They were originally written in Italian, and were translated into English by William Warde, of which editions were printed at London, in 1558, 1562, 1595, and 1615.  In 1603, a fourth edition of a Latin version appeared at Basil; and from Ward’s dedication to “the lorde Russell, erle of Bedford,” it seems that the French and Dutch were not without so great a treasure in their own languages.  A specimen of the importance of this publication may be given in the title of the first secret.  “The maner and secrete to conserue a man’s youth, and to holde back olde age, to maintaine a man always in helth and strength, as in the fayrest floure of his yeres.”]

[Footnote 12:  The Regiment of Helthe, by Thomas Paynell, is another volume of the same description, and was printed by Thomas Berthelette, in 1541. 410.]

[Footnote 13:  Vespasian, tenth emperor of Rome, imposed a tax upon urine, and when his son Titus remonstrated with him on the meanness of the act, “Pecuniam,” says Suetonius, “ex prima pensione admovit ad nares, suscitans num odore offenderetur? et illo negante, atqui, inquit, e lotio est.”]

[Footnote 14:  “Vpon the market-day he is much haunted with vrinals, where, if he finde any thing, (though he knowe nothing,) yet hee will say some-what, which if it hit to some purpose, with a fewe fustian words, hee will seeme a piece of strange stuffe.”  Character of an unworthy physician. “The Good and the Badde” by Nicholas Breton. 4to. 1618.]

[Footnote 15:  That the murdered body bleeds at the approach of the murderer, was, in our author’s time, a commonly received opinion.  Holinshed affirms that the corpse of Henry the Sixth bled as it was carrying for interment; and Sir Kenelm Digby so firmly believed in the truth of the report, that he has endeavoured to explain the reason.  It is remarked by Mr. Steevens, in a note to Shakspeare, that the opinion seems to be derived from the ancient Swedes, or Northern nations, from whom we descend; as they practised this method of trial in all dubious cases.]

[Footnote 16: 

   “Faith, doctor, it is well, thy study is to please
   The female sex, and how their corp’ral griefes to ease.”

Goddard’s “Mastif Whelp.” Satires. 4to.  Without date.  Sat. 17.]

[Footnote 17:  In the first edition it stands thus:—­“and his hat is as antient as the tower of Babel.”]

[Footnote 18:  The Low-countries appear to have afforded ample room for ridicule at all times.  In “A brief Character of the Low-countries under the States, being Three Weeks Observation of the Vices and Virtues of the Inhabitants,” written by Owen Feltham, and printed Lond. 1659, 12mo, we find them epitomized as a general sea-land—­the great bog of Europe—­an universal quagmire—­in short, a green cheese in pickle.  The sailors (in which denomination the author appears to include all the natives) he describes as being able to “drink, rail, swear, niggle, steal, and be lowsie alike.”  P. 40.]