The poetical histories being a compleat collection of all the stories necessary for a perfect understanding of the Greek and Latine poets and other ancient authors

THE CONTENTS

The First Book.

The History of the Heathen Gods.

• Chap. 1. Of Saturn 1
• Chap. 2. Of Cybele 6
• Chap. 3. Of Jupiter. 10
• Chap. 4. Of Juno and of her Children. 16
• Chap. 5. Of Apollo, and of the Sun. 25
• Chap. 6. Of Diana. 37
• Chap. 7. Of Bacchus. 42
• Chap. 8. Of Mercurius. 48
• Chap. 9. Of Venus. 52
• Chap. 10. Of Aurora, and of such like Divinities 55
• Chap. 11. Of Neptunus and of the Sea Divinities 59
• Chap. 12. Of the Divinities of the Earth. 68
• Chap. 13. Of the Infernal Gods. 71
• Chap. 14. Of some other Divinities 81
• Chap. 15. Of the Gods mentioned in holy Writ and of those that were adored in Phoenicia, Syria, and in the Adjoyning Countries. 93
• Chap. 16. Of the Heathen Gods worshipped in England. 114

The Second Book.

The History of the Heathen Demi-Gods

• the War of Troy. 242
• Chap. 20. Of the Adventures of Aeneas. 250
• Chap. 21. Of several other Famous men frequently named in the Heathen 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and not mentioned by Galtr••chius. ••59
• Chap. 22. Of the Heathen Gods, who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 proper to several places and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the World, and had been Men. 267
• Chap. 23. Of a few famous women of Antiquity. 274
• Chap. 24. Of the Truth of the Fable according to the opinion of Galtruchius. 278

The Third Book.

Of the Honours paid by the Heathens unto their Gods.

Of the Roman Curiosities.

• Chap. 1. Of the City and People of Rome. 63
• Chap. 2. Of the Marriages of the Romans. 68
• Chap. 3. Of the manner of devorcing the Roman Wives. 73
• Chap. 4. Of the Funerals of the Romans. 75
• Chap. 5. Of the Apparel of the Romans. 79
• Chap. 6. Of the Customes of the Romans in eating. 87
• Chap. 7. Of the Roman Assemblies appointed for publick affairs. 93
• Chap. 8. Of the Roman Magistrates, 99
• Chap. 9. Of the Roman Lawes, and of many particulars relating to their Judicatory proceedings. 122
• Chap. 10. Of the Roman punishments inflicted upon Offenders. 128
• Chap. 11. Of the Roman Militia 133

Of the Egyptian Hieroglyphicks.

THE PREFACE TO THE Judicious READER.

I Intend not to make any Apology for this Book: If it cannot justifie it self from the idle aspersions of its enemies. I shall freely consent that it may undergo their Censures; neither do I intend to court my Reader, nor persuade him to the perusal of it. I shall only say this, that what others have imperfectly mentioned in several Treatises, and much more, is here in this one Volume briefly comprehended without much Interpretation I

confess, for I look upon such Expositions as have been already given to the Fables of the Heathen Gods, as the silly productions and groundless fancies of Religious Minds, who have laboured to find in the ignorance of Paganism, the knowledges of the Gospel. In the contrivances and inspirations of the Devil, the sublimest Mysteries of Christianity. Such Interpreters of the Poets, are near related to that wise Expositor of the Revelations, who would needs declare the meaning of the Visions of S. John, by certain Characters found upon the back of some Fishes taken near the Northern Pole. The wit of Man may stretch out a comparison between Light and Darkness, between Virtue and Vice, between Christianity and Gentilism; But I see no reason to believe that the latter was a favourer of the former. The Devils, who were the first promoters of Poetical Inventions, had mistaken their Interest; If, they ha•• taught their Worshippers the Redemption of Man by Christ, and entertained them in an expectation of a Messias to come. Some wise Heathens ashamed of their Religion, have endeavoured to Allegoris••

upon all the Fables, and cover the impudent stories with a virtuous gloss, as Averroes that Mahumetan Philosopher hath done with the Alcoran of his Prophet for the same cause. The Grand design of Satan the enemy of Man-kind, was, to oppose Gods Promises of Salvation, and to settle his Interest amongst men, by possessing them with Stories, and a Belief contrary to the Gospel of Christ, and by promoting such Practices as might engage Men in his service, and cause them to abhor the sanctity and purity of Christianity. And if these Fables have any thing of reality and truth, They discover more of the estate of the Devils amongst themselves, than the wonders of Nature; for we are informed from the Learned Heathens, that they did worship the Devils. Porphyrius acknowledgeth it, and laments, because, since the Preaching of the Gospel Men could not have so much familiarity with them, nor receive from them Instructions, as before. Plato, and his disciples d•• call the Heathen Gods, Jupiter, & the rest, Daemones. Besides others divide them into 3 Orders: The highest is above all Elemental substances, with which their

Beings have not the least relation; The second are appointed for the ruling and rouling of the Celestial Globes; The third are scattered amongst the Elements according * 4.1 to the Doctrine of the Heathen Philosophers. Jupiter himself was named 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as Lactantius tells us out of the Pagan Writers; and Beelzebub, stiled in Scripture the Prince of the Devils, is said to be Jupiter by the Heathens; for Jupiter is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Muscarius, or the driver away of Flies, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the killer of Flies; Because the Flies are Creatures formed by his immediate Agencie, or because the Sun, by whose heat also such Beings are produced, seem to have been committed before the apostacyof the Angels, to the power of him that is now the chief of the Devils; for that cause he is so often named Apollo, Mithra, Osiris, Tharamis, &c. and the Epithetes proper to the Sun, are ascribed to Jupit. as Fulminator▪ for by the Virtue and Influence of the Sun, the Thunders, and all other Meteors, are formed in the second Region of the Air. Diespiter, the Father of the Day. Lucetius, because the Sun is the author of

Light, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Lucifer, Aethreus, Panomphaeus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Aristaeus, Aratrius, * 4.2〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because the Sun is the Universal Cause of Life, and of Motion. These Epithetes attributed to Jupiter, have a relation to * 4.3the Sun; therefore we may conclude from thence, that Jupiter and the Sun, or the Princes of the Devils, are the same in * 4.4the Theology of the Heathens. The rest of the Gods or Devils, associates of Beelzebub, and subject to his power, do also bear the names of the most Glorious Stars * 4.5of the Firmament. They did usurp these names as some do imagine, because in the time of their Integrity, they had been the moving Angels of these great Bodies of Light; or because they were persuaded by that means to oblige the Men of the World to their Worship and Service. The Host of Heaven is called in Holy Writ, * 4.6and by the 70. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which Suidas understands to be a number of Stars in the Zodiack. Now the learned Rabins, who have searcht most into the nature and manner of the living of the Spiritual Beings, do inform us, that there is an order of Angels called Mazouroth, the lowest

order, or that which is degenerated into Devils. It seems that they did yet bear the name of the places from whence they are shamefully fallen, and do make use of the blessed Influences and universal credit of the most beneficial Stars, to procure to themselves the Homages of mortal beings.

That the Gods of the Heathens were the Devils, or Apostate Angels, may also appear from the express words of Scripture. The Heathens are said to have worshipped the Devils in many places, Deut. 32. 17. They Sacrificed unto Devils. 1 Cor. 10. 20. The things which the Gentiles Sacrifice; they Sacrifice to Devils, and not unto God. Psal. 106. 37. It is said that the Israelites did offer their Children unto Devils, and in the 65. of Isaias 11. ver. there is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, * 4.7preparing a Table for Jupiter, or for Gad, Jupiter and Gad were the same. This passage is rendred thus by the Seventy Interpreters, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, where you see that Jupiter, and the Star Gad worshipped, as the chief God of that place, are expresly called the Devil. He was also adored

in the shape of a Goat. The Aegyptians * 4.8did represent the Sun in their Hieroglyphicks as a Goat; from hence it is * 4.9 that they did pay so much respect to the Image of this Animal. Of this kind of Worship Moses speaks, Leviticus 17. 7. They shall no more offer their Sacrifices unto Devils. In Hebrew, there is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Goats. It seems that this worshiping of the Sun in the form of a Goat, was the worshiping of the great Devil. It was his custom to advance his Interest, and persuade the Nations to adore him instead of God, by causing the names and the Beings most in favour with the People to be cryed up and worshiped. In all the Eastern Nations, he bears several different Titles: In Rome he was called Jupiter, in Graecia 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Persia, Mithra; in Phoenicia, Baal; in Syria, Heliogabalus; in England, Thor, or Belenus; in Egypt, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as Plato saith; or Apis and Osiris; in India Topan; in Arabia, Dyonusos; in Scythia, Mars; in Moab, Chemos. We must take notice of this particular, otherwise we shall find our selves intangled in the ordinary confusion of Names of Gods,

* 4.10 which appear in the Mythologists, and shall not be able to discover any sence. We are therefore by the chief God, worshiped in every place, to understand the Chief & Prince of the Apostate Angels. He did suffer his fellow Devils to share with him in the respects of the nations, but they were not so universally adored, because their power and inspection was not so universal as his; Therefore the Scripture puts a notable difference between the Gods of the several Nations of the East. In every place of the world these evil Spirits had usurped Gods Rights, and the Peoples Devotions, and had drawn them to Sacrifice unto them, Creatures and humane victims. According to this opinion, therefore we are to look upon many of the Fables of the Gods, as mysterious discoveries of the Estate of the Devils amongst themselves, when they speak of Marriages and Alliances between them, they do then shew unto us some real Truths, with a condescention to our weak Capacities, and to our manner of expression. I will not venture to particularise any of these Mysteries, nor offer to interpret things, of which we have but strong conjectures and

a probable opinion. I shall only say that the Dispositions of these several Devils, are clearly manifest in their manner of Worship, in the Sacrifices that they did require, and in the things ascribed to their tuition. Jupiter, the Emperor of Heaven is the chief, and the most powerful * 4.11of all the Devils, stiled in holy Writ the Prince of the Air; and by the Poets he is called Olympius, because he delights in the highest places. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because he hath so many Legions of wicked Angels at his command. Martius, because he did encourage War & Blood-shed amongst Men. Hospitalis, Aristaeus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and other good names were given unto him, to signifie some remains of Virtue and Goodness which are yet in this Prince of Darkness. Juno his Wife, as I conceive, is another Devil far inferior in power and authority, related to him in a manner proper to their spiritual Beings, fierce and cruel, an encourager of Pride and wantoness, whereof the Peacock, dedicated to this Goddess, was an Emblem. Apollo seems to be a Devil excelling in Beauty, Knowledge, and Wisdom, the rest of his Comrades. Neptunus, is some Spirit that

delights in Ship-wracks; and amongst the Storms and Billows of the raging Sea, therefore he is named 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Commander of the Sea, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Famous in the Sea; and the Epithetes proper to this Element, are ascribed to him, as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Pluto is some infernal Fiend that is ashamed to behold the Light; therefore the rest of the Devils have assigned unto him Hell, or the concavities of the Earth for his abode. Mars, the God of War, encourageth the effusion of Blood. This intimates his cruelty and tyrannical disposition. I could run over the rest of the Gods, worshipped by the Pagans, but this general intimation may sufficiently discover unto the judicious Reader the other truths of the Fables.

I think that this may be another reason of the frequent Relations between the Heathen Gods that are all allied one to another. If they had not been discovered unto us in this manner, the Devil could not have recommended the foul practice of those Vices; which are described in their stories; for as the miscarriages of our lives, do depend upon our relations to one another, or to God our Creator: The

Devil could not have proposed a perfect example of those actions, nor encouraged us to the imitation of them, if he had not invented the same Relations between the Apostate Angels, as are between Men. Therefore these stories of the Heathen Gods, are not only a real declaration of certain secrets concerning the estate of the evil Spirits, and the works of Nature, but many of them are ingenious Fables, contrived by the Devil, and delivered to the Poets to discredit Virtue, and cause Vice to raign with authority amongst Men; for when the Divinities whom they did worship, were guilty of such misdemeanors, when such as had power to punish, were the grand abettors and protectors of their vicious actions, they could neither think it a shameful nor a dangerous thing to obey their suggestions, and follow their Examples. By this means the Enemy of Man-kind did labour to destroy the works of God, and to deface the beautiful Image of our Creator imprinted in our Souls, with all manner of Vices. The Devils did admit into their Society and to their Divine Honors many brave Souls when they were departed ont of the world.

Our Learned Jesuite hath here given an account of these Fables, with the ordinary interpretation in some places where they relate to Nature, and to its Mysteries. And because he had omitted several things, tending to the understanding of the Poets, I have supplyed what was wanting in him.

The other Treatises will be no less useful to the same purpose; for several Ancient Authors do make frequent allusions to the Roman Antiquities, and to the Hieroglyphicks of Egypt. Therefore, without the knowledge of these things many thousand passages of the Poets and Historians, are as obscure, as unknown paths to the blind.

Some of these things have been already collected in English, I confess, but how, and in what manner, I leave to the Readers judgement. In this Work I have endeavoured to render these Poetical stories, and this Scholastick kinde of Learning, fit for the perusal of judicious men, as well as of young students. Some things are related in a different manner according to different Opinions of the best Authors.

Vale. M. D.

These Books are to be sold by Moses Pitt at the White Hart in Little Britain.

Folio.

CAssandra, the fam'd Romance, 1667.

Brigg's Logarithms.

Francisci Suarez Metaphysica.

Quarto.

Dr. John Pell's Introduction to Algebra, Translated out of High-Dutch into English by Thomas Branker, M. A. Also a Table of odd Numbers less than 100000, shewing those that are Incomposits, and resolving the rest into their Factors and Coefficients, 1668.

Nich. Mercatoris Logarithmo-Technia, five Methodus construendi Logarithmos, 1668.

Jacobi Gregorii Exercitationes Geometricae, 1668.

Dr. John Wallis Opera Mechanica, pars prima & secunda, 1670.

Pars tertia, now in the Press.

Banister's Works of Chyrurgery.

Hugh Broughton's Consent of Scripture.

Snellii

• Typis Batavus, Lugd. Bat. 1624.
• Observat. Hussiacae.

Petrus Paaw, de Ossibus Amstelreod. 1633.

A Letter from a Gentleman of the Lord Howard's Retinue, to his Friend in London. Dated at Fez, Novemb. 1669. Wherein he gives a full Relation of the most remarkable Passages in their Voyage thither, and of the present State of the Countreys

under the power of Taffaletta, Emperor of Morocco; With a brief account of the Merchandizing Commodities of Africa, as also the Manners & Customs of the People there.

Lex Talionis, five vindiciae Pharmacopoeorum: Or, A Short Reply to Dr. Merret's Book, and others, written against the Apothecaries; wherein may be discovered the Frauds and Abuses committed by Doctors professing and practising Pharmacy.

Octavo.

A Discourse of Local Motion, undertaking to Demonstrate the Laws of Motion: and withal to prove that of the seven Rules delivered by Mr. Des-Cartes on this Subject, he hath mistaken Six: Englished out of French, 1671.

The History of the late Revolution of the Empire of the Great Mogul, together with the most considerable pasiages for five years following in that Empire: To which is added a Letter to the Lord Colbert, touching the extent of Indostan, the Corculation of the Gold-nd Silver of the World, at last swallowed up there: As also the Riches, Forces, and Justice of the same, and the Principal cause of the decay of the States of Asta, in Octavo. 1671.

Biblia Hebraea, Josephi Athias, 1661.

Gualteri Needham, Disputatio Anatomica de Formato Foetu, 1667.

Buxtorfius's Epitomy of his Hebrew Grammar, translated into English by John Davis, 1658.

Crow, Scriptores in Scripturam: Now in the Press.

The Fortunate Fool, or the Life of the Dr. Cenudo, 1670.

The Adventures of Mr. T. S. an English Merchant▪ taken Prisoner by the Turks of Argiers, and carried into the Inland Countreys of Africa; with a Description of the Kingdom of Argiers, and of all the Towns and Places thereabouts; As also a Relation

of the chief Commodities of the Countrey, and of the Actions and Manners of the People: Whereunto is annexed, an Observation of the Tide, and how to turn a Ship out of the Streights Mouth the Wind being Westerly, 1670.

Contemplations on Mortality, 1669.

A Discourse written to a Learned Frier by Mr. Des Fourneilis, shewing, that the System of Mr. Des Cartes, and particularly his Opinion concerning Brutes, does contain nothing dangerous; and that all that he hath written of both, seems to have been taken out of the first Chapter of Genesis: To which is annexed the System general of the Cartesian Philosophy.

The Relation of a Voyage into Mauritania in Africk, by Roland Frejus of Marseilles, by the French King's Order, 1666. To Muley Arxid King of Taffaletta &c. For the establishment of a Commerce in the Kingdom of Fez, and all his other Conquests. With a Letter, In answer to divers curious Questions concerning the Religion, Manners, and Customs of his Countreys; Also their Trading to Tombutum for Gold, and divers other particulars; By one who lived five and twenty years in the Kingdom of Sus and Morocco. Printed at Park. 1670. Englished, 1671. Octavo.

A Genuine Explication of the Visions of the Book of Revelation, full of new Christian Considerations; Wherein true and false Christendom is briefly and nakedly represented, and the Time of each of them, after a Mathematical manner, demonstrated; and all confronted with good History; Both shewing the Accomplishment of things past, and thence ascertaining the Fulfilling of things yet to come. By the Learned and and Pious A. B. Peganus. Englished out of High-Dutch by H. O. Now in the Press.

Steno of the Weight and Motions of the Earth, A Philosophical Discourse in Octavo, now in the Press.

The Conquest of the Empire of China by the Tart•• Written by the Vice-Roy of Mexico; first Printed the Original, 1670. in Octavo. Now in the Press

The Second Volume of the History of the Gre•• Mogul, By F. B••rneire. Now in the Press.

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The most pleasant History of the POETS, necessary for the understanding of the Heathen Writers.

BOOK I.

Of the Chief Divinities of the Heathens.

CHAP. I.

Of the Story of Saturn.

THe Poets tell us that Heaven called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and by the Latins Coelus, was the ancientest of all the Gods: He had two Sons; the youngest named Saturne 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the God of Time, who committed an action full of impiety upon his Father; with his graceless Sythe he cut off his Privy Parts, and deprived him of the power of Begetting: What he had taken from him he cast into the Sea, where by the continual agitation of the

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Waves, it found a favourable Womb amongst the Froth, for out of this bleeding substance the Goddess Venus was produced, as some do say.

Titanus was the Elder Brother of Saturnus, therefore the Kingdome of the World did appertain unto him by right; but to comply wlth the perswasions of his Mother Vesta, and of Cybele his Sister, he willingly resigned unto him the Scepter, upon this condition, that Saturn should never suffer any Male Children to live, and that the Empire of the World should after his decease return to his Posterity.

Therefore Saturn was wont to devoure all his Male Children as soon as they were born; but when Cybele his Wife was happily brought to bed of Twins, Jupiter and Juno together, she caused little Jupiter to be conveyed away, and put in the hands of the Curetes, or Corybantes, to be by them brought up, shewing only Juno to her greedy and cruel Husband: The Corybantes fearing least the Child should be discovered by its crying, invented a new sport, which was to leap and beat the 〈2 lines〉〈2 lines〉 In their hands they had little brass Bucklers, with which they did meet and strike at one another in order; the noise that they made thereby was so great, that the cries of the young Jupiter could never be heard by Saturn. After that, he had several other Children,

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Neptune and Pluto, who were also privately nourished by their Mother; and when she was once constrained to discover unto her Husband the fruit of her Womb, she instead of her Child gave into his hands a great stone, which he greedily swallowed in the dark. As soon as Titanus was informed how his expectation was frustrated, and what impediments were likely to be to his lawful Succession, contrary to the former agreement, and the oath that was given, he resolved, with the assistance of his Sons, to make War upon Saturn: When he had vanquished him, he clapt him fast in Prison with his Wife Cybele, and there kept them until Jupiter came to be of sufficient Age to deliver them. But Saturn having learnt by some Oracle that one of his Sons should take from him his Scepter and Kingdom, he resolved to lay snares for his Son Jupiter that he might destroy him. This resolution was the cause of his final ruine; for Jupiter was so much offended at the design of his Father, that he revolted from him, and by force of Arms cast him out of his Kingdom, and the Empire of Heaven; from whence he came strait into Italy to hide himself, and therefore it was called Latium à latendo. Janus the King of this Country received him with all civility and respect: It is said that Saturn brought on earth that Golden Age, so famous in the Poets, when the ground did yield all sorts of fruits without labour and manuring, when Astraea, otherwise

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called Justice, did mannage the affairs of men, and then they did live together in a perfect love and amity. This Janus was enrolled in the number of the Gods, not only for the favour that he did unto Saturn, but also because he was the wisest Prince of his time, and because he had a knowledge of the time past, and of that which was to come; for that reason you shall find him represented with two Faces. Numa Pompilius, the King of the Romans, built him a Temple which was always open when the Commonwealth had any Wars, and was never shut but in an Universal Peace.

* 6.1 The Poets tell us, that Coelus was the great Grand-father of all the Gods, his Wife Vesta brought forth •• multitude of Sons and Daughters; from Hesiod we are informed of their * 6.2Names, Codus, Japetus, Thya, Hyperion, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Saturnus, Gygas, Titan, Brontes, &c.

* 6.3 The m st considerable were Saturnus and Titan; the latter was the Eldest, but the Younger got the Empire, until he was thrust out of it by his Nephews the Titans: Jupiter did afterwards recover it again, with the help of the rest of the Gods, who swore fidelity to him upon an Altar, that hath since found a place amongst the Stars: He was so happy in this War, that he put all the Titans to death, and so freed his Parents from their fetters. Now from the corrupt blood of these Titans all the Vipers, Serpents,

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and venomous creatures of the earth are proceeded.: They were esteemed to be the first that made use of Wbeat, having received directions how to sow it from Ceres in Sicily; that was therefore called Drepanum, which signifies a Sickle with which men do reap this sort of Grain, whereas it was before named Macris, and Coryca.

* 6.4 Saturnus was a wise Prince, but unfortunate, forced to fly from the fury of his Son Jupiter-Belus into Italy, where he taught the Subjects of King Janus a more polite manner of living then they knew before; for this good office Janus rewarded him with the half of his Kingdom; * 6.5he taught them to manure and improve the Soil, and therefore he was called Ster••ulius; his Priests were initiated in Scarlet Robes; to express their bloody minds, they performed * 6.6his Sacrifices with their heads uncovered, and did offer unto this cruel God young Infants, for which inhumanity they were all crucified under Tiberius Caesar.

* 6.7 Saturnus was painted with six wings, to express the swiftness of Time, and with feet of wooll, in bis hand a Serpent biting its tail, with a Sickle and an old garment hanging upon him; Jupiter his Son served him as he had done formerly his Father Coelus, for he cut off his privy parts; he was mightily honoured of the Romans and Carthaginians, the latter did every year offer unto him humane Sacrifices, which was the subject of an Embassy from Rome; for the people of this City did esteem

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and honor this God, but they approved not * 6.8that men should be offered to him: They were afraid to loose him, therefore they kept his Statue always bound with Iron Chains, as the Tyrians did Hercules when their City was besieged by Alexander.

* 6.9 In December were the festival daies of this inhumane God, called Saturnalia, a time dedicated to debauchery and disorder, as the Carnaval is in the Popish Dominions, for then the Servants did take upon them to command their Masters, and the Slaves had liberty to be unruly without fear of punishment, wearing on their heads a Cap, as a Badge of Freedom, while these daies lasted. It was also the cu tom to send Wax Tapers then as expressions of kindness to friends and acquaintances; for the Romans had this particular respect for this God, they caused Torches and Tapers to be burning continually upon his Altars. There is this also that is remarkable, * 6.10the Romans did depose under his protection, and in his Temple, their Treasury, because in his time there was no robbery nor theft committed; besides they laid up here the Rolls of the names of the Rom n people, which were made of the skin of Elephants.

CHAP. II.

The Story of Cybele.

Cybele, the Wife of Saturn, had several names, she was called Dyndimene, Berecinthyi,

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and the Grand-mother, not only because she had brought forth the Gods, but also because she was the Goddess of the earth which produceth all things; and for that reason she was called by the Latins Ops, and by the Greeks Rhea.

She was wont to ride in a Chariot drawn by Lyons; her solemn Festivals, called Megalesia, were every fourth moneth, at which time the Coryhantes that were her Priests did act the part of Mad-men, with their Drums, Trumpets, and such other Instruments. The Gauls that had planted themselves in Phrygia, did on these daies move themselves so much, that by degrees they became really mad, striking one another with Swords, and other Weapons, in wantonness, but many times they did grievously wound themselves. At the end of the sport they did wash their bodies and their wounds in some River dedicated to this Goddess.

Cybele was also named Vesta, but the Poets, as their manner is, do vary in this particular; for sometimes they call Vesta the wife of Saturn, sometimes his Mother, and sometimes his Sister, or his Daughter.

They give unto one person divers names which agree with different persons, they deal in the same manner with others, with Jupiter, Hercules, &c. However it is certain that Cybele, called otherwise Vesta, is the Goddess of Fire, whom Numa Pompilius, amongst the Romans, did adore with strange and wonderful

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Ceremonies; for he dedicated unto her a Fire which was called Eternal, because it was to be always continued alive; he ordained for her Priests, named Vestal Virgins, who were severely chastised by the High-Priest, if at any time they suffered the Eternal Fire to go out. In such a case it was not to be lighted again, but by the Sun beams. These Vestals were chosen out of the Noblest Families of Rome, and were to keep their Virginity whiles they remained in the service of this Goddess; when they did otherwise, they were buried in the ground alive.

* 6.11 Cybele the Grandmother of the Gods, is sometimes taken for Fire, sometimes for the Earth; She was called Syria Dea, because she was born in Syria; she was represented with Towers upon her head, sitting in a Chariot drawn with Lyons; her Priests were called Gallantes, or Galli, and their chief leader Archigallus, because they * 6.12were chosen out of Gallo-graecia, a Province in Asia minor, joyning to Phrygia: They were noted for their madness, which they did express by their singings, howlings, sounding the Trumpets, and cutting themselves desperately, and all that they met. Of this Goddess we shall speak more at the end of the twelfth Chapter.

* 6.13 The Goddess Vesta was highly honoured by the Romans; they did distinguish her from Cybele, and appoint unto her particular Sacrifices and Tmples, although the Poets do confound their names, and take one for the other. She was

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* 6.14 the Goddess of Elemental Fire, her Temple was round, and in it two Lamps were continually burning. Some say, that there was in the innermost part of it a fire suspended in the air in pots of earth, kept always alive by the Vestal Virgins: When it happened, by some misfortune, to be extinct, some fearful accident did immediately follow to the Roman Empire; therefore they did punish the Virgins, by whose negligence the fire did go out, in a very cruel manner. This Goddess was named Mater, Mother, and she had her Statues standing in many Porches; from hence is derived the word Vestibulum, because they were consecrated to Vesta, as to the chief of the houshold Goddesses, and there it was that the Romans did feast themselves; her Temple was magnificent, in it were laid up the Palladium, or Image of Pallas, so highly esteemed of the Romans, because the Oracle had pronounced, that the safety of their Empire did depend upon the preservationof i••, and because pious Aeneas brought it with him from Troy, having preserved it with his houshold Gods, and his aged Father, from the burning of that City. They were so much afraid to loose it, that L. Caecilius Metellus, a man sufficiently renowned for his valour and victories obtained upon the C••rthaginians in Sicily, hazarded his life to save it from the flames when the Temple was burning about his ears. He did then preserve the Palladium, but lost his eyes in the smoak. The Senat to acknowledge his care and courage, comm••aded that his Statue should be placed in the Capit••l.

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On the top of Vesta's Temple-stood her Effigies, which was a woman sitting, having little Jupiter in her arms; her Priests were to keep their Virginity 30 years, which was the time appointed for their attendance. They were honoured so much, that if they did casually meet in the streets an offender, they could procure unto him his pardon; but if they did dishonour the service of their Goddess by Carnal Copulation with any man, they were to die without mercy, they were to be buried alive with water and bread. It was a custome also in the solemn Sacrifices, to begin the solemnity by praying unto Vesta, and to end it by an address unto the same Goddess. * 6.15She was honoured also as the Goddess of Fodder, therefore she was called Magna Pales; they did offer unto her the first fruits of all things, especially of frankincense, of flowers, and of wheat, &c.

CHAP. III.

The Story of Jupiter.

VVHen Jupiter the Son of Saturnus and Cybele had put his Father to flight, he divided the Empire of the world between himself and brothers; he took to his share the command of Heaven, he assigned the Waters to his Brother Neptune, and sent Pluto to dwell in Hell.

He was called the Father of the Gods, and the King of men; he only had the power to

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handle the Thunderbolts; and to hold the World in subjection: He had not long raigned, when the Earth being incensed because he had crusht in pieces the Titans, she brought forth against him many dreadful Monsters of an extraordinary bigness, and sent them up to besiege heaven, and drive him from thence. For that intent they had their rendevouze in Thessaly, in the midst of the Plegrean Fields, where it was resolved by them, to raise one Mountain upon another, and thus to make an easie ascent unto Heaven: They began this difficult work, to scale Heaven, and assault it with great Rocks, and other fearful Engines: Amongst the Besiegers was Enceladus, Briareus, or Aegeon, with a hundred hands which he did imploy in casting up against Jupiter the Rocks of the Sea-shore; Typhoeus was no less remarkable amongst them, because he did exceed all these Monsters, in bigness of body and strength, for with his head he did reach to the Heavens, his arms he could stretch from the Northern to the Southern Pole; he was half a man, and half a Serpent, as many of the rest were; he was so dreadful to behold, because he did vomit fire and flame, that the rest of the Gods that came to the assistance of Jupiter, were frighted into a shameful flight; they ran into Egypt, where they changed themselves into the forms of several Beasts and Herbs, that they might not be discovered: Nevertheless Jupiter did pursue these Children of the Earth so vigoroustly,

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and did so play upon them with his Thunderbolts, that at last he got the Victory, after which he destroyed all the Race of these Gyants, holding many of them prisoners in the bottom of Hell; and that they might never rise again, he loaded them with huge Mountains, as that of Etna. About the same time Prometheus formed the first men of Earth and Water, animating them with the fire of Heaven, that he had stoln away, for which cause Jupiter was so incensed against him, that he commanded Vulcan to tye him upon the Mountain Caucasus with iron Chains, and to put an Eagle or a Vulture to devour daily his Liver, which every night did renew again, to his greater and continual torment. He remained in this condition until Hercules by his incomparable virtue and valour did release him. Jupiter was not content with this revenge, he sent for Pandora, that wonderful Woman, which he, and the other Gods amongst them, had made in such a manner, that every one had bestowed upon her some perfection. By the order of Jupiter this Pandora went to Epimetheus, the Brother of Prometheus, with a Box full of Evils and Diseases, as a Present from the Gods: As soon as he had opened it to see what was in it, they did fly abroad into the ayr, and scattered themselves into all the parts of the Earth, only in the bottom of the Box there was poor hope left alone.

Jupiter having so happily overcome all his

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Enemies, did dream of nothing but his pleasures, which hurried him into many extravagant and infamous actions: Besides that, he did commit Incest with his Sister Juno, taking her to Wife; besides the violence committed upon Ganimedes, the Son of Tros, King of the Trojans, whom he stole in the form of an Eagle, and bugred: He committed many thousand Rapes and Villanies to satisfie his bruitish passion; as when he took the form of a Bull to steal away Europa, the Daughter of Agenor, the King of the Phoenicians. From this Europa the most Noble and glorions part of the World hath borrowed its name. Notwithstanding all the diligence, the watchfulness and care of Acrisius the King of Argos, who had secured his Daughter Danae in a Tower of Brass, this lascivious God found a means to enter into it by the top, in the form of a Golden Showre, and to accomplish his wicked design, for he begot on her Perseus, as we shall take notice in the following History. The World was so full of his shameful pranks, that we should scarce find an end if we once began to relate them all. We shall have occasion to mention some of them in the following pages; we may therefore justly take notice with Tertullian, that it was no marvel to see all sorts of men every where so debaucht, and guilty of so many abominable crimes, seeing they were perswaded and encouraged by the example of those that they did adore, and from whom

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they were to expect punishments or rewards.

* 6.16 Jupiter was the chief of the Gods; therefore Kings and Princes were anciently named Joves. The Cretans did own him for their Countryman, as the Thebans also, and several other people; but the former did shew many years the place where he was buried, as Lucian informs us: He was nursed up by the Nymphs, and nourished with the milk of a Goat; which he afterwards promoted amongst the Stars, and covered his Buckler with her skin; therefore he is called by the Poets Aegiochus Jupiter; His Mother saved him from the cruelty of his Father, and of the Titans her Brethren, who were always admitted into the room where she was in Labour of her Children; as the Princes of the Blood-Royal of France are, when the Dauphin is born, into the Queens Chamber.

When Jupiter went to deliver his Father, an Eagle gave him a happy Omen of his future victory and greatness, therefore he claimed that Bird as his own.

The Cecropes promised him assistance when he resolved to drive his Father out of the Kingdom, but when they had received his money, they refused to follow him, therefore he changed them into Apes.

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Assoon as Jupiter had cast his father into prison, from whence he did afterwards escape into Italy, all the Gods came to congratulate with him for his victory in a noble banquet unto which they were invited by him: Apollo sung his praises in a purple garment.

Jupiter commanded that men should not feed upon humane flesh, but content themselves with Acrons, therefore the Oake was dedicated to him. He is called Jupiter à juvando, Despiter, quasi diei pater, the father of the day, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 life because he is taken for the heavens and the firmament, that by their continual motions and influences do entertain and infuse life into every thing, as also because of the universal power of God, that moves and supports all visible beings.

He had as many and as different Statues as Names, the Heathens painted him an Old-Fellow sitting upon a Throne with a crown upon his head, cloathed with a rich garment sparkling with stars, and representing flashes of fire: In his hand two globes that intimated Heaven and earth, under him Neptune's Trident and a carpet, representing the tail and feathers of a Peacock. Sometimes they gave him Thunderbolts in his hand, which were painted as crooked iron-bars, sharp at the end, joyned together in the middle. The Aegiptians that did worship him in the figure of a Kam represented his providence, by a scepter bearing in the top of it a great eye.

All the people of the world did worship him,

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especially the Romans, who granted to him several Titles of honour, and erected many Temples to him in their City, The cheif was the Capitol, therefore he was called Capitolinus. He was also named Deus pater indiges by Aeneas, when he arrived in Italy: Jupiter Inventor by Hercules, when he recovered his Oxen that were lost, Jupiter feretrius a feriendo hostem by Romulus, who built unto him a Temple. Jupiter Stator a sistendo because he stopt the Romans in their flight at the request of Romulus: Latialis Jupiter was he that was worshipped by the Latine People as well as by the Romans. There was also in Rome Jupiter Sponsor, Jupiter Imperator, Jupiter pistor, Jupiter Victor, Jupiter Lucetius à luce, Jupiter Tonans, Jupiter Ultor, Conservator, & Jupiter Fagutalis, because the Beech-tree was dedicated to him; Jupiter Praedator, Marianus, Pompeianus, because Marius and Pompey had built for him these stately edifices.

CHAP. IV.

Of Juno, and of her Children.

IƲno was named the Queen of the Gods, the Goddess of the Kingdomes and Riches, because she was Wife of Jupiter. She had also a Jurisdiction and a Command over Marriages, and Child-bearing, which caused many fair Temples and Altars to be erected to her Honour: She brought forth Hebe,

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Goddess of Youth, and placed and advanced her so far in the favour of Jupiter, that she always poured forth unto him Nectar to drink until she was displaced by Ganimedes. Vulcan was also her Son; but when Jupiter saw how ill-shap't and ugly he was to behold when he came first into the World, he kickt him down from Heaven, so that the poor Babe fell upon the Earth, and broke one of his legs, whereof he halted ever after. When he came to be of years, he followed the Trade of a Black-smith, and work't for the rest of the Gods, especially for Jupiter, for whom he made Thunder-bolts: For that purpose he had several Forges, or Shops, in the Isles of Lemnos, Lipara, and in Mount Aetna: Some were appointed to assist him, and they were called Cyclopes, because they had but one great Eye in the middle of their Forehead; the most famous of them were Brontes, Steropes, and Pyracmon.

But that we may return to the affairs of Juno, the Poets do mention a great injury that she pretended to have received from Jupiter when he was resolved alone, without * 6.17her assistance, to bring forth the Goddess Pallas, otherwise called Minerva. They tell us, that he performed his design, and that Pallas came out of his Brain in a gallant Armor, the Lance in her hand, dancing a Dance called the Pyrrhick, which was proper to Martial Men, invented by Pyrrhus Son of Achilles, and which was agreeable to a Tune

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named Hyporchematick: For these reasons she was held to be the Goddess of War, and to have a hand and in-sight in all the Battels; they did nevertheless attribute to her the invention of several Arts and Sciences, which are the Ornaments of Peace; therefore the Athenians did pay unto her a singular homage and respect, having instituted several solemn Festivals in honour of this Goddess, as the Panathenees which were kept with divers rare Spectacles, and expressions of joy. Juno was inwardly chaft at the birth of this Goddess, because she had no hand in the business; and therefore she resolved to revenge her self upon Jupiter by a like action; she resolved to have a Child without any acquaintance with her Husband. The Goddess Flora saith Ovid taught her the means, she gave unto her a certain Flower, of a strange nature, which caused her to conceive and bring forth Mars, the God of War, as well as Pallas.

Juno did fee and entertain in her service a certain Fellow full of Eyes, called Argus, to observe and relate unto her the actions of her Husband Jupiter. When part of his Eyes were oppressed with sleep, the rest were waking. But Jupiter was not pleased with this watchful Spy, and therefore he sent the God Mercurius to lull him asleep with his Pipe, and kill him, at which Juno was inwardly grieved: Therefore to reward the faithfulness of her dead Servant, she changed him into a stately Peacock, that shews yet in his feathers

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the great number of the Eyes of Argus.

* 6.18 Juno the Sister of Jupiter signifies the Air, she saved her Brother from death as soon as he was born; he requited that good Office by Marrying, and raising her to the honour of Queen of Heaven and Earth: But she was not willing to consent to this Incestuous Marriage, therefore Jupiter imployed his skill and wit to bring it to pass: He took the shape of a Cuckow, and in Storm lighted upon her Lap: Juno out of pity received the Bird into her Bosom, to shelter it from the violence of the weather; but when the subtil Bird felt the warmth of her body, it took again the form of Jupiter, who obtained his desire, by a promise of present Marriage.

Now Juno was represented upon a Throne, sitting with a Scepter in her hand, and a 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,

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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, * 6.19and 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, * 6.20that 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 * 6.21in 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. * 6.22In 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

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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.

* 6.23 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

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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.

* 6.24 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; * 6.25for 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

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Goddess all merry Meetings of Youth are * 6.26named Hebetria.

* 6.27 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 * 6.28that 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 * 6.29of 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.

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* 6.30 Mars, or Mavors, was another of Juno's Children, begot without her Husbands assistance, * 6.31in revenge of the affront received from Jupiter, who did bring forth Pallas in the same manner, without Juno's privity. He was never * 6.32welcome 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: His attendance * 6.33were three frightful Spirits, Apprehension, Contention, and Clamour: Before him Fame full of Eyes, Ears and Tongues, did fly. His Sister was Bellona, that had usually a Bloody Whip in her hand. He was said to be born in Thracia, because the people of that Country did offer unto him Humane Sacrifices, as other people did the Wolf, the Vulture, the Dog, the Pye, the Calf, and the Horse. He was mightily esteemed of the Romans, because they held their beginning from him, and gave out, that Romulus was his Son: Yet they would not suffer his Statues and Images to be raised in their City, but caused them to stand without. to intimate their inclination rather to Forreign then Civil War. His Priests were named Salii, because they did skip about his Altars that were erected under the same Roof as those of Venus, to express the happy influences that the Stars, Mars and Venus, did poure upon us when they meet in the Nativity of Children.

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Mavors sanguinea qui cuspide verberat urbes, * 6.34Et Venus humanas quae laxat in otia curas, Aurati delubra tenent communia Templi. The Poets take notice that Mars was released at the request of Neptunus, when he was caught in Vulcans Bed with Venus; for that old God did consider how it might be his own case to be surprised in the same manner.

CHAP. V.

Of Apollo, and of the Sun.

* 6.35 AT last Jupiter began to be weary of Juno, and to desire change; therefore to satisfie his appetite, he cast his affections upon a certain Latona, whom he entirely loved. Juno was enraged when she heard of her Rivals happiness, and sent against her a Serpent of a prodigious bigness, named Python, which was crept out of that filthy slime and matter that remained after the Deluge of Deucalion, whereof we shall have occasion to speak hereafter. And to the end that the poor Latona might not escape the fury of this Monster, Juno had covenanted with the Earth to allow her no other retreat besides the Island of Delos, which then was floting in the Aegean Sea, and sunk under water. Neptunus out of pity raised it up, and fixed it in a place, so that it might serve for a refuge and dwelling to this Exiled Creature, when she was near the time of her Delivery.

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Latona was there brought to Bed of Apollo and Diana, upon the large leaf of a Palm-tree, which by chance was found in that Desolate Island.

When Apollo came to be of years, he remembred unto what shifts and extremity the Serpent Python had reduced his poor Mother; therefore he kill'd him with his Bow and Arrows, after a long and grievous fight, during which, these words Jo Paean were frequently heard. From hence is derived the custome of singing and repeating these words in the publick Plays, in the Triumphs and Victories.

After this happy Combat, he begot a Son called Esculapius, whom he committed to the Tuition of Chiron the Centaur, to be brought up in the Mysteries of Physick, whereof he was afterwards esteemed the God. But Jupiter strook this Esculapius with his Thunderbolts, because he restored to life Hyppolitus, who had been torn in pieces by his own Chariot Horses when he fled from the fury of his Father, as we shall see in the story of Theseus. The death of Esculapius did not a little afflict Apollo, and because he could not revenge himself upon Jupiter, he kill'd the Cyclopes that had made the Thunderbolts with which his Son had been smitten. Jupiter was highly incensed at him for this action, and therefore banisht him out of Heaven, and deprived him of the priviledges of his Divinity for a time. Whiles he was thus banished

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and shut out of Heaven, he endured a World of misery: His poverty constrained him to go to the service of Admetus, King of Thessaly, to feed his sheep for a livelihood: For that reason he was esteemed the God of Shepherds: In this Quality they did offer unto him the Wolf, the Enemy of the Sheep. * 6.36As he did one day keep his Cows, Mercurius the God of Thieves stole from him one of the best, and when he did complain of it, and sought satisfaction, the former Thief very subtilly stole from him his Quiver that hung upon his shoulders, all which turned into sport and laughter.

The misery of Apollo could not hinder him from falling in love with a certain Daphne, who would never consent unto his entreaties. As she was one day running from his pursuits, she was changed into a Laurel, which therefore was consecrated unto Apollo. But he met afterwards with a greater misfortune, when he played with little Hyacinthus his Darling, for while he was sporting with him by chance, he strook him in such a manner, that he died presently after. The Earth was so much moved with compassion at this unhappy accident, that she caused the Flower Hyacinthus, a Violet, to rise out of the drops of his Blood, to perpetuate his Name to Posterity. Apollo was in no small danger by this misfortune; for some did concern themselves for the death of Hyacinthus, seeking to revenge themselves upon him; of whom being

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jealous, he fled to the City of Troy, where he met with Neptunus, fallen also into the displeasure of Jupiter.

Both together seeing themselves reduced to extreme poverty in a strange Country, far from their possessions, resolved to enter themselves in the service of King Laomedon, to help him to build his City. They work't long for this ungrateful King; but when they saw no hopes of the Reward promised to their labour, they threatned to revenge themselves. Neptunus with the swelling Waves of the Sea had almost drowned him, and all his people; and Apollo sent amongst them such a furious Pestilence, that it left every where nothing but Desolation and Slaughter.

When Laomedon saw into what inconvenicies his perfidious dealing had brought him, he consulted the Oracle, that informed him, that there was no other way to appease the displeasure of these angry Gods, but by exposing every year a Virgin of Troy to be devoured by the Sea-Monsters. The Lot fell at last upon the Kings Daughter Hesione; but Hercules offered to deliver her, and fight with the Sea-Monster, if Laomedon would give him for the reward of his service the Horses begot of a Divine Seed, which were then in his Stables at Troy. The promise was made, but perfidious Laomedon stood not to it when Hesione was set at liberty, which so much incensed Hercules, that he laid Siege to the City

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of Troy, took and sackt it, kill'd Laomedon, and carried his Son into Captivity, who was afterwards redeemed by the Trojans, and for that cause was named Priamus; as we shall see in the sequel of our discourse.

After all these misfortunes, Apollo re-assumed again his Divinity, and became one of the most noted of all the Gods, not only by the great number of Oracles that he did give in several parts of the World, but also by the several Functions and Offices that were attributed unto him, and by the famous persons that were said to Be his Sons.

First, He was taken for the Sun, and in this Quality he had the name of Pboebus given to him, that is by interpretation, The Light of the Living. It is true, that some do differ in their relations concerning the Sun, and say, that his Father was one of the Titans, named Hyperion, from whence it is that he is called Titan. They have imagined that he rides upon a glorious Chariot, that every night he goes down to rest in the Ocean, until the next day, when the Hours do prepare him his Horses to begin again his course. He did seem to delight in the Isle of Rhodez, more than any other part of the World, for this reason; because, as Solinus doth report, there is no day never so dark nor clouded, but the Sun appears to the Inhabitants there: Besides they say, that in this Island he begat his Daughter Rhodia. He sent down in it showres of Gold, and caused on

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his Birth-day Roses to open and spread. The * 6.37Rhodians did dedicate unto him that famous Colossus of Brass, of 800 feet in height, and of a proportionable bigness, which was broken down by the Sarazens, that took the Island in the year of our Lord 684. When it was beat in pieces, they loaded above 900 Camels with it. This was esteemed one of the seven Wonders of the World.

* 6.38 Amongst the most famous places where Apollo did give Oracles, Delphos was one of the chief: In it was a glorious Temple, or Fabrick, enriched with innumerable gifts, which came from every corner: In it was a Woman▪ Priest, named Poebas, otherwise Pithia or Pythanissa, that received the Enthusiasme, sitting upon a little Table supported with three feet; it was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Cortina, because it was covered with the skin of the Serpent Python.

This God was also esteemed the Inventer of Musick, he flead the Satyre Marsias alive, because he was so impudent and daring as to challenge him to sing. The Muses, that were Daughters of Jupiter, and of Mnemosyne, were committed to his tuition; their names were Calliope, Clio, Erato, Thalia, Melpomene, Therpsicore, Euterpe, Polymnia, or Polyhymnia, and Ʋrania. They had several names, according to the several places where they did dwell: Sometimes they were called Pierides, because of the Forrest Pieris in Macedonia, where they were said to be born; sometimes Heliconiades,

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from the Mountain Helicon, which is nigh to their beloved Parnassus, from whence also they were named Parnassides, and Cytherides, from the Mountain Cytheron; Castalides, and Aganippides, from two noted Fountains that were consecrated unto them.

These Muses, by the assistance of Apollo, invented Musick: Their chief Office was to be present at the solemn Festivals, and Sacred Banquets, and there to sing the praises of the famous men, that they might encourage others to undertake glorious actions. They were esteemed for their Chastity which they did profess so much, that when Admis, the Favorite of Venus, offered to stir up in them some inclinations of Love, they fell upon him, and put him to death.

The Children of Apollo were many, besides that Rhodia mentioned before: He had Atha, the Father of Medea, King of Colchos. unto whom was committed the Golden Fleece, by Phrixus the Son of Athamas, King of Thebes, when he fled with his Sister from the fury of his Step-mother, as you shall see in the eleventh Chapter. Apollo had another Daughter named Pasiphae, married to Minos King of Crete, and who became at last enamoured with a Bull, by whom she had the Monster called Minotaure. Phaeton was also his Son. This young Gallant had an ambitious fancy to govern the Chariot of the Sun, and to give light to the World for one day: But not knowing the right way through the

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middle of the Air, and wanting strength to rule the winged Horses that ran so swiftly, he set the Heaven and part of the Earth in a * 6.39flame: For which cause Jupiter being offended, kill'd him with his Thunderbolts, and cast him head-long into the River of Padus in Italy, that is otherwise called Eridanus; where his Sisters, afflicted with his misfortune, were changed into Poplar-trees, and their Tears into Amber, as the Poets say.

After this Conflagration, there happened an Universal Deluge, when Deucalion, the Son of Prometheus, was King of Thessaly; for the waters were so great, as they say, that all living Creatures were destroyed, only Deucalion, and Pyrrha his Wife, were forced for the safety of their lives to seek a retreat upon the top of Mount Parnassus. When the Waters were abated, and that they saw themselves alone in the World, they requested the Gods to create some other men to keep them company, or to deprive them of their lives. Themis, the Goddess of Justice, sent them word, that their desire might be accomplished, if they did but cast behind them the bones of their Grandmother. They presently imagined, that this Grandmother was the Earth; therefore according to this order, they gathered up the stones, and cast them over their backs: Those that were cast by Deucalion, were turned into men; and those that came from Pyrrha, became women. By this Stony Generation all the Earth hath been

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fill'd. This Deluge and another that happened in the time of Ogyges King of Thebes, are the most remarkable in the writings of the Poets.

* 6.40 This Deucalion is commended for his Piety and Justice, and is said to have built the first Temple for the worship of God. It is plain by the circumstances mentioned in the Poets, that this Fable is borrowed from the truth of the Scripture, from the History of Noah, who saved himself and his family from the universal Deluge by Gods appointment. Nicolaus Damascenus and Berosus Chaldeus, two of the ancientest Historians do mention this Deluge, with some difference from the Scripture: Moreover, they say, That the Ark in which mankind was saved, did continue till their daies upon Mount Barin in Armenia, where it was worshipped, as well in requital of that good service that it had rendred, as because of those Diseases that it did cure, and the miracles that it did work. Abidenus * 6.41relates the same Story with some change of Names. This is an infallible a argument to prove the Truth of this Story, seeing so many persons that did live at such a distance one from another, that they had scarce any correspondency between themselves, but none with the Possessors of Moses writings, do all agree in one Relation. From hence it may be easily proved, That they had this, and all their other Stories that are agreeable to those of Moses, from the Tradition of their Forefathers, as Moses had his.

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* 6.42 Apollo was one of the most gentile Gods of the Heathens, of whom they do not relate such filthy Stories as of the others: He was the God of Wisdom, Physick, Musick, Learning, and * 6.43Arching: He was represented as a young man without a Beard, and Rayes of light about his Head; in one Hand was a Harp and three Graces, and in the other a Shield and Arrows. He was reputed the Father of many Eminent Persons, of Aesculapius, of Eleutherus, of Delphus, of Philandrus, of Janus, of Miletus, and of Arabus, &c.

He was famous for Oracles at Delphs: There was a most stately Temple, enriched with the Gifts of many Princes dedicated to Apollo: Croesus enriched it with much Gold and Silver. In it was a dark Cave, where a Trivet of Gold did stand, upon which the Pythia or Priest of Apollo did sit. When the Oracle was consulted she began immediately to swell and foam, being possessed with an evil Spirit, who did give an answer to the parties that were present; they did never appear with empty hands. The Custom was, before the Oracle was questioned, to offer sacrifice to Apollo that was there named Ismenius. Now the Sacrifices that were pleasing to him were Bullocks, Lambs, and young Heifers: The Wolf also, the Crow, the Swan, the Hawk, the Juniper▪ the Lawrel, the Olive, and the Hyacinth were consecrated to him. Some do say, That under the Trivet hath been seen a Dragon, * 6.44that did give Answers to the Petitioners. In several places he did give Oracles, but the most noted was Delphs a City in Greece, that is

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said to be the middle of the World, for the Poets report, That Jupiter, being desirous to know where the middle was, let fly two Eagles at the same instant, the one from the East, the other from the West, and that they both met at the City of Delphs: Therefore in remembrance of this, a Golden Eagle was laid up in the Temple and consecrated to Apollo.

During his Disgrace he assisted Alcathous, as well as Laomedon, to build his Labyrinth, where he had fixed a stone, upon which his Harp being laid, it gave unto it the wonderful virtue of * 6.45 sounding melodious Tunes, when it was touch'd with any hard Instrument.

The Romans erected several Altars to this God, distinguished by many Names. There was one to Apollo Coelispex, and another to Apollo Medicus: And when Augustus got the Victory of Antonius and Cleopatra, he built a Temple to Apollo Palatinus, called also Actiacus Navalis, and Paraetonius: The Doors were of Ivory, and Gold, and within were many Statues of Gold and Silver; it was also enriched with the Spoils of the Enemy. There was also in Rome Apollo, Sandaliarius, Sosianus, Tortor, Thuscanicus. They did solemnize in honour of him publick Playes called Ludi Apollinares.

* 6.46 Aesculapius was one of his Sons, begotten of the Nymph Coronis, and because she had admitted another to her Bed, when she was big with Child of Diana, some say Apollo kill'd her with an Arrow, but he saved the Child by cutting it out of her Womb. The truth is, This Aesculapius

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was a poor Infant cast away and laid in a Wood near Epidaurus, by the cruel Parents that were ashamed to own it. Some Huntsmen fortunately found it, and seeing a lighted flame a••out the Head, they look'd upon it as a prognostick of the Childs future Greatness; it was therefore delivered by them to a Nurse named Trigo; the Poets say a Goat gave him suck, he studied Physick under Chiron the Centaure: He proved so excellent a proficient in this kind of Learning, that he was generally esteemed the God of Physick. In the City of Tetrapolis, belonging to the Ionians, he had a Temple full of rare Gifts, offered by those that did ascribe their Recoveries from sickness to the Power of Aesculapius. The walls also were covered and hung with the memorials of the miracles done by him.

The Romans sent for him from Epidaurus * 6.47when their City was troubled with the Plague. They say that the Serpent that was Worshipped there for Aesculapius did follow the Ambassadors of its own accord to the Ship that transported it to Rome; Where it was placed in a Temple built in the Isle called Tiberina. The sick people were wont to lie in it, and when they found themselves no better, they did scold at Aesculapius.

He was painted as an old man with a long Beard, Crowned with a branch of a Bay-tree, in his Hand was a staff full of knots, about which a Serpent had twisted it self; at his Feet did stand a Dog or an Owle. These particulars were Representations and Hierogliphicks of the Qualities

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of a good Physician: Who must be as cunning as a Serpent, as vigilant as a Dog, as full of Experience as an old Senior, to handle such a difficult and troublesome staff as Physick.

It is reported of Dionysius of Sicily, that he cast a good jest upon Aesculapius to cloak his Sacriledge; for when he came into a Temple where the Statues of Apollo and Aesculapius were together, and that of Aesculapius had a grave Beard of massive Gold, he told him that it was not just he should have a Beard, and that Apollo his Father should have none: therefore he caused it to be taken away, and melted for his use.

Ʋnto this God they did dedicate the Serpent, the Raven, the Goat, the Dog, and the Dragon: And for his sake in the Woods, near the City of Epidaurus, the Grecians did celebrate Playes every five years, nine daies after the Isthmian.

CHAP. VI.

The History of Diana.

THis Goddess hath three names, either because of three Offices that are attributed to her, or because the Poets do confound three Divnities in one: She hath been represented with three Heads, and then she was called Triple Hec••te: In the Heaven she is Luna, the Moon: In the Earth Diana: And in Hell Pros••rpina.

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First, as she is the Moon she is called Phoebe, because of her Brother Phoebus from whom she borrows her Light: She is also named Cynthia and Delia, from the place of her Nativity. She grew amorous of the Shepheard Endymion, that Jupiter had condemned to a perpetual sleep, because he had been too familiar with Juno his Wife. Diana hid him from the sight of Jupiter in a Mountain. The truth is, That Endymion did study very much the motions of the Moon, and for that end he was wont to pass the nights in the retired places, to behold her with less interruption. The Sorcerers of Thessaly did boast to have the power of drawing her to the Earth by their Charms. They imagined that she did come here below to walk amongst us when she did disappear to our eyesight by an Eclipse.

She is also called Diana upon Earth, and so she is the Goddess of Woods, of Mountains, and of Huntsmen: Therefore she is always painted armed with Bow and Arrows, and threescore Maids or Nymphs in her train. She had some Office when Women were * 6.48brought to Bed, and so she was named Lucina. She did alwayes keep her Virginity, and therefore would never suffer any thing to the prejudice of her Honour: For that reason she did severely punish the rashness of the Hunter Acteon, who having met her with her followers, he beheld her with too much curiosity whiles she was washing her self. She

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was not 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

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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.

* 6.49 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 * 6.50a 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.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

* 6.51 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 * 6.52Shoulders 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a Net used by Hunters.

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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. Ʋnto 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 * 6.53did 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.

Ʋnder the Protection of this Goddess were

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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.

* 6.54 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

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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.

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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 * 6.55poison, 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 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

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War with the Gyants, this Bacchus in the form of a Lion, ran violently upon the first and tore him in pieces.

* 6.56 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 R••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 * 6.57Minerva'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 * 6.58under 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

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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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 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 * 6.59bless 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, * 6.60as 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, * 6.61because 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.

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* 6.62 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.

* 6.63 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

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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.

* 6.64 Mercurius was admired for his nimbleness, which he expressed in several occasions; when he stole from Mars his Sword, from Vulcan a

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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 * 6.65worship 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, * 6.66who 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 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; * 6.67his Statues was placed in the ways unto which they did offer their first fruits; he and Minerva were worshipped in one Temple together;

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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 Cupi••'s, Gods of

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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.

* 6.68 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 Ʋrns 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

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* 6.69 a Statue to '〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in memory of that famous Victory obtained by their Women of the Messenians, their deadly enemies. The usual Sacrifices were Doves, Pidgeons, Sparrows, Swans, &c. The Rose, an inducement to Love; the Myrtle Tree, a symbol of Peace, were dedicated to this Divinity, who was some times represented with fetters at her feet.

Her Children were many; Pryapus the God of Gardens was the most noted, although he was the most deformed. It is reported, that when Bacchus came from India, Venus went to meet him, and Crown him with Garlands and Roses; he in requital begot on her this mishapen fellow Priapus, who came to be thus deformed by the inchantments of Juno, for he was bewitched in his Mothers Womb. He was no sooner in the World, but when she beheld his ugly shape, she caused him to be conveyed out of her sight.

Hymeneus was the Son of Liber, and of Venus; he was named Thalassius amongst the Romans; he was the Protector of Virginity, and the God of Marriages, unto whom the newmarried Virgins did offer Sacrifice, as they did also to the Goddess Concordia.

In the City of Rome there were two Cupido's, called Eros and Anteros, to represent mutual love, for they strove one against another who should have the branch of a Palm-tree that was between them to express that contention that should be between friends, to deserve the Palm, or the honor of excelling in love and friendship.

CHAP. X.

Of Aurora, and of such like Divinities.

THat light that we perceive before the rising of the Sun upon our Hemisphere, hath been taken for the Goddess Aurora, who according to the Opinion of the Heathens, doth come upon a Golden Chariot, having her fingers dropping with Dew, to foretell the arrival of the Sun.

She fell in love with Tithonus, the Son of Laomedon, whom Jupiter at her request made Immortal, without granting unto him the priviledge of continuing always young: When he came to be extreme old, he was impatient of those many evils that did trouble him in his decrepit Age; therefore he consented to be metamorphosed into a Grashopper. This Fable contains much truth, for it is certain, that Tithonus, a great lover of Astrology, was wont to rise by break of day to behold the Stars: This continual and constant vigilancy had rewarded him with a long life, and preserved him from all sickness; but as Old Age, amongst other Vices, is subject to excessive pratling, from hence it is that they imagine that Old Tithonus was turned into a Grashopper. From this Marriage of Aurora with Tithonus, did proceed the couragious Memnon, who went to the Trojan War to the assistance of Priamus, and

was there call'd into the field and kill'd by Achilles in a single fight, at which loss Aurora was extremely afflicted; therefore when his body was in the flames, upon the pile, she changed him into a Bird. The Egyptians to honour his valour, did dedicate unto him a Brazen Statue, of which it is reported, that When it was visited with the Beams of the Morning Sun, it appeared most pleasant, and yielded a harmony grateful to the ear.

That Star that we call Venus, which rises at break of day, was the Daughter of Aurora, it is called also Lucifer, or Phosphorus, when it marches before the Sun; but at night, when it marches before the Sun; but at night, when it remains behind, at Sun-setting, it is named Vesper, or Hesperus, whose Office is to appear at the head of all the other Stars, when they come to enlighten the night.

* 6.70 Aurora is said to be the Daughter of Hiperion, and the Nymph Thia, or of Titan and the Earth: When her Husband grew old and loathsome, she laboured by certain Herbs to remedy her own grief, for by their virtue she restored unto him, in his decrepit Age, his youthful heat and vigour, and removed from him those weaknesses that were grievous unto both.

If the Heathens have enrolled Aurora in the number of the Gods, we must not wonder at what they have believed concerning the Sun, the Moon, as we have already seen, and of all the other Heavenly Bodies, who were, as they affirm, certain men, and Animals translatid from

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Earth to Heaven, and changed into Stars. Several of them held the Rank of Gods, as Hercules, Cepheus, and his Wife Cassiope, his Daughter Andromede, his Son-in-law Perseus; Erichtonius, who was begot of the Seed of Vulcan when he offered violence to Minerva, and was also delivered to the Daughters of Cecrops to be nourished, who because they observed not Minerva's advice, but curiously searched into the Basket where this new-born Monster was hid, they became mad.

This Erichtonius was the first that invented the use of Coaches and Chariots to hide his deformity, because he had nothing but Dragons feet: He was King of Athens, and governed his people with Justice and Equity.

At the Northern Pole is that Constellation called Cynosura, or the Little Bear, that serves to direct the Mariners: This She-Bear was one of the Nymphs that had the tuition of Jupiter when he was an Infant. The Great Bear is otherwise called Helice, or Callisto, she was Daughter of Lycaon, King of Arcadia, and was changed into a Bear by the Goddess Diana, because she had dishonoured her Company, by suffering Jupiter to rob her of her Virginity which she had promised to keep: Jupiter was so much moved with compassion, that he carried her into Heaven, and changed her into this Constellation.

Although some do name it the Chariot, because of the disposition of the Stars that do form and represent a perfect Chariot; the Stars that

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are next adjoyning are called Arctophylax, that is keeper of the Bear or Bootes, that is driver of the Chariot. Orion also, who is the foreteller of Rain, is in the Heavens, he had done good service to Diana in Hunting, and had so much strength and skill, that he did not fear to meet with any Savage Beast, although it were the most furious. The Horse Pegasus was also there promoted, and the Serpent that kept the Apples Hesperides with the Eagle that brought Ganimedes to Jupiter; the Whale that Neptunus sent to devour Andromedes, the Great Dog, and the Canicule, otherwise named Procyon, with many other creatures, that are all placed in the Zodiack, and in the other parts of the Heaven.

Orion is said to have been begot of the Ʋrine of Jupiter, Mercury and Neptune, who pissed in an Oxes Hide when they were feasted by Hyreus, and to requite him for his kind Hospitality, they advised him to bury the Hide ten moneths in the ground, and promised him then out of it a Child, because he had none. He became an excellent Hunter, and in this imployment he served Diana; but when he began to boast of his skill, she killed him not long before he adventured to ravish Mecops Daughter of Aenopion, who punished him by putting out his eyes; but by Vulcans help and assistance he recovered his sight again. This Constellation of Orion in the Heavens hath 17 Stars.

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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 Ap••ll••. 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

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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.

* 6.71 Neptunus was esteemed a famous God, because the Heathens judged him to have the command of one of the Elements; he was called * 6.72Consus, 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

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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

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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 * 6.73virtue 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

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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 here forget the God Aeolus,

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for his Empire was upon the Waves of the Sea; he was the God of the Winds, who dwelt in one of the Islands next unto Sicily, where he kept the Winds close prisoners, giving them liberty when he thought it convenient.

Besides all these, there were certain Monsters that did dwell near the Sea, and that did terrifie the Marriners: In the Straits of Sicily were Scylla and Charybdis; they say that this Charybdis was a Woman of a savage Nature, that did run upon all passengers to rob them: When she had stoln the Oxen of Hercules, Jupiter kill'd her with his Thunderbolts, afterwards he turned her into a furious Monster, and cast her into a Gulf that bears her name.

Scylla was the Daughter of Nisus, King of the Megariens, she fell in love with Minos King of Candia, and for his sake she betrayed her own Father: For when Minos made War upon the Megariens, because the Inhabitants of the Country had cruelly put to death his Son Androgeos, and when he held the chief City, Megara besieged Scylla: during the Siege, did often walk upon the Walls to recreate her self with the harmonious sounds that the stones did give: for when Apollo did build this City, he did often leave his Harp upon the stones, and by this means he granted unto them the virtue, that when they should be toucht, they should yield a most delightful sound. This young Princess

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seeing Minos from this place, she began to entertain a kindness for him, which perswaded her to deliver the City unto him, upon condition that he should yield unto her desire and lust. The business did depend only upon a hair of a Purple colour which was in the head of Nisus, for whiles he did keep it he could not be overcome; therefore when he was asleep she cut it off. This Treason was not unprofitable to Minos, but he could not abide a Daughter guilty of so much cruelty against her Father, therefore he caused her to be thrown headlong into a Gulf of the Sea, under the Promontory or Cape that is against that of Charybdis: There she became a most horrible Monster, for all her lower parts, * 6.74from the Girdle downwards, changed themselves into dogs of several shapes, that did continually bark there. Others there are that relate this Story otherwise; for Ovidius tells us how Scylla was metamorphosed into a Lark, and Nisus into a Hawk, that did persecute her continually for her Treason. These do say, that this was another Scylla that the Witch Circe changed into this Monster in a fit of jealousie, because Glaucus had less love and kindness for her than for Scylla. We shall see in the nineteenth Chap. of the next Book who this Scylla was.

The Sirens did also inhabit upon these Coasts of Sicily; their upper part was like fair Virgins, and their lower did represent the tail and body of a great Fish: They did

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sing such melodious tunes, that the Passengers were charmed and drawn to them; but it was to the end that they might destroy them▪ therefore they do very well typifie unto us unlawful Lust, for its pleasures and allurements will infallibly bring us to an unhappy end, unless we imitate the example of Ʋlysses, who commanded his men to stop their ears with Wax, and caused himself to be bound fast to the Mast of his Ship, when he passed by in these Seas, that the Sirens might not prevail upon him. This craftiness of Ʋlysses did not a little vex them, for they hoped to obtain him and his Company for their prey.

* 6.75 The Heathens did say that Oceanus was the beginning and first principle of all things; he had a numerous Posterity: Hesiodus numbers three thousand Daughters, besides Sons: Prometheus was his intimate friend, and he did many good offices to the Gods: he brought up and nourished Juno.

Nereus was his Son, who had about sixty Daughters that waited upon Neptunus; his habitation was in the Aegean Sea; Hercules went to know from him where he should find the Golden Apples.

When Ino had craftily made away all the Children of Nephele except two; she caused the Oracle to demand one of them as a Sacrifice to Jupiter, which forced them both to fly away. Athamas her Husband was so incensed at her cruelty, that he took her Son Learchus and cut

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off his head; then Ino in hast caught hold of * 6.76Melicerta, and cast her self with him into the Sea: He was called Palemon, or Portunus, God of the Harbours: In some places of Greece Children were offered in Sacrifice to him.

The Sirens are noted for their folly and cruelty: These are the Names of the chief of them, Aglaope, Pisinoe, Thelxiope, Molpe, Alagophonos, Leucosia, Ligea, Parthenope: The last gave her name to the famous City of Italy, Naples, anciently called Parthenope. They did sing upon several Instruments of Musick, and very well, insomuch that they did challenge the Muses themselves by the perswasion of Juno. In the Island of Crete was the meeting, where the poor Sirens were shamefully overcome by the Nine Sisters, who took from them their Wings, & made of them Crowns, which they all wore, except one who was esteemed the Mother of the Sirens, and therefore it did become her not to triumph at the shame of her Daughters. Their dwelling was between Italy and Sicily, all the Passengers are said to have perished there but Orpheus, who with the sound of his Harp did overcome the noise of the Sirens voices. Ulysses had the happiness to pass also without any harm; it is said that they were so much grieved at the escape of this last, that they cast themselves headlong into the Sea, and since they have never been seen.

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CHAP. XII.

Of the Divinities of the Earth.

CYbele that we mentioned in the second Chap. as the Mother of the Gods, is also the Goddess of the Earth; therefore she was painted sitting, and crowned with Towns, and about her abundance of Animals and Trees: The Shepherds did own her for their Goddess; amongst them she was named Magna Pales.

Pan was eminent amongst the Gods of the Fields; he was Son of Mercurius, that had taken the form of a Goat to beget him; therefore his Beard and his Feet were like a Goats, with horns upon his head: He was called Sylvanus, although Virgilius seems to be of another mind: He was the beloved of the Nymphs that did put themselves under his protection, and did dance at the sound of his pipe: The Arcadians did honour him as their God, offering unto him Sacrifices of Milk and Honey: The Romans also, in the moneth of February, did dedicate to him certain Feastival daies, called Lupercalia, from the place Lupercal, that was consecrated to his worship by Evander, and where Remus and Romulus were afterwards nourished by a Wolf.

Picus the K. of the Latin people had a Son named Faunus, that was also a famous God

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of the Fields, he invented many things necessary for Husbandmen: He was lookt upon as the Father of the other Fauni, and of the Satyrs, who did all wear horns upon their heads, and had Goats feet. When these Satyrs became old, they were called Sileti; they were great Tiplers of Wine: The chief and the ancientest of them brought up and tutored Bacchus in his Infancy; he was always seen riding upon an Ass. This Animal became famous in India, when Bacchus made War against the Indians; for when it began to bray, the Elephants of the Enemies were frighted and disordered, which was the cause of the Victory. In reward of this good service, Bacchus promoted this Ass amongst the Stars, near the Crab.

* 6.77 Cybele was originally of Phrygia, the Daughter of Menoe, an ancient King of that Country; she was cast into a Wood, and there left to be devoured by the Wild Beasts, upon some distast that her Father had taken against her Mother: A Shepherd happily finding her, brought her to his home, and there caused her to be bred up as his Child▪ She quickly grew famous when she came to years of understanding, because of her extraordinary beauty and skill in Musick, and in the curing of Infants diseases, which caused the King to acknowledge her for his Daughter, and to grant unto her a Train better befitting her Birth: She afterwards became amorous of Atys, a young man of the Country,

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who because he could not have the liberty to marry her, he got her with-child: Atys was condemned for it to die, and Cybele for grief became mad; so that she left her Fathers Court, and ran up and down the Country with a Pipe and Drum in her hand: After her death, when the Phrygians were afflicted with scarcity of corn, and divers diseases; the Oracle gave them this advice as a remedy to their evils, to worship Cybele as a Goddess. She was not well known amongst the Romans, until Hannibal was in the bowels of Italy with his Army: The Senate being frighted with several prodigious accidents that happened at that time, sent to consult the Books of the Sybile, where they found that the strangers might be driven out of Italy, if Mater Idaea did come to Rome. This obliged them to send Embassadors to Attalus King of Phrygia, * 6.78to beg from him the Statue of this Goddess, which was of stone in the Town of Pesinunte: They brought it to Rome, and all the Dames of the City went out as far as the mouth of Tyber to welcome her: The next year a Temple was erected for her, her Priests were Phrygians, called Corybantes, they had over them one called Archi Gallus an Eunuch, as most of them were therefore called Semiviri Phryges: They did perform her solemnity with a furious noise of Drums, of beating of Brass, and of Musical Instruments. The Corybantes are Jupiters Life-guard, because they brought him up. The Pine Tree and Box were consecrated to this Goddess.

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Pan was the God of Mountains, and Sheep; also of Huntsmen; he loved Eccho, of whom he had a Daughter called Irynges: He was also beloved * 6.79of Luna; his Sacrifices were performed in a deep Cave, scituate in the middle of a thick Wood; they were wont to offer unto him Milk and Honey in Shepherds Dishes; he was painted with a stick in one hand, and a Pipe in the other, with a long Beard, and horns of a great length upon his head, and with Goats feet.

Faunus was also a God of the Field, all the Apparitions in the Woods, and all the voices were attributed to him.

CHAP. XIII.

Of the Infernal Gods.

IF we speak of Hell, according to the manner of the ancient Poets, we must represent it as a large subterraneous place, whither the Souls are conveyed when they go out of their bodies: The God that commands there is Pluto, Brother of Jupiter and Neptunus; his Wife is Proserpina, the Daughter of Ceres; he was constrained to steal her, for he had been refused of all the Goddesses, because of his ill-looks, and of the darkness of his Kingdom.

Several Rivers do encompass it, which we must all pass before we can enter into it: Acheron is the first, Styx the second, this River did run round Hell nine times; Victory

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was his daughter, she was favourable to Jupiter in the War of the Giants. Therefore by her means he attained to so great a credit, that the Gods having sworn by his waters, it was not lawful for them to act contrary to their engagements: When they did, they were depriv'd of the Nectar, and of their Divinity, one hundred years compleat. The Styx did rise out of a Fountain of Arcadia, whereof the waters are venomous, and of such a strange nature, that there is no metal that can keep them: Nothing but the hallow of an Ass, or of a Mules Hoof, can retain this piercing water.

The third River of Hell was the Cocytes, which did swell only with Tears: The fourth was Phlegeton, whereof the waters boil.

Charon, the Ferry-man, did offer his assistance, and his Boat, to carry over all that did come from this Upper World: He did shew as little respect to the Lords, to the Grandees, and to the Princes, as to the meanest Slaves, because Death doth bring all men to an equality. They whose bodies had not been buried, did wait many years upon the Banks of the River before they could be admitted to passe with the rest.

At the descent from the Boat they met Cerberus a great Dog with three heads, instead of hair he was covered all over with Serpents.

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He did keep the entry of Hell in such a manner that he did suffer all to enter but none to go out.

Within was a dreadfull night esteemed a Goddess the eldest daughters of Chaos and the Mother of several Monsters that did beseige this unhappy place for besides Envy, Grief, Poverty, Care, Labour, Diseases, Cruelty, Despaire, here were to be seen Death and his kinsman sleep. The latter was honoured as a favourable God unto men, because of the rest that he procures unto us, one of his Officers was Morpheus the God of Dreams who had the cunning and Art of taking all sorts of shapes. There were also the Harpyes condemned to perpetual darkness, and the Chimera that did vomit fire and flame, her head was like a Lyons, her middle like a Goat, and her tail did resemble that of a furious Dragon

In these subterraneous places was the abode of the furies called otherwise Dirae or Eumenidae their names were Tisiphone, Megera and Alecto they were armed with flaming Torches, out of their mouth proceeded a filthy froth, a signe of their raging humor, their eyes did sparkle as the lightning and their head instead of hair was adorned with long and dreadfull Vipers.

In the Palace of Pluto the three sisters named Parcoe, Clatho, Lachesis, and Atropas did dwell. These were the fatal Goddesses or the Destinies that did appoint unto every one

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the several adventures of his Life, what they had decreed according to the Judgment of the Gods could not be altered, they were more * 6.80especially busied in handling the thred and disposing of the course of mens lives, the youngest held the distaff and did draw the thred, the seeond in age did wind it about the Spindle, and the third old and decrepit, did cut it off, and this was followed with the immediate death of the person living.

Assoon as the Souls were arrived in Hell they did go to give an account of their lives before Minos Rhadamantus, and Aeacus their Judges, who had in their keeping the fatal Chest where the names of all the living upon Earth, were contained, out of it was drawn every mans name when he was arrived at the end of his dayes, The Gods had intrusted these men with this Office, because during their lives they had been very just in their Judgments: Here we must not forget what is related of Aeacus when the plague had carried away all the Inhabitants of the Isle of Egine where he was King, he obtained of Jupiter the favour that all the Ants should be changed into men, that the Island might be again filled with Inhabitants, they were therefore called Myrmidones; The truth is they were thus named because they did mightily apply themselves in the improvement of the ground, as the Ants they were allwayes stirring it up.

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When these infernal Judges had pronounced their sentence against the wicked Souls they were cast headlong by the furies into the bottom of the Tartare, a dreadfull place designed for their punishment.

There were to be seen the Gyants and the Titans, in the midst of the flames loaden with huge mountains, to hinder them from rising again. And Tantalus that was ready to perish with hunger and thirst encompassed with the abundance of all sorts of dainties. There was also Salmoneus the King of ••lide who had bin struck dead with Jupiters thunderbolts, because he had the impudency to counterfeit and play the God upon a Bridge of Brass causing his Chariot to run over it that it might yeild a noise like that of the Thunder: In his conrse he did cast on every side flaming Torches to represent the Lightning, and such of the spectators upon whom they did unhappily fall were cruelly murdered by him.

In this place were also the Danaides, or the Belides, so named from Belus their Grandfather, they were the Daughters of Danaus, from whom the Greeks have taken their name Danai. This Danaus was forced to marry them to the sons of Egyptus his Brother, they were equal in number, for Egyptus had fifty Sons for the fifty Daughters of Danaus; But these wretched Creatures cutt their Husbands throats the first night that they came together, only one excepted;

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therefore they were condemned in Hell to fill up with Water a Tunn, without a bottom, which they could never effect, because at the same time that they did poure in, as much did run out.

Here was also one Sysiphus a famous Robber, forced to heave up a great stone with his Shoulder to the top of a Mountain, when he was almost come to the end of his labour, it did fall again to the bottom, so that he was constrained to be allwayesbegining.

Ixion was here tyed about a Wheele that did continually move: He was condemned to this punishment, because he had been so bold as to seek a too familiar acquaintance with Juno, Jupiter to be better informed of his intentions, presented unto him a Cloud in Juno's likeness, of whom he begot the Centauri, half Men and halfe Horses.

All the Men that had lived an honourable life, and all those that had ended their appointed time in the Tartare, were conducted into the Elisian Feilds, Places that did abound with all manner of delights and satisfactions. But at the end of a certain number of years, they did return into the World again to live in other Bodies, and that the Souls might not retain any remembrance of these Elysian Feilds, they did drink of the River Lethe, that had the virtue of causing them to forget all the things past.

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It is very remarkable that the Papists do follow in their descriptions and fancies of Hell, and of its suburbs, the Heathens, or Romans their predecessors, who with the Empire of the World have left them many of their groundless opinions, and strange superstitions, as the former did imagine, several apartments under ground, and subterraneous places, so the latter do maintain divers retreats of the soul after Death, The Purgatorie of the Poets described by Virgil, is the same as that of these mistaken Christians.

Pluto was the God of Hell, and of Riches he had two keys in his hand, and was attended * 6.81by a dreadfull train, by Cerberus with three heads, by the furies the Paucae; &c. * he had upon his head a Helmet, that did render him invisible, and all those that did ware it; by this is intimated the safety men finde in the grave. His sacrifices were performed in the night, and the Tree that was dedicated to him, * 6.82was the Cypress. He was a blinde God that did not love to see any light, therefore the Poets say that he is mightily afraid when the Earth doth quake and let in the day into Hell. * 6.83

Charon the sonn of Erebus, & of the night was his Ferry-man to convey the Souls of the deceased unto him, he was greedy of mony, therefore he would let none pass without a peice of Silver, which the Souls were wont to carry betweene their lipps, those that were not dead or unburied were never admitted into this mans boat. Yet Aeneas by his Piety, Hercules and Theseus

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by their valor, and Orpheus by his musick obtained the priviledge of viewing Hell, and of passing to and fro in old Charons ferry boat.

Cerberus was an ill shap't and a cruel mastif begot of Typhon and Echidna, Hercules had the strength to drag him from under ground, and bring him to see the light of the Sun when he was upon Earth, it is reported that he vomitted on the ground and immediately a new herb sprung forth called Aconitum, wolfes bane.

In these lower Regions of the Earth were several strange Goddesses, Nox the night was she that had the greatest command, and that was one of the most remarkable; she was held to be the Mother of Love, of Deceit, of Old-Age, of Death, of Sleep, of Dreams, of Complaint, of Feare, and of Darkness.

The Cock was offerred in sacrifice to her, & she was painted with black hair, with a Garland of Poppies about her head, and her Chariot was draw'n with black Horses, and in her Arms a white boy signifying Sleep, and a black one intimating Death, both taking their rest.

The harpies were strange sorts of Birds painted with womens Faces, Dragons Tailes, and Eagles Talons; they are sometimes called Furiae, Striges, and Lamiae. They were said to suck in the night the blood of Infants, there were three in number Aello, Ocypete, and Celaeno, They were very troublesome at publick Feasts; in the night, and especially to blind Peneus, but Calais

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and Zetis the two Children of Boreas and Orythea, had pity of the old man having therefore winged feet, they persued the Harpies and drove them from Peneas Stable, afterwards they were confined to Hell, their next neighbour was a cruel Monster, named Chimera, that was dreadfull because of it's mishapen body, but much more because it breathed forth nothing but flames of fire. The furies had here their habitation, but when the Gods had any great designe in the World, in raising of Wars or troubling the peace of Men they did send for these furies of Hell, who disguising themselves did go and perform the commissions with which they were intrusted, by applying their burning Torches to the heart and affections of the persons with whom they were concerned. This represents unto us, how the Devils do tempt us inwardly to evil.

The Heathens did imagine a severer Justice in Hell than was upon Earth, for they placed three Kings eminent for their upright dealing, to judge and dispose of the estate of every one according to his deserts, the Souls were brought before them naked, without any ornament or name that might render them recommendable, therefore the wicked were punished with fire, but the good were admitted immediately into the Elysean feilds.

Ixion the Son of Phlegias, is remarkable amongst the wicked not only by his horrid murder which he committed under the pretence of friendship, for he cast his Father in law into a pitt of

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burning coals: his troubled Conscience caused him afterwards to wander up and down the Earth until Jupiter out of pity made satisfaction for his crime, and received him into heaven, where ease and pleasure caused him to become both wanton and ungratefull, He fell in love with Juno, and sought to defile Jupiters bed, when he heard of it he presented unto him a serving maid, called Nephele a Cloud in Juno's habit of whom he begot the lecherous Centaurs: By that means falling into disgrace with Jupiter he was sent back again upon Earth, where he began to brag of his prancks, and how Juno had submitted to his lust for which he was by Jupiter condemned to this torment in Hell, to be continually carried about a wheele which never stood still, but when Orpheus was there playing upon his Harp.

Sisiphus the son of Aeolus was accused for having discovered the secrets of the Gods, and particularly of Jupiter, who had made him the confident of his love to Aegina, the daughter of Asopus, also for having spoken irreverently of him and for having spoiled and murdered strangers, for which enormities he was first slain by Theseus and then sent to Hell to roll up a great stone that did fall down again and renew his labours.

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CHAP. XIV,

Of some other Divinities.

BEsides these common and universal divinities that we have mentioned the Heathens did fancy others who had a particular kindness, for certain houses and persons.

The domestick Gods were named Lares or Penates they were in shape like Monkies placed in some private part of the house, or in the Chimney corner, they did honour them as their Protectors, and therefore did make unto them offerings of wine and frankinsence.

They did also imagine that every one was borne with two Genii proper unto his person, named Daemones; the one was the good and favourable, who did perswade him to honesty and virtue, and in recompence did procure unto him all manner of good things proper to our Estates. The other was the Evil Genius, who was the cause of all wickedness and mishap when he did get the upper hand in us.

The Heathens did acknowledge also a Great Goddess, named Fortune, who had in her possession, and at her disposal, the honors, the riches, and the happiness of this life, she did give them and take them away at her pleasure: But this is noted of her, that she was blind, and very unconstant; in her hand was a Wheel that she did turn without ceasing,

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raising sometimes men on the top of the Wheel, and sometimes casting them down, so that there was nothing setled or assured that did concern her. She was adored by the most part of men, the greatest Princes had one of Gold kept safe with them in their dwellings, that she might be always favourable unto them: The Goddess Nemesis, or Vindiciae, had an eye upon the crimes and misdemeanours of every one to punish them. The God Momus was worshipped by them, but he grew mightily out of favour, and became odious to all the World, because of his ill qualities; for he had his beginning from Sleep, and the Night: And although he was very slothful and ignorant, he was nevertheless one that found fault, and who did prattle of every thing, which did proceed partly from his vanity, and the partly from the ness of his judgment.

* 6.84 The God of particular persons, or of Kingdomes, was named Genius; he had a continual eye over them, and did accompany them to the Grave. The Genius of the Roman State was painted with a Horn of abundance in one hand, and a dish full in the other, which was stretched out upon an Altar. The Heathens said, hat their Genii were of a Nature between God and Man, and therefore they imagined them to be the Sons of Jupiter and Terra. All the Stars were reckoned in their number, and therefore they did worship them as the Jews did in the quality of Angels:

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They did paint them differently, sometimes as a Serpent, and sometimes as Boys or Girls, or as Old Men; but a Garland of a Palm-tree was always upon their heads, therefore this Tree is named Genialis. In some ancient Medals, the Genius of the Emperour was represeuted as a Man, with a large dish of all sorts of Flowers in one hand, and a Scourge in the other, to express both rewards and punishments: They thought it not lawful to kill any Creature unto their Genius, because it was not decent that they should cause Creatures to loose their lives, the day on which they received theirs; yet Horace mentions the killing of a Pig of two moneths old. The usual offerings to the Genius were Wine and Flowers; as the men had their Genii, the Women had also their Junones Goddesses, that did watch over and protect them.

Magnigeni cape thura lubens votis{que} faveto, * 6.85

And

Funde merum Genio.

The Penates were the Gods that were placed in penetralibus domi, in the inner most part of the house, as Guardians and Protectors ••o it: There were the Penates of Cities, of Kingdomes, of Heaven and Earth, and of many eminent dwellings; Aeneas brought his from Troy, that were two young men in a sitting Posture: The Dictator and chief Magistrates of Rome did sacrifice to them when they entered into their Offices, and to the Goddess Vesta.

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* 6.86 Lares is another kind of Domestick Gods in Figure, like a Dog: Plutarch tells us, that they were but covered with a Dogs skin, and a Dog was placed next to them, to express the watchfulness and care they had of the house, and their friendship to those who did belong to it. The Fable says, that Lara being condemned to loose her tongue, for revealing unto Juno Jupiters intention of deflouring Juturna; and being sent in Mercuries custody to Hell, by the way he layed with her, and begot two Sons named Lares, from whom these Gods are derived.

Fortune the Daughter of Oceanus, and the servant of the Gods, was carried in a Chariot drag'd by four blind horses, under her feet lay a Globe, in her right hand the Helm of a Ship, and in her left the Horn of Plenty: She had several Images, Statues and Temples erected to her honour, for the Romans did worship none more than Fortuna: At her right hand did play upon a Wheel a young Youth, with Wings upon his shoulders, named Favor, to express how soon her favours may fly away from us. Two Images were remarkable at Rome, Fortuna Calva, and 〈…〉〈…〉 both very significant. 〈…〉〈…〉 several Temples built 〈…〉〈…〉 Fortune, one to Fortuna 〈…〉〈…〉 in the Capitol another to Fortuna obsequens, to Fortuna privata, to Fortuna 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the later was near the Temple of Venus; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Fortuna barbata, to Fortuna publica, to Fortuna plebeia, and another to Fortuna muliebris, whose Statue had the power to speak,

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as Val. Max. l. 5. cap. 2. informs us; and to several other kinds of Fortune Temples were erected. When Fortune was not favourable to them, they did ••ad her with Curses and Imprecations.

Nemesis, the Daughter of Jupiter and Necessity, was the Goddess of Revenge; she was called Adrastia, because Adrastus built her a Temple; and Rhamnusia, from a place in Greece where she was worshipped: She was painted as Justice is, with a Sword in one hand, and a pair of Balances in the other, with a sad countenance of a Virgin, and piercing Eyes, or with a Bridle and a Ruler. The Heathens did think, that she would either reward or punish all the actions of our life.

The imployment of Momus was to reprove the faults of every one▪ he did not like Vulcans Man, who had not a Window in his brest that his thoughts thorough it might be seen: He was not pleased with the Slippers of Venus, because they made too much noise: He reproved Neptunes Bull, for not having Horns on his shoulders, rather than on his head; and Minerva's House, because it was not moveable.

Besides these Gods that were worshipped by most Nations, the Romans had several otbers, and of many kinds: Some were called Indigetes, who were advanced from the Estate of Men, to the honour of the Gods: Of this number were Hercules, unto whom divers Chappels and Altars were erected in Rome, and many favourable Epithets ascribed unto him, as Magnus Victor

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Triumphator, Defensor, &c. Faunus was another, Carmenta Evanders wife another, and Evander himself, King of the Natives of Italy, Castor and Pollux, Aesculapius, Acca Laurentia, the Nurse of Romulus and Remus, Quirinus, a name of Romulus; from whence comes the word Quirites, the Romans Title.

All the perfections and virtues of the Soul were also adored as so many Goddesses, Mens the mind, Virtus virtue, Honos honor, Pietas, &c. And over every part of a mans life they had particular Gods and Divinities: The young Babes were under the protection of these, Opis, Nascio, * 6.87Vaticanus, Levana, Cumina, Goddesses that did look to the Chill in the Crad e, Rumina that did assist it to suck; Potina, Educa, Ossilago, Fabulinus, Carnea, Juventas, Orbona, Volupia, Lubentina-Anculi Dii, were honored by servants. The new-married Couple had several Gods, Jugatinus that did joyn them together, Domiducus he that led the Bride home, Minturna Dea, Virginensis, Cinxia, Mutinus, Deus Pater, Subigus, Dea mater prema, Viriplaca Dea. All these had their several Offices appointed them in Marriages: The Goddesses of Child-bearing are Mena Dea, Juno, Fluonia, & Lucina, Pertunda, Latona, Egeria, Bona Dea, Magna Genata, &c.

Murica Dea, the Goddess of Laziness.

Strenua Dea, of Strength and Valour.

Stimula Dea, who prompts men to labour.

Agonius Deus, who did bless their undertakings.

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Dea Horta, who did perswade them to any business.

Catius Deus, that made them careful.

Volumnus Deus, the God of their Wills.

Adeona & abeona Deae, the Goddesses of their coming in, and going out.

Vitula Dea, the Goddess of Joy or Victory.

Pellonia Dea, she that was active in driving away their Enemies.

Fessonia, she who did help the wearied.

Averruncus Deus, that did divert from us all evil.

Angerona, the Goddess of silence.

Laverna Dea, who did bless the Thieves in their Robberies, and unto whom they did offer Sacrifice. They that were under her protection, did divide the Spoil in her Wood, where her Temple was erected; therefore they were called Fures Laverniones.

Naaenia Dea, the Goddess of Funerals, &c.

There were also amongst the Romans the Gods and Goddesses of the Fields, besides the multitude of Nymphs and Satyrs: These were the most noted.

Pales Dea, the Goddess of Fodder, and of Shepherds.

Flora Dea, a remarkable Whore, who gave all her Estate to the people of Rome, upon condition that they would honor her Birth-day with Plays: The Senate to remove the infamy of her life, created her the Goddess of Flowers, and did offer unto her Sacrifice, that she might bless the hopeful encrease of the Fruits and Flowers:

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In her honor were instituted the Floralia.

Pamona Dea had a Command over the Apples, and such like Fruits.

Tutilina Dea, had an eye over the Corn.

Robigus Deus, did preserve the Corn from the infection of the ayr.

Populonia & fulgor Dii, that did keep the Corn from the Thunder.

Pilumnus & Picumnus Dii, the latter is called Sterquilinus, because he taught men to improve the ground with Dung: The first is the God of Millers.

Bubona Dea, of Oxen.

Hippona Dea, of Horses,

Mellona Dea, of Bees.

Jugatinus Deus, who did live upon the Mountains.

Rusina Dea, a Country Goddess.

Terminus Deus, the God of Limits: The people of Rome were commanded to set stones upon the confines of their ground, which were called Terminalia; upon them they did offer to Jupiter every year; and if any was so impudent as to remove them, his Head was to satisfie Jupiter, unto whom they were consecrated. These Stones were crowned every year with Flowers, and upon them Milk was offered to Terminus.

Pan was a Field God.

Sylvanus the God of Cattel, and of the Country.

Priapus, who was the most impure and shameless of all their Gods; he was also the God of

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Marriners, as well as of the Country, and of * 6.88Gardens: He was painted naked, as all the other Gods and Goddesses of Love. Feronia Dea was also a Divinity of the Woods, the Wife of Jupiter Anxur in Italy; near her Temple was a large Wood which took fire, but when the people did run to extinguish it, of its own accord the fire went out, and the Wood in a moment became green again and flourishing. The Slaves who were to be made free, did receive the badges of liberty in her Temple. It is reported of her Priests, that they did use to go 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, Forna••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

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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

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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 * 6.89also 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 a••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 * 6.90Anubis. 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 Godd••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

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several places made on t•• purpose near Memphis, to encourage Virtue, and a good life; for if the deceased had not lived well, he was by persons * 6.91appointed 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: Ʋpon 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.

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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 Api••: Lactantius informs us, that the * 6.92 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

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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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 so that they were so impious as to ascribe the Sacred Name of God to this shameful Image, or rather to worship God in this vile form: The Hebrews do tell us, that the Generation of such as were so profane at this time, had yellow Beards growing in their faces, in remembrance of that foul sin which their Forefathers were so forward to commit in the Wilderness.

When Jeroboam returned out of Egypt, whither he had been banished by Solomon, he caused the same kind of Idolatry to be established in the Dominions that acknowledged his Scepter; for he placed two Golden Calves at the two Extremities of the Ten Tribes in Dan and Bethel, to prevent the return of the people to the worship of God in Jerusalem, and to their Allegiance to their lawful Prince. It may seem very strange, that the Israelites possessed with a real Opinion of Gods Power and Authority over them, should be so easily drawn to commit such an abomination, directly contrary to the Law of God, unless they had been induced thereunto by their mistakes

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of some Example given unto them by Moses himself. We find that when Jeroboam intended to draw them to Idolatry, he could think of no better expedient, than to present unto them Golden Calves, for they were more inclinable to the adoration of them, than any other Idol; because, as some do imagine, they were wont to see these Images in the Temple of Jerusalem, as their Forefathers had been accustomed to behold them worshipped in Egypt; for by these Idols the ignorant Egyptians did adore Nilus, otherwise * 6.93 called Siris, and Osiris, because their life and riches did proceed from the excellent virtues of the Water of Nilus.

The Teraphim, mentioned in Judg. 17. 5. were not, as some have imagined, the Household Gods of the Heathens; for in the same place, a Graven Image and a Molten Image are named, which were the Houshold Gods; but I do rather think, that they were some Talismanical Representations, consecrated by Devillish Ceremonies, to oblige some Evil Spirit to answer in them the demands of their Worshippers, and give Oracles. Elias Levita tells us, that they were made in this manner, they did kill a man who was a First-born, and pull off his Head with their hands; and when they had embalmed it, they did place it upon a Plate of Gold, upon which the name of the Unclean Spirit that they did invocate for an Answer was first handsomely engraven; Afterwards they did put it into a place made

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in a wall purposely for it; they did light round about it Torches and Lamps, and did fall down before it to worship it. The Images that Rachel stole from her Father Laban, are called Teraphim by some, they were the same as the Greeks name 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, only the former did return Answers to the Petitioners, whereas the latter were the protecting Gods of a Family, worshipped near the Chimney Corners, usually in the Images of Dogs, who are watchful Creatures.

The Idol Moloch is the same with Saturn, unto whom the cruel Heathens did sacrifice their Sons and Daughters, causing them to be burnt alive in a Brazen Image made purposely for such abominations. The Ammonites, * 6.94whose God this Idol was, did oblidge all the Parents either to offer them in this manner to Moloch, or to cause them to pass between two fires in honour of this God: Somtimes when men did come to years of understanding, they did offer themselves freely to be burnt for this God. Near Jerusalem stood Moloch in a beautiful Valley, belonging to the Children of Hinnom, in the midst of a pleasant Grove, where the Jews did imitate their profane Neighbours. From hence is derived this inhumane custom practised in Greece, and in many other parts of the world. * 6.95The Carthaginians were so extravagant, as to sacrifice 200 Noble mens Children to Moloch, when Agathocles made war upon them in Africa: And because this word signifies a

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Prince, or a King, the Heathen Worthies did borrow from hence their names, as Amilcar, Imilcon, &c.

* 6.96 The two Gods of Sepharvaim, Adrammelech, and Anammelech, were worshipped in the same bloody manner; therefore many have imagined them to be the same with Moloch, from whom they have derived their Names; but I rather think them to be other Gods who did share in the same Titles of Honour, and in the same manner of worship: None of our Interpreters have found the persons unto whom these Names were given; but I do conjecture from the Hebrew signification of the Name Adrammelech, and with a small alteration 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ador-Melech, a * 6.97strong and glorious King, that thereby the Inhabitants of Sepharvaim did either mean some brave and generous Prince that had Reigned amongst them in much glory, or else they did intend the Sun by Adrammelech; for he is as a Prince in the Firmament, sending forth his beams of light into every corner of the World. Anas or Anam is a Chaldean word * 6.98never us'd in Scripture to my knowledge, unless it be Esther 1. 8. It signifies to force, or to compel; being therefore joyned with Melech, it makes a compelling, or an Imperiou•• King: By this Title some Devil may be understood that did imperiously tyrannize ov•• them, they did therefore endeavour to appease his wrath, by sacrificing their dearest enjoyments: That which makes me inclinab••

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* 6.99 to this Opinion is, that to this very day the Inhabitants from whence these Sepharvaits did come, do worship the Devil in a visible shape, and when they neglect their Devotion to him, he pittifully afflicts them. The same is reported of the Caribbians, and of the Indians in Florida, and in the adjacent Countries. It may also with some kind of probability be imagined from this word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which signifies to compel, that these Heathens did sacrifice to the Imperious and unresistable Emperour of the World Death; for it is said, * 6.100that his Priests were cloathed in black, and therefore named 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Holy Writ. Now it is certain, that this colour was an abomination to all the Superiour Gods, and only us'd in the sacrifices of the Inferiour, as we may understand by these following Verses of Apollon, lib. 3. Argonaut.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

So it is likely that these Heathens did offer unto Pluto or Death their Children, that he might spare their lives. Baal was another * 6.101Divinity of Phaenicia: The name signifies a Lord, and therefore it is due to the Soveraign Lord of the World, Hosea 2. 16. But several Nations of the East have profanely applyed * 6.102it to men in their lives, and after their death have granted it to their breathless Statues,

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which they did adore instead of the true God. And as this word hath no particular respect to any of their Divinities, it was ascribed to most of them. Mars the God of War, or rather Belus the Father of Ninus, was adored by this Name in Assyria: Jupiter Thalassius, worshipped in Sidon, was called Baal, Belus, or Beelsamen, the God or Lord of * 6.103Heaven: The Sun was also worshipped in Syria, and called Agalibalus, or Alagabalus, the Circular Lord, as the Learned Selden observes. Herodian informs us, that the Sun was worshipped in Syria, and that his representation was a great and round Stone. Moloch was also named Baal; in his Sacrifices * 6.104the Priests did offer their Privy Members in remembrance of the affront that Jupiter his Son did unto him.

When the Scripture only names Baal, without any other addition, we must understand the God who was esteemed by the Pagans the Chief Jupiter: So that this Name imports in profane Language as much as Jehovah, or Adonai doth in sacred.

The Name of Baal became so universal, that all great Commanders and famous Princes did add it to their own Names, Hannibal, Asdrubal, Maherbal, &c. But in Scripture we meet with many Gods who bear this Title with another, as a token of the peoples respect unto them. Baaltzephon was a City in * 6.105Egypt; through its Territories the Israelites did pass when they marched towards the Red

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Sea: It is probable that it did borrow its denomination from the Idol Baal worshipped there. It seems he was one of the most ancient Gods of the East Countries, for he was adored far and near.

* 6.106 Baal-Peor, or Beelphegor, as the Seventy write it, signifies a shameful Divinity set up * 6.107amongst the Moabits, beyond Jordan, upon Mount Peor: Some think him to be Jupiter * 6.108 Tonans, others Saturn, or the Sun; but the most probable Opinion is, that he was Priapus, the adulterous and lascivious God; for the Israelites did worship him in the same maner as the Grecians did Priapus, by committing fornication in his Temple. Now this impudent God was chiefly worshipt by women, and therefore he was named the God of Women, Jer. Chap. 48. 7. 13. calls the same God of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Chemosh, or as the Seventy render it in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Chief God of Moab; which word I conceive may be derived from the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Chamas, to hide, either because he was adored in some obscure corner of the Temple, as it was usual with some Divinities, or because his abominable worship did deserve to be concealed in obscurity: It is likely that only the Holy Prophet brands him with this Title of disgrace, and that it was not his usual Name amongst his Proselites.

* 6.109 Baal-Gad, was the God from whose Providence and will all worldly felicity proceeds: The Grecians and Romans made this

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Divinity Goddess, and called her 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and Bona, or Primigenia Fortuna. The first that caused this God to be worshipped, were the Astrologers; for when they did perceive how much the Heavens did contribute to the subsistance and welfare of man, and how his life was commonly either happy or miserable, according to the hopeful influences of the Stars that did govern at his birth: They were apt to imagine, that the Stars had a greater power upon us, and our affairs, and our humours, than really they have; therefore they did possess the ignorant people with this fancy, which brought in the adoration of the Stars: The Star Jupiter was thus * 6.110call'd, therefore Jacob suffered one of his Sons to bear this name; and it was afterwards and before a custom, in use amongst the people of God, as well as amongst the * 6.111Heathens, to greet the New-married Couple with this kind of Salutation, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mazal Tob, a good star, sub. I wish unto you; this was the common Title of the Planet Jupiter; and the Bridegroom, before the Marriage, did deliver to his future Spouse a Ring, with this same inscription, wishing thereby that her Children might be born under the powerful and happy Star of the Heavens Jupiter. It was unto this Planet that the Canaanites did offer sacrifice, and at the end of the year dress a Table of all sorts of Fruits of the earth, to acknowledge the benefits received from his influences; therefore

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* 6.112 Isaiah reproves the Israelites for imitating this Heathenish Superstition.

* 6.113 Baalzebub, the Lord of Flies, was the God of Ekron, a City of the Philistins. Some have imagined this Name to be imposed upon him by the Israelites, because in the sacrifices that were offered unto him, his Priests were tormented * 6.114with swarms of flies. Now in the sacrifices of the true God, there was no Fly to be seen, as several Learned Rabbies, and after them Scaliger, have taken notice. Plinius speaks of him, when he tells us, that the Cyrenians, a people upon the Coast of Africa, descended from the Phaenicians, did worship the God Achoren, to be delivered from the * 6.115troublesome Flies who did torment them, as the Egyptians did adore their Ibes, to be freed from the Serpents. I think that the Images of these Creatures, and of this God, were Talifmans, formed by some men Learned in the secrets of Nature, to free the people from the annoyances of the Serpents and Flies; and therefore in requital, the ignorant people, who did ascribe the effects to an immediate * 6.116power of a God, did adore them; or it may be that the Devil, who wants no power in the Empire of the Air, that is attributed to him, was willing to entertain these Idolaters in his service, by this and other good offices. Now wherefore the Prince of the Devils should be called Belzebub, I cannot imagine, unless it be because the Flies, and several sorts of Insects, proceed from his and the Suns immediate

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Agency for the disturbance of mankind.

* 6.117 Baal-Berith, the Lord of the Covenant, was another God of the Phaenicians: So Jupiter was named at Rome Sponsor, or Fidius; * 6.118 and amongst the Greeks there was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Jupiter Faederator. It may be that the Devil, an Ape of Almighty God, caused himself to be worshipped by this name, in remembrance of the Great Covenant that Godmade after the Deluge with all his living Creatures, applying thereby this expression of Gods love, and the tribute of our services which we do owe unto it, to himself. In Holy Writ, God is call'd the God of the Covenant, * 6.119a God keeping Covenant and Mercy, Nehem. 1. 5. A God stedfast in his Covenant, Psalm 89. 28. whose Name we are always to call upon in all our Covenants, Isaiah * 6.12045. 23. The Devil therefore did claim this part of Gods worship, calling himself Baal-Berith. In Jerem. 12. verse 16. we find a memorable passage that mentions this God; for it is said there, that the people had been taught to swear by Baal. I am not ignorant of the Opinion of several of the Learned in Antiquity, who think that these names of Baal were all attributed to the Sun; for Porphyrius declares, that his Countrymen the Phenicians did worship the Sun as the Chief God, and did call him Beelsamen: And Somchoniathon in Philo Biblius tells us of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, who had for his

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Wife 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Berith: from this Elioun comes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: The Greek word for the Sun, for the better understanding of this confusion that appears in the Authors speaking of the Heathen Gods, you must remember what we have noted in our Preface to this work, that the chief of the Devils did receive the homages of all Nations, under several Names, proper to the places and dispositions of the Inhabitants; and that he might with more ease induce men to his worship, he did set up and promote those persons and things that were most in credit, appointing at the same time such manner of Devotion as was most suitable to him, and his enmity to mankind: From hence it is that he is called Jupiter, in Rome, Mithra, in Persia, Baal, in Phaenicia, Apis, in Egypt, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Grecia, Tharamis, in Germany, Thor, or Belemus, in England, Mars or Hesus, in Tartaria, Baalpeor or Chemos, in Moab, Baalzebub, in Ekron, Belus, in Babylon, Bacchus, in Arabia, &c.

It was no difficult business to cause men to * 6.121adore the Sun, for of all visible Creatures he is the most glorious, and the most useful: That grateful humor therefore that is natural to man, and that calls upon him to acknowledge that Being from whom he receives favours and blessings, did incline him to return thanks to the Sun for all the visible effects of his heat and light; therefore he was the first Creature ador'd by the Eastern people. I am inclinable to think, that this Baal-Berith was

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intended for the Sun, or rather the Moon; for in Judges 8. ver. 33. it is said, that the Israelites made Baal-Berith their God, that is, their chief God, and went a whoring after Baalim. If this latter word, as some of the Learned do judge, and as may be easily prov'd, did signifie the inferiour Stars and Planets, we may have some reason to conjecture, that Baal-Berith that accompanies them in this place, was one of the most Eminent Lights in the Heavens. Other learned Writers do understand the Deified Souls of men, by this plural number Baalim: This name may be applied to the Semones, or Semidii, by some people; but I cannot conceive so mean an Opinion of the Israelites, as to think that they did adore the Souls of men departed out of their sight, without any further respect. It is more probable, that they did worship the Sun and Stars, whereof they did daily experience the goodness and power. There is a passage in 2 Chron. ver. 33. that makes me inclinable to this opinion; for there Manasseh rears up Altars broken down, plants Groves for Baalim: To what purpose I pray? His design is * 6.122 discovered in the next words, that he might worship and serve all the Host, or the Stars of Heaven, unto whom he did sacrifice upon those Altars. And if you compare one place of Scripture with another, you may find the same Gods named Baalim, who are elsewhere called the Host of Heaven. Herodotus

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* 6.123 and Plato do inform us, that these Stars were the ancient Gods of Greece also, as well as of Phaenicia; therefore he derives the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 God, from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to run, because the Sun, Moon, and Stars do run a very swift pace.

There are several places mention'd in Scripture, where the Images and Temples * 6.124of the God Baal did stand, as Baal-Hamon, Baal-hazor, Baal-Perazin, and Baal-Shalisha. This last place is mentioned 2 Kings 4. 42. And as in Hebrew it signifies Ter-Baal, it may cause us to imagine, that the place was thus named from the Sacred Trinity there worshipt, which Mystery was not unknown to * 6.125the Heathens, as a Learned Writer hath proved.

* 6.126 Ashtoreth, or Astaroth, or as the 70 write it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, was the chief Goddess of the Sidonians, called by some Luna, by others Venus. * 6.127Philo Biblius reports of her, that she travelled all over the world, having taken upon her the shape of a Bull: At her return she landed at Tyre, and consecrated there a Star that she had found in her way fallen from the Sky upon the Earth: I do judge that this Goddess was Luna, for she is named Jerem. 7. 44. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Queen of Heaven: They did adore her, by committing fornication in her Temple, as in that of Venus, because she hath a visible influence in the Generation of Children, and upon the humours and affections of women; they thought it

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therefore their duty to dedicate to her service * 6.128those actions unto which she did stir them up; she was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Venus, and Juno Olympia, or Minerva Belisama.

* 6.129 Herodianus mentions this Goddess, and names her from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Vrania, and tells us, that the Phaenicians did call her Astroarche. It is probable from this passage, that thereby the Moon is to be understood; for as the Pagans did marry 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Sun and Moon together, so Heliogabalus, that silly Emperour, who required for himself the usual worship rendered unto the Sun, is there said to have espoused this Ʋrania, or the breathless Statue of this Goddess; an action better becoming an extravagant of Bedlam, than the Emperour of Rome.

* 6.130 Dagon was the great Idol of the Philistines, adored at Ashdod, called Oannes, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as the Learned Selden informs us: He was named Jupiter Cassius by Forreigners, from a Mountain of the same name, scituate between Syria and Palestine, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Marnas. The Inhabitants did say, that he * 6.131taught unto them how to manure the ground, and the use of Corn: He was represented half a Man, and half a Fish, and had in his right hand a Pomgranat, to shew * 6.132that he was the Protector of the Caphtorims, who bearing this kind of fruit in their Coat of Arms, did possess themselves of the Country of Phaenicia, Deut. 2. 23,

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* 6.133 Cicero tells us, that the Syrians did worship a Fish; and Plutarch, how they abstained from several sorts of Fish, in reverence to their Gods.

Besides the former Astarte, the Phaenicians did adore another Venus called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which some take to be a bright Star of the firmament named by us Venus.

* 6.134 Succoth Benoth was the Idol of the Babylonians the word signifies the Tabernacle of Daughters, because the Temple of this lascivious Idol was built in such a manner, that there was several retreats or lodgings * 6.135for women who were to prostitute their bodies to the lust of Strangers. The Law of the Country did oblige them all to disgrace themselves in this manner once in their lives in honour of this Goddess, who is thought to be the same with Venus * 6.136Melita. All Strangers did in requital of their good entertainment, offer money to * 6.137this Idol. Justine confirms this Story, for he relates how that it was a kind expression of civility amongst the Babylonians to * 6.138give their Guests liberty to lye with their Wives.

It seems the Ambassadors of the King of Persia, who were slain in a Banquet by the

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Macedonians, for venturing too far beyond the bouuds of modesty upon the Kings Daughter, were accustomed to this unnatural trade and shameful mode of their Country. Now this Goddess Benoth, from whence comes Venos or Venus, was adored in the same manner in several places of the World: for in Africa there was Sicca Veneria near Carthage, an infamous place dedicated to this Goddess, where the Women did freely abandon themselves to their lusts, and to the pleasure of men for a Reward.

Nergal 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 was a continual Fire, which the Persian Magi's did entertain in honour of the Sun, and of the Lights of the Firmament, upon an Altar.

Their custome was to keep this Fire continually burning, as the Romans did their Holy Fire dedicated to Vesta. At every time they did meddle with the Fire, their custome * 6.139was to sing hymns in honor of the Sun. The Jewish Writers do affirm, that this was the God adored in Ʋr of the Chaldeans, and that Abraham was driven out of his Country because he did refuse to yield to this Idolatry. Now it was the custome of the Persians to dedicate to the Sun a Chariot and Horses, and to adore this glorious Light every morning at his first appearance. The Mahumetans to this day do perform some kind of devotion * 6.140to the rising Sun, for they salute it with much humility, as soon as they can see it, and do wash themselves with clean water.

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The Chaldeans were wont to burn themselves in honour of Nergal in that holy fire that was alwayes preserved alive. Alexander was an eye witness of this kind of madness, as Curtius affirms. The simple Fellow, who was resolved to feel the fury of the Flames, did take his farewel of his Friends in a publique Banquet, and when he was thus reduc'd to ashes the cunning Priest did cause, the devil to appear in his likeness to his Acquaintance to tell them wonders of the t'other World.

* 6.141 Asima was a God of the Eastern people, * 6.142worshipped in the image of an Ape, as some do affirm, or rather, as a Goat or Ram: They did worship the Sign of Aries, therefore the Egyptians did abhorre the other Nations, who did kill those Creatures, that they did adore.

* 6.143 Nisroch is thought to be either the Ark of Noah, and a Picture of it, which was worshipped by the Eastern People, as we may see by Euseb. de prepar, Evangel. Or the Image of an Eagle, as others do fancy, because 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is an Eagle in the Hebrew, but I rather think that this is a compounded word derived from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to exalt, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to enlarge, to express the high and spatious Heavens, that * 6.144were worshipped by the Persians, as Herodotus affirms.

Nibchaz 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 comes from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to bark, as a learned Writer imagines; therefore he thinks, that this God was the same with

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Anubis of the Egyptians, and that he was worshipped in the Image of a Dog.

Rimmon was the chief God of Damascus, * 6.145the word signifies a Pomegranate, and from the Scripture, we may understand that he was one of the principal Gods of these parts: Several Writers do inform us, that Jupiter Cassius, mentioned before was adored upon the confines of the Mount Cassius: Now Damascus, * 6.146where this God had a famous Temple, was near unto the Mountain. I do therefore think, that this is the place and the God mentioned by Herodotus rather than Dagon. It is * 6.147certain, that Jupiter Cassius, whether he was Rimmon or Dagon did hold out in his right hand a Pomegranate, to shew how he was a Protector of that people, who did bear a Pomegranate in their Coat of Arms.

* 6.148 Thammuz is Adonis of the Greeks; The word is derived from Adonai; Lord. He is said to be the great Favorite of Venus. The Pagans in the Month of June did lament for his death, for they say, that he was killed by a wild Boar, therefore this Creature * 6.149was odious to Venus: She was mightily concerned for him; especially, when Mars went with a design to kill him, for she made such haste over some reeds that stood in her way, that she wounded her feet, and let out some drops of blood, that fell upon the white roses and changed their lilly colour into an inarnation. The Heathens did shed tears in * 6.150imitation of this Goddess, who grieved for

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the death of Adonis, and therefore she required Proserpina to send him back again. * 6.151This infernal Goddess being also in love with him, could not yield altogether to the request, but only granted that he might once a year visit her upon the Earth, and return as often to her again into Hell.

Some relate the Story of Thammuz in another manner. They say that he was a Priest wrongfully put to death by the Kiug of Babylon: Therefore the King being tormented with remorse of Conscience labored to make satisfaction unto him for the injury. He caused many fabulous Stories to be related of him, that the people might be perswaded, that he was admitted among the Gods, and besides commanded that every year there should be an universal mourning for him. I do think that this, and such like fables do proceed from Astrologers, who did intend to signifie by the death of Thammuz some pleasant Star disappearing to our Horizon half the year, and returning to us again at a set time.

* 6.152 Nebo was a God of the Chaldeans in whose * 6.153Temple the Oracles were delivered as his name intimates, for it is deriv'd of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to Prophesie. That climate was full of prophets aud men, who studied the secrets of Nature: and that people was mightily addicted to the the Sciences that do enable men to conjecture of the events of the time to come, and extream superstitiary in observing all extraordinary

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accidents, as appears in the History of * 6.154Daniel. I do therefore imagine, that this Nebo was as much in request amongst the Chaldeans, as Apollo Ismenius was in Greece.

Mero or Merodach was another God of Babylon, whose Name the Princes did assume.

* 6.155 Sesach, otherwise called Saceas, was an Idol of the Babylonians, who was adored almost in the same manner as Saturn in Rome; for his Feastival did give liberty to all kind of debauchery, and did free the Servants from the command of their Masters. During the solemnity, Ciun is nam'd in the Acts of the * 6.156Apostles Remphan: Some imagine him to be Saturn, but I think that we must understand one of the bright Stars of the Firmament worshipped by the Israelites.

I shall not speak of the Aegyptians, who paid their Devotions to the Herbs, and the creeping things of the Earth, as to so many Gods. I shall not mention the remote and strange Gods of Assyria, Persia, Cappadocia, and of the Neighbouring Countries. This small account of the Eastern Gods will suffice for the understanding of several passages of Scripture; we shall therefore proceed to examine the Names of our Saxon Gods.

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CHAP. XVI.

Of the Heathen Gods worshipped in England.

IDolatry crept in amongst men, before ever this Island was peopled with Inhabitants: Therefore when any do mention this place, they speak at the same time of their Gods: Many of them, with the people, were come from the Eastern Nations.

The Sun was the Universal God, adored in * 6.157all parts of the World. In this Island of Albion he stood upon a high Pillar, as half a man, with a face full of Rays of Light, and a flaming Wheel in his Breast: For his sake, one of the daies of our Week is named Sunday, because he was worshipped on that day: The peoples Devotions were paid in the same manner to him, as to Mithra of Persia, and to the Divinities of the East, that were reverenced for the Sun.

The Moon was another ancient Idol of old England; it was represented as a beautiful Maid, having her head covered, and two ears standing out.

Tuisco, a Grandchild of Noah, was adored after his decease by all his Posterity in Germany. The Inhabitants of that Country are yet called Tuitsh, or Duytshm••n, from this their Grandfather; and a day of our Week is named Tuesday, because it was appointed for the adoration of this Northern Idol.

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Woden was a warlike Prince of the Saxons, happy in all encounters of War: After his death they worshipped him for the God of War; therefore he was represented as a Mighty Man in perfect Armor, holding in one hand his Sword lifted up, and his Buckler in the other: From him our Wednesday, or Wensday, borrows the name.

Tharamis, or Thor, was a famous Idol of the Northern People, adored for Jupiter; for he was placed upon a high Throne, with a Crown of Gold on his head, encompassed about with many Stars, and seven Stars representing the seven Planets in his left hand, and a Scepter in the right. By this we may understand who he was that was thus named; for this description agrees very well with the chief of the Gods, who was stiled Jupiter Olympius, and Tonans.

Friga was the Goddess unto whom the Heathens did make their addresses, to obtain plenty of earthly blessings and prosperity in their affairs; therefore she may be taken for the Goddess of Justice; for there is nothing that causes a Land to prosper more, than Justice and Equity: For that reason an Author tells us, that she did usually stand on the right hand of the great God Tharamis, & Woden the * 6.158God of War on the left. She was pictured with a Sword in one hand, and a Bow in the other, and hath left her name to our Friday.

Seater was an ill-favour'd Idol, painted like an old envious Knave with a thin face, a long

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beard, a Wheel, and a Basket of Flowers in his hand, & girded about with a long girdle; from him our Saturday hath borrowed its name.

Ermensewl was a favourable Idol to the Poor, represented as a great man amongst heaps of Flowers, upon his head he supported a Cock, in his breast a Bear, and with his right hand he did hold a displayed Banner.

Flint was another Idol of our Forefathers, so named, because he usually stood amongst or upon Flints.

Fidegast, Sine, Prono, Helmsteed, were also the Idols of old Britain, and of the Germans: The Romans did call them by names proper to their own Idols; but it is the Opinion of many, that there was a great difference between the Gods of Rome, and of the Inhabitants of this Island, but they were as bloody here as in other Nations; it was a common practise for a Father to cut the throat of his Son upon the Altars of our English Gods, as a Poet informs us.

Et quibus immitis placatur sanguine diro Theutates, horrensque feris Altaribus Hesus.

By Theutates the Romans did understand Mercurius, and by Hesus Mars. I do imagine that they may have some reason for their Opinions, because the Theutates of the Gauls, and of the Germans, was in the same place, esteem, and order, as Mercurius was in the Roman Territories: And so the Hesus of

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our Britains, was that warlike and bloody Devil, who did delight so much in the effusion of blood, and who had particular inspection over the places where he was adored.

In time the Idols did encrease; and we find in Ancient Writers, some who have been transported hither by the Eastern people, as the God Belenus, or Belatucadrus: The latter to my knowledge hath been adored in the North part of England; for lately since the Learned Cambden hath mentioned him, there was a piece of his Statue found in Westmorland, and near Brougham, belonging to that bountiful and Venerable Lady Anne Dorset, Countess Dowager of Pembrook, Mongomery, &c. and in the bottom this Inscription is to be seen, SANCTO DEO BELATƲCADRO, which Idol was doubtless made by the Romans, for it was their custom to adore the Gods of the Country that they did Conquer.

THE SECOND BOOK OF THE HISTORY OF THE Heathen Gods: Treating of the Ancient Demi-Gods.

LONDON, Printed by S. G. and B. G. for Moses Pitts, and are to be sold at the White-Hart in Little-Britain, 1671.

The Preface.

WE do learn from Hesiod, how the Heathens did acknowledge three sorts of Gods. For besides those of the First Rank, of whom we have treated in the former Book, they did suppose, that the Aire was full of many little gods called Daemones, who, according to their belief did imploy themselves in the affairs of mankind.

The Last Sort are those that they call Heroes or Demi-gods, who did fetch their beginning from a God either of the Father or Mothers side; neverthelesse, they did admit into their number, such as by their noted vertues or extraordinary deservings did represent the Perfection of the gods, although both their Fathers and Mothers were mortals as the the rest. The Statues asigned unto them were for this reason greater and larger

than ordinary men, unto them the Dragon was dedicated, as a sign of Immortality unto which they had attained as we may see in Virgil, when he speaks of the Tomb of Anchises, he sayes that out of it came forth a great Serpent. And Cleomenes in Plutarch was esteemed a God by the Egyptians, because they had seen a Serpent engendered of his corrupted body after his Death. The most famous of these Demi-gods were Perseus, Hercules, Theseus, the Argonauts, and many of those famous Captains, that got so much honor in the Wars of Thebs and Troy: of these we shall now treat in this Second Book.

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THE HISTORY OF THE Ancient Demi-Gods:

Book II.

CHAP. I.

The Story of Perseus.

PErseus was the Son of Jupiter and of Danae Daughter of Acrisius King of the Argives. Acrisius having been informed by the Oracles, that the Child, that should be born of his Daughter was to take away his Life, he shut her up in a Tower of Brass, that she might never have the acquaintance of any man, nor a Child to trouble him with such an apprehension. But he could not hinder Jupiter from visiting her when he began to be

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for by the top of the Tower in a golden showre, this letcherous god found an entrance to Danae, of whom Perseus was born as we have seen in the Story of Jupiter, which when Acrisius did understand, he commanded the Mother and the Child to be shut up in a Chest, and to be thus cast into the Sea. The Kings command was executed, but the chest was afterwards taken up by some Fishermen, that found it floating upon the waves, and both the mother and the Child yet alive, by this means the Prophecy of the Oracle proved true; for at a certain time, when Acrisius was present to see a pastime or a delightful Combat, Perseus gave him accidently a blow that killed him.

When this Perseus came to age, he was mightily honoured, and favoured of all the gods. Minerva bestowed upon him her looking glass: for a Buckler Mercurius gave him the wings of his feet and of his head with his Cimiter, by which he performed notable exploits, for some say he subdued all that Country, that is named Persia from him. He delivered the wretched Andromeda from the cruelty of the Nereids, who had bound her to a Rock to be there devoured of the Sea Monsters, because they had been incensed against her Mother for despising their beauty,

In his time there were three Sisters the Dau ••••••rs of Phoreys a Sea-god called Gorgones

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They were all mishapen and cruel, having but one eye in common to them all; nevertheless the poets do say, that the third named Medusa, had been a rare beauty, so that when Neptnne saw her in Minerva's Temple, he was mightily taken with her, and oblidged her to yield to his lust at the same time. This action did displease Minerva so much, that she changed Medusa's locks of hair into fearful Serpents, whose onely looks caused every one to be turned into Stones. Perseus resolved to cut off her head that he might deliver the Country from this grievous Monster: Out of the drops of her blood was begot, as they say, the Horse Pegasus with his great wings, who with a stroke of his heels opened the fountain Hypocrene so highly esteemed of the Poets. This Horse afterwards became more famous, when he gave his assistance to Bellerophon in his encounter with the Chimaera, afterwards being frighted by Jupiter, he cast his Rider upon the ground, and took his flight to Heaven, where he is at present among the Stars.

But to return to Medusa, we must take notice, that although her head was cut off it retained the same vertue and qualities as before, for it changed every one unto whom it was presented into Stone; as it did poor Atlas, of whom Perseus did thus revenge himself, because he would not afford him a Lodging with him. But Perseus was

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not only notable by his valour and warlike feats, but also by his favouring of good Learning, which he caused to flourish in his time, as the manner of great persons is: for that purpose he built a Colledge upon the Mount Helicon for to instruct Youth; therefore the Poets and Astrologers have advanced his Name amongst the Stars; so that behind him he hath left the esteem of a great Warriour, and of an excellent favourer of Learning. His furniture and weapons are Sacred Hieroglyphicks of rare qualities that were in him, and that are required to undertake and compass with success glorious designs. The Looking-glass of Minerva, that was his Buckler, is an Embleme of Prudence: The Cimeter and wings of Mercurius, that were given unto him, do intimate that strength and valour must be seconded with speed and celerity in the execution of great matters: And that which is said of the Head of Medusa, teacheth, that the only presence of a great man, furnished with such excellent qualities, are able to strike a terror into the minds of his Opposers, and stop them in such a manner, as if they were but statues and stones.

* 9.1 Cornelius Agrippa takes notice, that most of the famous men of Antiquity were begotten by Adultery and Incest, as Alexander, Scipio, Caesar, Constantine the Great, &c. Amongst the Heathens, when their Fathers were not well known, and that they were acknowledged by

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Mothers of a Noble Race, when their actions and life were worthy of esteem, they did then labour to cloak the shame of their Birth, declaring, that they proceeded from no Mortal Race, but were begotten by a God: The people engaged by their good Offices and virtuous actions to believe them, did imbrace and maintain such tales with much heat and animosity. Perseus was of the number of these men, that did cast the reproach of their birth upon the Chief of the Gods; for his Mother being deprived of all hopes of having any lawful issue, by the cruelty of her jealous Father, who confined her to a close Prison, she was not unwilling to accept of the solicitations of her Ʋncle Pretus; so that of this incestuous Copulation was born Perseus: He was with his Mother cast into the Sea, but Providence convey'd him alive thorough the waves of the Sea to the Island Seriphus, where Polydectes did command as King. It happened, that when his Brother Dictys was fishing upon the Sea, he happily met with these unfortunate creatures shut up in the Chest, floating alive upon the water; he conveyed them into the Island, and there nourished them at his Brothers Court.

When Perseus came to Age, he was taken notice of for his valour and strength, and because he was desirous to ingratiate himself with the people, he undertook to destroy the Monsters of Women that were in Africa, called Gorgones; some think them to be Basilisks, that kill with their eye-sight. He cut off the Head of Medusa, and from the drops of corrupt blood

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that fell on the ground, did proceed that multitude of Serpents and venomous Beasts that trouble Africa more than any other part of the World. But Perseus could not have overcome them, had he not been furnished with the forementioned Armour of the Gods, and the Helmet of Pluto, by which he became invisible. He did many brave actions, insomuch that he obtained, not only for himself a place amongst the Stars, but also for his Father and Mother-in-law, Cepheus, and Cassiopeia, and for his Wife Andromeda. The Poets do take notice, that when he went to cut Medusa's Head whiles she was asleep, he turned from her his eyes, and lookt in his Buckler, that was a Looking-glass, how to direct his Sword.

CHAP. II.

Of Hercules.

HErcules hath been the most Illustrious and the most Glorious of all the Heroes of Antiquity, unto whom are ascribed, according to the judgment of many persons, the deeds of several famous men.

His Mother was Alcmena, who espoused Amphitrion, a Theban Prince, upon condition that he would revenge the massacre of her Brother. Whiles he was in the War for that purpose, amorous Jupiter gave a visit to Alcmena in the shape of Amphitryon; and that he might enjoy the satisfaction of her

company longer without discovery, he made the Night to continue longer than any other. Alemeni was then big with Iphiclus; she did nevertheless conceive Hercules from Jupiters acquaintance, and was brought to bed of both of them together. Although Amphitryon was not the Father of Hercules, he is by the Poets called Amphitrymiades.

At that time Sthelenus, King of Mycene, was in great hopes of obtaining speedily a Son, afterwards called Eurystheus. Jupiter took an oath, that he that should be born first of him or Hercules, should be King, and have an absolute command over the other; which when Juno, the sworn Enemy of all her Husbands Concubines, and of the Children that were born of them, had accidentally heard, she caused Eurystheus to come forth of his Mothers Womb at the end of seven moneths, and by that means procured unto him the Scepter with the Sovereign Command.

Some say, that Juno solicited earnestly by Pallas, was reconciled to Hercules; and that in testimony of her good will and amity, she gave him to suck of her own milk; by that means it hapned, that the Little Hercules having spilt some of the Milk out of his mouth, he whited all that part of the Sky that we call the Milken Way. This kindness was but feigned, to satisfie the request of Pallas; for a while after, when he was yet in the Cradle, she sent two dreadful Serpents to

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devour him, which did not answer her expectation, for the Child without any shew of fear caught them in his hands, and tore them in pieces.

When he was come to Age, Eurystheus exposed him to all manner of dangers to cause him to perish: So that once he took a resolution to obey him no longer; but the Oracle informed him, that it was the Will of the Gods that he should pass twelve times more through dangers, in obedience to the Commands of this Tyrant. These are named the Twelve Adventures of Hercules.

The first was when he was ordered to destroy a great Lyon of the Forrest of Nemea, that was fallen from the Globe of the Moon, and that did spoil all the Country round about: The people had often cast Darts and Arrows at him, but his skin could not be pierced. Hercules pursued him, and drove him into a Cave, where he seised upon him, and strangled him. Afterwards he always did wear the skin of this Lyon about him, as the Trophy of his Victory. Some say, that this is the Lyon that was placed amongst the twelve Signs of the Zodiack.

He was sent next to the Lake of Lerna, near Argos, to encounter with the Hydra, a notable Serpent, of a strange Nature; for it had seven heads, when one was cut off, many others did immediately burst forth; so that it was not possible to overcome this Monster, unless all his Heads were cut off at one time,

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and the rest of his body destroyed by Fire and Sword, which was executed by Hercules. About that time a wild Boar, of an extraordinary bigness, whose residence was upon Mount Erymanthus in Arcadia, did destroy all the Neighbouring Fields. Hercules drag'd him alive to Eurystheus, who was almost frighted out of his Wits when he beheld him.

In the fourth place he got hold of the Stag of the Mountain Menalus, whose feet were of brass, and horns of gold, when he had pursued it a whole year.

He put to flight the Birds of the Lake Stymphalus, * 9.2that were so numerous, and of such a prodigious greatness, that they did darken the Air, and hinder the Sun from shining upon men when they did fly over them: Besides, they did often take up some, and carry them away to devour them.

These Encounters were not worthy to be compared with his Combat against the Amazons; * 9.3they were women of Scythia, dwelling upon the Coasts of the Hircanian Sea, who having followed their Husbands in the War, and seeing them all cut off by the Enemies, near the River of Thermodon in Cappadocia, they resolved to mannage the War themselves, and not to suffer any Husband, nor any man, to have any Command either in the Kingdome, or in their Armies: They went amongst their Neighbours to fetch from them Children; the Males they did destroy,

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and brought up none but the Daughters, whose right Pap they did burn in their infancy, that they might be more ready to handle the Bow and Arrows, and other weapons. They behaved themselves gallantly in the Siege of Tr••y, in the leading of Penthesilea. But these warlike women were forced to yield to the valour of Hercules, who being accompanied by Theseus, went against them, according to the command of Eurystheus: He took their Queen Hippolyte that was married to Theseus.

This seventh Adventure, as Ʋirgilius informs us, was to cleanse the Stables of Augias King of Elis, in them thousands of Oxen had been nourished every day; so that the dung, by a long continuance, was mightily encreased, and did fill the Air with infection. Hercules therefore turned the currant of the River Alpheus from its ordinary course, and caused it to pass thorough the Stables. Thus he carried away all the filth in a day, according to his bargain: But Augias was not grateful to him for his pains, for he denied him the tenth part of the Oxen that were kept there: This caused his death, and the loss of all his goods.

Afterwards Hercules went and seiz'd upon a Bull that did breath nothing but fire and flame, which Neptunus had sent into Greece to punish some disgraces and affronts that he had received from that Country.

He passed from thence into Thracia, where

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he caused the King Diomedes to endure in his own person that which he made others suffer, for he gave all the strangers that he could catch in his Kingdome to his Horses, to be devoured by them. Hercules served Busiris King of Egypt in the same manner, because he was so cruel to all strangers, as to cut their throats upon the Altars of Jupiter, that he might cloak his cruelty with a gaudy pretence of Piety. Likewise Geryon, King of Spain, who was reported to have three bodies, because he did command three Kingdomes, was no less cruel than the former; he did feed some Oxen that he highly esteemed, as Diomedes did his Horses; and to keep them, he had a Dog with three heads, and a Dragon with seven. When Hercules was sent thither by Eurystheus, he treated him as he had formerly done Diomedes. Now this Geryon who had three Heads, and three Bodies, * 9.4and but one Soul to move them, was not like King Herilus, mentioned by Virgil in the eighth Book of the Aeneids, who had three Souls in one Body, so that he could not die by one or two deaths; he was to be kill'd three times before he could be dispatcht. Another Adventure of Hercules was, to put into the possession of Eurystheus certain Golden Apples belonging to Juno, that were in the custody of some Nymphs, Hesperides Daughters of Hesperus, the Brother of Atlas: But before that any could come to them, a great Dragon, that was at the entry of the

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Garden where they did grow, was to be first overcome. He found a means to accomplish this Enterprise also: Some say that he made use of Atlas, who went to gather them, in the mean whiles he took upon him the others burden, and bore up the Heavens with his shoulders.

The last injunction that he received from Eurystheus, was to fetch from Hell the Dog Cerberus, from whence he brought also Theseus, that was gone down to keep company to his dear friend Pirithous.

These glorious actions made Hercules to be dreadful to King Eurystheus, and to all the other Princes of the World. Afterwards there was no Monsters nor Tyrant known, but he undertook to destroy them. Thus he put to death Busiris, the Son of Neptunus, who did lay Embuscado's to take strangers, that he might massacre them upon his Altars. Thus he killed Cacus, who had three Heads; the Son of Vulcanus, mentioned in the Aeneids, because he was a notable Robber, that did spoil and destroy all that came near the Mount Aventin.

From thence he went to the Mount Caucasus, where he delivered Prometheus, and kill'd the Eagle that did devour his Liver, as we have already noted in the former Book, Chap. 3.

Hercules had also an encounter with Antaeus, the Son of the Earth, who was of a prodigious bigness, and who did commit all manner

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of cruelties. This was very remarkable of him, that as often as he did fall and touch the Earth, so often he did receive a fresh supply of strength; which when Hercules did perceive, he lifted him up from the ground, and in his Arms prest the breath out of his body. But as Hercules was big, and had a great body, a small matter was not sufficient to nourish him. One day when he was a hungry, walking in the Fields, he met Theodamas tilling the ground, from whom he snatcht one of his Oxen that he laid upon his shoulders, and devoured every bit of him before Theodamas, who in the mean whiles did load him with imprecations and curses in his fury. From hence was derived the custom of that Country, to offer unto Hercules an Oxe in Sacrifice, with all manner of reproaches.

He made also a journey into Spain, where he separated the two Mountains Calpe and Abyla, to let in the main Ocean into the Land by the Straits of Gibraltar. These two Mountains scituate one against another, Calpe in Spain, and Abyla in Mauritania, do appear afar off as two Pillars; they are said to be the Pillars of Hercules, where he did engrave these words, Non plus ultra; as if that were the last confines of the world, beyond which he could not inlarge his Dominions. In all his Conquests he made use of no other weapon but a Club of an Olive Tree, which at last he dedicated to Mercurius,

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the God of Eloquence, whose virtue he did acknowledge to be more profitable than the power of Arms.

Juno was inwardly grieved to see him purchase so much glory, therefore she sought an opportunity of destroying him, or at least of creating unto him some mischief whiles he was in his journey to Hell: She perswaded Lycus, banished from Thebs, to surprize this City in his absence, and to kill Creon the King, with all his Sons. He had in it taken Megara, the Wife of Hercules, and Daughter of Creon, and was going to force her to his lust, when Hercules returned from Hell, and kill'd Lycus, with all his Associates. This was no small disgrace to Juno, who was resolved to revenge it; therefore she caused Hercules to enter into such a fury, that he killed his Wife and Children. Afterwards he became so much afflicted for this deed, when his anger was appeased, that he resolved to destroy himself, if he had not been hindered by the prayers and tears of Amphitryon and Theseus.

But this famous man, after so many brave actions, and after that he had overcome all things by his valour, he became a Slave to Women, and to the affections that he did entertain for them. Omphalis, Queen of Lydia, was one of those that did possess him so much, that he changed his Club into spinning instruments; he cloathed himself with the garments of a Damosel, and served this

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Princess in the quality of a Maid of Honour.

Afterwards he became amorous of Deianira, for whom he was to fight with Achelous, the Son of Thetys: But the latter being sensible of his own weakness, did encounter with him in several shapes, changing himself now into a Serpent, anon into a Bull: Whiles he thus appeared to Hercules, he caught hold of one of his horns, and tore it up by the root, which made him so ashamed, that ever since he hath remained in the form of a River that bears his Name. The Naiades, his Daughters, being extremely afflicted at this disgrace received by their Father, they offered the Horn of Plenty, which Jupiter had bestowed upon them to redeem that of their Father; for we must understand, that when Jupiter was an Infant, he was nourished with the Milk of a certain She-goat, named Amalthea, by some Nymphs that tended him: Afterwards he requited their kindness in this manner, the Goat he advanced amongst the Stars, and gave to the Nymphs one of her horns, with this rare virtue annexed to it, of being able to procure unto them all the things that they should wish for; therefore they named it the Horn of Abundance, or of Plenty.

Hercules returned Conquerour with Deianira, but he was stopt at the Ford of a River, where Nessus the Centaur offered his service to him, to carry Deianira behind him

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on the other side. As soon as the Traytor was there landed, he would have abused her, had not Hercules pierced him speedily with an Arrow, which when he did feel that it had struck him to the heart, and that he was ready to expire, he resolved to revenge himself in this manner; he gave his garment dropping with his blood to Deianira, perswading her, that if her Husband did wear it but once, he would never have love for other Women: The silly creature believes him, therefore she sent it to him by Lychas his man, when he was sacrificing upon Mount Oeta: But it fell not out as she had imagined, for as soon as he had put on this Coat, the blood of Nessus, that was a most powerful poyson, caused so great a burning all over his body, that in despair he cast himself into a flaming pile of Wood, and was there consumed to ashes. The Servitor Lychas was drown'd in the Sea, where he was changed into a Rock, and Deianira for grief killed her self with a blow of her Husbands Club.

But Hercules before he died did oblige Philoctete, the Son of Pean, his companion and friend, to swear unto 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

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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 Ʋlysses back to bring him to the Siege; and afterwards he was perfectly healed by Macaon, that famous Physitian, who was the Son of Esculapius.

* 9.5 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

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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 * 9.6whom it is related that he was so light, that he could run over the ears of standing ••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

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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, * 9.7of 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 Grandchildren 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

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by several persons, especially by Pholu••, 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

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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, who with a Cup of Poyson intended to deprive him of the succession to the Kingdom.

The most part of the Princes and great Lords of that time were Robbers, who made their greatness consist in a Tyrannical Dominion over their miserable Subjects, and over all those that were so unhappy as to fall into their hands. Phalaris, King of Sicily, was one of them; he was wont to shut men alive into the body of a Brazen Bull hollow within, causing fire to be put under it, that it

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might oblige them to send forth groans and cryes out of the throat of this Instrument of his cruelty: In the mean while he did take a singular delight to hear the Bull bellow thus.

Theseus, that wanted neither courage nor goodness, resolved to give a check to the insolency of all these Tyrants, and to treat them as they had treated others before. First he marched against one Scirron, who took pleasure in drowning all Passengers in the Sea. Thus he punished Procustes, because he was wont to cut in pieces all those that came into his hands: Sometimes he did cut off their Legs even with the Bed where he did lye.

Thus he encountred with all the Monsters that came into the World, as with the Bull of Marathon, that was of a prodigious bigness; and as with the Boar of Calydonia that Meleager had undertaken, but could not overcome him without the help of Theseus, from whence riseth the Proverb, Non sine Theseo.

The most famous and notable of all his exploits, was the victory that he obtained of the Minotaurus, who was half a man and half a Bull, whose birth we have mentioned in the former Book, speaking of Pasiphae, the Wife of Minos, who was the Mother of this Monster, begot by a Bull on her body. And that we may know how Theseus was engaged in this business, we must understand, that King Minos did make War upon the people

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of Attica, to revenge the Death of his Son Androgeus, massacred by them in a treacherous manner. In this War he took the City of Megara, and overcame the Athenians; so that he obliged them to send unto him as a Tribute every year, a certain number of young men whom he did give to this Minotaurus to be devoured by him. Theseus requested to be sent amongst the other young men, that he might destroy this Monster that had devoured already so much of the blood of his Citizens. The Labyrinth was the place where this Minotaurus was kept. This Edifice had been built by Dedalus in such a manner, that there were in it so many windings and turnings, that it was a difficult matter for one within to find the way out again. Theseus wisely gave order to this inconveniency, for he won the good liking of Ariadone the Kings Daughter, and she delivered to him a Thred, by its assistance he fo nd a way out of the Labyrinth, after that he had killed the Minotaur in it. Ariadne he took with him, promising unto her wonderful advantages in his Kingdom of Athens. Nevertheless he left her by the way, in the Island of Naxos, to comply with the desires of the God Bacchus, who wished to have her in Marriage; and therefore he presented her with a Crown, that hath been since placed amongst the Stars.

The Ship in which Theseus was carried into the Island of Crete, had no other sails

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but Black and Mourning: But he had promised to his Father Aegeus, that in case he obtained the Victory, he would come home with White Sails; which the excess of joy proceeding from the consideration of his happy return from so imminent a danger, caused him to forget: Therefore it happened that his Father, who was always expecting with much impatience his coming back, when he saw the black sails, the signs of sadness and of sorrow approaching with the Ship, he was taken with so piercing a grief, that he cast himself headlong into the Sea at the same moment, and there was drowned.

This Ship was afterwards kept by the Athenians, as the Remembrancer or Monument of the happy Victory that had freed them from so much misery and apprehension. They did therefore repair i••, when any part of it was decayed by long standing, and did nail unto it new Planks, in lieu of those that Time did consume and ••ot. This Ship, saith Plutarchus, was always a President in the disputes of Philosophy in the Schools, brought to express the means that Nature imploys to preserve the Elemental Bodies, and particularly those that are maintained by nourishment.

After this, Piritho••s King of the Lapithes, a people of Thessaly, desired to see so famous a Person; therefore to obtain his desire, he began to spoil the borders of his Kingdom, to oblige him to come to defend himself.

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When both met together, they were so much taken with the beautiful countenance, with the courage and generous behaviour one of the other, that they did swear to be for ever Friends, and to lend a mutual assistance in all difficult affairs.

Immediately after, Pirithoüs being ••ssisted by Theseus, did punish severely the Centaurs, when he invited them to the Feastival that was kept at his Marriage with Hippodamia, because they had most insolently affronted his people the Lapithes, and massacred multitudes of them. Now the Centaurs were the first people that had found out the art of riding upon Horses; and for that cause they were esteemed half Men, and half Horses, of those that met them on Horse-back. From hence comes their name H ppocentauri.

Another effect of the alliance between Pirithoüs and Theseus, was the Rape of the fair Helena, of whom we shall speak hereafter. Theseus also accompanied him to Hell, when he went to fetch from thence Proserpina that he loved entirely: But this enterprise succeeded not according to their expectation, for they were stopt by Pluto. Some say, that Pirithoüs was condemned to the torments of Ixion; but Theseus was forced to rest himself after the grievous labors and pains whom he had endured in this expedition upon a great stone, from which he could never after rise, nor move himself, until Hercules went down to Hell to fetch the great Dog

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* 9.8 Cerberus. He did stick so close to this great stone, that he left upon it his skin when he was pluckt from thence. When he returned again into Hell, after his decease, Pluto condemned him to the same place, because he had been so bold as to undertake to ravish and carry away his Queen.

We have already declared in the former Chapter how he married Hippolyte, Queen of the Amazons, of whom he had a Son that did bear the Name of his Mother, called by some Antiopea. Afterwards he espoused Phedra, one of the Daughters of Minos. She grew amorous of this Hippolytus her Son-in-law; * 9.9but when she could not gain him by prayers, she accused him to Theseus most maliciously, as if he had offered to dishonour her. Theseus gave credit to her Calumny; therefore he banisht out of his house the poor young Prince, desiring the 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

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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.

* 9.10 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 D••mophon: When he came to be old, he was kill'd by King Lycomedes in a cruel battel.

* 9.11 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.

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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, * 9.12she 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 Dios••••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.

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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 Aed••pol; that is by the Temple of Castor or Pollux, for Aedes signifies a Temple.

* 9.13 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

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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 * 9.14fair 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

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

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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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 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, mentioned by Homerus Odyss. 11.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

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CHAP. V.

Of Orpheus.

THe Poets do relate wonderful stories of several Musitians of the first Ages; as of Amphion, who built the walls of Thebs only with the pleasant harmony of his Musical Instruments, for the sweetness of the Tunes caused the stones to move, and place themselves in good order.

Arion was also admired for his skill in Musick, as we may take notice in this occasion; when he was sailing from Italy into Greece, the Seamen resolved amongst themselves to cut his throat, that they might have his Purse: But he requested of them the favour to suffer him to play once more with his Harp before they did dispatch him. It happened that he made such excellent Musick, that the Dolphins ravisht to hear him, came * 9.15in companies about the Ship; and when he beheld them, he cast himself into the Sea, hoping to meet there with more humanity than amongst the cruel Marriners. He was not deceived of his expectation, for one of these Dolphins, taking him upon his back, carried * 9.16him to Corinth, where King Periander received him with kindness, and put these inhumane Sailers to death, to punish them for their intended crime. This Dolphin was rewarded by the Gods, with a place amongst

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the Stars, for the good office that he had done to this poor Musitian.

I shall not mention the Satyr Marsias, who because he had more skill in Musick than the common sort of people, he was so transported with vanity and presumption, as to compare himself with Apollo. This God was so displeased with him, that when he had overcome him, according to the judgment of the Muses, he flead him alive, to punish his temerity; as we have already said in the story of Apollo.

There happened also a like controversie between Apollo, and Pan the God of Mountains and Shepherds, because he knew pretty well how to play upon the Pipe, and that these Country Clowns did cry him up for the most expert Musitian of the World: He was so audacious as to dispute this Honour with Apollo. Midas, King of Phrygia, a simple fellow, * 9.17one of the Judges in this Controversie, gave a sentence in favour of Pan; therefore Apollo caused Asses ears to grow in his head, that he might appear what he was to the World. This same Prince entreated Silenus to grant unto him the favour, in reward of a considerable service that he had done unto him, that all that he should touch, should turn immediately into Gold. He soon repented of his rash desire, when all his victuals and food became gold; and when in the midst of all his Gold he was ready to starve for hunger and want.

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And that we may not make any longer discourse of those that have excelled in Musick, it is the common Opinion, that Orpheus, who was not only a Poet, but also a Philosopher, hath carried away the Palm from * 9.18all the rest. We need not wonder at it, seeing he was born of such Learned Parents, of Apollo, and the Muse Calliope: Of him it is reported, that he did cause his voice to agree so admirably well with his Lute, that the Rivers did stop to listen to him, that the Storms and Tempests did cease, that the most Savage Animals did come to him in companies to recreate themselves with his excellent harmony; and that the Trees and Rocks were seen to move at the sound.

He performed something more than this; for when he lost by death his Wife Eurydice, who flying from the amorous imbraces of Aristeus, King of Arcadia, died suddenly of a Wound received by a Serpent. He went after her to the Gates of Hell, where he played with that dexterity upon his Instruments of Musick, that Pluto, Proserpina, and all the Infernal Inhabitants, were ravisht in admiration. He prevailed by that means so much upon them, that they granted unto him the favour to carry with him his Wife back again, to live longer upon Earth, upon condition, that in his return he would not look back upon her, until he was ascended into the light; which condition his impatient love for her caused him to break, by casting

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his eyes behind him; which when her Guard had perceived, they drag'd her back into Hell, and left him in such a trouble of mind, that he resolved for her sake to never * 9.19entertain any affection for a Woman; and to disswade all his acquaintance from their love and union, which proceeding of his, did * 9.20scandalize and displease so much the Dames of Thracia, that in their furious transports at the Feastival of Bacchus, they tore him in pieces. But afterwards he was metamorphosed into a Swan, and his Harp was placed amongst the Stars.

This Swan is said to sing admirably well when unto death.

* 9.21 The Ancients do relate incredible things of Dolphins, besides this famous one that carried Arion safe to Land out of the hands of the inhumane Marriners. They tell us of others that have performed kind offices to mankind: Hesiod, the first famous Writer, when he had been massacred in Neptunes Temple in Nemea, and cast into the Sea, was by the Dolphins brought carefully to shoar again. A young man, and his Mistress, falling by chance into the Sea, were saved near the Island of Lesbos by Dolphins, and carried out of the waves to Land. And Telemachus, * 9.22the Son of Ulysses, was also preserved in the Sea by Dolphins; therefore his Father did bear a Dolphin in his Buckler, in remembrance of that kindness shewed to his blood

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by that Fish. All the Heathens bad a particular respect for this creature; some of them would not suffer any injury to be offered unto them, because they are so favourable to mankind. In the remote Countries of the North, Munsterus tells us, that there is a Fish called Raia, longer than a Dolphin, and no less kind to mankind: When they meet with any whose misfortune it is to be cast away, these great fishes do receive and lodge them in their jaws, and do thus carry them safe to shoar. He insinuates there that it is the Opinion of some who imagine, that this was that kind of Fish, or Whale, that waited for Jonas when he was cast into the Sea, and that carried him safe to Land.

* 9.23 Marsyas, a Phrygian, was the Inventer of the Pipe, a Musical Instrument: Some say that Minerva was the first that plaid with it in a banquet of the Gods; and that because of her grey eyes when her cheeks were swell'd, she did appear ridiculous to the company, especially to Juno and Venus, who laught at her for her pains, which gave her the curiosity of seeing what reason they had to mock her: For that purpose she came down upon Mount Ida, and began to play with her Pipe upon the banks of a clear River, that she might behold her self at that time; but as soon as she perceived how deformed in did represent her, she cast the Pipe away with a curse, desiring that he that should take it up, might end his daies by cruelty. Marsyas the Satyr, the Son of Hyagnis, a great favourite of Cybele, found it, and first made

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use of it in the publick sacrifices of this Goddess; for that reason it did always continue afterwards in her solemnities. But this Marsyas became so proud and self-conceited for this invention, that he challeng'd Apollo, upon this condition, that he that could make the most pleasant Musick, should have power over his Antagonist; Apollo was the Victor, therefore * 9.24 ••e hang'd Marsyas upon a Tree, and pull'd his skin over his ears: Some drops of his blood hapned to fall into the River that did run hard by, and therefore from him it was named Marsyas: It did run through the City Caelenae, taken by Alexander the Great.

* 9.25 Qua celer rect is descendens Marsya ripis Errantem Maeandron adit, mixtus{que} refertur.

For Orpheus, he was a Thracian, born as some say, of Apollo and Calliope; as others, of Eagrus, aud the Muse Polymnia. He was * 9.26 an excellent Philosopher, and the first that recommended a solitary life, and abstinence from flesh. Mercurius gave him his Harp, with which he performed wonders. He was the first that introdueed the Bacchanalia in Greece, called by some for that cause Sacra Orphica. Horace in arte Poet, tells us that

Sylvestres homines sacer interpresq▪ Deorum Caedibus & victu faedo deterruit Orpheus, Dictus ab hoc lenire Tigres, rabidos{que} leones Dictus &, &c.

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He was the first that in Thracia caused men to live under Laws and Government, and called them from their rude and beastly life, to a more gentile and handsome.

CHAP. VI.

Of Jason, and the Argonauts.

PElias, King of Thessaly, was careful to train up Jason his Nephew in his sight from his Infancy, because he had taken notice in him of an extraordinary courage, which had cast some jealousie and suspition of him into his mind: When therefore he came to Age, he sought how he might be delivered of him, and of his apprehensions together; for that cause he sent him to the Conquest of the Golden Fleece, as to an enterprise from which he could never, according to his judgment, return alive.

We have already mentioned how Aetha, King of Colchos, had got this Treasure into his possession, and laid it up safe in a Wood consecrated to Mars, appointing for a guard certain strange Bulls that had feet of Brass, and that did cast out of their Nostrils fearful flames of fire. He appointed also a dreadful Dragon, of a prodigious bigness, accompanied with armed men, that sprung up from the teeth of this Dragon that had been sowed in the Earth.

Jason, in order to this expedition, commanded

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a brave ship to be built by one named Argus, from him it was called Argos the wood of it had been cut out of the Forrest of Dodone; whose Trees were wont to give Oracles; therefore this Ship did retain the faculty of speaking: In this Voyage it was often heard.

* 9.27 A great number of the most Illustrious Worthies of Greece went aboard to accompany Jason, and share with him in the glory of this undertaking; they named themselves Argonauts: Hercules was one also; Theseus, Castor and Pollux, Orpheus, Tiphys, Lynceus, and a great many more: Tiphys did govern the Helm; Lynceus, who had excellent * 9.28eyes, was imployed to discover the banks of Sand, and the dangerous Rocks hid under water, to the end that they might decline them: Orpheus with his Musick did pleasantly remove from them the tediousness, and moderate the grievances of the Voyage; only the company of Hercules was troublesome, for he was so heavy, that the Vessel was sometimes ready to sink, and he did spend a prodigious quantity of Victuals, * 9.29besides he did frequently break his Oars; but there happened a misfortune that delivered them from the inconveniencies of his company: He had brought with him a young Boy whom he loved, called Hylas; when therefore the Ship was run asho••r, he sent him to seek some fresh water to appease his violent thirst, but the Lad fell into the Fountain

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* 9.30 where he was drawing water. This gave occasion to the Fable, that the Nymphs had stoln him away. At this unhappy accident Hercules left the Company, and the Ship, to seek him out. From hence it is that the people of that Country established Feastivals to be kept every year, during which, they were wont to wander about the Mountains, often calling for Hylas.

These Argonauts met with some misfortunes in this expedition, and several difficult passages: They were to go between the Simplegades, that are otherwise called the Cyanean Rocks, scituate beyond the Bosphore of Thracia, at the entrance of the Black Sea, or the Pont Euxin: They did seem to joyn afar off, and open when they were coming to the passage. At last they arrived in Colchos.

From the beginning Jason contracted friendship with the Princess Medea, the Kings Daughter, who was an expert Magician: She, for his sake, caused a dead sleep to fall upon all the Monsters that did keep the Golden Fleece by her devillish Enchantments; so that Jason had by that means the liberty to take it. Immediately after Jason fled away with Medea whom he married, but being pursued by Aetha the Father, she cut in pieces Absyrthus her little Brother, that she had brought with her, dispersing and leaving his members at a distance in the way, that his Father might busie himself in gathering

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them up, and give them more leasure to escape.

* 9.31 When they were come as far as Thessaly, Medea undertook to cure her Father-in-law Aeson of his old Age: By the virtue of her Magick Art she restored unto him his youthful appearance and strength; and that she might take vengeance of the hatred that Pelias did bear unto them, she perswaded his Daughters to try the same experiment upon him, for he was extreme old and decrepit. According to her directions they cut him to pieces, and boiled them in a Kettle with certain Herbs which she had delivered unto them: But these wretched Daughters seeing it impossible to recover their Father again by that means, were mightily afflicted and grieved that they had been so absurd as to murder him upon such unlikely hopes.

All this time Medea did live with Jason in a perfect amity and correspondency, having had by him two dainty Children. But at last, when Jason arrived at Corinth, in the Court of King Creon, he fell in love with the Princess Creusa his Daughter, with whom he married, forgetting the obligations and favours that he had received from Medea.

She was resolved to revenge her self; therefore dissembling her dissatisfaction, she seem'd to approve of the Match, and sent a Box full of Jewels, and of such precious things to the Bride, as a Token of her love; but it was all bewitcht in such a manner, that

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when it was opened a strange flame burst out of it, which consumed suddenly the Kings Palace to ashes, with the Bride, and her aged Father in it.

Jason in his fury went to seek Medea to be * 9.32revenged of her for this cruelty. She waited for him on the top of a high Tower, from whence she reproach'd him with his ungratitude, and before his eyes massacred two Children that she had by him. She then took her flight towards Athens, being supported by two strong and fearful Dragons in the Air. When she was arrived into this City, she became the Wife of King Aegeus, by whom she had Medus. But when she ventur'd to poyson Theseus, she was forced to fly away for her life with her Son Medus, and to retreat into that part of Asia called from him Media.

In this last Chapter, the most noted persons are Medea, Jason, the Argonauts, and Creon, of whom the Poets do relate these following stories.

Medea was a renowned Witch, the Daughter of Aeta and Idya, or as Ovid names her, Mother of Ipsea: She was the Grand-child of Sol; she was tutored and made acquainted with the secrets of her devillish Art by Hecate, who taught her how to perform wonderful things by her Spells and Enchantments; she was able to transport woods from one place to another, to cause the currant of the Rivers to turn back towards

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their source, to bring down the Moon and the other Stars upon the Earth, and to give life to the Dead.

The expedition of the Argonauts, and her affection for Jason, rendered her famous, or rather infamous; for his sake she consented to betray * 9.33her Fathers and Countries interest; by her means he seized upon the Golden Fleece, and when Aeta intended to revenge himself of the Argonauts by their deaths, in a Banquet unto which they were all invited, Medea discovered the Plot to Jason, who thought it high time to sail away with his Prize, and Medea Before her departure she committed a most inhumane act, in killing her only Brother, and casting his Members in the way for her Father to gather up. She was no less cruel afterwards to Pelias the King, who hearing a false report of the miscarriage of the Argonauts, abused the friends of Jason, and treated his Kindred barbarously. At the return of the Ship into a Bay of Thessaly, near the City Jolaus, Jason understanding all that had happened, entreats his Companions to assist him; but because they were not able to encounter with a Kingdom, Medea undertook to punish Pelias with her Enchantments. She makes a Statue of Diana, with it she lands and hastens into the City, having taken the disguize of an old Woman: At her entrance she proclaims in the streets, that she did bring the Image of Diana from the Northern Countries, requiring the people to receive it with respect; unto her words she added

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Miracles, to perswade them to believe: So that when she saw the King and people at her devotion, she revealed unto the Princes Daughters, that she was commanded by Diana to restore * 9.34to their Father his former youthful strength and appearance. To oblige them more easily to believe the possibility of this action, she dismembred before them an old Ram, and then by witchcraft turned it into a young Lamb. They being thus perswaded to try the same experiment upon their Father, kill'd him, and by that means punisht him for his cruelty, and gave an opportunity to the Argonauts to seize upon the empty Throne. Acastus, the Son of Pelias, reigned in his stead, but his wretched Daughters were married to the Argonauts; Admetus took Alcestes, who only had not consented to the cruelty committed upon her Father, Amphinome was married to Andraemon, Asteropea and Autonoe were given to other Husbands. After this Medea lived quietly with Jason, until he became enamoured with Creusa, or Glauca, the Kings Daughter. She revenged her self of this affront; for she sent a Box, or as some say a Crown, shut up in a Box to the Bride, anointed with a strange compound, called * 9.35Naphtha, which as soon as she had toucht, the Air round about her inflamed, with the Kings Palace about her ears.

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Jason was the Son of Aeson and Polymedes, descended by his Father from Aeolus the God of Winds. When the Oracle had informed his Ʋncle Pelias, that one of his Kinsmen should put him to death, and that he should have an eye upon Jason, he sought to destroy him, but he escaped to Chiron the Centaur, where he was * 9.36a Student in Physick. Afterwards he was sent to recover the Golden Fleece that did belong to his Family: He, and the other Worthies of Greece, did run many dangers in this expedition; they were to pass between the Simplegades Rocks that are in a continual motion; they let go a Pidgeon before they would venture through with their Ship; and although this Bird flies with a wonderful swiftness, her tail was catcht between the Rocks; nevertheless the wind blew them through, with little damage to their Vessel. They landed in several places by the way, and relieved Phineus, an old Fellow that was troubled with the Harpies; for the two Children of Boreas that were in this expedition made them fly away, and leave the blind Phineus to eat his meat in quiet. When Jason was returned, he dedicated bis Ship to Neptunus: It was afterwards

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preserved many years, and the breaches * 9.37that time did make, were repaired as Noahs Ark, and the Ship of Theseus. All these Argonauts did live in the daies of Othoniel and Gedeon, Judges of Israel, about 2500 years, after the World was created.

CHAP. VII.

Of Cadmus, and of the City of Thebs.

VVHen Jupiter ravisht Europa, the Daughter of Agenor, King of the Phaenicians, as we have said in the third Chapter of the first Book, this Prince sent his Son to seek her out into many places of the World, with a Command to never appear before him until he had found her: But Cadmus, after many tedious voyages, could never learn what was become of her; therefore he went to consult the Oracle of Apollo in Delphos, to know what was best for him * 9.38to do: The answer was, that a Cow, some say an Oxe, should meet him, and that he was to follow the directions of this Beast, to build a City, and settle his habitation. He met the Oxe in a Province of Greece, called from thence Boeotia: And that in a business of so great a concern, he might obtain the assistance of Heaven, he resolved first to offer the wearied beast in sacrifice to the Goddess Minerva. In order to this Religious performance, he dispatches his followers to

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the next Fountain, named Dirce, to fetch from thence water, but it happened that a * 9.39fearful Dragon surprized them there unawares, and devoured them alive. Minerva advised him immediately to destroy this Dragon, and to sow the Teeth of his head in the Earth, which when he had done, several Companies of armed men sprung up out of this seed, but they could not suffer one another, therefore they destroyed themselves, only five were remaining, that offered their assistance to Cadmus, in building a City to dwell, and in furnishing it with Inhabitants. This City was Thebs, where he reigned many * 9.40years, 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 * 9.41banished 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

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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 * 9.42were 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 * 9.43lips, 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.

* 9.44 Cadmus, and most of the famous men of Antiquity, cannot much glory in a Noble Pedigrce:

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If the truth was known, he was but the Cook of Agenor, King of Tyre or Sidon; * 9.45he 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.

* 9.46 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 bir 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 * 9.47to 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

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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 * 9.48Lacedemonians. 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.

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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 li••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▪

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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 great wings upon the back. To every one that passed by, it did propose aenigmatical Questions, and if they did not give a present solution, it did devour them without mercy; so that the Country round about was forsaken, and no body did dare to venture near the City. The Oracle did then declare, that the only way to be delivered from this Tyranny, was to give the right meaning to this Riddle of the Sphinx; which was the Creature that in the morning did walk on four feet, at noon on two, and in the evening on three. Creon, who succeeded Laïus in the Throne, caused it to be proclaimed all over Greece, that he would quit his Claim to the Crown, and would give Jocasta, the Widow of Laïus, in Marriage to one that would resolve this Question, which Oedipus did; for he brought the true sense of the Enigma, telling them, that it was Man, who in his Youth did go upon four feet, as the Beasts; that is, upon his hands and feet; but when he did arrive

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to an age of strength, he did march upon two, without any other support; and when old age did seize upon him, he was for: ced to make use of a stick, instead of a third foot, to help him to go.

* 9.49 When the Monster saw the Riddle resolved, it was so much inraged, that in a furious manner it dasht its brains against a Rock, and thus delivered the Country from much fear and danger.

Oedipus was raised to the Throne in reward of this good service, and was married to Jocasta, whom he knew not to be his Mother. Of her he had two Sons, Eteocles and Polynices, with two Daughters, Antigone and Ismene.

Now about this time the Gods sent a most grievous plague amongst the Thebans to punish them for the murder of Laïus; and as the Oracle did declare, it was never to cease until he that was guilty of his blood was banished out of the City, which caused a diligent search to be made; so that by the Art of Negromancy it was known that Oedipus was the man.

When he came to understand the truth of all that had happened, and how by chance he was married to his own Mother, he was so inwardly grieved, that he pluckt out his eyes, and condemned himself to suffer a perpetual banishment, leaving the Kingdom at the disposition of Eteocles and Polynices his two Sons.

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* 9.50 Cadmus, the first Founder of Thebs, begot Polidorus of his Wife Harmonia, Polidorus begot Labdacus, and Labdacus Laius, the Father of Oedipus. This last committed unwittingly two grievous crimes, he killed his Father, and then espoused his Mother, which when they understood, they punish'd themselves. Jocasta chose a voluntary death, rather than to survive the knowledge of such foul mistakes, whereof she and her Son were guilty, and Oedipus departed into banishment. Some say, that his graceless Sons cast him out of the City, and would never allow him any thing for his maintenance, * 9.51which caused him to curse them, and desire that they might be the causes of their own death. When he was dead, the Thebans wou d never give unto him a place to be buried; so that they say his body was swallowed up by an Earthquake. This Oedipus was a witty man, as may appear by his discovery of the meaning of the Sphinx's Riddle. Some report, that this Sphinx was a Robber, and that the ambages of his Riddle were the windings and turnings of a Rockie Mountain; there he had stated himself to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the passengers that went to and fro from Thebs. The qualities of divers creatures are imploy d to describe his disposition.

It was his custome to propound a Riddle, to massacre these that could not tell the sense of it, and to let the others pass that did satisfie his Questions. The Poets say, that this Monster was the Daughter of Echidnae and Typhon.

After the banishment of Oedipus, his two

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Sons fell into mortal hatred; and according to his desire, they killed one another, as we shall see in the following Chapter.

CHAP. IX.

Of the War against the City of Thebs.

THis famous War is the Subject upon which the Wits of many ancient Poets have exercised themselves. Statius amongst the Latins hath composed twelve Books of it; and Antimachus amongst the Greeks, in the time of Plato, publisht four and twenty Books only of the preparations of this renowned Siege, whereof this was the cause.

Eteocles and Polynices, the two Sons of Oedipus, did judge it expedient not to part their little Kingdom, for fear of weakning it, but to succeed one another in the Government, and to rule each of them a year. Eteocles the Eldest did reign his year; but when it was expired, he would never yield the Scepter and Power out of his hands: Therefore Polynices resolved to force him by a Siege, and to right himself with the edge of his Sword: For that intent he begs the assistance of Adrastus, King of Argos, whose Daughter he had made his Wife. According to his request he came with a powerful Army, composed of his own Subjects, and of the Auxiliaries of his friends and Neighbour Princes.

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* 9.52 The Thebans, for their part, did prepare to receive them, being encouraged by the Predictions of Tiresias the Southsayer, who promised unto them a happy success and end of this War, if Meneceus the Son of Creon, and the last of the Race of Cadmus, would sacrifice himself for his Native Country. This condition was very grievous and unpleasant, especially to Creon, who would never give his consent. Nevertheless this young Prince escaped out of the City with a naked Sword in his hand, and in the sight of all the people that beheld him from the Walls, he thrust it into his bowels and died. Immediately after the Thebans▪ made several stout Sallics upon the Enemies, in which they were so happy, that they destroyed all the noted Captains, Adrastus only excepted, and totally routed the rest of the Army.

At first Hippomedon, one of the chief of the Enemies, was wounded to death: It is said of him in Furipide the Poet, that he had an appearance of a Gyant; in his Buckler was the Image of Argus, full of Eyes; the very sight of him was dreadful to the beholders. Parthenopeus was no less unfortunate, for he fell down dead soon after Hippomedon. Of this Warriour it is reported, that he had the Genius and couragious humor of his Mother Atalanta, a Princess of Arges, who became famous for her dexterity in the use of the Bow and Arrows, and in running a Race. She was of that brave disposition,

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that she resolved never to marry any but a * 9.53Worthy of that Age that could overcome her in these Martial exercises, which Hippomenes did. But because they did afterwards both loose that respect which they did owe to Cybele, they were by this Goddess changed into a Lyon and a Lyoness.

Tydeus was also kill'd in this War: He was a man of a low stature, but very strong and valiant, as he made it appear in many brave Encounters; for when he was sent in Embassie to Eteocles, to treat with him concerning the Pretensions and Right of Polynices, and when he perceived how his Negotiation would prove ineffectual, he challenged all the Court of Thebs, before his departure, at any kind of fight, and overcame every one that appeared against him: Therefore fifty of the most valiant Lords agreed together to lay for him an Ambuscado in his return to the Camp, but he was so succesful * 9.54as to over-power them all; of whom he only spared one alive to send to Eteocles, as the messenger of the death of his Comrades. At last he was mortally wounded with an Arrow; but Amphiaraus was so concerned for him, that he pursued his Enemy, cut off his head, and gave it to him to handle before he died. It is said, that he did treat it in a most inhumane manner, for he tore off the skin with his teeth, and suckt out the brains, which in his rage he swallowed.

This action was so displeasing to Minerva

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that she would not immortalize his Name as she had promised to him, but conferred this Honour upon his Son Diomedes.

Capaneus was also in the Army of Polynices: Philostrates tells us, that he was of a prodigious bigness, and that he had so much confidence in himself, that he was wont to boast that he seared no more the Thunderbolts of Jupiter, than the hot beams of the Noon-sun; and that maugre Jupiter, he would take the City: But a Thunder-clap stopt his blaspheming tongue, and beat him to pieces.

Amphiaraüs the Prophet, one of the Commanders in the Army, did foresee that he should end his daies in this Siege; therefore he hid himself, for fear of being forced to go to the War: But his Wife discovered and betrayed him to Adrastus, who obliged him to accompany the Army. He was kill'd in a very strange manner, as he was flying from Thebs, in his return homewards, he was swallowed up by the Earth alive, and afterwards reckoned up in the number of the Gods, and the power of giving Oracles was ascribed to him: They were for a time the most noted of all Greece. At last the two Brothers, Eteocles and ••olynices, agreed to end their differences in a single Duel, where the both fel dead to the ground: But death was not able to put an end to their hatred, for the F••r••es did haunt the place where they had been buried by Antigone their Sister, and

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when a Pomgranate-Tree had been planted * 9.55 there, it did yield frequently drops of blood, which did declare how their Enmity was become immortal. Besides, it is reported, that the flames of the pile of Wood in which their bodies were burning together, did divide and separate into two Pillars at the top, and by no means could be brought to reunite.

The City of Thebs had seven Gates, and in the Army of Polynices were seven chief Commanders, who made their approaches every one to a Gate, as Euripides tells us in one of his Tragedies.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

The City was thus divided between the Chieftains, Parthenopeus was to assault the Gate called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Amphiaraus the other named Proetis; at the Gate of Ogyges was appointed Hippomedon; * 9.56Tydeus was seated near the Gate Homoloide, Polynices was at the other called Cranea, Capaneus did march against the Electrian Gate, and Adrastus was at the other named 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Parthenopeus was the Son of that warlike Princess of Argos Atalanta, the Daughter of Scheneus; or Coeneus: She was the swiftest runner of her time, and most dexterous in using Bow and Arrows: She was the fitst that ventured to encounter with the

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great Calydonian Boar, already mentioned: Hippomenes, her humble servant, found a subtil means to out-run her. The Goddess Venus had bestowed upon him some of the Golden Apples of the Hesperide Gardens, which he cast in the way when they were both in the Race: The lovely appearance of this fruit caused her to neglect her course, and gather them up, whiles Hippomenes went on, and reacht the Goal before her. By this Race he won her for his Wife; but because he did not repay to Venus thanks for so great a benefit received, she caused him so much to forget himself, as to defile the Temple of Cybele with the enjoyment of his Mistress; for which offence he was turned into a Lyon, and she into a Lyoness, and were coupled together to drag the Chariot of this Goddess.

Capaneus was a noted man in this Siege for his impiety, as Tydeus was for his courage and true valor: The latter was the Son of Oeneus, King of Calydonia, and the Father of that Diomedes who wounded Venus and Mars in the Siege of Troy. When this Tydeus had unfortunately kill'd his Brother Menalippus, he departed to Argos to Adrastus the King, who received him with all expressions of kindness, and bestowed upon him Deiphile his Daughter in Marriage, as he had given his other named Agia to Polynices. In the Siege of Thebs Tydeus did mightily encourage the rest; but an obscure Fellow, named Menalippus, let fly an Arrow at him, which wounded him to death. In this particular the Poets have taken notice of the

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Hand of God, that orders many times that our punishments should be inflicted upon us by such as are related to those against whom we have committed great crimes; that men might understand the proceedings of Divine Justice, it causeth a Relation to be visibly seen between the offence and its judgments.

But there was none so famous in this Expedition as the Prophet Amphiaraus, a wise man, who had espoused Eriphyle the Sister of King Adrastus: He foresaw that he should perish if he did engage his person in this War, therefore he hid himself; but Eriphyle being corrupted with the present of a Golden Chain given to ber * 9.57 by Polvnices, betrayed the place of her Husbands concealment; for which unnatural deed he left order with his Son Alcmeon to dispatch her, and revenge his death, as soon as he should hear of his miscarriage; which cruel Command was put in execution by Alcmeon, but afterwards he became mad, and wandered up and down the World, until he was kill'd by the Brethren of Amphisibea, Themon and Axion, because he had forsaken their Sister, and was married to Callirhoe. Amphiaraus after his decease was honoured as a God, his Oracles were mightily esteemed: In the Country of Athens, a stately Edifice was erected to him near a large Cave, where he did give answer to all that did

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come. Not far from this place was the Fountain of Amphiaraus, whose waters were dedicated to him; so that it was a capital crime to impl y them in any ordinary use.

Several persons did come to consult this Oracle from all parts of Greece. It was not delivered, as those of Apollo, by a Pythonissa, but in a dream. This God did appear to the party who was to offer a Ram in sacrifice to him, and to sleep upon the Hide after a fast of 24 hours, and three daies abstinence from Wine: Without this preparation no answer could be expected. It will not be amiss in this place to say something concerning Dreams; Macrobius mentions five sorts, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Vision, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a discovery of something between sleeping and waking, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a suggestion cast into our fancy, called by Cicero Visum, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 an ordinary Dream, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Divine Apparition, or Revelation in our sleep, such as were the dreams of * 9.58 the Prophets, and of Joseph the Husband of the Virgin Mary, and of the Mages of the East, of whom it is said 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. This expression is often used in Scripture, to signifie Gods appearing to his servants in Dreams. The Aegyptians and Romans had a particular regard to Dreams: The Learned of the former did esteem the Soul in a profound sleep, better able to judge of all affairs, and to foresee the intricate events of the time to come. We find that many other people, as the Caldeans and Persisians, did judge some Dreams worthy of observation, and of the serious exposition of the wise

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men; therefore they had persons appointed amongst them, whose imployment was to discover the design and intention of dreams. It is certain, * 9.59that they do not always deserve our neglect, seeing that they have been a means of conveying unto men part of the holy Oracles. As we are not therefore to be so superstitious as to apprehend every idle fancy that is raised in us in our sleep, I would not have a judicious Christian reckon all Dreams as frivolous and useless productions of our brain, but rather I would advise every one seriously, to examine all exraordinary Dreams, * 9.60 and to make a good improvement of them; for there is no dream, whether it proceeds from God, the holy Angels, the Devils, or our selves, but from it we may gather instruction, comfort or advice in our affairs. It is certain, that the Heathens have received many extraordinary benefits from Dreams: Augustus the Emperour escaped from the fury of the Army of Brutus, that forced his men out of his Camp, by the preadmonition of his Physitian Artorius, who was forewarned of the danger in a Dream. And if his Father Julius had listned to the dream of his Lady Calphurnia, he had never felt in his ••reast the swords of his Assassins that day in the Senate: Experience, as well as the judgment f the ancient Fathers of the Church inform ••s, that Dreams are sometimes Ideas of Truth ••irred up in our fancy by Spirits, for the Soul then more free from all sensual impressions, nd is fitter to converse with beings of the same ature as it self. Aristotle takes notice, that 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

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before a Child attains to four years of Age, he is * 9.61not capable of dreams. It seems that this ability doth accompany our reason, and such as are not actively rational, cannot receive any impressions by dreams. This worthy Philosopher further observes, that such as seldome have any dreams, have more reason to mind them, for he esteems them either very propitious, or the fatal Omens * 9.62of an approaching disease, or of a certain death. It seems the Devil did appear and give Oracles in dreams to those that did consult him. Hom. 2. Iliad.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

And Virgil speaking of Faunus, who held the same esteem and office in Italy as Amphiaraus in Greece, tells us, that the King of the Latins

* 9.63 Centum lanigeras mactabat rite bidentes Atque harum effultus tergo, stratis{que} jac••bat Velleribus, subita ex alto vox reddita luco.

* 9.64 I shall not insist upon this digression, only we may be certain, that in our deep sleep our Soul is better able to entertain Spirits, and receive from them information; for it was at such times that Amphiaraus, and the other dreaming Gods, did appear to their Worshippers.

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CHAP. X.

Of Antigone, and of some passages that happened after the War of Thebs.

CReon freely resigned the Kingdom to Oedipus and his Heirs; but when he saw them dead, he reassumed again the Supreme Authority, and governed in Thebs as before.

As soon as he was proclaimed King, he commanded expresly that none should offer to bury the body of Polynices, because he had been so impious as to bring an Army of Enemies against his own Country; therefore he condemned his Carkass to be devoured of the dogs, and of the Fowls of the Air. But Antigone, the Sister of this unhappy Prince, stole secretly away out of the City to bury him in the night. When the King heard of it, he was highly incensed, but not knowing who had done this act of humanity, he gave order that the Body should be pull'd out of the grave, and again cast to the mercy of the Wild Beasts. She nevertheless was resolved once more to hazard her life, and venture to bury her dead Brother; but it happened that she was surprized in the attempt by the Souldiers that had been appointed to watch near the Body: The King therefore in his fury commanded her to be buried alive in the Earth, which punishment she prevented, by strangling her self.

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This rigorous proceeding of Creon occasioned much unhappiness and sorrow to his Family; for at the same time his Son Hemon, who entirely loved Antigone, and who was ready to espouse her, thrust himself through with his Sword, resolving to accompany her into another World; and Euridices, the Wife of Creon, when she saw her Son dead, in the extremity of her grief she killed her self also, to be delivered of the pain of so great an affliction.

* 9.65 This was the Subject of one of the Tragedies of Sophocles, in which his fancy and expressions were so happy, that the Athenians bestowed upon him, as a reward, the Government of Samos. When the Army of Argos fled away, they left all the fields round about Thebs covered with the dead bodies of their Companions, which was a lamentable sight, especially because they did believe that the Souls of these wretched Creatures were to languish a long while upon the brim of hell, before they could be admitted into Charons Boat, if their bones did remain unburied upon the earth.

For this cause Adrastus was perswaded to dispatch Embassadors to Creon, to pray him to suffer this last duty to be paid to the Dead, but he could never be entreated by him: Therefore Adrastus being not able to make War upon him, he desired Theseus, that was then King of Athens, to lead an Army against him, and to force him to suffer the Dead to

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be buried, which he did; only the Body of Capaneus that had been struck with the Thunder, and cursed because of his horrid blasphemies, was cast aside, and burnt alone by his Wife Evadne, who expressed in this occasion her excessive love for him, for she trim'd her self in her most gaudy and rich apparel, and then cast her self into the midst of the flames to be burned and consumed to ashes with him.

* 9.66 Evadne, the Daughter of Iphys, did love her Husband Capaneus so tenderly, that she * 9.67resolved to accompany him in death. It is the custom of the Indians in Asia to this day, to sacrifice and bury the dearest Wives of Princes with them, for they believe the immortality of the Soul; they send therefore such persons as have been dear unto them to serve them in another world, and keep them company. The Heathens did believe, that Charon would never suffer such to pass into rest into the Elysian fields, until their bodies or Reliques were buried in the earth. In such a case they did fancy, that the Souls were tossed up and down, during the space of a hundred years, upon the banks of the River Acheron, over which they were to pass into Hell in Charons Boat, as Virgil observes, 6. Aeneid. when Aeneas descended into Hell; for the Sybil informs him of a wandring multitude of Souls.

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Haec omnis quam cernis inops, inhumataque turba est. Portitor ille Charon: hi, quos vehit unda, sepulti. Nec ripas datur horrendas nec rauca fluenta Transportare prius, quam sedibus ossa quierunt. Centum errant annos volitantque haec littora circum. Tum demum admissi stagna exoptata revisunt.

* 9.68 It was therefore esteemed a cruelty beyond expression, to deny to the dead a burial; for this * 9.69cause all great Commanders were very careful, after a battel, to inter the bodies of their Souldiers that had lost their lives in their quarrels, as we read in the Commentaries of Caesar, and in Livius. And Curtius observes how Alexander did encourage his men to fight for him after the Battel at the River Granicus, by causing the Dead to be buried with solemnity and pomp, and their Images to be erected as eternal Memorials of their Valour.

CHAP. XI.

Of Tantalus, and of Pelops his Son.

VVHiles the Thebans and the men of Argos were at variance, Tantalus and his Posterity were afflicted with many

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sensible evils. The horrid impiety of this Prince was the cause of them; for as he was one of the Sons of Jupiter, the Gods at a certain time passing over the World, did him the honour to lodge with him in his Palace. Being therefore obliged to treat them at supper, he caused the members of his Son Pelops to be cut in pieces, and to be prepared for them to eat, that he might try whether they would perceive it, and whether they were really Gods.

Ceres was deceived at first, for being extreme hungry she eat up one of the shoulders, but the rest of the company did abominate this cruel Feast; therefore in compassion of the young Prince they restored him to life again; for Mercurius went down into Hell to fetch from thence his Soul, and all his members were restored to him, and established in their right place, only in lieu of his shoulder which had been eaten, they gave one of Ivory, which had the virtue of healing all manner of diseases.

But Tantalus was punisht for his cruelty; he was condemned to Hell, to be there tortured with a continual appetite of hunger and thirst, in the midst of waters, and the plenty of all varieties, that did fly from him when he did endeavour to catch at them, as we have already said in the first Book.

His Daughter Niobe perisht also miserably because of her vanity and pride, for having a great number of children; she did prefer

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her self to Latona; therefore Apollo and Diana destroyed all her Children with Arrows, except one named Cloris, which affliction cast her into a Consumption, so that the regret and displeasure did dry her up. From hence the Poets have taken occasion to say, that she was changed into a Rock.

Pelops left Phrygia, and departed into Greece, to go to the Kingdom of Elis, where he fell in love with Hippodamia, the Daughter of Oenomaüs: But this King having understood by the Oracles, that his Son-in-law should be one day cause of his death, he would never venture to give his Daughter to any man, but upon this condition, that he should first overcome him in a Chariot-Race, or loose his life.

Pelops was not frighted with the danger, therefore he undertook to run; and that he might not miss of his purpose, he won the Coach-man of Oenomaüs, named Myrtilus, with many golden promises, and oblig'd him to disorder the Axle-tree of the Chariot in such a manner, that it broke in the middle of the course: The poor Oenomaüs fell to the ground, and killed himself. After his death, * 9.70Pelops took the Government of the Kingdom, with his Daughter Hippodamia, and in a short time he grew to be one of the most Illustrious Princes of his Age. From him the Peloponessus, called now Morea, is so named. Nevertheless he was very unhappy in his Children, Atreus and Thyestes, although Agamemnon

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and Menelaus, the Sons of Atreus, were the most famous men of that time. But these particulars we may take notice of in the following Chapters.

* 9.71 Tantalus the Son of Jupiter, and of the Nymph Plote, or as some say the Son of Aethon, was married to Anthemoissa, the Daughter of Lycus; and as some do relate, to Euryanissa the fair, Daughter of Taygetes, one of the Pleiades: He had two Sons, Broteas and Pelops, and an only Girl called Niobe. He is noted for his indiscretion in discourse, for he revealed all the secrets of the Gods; and for his * 9.72unseasonable curiosity, that moved him to an inhumane act, massacred his own Son Pelops, who was restored to life again; and instead of a shoulder of flesh eaten by Ceres, the Gods bestowed upon him an Ivory shoulder. In remembrance of this favour, all the Race of Pelops did bear an Ivory shoulder blazoned in their Coat of Arms. But Tantalus was sent down to Hell to be punisht with want, and with the fear of a falling Rock that was placed over his head; besides the Eumenides did continually wait upon him, to disturb his quiet with their grim looks, and fearful bawlings. This intimates the grievous and troublesome estate of a Conscience wounded with a crying sin: The Furies of Hell cannot be more unpleasant, and their company bring more torment, than a Soul awakened with the sense of a crime.

Pelops his Son is said to be a great Favourite

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of the Gods, because he did excel in beauty▪ and had served some of them in presenting * 9.73unto them the Cup at a Supper; therefore they restored him to life, and when he desired Hippodamia in Marriage, Neptunus furnisht him with four brave Horses, and a Chariot, to run for his Mistress with her cruel Father. He * 9.74was m re happy than the former Wiers, by the treachery of Myrtilus the Coachman of Aenomaus; for this Varlet being corrupted by the promises of Hippodamia, who desired passionately Pelops for her Husband, and by the perswasions of Pelops himself, he betrayed his Masters life, for which he was cursed by Oenomaus, * 9.75when he was ready to expire. It happened afterwards as he had desired; Myrtilus for a supposed crime was cast headlong from a high R••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 * 9.76cruel, as to kill twelve or thirteen young Gallants that came to seek his Daughter in Marriage; for when he had ünhappily overcom•• them

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in the Race, he did dispatch them out of his sight without mercy. * 9.77

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 * 9.78to carry ••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.

* 9.79 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

* 9.80—Cur calitur Latona per aras? Numen adhuc sine thuie meum est, &c.

Quoquo modo audetis g••ni••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, * 9.81upon the Coast of Greece. Ovid calls her Mygdonia, because of her Image that did stand in the Town of Sipylus, in the Mount Mygdonia.

N••nc quoque Mygdonia flebilis astat humo.

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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

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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.

* 9.82 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 * 9.83and 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

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followed her, and got her with-child, but she secretly convey'd his Sword away. About that time ••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 s••er••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.

* 9.84 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

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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 C••e••s••n••sus of Thracia, * 9.85and 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 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 T••ucria, and sometimes Dardania: The City of Troy did also bear the same name. In

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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 * 9.86after 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.

* 9.87 Laomedon succeeded Ilus his Father; it was ••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

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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.

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〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉 * 9.88 Laomedon had eight Children▪ 〈…〉〈…〉 * 9.89Daughters; 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.

* 9.90 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

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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 Arch••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

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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 rest satisfied with the

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enjoyment of the pleasures of the Court: Therefore he caused a Fleet of twenty Ships to be made ready to sail into Greece, and to demand his Aunt Hesione, carried away by Hercules, and married to Telamon: But his design was rather upon Helena, the Sister of Castor and Pollux, mentioned in the fourth Chapter, and who had been given in Marriage to Menelaus, King of Sparta, a City in the Peloponnesus. He set sail and landed at Sparta, where Menelaus, perswaded by the intrigues Venus, who had put Paris upon this enterprise, received him with all expressions of kindness and civility. And when his affairs did require his presence in Crete, he left him at his Palace in his absence: But the affection of this King was requited with a most notable Treason; for Paris having secretly made friendship with Helena, when he saw such a favourable opportunity, he departed with her into Asia, and carried her to Troy; although Herodotus saith the contrary. But Dares and Dictys, two Writers of that time, who were present at the Siege of Troy, do confirm this Relation.

King Priam was glad of this action, not only because of the hard usage that he had received from the Greeks during his captivity amongst them, and because they had cruelly spoiled this City in the Reign of his Father Laomedon; but also because he did hope by this means to recover out of their hands his Sister Hesione.

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* 9.91 It was the custom of the Heathens, when any strange accident did happen, to consult the Oracles, and to enquire from them what to do. When Priam understood his Wives dream, he sent also to take advice from the Oracle, who informed him, that the Child would be the cause of the Countries ruine. To prevent this mischief, he was designed for the slaughter, as soon as he should come into the world; but Providence, and his Mothers compassion, saved him, and sent him to Mount Ida, to the Kings Shepherd, * 9.92where he was brought up as his Son. He proved as valiant as he was handsome, but vice overcame his generous disposition. He had two sons by Aenone, a Nympb of Mount Ida, Daphnis and Ideas, who were as obscure as their Father was famons. He was at first Renowned for his Justice and civil behaviour; but the pleasures of the Court, and the sudden change of his condition, altered his temper and carriage so, that when Menelaus had received him with all * 9.93expressions of kindness, he rewarded him with ungratitude; he debaucht his Queen, rifled his Palace, plundered the City of Argos, and carried all away Captive, with Helena, and with her two Ladies of Honour, Ethra and Pisadia. The Greeks did revenge this affront and unjustice by a most bloody War, in which almo••t all the Children of Priam were kill'd, and Paris also was mortally wounded by Philoctetes, with the venomous Arrows of Hercules, which had been dipt in the blood of the Hydra in a single fight. Oenone his first

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Wife laboured to cure him, but all her endeavours were in vain. After his death, she had so much love for her unfaithful Husband, as to cast her self in the flames which did consume his Body.

CHAP. XV.

Of the Grecians Preparations against Troy.

AGamemnon, the King of Mycene, a Kingdom of the Peloponesus, near Argos, was mightily concerned for the disgrace of Menelaus; because, as we have said in the twelfth Chapter, they were Brethren, the sons of Atreus, therefore they were named Atrei••.

This was the cause that oblig'd him to acquaint the Princes of Greece with this notable affront, which all the Nations had received.

They all agreed to consult about this business, in two general Assemblies; which were to meet in Sparta, and in Argos. It was there resolv'd, that they should join all their forces together under the leading of Agamemnon to revenge this disgrace, and that they should oblige themselves solemnly by Oath not to forsake the war, until the men of Troy would submit to Reason.

Some of them were unwilling to ingage themselves in this war, Ʋlysses the Son of ••••ertes and King of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and of Dulichia,

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two small Islands of the Ionian Sea, was one of them. He could scarce forsake his Dear Wife, Penclope, of whom he had a Son named Telemachus: His tender affection for her was a tie sufficient to keep him at home: For that reason he did counterfeit a Mad man, ane did joyn two ridiculous creatures to a plow driving them upon the Seashore, which he had sown with salt instead of corn. But as he was both brave and wise in feats of war, the Grecians would not depart without him. Therefore Palamedes undertook to discover his Knavery, by means of his young Son, whom he had got out of the hands of Penclope; for he laid him down in the way by which the plow was to pass, when Ʋlysses perceiv'd it, he turn'd a little aside, for fear of touching the Babe, by this means Palamedes discovered, that he was mad but in appearance out of a design, therefore he was forc'd to take another resolution. Afterwards in the heat of the Siege of Troy he reveng'd himself upon Palamedes for this discovery, producing supposed Letters from Priam against him to perswade the Greeks that he had a design to betray the Army, therefore he was stoned by the Souldiers

There was no small difficulty to get also Achilles, the Son of Peleus, and of the Goddesse Thetis. The Destinies had publish't, that Troy could never be taken without the assistance of this invincible Captain, from his

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Infancy; Thesis had put him in the hands of Patrocles his friend and kinsman, that he might study under Chiron the Centaure, a most accomplished person, not only in Physick and in Musick, but also in all other Sciences and Arts required to render a man fit for great undertakings. Instead of milk and other ordinary food, he did suffer him to eat nothing but the marrow of Lyons, and of wild Beasts, that the courage and strength of these Animals might by that means be nourished in him; from hence it is according to the judgment of some that he is named Achilles, because being fed in this manner without any common * 9.94diet he had no Children. Afterwards Thesis carried him into Hell to dip him in the River Styx that he might be invulnerable all over his * 9.95body, except his heel, which she held in her hand, and which was not dipt: with all this precaution she could not be freed from apprehension; when the Greek Princes were to meet at the Rendezvous of the Army. Therefore she sent him to the Court of King Lycomides in the habit of a Girl: whiles he did there live as a young Lady, he fell in love with the fair Deianira, of whom, he had a Son named Pyrrhus or Neoptolemus: notwithstanding Ʋlisses found him out, for when he came to the Palace of Lycomedes, carrying with him several pretty things for the young Ladies of the Court; he had amongst them beautiful Armes, of which Achilles being led by nature, took hold and so discovered himself:

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when therefore he could not be freed from going with the rest to the War; Thesis desired Ʋulcan to make him such defensive Armes as might not be pierced, to render him more secure in the midst of dangers.

The Haven of Aulis in Beocia over against the Island of Euhoea, now named Negrepont was the Rendezvous of all the Army; but they were many years in preparing all things necessary for so great a design, for the Fleet was no less than twelve or thirteen hundred Ships. And at last there happened an unfortunate accident that put a stop to the Voyage. Agamemnon the General of the Army had kill'd by chance when he was in Hunting, a Doe belonging to Diana: This Goddess to revenge her self, caused a fearful Plague to spread in the Army and destroy great multitudes of Souldiers: The Oracles informed them▪ that there was no other way to stop the increasing Evil, and to appease the Wrath of this Goddess, but to spill upon the Altar the blood of Agamemnon. Ʋlisses understanding the meaning of this Language, employed his cunning to cause the Daughter of this unfortunate Prince by name Iphigenia to come into the Camp. We may easily imagine in what affliction he was in, to see his own Chi d whom he tenderly loved with an extreame affection to be led to the slaughter: when the Throat of this Princess was ready to be ••ut, Diana had pitty of her, and of her Fathers grief, and therefore she put in her place a she

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Goat to serve for a Victime and transported this young Lady into her Temple at Tauris in Scythia, recommending her to the keeping of her great Priest Thoas, and appointing her to wait upon her Altars. After this, all things succeeded well, and the Voyage proved happy untill they arrived at Troy, only Telephus King of Misia endeavoured to hinder their passage, but he was soon put to flight being desperately wounded with the Lance of Achilles. The Oracle informed him, that the only means to appease his grief and the only remedy to his Wounds was to be sought from the Lance that had made them. Therefore he laboured to ingratiate himself with Achill s, who having been instructed by the great Physitian Chiron knew how to cure him, he sent unto him a Remedy, in which, there was some of the rust of the Spere which had wounded him.

Herodotus informes us, that this expedition against Troy did proceed from an old grudge that the Grecians had against the Asians People which did encourage them to offer affronts to one another. This was the true cause of the Voyage of Hercules and of his fellow Worthies against Laomedon: In revenge, Paris stole away the Pearl of beauty from the Grecians. They in requital did besiege and sack Troy: Darius and Xerxes the two Emperours of Asia made an i••rode into Graecia to revenge the injuries received from the Inhabitants of his Kingdoms:

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many excellent Commanders and stout Souldiers were met together in this Army of Greece. Palamedes was famous for his inventions▪ He was an expert Engineer, a Learned Mathematician, * 9.96a witty Astrologer, and a wise Councellor: Philostrates ascribes to him the invention of money, of Sun-dials, of weights, and measures, and of many other useful things; he was the Son of Nauplius Prince of Euboea, mightily envied by Ulisses, for whil'st he lived, the latter had little respect shewed unto him, by his calumnies he rendred him odious to Agamemnon, and then in the absence of Achilles he caused him to be stoned to death, and to be proclaimed, that none should offer to bury him: Achilles and Ajax, notwithstanding this prohibition, put him in the ground, and for his sake, would not assist the Graecians for a while.

* 9.97 Ulysses was the Son of Anticlia, the Daughter of Antholycus, when she was going to Prince Lacrtes to whom she had been promised in Marriage, the famous Robber Sisyphus ravish't her and begot Ulysses, as Ajax saith in the Metam. of Ovid. l. 13. He was not willing to accompany the Greeks in this expedition, because the Oracles had foretold unto him the dangers that he was to run, and the dfficulty of a return: Therefore he did prefer the company of his sweet Penelope to the glory of a famous Victory for which he was to pay so dear. Achilles also fore-seeing that he should end his dayes before Troy, hid himself in the Court of King Lycomedes, in the Island of S••yro; But the latter was

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discovered by Ulysses as he had been by Palamedes: Now the reason which did oblige the Grecians to get Achilles with them, is because the Oracle had declared, that it was impossible for them to overcome unless they had in their Army one of the race of Aeacides, the Arrowes and Bowes of Hercules, and unless they did get into their possession the Horses of Rhesus before they did drink of the River Scamander.

The Trojans had likewise three conditions proposed unto them, upon which did depend the preservation of their City from ruine: The first was the keeping of the Palladium, or the Image of Pallas. The next was, the life of Troilus the Son of Priam. The last was, whiles the Sepulcher of Laomedon did remain untoucht upon the Gate Scaea. Troilus was kill'd by Achilles, the Palladium was stolen by Ulysses, and the Army of Rhesus defeated by Diomedes, and Ulysses▪ so that the Destinies had appointed the taking of Troy.

CHAP. XVI.

Of the Siege of the City of Troy.

VVHen the Greeks were set down before this strong Place, they found, a greater resistance than they had imagined. King Priam had furnished himself with all things necessary for a long Siege, and Memnon one of their best Commanders of his time, had brought unto him valiant compagnies

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of Souldiers from the King of Assyria. * 9.98And Penthesilea Queen of the Amazons was already arrived with a powerful assistance: Besides Rhesus King of Thracia, and Sarpedon the Son of Jupiter King of Lycia, were in their March with a design to joyn with him against ••he Greeks. Also the men of Troy did rep••s•• a great deal of trust in their Palladium, which was the Statue of Minerva fallen from Heaven; and upon which all their fatallity, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the event of this War did depend; for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Oracles had Proclaimed, that they 〈…〉〈…〉 ver be overcome by their Enemies 〈…〉〈…〉 could keep it amongst them. The 〈…〉〈…〉 since been said to the Romans 〈…〉〈…〉 their Ancile, a little Buckler 〈…〉〈…〉 fell down from Heaven in the 〈…〉〈…〉 Num•• Pompilius. But the grea•••••••• ••••rt of the Gods were their enemies, as Homerus informes us; for when they were all met together * 9.99before Jupiter to consult about this business they could never agree, their Disputes were so hot, that there was at first cause to imagine, that they would end in a personal * 9.100fight. Apollo did oppose Neptunus, Minerva was against Mars, Diana against Juno, Mercurius fell out with Latona, and the God Scamander called otherwise Xanthus was against Vulcan.

Now this Scamander seeing 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

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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 * 9.101infallibly perisht there, had not Ju•••• dispatcht away Vulcan in haste to his assistance. This 〈◊〉〈◊〉 himself in a rage, with violent * 9.102flames 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his hand upon the poor Scaman 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••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 me••••ries to all Ages.

Next to Agamemnon, and Menelaus, * 9.103Achilles ••as one of the most remarkable for his va••••r, and his other excellent qualities. Paro ••es his Favourite was a noted Captain, as also Id men••us the Son of Deucalion, Ajax the Son of Telamon, and Ajax the Son of Oil••us King of Locres, who was very swift in running, and excellent in handling bow and arrows and the lance. Schelenus the * 9.104Son of Capaneus was noted for his courage, as also his intimate friend Diomedes King of Ae••ol••a, and Son of Tydeus mentioned before,

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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 Ʋlysses, he did excel more in cunning than in courage, he did invent all manner of Stratagems of war aganist the enemies.

* 9.105 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 * 9.106on 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

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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 * 9.107dead 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 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

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* 9.108 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, Ʋlysses 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 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

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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 Ʋlysses 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.

* 9.109 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, 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

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was able to destroy the Enemies Army.

In the mean while the love of women did * 9.110more prejudice to the Grecians of the weapons of the Trojans, for when Agamemnon did entertain the daughter of a Priest of Apollo, he drew a grievous plague into the Army, which did destroy many until Achilles caused her to be sent home to her Parents to appease the displeasure of this god by the advice of the Soothsayer Calchas. This action did mightily vex Agamemnon, who to revenge himself upon Achilles took from him a certain Briseis otherwise named Hyppodamia, the Daughter of Chryses, for this cause Achilles refused to go out to fight or to assist his companions.

But when it happened that Patrocles had taken upon him, the armes of Achilles to encounter Hector, and having not his strength and excellent qualities, Hector run him through with a lance, and cast him dead to the ground. Achilles being very much afflicted, for the misfortune of his intimate friend, therefore to revenge it he returned again to the Camp with other arms, which Vulean had newly made for him. At the first opportunity he went cut to meet Hector, kill'd him, and having tyed his body to his Chariot, he dragg'd it three times round about the City, and about the Tomb of Patrocles, and afterward sold it to his Father Priam that he might bury it according to the custome.

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This death of Hector did terrefie the besieged, but they were much more afrighted, when they saw Penthisliea the Queen of the Amazons killed also by Achilles, and all her Companiors either cut in pieces or drowned by Diomedes in the water of Scamander.

Memnon thought to have repaired these losses by the slaughter of the enemies. The Trojans did look upon him, as their greatest Bulwark, but he was very dangerously wounded by Ajax the Son of Telamon, and afterwards he was kill'd by Achilles in a single fight. We have already taken notice in the tenth chapter of the first Book, how his mother Aurora was afflicted for him, and how he was metamorphised into a Bird.

When Queen Hecuba saw Memnon dead and the stoutest of her Children killed by Achilles, she saught how she might revenge herself upon him. Paris promis'd to give her satisfaction, for that purpose he dealt treacherously with Achilles, and perceiving that he was in love with Polyxena his Sister, he gave him some hopes of marrying her; Therefore he appointed him a meeting in the Temple of Apollo to discourse about this business, but when Achilles was most secure Paris with an arrow wounded that mortal part of his feet, which had not been dipt in the River Styx.

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* 9.111 holding in one hand a Lance, and in the other a spindle with a distaff. The Statue did no sooner touch the Earth, but it began to march in the presence of the King: The Oracle afterwards did inform him, that Troy should never be taken nor destroyed whil's that remained safe. Ulysses and Diomedes stole secretly into the Citadel of Troy through a gutter, and carried away the Palladium, afterwards Aeneas transported it into Italy, where it was committed to the keeping of the Vestal Virgins.

* 9.112 Priam was assisted by many powerful neighbors, Rhesus came with a great Army to raise the Seige, but Diomedes and Ulysses were dispatched to meet him, in the way they put to flight his men, and killed him, but after his death he was reverenced as a Hero in his Country, and Altars were erected to him, unto which the Poets do say that the Wilde Beasts of their own accord did come to be sacrificed. He was in his life mightily addicted to the sport of hunting, for that reason they did offer unto him after his Death, Wilde Beasts.

* 9.113 Memnon was one of the chief Officers, and Generals of Theutamus King of Persia, who sent his succors to assist Priam his Vassal against the Greeks. He gave order to Memnon Viceroy of Ethiopia, to march thither with ten thousand Ethiopians and other Souldiers: but he was slain by Achylles for killing Antilochus the son of Nestor.

Sarpedon the Son of Jupiter and of Hippodamia

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the Daughter of Bellerophon, or as some say of Jupiter and of Europa, was at the Siege of Troy, with his Kinsman Glaucus the Son of Hyppolochus the Son also of Bellerophon, he was killed by Patroclus.

* 9.114 It is needless to mention all the Commanders of both parties. Homer gives a sufficient account of them and of their habitations. Antilochus deserves to be reckoned amongst the most famons and generous Worthies, for his love to his Father and for his resolution. He was the * 9.115youngest of all the Greeks, a great Favourite of Achilles, when his Father was ready to be * 9.116 kill'd by Memnon, Antilochus stept in between them, and received in his breast the mortal blow, that was intended against the Old man. Achilles revenged his death at the request of Nestor.

We must not forget to say something m re of Idoneus the Grandchild of Minos and of Deucalion his Successor in the Kingdome of Candia: He brought a stout Army of Candians to Troy, and did many brave actions worthy of a Stout Commander. When Troy was taken he was appointed to separate the spoils and allot unto every one his portion. His Kingdom was full of excellent Archers trained up in this exercise from their infancy, for the mothers did seldom give any victuals to their childred every day, until they had fixt an arrow in

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a mark, as big as a shilling, at a considerable distance. The Inhabitants of the Islands Baleares, now Majorca and Minorca, were excellent slingers, their children were wont also to deserve their break-fast by hitting the mark with a stone out of a sling.

CHAP. XVII.

Of the taking and of the ruine of the City of Troy.

THe Peace which the Greeks had concluded with the Trojans, was but a Cheat to surprise them with less difficulty. When they raised the Seige they pretended to leave behind them a Present for Minerva, to appease her wrath, as if they had displeased her by stealing away and profaning the Palladium: for that purpose they caused a woodden Horse of a prodigious bigness to be made. In the belly of it, they place a great many of the stoutest, and of the ablest Souldiers of the Army, as Virgil saith, and left it before the Walls of the City, when they rise to be gone, but they retreated only as far as the Island of Tenedos, staying there to see the successe of their enterprise.

The besieged did immediately go out of their City, where they had been shut up so long (they visit all the quarters of the Greeks Army. They admire this Great Horse

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of Wood. At last they deliberate to know whether they should carry it into their City. Some are of that mind, others are jealous of it, amongst the rest Laocoon cast his lance at it, for which deed the gods did seem to punish him, for they sent two fearful Serpents, to kill him and his two children, which afterwards went to the Statue of Pallas; and there they rested. This accident caused them all to resolve to drag and carry this wooden engine into the City.

They were far more eager when they heard the Relation and Discourse of a certain Sinon, a fellow taught for this purpose by Ʋlysses, and taken as a spy; He did tell them, that when the Fleet was ready to set sail towards Greece. The gods had demanded a Grecian to be sacrificed to them, that the voyage might be prosperous, and that Ʋlysses his mortal enemy having caused the lot to fall upon him, he was forced to run away and hide himself. Thus persisting in his dissimulation, he did tell them that the design of the Greeks was to reconcile themselves to the goddess Pallas, therefore they had dedicated unto her this Horse, which they had caused to be made so big, that it might not enter within the walls of the City, and that the Trojans might not make use of it to their advantage, and to the prejudice of the Greeks.

This Discourse removed oūt of their

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minds all jealousy and suspition, and caused them to resolve to break down a part of the Wall to carry in this great Horse. Every one imployed himself in this work with all their power, and then they departed to drink, to dance, and to make merry, until the evening, and until they were all overcome with a deep sleep.

When Sinon saw all things in this posture he opened the belly of the Horse to let out the Souldiers, who had been there shut in and then he lighted a fire to give notice to the Army which did hasten back again without noise. The Greeks entered by the breach that had been lately made in the wall and soon dispersed themselves into every part of the City to burn and plunder it.

Pyrrhus went directly to the Kings Pallace to revenge his Fathers death, he did there massacre Priamus and one of his Sons Polites before the altar of Jupiter, and then he caused the throat of Polyxena to be cut as a sacrifice to the soul of his Father, who had loved her. He spared the life of Andromache the wife of Hector, and carried her into Greece, where he had by her a Son named Molossus, who since hath been King of part of Epirus, unto which he left his name.

Cassandra was ravisht by Ajax of Locres although she did embrace the Statue of Pallas to save her self; but Agamemnon kept her alive and in his service because of her rare qualities.

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Menelaus received Helena again as his Wife after that he had stobb'd * 9.117Deiphobus who had married her. Hecuba fell to the lot of Ʋlysses, and Helenus a Son of Priam, who was a Prophet, was preserved by Pyrrhus from whom he received many other civilities, because he had hindred him from embarking himself in a Ship, whereof he had foretold the Shipwrack.

Some did also endeavour to save the life of little Astyamax the Son of Hector. His mother Andromache had won the consent of all the Commanders of the Army by her tears and s pplication only Ʋlysses excepted, who prevailed so much upon them, that he was condemned to die, and to be cast headlong from the top of a Tower, for fear, as he said, that he should undertake one day to revenge the death of his Father. This was not the true reason, that perswaded him to this cruelty, but onely a blind passion had oblig'd him to * 9.118it; for if that reason had been the cause, why did they not put to death Helenus the Son of Priam, who was able to do as much mischief, and yet he was preserved alive.

All these miseries with the burning of the City of Troy happened after ten years siege, about three hundred years after that it had been built by Dardanus. This Story is very * 9.119true, although it be mingled with Fables, and that Dictis and Dares two Historians of that time have made no mention of the Souldiers, who were shut into this great wooden

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Horse; that had been left by the Greeks before the City of Troy.

Nothing remains to this Relation but only the knowledge of the adventures of * 9.120some of the Commanders of the Greeks and Trojans in their Voyages after the destruction of the City, for the understanding of the Poets.

We have already taken notice how Ajax of Locres, had ravish'd Cassandra in the presence of the Statue of Pallas, unto which she had fled for protection. This goddess punish'd him for so great an insolency, when he was at Sea, in his return homewards, for she having obtained from Jupiter, the favour of disposing of his tempests and thunderbolts but once, she employed them in rendring the Sea tempestuous, and in burning the Ships of Ajax to drown him. Nevertheless he saved himself by swimming to the next Rocks, upon which he climbed and in a rage against the gods he did declare, that he would free himself from this danger, onely by his strength maugre all the gods which words when Neptunus had heard h•• broke off the top of the Rock, on which h•• stood with his trident, and tumbled it into the Sea, so that he was there drowned, bu•• Thetys being moved with compassion for him

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she took him and buried him upon the Sea shore with her own hands.

* 9.121 Nauplius also was very much displeased at the Commanders of the Army, because they had unjustly condemned his Son Palamedes to death by the perswasions of Ʋlysses, therefore he caused many fires to be kindled on the top of Caphereus in the Island of Eueboa over against Hellespont, that the Fleet might bend their course that way, and run against the Rocks of the Sea-shore, but his design did not succced according to his expectation, for Ʋlysses and Diomedes sailed another way.

When Idomeneus one of the valiantest Commanders of the Army was ready to be shipwrackt, he engaged himself by a vow to Neptunus to sacrifice unto him, the first thing that he should meet with, when he should enter into the borders of his Country, if he would deliver him from the present danger. He was so unhappy, as to see his own Son first, and when he went about to sacrifice him according to his promise, he was opposed by the people of his country, who would not suffer so great an inhumanity committed amongst them. Some say that he did according to his wicked vow, offer his Son to Neptunus, and that for this inhumanity, he was banisht by his Subjects into Italy.

* 9.122 There were several other famous men in the Siege of Troy not mentioned in this place, Polydamas

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and Euphorbns the children of Panthus * 9.123a Trojan, were great Commanders, valiant in fight, and wise in Counsels. Pythagoras in Ovid. saith that his Soul had been formerly that of Euphorbus, who had been killed by Menelaus.

* 9.124 Morte carent animae, semperque priore relicta. Sede, novis domibus vivunt, habitantque receptae & postea. Ipse ego nam memini Trojani tempore belli Panthoides Euphorbus eram, cui pectori quondam Haesit in adverso gravis Hasta minoris Atridae.

It is not posible to describe perfectly the miseries and dreadful image of a City surprised by an Enemy. Virgil represents the burning of Troy in verse. but Nero caused it to appear more lively in the burning of Rome, which he kindled for this purpose.

The poor Inhabitants of this unhappy City had no good Quarter granted them. When Priamus their Prince with his Sons were cruelly murdered without any respect to their qualities * 9.125and age, and in the holiest places. Hecuba outlived all these calamaties of her people, and was transported into Greece, where Ulysses, whose life she had spared, caused her to be stoned to death, but her Ghost haunted and disturb'd him for this great ingratitude. The Poets say, that she was metamorphised into a Bitch, that

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barks continually, because in her life she never ceast from bawling and cursing the Greeks, who had butchered all her Relations. Some say, that she was drowned in the Sea, not far from * 9.126Oeuboea, therefore it was called Cynaeum, because she was said to be transformed into a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Barking Dog.

Helena returned with her Husband to Sparta, where she lived until he died. She being afterwards banisht by the Sons of Menelaus, * 9.127fled to Rhodes to Queen Polixena her old acquaintance, who suffered her to be hang'd on a Tree for her infamous and wicked life.

CHAP. XVIII.

Of the Adventures of Agamemnon and of Orestes his Son, after the Siege of Troy.

* 9.128 WHen Agamemnon was returned from the Wars, with the Crowns and Laurels of his Victories, he found more dangerous enemies at home, than abroad: For his Wife Clytemnestra, who had shamefully dishonoured herself by incest with Aegistus in the absence of her husband, help'd to ensnare and murder him as we have seen in the twelfth Chapter of this books

Cassandra who came with Agamemnon from Troy forewarned him of the danger, and during the Voyage did continually advertise him of

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the misfortune that waited for him at home. But this Prophetess, who had received from Apollo the gift of prophesying the things to come was never credited, because she had offended this god by her unfaithful dealing, therefore (he punish'd her with this disgrace, that no body should believe what she said, but rather the contrary.

Orestes did mightily concern himself for the massacre of his Father, therefore in revenge of this inhumanity, he put Aegistus and his mother Clytemnestra the Actors of it, to death, and although he did seem to have just cause to proceed in this manner, the Furies, that is the remorsc of Conscience, did continually torment him, and disturb his thoughts, representing unto him the foulnesse of a Sons crime, who stob'd his own Mother.

He could no longer endure this torment of his mind, when he went to consult the Oracle, who inform'd him, that the only remedy to his troubled Conscience was to undertake a Voyage as far as Scythia Taurica to the Temple of Diana, and to steal from thence the Statue of the goddess, and to bring it into Greece.

According to this advice, he went with his Dear Friend, Pylades, the Son of King Strophius, who had alwayes lived with him, and run the same dangers, and espoused the same quarrels. Pylades continued his kindness to him in this occasion, and expressed

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it, by venturing with him in this Voyage

The Law of the Countrey did condemn all Strangers, who were found within the borders of the Province to be sacrificed upon the Altar of Diana, unto whom nothing but humane Victimes were offered. Orestes and Pylades, were taken and presented to Thoas the High Priest, who commanded there as a Sovereign Prince. He condemned but one of the two to death, which caused a hot dispute between Orestes and Pylades, for either of them was willing to lay down his life to save his friend's. The lot fell upon Orestes, therefore he was given to the keeping of Iphigenia, who was the She-Priest of Diana. But it happened that she quickly knew and acknowledged her brother. Afterwards they resolved both to run away and to free themselves from the eminent peril, by killing the inhumane Butcher Thoas, which they found an opportunity to accomplish, at the same time Pylades came to them, and all three together fled away with speed, with the Statue of Diana, which they hid in a bundle of Sticks, therefore she was afterwards named * 9.129Diana fascelis.

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In this manner Orestes returned happily again into Greece having freed himself from the Furies that did disturbe him, and he took upon him the Government of his fathers Kingdom, building many Cities, and perticularly Oresta in Thracia, which is now named Adrianople.

When Agamemnon departed with his Army to Troy he left with his Wife Clytemnestra an excellent Poet and Musician to divert her amorous and melancholick thoughts, while this Poet remained in her service, Aegystus the Son of Thyestes mentioned in Chapter 12th. could never have any accesse unto her, nor power to entice her to his lust; therefore he kil'd first the Musician, and then he quickly prevail'd in his wicked design. He lived with her until Agamemnon was returned from Troy: Then his wife agreed with Aegistus to kill him. A Feast was prepared to receive him with more joy, but as he was stepping out of a bath she caused a shirt to be prepared for him that was sowed up at the Neck and Arms: When he was putting it on, she cut him over the pate with a great Hatchet, and kill'd Cassandra with the same, whiles Aegistus was destroying the other Guests, the Friends of Agamemnon, who had been invited to this bloody Banquet.

* 9.130 Some say that Clytemnestra was informed by a malicious Fellow Oeax, that her husband * 9.131was bringing with him a Rival, therefore she consented to his death with Aegistus.

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Electra her Daughter saved Orestes, and sent him to her Ʋnckle Strophius, who was married to her Aunt Astrioche the Sister of Agamemnon in Beotia, where he lived until he found an opportunity of revenging his Fathers death, by killing the Murderers. Aegistus and his own Mother.

For that purpose he came with his intimate Friend Pylades in a disguise to Mycenes, where Clytemnestra dwelt feigning himself to be a Traveller come from Beotia with the certain * 9.132news of the death of Orestes. Aegistus received them for that cause with much joy, because he was apprehensive of the courage and displeasure of Orestes. These disguised Travellers took their time, and kill'd both Aegistus and Clytemnestra, for which deed they were both apprehended, and sent to Prison, but the Inhabitants s••t them at liberty for Agamemnons sake. Orestes was afterwards tormented * 9.133with Furies, for the unnatural massacre of his Mother: to deliver himself from them, he went to fetch Diana out of Scythia, where he killed the High-Priest Thoas, and after his return he caused his friend to take his dear Sister Electra to Wife, and he was married to * 9.134Hermione the Daughter of Helena for whom he stob'd Pyrrhus, the Son of Achilles, who had taken her by force. He was afterwards a very happy Prince, and succeeded his Father in the Government of the Kingdom of Argos.

Now this Thoas mentioned in the last Chapter, minds me of a strange and pleasant Story

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mentioned by the Poets. The Women of the Island * 9.135Lemnos in the Archipelagus did forbear their accustomed sacrifices to Venus, who was so highly incensed against them for this contempt and neglect, that she caused them to be loathsome to their Husband; so that they divorced them, and were married to others of Greece, they who were thus slighted and put away, plotted the death and massacre of all the men of the Island, which they brought to pass, only Hypsiphile sent away her Father Thoas, who landed afterwards in Scythia, and became the High-Priest in the Temple of Diana. The Argonauts about that time in their Voyage to Colchos landed at Lemnos, where they were requested by the women during their stay to performe the Office of their murthered Husbands. They were as kind as the others desired, therefore from them did proceed a new Generation, which peopled the Island:

CHAP. XIX.

Of the Adventures of Ulysses, after the Siege of Troy.

WHen Ʋlysses had endured the inconveniencies of a long Siege of ten years, he had yet to suffer, and run the dangers of as long a Voyage, that could not be finished before the end of ten years more. As soon as he was come out

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into the main, a furious Tempest drives him on the Thracian Shoar in the City of the Ciconians, where he lost Hecuba as some do say, for this Queen understood there how her Son in law Polymnestor the King of Thracia, unto whom she had sent her little Son Polydorus, with her richest jewels in the first beginning of the war, had cruely put him to death, and buried him near the Sea, to enrich himself with the entrusted goods, therefore she resolved to visit him, before she proceeded further, and that she might draw him to her with less difficulty she thought it her best way to pretend ignorance of his perfidious dealing, and to send privately word to him, that she had something more very precious to commit to his keeping; but as soon as she saw him, she flew in his face, and put out his eyes. At last when she could no longer endure the miserable estate unto which she was reduced she murdered herself. Ovid saith, that she was stoned by the Thracians, because she had pluck•• out the eyes of their Prince: Afterwards she was metamorphosed into a Dog,

Ʋlysses was grieved for the losse and death of this Great Princesse; whom he esteemed * 9.136more than all that he had brought from Troy, but this was the least displeasure, that he was to receive, for first instead of sailing towards Ithaca, the violent winds forced him into Africa, where he arrived in the country of the Lotophagoi, so named

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from a certain fruit called L••tos, which is so pleasant to the taste, and of such a strange vertue, that as soon as his men had tasted of it, they lost the desire of returning home to their friends, so that he was forced to oblige them by violence to repair to their Ships again.

He had no sooner set sail from thence but a sudden storm carried him into Sicily, where he fell into the hands of Polyphemus, the most noted of all the Cyclops mentioned in the Chapter of Neptunus. At his first arrival Polyphemus eat up six of his men, and promised to do him the kindness to reserve him for the last morsel, But he found a way to prevent the others cruelty, and his own mischief, by overcoming him first with wine••, and then by putting out▪ the eye that was fixed in his forehead. Afterwards he escaped and fled to the god Aeolus, who received him with all civilities, and gave him as a present all the winds, the Zephyrus only excepted. They were there kept in great and large Tuns, that they might not fly out nor oppose him, in his return homewards.

But the men of Ʋlysses out of curiosity opened these Tuns to peep, and see what was within, by that means the winds escaped out, so that when he spread his sails, they tost him up and down, and forced him back again to the shore of the Islands of Aeolus, who would not receive him again, nor grant unto him any other favour, therefore he was

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constrained by the violence of the weather to land upon the coast of the Lestrigones near * 9.137that place where now is scituate the Haven of Cajeta. There was a kind of Antropophages a cruel people, who did inhabit there. Their Kings name was Antiphates, he ceased upon some of Ʋlysses his men, and devoured them, destroying all the Ships of the Fleet, only that excepted where Ʋlysses was aboard.

This cruelty caused him to sail away with all speed to a little Island, where Circe, the daughter of the Sun, and Queen of a King of the Sarmates did make her abode. Some do ascribe to this woman the invention of inchantments and of poisons, which she did give to her Subjects, and others. She did not spare her own husband, that she might reign alone without controul. Therefore her Subjects sought to destroy her, and obliged her to fly for her life to a little Island near the Dukedom of Tuscany in Italy. When Ʋlysses was arrived, he sent up into the land some of his men, to discover what place it was, but this Magician gave them a drink, as it were out of kindness to refresh them, and transform'd them by it, into Hogs, and other sort of Creatures. Onely Eurylochus of this Company, who had not tasted of her enchanted drink, escaped away to acquaint Ʋlysses with this strange metamorphosis. Ʋlysses was mightily astonished at the newes. Therefore he resolved to go in person, and seek out the

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Witch. Mercurius fnrnished him with a certain herb, called Moly, with which the gods do use to preserve themselves from poison and witchcraft. Being thus provided he went unto her with his naked sword in his hand, and forced her to restore his men to their former shapes, which she did. Afterwards they contracted such strict amity together, that she bore unto him many children, of whom Thelegonus was the Eldest.

Whiles he stayed with Circe he went down into Hell, by her assistance, to consult the Oracles of the dead; where he met Elpenor one of his men, kill'd by a fall in a drunken fit, since his depart from Circe.

He saw also there the Souls of his Mother Anticlea, and of Tiresias the Sooth-sayer having sufficiently informed himself from them concerning his destinies, and of the things, that should happen nnto him, he returned to Circe to take shipping again in pursuance of his Voyage.

We have taken notice in the former book in the 11 Chapter, how he shun'd the charms of the Syrens, when he sailed by the Island, where thy made their abode by causing himself to be bound fast to the mast of the Ship, and all his men to have their ears stopt with wax, for fear that the pleasant harmony of the Syrens should prevail upon them. Afterwards they escaped through the Gulphs of Scylla and Charibdis, and arrived at Sicily. Where they met with Phaetusa the Daughter

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of the Sun, who was there watching over the consecrated Cattel of her Father, Ʋlysses 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 Ʋlysses 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 Ʋlysses 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 P••••acks, which is at the entry of the Gulfe of Venice and now named Corcyra or Corfou.

Nau••••ae the Daughter of Arcinou•• the King of the Island found him all naked

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upon the Sea shore, and having given unto him a cloak to cover him, she conducted him to the Queen her Mother. Ʋlysses 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 Ʋlisses was troubled how to discover himself, with the safety of his person and re-enter into possession

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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. Ʋlysses at that instant stept out, and Telegonus not knowing him ran him through with his lance, which was headed with the ve••emous back bone of a Se••fish. Of this wound he afterwards died.

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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.

* 9.138 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

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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

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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 ••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 entertained by Helenus, he received from him instructions, how he should proceed in his voyage into Italy. He departed and arrived at Drepanum in Sicily having happily past the coast of the Cyclopes, where he saved a miserable fellow of the men of Ʋlysses left there behind by this vagabond and unfortunate Prince. He passed also overagainst the Promontories of Scylla and Caribdis without harm.

But this place was unfortunate unto him, for there he lost his old Father Anchises, who ended his days in a very decrepit age: Acestes the Prince of the Country did comfort him by granting unto him all the assistance and favour, that his dominions or abilities could afford: And when Aeneas departed, he furnished his ships with very good wine, and all sorts of Provisions.

About this time Juno the sworn enemy of the Trojans sent to Aeolus the god of the winds to perswade him to let them

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flie out against Aeneas, and his Fleet that it might be cast away. He was reduc'd to the last extreamity, by this Storm, and had infallibly perish'd, had not Neptunus been displeased, because this tempest had happened without his privity or consent, therefore he pacified the waves of the Sea, and left the Fleet of Aeneas scattered upon the Coast of Africa near Carthage seven years after their depart from Troy.

At that time Elisa sirnamed Dido the Daughter of the King of Tyre, the Widow of Sicheus had lately settled herself in Africa, overagainst Drepanum in Sicily, for when she saw her Husband murdered by Her wicked Brother Pigmalion, who desired to get his riches into his possession, and when she saw, that he intended the same mischief to her, she imbarked her self with all her riches, which this Traitor had a design to take, and sailed with them into Africa, where for a vast sum of mony, she bought from the Natives, as much ground as she could compass with an Oxes hide to settle there her dwelling, when she could obtain no more from them, she caused the hide to be cut in very slender pieces, so that they where able to compasse in a very large circuit of ground. There she laid the Foundations of the City of Cartbage, which was called at first By••sa, because of the Oxes hide.

Aeneas and all his men went to seek

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Protection from his Queen, who received them very kindly. She grew so amorous of Aeneas, that she was willing to have made him her husband, notwithstanding the resolution, that she had formerly taken to marry none after Sicheus unto whom she had devoted her heart and affections, when therefore Hiarbus, King of Getulia, her neighbour, was a Suiter to her, she sent him back with a flat denial, and by that means procured unto herself his displeasure.

But when Aeneas had made some short stay in this place, Jupiter dispatcht away a messenger unto him to command him to leave Africa and obey his Destinies that did call him into Italy. Dido endeavoured in vain to stop him; when therefore she saw him resolved to depart, she loaded him with the curses and reproaches of a furious and despairing Lover, then having caused a pile of wood to be erected, she ascended upon it and kill'd her self, with a sword prepared for that purpose. Her body was burning in the sight of Aeneas, when he was under sail. Virgil relates the Story in this manner in the Fourth Book of the Aeneids after that in the First he had described that furious Storm that cast him after his depart from Sicily upon the coast of Africa, where he was joyfully received by Dido. In the second he relates unto this Queen, the manner of the burning

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of Troy, and in the Third Book, he gives unto her an account of the several particulars, that had happened unto him after his leaving of Troy, until his first arrival into Sicily, for the next year after he was forced by another tempest to put into Sicily, when he had left Carthage. At this time he paid unto the memory of his Father Anchises many funeral Rites, celebrating several sorts of playes and combats upon his tomb. Afterwards he left all the weak and decripit persons, useless in war, with Alcestes, with the rest of his companions he passed into Italy.

He arrived very happily at Cumes, where he visited the Sybil in her Cave, that by her means he might go down into Hell, and enter into the Elisian Fields, to discourse with his Father, and learn all the passages of his life, and his future adventures. He performed this Journey in the company of the Sybil, having first found the golden branch, which was at the entrance of Hell, and which was to be presented by him to Proserpina.

At his return from Hell he puts again to Sea, and sails with his Fleet to the mouth of the River of Tiber, from thence he went to Laurentum to visit King Latinus▪ who did command in that place. This Prince received him with all expressions of kindness, and when he understood the cause of his coming, he promised to bestow

upon him his onely Daughter, Lavinia in marriage, because he had been informed by the Oracle, that the gods had designed her for this forrein Prince. She had been nevertheless promised before to Turnus the King of the Rutuli, and Amata the Queen her Mother, the Wife of Latinus, did mightily favour him.

This happy beginning did increase very much, and raise the Spirits of Aeneas and caused him to forget all the miseries, that he had endured in his long voyage of so many years. But Juno was not a little displeased at his felicity, therefore she sent for Alecto, one of the furies of Hell to kindle a war, and destroy the hopes of the Trojans.

Assoon as Turnus had understood these passages, he gathered all his forces, and those of his friends together to march against Aeneas, and his Trojans. But their number being few, and not able to resist, the god Tiberinus encouraged them, when they were ready to faint away for fear, and advised Aeneas to ascend higher up into the Country to the place, where Rome was afterwards built, to visit King Evander, with whom he made a firm league, and from whom he obtained succours, which Pallas the only Son of this Prince was resolved to lead in Person to assist Aeneas. He departed therefore with them to joyn with the Trojans, whilest Aeneas

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accepting of a favourable opportunity, that was there presented unto him to engage the Tyrrhenians in his party, he departed into that Country to perswade them, he found them all in arms against their King Mezentius, who had committed most horrid cruelties, for he did joyn and tie the living to the dead, placing their mouths and all the foreparts of the bodies of the one against the same members of the other, and did cause them to languish to death in this most cruel and loathsome manner.

The Army of Aeneas in his absence suffered many inconveniencie, for Turnus had besieged them, and his Subjects had burnt up their Ships, which were afterwards turned by 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

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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 ••••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 Latine••

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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 * 9.139learned Jesuit hath not mentioned a faithful companion of Aeneas, who loved

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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.

* 9.140 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 * 9.141the 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

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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 * 9.142Daughter named Plataea, whom Jupiter pretended to advance into Junos place, only to oblige her to seek his favour, and be reconciled to him.

* 9.143 Canopus was the Pilot of the Ship which brought Menelaüs back towards Greece, when a storm had forced him on the coast of Egypt, * 9.144after the ruine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 roy. This Canopus went on shore, and was ••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 * 9.145as 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 * 9.146it 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; Ai••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

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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 coup•••• 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 demanded one of his Daughters to be ••acrificed to him as a satisfaction. The unfortunate Erichtheus granted one, but the three others destroyed themselves, because they had sworn not to outlive one another. Erichtheus afterwards was killed by Jupiters thunderbolts; and the Athenians honoured his memory with a Temple and an Altar, and worshipped him with his Daughters,

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for offering themselves to save their Country * 9.147from Neptunes rage.

* 9.148 Harpocrates was the Aegyptian God of Silence, the Son of Isis; his Statue stood near the Image of Serapis, with a finger on his lips, and a Wolves skin, full of eyes, about his shoulders. Plutarch names him * 9.149〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and saith, that the Peach-tree was consecrated to him. Amongst the Romans the Goddess Angerona, or Volupia, was in the same esteem as Harpocrates amongst the Aegyptians.

Iphis was a famous Youth, as amorous of Anaxarete as he was beautiful, yet she had the courage to give him a repulse, which cast him into such a fit of madness, that he destroyed himself. When his Body was carried to be buried, Anaxarete desi••ous to see it, looked out of a Window so ••arnestly upon him, that she was turned into a Stone.

The Poets speak of another Anaxarete, who was by the power of Isis turned into a Boy. This fabulous story is related of o••hers as true by persons of credit. The Physitians do say, that it is possible that Maids should become Boys by a violent ex••ulsion of the Natural parts. In Vitry in France, Mary Germain was betrothed to a * 9.150••opeful young man, who was in great expectation of enjoying her for his Wife, ••ut the poor Fellow was miserably deceived when the day of Marriage was come;

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she happened to leap more violently than it did become her Sex, and was turned from a Maid into a Boy, as my Author tells me.

Lycaon, the Son of Titan and of Terra, or of Pelasgus King of Arcadia, was so cruel a Tyrant, that he murdered all strangers that did fall into his hands. Jupiter being desirous to know whether he were as inhumane as the report did make him, went to lodge at his House, with the rest of the Gods, in a disguize. When they were asleep, Lycaon endeavoured to destroy Jupiter; but when he saw his wicked design could not be brought to pass, he took an Hostage that was in his house, boiled part of him, roasted the rest of his members, and then laid him upon the Table in dishes for Jupiter to eat. Jupiter inraged at this horrible deed, leapt from the Table, and departed with his Heavenly Company in a Thunder, leaving the Kings Palace in a flame, at which sight Lycaon was so much affrighted, that he ran away and hid himself in the Woods, where he was turned into a ravenous Wolf.

Lycus, the King of Beotia, was married to Antiopa, the Daughter of Nycteus, whom Jupiter got with-child in the form of a Satyr. When Lycus her Husband perceived her in this condition, and knew that it did not proceed from him▪ he put her away, and married Dyree, who was so

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cruel to the poor Antiopa, that she kept ••ier fast bound in Chains. Jupiter out of compassion released her, and sent her to Mount Citheron, where she was safely delivered of Amphion and of Zethus, twins, who became brave and renowned men of their time. When they grew up to mans estate, they revenged their Mothers disgrace upon Lycus her Husband, by dragging him at the tail of a Wild Horse, and by tearing his Body in pieces in this cruel manner. Dirce was changed into a Fountain of her name, after that she had been most inhumanely treated by Amphion and by Zethus, whom we have mentioned before.

* 9.151 Lynceus was a barbarous Prince of Scythia, he entertained in his house a messenger named Triptolcmus, whom Ceres had sent to him to teach him how to sow corn, and till the earth. When he had understood as much as was required for that purpose, he cruelly murdered him, that himself might have the honour of the first invention of such useful Arts. Ceres punisht him, and changed him into a Beast, called Lynx. We have already mentioned this cruel King in another place.

Nycteus was the Son of Neptunus, and of the Nymph C••lene, the Daughter of Atlas; Nyctimene his Daughter fell in love with him, and by the means of her Nurse made him drunk, and committed Incest

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with him; but when he came to know it, he did so much vex and torment her, that she sled away into the Woods to hide her self, and was there turned into an Owl.

Tereus, the Son of Mars, and of Bristoni••, ravi••••t Philomela his own Sister, after that he had espoused Progne King Pandions Daughter: Afterwards he was so inhumane as to cut her tongue out of her mouth, that she might not discover his Villany. Philomela being deprived of the use of that member, imployed her hand to write a Letter to her Sister-in-law Progne, and acquaint her with her Husbands inhumanity. As soon as she came to understand it, she kill'd her Son Itys, boiled him, and presented him to Tereus for his Supper. This cruelty cast him into such a fit of madness, that he ran to his Wife with a naked Sword, with a design to kill her; but she was turned into a Swallow, and escaped out of his reach: He was metamorphosed into a Lapwing▪ and Philomela into a Nightingale, that yo•• laments for the loss of her Maidenhead.

* 9.152—Ityn huc accersite, dixit. Dissimulare nequit crudelia gaudia Progne. Intus habes, quod poscis, ait, circumspicit ill••▪ Atque ubi sit, quaerit, quaerenti iterumque v••¦canti, &c

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Tityus, the Son of Jupiter and of Elara, w s said to be the Son of the Earth, because he had been hid by his Father, when he was young, in the Earth, for fear of Juno. He was kill'd by Apollo, because he attempted to ravish Latona his Mother: He is now cast into Hell, where his huge Body covers, as the Poets say, nine acres of ground, and his heart is continually tormented by the beaking of Ravens. By this Fable is intimated the troubles and tortures of a wounded Conscience: No Raven nor Eagle can cause more pain by frequent beaking, than the sense of a grievous sin, when it is not accompanied with the hopes of Gods mercy.

CHAP. XXII.

Of the Hcathen Gods, who were proper •••• several places and Countryes in the World, and who had been men.

I Shall not name Jupiter, Apollo, Mercurius, Belus, and other Gods, of whom we have given a sufficient account before; I confess these universal Gods had been but men, or rather these names of men had been translated and ascribed to the Gods. I shall here▪ speak of the particular Gods, who were adored in many places of the World, whose Jurisdiction did reach no farther than the bounds of a Kingdom, or

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of a City, and to whose care and protection the places where they were adored were committed.

Psapho was a cunning Fellow of Lybia, who lived in some reputation, but he was desirous of more, unto which he attained by this act of pollicy: He taught secretly in his dwelling a multitude of Parrots to say in the Punick language, Psapho is a great God.

When they had well learned this Lesson, he sent them out into the Woods, and into the Fields: By this means it happened, that these prating Birds that knew no other language, by frequent repetitions, taught it to many other Birds, that divulged and proclaimed it all over the Country. The ignorant people had no sooner heard them, but they believed that Psapho was a God, therefore they appointed unto him, in a part of Lybia, a Temple, Sacrifices, Priests, and all other things belonging to the Worship of the true God.

Carmelus was the God of Mount Carmel in Judaea. Tacit. mentions him when he relates how his Priest did foretell unto Vespasian that he should be Emperour.

* 9.153 Enenth Seir, or as some call him Enenthius, was a God of the Phoenicians.

* 9.154 Epires was the great Interpreter of the Gods amongst the Aegyptians: He was painted with the head of a Hawk.

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Dercetus was a Goddess adored near Askalon, and represented as a Beautiful Woman. Ovid makes mention of her, lib▪ 4. Metam.

—De te Babylonia narret Derceti, quam versa, squamis velantibus artus, Stagna Palestini credunt coluisse figurâ.

* 9.155 Adad was a God of the Assyrians, his wife is thought to be Adargatis. Astarte was another Goddess of the same Country, mentioned in the former Book.

* 9.156 Adramus was the Tutelar God of Sicilia, as Conisalus and Minerva were of the Athenians, Cabrus of Pamphylia, and * 9.157Tanais of the Armenians. This Goddess did require the same Worship as Anaitis, and Venus Syria, for the Maids were obliged to loose their Maidenhead in her Temple, at her Altars, before they did dream of Marriage.

Sosipolis Deus, the God of the Eleans in Grecia, saved a City from the fury of the Arcadian Army in the form▪ of a little Child, who was changed before them into a Serpent. The sudden Metamorphosis struck such a terror into their minds, that when the Eleans made a Sally upon them, they ran away▪

Jupiter and Apollo were also named 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, savers of Cities.

* 9.158 Palmytius was a God of the Aegyptians.

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* 9.159 Alabandus was a warlike God of Caria, adored especially by the Alabandenses.

Tenes was the Son of Cyenus, kill'd by Achilles, as Plutarchus informs us; therefore the name of Achilles was not to be pronounced in his Temple, which was in the Island of Tenedos.

Coronis was a Goddess worshipped in some places of Greece, in the Temple of Minerva: Some say that she was the Mother of Aeseulapius.

* 9.160 Damia and Auxesia were honoured by the command of the Oracle in Epidaurus in Greece, that their Country might be made fruitful; for before it was so barren, that it would not yield sufficient returns to the labours of the painful Husbandman.

Drimachus, a famous Captain of Chios, was there worshipped after his death.

Amphiaraus the Sooth-sayer, and Amphilochus the Son of Nestor, were placed amongst the Gods, and adored in Attica.

Ogoas was a God of Caria.

Zamolxis was the Law giver amongst the Getae, as Herodotus saith: He studied Philosophy under Pythagoras. When he was returned into his Country, he taught the people the customes and manners of the Greeks, and for his good instructions he was worshipped as a God, after his death, as Cencus was after him in the same Climat, for excelling in the Magick Art, in

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the daies of Augustus the Emperour.

* 9.161 Crephagenetus was the God of the Thebans in Egypt, whom they esteemed Immortal. Herodotus relates, that they only of all the people of Egypt did refuse to admit the extravagant superstition of other Cities, and that they would never grant Divine Homage to the mortal Gods. This singularity may have proceeded from those * 9.162good impressions which the Children of Israel had left amongst them, for the City of Thebs was next Neighbour to the Land of Goshen.

The name given unto this God by the Greeks is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and with the small change of a Vowel 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, secretly born. From Herodotus and others we may perceive, that the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 hath been used for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; for he calls an Asyle, or a place of refuge 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because men do secretly hasten to save themselves in them, when they apprehend the pursuits of an Enemy. Now I conceive this name is but an interpretation of the old Egyptian Title given to this God, for the Egyptians did not make use of the Greek Tongue ordinarily, but only after the Victories of Alexander the Great; therefore they must have had a name proper to their language for this, as for their other Divinities. But there appears a seeming contradiction in the Titles 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and Immortal and Eternal,

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which were the Attributes of Honour ascribed to this God. We Christians are taught, that these Epithets are only proper to the Son of God, the second Person in the sacred Trinity, who is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, secretly begotten from all Eternity in an incomprehensible manner, and yet he is Immortal and Eternal with the first Person the Father. The sublimest Creatures can never perfectly understand or pry into this Mysterious Generation, which hath ever continued, and shall ever continue to all Eternity; therefore only Christ can be said to be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and Immortal and Eternal.

From hence we may justly conceive, that these Thebans had some understanding of this great Mystery, the Generation of the Son of God; and that they understood by this 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the second Person of the Incomprehensible Trinity, whom they acknowledged to be both Immortal and Eternal. It is certain, that the Heathens were not altogether ignorant of the Trinity, as may be gathered out of Plato, and the dispersed Relicks of the writings of Sauchoniathon, and of Porphyrius.

We may further take notice, that when this 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, our Divine Emanuel, was pleased to take upon him our Nature, and was forced to fly for shelter into Egypt, he came with Joseph and Mary his

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Mother to dwell in the Province of Thebais, * 9.163not far from the ancient City of Thebs, in a place which is mightily frequented by all Pilgrims that travel into those parts.

Tholesphorus was worshipped near the City of Pergama, in Asia minor, by the Command of the Oracle.

Sangus, or Sanctus, or Sancus, was the God of the Sabins. S. Austin names him Xanthus, L. 18. de Civit. Dei. Cap. 19. He was their first King, and had a Temple standing in Rome. Ovid.

Quaerebam nonas Sancto, fidio ne referrem An tibi semipater, tunc mihi Sanctus ait. Cuicun{que} ex illis dederis, ego numen habebo, Nomina terna fero, sic voluere Cures.

And Sill. Italicus.

—Et laetipars Sanctum voce canebant Autorem gentis, pars laudes ore ferebant Sabes tuas, qui de patrio cognomine primus. Dixisti populos magna dit••one Sabinos.

Tages was a God of the Hetrurians in Italy, of whom Ovid thus speaks, Lib. 15. Metamorph.

Indigenae dixere Tagem, qui primus Hetruscam Edocuit gentem, casusque aperire futuros.

He was a pretended Child of Jupiter; he taught the rude people of Hetruria several

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Arts and Sciences; therefore they worshipped his memory, and his Statues.

Albunea was a Goddess inhabiting near the source of the River Tiber; adored in that part of Italy as Feronia and Marica were.

* 9.164 Hunc fauno & Nympha genitum Laurente Marica.

Palicus was a God of Sicily: Antinous * 9.165the great Favourite of the Emperour Adrian, was worshipped in Bithynia; Bessus was a God of Greece, Caelestus or Ʋranus of Africa. I should be too prolix if I should name all the Gods of the Heathens, worshipped in every corner of the World: What hath been said will be sufficient for the understanding of the Heathen Authors.

CHAP. XXIII.

Of some few famous Women of Antiquity.

THe Famous Queens of Antiquity were these, Alceste the Wife of King Admetus; she freely gave her life to save her Husband from death.

Semiramis, that warlike Queen of Assyria, that enlarged the bounds of the Empire, and built Babylon. Thomiris, Queen of Scythia, overcame Cyrus, and

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caused his head to be chopt off, and cast into a bag full of blood, with this rereproach, Satia te sanguine quem sitisti.

* 9.166 Cleopater was a notable Queen of Egypt, the Curtisan of Antonius, overcome by Augustus in a Sea-fight. She caused two Serpents to sting her to death, when she saw that she could not oppose the power of the Romans, who were resolved to lead her in Triumph.

Zenobia was a Queen of Armenia, the Wife of Radamistus, driven out of his Kingdom by Tiridates, mentioned in Cor▪ Tacit.

Amalasuntha was a Queen of the Goths, Esther of the Persians. Irene, a Famous Empress of Constantinople, who lived in the daies of Charlemaign, and governed the Eastern Empire. Odatis was a Famous Princess, the only Child and Heiress of Homartes, King of part of Bactria: When she was fought in Marriage, she refused all that came unto her, and was resolved to bestow her self upon a strange Prince whom she had seen in a dream, and fancied so much, that she could not be quiet until she had dispatched away messengers to him, to fetch him into her Fathers Court.

Olympias, the Wife of Philip, and Mother of Alexander the Great, was remarkable for her courage and bold spirit; she freely offered her▪brest to the weapons of

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the Souldiers who had been sent to murder her.

Caesara, a noted Empress of Persia, caused her Husband and all his Army to become Christians, and mediated an agreement between the Sophy and the Emperour of Constantinople.

Julia the Empress was famous for her Whoredomes at Rome; as Messalina, the Wife of Claudius Caesar, was afterwards.

Amongst the Amazons, these were the most noted Queens, Marthesia Lampedo, Orythia, Menalippe, Hyppolite, Penthesilea, of whom Virgil speaks in the Relation of the Worthies of Troy.

Ducit Amazonidum lunatis agmina peltis Penthesilea furens, mediis{que} in millibus ardet.

Helena, the Mother of Constantine, was an excellent Princess, who did mightily eucourage the affairs of Christianity in the beginning of the Universal Conversion from Paganisme.

These are the names of other noted Women of all Ages.

* 9.167 Sapho did excel in all manner of Learning in Greece, but especially in Poetry: She invented a kind of Verse which is called from her Saphick.

Cyborea was the Mother of Judas Iscariot, Canace was the Daughter of Aeolus. She is infamous for the incest which she committed with her Brother 〈◊〉〈◊〉

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Myrrha, the Daughter of Cynaras King of Cyprus, lay with her Father by the means of a Nurse when he was drunk. She proved with-child by this incestuous marriage of the beautiful Adonis; but when her Father understood her wickedness, he sought to destroy her; but she nevertheless saved her self in Arabia, where she was changed into the Myrrh-tree.

Lucrece was a Noble woman of Rome, who was ravisht by the Son of Tarquinius, and then killed her self, exhorting the Romans to revenge her death.

* 9.168 Arria, a Roman Lady, was married to Paetus, who fell into the Emperour Tiberius's disgrace, so that he was falsly accused, and wrongfully condemned to die. When his loving Wife saw him in this condition, she advised him to dispatch himself; but he discovering an unwillingness to be his own Executioner, she snatcht the Sword out of his hand, and shew'd him what to do, by thrusting it into her own bowels, with this exclamation, Paete non dolet▪ Death is not painful. Martial hath thought her worthy of an Epigram.

Casta suo gladium cum traderet Arria Paeto Quem dedit visceribus traxer at ipsa suis: Si qua fides, vulnus, quod feci, non dolet, inquit, Sed quod tu facies, hoc mihi, Paete dolet.

* 9.169 Pompeia Paulina was resolved also to

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* 9.170 accompany her Husband Seneca, who wa•• condemned to die by Nero.

Faustina, the Wife of Marcus the Emperour, was in love with a Feneer, and could not be cured until he was kill'd, and until she had drunk a draught of his hot blood: She was the Mother of Antoninus Com••dus, who loved so much the bloody sports of Fencing in the Amphitheatre.

Zantippe, the Wife of Socrates, is noted for a Scold; she was continually tormenting him with railings.

In Greece, Lais of Corinth, Phryne of Be••tia, Rhodope of Egypt, Pythonica of Athens, Aspasia of Natolia, Danae of Ephesus, * 9.171Julia of Rome, Thais, who went with the Army of Alexander into Persia, Lamia of Athens, Methra of Thessaly, Caelia, Cyrene, Lesbia, Manilia, and Phaebe of Rome, and many more were Famous Courtisans.

* 9.172 Das Cattis, das Germanis, das Coelia Dacis, Nee Cilicum spernis Cappadocumque toros.

CHAP. XXIV.

Of the Truth shadowed out in the Fabulous Stories, according to the Opinion of Gautruchius.

TRuth is as the Sun, it destroys and drives away all darkness of Fal••hood, and of mistakes: Nevertheless, many of

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these Fables are derived from the Truth, and have been intended to set it forth: Therefore the Heathens did say, that Caelus was the Father of Saturnus, the God of Time, because Coelum Heaven did measure and limit out Time unto us, by its continual motions. And because Time doth run from us very fast, and because it doth give a being, and destroys all things that appear in Nature, and that nothing is able to resist its power: Therefore this God Saturnus is represented as an old Senior, with wings upon his shoulders, and with a Sythe in his hand, cutting down all that is before him▪ He is represented swallowing his own Children with hard stones, because Time eats and consumes the most durable substances.

* 9.173 The Heathens did paint Janus with two Faces, to express the Wisdom of a brave Prince, who is to judge of the events of the time to come, from his former experience of the time past, that he might act nothing amiss.

And because a wise man doth take notice of all things before him, without discovering or engaging himself, they did ••epresent him by Gyges, who had a Ring of that extraordinary virtue, that when ••e did turn inwardly the precious stone that was enchased on it, he did see all men▪ and was not soon by any.

I shall not weary▪ the Reader by a repetition

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of a great many more Mysteries, and of some formerly mentioned in this Treatise; only let him take notice, that the Heathens did declare how Prometheus had brought a Polite manner of life amongst men, and had withdrawn them from savage and beastly customs, by saying, that he had formed them of the ••mud of the Earth, and first caused them to appear in the World. The Fable of Deucalion and Pyrrha hath the same interpretation; for it is said of them, that they changed Stones and Flints into Men and Women.

The Poets do relate also how Amphion with the harmony of his Lute built the Walls of Thebs, because he perswaded by his fair speeches, all the Inhabitants of the Forrests, and the wild people of the Mountains, to come and live together in that City. Prometheus taught the way of drawing fire ••ut of the stones, by knocking them together; therefore they did say, that he had fetcht fire from Heaven. He did make his abode upon Mount Caucasus▪ from whence he did continually behold the Stars, and study their motions and influences: Therefore the Poets did declare, that Mercurius had bound him to this Mountain, and that an Eagle was put to consume his Liver. By this last Fiction, they did signifie, how the thoughts of his studies did eat him up. They did also publish, that his Brother Atlas did carry the

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Heavens upon his shoulders, because he was a great Astrologer, and did invent the use of the Sph••ar, which he did often handle in his life.

About that time Argus built a City, which he called it after his own name, and because he was a most watchful Prince, and very circumspect, the Poets did give unto him many eyes.

We have already said in the story of Perseus, how he represents the qualities of a brave Commander. Pegasus there mentioned, is nothing else but the Ship that carried Bellerophon against the Chimera; and the wings of Dedalus, were nothing else but the sails of a Ship which he invented to carry himself out of Creta. What is related of his Son Icarus, and of Phaeton, represents the Picture of the ambitious men; as the stories of Tantalus, and of the Harpies, do shadow out unto us the Covetous, and the Syrens the Voluptuous. The Bird which did devour the Liver of Prometheus, did express the torments of a wounded Conscience, as well as the furies and discontent of Orestes.

If any did excel in Goodness, Power, Authority, or Industry, he was placed amongst the Gods. By this means Jupiter, King of Creta, or of Candia, was advanced amongst the Gods, with his Brothers Neptunus and Pluto. Neptunus was held for the God of the Sea, because he did

command the Fleet: Pluto was the God of Hell, because he invented the Funeral Rights paid unto the Dead. The Court of every King was as a Heaven, and the residence of the Gods. If any happened to be driven from thence, he was said to be banished out of Heaven: If any did escape from an eminent danger, by flying from it, they did publish, that he was metamorphosed into a Bird: If any did hide himself in the Woods, he was said to be changed into a Beast, as it happened with Lycaon the Son of Pelasgus, King of Arcadia, who was pursued by Jupiter, because of his Railleries and Jests which he did cast upon the Worship of the Gods: The Poets therefore seigned, that he was changed into a Wolf.

In the fifth Chapter we did mention the vain-glory of Marsyas, and of Midas; unto these we could add many more examples to the same purpose; as of that Fanatick Raven that had a very high conceit of her self, and did continually glory in her beauty, although she was covered with the Feathers of others Birds. The old Ass of Arcadia is also noted for its vanity: It had been perswaded by the other Asses of the Country, that it did excel all the Birds of the Air in sweetness of the voice, because he had long used himself to sing according to his mode.

But it is sufficient to have shewn by

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••hese examples what use may be made of ••he Fables. We shall therefore take notice, that so many noted Philosophers of Antiquity, did labour to cover the shame and the infamy of their Religion, by causing the stories of their Gods, all the actions of their lives, and the strange metamorphoses to pass for Allegories and symbolical representations. However these things were first invented, it is certain that during many hundred years they were published and believed for truths, therefore the Heathens did acknowledge nothing more undoubted and sacred, because they had no other Religion, ••or knowledge of then Gods to honour the•• their Temples, their Sacrifices, and their Solemnities, were consecrated to these kind of Divinities, as the holy Scripture, and all profane and sacred Authors do inform us; as the Fathers of the Primitive Church of Christ did represent to the Heathens, and as some of them, after their Conversion to the Faith, did openly confess.

And let us not imagine, that these Fables were only popular errors, for the Philosophers, learned in the Mysteries of Nature, and acquainted with many discoveries of the true God, did nevertheless promote all manner of Idolatry and Superstition, as S. Paul informs us in his Epistle to the Romans; for they were afraid of the Laws of the Country, that did not suffer any to contradict

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them; therefore they did hastily comply with the Opinions and sacrilegious Tales of the people. It is strange, that the Monarchs, and the Commonwealths, full of the wisest and most excellent Polititians, have been so blind, as to adore the Stars, the Elements, and the Princes that reigned before them. Thus the Chaldeans worshipped Baal, otherwise named Belus, who had been the first King of Assyria. The History of Daniel doth also relate unto us, that the Emperour of Babylon, according to the Religion of his Country, did adore not only the God Belus, but also a great Dragon which Daniel broke in pieces, to shew unto them who was the true God.

When the Egyptians were most Famous for learning, they did consecrate their Temples to the God Serapis, which was an Ox•• marked in an extraordinary manner; because they did believe that Osiris, one of their Kings, the Son of Jupiter, had been metamorphosed into an Oxe after his Death. From hence the Israelites did derive their shameful custom and inclinations of worshipping Golden Calves.

Afterwards the Egyptians did adore the Sun, and named him Osiris; and the Moon, and called her his Wife Queen Isis. They did also believe, that the Cats, the Crocodils, and the Onions, were to be reverenced as Gods, because the Gods went into Egypt to hide themselves in the shape of

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those things during the War of the Gyants.

The Romans, by the Decrees of their Senat, placed amongst the Gods many of their Caesars, besides that infamous Varlet Antinoüs, the Favourite of the Emperour Adrian. To flatter and alleviate the grief of this Prince conceived for his death, they perswaded him that Antinoüs was changed into a new Star, which appeared about that time in the Heavens.

Therefore from hence we may conclude, that these follies and impieties were not only amongst the silly Vulgar, but also amongst the greatest Wits, and Noblest men; and that they were esteemed as Maxims of Religion in the most flourishing Empires and Commonwealths. This blindness and excessive folly will appear more plainly unto us, by that which we shall declare in the first Chapters of the next Book, concerning the worship paid to the Heathen Idols.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

The Third Book. (Book 3)

Of the Honours paid by the Heathens unto their Gods. (Book 3)

The PREFACF.

THE knowledge of a God doth necessarily require from us Obedience, Worship, and Respect: which we are bound in Justice to render to him as to a being infinitely excelling all the rest, and to whom we owe our selves, and all our enjoyments. From hence proceeds Religion, which is the sublimest and most excellent of all the moral virtues. It teacheth us how to adore our God with outward expressions of humility, as well as with inward, that we may acknowledge thereby his Sovereignty over us. It teacheth us to make our addresses unto him by Prayer, as to the first source from whence issue all our good things. It teacheth us to publish his

Praises, to glorify his Greatness, and offer unto him Sacrifices, because he is the first principle, and the last end of all his Creatures; He is the absolute Lord of Life and Death. It teacheth us also for these reasons to erect Temples, and appoint Dayes to worship him, that we might have both times and places to mind us of our obligations to him. These duties we ought as his Servants and Vassals, to perform with all diligence and delight.

But the Devils having banished from the world the true knowledge of God, and established themselves in his room, they obliged man kind to adore them and their Statues instead of God, and usurped by that means all the Prerogatives and supreme Rights of the God-head. For unto them all publick and private Prayers, and Vows were directed, for them the Temples and Altars were built, and the Festival dayes, the Sacrifices, the publick Plays, and such like Ceremonies were instituted, as we shall see in this last Book of this Treatise.

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Of the Honours rendred by the Heathens to their Gods.

CHAP. I.

Of the Statues consecrated to the false Gods.

THE rarest and most eminent Qualities could never free man from the Power of Death, that buries all things in eternal forgetfulness by the assistance of Time. Therefore the Images and Statues have been invented to continue the Dead in our remembrance, and to cause them to live amongst their. Posteritie, maugre Death, and its tyranical Power.

These Images or Statues are visible expressions of Reverence: And because they have a relation sometimes to Persons of Honour, who have deserved from us our esteem, they seem to demand some kind of respect; and in process of time they do appear venerable Monuments of former Ages. But the Honour

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done unto them, is intended only to the Persons that they do represent.

Thus in the Church of Christ, He is expressed unto us by Images to raise our mind to the contemplation of this Holy Saviour, and to cause the ruder sort of People to learn the mysteries of his Life and Death. But the Heathens did commit two grievous Sacriledges by erecting Statues to their Gods; First, They did acknowledge others besides the true God Almighty, who only is worthy of our services, and of the supreme religious respect. Secondly, They did esteem these material Statues as Gods, and did Worship and Adore the Works of their hands.

For we must take notice, that Idols properly are not Images of real things, but of false Divinities, or of such as were unjustly Honoured as Gods; Therefore the Apostle informs us that an Idol is nothing, which cannot be said of the Images of the Saints, because they do express Persons that are really in being.

Besides, we must observe, that the Heathens did adore these very Idols as Divinities, which was not only the mistake of the vulgar sort of men, but of the Learned; Some I confess of them did acknowledge the folly of such Practices. This is confirmed unto us in many places of Holy Scripture, in 14 of Wisdom, and in the Psalms, where David upbraids the Idolaters because they did worship

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the works of their own hands, Gods that had Eyes, and all the other members of the humane body, but neither life nor action in them All the Prophets do agree to this, and it was in this manner that the children of Israel did adore the Golden-Calf in the Wilderness, and that the King of Babylon, with all the Grandees of his Court did call upon Daniel to Worship the Idol of King Belus. And for this cause S▪ Paul in his Epistles, labours to make his new Disciples understand the extraordinary favour which Christ had vouchsaved unto them, to have withdrawn them from the service of the mute and insensible Idols▪ The holy Fathers of the Church did often upbraid the Heathens, that their Gods were for the most part nothing but Marble and Metal, which Arnobius and manyother worthy Persons did acknowledge when they had embraced Christianity. And Trismegistue also, according to the saying of St. Austin, did really believe that Idols were to be worshiped and sacrificed unto, that Men might obtain favours from them, and decline the Evils which might happen unto them.

We have taken notice of this passage, to oppose it to the Doctrine of Calvin, who teaches the contrary, and who publishes to the world, that the Romanists do Imitate the Heathens by Honouring Image of Jesus Christ; for he supposeth that the Heathens did consider the Idols but as

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the naked representations of their Gods, without any other respect.

We might here mention the most Famous Idols of Antiquity, as the Colossus of Rhodes, Diana of the Ephesians, Minerva of Athens; this last did bear in her Buckler the Image of the workman, formed so artificially, that it was not possible to remove or deface it without a visible prejudice to the whole Piece. But as this discourse is not proper to our design, I shall not insist upon it.

* 10.1 I cannot let this digression of the Jesuite pass without an Antidote. He pleads for the worship of Images, which he condemns in others; Yet he labours to justify himself, and his Religion from that foul crime, of which the holy Prophets, and the Fathers * 10.2of the Christian Church do accuse the Heathens. Whereas it is plain, both by their Practices, and by the Confession of the most eminent of their Doctors, that there is no difference between them and the most superstitious Heathens; If there be, we must confess that the Papists do exceed the former in their Idolatry, and are far more prophane than the others ever were.

First, it is not difficult to prove that there is no difference in the outward practices of the Heathens and Papists in this particular; We need but open our eyes, and we shall see them both Cringing, Bowing, Kneeling, prostrate to the ground, Incensing and. Offering to their

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several Images all the Divine Honours that the Body is able to pay unto God. We shall see the Papists as well as the Heathens pour forth their Prayers before the Statues of Wood and Metal, and expect from them assistance in time of need, we shall hear them say unto the Stock, thou art my Father, and to the Stone, thou hast begotten me. The Heathens did cut and lance themselves * 10.3before their Idols, they did load them with Garlands and Flowers: so do the Papists in all the Dominions of the Pope. They do crown and set them out on their Festival dayes, that they might oblige the People to more respect, they do offer unto them their Riches. It is a common practice in Spain for a Mendicant Fryer to carry with him the Image of the Virgin * 10.4Mary joyned to his Box, that her credit among the ignorant multitude might stir up their Liberality. They do also afflict and whip themselves before their Images, cut their bodies with Knives, and put themselves to many other needless sufferings for to please God and the Saints. We in England that are ignorant of these follies and extravagant practices, are apt to be deceived with their colourable pretences; but in this particular they are more guilty than the Heathens of Superstition, for they Adore & Pray unto the Images of those that they acknowledge to be no Gods, whereas the Heathens never offered Sacrifice nor worshiped any, but such as they imagined to be in the number of Gods, or such as they desired should be promoted to that Honour.

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* 10.5 But saith the Jesuite, the Heathens did acknowledge the Image to be their God, and so they did adore it, which we do not do; for if our Bodies do bow to a representation, our minds do at the same instant convey our respect to the Person represented. I am certain the Papists cannot say more in this case to free themselves from the suspition of folly; Than * 10.6a Heathen doth in Minucius Felix where he wittily disputes with a Christian, and tells him, that he is not so ignorant but that he knows the power and value of the Image before which he falls, which is fashioned and framed by a work-man: I know, saith he, that the Image is but Metal or Stone, but as it is dedicated to represent such a God, or such a virtue of God named Jupiter, Apollo, Mercurius, Juno, &c do not think that my homage doth stop * 10.7there, my thoughts do direct my worship to God, and his Attributes that I adore, in, and by such an Image. I am certain no Papist can say more for himself than the Heathen doth in this place. Yet these were they that all the Prophets do cry against: How can therefore the * 10.8Romanists reckon themselves guiltless?

Our Jesuite abuseth Arnobius, to make him approve of Idolatry against his will, we may see what he saith in the 6. Book contra gentes. The Heathens do affirm, that they do not worship the Images, but the presence of God in them. For they did imagine that a Divine virtue was infused into them by a dedication. Therefore I find the Heathens more rational

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in their practices than the Papists, for the former did really believe that which did require their Devotion, whereas the latter do pay the same respect by the Decree of their last Council, * 10.9and yet declare that they imagine no such excellency in them, as should oblige them to this humility. Bellarmine their great Goliah, affirms, more that the Images of Saints are to be worshiped properly, and for themselves, and not only with relation to the persons represented. The most superstitious Heathen cannot say * 10.10more for his Idols, than this Doctor for his Images. I shall not heap up together the horrid abominations, and grievous expressions of the Cross, of the Virgin Mary in their Hymns and Prayers, and the other extravagant opinions of the rest of their Doctors, who go beyond the Heathens in Idolatry, and in robbing God of his Sovereign Right. It shall fuffice to see the unlawfulness of bowing to Images. In the second Commandment God forbids the Israelites to make to themselves any graven Image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above, &c. Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them. This is so plain against them, that they have thought it convenient to dash it out of the number of all the writings that appear to the people in their own Language. And to supply the want of it, they have divided the 10th Commandment into two to make up Ten. It is craftily done not to betray their own weakness, and to banish out of their Decalogue a Commandment, that accuseth

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them of Idolatry in such plain terms.

God will not give his Glory unto another, we must not asso••iate unto him any creature, His Divine Rights cannot without Prophanation be ascribed to any other being, therefore unto God only we must pray, and make our addresses, * 10.11and as he is a Spirit, we must worship him in Spirit and in Truth.

It is not possible to represent God with any * 10.12Image; Besides, it is forbidden, Moses warns the Israelites, that they should not liken God unto any thing. In our Houses and Temples the Images of God and of Christ have been esteemed as the prophanations of the sacred Persons that we are to Adore by all sober Christians; Therefore the 7th Council did forbid the Image * 10.13of Christ to be drawn; unto whom (saith Esaias) will you liken God, or with what resemblance will you represent him? He hath engraven the Images of himself in the great Fabrick * 10.14of the world, and in the beautiful make and disposition of all Creatures, there the invisible things of him are clearly seen, &c. Here it becomes us to adore him by a continual contemplation of his Wonders, Power, Wisdom, and Goodness. All other Images of God do beget in us a mean esteem of his Greatness, and instead of benefiting the simple People, they steal away from him their hearts and affections, which is the direct contrary design of the Gospel. They nourish ignorance and error, for there is no place in the world where so many absurdities of God, and of his Power are believed, as in Spain

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and Italy, where Images are worshiped I could here mention all the Fathers of the Primitive Church, and many worthy men since, who have abhorred this abuse that is crept in amongst Christians Claudius Clemens, Bishop of * 10.15Auxere in France, opposed the Pope, and would not suffer Images in his Diocess, Leo Isaurus, Constantine, Nicephorus▪ Leo Armenus, Michael Balbus, and Theophilus the Emperors of the East, have been branded with Excommunications from Rome, because they would not subscribe to this horrid Idolatry. And a Greek Historian informs us, that when Frederick * 10.16I. the Emperour, who led his Army to the conquest of the Holy Land, entred into Armenia, * 10.17the Christians of those parts d d lovingly receive them, because the worship of Images was not admitted * 10.18amongstthem, as amongst other Northern People. I could here muster up an Army of the most excellent men of all ages, who have detested this grievous abuse, that renders Christians ridiculous to Mahumetans. We do not deny a civil respect to the Pictures and Images of the Dead, but to make them or their Prototypes share in any part of that Honour only due unto God, is an extravagancy that we ought to abominate.

Besides, Our Jesuite is grosly mistaken, when he saith that the Images of Saints worshiped, or unto whom men do kneel, are not Idols, because they are representations of real things. The LXX, and St. Paul are not of his judgement, for they call many real things 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

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* 10.19 Idols. the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is composed of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Face, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to serve, and in all the Greek writers, it is taken for the Images unto whom we pay respect and service; Nevertheless, St. Paul saith that the Idol is nothing; I conceive he borrows this expression from the Hebrew word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which signifies a thing without form, or an insignificant thing: the LXX upon the 1 Sam. 12. 21. have rendred it thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, they call there, and in many other passages, ••dols of the Heathens, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, things that have no being, which relates rather to Images than to the Originals. The Images therefore of the Heathens had no being; that is, no real being, as they imagined them to have, no power, no virtue, no Soul, nor motion, they were things void of life and action. They were but Wood, Stone, or Metal, that could neither hear, nor deliver us: and are not the Images of the Saints of the same kind? 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 things without Soul, things void of sense and understanding. What qualities do the Papists fancy in them, that do cause them to excel the Idols of the Heathens? But if our Jesuit will needs apply this 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to the originals of the Images, I am afraid the * 10.20Saints will be found included in this expression. I will fay nothing of many that are now adored in Rome, who were never in being, unless in the fancy of some dreaming Monk, or of a religious Romancer. It is certain, that the Saints as they are represented unto us, are not in being, the Bodies have been consumed long ago

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into ashes. Their Souls are at rest, but unable to * 10.21hear our Prayers and groans, or to yield unto us any comfort: To what purpose therefore do we make our adresses to these 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or worship those that are not able to receive our respects, or make any returns. Is it not better according to Gods express command, to humble our selves unto him who is every where, and in our need call upon his mercy, who hath promised to hear us for Christ his sake?

CHAP. II.

Of the Edifices and Temples dedicated to the Heathen Gods.

THe Pagans did commonly boast of seaven stately structures, that were named the seaven wonders of the world. The first was the Wall of Babylon, and the pleasant Gardens which Queen Semiramis planted: About * 10.22this Work 3 hundred thousand men were continually imployd for many years. The second was, the Labyrinth of Egypt described by Herodotus, in which 16 large apartments o•• su••ptuous Pallaces were built, to equal the 16 Governments or Provinces of Egypt; There were in it so many wayes and artificial walks, that it was no easy matter to find the way out again. Dedalus took his model upon this to build his Labyrinth in the Isle of

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Crete. The third wonder of the world, was the Pyramides of Egypt, which were of a prodigious height, six hundred thousand men were buisy in the buildin gone of them during the space of twenty years, as was commonly reported.

* 10.23 The next was the Mausolaeum of Caria, which Q. Artemisia built as a Sepulchre for her deceased Husband Mausolaeus; she enricht it with so many rare ornaments, that it was esteemed one of the greatest wonders of the world. All Monuments of this kind have since been called Mausolaea. This Queen did love her Husband so much, that besides this Edisice which she erected for him, she caused the ashes of his consumed body to be put into a cup of Wine, and swallowed them, to give him a lodging next to her heart.

The Colossus of Rhodes, which we have already mentioned, was reckoned amongst these wonders of the world.

The sixth, was the Statue of Jnpiter Olymp. made by Phidias of a hundred and fifty Cubits high. The head was of pure Gold, but the body was of Brass.

But the greatest wonder and incomparable work, was the Temple of Ephesus, dedicated to Diana. A hundred and twenty large Pillars were to be seen there, every one of them had been the sole enterprise and work of a King, who was resolved to make his Piety and Magnificence appear upon his Pillar.

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The Temples all over the world, were also stately. I shall not offer to number them; It is sufficient to know that the Princes, and the Nations did imploy their Riches and ingenious inventions of Architecture, only in the building of Temples to their Gods. In which there were always to be seen three Altars. The first at the entry where the Victims were offered and burnt. The second in the middle, and the third at the end of the Temple, in the inclosure called Adytum and Sacrarium, or Secreta, and Penetralia. Upon these two last only Perfumes and sweet scents were usually burnt. In this place Beds and Cusheons were commonly placed, called therefore Lectisternia and Pulvinaria, that the People might sit and lean upon them in the Feasts that were there dedicated to the Gods. The Officers of this Ceremony were named Epulones. And as these Gods were but of an inanimate substance of wood or stone &c, they could neither eat nor drink, as Daniel proved to the King of Babylon in the Temple of Belus: so that all these rare dishes of Meat that were offered, did turn to the advantage of these wretched Ministers, who did feed instead of their Gods upon the Dainties that were consecrated for their service.

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* 10.24 In this last Chapter, these following particulars of the Wonders of the World, are omitted, which may deserve our knowledge.

The Walls of Babylon built by that Warlike Queen Semiarmis, of a fat Clay only found near Euphrates, were very large and high. Plinius speaks of 200 Feet in height; Others o•• 250, and some of 300: But the ordinary opinion, is, that they were 50 Cubits high, and so broad that two or three Chariots might go upon them in a breast without danger. Diodorus saith that they were three hundred and five Stadia round, that is about 11 French Leagues. This stately Wall, and the great Bridge that did reach over the River Euphrates, this Queen caused to be built in a year.

* 10.25 The Pyramides of Egypt do remain to this very day, if we may believe the Travellers that have lately been in that Countrey, but they are mightily defaced by Time. There were three of them; The greatest was built by Chemnis King of Egypt▪ as a stately Monument of his Power, and to be his Sepulchre after his death. It was placed about 16 English Miles from Memphis or Grand-Cairo: It was about the * 10.26length of 6 Acres of Land in height, as Diodorus an eye-witness affirms. An Italian Traveller * 10.27speaks of 250 degrees high, and that it is built of a hard Arabian stone, every one * 10.28being about 30 Foot long. Chemnis was torn in pieces in a Mutiny of his People, and could never obtain the Honour of being interred in this

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Sepnl••ôer. His brother Cephus succeeded him, * 10.29and imitated his vain-glorious actions in erecting another lesser than the former, four square. The last was built by King Mycerinus, or as some say by that famous Strumpet Rhodope. Ʋpon this appears a great head of black Marble, of a hundred two foot round about the Temples, and about 60 foot high from the chin to the crown of the head.

* 10.30 The Labyrinth of Egypt was built by Menis, or Maros King of that Conntrey for his Tomb. It is described by Herodotus, as that of Crete is by Diodorus, who saw it in the time of Julius Caesar.

The Colossus of Rhodes was made by Chares of Asia minor, in the space of 12 years, * 10.31and was dedicated to the Sun. It cost about * 10.3244000 pounds English money, and was placed at the entrance of the Harbour of the City, with the right foot standing on the one side of the Land, and the left foot standing on the other; between the leggs the tallest Ships with their Masts, did enter into the Haven. When it fell down to the ground by an Earth-quake, few men were able to embrace the little finger of this prodigious Statue.

The Mausoleum of Queen Artimesia, was built by four of the most excellent Artificers of that time. It was square four hundred and eleven feet round and 45 Cubits high: the square looking East, was finished by Scapas, that towards the West by Leocares, the S••u▪ the••n by Timotheus, and the Northern by

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Briax. Ʋpon the top another Workman placed a great Brazen Chariot, with many wonderful and curious inventions.

* 10.33 The Statue of Jupiter Olymp. was the neatest of all these Works; It was erected by by the Eleens a People of Greece, and placed in a Temple dedicated to Jupiter, which was * 10.34enriched afterwards by many curious representations, and excellent Statues. This of Jupiter was sitting in a Chair half naked, but from the girdle downward he was covered, in the right hand he held an Eagle, and in the left hand a Scepter. * 10.35Caligula endeavored to transport it to Rome, but those that were imployed about it, were frighted from their enterprise by some unexpected accident.

The Temple of Diana at Ephesus, was first begun by Archiphron, and seated (for fear of the Earth-quakes) in a Marish ground; It was 425 foot long, and 220 broad, and 127 stately Pillars were in it. It was rebuilt again by Alexander's command, by his Ingineer, who laid the Foundations, and designed the ground of the City of Alexandria in Egypt: his name was Dinocrates.

Several other places very remarkable, rich and stately were dedicated to the Heathen Gods, the Temple of Athens to Minerva, and another in the same City to Mars, where the * 10.36Judges did meet to examine causes of Life and Death, The Pantheon of Rome, to all the Gods, and many more which the Poets do sometimes mention. Now there were several sorts

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of these Religious houses set apart for the service * 10.37of the Gods. Templum, from templando, or contemplando, signifies an Edifice dedicated to a God, where the Image of a Divinity was to be seen and worshipped, and which was to be Consecrated by the Augures with Prayers in the presence of all the People. Aedes was an Edifice dedicated to a God, but not consecrated in such a solemn manner as a Temple.