PARAGRAPH. 1.
THe sift point singled out, by Pererius, wherein he saith, the Iewes obser∣ved the custome of the Romanes, concerning their bodily Posture, in their feasting. 1. Pererius acknowledgeth that the ancient Iewes at sup∣per, and feasts did sit: Eccles 31.12. If thou (sit) at a bountifull Ta∣ble; Prov. 23.1. if thou (sit) to eate with a Ruler: Iudg. 19.6. The Le∣vite and his Concubine (sate) downe, and did eate and drinke both of them together, 1 King. 13.20. They (sate) at the table; Gen. 43.33. the brethren of Jo∣seph (sate) before him, 1 Sam. 20.5. To morrow is the new moone or Kalends, and I should not faile to (sit) with the King, at meate; Exod. 22.6. The people (sate) downe, to eate and to drinke; and rose up to play; so farre Pererius. Let me adde, the Apostle citing that place of Exodus, readeth it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, they sate downe, which shaketh off tricliniary accubation, and properly signifieth Session. 2. The ancient Romanes were wont to (sit) at feasting, saith he,
Perpetuis soliti Patres considere mensis,saith Virgil. that is,
It was their guise, in ancient Time, To sit at boords, when they did dine.And Pererius grounds himselfe on Philander, and Mercurialis: Marcus Varro indeed and Servius affirme, that both men and women among the Romanes, anciently sup∣ped (sitting) in processe of time, the men did (lye) along, at their feasting, and the women (sate) still, at last both men and women, lay along on beds, when they sup∣ped, and feasted: he addes, Virgil, at the latter end of his first booke of Aeneids,—Pictis discumbere lectis,—To lye along on painted beds; This last autho∣rity addeth no force to the point of (sitting) at feasts, but rather weakeneth it: Secondly let me adde, in all those places of Canonicall Scripture, the Radix Jashah is used, which seldome, very seldome, by it selfe, proveth discumbing, but sitting. Thirdly, more places may be added, Prov. 9.14. She (sitteth) at the doore of her