CHAP. XVIII.

Of sundry Customs that were in use and force with different Nations and People.

AMONGST the many millions of faces which are to be seen in the world, there are not any two of them that are exactly and in all points alike; and though there may be some similitude in voices, yet there is something in every one that is peculiar, and that serves to distinguish it from that of another man. Nor is there less variety in the wits, minds, and inclinations of men and hereupon it is that the customs and manners of nations and particular persons do accordingly differ and alter from one another.

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1. The Egyptians at their feasts used to carry about the dried anatomy of a man in a coffer, not so much in memory of Osiris, slain by Typho, and in a chest cast into the sea; but that, being inflamed with wine, they might mutually exhort one another to the use and enjoyment of these present good things, because ere long all of them would be as that skeleton.

2. The Spartans, when they brought home with them any friend or guest, showing them the doors, they used to say, "Not a word that is spoken passes out here." Plutarch also tells, that by the institution of Lycurgus, when they invited any to feast with them, he who was the elder stood at the door of the diningroom, and pointing to it, said to all that entered, "Nothing that is spoken passes these doors to be told abroad:" expressing thereby that all the guests had a full freedom and liberty to speak, withput any constraint upon them.

3. The same Spartans, in those feasts of theirs that are called Phiditia, have their prefects, or stewards, who bring in two or three of the Helotes (that is, their slaves), drunk and intoxicated with wine, and expose them publicly in that posture to their youth, that they may see what it is to be drunk, and that, by their un

seemly and uncomely behaviour, they might be brought into a detestation of that vice, and to a love of temperance and sobriety.

4. The Massilienses have standing be fore the gates of their city two coffins, one wherein the bodies of freemen, the other wherein those of servants, are carried in a cart to burial, which they do without weeping: their mourning is finished upon the funeral day, with a feast among their friends. There is also a public poison kept in that city, which is de livered to that person who hath made it appear to the magistrates of six hundred (that is, their senate), that he hath sufficient causes to desire to die. Also they suffer no man to enter into the town with any weapon; but there is appointed at the gate one to receive them at their entrance, and to deliver them back at their departure. Thus, as their entertainments to others are humane, so to themselves they are safe.

5. There is a memorable custom of the Athenians, that a freed-man, convicted of ingratitude towards his patron, shall forfeit the privilege of his freedom; as who should say, "We scorn to have thee a citizen, who art so base a valuer of so great a gift; nor can we ever be brought to believe that he can be advan tageous to the city, whom we perceive to be villanous at home. Go thy way then, and be stili a servant, seeing thou knowest not how to esteem thy freedom."

6. The same Athenians (by an antient usage among themselves) as soon as their children came to some maturity, they designed them to their several trades in this manner: They laid before them instruments and tool of all kinds; and whatsoever the youth applied himself, or seemed to be delighted with, to that kind of handicraft they disposed of him, as if Nature itself had thereby hinted out so much to him.

7. The Romans, when in debate about the punishment of any crime, if it fell out that in the suffrages the votes were evenly divided, the judgment passed to

the

the advantage of the delinquent. Which was also often done by the Athenians: for when they collected votes about the extinguishment of the Mytilenians, and found them equal on each side, the opinion of Diodorus was followed, because it was the most merciful.

8. The triumphers at Rome of old used to invite the consuls and senate to the triumphal feast; but afterward they publicly besought the consuls that they would not come; and sent messengers to them to desire their absence. For the most honourable seat was the place of the triumphant person, and he was to be attended on home from the feast: which it was not lawful to do to any man (the consuls present) but only to themselves. 9. The Athenians, at the first entrance of a new servant into their houses, had this custom; the master or mistress threw figs, and dates, and nuts, and other fruits, upon him, which were scrambled for by the rest of the servants. After the same manner they used to do to ambassadors, to such as were newly entered upon the priestly office, to men who were newly married, and to all others to whom they wished well because it was a sign of prosperity and abundance.

10. The Scythians had this custom amongst them that if any man had received an injury from another, which he thought he had not sufficient power to revenge upon his adversary, he sacrificed an ox; he cut the flesh in pieces, and boiled them; then spreading the hide of him upon the ground, he sat upon him with his hands upon his back, than which there is not a greater way of supplication amongst the Scythians. He that would might take part of the flesh of the sacrifice; and standing with his right foot upon the hide, swore to give him his assistance; and this oath was held as inviolable.

11. Amongst the Romans, he who was in question for his life, when he was brought forth at the day of trial before the people, both himself, his friends, rela

tions, and nearest neighbours, were to stand in sordid clothes, all filthy, weeping, with the hair of their heads and beards grown, deprecating the punishment; that by this deformed and uncomely habit they might move the people to compassion and mercy before such time as the tribes were put upon the the vote.

12. In Meroe, amongst the Egyptians, if the king hath committed aught that is evil, they do not punish him at all: but all men turning from him, and shunning any converse with him, he is suffered to die with grief.

13. The custom of the Ethiopians is not to punish any subject with death, though he is condemned; but one of the lictors is sent to the malefactor with the sign of death carried before him; which received, the criminal goes home, and puts himself to death. To change death into banishment is held unlawful: and it is said, that when one had received the sign of death, and had intentions to fly out of Ethiopia, his mother being appre hensive of it, fastened her girdle about his neck; and he, not offering to resist her with his hands, lest he should thereby fasten a reproach upon his family, was strangled by her.

14. Inthegreater India, in the kingdom of Var (in which St. Thomas is said to be slain and buried)he, amongst them whois to undergo a capital punishment, begs of the king that he may rather die in honour of some god, than an inglorious death by the hands of the hangman. If the king in mercy grant him it, by his kindred with great joy he is led through the city with mighty pomp; he is placed in a chair with sharp knives hung all about his neck. When he comes to the place of execu tion, with a loud voice he affirms he will die in honour of this or that god: then taking one of the knives, he wounds him self where he pleases; then a second, then a third, till his strength fail; and so he is honourably burnt by his friends.

15. The Mosynaci, who lived beyond the river Carimbis, if their king whom

they

they have chosen hath done any thing amiss, they suffer him not to eat any thing for one whole day.

16. The Scots have a custom (which is also at Milan), they call it an indict ment: there is a chest in the church, into which any man may cast a paper, having the name of the delinquent, the crime done by him, the place and time, and also the witnesses set down. This chest is opened in the presence of the judge, the king's proctor being by; and this is done every fifteenth day, that there may be a private inquiry made of all such persons whose names are there found, and they accordingly to be brought before them.

17. The antient Romans appointed, that about the axes which were carried before the magistrates, bundles of rods should be bound; that while those bundles were unlosing, a convenient space of time should be given to the magistrate, lest, in a heat of passion, he should command such things to be done, whereof afterwards he should but in vain repent himself.

18. The Egyptians yearly compelled all persons to give in their names and professions to the magistrate: and such as they found to lie, or live upon unlawful gains, they adjudged to death. Also about the neck of their principal justice, there is hung the image of a deity of gold and gems, which deity they called Truth: by which they shewed, that truth ought always to be in the heart and mouth of a judge; and when they beheld that, they should prefer it before all other things.

19. The Romans used to take away the horses from such men as were of a fat and corpulent body, as a mark of infamy upon them; for when through luxury they had unfitted themselves for the service of their country, they should be without public honour in it. Also they caused such as were convicted of cowardice to be let blood in the arm, that they might dishonourably lose that blood which they feared to shed for the honour and safety of their country.

20. that was also a praise-worthy cus tom of the Romans, whereby it was for bidden, that those spoils which they had taken from their enemies, and consumed through length of time, should ever be renewed. By which they seemed to take care that that hatred which might ap pear to be retained while the spoils were standing, should in some time be oblite rated, and cease with the spoils them selves.

21. The Corinthians used, without much examination, to hang up such as were suspected of theft and upon the third day after, the matter was strictly examined by the judge; then if it was found that they had really committed the theft whereof they had been accused, they left them hanging upon the gallows; but if they were adjudged to be innocent, they were taken thence, and buried with honour at the public charge.

22. The Thracians did celebrate the birth of any with mournful complaints, and their funerals with all the signs of mirth and expressions of joy: this they did without any directions therein from the learned, but only moved thereunto with apprehensions of the miserable condition of human life.

23. The Lycians, when any matter of mourning doth befall them, use to put upon themselves the cloaths and habit of a woman; that so being moved with the effeminacy of their dress, they might be willing the sooner to lay aside their foolish grief.

24. The old Gauls had a custom, that when they were about to make war, they, called forth their armed youth into coun-" cil; and he, whosoever he was, that came last upon that summons, was put to death by torments.

25. The Romans, whether they went into the country, or travelled further, at their return used to send a messenger be fore them to their wives, to let them know that they were at hand: and upon this reason they did it, because women, in the absence of their husbands, are supposed to be detained with many cares, and

much

much employment, possibly they have brawls and discontents in the family; that therefore all these might be laid aside, and that they might have time to receive their husbands in peace, and with cheerfulness, they sent before them the news of their arrival.

26. Plutarch saith, that "the king of Persia hath one of his bed-chamber, who hath this given him in charge, that in the morning, when he first enters the king's chamber, he should awake him with these words: "Arise, O king, and take care of those affairs which Mesoromasdes hath commanded thee to take care of."

27. The Jews, before they entered battle, by public edict commanded them to depart from the army who were newly married, and had not brought home their wives; also all those that had planted a vineyard, and had not yet eaten of the fruit of it; and those who had begun to build a house, and had not yet finished it; together with these, all such as were cowardly and fearful; lest the desire of those things which the one had begun, or the faint-heartedness of the others, should occasion them to fight feebly; and also, by their fears, possess the hearts of such as were bold and valiant.

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28. The manner of making amongst the Romans, and the recovery of such things as were injuriously detain ed, was this: they sent forth feciales, or heralds, whom they also called orators, crowned with vervain, that they might make the gods witnesses, who are the revengers of broken leagues. He that was crowned with vervain carried a turf, with the grass upon it, out of the tower; and the ambassador, when he came to their borders, who were the offerers of the injury, covering his face with a wool len veil: "Hear, O Jupiter," said he, "hear, ye borders," (and then naming the people whose borders they were) "hear

ye

that which is right. I am the public messenger of the people of Rome, and justly and piously come as their ambassador." Then he spake all their de mands, and called Jupiter to witness: "If I have unjustly or impiously de

manded those men or those things to be yielded back to the people of Rome, do thou then never suffer me to return in safety to my own country." This he did when he was entered upon their borders, when he met any man, when he entered the gates of the city, and when he came into the forum: then if that which he demanded was not restored, at the end of thirty days he thus declared war: "Hear, Jupiter and Juno Quirinus, celes tial, terrestrial, and infernal gods, I call thee to witness, that these people," (and named them) "are unjust, and will not do right." But of these matters the elder of us will consult how to regain our right. Then he being returned to Rome, they entered upon the debate; and if it was decreed as right, then the herald returned with a spear in his hand, pointed with iron. Upon their borders (before three children at least) he pronounced, that "such a people had offered force to, and injured the people of Rome; and that the people of Rome had commanded that war be made with them; for which cause he and the people of Rome declared and made war with such a people." And when he had said this, he threw the jave lin or spear upon their borders.

29. The Persians desired not to see their children before such time as they had completed their seventh year; and for this reason, that they might the better be able to bear their death, in case they should die when they were little ones.

30. The Danes used when the Eng lish drank to stab them, or cut their throats: to avoid which villany, the par ty then drinking requested some of the next unto him to be his surety or pledge, whilst he paid nature her due; and hence have we our usual custom of pledging one another.

31. At Negapatan, a town upon the river Negay, and in the coasts of Coromandel, they have this odd custom in the celebration of their marriages: a Bra min (or priest), a cow, and the two lo vers, go together to the water-side, where the Bramin mutters a prayer of small mat ter, and to as little purpose; which

nished in order, they link hands, and have the cow's tail commixed, as a holy testimony; on all together the Bramin pours his hallowed oil, and forces the beast into the river, wherein she goes so far, till they are to the middle in water. The cow returns not, nor do they disunite till she is frighted with the water; then being on the shore, they untie their hands, and hold that conjunction sacred and powerful ever after.

32. When any Chinese dies, they wash him every where, perfume him next, and then they put his best clothes on, and hate to let his head be naked: that done, they seat him in his chair, and make him sit as if he was not dead, but living. At a set time his wife enters the room; she first does him respect, kisses him; and takes her farewel, by expressing so much love and sorrow as is possible. At her departure she takes her lodging; and her children next enter, where they kneel, kiss his hands, and strive to out vie each other in their ejaculations, and such outward motions of sorrow and piety as is imaginable, beating their breasts, and pouring out tears in abundance. Next to them his kindred do their parts, and then his friends and other acquaintance. The third day they coffin him in most precious wood, cover it with a costly cloth, and over it place his image; for fifteen days the corpse rests so, each day having a table spread with dainty meats: but nightly the priests eat it, and burn incense, and offer an expiatory sacrifice. When they carry it to the grave (which is neither within any town or city), they have women that do accompany it, purposely hired to howl, to tear their hair, and to move others to compassion. Sometimes upon his coffin they place divers pictures of dead men, whom they intreat to show him the best way to Paradise. That done, his wife and children for some days seclude themselves from the sight of men, and when they go abroad, go dolorously habited. They put coarse sackcloth next their skin, have their clothes made long and plain, and for three years scarce laugh, or seem to joy in any thing;

but contrarywise, endeavour to the utmost of their power to aggrandize their duty, by a continued lamentation, abstinence from public feasts and pastimes; and in all their letters, instead of their names, subscribe themselves such a one's disobedient and unworthy child, &c.

33. It was a custom in Alexandria, that upon certain stated and appointed' days, some particular persons were carried about in a chariot, to whom it was giv en in charge, that "they should pass throughout the whole city, and make a stand at whose door they pleased, they should there sing aloud the faults that the persons in that house were guilty of."They might not causelessly reproach any, but publish the very truth; to which purpose they were studiously beforehand to inquire into the manner of the life of each citizen. The end of this custom was, that men might be moved to reform, by the consideration of that shame which was publicly provided for. a dishonest life.

31. The custom of establishing a mutual and lasting friendship betwixt two, and also of princes when they entered into inviolable leagues or alliances was this: they joined their right hands, and thea both their thumbs were hard bound about with a string; as soon as the blood came into the extremities of them, they were lightly pricked, that the blood came, and then each licked up some of the other's blood. The friendship or league contracted by this ceremony was held most sacred, as being signed with their own blood. In this manner the inhabitants of the island Palmaria, the Scythians, Georgians, and divers other nations, begin their friendships, and, as we read in Athenæus, the Germans themselves.

35. It was a common use amongst the Romans, and divers other nations, as well amongst princes as private persons, that if there happened any difference of an ex. traordinary character amongst them, theyused to send a public oficer, or private messenger, to let them know (whom they conceived they had injury by) that they did solemnly renounce all friendship with

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