I/PI* qUINTUS TO M. TULLIUS CICERO. I9 



earth, from which he maintains the government and 

 the priefts, with all the coftly apparatus of their reli- 

 gious ceremonies, their facrilices, and their procefTions. 

 Other contributions to the king or to the priefts >they 

 know not, nor will they fuffer, except on the marriages 

 of the fons and daughters of their chiefs *. 



Their two great divinities, which, by different names 

 and rites they diligently worfhip, are the heavens and 

 the earth f . 



Perfons who arrogate to themfelves the knowledge 

 of future events they have, and thefe, covered with 

 goats Ikins, and lying proftrate on the ground, utter 

 ftrange, confufed oracles, which, v/hen refuted, they 

 are extorted by blows given by rods, or by the pizzles 

 of bulls,' prepared for the purpofe, until they become 

 propitious to the votaries. 



Concerning the language I can only fay that it re- 

 fembles that of Gaul, with a mixture of what has been 

 infufed by mariners, who have for ages frequented the 

 fhores in fearchof the precious metals ; and that Ihave, 

 by the aid of my interpreters, difcovered a great many 

 ■words that exadlly refemble the ancient diale£l:s of 

 Italy, of which I give you the following, without pre- 

 tending to fhape the barbarous founds of their lan- 

 guage to a Roman ear ; nor, as they are unacquainted 

 Avith the art of writing, to make thcin intelligible to 

 the eye. 



• This origin and intention of tythes is higlily interefling r.nd curi- 

 oui, and delerves to be maturely weighed by ecclefiaftical untiijuaries. 

 If ever the neceffities of modern times ihoald render a change unavcid- 

 able in the difpofal of the revenues of the church of England, I beg leave 

 to obfcrve, that without facrilege, the venerable clergy of Kngland 

 might, upon recurring to their ancient and indefeafible right of tythe.=, 

 be obliged to maintain the king and the civil government, to the infi- 

 nite eafe and comfort of the people, and glory of the church. 



f " Dua numina qux precipue Colunt, Terram et Ccelum variis no- 

 " minibus et iiitibus divcrfis, ubiquc reperimus," Isfe. 



C 2 



