The commentaries of C. Julius Cæsar of his warres in Gallia, and the civil warres betwixt him and Pompey / translated into English with many excellent and judicious observations thereupon ; as also The art of our modern training, or, Tactick practise, by Clement Edmonds Esquire, ... ; where unto is adjoyned the eighth commentary of the warres in Gallia, with some short observations upon it ; together with the life of Cæsar, and an account of his medalls ; revised, corrected, and enlarged.

The tenth Medall.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Cai Iulii Caesaris Imperatoris Dictatoris. The effigies

of Caesar crowned with a thick crown of Laurell, which closed before, the better to cover his baldnesse, the hair being thrust forward to help it. The re∣verse hath 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Iliensium bis Neocororum; Aeneas carrying his Father and the Palladium at their quitting of Troy, the little Iulus going before with his hat in his hand. That which in this falls under question, is, First, to know the situation of this Ilium; wherein Strabo hath spent more sweat then all the Geographers; affirming it was not the Ilium of his time, a town well known, nor any thing built upon the ruines of the old one so ill-entreated by the Greeks, as being distant from this thirty stadia; that in that place there was only a small village bearing up the name; that it was built up by Alexander, from a small town that it was before, having a little Temple of Minerva much ruin'd, and re∣ceived from him divers priviledges and immunities, with a promise after his Victory over Darius, of a magnificent Temple, and the toleration and setting up of Games and exercises. This was partly executed after his death by Lysimachus, who enlarged the City by a wall of forty stadia, disposing thither many out of the neighbouring Cities that were ruin'd. After which it was ruined and restored diverse times; but lastly it received great favours from Sylla, which is conceived to be the reason that it de∣clared against Caesar in the Civile warres: whence it may be inferred, that those of that City knew not at that time that Caesar pretended to be of the race of Venus and Anchises, which was only found out after his Victory. But at length Caesar receives them into favour, restores and confirmes their ancient priviledges and immunities, and imitating Alexander, did them many courtesies.

In the second place, the understanding of these words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Iliensium Neocororum. The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is translated commonly Aedituorum; which we cannot render properly in English, but by Overseers, Supervisors, and those that are entrusted with the charge of the Temples, and dispose of all things sacred, or in some sort, they were such as we call Church-wardens in our Churches. But they are not those Neocori of the Temples that this Medall and divers others represent unto us, but the word was analogically applyed to whole Nations, as also to Cities and Bodies corporate, to whom the Kings, and afterwards the Em∣perours gave Commissions, to make Panegyricks and Encomiastick Ora∣tions upon their Statues, Pomps, religious worships, publick recrea∣tions and exercises, to the honour of their Gods and Princes; which was done out of the publick stock, or by the contribution of the Corpora∣tions. As therefore the Neocori that belonged to the Temples, were disposers and guardians of the things sacred, that were in their Sanctuaries, nay haply entertained the people or strangers, with the rarities and anti∣quities of their worships and mysteries; so these Nationall Neocori had the superintendency over the Pomps and Solemnities, panegyricall cele∣brations, exercises, sacrifices, and ceremonies which were to be observed upon the more festivall dayes, whereof they had the absolute disposall. This

I build upon the conjecture of the Great and Learned SELDEN, who was the first cut this Gordian knot, upon a passage of the Acts of the Apostles chap. 19. There we have Demetrius and those of his profession raising a Tu∣mult, and accusing S^t. Paul and others for preaching that the Statues made with the hands of men were not Gods. The Town-Clark, or the Church-warden having appeased the Tumult, tells them that it was wellknown that the City of Ephesus was then Neocore (in the English Translation worshipper) of the great Goddesse Diana, and of the Image fallen from Iupiter, and that therefore there being no contradiction in that, they ought not to do any thing rashly. For these men, faith he, are neither sacrilegious, nor blasphemous persons, and therefore have done nothing against the Majesty of Diana. But if they had any matter against any man, the Law was open: but in case it were something else re∣lating to their Goddesse, whether by Blasphemy, impiety, or sacriledge, (the cognizance whereof did of right belong to the Ephesians in body, as being then Neocori) they should have satisfaction in a full assembly convocated for things of that nature. Now those silver shrines which Demetrius is said to make, are conceived to have been Modells of that magnificent Temple, which the Ephesians being Neocori, caused out of magnifice to be made of that rich Me∣tall. Had this controversy between the Apostles and the Goldsmiths come to a decision, they had proceeded thus; They would have had some to make publick panegyricks of their Goddesse in the first place; then, if Paul and his companions should not rest satisfied, this Neocorean people would have pu∣nished them according to their manner. Now that the Neocori of the Temples were used to commend to all comers (especially Travellers) the greatnesse and power of their Gods, and that the Neocori of Cities imitated them, but did it with great Pomp, employing persons eminent for Learning and Elo∣quence, as Poets and Orators, for the honour of their Gods, as also their Kings, Monarchs, Emperours, Founders, and that upon dayes in stituted and or∣dain'd for that purpose, may be learn'd from Horace, who lib. 2. Ep. 1. writing to Augustus, call's those Poets Aidituos, who should immortalize the Vertue of that Emperour, or rather those who were charg'd to chose such as should do it, in these verses:

Sed tamen est operae pretium cognoscere quale is Aedituos habeat, belli spectata domique Virtus, indigno non committenda Poetae.

But besides Selden hath well observed, that there were none of these Medalls in the time of the Common-wealth, for that the Cities of Greece were not yet arrived to that esteem of the Roman greatnesse by the fabrick of their monies and other signes of veneration, which they have come to since it became a Monarchy. This is the opinion of that great judicious man, which yet is not absolutely true; for there were found the marks of this magnificence, under the title of Neocori, abundantly among the Medalls of Alexander the Great, where∣of Goltzius reckons above 20. with this inscription•• KOINON MAKE-〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Whence may be observ'd, that the people

of Mac••donia being generally Neocori, had caused these Coins to be stamp'd in the honour of Alexander, having upon the reverse, the figures of statues, chariots, temples, columns, &c. Nay, the Maroneans in Philip's time, though but the people of a particular City, were honour'd with the charge of Neocori, there being a Medall, which hath on the one side, the effigies of Bacchus, crown'd with Vine-branches, inscrib'd, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; on the reverse, that of Philip, thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In fine, the inhabitants of Ilium obtained leave of Caesar, to make some magnificence, under the title of Neocori, to honour him and the Iulian Family, having erected, in memory of his extraction from Anchises, Aeneas and Iulus, some Colossus representing the posture of Aeneas when he left Troy, doing a signall act of Piety both toward the Gods and men, having the Palladium in his hand, and carrying the old man his Father in his right arme, as women carry children, the little Iulus marching before, having his hat in one hand, and as∣king his father the way with the other. The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifies that this was the second time they had been honour'd with the quality and commis∣sion of being Neocori, and that they had celebrated the solemn dayes with Panegyricks, Pomps, exercises, and other magnificences befitting the gran∣deur of Caesar.