Greek commonwealths
adored and worshipped for gods with prayers and sacrifices, &c. [1227]In a
word, _Nihil magis quaerunt quam metum et admirationem hominum_; [1228]and
as another hath it, _Dici non potest, quam impotenti ardore in homines
dominium, et Divinos cultus maligni spiritus affectent_. [1229]Tritemius in
his book _de septem secundis_, assigns names to such angels as are
governors of particular provinces, by what authority I know not, and gives
them several jurisdictions. Asclepiades a Grecian, Rabbi Achiba the Jew,
Abraham Avenezra, and Rabbi Azariel, Arabians, (as I find them cited by
[1230]Cicogna) farther add, that they are not our governors only, _Sed ex
eorum concordia et discordia, boni et mali affectus promanant_, but as they
agree, so do we and our princes, or disagree; stand or fall. Juno was a
bitter enemy to Troy, Apollo a good friend, Jupiter indifferent, _Aequa
Venus Teucris, Pallas iniqua fuit_; some are for us still, some against us,
_Premente Deo, fert Deus alter opem_. Religion, policy, public and private
quarrels, wars are procured by them, and they are [1231]delighted perhaps
to see men fight, as men are with cocks, bulls and dogs, bears, &c.,
plagues, dearths depend on them, our _bene_ and _male esse_, and almost all
our other peculiar actions, (for as Anthony Rusea contends, _lib. 5, cap.
18_, every man hath a good and a bad angel attending on him in particular,
all his life long, which Jamblichus calls _daemonem_,) preferments, losses,
weddings, deaths, rewards and punishments, and as [1232]Proclus will, all
offices whatsoever, _alii genetricem, alii opificem potestatem habent_, &c.
and several names they give them according to their offices, as Lares,
Indegites, Praestites, &c. When the Arcades in that battle at Cheronae,
which was fought against King Philip for the liberty of Greece, had
deceitfully carried themselves, long after, in the very same place, _Diis
Graeciae, ultoribus_ (saith mine author) they were miserably slain by
Metellus the Roman: so likewise, in smaller matters, they will have things
fall out, as these _boni_ and _mali genii_ favour or dislike us: _Saturni
non conveniunt Jovialibus_, &c. He that is Saturninus shall never likely be
preferred. [1233]That base fellows are often advanced, undeserving
Gnathoes, and vicious parasites, whereas discreet, wise, virtuous and
worthy men are neglected and unrewarded; they refer to those domineering
spirits, or subordinate Genii; a