§6.17.1Deum maxime Mercurium colunt.
They worship Mercury as the most prominent of the gods.
Huius sunt plurima simulacra: hunc omnium inventorem artium ferunt, hunc viarum atque itinerum ducem, hunc ad quaestus pecuniae mercaturasque habere vim maximam arbitrantur.
There are many images of him; they report him to be the inventor of all arts, the guide of roads and journeys, and they think he has the greatest power for the acquisition of money and mercantile transactions.
Post hunc Apollinem et Martem et Iovem et Minervam.
After him, they worship Apollo, Mars, Jupiter, and Minerva.
§6.17.2De his eandem fere, quam reliquae gentes, habent opinionem: Apollinem morbos depellere, Minervam operum atque artificiorum initia tradere, Iovem imperium caelestium tenere, Martem bella regere.
Concerning these, they hold nearly the same opinion as other nations: that Apollo wards off diseases, Minerva imparts the principles of manufactures and crafts, Jupiter holds the sovereignty of the celestial powers, and Mars rules over war.
§6.17.3Huic, cum proelio dimicare constituerunt, ea quae bello ceperint plerumque devovent: cum superaverunt, animalia capta immolant reliquasque res in unum locum conferunt.
To this god, when they have decided to fight in battle, they usually vow whatever things they may capture in war; when they have conquered, they sacrifice the captured animals and collect the remaining things into one place.
§6.17.4Multis in civitatibus harum rerum exstructos tumulos locis consecratis conspicari licet; §6.17.5neque saepe accidit, ut neglecta quispiam religione aut capta apud se occultare aut posita tollere auderet, gravissimumque ei rei supplicium cum cruciatu constitutum est.
In many states, one can see mounds of these things piled up in consecrated places; nor does it often happen that anyone, neglecting religion, would dare either to conceal what was captured in his own house or to take away what was deposited, and the most severe punishment with torture is established for that offense.