Vol. III. MifcelUnea Curt of a. ^ 



them as a work of that Vaftnefs, that the 

 Chriftians in the perfecuting times had not 

 number enough to carry it on; but then 

 moft unadvifedly with the fame breath they 

 confound them with the PutictcUin Fefim Vom^ 

 p^ipu^ where, at the fame time that the An- 

 cient Romans us'd to burn the Bodies of their 

 dead, the cuftom was, to avoid expence, to 

 throw thofe of the Slaves to rot. 



This is not all, the Roman Chriftians, fay 

 they, obferving at length the great venera- 

 tion that certain Places gainM by the prefence 

 of Relifts, refolvM to provide a ftock for 

 themfelves; entring therefore theCatacombs, 

 they made in fbme of them what Cyphers, 

 what Infcriptions , what Painting they 

 thought fit, and then jfhut them up; intending 

 to open them again upon a Dream, or fome 

 other important incident. Thb few that 

 were in the fecret of this Artific^ either dy- 

 ing, or as the Monks, who were the only 

 Men that ftem to have had Heads adapted 

 to a thought of this quality, were fubjed to 

 fo many removes, being tranfported to other 

 Places, the contrivance came to be forgot^ 

 and thofe Galleries continued fliut,till Chance, 

 the Parent often of great difcoveries, open'd 

 them at laft/ Thus they conclude , the 

 Remains of the vileft part of Mankind are 

 trumpM up in the Church for the Bodies of 

 the moft eminent Confellbrs and Martyrs. 



To leave the latter part of this Tale to 

 fhift for it felf as well ks it can, either the 

 Catacombs are not that great work they are 

 repreftnted to be,nor to be found everywhere 

 about the City, or 'twas very improper in 



