CHAP. I. Of the Story of Saturn.

THe Poets tell us that Heaven called in Greek 〈 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 〉 , 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 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〉 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, 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 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.

Addit. Not. 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 The number is 〈◊〉 Names, Codus, Japetus, Thya, Hyperion, Rhea, Themis, Mnemoſyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Saturnus, Gygas, Titan, Brontes, &c.

The twelve chief Gods of Rome, Juno, Veſta, Minerva Ceres, Diana, Venus, Mars, Mercurius, Jupiter, Neptunus, Vulcanus, Apollo. 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, 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.

In Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . 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; Italy from him was named Saturnia. he 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 In the ſacrifices of all other Gods the Prieſt did cover his 〈◊〉 Virg 3. Aeneid. his Sacrifices with their heads uncovered, and did offer unto this cruel God young Infants, for which inhumanity they were all crucified under Tiberius Caeſar.

He is the ſame with Moloch of the Iſraelites, for that word is derived from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 he reigned, and Kings and powerful men were called Saturni by the Heathens. 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 and honor this God, but they approved not On his Feſtival day they did looſe him from his chains.that 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.

A • rea nunc revocet Saturni feſta December Nunc tibi cum Domino ludere verna licet. 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, This Temple was very ſtrong and ſecure from Thieves.the 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, 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 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.

Addit. N • t. 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Prov. quia caſtrabant ſeipſos.were 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.

In Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , derived as ſome imagine, from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the fire. 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 Veſta à veſtiendo terram flori • us & herbis. 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. 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. Cum farre & vino veſtam Janum que rogabat. Juvenal Satyr. 6. She 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 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, 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 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 they were to expect puniſhments or rewards.

His Epithets Herceus. Cui nihil Hercei profuitara Jovis. This Altar was in the Yard or Hall of thoſe that were free of the City.

Hoſpitalis Jupiter, Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , becauſe he was a Protector of ſtrangers. Sabadius Iupiter, Jupiter Hammon, whoſe Temple was in the midſt of the Sands, and hills of Africa; for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is ſand. Jupiter Dodoneus, who gave Oracles in the old Oaks of the woods of Dodon. Olympius Jup. He was alſo named Jupiter Philus, becauſe he is the God of love; Heterius, becauſe he is the God of fellowſhip; Homogenius, the God of kindred; and Enhorcius Jup. becauſe he is the God of Oaths. He is ſtiled Aratrius, Caeneus, Carius, Gnidius, Hypatus, Omarius, &c.

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.

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 〉 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, 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, 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 Vulcanus did the office of a Midwife at this time, for with a ſharp hatchet he ſlit Jupiters Skull for Pallas to creep out▪ Lucian in his Dialog.her 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 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 the great number of the Eyes of Argus.

Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 invado quia aer omnia penetrat & invadit. 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, 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, Soſpita Juno was worſhipped in Lanuvium. Tit. Liv.and Opipena, the new-married people Inderduca, Domiduca, Unxia, Cinxia, the women with-child Fluona, and Lucina. Three Cities did worſhip her more than any others, Mycenae, Sparta, and Argos. The Poets ſay, Juno Februalis was adored in February. that ſhe ſpent her 〈…〉 at Samos, a very pleaſant Iſland of 〈…〉 and that Jupiter married 〈…〉 certain a yearly Solemnity was 〈…〉 year in remembrance of her 〈…〉 Junonia; at which time the Maids 〈…〉 did run Races From hence Marriage is called Ʋnicla Jugalia. in honour of this 〈…〉 whom they did petition for Husbands, 〈◊〉 her Juno Pronuba, and Jugalis; and in Rome an Altar was dedicated to this Juno Juga, where the new-married couple did appear to offer Sacrifice. Che tien del nodomantal la cura vinz. Cattar. Im. de gli Dei.In which this is remarkable, that they did take from the ſacrificed Beaſt the Gall, and did caſt it behind the Altar, to expreſs how all diſpleaſure ſhould be baniſhed from ſuch perſons.

The Temple of Juno was open on the top, and Numa Pompilius commanded that all Whores ſhould not ſo much as touch or come near her Walls, becauſe there had been none ſo much perſecuted by ſuch ſort of people as ſhe, and none had greater cauſe to abominate them, for her lecherous Jupiter was ſeldome without half a dozen Miſtreſſes. In the War of the Gyants, in the general fright of the Gods, ſhe fled into Egypt, and took upon her the form of a white Cow, which may be the cauſe wherefore this Animal was adored by the Inhabitants. The Heathens offered to her a white Cow, Geeſe, and Ravens in Sacrifice. Adrianus, the Roman Emperour, preſented her a rich gift in one of her Temples; he dedicated a Peacock, her beloved Bird, of pure Gold, with wings round about, at the extremities, he cauſed all manner of ſparklings and precious ſtones to be put in, that they might ſerve in lieu of eyes, and repreſent the perfect form of a Peacock.

Juno was often offended with Jupiter, as ſhe had juſt reaſon, and he in like manner was diſpleaſed with her; therefore in his anger Homerus tells us, that he hang'd her up by the heels, at which ſight all the Gods took Juno's part, and laboured to caſt Jupiter out of Heaven, but their endeavours were in vain.

She hated all the Children of her Husbands Concubines, eſpecially Hercules; therefore ſhe appointed unto him all his Adventures, and he in a tumult unfortunately gave her a wound.

This Juno was nam'd Juno Sororia. There was alſo in Rome Juno Calendaris, becauſe ſhe was honored in the Calends. Juno Novelia, Juno Februata; Opigena Populona, &c. It was to this Goddeſs that Horacius, who got the Victory of the Curii, built a Temple, to make expiation for the horrid crime committed in his anger, for he kill'd in a fury his own Siſter, becauſe ſhe did weep for her Sweet-heart that her Brother had kill'd in a Duel, upon which the happineſs of Rome did depend.

Ilithya was alſo daughter of Juno, called otherwiſe Lucina.

Praepoſitam timidis parientibus Ilithyam. Ovid Mesam. lib. 9.

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; She is named 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Hom. 4. Iliad. for ſhe was invited to a ſumptuous Feaſt by Neptune in Jupiters Palace, and there ſhe met with a dainty Sallad of Lettice that moved her imagination, and cauſed her to conceive this Hebe, whoſe Beauty advanced her into Jupiters favour, and in his ſervice, for her Office was to preſent the Cup to him when he was at Dinner with the other Gods.

A misfortune happened to this young Girl at a ſolemn Feaſt in the preſence of all the Heavenly Company that was invited, her heels tript up, and diſcovered her nakedneſs to them; which accident made Jupiter remove her, and place Ganimedes in her Office. She had ſeveral fair Temples built unto her, eſpecially near Athens, where all Vagabonds and idle Knaves did find a favourable Sanctuary, and good entertainment. The Poets tell us, that when Hercules was admitted amongſt the Gods, Jupiter recommended him for a Husband to Hebe, who was married to him. From this jolly and pleaſant Goddeſs all merry Meetings of Youth are Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .named Hebetria.

In Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to be bright. Vulcanus à volvendo; or à volando Candor. 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 The Star of Mars in the Heavens, receives an influence from, and is a friend to Venus. This is the cauſe of the Fable. Philoſtr. that Minerva ſcorned his offers when ſhe was woed by him; he behaved himſelf very generouſly in the War of the Gyants, for he began the onſet, whiles many of the other Gods fled away. His two Wives were Aglaia, and Venus. The latter had no kindneſs for him, becauſe of his def rmity; therefore ſhe ſought ſatisfaction ſomewhere elſe, and readily accepted of the imbraces Gallus was the Centinel at the door; and becauſe he gave not notice of Apollo's riſing, he was turned into a Cock, that now foretells his riſing in the Heavensof 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.

Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Mars, or Mavors, was another of Juno's Children, begot without her Husbands aſſiſtance, The Scyihians had no other God. Juſtin. in revenge of the affront received from Jupiter, who did bring forth Pallas in the ſame manner, without Juno's privity. He was never Herod ſaith, that they worſhipped other Gods, but did allow no Temples nor Statues but only to Mars. welcome to Jupiter in his Minority; he was nurſed by Thero in the Northern Climates that are inclinable to War, He was repreſented upon a high Chariot, drawn by two furious Horſes, named by ſome Terror and Fear, with all his Armour Defenſive and Offenſive: His attendance Claudian.were 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.

Mavors ſanguinea qui cuſpide verberat urbes, Claudian. Et 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.

He is named 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , becauſe he kill'd at Cuffs Phorbas a cruel Robber, that hindered the acceſs to his Temple in Delphos. 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. 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 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. From hence the Prov. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , a witty child, becauſe he was a young Thief.As 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 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 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 his Birth-day Roſes to open and ſpread. The From hence the Proverb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of a huge body Rhodians 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.

The Pythia did offer Oracles in her belly without the aſſiſtance of mouth or tongue, therefore called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Plutarch de Orac. 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 〉 , 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, 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 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 From this accident men under the line are black, as ſome ſay.flame: 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 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.

Addit. Not. 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 Euſeb. Evangel. praepar.relates 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.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ab 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 à deſtruendò. 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 His Names are Nomius, Abaeus, Aegyptius, Agraeus, Cerdeus, Lycius, Grynaeus, Delius, Laemius, Nepaeus, Pataraeus, Parnopius, Hyperboreus, Thyraeus, all theſe Names are derived from places where he was worſhipped. Arching: 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, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Prov. an inſallible truth.that 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 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

The Perſians adored Apollo or the Sun in the figure of a Lion, crowned with a Diadem holding the Horns of an Ox in his paws. They called the Sun Mithra.

Tertullian lib. 1. contra Marcionem & Q. Curtius.

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.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ab à privativa & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 quia non ſinit mori vel ab 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 quia medici ſunt crudeles, & blandi Omnes medicidi cebantur Aeſculapii. 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 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 Therefore Ovid ſaies he was changed into a Serpent.when 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 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.

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 Juno is alſo called Lucina. brought 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 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 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.

Addit. Not. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 valeo quia potens erat Virgo, & incolumis à voluptatibus aliena. 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 Therefore by the Greeks called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .a Goddeſs that had a hand in bringing Children into the World. She always kept her Virginity, therefore ſhe is repreſented by a Greek Poet petitioning Jupiter. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .

This ſhews the nature and property of the Moon. 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 She was called from the places where ſhe was adored, Diana, Taurica, Perſica, Minthia, Epheſia, Forenſis, Lycea, Soſpita, Leucophryne, Salaminia, Alphedia▪ Euclea, &c. And Jaculatrix, Venatrix, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Triformis, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 deſtroyer of beaſts, &c. Therefore named Lya or Lua.Shoulders were two Wings to expreſs her ſwiftneſs, and in her hands were a Lion and a Leopard. She delighted in Hunting, and therefore ſhe was named Dyctinnis, from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , a Net uſed by Hunters.

She kill'd the Son of Pyrenes the Nymph in a chaffe, his mother hearing of this misfortune, poured forth ſuch a quantity of tears, that ſhe was changed into a Fountain of that Name.

And becauſe ſhe was a Virgin, and no Lover of Marriage, the young Virgins that had a mind to change their condition, did firſt offer Sacrifice to appeaſe and ſatisfie this Goddeſs: And when their Belly did begin to riſe ſo high that their Virginal Girdle was too little for them, they came to offer it in the Temple of Diana: From hence is derived this expreſſion, Zonam ſolvere, which ſignifies to be with Child.

The Hunter Alphaeus was a Suter to Diana, but could never obtain his requeſt. 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 There were three degrees amongſt her Prieſts, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Novices entred into the Office, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that were grown old in the Service. Plutarch. did ſacrifice Virgins upon her Altars, and inſtead of them afterwards a White Hart. The moſt noted place where ſhe was worſhipped was Epheſus, her Temple there was built and contrived by Cherſiphron, and inlarged and inriched by every Prince afterwards: In it were a hundred twenty ſeven Pillars, crected by ſo many Kings: It was four hundred twenty five foot long, and two hundred and twenty foot broad: When it was burnt by Eroſtratus but the Epheſians rebuilt it again.

Ʋnder the Protection of this Goddeſs were the Vagabonds and all Debters, and all ſorts of Woods. Her Images were commonly placed in the Corner of the Streets, and Wayes, with two Dogs chained at her Feet, and therefore called Trivia Diana.

In Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 à 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 maneo per antiphraſin quia non manet eadem.

The Romans did offer unto her the ſpoils of the Enemy. T. Livius 5. Decad. lib. 5.

Some ſay that Luna, otherwiſe Diana, was the Daughter of Heſperion and Thaea, who ſorrowing above meaſure for her dear Brother Sol, that was murdered and caſt into the Po in Italy, ſhe drowned her ſelf alſo in that River. Sol afterwards appeared to his Mother in a Dream, and deſired her not to weep for his misfortune, becauſe he had obtained thereby immortality with his Siſter. This Dream ſhe related to the people, who transferred the names of Sol and Luna to the two Lights of the Heavens, that were before named Fires: And becauſe Thaea did in a frantick manner, with a Kettle in her hand run up and down the Country making a noiſe, they performed the Sacrifices to Luna with the noiſe of Drums, Kettles, Cymbals, Trumpets, &c. And when ſhe was eclipſed, they made a rattling in the Streets that ſhe might not hear the enchantments of Witches, whom they thought to be the cauſe of it.

CHAP. VII. Of Bacchus,

BAcchus was born in the City of Thebes, his Father was Jupiter, and Semele was his Mother: She ſuffered her ſelf while ſhe was big with Child, to be deceived by the perſwaſions of Juno, that did hate all the Miſtreſſes of her Husband. For Juno diſguiſed her ſelf and came in the habit of an old Woman to Semele, telling her, That it did concern both her intereſt and honour, that Jupiter ſhould viſit her in the ſame manner as he did Juno, with his Thunderbolts in his Hand, and that ſhe ſhould beg from him this favour: Jupiter could not deny her the requeſt, but it happened that ſhe was by this means conſumed according to Juno's deſire. The Childs danger moved Jupiter, who preſently ſeparated him from his dead Mother, and ſhut him in his Thigh until the full time of his Birth was expired; So that he did him the Office of a Mother: For that reaſon Bacchus is called Bimater: Other Names are given unto him as Dyoniſius, Liber, Bromius, Lycaeus, Lenaeus, Evan, &c.

As ſoon as he was born he was delivered to Silenus and the Nymphs, ſome ſay to Ceres, to be by them brought up; they were therefore in reward of their good Service received up into Heaven, and there changed into Stars called now Hyades.

When Bacchus came to be of Age he paſſed through moſt part of the World, and made War upon the Indians, whom he overcame, and in their Country he built the City of Niſa. He was the firſt that did introduce the cuſtom of Triumphing; at that time he did wear a Golden Diadem about his Head. His Chariot was drawn by Tygers, his Habit was the Skin of a Deer, his Scepter was a little Lance, adorned with branches of Ivy and of the Vine. He invented the uſe of Wine, which he gave to the Indians to drink, at firſt they imagined that he had given them Therefore named 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 cruel Bacchus. poiſon, becauſe it had made them both drunk and mad. They did commonly ſacrifice unto him Men, but ſince his expedition into India he was content with other Sacrifices; for they offered unto him afterwards nothing but Aſſes, and Goats; to ſignifie, that thoſe that are given to Wine, become ſots, as Aſſes, or as laſcivious, as Goats. Bacchus was brought up with the Nymphs, that teacheth us that we muſt mix Water with our Wine. He never had other Prieſts but the Satyrs, and women becauſe the latter had followed him in great Companies in his Journeys, crying, ſinging, and dancing continually: Therefore they were named Bacchanales, Mimallones, Lenae, Baſſarides, Thyades, and Menades, names that expreſs fury and madneſs. The greateſt ſolemnities in honour of this God, were every three years, called therefore Trieteria, or Orgia, from the word 〈 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 War with the Gyants, this Bacchus in the form of a Lion, ran violently upon the firſt and tore him in pieces.

Addit. Not. He was alſo painted riding upon a Tiger, in one hand a bunch of Grapes, in the other a cup full of Wine. 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 Bacchus was called Hedereus, Servator, Lyſius, Lyeus, Nyſeus, Leneus, Dithyambus, Briſeus, Sabaſius, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 venerando Iacchus, Elebeus, Thyoneus, Nyctileus, Ovid lib. 4. Metam. l. He is called Vitifer. Minerva's, to expreſs how uſeful Wine is to revive the Spirits, and enable our Fancy to Invent; for that reaſon the Heathens did ſacrifice unto him the quick-ſighted Dragon; and the chattering Py was alſo ſacred to Bacchus, becauſe Wine doth cauſe us to prattle more than is convenient. His Sacrifices were uſually performed in the Evening and at night: And it is reported of him, that he carried the Torch before Proſerpina, when ſhe was led to be married to Pluto the infernal God.

Juno could never endure the ſight of him, therefore ſhe labour'd to drive him out of Heaven, and to baniſh him from all Society; he fled from her fury, and as he was reſting himſelf 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Furore percitus, a mad man, and a mad god.under a Tree, a Serpent named Amphisboena bit him, but he kill'd it with a Vine branch, which is a mortal poiſon to ſome Serpents. Juno continued her hatred for him becauſe he was her Husbands Baſtard, until ſhe caſt him into a fit of madneſs, which made him undertake an expedition againſt the Indians, and run over all the Eaſt Countries: Luſus was his companion, from him Portugal is called Luſitania.

The truth is Liber, otherwiſe called Dionyſius, or Oſiris, by the Egyptians, was a King of Nyſa a City in Arabia Felix, who taught his people, and the inhabitants of the adjoyning Countries many uſeful Arts, as the ordering of the Vine, and the preſerving of Bees: He eſtabliſhed ſeveral good Laws; he is therefore called 〈 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 He is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Pindar. & Horace lib. 2. Od. 19.bleſs their Vines. This latter Feſtival was named Orgia, becauſe his Proſelytes did expreſs in it nothing but fury and madneſs, although this name is ſometime taken for all other Feſtivals. The Romans had appointed the Aſcolia in honour of Bacchus, at which time they carried the Statues of this God about their Vineyards, This Feſtival is called the Feſtival of God. It is about the month of May. as the Papiſts do beyond Sea their Hoſt, or the Prieſt's God about their Fields that he might bleſs the fruits of the Earth. Afterwards the proceſſion of Bacchus did return to his Altar, and there they raiſed the conſecrated Victime upon the top of a Lance, and did burn it to the honour of Bacchus; beſides they took his Statues and Images and did hang them upon high Trees, imagining that they did contribute to the increaſe of the Grapes and of the Wine.

Now the Beaſts that were dedicated to Bacchus, were the Goats, the Dragons; the Aegyptians offered Sows. The Trees conſecrated to him were the Ivy-tree, the Oak, the Fig, the Vine, the Smilax, and the Fir-tree. It was the Cuſtom that all thoſe that did ſacrifice to Bacchus, did approach his Altars with a Branch or a Crown of that Tree in their hands, which they offered unto him. Bacchus was ſometimes ſeen with a Garland of Daffadil or Narciſſus about his head. His Prieſts were Women painted in frightful ſhapes, with Snakes for their Girdles, and Serpents twiſted about their hair to repreſent their cruelty: for when they did perform the ſolemnity of this God, they did run with lighted Tapers and Swords in their hands, and did ſometimes deſtroy one another, as Agave did her Son Pentheus, who deſpiſed Bacchus and his Sacrifices.

This God did, as the Poets tell us, puniſh all thoſe perſons that did neglect or oppoſe his Worſhip. Alcethous was changed into a Batt, Philoſtrat.becauſe he would not Sacrifice to him. And the Pyrats of Tyre, that ſtole him with an intent to abuſe him, were changed into Dolphins; for when they had brought him on Ship-board, he forced them into the Sea in the ſhape of a furious Lyon.

T. Livius lib. 39. 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.

In Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 quia interpres er at & Nuncius Deorum, Mercurius quaſi mercium curans. HE was eſteemed one of the moſt remarkable of the Gods, as well for the Nobility of his Birth, as for divers Offices attributed to him, and which are very pleaſantly deſcribed in the tenth Ode in the firſt Book of Horace.

He was the Son of Jupiter and Maia Daughter of Atlas, who bears up the Heavens with his Shoulders, he was born upon the Mountain Cyllene, which is in Arcadia.

His ordinary Office was Ambaſſador and Interpreter of the Gods, in this quality, he had Wings at his Heels, and at his Head, and in his Hand a Caduceus, which was a Rod with two Serpents twiſting about it their Tails, in token of peace and amity. It is thought that Mercurius is the diſcourſe which interprets our mind and thoughts, it flies as he did, for there is nothing more quick and ſpeedy than the diſcourſe, which hath the power of gaining and uniting hearts.

Another of his Offices was to ſhew the ways, and to guide the deceaſed Souls into hell; therefore the Poets do ſay, that none can die until Mercurius comes with his Rod to break the tye that unites the ſoul to the body. When theſe ſouls have paſſed many years in the Elyſean Fields, and after that they have drunk of the River Lethe, as we ſhall ſee in the following Chapters, the ſame Mercurius, by the virtue of his Rod, doth cauſe them to paſs into other bodies to live again, according to the judgment of thoſe that believe the Metempſycoſis.

He invented the Lute, and a kind of Harp, which he preſented to Apollo: He was alſo the God of Eloquence, it did ſerve him mightily in his Embaſſies and Negotiations: He was alſo the God of Thieves, becauſe he had been a very ſubtil Thief himſelf, as may appear by what he did to Apollo when he fed the ſheep of King Admetus, for he ſtole from him a great many, and was not diſcovered by any but only by the Shepherd Battus, who was changed afterwards into a Rock by Mercurius, becauſe he did reveal him, notwithſtanding his promiſe to the contrary.

Mercurius had one Son by the Goddeſs Venus his Siſter, who was named Hermaphrodite: This Child happened to meet with the Nymph Salmacis at a Fountain; the Gods at her earneſt requeſt made of both their bodies but One, in ſuch a manner, that both Sexes were conſerved entire. By this the Poets do give us to underſtand the union that ſhould be between married perſons; they ought to be but one body, and one heart.

Some ſay that this Mercurius made Daedalus ſo excellent an Architect, and taught him ſo many rare inventions, that they rendred him famous all over the World. This Daedalus left the City of Athens to offer his ſervice to King Minos in the Iſle of Crete, or Candia, where he built the Labyrinth with ſo much art, and with ſo many windings, that thoſe that did enter in could ſcarce get out again. He was ſhut into it himſelf, with his Son Icarus, becauſe he had offended the King; but he made wings for himſelf, and his Son, to fly through the air out of priſon. All things ſucceeded well to him, but for Icarus, becauſe he ventured too near the Sun, notwithſtanding the admonition of his experienced Father, the Wax that did unite his Wings to his ſhoulders melted by the heat of the beams, and he fell into the Sea, which ſince bears his Name.

Addit. Not. He is ſaid to be a watchful God. Mercurius was admired for his nimbleneſs, which he expreſſed in ſeveral occaſions; when he ſtole from Mars his Sword, from Vulcan a pair of Tongs, from Apollo his Arrows, and his Beaſts, from Venus her girdle, and from Neptunus his Trident: He had alſo undertaken to convey away the Thunderbolts of Jupiter, but the fear of his diſpleaſure hindred him: He was much reverenced by the Egyptians, who did Egypt painted his face half black, and half of gold.worſhip him in the Image of a Dog, called Anubis; and by the Gauls, who did cauſe ſeveral men to bleed at his Altars: It is reported of him, that he taught the Arts and Sciences in Egypt: It is probable, that the famous Triſmegiſtus, Some think him to be Moſes. who flouriſhed in the firſt Ages of the World, was worſhipped under this name of Mercurius. As he was the God of Eloquence, they did conſecrate unto him Tongues: His Statue was uſually placed in the Market, therefore he is called 〈 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; Called therefore 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .his Statues was placed in the ways unto which they did offer their firſt fruits; he and Minerva were worſhipped in one Temple together; the Greeks placed his Image over the door of their houſes, becauſe as he was the God of Thieves, he was beſt able to protect the houſe from their violence.

His Image was ſometimes made as that of Hercules Gallicus, mentioned by Caeſar, out of whoſe mouth came forth chains of gold, which were joyned to the ears of ſeveral little men that ſtood at his feet: This expreſſeth the power of Eloquence, that enſlaves and governs the Auditors, and makes men more able to command than ſtrength and valour.

CHAP. IX. Of Venus.

VVE have already mentioned her birth in the firſt Chapter, but the other Poets do tell us, that ſhe was the Daughter of Jupiter, and of the Goddeſs Dione.

She was the Goddeſs of Love and Pleaſures, becauſe of her extraordinary beauty: Her Chariot was drag'd only by Swans and Pidgeons, laſcivious birds; and the places where ſhe was moſt adored were Amathus, Cythera, and Paphos, pleaſant Mountains in the Iſland of Cyprus.

She had ſeveral children; Hymeneus the God of Marriages was one of her Sons, and the three Charities or Graces were her Daughters that kept her company: She was alſo the Mother of the two Cupi • 's, Gods of Love; the one was honeſt, the other was the God of unlawful and carnal pleaſures; he had wings upon his back, and a Quiver full of ſharp and burning Arrows, by which he did enflame and heat the hearts. The infamous Priapus, mentioned in Holy Writ, did alſo acknowledge her for his Mother: Unto this God no other beaſt was offered but the Aſs; Aeneas, ſo often mentioned in the Latin Poets, was another of the Sons of Venus; and although this ſhameful Divinity was like a Bitch proſtituted to every one, ſhe had the God Vulcan for her Husband, of whom ſhe never had any Children.

Addit. Not. 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 From hence armed women are named 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . a Statue to ' 〈 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.

A • d • N •• . 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 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 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.

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 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.

Addit. Not. Of Neptune. Neptunus was eſteemed a famous God, becauſe the Heathens judged him to have the command of one of the Elements; he was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Homerus. Conſus, for the Romans do affirm, that he did adviſe them in thé firſt beginning of their Empire, when there was ſcarcity of Women in their City, to ſteal from their Neighours, the Sabins, a convenient ſupply of that Sex. He was named alſo Neptunus Hippius, or Equeſter, becauſe he taught unto men the uſe of Horſes; and as the Fable informs us, he created at Athens a Horſe when the City was built: The Romans to acknowledge the benefit that their Empire had received from Horſes, inſtituted Horſe-Races in honour of Neptune. The Sea is called by his Name, either becauſe he was Admiral of it in the Reign of Saturn, or becauſe this greedy and inhumane God did drown him in the Sea as ſoon as he was born: He had a famous Temple in Rome, enriched with the ſpoils of many Sea Victories; but he received a ſignal affront when Auguſtus the Emperour cauſed his Statue to be pull'd down, becauſe he was thought to have raiſed againſt him a Tempeſt at Sea, where he had received ſome loſs, with no ſmall danger of his life.

The Ocean where Neptunus commanded was eſteemed a God, the Father of the Rivers: His Effigies was much like to that of a River, a great man with Bulls Horns upon his head; His Wife was Thetis, of whom he had Nereus and Doris, that married together, and put into the World many Daughters, called Nymphs; ſome of them aſcended up into Heaven, but thoſe that had green locks of hair remained upon the Earth, amongſt the Waters, the Meadows, the Forreſts▪ The Napeae, the Dryades, and the Hamadryades, did dwell in the Woods, in the Meadows, and amongſt the Flowers and green Paſtures: The Naiades were for the Fountains and Rivers, and the Nereides, that did borrow their Name of their Father, were appointed to the Sea: They did extremely love the Halcyons, Sea-birds, of whom this Wonder is related, that they build their Neſts upon the Waves of the Sea, in the midſt of the moſt ſtormy Winters; but when their young ones do peep forth of the ſhell, the Sea round about them appears calm, and if it be rough they never come by any damage by it. The moſt remarkable of the Nereids was Thetis, who kept the Name of her Mother, ſhe was ſo fair, that Jupiter fell in love with her: but when he heard the Deſtinies foretel, that if ſhe was married that ſhe ſhould have a Son far more couragious and more dreadful than his Father; he willingly left her, and gave her in marriage to Peleus, the Father of Achilles, whoſe Actions and Life we ſhall deſcribe in their proper place.

Protheus, Neptune's Shepherd, and the Leader of his Phoei, who were called Calves of the Sea, was another Son of Ocean and Thetis; the Romans called him Vertumnus, becauſe he had the skill to change himſelf into all ſorts of forms and figures, and he was a great Fortune-teller; thoſe that intended to make any uſe of him, were to ſurpriſe him, and bind him faſt until he did take his proper and natural ſhape, and tell them what they deſired.

Glaucus Ino and Melicerta were Divinities of the Sea. Glaucus had been before a Fiſherman; at a certain time having caſt his Fiſh upon the Graſs, and perceiving that by the Hence Prov. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .virtue of a certain Herb which they did touch they did receive a wonderful ſtrength, and did afterwards leap into the Sea again, his curioſity moved him to try the virtue of it in himſelf: He had no ſooner taſted of it, but he fell into a fit of madneſs, and caſt himſelf into the midſt of the Waves, where the Sea Divinities had a care to receive him, and admit him into their Society.

The ſtory of Ino is more various; Athamas King of Thebes had married her in ſecond Nuptials, after that he had divorced his former Wife Nephele. This Ino was reſolved to deſtroy Phrixus and Helle, Children of Nephele. Phrixus to prevent his miſchief, ran away with the Ram that had a Golden Fleece, the honour and riches of his Family. He and his Siſter mounted upon it with a deſign to flee to ſome other Country, as they were paſſing over the Straits, between Aſia and Europe, Helle fell into the Sea in a fright, from hence this place is named Helleſpont: But Phrixus arrived happily in the Country of Colchos, where he offered his Ram to Jupiter, and ſince this ſame Ram hath been admitted amongſt the twelve Signs of the Zodiack, but the Fleece was put in the hands of Aetha King of the Country, who placed it in a Park conſecrated to Mars, and a good guard to keep it, as we ſhall ſee in the ſtory of Jaſon.

Juno was mightily concerned for the Children of Nephele, therefore ſhe troubled the mind of Athamas, and cauſed him to become furious; in that condition he offered to kill Ino and her Children, but ſhe being ſurpriſed with ſo great a change, caſts her ſelf into the Sea with Melicerta: Neptune pittied her, and therefore received her in the number of the Divinities of his Train; afterwards ſhe was eſteemed to be Aurora, and therefore called Leucothea, the break of day: Her Son was called Palaemon, he was the God of the Havens.

We muſt not here forget the God Aeolus, 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 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, 〈…〉 from 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 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.

Addit. Not. 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 off his head; then Ino in haſt caught hold of Vocatur Leucothea à Graecis & Meduſa à Latinis Cicer & habita eſt Dea Maris. Melicerta, 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.

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 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.

Addit. Not 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, 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, Hence called Mater Peſſinuntia, or Dea Syria.to 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.

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 He loved alſo the Nymph Syring. Ovid. of 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 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.

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 the ſeveral adventures of his Life, what they had decreed according to the Judgment of the Gods could not be altered, they were more Clotho colum retinet Lacheſis net, et Attropas occat. they are called alſo nona decima morta.eſpecially 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.

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; 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.

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 He is named Dis Summanus Altor, Ruſor, Februus.by 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, Orci Galeawas 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.

Haec omnis quam cernis in opis in humataque turba eſt: portitur ille Charon, hi quos vehit unda ſepulti.

Nec ripas datur horrendas &c. Virgil 6 Aen.

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 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 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 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.

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, 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.

Addit. Not. Genius à gignendo, or ab ingerendo; becauſe he ſupports or ſuggeſts unto us thoughts.

Virgil names them Manes.

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: 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, Tibull. lib. 4.

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.

Lararium, the place where they were worſhipped. There were Lares publici, Lares familiares I ares Hoſtitii, to drive away enemies, Lares Marini, of the Sea; Lares querquetulani, of ſhe Oaks. They are alſo called Praeſtites Larvae, Lemures, 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, 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 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, or Vagitanus. Vaticanus, 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.

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: 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 Marriners, as well as of the Country, and of Nuda Venus faecunda Pales, Pharetrata Diana, Juno gravis, prudens Pallas, turrita Cybelle.Gardens: 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 where there were ſuch a multiplicity of Idle Gods. Now theſe were the ſtrange Divinities worſhipped in Rome, when they had conquered the World.

Sanctus, or Deus Fidius, the God of the Sabins; Io, or Iſis, a Goddeſs of the Aegyptians. The Poets inform us, that ſhe was the Daughter of the River Inachus, a profeſſed Whore, yet the Prieſt of Juno: She perſwaded Jupiter to yield to her Luſt; but Juno's jealouſic purſuing after her Husband, found them together, Jupiter in the form of a Cloud, and Iſis in that of a white Cow, for Jupiter had changed her that ſhe might not be ſuſpected of his Wife, who underſtood his ſubtilty; therefore ſhe beg'd the Cow from Jupiter, he being afraid, by a refuſal, to diſcover her and his own diſhoneſty, granted her to Juno, who preſently committed her to the cuſtody of Argus with a hundred eyes; there ſhe continued in much miſery and perſecution, until Mercurius was ſent from Jupiter to deliver her, he played Argus aſleep with his pleaſant Muſick, intending to ſteal away the counterfeit Cow; but a Boy, named Hierax, gave notice to Argus, and waked him, as the other was a departing with his prize. Mercurius ſeeing no remedy, but that he muſt either neglect Jupiters Command, or kill Argus, he took a great ſtone and knockt him dead upon the place, and changed Hierax into a Hawk for his ill Office. Juno was not a little diſpleaſed at the loſs of her faithful ſervant, therefore ſhe transformed him into a Peacock, that yet retains the number of his eyes in its feathers; and ſhe ſent ſome Creatures to vex Iſis, ſo that ſhe became mad, and ran up and down the World, ſwimming over the Seas into Ionia, unto which ſhe left her Name, as Beſides theſe moſt noted Gods of Egypt, they worſhipped there all the Herbs of their Garden, which the Romans were aſhamed to imitate.alſo to the Sea that waters that Country: At laſt ſhe returned back to Egypt, where ſhe married Oſiris: Her Son by Jupiter was Epaphus; after her death ſhe was 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 Some thinks this Anubis to be Mercurius as we ſhall ſee afterwards. Anubis. The Romans had an extraordinary reverence for this Goddeſs, although they baniſht her, becauſe her Prieſts had conſented to defile her Temple with Whoredomes afterwards ſhe was admitted again: Her Prieſts were initiated with Blood and Water, they had their Heads and Beards ſhaven, and did wear all White Linnen Garments: At the entry in of her Temple was the Statue of a Sphynx, to ſignifie that ſhe was a myſterious 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 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 Herodot. ſacres Igurn.appointed to enquire into every mans actions, caſt into places of ſhame and puniſhment; the Virtuous were interred in beautiful Fields, flouriſhing with all manner of Flowers. This place was near the City Memphis, encompaſſed ſeveral times with the River Nilus, and an old Fellow did convey the dead bodies over. By this means this Prince did awe his people into obedience, and a ſubmiſſion to his Laws. And from hence it is that the Poets have borrowed their pleaſant deſcriptions of Hell, as the reſt of their ſuperſtitious Fables, as ſeveral writers informs us. Oſiris is alſo called Apis, in whoſe Temple a Bull was nouriſhed: 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.

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

De ſapient. cap. 10.

Et comes in pompa corniger. Apis erat. Ovid. faſt.

Exod. 32. 6. Barbara Memphiten plangere docta Bovem Tibull.

Head was the Image of a Bull; therefore they did worſhip him in the ſome manner as the Egyptians did their Apis, for they did mightily rejoyce and feaſt themſelves when he was made, and dance round about the Idol: But I cannot conceive how the Iſraelites could be of ſuch weak memories, as to forget the greatneſs of Gods Power lately manifeſted to them in their deliverance from Egypt, and in the publiſhing of the Law, or of ſuch perverſe judgments, as to aſcribe to the works of their hands the glorious Acts of the Almighty, of which they had been Eye-witneſſes; for it ſeems they intended, as our Religious Papiſts do, to adore God in the outward and viſible repreſentation of a Bull, or of a Calf, according to the cuſtom of the Egyptians; therefore they did not ſay, To morrow there ſhall be a Feſtival to Apis, Oſiris, or Iſis, the Gods of Egypt, but to the Lord 〈 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 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

Plinius, lib. 5. cap. 9.

Oſiris alſo named Bacchus.

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 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 〉 , 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, Nachmonides & R. Moſes.whoſe 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. Minucius Faelix, Lactant. Justin.The 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 Prince, or a King, the Heathen Worthies did borrow from hence their names, as Amilcar, Imilcon, &c.

2 King. 17. 31. 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 〉 Ador-Melech, a From hence the Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a man.ſtrong 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 Cogere 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Chald-word.never 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 • Maff •• us de Job. Ind. and Munſter. Coſmograph. 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 〉 which ſignifies to compel, that theſe Heathens did ſacrifice to the Imperious and unreſiſtable Emperour of the World Death; for it is ſaid, Selden de diis Syris. cap. 6. Virg. lib. 6. Ovid. Metam. lib. 7. that his Prieſts were cloathed in black, and therefore named 〈 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 〉

So it is likely that theſe Heathens did offer unto Pluto or Death their Children, that he might ſpare their lives. Baal was another 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Divinity 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 Selden de diis Syris.it to men in their lives, and after their death have granted it to their breathleſs Statues, 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 Heſychius 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Euſeb.Heaven: 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 His Prieſts did cut themſelves in honour of him.the 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Egypt; through its Territories the Iſraelites did paſs when they marched towards the Red 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.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Baal-Peor, or Beelphegor, as the Seventy write it, ſignifies a ſhameful Divinity ſet up 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 amongſt the Moabits, beyond Jordan, upon Mount Peor: Some think him to be Jupiter

Hieron adoſe. cap▪ 11.

Iſidor. Orig. lib. 3. cap, 11. Numb. 25. 1. and 3.

1 Kings 15. 11, 12.

2 Chron 15. 16 This Priapus was named Miphleteth, an abominable Idol.

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 〉 Chemoſh, or as the Seventy render it in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , the Chief God of Moab; which word I conceive may be derived from the Hebrew 〈 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.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Baal-Gad, was the God from whoſe Providence and will all worldly felicity proceeds: The Grecians and Romans made this Divinity Goddeſs, and called her 〈 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 Gen. 30. 11. Aben-ezra. call'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 Munſter.Heathens, to greet the New-married Couple with this kind of Salutation, 〈 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 Iſaiah 65. 10. Iſaiah reproves the Iſraelites for imitating this Heatheniſh Superſtition.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 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 2 King 1. 2. from hence in Hebr. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Deus hoc diſcrimen poſuit imer ſacrif. Demon, & ſui legitimi cultus.with 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 Plin. lib. 10. H ſt. Natur. cap. 28. troubleſome 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 Pliny ſaith that after the ſacri c • s all the flies did immediately depart. This agrees with the relation of the Jewiſh Rabbies above mentioned.power 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 Agency for the diſturbance of mankind.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Baal-Berith, the Lord of the Covenant, was another God of the Phaenicians: So Jupiter was named at Rome Sponſor, or Fidius;

Signifies a Covenant. Thucyd.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

and amongſt the Greeks there was 〈 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, Pſa. 25. 10.a 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 Jer. 12. 16.45. 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 〉 , who had for his Wife 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , or Berith: from this Elioun comes 〈 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 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 The Naturaliſts do inform us, that as ſoon as our eyes are open in a morning, they turn of themſelves to behold and admire the Sun when we ſleep in he open Ayr. Coel. Rhodig. adore 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 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

Acts 7. 41.

2 King. 17. 16. Dan. 8. 10. & Nehem 9. 6. There the Hoſt of Heaven ſignifies the Stars.

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 1 Sam. 7. 4. Compare 2 Chron. 21. 13. and 1 Kin. 18. Chap. 18. with Jer. 8. 2. 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 〉 God, from 〈 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of 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 Steuch. Eugub.the Heathens, as a Learned Writer hath proved.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Cicer. natur. Deor, lib. 3. Aſhtoreth, or Aſtaroth, or as the 70 write it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , was the chief Goddeſs of the Sidonians, called by ſome Luna, by others Venus. She is named Baaltis and Haec baal. ' 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Lucian. Venus was named 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , and adored in the form of a Fiſh. Ovid • aſt. lib. 2. Philo 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 〉 , 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 therefore their duty to dedicate to her ſervice Euſeb. and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Selden.thoſe actions unto which ſhe did ſtir them up; ſhe was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Venus, and Juno Olympia, or Minerva Beliſama.

Herodian in vita Heliogab. lib. 5. Hiſtor. She is named Aſtronoe Damafc. The Syrians did obſerve her Feſtival; the men in habits like women, and the women in mens cloaths. Macrob. Herodianus mentions this Goddeſs, and names her from 〈 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 〉 and 〈 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.

1 Sam. 5. 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Dagon was the great Idol of the Philiſtines, adored at Aſhdod, called Oannes, and 〈 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 〉 , or Marnas. The Inhabitants did ſay, that he Bochart Geog. Sacr. lib. 4 taught 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that 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,

Cicer. Nat Deorum lib. 3. Caphtorims a people of Cappadocia deſcended of the Scythians. 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 〉 which ſome take to be a bright Star of the firmament named by us Venus.

2 Kings 17. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 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 Merodotus Munſter in coſmograph.for 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 See Levit. 19. 29 Melita. All Strangers did in requital of their good entertainment, offer money to Ve ••• Babylo • ia Dicta eſtthis Idol. Juſtine confirms this Story, for he relates how that it was a kind expreſſion of civility amongſt the Babylonians to • he Goddeſſe • as named A • itis in Ar • enia; in her emple Virns did proture themſelves before marriage. This cuſtome was in Lydia. • lia. lib. 4. v. Hiſt. The learned Selden. Va • er. Maxim. lib. 2. c. 6. • is remarkable that Venus is named by the Pagans 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Deſtroyer of men, for there is no greater enemy to health • n exceſs in Venerean delights.give 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 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 〉 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 was the Altar upon which the fire did burn.was 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 I have ſeen them at theſe devotions.to the riſing Sun, for they ſalute it with much humility, as ſoon as they can ſee it, and do waſh themſelves with clean water. 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.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Aſima was a God of the Eaſtern people, Elias Levit. Diodor.worſhipped 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.

Kings 19. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Joſeph. lib. 1. ap. 4. 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 〉 is an Eagle in the Hebrew, but I rather think that this is a compounded word derived from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to exalt, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to enlarge, to expreſs the high and ſpatious Heavens, that • erodot. in liv.were worſhipped by the Perſians, as Herodotus affirms.

Nibchaz 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 comes from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to bark, as a learned Writer imagines; therefore he thinks, that this God was the ſame with Anubis of the Egyptians, and that he was worſhipped in the Image of a Dog.

Rimmon was the chief God of Damaſcus, 2 Kings 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the 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, See Bochart Georg. Sacr.where 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 Herodotuscertain, 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.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ezech. 5. 15. 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , prov, to offer a hateful thing as a gift.was 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 Tammur from to dieimitation of this Goddeſs, who grieved for the death of Adonis, and therefore ſhe required Proſerpina to ſend him back again. The Heathen women did carry a dead body to the ground, and did weep to perpetuate the funeral of Adonis, Demoſth. This 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.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Nebo was a God of the Chaldeans in whoſe Iſaiah 46. Jerem. 48. 1.Temple the Oracles were delivered as his name intimates, for it is deriv'd of 〈 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 accidents, as appears in the Hiſtory of Moſt of the Syrian Gods were named Pattaeci, that is Tutelar Gods. Daniel. 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.

Jerem. 25 26. 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A nos Acts 7. 43.Apoſtles 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.

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 See Verſtegan. all 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.

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 Olaus. Mag.God 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 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 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 End of the Firſt Book.

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 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 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 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.

Addit. Not. 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 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 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 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, 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, Called Stymphalides. that 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; Now Tartari • ▪ they 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, 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 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, Erytio was his cruel Miniſter of State, who was kill'd. He drove theſe Oxen from Italy, where he kill'd Lihys Dereylus, and Alebion, who offered to hinder his paſſage, and ſteal his beaſts He ſacrificed them all to Juno. and 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 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 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, 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 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 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 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.

Addit. Not. There hath been no King, nor other perſon, ſince the beginning of the World, that hath rendred his name more famous than Hercules, f r he was not only known in Greece, in Italy, and Spain, but in Egypt, as Herodotus, and in France and Germany, as Caeſar do inform us. Theſe following particulars may be further added to his former Hiſtory, for the intelligence of the Poets, and Ancient Writers.

Jupiter when he laid with his Mother ſpent three nights, which he cauſed to be joyned together to beget him; his body and ſtature was anſwerable to the pains and power of his Father; for it is reported, that he was four Cubits and a foot high, and had three ranks of teeth in his mouth; out of his eyes ſparkles of fire and light did ſometimes proceed. He had a Siſter married to Polyphemus, mentioned by Homer in his Odyſſea; his Brother was Iphiclus, of Witneſs Aelian in his various ſtories, a Greek Poet, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , &c.whom 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 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, Heliconius, lesbins, and Nemaus.of Helicon, of Lesbos, and Nemea. Theſpius, King of Boeotia, ſoon heard of his valour and ſtrength, therefore he ſent for him to make tryal of his ability. This King had fifty Daughters, and never a Son; he imagined that it might be a great ſupport to him to have 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 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 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 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 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 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. 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , are great and difficult undertakings. 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; Of him is the Prov. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Diogen Of a chaſt and virtuous man.but 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 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.

Addit. Not. 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.

Diod. l. 5. cap. • He Reigned about the year of the World 2700. in the daies of Gedeon, a Judge of Iſrael, according to the computation of the beſt Chronology.

CHAP. IV. Of the ſtories of Caſtor and Pollux.

THe common Opinion of the Poets is, that Leda, the Queen of Tyndarus, King of Oebalia, having had familiar acquaintance with Jupiter, ſhe brought forth two big Eggs: Out of one, which was of Jupiter, Hence is the Prov. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Of a fair Lady, ſhe proceeds from an Egg.ſhe had Pollux and Helena; and from the other, that was of Tyndarus, were born Caſtor and Clytemneſtra. They were nevertheleſs all named Tyndarides, becauſe they were all the Children of one Mother that was Wife of Tyndarus.

The two Brothers, Caſter and Pollux, did love one another entirely, inſomuch that they were inſeparable, and they always performed their undertakings together; but only Pollux was immortal by the priviledges of his Birth; therefore out of a tender affection for his Brother, he perſwaded Jupiter, who had a great kindneſs for him, to admit alſo the other into the number of his Sons. From hence the Greeks called them 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.

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.

Addit. Not. Caſtor and Pollux are reckoned amongſt the famous men that have deſerved an immortal name by their valour and generoſity. They accompanied Jaſon, and his Argonauts, in their expedition, to fetch back again the Golden Fleece, in which theſe two Brethren did ſufficiently declare their courage and skill in Arms, Pollux eſpecially: He undertook to correct the temerity of Amycus, when he offered to challenge one of their company out of the Ship to fight with him at handy blows. Pollux went out, and ſoon laid him dead upon the ground. In this voyage, when a dangerous Tempeſt had overtaken them, they ſaw two flames of fire lighting upon the head of Caſtor and Pollux, which were the happy Omens or forerunners of the end of their fears and danger; for the Marriners take notice, that when two fires appear together at Sea, they are to expect happineſs in their undertakings, and a notable calm; whereas if there be but one, they prepare themſelves for a grievous ſtorm. From hence theſe two lights, that are Meteors, or the dry exhalations of the Earth, inflamed in the Air, are called Caſtor and Pollux; but when one is ſeen, it is called Helena, as dangerous to Seamen as ſhe was to Troy.

After the return of the Argonauts, Caſtor and Pollux had war with the Athenians, becauſe Theſeus their King had raviſhed their 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Homer.fair Siſter Helena; but when they had taken one of the Cities of Theſeus, and in it their Siſter, they dealt kindly with the Inhabitants, and carried none away but Aethra, Mother of Theſeus: Therefore the Greeks call all Saviours and favourable Princes 〈 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 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 〉 . 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 〉 .

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 Ʋnde Ovid de Arione faſt lib. 2. at • ibi nave tua tutius aequor erat.in 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 Some ſay to • he Promontor of Tenarus in Greece.him 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 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, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . A Greek Prov. a ſimple fellow.one 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.

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 See Ovid Metamorph. 10 and 11 Books.all 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 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 Some ſay that he was kill'd with a Thunderbolt.entertain any affection for a Woman; and to diſſwade all his acquaintance from their love and union, which proceeding of his, did 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . it draws nighſcandalize 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.

Addit. Not. Arion erat Patriâ Methymneus obſcuris parentibus natus, Poeta inſignis pr • ecipue Dithyrambicus. 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, Therefore named 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .the 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 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.

Ovid faſt. lib. 6. Prima terebrato per rara for amina buxo ut daret effeci tibia longa ſonos. 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 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

Media illa tempeſtate inter flueb at Marſyas amnis fabuloſis Graecorum carminibus inclyrus.

Quint. Curt. lib. 3.

• 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. Lucan. Pharſal. lib. 3. 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

Called therefore by Plato 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , a ſolitary life, or a harmleſs life, entertained by herbs and roots.

It is ſaid that he prophecied of the Worlds c ntinuance.

Aetate in ſexta ceſſabit machina mundi.

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.

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 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.

They were in number 54. 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 Lynceo Perſpicat • or. Cicero, a quick and good eye.eyes, 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, Hercules 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .beſides 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 Hylas was the Son of Theodamas, from whom Hercules ſtole an Oxe in the Iſle of Rhodes, 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 them up, and give them more leaſure to eſcape.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , &c. 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 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 Merimnus and Pheretres the two children of Medea. Theſſalus her other Son eſcaped. He reigned in Theſſaly, and gave his name to the Country.revenged 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 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 Flammea ſubduxi medicato lumina ſomno: Et tibi quae raperes vellera tuta dedi Me dea, Jaſoni in Ovid. her 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 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 From hence the Prov. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Plutarch. He that kills with an intention to cure. Quid referam Peliae natos pietate nocentes, Caeſa que virginea membra paterna manu. Ovid in Medea.to 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , called otherwiſe 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , or Iris, or Ignis Medeae, is ſuch a powerful compound, that if it comes near the fire, or Sun beams, it will ſuddenly ſet all the Air round about in a flame. Plutarch ſays, that it is made of that ſulphurous matter or Clay, that burſts forth of the Territory of Babylon, called alſo by the Hebrews 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , as ſome imagine from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to fly about; becauſe it is of ſuch an airy and fiery compoſition, that at the leaſt provocation it ſpreads and communicates its hot nature to all that comes near unto it. Of this ſtrange compound Dioſc. ſpeak, lib. 1. cap. 102. And Plinius, lib. 2. cap. 105. And the Greek Poet 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Naphtha, which as ſoon as ſhe had toucht, the Air round about her inflamed, with the Kings Palace about her ears.

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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , to heal, before he was called Dolomodes. a 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 preſerved many years, and the breaches • u • . Chron. Diod. l. 5. cap. 11. Aug. lib. 8. de civit. cap. 26. that 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 He was to build a City where the Oxe did lye down when it was weary of its journey.to 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 the next Fountain, named Dirce, to fetch from thence water, but it happened that a The Dragon did proceed from Mars, it kill'd Seriphus and Daileon, the ſervants of Cadmus. The truth is, this Dragon was a famous Robber.fearful 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , a violent grief, for ſhe drowned her ſelf in deſpair. Others add Autonoe and Polydorus, ſons of Cadmus. years, and left many Children: Ino, Semcle the Mother of Bacchus, and Agave, who being tranſported with fury in the company of the Menades, ſhe kill'd her own Son Pentheus, that had by his ſpeech diſcovered a diſlike of the mad Ceremonies of this God.

Cadmus did live to ſee all his Poſterity fall into extreme miſery, and himſelf and Wife The Oracle told the Illyrians, that they ſhould obtain the victory againſt their Enemies, if Cadmus was their Captain. By that means he reigned in Illyria. baniſhed into Illyria, or Sclavonia, where, according to their deſire, they were changed into Serpents; for Amphion forced them out of their own City, and built the walls of it by the harmony of his Lute, as we have already ſaid in the fifth Chapter; but was afterwards kill'd by Diana for his unconſiderate ſpeeches of her, and of her Brother Apollo.

But I think it will not be amiſs if we take notice here, that there have been ſeveral Cities of Thebs, one in Cilicia, where Andromedes the Wife of Hector was born, which was ſackt by the Greeks when they marcht to the Siege of Troy: There was another in Egypt, the largeſt of that Name; it had a hundred Gates; from it that fruitful and renowned Province Thebais was ſo called, which hath been the retreat of ſo many Religious Anachorets, that built there their Covents in the firſt Ages of Chriſtianity.

But Thebs in Boeotia was the moſt famous of all theſe Cities, not only becauſe of the grievous Wars that it ſuffered, and the great Captains that it furniſhed to Greece, ſuch as Epaminondas was a Scholar of Pythagoras. Diog. Laert. lib. 8.were Epaminondas, and Pelopidas, but alſo becauſe the drunken God Bacchm, Hercules, and Pindarus, the Prince of the Lyrick Poets, were born in it. It is reported of the laſt, that the Bees did prognoſticate and ſignifie what he ſhould one day be; for whiles he was yet in the Cradle, they pitcht upon his Thebs was rebuilt by Alexanders command, for the ſake of a great Wraſtler that had been thrice crowned at the Olympick Games.lips, and there laid up their honey, and Pan, with the Nymphs of the Neighbourhood, did keep a Feaſtival on the day that he came into the World. Alexander the Great did mightily honour him; for when he commanded all the City to be deſtroyed with fire and Sword, he gave an expreſs Order to his Souldiers, that they ſhould ſpare the houſe of Pindarus, with all his Relations.

Addit. Not. Cadmus, and moſt of the famous men of Antiquity, cannot much glory in a Noble Pedigrce: If the truth was known, he was but the Cook of Agenor, King of Tyre or Sidon; Ʋlpian.he ran away from his Prince for no good deed with Harmonia a noted Strumpet, yet he was ſo happy as to have laid the foundations of the City of Thebs.

The Greek Letters are called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 an unhappy Victory. 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Euripid. in Medea.to ſteal her away. They took her and carried her on board a Ship where a Bulls Image was placed in the Stern, which cauſed the Fable of Europa's being raviſht by a Bull. Her afflicted Father ſent his Sons Thaſſus and Cadmus after her, but to little purpoſe; for when they could not find her, they ſetled themſelves, and built each of them a City; Thaſſus in an Iſle of the Aegean Sea, and Cadmus in Greece. The Phaenicians to comfort their diſconſolate Prince, invented and promoted the Fable of Europa's being carried away by Jupiter, therefore they reckoned her amongſt the Goddeſſes, and appointed Sacrifices and Altars to her, cauſing Money to be ſtampt in honour of her: In one ſide was Europa ſitting upon a white Bull.

The City of Thebs was famous in Greece, but never ſo much as when Epaminondas the great Warriour and Philoſopher overcame the After his death his Succeſſors did enjoy a portion of all the gifts offered to Apollo in Delphos. Some ſay Pindarus was a Child caſt away in the Woods, and that he was nouriſht by Honey inſtead of Milk.Lacedemonians. Pindarus was a Citizen of this place, he was much reſpected for his Poetical Art: The Oracle enrich't him for it, & commanded that a half part of the gifts dedicated to Apollo, ſhould be preſented to him, becauſe he did ſing and compoſe ſo many excellent Hymns in honour of that God, and of the others. The Bees, when he was yet a Child ſleeping in the open air, powred forth upon his lips their delightful honey. The ſame thing is reported of Plato, as it is ſaid of Midas, that when he was yet in his Cradle, the Ants carried into his mouth ſeveral grains of Wheat. Theſe paſſages were Prognoſticks of the future ſplendour and fame of theſe men in that kind of life which they did imbrace.

CHAP. VIII. Of Oedipus.

LAius King of Thebs having eſpouſed Jocaſta the Daughter of Creon, underſtood from the Oracle that he was to die by the hand of one that ſhould proceed out of this Marriage, therefore he commanded Jocaſta his Queen, to deſtroy all her Children. When Oedipus was born, his Mother was loath to commit ſo horrid a cruelty upon the Babe with her own hands; therefore he was delivered to a Souldier to be by him ſtrangled: But he alſo was moved with compaſſion for the poor Infant, and could not have the courage to diſpatch him, or to ſee him expire; for that reaſon he pierced his feet, and tyed him up to a Tree growing upon Mount Cytheron, that he might there die in that miſerable condition: But it happened that Poebas, one of the Shepherds of Polybius King of Corinth, came immediately after by that way, and ſeeing in what danger the Infant was of its 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▪ 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 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.

Davusſum non Oedipus Terent; one of an ordinary capacity. 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.

Addit. Not. 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, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Prov. From hence to expreſs the juſt curſes of a Superiour.which 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 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.

Tireſia caecior Juvenal a blind fellow. He was the ſon of • ur • mus a Shepherd of Mount Syllerus; he had been both a man and a woman: Juno puniſhed him with blindneſs for revealing a ſecret which women only can tell, but Jupiter rewarded him with a life ſeven times longer than ordinary▪ Read Hyginus 75 Book of Fables. 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, that ſhe reſolved never to marry any but a Of him is the Proverb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 becauſe he was ſo cruel to his Daughter, as to cauſe her to be devoured of a horſe for not preſerving her chaſtity. Diogenian. Worthy 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 His name was Maeon. as 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 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 when a Pomgranate-Tree had been planted

The Thebans a • ter the Victory built a Temple to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Plutarch, Statius. From hence the Prov. Fratris contentiones, implacable hatreds or diſcords.

Addit. Not.

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 〉 .

The City was thus divided between the Chieftains, Parthenopeus was to aſſault the Gate called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Amphiaraus the other named Proetis; at the Gate of Ogyges was appointed Hippomedon; The Cranean Gate was ſirnamed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , where there was a Temple dedicated to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Jupiter the moſt high God. Pa • ſa • ias and Plutarch. Tydeus 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 〉 . 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 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 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

This Chain was unfortunate afterwards to all its owners.

Alcmeon gave it to his Wife Ampheſibea; & her Brother Themon ▪gave it to Apollo at Delph, from whence it was carried by the Phocenſes that rob'd the Temple.

His Ph • dram▪ proc • inque • ocis, moeſtamque Eriphylen.

Crudelis gnati monſtrantem vu • nera cernit. Virg. lib. 6. Aeneid. The Motto of Amphiaraus was excellent 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Euripid in his Tragedy of the Phoeni.

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 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 〉 a Viſion, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a diſcovery of ſomething between ſleeping and waking, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a ſuggeſtion caſt into our fancy, called by Cicero Viſum, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 an ordinary Dream, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Divine Apparition, or Revelation in our ſleep, ſuch as were the dreams of

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 idem 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , to ſpeak truth, and ſen e, or Oracles.

Matth. 2. 22. Act. 10. 22. Heb. 12. 25. Amongſt the Romans the interpretation of Dreams was the office • f the Augures Roſin. lib. 3.

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 〉 . 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 men; therefore they had perſons appointed amongſt them, whoſe imployment was to diſcover the deſign and intention of dreams. It is certain, Plinius lib. 7. Chap. 56. that 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,

Called by Homer 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .

He calls an evil dream 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Odyſſ. lib 6. & Iliad. 2 Valerius Maxim, lib. 1▪ cap. 7. Pont. Diacon. in vita Cyprian, Gregor.

Moral lib. 18.

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〉 before a Child attains to four years of Age, he is In ſomnio exteriores ſenſus dormiunt & interiores cernuntar. Gregor. lib. 23. Mor. not 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 Ariſtotle of Animal 4 Book.of 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 〉 .

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 Virgil lib. 7. Aeneid. Centum lanigeras mactabat rite bidentes Atque harum effultus tergo, ſtratiſ que jac • bat Velleribus, ſubita ex alto vox reddita luco.

They did deliver Oracles in caves of the earth, where the Poets did place the Ivory gate of hell, for in hell were 2 gates. 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.

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.

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.

This was the happy Age, when learning was admired and rewarded. From hence the Prov. Sophocles eſt, he is a happy Orator. 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 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.

Addit. Not. Evadne, the Daughter of Iphys, did love her Husband Capaneus ſo tenderly, that ſhe Theſe things happened about the daies of Gedeon, Judge of Iſrael, 2750 years after the Creation of the World, as Euſeb. Chron. Diod. l. 5. and Hygin. do think.reſolved 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. 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.

See C. Tacitus lib. 1. Annal. It was therefore eſteemed a cruelty beyond expreſſion, to deny to the dead a burial; for this Humano generi poſuit natura creatrix. Hanc legem, ut tumuli membra ſepulta tegant. Roſin, ex vet. Poet. cauſe 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 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 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, Pelopis talenta, a great talent. There were two ſorts a little one worth 60 l. and a great one worth 80 l. ſterling. Pelops 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 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.

Addit. Not. Euſeb. deprepar. Evang. l. 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Prov. an imminent danger. 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 Pelops was worſhipped as a God, and his Sanctuary placed at the right hand of the Temple of Jupiter Olymp. His ſhoulder of Ivory was carried to Troy, and loſt in the Sea at the return, but found by Demarmenus, a Fiſherman, who carried it to the Eleans, by the advice of the Oracle, to deliver them from the Plague. Pauſanias. unſeaſonable 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 of the Gods, becauſe he did excel in beauty▪ and had ſerved ſome of them in preſenting For that reaſon he is ſaid to be bis pubeſcens. Ovid. Metam.unto 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 Myrtilus the ſon of Mercurius & of Cleobula. was 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, Pelops promiſed that he ſhould lie one night with Hippodamia of whom he was alſo in love but Pelops would never ſuffer him▪ Hygin. Tit. Livius.when 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 Pauſanies. Lucian in Charidemo.cruel, as to kill twelve or thirteen young Gallants that came to ſeek his Daughter in Marriage; for when he had ünhappily overcom • them in the Race, he did diſpatch them out of his ſight without mercy. Lucan Pharſ. lib. 6.

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 From hence the Prov. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 an excellent Chariot.to 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.

Some ſay ſhe was the daughter of Phoroneus Giod Boccac. 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 Ovid. Metam. lib. 6. —Cur calitur Latona per aras? Numen adhuc ſine thuie meum eſt, &c. And 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, Ovid de Pont. lib 1. upon the Coaſt of Greece. Ovid calls her Mygdonia, becauſe of her Image that did ſtand in the Town of Sipylus, in the Mount Mygdonia. N • nc quoque Mygdonia flebilis aſtat humo.

CHAP. XII. Of Atreus and Thyeſtes.

THeſe two Brethren have given occaſion to many Tragedies, which proceeded from an irreconcilable hatred that they did bear to one another: For Thyeſtes having no other intent but to vex Atreus, defiled his Bed with Adultery and Inceſt, and then ſaved himſelf out of his reach. And Atreus ſurprized the ſons of Thyeſtes, and got them all into his power: Then he ſent unto him to invite him to a Feaſt, as if they had been to end all their differences, and reconcile themſelves together. Thyeſtes perſwaded with the deſire of ſeeing his Children, came readily to the Feaſt: But when they were both riſen from the Table, Atreus ſhewed unto him the ſad Spectacle of their hands and heads chopt off, telling him alſo at the ſame time, that he had fed at ſupper only upon their fleſh. The Poets ſay, that the Sun was eclipſed, and did return back towards its riſing, that it might not behold ſuch a deteſtable cruelty.

But as one Crime draws after it another; it happened that Aegiſtus, the Baſtard Son of Thyeſtes, who was reckoned amongſt the Dead, becauſe he had been caſt away in a Wood, ſatisfied his Fathers vengeance, by ſpilling the blood of Atreus. This Aegiſtus was ſo named, becauſe he had been brought up and nouriſhed by Goats. He having therefore eſpouſed his Fathers quarrel, he maſſacred Agamemnon, the Son of Atreus, at his return from the Siege of Troy, by the aſſiſtance of his Wife Clytemneſtra, who had been perſwaded to conſent to the murder of her Husband.

We ſhall in another place take notice how Oreſtes revenged the death of his Father Agamemnon, in killing Aegiſtus, and Clytemneſtra his own Mother, becauſe ſhe had been ſo perfidious and wicked as to imbrue her hands in her Husbands blood.

Addit. Not. Seneca in the Tragedy of Thyeſtes. 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , an angry conntenance. Lucian Prov.and Pliſtenes. When Atreus came to underſtand who was their Father, he cauſed them to be roaſted, and given to Thyeſtes to eat, at a great banquet unto which he was invited. He found ſome way to eſcape out of it, and his Brothers power, and ſo departed to King Theſprotus; and from him he went to Sicyone, where he had placed his Daughter Pelopia. He found her ſacrificing to Minerva, and dancing about her Altar, but it happened that ſhe had ſtained her cloaths with the blood of the Victim; therefore in the night ſhe went do vn to a River alone to waſh them. Her Father Thyeſtes followed her, and got her with-child, but ſhe ſecretly convey'd his Sword away. About that time • 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.

Giod. Boccac. lib. 1 • . Geneal. de Gli Dei. The Poets 〈◊〉 inform us of the firſt cauſe of theſe Tragedies and fatal diſcords: They ſay it was becauſe Pelops offered to drown Myrtilus, the Son of Mercurius; therefore this God in revenge, kindled ſuch flames of wrath and enmity in the breaſts of his Sons, that they ceaſed not till they were both deſtroyed, with all their Generation.

CHAP. XIII. Of the Kings of Troy.

THe City of Troy hath been heretofore one of the moſt famous of Aſia minor, as well for its largeneſs and riches, as for that Renowned War which it n annag'd againſt the Army of Greece. It was ſcituate in Phrygia, which is a Province ſtretching it ſelf upon the Coaſt of the Aegean Sea, near unto the Helleſpont, called now the River of Conſtantineple, over againſt the C • e • ſ • n • ſus of Thracia, He was the ſon of the King of Corinth: when his elder Brother was dead, there was a diſpute between him and his other Brother Jaſius about the ſucceſſion: part of the people did favour Dard▪ and the other Jaſius. Dard. with his favourites took ſhipping, and ſetled in Phrygia. Philoſtr. and the Iſland Tenedos, which was not far diſtant from it. The River Soamander, that proceeds from the Mount Ida, did run by the walls to joyn with the waters of the River Sim is; both together do empty themſelves into the Sea, near the Promontory called Sigeum

The 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 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 Tros had War with Tantal. King of Phrygia, who took his ſon Ganimede priſoner, and ſent him as a preſent to Jupiter King of Crete. This gave occaſion to the Fable. Natal. Com. after his own name Troja, and the Country round about was named Troas.

This Tros had ſeveral ſons, firſt Ganimedes, who was raviſht by Jupiter; Aſſaracus the Father of Capys, of whom was Anchiſes the Favourite of Venus, who had by him Aeneas, born upon the banks of the River Simois: But the chief of his Children, and the Heir of his Crown was Ilus, who gave unto the City of Troy the name of Ilium, when he had mightily enriched it.

The truth is, Laomedon ſpoiled the Temples of Apollo and Nep • unus to build Troy. Natal. Com. de Neptuno. This ſacriledg hath cauſed the Fable Menia Phoebe • ſtructa canore Lyne. Of Troy Ovid in Epiſt. Parid. 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 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.

〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 Addit. Not. Laomedon had eight Children▪ 〈…〉 Nec dum Laomedonteae ſentis perjuria gent • s? Virg. lib 4 Aeneid Daughters; Lampus, Clitio, and 〈…〉 mentioned by Homerus; 〈…〉 Priamus Antigone, and 〈…〉 remarkable. Their 〈…〉 perjury, that when any of 〈…〉 faithful, they are ſaid to be 〈…〉 Laomedon.

Antigone had ſuch a rare beauty, that ſhe preferred her ſelf to Juno, who changed her into a Stork.

Titonus was married to Aurora, of whom the brave Champion of Aegypt Memnon was born.

Creuſa, Caſſandra, Iliona, Laodicea, Licaſte, Mediſicaſti, Poliſena. Paris, Hector, Helenus Caonus, Troilus, Deiphobe, Polidorus, Licaon, Teucrus, &c. Priam ſucceeded his Father Laomedon: Of Hecuba he had nineteen Children. Whiles he remained in peace, and eſpouſed not the quarrels of the Aſian people againſt Greece, he proſpered, and his Kingdom flouriſhed mightily; but when he engaged himſelf in the publick enmity of his Country, and ſuffered Paris to affront the Grecians, he brought upon himſelf and his Subjects utter ruine and deſtruction, as Herodotus takes notice. But of him hereafter.

CHAP. XIV. Of Paris.

VVHen Hecuba was with-child of Paris, called otherwiſe Alexander, ſhe dream't that ſhe was bringing into the world a Firebrand, that ſhould kindle the flames of War in the Country, and cauſe a general deſtruction in it.

For this cauſe, as ſoon as he was born, Priam delivered him into the hands of a Souldier, named 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 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 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.

Addit. Not. 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, Nevertheleſs Ovid ſaith, Bella gerant a • i tu Pari ſemper ama.where 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 Con miaguida • aduliero Trojano. Eſpugno Sparta▪ & Chebbe in ſuo potere. Gio. Boccac. Geneal. de gli Dei. l. 3. expreſſions 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 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, 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 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 Ab à privativa and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 diet 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 He led an Army of Myrmidones to Troy. body, 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: 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 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: 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, Menſuras & pondera invenit Phidion Argivus, aut Palamedes, ut Ma-Jeuit Gellius. Plin. Lib. 7. Chap. 56.a 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.

He is called by Homer, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ſignifie his cunning, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & ſanguine cretu • Si • yphio. 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 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 of Souldiers from the King of Aſſyria. Juſtin. Lib. 2.And 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 Scamander is named 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .before 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 The young Damſels were wo • t to waſh in t •• s River before Marriage, ſaying unto it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .fight. 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 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 Homer Il. 21. infallibly periſht there, had not Ju •• diſpatcht away Vulcan in haſte to his aſſiſtance. This 〈◊〉 himſelf in a rage, with violent Lucian.flames 〈◊〉 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, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Homer. Achilles • 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 Diomedes wounded Venus, ſhe in revenge made his wife a whore, ſo that he would not return home, but ſettled i • Italy, where he built a City now called Benevento, ofter his death his people were metamorphiſed into ſtrange birds▪ named Cetaractes, they • ly away from a wicked man, but cheriſh the good eſpecially the Greeks, ſee Plin lib. 2. c. 〈◊〉 .Son of Capaneus was noted for his courage, as alſo his intimate friend Diomedes King of Ae • ol • a, and Son of Tydeus mentioned before, he was not like that cruel Diomedes the King of Thracia, who was ſlain by Hercules, for he was both gracious and valiant, he did march to the fight as quick as the thunder burſts out of a cloud, or as a Torrent that tumbles down a ſteep Mountain, as Homer informs us; none but Achilles and Ajax the Son of Telamon did go before him in the reputation of a great Commander; for Ʋlyſſes, he did excel more in cunning than in courage, he did invent all manner of Stratagems of war aganiſt the enemies.

He is called, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Sweet mouth'd He was the Son of Neleus King of Pylos Hercules reſtored unto him his Kingdom, becauſe of his juſtice Hygin. ch. 10. & Pauſan. 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 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Homer.on of their deſign. They had Catchus and Euripilus two experienced Soothſayers, who did inform them of the time to come, that they might make proviſion accordingly. They had alſo a learned Phyſitian by name Macaon, the Son of Eſculapius, who did heal all ſorts of diſcaſes, and Epeus a witty Engineer, who invented ſeveral Engines of war; particularly, that which was called the great Ram, or the Horſe with which the enemies did anciently batter down the walls of a beſieged City. There was alſo an ill ſhap'd Fellow amongſt them named Therſites, whoſe mind was as full of evil qualities, as his body was deformed with ill-favoured features. He was the greateſt Coward in the Army, yet had the confidence to oppoſe all the ableſt and ſtouteſt Commanders. Achilles was one day ſo enraged againſt him, that he knock'd him down and kill'd him with a blow of his fiſt.

The firſt of the Grecians army, who landed, when they were arrived in the Province of Troas was Protheſilaus. Hector caſt him He is ſtiled 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 becauſe he was ſwift in running▪ dead to the Ground with a blow of his lance. His wife Laodimia requeſted this favour from the gods to comfort her in her violent affliction, onely to ſee again the Shadow of her deceaſed husband, which was granted, but when ſhe offer'd to embrace it, ſhe fell down dead.

There were many ſlain and much blood ſpilt in the frequent fallies of the beſieged. Troïlus one of the Sons of Priam ventured out againſt Achilles, though he were very young, but he was unhappily killed by him his death did mightily afflict the Trojans, becauſe the Oracle had promiſed, that the City ſhould never be taken whilſt he did live. His elder Brother Hector reveng'd his death by the cruel ſlaughter of a multitude of Greeks with which he did encounter. So that the beſieged did often ſay that he alone 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 This Ajax was the Prince of Salamis called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , the Bulwark of the Greeks, becauſe he was big and high and rendred invulnerable by the prayers of Hercules who put upon him his Lyons skin and deſired Jupiter that he might not be ſubject to wounds only under his Arms ſee Pindar in Od. Iiſhm. 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 〉 The Gifts of Enemies are unhappy. Hector had been alſo tyed & drag'd upon the Buckler that this Ajax had exchanged with him for his Sword.

When Achilles was dead, the Beſeiged began to take courage and to expreſs their joy, but it laſted not long: for Pyrrhus the Son of Achilles being arrived from Greece, ſucceeded his Father in all his offices, and he had no leſs ſucceſs in the encounters although he was yet very young? He revenged his Death upon the Trojans in many Battels, in one of them he killed the Traitor Paris. Others ſay that it was Philactetes who wounded him mortally with one of the poiſoned Arrowes of Hercules.

At laſt the beſieged were ſo unhappy as to ſee their Palladium, upon which the ſafety of their Citty did depend, ſtolen and carried away privately, by 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.

Dardanus Iliace primus pater urbis & Author. Virgil. 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〉 was able to deſtroy the Enemies Army.

In the mean while the love of women did This Apollo is named by Homer 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 becauſe he did put his enemies to • light and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 light; becauſe he brings light into the world or from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Wolfe, becauſe he was adored in the image of a wolfe in Aegypt. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Hom. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 S • mmuſ que dies Hectoris idem patrioe que fuit. Homer calls him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .more 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.

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.

This death did mightily trouble the Graecians, who raiſed for him a Tomb upon the Promontary of Sigaeum, where alſo 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , &c. Homer Il. 20. 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.

He was the ſon of the River Stygmon and of the muſe Euterpe or of Eioneus as Homer ſaith.

Philoſtrat in Proteſiliao

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.

He was called •• ppus by the Aegiptians.

Pauſan where he was killed the Poets do ſay that a Fountain ſprung up which yeilded drops of blood every year on the day of his death Nat▪ Com.

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 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.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Hom. 15. 11. 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 Pindar.youngeſt of all the Greeks, a great Favourite of Achilles, when his Father was ready to be

Ovid ſaith otherwiſe in Penelop ad Ʋ lyſſ. Sive qui • Antilochum narrabat ab Hectore victum▪ &c.

Creta or Candia was call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 becauſe there was in it an hundred Cities: now there is but thre • , Candia, Canea or Cidon from whence are the Mala Cidonia, quinces, the third is Rethymo Gnoſus was the Metropolis in the time of Minos, ſcituate upon Mount Ida now called Philoi • ri.

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 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.