firſt parity and imparity, the active and paſſive digits, the materiall and formall principles in generative Societies. And not diſcordant even from the cuſtomes of the Romans, who admitted but ^[200] five Torches in their Nuptiall folemnities. Whether there were any myſtery or not implied, the moſt generative animals were created on this day, and had accordingly the largeſt benediction: And under a Quintuple conſideration, wanton Antiquity conſidered the Circumſtances of generation, while by this number of five they naturally divided the Nectar of the fifth Planet,

The ſame number in the Hebrew myſteries and Cabaliſtical accounts was the ^[201] character of Generation; declared by the Letter He, the fifth in their Alphabet; According to that Cabaliſticall Dogma: If Abram had not had this Letter added unto his Name, he had remained fruitleſſe, and without the power of generation: Not onely becauſe hereby the number of his Name attained two hundred fourty eight, the number of the affirmative precepts, but becauſe as increated natures there is a male and female, ſo in divine and intelligent productions, the mother of Life and Fountain of ſouls in Cabaliſticall Technology is called Binah; whoſe Seal and Character was He. So that being ſterill before, he recived the power of generation from that meaſure and manſion in the Archetype; and was made conformable unto Binah. And upon ſuch involved conſiderations, the ^[202] ten of Sarai was exchanged into five, If any ſhall look upon this as a ſtable number, and fitly appropriable unto Trees, as Bodies of Reſt and Station, he hath herein a great Foundation in nature, who obſerving much variety in legges and motive Organs of Animals, as two, four, ſix, eight, twelve, fourteen, and more, hath paſſed over five and ten, and aſſigned them unto none, or very few, as the Phalangium monſtroſum Braſilianum, Cluſ[•]i & Jac. de Laet. Cur. poster. Americae Deſcript. If perfectly deſcribed. And for the ſtability of this Number, he ſhall not want the ſphericity of its nature, which multiplied in it ſelf, will return into its own denomination, and bring up the reare of the account. Which is alſo one of the Numbers that makes up the myſticall Name of God, which conſiſting of Letters denoting all the ſphaericall Numbers, ten, five, and ſix; Emphatically ſets forth the Notion of Trismegiſtus, and that intelligible Sphere, which is the Nature of God.

Many Expreſſions by this Number occurre in Holy Scripture, perhaps unjuſtly laden with myſticall Expoſitions, and little concerning our order. That the Iſraelites were forbidden to eat the fruit of their new planted Trees, before the fifth yeare, was very agreeable unto the naturall Rules of Husbandry: Fruits being unwholſome and laſh, before the fourth, or fifth Yeare. In the ſecond day or Feminine part of five, there was added no approbation. For in the third or maſculine day, the ſame is twice repeated; and a double benediction incloſed both Creations, whereof the one, in ſome part was but an accompliſhment of the other. That the Treſpaſſer ^[203] was to pay a fifth part above the head or principall, makes no ſecret in this Number, and implied no more then one part above the principall; which being conſidered in four parts, the additionall forfeit muſt bear the Name of a fift. The five golden mice had plainly their determination from the number of the Princes; That five ſhould put to flight an hundred might have nothing myſtically implyed; conſidering a rank of Souldiers could ſcarce conſiſt of a leſſer number. Saint Paul had rather ſpeak five words in a known then ten thouſand in an unknowne tongue: That is as little as could well be ſpoken. A ſimple propoſition conſiſting of three words and a complexed one not ordinarily ſhort of five.

More conſiderable there are in this myſticall account, which we muſt not inſiſt on. And therefore why the radicall Letters in the Pentateuch, ſhould equall the number of the Souldiery of the Tribes; Why our Saviour in the Wilderneſſe fed five thouſand perſons with five Barley Loaves, and again, but four thouſand with no leſſe then ſeven of Wheat? Why Joſeph deſigned five changes of Rayment unto Benjamin? and David took juſt five pibbles out of the Brook againſt the Pagan Champion? ^[204] We leave it unto Arithmeticall Divinity, and Theologicall explanation.

Yet if any delight in new Problemes, or think it worth the enquiry, whether the Criticall Phyſician hath rightly hit the nominall notation of Quinque; Why the Ancients mixed five or three but not four parts of water unto their Wine: And Hippocrates obſerved a fifth proportion in the mixture of water with milk, as in Dyſenteries and bloudy fluxes. Under what abſtruſe foundation Aſtrologers do Figure the good or bad Fate from our Children, in ^[205] good Fortune, or the fifth houſe of their Celeſtiall Schemes. Whether the Aegyptians deſcribed a Starre by a Figure of five points, with reference unto the ^[206] five Capitall aſpects, whereby they tranſmit their Influences, or abſtruſer Conſiderations? Why the Cabaliſticall Doctors, who conceive the whole Sephiroth, or divine emanations to have guided [•]he ten-ſtringed Harp of David, whereby he pacified the evil ſpirit of Saul, in ſtrict numeration doe begin with the Perihypate Meſon, or ff[•]fa ut, and ſo place the Tiphereth anſwering C ſol fa ut, upon the fifth ſtring: Or whether this number be oftner applied unto bad things and ends, then good in holy Scripture, and why? He may meet with abſtruſities of no ready reſolution.

If any ſhall queſtion the rationality of that Magick, in the cure of the blind man by Serapis, commanded to place five fingers on his Altar, and then his hand on his Eyes? Why ſince the whole Comoedy is primarily and naturally compriſed in ^[207] four parts, and Antiquity permitted not ſo many perſons to ſpeak in one Scene, yet would not comprehend the ſame in more or leſſe then five acts? Why amongſt Sea-ſtarres nature chiefly delighteth in five points? And ſince there are found ſome of no fewer then twelve, and ſome of ſeven, and nine there are few or none diſcovered of ſix or eight? If any ſhall enquire why the Flowers of Rue properly conſiſt of four Leaves, The firſt and third Flower have five? Why ſince many Flowers have one leaf or ^[208] none, as Scaliger will have it, diverſe three, and the greateſt number conſiſt of five divided from their bottomes; there are yet ſo few of two: or why nature generally beginning or ſetting out with two oppoſite leaves at the Root, doth ſo ſeldome conclude with that order and number at the Flower? he ſhall not paſſe his hours in vulgar ſpeculations.

If any ſhall further quaery why magneticall Philoſophy excludeth decuſſations, and needles tranſverſly placed do naturally diſtract their verticities? Why Geomancers do imitate the Quintuple Figure, in their Mother Characters of Acquiſition and Amiſſion, &c. ſomewhat anſwering the Figures in the Lady or ſpeckled Beetle? With what Equity, Chiromantical conjecturers decry theſe decuſſations in the Lines and Mounts of the hand? What that decuſſated Figure intendeth in the medall of Alexander the Great? Why the Goddeſſes ſit commonly croſſe-legged in ancient draughts, Since Juno is deſcribed in the ſame as a veneficial poſture to hinder the birth of Hercules? If any ſhall doubt why at the Amphidromicall Feaſts, on the fifth day after the Childe was born, preſents were ſent from friends, of Polipuſſes, and Cuttle-fiſhes? Why five muſt be only left in that Symbolicall mutiny among the men of Cadmus? Why Proteus in Homer the Symbole of the firſt matter, before he ſetled himſelf in the midſt of his Sea-monſters, doth place them out by fives? Why the fifth years Oxe was acceptable Sacrifice unto Jupiter? Or why the Noble Antoninus in ſome ſence doth call the ſoul it ſelf a Rhombus? He ſhall not fall on trite or triviall diſquiſitions. And theſe we invent and propoſe unto acuter enquirers, nauſeating crambe verities and queſtions over-queried. Flat and flexible truths are beat out by every hammer; But Vulcan and his whole forge ſweat to work our Achilles his armour. A large field is yet left unto ſharper diſcerners to enlarge upon this order, to ſearch out the quaternio's and figured draughts of this nature, and moderating the ſtudy of names, and meer nomenclature of plants, to erect generalities, diſcloſe unobſerved proprieties, not only in the vegetable ſhop, but the whole volume of nature; affording delightful Truths, confirmable by ſenſe and ocular Obſervation, which ſeems to me the ſureſt path, to trace the Labyrinth of Truth. For though diſcurſive enquiry and rationall conjecture, may leave handſome gaſhes and fleſh-wounds; yet without conjunction of this expect no mortal or diſpatching blows unto errour.

But the ^[209] Quincu[•]x of Heaven runs low, and 'tis time to cloſe the five ports of knowledge; We are unwilling to ſpin out our awaking thoughts into the phantaſmes of ſleep, which often continueth praecogitations; making Cables of Cobwebbes and Wilderneſſes of handſome Groves. Beſide ^[210] Hippocrates hath ſpoke ſo little and the ^[211] Oneirocriticall Maſters, have left ſuch frigid Interpretations from plants, that there is little encouragement to dream of Paradiſe it ſelf. Nor will the ſweeteſt delight of Gardens afford much comfort in ſleep; wherein the dulneſſe of that ſenſe ſhakes hands with delectable odours; and though in the ^[212] Bed of Cleopatra, can hardly with any delight raiſe up the ghoſt of a Roſe.

Night which Pagan Theology could make the daughter of Chaos, affords no advantage to the deſcription of order: Although no lower then that Maſſe can we derive its Genealogy. All things began in order, ſo ſhall they end, and ſo ſhall they begin again; according to the ordainer of order and myſtical Mathematicks of the City of Heaven.

Though Somnus in Homer be ſent to rowſe up Agamemnon, I finde no ſuch effects in theſe drowſy approaches of ſleep. To keep our eyes open longer were but to act our Antipodes. The Huntſmen are up in America, and they are already paſt their firſt ſleep in Perſia. But who can be drowſie at that howr which freed us from everlaſting ſleep? or have ſlumbring thoughts at that time, when ſleep it ſelf muſt end, and as ſome conjecture all ſhall awake again?

FINIS.

THE STATIONER TO THE READER.

I Cannot omit to advertiſe, that a Book was publiſhed not long ſince, Entituled, Natures Cabinet Ʋnlockt, bearing the Name of this Authour: If any man have been benefited thereby this Authour is not ſo ambitious as to challenge the honour thereof, as having no hand in that Work. To diſtinguiſh of true and ſpurious Peeces was the Originall Criticiſme, and ſome were ſo handſomely counterfeited, that the Entitled Authours needed not to diſclaime them. But ſince it is ſo, that either he muſt write himſelf, or Others will write for him, I know no better Prevention then to act his own part with leſſe intermiſſion of his Pen.

Books Printed for Hen. Broome at the Gun in Ivy-Lane.

The Souls Conflict, Being Eight Sermons, ſix whereof were preached at Oxford.

The Queens Exchange, A Comedy, By Richard Brome.

Two Eſſays of Love and Marriage.

The Grand Impoſtor Examined, Or, the life and Triall of James Nayler.

The Souls Tournkey, Being a Conference betwixt Mr Hanum and Mr Tuke Moderator of Gr. Coll. in London.

Books now in the Preſse which will ſhortly be extant.

The Affinity of ſacred Liturgies, By Hamon L'Eſtrage, Eſq.

Five New Comedies which were never before publiſht, By Richard Brome.

A Learned and much deſired Commentary on the whole Epiſtle to the Philippians, By Nath. Tucker Late Preacher of the Goſpel at Portſmouth.

Marginal notes

1. Pomp[••]os juvenes Aſia, atque Europa, ſed ipſum terra tegit Lyb[••] ↩
2. Little directly, but Sea between your houſe ad Greenland. ↩
3. Brought back by Cimon. Plutarch. ↩
4. The great Urnes in the Hippodrome at Rome conceived to reſound the voices of people at their ſhows ↩
5. Worthily poſſeſſed by that true Gellrleman Sir Horatio Townſhend my honored Friend. ↩
6. Abiit ad plures. ↩
7. Which makes the world ſo many years old. ↩
8. Wherein M. Dugdale hath excellently well endeavoured, and worthy to be countenanced by ingenuous and noble perſons. ↩
9. In the time of Henry the ſecond, Cambden. ↩
10. Adamas de rupe veteri praeſtantiſſim[•]s. ↩
11. Plempius, Cabeus, &c. ↩
12. D. Harvy. ↩
13. Beſleri Hortus Eyſtetenſis. ↩
14. Bauhini Theatrum Bo[•]anicum, &c. ↩
15. My worthy friend M. Goodier an ancient and learned Botaniſt. ↩
16. As in London and divers parts, whereof we mention none, leſt we ſeem to omit any. ↩
17. Hippocrates de ſuperfoetatione, de dentitione. ↩
18. Rules without exceptions. ↩
19. Tulipo mania, Narrencru[•]id, La[•]renberg. Pet. Hondius. in lib. Belg. ↩
20. Of the moſt worthy St Edmund Bacon prime Baronet, my true and noble Friend. ↩
21. The rich Mountain of Per[•]. ↩
22. Q. Calaber. lib. 1. ↩
23. Ammianus, Marellinus, Gumbrates King of Chionia a Countrey near Perſia. ↩
24. Arnoldis Montanis not in Caeſ. Commetar. L. L. Gvraldus. Kirkmannus. ↩
25. 12. Tabul. part. 1. de jure ſ[•]cro. Hominem mortuum in urbe ne ſepelito, neve urito. tom 2. Rogum aſciâ ne polito. to. 4. Item vigeneri Annotat. in Livium. & Alex. ab Alex. cum Tiraquello. Roſcinus cum dempſtero. ↩
26. Ultima prolato ſubdita flamma [•]ogo. De Faſt. lib. 4. cum Car. Neapol. anaptyxi. ↩
27. And therefore the Inſcription of his Tomb w[•]s made accordingly. Nic. Damaſc. ↩
28. Which Magius reades [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. ↩
29. Diodorus Siculus. ↩
30. Ramuſius in Navigat. ↩
31. Martialis the Biſhop. Cyprian. ↩
32. Amos 6. 10. ↩
33. Sueton. in vita. Jul. Caeſ. ↩
34. As that magnificent ſepulchral Monument erected by Simon. Mach. 1. 13. ↩
35. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], whereof a Jewiſh Prieſt had alwayes the cuſtody unto Joſephus his dayes. Joſ. Lib. 10. Antiq. ↩
36. In one ſent me by my worthy friend Dr Thomas Witherley of Walſingham. ↩
37. Hominum ivfinita multitudo eſt, creber' imaque aediſicia ferè Gallicis conſimilia. Caeſ. de bello Gal. l. 5. ↩
38. In the ground of my worthy Friend Rob Jegon Eſq. wherein ſome things contained were preſerved by the moſt worthy Sir William Paſt[•]n Bt. ↩
39. From Caſtor to Thetford the Romanes accounted thirty two miles, and from thence obſerved not our common road to London, but paſſed by Combretonium ad Anſam, Canonium, Caeſaromagus, &c. by Bretenham, Coggeſh all, Chelmeſord, Burntwood, &c. ↩
40. Moſt at Caſter by Yarmouth, found in a place called Eaſt-bloudy-burgh furlong, belonging to Mr Thomas Wood, a perſon of civility, induſtry and knowledge in this way, who hath made obſervation of remarkable things about him, and from whom we have received divers Silver and Copper Coynes. ↩
41. Belonging to that Noble Gentleman, and true example of worth Sir Ralph Hare Baronet, my honoured Friend. ↩
42. A peece of Maud the Empreſſe ſaid to be found in Buckenham Caſtle with this Inſcription, Elle n'a elle. ↩
43. At Thorpe. ↩
44. Brampron Abbas Journallenſis, ↩
45. Plut. in vita Lycur[•]. ↩
46. Stowes Survey of London. ↩
47. Execrantur rogos, & damnant ignium ſepulturam. Min. in Oct. ↩
48. Sidon. Apollinaris. ↩
49. Vigeneri Annot, in 4. Liv. ↩
50. Chiſſlet in Anaſt. Childer. ↩
51. Dionis excerpta per Xiphilin. in Sever[•]. ↩
52. Roiſold; Brendetiide. Ild tyde. ↩
53. Olai Wormii monumenta & Antiquitat. Dan. ↩
54. Adolphus Cyprius in Annal. Sleſwic. urnis adeo abundabat collis; &c. ↩
55. In Oxfordſhire; Cambden. ↩
56. In Cheſhire, Twinus de rebus Albionicis. ↩
57. In Norfolk, Hollingſhead. ↩
58. Mat. 23. ↩
59. Eurspides. ↩
60. Pſa. 63. ↩
61. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. Dion. ↩
62. Cum lacrymis poſuere. ↩
63. Laziu[•]. ↩
64. About five hundred years. Plato. ↩
65. Vinum Opimi[•] ian[•]m annorum centum. Petron. ↩
66. 12. Tabul. l. xi. de Jure ſacro. Neve aurum addito, aſt quoi curo dentes vincti e[•]unt, im cum illo ſepelire & urer[•], ſe frau[•]e eſto. ↩
67. Plin. l. xvi. In[•]er [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] numera[•] Theophraſ[•]us. ↩
68. Su[•]ius. ↩
69. Gorop. Becanus in Niloſcopio. ↩
70. Of Beringuccio nella pyrotechnia. ↩
71. At Elmeham. ↩
72. Sueton. in vitâ Tib. & in Amphitheatro ſemiuſtu[•]andum, not. Caſaub. ↩
73. Sueton. in vitâ Domitian. ↩
74. S. the moſt learned and worthy Mr M. Caſaubon upon Antoninus. ↩
75. Sic erimus cuncti. &c. Ergo dum vivimus vivamus. ↩
76. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. A barbarous paſtime at Feaſts, when men ſtood upon a rolling Globe, with their necks in a Rope, and a knife in their hands, ready to cut it when the ſtone was rolled away, wherein if they failed, they loſt their lives to the laughter of their ſpecators▪ Athenaeus. ↩
77. Diis manibus. ↩
78. Boſio. ↩
79. Pauſan. in A[••]icis. ↩
80. Lamprid. in vit. Alexand. Severi. ↩
81. Trajanus. Dion. ↩
82. Plut. in vit. Marcelli ↩
83. The Commiſſion of the Gothiſh King Theodoric for finding out ſepulchrall treaſure. Caſſiodor. Var. l. 4. ↩
84. Britannia hodie eam attonitè celebrat tantis ceremoniis, ut dediſſe Perſis videri poſſit. Plin. l. 29. ↩
85. Topygraphiae Roma ex Martiaano. Erat & vas uſtrinum appellatum quod in eo cadavera comburerentur. Cap. de Campo Eſ. quilino. ↩
86. To be ſeen in Licet. de reconditis veterum lucernis. ↩
87. Old bones according to Lyſerus. Thoſe of young perſons not tal[•] nor fat according to Columbus ↩
88. In vita. Gracc. ↩
89. Thucydides. ↩
90. Laurent. Valla. ↩
91. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. ↩
92. Speran. Alb. Ovot. ↩
93. The brain. Hippocrates. ↩
94. Amos 2. 1. ↩
95. As Artemiſia of her Husband Manſolus. ↩
96. Siſte viator. ↩
97. Kirckman nus de funer. ↩
98. Of Thomas Marqueſſe of Dorſet, whoſe body being buried 1530. was 1608 up on the cutting open of the Cerecloth found perfect and nothing corrupted, the fleſh not hardened. but in colour, proportion, and ſolmeſſe like an ordinary corps newly to be interred. Burtons deſcript. of Leiceſterſhire. ↩
99. In his Map of Ruſſia. ↩
100. The Poet Dante in his view of Purgatory, ſound gluttons ſo meagre, and extenuated, that he conceited them to have been in the Siege of Jeruſalem, and that it was eaſie to have diſcovered Homo or Omo in their faces: M being made by the two lines of their cheeks, archlng over the Eye brows to the noſe, and their ſunk eyes making O O which makes up Omo. Parean l'occhiaie anella ſenza gemme che nel viſo de gli hu[•]mini legge huomo Ben'hauria quiui conoſciu[•]o l' [•]mme. ↩
101. Tirin. in Ezek. ↩
102. Rituale Graecum opera J. Goar in officio exequiarum. ↩
103. Similis reviviſcendi promiſſa Democrito vanitas, qui non revixit ipſe. Quae, malùm, iſta dimentia est; iterari vitam morte. Plin. l. 7. c. 55. ↩
104. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. & deincepsi ↩
105. Cedit enim retro de terrâ quod fui[•] ante In terr[•]m, &c. Lucrer. ↩
106. Plato in Phaed. ↩
107. Vale, vale, nos te ordiquo natura permittet ſequemur. ↩
108. Tu manes ne laede meos. ↩
109. Ruſſians, &c. ↩
110. Fran[••]ſco Perucei. Pompe funebri. ↩
111. Del inſerno. c[•]nt. 4. ↩
112. Tibullus. ↩
113. Oracula Chaldaica cum ſcholiis Pſelii & [•]h[••]honis. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Vi corpus reli[•]quentium animae puriſſimae. ↩
114. In the Pſalme of Moſes. ↩
115. According to the ancient Arithmetick of the hand wherein the little finger of the right hand contracted, ſignified an hundred. Pierius in Hieroglyph. ↩
116. One night as long as three. ↩
117. The puzling queſtions of Tiberius unto Grammarians. Marcel. Donatus in Suet. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Hom. Job. ↩
118. That the world may laſt but fix thouſand years. ↩
119. Hectors fame laſting above two lives of Methuſelah, before that famous Prince was extant. ↩
120. ▪ The character of death. ↩
121. Old ones being taken up, and other bodies laid under them ↩
122. Gruteri Inſcriptiones Antiquae. ↩
123. Cuperem notum eſſe quod ſim, non opto ut ſciatur qualis fim. Card. in vita propria. ↩
124. Omnia vanitas & pastio venti, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] ut olim Aquila & Symmachus. V. Druſ. Eccleſ. ↩
125. Jornandes de rebus Geticis. ↩
126. Iſa. 14. ↩
127. Angulus contingentiae, the leaſt of Angles. ↩
128. In Paris where bodies ſoon conſume. ↩
129. A ſtately Mauſoleum or ſepulchral pyle built by Adrianus in Rome, where now ſtandeth the Caſtle of St Angelo ↩
130. Plato in Timaeo. ↩
131. fronde legiſilvas. ↩
132. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], in opening the fleſh. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], in taking out the rib. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] in cloſing up the part again. ↩
133. For ſome there is from the ambiguity of the word Mikedem, whether ab orieute or a principio. ↩
134. Joſephus. ↩
135. Suſhan in Suſiana. ↩
136. Plutarch in the life of Artaxerxes. ↩
137. Xenophon in Oeconomico. ↩
138. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. ↩
139. Cicero ia Cat. Major. ↩
140. Benedict Curtius de Hortis. Bapt. porta in villa. ↩
141. Of Marius, Alexander, Roma Sotterranea. ↩
142. Wherein the lower part is ſomewhat longer, as defined by Ʋpton de ſtudio militari, and Johannes de Bado-Aureo, cum comment. clariſſ. & doctiſſ. Biſſaei. ↩
143. Caſal. dé Ritihus. Boſio nellà Trionfant[•] croce. ↩
144. Decuſſatio ipſa jucundum ac peram[•]num conſpectum praebuit. Cart. Hortar. l. 6. ↩
145. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. Phavorinus Philoxenus ↩
146. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. Polit. 7. ↩
147. Indulge ordinibus, nec ſecius omnis in u[•]guem Arbo[•]ibus poſitis, ſecto via limite quadret. Georg. 2. ↩
148. Eccleſs. 2. ↩
149. Vet. Teſtamen[••] Pharus. ↩
150. Which King Numa ſet up with his fingers ſo diſpoſed that they numerically denoted 365 Pliny. ↩
151. Of a ſtructure five parts, Fundamentmm, parie[•]es, Aperturae, Comp[•]rtitio, tectum, Leo. Alberti. Five Columes, Tuſcan, Dorick, Ionick, Corinthian, Compound. Five different intercolumniations, Pycnoſtylos, dyſtylos, Syſtylos, Ar[•]oſtylos, Euſtylos. vitru. ↩
152. Ʋti conſtat ex pergamena apud Chifflet; in in B. R. Bruxelli, & Icon. f. Stradae. ↩
153. Macc. 1. 11. De armis Scaccatis, maſculatis, invectis fuſelatis vide Spelm. Aſpilog. & Ʋpton. cum [•]rudid. Biſſaeo. ↩
154. Ariſtot. Mechan. Quaſt. ↩
155. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. ↩
156. Cant. 2. ↩
157. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. Hom. ↩
158. As in the contention between Minerva and Arachne. ↩
159. In Euſtachius. ↩
160. Plato. ↩
161. In the diſpoſure of the Legions in the Wars of the Republike, before the diviſion of the Legion intoten Cohorts by the Emperours. Salmaſ. in his Epiſtle a Mounſieur de Peyreſc[•] & de Re militari Romanorum. ↩
162. Polybius Appianus. ↩
163. Agathius Ammianus. ↩
164. Aelian, Tact. ↩
165. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. ↩
166. Secto via limi[•]e quadret. Comment. in Virgil. ↩
167. D[••]d. Sic. ↩
168. Antonio Agoſtino d[•]lle n edaglie. ↩
169. Ariſtot. Mechan. ↩
170. Plut. in vit. Theſ. ↩
171. Capitula ſquammata Quercum Bauhini, whereof though he ſaith pe[••]aro reperiuntur his tantum invenimus▪ yet we finde them commonly with us and in great numbers. ↩
172. Anthe. Grae inter Epigraminata [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. ↩
173. Eſpecially the por[•]s cervinus Impera[•]i, Sporoſa, or Alga [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. ↩
174. Ier. 2, 22. ↩
175. Strutiotes. ↩
176. In met. cum Cabeo. ↩
177. Schoneveldus de Piſc. ↩
178. Doctiſſim. Laurenburg horr. ↩
179. The long and tender green Capricernus rarely found, we could never meet with but two. ↩
180. Elem. li. 4. ↩
181. Gom. d[•] Sale. ↩
182. Elegantly conſpicuous on the inſide of the ſtripped skins of Dive-Fowl, of the Cormerant, Goſhonder, Weaſell, Loon, &c. ↩
183. 1652. deſcribed in our Pſeudo. Epidem. Edit. 3. ↩
184. Orchis Anthropophora, Fabii Columna. ↩
185. Suet. in vit. Aug. ↩
186. Found often in ſome form of redmaggot in the ſtanding waters of Ciſterns in the Summer. ↩
187. Quantum vertice ad auras Aethereas, tantum radice ad tartara tendit. ↩
188. Galen. de med. ſecundum loc. ↩
189. Hedera formoſior alba. ↩
190. Linſcholen. ↩
191. Lux orco, tenebrae Jovi, tenebrae orco, lux Jovi. Hipp[•]cr. de diaeta. ↩
192. S. Hevelii Selenographia. ↩
193. Car. Bovillus de intellectu. ↩
194. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]. ↩

195. ↩
196. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], Arbor, fru[•]ex, ſuffrutex, herba, and that fifth which comprehendeth the fungi and tubera, whether to be named [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], comprehending alſo conferva marina ſalſa, and Seacords, of ſo many yards length. ↩
197. Elleipſts, parabola, Hyperbole, Circulus, Triangulum. ↩
198. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] id eſt nuptias multas. Rhodig. ↩
199. Plato de leg. 6. ↩
200. Plutarch problem. Rom. 1. ↩
201. Archang. dog. Cubal. ↩
202. Jod into He. ↩
203. Lev 6. ↩
204. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] four and one, or five. Scali[•]. ↩
205. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], or bona fortuna the name of the fifth houſe. ↩
206. Conjunct, oppoſite, ſextile, trigonal, tetragonal. ↩
207. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] ▪ ↩
208. Ʋnifolium, nullifolium. ↩
209. Hyades near the Horizon about midnight, at that time. ↩
210. De Inſomnii[•]. ↩
211. Artemodorus & Apomazar. ↩
212. Strewed with roſes. ↩