? i8 The Htjlorj of Book II. 



Lib. 15. ius and Straho affirm., That heretofore the Persians confultecl 

 concerning their moft important affairs at their great Feafts, 

 and when they had their heads well ftor'd with Wine. And 

 not only the Perjians, but alfo (everal Grecian Nations held 



Simp I ? t ^ ie * r Councels of War at Table, if we may believe Plutarch. 



qu. 2. The fame thing is at this day practis'd among the Chinefes, as 



Trigaur, fome Hiftorians affirm. 



/. r. c 7. But to return to the Councels of War of our Caribbians 1 

 When they begin to have their brains warm'd with their 

 drink, an old Woman comes into the Aflembly with a fad 

 countenance and deportment, and with tears in her eyes de- 

 mands audience 5 which being ealily granted her, by reafon of 

 the refpect and reverence they bear to her age, with a doleful 

 voice, interrupted by fighs, file reprefents the injuries which 

 the whole Nation hath receiv'd from the Arouagues, their an- 

 cient and inveterate Enemies : And having reckond up the 

 greateft cruelties which they have heretofore exercis'd againft 

 the Caribbians 0 and the gallant men they have kiU'd or taken 

 in the Battels that were fought between them, fhe comes to 

 particularize in thofe who were lately made Prifoners, mafia- 

 cred, and eaten, in fome later Engagements : And at laft (he 

 concludes, that it were a fhameful and an infupportable dik 

 paragement to their Nation, if they ftiould not revenge them- 

 felves, and generoufly imitate their Predeceflbrs, thofe brave 

 Caribbians, who minded nothing fo much as to gain fatisfafli- 

 on for the injuries they had receiv'd 5 and who after they had 

 lhaken off the yoke, which the Tyrants would have impos'd 

 on them for the taking away of their ancient Liberty, have 

 carried their victorious Arms into the Territories of their 

 Enemies, whom they have purfu'd with darts and fire, and 

 forc'd to make their retreats into their higheft Mountains, the 

 clefts of Rocks, and the dreadful recefles of their thickeft 

 Forefts 5 and this with fo great fuccefs, that at prefent they 

 dare not appear at their own Sea-coafts, and can find no habi- 

 tation fo remote where they think themfelves fecure from the 

 afiaults of the Caribbians 5 fear and aftonifhment having been 

 their conftant attendants after fuch fignal Victories : That they 

 are therefore couragioufly to profecute their advantages, and 

 not to reft till that peftilent Enemy be utterly deftroy'd. 



As foon as the old Woman hath made an end of her di£ 

 courfe, the Captain makes a Speech to the fame purpofe, to 

 make a greater imprefiion in the minds of the Audience 5 

 which ended, the whole Aflembly unanimoufly applauds the 

 Propofition, and make all demonftrations imaginable of the 

 juftice of their Caufe. From that time, being encourag'd by 

 . the words they had heard, they breathe nothing but blood and 

 wounds. The Captain, concluding by the applaufe of the 

 whole Aflembly, and by their geftures and countenances, that 



they 



