JEROME CARDAN 141 



he has observed, were scarcely at all affected by it, and 

 he commends their wisdom, seeing that death is the last 

 ill we have to suffer, and is, moreover, inevitable. " And 

 if an Englishman views his own death with composure, 

 he is even less disturbed over that of a friend or kins- 

 man : he will look forward to re-union in a future state 

 of immortality. People like these, who stand up thus 

 readily to face death and mourn not over their nearest 

 ones, surely deserve sympathy, and this boy (William) 

 was sprung from the same race. In stature the Eng- 

 lish resemble Italians, they are fairer in complexion, less 

 ruddy, and broad in the chest. There are some very 

 tall men amongst them : they are gentle in manner 

 and friendly to travellers, but easily angered, and in 

 this case are much to be dreaded. They are brave 

 in battle, but wanting in caution ; great eaters and 

 drinkers, but in this respect the Germans exceed 

 them, and they are prone rather than prompt to lust. 

 Some amongst them are distinguished in talent, and of 

 these Scotus and Suisset l may be given as examples. 

 They dress like Italians, and are always fain to declare 

 that they are more nearly allied to us than to any 

 others, wherefore they try specially to imitate us in 

 habit and manners as closely as they can. They are 

 trustworthy, freehanded, and ambitious; but in speaking 

 of bravery, nothing can be more marvellous than the 



1 Cardan writes (De Subtilitate, p. 444) that Suisset [Richard 

 Swineshead], who lived about 1350, was known as the Calculator ; 

 but Kastner \Gesch. der Math. i. 50] maintains that the title 

 Calculator should be applied to the book rather than to the author, 

 and hints that this misapprehension on Cardan's part shows that 

 he knew of Suisset only by hearsay. The title of the copy of Suisset 

 in the British Museum stands " Subtilissimi Doctoris Anglici 

 Suiset. Calculations Liber," Padue [1485]. Brunet gives one, 

 " Opus aureum calculationum," Pavia, 1498. 



