A14350:705
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.
Another thing in this place is called into doubt; namely, that there may be found some man, which will both set aside the care of household affairs, and which hath decreed never to deal with matters of the common-weal, but to live only alone, and to exercise himself in sundry sciences which he hath learned. He, because nature is contented with a little, will be occupied in very few actions, and will altogether give himself to contemplations and sciences; whereof it will come, that he will soon forget virtues, or else will sooner be without them, than forgetfulness can abolish sciences: or else that he doth not with great endeavour provide to have them. Wherefore, as touching this man, that will not hold, which Aristotle said; to wit, that sciences are easelier forgotten, than virtues. Hereunto will I say, that such a man shall seldom and hardly be found, who yet if he can at any time be found, is not so greatly to be accounted of, as for his sake the common condition of men should be changed. That which is taught here, happeneth among the most sort of men; neither can there be a science had of those things which rarely happen. And let us add, that such manners are not agreeable to the nature of man, that any should so lead his life in solitariness, that he would do in a manner nothing, but be occupied altogether in contemplation and learning.
Another thing in this place is called into doubt; namelie, that there may be found some man, which will both set aside the care of houshold affaires, and which hath decréed neuer to deale with matters of the common-weale, but to liue onlie alone, and to exercise himselfe in sundrie sciences which he hath learned. He, bicause nature is contented with a little, will be occupied in verie few actions, and will altogither giue himselfe to contemplations and sciences; whereof it will come, that he will soone forget vertues, or else will sooner be without them, than forgetfulnes can abolish sciences: or else that he doth not with great indeuour prouide to haue them. Wherefore, as touching this man, that will not hold, which Aristotle said; to wit, that sciences are easelier forgotten, than vertues. Héerevnto will I saie, that such a man shall seldome and hardlie be found, who yet if he can at anie time be found, is not so greatlie to be accounted of, as for his sake the common condition of men should be changed. That which is taught héere, hapneth among the most sort of men; neither can there be a science had of those things which rarelie happen. And let vs adde, that such maners are not agréeable to the nature of man, that anie should so leade his life in solitarines, that he would doo in a maner nothing, but be occupied altogether in contemplation and learning.