CHAP. I.] THE FIRST DA K 33 



the world now do. And it may be fit to remember that Moses "^ 

 appointed fish to be the chief diet for the best commonwealth that 

 ever yet was. 



And it is observable, not only that there are fish, as, namely, the 

 Whale, three times as big as the mighty Elephant, that is so fierce 

 in battle, but that the mightiest feasts have been of fish. The 

 Romans, in the height of their glory, have made fish the mistress 

 of all their entertainments ; they have had music to usher in 

 their Sturgeons, Lampreys, and Mullets, which they would pur- 

 chase at rates rather to be wondered at than believed. He 

 that shall view the writings of Macrobius,t or Varro,J may be 

 confirmed and informed of this, and of the incredible value of 

 their fish and fish-ponds. 



But, Gentlemen, I have almost lost myself, which I confess I 

 may easily do in this philosophical discourse ; I met with most of 

 it very lately, and I hope, happily, in a conference with a most 

 learned physician, § Dr Wharton, ^ a dear friend, that loves both 



VARIATION. 



8 The name of " Dr Wharton " occurs for the first time in iS\^ fifth edition. 



* Lev. xi. 9 ; Deut. xiv. g. 



t Aurelius Macrobius, a learned writer of the fourth century ; he was chamberlain to 

 the Emperor Theodosius. Fabricius makes it a question whether he was a Christian or 

 a Pagan. His works are, A Covztnentary on the Somnium Scipionis of Cicero, in two 

 books ; and Saturtialia Convivia, In seven. Besides these^ he was the author of 

 many whiqh are lost. — H. 



X Marcus Terentius Varro, a most learned Roman, contemporary with Cicero, and 

 author, as it is said, of nearly five hundred volumes. He is one of the best writers on 

 agriculture. — H. 



2 Dr Wharton, who is again noticed, and in terms of great esteem, was one of the 

 most eminent physicians of his day. He was born at Winston, in the county of Durham, 

 in 1614, and received the first part of his University education at Pembroke Hall, in 

 Cambridge. Afterwards, before the Civil War broke out, he entered of Trinity College 

 in the sister University ; and for a short time practised, physic in the metropolis, under 

 Dr Bathurst. In 1647, having retired to his College, he became M.D. by virtue of the 

 Letters of Sir Thomas Fairfax. — H. 



Mr Oughtred, in his Key to the Mathematics, published just before, says that if any 

 fruit is to be reaped by his new edition thereof, the thanks are due chiefly to Mr Thomas 

 Wharton, who, as he is no mean proficient in those studies, so he may with success 

 serve this age in the necessairy mysteries of Botany, Anatomy, and Hermetic Learning; 

 who not only amended the errors, but bestowed exceeding great pains and expense in 

 correcting the press. About 1649, Dr Wharton appears to have settled entirely in 

 London. In 1656 he published " Adenographia ; sive Glandularum totius Corporis 

 Descriptio," in a small octavo : reprinted in duodecimo, at Amsterdam, in 1659: and 

 again, i2mo, VesaliEc, 1671 : consisting of a Course of Lectures which Dr Prujean, the 

 President of the College of Physicians, had imposed upon him as an exercise in 1652. 

 During the time of the great Plague, in 1665, Dr Wharton continued in London, when 

 many other physicians fled the contagion. 



He died at jiis house in Aldersgate Street, Nov, 14, 1673 : and was buried at St 

 Michael Bassishaw. — JE. 



See Wood's Athentz Oxon., by Bliss, vol. iii. p. 1000. Dr Wharton is frequently 

 mentioned in Ashmole's Diary. On the 2d February 1654, he says, *' I acquainted Dr 

 Wharton with my secret for the cure of the illiaca passio : and he applied it this morn- 

 ing to Mr Faithorne the graver, and it cured him." His name is mentioned for the first 

 time in 'Aiz fifth edition, three years after Dr Wharton's death, so that he ought to have 

 been spoken of in the past tense. 



C 



