How properly the priority was confirmed by a Rod or Staff, and why the Rods and Staffs of the Princes were chosen for this decision, Philologists will consider. For these were the badges, signs and cognisances of their places, and were a kind of Sceptre in their hands, denoting their supereminencies. The Staff of Divinity is ordinarily described in the hands of Gods and Goddesses in old draughts. Trojan and Grecian Princes were not without the like, whereof the Shoulders of _Thersites_ felt from the hands of _Ulysses_. _Achilles_ in _Homer_, as by a desperate Oath, swears by his wooden Sceptre, which should never bud nor bear Leaves again; which seeming the greatest impossibility to him, advanceth the Miracle of _Aaron's_ Rod. And if it could be well made out that _Homer_ had seen the Books of _Moses_, in that expression of _Achilles_, he might allude unto this Miracle. That power which proposed the experiment by Blossomes in the Rod, added also the Fruit of Almonds; the Text not strictly making out the Leaves, and so omitting the middle germination: the Leaves properly coming after the Flowers, and before the Almonds. And therefore if you have well perused Medals, you cannot but observe how in the impress of many Shekels, which pass among us by the name of the _Jerusalem_ Shekels, the Rod of _Aaron_ is improperly laden with many Leaves, whereas that which is shewn under the name of the Samaritan Shekel seems most conformable unto the Text, which describeth the Fruit without Leaves. [Sidenote: _The Vine in_ Gen. 49. 11.] 25. _Binding his Foal unto the Vine, and his Asses Colt unto the choice Vine._ That Vines, which are commonly supported, should grow so large and bulky, as to be fit to fasten their Juments, and Beasts of labour unto them, may seem a hard expression unto many: which notwithstanding may easily be admitted, if we consider the account of _Pliny_, that in many places out of _Italy_ Vines do grow without any stay or support: nor will it be otherwise conceived of lusty Vines, if we call to mind how the same Authour[199] delivereth, that the _Statua_ of _Jupiter_ was made out of a Vine; and that out of one single Cyprian Vine a Scale or Ladder was made that reached unto the Roof of the Temple of _Diana_ at _Ephesus_. [199] Plin. _lib. 14._ [Sidenote: _Rose of_ Jericho. Ecclus. 24. 14.]