before-mention’d Authors; but what the Composition was, wherewith the
Ancients pickl’d the Body, whether with _Nitre_ or Salt, is not as yet
determin’d. _Herodotus_ and divers others affirm it was salted with
_Nitre_, yet some think the Virtue of Salt more commendable, finding it
of so great use in preserving Flesh and Fish; others again do not think
Bodies become unperishable by Salting, but are only preserv’d for some
Months or Years, and if fresh Pickle be not added, or any part of the
Body happen to be expos’d to the Air, it soon corrupts and stinks, for
the Moisture of the Air dissolves the imbib’d Salt, and this issuing
forth the Body soon perishes. This is farther remarkable from a Story of
_Baronius_ in his Annals, [Sidenote: A _Body_ found _Preserv’d_ in a
_Salt-Pit_.] of a Body found in a Subterranean Cave, full of salt Water,
in the Mountains of _Saltzburg_, which was whole and incorrupt, the Skin
white, the Eyes open and lively, and the whole remaining, with all its
parts, firm and hard as a Stone, yet in three Days Time, being as it
were impatient of the Air, it turn’d into Water and perish’d. From this
Story we may learn that salted Bodies, altho’ they resist Corruption for
a short Time, yet at length perish; [Sidenote: _Salt_ us’d with
_Balsamics_ preserves _Bodies_.] nevertheless Salt, or such things as
are Analagous to it, if us’d with other Balsamics, afford some help in
the _Embalming_ of Bodies, whereby they are not dispos’d to the same
Fluxion, as both Reason and Experience teach, and perhaps _Nitre_ being
a more solid Body and not so apt to dissolve in the Air, might also on
that account be preferr’d by the _Egyptians_. However, whether _Salt_ or
_Nitre_ be to be understood by this Work of _Salination_ needs not much
to be disputed, since both, by their known balsamic Virtue and innate
Siccity, may assist in this Operation, even as in the preparing
_English_ Hams, _&c._ we are wont to use them mix’d together, the one
perhaps being more peircing and the other more durable, the former to
give a grateful Taste, and the latter a pleasant Colour. But, as we
cannot readily grant, that the _Salting_ us’d by the _Egyptians_, was
effectual enough to preserve Bodies without Balsamic Medicines, so
neither can we, that any means besides could hinder its Extraction or
Dissolution, and therefore I am the more inclinable to think, _First_,
That they did not drysalt the Body, but macerated it in a liquid Pickle,
which equally surrounded it every-where, and peirc’d deeper thro’ the
Pores of the Skin; and when they had let it infuse for a convenient
Time, they anointed it with Oil of _Cedar_ for 30 Days together, as
_Diodorus Siculus_ relates, and afterwards with _Myrrh_, _Cinamon_ and
other Drugs, which Salting and Anointing took up in all 70 Days,
according to the Account of _Herodotus_. The latter Ointment was us’d as
well to give the Body a sweet Smell as to Preserve it; but, tho’ the
former was held of great efficacy for that purpose, yet is it a thing as
difficult to recover in these our Times, says _Penicher_, as it is to
find out the Composition of the Pickle we have been speaking of,
nevertheless we must make some attempt therein. First then, we will take
notice of the different Appellations, by which the Ancients have us’d to
express this Matter, calling it by the several names of a Gum or Rosin,
a Liquor or Juice, an Oil or Ointment, and lastly a Pitch; [Sidenote:
_Cedria_ what.] but which of all these they meant by the Word _Cedria_
will be better understood from a Description of that Tree, together with
the several sorts of Juices extracted from it, and their Uses and
Virtues. ’Tis true, as some Authors have said, a Matter so call’d may be
drawn from other Trees, such as _Larch_, _Pine_, _Birch_, _Cypress_ and
_Juniper_; but that which we mean is from the great _Cedar_, whose
Leaves never fall, and which bears Fruit all the Year round. Its Wood,
of all others, is esteem’d the least corruptible, and consequently, says
_Pierius_, is the _Hieroglyphic_ of Eternity. The Ark of the Covenant,
the Temple of _Solomon_, and that of _Diana_ at _Ephesus_, were all
built with it, and for the same reason the _Egyptians_ often made their
Coffins of it: The Ancients also us’d to anoint the Leaves and Covers of
their Books with its Oil, thereby to defend them from Moths, Worms and
the injuries of Time, whence it came to be spoken Proverbially of such a
one as had deserv’d to be recorded to Posterity, _Cedro digna locutus_,
in that his Writings were thereby preserv’d from perishing. Now this
Tree affords three or four different sorts of Liquors or Juices:
_First_, A thick, but clear Gum, of a good tho’ strong Odour, being a
Tear that drops from young _Cedars_ after their Barks are pill’d off,
and this is what they properly call’d _Cedria_. [Sidenote: _Gum_ of
_Cedar_.] _Secondly_, A sort of Liquor drawn from the said Wood,
[Sidenote: _Liquor_ of _Cedar_.] call’d by the _Syrians_ _Cedrum_, and
which are the first droppings of these Branches of _Cedar_ when one
burns them, for that which comes last is the _Pitch_ of _Cedar_,
[Sidenote: _Pitch_ of _Cedar_.] being prepar’d after the same manner
with other Pitch, as you may find describ’d in _Bellonius de Medic.
Funer._ p. 40. _Lastly_, There is an _Oil_ of _Cedar_, [Sidenote: _Oil_
of _Cedar_.] express’d from the warm’d Fruit of this Tree, and call’d by
_Pliny_ and _Delachampius_, _Cedrelæon_, as it were _Cedri-oleum_. These
several Liquors have been so confounded by Authors, as to have been
taken indifferently for one another, which perhaps was because they have
almost all the same Virtues; yet I suppose the _Egyptians_ might adapt
the Use of them according to their several Consistencies, and therefore
employ’d the Gum with other Drugs in stuffing the Body, the first
distill’d Liquor in their Injections, and the _Oil_, as more valuable,
for their Anointings; or else might use the _Tar_ or _Pitch_ after the
same manner as _Asphalt_ and _Pissasphalt_, for the inferior sort of
People. [Sidenote: _Virtues_ of _Cedar_.] Now in respect to the Virtues
of _Cedar_, besides that it heats and drys powerfully, it has likewise
this particular and remarkable Quality, that after the nature of Septic
and Escharotic Medicines, it corrodes and consumes the Flesh in a very
short Time, if apply’d to a living Body; but, on the contrary, is a
sovereign Preservative for the same Body the very moment ’tis depriv’d
of Life; for consisting of hot, dry and subtil Parts, it consumes all
superfluous Humidity, the cause of Putrifaction, and thereby preserves
the dead Body, whereas in living Creatures, being rarify’d and put in
action by the natural Heat, it disunites their Parts and consumes them.
Those antient Physicians _Dioscorides_, _Galen_, _Paulus_, _Aetius_ and
_Aegineta_ have all asserted, That the Nature of _Cedar_ was such as to
preserve dead Bodies, but would consume the Living, whereupon, they not
without reason have term’d it, _The Life of the Dead_, and _The Death of
the Living_. Likewise _Diodorus Siculus_ tells us, the _Egyptians_
anointed the Bodies they were to _Embalm_ with Oil or Ointment of
_Cedar_, for the space of 30 Days; whereas, _Herodotus_ gives us a quite
different Account, how that, without cutting open the Belly and pulling
out the Entrails, [Sidenote: _Clysters_ of _Cedar_ and their
_Operation_.] they injected up the _Anus_ Clysters of Oil or Juice of
_Cedar_, and then salted the Body 70 Days, at the end of which they
squeez’d out the Clysters, which had such Virtue and Efficacy, that they
brought away with them all the Guts and Bowels wasted. But in answer to
this, _Clauder in Methodo Balsamandi_, p. 58. says, he cannot but
believe that this Author had forgot to mention somewhat necessary to be
done besides, and _Nardius_ laughs at it as a ridiculous Story, to
imagine how these Clysters should spare the fleshy Parts, but rot the
Bowels. But grant an intire Efficacy to this Balsamic Liquor, thus
Clysterwise immitted into the Intestins, yet since it is well known to
Physicians, that Medicines, this way exhibited to the Dead, immediately
flow out again, the nervous and fibrous Parts, which before were us’d to
retain them, operate no longer by reason of their Stupor and defect of
Spirits. I cannot see, says _Clauder_, how a Clyster can be contain’d in
a dead body so as to perform its Work, or if it should be intruded up by
force, it cannot so quickly penetrate to the superior Parts; for it must
waste the _Mesentery_, _Liver_, _Spleen_, _Stomach_ and _Guts_ before it
can ascend into the Cavity of the Breast, by which time its Contents
will be putrify’d, and that more-especially since nothing besides was
done to prevent Corruption, but an external _Salting_. Wherefore, as was
said before, he must needs have mistaken the Process, and perhaps if
Bodies were _Embalm’d_ this way with _Cedar_ (which _Nardius_ utterly
denies) without Incision and Exenteration, it might be perform’d by
filling the Head, Breast and Belly with Pitch of _Cedar_ (the way of
doing which I shall hereafter show) and then infusing and macerating the
Body in its liquid Juice or Oil: And that the _Egyptians_ us’d to
_Embalm_ Bodies with _Cedar_, appears farther from their preserving
_Crocodiles_, _Hawks_ and other Animals, [Sidenote: _Animals Embalm’d_
with _Cedar_.] which they worshipp’d, with _Nitre_ and the Liquor of
_Cedar_, and afterwards anointing them with odoriferous Unguents, they
bury’d them in Sacred Places: _Diodorus Siculus_, Lib. 5. cap. 2. says,
the _Gauls_ were wont to deposite the Heads of their slain Enemies, that
were of any Quality, in Chests, having first _Embalm’d_ them with Oil of
_Cedar_, &c.
The third sort of _Embalming_, us’d for the poorer sort of People, was
perform’d, as _Herodotus_ tells us, by washing the Belly, and then
drying it with Salt for 70 Days, after which ’twas deliver’d to be
carry’d away. Now, as _Clauder_ says, if this was done without
Exenteration, it appears the least probable of all, as daily experience
shows; therefore we must look on that Historian as too credulous in the
Relation of some Things, and perhaps as one that had forgot other
Operations to be done, or medicinal Species to be added: But if the
Belly was open’d and thoroughly wash’d and cleans’d, the Bowels flung
into the River or else bury’d, and the Vessels empty’d of their Blood
and Juices, and then the Body salted and dry’d in the Sun, it might
probably be render’d very hard and durable, and not liable to dissolve
or melt by any Damps or Moisture, _Egypt_ being a warm Country, and
enjoying a perpetual Serenity of Air, even as Flesh and Fish when salted
and dry’d in the Wind, Sun or Smoak, _&c._ may be preserv’d for some
Years, if kept in a dry and warm place. _Diodorus Siculus_ speaks
nothing of this third sort of _Embalming_, and _Gabriel Clauder_,
_Johannes Nardius_, _Bellonius_, and other Physicians assert, there were
only two sorts, [Sidenote: Only two sorts of _Embalming_.] one for the
Rich and Noble, perform’d after a more accurate and costly manner, and
another more vile for the poorer Sort; for _Nardius_ is of Opinion, that
which was suppos’d to be perform’d with _Cedar_, was only a cheat of the
_Libitinarii_ to pick the Pockets of the richer People; the first sort
being perform’d with odoriferous Gums and Spices, and the latter with a
strong scented Bitumen call’d _Asphalt_, or for want of that with
_Pissasphalt_, which things are not mention’d in the Accounts of
_Herodotus_ and _Diodorus Siculus_ relating to _Embalming_; yet from the
occular Demonstration of several eminent Physicians, and their
Experiments and Dissections of such Bodies as are commonly brought over
for _Mummies_, it is plainly prov’d they were prepar’d with this
Bituminous Matter, therefore we will next describe what that is. Now
seeing Authors so much confound _Asphalt_ with _Pissasphalt_, and
thereby become mistaken even in the word _Mummy_, I think it very
necessary to show their differences, they being two sorts of _Bitumen_
that were commonly us’d by the _Egyptians_ in their _Embalmings_.
[Sidenote: _Asphalt._]
First then of _Asphalt_, a natural _Bitumen_ of a viscous and glutinous
Substance, which swims on the surface of the Lake _Asphaltites_ in
_Palestine_ (above 100 Miles from _Damiata_ in _Egypt_, whereas _Le
Bruyn_ is grosly mistaken when he makes it but two _Italian_ Miles, as
before quoted, _p._ 143.) and being driven by the Winds on the Shoar,
there condenses by the heat of the Sun, and becomes tough and hard like
Pitch. There is also _Bitumen_ found in several other places, as
_Dioscorides_ relates, _viz._ in _Phœnicia_, _Babylon_, _Sydon_, &c. But
this which comes from the Lake _Asphaltites_ in _Judea_, thence call’d
_Bitumen Judaicum_, is the best of all, being clean and shining, of a
black or purplish Colour, of a strong Smell, and that may easily be
burn’d and crumbl’d between the Fingers. With this _Asphalt_ were
_Embalm’d_ those of a middle sort, [Sidenote: How us’d in _Embalming_.]
but by reason it was of too dry a Substance, _Naptha_ and liquid
_Bitumen_, or _Oleum Petroleum_ were usually added to it by melting over
the Fire, and then the Body being boil’d therein, the _Embalming_ was
finish’d according to the accustom’d manner: To this purpose Authors
give these Reasons for the use of _Asphalt_, that by its astringent and
exsiccating Nature, it restrains that moisture which would lead to
Corruption, and no less by its balsamic Quality and Viscosity hinders
the fluid Atoms of the Air from penetrating the internal parts of the
Body, thereby opening a way for its Dissolution. In like manner the
poorer Sort were _Embalm’d_ with _Pissasphalt_, made fluid by some of
the above-mention’d Oils; and seeing likewise there were said to be two
kinds of this, one Natural and another Artificial, we will next enquire
into them:
[Sidenote: Natural _Pissasphalt_.]
The Natural _Pissasphalt_, according to _Dioscorides_, _Valerius Cordus_
his Commentator, and others, is a kind of _Bitumen_ flowing from certain
Mountains call’d _Ceraunii Montes_ in _Apollonia_, near the City
_Epidaurus_, now _Ragusa_, whence being carry’d by the impetuosity of
the River, it is cast on the Shoar and there condens’d into Clods,
smelling like to a mixture of _Pitch_ and _Bitumen_, from whence it came
to be term’d by the _Greeks_ _Pissasphaltos, a_ πίσσα, _vel_ πίττα _pix,
&_ ἄσφαλτος, _Bitumen, quasi dicas Pici Bitumen_, and had the same
Virtues with _Pitch_ and _Bitumen_ or _Asphalt_ mix’d together. ’Tis
brought in great Plenty from _Valona_ to _Venice_ for pitching Ships,
which it admirably performs if mix’d with the Pitch of _Pine-Trees_.
’Tis also brought from _Dalmatia_, being there dug near _Lesina_, not
far from _Narenta_, and is likewise found in _Hungary_, where the
Inhabitants call it _Fossil_ Wax; moreover ’tis to be had in
_Transilvania_, and the Germans name it =Erdtwachs= and =Bergwachs=,
that is Wax generated in the Earth or Mountains. The _Spaniards_
likewise call it, _Cera de minera_, mineral Wax, perhaps from its
Consistency; but the _Arabians_ term it _Mumia_, whence, it may be,
_Embalm’d_ Bodies came to be call’d _Mummies_, [Sidenote: Call’d
_Mummy_.] from their being preserv’d with this _Pissasphalt_, and this
we are the more apt to believe, since the true _Asphalt_ or _Bitumen
Judaicum_ was very scarce, nor is it now to be had in the Shops, as some
believe, but _Pissasphalt_ is sold in its stead. _Brasavolus_ thinks
those dry’d Bodies of the _Arabians_ and other Nations, brought to us
from _Syria_ and _Egypt_ for _Mummies_, were only fill’d with
_Pissasphalt_, inasmuch as being the poorer sort of People in those
Countries, they could not be suppos’d to afford the expence of a better
_Embalment_, for the Rich and Noble, whose Bodies were _Embalm’d_ more
costly with _Myrrh_, _Aloes_, _Cinamon_, _Balsam_, _Saffron_, and the
like, were so carefully inclos’d in their private Sepulchres, that it
was not only a very difficult matter to get at them, but also more rare
to bring any of them over; whereas the Bodies of the Poor and Ignoble,
stuff’d only with _Pissasphalt_, of so mean a price and after so slight
a manner, were to be come at with little trouble and less suspicion.
Thus the _Syrians_ and _Egyptians_ were wont to condite their Bodies,
and the _Arabians_ also, from what _Matthiolus_ could learn from their
Writings, esteem’d _Mummy_ to be _Pissasphalt_ rather than _Asphalt_,
for, as _Avicenna_ writes, _Mummy_ performs the very same thing as
_Asphalt_ does, when mix’d with _Pitch_; from whence we may easily
conjecture, that the Bodies were only prepar’d with _Pissasphalt_.
[Sidenote: _Bodies_ only prepar’d with _Pissasphalt_.] With this also
_Serapio_ agrees, who, discoursing of _Mummy_, according to the
Authority of _Dioscorides_, delivers the very same words as he does of
_Pissasphalt_, affirming, there is _Mummy_ or _Pissasphalt_ in the Land
of _Apollonia_, which, descending from the Mountains by the course of
the River, is cast upon its Banks, and there coagulated like Wax, having
the Smell of _Pitch_ mix’d with _Asphalt_, with some _Fætor_, and its
Virtue is like to _Pitch_ and _Asphalt_ mix’d together, whence ’tis also
thought our _Mummy_ is rather _Pissasphalt_ than _Asphalt_; for altho’
_Strabo_ says, The _Bitumen Judaicum_ was us’d for preserving Bodies,
nevertheless he does not deny but they mix’d _Pitch_ with _Bitumen_,
which makes an artificial _Pissasphalt_; [Sidenote: Artificial
_Pissasphalt_.] but _Serapio_ and _Avicenna_ knew these Mixtures very
well, since not only the _Syrians_, but, their Countrymen the
_Mauritanians_ also made use of it. Also that which is sold to us for
_Mummy_, is only the Body of an _Egyptian_, _Arabian_, or the like,
_Embalm’d_ with _Pissasphalt_, neither is it always properly so, says
_Struppius_, for they sometimes us’d to lay the Bones of a Human Body in
their proper places, and pour’d over them melted _Pissasphalt_,
[Sidenote: Sophisticate _Mummy_.] which working into the natural form
and shape of the Body, they sent over for _Mummy_, and such is that
which is brought to us even at this Day, having no particle of _Myrrh_,
_Aloes_, _Balsam_, &c. mix’d with it, as manifestly appears from its
Smell, Taste and Colour.
Thus having shew’d how the _Egyptians_ preserv’d their Dead after
several ways, as by _Salination_ with _Aromatics_, _Salination_ with
_Cedar_, _Asphalt_ or _Pissasphalt_, and by _Salination_ with _Salt_
alone, according to the Accounts of _Herodotus_, _Diodorus Siculus_ and
the Observations of other Persons upon them, I will next add some other
Remarks concerning the Nature of their _Embalmings_, and the respective
Works of the several Persons employ’d therein; likewise, the manner of
Rouling, Painting and Dressing their Dead, with the Ceremonies of
Judging them, ferrying them over the Lake, keeping them in their Houses,
setting them at their Tables, pawning them, _&c._
First then, we will suppose the _Egyptians_ had a certain Temple or
Office wherein all Things were kept in order for _Embalming_ a Body,
[Sidenote: An _Office_ of _Embalming_.] to which there belong’d, and
where there resided all sorts of Persons who perform’d any particular
part of that _Art_, as Washing, Salting, Anointing, _&c._ or else
prepar’d any kind of Necessaries for the Funeral Pomp. Now these were
distinguish’d by the several Names of a _Priest_ or _Physician_, an
_Embalmer_ or _Surgeon_, a _Pollinctor_ or _Apothecary_, a _Dissector_
or _Anatomist_, a _Salinator_ or _Salter_ and a _Designer_ or _Painter_,
also Νεκροκόσμος, a _Dresser_ of the Dead, and Ἐνταφιαστής, one that
furnish’d all Necessaries for the Funeral, and bury’d the Body, being
call’d in _Latin_ _Libitinarius_: That there was such an Office, appears
not only from these several Persons, mention’d by _Herodotus_ and
_Diodorus Siculus_, who were employ’d therein, and either profess’d the
_Art of Embalming_, or perform’d some other part belonging to the
Funeral Pomp, but is also prov’d from their saying, _That the dead Body
was carry’d out to be Embalm’d_, which plainly implies some certain
place allotted for that purpose. First therefore, we will suppose there
belong’d to this Office a Clerk, [Sidenote: The _Clerk_.] who shew’d,
the Friends of the Deceas’d, Patterns of all sorts of things belonging
either to the _Libitinarii_ or Furnishers of the _Funeral_, or to the
_Curatores Corporis_, the _Embalmers_, who having agreed with them after
what manner, and at what Price they would have it done, enter’d it into
a Book, and took care to see it perform’d accordingly. The President or
Head of this College, we take to be one who was both a _Priest_ and
_Physician_, [Sidenote: The _Physician_.] and therefore was highly
Honour’d, and had in the greatest Esteem and Respect. As a _Priest_ he
was qualify’d to instruct the several Officers in all Funeral Rites and
Ceremonies, and confirm the People in the _Metempsychosis_, upon which
those Matters were grounded: As a _Physician_, being skill’d in the _Art
of Embalming_, and the Nature of all Vegetables and Minerals, he
prescrib’d balsamic Medicines and odoriferous Unguents for the
_Apothecary_ to compound and apply pursuant to his Directions, and
instructed the _Surgeon_ how to perform the manual Operation. That there
was a _Physician_ made use of in _Embalming_, appears very plainly from
the Second Verse of the 50th Chapter of _Genesis_, where _Moses_,
speaking of the Death of _Jacob_, says his Son _Joseph commanded his
Servants, the Physicians, to Embalm his Father, and the Physicians
Embalm’d Israel_; where by _his Servants, the Physicians_, seems to be
meant either those properly belonging to his Person, it being antiently
a Custom for Princes and Noble Men to have such in their Families to
wait upon and take care of them, or by the Repetition _The Physicians
Embalm’d_ Israel, might be meant those of the _Office_, since _Joseph_,
being Viceroy of _Egypt_, might well command them, they being all his
Servants and in subjection to him. [Sidenote: _Embalming_ of _Jacob_.]
This leads me to digress a little in order to give a further Account of
the _Embalming Jacob_, whereby will appear how far those Heathen Writers
before-mention’d agree with the _Scripture_. First then there was a
great necessity for _Embalming Jacob_, by reason his Body was to be
carry’d a great way to his Sepulchre, and both _Herodotus_ and _Diodorus
Siculus_ tell us, there were those in _Egypt_ that profess’d the Art of
preserving Bodies from Corruption, which ’tis plain was part of the
Physicians Emploiment, for the word _Ropheim_ (which we Translate
_Physicians_) constantly signifies in Scripture such as cur’d or heal’d
sick Bodies; but the LXX. here aptly enough Translate it Ἐνταφιαστὰς,
(those that prepar’d and fitted Bodies for their Interment by
_Embalming_ as we, says the Bishop of _Ely_, likewise Translate it)
because that was their proper Business; whence ’tis _Pliny_, Lib. 11.
chap. 37. says, _Mos est Ægyptiis Cadavera asservare Medicata_, _’Tis
the Custom among the_ Egyptians _to preserve dead Bodies by the
Physicians Art_. In this Art they excell’d all the World besides, Bodies
of their _Embalming_ remaining entire even to this Day, and no question
but _Joseph_, who spar’d neither Cost nor Pains, had his Father
_Embalm’d_ after the noblest manner. [Sidenote: Perform’d in _Forty
Days_.] _And Forty Days were fulfill’d for him (for so are fulfill’d the
Days of those that are Embalm’d) and the Egyptians Mourn’d for him
Threescore and Ten Days_, ver. 3. That is, Forty Days were spent in
_Embalming_ him, which could not be finish’d in a shorter Time, for
_Diodorus Siculus_ tells us of several Officers that were employ’d about
it one after another, and that they anointed the dead Body with _Balsam_
of _Cedar_ for above 30 Days, and afterwards with _Myrrh_, _Cinamon_,
and the like, which might make up the residue of 40 Days: But
_Herodotus_ differs from him in this, by adding 30 Days more for Salting
the Body with _Nitre_, which makes in all 70 Days, the full Time of
their Mourning, [Sidenote: The _Time_ of their _Mourning_.] they being
accustom’d to spend all that Time, which they were _Embalming_ the Body
and preparing for the Funeral, in Mourning, the manner of which we have
before describ’d, _p._ 241, 243, 245, 247. so shall here only farther
take notice what some object, that this Mourning was immoderate, having
more of Ambition than Piety in it; to which _Jacobus Capellus_ answers,
That granting it be true, that _Joseph_ did not bring in this Custom,
and had peculiar Reason to follow what he found in use, that they might
be more condemn’d who vex’d the innocent Posterity, on whose Parent they
had bestow’d Royal Honours; there is besides something due to Kings and
great Men to distinguish them from common People. _Now when the Days of
Mourning were past_, that is 70 Days, _Joseph went up to Bury his
Father, and with him went up all the Servants of Pharaoh, the Elders of
his House, and all the Elders of the Land of Egypt_, [Sidenote: _Funeral
Procession._] ver. 7. The principal Persons in Authority and Dignity
throughout the whole Country, as well such as were Governors of
Provinces and Cities, Counsellors, _&c._ as such as were principal
Officers at Court. _And all the House of Joseph, and his Brethren, and
his Fathers House_, ver. 8. _And there went up with him both Chariots
and Horsemen_, v. 9. as a Guard to him, which ’tis likely always
attended him, as Viceroy of the Kingdom, but now might be necessary for
his safety as he pass’d thro’ the Desarts. _And it was a very great
Company._ That he might appear in great State at such a Solemnity. _When
they came beyond Jordan they mourn’d with a great and very sore
Lamentation seven Days_, the Time of public Mourning among the _Jews_ in
succeeding Ages, as appears from several Instances, particularly, 1
_Sam._ 31. 13. _Eccl._ 22. 13. _Judith_ 16. 20. Moreover this shows the
Lamentation was so exceeding great, that the Place where it was made was
afterwards call’d _Abel-Mizraim_, [Sidenote: _Abel-Mizraim._] that is,
_The Mourning of the_ Egyptians. But how they bury’d _Jacob_ when they
came into _Canaan_, as also concerning the nature of the Cave wherein
they laid him, see the Bishop of _Ely_’s Notes on the 50th Chapter of
_Genesis_, from whom I have chiefly extracted this; and other
Commentators, for I think it high time to return to the _Embalming_ of
the _Egyptians_, according to the propos’d institution of an Office, in
which having already shown the respective Emploiments of the _Clerk_ and
_Priest_ or _Physician_, we shall next proceed to speak of the _Surgeon_
or _Embalmer_, and of all other inferior Officers under him, such as the
_Dissector_, _Emboweller_, _Pollinctor_, _Salter_, and other dependant
Servants, as _Dressers of the Dead_, _Painters_, _Carvers_, and the
like.
[Sidenote: The _Surgeon_.]