of hallowing of them and their Vestures is declared at large in the book of Exodus As for Noah which made the first Altar Melchisedech Abraham Isaac and Jacob did make their offering rather of a natural devotion then any Priestly authority After that the Levites whom we use to call Deacons were created by Moses to minister and serve Aaron in all the Sacrifices to bear the Ark and Tabernacle the holy Vessels and pitch the Camp and were discharged of all teâ—â—rene affairs Next them were chosen the Ministers which did make ready the sacrifice as Calves Oxen Sheep with such other things at the commandement of the Levites these we may call Sub-Deacons Certain other were elected to light the Tapers and Lamps named Accolites The Sextons or Porters were appointed to keep out all prophane and unclean people And Readers to preach and read the Law and Prophets on their Sabbath dayes There were moreover Chaunters and Singers to sing the Pâ—alms in the Temple whom David and Asaph did institute Conjurers were ordained by Solomon to drive evil spirits our of men All these Offices went by Succession neither was one promoted from one to another Thus was the Levitical Priesthood appointed which was but a sign and shadow of things to come that is Christ in whom resteth the perfection and compleat fulfilling of the Law CHAP. IV. Of our Priesthood how it is double What laying on of hands meaneth CHRIST JESUS our Saviour vhich was King and Priest after the order of Melehisedech in the New Testament hath instituted among us a Priesthood to offer and do the functions of the new Law and it is of two kinds or sorts The one is a spiritual Priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices In this kind Christ offered and gave up himself a consummate oblation for the sins of the whole world as Peter saith Christ died once for our sins he being righteous for us unrighteous that he might give us up to God mortified as touching the flesh but living in the spirit Of this Priesthood be all Christian men which after the example of Christ must offer our prayers thanksgiving and our bodies mottified we be all of the degree of this Kingly Priesthood as Peter and also John in the Apocalyps do bear witnesse The second Priesthood is a Ministery that Christ did ordain following the order of the Law that we might have our teachers to instruct us in the Gospel as the Jews had their Schoolmasters in the Law He did elect twelve Bishops whom he called by a new name Apostles because they were appointed to be Embassadours into all parts of the World with the mighty word of his power to carry the glad Tydings of his Gospel He assigned also 70 Disciples to whom he gave the charge and office of Preaching and teaching which in stead of Aarons Sons should be among us inferiour Priests and Seniours of Congregations and these began the order of our Priests as our Bishops had their original of the Apostles As the Apostles and 70 Disciples which were Ministers and disposers of the Mysteries of God had no other manner of consecrating but onely the vocation and election of Christ into the Office and so was Matthias chosen in the Acts into the room of Judas So were the seaven Deacons chosen to Minister to the poor people of the Congregation And Titus did choose in every Town and City of Creet Priests by the laying on of hands which was a manner of admission without any further Ceremonies whereby Authority was given them over the Congregation and boldnesse to execute earnestly his office with the assistance of the Holy Ghost And therefore in the beginning of the Church when a Bishop was consecrated there was used no other Rites or Ceremonies but onely the people to whom the Election of the Bishop belonged should pray and after the Seniours or Priests by laying on their hands admitted him to that degree Of these Peter was called chief and first because both of his ancientâ—y and also forasmuch as he was the first Elected A Bishops room is not so much an honour as it is an heavy burden not so much a laud as a load For his duty is not onely to wear a Mitre and Crosier but also to watch over the flock of the Lord vigilantly to teach with the Word diligently with example honestly and in all things to go before them uprightly and lead them in the way of Truth that they may follow the pattern of his godly living and there as it were in a Mirrour behold how they ought to reform and conform their lives And this office of the Bishoprick and Deacons was instituted by the Scripture onely for Priests in the Primative Church and Bishops were all one But the Bishops of Rome following the shadows of the old abrogate law of the Hebrews have ordained a swarm of divers other orders as Potters or Sextons Readers Exorcists Accolites Sub-deacons Deacons Priests Bishops Archbishops as a certain degree one above another whereby they should ascend to the highest dignity Caius Bishop of Rome did begin the Orders first yet some say Iginius did ordain those degrees long before Caius his time And I grant well that Iginius might be the first deviser of them and afterward Caius accomplished the work and brought it to a finall consummation The office of a Priest as Christ ordained it was to teach Baptize and Minister the Sacrament of the Altar and thanksgiving bind and loofe and judge of Doctrines Therefore let them take heed that admit such to be Priests as cannot perform the duty of that ministery For many suppose if they can mumble up a pair of Matins and say Masse they be perfect Priests CHAP. V. The manner of shaving Priests Crowns who may not be Priest what age he must be of THe common and general badge of all Priests is the shaven Crown whereby the Clergy is dissevered from the Laity and be put in remembrance by it how they ought altogether to relinquish and despise all carnal pleasure and worldly treasure and ensue after heavenly things which be eternal This as Beda writeth grew into a custome and was decreed by a constitution to the intent that the thing which was before opprobrious might grow to honour and comelinesse For Peter when he preached at Antioch was scorned and mocked because of his bald head or shaven Crown and it was a contumelious thing both among the Romans and Lombards to be shaven I think the original cause of it did proceed of the Ceremonies of the Nazarens which when they had lived long time as Josephus telleth very devoutly they shaved their heads and sacrificed the hair in the fire to God whereby they signified that they did dedicate themselves wholly to live in Godly perfection Samuel was a Nazaren and Sampson also I suppose that this Rite of the Nazarens came out of Aegypt
Polidore Virgil by Birth an Italian the greatest Antiquary in his Time He was Arch-Deacon of Wells in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth THE WORKS OF THE Famous Antiquary Polidore Virgil. Compendiously English't by John Langley late Master of Paul's School London CONTAINING The Original of all Arts Sciences Mysteries Orders Rites and Ceremonies both Ecclesiastical and Civil A Work Useful For all Divines Historians Lawyers and all Artificers LONDON Printed for Simon Miller at the Star in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1663. Polidore Virgil. The First BOOK CHAP. I. The Originall of the Heathen gods WHen the spirits of the ayr whom the Scripture calleth Rulers of this world began to give answers of Prophecy out of Images made to resemble mortal men and by their wicked subtlety did pretend themselves sometimes to be of the number of good spirits sometimes gods celestial and sometimes the souls of valiant Lords they brought men into such errour and perplexity that in short space they did altogether alienate mens hearts from the religion and reverence of the true God And for as much as their spirituall nature is subtile they usurped the name of good Angels For according to the opinion of antiquity not onely to every man but also to every singular place and family were allotted two Angels Whereof the one went about to endamage them the other with all its endeavour studied to profit them These invaded particularly every house conveyed themselves into mens bodies and closely in their entrails imbezelled their health procured diseases illuded their hearts with phantasticall visions and dreams and by such mischief inforced men to repair to them for help and inquire their Oracles and answers which of purpose had doubtful understandings lest their ignorance should be perceived By these deceitful means they were so deified that sundry people after divers sorts chose them gods and with great reverence worshipped them For such men as a Nation had attained any speciall Commodity by to the furtherance or garnishing of their living or builders of Cities or Ladies excellent in Chastity or men puissant in Arms were honoured for gods as the Egyptians had Isis the Assyrians Neptune the Latines Faunus the Romans Quirine Athens Pallas the Delphians Apollo the Grecians Jupiter the Assyrians Belus and many Countries had divers other gods and some which is a shame to speak worshipped brute beasts and took them for gods by reason whereof the Grecians had the opinion That the gods had their beginning of men And thus when men withdrew their phantasies from Images to the spirits invisible they were perswaded that there were many gods and of no smaller number then mortal men Of this variety of opinions the Philosophers which layed aside all private and publique affairs employing all their study in searching out the truth took occasion to dispute of the nature of gods diversly Thales Milesius which first searched such matters said That God was an Understanding that made and fashioned all things of the water as matter prejacent Pythagoras called him A Lively Mind that pierced and passed through all things of whom all living creatures received their life And Cleanthes defined God to be The Ayre Anaxagoras esteemed him to be an Infinite Mind which did move it self Chrisippus thought he was a natural power indued with godly reason Some were of the opinion that there were no gods Diagoras and Theodorus affirmed plain That there was no God at all Protagoras reported That he knew no certainty of the Gods wherefore the Athenians banished him out of their Empire Epicurus granted there was a God but one that was neither liberal bountifull nor had any regard of things that is to say God is no God but a cruel and unkind Monster Anaximander supposed the gods to be born and not to dye till after many ages The Egyptians because of the Ancestry of their linage feign the gods to have begun among them and that they were but two and everlasting the Sun whom they called Osiris and the Moon that was named Isis Notwithstanding Lactantius writeth That Saturnus was the first Father of the gods which begat Jupiter Juno Neptune Pluto and Glauca by his Wife Ops. And for the benefits that they shewed to their Subjects they were deified But in such variety of opinions it is a thing difficult to determine the first off-spring of their gods both because they be but vain and also sprung out of mortal humanity And again to speak of God as he is in his supernatural essence is a thing dangerous because we can neither behold the resplendent brightnesse of his Majesty with our corporall eyes nor with any quicknesse of wit comprehend his infinite might as the Poet Symonides did declare very well For when he was required of King Hiero to shew him what thing and of what sort God was he desired to have one day respite when he asked him the next day he prayed to have two dayes and as often as the King required of him an answer he increased the number of the dayes of deliberation the King marvailing that he doubled so many times the dayes inquired why he did so For the more said he that I consider the thing and muse on it the more obscure and intricate it seemeth to me Which thing if the Philosophers which like to blind warriours wandring in darknesse had done they would not have devised so many lies to offend or displease their Creator For it is better to be ignorant in the truth then to teach error Therefore to conclude as Macrobius writeth There is but one God subject to no mutability who is One Eternall Being of all naturall things the cause principall who saith by his Prophet Esay I am God before me there was no other neither shall be after me without beginning onely everlasting of whom Virgil writeth thus Heaven and Earth and the Water large The bright circle of the heavenly sphere The Spirit all fostereth and hath full charge Passing through all to guide to every where And Plato saith There is but one God and affirmeth that this world was created by him and was called God because he giveth freely to men all things good and profitable and is the principal fountain of all goodnesse in this world CHAP. II. The Principles of natural things ALthough it had been convenient to have begun this present Treatise with declaring the principles of natural creatures and so consequently to have expounded the original of the gods forasmuch as they have their beginning of the same things yet the reverence that I have to the true God which was before all other creatures moveth me to begin at him as the cause principal of the rest Therefore as concerning the causes of things I will shew first the minds of the Philosophers that he most probable untill I come to the truth it self Thales one of the seven wise
men of Greece hath an opinion that water was the material cause of all things Contrariwise Heraclitus an Ephesian and Hippasus suppose all to be procreated of fire Empedocles saith the four Elemeâ—ts were the causes of things as Lucretius writeth Of Water Earth Ayre and fiery glede All things natural duely procede Anaximenes thinketh all things to have their beginning of the Ayre Metrodorus assirmeth the universal World to be eternal without begining or end Epicurus one of Democritus disciples putteth two causes Atomes or Motes and vacuity or emptinesse of these he saith the four Elements come These are the opinions of the Philosophers that were men without the knowledge of God but as Moses and Josephus record the Scripture concludeth that in the beginning God made all things of nothing as Saint John saith all things were made by him And therefore as Lactantius writeth let no man be curious in searching of what materiall God made these great and wonderfull works for he formed them all of nothing by the power of his mighty word For as David the Prophet singeth he spake the word and they were made he gave Commandement and they were created Of the same opinion is Plato in his book called Timeus CHAP. III. The procreation of Man the diversity of Languages and division of Nations THe most famous writers of natural Histories as Diodorus recordeth spake of two sundry manners of birth and first stock of mankind For they which contend that the World was ungenerate and without any danger of corruption say also that man hath been in a certain perpetuity without beginning Of this opinion were Pithagoras Architas Xenocrates and Aristotle with other Peripateticks affirming that all things in the eternal world which have been or shall hereafter come to passe be by Generation endlesse and without beginning and have onely a circuit and course of Generations wherein both the birth and naturall resolution of things may be perceived Other that suppose this world had both an Originall cause of being and shall also end by putrifaction hold opinion that man had a time of his Generation For this cause the Aegyptians report that men were first born among them as well by reason of the fruitfull ranknesse of the soil and seasonableness of the Ayre and because of the River Nilus which for the lusty fatnesse of the slime doth procreate diverse kinds of beasts and hath in it self naturally a certain nutritive power For in the Country of Thebais Mice be engendred of the mud wherefore men in those parts stand in admiration when they behold the fore-parts of them to the brest wallow and move sensibly in the mire and the hinder partts not yet fashioned and without shape Neverthelesse Psammaticus their King desiring to know in what Countrey men were first begotten devised this means He caused two young Infants new born to be delivered to his herdmen to be brought up among his cattell and commanded that no man should speak any word to them because he would know what word they would speak first Then two years after when the herdmen opened thè door where they were nourished they stretched out their hands and cried Becos which in the Phrygians language signifieth bread Thus it was known that the Phrygians were the eldest lineage and first born The Ethiopians do conjecture themselves to be the first because no man would come out of any other place into that Region and they of that be by a general conâ—ent called home-bred and as Diodorus saith it is probable that those under the Meridional Aequator should be the ancientest of all For seeing the heat of the Sun drieth up the moysture of the earth and hath also of it self a power to give and preserve the life of things it is like that the place which is scituate nearest to the Sun should bring forth the first living creatures For that cause Anaximander taught that men first sprung of water and Earth warmed with lively heat Empedocles in a manner confirmeth the same where he writeth that every particular member was severally made and proportioned of the Earth as a mother and so to have been compacted and conglutinated by heat and moisture into the perfect figure and shape of a man Democritus thinketh men were first made of Water and Mudde tempered together Zeno judgeth the cause of Mankind to have proceeded of the New World And men to be onely begotten by the ayd and comfort of the divine fire that is the providence of God As for the Poets some feign how man was made out of soft clay by Prometheus Some say that they sprung of the hard stones that Deucalion and Pirrha cast And thus much is of the vain opinions of the Gentiles But to speak the truth as Scripture teacheth the beginning of man was in Jewry For God when he had finished the World did create the first man Adam of the Earth of the field of Damascus as some think Thus Adam made by God marrying his Wife Eve was authour and beginner of the whole Posterity and Linage But for as much as God formed but one man and indued him with one kind of speech onely to utter and declare the things that he contained in his mind men perchance will marvail what the cause should be that there be at this day so many diverse languages that according to the variety of Countries there be sundry speeches And therefore I thought it convenient to shew the occasion of the same When Nimrod the son of Cham that was son to Noe after the universal floud went about to withoraw men which feared the danger of drowning from the worship of God supposing all their hope to consist in their own might and power perswaded them to build a Tower of such altitude that the water should not be able to overflow it Whilest they were thus earnestly occupied about their enterprise God divided their speeches in such sort that not one of them could understand another by reason of the discord and disagreeing of their languages And thus began the diversity of tongues that we use now The same was the occasion that the posterities of Noe were dispersed and scattered abroad For when one could not understand another's language it came to passe that every man departed into sundry Provinces add Countries and there named places whereof they had the government and also Cities which they builded after their own names as Eusebius testifieth The sonnes of Noe were Sem Cham and Japhet The issue of Sem was Elam whereof the Elamites came Assur of whom the Assyrians were named Arphaxad was the first founder of the Arabians and Lud of the Lidians the children of Cham were Chus that named the Ethiopians and Mesre the beginner of the Egyptians Chanaan of whom the Canaanites had their name the linage of Chus was Seba whereof the Sebees came
kinds of administration of the Common-wealth The Emperial ornaments of the Kings of Rome as fardels of rods the ax the garland of gold the Chair of Ivory the Kyrtil or Cope Chatioâ— trapped-Horses Rings Coat-Armours Robes Mantles of Estate Embroidered Gowns with garments of Baudkyn or Motley with all other Royal Apparrell began among the Tuscanes which Tarquinius Prisons subdued and used these first by the permission and licence of the Senate The 12 Lictours or Sergeants Romulus first appointed after the manner of the 12 Nations of the Hetrurians whom he conquered which gave to every of their kinds when he was crowned a Lictour or Sergeant whose duty was to wait on the Magistrates and bear the Rods and Axe of Execution The rods as Pliny writeth were of birch The institution of Taxes or numbring the people Servius Tullius King began in Rome first but Moses long before that time numbred the Israelites and therefore the first Tax Subsidy or Tribute was ordained by Moses among the Hebrews and the counting of the number of the people Prisons Fetters Stocks Gyves Staves with like instruments to punish malefactors Ancus Martius as Livy saith did first appoint them to keep men in fear and good order CHAP. IV. Who ordered the Year the diversity of it Moneths Noxes Ides Kalends and Prime HErodotus writeth that the Egyptians first found out the year by the course of the Planets and devided it into twelve Moneths Diodorus assigneth it to the Thebanes which standeth with the opinion of Herodotus because the Thebanes be a nation of Egypt and Egypt was sometimes named Thebe Servius saith that Eudoxus found it first and after him Hipparchus Laertius ascribes it to Thales a Milesian which as he testifieth first perceived the seasons and times of the year and parted it into 365 dayes but that was onely among the Grecians Josephus witnesseth that the year was devised by the Hebrews in Aegypt before Noahs floud There be divers fashions of dividing the year The Archadians finished their year in three Moneths the Carians and Acarnans in six Moneths there was a year that consisted in 30. dayes which was counted by the change of the Moon there was also the great year that ended when all the Planets returned into one point or Line and after the mind of Cicero it conteined 12954. years of the Sun Josephus in his Antiquity saith it contained but six hundred years The other Grecians numbred the full year with 353 dayes Romulus first divided the year into ten Moneths whereof March that he named of his father was first April the second had that name of Venus because she was born of the froth of the Sea which is called Aphros May of the Antient men June of the young men the other he named in their order and number as Quintilis Sextilis September October November December Albeit afterward Quintilis was called Julius in honour of Julius Caesar and Sextilis was changed into Augustus for the memoriall of the Emperour Augustus Caesar Notwithstanding forasmuch as this year which Romulus ordered did neither agree to the course of the Sun nor changes of the adding Moon Numa applyed it to the course of the Moon by adding 56. dayes whereof he made two Moneths the one he named January of Janus the first king of the Latins the other February of their god Februus Afterward Numa supposing God to be delighted with odd numbers gave to January Aprill June August September November December twenty nine dayes To March May Quintilis and Sextilis that is July and October thirty one dayes and to February twenty eight dayes Last of all Julius Caesar put to the whole year ten dayes and six hours whereof he added to these Moneths January August and December every of them two dayes and to April June September and November he gave to each of them one day In this manner Julius Caesar accomplished the year perfectly according to the course of the Sun and the six hours every four years amounteth to one day which causeth Leap-Year as we call it in Latine it is named Bissextus because every fourth year we count twice the sixth Calends of March. The Moneths have their name because they measure the course of the Moon Thus the year hath twelve Moneths whereof Aprill June September and November have thirty dayes all the rest hath one and thirty dayes saving February which hath but twenty eight In the year be 52 weeks and a day There be 365 dayes and six hours The Calends Nones Ides have their appellations of the manner of the reckonning of the Romans The first dayes were named Kalends from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to call for at every change of the Moon the chief Ruler of the Sacrifices called Rex sacrificulus assembled all them of the Country of Rome in the Capitoll and shewed them their Festivall dayes and what it was lawfull to do that Moneth The Nones had that name because they were the ninth day from the Ides which Ides be the mid-dayes of every Moneth and had their appellation of the Hetrusians Term iduare that signifieth to devide in the middle This fashion of counting the Moneths endured to the 450 year of the City and was kept secret among the Bishops of their Religion till the time that C. Flavius P. Sulpitius Avarrio and P. Sempronicus Sophilongus then being Consulls against the mind of the Senators disclosed all their solemn feats published them in a Table that every one might have perseverance of them The Prime whereby we find the Conjunction of the Moon and all moveable Feasts as Lent Easter Whitsonday and such like was invented by the great Clark Saint Bernard or of Julius Caesar as appeareth in the tenth book De divinis officiis CHAP. V. Who ordeyned the hours dyals and Clocks deviding the day and night HOurs which being in number 24 accomplish the space of a day and night were so named of the Sun which in the Egyptians language is called Horus They at the first were appointed but 12. For Hâ—rmes Trismegistus perceiving a certain beast consecrated to their god Serapis to make water or pisse twelve times in the day at equall distance supposed that the day ought to be devided into twelve hours This number did continue long but afterward the day was divided into 24 hours Anaximenes a Milesian found in Lacedemonia the first Dial that declared the hours by the shadow of the Gnomon It was long before they were used in Rome for as Pliny writeth in the 12 Tables there was onely rehearsed the rising and going down of the Sun and a few years after Noon or Midday was added which the Beadle or common Crier did denounce This was onely on clear dayes when they might perceive the course and altitude of the Sun The first Diall was set up on a Pillar openly which stood behind the common Pulpit or bar called rostra at the cost of M. Valerius Messala then Consul
her tail Minos made the first battel on the Sea Merchandise was first instituted to furnish men with necessaries by way of exchange but after when Money was coined it was occupied more for mens private wealth then for any common profit and for that cause Cicero calleth it a vile and servile craft Albeit Plutarch witnesseth that Thales Solon Hippocrates and Plato frequented this Art The Carthaginians found it as Pliny writeth in the 7th book but Diodorus saith it was Mercury that found it And Pliny in his tenth Book saith that Liber otherwise called Dionysius invented the Trade of Merchandise and therefore it is to be thought that the Carthaginians learned the Trade of Merchandise of Dionysius But the Hebrews as Josephus witnesseth used buying and selling in the time of Noah and Joseph was sold to Merchants and carried into Egypt The Lydians were first Mercers and carriers abroad of stuff as Factors Pedlers and Brokers do with us CHAP. XII Who Instituted Stews Dying of Hair Barbers with other things VEnus which was begotten of the froth of the Sea as Poets feign was a common Harlot and brothel of her body and had many Children by sundry men as by Mars she had Harmonia by Mercury Hermaphroditus by Jupiter Cupido by Anchises Aeneas And because she alone would not seem to be a whore she ordained in Cyprus that women should prostitute themselvs for money to all that came And Justine telleth that the manner of the Maids of Cyprus was to get their marriage doâ—er by such filthy baudry And to help further the matter one Melampus brought out of Egypt into Greece the rites of Bacchus's sacrifices wherein men use to company dissolutely with women in the night in such wise that it is a shame for Christian men to speak of much like our Shews or Dances called Masks in England and Bone-fires as they be used in some parts of the Realm But Spu. Posthumius Albinus and Q. Martius abolished those Feasts I would all Masks and Bone-fires were likewise banished from among us Christians Yet common Women were long before Venus's time For it appears in Genesis that Judah son to Jacob medled with Thamar his daughter in law because he supposed she had been a whore by reason of her apparrel But to let that pass yet it is pity to see among Christian men Stews and baudry maintained as though it were for a common-weal and honourable Matrimony so neglected and polluted without any fear of God This is a doctrine of the Devil if there be any In Moses laws an advoutrer was stoned to death and in Greece in Rome and in Arabia and divers other Countries he was punished by death yet among Christians it reigneth unpunished God will strike once for all therefore let the Ministers of the Law provide a godly remedy I would wish that women would follow the Pagan Lucretia or Hebrew Susanna and men Joseph Medea found the dying and colouring of hair and our women of England have not forgotten it with other enormities wherein some of the Physicians be greatly too blame that teach such things to that frail creature They be ashamed of Gods Creation and handy-work in themselves or else they would not amend it Barbers to shave and round were instituted by the Abantes because their enemies in war should have no occasion to pluck them by the hair P. Ticinius Mena brought them into Rome the 354th year after the building of the City before they were unshaven Africaâ—â—s was wont to be shaven every day There be many other things whose Authors for Antiquity cannot be known and some because of the negligence of men that will not write such things No man can tell who began Clocks Bells the Ship-man's Compass Gowns Stirrops Caps or Bonnets â—o that is but newly invented because in old time men weâ—â— baâ—e-headed Water-Mills Organs and Claricymbals Tallow-Candles reclaiming of Hawks Rings with many others which for the antienty or over-sight of men be in extream oblivion Atheneus in his fourth book saith That Ctesibius a Barber of Alexandria found out the Organs and bringeth the testimony of Aristotle The End of the Third Book Polidore Virgil. The Fourth BOOK CHAP. I. The beginning and encrease of Christian Religion THe Christian Religion wherein onely resteâ— the whole hope of oâ— salvation began of thâ— Hebrews who were so named of Heber and lived very devoutly before there waâ— any law written onely by a natural inclination excited to perform justice and truth The first that called on the name of God was Enos then Enoch and Noe. after them Abraham Isaac and Jacob who because he had seen God was named Israel and of him the Hebrews were surnamed Israelites Of the issue and Lineage of his twelve Sons there came twelve Tribes or Generations of Jews every Tribe bearing the name of one of them Job also was a perfect godly man and Joseph was a mirrour of chastity To these men the Will Promises and Revelations of God were shewed first Notwithstanding they did not long persevere in that perfect innocency of living but partly for their corruptible nature prone to vice and partly by reason of the acquaintance that they had with the Egyptians a kind of people very superstitious and much given to Idolatry they fell from their purity into such extream blindnesse of heart ignorance of God and idolatry that they differed in nothing from the Gentiles and Heathen But God as he is mercifull and long suffering 205 years after that Israel came into Egypt and 430 years after Abrahams going thither delivered them out of the thraldome and bondage that they were in by the valiant Captain Moses and brought them through the red Sea and Wildernesse into the land of promise the fruitfull land of Canaan yeâ— they unkindly forgat all those benefitâ— and returned to their old wretchednesse and sinfull abominations Last of all God considering that neither law of nature nor Law written nor his great benefits nor preaching of his sundry Prophets whom they most cruelly murthered could turn them from their stif-necked and stubborn obstinacy To shew all kindnesse possible sent his onely begotten Son equal to him in essential power to be incarnate of a pure maid that at the last they might by this example and Preaching have an obedienâ— heart towards their Creatour which was born the year of the World 4997 and and the 41 year of the reign of Augustus Caesar of the Virgin Mary to be our Saviour and intercessour for us before the Judgment Seat of the Father as his name Jesus doth portend unto us He by his example teaching and miracles shewed the path of salvation but they enviously did persecute him to the vile deaâ—h of the Crosse neverthelesse by his divine power he arose the third day in the 18â—h year of Tiberius the Emperour his reign and after 40 dayes he ascended to the right hand of God leaving power and
man might not marry that Maid to whom his father was a God-father It was confirmed first by Gregory and after by Alexander the third That no man should marry his brother's wife lest it should be thought to be a counterfeit of the Hebrews Lanuch was the first that ever had two wives whose example many others ensued afterwards The custome of purifying of women was taken of the Hebrews but there is no day or time appointed for it Nevertheless for an honest order they use commonly not to be purified before the moneth day and then with a few honest Matrons she cometh accompanied to the Church and offereth a wax Taper and the Chrisome CHAP. V. Of the Temples Church-yards when the Crosse was first had in reverence IN the Old Testament Moses set up a Tabernacle curiously edified to God wherein Supplication and Intercession was made to him for the 〈◊〉 of the people And in that he made the Ark of Covenant in the which he put the two Tables of stone containing the Law of the Ten Commandements Aaron's rod and the pot of Manna After him Solomon King of the Hebrews made at Hierusalem ◠Temple of costly array and sumptuously wrought I cannot to say truth perfectly tell where the first Church of Christians was builded but by all conjecture it seemeth that it was made of the Apostles either in Ethiopia where Matthew preached or in Lower India where Bartholomew taught or in Scythia where Andrew shewed the Word of God Where they doubtlesse either cause new Churches to be edified or else transposed the Idol's Temples to serve the Christians use abolishing Superstition and planting the true Religion of Christ Albeit it were not against reason to suppose there was a Temple or house of prayer appointed by James at Jerusalem In Rome the first that I read of was consecrated by Pius Bishop of Rome in the street called Patricius at Novatus Baths in honour of the Virgin Prudentia at the request and suit of Praredis her sister And after Calistus made a Temple to the Virgin Mary in a place beyond Tiberis and instituted a Church-yard in Apius's street and called it after his own name But Abraham was the first that made any place of burial in Hebron where he bought of Ephron an Hittite the double Cave for 300 shekels of silver with the the ground about it and there was Sarah his wife and he himself buried Noah builded the first Altar and offered upon it a burned Sacrifice to the Lord. And Bonifacius the third caused that they were covered with linnen cloaths Constantinus when he had won the battail against Maxentius by reason of a vision that he saw of the crosse the day of the battle ordained that from thenceforth no man should suffer death on the crosse And so in processe of time it was had in much reverence and worship And Theodosius made a law That there should no Image of the crosse be graven in stone marble or in earth lest men should tread on it Hellen Constantine's Mother a very vertuous woman repaired to Jerusalem to seek the Crosse of our Lord where with great labour and diligence she fouud it and with it the other two whereon the Theeves were hanged but it was ease to perceive Christ's Crosse by the Title which then did remain albeit sore wasted and corrupted with Antiquity CHAP. VI. Of the ancient rite or sacrificing Feast-dayes dedicating Temples the mystery of Fire Holy Water CAin and Abel the two sons of our first Father Adam offered in sacrifice to God the first fruits of their goods Abel his oblation was a Lamb Cain his gift was Corn. Afterward when the Priesthood was ordained Aaron and his sons offered divers things with sundry Ceremonies which he shewed at large in the book of Leviticus The Gentiles almost all sacrificed to the Idols men or women after sundry rites as appeareth in the Histories of Gentile-Authors And if it fortuned that they omitted any such abominable idolatry they had great punishment destruction of their fruit corruption of their water infection of the Ayr death of Cattel great droughts women had evil deliverance with many such plagues as Dionysius Halicarnasseus witnesseth which the spirits of the ayr procured to delude and seduce men and confirm them in their errour The holy-dayes among the Jews were divers as the Sabbath-day the Feast of the new Moon the Passeover the Feast of unleavened bread Pentecost the Feast of Tabernacles the Dedication day which be all shewed largely in the Old Testament The use of dedicating Churches is of great antiquity for Moses did sanctifie the Tabernacle and Solomon consecrated the Temple that he builded at Jerusalem And Esdras after when they returned from the Captivity of Babylon hallowed the Temple new again Of them we receive our Rite of hallowing of Churches albeit we have more ceremonies then they had Fire was kept continually on the Altar by the Priests for without it and salt could no sacrifice be duly made or ordinarily offered and we in our Masses have ever a Taper of Wax burning And the Emperours of Rome had Fire born before them and the Vestals had ever perpetual Fire in the Temple where they served Vesta The spirits of the ayr that gave doubtfull answers to them that enquired any question of them were at the coming of Christ all destroyed For when he was carried into Egypt which is a Country full of superstition and Idolatry all the Idols of that Region were overthrown and fell to the ground at his coming thither And in the time of Adrian the Emperour both the wicked sacrifices were abolished and also the Oracles of Apollo at Delphos Jupiter-Hammon in Egypt with like vanities were subverted by the power of God through his Son Jesus Christ Holy Water was ordained by Alexander the first to be consecrated to drive away Spirits and was commanded that it should be kept as well in Churches as in private houses for the same use whereof are grown among the common people many superstitious errours contrary to the Word of God CHAP. VII Who ordayned Praying Why we look Eastward Ministring the Sacrament of the Altar FOrasmuch as we are created of God after his own Image for the intent to honour and serve him and so finally to enjoy the eternal inheritance of Heaven which we must attain to by Prayer acknowledging our own infirmities and referring us to the mercy of our most loving Father It shall therefore be convenient to declare the institution of Prayer Prayer therefore was from the beginning as Abel prayed Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob with other Patriarks prayed to God in all their doubtfull affairs and gave thanks for the good atchieving of them Moses and Aaron with other as Anna the wife of Helcanah shewed us an example of Prayer But Christ is the first that did shew us any special form of Prayer as appeareth in the Gospell of Matthew
as were onely precious for Gold and rare workmanship but not such as were enriched with jewels because those did belong to the use and ornament of the Emperour onely Commanders among other rewards were wont to give a Golden Button to those Souldiers that had fought with a generous and stout courage as Livy often mentioneth The Antients used to wear a short Coat under their Gowns such as Deacons and Sub Deacons use and all did giâ—d them except the Senatours who did wear a purple Coat called Latus-Clavur For they fastned the sides of it together with Godlen Buttons which were called in Latine Latos Clavos and therefore they did not gird their Coats This kind of Garment was the token of Senatours When it was cold they did wear a Cloak under their Gowns which was fringed and Knights most commonly used it as Isidore declareth In Rainy weather as Martial saith they did put on a Cloak made of Leather or skins which they did wear above their Coat They went without Hose to cover their legs and for that cause when the dust remained on them they washed them every day as Quintilian asserts Pompey having a swelling upon his shin covered it with a binding of linnen and a Bracelet so that a certain man said in sport that he ware that on his leg which Kings did bear on their heads Footmen did wear hose or leg-harnesse which the Latines called Calige whence the Souldiers were called Caligati Likewise they had short-Cloaks or Cassocks which fastned under their Chin and when they were ready to fight they cast it upon both their shoulders and that they might be nimbler to resist their enemies they girded it about them as Plutarch doth recite Noble-men and horsemen did put on Boots made of Hides that came up to their knees and from thence upwards they were armed with Iron There is a great doubt risen whether the Ancients used a covering for their heads or no seeing that it is neither manifest in ancient coins nor statues Certainly they used not a Hat which represented the one half of an Egg shell when it was cut in the middest for that was given to such that were manumitted from their servitude Moreover Suetonius relates that Julius Caesar having found that the deformity of baldnesse was obnoxious because of the jeers of detractors he accustomed to turn back the hair which grew behind his Crown to cover the baldnesse of his head but when he could not hide it sufficiently by this means he usurped the custome of wearing a Crown of Laurell continually which care had been superfluous if any covering for the head had been in use But this may be said that the invention of Hats was used to defend the people against the Sun And on the contrary Plutarch writes that Sylla did rise to no man nor uncover his head but when Pompey came Varro affirms that according to the institutions of the Ancients every one was to uncover his head to any Magistrate passing by and that more for health then honour which Controversy I will not determine but leave this field to others wherein they may exercise themselves It plainly appears that in the year one thousand one hundred and seventy there was a certain sort of Hats that was black and ascended smaller towards the top like a Pyramide And Nicetas in the life of Alexius Comnenus writeth that when the Emperour Andronicus Comnenns was created a certain Hat which he had being taken off in the place thereof there was a Purple or red Mitte put upon his head CHAP. III. Of the Bezoar Stone THe Bezoar Stone was unknown in former ages Some suppose it to be the tears of a Hart which having devoured a Serpent and casting it self into the water to expell the poyson is wont to weep exceedingly and then the tears being hardened and fallen upon the Land are said to be Bezoar But that is false Yet it is true that those tears have that vertue though it be not the right Bezoar which is bred in Mauritanta and hath wonderfull effects against any poyson If you take twelve grains of it in wine it utterly expels all sorts of poyson presently It hath the same effects if you lay it upon the bite of a Serpent and it defends a man's person so that no poyson can hurt him It is good against the Plague and pestilen ial Feavers and its use is wonderfull in many diseases and infirmities The Arabians had the knowledg of it first as Rhasis saith who writ of iâ— and lived in the reign of AL-Mansor the great King of Mauritania The Latines and Graecians never knew this pretious stone CHAP. III. Of Alchymy Alchymia signifieth Infusion or Steeping For Chymia in Greek denotes Infusio in Latine and Al is an Arabian Article signifying Hic There is a great controversie when Alchymy was invented For neither Pliny though he was otherwise a most diligent author nor any Greek or Latine Writer make any mention of it But I believe that it is very ancient for Suidas writeth that the Art of Alchymy endured till the time of the Argonauts when Jason went to take away the golden Fleece which was nothing else then a certain book that taught to turn other Mettals into gold For those that invented that story concealing its name called it the Golden Fleece The Egyptians professed that Art very much in the reign of the Emperour Dioclesian who hating them because they made an insurrection burned their writings concerning their distilling of Gold and Silver lest being made rich by this Art and having gotten plenty of money they should rebell again The Emperour Dioclesian was created in the year 287 so that this Art was rather renewed than new Many things were ingeniously invented in this our Age which were totally in former times unknown Among which Latten which is called Lato may be recorded which is made bright with some certain powder which is mixed with it and maketh the shining of the Mettal which is not reall Because if a Spoon of the same Latten be dipped in the same powder the pure brass as it was at first will return to the sight for the dust being consumed it loseth the counterfeit brightnesse The Artists of Alchymy have invented a means to make a Saphyr white so that it may seem to be Adamant And so it is wont to be fastned in Rings that no man though never so skillfull can discern it to be a Saphyr I saw a tryal of it amongst the Lapidaries of Venice for a dispute being risen and a wager laid Whether the stone which was put in the Ring were a Saphir or an Adamant the answer was it was an Adamant and such as were skillfull in this Art said that that Saphir could not be distinguished from an Adamant Alchymists also produce a certain kind of Tin which you would think were true Silver which being struck with a Hammer remains firm and constant the same
Cypres 152 Maids of Rome and Greece 19 Maying 193 Marjoram 59 Malcolm King of Scots 17 Manner of divers Nations in Marriages 15 Manner of reckoning years 53 Mantil 130 Manumission 71 Marble 133 March 77 Marcus Cato banished Physitians out of Rome 56 Marcus Valerius ordained a Diall in Rome 82 Mary the Virgin dyed 160 Marriage began in Paradise 15 Marriage of divers Nations ibid. Marriage of Priests 198 Marius 75 Mars author of Chivalry 88 Martyrs 294 Masques 153 194 Messagetes 15 Masse the parts thereof 214 Masts 151 Matches 109 Mattins Prime and Hours 221 Measures and Weights 53 Meats forbidden on Fasting-dayes 231 Melissus 21 Melting brass 108 Memory of Martyrs 237 Menander 35 Men deified 2 237 Men lived by Acorns 123 Men of great memory 87 Men were first called Christians in Antioch 159 Men were sacrificed by the Gentiles 204 Men wrote in plates 86 Menon 23 Mercury 38 48 68 Mercury found the Concordes 41 Mercury found the Harp 43 Mercurius Trismegistus appointed 12 hours in the day 81 Mettals 107 Meter divers kinds thereof 31 Mice engender of the mudd 10 Milk 128 Minister 166 Minos 68 Minos had the first rule on the Sea 149 Myrrhe 114 Moly 58 Monarchy 69 Moneths 79 Money 110 Monks 257 Morispikes 89 Moses 24 29 103 Moses did promulgate the first Laws 68 Moses did write the first story 36 Moses found the trump 45 Moses ordained divorcements 18 Motleys 130 Moulds 121 Mourning 239 Mourning is superstitious Hypocrisie 241 Mummius destroyed Corinth 120 Murall crown 104 Musick 40 Musick maketh a man effeminate 42 N. NAbles 44 Naked games 94 Nasamones 17 Nature gave Musick to men 40 Nature of Oyl 196 Navall Crown 104 Necromancie 62 Nemi 94 Neptunus 2 Neptunus had the Empire of the Sea 149 Nero first persecutor 296 Netts 129 New-Years gifts 193 Night sacrifices are abolished 229 Nilus doth overflow Egypt 51 Niâ—us did enlarge his Empire 70 Noah made the first Altar 165 Noah planter of the Vine 125 Noon 82 Nonas 80 Notaries 175 Numa added to the year 78 Numbers 53 Nunnes 182 259 O. OBelisci 141 Observing of dayes 48 Observing of dyet was beginning of Physick 54 Obsidional Crown 104 Occasion of Idolatry 20 Ochus 46 Odde and even 96 Offering 191 Office sold in Rome 176 Oyl 196 Oyntments 105 Olympiades 93 Olive-Oyl 126 One God 6 Opinion of Philosophers 3 Opinion of the birth of of man 9 Oracle 115 Oracles doubtfull 2 Oracles ceased at Christ's coming 206 Orator 39 Order of Cardinals 175 Order of Manumission 71 Oresteus 124 Organie 59 Orpheus 22 30 40 46. Original of Heathen Gods 1 Otho a German made Emperour 178 P. PAinting 118 Palamedes array 89 Pallas 3 Pamphilia 130 Panase 58 Pancias 103 Paper 86 Parchment ibid. Pardons 282 Parishes 173 Parts of Rhetorick 39 Parts of the night 83 Partâ—ians 57 Paschal Candles 234 Patriarchs 179 Paul is converted 160 Peacock 128 Pelagius caused Subdeacons to forsake their Wives 200 Penitencers 266 Pensil 119 Pentecost 235 Persecutors 297 Peter and Philip had Wives 199 Peter crucified 160 Peter converted three thousand 159 Phedon 110 Pherecides 37 Phidias 118 Philip Emperour proclaimed an heretick 249 Philosophy 46 Philosophy in three parts 47 Pyrrhus dance 94 Physitians famous 57 Physick 54 Phonoreus 68 Pillars 133 Pirodes struck fire out of flint 109 Piromancy 62 Pisistratus made the first book 84 Pythagoras called himself a Philosopher 47 Pythagoras observed the Day-star 50 Pits who digged them 136 Playes or Shews 92 Plato 8 Pliny 23 Plough 123 Plucking out of Teeth 55 Poets 112 Poets be called holy of Aeneas 29 Poetry ibid. Pole-axes 89 Polignotus 118 Punishment for Adultery 16 153 Punishment for omitting Oblations 204 Pontifex Maximus 187 Possessions permitted to the Clergy 252 Posthumius 102 Potters craft 120 Potters frame 121 Prayer 207 Preaching 208 Price of Writs 284 Priest's age 173 Priests 168 Priests first Masse 192 Priests of Egypt 128 Priests of Egypt wrote stories 37 Priesthood 165 Primitive Church 169 Prime 80 Prince Electours 178 Printing 85 Prisons 76 Prognostications 52 Prometheus 111 Prophesying 63 Prose 37 Protagoras 4 Psalter of David 30 Psammeticus 10 Ptolemeus's Libraries 84 Pultries 128 Purification of women 201 Purple colour 131 Purple robe 196 Q. QThe Letter 26 Quarrels 90 R. RAmmers 90 Readers 166 Reading the Bible at meat 231 Riding of horses 91 Reckonings 53 Reconciliation of Churches 237 Regals 44 Religion 13 156 Reliques 279 Repentance a remedy for sin 218 Rhetorick 38 Right hand 183 Ringing to Service 245 Rites of burying 138 Rites of Marriage 18 Royal Ornaments 75 Romans burned their dead bodies 139 Romans League 99 Rome made orders 170 Romulus 72 Romulus ordered the year 77 Rowing in Boats 150 151 Rudders ibid. Rue 59 Ruling the Common-wealth 69 S. SAbbath-dayes of the Jews 232 Sacrament of the Altar 217 Sacrifices 227 Sailes 150 Solomon 136 Solomon made the first Temple 202 Salt 128 Saluting with kisses 184 Sanctuaries 142 201 Sand Diall 82 Satyres 34 Saturnalia games 97 Saturnus Father of the gods 4 Savery 59 Saw 148 Scaffolds 143 Scarlet robes 175 Schisms 290 Scythians League 100 Scribes 284 Selandine 59 Senio 95 Servius Tullius 111 Secretaries 285 Seth's posterity 49 Sextons 166 Shafts 90 Shalmes 44 Shaven Crowns 171 Ships 150 Shoo-makers craft 130 Silk ibid. Sylla 75 Silver 107 Silver coyned in Egina 110 Silvester commanded That a Priest should have but one Wife 199 Simony 287 Simonides 5 Singing Psalmes by course 222 Singing to the Lute 44 Single-livers 17 Sithes 90 Slings ibid. Smith's Forge 108 Socrates 42 Solicitors 285 Sol. 81 Soul-masse day 241 Somners 285 Sons of Noah 13 Sons of Seth found the Letters 24 Sodering of Iron 108 Spears 89 Speaking of the Nature of God is dangerous 5 Spindles 129 Spinning 130 Spirits 60 Spurius Carilius 18 Squire 147 Stations 281 Stalling a Bishop 17â— Staves 8â— Steeples 137 13â— Stephen is martyred 15â— Stars of what poweâ— they be 48 Stewes 152 29â— Stocks 7â— Story of a King's daughter 1â— Striking of the Clock 82 Subsidies and taxes 76 Succession of Priesthood 166 Superstition turned into Religion 227 Supplications 247 Susanna 154 Swearing 181 Swine commended in sacrifices 127 Swords 89 Sword-players 98 T. TAbles 94 Talus 95 Tapers 191 Targets 89 Taxes or subsidy that they pay which have benefices 285 Telesphorus did appoint Lent to be kept before Easter 226 Tennis 94 Tents 135 Texts proving Confession 220 Thales 3 77 Theatres 142 Themistocles 42 Theodosius commanded That no Crosse should be graven on the ground 203 Theseus first Tyrant 71 Thessaly used Magick 60 Thracians fashion of burying 139 Three strings in the Harp 43 Three Masses on Christmas-day 215 Tile and Slate 132 Tyrians were cunning Capentersr 148 Tisias gave rules of Rhetorick 39 Tithes 25â— Titles of Bishops of Rome 283 Tongues 108 Towers 135 Tragedies 32 Tragos ibid. Transfigurations 235 Tribunes 74 Triumphs 101 Trix 33 True Fast 225 Truce for years 99 Tubal-Cain 40 88 108 Turning our faces Eastward 208 V.
Authority with his Apostles to establish the Common-wealth and Religion of Christians and the 10th day after his Ascention he sent the Holy Ghost into their hearts to strengthen and teach them all truth This was 33 years and 3 moneths after his Incarnation Thus our Religion had its original and the Apostles by their preaching amplified and enlarged it very much For Peter first preaching to the Jews in Jerusalem of the cruel murther that they had committed against Christ Jesus converted and baptised in one day 3000 men and Women And by the miracle of healing the lame man at the beautifull gate of the Temple he stayed and confirmed them strongly in the Faith albeit he suffered persecution greatly for the same And Stephen for his faithfull testimony was stoned to death Philip converted and baptised the Samaritanes and a certain Eunuch of Candaces Queen of Ethiopia the Eunuch turned the Queen with her family and a great part of that Countrey to the faith of Christ After in Antioch the faithfull named themselves Christians Thomas preached to the Parthianâ— Matthew in Ethiopia Bartholomew in s India Andrew in Scythia John in Asia Peter in Galatia Pontus Cappadoâ—ia Peter was born in Bethsaida a City of Galilee and brother to Andrew He was Bishop of Antioch seven years and converted many people of Asia and after went to Rome in the time of Claudius and there preached the Gospel with great increase At the same time Mary the Virgin and Mother of 〈◊〉 Saviour Jesus Christ did change her life which was the year of our salvation 47 Not long after Paul being converted from his phantasticall Traditions to a Preacher of Christ's Gospel was brought to Rome where he preached boldly the Gospel notwithstanding the great persecutions that he suffered for it and afterward suffered death by the way of beheading at the commandement of Nero the same day that Peter was crucified on a Crosse Thus daily the Congregation of Christians encreased more and more as the Acts of the Apostles and other Histories do declare it fully Albeit there was great trouble and persecution in every place yet God by his power contrary to their expectation turned their cruelty to the furtherance of his Word confirmation of the faithfull and confusion of them that used tyranny CHAP. II. The Institution of Circumcision and Baptism GOD which had made promise to Abraham that he should be father of many Nations and that all the world should be blessed in his seed that is Christ willing to stay his faith in the same promise appointed the Covenant of Circumcision between him and Abraham saying Every male shall be circumcised and the flesh of his fore-skin shall be cut round about for a sign of the League and Confederacy that I make with thee Upon this Commandement Abraham then being 99 years of age did cut his foreskin and his son Ismael's being then 12 years old whom he begat of Hagar his bond-maid and all his servants For this cause as S. Cyprian saith that he might have the first fruits of the blood which should afterward shed his holy blood for the redemption of many yea of all that believe in him The fashion of it was to cut the fore-skin of a man's yard with a knife of stone as God commanded Joshua that he should make knives of stone to circumcise all the Israelites the second time and Moses did circumcise his children with a sharp stone Chrysostome calleth Circumcision the first and most ancient Commandement for there is no Nation that gave any precepts or rules to live by before Abraham or Moses and therefore it is to be supposed that other Countries took example at the Hebrews to circumcise their Children as the Phoenicians and Arabians the Saracens the Ethiopians the Egyptians and the Colchians This Circumcision of the flesh was a figure to us of the circumcision of the heart and casting away of all superfluous lusts carnal desires and importeth a moderation and mortifying of the affects and concupisceâ—ces of the old Adam I mean the sinful body he that had not this sign was banished out of the number of the people of God and had no part in the promises made to Abraham Baptism wherein is left to us a signification both of the mortification of the flesh and dying to the World that we may walk in a new life and also of the washing away of our sins by Christ's blood and is the token that we be of the body of the Congregation of the faithful was instituted by Saint John son of Zachasry the 15th year of the Emperour Tiberius his reign in the Wilderness beside the famous River of Jordan where he baptized much people This baptism and washing was in the water to ssignifie the washing away of our sins that should be by Christ which baptized in the Holy Ghost and fire There were signs of Baptism in the old Law as the Cloud the Red-Sea the River of Jordan The first that was christned of the Heathen was Cornelius of Caesaria and the Eunuch of Queen Candaces Christening of Infants was instituted among us as Circumcision of children was of the Jews celebrated the eighth day Iginius Bishop of Rome ordained first that children which should be Christened should have a godfather and a godmother for to be witnesse of the Sacrament that it was received And Victor Bishop there did institute the one might be christened either by a lay-man or woman in time of necessity because Infants were often in dangeâ— There be three manner of Baptisms as Cyprian divideth it One in water whereof John was author another in the Holy Ghost and fire whereof Christ was Institutor the third in blood wherein the children that Herod slew were christened It was also the manner in old time that they which were grown in age should be baptized in white apparrel and that was wont to be at Easter or Whit-sunday onely necessity constrained otherwise In the mean time till those dayes came they were taught the mysteries of the Religion of Christ which they should professe Of that custome I suppose the 7th Sunday after Easter is called the White-Sunday CHAP. III. Of the Priesthood of the Hebrews and degrees of the same LIke as in the Christian Common-wealth there be two sorts of men one called the Laytie to whom appertaineth the ministration of the publike weal and all temporal affairs the other is the Clergy to whom belongeth the cure and charge of ministring the Word of God Sacraments and other decent ceremonies so in the old Law of the Hebrews there were two jurisdictions one of them was Captains and Governours of the Commons the other was the Priesthood that did offer up the sacrifices and other oblations Of this degree of Priests Aaron and his sons were the first ordained and consecrated by Moses at the Commandement of God The manner and fashion