The life of Iohn Picus Erle of mirandula.

IOhan Picus of the faders side desce~did of
the worthy linage of the emperoure Co~stantine
by a neuew of the seid e~peroure called
Pic=9= by whom al the Auncestres of this Iohan Picus
vndowtedly bere yt name. But we shal let hys
auncestres passe to whom though they were right
excelle~t he gaue againe as much honoure as he receyued.
and we shal speke of hym self rehersing in
part his lernynge and his vertue. For these be the
thi~gs~ which we may accompt for our owne of which
euery man is more proprely to be 9me~ded then of the
noblenes of his auncestres: whose honoure makith
vs nat honorable. for either they were them self vertuouse
or not: if not then had they none honoure the~
self: had they neuer so grete possessions: for honoure
is the reward of vertue. And how may they clayme
the rewarde yt propreli longith to vertue: if they lak
the vertue yt the rewarde longith to. Then if them
self had none honour how myght they leue to theyr
heyres yt thing which they had not them self. on the
othir side if they be vertuouse and so co~seque~tly honorable
yet may they not leue their honoure to vs as
enheretaunce: no more then the vertue that them self
were honorable for. For neuer the more noble be we
for theyr noblenes if oure self lak those thyngis for
which thei were noble. But rathir the more worshipful
yt oure auncestres were the more vile and shamfull
be we: if we decline from the steppes of their worshipful
liuinge: the clere beauty of whos vertue makith

a.i.

the darke spot of oure vice the more euidently
to apere & to be the more marked. But Pic=9= of who~
we speke was him self so honorable for the gret ple~tuouse
habundaunce of al such vertues: the possession
wherof very honoure folowith as a shadow folowith
a bodi yt he was to al them yt aspire to honowre
a very spectacle in whos co~ditions as in a clere pullished
mirrour they myght behold in what pointes
very honoure stondith: whose meruelouse cunnyng
& excelle~t vertue though my rude lerning be ferr vnable
sufficie~tli to expres: yet for as much as if no man
shuld do hit but he that might sufficiently do hit: no
man shuld do hit. and bettir it were to be vnsufficie~tly
done then vttirly vndone. I shal therfor as I ca~
brefely reherce you his hole lyfe: at the lest wyse to
giue some other man here aftir yt ca~ do hit bettir occasion
to take hyt in hande when hyt shal happely
greue him to se the life of such an excelle~t cunnynge
man so ferr vnkunnyngly wrytin.

Of his parentis and tyme of his birth.

IN the yere of oure lord god .m.cccclxiii. Pic=9=
the seconde beyng than the generall vicare
of crist in his chirch: & Federik the thryd of yt name
ruli~ge the empire this noble man was born the last
child of his moder Iulya. a woma~ co~men of a noble
stok. his fader hight Iohan~ frauncise a lord of grete
honoure and auctorite.

Of the wondre that appered by fore his birth.

A Meruelouse sight was there sene byfore his
birth. there appered a fyery garla~d sta~ding
ouer the chambre of his moder whil she trauelled
and sodenly vanished away: which appare~ce
was peradue~ture a tokene that he which shuld that
howre in the co~panye of mortall men be born: in the
perfectio~ of vndrestonding shuld be like the perfite
figure of that rounde circle or garland and that his
excellent name shuld round abowt the circle of this
hole world be magnified whose mind shuld alwei as
the fier aspire vpward to heuenly thing. And whose
fiery eloque~ce shuld with an ardent hart in tyme to
come worship and praise almyghti god with al his
stre~kyth. And as yt flame sodenly vanishid so shuld
this fire sone from the yeen of mortall peple be hidd
we haue oftyn tymes red that such vnknowen and
stra~ge tokens hath gone by fore or folowith the natiuitese
of excellent wyse and vertuouse men departing
as hit were and by goddis co~maundeme~t
seuerynge the cradils of such speciall childre~ fro the
co~panye of other of the co~myn sorte. And shewing yt
they be born to the accheuing of some gret thing.
But to passe ouer other. The gret saynt ambrose: a
swarme of bees flew about his mouth in his cradle
& som entred in to hys mouth and aftir yt issueyng
outagayne and fleyng vppon high hiding the~ self
amonge the clowdis eschaped both the sight of hys
fader and of all them that were present which pronostication
one Paulinus making much of: expowned
yt to signifie to vs the swete hony co~bis of his
plesaunt wrytinge: which shuld shew out the celestiall
giftis of god & shuld lifte vp the mynd of men
from erth in to heuen.

Of his persone

He was of feture & shappe semely & bewteouse
of stature goodly and hygh: of flesh te~dre
and soft his vysage louely and fayre hys coloure
white ent~me~gled with comely ruddis his yen gray
and quike of loke his teth white and euen his here
yelow and not to pikede.

Of his setting forth to scole and study in humanitate.

VNder the rule and gouernaunce of hys moder
he was set to masters & to lerning: where
with so ardent mynde he labored the studies of humanite
that with i~ short while he was and not with
out a cause accompted amonge the chiefe oratours
and poetys of that tyme in lernynge meruellously
swift and of so redy a witt that the versis which he
hard ones red: he wold agayne bothe foreward and
bak ward to the grete wonder of the herers reherse.
and ouer that wold holde hyt in sure reme~braunce
which in other folkis wont comenly to happen contrari.
for they yt are swifte in takyng be oftin tymes
slowe in remembring. and they yt with more laboure
& difficulte resceiue hit: more fast & suerely hold hit.

Of his study in Canone

IN the fouretene yere of his age by the commaundeme~t
of his moder which longed vere
sore to haue him preest he dep~ted to Bononye to
study in the lawes of the chirch: which when he had
two yere tasted parceyuing that the faculte leyned
to no thing but onely mere traditions & ordinaunces:
his mynde fill from hit. yet lost he not his tyme
ther in for in that two yere yet beyng a childe he co~piled
a breuiary or a summe vppon all the decretallis
in which as breifly as possible was he comprised
theffect of all yt hole grete volume and made a boke
no scle~der thing to right co~ning & parfite doctours.

Of his study in philosophie & diuinite.

AFtir this as a desirous enserchour of the secretis
of nature he left these commyn troden
pathis and gaue him self hole to speculation & philosophy
as well humane as dyuine. For the purchasing
wherof aftir the maner of Plato and Apollonius
he scrupulously sought out all the famous doctours
of his tyme. visiting studeously all the vniuersites
and scolis not only through Italy but also
thorow fraunce. And so i~fatigable laboure gaue he
to those studies: that yet a child and berdles he was
both reputed: and was in dede both a parfit philosopre
and a parfit deuine.

Of his mynde and vaingloriouse dispitions at Rome.

NOw had he ben .vii. yere 9uersaunte in these
studies whan ful of pride & desirous of glori
and mannes praise for yet was he not kyndled in ye
loue of god he went to rome & there couetinge to
make a shew of his connyng & litil considering how
grete enuie he shuld reise against him self ix.C. questions
he purposed. of diuerse and sondry maters.
as well in logike and philosophie as diuinite. with
gret study piked and sought owt as wel of the Latin
auctours as the grekis. And partly set out of the secret
misteries of the hebrieus Caldaies & Arabies.
and many thi~gis drawen owt of ye olde obscure philosophie
of Pithagoras trimegistus and orphe=9= &
many othir thyngis strange: and to all folk except
right few speciall excellent menne byfore that day:
not vnknowin onli: but also vnherd. of all which q~stions
in open places that they myght be to all peple
ye bettir knowen he fastened and set vp. offering
all so hym self to bere the costis of all such as wold
come thyther owt of ferre contreis to dyspute but
thorough ye enuie of his malitiouse enemyes which
enuie lyke ye fire euir drawith to ye highest he coude
neuir bring about to haue a daye to his dispitions
appoynted. For thys cause he taryed at Rome an
hole yere in all which time his enuiours neuir durst
openly with open dispytions attempt hym but rathir
with craft and sleight and as it were with pryuey
trenches enforced to vndirmyne hym for non
other cause but for malice and for they were as many
men thought corrupt with a pestylent enuie.
This enuie as menne denied was specially raised a
gainst hym for this cause that where there were many
which had many yeris: some for glory: some for
couetyse: giuen them self to lerninge: they thought
that hyt shuld happely deface their fame & minyssh
thopinion of their connyng if so yong a man plenteouse
of substaunce and grete doctryne: durst in the
chife citie of the world make o profe of his wyt and
his lerninge as wel in things~ naturall as in diuinite
and in many such thingis as men many yeris neuir
attayned to. Now when they parceyued that they
coude not a gaynst his connyng any thyng openly
preuaile: they brought forth the serpentines of false
crime. And cried out that ther were .xiii. of his .ix.C.
questions suspect of heresye. Then ioyned they to
them some goode simple folk that shuld of zele to ye
faith and pretence of relygion impugne those questions
as new things~ and with which their eris had
not be in vre. In which impugnation though some
of them happely lakked not good mynde: yet lakked
they erudition and lernynge: which questions:
not with stonding by fore that not a few famous doctours
of diuinite had approued. as good and clene
and subscribed their names vndre them. But he not
bering the losse of his fame made a defence for those
xiii. questions. A warke of gret erudition and elegant
and stuffed with the cognition of many thingis
worthy to be lerned. which wark he compiled in
xx. nyghtis. In which hit euedently aperith: not only
that those conclusions were goode and stondyng
with the faith: but also that they: which had barked
at them: were of foly and rudenesse to be reproued.
which defence and all othir thyngis that he shulde
write: he 9mitted like a good christen man to ye most
holy iudgement of oure mother holy chirch. whych
defence receiued: & the .xiii. q~stions duly by deliberatio~
examined: our holi fathir ye pope approued Pic=9=
and tendirly fauored him. as by a bull of oure holy
fathir pope Alexandre the .vi. hit plainly apperith:
but the boke in which the hole .ix.C. questions with
theyr conclusions were conteyned for as much as
ther were in them many thyngis straunge and not
fully declared and were more mete for secrete communication
of lerned men then for open heryng of
commune peple which for lake of connynge might
take hurt therby Picus desired him self yt hit shuld
not be redd. And so was the redynge therof forboden.
Lo this ende had Picus of his hye mynde and
prowd purpose. yt where he thought to haue goten
perpetuall prayse: there had he much warke to kepe
him self vpright: that he ranne not in perpetuall infamye
and sclaundre.

Of the chaunge of his life

But as him self told his neuiew he iudged that
this cam thus to passe: by the especiall prouision
and singuler goodnes of almighty god. that by
this fals cryme vntrewly put vppon him by his euell
willers he shuld correct his very errours and
that this shuld be to hym wandering in darkenes
as a shyning light: in which he might behold & considre:
how ferr he had gone owt of ye waye of truth.
For byfore this he had bene both desyrous of glory
and kindled in vaine loue: and holden in volupteouse
vse of women. The comelynes of hys body
wyth the louely fauoure of hys vysage and ther
with all his meruelouse fame his excelle~t lerninge
gret rychesse and noble kyndred set many women
a fier on him. from the desire of whom he not abhorring
the waye of lyfe set a side was somwhat fallen
in to wanto~nesse. But aftyr that he was ones with
this variaunce wakened he drew bak his mynd flowing
in riot and turned hit to crist. womennis blandime~ts~
he chaunged in to the desire of heuenly ioyes
& dispising the blast of vayneglorie which he bifore
desired now with all his mynd he began to seke the
glorye and profite of christis chirche and so bigan he
to ordre his 9ditio~s that from thens forth he might
haue ben approued & though his enemye were his
iudge.

Of the fame of his vertue and the resort vnto him therfore.

HEre vpon shortly the fame of his noble cunnyng
and excellent vertue both ferre & nygh
began gloriously to spring for which many worthi
philosophres & that were taken in no~bre of the most
cunning resorted bisely vnto him as to a market of
good doctrine. so~me for to moue questions and dispute
somme that were of more godly mynde to
here & to take the holesome lessons & instruction of
good lyuing: which lessons were so much the more
set by: in howe much thei cam fro~ a more noble man
and a more wyse man and him also which had him
self some time followed ye croked hilles of delitiouse
pleasure. to the fasteninge of good discipline in the
myndis of the herers those thi~gs~ seme to be of grete
effecte: which be both of their owne nature good &
also be spokin of such a master: as is co~uerted to the
way of iustice from te croked & raaged path of voluptuouse
lyuing.

b.i.

The burning of wanton bokis.

FIue bokis that in his youth of wanton versis
of loue with other like fantasies he had made
in his vulgare tonge: al togither in detestation of
his vice passed and lest these trifeles might be some
euil occasion aftirwarde he burned.

Of his study and diligence in holy scripture.

FRom the~sforth he gaue him selfe day & night
most feruently to the studies of scripture in
which he wrot many noble bokes: which welle testifie
bothe his angelike wit his ardent laboure and
his profounde eruditio~ of which bokes some we haue
& some as an inestymable tresure we haue lost. Gret
lybraries hit is i~credible to co~sidre with how meruelouse
celerite he redd them ouer and wrot out what
him liked. of ye olde fathirs of ye chirch: so gret knowlege
he had as hit were harde for him to haue yt hath
lyued longe & all his life hath don nothing ellis but
red them. Of these newer diuines so good iugeme~t
he had yt yt might apere there were no thyng in any
of them that were vnknowe to him. but al thing as
rype as though he had al theyr warkys euer byfore
hys yen. but of all these new doctours he specially
co~mendith saint thomas as him yt enforcith him self
in a sure pillar of treuth. he was veri quik wise and
sobtle in dispitions & had gret felicite therein while
he had yt hye stomak. But now a grete while he had
bode such co~flictis farwell: and euery day more and
more hated them. and so gretly abhorred them: that
when hercules Este~sis duke of ferrare: furst by messangers
and aftir by him selfe: desired him to dispute
at ferrare: bycause ye generall chaptre of freres prechours
was holden there. longe hit was or he coude
be brought ther to: but at the instant request of the
duke which very singulerly loued him he ca~ thyder
where he so behaued him selfe that was wondre to beholde
how all ye audie~ce reioyced to here hym for hit
were not possible for a man to vttre neythir more co~nyng
nor more co~nyngly. But hit was a commune
saying with him that such altercations were for a logition
and not metely for a philosophre. he saide also
that such disputatio~s gretely profited as were exercised
with a peasyble mynde to thenserching of the
treuth in secrete co~pany with owt gret audie~ce: but
he saide that those dispitions did gret hurt: that wer
holden openly to thoste~tation of lerning & to winne
the fauoure of the co~mune peple & the co~mendation
of folys. he thought that vttirly hit coude vnneth
be but that with the desyre of worshippe which these
gasing disputers gape aftir ther is with an inseparable
bonde annexed ye appetite of his co~fusione &
rebuke whom they argue with. which appetite ys a
dedeli. wounde to ye sowle & a mortall poyson to charite
there was nothi~g passed hi~ of those captio~s soteltes
& cauillatio~s of sophistrie nor a gayn ther was
no thinge yt he more hated & abhorred co~sydering yt
they serued of nought but to ye shami~g of such other
folke as wer in very science much bettir lerned and
in those trifles ignora~t. And yt vnto thenserchinge
of ye treuth to which he gaue 9tinuall laboure they
profited lytle or nought.

b.ii.

Of his lernyng vniuersally.

BUt bicause we will holde the reder no lenger
in hand: we will speke of hys lerninge but a
worde or twayne generally. sume man hath shined
in eloquence but ignorans of naturall things~ hathe
dishonested him some men hath flowred i~ the knowledge
of diuers straunge langages but he hath wa~ted
all the cognitio~ of philosophie. Sume man hath
red the inuentions of the olde philosophres but he
hath not ben exercised i~ the new scolis. Sume man
hath sought connyng as well philosophi as diuinite
for praise and vayneglory and not for any profet or
encreace of christis chirch. But Picus all these thingis
with equal study hath so receyued yt thei might
seme by hepis as a ple~tuouse streme to haue flowen
in to him. for he was not of the 9dition of some folke
which to be excelle~t in one thinge set al othir aside
but he in all scie~cis profited so excellently: that which
of them so euer ye had considered in hym ye wolde
haue though yt he had taken that one for his onely
studye. And al these thyngis were in him so muche
the more meruelouse in yt he cam therto by him selfe
with the stre~gth of his owne witte for ye loue of god
and profit of his chirch with owt maisters so that we
maye sey of him that Epicure the philosophre said
of him self that he was his owne maister.

Fyue causes that in so short tyme brought him to se meruelouse connyng.

To the bryngyng forth of so wondreful effects~
in so small time I 9sidre fyue causes to haue
come to gedir: first an i~credible wit secondly a meruelouse
fast memory thredly grete substance by the
which to ye bying of his bokes as well Latin as greke
& othir tongis he was especially holpen .vii.m. ducatis
he had laide out in ye gadering togither of volumes
of all maner of litterature. The fourth cause
was his besy & infatigable study. The fyft was the
contempt dispising of al erthly thingis.

Of his conditions and his vertue.

But nowe let vs passe ouer those powars of his
soule which appertaine to vndresto~di~g & knowledge
& let vs speke of the~ yt belonge to ye acheiuing
of noble actis let vs as we can declare his excellent
conditions yt his mynde enflamed to godwarde may
apere. And his riches giuen owt to pore folke may
be vndresto~de to the itent yt they which shall here his
vertue may haue occasio~ therbi to giue especial laude
and thanke therfor to almighty god of whose infinite
godenesse al grace and vertue co~mith.

Of ye sale of his lordeshippis and almesse.

Hre yere before his deth to thende that all ye
charge & besines of rule or lordship set a side
he might lede his life in rest and peace wele considering
to what ende this erthly honour & worldly dignite
co~mith all his patrimonye and dominions yt
is to sey the thred parte of therldome of Mira~dula
and of co~cordia: vnto Iohan franscis his neuieu he
solde. & that so good chepe that hyt semed rathir a
gift then a sale. All that euer he receyued of this bargaine
partly he gaue owt to pore folk / partly he bestowed
in the bieng of a litle londe to the finding of
him & his howsolde. And ouer yt much siluer vessel &

b.iii.

plate with othir preciouse & costly vtensilis of howsold
he deuided amonge pore peple. He was co~tent
with meane fare at his table how be hyt so~what yet
reteyning of the olde plenty in deynty viande & siluer
vessell. Euery day at certaine howris he gaue
hem self to praier. To pore men alway if eni cam he
plentuosly gaue out his money: and not co~tent only
to giue that he had him self redy: he wrote ouer yt to
on .Hierom Benineui=9= a flore~tin a wel letred man
who~ for his gret loue toward him a~d ye integrite of
his co~ditions he singulerly fauored yt he shold with
his owen money euer helpe pore folk: and giue maidens
money to their mariage: and alway send him
worde what he had laide out that he might paye hit
him ageyn. This office he co~mitted to hym that he
might ye more easeli by him as by a faithfull messanger
releue ye necessite & miseri of pore nedi peple such
as hi~ self happely coude not cu~ by ye knowledge of.

Of ye volu~tari afflictio~ & paini~g of his own body.

OUer all this: many times which ys not to be
kept secret he gaue almes of hys own body:
we knowe many men which as seint Hierom saith
put forth their hande to pore folke: but with the plesure
of ye flesh thei be ouer co~men: but he: mani daies
and namely those daies which represent vnto vs ye
passion & deth yt Christ suffred for our sake bet and
scowrged hys own flessh in the reme~braunce of that
gret benefite and for clensing of his olde offencis.

Of his placabilite or beninge nature.

HE was of chere alwaye mery & so beninge
nature yt he was neuer trobled with Angre &
he said onis to hys neuien that what so euir sholde
happen fell ther neuer so grete mysaduenture he
coud neuer as him thought be moued to wrath: but
if his chestis perished i~ which his bokes lay: that he
had with grete trauaile & watch 9piled. But for as
much as he co~sidered yt he laboured only for ye loue
of god & profit of his chirch: & yt he had dedicate vnto
him all his warkis his studies & his doinges & sith
he sawe yt sith god is almighty they coulde not miscary
but if hit were either by his co~maundeme~t or
by his sufferaunce: he verily trusted: sith god is all
good: yt he wold not suffre him to haue that occasio~
of heuines. O very happi mynde which none aduersite
myght oppresse which no prosperite might enhaunce:
not the conning of all philosophie was able
to make hym prowde not the knowledge of the hebrewe
chaldey & arabic language beside greke and
laten could make him waingloriouse not his grete
substance not hys noble blode coude blow vp his
hart not ye bewty of his body not ye grete occasio~ of
sin were able to pull hi~ bak i~ to ye voluptuouse brode
way yt ledith to helle: what thing was ther of so meruelouse
strength yt might ouertorne ye minde of him
which now as seneke sayth was gotin aboue fortune
as he: which as well her fauoure as her malice
hath set at nought yt he might be cowpled with a spirituall
knot vnto crist and his heuinly citeseynes.

How he eschewed dignites.

wha~ he sawe mani me~ with gret labour & monei
desire & biseli purchace ye offices & dignites of ye
chirch which are now a daies alas ye while 9muneli
bought and solde him self refused to receyue them:
whan two kingis offred them. wha~ an othir man offred
him gret worldy promotion if he wolde go to the
kingis cowrte he gaue him such an Answer that he
sholde well know that he neithir desired worship ne
worldly richesse but rathir set them at nought yt he
might ye more quietly giue him self to studie & ye seruice
of god: this weis he persuaded yt to a philosophre
and him that sekith for wisedome hit was no praise
to gader richesse but to refuse them.

Of the dispising of worldly glorie.

All praise of people and all erthli glory he reputed
vttirly for nothing but in ye renaying
of this shadow of glory he laboured for very glory
which euer more folowith vertue as an vnseparable
seruant. he saide that fame ofti~ tymes dyde hurt to
men whil they liue & neuer good wha~ they be dede.
so moche only set he by his lerning in how moche he
knewe that hit was profitable to the chirch & to the extermination
of errours. And ouer that he was come
to that prik of parfyt humilite that he lytle forced
whithir his workis went owt vndre his owne name
or not so that thei might as moche profite as if they
were gyuen owt vndre his name. And nowe set he
litle by any othir bokes saue onli the bible. in the only
studi of which: he had appointed him self to spe~de
the residewe of his life, sauing that the co~mune profit
priked him when he co~sidered so many an so gret
warkis as he had co~ceyued and longe trauailed vppon
how they were of euery man by and by desired
and loked aftir.

How moche he set more by deuotio~ then conning.

THe lytle affection of an olde man or an olde
woman~ to godwarde wer hit neuer so small
he set more by: tha~ by all his owne knowlege aswell
of natural thyngis as godly. And oftyn times in co~municatio~
he wold admonisshe his familiar fre~des
how gretli these mortall things~ bowe and drawe to
an ende how slyper and how falling hit is yt we liue
in nowe how ferme how stable yt shalbe yt we shall
here aftir lyue in. whether we be throwen down i~ to
helle or lift vp i~ to heuyn. wherfor he exhorted them
to turne vp their myndes to loue god which was a
thing farre excelling all the conning that is possible
for vs in this life to obtaine. The same thing also in
his boke which he entitled de ente et vno lightsomely
he treteth where he i~terruptith ye course of his dispition
and turnyng his wordis to Angel=9= Politianus
to whom he dedicatith that boke he writeth in
this wise. But now behold o my welbeloued Angel
what madnes holdith vs. Loue god whil we be in
this body we rathir maye: than either know him or
by spech vtter him. In louing him also we more profit
self we laboure lesse & serue hym more. and
yet had we leuer alway by knowlege neuer finde yt
thing that we seke: than by loue to possede yt thing:
which also with owt loue were in vaine founde.

Of his liberalite & contempt of richesse.

LIberalite only in him passed mesure for so
ferr was he fro~ the gyuyng of any dilige~ce
to erthely thingis that he semed somwhat besprent
with the frekill of negligence. his frendes often times
admonisshed him that he sholde not all vtterly
dispyce richesse. shewing him that hit was his dishoneste
& rebuke when hit was reported were hit trew
or false that his neglige~ce & setting nought by money
gaue his seruauntes occasio~ of disceyt & robbry
Neuertheles that mynde of his: which euermor on
high cleued fast in 9te~platio~ & in then serching of natures
cownceill cowde neuer let down hit selfe to ye
9sideration and ouerseing of these base abiecte and
vile erthly trifles. his high stiwarde came on a time
to him & desired him to resceiue his accompt of such
money as he had in many yeris resceyued of his: &
brought forth his bokes of rekenyng. Picus answered
him in this wyse. my frende sayth he I know
wele ye haue mought oftyn tymes and yet may desceyue
me & ye list werfore the examination of these
expe~sis shal not nede. Ther is no more to do. if I be
ought i~ your dett I shall paie you by & bi. if ye be in
myn paye me. eythir now if ye haue hit: or here aftir
if ye be now not able.

Of his louing mynd & vertuouse behauour to his fre~dis

HIs louers and frendes with gret benignite &
curtesye he entreted. whom he vsid i~ all secrete
co~muning vertuously to exhorte to god ward whose
godely words~ so effectually wrought in the herers:
yt where a 9nyng man but not so good as co~nynge
cam to him on a daie for ye grete fame of his lerning
to co~mune with hym as they fell in talkyng of vertue
he was wyth twe wordes of Picus so thoroughly proced
yt forth with all he forsoke hys accustomed vice
and reformed his co~ditions. The wordes yt he saide
vnto him were these. If we hadd euer more before
oure yen ye
paynfull deth of crist which he suffred for
the loue of vs: & than if we wolde agayne think vppon
oure deth we sholde wele beware of synne. Meruelouse
benignyte & curtesy he shewed vnto the~: not
who~ stre~gith of bodi or goods~ of fortune magnified
but to the~ whom lernynge & 9ditio~s bounde hym to
fauour for symilitude of maners ys a cause of lou
& frendshippe. A lykenes of co~ditio~s is as Appolloni=9=
saith an affinite.

what he hated & what he loued

Ther was no thing more odiouse nor more i~tolerable
to him tha~ as horace saith ye prowde
palaces of stately lordes. weddyng & worldy besynes
he fledd almost a like: notwithsto~ding whan he
was axed onys in sport whither of those two burdeyns
semed lighter and which he wolde chese if he
shuld of necessite be dryuen to that one & at his election:
which he stiked thereat a while but at ye last he
shoke his hede and a litle smylyng he answered yt he
had leuer take him to mariage. as yt thing in which
was lesse seruitude & not so moche ieopardie. liberte
aboue all thing he loued to which both his owne naturall
affectio~ & ye study of philosophy enclined him:
& for yt was he alway wa~dering & flitting and wolde
neuer take him selfe to any certeyne dwelling.

Of his feruent loue to god.

OF outward obserua~ces he gaue no very grete
force we speke not of those obserua~ces which
the chirch 9maundeth to be obserued for in those he
was dilige~t but we speke of those cerimonies which
folke bryng vp setting ye very seruice of god a syde
whiche is as christ saith to be worshipped in spirite
& in treuth But in the i~ ward affectes of the mynde
he cleued to god with very feruent loue and deuotion.
some tyme that meruelouse alacrite la~gwished
and almost fell: and eft ageyn with grete strenght rose
vp in to god. In the loue of whom he so feruently
burned that on a time as he walked with Iohn
frauncis his neuew in an orchard at farrare in ye talking
of the loue of christ he barke out i~ to these wordes.
neuew sayde he this will I shew the I warne
the kepe yt secret: the substaunce yt I haue left aftir
certaine boks~ of min fynisshed I ente~de to giue owt
to pore folke and sencyng my selfe with the crucifix
bare fote walkinge abowt the worlde i~ euery town
and castel I purpose to preche of crist. Aftirward I
vndrestande by the especiall co~maundeme~t of god
he chaunged that purpose and appointed to professe
him self in the ordre of freris prechours.

Of his deth.

IN the yere of oure rede~ptio~ .m.cccc.iciiii. hym
whan self had fulfilled ye .xxxii. yere of his age
& abode at flore~ce he was sonde~ly taken with a ferue~t
axis whiche so fer forth crepte i~ to the i~teriore pertis
of his body yt hit dispysed all medicynes & ouercam
all remedy and co~pelled him with in thre daies
to satisfie nature and repaye hir the life which he receiued
of hir.

Of his behauour in the extremes of his life.

AFtir that he had receyued the holy body of
oure sauioure wha~ they offred vnto him the
crucifix yt in the ymage of cristis ineffable passione
suffred for oure sake: he myght ere he gaue vp the
goste receyue his full draught of loue and co~passio~
in the beholding of that pitefull figure as a stronge
defe~ce ageinst all aduersite and a sure portculiouse
ageinst wikked spirites the prest demaunded him
whither he fermely beleued yt crucifix to be ye Image
of hym that was very god & very man which in
his god hed was bifore all tyme bygoten of his fathir.
to who~ he is also equall in all thing: and which
of the holi gost god also: of him & of the fathir coeternalli
going forth which .iii. persones be one god was
in the chaste wombe of our lady a perpetuall virgine
conceyued in tyme. which suffred hungar thrust hete
colde laboure trauaile and watche. and which at
the last for washing of oure spotty synne contracted
and drawine vnto vs in the synne of adame for the
soueraigne loue yt he had to mankinde: in the aulter
of the crosse willingly and gladli shede owt his most
preciouse blode. when the prest enquired of him these
things~ and such othir as thei be wont to enqwere of
folke in such case. Picus answered him yt he not onli
beleued hit but also certa~ly knew it. wha~ that one
Albert=9= his sisters sonne a yong man both of wit co~nyng
and co~ditions excelle~t: began to comfort him
against deth: & by naturall reason to shew him why
hit was not to be fered but strongly to be taken: as yt
only thing which makith an ende of all the labour
paine trouble & sorowe of this short miserable dedly
life: he answered yt this was not the chiefe thing yt
shold make him 9tent to dye: bicause the deth determineth
the manyfolde inco~moditees and paynfull

c.i.

wretchednes of this life: but rathir this cause sholde
make him not content only: but also glade to die: for
that deth makith an ende of synne: in as much as he
trusted: ye shortnes of his life sholde leue him no space
to synne & offende. He asked also all his seruauntes
foregiuenes. if he had euer before yt daie offended
any of them. for whom he had prouided by his testament
vni yeris before. for some of them mete and
drink for some money iche of them aftir their deseruinge.
He shewed also to ye aboue named Albert=9= &
many othir credible persones yt ye qwene of heuin cam
to hym yt night with a meruelouse fragrant odoure
refreshing all his membres yt were brosed & frushed
with that feuer & promised him that he shold not vttirly
dye. He lay alwaie with a plesaunt and a mery
co~tenaunce and in the very twitches and panges of
deth he spake as though he behelde ye heuines opene
And all yt cam to him and saluted him offering their
seruice: with veri loui~g wordes he receiued tha~ked
& kissed. The executour of his moueable goodes he
made on Antony his brothir. The heyer of his landes
he made ye pore peple of the hospitall of flore~ce:
And in this wise in to ye handes of oure sauioure he
gaue vp his spirit.

How his deth was taken.

what sorowe and heuines his departing owt
of this worlde was: both to ryche and pore
high and lowe: well testifieth the princes of
Italie. well witnessith the citees and peple: wele recordeth
the grete benignite and singuler curtesie of
Charles king of fraunce. which as he cam to florence
ente~ding from thens to Rome and so forth in his
viage against the Realme of Naples hering of the
sikenes of Picus in all conuenient hast he sent him
two of his owne phisicio~s as embassiatours both to
visit him and to do him all ye helpe they might. And
ouer that sent vnto him lettres subscribed with his
owne hande full of such humanite and courtese of
fres: as the benevole~t mynde of such a noble prince
and the worthi vertues of Picus required.

Of the state of his sowle.

AFtir his deth and not longe after one hieronim=9=
a frere prechoure of ferrare a man aswel
in connyng as holynes of lyuing most famous. In
a sermone which he reherced in the cheyfe chirche of
all florence saide vnto ye peple in this wise. O thow
Citee of florence I haue a secrete thing to shew the
which is as trew as ye gospell of sei~t Iohn I wolde
haue kept hyt secret but I am co~pelled to shew hit.
For he that hath auctoryte to commande me hath
byde me publisshe hit. I suppose verily that ther be
none of you but ye knew Iohan Picus erle of mira~dula.
a man in whom god had heped mani gret giftis
and singuler graces. the chirch had of him an inestymable
losse. for I suppose if he might haue had
the space of his life prorogyd: he shuld haue excelled
bi such workes as he shold haue left behind him al
them that died this .viii.C. yere before him. he was
wont to be conuersaunt with me and to breke to me
the secrets~ of his hart in which I parceyued that he
was by priuey i~spiratio~ called of god vnto religio~.

c.ii.

wherfor he purposed oftin tymes to obey this inspiration
and folow hys calling. how be hit not being
kind ynowgh for so gret benefices of god: or called
bak by the tendrenes of hys flesh as he was a man
of delicate co~plexion he shrank from the labour or
thinking happely yt the religion had no nede of him
differred hit for a time how be hit this I speke only
by coinecture. But for this delaye I thretened hym
two yere togethir: yt he wolde be punisshed yf he forslowthed
yt purpose which our lorde had put in hys
mynd. & certeinly I prayed to god my selfe I will
not lye ther fore that he might be somwhat betin: to
compell him to take that waye which god had from
aboue shewed hi~. but I desired not this scourge vppon
him yt he was betyn with: I loked not for that:
but oure lorde had so decreed that he sholde forsake
this present life and lefe a part of that noble crowne
that he sholde haue had in heuyn. Not withsto~ding
ye most benigne iuge hath dalt mercifully with him:
and for his plentuouse almes giuen owt with a fre
and liberall hand vnto pore peple & for the deuout
prayours which he most instantly offred vnto god
this fauoure he hath: though his sowle be not yet in
the bosome of oure lorde in the heuenly ioye: yet ys
hit not on yt othir side deputed vnto perpetual payne.
but he is adiuged for a while to ye fire of purgatory
there to suffre payne for a seaso~. which I am ye gladder
to shew you in this bihalfe: to the ente~t that thei
which knew him: & such in especially as for his manyfolde
bn~fices are singulerly be holden vnto him:
shold nowe with their prayers almes & othir suffrages
helpe him. These thingis this holi man hierom
this seruaunt of god ope~ly affermed. and also saide
that he knew well if he lied in that place: he wer worthy
eternall da~pnation. And ouer yt he said yt he had
knowen all those thingis within a certain time. but
ye wordes which Picus had saide in his sikenes of ye
aperi~g of oure lady caused him to dowt & to fere lest
Picus had be deceyued by some illusion of ye deuill.
in as much as the promis of oure lady semed to haue
ben frustrate by his deth. but aftyrward he vndirstode
yt Picus was deceyued in the eq~uocation of ye
worde while she spake of ye seco~de deth & euer lasti~g:
& he vndirtoke her of ye first deth & te~porall. And aftir
this ye same hierom shewed to his acquaintance
yt Pic=9= had aftir his deth apered vnto him al 9paced
in fire & shewed vnto him yt he was such wise i~ purgatorie
punished for his negligence & his vnkindnes.
Now seth hit is so that he ys adiuged to yt fire from
which he shal vndowtedly dep~t vnto glori & no ma~
is sure how longe hit shalbe furst: & mai be ye shorter
time for oure i~t~cessiones. Let eueri christe~ bodi shew
theyr charite vppo~ him to helpe to spede him thedir
wher aftir ye longe habitatio~ with ye i~habitauntes of
this darke world to who~ his goodli 9uersatio~ gaue
gret light & aftir ye darke fire of purgatory i~ which
veniall offe~ces be cle~sed he may shortly if he be not
all redy entre ye inaccessible & i~finite light of heuyn
where he may in ye presence of ye soueragne godhed so
pray for vs yt we may ye rathir bi his int~cessio~ be partiners
of yt inspecable Ioy which we haue praid to
bri~g hi~ spedely to. Ame~. Here endith life of Ioha~
Picus erle of Mira~dula. Finis.

c.iii.

Here folowith thre epistilles of ye saide Picus of which thre: two be wretin unto Ioha~ fraunsces his neuien ye thred unto one Andrew Corneus a noble man of Italy.

The argument & mater of the first epistle of Picus vnto his neuien Iohan fraunsces.

HIt aperith by this epistill yt Iohan fraunsces
the neuien of Pic=9= had broken his mynde vnto
Picus and had made him of counceill in some secrete
godly purpose which he ente~ded to take vppo~
him. but what this purpose sholde be: vppo~ this letter
can we not fully parceiue. Now aftir yt he thus
entended there fill vnto him many i~pedime~tes and
diuers occasions which withstode his entent and in
maner letted him & pulled him bak. wherfor Picus
co~forteth him in this epistill and exhorteth him to perseueraunce.
by such meanys as are in the epistill euident
and plaine ynough. Notwithstonding in ye begynning
of this lettre where he saith that the flesh
shall but if we take goode hede make vs dronke in
the cuppis of Circes and misshape vs in to the likenes
and figure of brute bestis: those wordes if ye
parceiue the~ not be in this wise vndresto~den. Ther
was sumtyme in. A woman called Circes
which by enchaunteme~t as vergill maketh me~tion
vsed with a drink to turne as many men: as receiued
hit in to diuers likenes & figures of sondry bestis.
some in to lyones / some in to beris / some in to
swyne some in to wolfes which aftir ward walked
euer tame abowt her hows and wayted vpo~ her in
such vse or seruice as she lift to put vnto them. In
like wise the flessh if hit make vs dronk in the wyne
of voluptuouse plesure or make the sowle leue ye noble
vse of his reason & enclyne vnto sensualite & affectiones
of the body: the~ ye flessh chaungeth vs fro~
the figure of resonable men in to ye likenes of vnresonable
bestis. and yt diuersly: aftir the co~uenience &
similitude betwen oure sensuall affectiones and the
brutissh propirtees of sondry bestis. As the prowde
harted man in to a lyone. the irows in to a bere the
lecherouse in to a gote The dronken gloten in to a
swyne ye rauenous extorcioner in to a wolfe ye false
deceiuoure in to a foxe the mokking gester in to an
ape. from which bestly shapp may we neuer be restored
to oure owne likenes agayn: vnto the tyme we
haue cast vp agayne the drynk of the bodely affectiones
bi which we were i~ to these figures enchaunted.
whan there commith some tyme a monstrouse
best to ye town we runne & are glad to paie some money
to haue a sight therof. but I fere if menne wold
loke vppon them self aduisedly: thei shold se a more
monstrouse best. nerer home: for thei sholde parceiue
the~ self by ye wreched i~clination to diuers bestly passiones
chaunged in their sowle not in to the shap of
one but of many bests. yt is to sey of al the~ whos brutissh
appetits~ thei follow. Let vs the~ beware as pic=9=
co~cellith vs yt we be not dro~ke~ in ye cuppis of Circes
yt is to sey in ye sensual affectio~es of ye flessh lest we deforme
ye image of god i~ oure sowles aftir whose image
we be made & make oure self worse the~ idolatres
for if he be odiouse to god which turneth ye image of
a best in to god: how much is he more odious which
turneth the ymage of god in to a best.

Iohan Picus erle of Mirandula to Iohan fraunsces hys neuien by his brothir helth in him that is very helth.

THat thou hast had many yuell occasions aftir
thy departing which trouble the & stonde
againstthe vertuouse purpose that thou hast takin
ther is no cause mi son why thou sholdest eythir meruail
therof be sory therfor or drede hyt. but rathir
how gret a wondre were this if onli to ye amo~ge mortal
men the waye laye open to heuen with owt swet
as thought yt now at erst the disceytfull word & the
cursed deuill failed. & as though thou were not yet
in ye flesh: which couetith against the spiret: & which
fals flesh but if we watch and loke well to oure self
shal make vs dronk in the cuppes of circes & so deforme
vs in to monstrous shappis of brutissh & vnresonable
bestis. Reme~bre also that of this euell occasiones
ye holi apostle saint Iames saith thow hast
cause to be glad writting in this wise. Gaudete fratres
qm~ in te~ptationes varias incideritis. Be glad
saith he my brethren whan ye fall in diuerse temptationes.
and not causeles for what hope is ther of glory
if ther be none hope of victory: or what place ys
ther for victory wher ther is no bataill: he his called
to the crowne & triu~phe which ys prouoked to the conflict
& namely to that conflict: in which no man may
be ouerco~ against his will. and i~ which we nede none
othir stre~gth to vainqwissh but yt we list our selfe to
vainquissh. Very happy is a christen man sit yt ye victori
is bothe put in his owne frewill: & the rewarde
of the victory shalbe farr gretter than we can eithir
hope or wisshe. Tell me y pray the my most dere son
if ther be ought in this life of all those thingis: ye delite
wherof so vexith and tossith these erthly myndes
Is ther I say ani of those trifles: i~ ye geti~g of which
a man must not suffre many labours many displeasurs
& many miseries or he get hit. The marchaunt
thi~kith him selfe well serued if aftir .x. yeres sailing /
aftir a .m. inco~moditees aftir a .m. Ieopardyes of
his life he may at last haue a litle the more gadered
togither. Of the court & seruice of this worlde ther
is nothing yt I nede to write vnto the. the wretchednes
whereof the experience hit self hath taught the &
daily techith. In obtayning the fauour of ye pri~ces
in purchasing the frendship of the co~pany in ambitiouse
laboure for offices & honowres. what an hepe
of heuines ther is: how gret anguissh: how much besynes
and trouble I may rathir lerne of the then teche
ye. which holding my self content with my bokes
& rest of a chylde haue lerned to liue within my degree
and as much as I may dwelling with my self
nothi~g owt of my selfe labour for or lo~ge for. Now
then these erthly thingis slypper vncertaine vile &
co~mune also to vs and brute bestis: sweting & panting
we shall vnneth obtayn: and loke we than to heuenly
thingis and godly which neithir eye hat sene
nor ere hath hard nor hert hath thought to be drawen
slumbri & sleping magrey oure teth: as though
neythir god might reygne nor those heue~ly citezens
lyue with out vs. Certeinly of this worldly felicite
were goten to vs with idelnes and ease than might
some man that shrinketh from labour: rather chese
to serue ye worlde then god. But now if we be forlabored
in the way of synne as much as in the wey of
god and much more werof the dampned wretches
crye out lassati sumus in via iniquitatis we be weried
in the way of wikkednes then must hyt nedis
be apoynt of extreme madnes if we had not leuer labour
there where we go fro~ laboure to rewarde then
wher we go fro laboure to paine. I passe ouer, how
grete peace & felicite hit is to the mynd whan a man
hath nothing that grudgith his co~science nor is not
appaled with the secrete twich of any preuy cryme.
this pleasur vndowtedly farr excellith all yt plesurs
yt in this life may be obteined or desired. what thing
is ther to be desired a mong ye delites of this world?
which in the seking wery vs. in the hauing blindeth
vs. in the lesing payneth vs. Dowtest thow my son
whethir the myndes of wikked men be vexed or not
with co~tinuall thought & torment: hit is the worde
of god which neithir may deceyue nor be deceyued.
Cor impii quasi mare feruens quod quiescere no~ potest.
The wikked mannes hart is like a stormy see yt
may not rest. ther is to hi~ no thing sure no thing peseable
but al thi~g fereful al thing sorowfull al thi~g
dedely. Shall we then enuie these men: shall we follow
them: and forgeting our owne contre heuin &
oure own heui~ly fathir wher we were fre born: shall
we wilfully make oure self their selfe their bo~deme~:
& with them wretchedly liuing more wretchedli dye
and at ye last most wretchidly in euer lasting fire be
punished. O the dark myndes of men. O the blinde
hartis. who seyth not more clere than lyght that al
these thingis be as they sey trewer than treuth hit
selfe. & yet do we not that yt we knowe is to be done.
In vaine we wolde pluk oure fote out of ye clay but
we stik styll. Ther shall come to the my sonne dowt
hit not in these places namely where thou art co~uersaunt
innumerable i~pedime~tis euery howre: which
might fere the from the purpose of gode and vertuouse
liuing and but if thou be ware shall throw the
down hedling. But a monge all thyngis the very
dedly pestilence ys this: to be conuersaunt day and
night a monge them whos life is not only on euery
side an allectiue to synne: but ouer that all set in the
expugnation of vertue. vndre their capitaine the deuill.
vndre the banaire of deth. vndre the stipe~de of
hell. fighting ageinst heuen. against oure lord god
and against his christ. But crye thou therfore with
the prophete diru~pamus vincula eorum & proiiciamus
a nobis inguz ipso4. Let vs breke the bandes
of them & let vs cast of the yook of them. These be
they who~ as ye gloriouse apostill saint Paule seith
our lord hath deliuered in to the passionis of rebuke
and to a reprouable sense to do those thingys that
are not conuenient full of all iniquite full of enuie
manslaughtir. contention gile & malice bakbiters
odiouse to god 9tumeliouse prowde stateli finders
of euell thingis folissh dissolute with oute affectio~
with out couenaunt with out mercy which wha~ thei
daily se the iustice of god yet vndrestonde they not
that such as these thingis co~mitt: are worthy deth.
not only they yt do such thingis: but also thei which
consent to the doing: wherefor my childe go thou neuer
abowt to plese them: whom vertue displesith. but
euer more lete these wordes of the apostill be before
thim yen. Oportet magis deo placere q~ hoi~bus we
must rather please god then men. and reme~bre these
wordes of seint Paule also. Si hominibus placere~
seru=9= christi non essem If I shold plese men I were
not christis seruaunt. Let entre in to thin hert an holy
pryde & haue disdaine to take them for maistres
of thi~ lyuing which haue more nede to take the for a
maister of theirs. Hit were farr more semyng yt they
sholde with ye by good lyuing begyn to be men then
thou shuldest with them by ye leuing of thi good purpose
shamfully begyn to be a best. Ther holdith me
some tyme by almighty god as hit were eui~ a swone
and an i~sensibilite for wondre when I begin in my
selfe: I wot neuer whethir I shall sey: to remembre
or to sorrow to meruaill or to bewaill the appetites
of men. or yf I shall more plainli speke: ye very madnes
not to beleue the gospell whos trouth the blode
of martius crieth yt voice of apostles sowneth miracles
proueth reason co~fermith the worlde testifieth ye
elementis spekith deuelis co~fessith. But a far greter
madnes ys hit if thou dowt not but that the gospell
ys trew: to lyue then as though thou doutest
not but that hit were fals. For if these wordes of the
wordes of the gospell be trew yt hit ys very harde
for a riche man to entre the kingdome of heuen whi
do we daily then gape aftir the heping vp of riches. And if this be trew that we shulde seke for the glory
and praise not that co~mith of men but that co~meth
of god why do we then euer hange vppon the iugement
& opinion of men and no man rekkith whither
god like him or not. And if we surely beleue yt ones
the time shall come in which oure lorde shall say go
ye cursed peple in to euer lasting fire & againe come
ye my blessed childrin possede ye the kingdome that
hath ben prepared for you from the fourmyng of the
worlde whi is ther no thing then yt we lesse fere then
hell or yt we lesse hope for then the kingdom of god.
what shal we sey ellis but that ther be mani christen
men in name but fewe in dede. But thou my son enforce
thy selfe to entre by ye streight gate yt ledyth to
heuin & take no hede what thing many men do: but
what thi~g ye verey law of nature what thi~g very reason
what thi~g oure lorde hi~ self shewith ye to be done
for neithir thi~ glory shalbe les if thou be happi with
fewe nor thi pain more easy if thou be wretched with
many. Thou shalt haue .ii. specially effectuall remedies
against the world & the deuill with which two:
as with .ii. whings~: thou shalt out of this vale of miserie
be lift vp in to heuin that is to sey almes dede
and praier. what may we do with out ye helpe of god
or how shal he helpe vs if he be not called vppon •
But ouer that certainly he shall not here the whan
thou callest on him if thou here not first ye pore man
whan he callith vppon the & vereli hit is according
that god shuld despice the being a man whan thou
being a man despisest a man. For hit ys wryten in
what mesure yt ye mete: hit shalbe mette you againe

d.i.

And in an othir place of ye gospell hit is seid blessed
be mercifull men for they shall gete mercy. whan I
stire the to praier I stire ye not to ye praier which sto~dith
in many wordes but to that praier which in ye
secret chambre of the mynde in the preuy closet of ye
sowle with very affect spekith to god and in ye most
lightsome darkenes of co~templation not only presentith
the mynde to the father: but also vnieth hit with
him by inspekable waies which only thei know that
haue assaied. Nor I care not how lo~ge or how short
thi praier be but how effectual how ardent and rathir
interrupted & broken betwen with syghis then
drawen on length with a co~tinuall rowe & nombre
of wordis if thou loue thi~ helth if thou desire to be sure
from ye gre~nys of the deuill from the stormes
of this worlde from the await of thin enemies if thou
lo~ge to be acceptable to god if thou coueit to be happy
at the last: let no daie passe the but thou ones at ye
lest wise present thi self to god by praier and falling
down by fore him flat to ye ground with an humble
affecte of deuout mynde not from ye extremite of thi
lippes but out of ye inwardnes of thin hart cry thes
wordes of the prophete. Delicta iuue~tuts~ mee & ignora~tias
meas ne memineris sed secu~du~ misericordia~
tua~ meme~to mei p~pter bonitate~ tua~ dn~e. The offencis
of my youth & myn ignora~ces reme~bre not good
lorde but aftir thy mercy lorde for thy goodnes reme~bre
me. whan thou shalt in thi praier are of god:
both ye holy spyrit which praeth for vs and eke thin
owne necessite shall eueri houre put i~ thi~ mynd. & also
what you shalt praie for: thou shalt finde mater
ynough in the reding of holi scripture which yt thou
woldest now setting poetis fables & trifles a syde
take euir in thin ha~de I hartely praie ye. Thou mast
do no thing more plesaunt to god no thing more profitable
to thi selfe: then if thyn hande cease not day
nor night to turne & rede the volumes of holy scripture.
Ther lyeth priuely in them a certein heue~ly
stre~ght quik and effectual which with a meruelous
powar tra~sformeth & chaungith ye redars mynde in
to the loue of god if they be clene & lowly entreated.
But I haue passed now ye boundes of a lettre. ye mater
drawing me forth & ye gret loue that I haue had
to the both euer before: & specially: syth ye howre in
which I haue had first knowledge of thi most holy
purpos Now to make an ende with this one thi~g I
warne ye of which wha~ we were last togethir I ofte~
talked with ye yt thou neuer forget these .ii. things~. yt
both ye son of god died for the & yt thou shalt also thi
self dye shortly liue thow neuer so longe. with these
twayn as with two spurrys ye one of fere ye othir of
loue spurre forth thin hors thorow the short waye of
this mome~tary life to ye reward of etnall felicite sith
we neithir ought nor may prefix our selfe any othir
ende tha~ ye endles fruitio~ of ye i~finite goodnes both
to sowle & body in euir lasting peace. fare wel and
fere god.

The mater or argume~t of the epistle of Picus to Andrew Corneus.

THis Andrew a worshipfull man and a especiall
frende of Picus had by his lettres geuin
him cownceill to leue the study of philosophi as

d.ii.

a thing in which he thought Pic=9= to haue spe~t tyme
I nough and which: but if hit were applied to ye vse
of sum actuall besines: he iuged a thing vaine & vnprofitable.
wherfor he counceiled Picus to surceace
of study and put him self with sume of ye grete princes
of Italy. with whom as this Andrew saide he
sholde be moch more frutfully occupiede the~ alway
in the studi & lerninge of philosophe to whom picus
answerid as in this present epistle apperith wher he
saith these wordes By this hit sholde folow that hit
were eithir seruile or at ye lestwise not pri~cely to mak
the study of philosophy other then mercennari thus
he meanith. Mercennary we call all those thingys
which we do for hire or rewarde. The~ he wakith philosophi
mercennary & vsith hit not as connyng but
as marchaundise which studieth hit not for pleasur
of hit selfe: or for the instructio~ of his mynde in mortall
vertue: but to applie hit to such thingis wher he
may get sum lucre or worldly aduauntage.

Iohan Picus erle of mirandula to andrew Corneus greting.

Ye exhort me by your lettres to the ciuile and
actiue life saing that in vaine: and in maner
to my rebuke & shame haue I so longe studied
in philosophy. But if I wolde at the last excercise
yt lerning in the entreting of sum profitable actis
and outward besines. Certainly my wel beloued andrew
I had cast away bothe cost and labour of my
study: if I were so minded that I coude finde in my
hert in this mater to asse~t vnto you and folow your
counceill. This is a very dedly and monstrous persuasione
which hath entred the myndes of men: beleuing
that the studies of philosophie are of estates &
pri~ces: either vttirly not to be touched: or at lest wise
with extreme lippis to be sipped and rather to ye po~pe
and ostentation of their wit then to the culture &
proffit of their myndis to be litel & esely tasted. The
wordes of Neoptoleni=9= they holde vttirly for a sure
decree that philosophy is to be studied eythir neuir
or not longe. but the saynges of wysemen they repute
for Iapes & very fables: that sure & stedfast felicite
stondeth only in the goodnes of the mynde & that
these owtward thinges of ye body or of fortune litle
or nought pertaine vnto vs. But here ye will sey to
me thus. I am content ye study. but I wolde haue
you outwardli occupied also. And I desire you not
so to embrace martha that ye shulde vttirly forsake
Mari. Loue them & vse them both as well study as
worldly occupatio~. Trewly my welbeloued frende
in this point I gaine sey you not. they that so do I
finde no fault in. nor I blame them not. but certainly
hit is not all one to sey we do well if we do so: and
to sey we do euell but if we do so. this is farr owt of
the way: to think that from contemplation to the actife
liuing that is to sey from the bettir to the worse
is none errour to decline And to thinke that it were
shame to abyde styll in the bettir and not decline.
Shall a man then be rebuked bycause that he desirith
and ensueth vertue only for hit selfe: bicause he
studyeth ye mysteries of god: bycause he enserchith
the counceill of nature bicause he vsith continually

d.iii.

this plesaunt ease & rest: seking none outward thi~g
dispysing all othir thing: syth thos thingis are able
sufficie~tly to satisfie the desire of their folowers. By
this rekenyng hit is a thing eithir seruile or at ye lest
wise not princely to make ye study of wisedom other
then merce~narye. who may well here this who may
suffre hyt. Certainly he neuer studied for wisedome
which so studied therfor that in tyme to come eithir
he might not or wold not studi therfor. this man rathir
exercised the study of merchaundise then of wisedom.
ye writ vnto me that hyt is tyme for me now
to put my selfe in howsolde wyth some of the grete
princes of Italy but I see well yt as yet ye haue not
knowen the opinio~ that philosophres haue of them
selfe which as horace seith repute the~ self kingis of
kingis: they loue liberte: they can not bere ye prowde
maners of estates: they can not serue. They dwell
with them selfe and be content with the tranquillite
of their owne mynde thei suffice them selfe & more
they seke nothing owt of them selfe: the thingis that
are had in honoure amonge ye 9mune peple: amo~ge
them be not holden honorable. All that euir the voluptuouse
desire of men thirsteth for: or ambitio~ sigheth
for: they set at nought and despyce. which whill
hit belongith to all men: yet vndoutedly it pertaineth
most propirly to them whom fortune hath so lyberally
fauored that they may liue not only well and
ple~teously but also nobly. These grete fortunes lift
vp a man hie and settith him owt to the shew: but oftyn
times as a fierce and a skittissh hors they cast of
their maister. certainly alway they greue and bere
him and rathir tere him then bere him. The golden
mediocrite the meanne estate is to be desired which
shall bere vs as hit were in ha~des more easeli. which
shall obey vs & not maistre vs. I therfore abyding
fermely in this opinio~: set more bi my litle house my
study the pleasure of my bokes ye rest and peace of
my mynde: then by all your kingis palacis all your
co~mune besines all your glory. all the aduauntage
that ye hawke aftir. and all the fauoure of the court
Nor I loke not for this frute of my study yt I may
therby herafter be tossed in the flode and rombeling
of your worldly besynesse: but yt I may ones bring
forth the children that I trauaile on: yt I may giue
owt some bokes of myn owne to the co~mune proffit
which may sumwhat sauour: if not of cu~nyng yet at
the lest wyse of wit and diligence. And bycause ye
shall not think that my trauaile & diligence in studi
is any thing remitted or flakked: I giue you knowledge
yt after grete feruent labour with much watch
and infatigable trauaile I haue lerned both the hebrew
la~guage and the chaldey and now haue I set
hand to ouercome the grete difficulte of the Araby
tonge. These my dere frende be thingis: which to apertaine
to a noble prince I haue euir thought and
yet think. Fare ye well. wretin at Paris the .xv.
day of Octobre the yere of grace. M.cccclxxxxii.