Sunday

The idol of the Sun.

It was made as here appeareth, Iike halfe a naked man, set upon a Piller, his face as it were, brightened with gleames of fire, and holding with both his armes stretched out, a burning wheele upon his breast: the wheele being to signifie the course which he runneth round about the world; and the fiery gleames, and brightnes, the light, and heat wherewith he warmeth, and comforteth the things, that live, and grow.

Monday

The idol of the Moon.

The forme of this Idoll seemeth very strange, and ridiculous, for being made for a woman shee hath a short coat like a man: but more strange it is to see her hood with such two long eares. The holding of a Moone before her breast may seeme to have beene to expresse what she is, but the reason of her chapron with long eares, as also of her short coat, and pyked shooes, I doe not finde.

Tuesday

The idol of Tuysco.

The next unto the Idols of the two most apparant Planets, was the Idoll of Tuysco: the most antient, and peculiar god of all the Germans, here described in his garment of a skinne, according to the most antient manner of the Germans cloathing.

Of this Tuisco, the firsthand, and chiefest man of name among the Germans, and after whom they doe call themselves Tuytshen, that is, duytshes, or duytsh-people, I have already spoken in the first Chapter: as also shewed, how the day which yet amongst us retaineth the name of Tuisday, was especially dedicated unto the adoration, and service of this Idoll.

Apparently there was a book published in 1670 (De Anglorum gentis origine by Robert Sheringham) than vigorously refutes this interpretation.

Wednesday

The idol of Woden.

The next was the Idoll Woden, who as by his Picture here set downe appeareth was made armed, and among our Saxon Ancestors esteemed, and honoured for their god of Battell, according as the Romans reputed, and honoured their god Mars.

He was while sometime he lived amongst them, a most valiant and victorious Prince, and Captaine, and his Idoll was after his death honoured, prayed, and sacrificed unto, that by his ayd, and furtherance they might obtaine victory over their enemies: which when they had obtained, they sacrificed unto him such prisoners as in battell they had taken. The name WODEN signifies fires, or furious, and in like sence we yet retaine it, saying when one is in a great rage that he is WOOD

I guess that bit of slang has been lost

Thursday

The idol of Thor.

The next in order as aforesayd, was the Idoll THOR, who was not onely served, and sacrificed unto of the antient Pagan-Saxons, but of all the Teutonicke people of the septentrionall Regions, yea, even of the people that dwelt beyond Thule or ISLAND, for in Greeneland was he knowne, and adored; in memory whereof a promont dryor high poynt of land lying out into the sea, as also a river which felleth into the sea at the said promontory, doth yet beare his name; and the manner how he was made, his picture here doth declare.

This great reputed God, being of more estimation than many of the rest of like sort, though of as little worth as any of the meanest of that rabble; was majestically placed in a very large, and spacious Hall, and there set, as if he had reposed himselfe upon a covered Bed. On his head he wore a Crowne of gold, and round incompasse above, and about the same, were set or fixed, twelve bright burnished golden starres. And in his right hand he held a Kingly Scepter.

Friday

The idol of Friga.

The next following in rank and reputation, was the Goddess Friga, who was made according as this picture here doth demonstrate.

This Idoll represented both sexes, as well man as woman, and as an Hemophrodite is said to have had both the members of a man, and the members of a woman. In her right hand she held a drawne Sword, and in her left a Bow signifying thereby that women as well as men should in time of neede be ready to fight.

Some honoured her for a God and some for a Goddess, but she was ordinarily taken rather for a Goddesse than a God, and was reputed the giver of peace, and plenty, as also the causer, and maker of love, and amity, and of the day. Of her especiall adoration we yet retaine the name of Friday, and as in the order of the dayes of the weeke THURSDAY commeth betweene Wednesday and Friday, so (as Olaus magus noteth) in the septentrionall regions, where they made the Idoll THOR sitting or lying in a great Hall upon a covered bed, they also placed on the one side of him the Idoll WODEN, and on the other side the Idoll FRIGA. Some do call her frea and not friga., and say she was the wife of Woden, but she was called FRIGA, and her day our Saxon ancestors called FRIGE DEAG, from whence our name now of Friday in deed commeth, Saxo Gramaticus saith, that the people which by reason of the great famine in the time of Snio King of Denmarke (whereof I have before made mention) were constrained by lot to go seeke them new habitations, were by the Goddess FRIGA commanded to call themselves Longobards, which is an opinion by Crantziuts and others rejected as fabulous, and for no lesse I esteeme it.

Yeah, more like Crazytziuts, am I right?

Saturday

The idol of Seater

The last to make up here number of seven, was the Idoll SEATER, fondly of some supposed to be Saturnus, for he was otherwise called CRODO, this goodly god stood to be adored in such manner as here this picture doth shew him.

First on a pillar was placed a pearch, on the sharpe prickled backe whereof stood this Idoll. He was leane of visage, having long haire, and a long beard: and was bare-headed, and bare footed. In his left hand he held up a wheele, and in his right he carried a paile of water, wherein were flowers, and fruites. His long coate was girded unto him with a towel of white linnen. His standing on the sharpe finnes of this fishe was to signifie that the Saxons for their serving him, should pass stedfastly, & without harme in dangerous, and difficult places.

Everyone should aspire to be more like Seater.

GOOD DAY!