with them in these our dayes They cover their heads with a linnen roller whereof one part hangeth downe by the Fore-head so that they cover al their mouth therewith For they are almost as much ashamed to shew their mouthes as their privy parts and therfore they keep their mouths close never opening them except it bee to take meate and that because they would not let any filthy aire and vapour to slip out thereby They doe greatly esteeme fat and corpulent woemen and such as have large and faire breasts and dugges Within this Countrey the travaile of sixe dayes journey will bring a man to a place called Tagaza from whence is brought much plenty of Salt the which is carryed away upon Camels backs into divers places and especially to the Kingdome called Melli. The people called Mellitae be somewhat beyond the Equinoctiall and have most fervent heates and therfore at certaine times in the yeare their blood is infected so that if they had no remedy by Salt they could not live by any meanes their Salt is divided into such lumps that one salt stone is enough to be borne upon one mans shoulders But when they come to the Countrey called Melli they loade one Cammell with two salt stones as for the poorer sort that are not able to have Cammels they carry their Salt upon their shoulders and some upon their heads and that in such a company that they seeme almost in multitude like unto an army of men This Salt they bring unto a great water where every one dischargeth his burden of Salt upon the Land and make great Hills thereof leaving a certaine signe for the true knowledge of every mans heap this done they depart and then commeth the Nigrits who will not bee knowne nor yet talke with any other kind of people they come neer with their ships and where they see and perceive the heaps of Salt they lay great store of Gold neigh unto every heap of Salt even as they thinke it convenient for the Merchandize and agreeable to equity for the exchange and then they depart leaving the Gold and Salt together The Nigrits which went a farre off returne againe and every one looketh upon his owne heape and if the Gold that was left by it pleaseth him and seemeth sufficient for the exchange then hee taketh the said Gold away leaving the Salt behinde him and not minding to returne againe If the heape of Gold doth not seem unto them sufficient for the exchange of the heap of Salt then they leave both still and depart againe in some secret place minding to come againe within a little after But those Nigrits which cannot abide to be knowne come againe to the said place and take away such heapes of Salt as they see the Gold to bee taken from or else they adde a little more Gold to the heape that was left before or otherwise they carry away their Gold leaving the Salt still if the bargaine please not them And thus doe they use their Merchandize so that the one seeth not the other and that by an old custome It is a great labour with these Nigrits to carry their salt upon their shoulders because they lacke all manner of beasts meete for that carriage almost the which commeth through the unfruitfulnesse of the earth for they have very little store of Grasse and that which they have is pestilent also and therefore they dayly drinke water wherein a little salt hath bin resolved and this is their greatest remedy and most especiall medicine They never have raine but in August September and October But these men that come after this sort and exchange Gold for Salt without any talke of bargaine or sale are thought to be marvellous blacke having their lower lip hanging downe to the breast somewhat red and within excoriate and chapped so that blood commeth out but the upper lip is small like unto ours and for this cause all their teeth may bee seene which are a great deale bigger then ours their lips are also thought to putrifie many times for the heat of their Countrey for the remedy whereof they use the benefit of salt Of Prester Iohns land THE rule and dominion of Prester Ihon is large and of great compasse this Countrey excelleth in Riches in Gold Silver and precious Stones Some say that the Aethiopes living under Prestor Iohn are very good Christians and that foureteene Kings doe homage and obeysance to the Emperor Prester Iohn whereof some bee tributary also to him The great almner of Prester Iohn promiseth himselfe to fight for the Holyâ—land It is written that Thomas the Apostle was buried in the Kingdome of Aethiope There be beasts also in this Countrey that have seven Hornes in their Fore-heads There bee white Camels and white Beares and Horses with two hornes It is also said that there bee Birds or Fowles in this Countrey which with their tallants and nailes wil carry away an Oxe or an Horse to feed their young In some part of this Countrey it is thought that there bee men with hornes and such as have but one eye before them and two behinde them and some people that feede upon mans flesh and devoure their owne parents and slay and eate those that are aged And another kind of people that hath Feet like unâ—o horse-feete and very round Their Women dwell severally and have three Kingdomes The â—hree Queenes of Amazones set â—orth and make preparations to Wars with 300000 souldiers of women The Pigmeis in Affrica bee good Christians The King of the Pigmeis warre against the fowles which destroy fruite and his people driveth them away with their voyces It is said also that there be certaine Monsters which above the loynes are seene formed like unto men and beneath the loynes unto horses The Aethiopians have an artificious way to take Lyons and Unicornes There have beene seene in times past Giants of three score and tenne cubits in compasse and now in these dayes it is said that many great Giants bee there seene oâ— thirty and five cubits in height The bird which is called a Phâ—â—nix and liveth three hundred yeares and more is said to bee set on fire and burnt through the heate of the Sunne and that of her ashes there springeth another yong one There is great store of Pepper gathred in the woods which are full of Serpents and Scorpions And men having heads like unto dogger are sayd to bee very cunning in fishing Other people there are which have their faces in their breasts they be strong and swift runners and great searchers of Gold and Silver Many other such trifles incredible things the Iewes do fable upon the land of Prester Iohn which are so far beyond all credit and likelyhood of truth that I thought it better to omit them then to occupy the reader in idle spending the time about them Of the Mice of the Alpes THere is a kinde of Mice about the Alpes almost as most as bigge as Conyes
return to their seats where they sing most solemnly with Organs Shalmes and other Musick 〈◊〉 Creator Then they withdraw themselves into the Councell house halfe an houre the doore being lockt they call the Peeres of Germany unto their Councell house as messengers unto the Emperour to signifie their Election and to desire the Emperour in name of the Electors of his good wil herein and if his Majesty would vouch safe to come to the Church of St. Bartholmews at Frankford a place as Westminster is in England or St. Dennis in France If the Emperour come he is received by the Arch-Bishop of Ments the Duke of Bavaria and the rest of the Electors at the Church dore according to their custom and there with solemnity they bring him into the Councel house in his Imperial robe and his Diadem on his head to accept of this Election and from thence they come forth into the Church the Emperour unto his Imperiall seate the new elected King lead between the aforesaid 4 Bishops unto the Altar according to the wonted rites of their Elections they set the King and there he is crowned King by the Electors Te Deum c. is sung then the Trumpets Bells Gunnes and all kinde of sounding is there and after all this is done they leade the King unto his Royall seate provided in the middest of the Church and there proclayme him KING of the Romans and heire of Augustus Thus shortly have I laid downe the manner of the Election of the Emperours of Germany Of the birth of Alexander and of the Macedonian Feasts THe Macedonians likewise upon the birth-day of the great Alexander by the decree and commandement first of Philip Alexanders Father who during his life kept solemnly a most royall Feast for 3 severall dayes The first and the greatest Feast was for his sonne Alexanders birth The second cause was for that his Lieutenant Generall Parmeniâ— had gotten a noble triumphant victory over the Acaians The third cause was for that his horses and Chariots wan the Garlands at the games of Olympia this happened all in one day on which day Alexander the great was borne The same very day the great Temple of Diana was burnt by Herostratus to become thereby famous at what time the Priests of Diana cryed out Magnum Asiae malum nasci This Feast Triplicia was long time after Alexander observed by the Macedonians and yearely solemnized in memory of Alexanders Nativity with great triumph and pompe upon the day of his birth called Laeta fortunata Macedonum dies on which day the Macedonians used to weare the picture of Alexander about their necks in Jewels and on their fingers in Rings This day they used sacrifice and celebrated playes divers kinds of games Argiraspides Alexanders chiefe souldiers celebrated the Feast of Alexanders nativity as long as they lived disdained to serve under King Antigonuâ— or any other King after Alexander died Even so Hâ—motimi chiefe souldiers under Cyrus refused to serve under Cambises and so of Achilles Myrmidons and of Pyrrhus Dolopes I may speak of others who refused after renowned valiant Kings to serve wicked Princes and cruell Tyrants The severall Trophies of worthy Captaines BEfore Rome had growne to any greatnes the first Kings triumphed on foot into the Citty as Romulus who though he triumphed over King Achron whom he slew in a combate chalenged yet he carryed upon his shoulders the rich spoiles of the same King being set in order upon a young greene Oke as trophies of triumphs So did Cor. Cossus who slew fighting in field hand to hand Tolumnius General of the Tuscans and so did Marcellus who likewise slue Britomarus King of the old Gaules before they were called Frenchmen this honour hapned to none of the Romans beside for Rome yet was scant heard of but afterwards their triumphs grew unto such a pompe that some were carryed in triumphant Chariots drawne with huge Elephants as Pompey the great in his triumphs over Affrica some were carried with their triumphant Chariots drawn with tamed Lions others drawn with tamed Harts as Aurelianus others drawn with great Tygers as Heliogabalus others drawn with monstrous Mares Hermaphrodites and others drawne with huge large dogges so that the Romans far excelled all Kingdomes in their triumphs especially in their last Dictators and and Consulls before their Emperours time for Pompey the great in his three triumphs over Affrica Asia and Europe carried Captives 339 Kings Children Princes Peeres and Noble men as prisoners to stand pledges in Rome among this number he brought Aristobulus King of Iudea and Lygranes King of Armenia five sonnes and two daughters of King Mythrydates Others brought in their triumphs the Images and Statues of the Kings which were slaine or otherwise dyed before they could bee taken Captives as Lucullus brought the stratue or picture of Mithidates set out and painted very lively in Ensignes Scipio carried in his triumph at Carthage the Image of Asdrubal Hanibals Brother So Augustus brought the Image of Cleopatra to Rome in his triumph after shee slew her selfe to beare company with her friend Marcus Antonius Others brought in their triumphes Kings alive as Iulius Caesar brought King Iuba and his sonne with all their treasures of Mauritania in great triumphes and pompe into Rome Marius brought in his triumph Iugurth with all spoyles and wealth of Numidia with all the solemnity that could be Paulus Emilius triumphed over Perseus King of Macedonia and his children whom he conquered and brought captives and prisoners into Rome Others brought in their triumphs with all pompe and solemnity crowned with Lawrell and Olive garlands the formes likenesses and pictures of Mountaines Hills Woods Cities Townes Rivers scituated in those regions whom they conquered Lu. Cornelius Scipio after hee had put Antiochus the great to flight hee carried in his triumph into Rome the likenesse and forme of 130 Cities and townes which hee conquered in Asia and therefore was surnamed Asiaticus Lu. Silla in like manner carriâ—d all the Citties of Greece set â—ut very lively on large Enâ—ignes and painted bravely on â—anners and flags So did Marcellus carry the picture of the Citty Siracusa in his triumph set out on long Tables So did Caesar carry the likenesse and forme of the River Nilus and the River of Rhyneâ—n â—n long tables painted with the pictures of Scipio and Cato So â—hat nothing escaped the Romans in their triumphs for the greatnesse of the Empire grew dayly such Of the birth of Mahomet THe nativity of Mahomet which was upon Friday is unto this day among the Turkes solemnly celebrated with divers ceremonies and sacrifices in remembrance of his birth every Friday through the yeare but especially upon Good Friday in contempt of our Saviour Christ the Turkes have such a royall Feast that the charges of that one dayes feast far surmounteth all the other 51 Feasts The Arabians honour the nativity of their Mahomet so much that they begin the yeare and make
Mistresse being a widdow of the Ismael stock and fifty yeares of age having great wealth and riches who also brought him up This pestilent man being puft up with his Wives riches applyed his minde to all kinde of detestable acts through his corrupt and depraved wit being of himselfe otherwise prompt and given to all kinde of presumptuous boldnes his temerity and malapertnesse was also encreased by the unconstancy and unfaithfulnesse of one Sergius a pestilent Monke so that in a short space hee came to such estimation amongst the Arabians that he was called and beleeved to be the great messenger of God and the great Prophet and this in every mans mouth This Sergius being a Nestorian Arch-heretick banished from Constantinople fled into Araby and associating himselfe unto Mahomets familiarity an ill master and governour with a most filthy and abhominable scholler was soone united together Hee was a prater and full of words bold rash impudent subtil crafty and in all things agreeing with Mahomet who now was waxed mighty and could helpe at a pinch and whose name began to be famous and so at the length the runnagate found a filthy privy and dungeon of all wickednesse Whom his unhappy master taught Nestorians madnesse and perswaded him to expulse and remoue the Christians and their Priests from Damascus Syria and Arabia and so to corrupt the Iudaicall law and to deprave the Christian Faith It cannot well be rehearsed by how many crafty and subtill meanes this most unfaithfull Apostata and runnagate hath deceived and seduced the people Now Mahomet being taught all kinde of ungraciousnesse of his detestable master through intemperate living and continuall drunkennesse fell at the length into the Falling-sicknesse the which his wife could not well suffer for the often comming thereof Wherefore the old dissembling knave to deliver himselfe from that infamy doth hide and cloake his disease saying it to be the marvellous brightnesse of Gabriel the Angell and Messenger of God of whom hee being put in that trance did receive and learne most secret and strange things and that he was not able to abide the presence of him with a manifest lye he affirmed it O my deare and wel-beloved wife he saith marvaile noâ— that this commeth to me when I conceive the spirit of GOD himselfe who suggesteth in mee things to come and to make mee privy of many matters he commeth often to me The â—ame hereof was spread abroad immediately and hee was openly called the Prophet of God the which opinion be encreased with a new art and craft by the instruction of his Master Sergius For hee accustomed and taught a Dove to be fed and fetch meate at his eares the which Dove his most subtill and crafty master called the Holy Ghost Hee preached openly and made his bragges â—ike a most lying villaine that his Dove did shew unto him the most secret counsell of God â—s often as the simple fowle did â—y unto his eares for nourishment His Wife being now â—ead left him her heire and â—ll that shee had so that he enâ—reased in wealth and authority â—ayly and beganne to make 〈◊〉 new Law by the helpe of â—is master Sergius and cerâ—aine Iews that were his compaâ—ions borrowing some things â—f the Hebrews and some things â—f the Christians discipline He â—id write in a certaine volumne â—ll the Lawes of his new sect â—he which bookes name is Alâ—oran that booke not many â—eares agoe hath come into Print And that hee might the more craftily deceive his people and Nation given wholly to the belly and to sleepe hee brought up and fed a certaine Bull which was used onely to take food from the hands of Mahomet he bound a bookâ— betwixt his hornes and the simple people looking about with an high voyce hee called the Bull out of a secret place and when hee with his babling tongue had utred many thingâ— concerning his lawes suddenâ—ly the Bull started forth and oâ—verthrowing many in his comâ—ming he layeth down the Booâ— in the hands of Mahomet as 〈◊〉 had beene a gift sent from Heaâ—ven The which hee receiving with much honour did immediatly interprete many thingâ— out of it to the people and with his forged and subtile device hee named himselfe a Prince and Serius a Prophet For the Dove brought â— paper about her necke written with Golden letters in this manner Whosoever shall put â—he yoake on the Bulls necke â—et him be King Sergius brought â—he yoke and gave it to Maâ—omet who did easily put it on the Bull and by and by â—ee was called King of the simple people thinking these â—hings to be done by Gods providence and that hee tooke the booke no otherwise In this booke they are commanded to be circumcised not for any Religion but for meere superstition or else as some say that no filth should remaine under the skinne of the yard when they did wash and bath them There was also commanded abstinence of wine and flesh that hee might the more easily cloake his disease who felt himselfe oppressed with Wine of late for Wine taken more excessively and intemperately in stopping the passages of the braine that no respiration might be had doth breed and nourish the falling sicknesse and Swiâ—â— flesh maketh grosse humourâ— wherewith obstruction of the braine commeth quickly and many other diseases springeâ—â— thereof The booke of Alcorâ—â— commandeth also the fasting of one moneth wherein a maâ— may eat all the night long so that dayly abstinence is recompensed with night 4urfeiting Mahomet appoynted also because he would have his law disagred from Christians and Hebrewes that the Friday should bee consecrated as Holy-day because hee was made King upon that day and also would not agree with any other â—ect For the same cause doe â—he Turkes also turne them into â—he South at their prayers aâ—ainst the manners of other Nations He hath also granted â—o every man foure wives of his â—wne kinred but concubines â—ond-women bought it is lawâ—ull for every man to have as many as he can keepe so that â—hey may forsake them and make a devorce as often as they â—ist and this was done to draw â—he common sort and rude mulâ—itude unto him more easily He â—aught also that the pleasures of â—he body did not hinder the hapâ—y life to come and he promised to the observers of his law a Paradise and garden of all pleasures wherein they should use their most desired joyes and all kinde of pleasures as Maidens most beautifull adorned and the embracings of Angels and all other kinde of pleasures that any man would desire with the which subtill craftinesse hee led the people flexible of their owne nature whither he would because he promised all kinde of libidinoâ—â— pleasures He reprehended the Iews for that they denied Christ to bee borne of the Virgin seeing that the Prophet through divine inspiration did prophesie the same He reproved the Christians of foolishnesse because they did beleeve JESUS to
studied much for honesty and goodnes and with their honest conversation did allure strangers and good men to come unto them â—nd to learne that which they â—ould not finde in other plaâ—es Their women in times â—ast did use Merchandize and â—ll things which appertained â—o Chapmen the men did weave and spinne within the house and carrie burdens on their heads the which the womeÌ„ did use to bear on their sholders the men did make Urine sitting but the woman did contrary They did discharge their bellies at home but their banquets they kept in high wayes they moulded bread with their feet and stirred their clay with their hands They did use to write after the Hebrewe fashion beginning their letters on the right hand When any of them met together at Dinner or Supper before they departed there came in one that brought a picture of a dead man upon a staffe made oâ— Wood of a Cubit length 〈◊〉 somewhat more and shewetâ— it to every one of the guests saying behold and looke upoâ— this drinke and bee refreshed with pleasure for such a one shalt thou be after thy death Their lawes were such that perjured men lost their lives as though they had beene guilty of two offences the one of violating piety towards God the other of breaking faith and promise amongst men which is the surest knot of humane society If any travailer found any man beaten of theeves and would not helpe him if he could he should bee found culpable of death if hee were not able to helpe him he was bound to detect the theeves and to follow the action against them and he that did neglect to doe this was punished with certaine stripes and kept without meat for three dayes If any Father killed his son there was no punishment of death appointed but for 3 daies and nights continually hee was commanded to bee about the dead body for they thought it no just thing to take away life from him that gave life to his children but rather that hee should bee punished with continuall paine and repentance of his fact that others might fear to do the like Paracides they caused to bee burned upon an heape of thornes and such as uttered any secrets to their enemies they caused their tongues to bee cut out And they that did counterfeit or clip mony had both their hands cut off so that with what part of the body the offence was made with the same hee should tollerate punishment If any had violated a free woman his naturall parts were cut off because in one fault he committed three haynous things that is an injury corruption and confusion of children He that was taken in voluntary Adultery had a thousand stripes with rods and the woman was mangled upon the nose The Priests could have but one Wife but the laity as many as they could keepe The bringing up of their children was with small cost for it came not unto the charge of twenty groats the whole Education of their full age and and this is not to bee marvelled at because Egypt is a hot Countrey and therefore they live naked without any kinde of Garment and they feed upon roots the which they eate sometimes raw and sometimes rosted in Imbers The Priests did teach their children especially Geometry and Arithmeticke They did drive away sicknesse either with fasting or with vomit the which they used every third day Their opinion was that all diseases came of superfluity of meates and therefore that to be the best cure which tooke away the matter and causes The seven Saxon Kingdomes that England was once divided into THe first was the Kingdome of Kent which had his beginning of the Saxon Hengist in the yeare of our Lord 476 and the fift yeare of Vortiger King of Britaine his last reigne for he had beene deposed the Kingdome continued 342 yeares till that Egberâ— King of Westsaxons vanquished Baldred last King thereof and joyned it to his owne Kingdome The second Kingdome was of Sussex or Southsaxons which began by the Saxon Ella in the yeare of our Lord 482 and the second yeare of Aurelius Ambrosius King of Britaine This Kingdome continued not above 112 yeares The third Kingdome was of East-angles or East-Englishmen and contained Northfolke and Suffolke it was first begunne by the Saxon Vffa about the yeare of our Lord 492 and the 11 yeare of Aurelius Ambrosius King of Britaine This Kingdome continued 376 yeares the last King whereof was Saint Edmond martyr'd by the Danes The fourth was the Kingdome of Westsaxons containing the West-countrey of England and had his beginning by the Saxon Cerdicus the yeare of our Lord 522 and the fift yeare of Arthur the great King of Britaine and endured from the first yeare of Cerdicus to the last of Alured the terme of 378 yeares The Kings of this Countrey subdued at length all the other sixe Kingdomes which Egbert beganne and Alured finished making all the South part of this Iland one Monarchy The fift was the Kingdome of Northumberland containing the Countries betwixt the river of Humber and Scotland had his beginning of the Saxon Idâ— King of Brenicia the yeare of our Lord 547 and the second or last yeare of the reigne of Aurelius Canon King of Britaine This Kingdome of Northumberland was at the first divided into two Kingdomes the one was called the Brenicia which bended towards the North and the other Deyra about the Countrey of Durham and this Kingdome continued some-while under one King sometime under two the terme of 409 years first under the Saxons and then under the Danes The sixt Kingdome was of the East Saxons or Essex which beganne by the Saxon Sebert the yeare of our Lord about 614 and continued from the beginning of the reigne of Sebert till the eighth yeare of Edward the elder 293 yeares The seventh Kingdome was of Mercia containing Huntingtonshire Hertfordshire Glostershire and others and was the greatest of all the other taking his beginning of the Saxon Penda in the yeare of our Lord 626 after the comming of Hengist 126 yeares during the reigne of Cadwan King of Britaine and continued from Penda till that Edward the Elder chased out the Danes about 280 yeares These 7 Kingdomes of the Saxons beside that of Wales and Scotland were all contained at once in this Iland of Britaine and continued a long space The foure Monarchies THe first Monarchy was of the Assyrians founded by Ninus about the yeare of the World 2220 augmented by the Queene Semiramis and after it had endured the terme of 1300 yeares it was translated by Arbactus unto the Medes and there having endured 350 years it was lost by Astyages and conquered by Cyrsu The second Monarchy was of the Persians founded by Cyrus the yeare of the World 3425 which after it had endured 191 yeares was lost by Darius and subdued by Alexander the great The third Monarchy was of the Grecians founded by Alexander the great in the yeare of
divination of the Augurers made Kings and instructed in their Kingdomes so the Kings of Persia were by their Magi instructed in their sacrifice and taught in their Religion without whom neither was it lawfull for the Romans to doe sacrifice without their Augurer stood by or for the Persians without their Magi being in place The manner and order of the Indians in celebrating the nativity of their Kings THe Indians so honoured the birth-day of their King at what time the dayes beganne to lengthen that the King with all his Nobles went to the River Ganges to wash and bathe themselves where they offered in sacrifice to the Sunne a number of blacke Bulls for that colour among the Indians is most esteemed After sacrifice done to the Sunne the King held a Feast which the Romans called Hilaria which was wont to be celebrated upon the â— Calend of April at what time the Roman Matrones and the yong women of Rome crowned with Myrtle bathed themselves before they sacrificed unto Venus This very time the yong men of Athens kept festivall dayes with mirth and pastime to honour the Moone for the like cause as the Indians had for the Sun This feast Hilaria had all publicke and solomne Playes with all kinde of triumphes for joy that the Sun began to turne his face and to lentghen their dayes tanquam patriae solatium initium laetitiae Of the Nativity of King Cyrus and of the Persian feasts or ioy thereof THE great King Cyrus for so the Persians named their Kings after Cyrus time upon the very day that he was borne hee had victory over the Scythians and Saracens he so honoured and magnified that day that Cyrus commanded that they should bee called the great Kings and appointed that it should be solemnized yearely with a regall noble feast called Sacaea after the name of that Nation conquered in the which feast was celebrated divers strange kinds of ceremonies as the Masters to attend upon the Servants the Mistresses upon their maids imitating the orders and manners in the feast Saturnalia wherein also were Bacchanalia used in the which feast were men women and children which disguised themselves like Faunes with Javelins wreathed about with Ivie in their hands and with Ivie crownes on their heads dancing and skipping after Psalters and Howboyes singing sacred songs unto Bacchus called Orgya and Dithyrambos this feast Cyrus commanded to be yearly solemnized in Babylon upon the sixteenth day of the moneth Loys on the which day Cyrus as some suppose was borne which day among the old Persians was highly honoured for of all the feasts and sacrifices of all solemne great daies the daies of their Kings nativities were most in honour esteemed This was the onely and greatest feast of the Persians for the rich men would celebrate the feast of their Kings birth with sacrificing of whole Camels Horses Oxen and Asses sparing no cost in this feast the poorer sort strained themselves with all charges to set forth the feast of their Kings nativities at what time the Magistrates used to sing the song Magophonia at their feast and the song Theogonia at their sacrifice For this feast Sacaea was called among the Thessalians Piloria in Creete called Hermea in some place called Penagria in another place called Saturnalia but in all places used and celebrated with great solemnities at the nativity of Kings and Princes Of the funerall pompe of the Egyptians THE Kings of Egypt were most sumptuously reserved in this order their bodies were opened and were in such sort used as the Egyptians use with Myrhe Aloes Honey Salt Waxe and many other sweete odours being seared up and anointed with all precious oyles and so they reserved the bodies of their Kings in high buildings made for the purpose far from the ground as in their Pyramides and Labyrinth before spoken The Funerall was so lamented that all Egypt mourned in this sort the men would clap dung and dirt upon theiâ— heads beate their bodies striâ—â— their breasts knocking their heads to every poste howling and crying for their King their women bare-breasted besmeard with all kind of filth running up and downe in furious manner fasting and mourning 72 dayes from wine or any other meat saving bread the water of Nilus Of the funerall pompe of the Thracians THe Thracians Funerall is ful of mirth and melody for when they bring their Friends to the Grave they use to sing Thracian Songs with all sweet musicke onely this ceremony they reserved when any man that was of great calling dyed his Wife must be brought the same day to the grave of her husband in her richest ornament and best apparell accompanied with her Parents and next in blood with great solemnity which after sacrifice done upon the Grave of her husband she must make sacrifice of her selfe The Priest must bring her to the Altar where shee is sacrificed with a vaile over her face and after oblations prayers done shee is slaine upon her husbands Grave for sacrifice Of the sacred anointing of the Kings of Israel THe anointing of the first King of Israel was by Samuel the Prophet who was commanded to anoint Saul the first King of the world that was anointed hee powred oyle upon his head he kissed him and said the Lord hath anointed thee King over his inheritance and the people shouted and said God save the King at this time began first the use of oyle in anointing of Kings after this manner were Saul and David anointed Kings of Israel and after David his son Solomon The order and ceremonies were to ride upon the Kings beast and to sit upon the Kings throne where the Prophet being called the Seer poured the oyle upon his head to signifie the gift of the Holy Ghost Then the Prophet kissed the King upon the cheek and turned his face to the people and said God save the King then they sounded the trumpets and brought him to his Dinner with all mirth and musicke Thus were Saul and David anointed by Samuel and after them Solomon anointed King Of the solemnity on the birth-day of Prince Aratus by the Achaians with feasts and sacrifice IN like manner the Achaianâ— solemnized the nativity of Aratus with a royall feast and sacrifice yearely upon the Grave of Aratus which was called Aratium The Priests were girded about with a purple cloth the Senate in white robes with Garlands of flowers on their heads the magistrates and chiefe officers of all Achaia with great pompe crowned with Lawrell and Myrtle with hymnes and songs made a solemne procession round about Aratium upon the birth-day of Aratus such was his love among the Grecians that hee was chosen seventeene times Generall of the Achaians The Trophies and triumphs that were invented to honour the nativities of Kings and Princes were such that some builded Citties as Alexandria to honour Alexander Caesarea to honour Caesar and Antiochiae to magnifie the name of Antiochus the great Yea such were the