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 102 Additions to the Biographies of When we contemplate the studies and pursuits of such men as Sir John Cheke and Sir Thomas Smith from the brighter light of our more advanced knowledge, it is impossible not to wonder for a time that their deep and varied learning did not render them superior to that great superstition of the old philosophers, the art of astrology. But there are many other instances of the like combination of wisdom and folly. Cardano, whom Cheke entertained in London, is described by Tiraboschi in his History of Italian Literature, as " one of the profoundest and most fertile geniuses that Italy has produced," and as " one who made rare and precious discoveries in mathematics and medicine," but at the same time as " a man foolishly lost in judicial astrology a man more credulous over dreams than any silly girl a man, in short, of whom, if we read only certain of his works, we may say he was the greatest fool that ever lived."* I am not aware of any proof from Sir John Cheke's own hand of his addiction to astrology, but from several collateral circumstances it cannot be doubted. He gave both to Cardano and to Smith the data for casting the horoscope of his own nativity. I find in one of the Latin exercises of King Edward the Sixth, which were written under Cheke's dictation and superintendence, an assertion that by the course of the stars our bodies are governed and ruled, as well as the bodies of all beasts, herbs, flowers, trees, and everything else. b We are told by Strype that Cheke's " too much confidence in that uncertain art of astrology contributed in part to the most deplorable conclusion of his life." This assertion, like many others, Strype makes without citing any authority, but I have traced it to a passage in Foxe's Book of Martyrs, which is as follows : " In the ende so it fell 1 Cardano's works wore collected by Charles Spon, and printed at Paris, in ten folio volumes, 1C63. Thi- fullest memoir hitherto compiled of him is that by Mr. Henry Morley, published in London, 1854, in two vols. 8vo. King Edward's declamation, which was composed in or about the year 1551, is a defence of Astronomy, which had evidently shared in the bad repute earned by her illegitimate sister Sunt enim qui tenent earn neijue utilem esse corpori neque animo neque Keipublica:. Nor do we find the King properly instructed to separate these two branches of the study of the stars: for he asks, "Quid vero magis naturale quam cognitio eletnentorum cccli, astrorum, stellarum, planetarum, per quorum cursus nostra corpora, et non solum nostra ted etiam omnium bestiarutn eis subjectarum, omnium herbarvm,Jlorum, arbortim, frugum, vinorwn, cceterorumque omnium yubernantur et. reyuntur ?" See The Literary Remains of King Edward VI. (printed for the Roxburghe Club,) Oratio XI n. c For Foxe's authority it would probably be vain now to inquire. John Vowell, alias Hoker, in his Life of Sir Peter Carewe, says nothing to the point, but he describes Sir John Cheke as being very dejected upon hi* apprehension. " They might speak the one to the other, but other comfort there was none. Howbeit ir John Cheke, although very learned, but not acquainted with the cross of troubles, was still in great d.-spair, great anguish, and heaviness, and would not be comforted, so great was his sorrow ; but Sir Pet< r