Of the Pictures of the Nine Worthies.
The Pictures of the nine Worthies are not unquestionable, and to
critical spectators may seem to contain sundry improprieties. Some will
enquire why _Alexander_ the Great is described upon an Elephant: for, we
do not find he used that animal in his armies, much less in his own
person; but his horse is famous in History, and its name alive to this
day. Beside, he fought but one remarkable battel, wherein there were any
Elephants, and that was with _Porus_ King of _India_; in which
notwithstanding, as _Curtius_, _Arrianus_, and _Plutarch_ report, he was
on Horseback himself. And if because he fought against Elephants, he is
with propriety set upon their backs; with no less or greater reason is
the same description agreeable unto _Judas Maccabeus_, as may be
observed from the history of the _Maccabees_; and also unto _Julius
Cæsar_, whose triumph was honoured with captive Elephants, as may be
observed in the order thereof, set forth by _Jacobus Laurus_[SN: In
splendere urbis Antiquæ.]. And if also we should admit this description
upon an Elephant, yet were not the manner thereof unquestionable, that
is, in his ruling the beast alone; for beside the Champion upon their
back, there was also a guide or ruler, which sat more forward to command
or guide the beast. Thus did King _Porus_ ride when he was overthrown by
_Alexander_; and thus are also the towred Elephants described, _Maccab._
2. 6. Upon the beasts there were strong towers of wood, which covered
every one of them, and were girt fast unto them by devices: there were
also upon every one of them thirty two strong men, beside the _Indian_
that ruled them.
Others will demand, not only why _Alexander_ upon an Elephant, but
_Hector_ upon an Horse: whereas his manner of fighting, or presenting
himself in battel, was in a Chariot, as did the other noble _Trojans_,
who as _Pliny_ affirmeth were the first inventers thereof. The same way
of fight is testified by _Diodorus_, and thus delivered by Sir _Walter
Rawleigh_. Of the vulgar little reckoning was made, for they fought all
on foot, slightly armed, and commonly followed the success of their
Captains; who rode not upon horses, but in Chariots drawn by two or
three Horses. And this was also the ancient way of fight among the
_Britains_, as is delivered by _Diodorus_, _Cæsar_, and _Tacitus_; and
there want not some who have taken advantage hereof, and made it one
argument of their original from _Troy_.
[Sidenote: _The use of stirrops not ancient._]
Lastly, By any man versed in Antiquity, the question can hardly be
avoided, why the Horses of these Worthies, especially of _Cæsar_, are
described with the furniture of great saddles, and stirrops; for saddles
largely taken, though some defence there may be, yet that they had not
the use of stirrops, seemeth of lesser doubt; as _Pancirollus_ hath
observed, as _Polydore Virgil_, and _Petrus Victorius_ have
confirmed, [SN: De inventione rerum, variæ Lectiones.] expresly
discoursing hereon; as is observable from _Pliny_, and cannot escape our
eyes in the ancient monuments, medals and Triumphant arches of the
_Romans_. Nor is there any ancient classical word in Latine to express
them. For _Staphia_, _Stapes_ or _Stapeda_ is not to be found in Authors
of this Antiquity. And divers words which may be urged of this
signification, are either later, or signified not thus much in the time
of _Cæsar_. And therefore as _Lipsius_ observeth, lest a thing of common
use should want a common word, _Franciscus Philelphus_ named them
_Stapedas_, and _Bodinus Subicus_ Pedaneos. And whereas the name might
promise some Antiquity, because among the three small bones in the
Auditory Organ, by Physitians termed _Incus_, _Malleus_ and _stapes_,
one thereof from some resemblance doth bear this name; these bones were
not observed, much less named by _Hippocrates_, _Galen_, or any ancient
Physitian. But as _Laurentius_ observeth, concerning the invention of
the stapes or stirrop bone, there is some contention between _Columbus_
and _Ingrassias_; the one of _Sicilia_, the other of _Cremona_, and both
within the compass of this Century.
The same is also deduceable from very approved Authors: _Polybius_
speaking of the way which _Anibal_ marched into _Italy_, useth the word
βεβημάτισται, that is, saith _Petrus Victorius_, it was stored with
devices for men to get upon their horses, which ascents were termed
_Bemata_, and in the life of _Caius Gracchus_, _Plutarch_ expresseth as
much. For endevouring to ingratiate himself with the people, besides the
placing of stones at every miles end, he made at nearer distances
certain elevated places, and Scalary ascents, that by the help thereof
they might with better ease ascend or mount their Horses. Now if we
demand how Cavaliers then destitute of stirrops did usually mount their
Horses; as _Lipsius_ informeth the unable and softer sort of men had
their ἀναβολεῖς, or Stratores, which helped them up on horse back, as in
the practice of _Crassus_ in _Plutarch_, and _Caracalla_ in
_Spartianus_, and the later example of _Valentinianus_, who because his
horse rised before that he could not be setled on his back, cut off the
right hand of his Strator. But how the active and hardy persons mounted,
_Vegetius_ [SN: De re Milit.] resolves us, that they used to vault or
leap up, and therefore they had wooden horses in their houses and
abroad: that thereby young men might enable themselves in this action:
wherein by instruction and practice they grew so perfect, that they
could vault up on the right or left, and that with their sword in hand,
according to that of _Virgil_
_Poscit equos atque arma simul, saltuque superbus
Emicat._
And again:
_Infrænant alii currus et corpora saltu
Injiciunt in equos._
So _Julius Pollux_ adviseth to teach horses to incline, dimit, and bow
down their bodies, that their riders may with better ease ascend them.
And thus may it more causally be made out, what _Hippocrates_ affirmeth
of the _Scythians_, that using continual riding, they were generally
molested with the Sciatica or hip-gout. Or what _Suetonius_ delivereth
of _Germanicus_, that he had slender legs, but encreased them by riding
after meals; that is, the humours descending upon their pendulosity,
they having no support or suppedaneous stability.
Now if any shall say that these are petty errors and minor lapses, not
considerably injurious unto truth, yet is it neither reasonable nor fair
to contemn inferiour falsities; but rather as between falshood and truth
there is no medium, so should they be maintained in their distances: nor
the contagion of the one, approach the sincerity of the other.