The _turning of the River into Bloud_ shews in what Month this happened not. That is, not when the River had overflown; for it is said, _the Ægyptians digged round about the River for Water to drink_, which they could not have done, if the River had been out, and the Fields under Water. In the same Text you cannot, without some hesitation, pass over the translation of Rye, which the Original nameth _Cassumeth_, the Greek rendreth _Olyra_, the French and Dutch _Spelta_, the Latin _Zea_, and not _Secale_ the known word for Rye. But this common Rye so well understood at present, was not distinctly described, or not well known from early Antiquity. And therefore, in this uncertainty, some have thought it to have been the _Typha_ of the Ancients. _Cordus_ will have it to be _Olyra_, and _Ruellius_ some kind of _Oryza_. But having no vulgar and well known name for those Grains, we warily embrace an appellation of near affinity, and tolerably render it _Rye_. While Flax, Barley, Wheat and Rye are named, some may wonder why no mention is made of Ryce, wherewith, at present, _Ægypt_ so much aboundeth. But whether that Plant grew so early in that Country, some doubt may be made: for Ryce is originally a Grain of _India_, and might not then be transplanted into _Ægypt_. [Sidenote: _Sheaves of Grass, in_ Psal. 12. 6, 7.] 36. _Let them become as the Grass growing upon the House top, which withereth before it be plucked up, whereof the mower filleth not his hand, nor he that bindeth Sheaves his bosome._ Though the _filling of the hand_, and mention of _Sheaves of Hay_, may seem strange unto us, who use neither handfulls nor Sheaves in that kind of Husbandry, yet may it be properly taken, and you are not like to doubt thereof, who may find the like expressions in the Authours _de Re rustica_, concerning the old way of this Husbandry. _Columella_,[225] delivering what Works were not to be permitted upon the Roman _Feriæ_, or Festivals, among others sets down, that upon such days, it was not lawfull to carry or bind up Hay, _nec fœnum vincire nec vehere, per religiones Ponteficum licet_. [225] Columella _lib. 2 cap. 22_. _Marcus Varro_[226] is more particular; _Primum de pratis herbarum cum crescere desiit, subsecari falcibus debet, et quoad peracescat furcillis versari, cum peracuit, de his manipulos fieri et vehi in villam_. [226] Varro _lib. 1. cap. 49_. And their course of mowing seems somewhat different from ours. For they cut not down clear at once, but used an after section, which they peculiarly called _Sicilitium_, according as the word is expounded by _Georgius Alexandrinus_, and _Beroaldus_ after _Pliny_; _Sicilire est falcibus consectari quæ fœnisecæ præterierunt, aut ea secare quæ fœnisecæ præterierunt_. [Sidenote: _Juniper Tree, in_ 1 King. 19. 5, etc.]