The Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Divided into three parts, dialogue wiseThe Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Deuided into three partes, dialogue wise

And without speaking of other Saints and Saints, we may well know, how he would ¹have the Virgin Mary to hold the place of Cybele, Juno and Diana. For first of all he hath caused the Temple of Cybele and others to be dedicated unto her. And as Cybele did wear a Crown, made after the fashion of a Tower, so hath he found the means to represent the Virgin Mary by a crowned Idol, and to attribute to her that title, that the Idolaters did give unto Juno and Diana, calling her Queen of Heaven: and also giving unto her the office to aid and help women that are in travail with child, which among the Paynims was given unto those two. Wherefore I believe that they have added Saint Margaret, to the end there should be two, as well as the Paynims had. Furthermore, as the Paynims had a Diana, which was called, Strongilios, that is to say, La Rotonde or the Round, because of the Kounde Image, which Praxiteles, the excellent Painter had made for them, and that the Romans had the Temple of Vesta round. Also hath he found the practise to make for us a Saint Mary La Round, or Rotonde. I do remember that which Pliny witnesseth and other Authors, how that that Temple was also at the beginning dedicated unto Jupiter the revenger, and afterwards unto all the other Gods, because that almost all the Images of them all were ²there.

And wythout speakinge of other Saints and Sainctes, wée maye well knowe, howe hee woulde ¹haue the Virgin Mary to holde the place of Cyble, Iuno and Diana. For firste of all hée hath caused the Temple of Cyble and others to bée dedicated vnto hir. And as Cyble dyd weare a Crowne, made after the fashyon of a Towre, so hath hée founde the meanes to represente the Virgin Mary by a crowned Idoll, and to attrybute to hir yt tytle, that the Idolaters dyd gyue vnto Iuno and Diana, callinge hir Quéene of Heauen: and also gyuinge vnto hir the office to ayde and helpe women that are in trauayle wyth chylde, whiche amonge the Panyms was gyuen vnto those two. Wherefore I beloeue that they haue added Saynt Margaret, to the ende there shoulde bée two, as well as the Panyms had. Furthermore, as the Panims had a Diana, whiche was called, Strongilios, that is to say, La Rotonde or the Round, bicause of the Kounde Image, whiche Praxitiles, the ercellent Paintour hadde made for them, and that the Romaines had the Temple of Vesta rounde. Also hath hée founde the practize to make for vs a Saynct Mary La Rounde, or Rotonde. I dooe remember that whyche Plinye wytnesseth and other Autheurs, howe that that Temple was also at the begynninge dedicated vnto Iupiter the reuenger, and afterwardes vnto all the other Gods, bycause that almoste all the Images of them all were