prevail upon them Afterwards they escaped through the Gulphs of Scylla and Charibdis and arrived at Sicily Where they met with Phaetusa the Daughter of the Sun who was there watching over the consecrated Cattel of her Father Vlysses following the advice of Circe gave a strict Order to his men not to offer to touch them But for want of other food they stole some of the Oxen of the Sun when Vlysses was a sleep This action cost them dear for the pieces of meat which they had cut off did give such grievous shrieks when they were laid upon the coals that they were frighted and run all away to their Ship to hide themselves Afterwards when they were at Sea their Ship sunk under them so that they were all drowned only Vlysses saved himself upon a piece of the broken Ship and arrived after much ado to the Island Ogygia to the Nymph Calypso who received him very kindly entertained him many years and at last prepared a Ship to transport him into his own Island But Neptunus to revenge himself for the losse of his Son Polyphemus's eye broke also this Ship in pieces so that he was almost lost without any hopes of saving himself if the Nymph Leucothoa had not provided him with aplank upon which he did swim to the Island of the Pâ—â—acks which is at the entry of the Gulfe of Venice and now named Corcyra or Corfou Nauâ—â—ae the Daughter of Arcinouâ— the King of the Island found him all naked upon the Sea shore and having given unto him a cloak to cover him she conducted him to the Queen her Mother Vlysses was known there by certain marks which were upon his body Therefore the King and the Court received him accoring to his quality and his worth After a short abode in that place to refresh himself and recover his Spirits which he had spent in his dangers he gave unto him a Ship which carried him happily and safe unto the Island of Ithaca This was the twentieth year of his wives expectation of him She had heen all this while in continual torment of mind and in an earnest longing to see him again Some had endeavoured to perswade her that he was perisht at Sea Which news caused many young Lords to wo her and seek her in marriage very seriously But she did preserve such a faithful love for her husband which was entertained by the hopes of his return that she would never give unto them any answer and that she might put them off she undertook the making of a piece of cloath promising to declare her resolution when this work was finisht but to delay it the longer she did undo at night whatsoever she had made up in the day In the mean while Vlisses was troubled how to discover himself with the safety of his person and re-enter into possession of his own for he did justly fear to be slain by those who were Suiters to his wife Minerva advised him in this occasion to disguise himself and in the habit of a poor Country fellow to make himself known first to Telemachus his Son and to one of the old Officers of his house which when he had performed with their assistance he put to death all those of whom he was jealous and so entred again into the possession of his Estate and Kingdom But after all this his mind could not be in rest because Tiresias the Soothsayer had informed him that one of his Sons should one day kill him Therefore to prevent this mischance his resolution was to forsake the world and to retire himself into some desolate and solitary place there to end his dayes in peace About that time Telegonus one of his Sons by Circe came to his City and Pallace of Ithaca to pay unto him his respects and as he was striving to enter there hapened a great tumult because some did stop him from going in farther as a person that was not known Vlysses at that instant stept out and Telegonus not knowing him ran him through with his lance which was headed with the veâ—emous back bone of a Seâ—fish Of this wound he afterwards died CHAP. XX. Of the Adventures of Aeneas VVHen the men of Troy saw their City in a flame and their native country Spoilt they were forced to seek their fortunes elsewhere Some of them with the Henetes a people of Paphlagonia followed Antenor a worthy Captain of Troy Others put themselves under the conduct of Francus otherwise named Francion the Son of Hector as some do relate But the greatest part of the Inhabitants ranged themselves under the banners of Aeneas the Son of Anchises and of the goddess Venus as we have already said in the beginning of the 13 Chapter He was married to Creusa one of the Daughters of King Priamus Antenor with his Fleet sailed into the Adriatick Sea called now the Gulfe of Venice where the Henetes who came with him laid the foundations of the famous City of Venice Antenor entered farther into the land and built the City of Padova named by the Latines Patavium Francus marched as far as the River of Rhine and afterwards passed into Gallia amongst the Gauls who have borrowed from him their name Francois Aeneas gathered together as many as he could save out of the burning of Troy where he lost his Wife Creusa carrying away his aged Father Anchises upon his shoulders with his domestick Gods and leading his little Son Ascanius by the hand In this manner he marched as far as Antandrum a City of Phrygia not far distant from the Mountain of Ida where his Fleet of twenty Ships was prepared and ready to set sail when he was embarked with his people he bended his course to wards the coast of Thracia where he had a design to settle and build a City But he was diverted from it by fearful outcryes that were heard in the place where Polydorus had been murdered and buried by Polymnestor the treacherous and perfididious King of the Country as we have already taken notice in the former Chapter From thence he departed and sailed as far as Creta with a design to settle himself there but a furious pestilence gave him such bad entertainment in this Place that he was forced to flie away his domestick gods did then warn him in a Dream that he should proceed towards Italy and that there he should settle and make his conquests Assoon as he had commanded his Sails to be hoised up a furious storm drives him and his Fleet on shore on the Islands called Strophades where the Harpyes a cruel and strange sort of Birds did mightily persecute him and his people Afterwards he sailed along the Coast of Epirus where he happily did meet with Andromache Hector's wife who had been espoused afterwards to â—yrrus when he passed into Greece But he having divorced her gave her in marriage to Helenus with part of the Country of Epirus where he made him a Sovereign Prince After that Aeneas had been kindly
first who built this City and who commanded there in Chief was Dardanius the Son of Electra and of Jupiter When he had kill'd his Brother Jasius he was forced to fly away and secure himself in Phrygia where he espoused the Daughter of King Teucer with whom he joyntly reigned in that Country which was sometimes named Tâ—ucria and sometimes Dardania The City of Troy did also bear the same name In the time that Moses left the leading of the People of Israel to Joshua about 700 years before the building of the City of Rome and 650 years after the first Foundations of the Assyrian Monarchy Dardanus left his Kingdom to his Son Erichthonius who begot Tros When he was possest of the Kingdom he called the City after his own name Troja and the Country round about was named Troas This Tros had several sons first Ganimedes who was ravisht by Jupiter Assaracus the Father of Capys of whom was Anchises the Favourite of Venus who had by him Aeneas born upon the banks of the River Simois But the chief of his Children and the Heir of his Crown was Ilus who gave unto the City of Troy the name of Ilium when he had mightily enriched it Laomedon succeeded Ilus his Father it was â—e that built the walls of the City of Troy by the assistance of Apollo and of Neptunus as we have noted in the fifth Chapter of the former Book He had promised unto them with an Oath a certain reward for their labour but he was so unworthy afterwards as to refuse it which caused them to afflict him with many diseases So that to satisfie them he was forced to expose his own Daughter Hesione to be devoured of the Sea-Monsters We have also taken notice how he treated with Hercules to deliver her from the danger and how he dealt treacherously also with him as he had done formerly with Neptunus and Apollo But it proved the cause of his ruine for Hercules gathered together the Forces of his Friends especially of Telamon the King of Salamis and the Father of Ajax and then besieged this Traytor Laomedon He put him to death and carried away all his wealth with Hesione his Daughter who was married to Telamon His Son also was taken and made prisoner but his Subjects redeemed him and therefore he was called Priam which in Greek signifies a Redeemed When Priam saw himself established in the Kingdom he began to enlarge his Dominions and to render the City of Troy far more famous than ever it was before for he rebuilt all the walls adorning them with Forts and Bastions which were then called Pergama His Wives name was Hecuba the Daughter of the King of Thracia she had by him several Children Hector Polites Deïphobe Helenus the Soothsayer Troïlus Paris and Polydorus Polyxene Cassandra and Creüsa were his Daughters His Court and Palace were full of pomp and glory and he lived in this prosperous estate many years But at last he was so unhappy as to behold with his own eyes the desolation and utter ruine of the City of Troy that lasted only three hundred years We shall see how this change came to pass Laomedon had eight Children 〈…〉 Daughters Lampus Clitio and 〈…〉 mentioned by Homerus 〈…〉 Priamus Antigone and 〈…〉 remarkable Their 〈…〉 perjury that when any of 〈…〉 faithful they are said to be 〈…〉 Laomedon Antigone had such a rare beauty that she preferred her self to Juno who changed her into a Stork Titonus was married to Aurora of whom the brave Champion of Aegypt Memnon was born Priam succeeded his Father Laomedon Of Hecuba he had nineteen Children Whiles he remained in peace and espoused not the quarrels of the Asian people against Greece he prospered and his Kingdom flourished mightily but when he engaged himself in the publick enmity of his Country and suffered Paris to affront the Grecians he brought upon himself and his Subjects utter ruine and destruction as Herodotus takes notice But of him hereafter CHAP. XIV Of Paris VVHen Hecuba was with-child of Paris called otherwise Alexander she dream't that she was bringing into the world a Firebrand that should kindle the flames of War in the Country and cause a general destruction in it For this cause as soon as he was born Priam delivered him into the hands of a Souldier named Archâ—laus that he might cast him away in the Woods to be devoured of the wild beasts and prevent the mischief that did threaten his Kingdom But the Mother seeing a Child so well shapt and beautiful she was moved with compassion for it therefore she caused it to be secretly nourished by Shepherds in Mount Ida. This mean Education did not take from him the generous qualities and inclinations which he had borrowed from his Illustrious Birth for in every occasion he did make a great Courage Prudence and Justice Virtues worthy of a Prince appear to the world So that Juno Pallas and Venus agreed to chuse him the sole Arbitrator and Judge of their Concerns in a difference between them This was the business At the Nuptials of Peleus and Thesis whiles these Goddesses were merry at the Feast the Goddess of Discord cast into the middle of the Company a Golden Apple with this Inscription For the fairest and most Beautiful Each of these did claim it as their own and because they could not agree they resolved to leave it to the judgment of Paris who was corrupted with the charms of Venus and with her promises for she had engaged to procure unto him the handsomest Lady of the World-Thus he despised the Riches of Juno the Wisdom of Pallas and pronounced his sentence in favour of Venus therefore he provoked the wrath of these Goddesses against himself and all his Nation After this in a Meeting he declared who he was for the Nobles and Gentry of the Country being assembled near the City to see the sport of Wrastling when every one did strive to express his strength and courage he did also go forth and laid upon the ground every one who ventured against him Hector the Son of Priam did try his strength and was also overcome But this disgrace so inrag'd him against Paris that he offered to kill him for he esteemed him no better than a Country Clown In his anger he had taken away his life had not Paris to prevent him shewn unto him certain small Jewels which Queen Hecuba his Mother had delivered to his Tutor and thereby declared unto him how he was his Brother King Priam that had admired his address and courage in the Combats was ravisht with joy to understand of the preservation of such an excellent Son therefore he imbrac't him brought him to his Palace and gave him a unto Train suitable to his quality for he had forgot how the Oracles had foretold that he was to be the cause of the ruine of the Kingdom and Country And because he was full of generosity and valour he could not
Achilles destroying the Country round about Troy and the current of his River stopt with the heaps of dead Corps's he in his rage joyned himself to his next Neighbour Simois with an intent to dround Achilles They both met so opportunely that they had already surrounded him with their waters and he had infallibly perisht there had not Juâ—â— dispatcht away Vulcan in haste to his assistance This 〈◊〉 himself in a rage with violent flames 〈◊〉 his hand upon the poor Scaman 〈◊〉 â—nd consumed most part of his waters 〈◊〉 memorable Siege lasted many years 〈◊〉 it proved fatal to both parties 〈◊〉 of the great Commanders lost their 〈◊〉 but some of them did deserve a renown 〈◊〉 hath perpetuated their names and meâ—â—ries to all Ages Next to Agamemnon and Menelaus Achilles â—as one of the most remarkable for his vaâ—â—r and his other excellent qualities Paro â—es his Favourite was a noted Captain as also Id menâ—us the Son of Deucalion Ajax the Son of Telamon and Ajax the Son of Oilâ—us King of Locres who was very swift in running and excellent in handling bow and arrows and the lance Schelenus the Son of Capaneus was noted for his courage as also his intimate friend Diomedes King of Aeâ—olâ—a and Son of Tydeus mentioned before he was not like that cruel Diomedes the King of Thracia who was slain by Hercules for he was both gracious and valiant he did march to the fight as quick as the thunder bursts out of a cloud or as a Torrent that tumbles down a steep Mountain as Homer informs us none but Achilles and Ajax the Son of Telamon did go before him in the reputation of a great Commander for Vlysses he did excel more in cunning than in courage he did invent all manner of Stratagems of war aganist the enemies Nestor was three hundred years old he was nevertheless very useful by his wise counsels and by his eloquence for he did insinuate himself into the minds of his auditors so pleasantly as if honey had droped from his mouth with his words Agamemnon had such an high esteem of him that he did often say That if there were but ten such as Nestor in his Army the City of Troy could not have made so long a resistance They wanted no kind of Persons in this Siege for the carrying on of their design They had Catchus and Euripilus two experienced Soothsayers who did inform them of the time to come that they might make provision accordingly They had also a learned Physitian by name Macaon the Son of Esculapius who did heal all sorts of discases and Epeus a witty Engineer who invented several Engines of war particularly that which was called the great Ram or the Horse with which the enemies did anciently batter down the walls of a besieged City There was also an ill shap'd Fellow amongst them named Thersites whose mind was as full of evil qualities as his body was deformed with ill-favoured features He was the greatest Coward in the Army yet had the confidence to oppose all the ablest and stoutest Commanders Achilles was one day so enraged against him that he knock'd him down and kill'd him with a blow of his fist The first of the Grecians army who landed when they were arrived in the Province of Troas was Prothesilaus Hector cast him dead to the Ground with a blow of his lance His wife Laodimia requested this favour from the gods to comfort her in her violent affliction onely to see again the Shadow of her deceased husband which was granted but when she offer'd to embrace it she fell down dead There were many slain and much blood spilt in the frequent fallies of the besieged Troïlus one of the Sons of Priam ventured out against Achilles though he were very young but he was unhappily killed by him his death did mightily afflict the Trojans because the Oracle had promised that the City should never be taken whilst he did live His elder Brother Hector reveng'd his death by the cruel slaughter of a multitude of Greeks with which he did encounter So that the besieged did often say that he alone Ajax and many Worthies were buried Afterwards there happened a very hot dispute between Vlisses and Ajax the Son of Telamon about the Armes and Weapons of Achilles Ajax did pretend that they did belong to him not only for his Deserts and for his Valor but also because he was near allied in blood to Achilles Nevertheless Vlysses knew so well how to perswade his Judges who were the Commanders of the Graecians Army by his extraordinary Eloquence that they gave them to him which put Ajax in such a fury that he became mad In this condition he ran into an Herd of Swine and fancying these beasts to be Agamemnon Menelaus and the rest of his Judges he endeavoured to destroy them But when he came to understand his gross mistake he killed himself with the Sword that Hector had given him verifying the Greek Proverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Gifts of Enemies are unhappy Hector had been also tyed drag'd upon the Buckler that this Ajax had exchanged with him for his Sword When Achilles was dead the Beseiged began to take courage and to express their joy but it lasted not long for Pyrrhus the Son of Achilles being arrived from Greece succeeded his Father in all his offices and he had no less success in the encounters although he was yet very young He revenged his Death upon the Trojans in many Battels in one of them he killed the Traitor Paris Others say that it was Philactetes who wounded him mortally with one of the poisoned Arrowes of Hercules At last the besieged were so unhappy as to see their Palladium upon which the safety of their Citty did depend stolen and carried away privately by Vlysses and Diomedes Which caused King Priam to capitulate with the Greeks so that he came to an agreement but he had no mind to restore Helena who had been married to Deiphobus another of his Children after the death of Paris Aeneas and Antenor were commissioned to treat with the Enemy They concluded a Peace for a certain summ of money and for a certain quantity of Provisions which the Trojans were to furnish the Greeks for their return home The City of Troy being first built by Dardanus and called from him Dardanida was afterwards enlarged by Ilus his successor and named Ilion or Ilium This Prince made his prayer to the gods that they would vouchsafe unto him some signe by which he might understand whether or no they did approve of his building this City Immediately at his word there fell down from above the Palladium which was an Image of three Cubits long was able to destroy the Enemies Army In the mean while the love of women did more prejudice to the Grecians of the weapons of the Trojans for when Agamemnon did entertain the daughter of a Priest
Graecia where he fixed but I cannot imagine how Noah unto whom some do attribute the names of Janus Saturnus Gallus Vertumnus Oenetrius c. should leave his Vineyards and Plantations in Asia to seek others in Italy unless he had been forced out of his Habitation by his Sons which is not likely Therefore as Javan first planted in Graecia and established Religion there we must imagine after the confusion of Babel some did settle in Italy and appoint the Worship of the true God for several antient writers do assure us that the first Men of the world had neither Images nor Statues nor any visible representation to adore In process of time it is likely Religion was neglected in Italy by the Parents who did rather mind their worldly affairs than the eternal concern of their Childrens Souls when the Countrey was peopled with Inhabitants Saturnus arrived out of Crete and taught the People a Religion suitable to the weakness of their Capacities and the ignorance in which he found them The Posterity of Ham that planted in Egypt and Africa first brought in the corruptions of Idolatry as we may read in Herodotus from thence the ignorant Phoenicians borrowed them and recommended them to the Greeks who taught them to the Romans and so they spread by degrees all over the world Evander is said to be the first who established a Priestly Order in Italy Afterwards Aeneas Romulus and Numa Pompilius did increase the number of Religious men according to the number of the Gods whom they did worship When Rome was in its Zenith of Glory and Power these were the Names and Offices of their Priests I shall not mention the Corybantes the Lupercales the Vestal Virgins and those that are named before Petitij Pinarij were the Priests of Hercules so named of two old men called Petitius and Pinarius who were the first who entred into the Office Titij Sodales were Priests of Apollo as Farnabius upon Lucan imagines they were properly Soothsayers who did foretel from the motion of certain Birds the events of the time to come as may appear by Tacit. Annal. lib. 1. There were several sorts of Flamines the chief was that of Jupiter called Dialis who had many extraordinary priviledges and a great power in the City The next was Flamen Martialis of Mars who was to be of the Family of the Senators as Volcanalis was of a Plebeian race Every God had a Flamen or Chief Priest in process of time ae Salij were the Priests of Mars their Governour was named Magister Saliorum Duumviri and Decemviri were those that did keep the Books of Sybilla Cumana in a Chest of Stone in the Capitol when they were burnt with the Temple These Men were continued and increased to fifteen therefore they were called Quindecemviri It did belong to their Office to oelebrate the Secular Solemnities Epulones Were the Overseers of all sacred Banquets appointed by the Pontifices Camilli Camillae were under Officers in the Sacrifices Aeditumus or Aedituus is He that kept the Temples and the Keys in his possession Popae are the under Officers who did tie the Beasts in the Sacrifices They were called also Victimarij Praeficae are the Women that were hired to weep for the dead Vespa and Vespillo was he that did place the Vrns or Ashes of the dead in the ground Pater Patratus the chief of the Feciales did declare the War by casting upon the Land of the Enemy a Lance bloody at the end Therefore Ovid lib. 6. Fast Hinc solet hasta manu belli praenuncia mitti In Regem Gentes cum placet arma capi The Colledge of Chief Priests was over all the rest Their Pontifex maximus the first of their Order was created by the People until the time of the Emperors then this Title was annexed to the Chief Magistracy When the Emperors became Christians they were called Pontifices maximi nntil the time of Gratianus as Zofimus informs us This Order was not subject to any Magistrate they did command over all the Priests and did appoint the Ceremonies belonging to the worship of the Gods The Books of the Sybils so often mentioned in the Authors were Three She was a Prophetess who dwelt in a Cave near Cumes in Italy far from all acquaintance and society of Men. When she had composed nine Books of the time to come she brought them to Tarquinius Priscus to be sold and asks about three hundred pounds for them which he refused to give she burnt three of the Books and required yet the same price but the King would not disburse so much she went away and burnt three more and then returned to demand the same rate for her Books which when the King had well considered by the advice of his Soothsayers be gave her the money In all difficult occasions these Books were examined by the order of the Senate We have yet some fragments of this Sybil gathered out of several writers There are nine or ten Sybils in all They did Prophesy concerning Christ so plainly that we have cause to suspect the Greek Verses that bear their name to be written after our Saviours Death There have been Sybilla Persica Lybica mentioned by Euripid. Delphica Cumana Erythraea Samia Tyburtina Hellespontica Phrygia and Cumaea CHAP. V. Of the Festival dayes that were appointed in Honour of the Gods THE Festival Solemnities of the Heathens were suitable to their belief and fancy of the Gods and the Ceremonies that they used were nothing but expressions of things proper to the Divinity whose Festivals they did keep As we have already taken notice when we have spoken of Cybele and of Bacchus In the Festival of Ceres her Worshippers did run up and down with lighted Torches in their hands because that she did in this manner run about the world after her Daughter Proserpina to seek her out The Inhabitants of Eleusis in Greece appointed this Ceremony that was to be acted only by Women who did in the Temple of Ceres commit a thousand shameful pranks And because Ceres did not reveal her secrets nor discover her design until she had heard of her Daughters welfare it was not lawful to declare what was acted in her Temple during the Festival We cannot without blushing speak of the liberty that the Roman Dames did take in the Festivals of Venus and Priapus In some places on the dayes consecrated to Pallas the Goddess of War the Damsels were commanded to meet together and fight one against another until some did fall dead to the ground At Rome in the Festival of the Lupercals the Priests did run naked about the streets with Goat skins in their hands because heretofore the Romans did happily recover their Beasts when they did run in this manner after them who had driven them away whiles they were sacrificing to the God Pan whose Priests were named Luperci from the place
and perfumes so that all the Assistants were embalmed to their great satisfaction Sometimes with certain Engines called Pegmata they did shew the burning of Cities bloody Battels and many other wonderful things that did pass away in a moment They did cover the tops of these Amphitheatres with sheets of fine Linnen or of Silk of a prodigious largeness to keep 〈◊〉 the violence of the Sun-beams from the Beholders And the Emperors did often cast among the croud many things wrapt up when they were unfolded they who did take them up did find some precious Jewel which he did bestow upon them So that it is no wonder if Titus at one time expended no less then eighty millions of money in the sports that he gave to the Romans The third sort of Pastime of the Amphitheatre was the Race and the encounter or fight of Galleys that did sail in it as upon a Sea sometimes it was all of wine Upon it they did represent the Tritons the Sirens who did sing most delightfully and play many pleasant tricks It is reported that they did bring upon this Sea true Whales and other Sea-monsters alive The Theatre was not like the Circus or Amphitheatre although the People did sit in it in the same manner for the Theatre was only for Stage-players Hocus pocus's and Buffoons for Musical Songs for Dances for Active tricks and all manner of Juglings but especially for Comedies and Tragedies The Scene of these Theatres that is to say that part of them that did appear in the Front did turn round supported upon Pillers that the variety suitable to the change of the Subject and of the Actions especially in Tragedies might give more delight The Comick Scene did resemble particular Houses and the Satyrick did represent Mountains Caves Trees and Fountains Pliny informs us how Glorious and Magnificent were the ornaments of the Theatre which Scaurus built Another named Curio could not equal him in Pomp Glory but he did surpass him by the excellency of the Fabrick for he built two Theatres able to contain all the People of Rome sitting without difficulty They did turn round upon Beams in such a manner that they did joyn together in the form of an Amphitheatre Pompeius built another that was far more stately than any erected by his Predecessors for his Theatre as Tertullian saith did not yield to any other building of the World in Glory He dedicated it to Venus and built also a Temple in Honour of this Goddess But all these sports that were instituted chiefly for the Festivals of the Gods did represent only their Adventures their Loves their Thefts and abominable debaucheries As the Encounters of the Circus and of the Amphitheatre did stir up the minds of Men to cruelty By this means the Devils did entertain the world in the belief and worship of the false Gods and did keep up a Publick School for men to be instructed in all manner of crimes for they did cause them to pass for gallant Acts and did encourage the imitation of them by imputing them to the Gods whom they did adore Now that we have past through the Relation of so many disorders which the ignorance of the true God and our Sins have caused in the world we cannot end it more advantageously than in rendring unto our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the Honour of having happily triumpht over these impieties upon the Cross and especially for that he hath withdrawn us out of the dangerous Abyss of so much wickedness by his Infinite Goodness and hath called us to the enjoyment of the light of his Gospel The Sports and Playes of the Romans do deserve our further consideration There were two sorts private and publick The private were many whereof these are the chief Latrunculi the play at Chess the Board is called Latrunculorum tabula invented by Palamedes at the Siege of Troy to exercise the Soldiers in the art of War and of encountring an Enemy and therefore the Play borrows its name from Latrones an old word for Soldiers Insidiosorum si ludis bell◠latronum Gemmeus iste tibi miles hostis er Tali and Tesserae the Play at Dice was in use amongst the Romans and Greeks They did roll them in a little Box of Horn called Cornea Pixis Fritillus Fimus Turriculus and Orca. This Play is called Alea it was prohibited by the Romans in the Festivals of Saturn Pila or Sphaera is the Ball which was invented to exercise the body of the young and lusty men and not only Children but also Princes and Worthy Commanders did excell in this sort of Play as Titus Livius notes of M. Scevola The Discus the Harpastum and the Halteres were things of great weight which the Romans to shew their strength did cast from them Petaurum was the Wheel handled by two in such a manner that one of them was always under while the other did skip through Par impar Even or Odd was the sport of Children as also Trochus a Top. Martial Iste Trochus pueris at mihi cantus erit The Publick Playes and Sports were invented to divert and oblige the People of Rome or they were appointed in honour of the Gods The latter were celebrated in the Circus Amphitheatre or Theatre at certain times of the year at the Festival of the Divinities unto whom they were dedicated Ludi Megalenses were the Sports instituted in honour of Ceres about the beginning of April in which the Roman Magistrates did appear in their Purple Robes Ludi Apollinares were in honor of Apollo Ludi Florales were didicated to the famous Strumpet Flora On this Festival the Whores of Rome did run naked about the streets and were called together with the sound of a Trumpet Ludi Cereales were in honour of Ceres they were to be performed in white Garments Ludi Capitolini were consecrated to Jupiter Capitolinus Consuales ludi to Neptune Ludi Seculares were performed every hundred years during three dayes in honour of Diana and of Apollo The young Virgins and Men were wont at this time to sing Hymns to Apollo Ludi Plebei were appointed in favour of the People for the remembrance of the happy union of the People and Senate Ludi Compitalitij were Playes Dances in the streets acted by the ordinary People in Honour of their Lares Palatini ludi were so called from the place where they were kept Taurij ludi were ordained in honour of the infernal Gods by the first Tarquinius in remembrance of a great Plague that happened in his Reign Ludi votivi were sports promised by the Roman Magistrates in honour of a God upon condition that they did obtain the victory of their Enemies The Vow was put in writing and fixed to the Statue of the God with Wax and this was called signare vota therefore the Poet saith Genua incerare Deorum to express this
action Now these Playes and solemn Pastimes were sometimes kept in the Circus near the Walls of Rome and therefore called Ludi Circenses in which these are the most remarkable particulars Pompa the stately Procession of the Roman Gods that were carryed about and followed by the Images of all the Worthies by Chariots Pageants Chairs of State Crowns and the spoils of Enemies Sponsiones were the Wagers that were laid Factiones were the Players or Actors who were divided into four parts and therefore they were to be distinguished with different colours At the end the Victors were crowned and a publick Cryer was ordered to go along to declare the name of him who had won the Victory Besides these sports there were also the Plays of the Theatre called Ludi Scenici Stage-Playes which are either Mimicae Satyrae Comoediae or Tragoediae or as the Romans do call them Planipedes Attellanae Praetextatae and Tabernariae The two latter do remain amongst us but we do not follow in the composure the strict Rules that the Romans did prescribe in their Tragaedies Comedies The Actors were called Mimi Copreae Parafiti Saniones Histriones Pantomimi all these are infamous names to denote the Flatterers the Buffoons the Fools and Tale-bearers who were admitted to the Feasts of the Romans to make the company merry But we must not forget to take notice of the difference between the Tragoedy and the Comoedy The former did treat of Blood-shed Cruelties Murder c. The other of some merry and pleasant story Scaliger mentions four parts in a Comoedy Trag. Protasis the Prologue Epitasis the Entrance into the Story or the appearance of the Actors Catastasis is that part in which the design of the Comoedy is clouded with unexpected passages Catastrophe is the conclusion Chorus is the Dance and Musick Besides these Playes there were also among the Romans Ludi Castrenses and Trojani which were for the young Men and Soldiers to exercise themselves at all manner of Sports They had a Captain over them of the Noblest Families of Rome called Princeps Juventutis and they did sometimes skirmish and represent the order of a Battel Their Dance was named Pyrrhica Saltatio because they did dance with their arms as Pyrrhus Son of Achilles in Homer There was always some judicious person chosen to overlook the Players and see that they might have fair play He was called Campi-Doctor or Monitor so that when any did appear either negligent or disorderly he had the care to chastise him The most cruel Sports were acted by the Gladiators who were trained up and reserved by several Noblemen for this bloody purpose Their Lords did signify to the People the time intended for these Pastimes by causing it to be published by a Cryer and by fixing Bills at the corner of the streets When the Fencers were entered into the Arena their custom was before they did fight in earnest to shew their activity by casting Darts at one another as in play And when they had got the Victory they were sometimes received amongst the Citizens a Hat and then a badge of Freedom was given unto them with a Crown of Palm-tree tyed with Ribbons called Lemnisci and a wooden Sword of Exercise called Rudis mentioned before Tutaque sed posito poscitur ense rudis A Treatise of the Roman Antiquities and of the difficult Names relating to their Affairs not mentioned by Gautruche CHAP. I. Of the City and People of Rome ROME is not so Ancient as Famous It was built about 4103 years after the Creation of the World in the dayes of Salmanassar the King of Assyria and of the Captivity of Israel by Romulus and Remus two Brothers the Bastards of Rhea Sylvia The first Inhabitants were out Shepheards and such mean People that all their Neighbours did think it a high disgrace to give unto them their Daughters in Marriage when they could not obtain their â—esires by the usual perswasions they imployed their strength and cunning to get Wives For when the Virgins of the Sabins â—ere come to see the Plays publick sports they stole them away by force This act of Hostility was followed by a cruel War in which Romulus the King having the advantage He forced the Sabines to unite with the Romans in one Body and to take up their dwellings in Rome so by degrees his Victories made him both Dreadful and Famous amongst the Italian People When his Subjects became numerous He divided them into three Tribes and each Tribe into ten Curiae or Parishes The Tribes did increase afterwards to 35 in the flourishing state of the Empire The City he built along the River of Tyber as T. Livius informs us with these usual Ceremonies observed in such occasions The Augures or Soothsayers were ordered to make their Observations to find out the most happy place to seat the City Afterwards the Founder did take a P ow and mark out the compass of it where the Wall was to stand When he did come to the place appointed for a Gate he did lift up the Plow and from hence come Porta à portande Aratrum They did also sacrifice Beasts to the Gods of the place and perform many other needless Ceremonies Romulus called his City Rome after his own name And because his Brother did despise his first undertakings by skipping over the new Wall he caused him to be kill'd The City was at first built upon Mount Palatine where all the stately Edifices were erected and where the Senate did often meet but by degrees the succeding Kings took in 6 neighbouring Hills into the Walls so that it is often called septicollis Vrbs These were the other six The Capitol where a Temple was erected to Jupiter and where stood Rupes Tarpeia from whence many Malefactors were cast down executed Quirinalis mons where Quirinus or Romulus had a famous Temple Mons Caelius where was the Curia hostilia the State-house into which none but Senators did enter Mons Esquilinus where a Watch-Tower was built by Romulus Mons Aventinus or Murcius or Sacer because there were so many Temples erected upon it to the Gods Mons Viminalis From hence Jupiter is named Vimineus because he had a beautiful Temple upon that Hill Besides these noted Hills there were three more added in time to Rome Collis Hortulorum where the Circus did stand Janiculus from Janus who was there interred Vaticanus Mons where now the Famous Library of the World it placed and the most noted Pallace called the Vatican These three last are far lesser than the others therefore it did always retain the name of septicollis In this glorious City the Empress of the World many stately Pallaces were erected whose Ruines do yet declare her Grandeur â—n her flourishing Estate there was these noted places Arcus Triumphales glorious Monuments of Victories obtained upon the
Crown of Gold upon her head that did touch the Clouds round about her was the fair and beautiful Iris that is called Nuncia Junonis the Messenger of Juno on every side she was attended by Peacocks named therefore Aves Junonis the Birds of Juno She was also represented in another manner as she was taken for the Moon She was thus called Lucina and painted with beams of light about her face sitting upon Lyons a Scepter and a Spindle in her hand and because the Moon bath a power upon Women with-child they did make their Addresses unto her in their Pain saying Juno Lucina fer opem Juno was also painted with Sheers and a Platter in her hand cloathed with a Goats skin crowned and girded with Vine Branches and under her feet a Lyoness On the top of her Scepter which was sometimes given to her was the Image of a Cuckow and Castor and Pollux two Meteors waiting upon her Juno was adored by all Nations of the World and by all sorts of people the Souldiers called her Curetis the common people Populania the rich Misers Soticena or Sospitatrix and Opipena the new-married people Inderduca Domiduca Unxia Cinxia the women with-child Fluona and Lucina Three Cities did worship her more than any others Mycenae Sparta and Argos The Poets say that she spent her 〈…〉 at Samos a very pleasant Island of 〈…〉 and that Jupiter married 〈…〉 certain a yearly Solemnity was 〈…〉 year in remembrance of her 〈…〉 Junonia at which time the Maids 〈…〉 did run Races in honour of this 〈…〉 whom they did petition for Husbands 〈◊〉 her Juno Pronuba and Jugalis and in Rome an Altar was dedicated to this Juno Juga where the new-married couple did appear to offer Sacrifice In which this is remarkable that they did take from the sacrificed Beast the Gall and did cast it behind the Altar to express how all displeasure should be banished from such persons The Temple of Juno was open on the top and Numa Pompilius commanded that all Whores should not so much as touch or come near her Walls because there had been none so much persecuted by such sort of people as she and none had greater cause to abominate them for her lecherous Jupiter was seldome without half a dozen Mistresses In the War of the Gyants in the general fright of the Gods she fled into Egypt and took upon her the form of a white Cow which may be the cause wherefore this Animal was adored by the Inhabitants The Heathens offered to her a white Cow Geese and Ravens in Sacrifice Adrianus the Roman Emperour presented her a rich gift in one of her Temples he dedicated a Peacock her beloved Bird of pure Gold with wings round about at the extremities he caused all manner of sparklings and precious stones to be put in that they might serve in lieu of eyes and represent the perfect form of a Peacock Juno was often offended with Jupiter as she had just reason and he in like manner was displeased with her therefore in his anger Homerus tells us that he hang'd her up by the heels at which sight all the Gods took Juno's part and laboured to cast Jupiter out of Heaven but their endeavours were in vain She hated all the Children of her Husbands Concubines especially Hercules therefore she appointed unto him all his Adventures and he in a tumult unfortunately gave her a wound It was to this Goddess that Horacius who got the Victory of the Curii built a Temple to make expiation for the horrid crime committed in his anger for he kill'd in a fury his own Sister because she did weep for her Sweet-heart that her Brother had kill'd in a Duel upon which the happiness of Rome did depend Junones were the Genii or Demones that waited upon women but of that hereafter The Children of Juno were Hebe Vulcan Mars Hebe the Goddess of Youth was painted as a dainty Girl covered with Garlands and Flowers Her Mother conceived her in a pleasant manner without any acquaintance with a Male for she was invited to a sumptuous Feast by Neptune in Jupiters Palace and there she met with a dainty Sallad of Lettice that moved her imagination and caused her to conceive this Hebe whose Beauty advanced her into Jupiters favour and in his service for her Office was to present the Cup to him when he was at Dinner with the other Gods A misfortune happened to this young Girl at a solemn Feast in the presence of all the Heavenly Company that was invited her heels tript up and discovered her nakedness to them which accident made Jupiter remove her and place Ganimedes in her Office She had several fair Temples built unto her especially near Athens where all Vagabonds and idle Knaves did find a favourable Sanctuary and good entertainment The Poets tell us that when Hercules was admitted amongst the Gods Jupiter recommended him for a Husband to Hebe who was married to him From this jolly and pleasant Goddess all merry Meetings of Youth are named Hebetria Vulcanus was also a Child of Juno nursed by Thetis and the Nymphs when Jupiter kickt him out of Heaven He is taken for the Natural Heat therefore the Aegyptians in their Hiereglyphicks did represent an Egg proceeding out of Jupiters mouth from which Vulcanus was ingendred The Lightning was ascribed to him when it was dusky and darkish as the white Lightning to Minerva and the red to Jupiter He was an ill-shap't Wretch insomuch that Minerva scorned his offers when she was woed by him he behaved himself very generously in the War of the Gyants for he began the onset whiles many of the other Gods fled away His two Wives were Aglaia and Venus The latter had no kindness for him because of his def rmity therefore she sought satisfaction somewhere else and readily accepted of the imbraces of Mars But Apollo gave notice of the meeting to poor Vulcan who found a way to trapan the Knave in bed with his Wife He spread his Net all over the place and caught them there together and to put them to greater shame he sent for all the Gods to be Witnesses of their dishonesty He was the only Black-smith that made the Chariot of the Sun the Armor of the Gods and of the Heroes and Jupiters Thunderbolts His Feasts were named Protervia The Romans did run about with lighted Torches in honour of him and did sacrifice unto him the Lyon Mars or Mavors was another of Juno's Children begot without her Husbands assistance in revenge of the affront received from Jupiter who did bring forth Pallas in the same manner without Juno's privity He was never welcome to Jupiter in his Minority he was nursed by Thero in the Northern Climates that are inclinable to War He was represented upon a high Chariot drawn by two furious Horses named by some Terror and Fear with all his Armour Defensive and Offensive
content to load him with reproaches but changed him into a Deer so that his Dogs not knowing him for their Master they tore him in pieces At Ephesus was her chief Temple which was one of the Wonders of the World Erostratus set it on fire that his name might be rendred famous having no other means to get renown but by this wicked deed The Ephesians did command that none should offer to mention his name upon pain of Dealth It is remarkable that Alexander the Great came into the World the very day that this incendy or burning happened in Asia It was the custom of certain people amongst the Scythians named Tauri upon the Euxin-Sea when they paid their homage to this Goddess to offer unto her nothing but humane sacrifices As many Greeks as did unhappily make Ship wrack upon their Coast and all the strangers that did fall into their hands were condemned to bleed upon her Altars as we shall see more at large in the Story of Orestes Finally this Goddess with three Faces was Proserpina in Hell although some esteem Proserpina to be the Daughter of Jupiter and of Ceres who was ravished by Pluto when she went abroad upon Mount Aetna in Sicily to gather flowers Therefore it is said that Ceres her Mother hearing of her misfortune travelled all over the World to seek after her And at that time taught men to Sow to Manure the Ground to Reap and change their Food of Acrons into that of Bread For that reason she is worshipped as the Goddess of Corn. Diana the Goddess of Hunting Child-bearing Virginity and Dancing is said to be the Daughter of Hiperion by others of Tartarus or of Coeus or of Aristaeus but the plurality do make her the Daughter of Jupiter and Latona Her Brother was Apollo and because she was first born the Poets say that she did this good Office to him and her Mother as to help her to be Delivered of him in a Desolate Island where no Midwife was to be found therefore she is esteemed a Goddess that had a hand in bringing Children into the World She always kept her Virginity therefore she is represented by a Greek Poet petitioning Jupiter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She was painted with her Bow and Arrows in a Silver Chariot drawn by two white Staggs sometimes by two Horses one black the other white On her Shoulders were two Wings to express her swiftness and in her hands were a Lion and a Leopard She delighted in Hunting and therefore she was named Dyctinnis from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Net used by Hunters She kill'd the Son of Pyrenes the Nymph in a chaffe his mother hearing of this misfortune poured forth such a quantity of tears that she was changed into a Fountain of that Name And because she was a Virgin and no Lover of Marriage the young Virgins that had a mind to change their condition did first offer Sacrifice to appease and satisfie this Goddess And when their Belly did begin to rise so high that their Virginal Girdle was too little for them they came to offer it in the Temple of Diana From hence is derived this expression Zonam solvere which signifies to be with Child The Hunter Alphaeus was a Suter to Diana but could never obtain his request Vnto her were sacrificed Men and Women Bulls Oxen Boars and the first fruits of the Seeds of the Earth Which because King Oeneus neglected to offer unto her she sent a wild Boar of a prodigious bigness into his Territories to cause there a destruction as Ovid tells us The Heathens did sacrifice Virgins upon her Altars and instead of them afterwards a White Hart. The most noted place where she was worshipped was Ephesus her Temple there was built and contrived by Chersiphron and inlarged and inriched by every Prince afterwards In it were a hundred twenty seven Pillars crected by so many Kings It was four hundred twenty five foot long and two hundred and twenty foot broad When it was burnt by Erostratus but the Ephesians rebuilt it again Vnder the Protection of this Goddess were the Vagabonds and all Debters and all sorts of Woods Her Images were commonly placed in the Corner of the Streets and Wayes with two Dogs chained at her Feet and therefore called Trivia Diana Some say that Luna otherwise Diana was the Daughter of Hesperion and Thaea who sorrowing above measure for her dear Brother Sol that was murdered and cast into the Po in Italy she drowned her self also in that River Sol afterwards appeared to his Mother in a Dream and desired her not to weep for his misfortune because he had obtained thereby immortality with his Sister This Dream she related to the people who transferred the names of Sol and Luna to the two Lights of the Heavens that were before named Fires And because Thaea did in a frantick manner with a Kettle in her hand run up and down the Country making a noise they performed the Sacrifices to Luna with the noise of Drums Kettles Cymbals Trumpets c. And when she was eclipsed they made a rattling in the Streets that she might not hear the enchantments of Witches whom they thought to be the cause of it CHAP. VII Of Bacchus BAcchus was born in the City of Thebes his Father was Jupiter and Semele was his Mother She suffered her self while she was big with Child to be deceived by the perswasions of Juno that did hate all the Mistresses of her Husband For Juno disguised her self and came in the habit of an old Woman to Semele telling her That it did concern both her interest and honour that Jupiter should visit her in the same manner as he did Juno with his Thunderbolts in his Hand and that she should beg from him this favour Jupiter could not deny her the request but it happened that she was by this means consumed according to Juno's desire The Childs danger moved Jupiter who presently separated him from his dead Mother and shut him in his Thigh until the full time of his Birth was expired So that he did him the Office of a Mother For that reason Bacchus is called Bimater Other Names are given unto him as Dyonisius Liber Bromius Lycaeus Lenaeus Evan c. As soon as he was born he was delivered to Silenus and the Nymphs some say to Ceres to be by them brought up they were therefore in reward of their good Service received up into Heaven and there changed into Stars called now Hyades When Bacchus came to be of Age he passed through most part of the World and made War upon the Indians whom he overcame and in their Country he built the City of Nisa He was the first that did introduce the custom of Triumphing at that time he did wear a Golden Diadem about his Head His Chariot was drawn by Tygers his Habit was the Skin of a Deer his Scepter was a little Lance adorned with branches of Ivy and
of the Vine He invented the use of Wine which he gave to the Indians to drink at first they imagined that he had given them poison because it had made them both drunk and mad They did commonly sacrifice unto him Men but since his expedition into India he was content with other Sacrifices for they offered unto him afterwards nothing but Asses and Goats to signifie that those that are given to Wine become sots as Asses or as lascivious as Goats Bacchus was brought up with the Nymphs that teacheth us that we must mix Water with our Wine He never had other Priests but the Satyrs and women because the latter had followed him in great Companies in his Journeys crying singing and dancing continually Therefore they were named Bacchanales Mimallones Lenae Bassarides Thyades and Menades names that express fury and madness The greatest solemnities in honour of this God were every three years called therefore Trieteria or Orgia from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a transport of anger because these mad Women clothed themselves wiih skins of Tygers Panthers and in their hair hanging down they did run over the Mountains with lighted Torches in their Hands crying aloud Eu hoe Evan Eu hoe Bacche that is Good Son a name given to him by Jupiter when in the War with the Gyants this Bacchus in the form of a Lion ran violently upon the first and tore him in pieces Bacchus was usually painted with a Miter upon his Head an Ornament proper to Women or with a bald Pate which signifies the effect of the excess of Wine He had a Sickle in one Hand a Pitcher in the other and a Garland of Râ—ses upon his Head He did always appear young because Wine moderately taken purifies the blood and keeps the Body in a youthful strength and colour His Temple was next to Minerva's to express how useful Wine is to revive the Spirits and enable our Fancy to Invent for that reason the Heathens did sacrifice unto him the quick-sighted Dragon and the chattering Py was also sacred to Bacchus because Wine doth cause us to prattle more than is convenient His Sacrifices were usually performed in the Evening and at night And it is reported of him that he carried the Torch before Proserpina when she was led to be married to Pluto the infernal God Juno could never endure the sight of him therefore she labour'd to drive him out of Heaven and to banish him from all Society he fled from her fury and as he was resting himself under a Tree a Serpent named Amphisboena bit him but he kill'd it with a Vine branch which is a mortal poison to some Serpents Juno continued her hatred for him because he was her Husbands Bastard until she cast him into a fit of madness which made him undertake an expedition against the Indians and run over all the East Countries Lusus was his companion from him Portugal is called Lusitania The truth is Liber otherwise called Dionysius or Osiris by the Egyptians was a King of Nysa a City in Arabia Felix who taught his people and the inhabitants of the adjoyning Countries many useful Arts as the ordering of the Vine and the preserving of Bees He established several good Laws he is therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He perswaded the people to sacrifice to their Gods He was therefore mightily honoured by all civil Nations The Graecians established several Festival daies in honour of him the chief are their Trieteria kept every three years in remembrance of his Indian Expedition performed in that space of time their Apaturia their Phallica and their Lenaea in the beginning of the Spring that he might bless their Vines This latter Festival was named Orgia because his Proselytes did express in it nothing but fury and madness although this name is sometime taken for all other Festivals The Romans had appointed the Ascolia in honour of Bacchus at which time they carried the Statues of this God about their Vineyards as the Papists do beyond Sea their Host or the Priest's God about their Fields that he might bless the fruits of the Earth Afterwards the procession of Bacchus did return to his Altar and there they raised the consecrated Victime upon the top of a Lance and did burn it to the honour of Bacchus besides they took his Statues and Images and did hang them upon high Trees imagining that they did contribute to the increase of the Grapes and of the Wine Now the Beasts that were dedicated to Bacchus were the Goats the Dragons the Aegyptians offered Sows The Trees consecrated to him were the Ivy-tree the Oak the Fig the Vine the Smilax and the Fir-tree It was the Custom that all those that did sacrifice to Bacchus did approach his Altars with a Branch or a Crown of that Tree in their hands which they offered unto him Bacchus was sometimes seen with a Garland of Daffadil or Narcissus about his head His Priests were Women painted in frightful shapes with Snakes for their Girdles and Serpents twisted about their hair to represent their cruelty for when they did perform the solemnity of this God they did run with lighted Tapers and Swords in their hands and did sometimes destroy one another as Agave did her Son Pentheus who despised Bacchus and his Sacrifices This God did as the Poets tell us punish all those persons that did neglect or oppose his Worship Alcethous was changed into a Batt because he would not Sacrifice to him And the Pyrats of Tyre that stole him with an intent to abuse him were changed into Dolphins for when they had brought him on Ship-board he forced them into the Sea in the shape of a furious Lyon T. Livius relates a strange story of the Festivals of Bacchus in Rome introduced by a Fortune-teller of Greece Three times in a year the Women of all qualities did meet in a Grove called Simila and there did act all sorts of Villany those that did appear most reserved were sacreficed to Bacchus and that the cryes of the murdered and ravished Creatures might not be heard they did howl sing and run up and down with lighted Torches When the Senate was acquainted with these night meetings and their filthy practises they banished them out of Italy CHAP. VIII Of Mercurius HE was esteemed one of the most remarkable of the Gods as well for the Nobility of his Birth as for divers Offices attributed to him and which are very pleasantly described in the tenth Ode in the first Book of Horace He was the Son of Jupiter and Maia Daughter of Atlas who bears up the Heavens with his Shoulders he was born upon the Mountain Cyllene which is in Arcadia His ordinary Office was Ambassador and Interpreter of the Gods in this quality he had Wings at his Heels and at his Head and in his Hand a Caduceus which was a Rod with two Serpents twisting about it their Tails
in token of peace and amity It is thought that Mercurius is the discourse which interprets our mind and thoughts it flies as he did for there is nothing more quick and speedy than the discourse which hath the power of gaining and uniting hearts Another of his Offices was to shew the ways and to guide the deceased Souls into hell therefore the Poets do say that none can die until Mercurius comes with his Rod to break the tye that unites the soul to the body When these souls have passed many years in the Elysean Fields and after that they have drunk of the River Lethe as we shall see in the following Chapters the same Mercurius by the virtue of his Rod doth cause them to pass into other bodies to live again according to the judgment of those that believe the Metempsycosis He invented the Lute and a kind of Harp which he presented to Apollo He was also the God of Eloquence it did serve him mightily in his Embassies and Negotiations He was also the God of Thieves because he had been a very subtil Thief himself as may appear by what he did to Apollo when he fed the sheep of King Admetus for he stole from him a great many and was not discovered by any but only by the Shepherd Battus who was changed afterwards into a Rock by Mercurius because he did reveal him notwithstanding his promise to the contrary Mercurius had one Son by the Goddess Venus his Sister who was named Hermaphrodite This Child happened to meet with the Nymph Salmacis at a Fountain the Gods at her earnest request made of both their bodies but One in such a manner that both Sexes were conserved entire By this the Poets do give us to understand the union that should be between married persons they ought to be but one body and one heart Some say that this Mercurius made Daedalus so excellent an Architect and taught him so many rare inventions that they rendred him famous all over the World This Daedalus left the City of Athens to offer his service to King Minos in the Isle of Crete or Candia where he built the Labyrinth with so much art and with so many windings that those that did enter in could scarce get out again He was shut into it himself with his Son Icarus because he had offended the King but he made wings for himself and his Son to fly through the air out of prison All things succeeded well to him but for Icarus because he ventured too near the Sun notwithstanding the admonition of his experienced Father the Wax that did unite his Wings to his shoulders melted by the heat of the beams and he fell into the Sea which since bears his Name Mercurius was admired for his nimbleness which he expressed in several occasions when he stole from Mars his Sword from Vulcan a pair of Tongs from Apollo his Arrows and his Beasts from Venus her girdle and from Neptunus his Trident He had also undertaken to convey away the Thunderbolts of Jupiter but the fear of his displeasure hindred him He was much reverenced by the Egyptians who did worship him in the Image of a Dog called Anubis and by the Gauls who did cause several men to bleed at his Altars It is reported of him that he taught the Arts and Sciences in Egypt It is probable that the famous Trismegistus who flourished in the first Ages of the World was worshipped under this name of Mercurius As he was the God of Eloquence they did consecrate unto him Tongues His Statue was usually placed in the Market therefore he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He was painted with yellow hair and a purse in his hand to intimate the advantage we may expect by diligence and learning Mercurius was also the God of Merchants of Shepherds and of Dreams the Egyptians received from him their Arts and Sciences and therefore they did honour him more than other people he was painted with the characters of an ingenious man because that they prove very ingenious that are born when the Star of Mercurius g verns He was named Cyllenicus from the Mountain Cyllene where he was bred and born and Camillus which signifies an Officer his Statues was placed in the ways unto which they did offer their first fruits he and Minerva were worshipped in one Temple together the Greeks placed his Image over the door of their houses because as he was the God of Thieves he was best able to protect the house from their violence His Image was sometimes made as that of Hercules Gallicus mentioned by Caesar out of whose mouth came forth chains of gold which were joyned to the ears of several little men that stood at his feet This expresseth the power of Eloquence that enslaves and governs the Auditors and makes men more able to command than strength and valour CHAP. IX Of Venus VVE have already mentioned her birth in the first Chapter but the other Poets do tell us that she was the Daughter of Jupiter and of the Goddess Dione She was the Goddess of Love and Pleasures because of her extraordinary beauty Her Chariot was drag'd only by Swans and Pidgeons lascivious birds and the places where she was most adored were Amathus Cythera and Paphos pleasant Mountains in the Island of Cyprus She had several children Hymeneus the God of Marriages was one of her Sons and the three Charities or Graces were her Daughters that kept her company She was also the Mother of the two Cupiâ—'s Gods of Love the one was honest the other was the God of unlawful and carnal pleasures he had wings upon his back and a Quiver full of sharp and burning Arrows by which he did enflame and heat the hearts The infamous Priapus mentioned in Holy Writ did also acknowledge her for his Mother Unto this God no other beast was offered but the Ass Aeneas so often mentioned in the Latin Poets was another of the Sons of Venus and although this shameful Divinity was like a Bitch prostituted to every one she had the God Vulcan for her Husband of whom she never had any Children In the City of Rome several Temples were built to Venus There was one to Venus Erycina where was the Statue of Amor Laetheus dipping his Arrows in a River another to Venus Libitina where the Vrns and Coffins of the most considerable of Rome were placed and kept Another to Venus Verticordia who was also called Dea Viriplaca where the Women did appear with their Husbands when there was and difference between them to find some way of reconciliation After the ceremonies appointed for that good office they did return to their home with that satisfaction that they did seek there were several other Images and Names of Venus There was in Rome Venus Calvata with a bald pate Venus Barbata with a long beard falling down to her Navel Venus Cloacina or Cluacina In Greece the Lacedemonians erected a Statue to '
Stars CHAP. XI Of Neptunus and of the Sea Divinities NEptune was one of the Children of Saturnus that had to his lot the command of the Seas and of the Waters when the World was divided amongst him and his Brethren his Scepter was a Trident and his Chariot a great shell of the Sea which was drawn either by Whales or by Sea-monsters or by Horses that had the lower part of Fish His Wife was Amphitrite so named because the Sea doth encompass about the Earth He obtained her by the means of a Dolphin who was afterwards advanced amongst the Stars near the Capricorn He taught unto men the use of the Horse when he had caused him to come forth of the earth with a blow of his Trident at the dispute he had with Minerva about the name of the City of Athens in the Areopage Because he had been engaged in a conspiracy against Jupiter he was confined to the earth where he was forced to offer himself to the service of King Laomedon to build the City of Troy as we have seen in the story of Apâ—llâ— The Tritans half men and half Dolphins were his Children they were wont to accompany him sounding certain shells in form of a Trumpet He begot also the Harpies by the acquaintance that he had with the Earth they were Monsters that did ingeniously and perfectly express the qualities of a Niggard They had faces of young Maids although somewhat pale but their bodies were like the Vultures with Wings and Claws both at their hands and feet their bellies were insatiable and of a prodigious bigness whatever they did touch was infected and spoil'd and they did steal all that came near them Neptunus was esteemed a famous God because the Heathens judged him to have the command of one of the Elements he was called Consus for the Romans do affirm that he did advise them in thé first beginning of their Empire when there was scarcity of Women in their City to steal from their Neighours the Sabins a convenient supply of that Sex He was named also Neptunus Hippius or Equester because he taught unto men the use of Horses and as the Fable informs us he created at Athens a Horse when the City was built The Romans to acknowledge the benefit that their Empire had received from Horses instituted Horse-Races in honour of Neptune The Sea is called by his Name either because he was Admiral of it in the Reign of Saturn or because this greedy and inhumane God did drown him in the Sea as soon as he was born He had a famous Temple in Rome enriched with the spoils of many Sea Victories but he received a signal affront when Augustus the Emperour caused his Statue to be pull'd down because he was thought to have raised against him a Tempest at Sea where he had received some loss with no small danger of his life The Ocean where Neptunus commanded was esteemed a God the Father of the Rivers His Effigies was much like to that of a River a great man with Bulls Horns upon his head His Wife was Thetis of whom he had Nereus and Doris that married together and put into the World many Daughters called Nymphs some of them ascended up into Heaven but those that had green locks of hair remained upon the Earth amongst the Waters the Meadows the Forrests The Napeae the Dryades and the Hamadryades did dwell in the Woods in the Meadows and amongst the Flowers and green Pastures The Naiades were for the Fountains and Rivers and the Nereides that did borrow their Name of their Father were appointed to the Sea They did extremely love the Halcyons Sea-birds of whom this Wonder is related that they build their Nests upon the Waves of the Sea in the midst of the most stormy Winters but when their young ones do peep forth of the shell the Sea round about them appears calm and if it be rough they never come by any damage by it The most remarkable of the Nereids was Thetis who kept the Name of her Mother she was so fair that Jupiter fell in love with her but when he heard the Destinies foretel that if she was married that she should have a Son far more couragious and more dreadful than his Father he willingly left her and gave her in marriage to Peleus the Father of Achilles whose Actions and Life we shall describe in their proper place Protheus Neptune's Shepherd and the Leader of his Phoei who were called Calves of the Sea was another Son of Ocean and Thetis the Romans called him Vertumnus because he had the skill to change himself into all sorts of forms and figures and he was a great Fortune-teller those that intended to make any use of him were to surprise him and bind him fast until he did take his proper and natural shape and tell them what they desired Glaucus Ino and Melicerta were Divinities of the Sea Glaucus had been before a Fisherman at a certain time having cast his Fish upon the Grass and perceiving that by the virtue of a certain Herb which they did touch they did receive a wonderful strength and did afterwards leap into the Sea again his curiosity moved him to try the virtue of it in himself He had no sooner tasted of it but he fell into a fit of madness and cast himself into the midst of the Waves where the Sea Divinities had a care to receive him and admit him into their Society The story of Ino is more various Athamas King of Thebes had married her in second Nuptials after that he had divorced his former Wife Nephele This Ino was resolved to destroy Phrixus and Helle Children of Nephele Phrixus to prevent his mischief ran away with the Ram that had a Golden Fleece the honour and riches of his Family He and his Sister mounted upon it with a design to flee to some other Country as they were passing over the Straits between Asia and Europe Helle fell into the Sea in a fright from hence this place is named Hellespont But Phrixus arrived happily in the Country of Colchos where he offered his Ram to Jupiter and since this same Ram hath been admitted amongst the twelve Signs of the Zodiack but the Fleece was put in the hands of Aetha King of the Country who placed it in a Park consecrated to Mars and a good guard to keep it as we shall see in the story of Jason Juno was mightily concerned for the Children of Nephele therefore she troubled the mind of Athamas and caused him to become furious in that condition he offered to kill Ino and her Children but she being surprised with so great a change casts her self into the Sea with Melicerta Neptune pittied her and therefore received her in the number of the Divinities of his Train afterwards she was esteemed to be Aurora and therefore called Leucothea the break of day Her Son was called Palaemon he was the God of the Havens We must not
bare foot upon burning coals every year at a set time before the people The Romans had encreas'd the number of their Divinities so that many thousands were reckoned every affection of the mind and disease of the body was honoured as a Deity Such were Pavor and Pallor Cloacina Aius Locutius whose Statue gave the Romans notice of the coming of the Gauls Ridiculus was another God Tempestas Febris Fugia Fornaâ—x Cacia Vicepota and Volturnus Deus c. And as the Romans did inlarge their Dominions they did admit all the Gods and Goddesses of strange Nations into their City Therefore when Tiberius heard of the Miracles of our Saviour from Pilats information he desired the Senate that he might be introduced amongst the number of their Divinities which they had no inclination to do either because of the place of his Nativity which was generally hated of all Nations or because he could n t be rightly worshipped where there were such a multiplicity of Idle Gods Now these were the strange Divinities worshipped in Rome when they had conquered the World Sanctus or Deus Fidius the God of the Sabins Io or Isis a Goddess of the Aegyptians The Poets inform us that she was the Daughter of the River Inachus a professed Whore yet the Priest of Juno She perswaded Jupiter to yield to her Lust but Juno's jealousic pursuing after her Husband found them together Jupiter in the form of a Cloud and Isis in that of a white Cow for Jupiter had changed her that she might not be suspected of his Wife who understood his subtilty therefore she beg'd the Cow from Jupiter he being afraid by a refusal to discover her and his own dishonesty granted her to Juno who presently committed her to the custody of Argus with a hundred eyes there she continued in much misery and persecution until Mercurius was sent from Jupiter to deliver her he played Argus asleep with his pleasant Musick intending to steal away the counterfeit Cow but a Boy named Hierax gave notice to Argus and waked him as the other was a departing with his prize Mercurius seeing no remedy but that he must either neglect Jupiters Command or kill Argus he took a great stone and knockt him dead upon the place and changed Hierax into a Hawk for his ill Office Juno was not a little displeased at the loss of her faithful servant therefore she transformed him into a Peacock that yet retains the number of his eyes in its feathers and she sent some Creatures to vex Isis so that she became mad and ran up and down the World swimming over the Seas into Ionia unto which she left her Name as also to the Sea that waters that Country At last she returned back to Egypt where she married Osiris Her Son by Jupiter was Epaphus after her death she was aâ—lored by the Egyptians her hair was preserved as a Sacred Relick in her Temple at Memphis she was honoured as the Goddess of Navigation and of the Weather Her Statue was a Cow with Horns or as some say a Dogs Head unto which Ovid alludes calling her Latrator Anubis The Romans had an extraordinary reverence for this Goddess although they banisht her because her Priests had consented to defile her Temple with Whoredomes afterwards she was admitted again Her Priests were initiated with Blood and Water they had their Heads and Beards shaven and did wear all White Linnen Garments At the entry in of her Temple was the Statue of a Sphynx to signifie that she was a mysterious Goddâ—ss For her sake the Egyptians did keep in a corner of her Temple a White Cow when it did die they did all mourn as for a Prince until another was put in the place of the dead Beast Osiris King of Egypt was her Brother and Husband he is esteemed the same with Serapis some call him Dionysius Ammon Jupiter and Pluto The last name I conceive was granted unto him because he had such an extraordinary care of the Dead causing them to be buried in several places made on tâ— purpose near Memphis to encourage Virtue and a good life for if the deceased had not lived well he was by persons appointed to enquire into every mans actions cast into places of shame and punishment the Virtuous were interred in beautiful Fields flourishing with all manner of Flowers This place was near the City Memphis encompassed several times with the River Nilus and an old Fellow did convey the dead bodies over By this means this Prince did awe his people into obedience and a submission to his Laws And from hence it is that the Poets have borrowed their pleasant descriptions of Hell as the rest of their superstitious Fables as several writers informs us Osiris is also called Apis in whose Temple a Bull was nourished Vpon the Statue of Osiris was placed a Bushel this hath given occasion to some to fancy Osiris to be Joseph who saved Egypt from the great Famine It is probable the Bushel was placed upon Osiris his head in honour of him All the other Gods of the Grecians Illyrians Gauls Spaniards Germans and Asian People were brought and worshipped at Rome because we have already named them and given a full account of their beginning and Histories it is needless to repeat them here again CHAP. XV. Of the Gods mentioned in Holy Writ and of those that were adored in Syria Phoenicia and the adjoyning Countries I Think it not amiss in this review of all the Heathen Gods to add a Chapter or two concerning those who have been adored by the Inhabitants of the Eastern Countries and by our Forefathers in this Island The Sacred Records do mention many Idols unto whom the Israelites did shametully prostrate themselves their names are Moloch Baal Astoreth Dagon Baalzebub Succoth Benoth Nergal Nisroch Rimmon Thammuz Nebo Sesach the Golden Calf the Teraphim Remphan c. The Golden Calf which the Israelites did make in the Wilderness was a God of Egypt called Apiâ— Lactantius informs us that the Head was the Image of a Bull therefore they did worship him in the some manner as the Egyptians did their Apis for they did mightily rejoyce and feast themselves when he was made and dance round about the Idol But I cannot conceive how the Israelites could be of such weak memories as to forget the greatness of Gods Power lately manifested to them in their deliverance from Egypt and in the publishing of the Law or of such perverse judgments as to ascribe to the works of their hands the glorious Acts of the Almighty of which they had been Eye-witnesses for it seems they intended as our Religious Papists do to adore God in the outward and visible representation of a Bull or of a Calf according to the custom of the Egyptians therefore they did not say To morrow there shall be a Festival to Apis Osiris or Isis the Gods of Egypt but to the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so that they were so
him to never discover unto any body the place where his ashes were buried He delivered unto him then his Arrows coloured with the blood of the Hydra But when the Grecians were preparing for an expedition against Troy the Oracle gave out that the City was not to be taken unless they carried with them the Ashes and Arrows of Hercules This forced him to discover the place where they were hid and that he might not violate his Oath he shewed where they lay with his feet which were punished afterwards for it for in his voyage to Troy one of these Arrows wounded his foot that had been the instrument of his perfidy so grievously that it corrupted and yielded such a stink that he became unsufferable to his company therefore he was left behind in the Isle of Lemnos Nevertheless because the Greeks did imagine that it was not possible to obtain any success without the Arrows of Hercules that were in his keeping they sent Vlysses back to bring him to the Siege and afterwards he was perfectly healed by Macaon that famous Physitian who was the Son of Esculapius There hath been no King nor other person since the beginning of the World that hath rendred his name more famous than Hercules f r he was not only known in Greece in Italy and Spain but in Egypt as Herodotus and in France and Germany as Caesar do inform us These following particulars may be further added to his former History for the intelligence of the Poets and Ancient Writers Jupiter when he laid with his Mother spent three nights which he caused to be joyned together to beget him his body and stature was answerable to the pains and power of his Father for it is reported that he was four Cubits and a foot high and had three ranks of teeth in his mouth out of his eyes sparkles of fire and light did sometimes proceed He had a Sister married to Polyphemus mentioned by Homer in his Odyssea his Brother was Iphiclus of whom it is related that he was so light that he could run over the ears of standing â—orn without any prejudice to them When Hercules came to years of understanding he was put in the tuition of several Masters that did excel in many Arts and Sciences to learn under them the things that were required to make him accomplished He was taught by a Shepherd by birth a Scythian named Tentares to handle the Spear and Dart Lucius a Son of Apollo taught him the Rudiments of Learning and because he had chastised him with a Rod Hercules killed him when he came to be of Age From Eumolpus he learnt the Art of playing upon Instruments of Musick Chiron gave him an insight into Astrology and Harpolicus made him understand the other Sciences that were necessary to accomplish a man of his Birth and Valor He was scarce eighteen years of Age when Eurystheus imployed him in most difficult Enterprises The first was when he killed that dreadful Lyon fallen from the Moon that did spoil the Country round about the Forrest of Nemea he discharged against the wild Beast all his Arrows but to little purpose and then encountred it with his Club only in his hand but the skin was so tuff and hard that no weapon could enter it which as soon as Hercules perceived it he caught hold of the raging Lyon and tore him in pieces with his hands Ever after he delighted to wear the skin of this Lyon and in his imitation all Heroes have skins of Lyons or of wild beasts upon their Bucklers The Poets speak of three Lyons killed by Hercules of Helicon of Lesbos and Nemea Thespius King of Boeotia soon heard of his valour and strength therefore he sent for him to make tryal of his ability This King had fifty Daughters and never a Son he imagined that it might be a great support to him to have Grand-children by them of extraordinary qualities For that intent he imploys Hercules after a costly banquet to get them with-child and it is reported that he did his business so well that they did all conceive so many Sons in one night Creon King of Thebs bestowed upon him his Daughter in reward of his good service for he had delivered him and his Country from all subjection to Erginus whom he kill'd with most part of his Army when he went to consult the Oracle and expiate his crimes of murdering his Wife and Children The Pythia the Woman-Priest of Apollo sirnamed him Hercules whereas he was before called Alcides They say that Eurystheus that set him awork was so jealous of Hercules that at last he would never suffer him to enter into the gates of the City but by Copreus his Herald did signifie unto him his pleasure In his Travels he was kindly entertained by several persons especially by Pholuâ— who brought forth unto him his best Wine and greatest dainties but it happened that then his house was beset by the Centaurs whom Hercules put to flight killing great numbers of them Afterwards he cleansed the Stables of Augias but being deprived of the reward promised by this ungrateful King he sack'd his Country and out of the spoils he erected Trophies of his Victory and instituted the Olympick Games ordering them to be celebrated every five years in honour of Jupiter Eurystheus sought all occasions to destroy him therefore he commanded him to bring unto him the Girdle of Hypolite Queen of the Amazons that he might give it to his Daughter Admeta He conquerrd all the Country of the Amazons and in his return with Theseus he freed Hesione from the fury of the Sea-Monster unto which she was exposed by her Father as we have already said but this Traytor refusing to give to Hercules the recompence that he had promised lost both his life and Kingdom Hercules after these exploits punisht Tmolus and Telegonus the Sons of Proteus because they did inhumanely kill all the strangers that they did overcome in wrestling and Sarpedon the impious Son of Neptunus received also from him a worthy reward of his former cruelties Hercules performed many other worthy Acts for he passed through Lybia Egypt Palestine Cilicia and Asia minor destroying all eminent Robbers and petty Tyrants that made use of their power to oppress the rest of mankind Thus he put to death Cygnus the Son of Mars Zetes and Calais the Sons of Boreas he vanquished the cruel people called Cercopes that dwelt in Asia minor he destroyed the Gyants that marched against him that proceeded from the blood of the Lyon of Nemea and many other Monsters of cruelty he humbled in the dust CHAP. III. Of Theseus THeseus was the Son of Aegeus King of Athens who gave his name to the Aegean Sea He did live in the time of Hercules and was nearly related to him therefore he was often a Companion of his Adventures and a perfect follower of his generosity after that he had escaped from the snares of his Mother-in-law Medea
God Neptunus to punish him for this conceived Crime Hippolytus fled from the rage of his Father upon a Chariot and as he was passing by the Sea-side he met with a Sea-Monster that frighted his Horses cast him to the ground and kill'd him in a miserable manner for he was drag'd over the Rocks and stones and his body torn in pieces by these fearful and furious Horses Phedra was mightily grieved at this mischance being therefore pressed with a remorse of conscience she discovered all the truth of Hippolytus his Innocency and of her own malice and then stob'd her self before him leaving unto Theseus the displeasure of having been too credulous But since Esculapius being moved with compassion for Hippolytus he restored him to life again Theseus was a wise and valiant King of Athens that perswaded the people dispersed in the Country to live together in Cities He established wholesome Laws in his Dominions and destroyed many Tyrants and Thieves that did trouble the Country Cercyon Polypemon Periphetes c. He was said to he the Son of Neptunus because he was an encourager of Trade and Navigation Minos did question him about his Father but he proved what he was for when the King cast a Ring into the Sea he dived to the bottom and fetcht it up with a Crown in his hand which Thetis bestowed upon him and which was afterwards given to Ariadne but after her death it was placed amongst the Stars His Sons were Hippolytus Acamas and Dâ—mophon When he came to be old he was kill'd by King Lycomedes in a cruel battel He Reigned about the year of the World 2700. in the daies of Gedeon a Judge of Israel according to the computation of the best Chronology CHAP. IV. Of the stories of Castor and Pollux THe common Opinion of the Poets is that Leda the Queen of Tyndarus King of Oebalia having had familiar acquaintance with Jupiter she brought forth two big Eggs Out of one which was of Jupiter she had Pollux and Helena and from the other that was of Tyndarus were born Castor and Clytemnestra They were nevertheless all named Tyndarides because they were all the Children of one Mother that was Wife of Tyndarus The two Brothers Caster and Pollux did love one another entirely insomuch that they were inseparable and they always performed their undertakings together but only Pollux was immortal by the priviledges of his Birth therefore out of a tender affection for his Brother he perswaded Jupiter who had a great kindness for him to admit also the other into the number of his Sons From hence the Greeks called them Diosâ—â—uroi that is Children of Jupiter And Jupiter at last caused Castor to partake with Pollux of his Immortality in such a manner as that they were to live successively one after another until the time that they were both transported amongst the signs of the Zodiack where they represent the Constellation called Gemini But they did not attain unto this great Honour until they had deserved it by a many glorious actions for they forced Theseus to restore their Sister Helena that he had taken they cleared the Coast of all Pyrats at Sea that interrupted the Trade therefore they have been adored amongst the Divinities of the Sea and been put in the number of those that were sirnamed Apotropaei that is who did protect them from evil For this cause the Heathens did sacrifice unto them white Lambs The Romans had a particular respect for them because of the assistance that they had received from them in a Battel against the Latin people near the Lake Rhegilus Therefore they did erect to them a very stately Temple and did swear commonly by their Names The Oath of the Women was Aecastor as that of men was Hercule and Aedâ—pol that is by the Temple of Castor or Pollux for Aedes signifies a Temple Castor and Pollux are reckoned amongst the famous men that have deserved an immortal name by their valour and generosity They accompanied Jason and his Argonauts in their expedition to fetch back again the Golden Fleece in which these two Brethren did sufficiently declare their courage and skill in Arms Pollux especially He undertook to correct the temerity of Amycus when he offered to challenge one of their company out of the Ship to fight with him at handy blows Pollux went out and soon laid him dead upon the ground In this voyage when a dangerous Tempest had overtaken them they saw two flames of fire lighting upon the head of Castor and Pollux which were the happy Omens or forerunners of the end of their fears and danger for the Marriners take notice that when two fires appear together at Sea they are to expect happiness in their undertakings and a notable calm whereas if there be but one they prepare themselves for a grievous storm From hence these two lights that are Meteors or the dry exhalations of the Earth inflamed in the Air are called Castor and Pollux but when one is seen it is called Helena as dangerous to Seamen as she was to Troy After the return of the Argonauts Castor and Pollux had war with the Athenians because Theseus their King had ravished their fair Sister Helena but when they had taken one of the Cities of Theseus and in it their Sister they dealt kindly with the Inhabitants and carried none away but Aethra Mother of Theseus Therefore the Greeks call all Saviours and favourable Princes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They undertook next a War with Lynceus and Ida the valiant Sons of Alphareus in favour of their Mistresses that had been espoused to them formerly In the encounter with them Castor was unhappily kill'd by Lynceus and Pollux dangerously wounded by Ida but Jupiter revenged his Sons quarrel for he struck Ida to the ground with his Thunderbolts Pollux in honour of his Brother invented a Dance that was to be performed by young men well armed named Castors Dance Now this Lynceus is reported to have been a man of a very quick sight The Poets say that he was able to perceive any thing through a solid substance and to see into the bosom of the Earth because as some do think he was the first that sent men to groap there for gold and silver The Romans did mightily esteem these Gods because they appeared to assist them in their need And the Lacedemonians gave unto them the Title of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Locrenses did also see them leading their Army against the Crotoniats with Caps on their heads and Lances in their hands upon two white Horses From hence it is that they are thus represented and that the Romans have affected a Cap as a badge of liberty When Tarquinius was expell'd they coyned pieces of silver with two cross Lances bearing on the top of them Caps in token of freedom from bondage In the Heavens hesides these forenamed Meteors there are two stars in the Head of Gemini called Castor and Pollux
dwell and in furnishing it with Inhabitants This City was Thebs where he reigned many years and left many Children Ino Semcle the Mother of Bacchus and Agave who being transported with fury in the company of the Menades she kill'd her own Son Pentheus that had by his speech discovered a dislike of the mad Ceremonies of this God Cadmus did live to see all his Posterity fall into extreme misery and himself and Wife banished into Illyria or Sclavonia where according to their desire they were changed into Serpents for Amphion forced them out of their own City and built the walls of it by the harmony of his Lute as we have already said in the fifth Chapter but was afterwards kill'd by Diana for his unconsiderate speeches of her and of her Brother Apollo But I think it will not be amiss if we take notice here that there have been several Cities of Thebs one in Cilicia where Andromedes the Wife of Hector was born which was sackt by the Greeks when they marcht to the Siege of Troy There was another in Egypt the largest of that Name it had a hundred Gates from it that fruitful and renowned Province Thebais was so called which hath been the retreat of so many Religious Anachorets that built there their Covents in the first Ages of Christianity But Thebs in Boeotia was the most famous of all these Cities not only because of the grievous Wars that it suffered and the great Captains that it furnished to Greece such as were Epaminondas and Pelopidas but also because the drunken God Bacchm Hercules and Pindarus the Prince of the Lyrick Poets were born in it It is reported of the last that the Bees did prognosticate and signifie what he should one day be for whiles he was yet in the Cradle they pitcht upon his lips and there laid up their honey and Pan with the Nymphs of the Neighbourhood did keep a Feastival on the day that he came into the World Alexander the Great did mightily honour him for when he commanded all the City to be destroyed with fire and Sword he gave an express Order to his Souldiers that they should spare the house of Pindarus with all his Relations Cadmus and most of the famous men of Antiquity cannot much glory in a Noble Pedigrce If the truth was known he was but the Cook of Agenor King of Tyre or Sidon he ran away from his Prince for no good deed with Harmonia a noted Strumpet yet he was so happy as to have laid the foundations of the City of Thebs Herodotus saith that he brought sixteen Letters into Greece and taught the people the Art of Writing Somesay that Pentheus the Son of Agave and Echion his Grand-child afterwards by his furious Mother succeeded him in his Kingdom The Poets make Europa bi r Sister Thasus his Brother Cilix from whom Cilicia borrows the Name and Phoenix who hath called a Province of Asia Phoenicia were his other Brethren Electra and Taygete his other Sisters by several Mothers Europa was the most remarkable of them for her extraordinary beauty which caused Jupiter to send some of his Subjects to steal her away They took her and carried her on board a Ship where a Bulls Image was placed in the Stern which caused the Fable of Europa's being ravisht by a Bull. Her afflicted Father sent his Sons Thassus and Cadmus after her but to little purpose for when they could not find her they setled themselves and built each of them a City Thassus in an Isle of the Aegean Sea and Cadmus in Greece The Phaenicians to comfort their disconsolate Prince invented and promoted the Fable of Europa's being carried away by Jupiter therefore they reckoned her amongst the Goddesses and appointed Sacrifices and Altars to her causing Money to be stampt in honour of her In one side was Europa sitting upon a white Bull. The City of Thebs was famous in Greece but never so much as when Epaminondas the great Warriour and Philosopher overcame the Lacedemonians Pindarus was a Citizen of this place he was much respected for his Poetical Art The Oracle enrich't him for it commanded that a half part of the gifts dedicated to Apollo should be presented to him because he did sing and compose so many excellent Hymns in honour of that God and of the others The Bees when he was yet a Child sleeping in the open air powred forth upon his lips their delightful honey The same thing is reported of Plato as it is said of Midas that when he was yet in his Cradle the Ants carried into his mouth several grains of Wheat These passages were Prognosticks of the future splendour and fame of these men in that kind of life which they did imbrace CHAP. VIII Of Oedipus LAius King of Thebs having espoused Jocasta the Daughter of Creon understood from the Oracle that he was to die by the hand of one that should proceed out of this Marriage therefore he commanded Jocasta his Queen to destroy all her Children When Oedipus was born his Mother was loath to commit so horrid a cruelty upon the Babe with her own hands therefore he was delivered to a Souldier to be by him strangled But he also was moved with compassion for the poor Infant and could not have the courage to dispatch him or to see him expire for that reason he pierced his feet and tyed him up to a Tree growing upon Mount Cytheron that he might there die in that miserable condition But it happened that Poebas one of the Shepherds of Polybius King of Corinth came immediately after by that way and seeing in what danger the Infant was of its liâ—e he took it down and because it was very fair he presented it to the Queen his Mistress who was Childless She received it with affection brought it up and caused it to be treated as if it had been her own He was named Oedipus because of the swelling in his feet proceeding from the holes made in them by the Souldier of Laius for in Greece this Word signifies one that hath a swelling in his feet When he came to age of understanding he understood his mistake of being the Son of Polybius and therefore he went to consult the Oracle to know who was his Father He received this answer that he should find him in the Province of Phocis When he was come thither he happened to be in a seditious tumult of the people where King Laius was also arrived to appease the disorders without knowing him for his Father he kill'd him by chance But as he was not suspected for the Author of this Murder he went to dwell at Thebs At that time Juno the sworn Enemy of the City had brought forth a Monster and sent it to a place not far off it was named Sphinx the face and voice was like a Girls the body like a Dog the tail as a Dragons and the claws like a Lyons with
Jupiter into Nyniphs of the Sea at the request of the goddesse Cybele who had received them into her protection By this means the Trojans were forced to suffer many great evils and were reduced to many extremities But Aeneas came happily to their aid with a strong party of Tyrrhenians and Venus his Mother did maintain their interest with Jupiter against the rage and endeavours of Juno Besides she caused Vulcan to make such strong and sound Arms for Aeneas as did render him invincible in all encounters and entertain in his Soul a warlike and noble disposition for in his buckler were described all the glorious deeds and adventures of his successors in a most artificial and divine manner In this war a great deal of blood was shed on both sides Aeneas was never so much concerned as at the death of Nisus of Euryalus and afterwards of Pallas Evanders Son But he â—â—venged their deaths by the slaughter of the King Mezentius of Lausus his Son and of many others Camilla the Queen of the Volsci did mightily encourage and strengthen the Army of Turnus It is reported of her that she was as generous as a Lion and was so light footed that she did scarce touch the ground in running but an unhappy blow of a Lance took away her life in the heat of the fight Her fall did astonish all the Army of Turnus In this encounter Aeneas was wounded with an arrow but Venus did then apply the Herb Ditany so seasonably to his wound that it was cured in an instant Afterwards he did so effectually encourage his men that Turnus seeing no other remedy to his Affairs and Hopes that were almost lost he challenged him to fight in a single Combat to put an end by that means to their differences Aeneas was very joyful of this proposition therefore he encounters him hand to hand lays him upon the ground kills him After this victory he was married to Lavinia and took possession of the Kingdom of the Latineâ— He built and fortified the City of Lavinium which was not far distant from Laurentum Julus Ascanius his son succeeded him in this Kingdom and built the City of Alba sirnamed Longa because of its scituation the Inhabitants were called Albani that City was the Metropolis of the Latine people until the reign of Romulus who laid the foundations of the City of Rome and conquered all the Countrey round about it Tullius Hostilius the third King of the Romans pul'd down and leveled to the ground the walls of the city of Alba so that afterwards there remained no signs of it Before we finish this Story we must take notice that the truth is mingled with many fables for it is certain that Virgilius relates the adventures of Dido only as a pleasant fiction to adorn his Poem for Dido did live and Carthage was built two or three hundred years after the ruine of Troy CHAP. XXI Of several other famous Men frequently named in the Heathen Writers and not mentioned by Gautruchius I Wonder that in the last Chapter our learned Jesuit hath not mentioned a faithful companion of Aeneas who loved him so tenderly that he could never be separated from him but by death this name was Achates In all estates he did stick close to him and did accompany him in his greatest dangers therefore he is styled Fidus Achates by Virgil. Aristeus the Son of Apollo and of the Nymph Cyrene the Daughter of Peneus taught the use of honey and of oyl He was a famous Shepheard in his time a great admirer of the Nymph Eurydice whom he pursued to have taken but she ran away and was unfortunately wounded to death by a serpent in her flight therefore her comrades sought revenge upon Aristeus for her death by destroying his Bees in which he did delight The truth is he was a pious man and a great favorite of Jupiter from whom he obtained the Etesian winds to cool the immoderate heat of the summer Sun and to prevent the mischiefs which the Dog-star would cause in the hot Countreys without these favourable blasts Asopus was the Son of Jupiter who nevertheless committed incest with his Daughter Aegina for he ravisht her in the form of a flame of fire Their Father Asopus did hasten to her assistance but to little purpose for she proved with child of Aeacus and Jupiter for his impudency to offer to oppose him struck him dead with his thunder-bolts What lascivious what shameless gods did the Heathens adore the greatest promoters of incest of murder of villany c. Now this Asopus was a River not far from Thebs or rather a Prince who left his name to that River He had another Daughter named Plataea whom Jupiter pretended to advance into Junos place only to oblige her to seek his favour and be reconciled to him Canopus was the Pilot of the Ship which brought Menelaüs back towards Greece when a storm had forced him on the coast of Egypt after the ruine 〈◊〉 roy This Canopus went on shore and was â—tung to death by a Serpent but afterwards the Egyptian Priests having performed a seeming miracle with his statue they caused him to be worshiped as a god and gave his name to one of the stars of the firmament and to a famous Town of Egypt And hence it is that this Kingdom is called Terra Canopi and the people Gens Canopi His image was worshipped by the Egyptians although it was made as a dwarf with a great belly with short legs and a crooked neck Cephalus was married to Procris the Daughter of Hyphilus King of Athens Aiâ—rora was so fond of him that she carried him away with her but he would never consent to her lust because he kept for his wife an unparalleld constancy which caused her to send him home in a disguise to be an eye witness of his wifes ingratitude and unworthiness of his faithful love for he surprized her in dishonesty therefore he divorced her but he was afterwards reconciled to her again She grew in time as jealous of him because he was wont to rise betimes and recreate himself in the woods in hunting She followed him at last and hid her self in a bush to see if she could discover any female sex come near him When he in the pursuance of his sport saw a creature moving in the thicket he imagined it to be a wilde beast therefore he discharged out of his bowe a coupâ—â— of arrows and struck his unhappy wife 〈◊〉 he heart Erichtheus the Son of Pandion an Egyptian born settled in the Province of Attica in Greece and taught the ruder sort of people many things belonging to the worship of the gods He instituted the famous festival of Athens called Sacra Eleusina in honour of Proserpina as some do say The Athenians having chosen him their King Eumolpus Neptune's Son made war upon him but Erichtheus killed him for which cause this god was mightily offended and
where his Altars were erected called Lupercal The Saturnalia were Festival dayes instituted at Rome in honour of Saturn in the month of December while they lasted the People did send gifts to their friends and the Slaves did Lord it over their Masters and commit many extravigancies and disorders The Greeks were mightily addicted to the observance of these Festival dayes as the Athenians in keeping their Panathenea that were appointed in honour of Minerva The Egyptians did consecrate their greatest solemnities to the God Apis or Serapis which was an Oxe bearing upon his hide some particular marks He was to live a certain number ofyears and then the Priests did drown him in the River Nilus and all the Land did mourn and lament for his death until another was found with the same marks upon him which caused an universal rejoycing all over the Countrey exprest by all manner of Sports and Banquets Thus the other Nations did dedicate Festivals in honour of their Gods to such as were proper to certain places called Indigetes as also to their Domestick Divinities and to those illustrious Men who were enrolled among the number of their Gods These last when they were consecrated by an Apotheosis were also named Indigetes dij because they were freed from all want of earthly things The Consecration was a Ceremony invented by the Romans in favour of their Emperors unto whom they did pay Divine honours The manner of it is thus described by Rosinus and by Herodianus The Body of the Emperor being buried according to the usual custom his Effigies of Wax was placed at the entry of the Pallace upon a large bed of Ivory sumptuously adorned The Physicians did visit it during seven days and treat it as if it were alive in the fit of sickness In the mean while all the Senate and Nobility of Rome were present in mourning Habits When these dayes were expired he was held for dead therefore they did transport him to a publick place where the Magistrates did quit their Offices there the new Emperor was wont to ascend to a high Pulpit called Rostra because it was adorned with the Sterns of Ships taken from the enemies in Sea-fights from hence he did make a Funeral oration in hononur of the deceased Afterwards they did carry this Image of the Emperor out of the City to the Field of Mars where a Pile of Aromatick wood was erected to burn it in the mean while the Roman Gentlemen did ride round several times in order At last the new Emperor with a Torch did set the Pile of wood in a flame At the same time an Eagle was dismist from the top of it which was imagined to carry the Soul of this new God into Heaven When this Apotheosis or Conseration was ended the People did Feast and divert themselves with all manner of sports And this day was appointed as a Festival day to be imployed in particular Sacrifices or in Feasting before the Gods as we have said in the second Chapter or in seeing all sorts of Plays The Festival days of Rome were many these were the chief The Kalends of every Month were dedicated to Juno On the first of January the Romans did send gifts to their friends with good wishes for their health In this Month were the Agonalia dedicated to the God of Action Carmentalia in honour of Carmenta Evenders Mother In the following Months were the Terminalia Consecrated to Dues Terminus The Idus or the 15th day of March in which Julius Caesar was murthered was named Parricidium Lemuria in which they did Sacrifice to the Hobgoblins was in May. Bellonaria were the Festivals of Bellona in which the Priests did offer to her nothing but their own blood Lucan lib. 1. Phars quos sectis Bellona lacertis Saeva movet Every God had a Festival appointed for him called by his name Ovid in his Fast mentions them all Juvenilia were appointed by Neâ—o at the first shaving of his Beard CHAP. VI. Of the Playes of Greece appointed in Honour of the Heathen Gods THE Playes and the Combats in which the youth exercised themselves anciently were not invented only to fit men for the War or to divert the People but they were instituded in Honour of the Gods whose Festivals were kept with such kind of fports Therefore they did begin them in sacrificing to the Gods and did finish them in the same manner Besides Homerus tells us how in the Temples they did exercise themselves at many petty Playes when he speaks of those who did handle the Dice before the Altars of Minerva He informs us how Palamedes invented in the Siege of Troy the play of Chess not only to entertain the Soldiers in action but also to instruct them in the craft of War so that this was received instead of the play of Dice which remained afterwards amongst none but the raâ—cality of the Army for the Persons of Quality did commonly pass the time away with this sort of Play which was also used in the Temples of the Gods Amongst the Combats and publick Plays besides the Instruments of Musick and the Songs there was the running in a Race one of the most Antient and chief of the Exercises The next was Skipping The third was the casting of the Stone or of the Bar which was of Iron or of Brass round and of a considerable weight They who did cast it highest or farthest did get the prize The fourth kind of Play was Wrestling when two Antagonists annointed over with Oyl and all naked did strive to cast one another to the ground The fifth was the dispute at Cuffs the Combatants named Pugiles did tie about their hands hard thongs of an Oxes hide called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These last Playes were named Gymnici because the Parties did fight all naked Palaestra was the place where they did exercise themselves to attain to a perfect Activity The Masters who did teach there were called Gymnastae Some were wont to act in 5 sorts of Playes they had therefore in Greek the name of Pentathletae such as did overcome were stiled Pancratiastes This word is taken also for a strong wrestler The four General Assemblies or sacred Games that were so famous in Greece and that were kept constantly at the appointed times for a long while did consist of no other sports The most Illustrious and the chief were the Olympick Games instituted by Hercules in Honour of Jupiter Olympius near the City Olympia in the Province of Elide There the Conquerors did receive no other reward than a Crown made with a Branch of an Olive-tree Every five years they did meet upon the place Afterwards the Pythian Games were Consecrated to Apollo in remembrance of the Serpent Python that was kill'd by him In these the Conquerors were Crowned with Lawrel The Isthmian Games dedicated in the Isthmus of Corinth to Neptunus were appointed by Theseus There the Conquerors were Crowned with the Pine-tree The fourth
great Banquets At such times they made use of many sorts of Vessels to drink It was a common custom to have a Horn enricht with silver or gold but their common drinking vessels were made of the earth of the Island of Samos of Beech tree of Olive-tree of Glass of Crystal of Amber of Black-stone of silver of gold of precious stotes and of dead mens skuls This last kind of Drinking-vessels was in use especially amongst the Scythians and the barbarous Nations For when they had destroyed their enemies they caused their skulls to be cleansed and tipt with silver for them to drink in This insolent custom was seldom practis'd unless it be amongst the Getae the Hunni and other Northern people These were the names of their ordinary drinking vessels Calices pteroti or piâ—nati or alati cups with ears Trulla or â—ruella was a deep and a large cup proper for Husband-men Phiala was a lesser cup Cymbium was like a ship scyphus was another sort of drinking vessel come from Greece c. They had several sorts of Wine in request at Rome some Wine they did perfume with smoak to render it more potable and pleasant to the taste but Plinius doth not esteem it wholsome Nunt mihi fumosas veteres proferte falernos consulis Chio solvite vincla cado It seems they did preserve their Wine a very long while with smoak for some do speak of wine 100 years old It may be that the Wine was not so old as the vessels that were mark'd with such a Date Vinum albanum was very famous at Rome as Vin de la Ciudad is at Paris Cuidad is a little Canton near Mauseils that yields most excellent Wine it costs at Paris twenty shillings a Quart From the Romans is come the custom of drinking Healths which was first a kind of invocation proper to their Gods and Emperors whose names they did often mention amongst their merry cups with many good wishes At the conclusion of their Meetings they did drink the cup of their good genius which was the same with that of Jupiter sospitator otherwise called Poculum beni dei This custom was also among the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CHAP. VII Of the Romans Assemblies appointed for Publick Affairs THE Roman Assemblies were either Concilia when there was a select number met together or Comitia when all the People were called to the meeting Of these there were three sorts Curiata Conturiata and Tributa All of them were named Caata for a publick Cryer did walk about the City to warn them to an appearance The Comitia curiata was when the People were separated into several Parishes called curiae to consult of the Publick business and give their Votes The City of Rome was divided into thirty curia's or Parishes by Romulus afterwards the number did increase when Rome began to enlarge its bounds and Dominion Unto every Parish there was a publick Hall a Meeting-place or Temple where the Parishioners did come together to perform their devotions to their Gods Over every Parish an eminent person was appointed aswel to keep the Inhabitants in order as to see the Worship of the Gods duely administred These Assemblies were first appointed by Romulus to approve of the Kings and choose the Magistrates for the Government of the Empire and for the confirming of Wills which were to be signed in their presence All sorts of People belonging to the Parishes were admitted to speak their minds and give their Votes as private Men Magistrates Senators and generally all Free men who did live within the bounds of the Parishes The place appointed for their meeting was the great Hall of Justice called comitium near uuto the publick Market They did assemble when they were lawfully called by one of the Magistrates and before that they did come together three Augures were to make their Observations and approve of their meeting and of the business they were also to be present But in case any sinister accident did happen the people did then desire the chief Magistrate there present intercedere that is to hinder their further proceedings for that time for the Romans were extreme superstitious in the observance of all casualties The Suffrages anciently were delivered viva voce but since there was a Law made to express every ones mind in a piece of Wood called Tabella If any officers were to be chosen they had as many as there were competitors they did cast in a poâ— that upon which the name of him was written whom they intended to favor with their Vote But if a Law was to be enacted every one did receive two Tabella's from the Distributors named Diribitores in one there was V. R. that is ut Rogas In the other was a great A. The former signifies a full assent to what was required the latter intimates the contrary for the letter A did stand for Antiquo They did cast that which they did like best into a Chest out of which they were taken to be numbred by the Nongenti or Custodes certain men appointed for that purpose The voices were numbred and the plurality did obtain their desires The common Cryer was wont to declare what had been decreed or who had been chosen It was not lawful for any except the chief Magistrates to prefer a law only the Praetor the Consuls the Interrer the Decemviri the Triumviri the Dictator the Tribunes of the People had this power granted unto them When they intended any such business they caused their Law to be well written in Tables which were to be hung publickly three Market days for all men to view and consult about the necessity of it But before he went so far he did ask the advice of several Men experienced in the Laws and Customs of the Romans He did sometimes imploy the Augures to see how the Gods would approve of it and he did propose the matter to the Senate to have their approbation All these things being first performed the Magistrate did recommend at the publick meeting the Law to the People persuading them to it by a Speech Sometimes it was opposed by Men of a contrary judgement After that the business had been sufficiently examined they did proceed to understand the will of the People In the mean while it was lawful for any of the Magistrates to forbid the examinacion of the business which they did always do when any body was taken with the Falling-sickness at that time or when the Magistrates did †observe any unlucky signâ— in the Heavens or when the Augures di◠†bring word of any unfortunate omen as oâ— Thunder which was always esteemed unhappy When the Law was approved in thiâ— manner it vvas graven in Tables of Brass anâ— laid up in the Treasury of the Empire and published by affixing it in the places of resort in the City The Comitia
centuriala was when the People were met together in Centuries to give their Votes Now a Century was an hundred Men belonging to one of the six Classes into which Servius Tullius divided the Roman People This was done according to every mans Estate The first Classis was the richest and the most sufficient for none was admitted into it unless he was worth above eight hundred Crowns as every man of the second was to be worth above a hundred so proportionably of the other Classes The lowest sort of People were named tenuis census homines men of a small Estate In every Classis were many Centuries reckoned some mention 139 in all When they were assembled the plurality of voices in the Centurie did overcome and so when the Votes of all the Centuries were collected the Plurality did also carry the choice Over every Century there was a â—udicious and couragious person appointed named Centurio as over the Militia of the City of London in every Quarter there is a Captain There were many belonging to these Centuries who did not dwell at Rome â—ut in places far distant from it They were called together to elect their chief Magistrates The first Consuls were created by â—hem the Censors the Praetors the Proâ—onsuls the Tribunâ—s or Colonels of the that the People felt themselves overburdened with the cruel exactions and grieved with the severity of the Nobles who kept not to the golden Rules of moderation which were only able to preserve Peace they did cast off all respect to their Superiours and broke out into an open Rebellion But all dfferences were ended again when the People had obtained such priviledges and fundamental Laws as might secure them for the future from the usurâ—â—tion of the better sort and from those grievances of which they did complain The Roman Empire continued many hundred years in a flourishing estate It is supposed that this mixed kind of government was one of the main helps to raise it to that excessive power unto which it arrived in the time of Julius Caesar for when there was a way open for every one to assend up to the Supreme Authority and that Virtue and Courage were the great promoters of such a design Every one who had a little ambition in him did strive to excell in that which did so well reward its ownerâ— with Honour and Profit They did all endeavour to assend as near the highesâ— march of Glory as their abilities would give them leave in obliging the publick Interest by brave and Worthy exploits But this kind of Aristocracy could not continue foâ— ever for in process of time it could noâ— be but that some Member of the Common-wealth must attain to a superiority in Power and Riches which when it was popular and obliging it must needs make People forget the liberty to which they were born and incensibly bring in a Monarchy At first in such a Potent Empire it could not but meet with opposition In such a case what ever side gets the Victory the Publick looseth its Freedom unless the opposition be managed by the Publick it self and such persons of integrity be intrusted with the defence of Liberty as may not intend the making of their own Fortunes rather than the maintenance of the universal Interest Therefore if either Pompey or Brutus had overcome it is imagined by all rational People that they had never restored unto the Romans that beloved liberty which they enjoyed before The truth is that then the Empire was grown so great and the Roman Citizens so powerful that if there had not been one above them to moderate their pretentions and keep them from Divisions the Roman Empire had been often troubled vvith civil Wars This was one of the reaons which Agrippa a wise Counsellour of Augustus the Emperour gave unto him to dissuade him from resigning over his Supreme Authority to the Senate and People We do all acknowledge that there can be no Government so happy as Monarchy When the Prince and People understand one another well and vvhen there is a mutual correspondency Army and several other Officers were chosen in these Assemblies sometimes in the others They did also meet to Judge of crimes committed against the publick safety as Treason When any person had disgraced the Roman name and that the Censor had taken notice of him he was blotted out of the Roll of his Century and had no more liberty to give his Vote in these Assemhlies They did all meet with their Weapons out of the City in a place dedicated to some God and hallowed by the Augures The Campius Martius a large spot of ground given to the City by Caia Terratia a Vestal Virgin was the common Rendezvouz of the Romans on such occasions It was scituate without the City near the River and in it were many convenient things and places to exercise Youth in all manner of Martial sports Whiles the Roman People were thus assembled in Arms about the Tent of one of their chief Magistrates who was always to sit there as a Judge or President There was a Flag hung out on the top of the Janiculum and a Guard of armed Men placed there Comitia Tributae were the assemblies of the Wards or Quarters of the City They did meet either in the Field of Mars or in the Capitol or in the Circus Flaminius When there was urgent occasion and when the Comitia cenâ—uriata or curiata were noâ— permitted to assemble either because of the unlawful days or because of some ominous signs in the Heavens that did threaten them CHAP. VIII Of the Roman Magistrates ROME was at first a Monarchy Seven Kings successively did reign until Tarquinius Superbus was banisht for his licentiousness He endeavoured to recover again his Right by the assistance of the neighbour Princes But the Senate and People did oppose him with so much animosity that He and all his Friends lost their labour in compelling them to receive him again The Romans did then agree to govern their Affairs partly in the manner of an Aristocracy and partly as a Democracy For the Senate and Supreme Magistrates did rule but in such a manner that the People had a hand in most Affairs of consequence So that as the Romans were composed of several different orders of Men it could never submit long under a perfect Aristocracy unless it had degenerated to a perfect Tyranny as Macchiavel observes upon T. Livius This may easily appear by their frequent murmurings the seditions of the People for when the Aristocracy did gain upon the Democracy and spondency between them of Love and Obedience The Roman Magistrates were either Majores or Minores The ordinary Magistrates of the first Division were at first the King the Captain of the Kings Guard afterwards the Consuls the Censors the Praetors the Generals the Caesars the Tribunes the Governours of the City The extraordinary were the Interrex the Dictator the Master of
are elected during the lives of the Emperors to succeed them in the Empire The Governor of the City of Rome was first chosen and appointed by Augustus Caesar to watch over and provide for the Affairs of the City Unto his office it did belong to examine controversies between Citizens to sit as a Judge at the publick Playes to do Justice to Slaves and Bond-men oppressed by the cruelty of their Masters to have an eye to the publick Markets and to concern himself with all crimes committed within one hundred miles of the City In the absence of the ordinary Magistrate before Augustus there was a Praefectus Vrbis who had only power when the King or Consuls were absent in the War They were not chosen by the People but appointed by the Consuls to be their Lieutenants in their absence Afterwards it became an ordinary office especially when the Emperors departed to Constantinople then the Governour of the City was as a Viceroy in Italy the Emperours Vicegerent The Interrex was appointed by the Senate when the Kings were dead until another Prince was chosen And after the Kings had been expelled the Title and Dignity did remain for when a Magistrate had quitted his Office or when another could not speedily be chosen or when the Consuls could not be present to govern in the Assemblies The Senate did appoint an Interrex The Dictator was chosen by the People and the Senate in the dangerous times of the Commonwealth when some eminent danger did threaten the state He had a far greater Power than the Consuls He was named Magister populi There was no appealing from his sentence to the People He did continue in his Office six months There was another Officer chosen by him to be his Lieutenant in his absence He was named Magister equitum The Master of the Horse because in the War he did command the Horse and the Dictator the Foot as we may see in T. Livius It is worthy of our observation that these Dictators who were intrusted with such an uncontrollable Authority did never abuse it to the prejudice of the Commonwealth and that it was a very rare thing to see a Citizen of Rome punished by them either with Death or Bannishment The Decemviri who were enabled with the Authority of the Consuls only to make and establish Laws over the City of Rome were appointed in the beginning of the Empire for that purpose The Kings who had formerly governed did administer Justice according to their pleasure But when the Romans saw in what inconveniency they would fall if they had not Statutes and settled Laws to govern their Magistrates they chose ten Men to examine the Laws of the Athenians and cause the best of them to be graven upon ten Tables of Brass for to remain as the standing Rules of Government Afterwards two Tables more were added so that they were called Leges 12 Tabularum These Magistrates did succeed on another in the Government for every one had the supreme Power by turns But they were put down about three years after their establishment and the Consuls did succeed them The Tribunes of the Soldiers were of two sorts some did govern the Empire as the Consuls and the others were only as Colonels in the Army The former were only chosen to appease the murmurings of the People who did grumble because they could not pretend to the supreme Magistracy as the Patricij did for the Senate did oppose the election of Consuls out of the Plebeian Families therefore to content the Commonalty they did suffer some to be elected out of them who should have the Authority of the Consuls but not the name they were stiled Tribuni militum consulari potestate praediti The Tribuni militum chosen by the Consuls were called Rutuli or Rufi because Rutilius Rufus brought in that custom they who were appointed by the Army were named Suffecti and the others chosen by the Commons were stiled Comitiati tribuni Triumviri were of many sorts there were Triumviri capitales called also tresviri or treviri capitales who were as our High-Sheriffs they had power to Imprison and release out of Prison they did also pnnish all Malefactors who were not Romans Eight Bayliffs did commonly attend upon them Triumviri Minarij were appointed to pay out of the Publick treasury money to satisfie for poor mens Debts Triumviri coloniae deducendae were to establish the Colonies of the Romans in forreign Nations Triumviri Monetales or Triumviri A. A. AE F. F. as Rosinus calls them i. e. Auro Argento Aere Flando Feriendo because they had charge of the Mint Triumviri nocturni were certain men who were to go the Rounds and give notice when Fire did break out in the City of Rome Triumviri Reipub. constituendae were established after the Massacre of Julius Caesar For when his adopted Son Octavius did labour to revenge his death and that he could not compass his design unless Antonius and Lepidus did joyn with him He concluded an agreement with them to govern the Empire between them to divide the Provinces and raise an Army which should pursue after M. Brutus and Cassius the two most powerful murderers of Julius Caesar they pretended to settle the Commonwealth but they filled Rome with the Blood of all their Enemies and proscribed 130 Senators The rest of the Senate continued unto them the supreme Magistracy with full power for five years because they could not oppose them nor their proceedings for they had at their heels two well furnished Armies Quaestores Vrbani or Aerarij were the publick treasurers who had a Commission to keep the Riches and receive the Revenues of the Commonwealth from the Officers of the Provinces At first there was two appointed afterwards two more were chosen by the People to accompany the Consuls in their Expeditions These last were as our Commissary-Generals or as Treasurers of an Army for they were to provide all things necessary for the Soldiers and receive the In-comes of the Provinces sell and dispose of the Spoils of the Enemy When the Generals did return home before they could obtain the Honour of the Triumph they were bound to give an account of the number of the Enemies and of the Roman Citizens vvho had been slain to these Questores Vrbani The Tribunes of the People vvere first estadlished at Rome vvhen the Commons had been forced to a sedition by the cruel exactions of the Nobles They assembled upon Mount Aventine and sent word to the Senate that they were resolved to leave their City and settle somevvhere else if they did not grant unto them a Discharge of all Debts and such Lavvs as might for the future shelter them from the unjust usage of the vvealthier Citizens vvith certain Magistrates vvhose business should be to mind the good of the People The danger obliged the Senate to condescend to their demands tvvo Officers
vvere chosen first out of the Tribunes or Colonels of the Army aud therefore they vvere named Tribuni plebis They vvere persons Sacro-sancti most holy and sacred It was no less than a capitol crime to offend them by Word or Deed They who had been so daring were by the Law homines sacri devoted or condemned ipso facto to be sacrificed to the Gods These Tribunes had power to oppose the proceedings Decrees of the Senate They were not admitted into this Venerable Assembly but had their places at the entrance of it when any Decree had been made It was sent to them to receive an approbation which they did signifie by writing upon it a Roman T. Their number did increase to 10 and their Authority also became greater than at the first Institution for they did Enact Laws with the consent of the People comit many disorders to the prejudice of the Senate and of the Consuls so that sometimes they were nam'd Pestes reipublicae Their Houses were open both day and night that they might serve for a refuge to all that should flie unto them for succour And whiles they were in that Office it was not lawful for them to be absent a day out of the City except in the Latine Festivals Theiâ— Power also was limited within the walls oâ— Rome They could not concern themselveâ— with things acted out of the limits of thâ— City Aediles were Magistrates who had a caâ— to see the Temples and Publick Houses in â— good repair From Aedes therefore Churches and holy Houses they have borrowâ— their title Aediles There were three sortâ— Aediles plebis were Magistrates under thâ— Tribunes of the People instituted at thâ— same time as the former Their Office dâ— oblige them to wait upon the Tribunes 〈◊〉 the People to judge of small matters 〈◊〉 restrain the violent humours of Creditorâ— to limit the number of Drinking-houses 〈◊〉 punish railings and small offences to so to the Weights and Measures to proviâ— Corn and Oyl for the Provision of the City and to cause all Publick Houses to be due repaired to order all conveniences for publick Sports and Plays c. Aediles Curules were chosen out of the Senate as the former were out of the People their Office was the same but they did take their turns One year the Aediles plebis did govern the next the Curules but afterwards they observed no such order in the execution of their Office There were also in Rome Aediles Cereales Magistrates who had a care of the Corn and Victuals sold in the Market Besides these there were certain Persons called Quatuorviri viarum curandarum Officers appointed by theenate to see that the Publick wayes might be well Paved These men were under the Censors unto whose office the care of the publick ways did belong They were also called Curatores viarum The Keepers of the Soldiers Treasury were established first by Augustus Caesar when he saw it necessary for the safety of the City and of the Empire to mantain constantly a certain number of Legions always in Arms that his ordinary In-come was not sufficient and that he could find no other way to furnish the Expences He promised to cast into the Treasury every year a large sum of money for Himself and Successor All the wealthiest Citizens and the Princes subject to his command did imitate his Example But when this was not yet sufficient he commanded that the 20 part of all Inheritances and Legacies left to persons who were not near of kin to the deceased should come into this Treasury He appointed three persons chosen out of the Praetorian Bands to keep it The Captains of the Emperors Guards were powerful men in the Roman Empire they did raise and depose their Masters at their pleasure and commit many Insolencies for which many times they did loose their Heads Praetorium was the Generals Pavilion or the Princes Pallace and Praetoriani milites the Soldiers of the Emperors Guard from hence their Captain is stiled Praefectus praetorio Praefectus frumenti dividendi was an Officer appointed by Augustus to distribute the Corn which he did give to the Publick Praefectus vigilum was the Captain of the City Watch For there were several Companies divided in the City to prevent Sedition and Mutiny and a Commander over them who was their Captain The Keeper of the Kings Exchequer was a considerable Officer in Rome He was named Advocatus Fisci As the Roman Empire did enlarge its Bounds the number of Officers did also increase every year The People and Senate did send their Commissioners to execute Justice in all the Provinces subject to their Jurisdiction At first only the Praetores were required But when they had conquered large Kingdoms they reduced them into Provinces and appointed that such as should go out of their Consulships should depart into these large and Noble Divisions of the Empire to do Justice and mannage the publick Affairs of Peace and War Then these Governours were stiled Pro-consuls sometimes they had an Assistant named Praetor whose office was to do Justice in the Province between dissenting parties Now in the flourishing state of the Empire some Kingdoms vvere Praetoriae belonging to the Praetors Others vvere Consulares for such as vvere of a Consuls degree Under the Emperors of Rome some Provinces vvere disposed of by the People and Senate the Governors of these vvere called Proconsules and some by the Emperors vvho did give o t their Commissions to their Favourites named Propraetores Before vvhen the Consuls did govern the Empire they did agree amongst themselves about the Provinces unto vvhich they vvere to repair vvhen the time of their Governing vvas expired or vvhen they did * cast Lots for the Provinces If there vvas any dangerous War to mannage these Pro-consuâ—s did choose a Legatus unto vvhom vvas given a Quaestor a Treasurer to have an eye upon the Expences and In-comes of the Empire The Senate did send these Provincial Magistrates in very great pomp and did appoint unto them their Attendance Furniture Train Army Wages c. They did alvvays receive a golden Ring amongst their Furniture to Seal Letters and Dispatches as I conceive Their Train vvas composed of Colonels Captains Notaries Serjeants Secretaries Bayliffs Cryers Executioners Interpreters Soothsayers Physicians and such kind of men When they vvere to depart they did go up to the Capitol to make Vovvs to Jupiter for the vvelfare of the Empire and then vvith their Lictores their Officers bearing before them tvvelve Hatchets and bundles of Rods they did go out of the City Paludati that is cover'd vvith a Cloak and at the Gate they were complemented by all their friends vvith many good vvishes As soon as they vvere enter'd into their Provinces they did begin to command and the Commission of the former Governours did end CHAP. IX Of the Roman Laws
1. cap. 102. And Plinius lib. 2. cap. 105. And the Greek Poet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to heal before he was called Dolomodes â—uâ— Chron. Diod l. 5. cap. 11. Aug. lib. 8. de civit cap. 26. He was to build a City where the Oxe did lye down when it was weary of its journey The Dragon did proceed from Mars it kill'd Seriphus and Daileon the servants of Cadmus The truth is this Dragon was a famous Robber 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a violent grief for she drowned her self in despair Others add Autonoe and Polydorus sons of Cadmus The Oracle told the Illyrians that they should obtain the victory against their Enemies if Cadmus was their Captain By that means he reigned in Illyria Epaminondas was a Scholar of Pythagoras Diog. Laert. lib. 8. Thebs was rebuilt by Alexanders command for the sake of a great Wrastler that had been thrice crowned at the Olympick Games Addit Not. Vlpian The Greek Letters are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an unhappy Victory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euripid. in Medea After his death his Successors did enjoy a portion of all the gifts offered to Apollo in Delphos Some say Pindarus was a Child cast away in the Woods and that he was nourisht by Honey instead of Milk Davussum non Oedipus Terent one of an ordinary capacity Addit Not. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Prov. From hence to express the just curses of a Superiour Tiresia caecior Juvenal a blind fellow He was the son of â—urâ—mus a Shepherd of Mount Syllerus he had been both a man and a woman Juno punished him with blindness for revealing a secret which women only can tell but Jupiter rewarded him with a life seven times longer than ordinary Read Hyginus 75 Book of Fables Of him is the Proverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because he was so cruel to his Daughter as to cause her to be devoured of a horse for not preserving her chastity Diogenian His name was Maeon The Thebans aâ—ter the Victory built a Temple to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch Statius From hence the Prov. Fratris contentiones implacable hatreds or discords Addit Not. The Cranean Gate was sirnamed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where there was a Temple dedicated to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jupiter the most high God Paâ—saâ—ias and Plutarch This Chain was unfortunate afterwards to all its owners Alcmeon gave it to his Wife Amphesibea her Brother Themon gave it to Apollo at Delph from whence it was carried by the Phocenses that rob'd the Temple His Phâ—dram procâ—inque â—ocis moestamque Eriphylen Crudelis gnati monstrantem vuâ—nera cernit Virg. lib. 6. Aeneid The Motto of Amphiaraus was excellent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euripid in his Tragedy of the Phoeni. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 idem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to speak truth and sen e or Oracles Matth. 2. 22. Act. 10. 22. Heb. 12. 25. Amongst the Romans the interpretation of Dreams was the office â—f the Augures Rosin lib. 3. Plinius lib. 7. Chap. 56. Called by Homer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He calls an evil dream 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Odyss lib 6. Iliad 2 Valerius Maxim lib. 1 cap. 7. Pont. Diacon in vita Cyprian Gregor Moral lib. 18. In somnio exteriores sensus dormiunt interiores cernuntar Gregor lib. 23. Mor. Aristotle of Animal 4 Book Virgil lib. 7. Aeneid They did deliver Oracles in caves of the earth where the Poets did place the Ivory gate of hell for in hell were 2 gates This was the happy Age when learning was admired and rewarded From hence the Prov. Sophocles est he is a happy Orator Addit Not. These things happened about the daies of Gedeon Judge of Israel 2750 years after the Creation of the World as Euseb Chron. Diod. l. 5. and Hygin do think See C. Tacitus lib. 1. Annal. Humano generi posuit natura creatrix Hanc legem ut tumuli membra sepulta tegant Rosin ex vet Poet. Pelopis talenta a great talent There were two sorts a little one worth 60 l. and a great one worth 80 l. sterling Addit Not. Euseb deprepar Evang. l. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prov. an imminent danger Pelops was worshipped as a God and his Sanctuary placed at the right hand of the Temple of Jupiter Olymp. His shoulder of Ivory was carried to Troy and lost in the Sea at the return but found by Demarmenus a Fisherman who carried it to the Eleans by the advice of the Oracle to deliver them from the Plague Pausanias For that reason he is said to be bis pubescens Ovid. Metam Myrtilus the son of Mercurius of Cleobula Pelops promised that he should lie one night with Hippodamia of whom he was also in love but Pelops would never suffer him Hygin Tit. Livius Pausanies Lucian in Charidemo Lucan Phars lib. 6. From hence the Prov. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an excellent Chariot Some say she was the daughter of Phoroneus Giod Boccac Ovid. Metam lib. 6. Ovid de Pont. lib 1. Addit Not. Seneca in the Tragedy of Thyestes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an angry conntenance Lucian Prov. Giod Boccac lib. 1â— Geneal de Gli Dei He was the son of the King of Corinth when his elder Brother was dead there was a dispute between him and his other Brother Jasius about the succession part of the people did favour Dard and the other Jasius Dard. with his favourites took shipping and setled in Phrygia Philostr Tros had War with Tantal King of Phrygia who took his son Ganimede prisoner and sent him as a present to Jupiter King of Crete This gave occasion to the Fable Natal Com. The truth is Laomedon spoiled the Temples of Apollo and Nepâ—unus to build Troy Natal Com. de Neptuno This sacriledg hath caused the Fable Menia Phoebe â— structa canore Lyne Of Troy Ovid in Epist Parid. Addit Not. Nec dum Laomedonteae sentis perjuria gentâ—s Virg. lib 4 Aeneid Creusa Cassandra Iliona Laodicea Licaste Medisicasti Polisena Paris Hector Helenus Caonus Troilus Deiphobe Polidorus Licaon Teucrus c. Addit Not. Nevertheless Ovid saith Bella gerant aâ—i tu Pari semper ama Con miaguida â—aduliero Trojano Espugno Sparta Chebbe in suo potere Gio. Boccac Geneal de gli Dei l. 3. Ab à privativa and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He led an Army of Myrmidones to Troy Mensuras pondera invenit Phidion Argivus aut Palamedes ut Ma-Jeuit Gellius Plin. Lib. 7. Chap. 56. He is called by Homer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifie his cunning and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sanguine cretuâ— Siâ—yphio * Justin Lib. 2. Scamander is named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The young Damsels were woâ—t to wash in tâ—â—s River before Marriage saying unto it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer Il. 21. Lucian * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer Diomedes wounded Venus she in revenge
made his wife a whore so that he would not return home but settled iâ— Italy where he built a City now called Benevento ofter his death his people were metamorphised into strange birds named Cetaractes they â—ly away from a wicked man but cherish the good especially the Greeks see Plin lib. 2. c. 〈◊〉 * He is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sweet mouth'd He was the Son of Neleus King of Pylos Hercules restored unto him his Kingdom because of his justice Hygin ch 10. Pausan 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer He is stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because he was swift in running This Ajax was the Prince of Salamis called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Bulwark of the Greeks because he was big and high and rendred invulnerable by the prayers of Hercules who put upon him his Lyons skin and desired Jupiter that he might not be subject to wounds only under his Arms see Pindar in Od. Iishm Dardanus Iliace primus pater urbis Author Virgil. This Apollo is named by Homer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because he did put his enemies to â—light and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 light because he brings light into the world or from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Wolfe because he was adored in the image of a wolfe in Aegypt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hom. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sâ—mmusque dies Hectoris idem patrioeque fuit Homer calls him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Homer Il. 20. He was the son of the River Stygmon and of the muse Euterpe or of Eioneus as Homer saith Philostrat in Protesiliao * He was called â—â—ppus by the Aegiptians Pausan where he was killed the Poets do say that a Fountain sprung up which yeilded drops of blood every year on the day of his death Nat Com. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hom. 15. 11. Pindar Ovid saith otherwise in Penelop ad Vlyss Sive quiâ— Antilochum narrabat ab Hectore victum c. Creta or Candia was call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because there was in it an hundred Cities now there is but threâ— Candia Canea or Cidon from whence are the Mala Cidonia quinces the third is Rethymo Gnosus was the Metropolis in the time of Minos scituate upon Mount Ida now called Philoiâ—ri * He was betrayed to Menelaus by Helena his nose ears were cut off and afterwards he was massacred by the Greeks See Virg. 6. Aeneid Helena crater A Merry Cup. from her tears sprung up the herb Helenium or Helicampane 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dictis was of Crete and Dares a Phrygian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He did entertain Serpents who did feed at his table In the hot countries as in Italy and Barbary Snakes do commonly run about the houses eat the crumbs of bread and hunt after Cats as our Cats The Moors have no other Cats to devour their Mice The truth is that Agamemnon fell in love with the prisoner of Ajax Cassandra and took her awâ— by force therefore he fled away in a little boat and was drown in a tempestuous Sea Nauplius the Son of Neptunus and Amymone the Daughters of Danaus King of Argos endeavoured to revenge himself upon the Greeks by perswading their wives at home to make them cuckolds in their absence and when the Army returned he caused many ships to run a ground upon his Island killing all that came into his power Addit Notes Hom. Il. 18. Ovid metamor l. 19 Some relate the Story of Hecuba otherwise â—irca ruinas â—â—â—da latraâ—â— suas Troja â—â—rses Hecuâ—â— Seneca See Auson in in his Epitaphes Var. Hist cap. 13. His head and face was like Jupiter his shoulders were like those of Mars and his breast like Neptunes Hom. Il. 2 * She was called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because she was bound up in a bundle of willow branches unto this Diana the Lacedemònians did offer humane sacrifices which custome Lycurâ—uâ— altered causing the Maids and youths to be whipt onely until the blood did come which they sprinkled upon her Altar Plutarch Pausan Hygin Apollo perswaded him to kil his Mother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eurip. in Orest Euripid. in Iphigen Tisamenes was the Son of Orestes See Hygin Chap. 25. Of the women of Lemnos and Orph. in his Argon We have related this death of Hecuba otherwise according to the opinion oâ— other Authors When he arrived in Italy one of his men was kil'd for ravishing a Maid Vlysses being departed without paying unto him any funeral rights his Spirit did mightily torment and vex theinhabitants so that to appease it they did erect a temple to him and expose every year a a Virgin of the Town for the Spirit to destroy Euthymus the Champion overcame it and delivered a Virgin which he married Plin. mentions him lib. 7. c. 47. This is a Fable of the vainglorious French Achates Vocabatur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because he was a good Sheapheard and Husbandman Pindar His wife was Antonio and one of his sons was Acteon who was torn by his dogs Asopus was the Son of Jupiter and of Clymene or of Neptune and of Ceglasa Nat. Com. He discovered Jupiters desire by the means of Sisyphus who is punished in hell for his indiscreâ—ion Hygin Greg. Gyrald in Historia de Diis Gen. Ruffin Eccles Histor lib. 11. Suidas Vocabatnr Canobus or Canopus Hesych Cicer. de Nat. Deor. Quique premit vocem digitâ—que silentia suadet Ovid. Macrob. Solin See Mountaigne Essayes Or Lynceus or Lycus Ovid Metamorph lib. 6. Plin Natur. Hist lib. 5. Euseb Macrob. Plutarch Suidas Hesych Cicer. Herodot Pausan Plutarch See Bochart Geog. Sacr. See the Journals and Relations of the Voyages of our English of the French and Italian Travellers into Egypt Virg Aeneid 1. 6. Plutarch There have been many of that name Aelian l. 12. Cor. Tacit. See Martial lib. 1 Epig. 14. Lucan Q. Curt. Martial l. 7. Some think Janus to be Noah otherwise called Vadimon Oenotrius c. and that he was represented with two Faces because he had seen two Worlds See Delp Phenicizant of the Learned Edm. Dickinson Addit Not. * Concerning this â—case of Conscience consult Rainold de Idololat Rom. Ecclâ—s Sadel contra Burdeg Martyr Loc. com Mâ—lancthon c. Jer. 2. 27. Crudeles dij vestri sunt qui delect intur vestro sanguine ac â—os impellunt ad vitam fundendam Clemens Alex. Sâ—e what God saith to the bowing of our bodies to the Idols Deut. 4. 19. And S. Hierom against Ruffin lib. 1. â—â—nucius Felix 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was the opinion of the Heathen It seems by the false Miracles which the Papists do ascribe to the Images that they do labour to persuade the people that there is such a Divine virtue inherent in them Concil Trident. Sessio 25. De invocatâ— vener at reliquiis
when he was ready to expire It happened afterwards as he had desired Myrtilus for a supposed crime was cast headlong from a high Râ—ck into the Sea and left his name to the place Thus the perfidious Myrtilus was rewarded by th se who did owe unto him their lives and satisfactions for it is usual to see Treasons in request but Traytors were never beloved nor trusted by any That Roman Damosel that betrayed a gate of Rome to the Sabins was buried alive under their Bucklers by them who did detest her crime although they did receive an advantage by it Bajazet and Tamerlane did commonly execute Traytors and hang them up with their rewards The Poets say that this Oenomaus was so cruel as to kill twelve or thirteen young Gallants that came to seek his Daughter in Marriage for when he had ünhappily overcomâ— them in the Race he did dispatch them out of his sight without mercy In running it was his custome to throw at them his Lance and kill them and that he might sooner overtake them he did oblige them to carry â—ith them his Daughter Hippodamia in the Chariot Pelops was more happy than the rest therefore the River Alpheus came out of his currant to crown him with Lawrels after his Victory His Sister was Niobe she espoused Amphion and of him had ten Sons some say seven and as many Daughters but because she was so vain-glorious as to say Cur calitur Latona per aras Numen adhuc sine thuie meum est c. And Quoquo modo audetis gâ—niâ—am Titanida Coeo Latonam praeferre mihi She was deprived of all her Children the Men being massacred by Apollo and the Maids by Diana who left only Cloris alive Some say that her grief caused her to cast her self into the Sea from a Rock that did bear her name upon the Coast of Greece Ovid calls her Mygdonia because of her Image that did stand in the Town of Sipylus in the Mount Mygdonia Nâ—nc quoque Mygdonia flebilis astat humo CHAP. XII Of Atreus and Thyestes THese two Brethren have given occasion to many Tragedies which proceeded from an irreconcilable hatred that they did bear to one another For Thyestes having no other intent but to vex Atreus defiled his Bed with Adultery and Incest and then saved himself out of his reach And Atreus surprized the sons of Thyestes and got them all into his power Then he sent unto him to invite him to a Feast as if they had been to end all their differences and reconcile themselves together Thyestes perswaded with the desire of seeing his Children came readily to the Feast But when they were both risen from the Table Atreus shewed unto him the sad Spectacle of their hands and heads chopt off telling him also at the same time that he had fed at supper only upon their flesh The Poets say that the Sun was eclipsed and did return back towards its rising that it might not behold such a detestable cruelty But as one Crime draws after it another it happened that Aegistus the Bastard Son of Thyestes who was reckoned amongst the Dead because he had been cast away in a Wood satisfied his Fathers vengeance by spilling the blood of Atreus This Aegistus was so named because he had been brought up and nourished by Goats He having therefore espoused his Fathers quarrel he massacred Agamemnon the Son of Atreus at his return from the Siege of Troy by the assistance of his Wife Clytemnestra who had been perswaded to consent to the murder of her Husband We shall in another place take notice how Orestes revenged the death of his Father Agamemnon in killing Aegistus and Clytemnestra his own Mother because she had been so perfidious and wicked as to imbrue her hands in her Husbands blood The hatred of these two Brothers caused many horrid Villanies to be committed by them and their Children Thyestes to displease and affront his Brother Atreus debaucht his Wife Aerope of whom he had two Bastards Tantalus and Plistenes When Atreus came to understand who was their Father he caused them to be roasted and given to Thyestes to eat at a great banquet unto which he was invited He found some way to escape out of it and his Brothers power and so departed to King Thesprotus and from him he went to Sicyone where he had placed his Daughter Pelopia He found her sacrificing to Minerva and dancing about her Altar but it happened that she had stained her cloaths with the blood of the Victim therefore in the night she went do vn to a River alone to wash them Her Father Thyestes followed her and got her with-child but she secretly convey'd his Sword away About that time â—t grievous Famine afflicted the Country which the Sooth-sayers imputed to the cruelty of Atreus advising him to be reconciled to his Brother He hearkned to their counsel therefore he went to seek him out in the Kingdom of Thesprotus but meeting there with Pelopia whom he thought to be the Kings Daughter he desired her in marriage and brought her to his home where she was delivered of Aegistus And because he was her Fathers Bastard she desired that he might be cast away and that he might not live to reproach unto her her shame But Atreus not knowing the mystery caused him to be sâ—erâ—tly nourished with Agamemnon and Menelaus his children It happened that in process of time Atreus having surprized Thyestes consulting the Oracle of Apollo how to revenge himself be sent unto him Aegistus to kill him but the Father dise vered the Son by the Sword that his Daughter had stole from him near the River and then stuck it into his Bowels with a command to revenge his death which was done by Aegistus for he kill'd Atreus whiles he was sacrificing and rejoycing at the death of his Brother The Poets 〈◊〉 inform us of the first cause of these Tragedies and fatal discords They say it was because Pelops offered to drown Myrtilus the Son of Mercurius therefore this God in revenge kindled such flames of wrath and enmity in the breasts of his Sons that they ceased not till they were both destroyed with all their Generation CHAP. XIII Of the Kings of Troy THe City of Troy hath been heretofore one of the most famous of Asia minor as well for its largeness and riches as for that Renowned War which it n annag'd against the Army of Greece It was scituate in Phrygia which is a Province stretching it self upon the Coast of the Aegean Sea near unto the Hellespont called now the River of Constantineple over against the Câ—eâ—sâ—nâ—sus of Thracia and the Island Tenedos which was not far distant from it The River Soamander that proceeds from the Mount Ida did run by the walls to joyn with the waters of the River Sim is both together do empty themselves into the Sea near the Promontory called Sigeum The