.... 
till Ghriftianity broughtit jq.,,-.. Of thq whole jw^ have 
many inftances, and M Sigmor Mhate jBe«a>i, Sibliothe- 
cary of the Propaganda, a Gentleman of good ancient 
, Learning, aflured me in the converfation I had with 
him on this argument, that on the great Roa^s in 
nioft parts of Italy little Catacombs have been and are 
: ftill found under ground, and that 'twas the cuftom to 
; build httle Houfes over them. This, and the teftimo- 
ny of the Labourers whom I confulted on the matter, 
^made me abandon an opinion of which I was once 
fond, that the Catacombs are of the nature of our 
Gravel' pits, as old as the City icfelf, and yet out of 
them was taken the 9H%%,dma^t\\^ famous Ingredient in 
the Roman Mortar. The fame learned Gentleman added^ 
relating to the marks of a Martyr, that they don't 
conclude much ^ that the fo fam'd Cypher Xp was in 
ufe among the Ancients long before Ghriftianity be- 
gun : And when I ask*d him what the meaning of ic 
might be among them, returned, that 'twas composed 
of the two Greei^ Letters X P, under which fomething 
myftical wa3 comprehended, but that he met with no 
Author that gave account what the myftery was. 
Thus, after a multitude of thoughts about the Ca- 
'tacombs, I'm forc'd to take up with this 5 fo natural it 
is, ariling from the fole theory of the place, and falls 
in fo appolitely with the Religion and Praftice of the 
Ancients, among whom the DH Mams were the Tute* 
lary Gods of the Country, and D. M. at the head of 
an Infcription, argues the Moles, the Sepulchre, the 
Monument, was in the primary intention made 
for and dedicated to the Soul. Upon the fame max- 
ims, in foreign expeditions, when a Hero dy'd or was 
kiird, as the Body was liable to a quick corruption, 
and for that reafon unfit to be tranfported entire, they 
fell on the expedient of Burning, in order to bring 
home the Afhes, to oblige the Manes to follow, that 
fo 
