And as for the same distinction in the time of _Moses_, long after the flood, from thence we hold no restriction, as being no rule unto Nations beside the _Jews_ in dietetical consideration, or natural choice of diet, they being enjoyned or prohibited certain foods upon remote and secret intentions. Especially thereby to avoid community with the Gentiles upon promiscuous commensality: or to divert them from the Idolatry of _Egypt_ whence they came, they were enjoyned to eat the Gods of _Egypt_ in the food of Sheep and Oxen. Withall in this distinction of Animals the consideration was hieroglyphical; in the bosom and inward sense implying an abstinence from certain vices symbolically intimated from the nature of those animals; as may be well made out in the prohibited meat of Swine, Cony, Owl, and many more.
At least the intention was not medical, or such as might oblige unto conformity or imitation; For some we refrain which that Law alloweth, as Locusts and many others; and some it prohibiteth, which are accounted good meat in strict and Medical censure: as (beside many fishes which have not finns and scales,) the Swine, Cony and Hare, a dainty dish with the Ancients; as is delivered by _Galen_, testified by _Martial_ [SN: Inter quadrupedes mattya prima Lepus.], as the popular opinion implied, that men grew fair by the flesh thereof: by the diet of _Cato_, that is Hare and Cabbage; and the _Jus nigrum_, or Black broath of the _Spartans_, which was made with the blood and bowels of an Hare.
And if we take a view of other Nations, we shall discover that they refrained many meats upon the like considerations. For in some the abstinence was symbolical; so _Pythagoras_ enjoyned abstinence from fish: that is, luxurious and dainty dishes; So according to _Herodotus_, some _Egyptians_ refrained swines flesh, as an impure and sordid animal: which whoever but touched, was fain to wash himself.
Some abstained superstitiously or upon religious consideration: So the _Syrians_ refrained Fish and Pigeons; the _Egyptians_ of old, Dogs, Eeles and Crocodiles; though _Leo Africanus_ delivers, that many of late, do eat them with good gust: and _Herodotus_ also affirmeth, that the _Egyptians_ of _Elephantina_ (unto whom they were not sacred,) did eat thereof in elder times: and Writers testify, that they are eaten at this day in _India_ and _America_. And so, as _Cæsar_ reports, [SN: Lib. 3. de bello Gall.] unto the ancient _Britains_ it was piaculous to tast a Goose, which dish at present no table is without.