Now in the Picture of this Saint and Souldier, might be implied the Christian Souldier and true Champion of Christ. A horseman armed _Cap a pe_, intimating the _Panoplia_ or compleat armour of a Christian; combating with the Dragon, that is, with the Devil; in defence of the Kings daughter, that is, the Church of God. And therefore although the history be not made out, it doth not disparage the Knights and Noble order of St. _George_: whose cognisance is honourable in the Emblem of the Souldier of Christ, and is a worthy memorial to conform unto its mystery. Nor, were there no such person at all, had they more reason to be ashamed, then the Noble order of _Burgundy_, and Knights of the Golden Fleece; whose badge is a confessed fable.
[Sidenote: _Clocks no very ancient invention._]
The Picture of _Jerom_ usually described at his study, with a Clock hanging by, is not to be omitted; for though the meaning be allowable, and probable it is that industrious Father did not let slip his time without account; yet must not perhaps that Clock be set down to have been his measure thereof. For Clocks or Automatous organs, whereby we now distinguish of time, have found no mention in any ancient Writers but are of late invention, as _Pancirollus_ observeth. And _Polydore Virgil_ discoursing of new inventions whereof the authors are not known, makes instance in Clocks and Guns. Now _Jerom_ is no late Writer, but one of the ancient Fathers, and lived in the fourth Century, in the reign of _Theodosius_ the first.
It is not to be denied that before the daies of _Jerom_ there were Horologies, and several accounts of time; for they measured the hours not only by drops of water in glasses called Clepsydræ, but also by sand in glasses called Clepsammia. There were also from great antiquity, Scioterical or Sun Dials, by the shadow of a stile or gnomon denoting the hours of the day: an invention ascribed unto _Anaximines_ by _Pliny_. Hereof a memorable one there was in _Campus Martius_, from an obelisk erected, and golden figures placed horozontally about it; which was brought out of _Egypt_ by _Augustus_, and described by _Jacobus Laurus_. And another of great antiquity we meet with in the story of _Ezechias_; for so it is delivered in _King._ 2. 20. That the Lord brought the shadow backward ten degrees by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz. [SN: _A peculiar description and particular construction hereof out of_ R. Chomer, _is set down_, Curios de Caffarel. chap. 9.] That is, say some, ten degrees, not lines; for the hours were denoted by certain divisions or steps in the Dial, which others distinguished by lines, according to that of _Persius_