Methinks it would well please any man to look upon a Geographical Map, suavi animum delectatione allicere, ob incredibilem rerum varietatem & jucunditatem, & ad pleniorem sui cognitionem excitare, Chorographical, Topographical delineations, to behold as it were, all the remote Provinces, Towns, Cities of the world, and never to go forth of the limits of his study, to measure by the Scale and compasse, their extent, distance, examine their site.

Charles the great as Platina writes, had three faire silver tables, in one of which superficies was a large map of Constantinople, in the second Rome neatly engraved, in the third an exquisite description of the whole world, and much delight he took in them. What greater pleasure can there now be, then to view those elaborate Maps of Ortelius, Mercator, Hondius, &c. To peruse those books of Cities, put out by Braunus, and Hogenbergius?

To read those exquisite descriptions of Maginus, Munster, Herrera, Læt, Merula, Boterus, Leander, Albertus, Camden, Leo, Afer, Adricomius, Nic. Gerbelius, &c? Those famous expeditions of Christoph. Columbus, Americus Vesputius, Marcus Polus the Venetian, Lod. Vertomannus, Aloysius Cadamustus, &c?

Those accurate diaries of Portugals, Hollanders, of Bartison, Oliver à Nort, &c. Hacluits voyages, Pet. Martyrs Decades, Benzo, Lerius, Linschotens relations, those Hodeporicons of Jod. a Meggen, Brocard the Monke, Bredenbachius, Jo. Dublinius, Sands, &c. to Jerusalem, Egypt, and other remote places of the world? those pleasant Itineraries of Paulus Hentzerus, Iodocus Sincerus, Dux Polonus, &c. to read Bellonius observations, P. Gillius his survayes; those parts of America, set out, and curiously cut in pictures, by Fratres a Bry.

To see a well cut Herbal, Hearbs, Trees, Flowers, Plants, all Vegetals expressed in their proper colours to the life, as that of Matthiolus upon Dioscorides, Delacampius, Lobel, Bauhinus, and that last voluminous and mighty Herbal of Beslar of Noremberge, wherein almost every Plant is to his own bignesse.

To see Birds, Beasts, and Fishes of the Sea, Spiders, Gnats, Serpents, Flies, &c. all Creatures set out by the same Art, and truly expressed in lively colours, with an exact description of their natures, vertues, qualities, &c. as hath been accurately performed by Ælian, Gesner, Ulysses Aldrovandus, Bellonius, Rondoletius, Hippolytus Salvianus, &c. Arcana cœli, naturæ secreta, ordinem universi scire majoris felicitatis & dulcedinis est, quam cogitatione quis assequi possit, aut mortalis sperare.

What more pleasing studies can there be then the Mathematicks, Theorick, or Practick parts? As to survay land, make maps, models, dials, &c. with which I was ever much delighted my self. Talis est Mathematum pulchritudo (saith Plutarch) ut his indignum sit divitiarum phaleras istas & bullas, & puellaria spectacula comparari; such is the excellency of these studies, that all those ornaments and childish bubbles of wealth, are not worthy to be compared to them:

crede mihi (saith one) extingi dulce erit Mathematicarum artium studio, I could even live and die with such meditations, and take more delight, true content of mind in them, then thou hast in all thy wealth and sport, how rich soever thou art. And as Cardan well seconds me, Honorificum magis est & gloriosum hæc intelligere, quam provinciis præesse, formosum aut ditem juvenem esse.

The like pleasure there is in all other studies, to such as are truly addicted to them, ea suavitas (one holds) ut cum quis ea degustaverit, quasi poculis Circeis captus, non possit unquam ab illis avelli; the like sweetnesse, which as Circes cup bewitcheth a student, he cannot leave off, as well may witnesse those many laborious hours, dayes and nights, spent in the voluminous Treatises written by them; the same content.

Julius Scaliger was so much affected with Poetry, that he brake out into a pathetical protestation, he had rather be the Author of 12 verses in Lucan, or such an ode in Horace, then Emperour of Germany.

Nicholas Gerbelius that good old man, was so much ravished with a few Greek Authors restored to light, with hope and desire of enjoying the rest, that he exclaims forthwith, Arabibus atque Indis omnibus erimus ditiores; we shall be richer then all the Arabick or Indian Princes; of such esteem they were with him, incomparable worth and value.

Seneca prefers Zeno and Chrysippus, two doting Stoicks (he was so much enamored on their works) before any Prince or General of an Army; and Orontius the Mathematician so far admires Archimedes, that he cals him, Divinum & homine majorem, a petty God, more then a man; and well he might, for ought I see, if you respect fame or worth.

Pindarus of Thebes is as much renowned for his Poems, as Epaminondas, Pelopidas, Hercules or Bacchus, his fellow citizens for their warlike actions; & si famam respicias, non pauciores Aristotelis quam Alexandri meminerunt (as Cardan notes) Aristotle is more known then Alexander; for we have a bare relation of Alexanders deeds, but Aristotle totus vivit in monumentis, is whole in his works: yet I stand not upon this; the delight is it, which I aim at, so great pleasure, such sweet content there is in study.

King James 1605, when he came to see our University of Oxford, and amongst other Ædifices, now went to view that famous Library, renewed by S. Thomas Bodley, in imitation of Alexander, at his departure brake out into that noble speech, If I were not a King, I would be an University man; And if it were so that I must be a Prisoner, if I might have my wish, I would desire to have no other prison then that Library, and to be chained together with so many good Authors, et mortuis magistris.

So sweet is the delight of study, the more learning they have (as he that hath a Dropsie, the more he drinks the thirstier he is) the more they covet to learn, and the last day is prioris discipulus; harsh at first learning is, radices amaræ, but fructus dulces, according to that of Isocrates, pleasant at last; the longer they live, the more they are enamoured with the Muses.

Heinsius the keeper of the Library at Leiden in Holland, was mewed up in it all the year long; and that which to thy thinking should have bred a loathing, caused in him a greater liking. I no sooner (saith he) come into the Library, but I bolt the door to me, excluding lust, ambition, avarice, and all such vices, whose nurse is idleness the mother of ignorance, and Melancholy her self, and in the very lap of eternity, amongst so many divine souls, I take my seat, with so lofty a spirit and sweet content, that I pity all our great ones, and rich men that know not this happinesse.

I am not ignorant in the mean time (notwithstanding this which I have said) how barbarously and basely for the most part our ruder gentry esteem of Libraries and books, how they neglect and contemn so great a treasure, so inestimable a benefit, as Æsops Cock did the Jewel he found in the dunghill; and all through error, ignorance and want of education.

And ’tis a wonder withall to observe how much they will vainly cast away in unnecessary expences, quot modis pereant (saith Erasmus) magnatibus pecuniæ, quantum absumat alea, scorta, compotationes, profectiones non necessariæ, pompæ, bella quæsita, ambitio, colax, morio, ludio, &c. what in hawkes, hounds, law-suits, vain buildings, gurmundizing, drinking, sports, playes, pastimes, &c.

If a well minded man to the Muses would sue to some of them for an exhibition, to the farther maintenance or inlargement of such a work, be it College, Lecture, Library, or whatsoever else may tend to the advancement of learning, they are so unwilling, so averse, they had rather see these which are already, with such cost and care erected, utterly ruined, demolished or otherwise employed; for they repine many and grudge at such gifts and revenews so bestowed:

and therefore it were in vain, as Erasmus well notes, vel ab his, vel à negotiatoribus, qui se Mammonæ dediderunt, improbum fortasse tale officium exigere, to solicite or ask any thing of such men that are likely damn’d to riches; to this purpose. For my part I pity these men, stultos jubeo esse libenter, let them go as they are, in the catalogue of Ignoramus.

How much on the other side, are all we bound that are schollers, to those Munificent Ptolomies, bountifull Mæcenates, heroicall Patrons, divine spirits, —— qui nobis hæc otia fecerunt, namque erit ille mihi semper Deus —— that have provided for us so many well furnished Libraries as well in our publick Academies in most Cities, as in our private Colleges?