[411]. Atlas Europe, p. 261.
The English Cosmographer accounts for them thus, viz. “The People anciently had Fire and Serpents for their Gods, nourishing the last in their Houses, and keeping the other continually burning; the Priests of the Temple always adding Fuel, that it might not fail. The Vestal Fire was not kept more carefully at Rome, nor with greater Ceremony.... To this God, (whom they call’d, Lord of the Smoke,) they used to sacrifice young Pullets, to the other their Cocks[[412]].” The Seed of this Idolatry is so implanted in them, that ’tis said, that in a Village of the King’s, called Lovaniski, their chief City, they do, to this day worship Serpents. ibid.
[412]. Heylin’s Cosmogr. lib. 2. Poland p. 143.
The Lithuanians, ’tis said, ador’d three Gods, Fire, Wood, and Serpents. These last were counted their Guardian Gods. And according to a certain Historian, this kind of superstitious and diabolical Worship continues yet in some Parts of the Kingdoms of Norway and Vermolandia[[413]].
[413]. Olaus Magnus, Archbishop of Upsal. History of the Goths.
The Inhabitants of Prussia were barbarous and wild in the highest degree, having of old no manner of Religion, or next to none, and first began with the Worship of Serpents[[414]]. There are Countries in the Indies, says Jurieu, where Serpents are worship’d to this day.
[414]. Erasm. Stella in the Antiquities of Prussia. Lib. 1.
ARISTOPHANES, in the Comedy entitled Plutus, observes that the Deity gave the Sign, viz. by hissing; upon which two monstrous Dragons skip’d out of the Temple[[415]].
Δυω δρακοντ’ εκ του νεω. Fragmenta p. 52.