Plinics Naturall tiiftorie. 



A from birds of the day, yet they bevsray their fpight and cnvic even to the night and the quiet re- 

 pofe thereof, by their heavie grones (the onely voice that they uttet) difquieting and troubling 

 thofe that be at reft: and finally, all one they be with thofe unluckie creatures^which if they hap- 

 pen cither to meet or crofle the way uponaman, prefagealwaies feme ill toward, oppofing 

 themfelves (as it were) to all goodneflcj and hindering whatfoever is profitable for this life. 

 Neither doc thcfcmonftrous and abominable iprites know any other reward of this their dead- 

 ly breathy their cgrfed and deteftable malice, but to hate and abhor all things. Howbeir, herein 

 may we acknowledge &fee the wonderfullmajeftie of dame Nature: for like as (he hkrh fhewed 

 her felfe more fruitfull and libcrall in bringing forth profitable and holefome plants, in greater 

 plentic than hurtfull and noifomc; fb furely hath fhe furnifhed the world better with- good med 



B and vettuous for the weale publicke. In which regard and confidcration, we alfo taking no fmail 

 joy and contentment (leaving thefetroublefome Ipiritsto themfelves forto broile and frie in 

 their owne grcace) will goe on forward and proceed to declare the reft of Natures workes 5 and 

 with the better rcfolution, for that wecfeekemorepleafureandconteniment inthepaines and 

 travailc that we take, than exped any fame or bruit of men afterwards. For why ? we are in hand 

 tolpeake of the countrey and countrey commodities, fuch as in old time like as they were moft 

 ncceflarie for this life, fo they were accounted and honoured moft highly. 



Chap. II, 



_ ^Of the frjlgmrUnd or chap/et made of hear bt and flowers at Rome, 



THc firft order that king Romulus inftituted in Rome citie newly built,was the guild or frater- 

 nitie of certaine Priefts or Wardens over corne fields-jwhich were in number twelve. And , 

 for to doc the greater honour to thiseompanie, hecaufed himfelPe tobe called the twelfth 

 brother among them rand /^^rir4l4«r^»/w,thenourccorfofter-motherof thisPrince,beftowed 

 upon him a guirland of corne eares,twifted and tied togither with a white ribband, as the moil 

 facred badge and cnfigne of this new priefthood, which he and his brethren iliould weare with 

 great reverence and devotion : and this was the very firft chaplet knowne at Rome. Now the ho- 

 nour of this ornament was perpetuall, and continued for terme of life- fo as a man once inve- 

 fted therein, could not be degraded and deprived thereof, though hce were banifhed or taken 

 D ptifoner 5 it accompanied him ever to his dying day.Then,and in thofe daiesjcvcry man withiri 

 the whole bodie of the people of Rome, contented himfclfe with two acres of land, and K. Ro- 

 mulus afligned to none of his fubjeds a greater proportion : whereas now yec fhall have thofe 

 that ercwhile were but flavcs and fetvants under the Emperour Nero (defpifing as not fufficienr, 

 greene enclofures and gardens of that compafte) muft have filTipoolcs alfo bigger than fo : and 

 well it were if they would ftay there and goe no further, for fhortly we (hall fee fome one or other 

 of thcm,neverreft until! hcc have kitchins alfomore than two acres wide. And thusmiJchfor 

 king Romulus, ^ » 



King Numa his fucccflbr, ordained to worfhip the gods with an oblation of corne , yea and 

 to offer prayers and fupplications unto them by no other meanes, than cakes made of fait and 

 E meale: yea and as mine author faith, for to induce the people oi Rome the better- unto 



itjhe allowed them to parch their corne in their facrifices jfor that corne thus pa rched, was ftip)* 

 pofed to be a more holefome food : by which meanes, this one thing enfued in the end, that licr' 

 corne was counted pure and good, nor fit to bee ufed in divine fervice , but thai: which was thus 

 baked or parched. He alfo inftituted the feaft Fornacalia, to wit, certaine holydaies for tlic par- 

 ching and baking of corne : as alfo another as religiouflyobferved, called Terminalia, namely, 

 for the bounds and limits of lands : for thcfe andfuch like gods, as then, they worfhipped moTt: 

 as alfo the goddefte ^^jfo called a ferendo^ [/, of fowingcorne and fetting plants : ] and St^efla^ . 

 which name they gave her a fegetibm^ [/, of corne fields : ] whofe images wee at this day doe fee fb'r pr" feSg 

 in the grand Cirque or Shew-placeatRomc. A ^ third goddefle there is among them, whom.e o^" 'r«s piaa*; 

 F to name and invocate within-houfe, they might not with fafe eonfcience . Laftly, fo religious £tfefor"a$ 

 and ceremonious they were in old time,that they would not Co much as taft of new corn or wine, fbmc read 

 before the Priefts had taken a fey of the firft fruits. ijm^um) 



* meaning Ter- 



Chap. 



