68 REASONS AGAINST THE JEWISH ORIGIN. 



LIB. i. their Histories, as also by their ancient pictures, which re 

 present them in this fashion, that this attire was the ancient 

 liabite of the Hebrewes, and that these two kinds of gar 

 ments, which the Indians onely vse, were vsed by Sam 

 son, which the Scripture calleth Tunicam et Syndonem ; 

 beeing the same which the Indians terme waste-coat and 

 cloake. But all these coniectures are light, and rather 

 against them then with them ; for wee know well, that the 

 Hebrewes vsed letters, whereof there is no shew among 

 the Indians; they were great lovers of silver, these make 

 no care of it ; the lews, if they were not circumcised, held 

 not themselves for lewes, and contrariwise the Indians are 

 not at all, neyther did they ever vse any ceremonie xieere it 

 as many in the East have done. But what reason of con- 

 iecture is there in this, seeing the lewes are so careful to 

 preserve their language and Antiquities, so as in all parts 

 of the world they differ and are known from others, and yet 

 at the Indies alone, they have forgotten their Lineage, their 

 Law, their Ceremonies, their Messias ; and, finally, their 

 whole Indaisme. And whereas they say, the Indians are 

 feareful cowards, superstitious, and subtill in lying ; for the 

 first, it is not common to all, there are some nations among 

 the Barbarians free from these vices, there are some valiant 

 and hardy, there are some blunt and dull of vnderstanding. 

 As for ceremonies and superstitions, the Heathen have 

 alwayes vsed them much ; the manner of habites described 

 which they vse, being the plainest and most simple in the 

 world ; without Arte, the which hath been common, not 

 onely to the Hebrewes, but to all other Nations ; seeing 

 that the very History of Esdras (if wee shall beleeve the 

 Scriptures that bee Apocrypha) make more against them 

 then for their purpose ; for hee saith in that place, that the 

 ten tribes went from the multitude of the Heathen, to keepe 

 their faith and ceremonies, and we see the Indians given to 

 all the Idolatries in the world. And those which holde this 



