had certaine lotts,
whereon were written:
Coniuncti terram proscindunt boves ut in futurum loeta germinent sata
That is to say: The Oxen tied and yoked together, doe till the ground to
the intent it may bring forth his increase: and by these kind of lottes
they deceive many of the simple sort, for if one had demanded whether he
should have a good wife or no, they would say that his lot did testifie
the same, that he should be tyed and yoked to a good woman and have
increase of children. If one demanded whether he should buy lands and
possession, they said that he should have much ground that should
yeeld his increase. If one demanded whether he should have a good and
prosperous voyage, they said he should have good successe, and it should
be for the increase of his profit. If one demanded whether hee should
vanquish his enemies, and prevaile in pursuite of theeves, they said
that this enemy should be tyed and yoked to him: and his pursuits after
theeves should be prosperous. Thus by the telling of fortunes, they
gathered a great quantity of money, but when they were weary with giving
of answers, they drave me away before them next night, through a lane
which was more dangerous and stony then the way which we went the night
before, for on the one side were quagmires and foggy marshes, on the
other side were falling trenches and ditches, whereby my legges failed
me, in such sort that I could scarce come to the plaine field pathes.
And behold by and by a great company of inhabitants of the towne armed
with weapons and on horsebacke overtooke us, and incontinently arresting
Philebus and his Priests, tied them by the necks and beate them cruelly,
calling them theeves and robbers, and after they had manacled their
hands: Shew us (quoth they) the cup of gold, which (under the colour of
your solemne religion) ye have taken away, and now ye thinke to escape
in the night without punishment for your fact. By and by one came
towards me, and thrusting his hand into the bosome of the goddesse
Siria, brought out the cup which they had stole. Howbeit for all they
appeared evident and plaine they would not be confounded nor abashed,
but jesting and laughing out the matter, gan say: Is it reason masters
that you should thus rigorously intreat us, and threaten for a small
trifling cup, which the mother of the Goddesse determined to give to her
sister for a present? Howbeit for all their lyes and cavellations, they
were carryed backe u
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