formerly many the like Tamperers, and those that dealt in such
Diabolical Sciences? And why not from _Salmantica_, where, as
_Laurentius Ananias_ relates, Magick-Arts were publickly taught, and
they commenc’d Doctors, and took their Degrees according to their
Learning? The Devil also hath publick Worship amongst the _Americans_,
and so he had with the _Phenicians_: yet not only they, but the whole
World had dedicated Temples to him. Here began Humane and Infernal
Sacrifices, supposing that Evil Spirits were delighted, and so feasted
with the Steam of Humane Offerings, whose sweetness made them milder,
and so intoxicating, lull’d them into less mischief.
[Sidenote: Devil-worship formerly us’d in all the World, and now by the
_Americans_.]
[Sidenote: _Lev. 17. 6._]
[Sidenote: Idols in Ships.]
How famous is _Zoroaster_, and the whole School of the Eastern
Magicians? In _Moses_’s time this Wickedness had already took place: Nor
can it be deny’d but that the _Phenicians_ carry’d their Idols in their
Ships, as _Herodotus_ testifies, saying, “The Image of _Vulcan_ much
resembles the _Phenicians Patacoioi_, which they plac’d on the
Fore-castle of their Ships.”
In like manner, the _Americans_ when they go to Sea, carry their Idols
with them; and the Ships took Name from the Image, which was either
painted or carv’d on the Stern, or plac’d elsewhere upon the Deck.
The same Custom the _Chineses_ observe to this present: _Francis
Xaverius_ relates, “That he sail’d in a _Chinese_ Vessel from _Goa_ to
_Japan_, which bore an Idol in its Stern, before which the Master
lighted Candles, perfum’d it with Aloe-wood, and offer’d Birds and other
Food, inquiring of it the Event of his Voyage. Sometimes he judg’d from
the Statues immovable Looks, that it would fall out successfully; and
other times, not.”
[Sidenote: _De abstinent. Animal._ l. 2.]
[Sidenote: _Prepar. Evang._ lib. 1.]
Lastly, _Porphyrius_ relates, “That the _Phenicians_ upon any great
Exigency, as War, excessive Heat, or Mortal Distempers, by order
selected one of the most comely and beautiful of their Children, to be
offer’d up to _Saturn_.” And _Eusebius_ saith also out of _Porphyrius_,
“That _Saturn_, whom the _Phenicians_ call _Israel_, the Learned
_Vossius_ and _Hugo Grotius_ read _Il_, or _El_ (one of the ten Names of
God in _Hebrew_) which they also give to the Planet _Saturn_, who when
he Reign’d in _Phenicia_, having one only Son born by the Nymph
_Anobret_, and was in danger to lose his Kingdom, being worsted in an
unlucky War, he dress’d him in Royal Robes, and placing him on an Altar
built for that purpose, sacrific’d him with his own Hands.”
[Sidenote: Men and Children used for Sacrifices by the _Phenicians_ and
other People.]
[Sidenote: Who forbade the sacrificing of Men.]
And although such like cruel Oblations are us’d in _America_, must it
therefore follow, that they are deriv’d from the _Phenicians_, when
several other People are guilty of the same? Nay, there is scarce one
Countrey, which hath not at some time or other perform’d such inhumane
Acts, seeming to them Zeal in their Religion; for the most eminent of
the Heathens scrupled not at it, which certainly are held to be the
_Persians_, _Greeks_, and _Romans_; and yet they were not abhorr’d,
though committing Humane Slaughters.
This holy Butchery and Religious Slaughter of Mankind began in _Rome_ in
the Emperor _Adrian_’s Reign, so continuing till the time of
_Tertullian_, _Lactantius_, and _Eusebius_. The _Greeks_ which inhabited
the utmost part of _Italy_, employ’d themselves daily in Sacrificing
Strangers to _Saturn_, and sometimes one another. But at last this
formal Cruelty became a ridiculous Custom; for the _Romans_ by severe
Edicts strictly forbad all such Humane Offerings: Yet that they might
retain some memory of their former Sacrifices, they order’d thirty
Images to be made of Rushes, which every year on the fifteenth of
_April_, were by the _Roman_ Priests and Vestal Nuns, to be thrown from
the _Milvian_ Bridge into the _Tyber_.
[Sidenote: _Lib. de Superstit._]
Moreover, _Manethon_ relates, “That the _Egyptians_ in _Heliopolis_ us’d
to offer three Men at once to _Juno_; which Custom was observ’d till
King _Amasis_ order’d, That in stead of Men, they should serve her with
Wax Candles.”
_Amestris_, Queen to the famous _Xerxes_, caus’d twelve Men to be burn’d
alive, as an Oblation, to pacifie and oblige _Pluto_ to maintain them in
their present Grandeur.
[Sidenote: _Rer. Persic._ l. 1.]
_Procopius_ relates of the People about the _Arabian Gulph_, “That they
oftentimes Sacrific’d Men to the Sun.”
[Sidenote: _Lib. 3. sect. 8 Geogr._]
“The _Indians_, saith _Pomponius Mela_, kill their nearest Relations and
Parents, before they decay by Sickness or Age, and judg’d it fit and
most Religious to Feast and Banquet themselves with the Entrails of the
slain.”
[Sidenote: _Lib. 11. Geog._]
The _Albanians_, as _Strabo_ relates, offer yearly one of their Priests
to the Moon.
The same _Mela_ relates of the _Tauri_, That they us’d to cut the
Throats of Strangers, whenever they came near to the Place of their
Sacrifice.
[Sidenote: _Lib. 2. cap. 1_.]
The _Egyptian_ Idol _Typhon_, as you may read in _Manethon_, was daily
made red-hot, and living People put in, and broyl’d to death.
[Sidenote: _Bell. Gall. Comm._]
But to pass by several other People guilty of such bloody Idolatry, How
did the Altars erected in the Woods in _Gaul_ and _Germany_, for
_Taran_, _Hesus_, _Teutates_, and _Woden_, continually smoke with the
Blood of Humane Expiations? Of which _Cæsar_ saith thus in his
_Commentaries_; “The _Gauls_ are a very Devout and Superstitious Nation;
and therefore when any were dangerously sick, or likely to be worsted in
Battel, they vow’d to feast their Gods that sav’d them with Humane
Flesh, and if need were, would make themselves a thankful Sacrifice to
those that help’d them off in such an Exigence. Concerning these bloody
Rites, they consulted and imploy’d the _Druydes_, by whose advice they
all believ’d that no Victim was so acceptable to the _Numens_, as
pour’d-out Humane Blood, but especially that of Malefactors; which
Dainty if they could not procure, their Gods must be treated with the
Lives of the Innocent.”
[Sidenote: _2 Reg. 3. v. 26, 27._]
Lastly, the Holy Scripture saith thus, _When the King of_ Moab _saw that
the Battel was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred Men that
drew Swords, to break through even to the King of_ Edom; _but they could
not. Then he took his eldest Son, that should have reigned in his stead,
and offered him for a Burnt-offering on the Wall._
These Testimonies are sufficient Witnesses, That the Ancient _Heathens_
express’d the height of their Devotion, and fury of mad Zeal, in such
execrable Rites, as to this day the like is practised by the _Indians_,
_Chineses_, _Japanners_, and others: Wherefore it can no ways be a
sufficient ground to prove, that the _Americans_ are deriv’d from the
_Phenicians_, because of their Humane Sacrifices, for that they were
usual Customs in all Places.
[Sidenote: Third testimony, That the _Americans_ are deriv’d from the
_Phenicians_, because their Language agrees]
[Sidenote: Is contradicted.]
The third Proof they offer us, is borrow’d from the similitude and
likeness of the _Phenician_ and _American_ Languages: _Comtœus_ sets
down some Words, _viz._ the _Phenicians_ call’d a Mountain, _Abila_;
Blood, _Edom_; a Mother, _Anech_; a Maid, _Hellotia_; Water, _Heni_, and
_Jam_: With the first agrees the _American_ _Anthla_; with the second,
_Holedonch_; with the third, _Anam_; with the fourth, _Hellotie_; with
the fifth, _Ame_, and _Jame_. But those that will thus corrupt the
Words, may as well make the unseemliest Comparisons. It is certain, that
the _Phenicians_ and some of the _Americans_ call a Cup _Asur_, and Red
Wine, _Belàsa_; But does it therefore follow by this, that the one is
extracted from the other? How many Names do signifie all one, amongst
People that never had any Conversation together? This proceeds only from
meer accident; Or else if some Words of one, sound like the same Words
us’d in a remote Countrey, and be of one signification, must they
therefore be deriv’d from one another? Then upon necessity the _Greeks_,
_Latins_, and _Germans_ had their Original from the _Hebrews_, or the
_Latins_ from the _Greeks_, or the _Germans_ from the _Latins_, or the
_Persians_ from the _Germans_; or, on the contrary, the last owe their
Extract to the first. I will as a Testimony, and to give you a Pattern,
pick out a few from a greater number.
[Sidenote: _Greek_ and _Hebrew_ agree]
[Sidenote: Also the _Hebrew_ and _Latin_.]
How little difference is there in many Words between the _Greek_ and
_Hebrew_? The _Hebrews_ call a Church-Congregation _Sanhedrim_, the
Greeks Συνέδριον; the Greeks for _I advise_, use πείθω, the other פתה;
the _Hebrews_ call Wise-men _Zophei_, the other Σόφοι: And less
difference there is between _Symphoniah_ and Συμφονία, _A well-set
Lesson_; or _Psanterin_ and Ψαλτέριον, _A Spiritual Hymn_: And who also
will not find a near resemblance in the consonating of divers _Latin_
and _Hebrew_ Words? For there is little difference betwixt _Mesurah_ and
_Mensura_, _a Measure_; _Shekar_ and _Saccarus_, _a sweet Moisture_;
_Levya_ and _Leæna_, _a Lioness_, _Sabbeca_ and _Sambuca_, _a
Chopping-board_; _Pesa_ and _Passus_, _a Pace_.
[Sidenote: Likewise the _Teutonick_, the great Language of _Germany_,
_Britain_, the _Low-Countreys_, and other Northern Nations.]
Then starting over the _Greek_ and _Latin_, the _Teutonicks_ would
likewise produce many Words which have the same sound and signification
with the _Hebrew_; as _Chobel_, _a Cable_; _Ethmol_ and _Etmael_,
_Watching_; _Sothim_ and _Sotten_, _Fools_; the _Hebrew_ _Arets_, is in
_Dutch_, _Aerde_, or as we in _English_, _Ear’d Lands_; _Phert_ and
_Peert_, _a Horse_; _Levyah_ and _Leeuw_, _a Lion_; _Shad_ and
_Schadea_, _Damages_; _Kisse_ and _Kussen_, in our Dialect the very
same, _Kisse_; _Shaken_ and _Schenken_, _a giving_, whence we derive our
_English_ _Skinker_, from serving of Drink; _Bel_ and _Beeld_, _an
Image_; for _Bel_ properly signifies _Lord_, perhaps because the Images
of Heroes or Lords were worshipp’d by them, or else because _Ninus_
first erected an Image for his Father _Belus_, or _Bel_, to be
worshipp’d.
[Sidenote: _Greek_ and _Latin_ Tongues agree.]
[Sidenote: _Abrah. Milii, Ling. Belg._ c. 5, 6, 7, 11.]
It would make a large Volume it self, to reckon up the Consonancies of
the _Hebrew_, _Greek_, and _Latin_, and their scatterings among all
Languages where ever their Empire spread, the one being indeed borrow’d
from the other, as all Languages that deal or have any converse
together: For not only the Words, with some small Alterations of
Letters, signifie the same in both Languages; but also without the least
alteration. Both _Greeks_ and _Latins_ express _I do_, by _Ago_; the
Number _Eight_, by _Octo_; _an Arm_, by _Brachium_ or _Brachion_, in
_English_, _Branches_, and _Braces_; _I eat_, by _Edo_; _a Cup_, by
_Phiale_; _a Curtain_, by _Cortina_, or _Cortine_; _Merry_, by
_Hilaris_, or _Hilaros_; _a ratling Noise or Sound_, by _Clango_; _a
Camel_, by _Camelus_, or _Camelos_; _a Knee_, by _Genu_, or _Gonu_; _a
Bowl_ or _Chalice_, by _Calix_; _a Mouse_, by _Mus_; _Deceit_, by
_Dolus_, or _Dolos_; _a House_, by _Domus_, or _Domos_; _I carry_, by
_Fero_, or _Phero_; the Pronoun _I_, _Ego_; _a Lion_, by _Leo_, or Λέων;
_Flax_, by _Linum_, or _Linon_; _a Mother_, by _Mater_, or _Meter_;
_now_, by _nunc_, or _nun_; _the Night_, by _Nox_, or _Nux_; _a
Rock-stone_, by _Petra_; _a Nick-name_, by _Scomma_, or _Skomma_; _a
Boat_, by _Scapha_, or _Skaphe_; _a Treasure_, by _Thesaurus_, or
_Thesauros_; _Father_, by _Pater_; _I tremble_, by _Tremo_; _an Hour_,
by _Hora_; _the Evening_, by _Vespera_, or _Hespera_; and an innumerable
many Words more, that are of one signification in both.
[Sidenote: _Phenician_ and _American_ Tongues have no similitude.]
[Sidenote: _Americans_ much divided in Speech and People.]
Now if there is not the hundredth part of the resemblance found between
the _American_ and _Phenician_ Tongues, as there is between the
_Hebrew_, _Greek_, _Latin_, and _Dutch_, according to the foremention’d
Examples, which notwithstanding cannot be observ’d to be deriv’d from
one another, what testimony can there be in five or six Words, which
only have a few Letters that do not differ? But suppose that the
agreeing of the _Phenician_ and _American_ Tongues could serve for a
testimony; that these last People had their Original from the first,
then there remains another doubt, _viz._ To know what _Americans_
acknowledge the _Phenicians_ for their Fathers; because their Countrey
is so big, that it may almost stand in competition with all the other
three parts of the Known World, being divided by so many Nations, which
differ not only in their various Customs, but also in their several
Languages, most of them not having the least likeness one with another:
Nay, often times the Inhabitants of one Province differ so much in
Dialect, that, according to _Petrus de Cieca_, the one cannot understand
the other.
[Sidenote: In _America_ one Tongue is not at all like the other.]
[Sidenote: _Decad. 3._]
[Sidenote: _De Laet. Orig. Amer. obs. 5._]
_John de Laet_ observes out of _Peter Martyr_, and other Writers
concerning the _West-Indies_, That there are several Languages and
strange Words spoken among the divers Inhabitants of _America_; for the
_Hurones_ call a Head _Sionta_; the _Mexicans_, _Tzontecontli_; the
Inhabitants of _New-Netherland_, _Anonsi_; the _Brasilians_, _Acanga_;
the _Jaos_, _Boppe_: the Figures One, Two, Three, and Four, the
_Hurones_ tell thus, _Escate_, _Teni_, _Hachin_, _Dac_; the _Mexicans_,
_Ce_, _Ome_, _Yei_, _Nabuy_; the _Sankikanders_, _Cotte_, _Nysse_,
_Nacha_, _Wyve_; the _Brasilians_, _Oyepe_, _Mocoy_, _Mocapir_,
_Oirundi_; the _Jaos_, _Tewyn_, _Tage_, _Terrewaw_, _Tagyne_; the
Natives of _New-Netherland_, _Onsat_, _Tiggani_, _Asse_, _Cayere_.
Moreover the _Hurones_ call a Father _Aystan_; the _Mexicans_, _Tathli_;
the _Canadensers_, _Notaovi_; in _New-Netherland_, _Ragina_; in
_Brasile_, _Tuba_: And so it is generally with all other Words, which
agree not in the least one with the other; so that every Territory hath
not only a several Dialect, but in many Places they use besides two,
three, or more distinct Speeches, not relating in the least one to
another, in one Province, by which the People inhabiting Towns and
Villages are distinguish’d. The Islanders discover’d by the _Spaniards_,
and destroy’d, have left few Words behind them; yet _Peter Martyr_ sets
down some of them, which were formerly us’d in _Hispaniola_: They call’d
Heaven _Tures_; a House, _Boa_; Gold, _Cauni_; a good Man, _Tayno_. It
is worthy of observation, that they pronounce no _H_ in their Language,
but what is spoken with a Vowel, and then give it a strong Aspiration,
like the warbling guttural ע _Ghain_ of the _Hebrews_.
[Sidenote: _Gen. 9. v. 25, 26, 27._]
[Sidenote: _Gen. 10. v. 15._]
[Sidenote: Last Testimonies of the _Americans_ Extract from the
_Phenicians_.]
[Sidenote: Is contradicted.]
[Sidenote: _Franc. Burman._ _in_ Gen. 25. 30.]
[Sidenote: _Phenicians_ deriv’d from _Esau_.]
Our last and chiefest Testimony is _Moses_, who says thus in _Genesis_,
_Cursed be_ Canaan, _a Servant of Servants shall he be unto his
Brethren. Moreover he said, Blessed be the Lord God of_ Shem, _and_
Canaan _shall be his Servant: God shall inlarge_ Japhet, _and he shall
dwell in the Tents of_ Shem; _and_ Canaan _shall be his Servant._ And in
the next Chapter, _Canaan_ begat _Sidon_. These Scriptures are explain’d
as a Testimony of the _Americans_ Extract from the _Phenicians_, which
they ground on these following Reasons: The _Phenicians_ are _Canaan_’s
Successors from _Sidon_, who gave name to their chief City. _Tubal_ the
Issue of _Japhet_, whose Tents God promis’d to enlarge, and that
_Canaan_ should be his Servant, planted _Spain_. The _Phenicians_,
descendants from _Sydon_, (say they) Peopled _America_; the _Spaniards_
sprung from _Tubal_, of _Japhet_, have subjected the _Americans_,
descended from _Sydon_, of _Canaan_; wherein is fulfill’d that Prophecy
of _Moses_, _That_ Canaan _should be Servant to_ Japhet; but it seems a
great mistake, so to derive the _Phenicians_ from _Canaan_, for they are
Extracted from _Shem_, _Heber_, _Abraham_, and _Esau_, sirnam’d _Edom_,
from his saying, _Adom, Adom_, when he ask’d of _Jacob_, _That Red, That
Red_, because he knew not how to call the prepared Pottage by its proper
Name; And _Edom_ setling himself on Mount _Seir_, a part of the Stony
_Arabia_, and on the Coast of the _Red-Sea_, gave denomination to it,
because that Sea was much frequented and Navigated by his Successors.
The _Greeks_ call it _Erythreum_, from _Erythros_, who is the same with
_Esau_, and likewise signifies _Red_. Hereto is added, That _Phænix_ and
_Erythros_ have the same signification in the _Greek_; So then, these
_Idumeans_ taking the name of _Phenicians_, from the great _Phœnix_,
spread themselves far and near under mighty Kings, by Navigation in the
_Red-Sea_, and from thence Planted several Coasts and Islands, removing
at last to _Syria_.
[Sidenote: Gen. 36. 39.]
[Sidenote: _Com. in_ Jer. l. 4. c. 25.]
[Sidenote: _In_ Ps. 136. _Voss. Orig. Idol._ l. 1. c. 31.]
[Sidenote: _Punick_ Tongue.]
[Sidenote: _Hebrew._]
The seventh King of _Edom_, _Moses_ reckoneth to be _Baal-hanan_, which
name, by transposing the Syllables, the famous _Carthaginian_ General
_Hannibal_ bare. Moreover, it may easily be demonstrated, that the
_Phenicians_ Extracted from _Heber_, have formerly spoke _Hebrew_, and
since _Arabick_; for they dwelt before their removing, in the
Stony-_Arabia_. St. _Jerom_ saith, the _Punick_ Tongue agrees for the
most part with the _Hebrew_: And St. _Austin_ tells us, that many, nay,
most of the _Carthaginian_ words are _Hebrew_. _Elisa_, _Dido_, the
first Foundress of _Carthage_ proves this, for _Elisa_ or _Elissah_,
with the _Hebrews_, denotes _A Lamb of my God_; and _Dido_, _A Lover_.
But who can find the least likeness, between the _Hebrew_ or _Arabick_
Tongue with the _Americans_? Lastly, Since the _Phenicians_ acknowledge
_Esau_ for a Father, what then concerns the _Americans_, the curse of
_Canaan_, since they are no more Extracted from _Canaan_, than the
_Phenicians_? Thus much concerning the _Phenicians_.
[Sidenote: If the _Americans_ were deriv’d from the _Jews_, or the ten
Tribes of _Israel_.]
[Sidenote: Is contradicted.]
Some would derive the _Americans_ from the _Jews_; others, from the ten
Tribes of _Israel_, carry’d into captivity. The ground of which Opinions
is, That the _Jews_ and _Israelites_ were scatter’d amongst all Nations;
therefore they conclude, that _America_ was also Peopled by them, the
rather, because the antient _Jews_ and _Americans_ were of one
Complexion, and went a like Habited, both going without Shooes, onely
wearing Sandals, and an upper Coat over a shorter Linnen Vest. Both are
humble, quick of apprehension, and obliging, yet Valiant: But it is
certain, they cannot be like the _Jews_, because the _Americans_ change
their Habit, according as they live in cold or hot Countreys, and go not
in the least like one another.
Father _Immanuel_ relates, That he saw a _Brasilian_, not onely stoutly
make his party good against three _Portugal_ Soldiers, but had it not
been by meer chance, worsted them.
Lastly, What Ceremonies of Religious Rites are observ’d by the
_Americans_, which are used in _Judaism_? The _Jews_ indeed have
transplanted their Circumcision amongst divers Eastern People, and have
they onely forgot the first Ceremony and signal Badge of their Religion
in _America_, which yet not onely they, but those _Mahumetans_ and other
Sectaries punctually observe?
[Sidenote: _Jews_ distribution.]
[Sidenote: 1 Pet. 1. 1. _Scaliger in Notes ad N. T._]
[Sidenote: Joh. 7. 35.]
[Sidenote: _L. de Idolo. vanitate._]
This makes evident their scatterings about the Face of the Earth, but
will not bring them to reach _America_. The Sacred Text sets forth a
two-fold description of the _Jews_; The one before the Birth of our
Saviour, when they liv’d as strangers in _Pontus_, _Galatia_,
_Cappadocia_, _Asia_, and _Bythinia_. _Jerusalem_ was their Metropolis,
although others had their chief residence in _Babylon_, and
_Alexandria_; for there was an _Asiatick_ and a _European_ dispersion;
those of _Asia_ had _Babylon_ for their chief City, and us’d in their
Synagogues the _Chaldean_ Translation of the Bible. The _Europeans_ kept
their Seat at _Alexandria_, where they had a Temple like that of
_Jerusalem_; and whilst they employ’d themselves in the _Greek_ Version
of the Holy Scripture, by the seventy two Interpreters, under _Ptolomeus
Philadelphus_, they were call’d _Wandering Greeks_: Therefore, certainly
the _Americans_ are not deriv’d from these _Jews_, and with as little
reason from those, which by _Titus Vespasian_, after the destruction of
_Jerusalem_ were driven into several Countreys, for they were never
permitted (that I may borrow the words of St. _Cyprian_) to set forward
one step, though but as Pilgrims, towards their Native Countrey, but
strictly forbidden not to assemble or meet together in any considerable
number, which would have been necessary, if they intended to Plant a new
World.
[Sidenote: 2 Reg. 17. 5.]
[Sidenote: 4 Esd. 13. 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46.]
A small seeming Testimony is added, being taken out of the fourth Book
of _Esdras_, that the ten Tribes of _Israel_ that were carry’d away by
_Salmanassar_ with their King _Hosea_ to _Nahalah_, _Habor_, the River
_Gozan_, and the Cities of the _Medes_, might be acknowledged for the
first Planters of _America_: Concerning which, _Esdras_ saith thus, _The
ten Tribes brought over into another Countrey, consulted that they
should forsake the multitude of the_ Heathens, _and travel to a remoter
Countrey, where no Generation of Mankind had ever liv’d before, there
they would maintain their Laws, which they had not observ’d in their
Countrey: Whereupon they went thither thorow the narrow entrances of the
River_ Euphrates, _for the Almighty stopt the Vains of the River, till
they were past over; for thorow the Countrey was a way of a year and
halfs Journey: wherefore that Tract of Land is call’d_ Assareth, _then
they liv’d there till the last time._
But since these Books of _Esdras_ were not Written by a Prophet, either
in the _Hebrew_ Tongue, or allow’d by the _Jews_ to be the Word of God,
or any where taken notice of in the _New Testament_; wherefore then is
_Assareth_ more _America_ than any other remoter Countrey?
[Sidenote: _L. 5. in Ezek. & l. 6. in Jerom._]
[Sidenote: 4 Esd. 6. 49, 50. & 14. 21. & 4. 41.]
St. _Hierom_ (who certainly had a peculiar knowledge of the condition of
the ten Tribes of _Israel_, because he liv’d in _Asia_, and held
Correspondence with the _Jews_, that he might perfectly learn the
_Hebrew_ Tongue,) relates, “That the ten Tribes (St. _Hierome_ liv’d
about the Year four hundred, under the Emperor _Theodosius_) underwent
great slavery in the Cities of _Medes_ and _Persians_; so that this
strange Voyage to _Assareth_, which must have happen’d long before St.
_Hierom_’s time, may be Recorded amongst the other Legends of the
Rabbies, concerning their _Behemoth_ and _Leviathan_, who lock’d up the
Souls of those that sleighted their Laws, in Caves under ground, as
_Esdras_.”
[Sidenote: Antient condition of the _Persians_.]
[Sidenote: _Melchior Soiterus de Reb. Turc._]