at the Battell of Alexandria Nevertheless Sâ—rabo recordeth that Aristotle did institute the first Library and left it to Theophrastus his Disciple and taught the Kings of Aegypt how they should order their Library Theophrastus left it to Molus and of him Scepsis received it There was also a very ancient Library at Pergamus In Rome Afinius Pollio had the first Library which Employed the great Wits in study to the ample furtherance and commodity of that Common-wealth At this time the World flourisheth with Libraries to introduce ingenuous Persons to a more suddain perfection Legends of Saints were made in the year of our Lord 800. by Paulus Diaconius Isuardus a Monk at the desire of Charles the great And for as much as the Persecutions were so great that in the time of Dioclesian the Emperour there were put to death 1700 Christians within thirty days space they could not particularly write all their Lives but made general Legends of Martyrs Confessours Virgins which the Fathers commanded to be read in the Church on such Saints days M MONEY was first Coined in Rome 547 years after the Citty was Built the first Coin was named a Ducat Phedon began Silver Coin in the Isle of Aegina which was Minted in Rome 454 after the Citty was Built the print of it being a Charriot with two Horses Janus caused Base Coin to be made with a Face to the one side and a Ship on the other that he might gratifie Saturne who arrived there in a Ship by perpetuating his memory to posterity Serius Tullius Coined Brass with the Image of a Sheep and an Oxe Marriage or Matrimony Antiquity reports that Cecrops King of Athens first ordained and therefore the Poets feigned him to have two Faces Notwithstanding the customes of Marriage were not alike in all Countreys nor kept after the same manner For amongst the Indians Numidians Aegyptians Hebrews Persians Parthians and almost all the Barbarians every one Married according to the substance or riches which they enioyed The Seythians Scots and Athenians at first used the Women in common publickly like Beasts the Massagers Married their Wives but they also used them in common Amongst the Arabians it was the custome that all the Kinsmen should have but one Wife and he that came to meddle with her should set his Staffe at the Door The Assyrians and Babilonians bought their Wives in the Market for a price which custome still remains amongst the Arabians and Saracens The Nazomons when they are first Married use to suffer their Wives to be Layne withall the first Night by all their Guests and after that keep them entire to themselves There were a certain People of Affrick that were wont to offer such Maids that were to be Married to the King of their Religion to deflowre such as he pleased It was also the custome amongst the Scots that the Lord of the Manner was to Lye with the Bride the first Night which custome remained till it was abolished by Malcolme the third Marriage amongst the Romans was kept inviolable till divorcement began The Rites of Marriage were various in Rome and the manner was that two Children should Lead the Bride and a third bear before her a Torch of White-Thorn in honour of Ceres which custome was also observed here in England saving that in place of the Torch there was carried before the Bride a Bason of Gold or Silver a Garland also of Corn Eares was set upon her Head or else she bare it on her Hand or if that were omitted Wheat was scattered over her Head in Token af Fruitfulness also before she came to Bed to her Husband Fire and Water were given her which having power to purifie and clease signifyed that thereby she should be chast and pure in her Body Neither was she to step over the Threshold but was to be bourn over to signifie that she lost her Virginity unwillingly with many other superstitious Ceremonies which are too long to rehearse Marriage began first in Paradise where God joyned Adam and Eve together before they knew Sin that by the congression and company of these two Sexes and Kinds their issue might be enlarged to replenish the World Mahomets Sect questionless is one of the most Diabolical of all other as well for the filthiness of all unlawful Lusts as also for other outragious naughtiness that it is so strangely possessed with to the great mischief of Christendome and encrease of their own infidelity Of this most superstitious Sect Mahomet Born in Arabia or as some report in Persia was the Author his Father was a Heathen Idolater and his Mother an Ismaelite which caused her to have the more insight into the Law of the Hebrews This wicked Plant brought up and fostered under his Parents and instructed like a Mungrell in either of their Laws became expert being of a quick and ready Wit after the Death of his Father and Mother he was a Servant to one Abdemonaples an Ismaelite who put him in trust with his Merchandise and other Affaires and after his death he Married his Mistress There he fell into acquaintance with the Monk Sergius an heretick of Nestorius Sect that fled from Byzance into Arabia and by his Council and advice this Mahomet about the year of our Lord 520 and the twelfth year of the raign of the Emperour Heraclius began in Arabia to found a new Sect and by Seditious Sermons seduced many people in several Countries He conquered through the assistance of the Arabians divers lands and subdued them as Tributaries and compelled them to live after the Tradition of his Laws that he gathered out of the New and Old Testamants and divers Herisies of the Nicoluits Maniches and Subelians He died in the 40 th year of his age his body was carried by the Saracens into a City of Persia called Mecha and put into a Coffin of Iron which through the attraction of a Load-stone to those that know not the Sympathy of Nature makes it to seem as if it hung miraculously This Sect encreaseth more and more partly through the discord of Christian Princes and by reason of our greivious sins which hath caused us Christians to feel the heavy hand of God upon us Musick by the Testimony of the Ancients is of great Antiquity for Orpheus and Linus being both of the Linnage of the Gods were both of them incomparable Musicions The Invention of Musick some do ascribe to Amphion the Son of Jupiter by Antiope others do ascribe the finding of it to Dionisius others say that it was first brought out of Creete and being perceived by the ringing and shrill sound of Brass was brought at last to Number and Measure others ascribe it to the Arcadians but it is most generally affirmed that Mercury found out the Notes and Concords of singing He also as we have already mentioned was the first that invented the Harp Shalms were at the first made of Cranes-legs afterwards of a great Reed Dardanus Tezenius used
concerning the Martyrdoms of the Twelve Apostles we shall relate as followeth James the Son of Zebedee called Major for that he was chosen to be an Apostle was sent to convert Spaine from whence by reason of the Obstinacy of the People he returned shortly to Preach in Judea where through the Malice of a Jewish Bishop called Abiathar he was accused and Beheaded by the consent of Herod Agrippa His Body was conveyed by his Disciples first to Jerusalem and from thence to Spaine where it remaineth in Compostella a Famous Pilgrimage James the Son of Alpheus called Minor for that he was last chosen he was Bishop of Jerusalem and that for the space of Thirty years and then as he was Preaching in the Temple he was thrown down by the Pharises and by them stoned to death he was Buried by the Temple Simon by our Saviour called Peter through the indignation of Nero because he was too hard for and had overcome Simon Magus Sorcerie was Crucified with his Head downward Saul after his conversion called Paul who after that he had endured and escaped many dangers and torments as being Whipt with Rods put in the Stocks by Philipus Stoned in Lystra delivered to wild Beasts in Ephesus Bound and Beaten in Jerusalem at last he came to Rome where by the commandement of Nero he was Beheaded for that he was a Roman Born the same day that St. Peter was crucified Philip after he had Preached throughout the whole Coutrey of Scythia and converted a great part thereof in the space of twenty years was at last in the City of Hierapolis when he had there extirped the Herisie of the Hebaeonites fastned to the Cross and put to a cruel death Bartholomew went to Preach in India and afterwards came to Albania a City of Armenia the greater where he converted the King of that City and destroyed the Idols Wherefore by the Commandment of Astiages Brother to King Polimeus whom he had converted he was Flead alive His Body was afterwards brought to Italy and is as some say at Rome Andrew Simon Peters Brother went first to Preach in Achaia and afterwards in Scythia but Lastly he was taken at Patras a City of Achaia by Egeas Pro-consul of that Province Who because that he had Converted his Wife Maximilla cast him in prison where he was most Tyrannically beaten stretched out and bound upon a slope Cross to augment his Torment and so he dyed Thomas Preached the Gospel to the Parthians Medes Persians Hyrcanians Bragmans and converted a great part of India He was by the Infidels thrown into a burning Furnace and is said to have come out unhurt Finally because he prayed to God to destroy the Idol of the Sun which the Infidels would have compelled him to Worship he was by them thrust through with Spears and Swords Matthew after he had Preached much in Judea he went into Aetheopia and there converted the greatest part of the Countrey As he had newly ended his Prayers and was lifting up his hands to Heaven by the Alter by the Appointment of the King of that Countrey certain Villains came behind him and run him through with their Swords Judas called Thaddeus after the Ascention of our Lord was sent by Thomas to heal Albagar King of Edissa Afterwards he Preached in Pontus and Mesopotamia and converted many cruel and barbarous People Lastly he came to Persia where for confounding of their Idols he was suddenly run upon and murdered by the Pagan Bishops of that Countrey He was buried at Netre a City of Armenia Simon called Chananeus Brother to Thaddeus and James the less after he had Preached in Aegypt returned to Jerusalem Whereof by the consent of the Apostles he was made Bishop after the death of his Brother James As touching his Martyrdome some say that he suffered with his Brother Judas Thaddeus in Persia others that he was through the envy of the Hereticks accused before the Consul Atticus and therefore Crucified as his Master was Mathyas after the Ascension of our Blessed Lord and Saviour was chosen by the Apostles to supply the room of Judas he was born at Bethlem and was descended of the Tribe of Juda. He Preached for the most part in Judea where at last he was falsly accused of his enemies for Perjury and was therefore condemned to be stoned to death by two men after which torment one cut him with a Hatchet which finished his Martyrdome The Four Monarchies of the World were in successive order as followeth the First was of the Assirians by Ninus about the year of the World 2220. augmented by the Queen Semiramis and afterwards it endured the Term of 1300 years it was translated by Arbactus to the Medes and there having endured 350 years it was left by Astyages and exterpated by Cyrus The Second Monarchy was of the Persians the year of the World 3425 which after it had endured 191 years was lost by Daryus and extirpated by Alexander the Great The Third Monarchy was of the Grecians founded by Alexander the Great in the year of the World 3634 and before Christ 320 years after whose death it was divided amongst the Prefects which in his life time he had appointed in divers Countries by which division Selenius King of Assyria Ptolomeus King of Aegypt Antigonus King of Asia Cassander of Macedonia and Greece all which Countries were after subduâ—â—… by the Romans The Fourth Monarchy or Empire was of the Romans founded by Julius Caesar in the year of the World 3914 after the building of Rome 706 years and before Christ 47 years This Monarchy flourished about the space of 470 years till that after the death of Theodosius the Great it was divided by his two Sons into two Empires Arcadius was Emperour of Constantinople which Empire endured though afterwards much diminished by the Invasions of Barbarous Nations untill the year of our Lord 1453 and then was quite lost by Constantine and conquered by Mahomet the second Emperour of the Turks Honorious was Emperour of Rome which Empire shortly after in the year of our Lord five hundred seventy-five and about the ninth Month of the Reign of Augustus was utterly ruinated by Othacar King of the Gothes And long after in the year of our Lord 801 it was restored by Charles the great and by him united to the Crown of France and by his successors Translated into Germony 〈◊〉 here it yet remaineth as a shaddow only or representation of the Majesty of the Ancient Roman Empire Measures and Wrights were found out by Sidonius as Entropius writes The same time that Procus Reigned in Albany Ahaz in Judah and Jeroboam in Hierusalem Some write that Mercury devised them in Greece Pliny ascribeth it to Phidon of Argos Gellius to Palamades Strabo to one Phidon of Elis in Arcadie Diogenes saith that Pythagoras taught the Greeks Weights and Measures but Josephus affirms that Cain first found them out Men Deified were such as from whom had been attained any
Urbane stirred up the Christians to make a Voyage into Asia at which time Jerusalem was recovered Prreaching or the first Sermon was by Moses when he had received the Ten Commandments he then assembled the people together and acquainted them with the will of God St. John the Baptist preached in the Wilderness of Jury and so did our Saviour himself and gave Authority to the Apostles and Disciples by special Commandment to do the same Prisons Fetters Stocks Gines Staves with the like Instruments to punish Malefactors Ancus Martius as Livy saith did first appoint them to keep men in Fear and good Order R RHETORICK Diodorus saith was invented by Mercury But Aristotle affirms that Epedocles was the first Author of the Oratorial Art We may be sure that not long after men were Formed they received from God the use of Speech wherein when they perceived some words to be profitable and some to be hurtful in uttering of them they appointed and compiled an Art of Speech or communication called Rhetorick Rome was the Seat of Eloquence where it was never forbidden but in process of time as it was found to be profitable honest was had in such high estimation and so many partly for their defence Glory and Ambition employed their studies in it with such earnest endeavours that very many of the Commonalty were promoted into the degree of Senatours and atchieved much honour by it Cornx and Thisias being Sicilians gave the first precepts in Writing of this Science and their Counthey-man Leontinus Gorgias succeeded them Demosthenes was the principal amongst the Grecians amongst the Romans M. Tullius Cicero who had no fellow Now as touching the effect and property of it there are in it as Cicero writes five parts first to invent Matter to speak then for him that is to deliver his speech formally to order his devices next to polish it and furnish it with Elegant terms and choise words and to have his speech and oration in perfect memory and last of all to utter and express it with a comely gesture and posture in such a manner as to delight with the convenient and pleasant treatableness of it which should as it were teach and plainly declare the things and move the passions and affections of the Auditors and Judges either to pitty or favour or if the cause permit or time require to excite them either to mirth or to a grave severity as the occasion shall require In terms of this faculty we make this difference we call him that defendeth matters and pleadeth causes an orator A Rhetorition is he that teacheth and professeth to be a School master in that Art A Declamater he that is employed in feigned causes either for his own exercise or to instruct others therein Reliques were first instituted by Cletus and Anacletus Bishops of Rome who seriously went about to reverence those Martyrs whose innocent Blood was spent for Gods cause To this purpose they appointed a place where the Martyrs should severally have their Sepulchers apart from the Lay People and by decree he was denounced accursed and sacreligious that by word or deed hindred mens devotions from visiting the Tombs of the Apostles Upon this institution Calistus the first Builded a Church beyond Tyber a Church in honour of our Lady and Constantine the Emperour edified to St. Peter St. Paul and St. Lawrence Temples This matter was by Gregory the Saint set forward to encrease Devotion for he appointed the Lettanies of Saints with Ora pro nobis to be sung with Masses on Solemn dayes in the chief Temples of the City promising them that repaired thither at such Solemn Feasts Remission of their Sins by his Pardon Ringing of Bells were first ordained by Sabinianus that the people might be assembled together to hear Divine Service at certain hours of the day and John the 22d decreed that Bells should be tolled every day three times Morning or Evening that every one should say three times the Ave-Maria Royal Ornaments of the Romans were Fardels of Rods the Axe the Garland of Gold the Chaire of Ivory the Kyrtil or Cope Charriots Trapped Horses Mantles of State Embroidered Gowns with all other Royal Apparel the Tuscanes were very early in their choice of rich Habits whom Tarquinius Priscus subdued Rome hath been taken Eight times First by the Gaules under the conduct of Captain Brennus the year of the Foundation of the City 365 and the year of the World 4835 and the year before Christ 364. This Brennus is by the Brittaine and English Chronicles reported to have been a Brittain and Brother to Belinus King of Brittain but neither the Chronicles of Rome nor of Gaule do express any such matter Rome was the Second time taken by Alaricke King of the Gothes after he had held his Seige before it for the space of two years Which befell the year of the Foundation of the City 1164 the year of our Lord 412 and the 25 year of the Emperour Honorius It is written in the Chronicles of Constantinople and in other Histories that as Alarick being a Christian Marched with his Host towards Rome a certain Monke of a Holy Life came to him who having Audience admonished and councelled him to break off that evil purpose and to remember that he was a Christian and that for Gods sake he would moderate his Wrath and that he would not take pleasure in the shedding of Christian Blood since that Rome had not in the least respect offended him unto whom Alricke answered thou must understand Man of God that it proceedeth not of mine own will that I goe against Rome but contrarily I le assure thee that every day there commeth unto me a Man which constraineth and importuneth me thereunto saying unto me hasten thee go against Rome destroy it utterly and make it desolate At which words the Religious Man being astonished durst not reply and so the King persued his enterprise Rome was Thirdly taken by Genserick King of the Vandals the year of the Foundation of the City 1208 the year of Christ 456 who Sacked and Burnt it in many places this was in the Emperour Marcians time Rome was Fourthly taken by Totila King of the Goths who because he could not obtain peace of the Emperour Justinian commanded the Citizins to avoid the City and afterwards burnt and sacked all the whole City defaced the Walls and the Capitol and rendred it almost desolate insomuch that it could never since be repaired according to the first Form although a while after Bellisarius Peopled and repaired a Great part thereof And recalling the old Inhabitants very much Fortifyed and Strengthened the Walls This desolation happened the year after the Foundation of the City 1300 after Christ 548 in the 21st year of the Emperer Justinian Rome was the Fifth time taken by the same Totila King of the Goths after that Belisarius had repeopled and repaired it It was the Sixth time taken by the Moores and Sarazens followers of Mahomet
first to play on them Pan found out the Pipe of small Reed to delight and please his Mistress Syrinx Timarias was the first that playd on the Harp and Lute with Ditties and Amphion was the first that sung to the Lute The Troglodites a People of Aethiopia were the first that found out the Dulcimer Pises a Tyrrhen or Tuscan found out the brazen Trumpet and the Tuscans were the first that used it in War Others say that it was Dyrcaeus an Athenian who taught it the Lacedemonians who maintaining a long War against the Messenians had this answer from the Oracle of Appollo that if they would win the field they must have a Captain of Athens The Athenians in despight sent them Dyrcaeus a lame fellow with one eye who notwithstanding did receive him and made use of his Counsel who taught them to play on Trumpets which were so dreadful to the Messenians because of the strangness of the noise that they fled and so the Lacedemonians became immediately Victorious The Arcadians were the first that brought Musical Instruments into Italy and some do write that the Lacedemonians in War did use Clarions Shalms Rebecks to the intent that when they were ready to sight they might be kept in better order Halyalies King of the Lydians had in the battell against the Milesians Pipers and Fidlers playing together the Cretians when they went to War had Lutes going before them to Moderate their pace Magick took its beginning from Phisick and was the invention of Zoroastes King of the Bacthrians who raigned eight hundred years after the Seige of Troy The same time that Abraham and Ninus raigned about three Thousand one Hundred Fourscore and five Years after the Creation of the World Lactantius and Eusebius think it was set forth amongst other divelish Sciences by the evil Spirits and Pliny calleth it of all the Arts the most deceiptful It is compacted of Phisick superstition and the Mathematical Arts. The Thessalians were especially accused with the frequent use of this practice the first Writers of this Art were said to be Hosthunes Pythagoras Empedocles Democritus Plato who with divers others Sailed into far Countries to learn it Wherein Democritus was reported to have been the most famous three hundred years after the City was builded in which time Hippocrates published the Art of Phisick The Monks those of Olivet sprung up as a Fruit of disorder the same year that the variance was amongst three Bishops and were instituted by Barnardus Ptolomeus the year of our Lord 1407. under Gregory the 12th The faction of Grandimonsers began by Steven of Anern in Aquitane or Guyen the year of our Lord 1076 under Alexander the Second and had their Title of the Mountain where their Abbey stood A little after the same time Robert Abbot of Molisme in Cisterium a Forrest in Burgundy did insinuate the order of Cistercians though some ascribe it to one Ordingus a Monk that perswaded Robert to the same about the year of our Lord 1098. under Urbane the Second of this order was the great Clark St. Bernard The other orders of them as also of the Hieronymians Canons White-Friers Crouch-Friers to mention them as they are so numerous would be too tedious Martyrs of them our Saviour Christ was the first Witness and was incarnate to be so for the Truth he had for his Blessed and True Testimony the envy of the Jews insomuch that they persecuted him to the vile Death of the Cross for his most sacred record and report of the Truth and they did no less persue the Apostles and Messengers of the Truth For when they following the Example of their Master did openly declare the word of Truth and namely Peter did sorely rebuke the wickedness of the Jews for putting to Death our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the Author of Life advertising of them to repent and amend The Jews were so furious that they Murthered Stephen as the Acts of the Apostles testifies because he was a Fervent and Zealous Witness of the Truth This Stephen did two years continually after Christs Death dispute with all the Learned men of Alexandria Cyrene Cilicia and Asia and by Heavenly Wisdome confounded all their Worldly Reason and Humane Learning for which they were so poisoned with Malice against him that they violently Thrust him out of the Citty and then cruelly stoned him to Death Thus Stephen was the first open maintainer and defender of our Christian Religion Afterwards St. Luke the Evangilist found such bitter and sharp persecutions did burst out against the Christians that were in Jerusalem that they were enforced to stray abroad and were scattered throughout all Jewry and Samaria saving that the Apostles remained and Sojourned at Jerusalem Notwithstanding this persecution was a great furtherance of the Gospel by reason they ceased not but Preached still the Word every where to the great advance and augmentation of the number of the Faithfull Amongst the Heathen Nations Nero in the 13th year of his Reign was the first that persecuted our Religion universally and put St. Peter and St. Paul to Death and consequently many other Innocents were slain cruelly For out of a Bloody mind he had he could not spare his own Countrey but either for displeasure of the ruinous Houses which he was exasperated to behold or else desirous to see a resemblance of the Burning of Troy he set on fire the most part of the Citty of Rome with so huge a flame that it burnt six Days and six Nights continually to the Impoverishing of many Thousands of the Cittizens Then to mitigate that shamefull and abominable Crime he forged false Witnesses that the Christians were guilty of that Enormious Fact and so Thousands of Innocents for Religion were most cruelly put to Death for the Tyrants pleasure and to obdurate and harden himself in mischief he proclaimed an open Persecution against all that professed the Name of Christ Not long after Domitian in the 12th year of his Reign renewed another Persecution he caused St. John to be put into a Vessel of burning Oyl whereof he received no hurt Trjan raised a third The fourth Marcus Antonius Lucius Anrelius Commodus stirred up The fifth Persecution was under the Emperour Severus Maximinius procured the sixth Decius the seventh The eighth Valerius The ninth began under the Emperour Aurelianus The tenth was by the Command of the Emperour Dioclesian and Maximianus Herculeus this Persecution was far more cruell and general then any of the rest insomuch that Dioclesian in the occient and Maximinian in the occident destroyed all the Churches and tormented the Christians with most horrid Cruelties The Books of Scripture were Burned Churches plucked down Christian Magistrates that were in any Office were deposed Souldiers were enforced to deny their Faith or else to be deprived of their Estates or loose their Lives Neither were the three cruel Tyrants Mezentius Licinus and Maximinianus behind for their parts but were as insatiate for Christian Blood As
special or singular commodity or favour to the furtherance or advantage of the common Livelyhoods of others such were Builders of Citties or Ladyes excelling for their Chastity such as were puissiant in Armes were more especially honour'd for Gods as the Aegyptians had Isiis the Assyrians Neptune the Latines Faunus the Romans Quirine the Athens Pallas the Delphians Appollo the Grecians Jupiter the Assyrians Belus and many Countreys had divers other Gods and some which is a shame to speak Worshipped Brute Beasts and took them for Gods by reason whereof the Greeians had the opinion that the Gods had their beginning of men And thus when men withdrew their phantasies from Images to the Spirits invisible they were perswaded that there were many Gods and of no lesser number than mortall men not to Discourse further of the Opinions of the Phylosophers which were various and dangerous to be mentioned I shall only set down what Plato saith that there is but one God he writes that this World was Created by him and that he was called God because he is so merciful and bestoweth his Blessings so freely on men from whom they receive all things good and profitable God himself being the principal Fountain of all Goodness Men were first called Christians when Philip Converted and Baptised the Samaritans and a certain Evunuch of Candaces Queen of Aethiopia this Evunuch Converted the Queen with her Family and a great part of that Countrey to the Faith of Christ Afterwards in Antioch the Faithfull named themselves Christians Myrrh which is an humour congealed and constipated together with heat is brought out of the Eastern parts and chiefly out of Carmania Pompeius in his Triumph over the Pyrat's or Robbers of the Sea brought it first into Rome N NE-CROMANCY is said to be such a kind of Magick as is for the raising up of the Dead as in Lucan one raised from Death told the Adventures of the Battell of Pharsalia Pyromancy is one part of it which predicted things by the Fire and Lightning as Tenaquilla the Wife of Tarquinius Priscus prophesied that Servius Tullius should be King of Rome because he saw the Fire environ his Head The finding of this Pliny referreth to Amphiaraus Hieromancy that is a kind of prophecieing by the Aire as by flying feeding singing of Birds and strange Tempests of Wind and Haile Hydromancy was a prophecying by Water as Varro Write ththat a Child did see in the Water the Image of Mercury and in 150 Verses told all the success of War against Methridates King of Pontus Geomancy was a Divination by opening of the Earth Chiromancy is a conjectureing by beholding the lines and Wrinkles of the hand commonly called Palusistry The Sages or Wise Men of Persia which in their Language were named Magi being strangely addicted to the honouring of their false Gods were so extreamly foolish that they professed openly that they could not only by the observation of the Stars know things to come but also by the already mentioned pretended Arts that they could bring to pass what they would which illusions and false perswasions of theirs it becommeth all true Christians for to eschew and abhorre Naval Fights Minos made the first for Honour and Profit Merchandise being instituted to furnish Men with necessaries by way of Exchange but after Money was coined it was made use of more for private Wealth The Naval or Sea Crown which was of Gold was first set on his head which boarded his enemies Ship Nets were first said to have been invented by Arachne of Lydia she taught the way of Knitting them to take Beasts Birds Fish and Fowl she also Invented Flax and Linnen as Pliny writes Noah made the first Altar Abraham Isaac and Jacob did make their Offerings rather from their devotion then from any Priestly Authority Notaries were appointed in Rome by Julius the first of that name their Office was then to write the lives of Godly Martyrs and Confessors to Register them for a perpetual example of constant and vertuous living Though I am of Opinion that it was the Invention and deâ—ice of Clement who Ordained seaven Notaries to Inroll the notable Deeds of the Martyrs And Antherius afterwards did more firmly rectifie them But this now amongst other Offices is perverted to other worldly affaires Nuns or the custome of Consecrating of Virgins to make Vows of Chastity was instituted by Pius the first who also ordained that none should be made before they were Twenty five years old and that they might be Consecrated at no time but in the Epiphany or Twelfth-day Easter Even and on the Feasts of the Apostles unless it were when any professed were in point of dying And Sotherus caused that a Decree was made that no such prosessed should touch Cope or put Incence into the Censors the year of our Lord God 175. It seemeth to have taken it's Original from the Apostles which is proved by St. Paul's words where he saith let no Widdow be chosen before she be Threescore years of age with divers of the like sayings O THE Oath called Jones Stone Which the Antients swore by and Held so Sacred was after this manner he that swore was to hold in one hand a stone and then to pronounce these Words If Knowingly I deceive Jupiter cast me from my Gods from my Countrey and from all happyness as I cast away this Stone The Orders of Chivalry most whereof continue at this day amongst Princes are as followeth The First and antientest of these Orders of Chivalry or Knighthood is the Order of the Garter Instituted in the year of our Lord 1348 in Burdeaux chief City of the Dukedome Guyne in France by Edward the Third King of England and then possessor of the Dukedome which order he consecrated and dedicated to St. George though the motive of the institution thereof proceeded from the Loss of a Garter which he supposed to have been the Countess of Salsburies And it happened in this manner As one day he was entertaining her with pleasant Discourse a Garter chanced to unloose and fall down at the Kings indeavouring to take it up the Noble-men were supprised with a suddain Laughter At which the Countess Blushed to perceive her self rendered so Rediculous and withall being displeased at some more than seemingly Familiarity that had passed she said sharply to the King and the rest Honi soit qui maly pense which in English is Evil to him that Evil thinketh The King to pacific the Countesses displeasure said that before it were long those Noble-men which had made a Jest and Laughing at the Garter sallen down should esteem themselves much honoured to wear it for a mark of Chivalry and thereupon ordained the said Order and consecrated it to St. George and made thereof Twenty-six Knights and ordained that they should wear their Cloakes of Violet-colour Velvet their Hoods of Red Velvet and under the left Knee a Blew Garter Buckled with Gold Garnished with precious Stones and about
builded the first Temple to the worship of Jupiter Feretrius To Almighty God Solomon the King of the Hebrews builded the first Temple 3102 years after the Creation of Adam in Jerusalem Amongst other Temples that of Ephesus built in a noble City so called was very famous It was in the Countrey of Jonia it was built in the 32d year of the Reign of King David by Androchus the Son of Codrus King of Athens The Amazons and most part of Asia did contribute to the Erection of it in honour of Diana the like whereof was not in all the World and therefore it was accounted amongst the seven wonders of the World it was building 215 years It was placed in a Miry ground for the better avoiding of Earth-quakes There were 127 Pillars in it made of their Kings one by one which were in height 60 Foot whereof 36 were caried with most admirable workmanship The length of the whole Church was 425 Foot and the breadth 220. All that took this Church for Sanctuary had great immunities and priviledges there were also so many Gifts and Monuments given to this Church from all Natians and Cityes that none in all the World might be compared to it for Wealth St. Paul Preached at Epesus three years and Converted many to the Faith St. John also the Evangelist dyed in this City But this sumptious building was destroyed and set on fire in the Reign of Galienus the Emperour by one Erostratus who having performed many noble Exploits in War and otherwise when that he perceived himself to have been deprived both of reward and fame to leave a continual remembrance of his Name for one flagitious and horrible Act did with great fires and monsterous flames consume this faire Church and reduced it to Ashes thinking thereby as hath been said to have been remembred to perpetuity but he was mistaken for there were general Edicts and Proclamations made that no man should presume upon Pain of Death so much as to put his Name in any Writing or Chronicle to the intent that he might have been Buried with an everlasting Oblivion Triumphs the first of them was entered by Dionysius when he was replenished with the spoils of many Countreys afterwards they were received of sundry Nations as the Captains of Carthage upon their great successes Triumphed Romulus after he had conquered Acron King of Ciniveus was Crowned with Lawrell and carried in a Charriot with four Horses entered into the City of Rome Triumphantly and dedicated his prey and spoyls to Jupiter as Dionysius writes Although Eutropius saith that Tarquinius Priscus first Triumphed after his conquest of the Sabines Camillus was led in a solemn Triumph with white Horses in a Gilded Charriot his Browes incircled with a Garland of Gold all the Captains following the Charriot with Chains and Fetters about their Necks and the Senate going before into the Capitoll of Jupiters Temple where they offered a white Bull and then returned It was Lawful for none to Triumph but such as were Dictator Consul or Pretor Although Cneus Pompeius as Cicero writes Triumphed though he was but of the Order of Knights Truce which was called a covenant of Peace for a Season was instituted by Lycaon it was made sometimes for years as the Romans made a Truce with the Veientes for Forty years with the Cerites for a hundred sometimes a Truce was made for hours as Caius Pontius a Samnite required of the Dictator of Rome a Truce for six hours Leagues of Peeace Theseus is said to have ordained in Greece Diodorus assigns them to Mercury but the truth is they were in frequent use long before that time in Assyria and Aegypt and namely amongst the Hebrews for Jacob made a League with Laban and Moses offered conditions of Peace to the Princes of the Countries by whom he passed and after him Joshua confirmed a Bond of Peace with the Gibeonites The ceremonies and manner of the making and confirmation of the Leagues of sundry Nations were diversifyed according to their several customes Tragedies and Commedies had their beginning of the oblations as Diodorus writes which in old time men devoutly offered for their fruits to Bacchus For as the Altars were kindled with fire and the Goat laid on it the Quire in honour of Bacchus sung this Meter called a Tragedy it was named so either because a Goat which in Greek is called Tragos was the reward appointed for him that was Author of the Song or because a Goat is so noysome and hurtful to the Vines whereof Bacchus was the first inventer which Sacrificed to Liber or of the Grounds or Dregs which in Greek is called Tryx with which the Stage-Players used to Paint their Faces before that Aeschylus devised Visards But the first inventer of them after the mind of Horace was Thespis-Quintilian saith that Aescylus set forth the first publick Tragedies though he acknowledges that Sophocles and Euripidus did adorn and furnish them more gallantly In Rome Livius Andronicus made the first Tragedy wherein Accius Paccunius and Seneca excelled The Comedies began at what time the Athenians being not yet assembled into the City the Youth of that Contrey used to Sing solemn Verses at Feasts abroad in the Villages and High-wayes for to get Money They were so named of the Greek word Comos for a Banqueting or Come a Street and Ode a Song yet it is uncertain amongst the Grecians who invented them first In this kind of Writing Aristophanus Eupolis and Cratinus were the most eminent in a Tragedy Noble Persons as Emperours Kings Princes Dukes Lords c. are brought in with a high Style In a Comedy Amorous dalliances Love affaires Diversitie several Tunes Cheats c. are most concerned V VERMILION or Red-Lead was first found in Ephesus by Gallus an Athenian This colour was in Rome esteemed for Holy insomuch that on their Feastival dayes they Painted the Face of Jupiters Image with it and the Bodies of them that Triumphed Uows the custome of making of them was borrowed from the Hebrews which used to make Vows to God and divers other Countreys of the Gentles more blindly used to make such Vows to their false Gods Uoyces which were used to be given in great consultations Judgments and Elections were first ordained by Palamedes W WRITING after the manner of the Aegyptians was instead of Letters by Herogliphicks to make use of the Images of Beasts Birds c declaring their minds by the shapes and figures of them As by the Bee they signified a King Ruling his Commons and Subjects with great moderation and gentleness by the Goshauk they meant a speedy performance of their affaires and so for other things Watches and Wardings were first appointed by Palamedes Watch-words were first used in the Battell of Troy at the same time when Simon found out Beacons and Fires Wine which proceeds from the Vine Diodorus writes that Dionysius did first perceive the nature of it and taught the Grecians to Plant it and to
in his Law which in great Multitudes came into Italy and in the year of our Lord 333 Gregory the Fourth then fitting in Rome and governing the Empire Lewis the First beseiged it took and Sacked the City prophaning the Temple of St. Peter Lading their Ships with Plunder and Prisoners Rome was the Seventh time taken by Henry the Fourth of that name Emperour of Germany Gregory the Seventh then sitting in the Chaire this time Rome was also most cruelly Destroyed by reason that both the Armies of the Pope and the Emperour Skirmished and Fought for a long time within the City and the Capitoll which was then again repaired this was in the year of our Lord 1082 Anthony writes that Rome was very much endamaged at this time also by reason of the lamentable execution performed by the Normans on the Popes side and the Germans for the Emperour Rome was last taken by Charles Duke of Bourboun who being slain as he scaled the Walls at the first Assault the Souldiers being without a head in revenge committed all manner of Enormities and Barbarous cruelties saving that they burnt not the Churches though they spoiled and robbed them without any consideration of their Holiness For a great part of the Army were Germans and most of the Germans Lutherians this ruine happened in the year of our Saviour 1527 Clement the Seventh then sitting in the Chair S A SATYRE is a Poem that sharply rebuketh Vice not regarding of any Persons There are two kinds of Satyrs the one which was both amongst the Greeks and Romans in Antient times used for the diversity of Meters much like a Comedy but that it is more wanton Demetrius of Tharsus and one Menipus a bond-man whom Marcus Varro did counterfeit were expert in this way of writing The Second manner of Writing of Satyres was railing only ordained to enveigh against Vice they were devised of the Romans upon this occasion When the Poets that wrote the old Comedies used to handle for their Arguments not only feigned matters but also things really done which although at the first was tollerable yet afterwards by reason that they were so sharp and bitter against every one that they pleased to have a fling at there was a Law made that no man should afterwards reprehend any person by name The Romans in the place of these Comedies substituted such Satyres as they had newly invented afterwards began the new Comedi which concernes generally all men of mean estat and hath less bitterness and railing but is more pleasant and full of pastime for the Auditors Of these Comedies Menander and Philemon were Authors who abated of the tartness and crabbedness of the old writings of them Caecilus Nevius Plautus and Terentius learned to compile Comedies although as Quintilian will have it they never arrived to the least proportion of their Patrons because as he writes they never attained to the least proportion of their Patrons because the Latin tongue is not so fit to receive the Ornaments of Eloquence as the Greek tongue is The Satyres had the names of Barbarian Gods that were Rude Lascivious and Wanton in behaviour In this form of writing Lucilius Horatius Persius Juvanal were the most eminent The Twelve Sybils the First was of Persia named Samberta or Persica She amongst other Prophesies said The Wombe of the Virgin shall be the Salvation of the Gentiles The Second was of Lybica one of her Prophesyes was The day shall come that men shall see the King of all living things and a Virgin Lady of the World shall hold him in her Lap. The Third was Themis surnamed Delphica for that she was Born and Prophesied at Delphos Her Predictions was A Prophet shall be Born of a Virgin The Fourth was Cumaea born at Cimeria a City of Campania in Italy she Prophesied that God should be Born of a Virgin and converse amongst Sinners The Eifth was Famous Erythrea who had her Birth at Babylon who more especially Prophesied a great part of our Christian Religion in certain Verses recited by Eusebius the first Letters of every of which Verses being put together make the words Jesus Christ Son of God Saviour These Verses were Translated into Latine by St. Austine Lib. 18. and the 23 in his Book de Cinitate Dei the substance whereof followeth The Earth shall sweat the signs of Judgment From Heaven shall come a King which shall Reign for ever that is to say in humane Flesh to the end that by his presence he shall judge the World so the unfaithful as well as the faithful shall see God with their eyes aloft amongst his Saints and in the end of the World the Souls of Men with their Bodies shall appear whom he shall judge when the roundness of the Earth untiled shall be full of Clods of Earth and Grass Men shall cast away their Idols and all their precious Jewels the World shall be consumed with fire he shall peirce the inferiour parts and break the Gates of Hell then to the flesh of Saints shall be given free and clear Light and the evil shall be burned with Eternal fire all Secrets shall be opened and every one shall know the secret of his Neighbour and God shall discover the Consciences and Hearts of all men then shall there be Lamentation and gnashing of Teeth the Sun and the Stars shall loose their Light the Firmament shall be dissolved and the Moon shall be darkned the Mountains shall be thrown down and the Valleys shall be made equal with them there shall be nothing in the World higher then another Mountains and Valleys shall be made plain all things shall cease and the Earth shall be dryed unto powder and dust the Fountains and Rivers shall be burned likewise Then shall a Trumpet sound from Heaven Divers other things were Prophesied by this Sybil and because they were obscure and therefore not to be comprehended by the Gentiles before they came to pass she said they shall think me a false and blind Prophetess but when that they shall see these things accomplished they will remember me and call me not false Prophetess but the Prophetess of the Almighty God The Sixt was Samia Born in the Isle of Samos she said he being rich shall be Born of a poor Maid the Creatures of the Earth shall adore him and praise him for ever The Seventh was called Cumana because she prophesied at Cumas a Town of Campania in Italy her prophesie was that he should come from Heaven and reign here in poverty he should Rule in silence and be Born of a Virgin She is affirmed to have Written nine Books of the Sybils they were all presented by an old Woman to Tarquinius Superbus but he not willing to pay so great a Sum of Money as was demanded denied them whereupon the old woman being vexed Burned three of them requiring as much Money for the other six as for all which being denied she also Burned the other three asking as much for