Of the beard] Because a decent growth of the beard, is a signe of manhood, and a remarkable difference of the male, from the female sexe: and this was forbidden to be done in that superstitious manner which heathens used, who consecrated to their gods not onely their locks, but their beards also; especially the first doune of it. Plutarch. in Thesee, & Sueton. in Nerone. 1. 12.