A14350:304
The Common Places
The common places of the most famous and renowned divine Doctor Peter Martyr divided into four principal parts: with a large addition of many theological and necessary discourses, some never extant before. Translated and partly gathered by Anthony Marten, one of the sewers of her Majesties most honourable chamber.The common places of the most famous and renowmed diuine Doctor Peter Martyr diuided into foure principall parts: with a large addition of manie theologicall and necessarie discourses, some neuer extant before. Translated and partlie gathered by Anthonie Marten, one of the sewers of hir Maiesties most honourable chamber.
Imprinted at London : In Pater noster Rowe, by Henry Denham and Henry Middleton at the costs and charges of Henry Denham, Thomas Chard, William Broome, and Andrew Maunsell, 1583Imprinted at London : In Pater noster Rovve, by Henry Denham and Henry Middleton at the costs and charges of Henrie Denham, Thomas Chard, VVilliam Broome, and Andrew Maunsell, 1583
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
4 And no less likely things to be true, do they think they speak, which have affirmed, that Mankind is so drawn away, that it cannot proceed in the swift course to virtue, by reason of the pleasure that riseth up unto it. For they which so say, doth Possidonius notably reprehend, who affirmeth, 1that we from our first conception have certain sparks, which kindle us up unto vices; wherefore it comes to pass, that we cannot beware of our selves, but that we be inwardly vicious; when as notwithstanding we may provide that such ill seed and vicious sparks shall not break forth into open wickedness, and increase so far as they can be no more restrained. And finally, by the judgment of these men, the evil is far greater and more grievous, that we in our selves do bear about us, than that which by outward contagion is procured. Indeed they grant, 2that a wicked custom, when it happens, maketh us wicked; and that a great deal worse than we were before by nature. But as touching the power whereby we understand, this they teach: first, that it may be, that by schoolmasters, or by wise men, or by unlearned men, we may perceive true or false opinions: but the sharpness of wit, foolishness, blockishness, and such like, which belong to the understanding, we obtain according to the quality of the temperature, which we in our mothers womb do take, even of the substance whereof we are begotten; whereunto afterward do come many and marvellous increases, aswell by means of the meats, which do breed good or evil juice; as of the qualities of the air, and sundry chances that do happen. And there he citeth Aristotle, who treating of the parts of ⟨p. 56⟩living creatures, saith that men do also follow the complexion of their mother. And in the first book of the history that he writeth of living creatures, he affirmeth, that the proportion of the instrumental parts are made correspondent to the manners of the mind, and that therefore those parts being well considered, many things as touching the manners and inward affections may be showed by them that are skilful in the art of physiognomy. These be the arguments for the which Aristotle in his first book of Ethics may seem not to have spoken circumspectly; that those which in nature are procreated [Greek or Hebrew];