are in India also dogs of such courage that two of them can master a Lyon Of the Diamond-stone THe Diamonds be found amongst the mettals of India Aethiope Araby Macedony Cyprus and many other places The Indian Diamond shineth with a more Orientnesse then the others There is one kinde of this stone that is somewhat of an iron colour and differeth not much from a christall colour for commonly it is somewhat white but it is harder then Christall so that if it be layd upon the Smiths Anvile and most vehemently beaten with a hammer rather the anvile the hammer wil breake asunder then that will be divided in parts and it doth not only resist the blowes of iron but also the heate of the fire so that it will not melt nor give place thereto For if we may give credit to Pliny it will never waxe warme and that because it cannot be more purer then it is for it is never contaminate But yet the strange hardnesse of this stone is made so soft with the warme blood of a Lion or of a Goate that it may be broken In scalding Lead it taketh such heate that it may be dissolved But this hardnesse is not in every Diamond for that which is of Cyprus or called Syderites may be broken with a Mallet and pierced through with another Diamond The Diamond doth deprehend and detect poyson and maketh the working thereof frustrate and therefore it is desired of Princes and had in great price and estimation The tenne persecutions under the Roman Emperors THe first beganne in the 13 yeare of the reigne of Nero in such sort that the Christians were faine to hide themselves in caves of the earth The second beganne in the 12 yeare of the Reigne of Domitian who caused St. Iohn the Evangelist to be put in a vessell of burning oyle whereof he received no hurt The third beganne in the tenth yeare of the reigne of Tratan which ceased afterwards by the pitty and meanes of Pliny Second Prefect of the Empire The fourth began under Marcus Antonius and Aurelius Commodus Empire The fifth began at the commandement of the Emperour Severus The sixt began at the indignation of Maximinus who especially persecuted the Clergy The seventh began under the Emperour Docius and continued cruelly The eighth began under the Emperour Valerius who though at the first hee were a Christian yet afterwards being corrupted by certaine Hereticks hee became a most cruell persecutor of Christ his Church The ninth beganne under the Emperour Aurelianus The tenth began by the commandement of the Emperours Dioclesianus and Maximianus Herculeus this persecution was farre more cruell and generall then any of the rest insomuch that Dioclesianus in the orient and Maximianus in the occident destroyed all Churches and tormented the Christians with all strange torments Of the Calechut the famous Mart of India THE compasse of the Citty of Calechut is the space of Sixe Thousand buildings which be not joyned together as our houses be but are separate a good space asunder the length of the Citty is a thousand paces their houses be very low so that they are not above the height of a man on horse-backe from the ground they be covered in the top with boughes and branches of trees commonly Their King is addicted to the worshipping of devils He doth not deny God to be the maker of Heaven and earth and the first cause and Author of things but hee saith that GOD appointed the office of judgement to an ill spirit and to doe right to mortall men and this spirit they call Deumo The King hath the picture of this devill in his Chappell sitting with a Diadem on his head like unto the Bishops of Rome but his Diademe hath foure hornes about and this picture gapeth with a wide mouth shewing foure teeth It hath a deformed nose grimme and terrible eyes a threatning countenance crooked fingers with tallants and feete much like unto a Cocke they that looke upon this horrible monster are suddenly afraid it is so loathsome and terrible a thing to behold About the Church are painted devils and in every corner Sathan is made of brasse sitting with such workmanship that hee seemeth to cast flames of fire for the consuming of soules miserably and in his right hand the picture of the Devill putteth a soule to his mouth and with his left hand it reacheth another Every morning their Priests doe clense this Idoll with Rose-water and other sweete waters and they perfume it with divers sweete things falling downe and worshipping it They put the blood of a Cocke weekely in a Silver Vessell filled with burning coles and a great number of sweet perfumes and taking â— Censar they make it redoleâ—â— with Frankincense and have a little Silver bell ringing all the while And the King eateth no meate before that 4 Priests have offered to the Devill somewhat of the Kings dishes The King at his dinner sitteth on the ground without any cloth under him and the Priests standeth round about him as hee sitteth never comming neerer him then within foure paces marking the Kings words most reverently when he hath done eating the Priests offer the reliques of the Kings meate to yong Crowes and Birds to be eaten which Fowle is an haynous thing to kill and therefore they flye every where in safety When the King marrieth a Wife he useth not to goe to bed unto her before that his new married wife hath been defloured of the most worthy Priest For this Whoredome the KING giveth him as a reward five hundred Crownes The Priests are in the first order of estimation with them then Senators which beare a sword and a buckler a bow and a javelin when they goe abroad Thirdly they esteeme Artificers Fourthly fishers Fiftly Merchants for Wine and Pepper and Acornes Last of all such as sow and gather Rice They have no great respect oâ— Apparrell but to cover their privy parts they goe bare-foot and bare-head When the King is dead if there bee any Males alive either children brethren or brothers children they succeed not in the Kingdome but the sisters sonne by their law must have the Scepter and if there be no such then he succeedeth in the Crowne which is nearest of consanguinity and this is for none other cause but because their Priests have defloured their Queene When the King goeth forth into some strange countrey or to Hunt the Priests kepe the Queene company at home and nothing can be more acceptable to the King then that they should be acquainted with the Queene in venerous acts and therefore the King knoweth for a certainty that those children which he hath by his Wife cannot be accounted his children but he taketh his sisters children as most neere unto him in lawfull consanguinity and taketh them heires to the Crowne The Merchants keep this order such Wives as they have they man change them in the colour of a better conjunction and that one saith to the other
and pompe for after that the Pope is new elected by the whole Colledge of Cardinals hee commeth from his Palace of Saint Angelo with great glory and honour towards Saint Peters Church First the Officers as Stewards Controllers Treasurers and chiefe Rulers apparrelled all in long Scarlet-gownes Secondly the Knights of Rome Thirdly the Barons Counts and Marquesses Then the Abbats then followed the Bishops after the Bishops the Arch-bishops in their long Pontificall garments with silver Miters richly beset with stones After came 3 degrees of Cardinals Deacon-Cardinals Priest-Cardinals and Bishop-Cardinals The Pope with passing pompe is carryed upon mens shoulders in Cellagestatoria with his triple Crowne on his head full of precious stones and with a most sumptuous and precious robe wrought over very artificially with Gold and set with divers stones and so carryed in pompe to St. Peters Church upon Kings Embassadors shoulders After some prayers and sacrifice done he is againe upon mens shoulders carried from St. Peters into Saint Andrews Chappell where after many rites and ceremonies finished which were provided for his inauguration hee is taken up againe into his golden chaire from St. Andrew's Chappell where Andrew the Apostles head is presented thence hee is carried to the Chappell of St. Peter and St. Paul thence carried from place to place by the Legats and Embassadours of all the Kings of Christendome then being in Rome representing the states of Kings and Emperours Oh superbum animal for betweene golden and silver Crosses the Miters of Bishops and Cardinals Hats shining as stars with divers kinds of precious stones with Jewels the Popes triumphant carriage under suchâ— regall Canopy with his triple Crowne his rich and Pontificall garments blessing the people passed farre the pompe oâ— great Xerxes in his voyage into Greece or the triumphs of great Pompey over all Affrica and Asia at Rome Hos ludos iocos diceres prout rabies Papa with such peales of Gunnes ringing of Bells sounding Trumpets with such clamours and noise of other brazen Instruments that it far surmounted the besieging of Carthage or the assaulting of Numantia In like triumph and pompe he is againe carried into his Palace of St. Angelo blessing the people from place to place and in every place as he is carryed the people againe crying out wishing him the felicity of Augustus and the love of Traian using severall solemne Ceremonies with the greatest pompe that can be invented His Dinner that day exceeded Ca. Caesar who in his triumph over Affrica prepared 22000 â—bles most roially furnished and his banquets after dinner farre excelled the banquets of Lacius Lucullus or Marcus Antonius His Mirthe and Musicke passed the feast Hyacinthia The funerall pompe of the Romane Emperours THe pompe and solemne state of the Funeralls of the Roman Emperours were such as being set forth the solemnity of the dead Emperour were such as the Senators Dictators Consuls and chiefe magistrates of Rome being in their appointed funerall garments attending to carry the Coffin with one before the Herse playing upon a Shalme or a Flute with a mournfull funerall Song called Nania which in like manner the Grecians used at the funerall of their Kings the song which they called Ialemos Then the Patricians and Senators carried before the dead Emperour his Statues and Images and after that the Statues and Images of his predecessors to set forth the dignity of his stocke as Ca. Caesar did the funerall of his Aunt Mother to Marius whose Statues Caesar caused to bee carried before the Coffin with all the Serjeants carrying their Axes and rods with all the Ensignes Crowns rich spoyles and Trophies which Marius had gotten in his victories In like manner Tiberius Caesar the third Emperour of Rome caused at the funerall of his Father Drusus that the statue of Aeneas and all the statues of the Kings of Alba untill Romulus time the 17 after Aeneas and the statue of Romulus and of the whole family of Gens Iulia from Romulus time to Iulius Caesar lineally The like pompe was before Sylla and others by the Patricians and Senators Yet Marcus Aemilius Lepidus Pomponius Atticus with some others commanded that they should not be brought into the Field of Mars with any solemnity of Iupiters coate of triumphant garments Purple robes and such other pompe But specially if any dyed in the field the rare sight of the solemnity excelled the Generall and chiefe Captaines and every Officer with his band trayling their Pikes after them on the ground with the points of their Swords downeward their Ensignes folded together their horses sheard and clipt their dumbe Musicke with all the ruefull sights that might be invented c. Of the order of the inauguration and Coronation of the Kings of Persia. IN Persia after great King Cyrus death for so were the Kings of Persia called Great Kings his successors used Cyrus orders with the like ceremonies as was solemnized at the inaugurations of King Cyrus for then there was no anointing of any King in the whole World but of the Kings of Israel other Nations used such ceremonies as their Countries observed in their electing of Kings In some countries they made choise of the most likely est men in sight as among the Ethopians Among the Medes he that excelled in comelinesse and talnes of person and strength of body should be elected King In Lybia hee that was most swift in running should bee King In Persia then a Kingdome under the Medes untill Cyrus time whose greatnesse grew such as he became the onely Monarch by whom all the East Kingdomes were subdued his Successors the great Kings of Persia were with these ceremonies made Kings They should sit in Cyrus Chayre they should put on those garments that Cyrus first ware which were kept as monuments and reliques for the Kings of Persia. The new King sitting so in Cyrus Chaire three of the greatest Peeres in Persia brought unto him three dishes in the one was five dry figges In the second a little Turpentine the third Milke These Ceremonies being finished after that the new King had eaten of the dry figges and had tasted of the Turpentine and dranke of the Milke hee rose from Cyrus Chaire and was thence brought unto the next Hill for the Persians had no Temples nor Alters there Aftar supplications done they sacrificed unto the Sunne whose Temple say they is the whole World thence the King is brought to Persepolis where the new King againe putteth on the twelve sundry robes of Cyrus one after another by several ceremonies to be done while they doe sacrifice unto the whole hoste of Heaven the Sun the Moone and the Stars whom the Persians calâ— in one name Iupiter Magi there having Tiara on their heads and crowned with Myrtle sang their sacred songs Theogonia while the new King is putting on of these twelve Robes After this the King went to Cyrus chaire and read the lawes of Persia For as the old Kings of Rome were onely by the
studied much for honesty and goodnes and with their honest conversation did allure strangers and good men to come unto them â—nd to learne that which they â—ould not finde in other plaâ—es Their women in times â—ast did use Merchandize and â—ll things which appertained â—o Chapmen the men did weave and spinne within the house and carrie burdens on their heads the which the womeÌ„ did use to bear on their sholders the men did make Urine sitting but the woman did contrary They did discharge their bellies at home but their banquets they kept in high wayes they moulded bread with their feet and stirred their clay with their hands They did use to write after the Hebrewe fashion beginning their letters on the right hand When any of them met together at Dinner or Supper before they departed there came in one that brought a picture of a dead man upon a staffe made oâ— Wood of a Cubit length 〈◊〉 somewhat more and shewetâ— it to every one of the guests saying behold and looke upoâ— this drinke and bee refreshed with pleasure for such a one shalt thou be after thy death Their lawes were such that perjured men lost their lives as though they had beene guilty of two offences the one of violating piety towards God the other of breaking faith and promise amongst men which is the surest knot of humane society If any travailer found any man beaten of theeves and would not helpe him if he could he should bee found culpable of death if hee were not able to helpe him he was bound to detect the theeves and to follow the action against them and he that did neglect to doe this was punished with certaine stripes and kept without meat for three dayes If any Father killed his son there was no punishment of death appointed but for 3 daies and nights continually hee was commanded to bee about the dead body for they thought it no just thing to take away life from him that gave life to his children but rather that hee should bee punished with continuall paine and repentance of his fact that others might fear to do the like Paracides they caused to bee burned upon an heape of thornes and such as uttered any secrets to their enemies they caused their tongues to bee cut out And they that did counterfeit or clip mony had both their hands cut off so that with what part of the body the offence was made with the same hee should tollerate punishment If any had violated a free woman his naturall parts were cut off because in one fault he committed three haynous things that is an injury corruption and confusion of children He that was taken in voluntary Adultery had a thousand stripes with rods and the woman was mangled upon the nose The Priests could have but one Wife but the laity as many as they could keepe The bringing up of their children was with small cost for it came not unto the charge of twenty groats the whole Education of their full age and and this is not to bee marvelled at because Egypt is a hot Countrey and therefore they live naked without any kinde of Garment and they feed upon roots the which they eate sometimes raw and sometimes rosted in Imbers The Priests did teach their children especially Geometry and Arithmeticke They did drive away sicknesse either with fasting or with vomit the which they used every third day Their opinion was that all diseases came of superfluity of meates and therefore that to be the best cure which tooke away the matter and causes The seven Saxon Kingdomes that England was once divided into THe first was the Kingdome of Kent which had his beginning of the Saxon Hengist in the yeare of our Lord 476 and the fift yeare of Vortiger King of Britaine his last reigne for he had beene deposed the Kingdome continued 342 yeares till that Egberâ— King of Westsaxons vanquished Baldred last King thereof and joyned it to his owne Kingdome The second Kingdome was of Sussex or Southsaxons which began by the Saxon Ella in the yeare of our Lord 482 and the second yeare of Aurelius Ambrosius King of Britaine This Kingdome continued not above 112 yeares The third Kingdome was of East-angles or East-Englishmen and contained Northfolke and Suffolke it was first begunne by the Saxon Vffa about the yeare of our Lord 492 and the 11 yeare of Aurelius Ambrosius King of Britaine This Kingdome continued 376 yeares the last King whereof was Saint Edmond martyr'd by the Danes The fourth was the Kingdome of Westsaxons containing the West-countrey of England and had his beginning by the Saxon Cerdicus the yeare of our Lord 522 and the fift yeare of Arthur the great King of Britaine and endured from the first yeare of Cerdicus to the last of Alured the terme of 378 yeares The Kings of this Countrey subdued at length all the other sixe Kingdomes which Egbert beganne and Alured finished making all the South part of this Iland one Monarchy The fift was the Kingdome of Northumberland containing the Countries betwixt the river of Humber and Scotland had his beginning of the Saxon Idâ— King of Brenicia the yeare of our Lord 547 and the second or last yeare of the reigne of Aurelius Canon King of Britaine This Kingdome of Northumberland was at the first divided into two Kingdomes the one was called the Brenicia which bended towards the North and the other Deyra about the Countrey of Durham and this Kingdome continued some-while under one King sometime under two the terme of 409 years first under the Saxons and then under the Danes The sixt Kingdome was of the East Saxons or Essex which beganne by the Saxon Sebert the yeare of our Lord about 614 and continued from the beginning of the reigne of Sebert till the eighth yeare of Edward the elder 293 yeares The seventh Kingdome was of Mercia containing Huntingtonshire Hertfordshire Glostershire and others and was the greatest of all the other taking his beginning of the Saxon Penda in the yeare of our Lord 626 after the comming of Hengist 126 yeares during the reigne of Cadwan King of Britaine and continued from Penda till that Edward the Elder chased out the Danes about 280 yeares These 7 Kingdomes of the Saxons beside that of Wales and Scotland were all contained at once in this Iland of Britaine and continued a long space The foure Monarchies THe first Monarchy was of the Assyrians founded by Ninus about the yeare of the World 2220 augmented by the Queene Semiramis and after it had endured the terme of 1300 yeares it was translated by Arbactus unto the Medes and there having endured 350 years it was lost by Astyages and conquered by Cyrsu The second Monarchy was of the Persians founded by Cyrus the yeare of the World 3425 which after it had endured 191 yeares was lost by Darius and subdued by Alexander the great The third Monarchy was of the Grecians founded by Alexander the great in the yeare of
with them in these our dayes They cover their heads with a linnen roller whereof one part hangeth downe by the Fore-head so that they cover al their mouth therewith For they are almost as much ashamed to shew their mouthes as their privy parts and therfore they keep their mouths close never opening them except it bee to take meate and that because they would not let any filthy aire and vapour to slip out thereby They doe greatly esteeme fat and corpulent woemen and such as have large and faire breasts and dugges Within this Countrey the travaile of sixe dayes journey will bring a man to a place called Tagaza from whence is brought much plenty of Salt the which is carryed away upon Camels backs into divers places and especially to the Kingdome called Melli. The people called Mellitae be somewhat beyond the Equinoctiall and have most fervent heates and therfore at certaine times in the yeare their blood is infected so that if they had no remedy by Salt they could not live by any meanes their Salt is divided into such lumps that one salt stone is enough to be borne upon one mans shoulders But when they come to the Countrey called Melli they loade one Cammell with two salt stones as for the poorer sort that are not able to have Cammels they carry their Salt upon their shoulders and some upon their heads and that in such a company that they seeme almost in multitude like unto an army of men This Salt they bring unto a great water where every one dischargeth his burden of Salt upon the Land and make great Hills thereof leaving a certaine signe for the true knowledge of every mans heap this done they depart and then commeth the Nigrits who will not bee knowne nor yet talke with any other kind of people they come neer with their ships and where they see and perceive the heaps of Salt they lay great store of Gold neigh unto every heap of Salt even as they thinke it convenient for the Merchandize and agreeable to equity for the exchange and then they depart leaving the Gold and Salt together The Nigrits which went a farre off returne againe and every one looketh upon his owne heape and if the Gold that was left by it pleaseth him and seemeth sufficient for the exchange then hee taketh the said Gold away leaving the Salt behinde him and not minding to returne againe If the heape of Gold doth not seem unto them sufficient for the exchange of the heap of Salt then they leave both still and depart againe in some secret place minding to come againe within a little after But those Nigrits which cannot abide to be knowne come againe to the said place and take away such heapes of Salt as they see the Gold to bee taken from or else they adde a little more Gold to the heape that was left before or otherwise they carry away their Gold leaving the Salt still if the bargaine please not them And thus doe they use their Merchandize so that the one seeth not the other and that by an old custome It is a great labour with these Nigrits to carry their salt upon their shoulders because they lacke all manner of beasts meete for that carriage almost the which commeth through the unfruitfulnesse of the earth for they have very little store of Grasse and that which they have is pestilent also and therefore they dayly drinke water wherein a little salt hath bin resolved and this is their greatest remedy and most especiall medicine They never have raine but in August September and October But these men that come after this sort and exchange Gold for Salt without any talke of bargaine or sale are thought to be marvellous blacke having their lower lip hanging downe to the breast somewhat red and within excoriate and chapped so that blood commeth out but the upper lip is small like unto ours and for this cause all their teeth may bee seene which are a great deale bigger then ours their lips are also thought to putrifie many times for the heat of their Countrey for the remedy whereof they use the benefit of salt Of Prester Iohns land THE rule and dominion of Prester Ihon is large and of great compasse this Countrey excelleth in Riches in Gold Silver and precious Stones Some say that the Aethiopes living under Prestor Iohn are very good Christians and that foureteene Kings doe homage and obeysance to the Emperor Prester Iohn whereof some bee tributary also to him The great almner of Prester Iohn promiseth himselfe to fight for the Holyâ—land It is written that Thomas the Apostle was buried in the Kingdome of Aethiope There be beasts also in this Countrey that have seven Hornes in their Fore-heads There bee white Camels and white Beares and Horses with two hornes It is also said that there bee Birds or Fowles in this Countrey which with their tallants and nailes wil carry away an Oxe or an Horse to feed their young In some part of this Countrey it is thought that there bee men with hornes and such as have but one eye before them and two behinde them and some people that feede upon mans flesh and devoure their owne parents and slay and eate those that are aged And another kind of people that hath Feet like unâ—o horse-feete and very round Their Women dwell severally and have three Kingdomes The â—hree Queenes of Amazones set â—orth and make preparations to Wars with 300000 souldiers of women The Pigmeis in Affrica bee good Christians The King of the Pigmeis warre against the fowles which destroy fruite and his people driveth them away with their voyces It is said also that there be certaine Monsters which above the loynes are seene formed like unto men and beneath the loynes unto horses The Aethiopians have an artificious way to take Lyons and Unicornes There have beene seene in times past Giants of three score and tenne cubits in compasse and now in these dayes it is said that many great Giants bee there seene oâ— thirty and five cubits in height The bird which is called a Phâ—â—nix and liveth three hundred yeares and more is said to bee set on fire and burnt through the heate of the Sunne and that of her ashes there springeth another yong one There is great store of Pepper gathred in the woods which are full of Serpents and Scorpions And men having heads like unto dogger are sayd to bee very cunning in fishing Other people there are which have their faces in their breasts they be strong and swift runners and great searchers of Gold and Silver Many other such trifles incredible things the Iewes do fable upon the land of Prester Iohn which are so far beyond all credit and likelyhood of truth that I thought it better to omit them then to occupy the reader in idle spending the time about them Of the Mice of the Alpes THere is a kinde of Mice about the Alpes almost as most as bigge as Conyes
return to their seats where they sing most solemnly with Organs Shalmes and other Musick 〈◊〉 Creator Then they withdraw themselves into the Councell house halfe an houre the doore being lockt they call the Peeres of Germany unto their Councell house as messengers unto the Emperour to signifie their Election and to desire the Emperour in name of the Electors of his good wil herein and if his Majesty would vouch safe to come to the Church of St. Bartholmews at Frankford a place as Westminster is in England or St. Dennis in France If the Emperour come he is received by the Arch-Bishop of Ments the Duke of Bavaria and the rest of the Electors at the Church dore according to their custom and there with solemnity they bring him into the Councel house in his Imperial robe and his Diadem on his head to accept of this Election and from thence they come forth into the Church the Emperour unto his Imperiall seate the new elected King lead between the aforesaid 4 Bishops unto the Altar according to the wonted rites of their Elections they set the King and there he is crowned King by the Electors Te Deum c. is sung then the Trumpets Bells Gunnes and all kinde of sounding is there and after all this is done they leade the King unto his Royall seate provided in the middest of the Church and there proclayme him KING of the Romans and heire of Augustus Thus shortly have I laid downe the manner of the Election of the Emperours of Germany Of the birth of Alexander and of the Macedonian Feasts THe Macedonians likewise upon the birth-day of the great Alexander by the decree and commandement first of Philip Alexanders Father who during his life kept solemnly a most royall Feast for 3 severall dayes The first and the greatest Feast was for his sonne Alexanders birth The second cause was for that his Lieutenant Generall Parmeniâ— had gotten a noble triumphant victory over the Acaians The third cause was for that his horses and Chariots wan the Garlands at the games of Olympia this happened all in one day on which day Alexander the great was borne The same very day the great Temple of Diana was burnt by Herostratus to become thereby famous at what time the Priests of Diana cryed out Magnum Asiae malum nasci This Feast Triplicia was long time after Alexander observed by the Macedonians and yearely solemnized in memory of Alexanders Nativity with great triumph and pompe upon the day of his birth called Laeta fortunata Macedonum dies on which day the Macedonians used to weare the picture of Alexander about their necks in Jewels and on their fingers in Rings This day they used sacrifice and celebrated playes divers kinds of games Argiraspides Alexanders chiefe souldiers celebrated the Feast of Alexanders nativity as long as they lived disdained to serve under King Antigonuâ— or any other King after Alexander died Even so Hâ—motimi chiefe souldiers under Cyrus refused to serve under Cambises and so of Achilles Myrmidons and of Pyrrhus Dolopes I may speak of others who refused after renowned valiant Kings to serve wicked Princes and cruell Tyrants The severall Trophies of worthy Captaines BEfore Rome had growne to any greatnes the first Kings triumphed on foot into the Citty as Romulus who though he triumphed over King Achron whom he slew in a combate chalenged yet he carryed upon his shoulders the rich spoiles of the same King being set in order upon a young greene Oke as trophies of triumphs So did Cor. Cossus who slew fighting in field hand to hand Tolumnius General of the Tuscans and so did Marcellus who likewise slue Britomarus King of the old Gaules before they were called Frenchmen this honour hapned to none of the Romans beside for Rome yet was scant heard of but afterwards their triumphs grew unto such a pompe that some were carryed in triumphant Chariots drawne with huge Elephants as Pompey the great in his triumphs over Affrica some were carried with their triumphant Chariots drawn with tamed Lions others drawn with tamed Harts as Aurelianus others drawn with great Tygers as Heliogabalus others drawn with monstrous Mares Hermaphrodites and others drawne with huge large dogges so that the Romans far excelled all Kingdomes in their triumphs especially in their last Dictators and and Consulls before their Emperours time for Pompey the great in his three triumphs over Affrica Asia and Europe carried Captives 339 Kings Children Princes Peeres and Noble men as prisoners to stand pledges in Rome among this number he brought Aristobulus King of Iudea and Lygranes King of Armenia five sonnes and two daughters of King Mythrydates Others brought in their triumphs the Images and Statues of the Kings which were slaine or otherwise dyed before they could bee taken Captives as Lucullus brought the stratue or picture of Mithidates set out and painted very lively in Ensignes Scipio carried in his triumph at Carthage the Image of Asdrubal Hanibals Brother So Augustus brought the Image of Cleopatra to Rome in his triumph after shee slew her selfe to beare company with her friend Marcus Antonius Others brought in their triumphes Kings alive as Iulius Caesar brought King Iuba and his sonne with all their treasures of Mauritania in great triumphes and pompe into Rome Marius brought in his triumph Iugurth with all spoyles and wealth of Numidia with all the solemnity that could be Paulus Emilius triumphed over Perseus King of Macedonia and his children whom he conquered and brought captives and prisoners into Rome Others brought in their triumphs with all pompe and solemnity crowned with Lawrell and Olive garlands the formes likenesses and pictures of Mountaines Hills Woods Cities Townes Rivers scituated in those regions whom they conquered Lu. Cornelius Scipio after hee had put Antiochus the great to flight hee carried in his triumph into Rome the likenesse and forme of 130 Cities and townes which hee conquered in Asia and therefore was surnamed Asiaticus Lu. Silla in like manner carriâ—d all the Citties of Greece set â—ut very lively on large Enâ—ignes and painted bravely on â—anners and flags So did Marcellus carry the picture of the Citty Siracusa in his triumph set out on long Tables So did Caesar carry the likenesse and forme of the River Nilus and the River of Rhyneâ—n â—n long tables painted with the pictures of Scipio and Cato So â—hat nothing escaped the Romans in their triumphs for the greatnesse of the Empire grew dayly such Of the birth of Mahomet THe nativity of Mahomet which was upon Friday is unto this day among the Turkes solemnly celebrated with divers ceremonies and sacrifices in remembrance of his birth every Friday through the yeare but especially upon Good Friday in contempt of our Saviour Christ the Turkes have such a royall Feast that the charges of that one dayes feast far surmounteth all the other 51 Feasts The Arabians honour the nativity of their Mahomet so much that they begin the yeare and make
their computation of time from the birth-day of Mahomet by the name of this word Hegyra as the Spaniards were woâ—â— of long time after they were subdued by the Romans to number their yeares from Augustus Caesars Reigne by these 4 letters A er a which is Annus â—rat Augusti These Infidels and Pagans observe a memoriall for the nativities of their Kings and Princes throughout the whole world In Persia the birth of Cyrus upon the 16 day of the Moneth Lois In Macedonia the nativity of Alexander the great upon the Ides of February And in Rome the nativity of Romulus upon the 21 day of September In like sort the nativity of Iulius Caesar upon the fourth of the Ides of Iuly The nativity of Nerva upon the 4 Calend of December The Nativity of Adrian upon the 6 Calend of November Of Antonius pius upon the first of Aprill Of Gordianus upon the 13 of Ianuary Of Constantine the great upon the 4 Calend of Februâ—ary And so of Traiane Vespatian and others whose Natiuities were with great honour observed and with great dignity of triumphes feasts sacrifices games and playes with all pompe and glory in remembrance of good Kings nativities solemnized For Beata respâ—â—â— cui princeps Philosophus All the Kingdomes of the World in their feast Natalitiâ— in memory of the most happy state of a good King used all kinde of strange inventions to magnifie their Kings the Egyptians in their Pyramides and Obeliskes the Grecians in their triumphant Arches and Pillars the Persians with feasts and banquets solemnized the Nativities of their Kings and the Romans excelled with sundry pompes of triumphs to set forth â—he dignities of their Kings Dictators and Consuls Others â—n the sacred Wood Aricinâ—m doe sacrifice to Diana with â—heir pompe of Peplon c.. Beside such magnificent and triumâ—hant Games and Playes to set â—orth the dignities of the feast Natalitia in memory of good â—rinces nativities As at Aâ—ens Magna Panathenaea first â—stituted by Ericthonius to hoâ—our Minerva every fift yeare â—n like manner as the games â—f Olympia was by Hercules celebratâ—d to honour Iupiter or Isthmia was by Thaeseus made to honour Neptune So in Rome the great Playes and Games called Ludi triumphalâ—â— Ludi Natalitij were onely toâ— that effect invented to magnifie good Princes and to record their worthinesse with Feasts Triumphes and Playes in memory of their nativities For 〈◊〉 this feast of Natalitia the common people assembled together with sweete flowers green hearbes some made them boothes with Oken bougheâ— and some tents covered witâ— with long Reeds with greaâ— banquets and much mirth 〈◊〉 honour the nativityes of Kingâ— The Roman shepheards dresâ— upon that day their sheepe-â—â—â— with greene rushes sweet floâ—ers with branches and boughâ— they their Wives and Families with nose-gaies and garlands with Bagpipes and fiddles celebrated their feast Natalitia at the birth of any King Dictator or Consull of Rome In other places they celebrated the games Saturnalia in December their games Sigillaria in Ianuary the Games Lupercalia in February But in Athens their Bacchanalia is solemnized in November where the Ministers and Priests of Bacchus and Diana by the names of Mimallones Sileni Mâ—nades Bacchae Satyrae c. all crowned with Ivey Garlands and with Ivey speares in their hands singing the song of Dithirambos dancing Enoplia with the pompe of Peplon to honour Bacchus then how ought wee to celebrate the Natalitia and inauguration of our Englands joy the establisher of our peace King Iames of blessed memory and also his sacred Majesty who is the greatnesse of great BRITAINE and the unparallel'd patterne to all Kingdomes of Piety and Religion of whom it may be truely said With Graces three with Muses nine With Sibyls twelve can he With three the fourth with nine the tenth With twelve the thirteenth be Of the inauguration and anointing of the great Duke of Muscovia with the ceremonies at their Coronation AT the Coronation of the great Duke of Muscovia 〈◊〉 the States of Muscovia whicâ— they call Camesi assemble together at Saint Michael their chiefe Temple the day appointed for the Coronation the Citty is so strawed with flowers and sweet odours and set forth with boughes that their triumph is great feasting according to the custome of the Musâ—ovites The great men meete the Duke or the Emperour and â—ring him into the Temple who â—t his comming into the Temple an old fatherly man meeteth him having on a long garment downe to the ground Bombycina veste This embraced the Emâ—erour most courteously for â—ee was the Metropolitan of Muscovia or the chiefe Priest which they call Princeps sacroâ—um whose authority and command in that Countrey is very great In the midst of the Temple was made a Theater with seates to fit on and with staires to passe to every place of the Theater being set forth with most sumptuous showes the feat of the Emperours was made most royall and with great magnificence sitting in Scamno with a rich purple cap on his head beset with Gold and precious stones a precious garment wrought with Gold and laced close at his breast called Bombycina vestis his hands so be set with Jewels that onely the Emperours hands and his head were to bee wondred at Now the Emperour being in his Palace the States and the great men in their feats the chiefe Priest or the Metropoliâ—tan turneth his face and looketh upon the Emperour saying My most loving Sonne and great Duke of Muscovia now the Gods have placed thee in the highest Tower of Fortune and in the great state of Dignity not to harme or hurt thy people but to helpe and to guide them not to devoure them but to relieve them ministring Lawes and Iustice to every man alike laying before thine eyes the noble Examples of the best Emperours thy Father brought much calamity and wrought many dangers to this Empire Wilt thou defend thy Countrey with Iustice and with armes make much of good men and subdue the wicked If thou doe this we thy Cittizens here will pray unto the regall Gods of supernall and infernall power to blesse thee with much felicity that in thee wee may see our Countrey flourish This being done the people make great joy and triumph form the highest to the lowest and therewithall much money is throwne among the vulgar people I could not read of any crown nor of any other monuments among the Muscovites for it seemed by the tyranny of the Emperours that they use very few godly ceremonies I should have set downe at the comming of the great Duke through the streete the peoples throng was such that many were with naked swords to make way for the Emperour to passe by who commanded by all rigour and extremity to keep the people off The Nativity of our Saviviour Christ. THe Nativity of our Saviour Christ seemed so simple his life so poore and his death so â—gnominous that he was a stumbling blocke to the Iewes
the which the liqour is taken wherewith silke is dyed Purple Shee hath a long tongue aâ—â— iâ— were the length of a finger 〈◊〉 which shee is alwaies mooving by her tongue shee gotteth 〈◊〉 prey that she desirethâ—â— In 〈◊〉 they discerne true Purple 〈◊〉 counterfeit by powring oyle upon silke for if it leaveth any spots it is counterfeit but if the silke garment hath no fault after the oyle is is good and allowable Purple The City of Babylon SEmyramis a Noble woman and of great prowesse erected and built the pompous City of Babylon the walls wherof were made of brick sand pitch and plaister of a marvellous length and grossenesse The Walls were in compasse three hundred and threescore furlongs with many and great towers beautified The breadth of the Wall was such that sixe Carts might goe together thereon The height was thirty and two foote the turrets in number were two hundred and fifty The breadth and length thereof was equall with the Walls Shee made a bridge also of five furlongs in length with pillars in the depth by marvellous art of stone iron and lead joyned together When Ninus her husband was dead shee tooke the administration of the Kingdome and reigned 24 yeares For although shee had a Sonne called also Ninus yet shee considering his yong yeares unmeet for to rule feigned her selfe to bee King Ninus sonne the which was easily credited for the great likenesse of nature that was in them This woman was of so noble courage that she had a singular emulation to excell her husband in glory of whom it needeth not now to speak any more because divers authors have so largely renowned and set forth her noble Acts. Of the Phoenix THe Phoenix is a noble bird and is but one in the World which is not much seene Coruelius saith that the Phoenix did flye into Egypt when as Plaucius and Paupinius were Consuls It is said that she is as big as an Eagle having a glittring brightnesse like as Gold about her neck in other parts Purple anâ— Azured taile with Rose colours her head with a plume and top of Feathers Manilius saith that no man hath seene her feeding Shee liveth sixe hundred and threescore yeares when she waxeth old she maketh her nest of Cassia and branches of a Frankinsence-tree to fill it with odours and so dyeth upon it then of her bones and marrow thereof there springeth first a little worme which afterward is a young Phenix This Bird as Pliny saith is commonly in Arabia where are found goodly Pearls and of great estimation Cleopatra gave for one Pearle that was brought out of this Countrey two hundred and fifty thousand crowns The goodnesse of Pearles is judged by the whitenesse greatnesse roundnesse plainenesse orient brightnesse and waight The Description of the forme of the Ramme that Titus brought before the Walles of Ierusalem A Ramme is a huge beame like the maine Mast of a Ship whose end is armed with a strong massie iron made in the forme of a Rammes head whereupon it taketh its name because it butteth with his head It hangeth on another beame with ropes like the beame of a paire of ballances the beame it hangeth on lying a crosse is held up with two props which being drawne back by force of many men and then joyntly with all their forces shooved forwards it striketh the wall with the head of iron and there is no Wall nor Tower so strong but though it abide the first stroke of the Engine yet cannot it abide or hold out long The Generall of the Romans thought good to use this Engine to take the Citty by force and when they saw that none of the Iews durst come upon the wall they then applyed the Ramme unto them which so shooke the Walles beyond thought that the Iews cryed out as though the Citty had beene already taken they to prevent the force of the Rammâ— let downe sacks of wooll and chaffe to hinder the powerfull beating of the Ramme for it was of that force and strength in the running that is past beleefe yet this policy and invention did helpe for a while and did preserve the Wall whole and sound For where this policy was not used to prevent the force of the Engine it did overthrow and batter downe the Walls suddenly and furiously yet though it was of that force and strength in those times it is now quite out of use and almost of knowledge but onely for the name Of Mahomet the false Prophet of the Saracens of his originall and perversity MAhomet was the Prince of all impiety and superstition Wherefore it is not to bee marvelled if hee hath set the feeds of all evill and such as will not be rooted out Some say that hee was a Cyrenaic in Nation some that hee was an Arabian others that he was a Persian He was borne in the yeare of our Lord 597 A man of an obscure family and of no great wealth nor strength nor manhood some say that his father was a worshipper of devils and that Ismaelita his mother was not ignorant of the Lawes of the Hebrewes Wherefore the Childe being distract and made doubtfull because whilst that his Father teached him one kinde of religion his Mother suggested another so that hee followed none of them throughly And thus being trained up in two severall manners hee received and kept none of them at his ful age but he being brought up amongst the good Christians being of a subtile and crafty wit invented and devised of both Lawes a most pernicious and detestable sect for mankinde After the death of his parents he was taken of the Sarracens which were accounted notable amongst the Arabians in theft and robberies and was sold to a Merchant of the Ismael kinde Hee being a crafty fellow rapacious dishonest subject to all vice a notable dissembler and deceiver was at the length made the ruler of their Merchandize and Wares He did drive Camells throughout Egypt Syria Palestine and other strange places with the often travaile in which places hee using the company aswell of the Jewes as of the Christians many times studied and went about not to learn but to deprave the old and new Testament being taught divers sects of his Parents to this he added the gaines that came by theft and dayly imagined how to deceive his Master Wherefore being suspected of his Master and hated of others of an obscure Servant and slave hee became a notorious theefe and robber And being made more famous with his continuall theft and robberies hee got dayly a great number of companions of his unthrifty doings These things were also a great helpe unto him his strange and horrible countenance his terrible voice and his desperate ruffenly boldnesse greatly to bee feared Thus comming by little and little in admiration of a barbarous Nation hee got unto him no small authority so that that his Master being dead without Children hee married and tooke to wife his
the World 3634 and before Christ 320 yeares after whose death it was divided among the Prefects which in his life-time he had appointed in divers Countries by which division Seleucus was King of Syria Ptolomeus of Egypt Antigonus of Asia Cassander of Macedonia and Greece all which Countries were after subdued by the Romans The fourth Monarchy or Empire was of the Romans founded by Iulius Caesar in the yeare of the World 3914 after the building of Rome 706 yeares and before Christ 47 yeares This Monarchy flourished about the space of 470 yeares till that after the death of Theodostus the great it was divided by his two Sonnes into two Empires Arcadius was Emperor of Constantinople which Empire endured though afterwards much diminished by the invasions of barbarous Nations untill the yeare of our Lord 1453 and then was quite lost by Constantine and conquered by Mahomet second King of Turkes Honorius was Emperour of Rome which Empire shortly after in the yeare of our Lord five Hundred Seventy five and about the ninth Moneth of the Reigne of Augustus was utterly ruinated and spoyled by Othacar King of Gothes And long after in the yeare of our Lord Eight Hundred and one it was restored by Charles the great and by him united to the Crown of France and by his successours translated into Germany where it yet remaineth as a shadow onely or representation of the greatnesse and majesty of the ancient Roman Empire How the Torneyments and Iustes beganne first in Saxony HEnry Duke of Saxony in the yeare of our Lord 931 beeing assaulted and incombred much with Infidels and Heathen Nations made an assembly of a great multitude of the Nobility to assist him in his Warres against the Saracens wherein he had so good successe that triumphantly he had the victory over them Thus after hee had given the repulse to the Infidels considering what a number of the Nobility he had dayly exercising themselves in Martiall acts thought it meet that after the end of his long and great Warres to recreate them with â—ome honest and pleasant exerâ—â—se Hee had compassion over â—hem because some of them â—â—habiting amongst Cittizens â—hould bee occupied with civill â—usinesse and not in the exerâ—â—se of noble and honourable paâ—imes meete for such personaâ—es as they were and therefore â—e prescribed certaine articles â—ccording to the which they â—hould live and if they did transâ—resse them that they should be â—unished in the open Torniaâ—ent these articles were twelve â—n number The first whosoever of the Nobility should say or doe aâ—y thing against the Holy faith â—â—e should be restrained from the Torneyment and if under â—he colour or excuse of the Noblenesse of any of his ancestors â—ny doth presume to enter the lists or the Torneyment let him with shame be driven away The second whosoever comming of noble blood doth attempt any thing against the royall Majesty of Caesar let him be punished openly in the Torneyment and of this article was the Authour Conradus a Prince of Palatine The Duke of Franconia was the Authour of the third which is this Whosoever comming of a noble house betrayeth has Lord or forsaketh him or exciteth to fly away in an Army without any necessary cause or slayeth his innocent companions let him have punishment in the open Torneyment The Duke of Sueneland made the fourth after this sort Whosoever comming of Noble Parentage doth violate or defame by words or deeds Virgins or Women let him be openly corrected in the Torneyment The fift Article the Duke of Bavaria made in this manner If any of the Nobility bee apprehended or reproved to have corrupted or falsefied the Seale or to have violated his Oath or hath beene noted of infamy let him as unworthy bee kept from the Torneyment The sixt is if any Noble-man did either secretly or openly slay his wife or bed-fellow or had helped by his counsell or deede to the destroying of the Lord the law of the Torneyment should take place against him The seventh if any did spoile and rob Churches Chappels Widdows or Wards or kept by force that which was theirs from them wheras they were rather to be helped and maintaâ—â—ned that he should bee duely corrected for it The eighth If any noble man were become an enemy to another and did not maintaine hâ—â— cause by lawfull order or by martiall law but would 〈◊〉 his adversary by robberies 〈◊〉 by destroying of his goods especially his Wines and Corne whereby the Common-wealth is endamaged let him be tormented in the Torneyment The ninth If any did presume to make any alteration or sâ—â— any heavy burden upon others otherwise then of ancient times were used howsoever it were done c. that hee should have his correction in open Torneyment The tenth If any were convict of Adultery c. in like â—anner let him be amended The eleventh Whatsoever Noble-man doth not live as a Noble-man should doe c. in â—â—ke manner let him bee puniâ—hed The twelfth Hee that will â—e at the Torneyment not comâ—ing of noble parentage or â—annot prove his Nobility in â—ure descents hee may not â—nter into the exercise of the Torneyment Thus in a briefe summe you â—ay see the manner of the Torâ—eyment in Saxony The eight Parliaments of France THE chiefe and generalleâ— Justice of the Realme 〈◊〉 France is continually kept 〈◊〉 eight Citties wherein are Palaâ—ces made expresly for the puâ—â—pose and this generall kinde oâ— Justice is divided into eigâ—â— parts according to the eigâ—â— Citties and every of them aâ—â— called Parliaments which diffeâ— very little from our Tearmâ—â— but whereas these are but fouâ— times in a yeare those are conâ—tinually kept each of them haâ—ving instead of our Lord Chanâ—celour a chiefe President The first and chiefest of thesâ— Parliaments is that of Pariâ— called the Court of the Peereâ— of France and to the equitâ— â—nd judgement of this Parliaâ—ent many forraigne Kings and â—rinces have submitted themâ—â—lves in matters of greatest imâ—ortance as to the most veneâ—ble and chiefest Senate of Juâ—â—â—ce in the world Such were â—â—e Emperour Frederick the seâ—â—â—nd called Barberossa King 〈◊〉 both Scycils when he subâ—itted himselfe to the judgment 〈◊〉 this Court of Parliament as â—uching all the controversies 〈◊〉 his Empire and Kingdomes â—hich he had against Pope Inâ—â—cent the Fourth Philip Prince 〈◊〉 Tarente and the Duke of â—urgundy who submitted themâ—â—lves to this Parliament for â—â—e controversie betwixt them â—â—on the expences of the recoâ—ery of the Empire of Constanâ—â—nople The Duke of Lorraineâ—bject â—bject to the Empire and the Lord Guy of Chastillon who submitted themselves to the judgement of this Court as concerning the limitation of their lands and possessions the Daulphin of Vienna and the Earle of Savâ—y submitted themselves to the judgement of this Parliament concerning the suite betwixt them for the homage of the Marquisat of Saluces Moreover without the consent of this Parliament it hath not beene seene that the Kings of France have
and not much unlike unto Conyes saving that their eares are shorter and their tailes be long almost 8 inches in length their â—ore-teeth bee long and sharpe â—nd if they be provoked they â—ite cruelly their thighes bee â—hort and very hairy under the â—elly they have feet somwhat â—â—ke unto bears with long claws wherewith they dig and underâ—ine and make very deepe caâ—erns and holes they will eate â—f bread flesh fish apples or â—ard egges and when any such thing is offered unto them they take it with their former clawes and sitting on their buttocks after the manner of Apes they feede and eate They bee delighted much with white meats as Milke Cheese and butter and if they get any bread dipped in milke they eate it up every bit and making a noyse with their chaps like unto Swine when they feede upon sosse When they play together they barke and jarre like unto whelpes They be much giveâ— to sleepe and when they are waking they be alwayes given either to play or to doe somâ—â—thing as to gnaw with theâ—â— teeth or to scrape with theâ—â— clawes or else they carry 〈◊〉 their mouths something froâ— place to place especially suâ—â— soft and tender things as may good for their nests as Hay Straw Linnen and such like and they fill their jawes so full therwith that they be not able to receive any more If the cloth which they carry be of greater proportion then their mouthes can hold then they drag it behind them on the ground Some of them have gray haires and some have red When they live thus wilde upon great hills and mountaines and are minded to goe seeke their prey and food one of them standeth in an high place to warne them that be abroad seeking their preyes if any feare or enemy bee at hand and if hee perceiveth any body comming then he barketh at whose noise all the other catch as much hay as they can and come running away and this is strange which they use Somtimes one and sometimes another lyeth downe upon his backe and as much Hay as may be laid upon his Brest and Belly hee claspeth and keepeth fast with his feete and then another of his fellowes getteth him by the tayle and draweth him with his prey into his nest and this provision they make for their nests to sleep the better in Winter When they see a man or beast passe by the mountains they barke and jarre and straight wayes all the other take that for a warning to runne to their nests About Autumnâ— they hide themselves in their nests the which they make so close that no Ayre nor Water may scarre them they lye hidden and sleepe all the whole winter yea sixe or seven monthâ— without any meate rowlinâ— themselves round like unto a Hedge-hog the inhabitants observe and marke the place of their nests and dig the earth untill they come unto them where they finde them so oppressed with deepe sleepe that they carry them and their nests to their houses and there doe they not wake from sleepe if it be Winter except they bee heate by some great fire or warme beames of the Sunne There bee commonly found in one nest 7 9 or 13. Where any of them be kept tame at home and be restrained from scraping under-mining the earth there â—hey heap up and carry to their nests every rag or piece of garment which they get and thereâ—n they wrap themselves up and â—leepe all the Winter Their â—lesh is much desired of woemen great with Childe and of those that have paine and griping in the guts and of such as desire to be provoked to sleepe And many that have beene troubled with the collicke annointing their bellies with the fat and grease of this Mouse have found great ease Of the Vnicorne SOme say the Unicorne is like unto a Coalt of two yeares and a halfe old In his forehead there groweth an horne which is blacke in the length of two or three cubits his colour is tawney like a Weasell his heaâ— like an Hart his neck not long his maine very thine hanginâ— onely upon the one side hâ— shankes be small and thinne thâ— hoofes of his former feet be dâ—â—vided like an Oxe and almost representing a Goats foot Of his hinder feete his outward part is hairy and rough The King of Ethiope hath some store of these beasts this beast is not commonly taken alive Some travailers have examined these Countries of the Unicorne but never saw any onely there is a beast which very much resembleth him and most thinke it onely to be a beast which is commonly called a Rynocheros which hath beene seene The three seuerall Crownes of the Emperours of Rome THe first Crowne is of Silver when he is crowned at Aquisgrane for the Realme of Germany and is kept at Aix the Chappell The second Crowne is of Iron when he is crowned at Millain for the Realme of Lombardy and is kept at Modene a little town not far from Millain And the third is of Gold when hee is crowned at Saint Peters in Rome for the Empire of Rome where it commonly remaines being kept with 3 severall keys by the 3 severall Arch-Bishops and the keys one of Iron one of Silver and the other of Gold Septem-Viri or the seven Electors of the Emperour of Germany THe election of the Emperours of Germany is in this sort the seven Princes Electors called septem Viri meete early about sixe of the clock in Romaneo there they consult untill nine from thence they goe in solemne order into St. Bartholmews wherof there be 3 Ecclesiasticall and 4 Temporall the 3 Ecclesiastical that is to say the Archbishop of Ments called the Arch-chancellor of high Germany being the first next the Arch-Bishop of Collen called the Arch-chancellour of Italy and then follows the Archbishop of Tryers called the Arch-chancellor of France all in their state be-fitting so great a Majesty Then the foure temporal that is to say the Marquesse of Brandenburg great Chamberlaine of the Empire with a massy key of Gold then the Duke of Saxony Lord high Marshall beareth the Sword before the Emperorâ— then the Count Palatine of Rhine Carver to the Emperour and likewise Arch-sewer in carrying the Plate to the table then the King of Bohemia Taster or else Cup-bearer to the Emperour for the tryumph These are the only Electors of the Emperour and after some other Ceremonies they descend from their seats and there before the audience take a solemne oath one after another in these words following I Doe sweare upon this Evangelist before mee that with all my faith which I owe unto God my diligence and care which I owe unto the Empire without former reward or future hope of greater Honour that I will chuse with all Faith and truth a iust and a fit man for the Kingdome of ROME as much as in mee lyeth After this oath is ministred unto the 7 Princes Electors severally one after another they
divination of the Augurers made Kings and instructed in their Kingdomes so the Kings of Persia were by their Magi instructed in their sacrifice and taught in their Religion without whom neither was it lawfull for the Romans to doe sacrifice without their Augurer stood by or for the Persians without their Magi being in place The manner and order of the Indians in celebrating the nativity of their Kings THe Indians so honoured the birth-day of their King at what time the dayes beganne to lengthen that the King with all his Nobles went to the River Ganges to wash and bathe themselves where they offered in sacrifice to the Sunne a number of blacke Bulls for that colour among the Indians is most esteemed After sacrifice done to the Sunne the King held a Feast which the Romans called Hilaria which was wont to be celebrated upon the â— Calend of April at what time the Roman Matrones and the yong women of Rome crowned with Myrtle bathed themselves before they sacrificed unto Venus This very time the yong men of Athens kept festivall dayes with mirth and pastime to honour the Moone for the like cause as the Indians had for the Sun This feast Hilaria had all publicke and solomne Playes with all kinde of triumphes for joy that the Sun began to turne his face and to lentghen their dayes tanquam patriae solatium initium laetitiae Of the Nativity of King Cyrus and of the Persian feasts or ioy thereof THE great King Cyrus for so the Persians named their Kings after Cyrus time upon the very day that he was borne hee had victory over the Scythians and Saracens he so honoured and magnified that day that Cyrus commanded that they should bee called the great Kings and appointed that it should be solemnized yearely with a regall noble feast called Sacaea after the name of that Nation conquered in the which feast was celebrated divers strange kinds of ceremonies as the Masters to attend upon the Servants the Mistresses upon their maids imitating the orders and manners in the feast Saturnalia wherein also were Bacchanalia used in the which feast were men women and children which disguised themselves like Faunes with Javelins wreathed about with Ivie in their hands and with Ivie crownes on their heads dancing and skipping after Psalters and Howboyes singing sacred songs unto Bacchus called Orgya and Dithyrambos this feast Cyrus commanded to be yearly solemnized in Babylon upon the sixteenth day of the moneth Loys on the which day Cyrus as some suppose was borne which day among the old Persians was highly honoured for of all the feasts and sacrifices of all solemne great daies the daies of their Kings nativities were most in honour esteemed This was the onely and greatest feast of the Persians for the rich men would celebrate the feast of their Kings birth with sacrificing of whole Camels Horses Oxen and Asses sparing no cost in this feast the poorer sort strained themselves with all charges to set forth the feast of their Kings nativities at what time the Magistrates used to sing the song Magophonia at their feast and the song Theogonia at their sacrifice For this feast Sacaea was called among the Thessalians Piloria in Creete called Hermea in some place called Penagria in another place called Saturnalia but in all places used and celebrated with great solemnities at the nativity of Kings and Princes Of the funerall pompe of the Egyptians THE Kings of Egypt were most sumptuously reserved in this order their bodies were opened and were in such sort used as the Egyptians use with Myrhe Aloes Honey Salt Waxe and many other sweete odours being seared up and anointed with all precious oyles and so they reserved the bodies of their Kings in high buildings made for the purpose far from the ground as in their Pyramides and Labyrinth before spoken The Funerall was so lamented that all Egypt mourned in this sort the men would clap dung and dirt upon theiâ— heads beate their bodies striâ—â— their breasts knocking their heads to every poste howling and crying for their King their women bare-breasted besmeard with all kind of filth running up and downe in furious manner fasting and mourning 72 dayes from wine or any other meat saving bread the water of Nilus Of the funerall pompe of the Thracians THe Thracians Funerall is ful of mirth and melody for when they bring their Friends to the Grave they use to sing Thracian Songs with all sweet musicke onely this ceremony they reserved when any man that was of great calling dyed his Wife must be brought the same day to the grave of her husband in her richest ornament and best apparell accompanied with her Parents and next in blood with great solemnity which after sacrifice done upon the Grave of her husband she must make sacrifice of her selfe The Priest must bring her to the Altar where shee is sacrificed with a vaile over her face and after oblations prayers done shee is slaine upon her husbands Grave for sacrifice Of the sacred anointing of the Kings of Israel THe anointing of the first King of Israel was by Samuel the Prophet who was commanded to anoint Saul the first King of the world that was anointed hee powred oyle upon his head he kissed him and said the Lord hath anointed thee King over his inheritance and the people shouted and said God save the King at this time began first the use of oyle in anointing of Kings after this manner were Saul and David anointed Kings of Israel and after David his son Solomon The order and ceremonies were to ride upon the Kings beast and to sit upon the Kings throne where the Prophet being called the Seer poured the oyle upon his head to signifie the gift of the Holy Ghost Then the Prophet kissed the King upon the cheek and turned his face to the people and said God save the King then they sounded the trumpets and brought him to his Dinner with all mirth and musicke Thus were Saul and David anointed by Samuel and after them Solomon anointed King Of the solemnity on the birth-day of Prince Aratus by the Achaians with feasts and sacrifice IN like manner the Achaianâ— solemnized the nativity of Aratus with a royall feast and sacrifice yearely upon the Grave of Aratus which was called Aratium The Priests were girded about with a purple cloth the Senate in white robes with Garlands of flowers on their heads the magistrates and chiefe officers of all Achaia with great pompe crowned with Lawrell and Myrtle with hymnes and songs made a solemne procession round about Aratium upon the birth-day of Aratus such was his love among the Grecians that hee was chosen seventeene times Generall of the Achaians The Trophies and triumphs that were invented to honour the nativities of Kings and Princes were such that some builded Citties as Alexandria to honour Alexander Caesarea to honour Caesar and Antiochiae to magnifie the name of Antiochus the great Yea such were the