9 of pins 20f 
jithenMs Amcharfis t]\t Philofopher, 
who feeing many foolijfh things afted, did not 
laugh at all ; but feeing an brought upon the 
Stage, broke out into a great laughter • and being 
asked the reafon of i t, anfwered, that it was made 
for nothing elfe but to laugh at.- and thefe are 
moftof the chief qualities and properties of the 
Afe ; to which we might compare all Flatterers 
and Diffemblers, and even the Devil himfelf, who 
may not unfitly be called God’s A^e. 
I . Then, the Ap hath not the reafon of a man, 
but without refpeft to the place, perfons, or time, 
do imitate many of mens aftions, without either 
wit or diferetion thus do Diffemblers and Flat- 
terersjwhen they cannot give counfel,they applaud 
and commend that which they have done ; by 
which means, as PolyUus faith, they often betray 
not only their weaknefs, but their folly thus it 
was in the Reign of Philip., fome then imitating 
MelanU:hon, in the geftures which he ufed in his 
Sermons ; thereby difeoyering their great folly; 
not confidering their time, nor the difference of 
perfons ; to which we might adde the foolifh 
imitation of the Germmesy wherein they fhew a 
great deal of weaknefs ; according to that known 
ftory of the Painter y who was commanded by the 
Duke of todeferibethe feveral habits of 
the Countreys • when he came to paint the Ger~ 
he painted the A^Cy carrying a piece of 
cloath ; and being asked the reafon of it, he an- 
fwered, that the Germauesy like fo many Afesyi\i 
imitate the garments and habits of all Nations . 
P and 
