THE Yea, it is a Philosophers saying, that one in comparison SECOND of two is no bodie.* And truely amongest all other comBOOKE panies, and societies, there is not any more firmely and neerely linked together, then this of the learned: who for the most part love better amongest themselves, then kinsfolke and brethren doe: agreeing in like studies, and like affections, they can not but take pleasure one in another, and reduce them selves from the number of many as it were into one united body.

GUAZ. All other assemblies may be well termed strange and externall, and this same familiar and internal, wherein the mindes are exercised in reasoning, teaching, and discoursing of things, which appertaine to the knowledge of vertue and goodnesse. And these are the true freendships, which last long.

ANNIB. It is a common saying, that the bondes of vertue binde more straightly, then the bondes of blood. And in trueth one good man may be sayd to be a neere kinsman to another good man, by the conformitie of their minds and

GUAZ. Heereby I imagine how great the concorde, the pleasure, and the profit is, which is reaped by the Academie of the illustratie (as they tearme them) established in this citie.

ANNIB. You are deceived in your imagination, for this Academy being assembled in the name of God, you may well thinke, that he is in the midst of them, and that hee mainteineth it in peace and amitie. What comfort every one receiveth by it, I cannot sufficiently set foorth unto you for that I have tried in my selfe and seene plainely in other Academikes, that there is not any one so afflicted with the common miseries of this citie, and with his private troubles, who setting once his foote into the hal of the Academie, seemeth not to arive at the haven of tranquilitie, and beginneth not to cleere his minde of care: casting his eyes about the hall to see those goodly devises, full of profounde mysteries. I may well say of my selfe, that when my bodie is shut within it, all my yrkesome thoughtes are

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shut out the which attend me at the doore, and at my
going out get uppon my shoulders, but touching the good SECOND
which commeth of his happie assembly, you may be assured
in thinking to your selfe what diversitie of learning is there
handled, sometimes with publike lectures, sometimes with
private reasoninges, which breede that delight, which com-
meth of giving and receiving, as we have sayde before.
And I may say without arrogancie, that the Academie,
borrowing me as it were to reade in Philosophie, hath payed
mee home with interrest, beeing not onely bettered in that
parte, but also indued with some knowledge in divinitie,
poetrie, and other laudable sciences, whereof I knowe I am
not altogether voide.

GUAZ. I have noted by long experience, that for the most parte those are smally accounted of, in companie, which have bestowed al their studie in one onely profession. For drawing them once out of that, you shall finde them very sottes and fooles. Whereas on the contrary, those are very well thought of, who besides their chiefe profession are able to discourse reasonablie well and with discretion of other matters: In so much that the knowledge they shew in those bye matters, bringeth them so much the more honour, by how much they are estraunged from their ordinary profession. Wherefore seeing in companie wee commonly devise of diverse thinges, leaping from one matter into another, there is nothing, in my judgement, that doeth us more honour, or maketh us better liked of, in good companie, then to be readie at all assayes, and have a mouth for every matter: to be able to perfourme which, I consider that the companie of many learned men is very availeable, like as that of the Academies is.

ANNIB. We have alredie sayde that it is not in one man to speake sufficiently of all thinges, by reason of the shortenesse of his lyfe, but for so much as all learning is not in one alone, it is good that manie assemble togeather to make amongest them one perfect man, as it falleth out in those learned companies.

GUAZ. Seeing the conversation of these Academikes is 1: FF

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so avayleable, I looke you shoulde set downe some orders SECOND for them, which they ought to observe, to mainteine themBOOKE selves long in agreement and amitie.

ANNIB. I should thinke I should commit a fault if I should speake any thing of that, for that it were according too the Proverb to instruct Minerva: knowing that it is in them rather to teach, then to be taught the orders of conversation. Besides that, they have lawes and orders set downe in writing, by force whereof, friendship and concord is inviolably kept amongest them.

GUAZ. I pray you yet at the least, to tell and recount unto me the order of the Academie of the illustrati in this citie, and to declare unto me the originall of it, and what is the manner of their conversation together.

ANNIB. If I should throughly satisfie your request, this day would not be enough to doe it, but to content you somewhat, I briefly say unto you that these Academikes desirous to travayle continually for their owne glorie, and the universall benefite, have proposed unto themselves the enterprise of the sunne, which going out of the Horizon, ascendeth to the opposite of the moone, which setteth in the West, and upon this devise, are set these wordes, Lux indeficiens, with the name of Illustrati. The lawes of the Academie are a great manie, but they are referred al, chiefly to the honour of God, and conservation of the state of the Academie. In proposing of matters, in discoursing and in answering, they proceede with great respect and reverence, without tumult, without confusion. And in giving of voyces every one preferreth his auncient before him. As touching private congregations, some are called for the creation of the Prince, Counsellours, Censors, and other Officers, who are made by secrete voyces, and they continue but from foure monethes to foure: some to heare the discourse of some Academike, who loveth not to doe it publikely: some to admit the newe Academikes that were before chosen by privie voyces and to heare their speeches, wherein they render thankes too the Prince and the Academikes. Some to conferre of those thinges which are to be handled in

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publike: and then there are ordinarily made lectures and
discourses of divers matters, and by two Academikes the SECOND
compositions and workes of the Academie are redde, and
afterwardes the writinges and doynges of strangers. Every
two monethes they change their Prince, and in that cere-
monie, the olde Prince geveth up his throne and delivereth
the seale of the Academie too his successour, who placing
himselfe in the others seate, taketh possession of the princi-
palitie: which is done in everie point with such state and
majestie, that I am not able to expresse it. Which you
may imagine by the great multitude, not onely of Citizens,
but of straungers, which are present at it. Moreover, it
happeneth sometime, that some Academike is married, and
then the bride and other gentlewomen with her, are invited
to this assemblie: where shee is honoured with great
pompe and solemnity, with pleasant discourses, with com-
mendatorie verses, with musicke and such like. Like as
my Ladie Francis your cosin was, to whom in open assembly
there was geven in the name of the Academikes a Carcanet
of golde, which you may perhaps have seene about her
necke, whereon the one side, is bravely set foorth, the
devise or armes of the Academie: and on the other side,
the devise of your brother: but something altered, for
whereas that hath a flying swan, with a branche of bay in
her mouth, and this writing on it (above the skies) this hath
besides the shadow of the same swan, and the posie is
changed, which is (Be a mate in this maner) meaning that
shee ought to follow the steps of her husband, as the shadowe
did the swanne. They use also at the death of any of the
Academikes to make funerall assemblies, in honour of him
with such gravitie and sadnesse that it is wonderfull. I
coulde rehearse unto you many other notable thinges, but
I will omit them for the time is short, which we have to
bestowe in other matters, wee will onelye say then, that the
conversation with the learned standeth us in marvellous
steede, delighteth us muche, and is the cause of greate
love and amity. Which is shewed by the fable of Narcissus,
who being without company, so soone as hee sawe himselfe

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in a fountaine, fel in love with himself: and therfore nothing SECOND being more like unto us, then our Image, it may bee well BOOKE sayde, that when one that is learned loveth an other that

is learned, that both of them love nothing els, but their owne Image in an other. And it may be likewise saide, that this their friendship is perpetual, as well as the love of ones selfe is. Nowe let us come to the conversation betweene strangers and Citizens.

GUAZ. Seeing we have but a little time left, it were better to omitte this matter, as a thing little and seldome happening.

ANNIB. Let us at least shewe unto the Citizen, that it is his part to have a pittifull eye towardes straungers, and to consider, that being farre from their countrey, parentes and goodes, being deprived of all those commodities which wee injoy in our owne houses, they are to bee succoured with all ayde and favour possible, and especially those, which are in necessitie: For no doubt, hee that receiveth them into his lodging, purchaseth to himself a lodgeing and abyding place in heaven, by meanes of his charitable curtesie: yea wee must knowe, that this worke is so acceptable to God, that he that giveth onely a cuppe of colde water to drinke, in the way of charitie, shall not goe without rewarde. And though the commodities heere belowe are not to bee compared with the heavenly rewardes, yet let us thinke what honour and profit the good enterteinement which wee give to straungers bringeth us: for that those which keepe open house for strangers, doe not onely winne credit in their owne countrey, but without setting foote out of the precinct of their owne terrytorie, they are known, and honourably reported of in forrain countries: besides that, they are sure, when they travayle, to finde friendes, money, and succour at neede.

Guaz. It is a great contentment to a man, to see himself esteemed, and made much off by his parentes and friends, in his owne countrey: but that is but a trifle in respect of the good it doeth a man, when hee seeth himselfe entertained and honoured, where he is scarce knowen. And therfore