may aske How falls it out that the Nations of the world comming all of one father Noe doe varie so much one from another both in body and minde The Poet therefore making this obiection most worthy to be considered giueth also answer thereunto first in generall by way of exclamation and maruaile then in particular manner setting downe some speciall reasons of this wonderfull diuersitie that appeareth in the stature complexion strength colour and custome of people wheresoeuer dispersed ouer the face of the earth The first and principall cause is Nature it selfe that is the wise prouidence of God maruellous in all his workes If God had made the earth in all places alike all flowers of one colour and sauour all beasts fowles fishes and creeping things of one kinde had he made the heauen without starres or the starres all of one bignesse and men all of the same hew beauty feature strength and disposition as well of bodie as minde the diuers colours of his infinite wisdome had not so shined in them But as he is aboue all yea onely wise good and beautifull so would he in his workes keepe a certaine resemblance of his owne perfection prouoking vs thereby daily to aduance and raise our thoughts vnto the high consideration perfect loue and due reuerence of himselfe Now if we consider all his workes the light of his wonderfull glory no where appeareth more then in the diligent view of Man who is very fitly called of the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the little world For in this little table hath he lymbed-out in orient colours for all that will behold the wonders of his vnsearchable wisdome and they are here some of them by the Poet well pointed-out And a wonderfull thing indeed it is that among so many men as haue beene since the beginning are or shall be to the worlds end there neuer was nor is nor can be any one but differing much from all the rest both in bodie and minde and in many things else that ensue thereon This I am content to note but in a word leauing all the particulars of this miracle for the Reader priuatly to consider that he may wonder the more thereat and praise there-according th' almighty Creator the Soueraigne Good neither will I now take in hand to dispute against those that in searching the causes of this diuersitie ascribe all to Fortune or Nature as they call it meaning a secret propertie and power of the creatures or to the starres and other heauenly bodies to mans lawes custome or nourishment in stead of God who is indeed the first and only working cause of all things in whom we liue moue and are This matter would require a long discourse and though the Poet here beside the chiefe and only tine cause reckoneth certaine under-vnder-causes as custome growing to Nature th' example of Elders prouinciall Lawes and the influence of Stars it is not his meaning to take from the Lord of Nature this honour due vnto him for the diuersitie of his wonderfull works but only to lay open vnto vs a few such instruments as his incomprehensible wisdome vseth to make vs the better conceiue the manner of his heauenly working The Philosophers Astronomers Physicians and Politicks discourse at large vpon these differences he that would see them well handled let him reade the fift chapter of Bodines Method entituled de recto historiarum indicio and the first chapter of his fift booke de Republica which is the summe of all that he writes thereof in his Method Peucer also in the 13. and 14. bookes of his discourse vpon the principall sorts of diuinations and Hippocrates in his booke de Aëre aquis locis but especially Bodin may ferue to expound our Poet who in very few lines hath penned matter of so long discourse 59 The Northen man He entreth consideration of many points wherein the North and Southerne people differ Bodin in the places afore-quoted shewes the causes thereof according to Philosophie and Physicke because his bookes are common specially his Politicks I will not here set downe what he saith nor examine his opinions but leaue that wholly to the diligent Reader Concerning that the Poer noteth the best Histories auerre the same and namely for the Southerne people Iohannes Leo and Franciscus Aluares for the Northen Olaus Magnus the Baron of Herbestan in his Muscouie Buchanan in the historie of Scotland and diuers others 60 The Middle Man Bodm in the fift booke of his Politickes the first chapter diuideth all people dwelling on this side the Aequator into 3. kinds to wit the hot and Southerne people from the Aequator 30. degrees vpward the Meane and temperate in the next 30. and the Extreame cold and Northen people from the 60. degree to the Pole And so of the nations and countries beyond the Aequator The reason hereof he setteth downe in his Method chap. 5. 61 For in the sacred close The Poet goes on according to the said diuision and in few words implies all that discourse of Bodin who saith among other matters there that the people dwelling in the middle Regions haue more strength and lesse wit then the Southerne better parts of minde and lesse bodily force then the Northen and are moreouer the fittest for gouernment of Common-wealths and iustest in their actions And if a man doe marke well the histories of the world he shall finde that the greatest and most valiant Armies came euer out of the North the deepest and subtilest knowledge of Philosophie Mathematickes and all other contemplatiue Arts from the South and the best gouernment the best lawes Lawyers and Orators from the Middle countries and that the greatest Empires were founded and established there c. What reason there is for this he sheweth also in his fift chap. of his Meth. Looke more thereof in L. Regius de vicissitudine varietate rerum For my part I am of opinion that Almighty God as he hath knit and bound together the Elements and Creatures made of them with a maruellous compasse in number weight and measure best for continuance of the whole worke and mutuall agreement of the parts so hee hath also placed the chiefe subtiltie and liuely-hood of spirit farthest from the greatest bodily force either in beast or man for the better maintenance of humane societie in a iust counterpoys and gaue the middle kinde of people a nature of either tempered though if a man enter into particular discourse he may easily finde the northerne southerne and middle Nature in euery Nation What say I euery Nation nay I dare say in euery one of vs so fitly is Man called a little world But the southerne men for the most part hauing so quick and liuely parts of minde in a bodie lesse charged with flesh they represent the contemplatiue and studious kinde of life the northerne that haue their vvit in their fingers ends that is that are so cunning craftesmen inuenters of warlike engins artillerie and
all sorts of needfull instruments they may well be likened vnto the actiue and trading life and the middle sort vnto the ciuill gouernment and politicke life which is a meane betwixt the other two Yet this the Poet well restraineth saying that the northerne people also in these latter dayes haue beene renowmed for the Tongues the Lawes the Mathematicks Poesie Oratorie and all good learning as well as in times past they were and are still for warlike valour and cunning hand-hand-works Not without cause for in England Scotland Polonie Denmarke and other such countries are and haue beene diuers very learned men flourishing and Germanie especially which is as it were Vuleans forge and the Campe of Mars hath brought forth many men excelent well seene in all kinde of learning it were needlesse to name them they are so well knowne 62 But eu'n among our selues The more to magnifie the vnsoundable wisdome of God appearing in the creation of so diuers-disposed people he noteth out many points of great difference euen among those Nations that liue neare together and are seuered only by certaine hilles riuers and forrests as the French Dutch Jtalian and Spanish He paints them out all in their kinde for such properties as are daily seene in them and may be easily gathered out of their owne Histories for there are not the like-differing neighbour-nations in all Europe no not in the world Let me consider and all my Countrey-men with me what he saith of the French the other three may doe the like by themselues if they list The French he saith is in Warre impatient in Counsaile wauering in Diet sumptuous gentle in Speech diuers in Apparell out-facing his Enemie a sweet Singer a swift Paser a merty Louer If any man can draw a righter counterfeit of our Nation let him take the pensill 63 Yet would the immortall God He shewes for what cause it pleased God the earth should be inhabited by men of so diuers natures As first to the end he might shew forth his mercy and louing kindnesse in raising his chosen out of the sincks of sinne wherewith each of their birth soiles were bestained Secondly That it might appeare how neither the soiles nor yet the heauenly Signes though they haue great power ouer earthly bodies can force the minds of men especially such as God himselfe hath blessed Thirdly That there might be some in all places of the world to acknowledge his manifold goodnesse and glorifie his Name And fourthly that whatsoeuer needfull things the earth any where by his gartious blessing bringeth forth proper and seuerally they might be enterchanged and carried from place to place for the vse of man 64 For as a Citie The last consideration giues the Author occasion to compare the world vnto a great Citie such as Paris Roan Tolouse Lyons or any other like where there are merchants and craftesmen for all kinde of wares each in their seuerall wards buying selling changing and trading one with another And euen so one Countrey affordeth Suger another Spice another Gummes and Gold Alabaster Iuory Heben-wood Horses Amber Furres Tynne and Silke they are brought from diuers coasts all the more to furnish with things necessary this great Citie of the world Whereby we may note that no Countrie be it neuer so well appointed can say that it needs not the commodities of another And againe that there is no Land so barren but hath some good thing or other which the rest want For euen in men we see the like there is none so poore but hath some speciall gift none so rich but hath need of the poorest Our Poet therefore hauing so fitly resembled the world by a great Citie he brings-in thereupon a sine example of the Persian Queene who as Herodotus Xenophon and Plutarch report called one Prouince her lewell-house another her Wardrope c. for euen so may euery man say that hath the true knowledge and feare of God such a man may say Peru brings forth Gold for me the Moluckes or Chaldea Spice Damaske Alabaster and Italy Silke Germany sends me great Horses Moscouie rich Furres Arabia sweet Parfumes Spaine Saffron Prusse Amber England Cloth and Tinne France Corne and Wine Yea more the childe of God may say the Earth the Sea the Aire and all that is therein the Sunne the Moone the Heauens are mine for he that needeth nothing made all things of nothing to serue me and mee to worship him But of this let the Diuines discourse more at large I will goe on with the Poet who saith further against the carping Atheist that nothing was created in vaine but euen the most vnlikely places bring forth many good fruits and very necessary for the life of Man And hee proues it plainly by some notable particulars that follow 65 The Moores enameled First The Fenny Valleyes though too moist they are and ouer-low for men to build and dwell vpon yet are they so beset with diuers harbes and flowers so lagged garded and enter-trailed with riuers that they are as it were the common gardens of the world as also the plaine fields are our seed-plots and the stony grounds our Vineyards Secondly The huge Mountaines about whose tops are engendred thunders lightnings and tempests for which cause the Atheists count them hurtfull or at least superfluous or made by chance and errour they are in truth cleane contrary as Thâ—odoret hath long agoe shewed in his Sermons of Gods Prouidence â—uen the sure standing Bounds and Land-markes of euery Kingdome and Countrie they beare great store of timber-trees for ships and houses and fuell to burne from them spring the great riners that breed much fish and helpe the conueyance of prouision and other merchandise vnto many people dwelling farre-off by them are stayed and gathered the clowdes and thicke mists that manure and fatten the lower grounds the Wind-milles are much helped by them as if they were the the store houses of winde like rampiers and bulwarkes they keepe-of the sudden force of warlike neighbours and to conclude they are as it were the very morter that ioynes Land and Sea together Thirdly The great Deserts and wast-grounds that are for men by reason of some wants searse habitable yet like huge Commons they feed an infinit sort of beasts great and small whereof we haue good vse and commoditie Fourthly The Sea it breeds fish maintaines many Cities encreases Trafficke and makes the wayes for trauell easier and shorter And lastly thereout the Sunne draweth vapours which after turned into raine doe refresh the Aire and make the ground fruitfull The like good vses may be found in all other the Creatures of God how vnlikely foeuer they seeme to wicked Atheists Looke more in S. Basil Chrysostome Ambrose and others who write of the Creation and at large haue declared what excellent commodities man may reape of euery creature 66 But shall I still be toss'd Fitly and in very good time the Poet hauing ouerslipt nothing worthy note in this discourse
shall be floong His angers fierie darts that as thy shamelesse toong With bould and brasen face presumes now to deny him Thy miserable estate in time to come may trie him First that God is infind◠vnchäge able Alinightie and incomprehensible I know and God be thankt this Circle all whole sound Whose cent'r hath place in all as ou'r all go'th his round This onely being power feeles not within his mind A thousand diuers fits driu'n with a counter-wind He mooues All yet vnmooud yea onely with a thought Works-vp the frame of Heau'n and pulls downe what he wrought I know his throne is built amids a flaming fire To which none other can but only of grace aspire For breathlesse is our breath and ghostlesse is our ghost When his vnbounded might in circl ' he list to coast I know I know his face how bright it thorow shines The double winged maske of glorious Cherubines That Holy Almightie Great but on his backe behinde None euer saw and then he passed like a winde The step-tracke of his feet is more then meruellable His Being vncomprisd his name vnutterable That we who dwell on earth so low thrust from the skie Do neuer speake of God but all vnproperly For call him happie Ghost ye grant him not an ase Aboue an Angells right say Strong and that 's more base Say Greatest of all Great he 's void of quantitie Say Good Faire Holy one he 's void of qualitie Of his diuine estate the full accomplishment Is meere substantiall and takes not accident And that 's the cause our tongue in such a loftie subiect Attaining not the minde Why wee cannot speake of God but in termes of manhood more then the minde her obiect Doth lispe at euery word and wanting eloquence When talke it would of God with greatest reuerence By Manly-sufferance it hath him Jealous nam'd Repenting pitifull and with iust ang'r enflam'd Repentance yet in God emplies not Repentance and change ascribed vnto God in Scripture is farre from errour and fault as in vs Misdome or ignorance nor is he enuious For all his Iealosie his pitie cannot set him In miserable estate his anger cannot fret him Calme and in quiet is the Spirit of the Lord And looke what goodly worke fraile man could ere afford Thrust headlong on with heat of any raging passion The Lord it workes and all with ripe consideration What 1. Comparison for that purpose shall the Leach behold without a weeping eye Without a change of looke without a swoone or cry The struggling of his friend with many sorts of paine And feele his fainting pulse and make him whole againe And shall not God that was and is and shall be th'same On miserable man looke downe from heau'nly frame Without a fit of griefe without a wofull crie 2. Comparison Nor heale infirmities without infirmitie Or shall a Iudge condemne without all angers sting The strange adulterer to shamefull suffering As aiming sharpe reuenge and setting his entence Not on the sinn'r at all but on the sole offence And shall the fancie of man so binde the will of God That which is Iustice in man cannot be vice in God He may not lift his arme and iust reuenging rod Without some fury against a theefe or Athean Or is' t a vice in God God punisheth not to defend his owne estate but to maintaine vertue and confoun vice that 's held a vertue in man And cannot God abhorre a sinne abominable But of some sinne himselfe he must be censurable He alwaies one-the same ne're takes vp armes to guard him Or his estate from hurt as if some treason skard him Whose campe is pight in heau'n beyond reach of our shot And fens'd with Diman wals this that-way which way not But eu'n to guid our liues to maintaine righteousnesse T' establish wholesome lawes and bridle vnrulinesse The worlds iniquities deserued extreme punishment Nor yet by drowning thus ny-all the world in flood Go'th he beyond the bounds of reason in his mood For Adam who the root was of this world and th' other Shot-forth a forked stocke of Cain and Seth his brother Two ranke and plentious armes the first a wylding bore Disrelisht verdourlesse but in aboundant store Good fruit on th' other grew yet graff'd it was ere long With thossame bastard ympes and thereof quickly sprong What lawlesse match begot Then where on all this round Could any right or good Sith all were corrupted all deserued exile or innocence be found For Sinne that was the right inheritance for Cain To Seths posteritie was giuen in dow'r againe With daughter-heires of Cain so were defiled then The dearest groomes of God by marrying brides of men Yea we we that escape this cruell influence The best without excuse A million witnesses beare in our conscience Which all and each alike vpon our guilt accords Nor haue we any excuse before the Lord of Lords Who deales not tyrant-like to whelme in wauy brees The beast that goes on foot and all on wing that flees Because for mans behoofe they were created all And he that should them vse is blotted by his fall From out the Booke of life Th'acecssory sollowes the principall and why then should they stay When he for whom they were is iustly tak'n away Man is the head of all that drawes the breath of life Let one a member loose he liueth yet but if A deadly sword the head from bodies troonke diuide How can there any life in leg or arme abide But haply God's to feirce that hath the land orewheld Yea A traitour deserues to haue his house raised had so many yeares disloiall man rebeld Against the Lord his King and had the Lord no reason To rase the traitours house for such high points of treason To sow salt on the same and mak 't a monument The flood was no naturall accident but a iust iudgement of God That his diuine reuenge not Sea or Aire hath sent This rauing water-Masse Let all the clowdie weather That round-encourtaines Earth be gathered thicke together From either cope of Heau'n and bee'tall powred downe In place what e're it would but some one countrie drowne But this our sauing ship by floating euery where Now vnd'r a Southern Crosse now vnd'r a Northen Beare And thwarting all this while so many a diuers Clime Shewes all the world is wrapt in generall abysme But if thou vanquisht here to caues in earth do flie With floods there made of Aire thy forces to supplie What are those hills and where with caues so deep wide To hold-in so much ayre as into water tri'de Might heal the proudest heights when hardly a violl 's fil'd With water drop by drop of ten-fould aire dystil'd Besides when th' aire to drops of water melts apace And lesned fals to spring what bodie filles the place For no where in this all is found roome bodilesse Sad waue
his open tent there he now like a swine His snoaring carren rowles embrewd with cast-vp-wine And albeside himselfe not knowing what he did He naked layes the parts that dying Caesar hid Fit comparisons for all such slanderers as Cham. Behold as carren crowes with fanny wings oreflie The Manna-dropping woods of happy Arabie And reckning light the lawns and gardens of delight Whose ammell beds perfume the skie both day and night Seiz-on with glouton beaks or rath'r anatomize Some executed corse all-rotting as it lies Or as young Painters wont with bungling penecyll Good features of a face to misse and hit what 's ill To draw with little heed what ere is faire to see And more then duly marke the least deformitie A mole a wart a wen a brow or lip too-fat Or else an eye too deep or else a nose too flat So doe the spightfull sonnes of Satan prince of Hell Spoonge with forgetfulnesse the shew of all that 's well And biting lip thereat cast venom of their eyes Vpon the lightest faults of mens infirmities They laugh at others hurt and sound through-out all ages The very least escapes of greatest personages The impudence of Cham. So shamelesse Cham beheld his drunken fathers shame It shew'd and laught thereat and made thereof a game 21 Come brothers come quoth he loe he that oft controules Each little fault in vs how vp and downe he roules And spewing wine his mast'r at mouth at eyes at nose To all doth like a beast his priuitie disclose Sem and Iaphet reproue him and doe their dutie Ha dog ha brazen face good Sem and Iaphet said And with a clowdie brow iust discontent bewraid Ha monster vile vnkinde vnworthy of this light Thou shouldst thy selfe alone though we were out of sight Cast on thy mantle or hide with silence at the least Thy fathers fault that once in all his life opprest With griefe wine age hath fal'n and dost thou make a game To bring his hoary head first on the stage of shame Noe waking curseth Cham and his posteritie Thus rate they Cham and then with fromward looke retiâ—e To hâ—ale the nakednesse of their enyeared Sire 22 Slept-out the surfet was and he awoke at length And blushing knew his fault and wondred at the strength He found in blood of grape then prickt with inward tine He propheside and said Gods heauy curse and mine Befall the race of Cham let South let East and West For euer see them serue He blesseth Sem and Iaphet but euermore be blest Sems holy-chosen seed be Canan slaue to them A detestation of drunkennesse And Iaphet God perswade to dwell ith'tents of Sem So ended O foule vice errour enormitie Nay voluntarie rage distract and phrenesie Not long but dangerous by thee mad as a fiend Agave slew her sonne and Alexand'r his friend Doth any burne in sinne thou dost increase the fuell Thou mak'st the prater vaine the hastie cutter cruell The vaunting insolent th' angry tempestuous The wanton minde vnchast th'vnchast incestuous Thou canst nor blush nor see thou life in life destroy'st And holiest men of all with many faults accloy'st Yea as the strong new-wine with boyling inshut heat Cracks eu'n the newest hoopes and makes the vessell sweat Turnes vpsedowne the lees and froths out at the vent From bottom of the caske the setled excrement So thou vndo'st thine host and rashly mak'st to flie From bottom of his heart all matt'r of secresie Though no more to thy charge be laid ô poyson vile And this were all thy fault to bruten for a while A vertue-teaching life nay vertue-selfe I sweare Man ought thee more then face of ghastly death to feare 19. All holy Rites performed The Scripture saith Gen. 9.20 that Noe was an Husbandman and planted a vineyard Hereby appeares that he before the Flood had betooke himselfe to the vocation of planting and tilling with all that belonged thereto A trade worthy such holy Fathers and well beseeming their long liues For then and a long time after was this exercise by good right held a lawfull vsurie a gaine void of Enuie an Art maintaining all Arts and the true meanes of long liuing In the meane time while the posteritie of Seth followed husbandry and tillage they of Cain gaue themselues wholly to high matters of State and gouernment in the world whereby they came short of health and true wisdome Furthermore it is said that Noe planted a vine which was it may be a thing knowne of him before but neuer dressed to the full proofe till then as may be gathered by that which the historie shewes fell out thereupon to wit that Noe drunke of the wine and was drunken and was vncoured in the mids of his tabernacle For likely it is that if wine had beene vsed before the Deluge drunkennesse in those dayes would haue shewed it selfe among other vices and increased them so as Noe might thereby haue taken occasion after the Deluge to beware thereof and stand the more vpon his guard But these words he dranke of the wine seeme to import that before then he neuer had tasted the sweetnesse of this fruit and was taken therewith at vnawares Some are of opinion that it pleased the diuine goodnesse because the strength of mans nature was impaired by the Flood to helpe and recompence him with eating of flesh and drinking of wine as meat and drinke more strong and remedies auaileable against the assaults of diuers diseases and infirmities then like to ensue For well may it be thought by the curse of God now redoubled vpon mankind that the earth lost a good part of the force and vigour it had before and that the Deluge was as it were a strong buck-water to fret and diminish the force of all creatures especially the body of man which after the Flood waxed more feeble and of lesse continuance then before and for this cause it pleased God to comfort our poore and weake Nature with drinke more vigorous and meat more solide And for the places and countries destitute of wine he hath furnished them with corne and fruit fit to make for their comfort strength and batling drinke of such force and strength as will make them drunke if they take too much of it The Poet hath hereto fitly adioyned the description of a place fit for a Vineyard and the manner of dressing it Whereof looke what Plinie saith in his 17. booke chap. 21. 22. and Ch. Stephen at the chapter of the Vine in his Country Farme 20. Now Noah waxing old Some thinke that Ianus whom the writers of old time haue made so famous was the Patriarke Noe and that they gaue him that name of Ianus for the inuention of wine called by the Hebrewes Iasin but others hold that Ianus came of Iauan the sonne of Iaphet Gen. 10. of whom descended the Greeks and Latines Moreouer they paint this Ianus with two faces one before and another behind to
his second Weeke LES COLONIES The third Booke of Noe or the Colonies Ayant à parler des migrations de tant de diuets peuples issus de Noé il desire y estre adressé par quelque faueur speciale TANDIS que ie conduy par les deserts du Monde Du Pilote premier la famille seconde Que ie vay descouurant par terre par eau Adelantade heureux maint Royaume nounean Et que du grand Noé la plautureuse vigne De l'vne l'autre mer penible ie prouigne Quel nuage clair-brun me conduira de iour Quel feu me guidera la nuict dans le sejour Promis à chaque peuple auant que l'Androgyne Eust receu dans Eden sa double-vne origine O sacré-sainct flambeau qui clair marchois deuant Pour cest effect sous la sigure de l'estoile des Sages d'Orient il implore la grace lumiere du S. Esprit Les trois Magitiens de l'Odoreux Leuant Pour monstrer le maillot de cil dont la ieunesse Vit tousiours en sa fleur chasse la nuict espesse Qui me bande les yeux à fin que par mes vers Ie suiue tous les coins de ce grand Vniuers Car bien quemon esprit durant si long voyage Voltige çà là si n'ay-ie en mon courage Autre plus grand desir qu'à mener par la main Mes lecteurs à l'enfant diuinement-humain Being to speake of so many peoples remoues as came from Noe a hard matter he desires the furtherance of Gods speciall fauour WHile ore th' vnpeopled world I lead the fruitfull stocke Of him that first aslaid the waters wrackfull shocke While I by sea and land all in their places range Discou'ries fortunate of many a kingdome strange And while of mightie Noe I toile to spread and twine Fro th' one to th' other Sea the many-branched Vine O what twilighty cloud by day shall guide my sight What fiery pillar shall my course direct by night To seats each peopl ' ordaind before the Pair-of-Man Their twy-fold-one estate in Paradise began Thou Holy-holy Flame that led'st the Persian Wyses From th'all-perfumy coast where-out faire Titan rises To shew the cradle of Christ whose youth in liuing light For euer flourisheth driue hence the gloomie night That seeleth-vp mine eyes and so my Muse it shall Search all the darker nookes of this great earthy Ball. For though my wandring thought al-throw this iorney long Turne here and there yet I no way more bend my song Nor ought doe more desire than to direct and waine My Readers to the Childe that was Diuine-humaine 1. What twilightie cloud The Poet being to make in and out so many wayes and crosse so many seas and countries huge and vnknowne good cause he had to demand as he doth a greater helpe than mans wit can afford such as the children of Israel had a cloud by day and a piller of fire by night to guide them thorow the wildernesse and surely God gaue him a a very extraordinary gift otherwise he had neuer beene able so well and briefely to haue comprised so many hard and worthy matters as he hath done in lesse than six hundred verses He saith here further that each peoples place of abode was ordained of God before the paire of man that is Adam and Eue had receiued in Paradise their twifold-one beginning that is before Adam was created of earth and Eue of one of his ribs noting thereby how of one they were made two in creation and after of two one by mariage And so before the world was made the Lord had in his eternall deeree marked and skored out the dwelling places of all people it remained therefore that the same deeree should be accomplished as appeared afterward 2. Thou Holy-holy Flame The Pole-starre is the Marriners guide but here the Poet asketh another manner helpe to shew him the right way in his trauell and glancing at the maruellous new Starre that appeared to the Wise-men that came out of the East to see and worship our Sauiour Iesus Christ then borne in Bethlem he calleth on the Holy Ghost the true light of our vnderstanding auerring that although the matter which he hath taken in hand constraines him to discourse sometime of one thing and sometime of another yet is Iesus Christ the chiefe maâ—ke he almeth it vnto whom the desire is to lead his Reader as also whatsoeuer is set vs downe in the doctrine of Moses the Prophets and Apostles tendeth to the selfe-same end This the Poets holy desire makes much to the shame of those that hauing themselues an vncleane heart by setting their filthy workes in print desile also the eyes and eares of many whom as much as in them lies they lead vnto the Deuill Comparaison monstrant l'effect de l'estonnement suruenu entre les bastisseur de Babel apres que leur laÌ„gage fut confondu TOVT ainsi que le choc de l'esclatant tonnere Que dans le coeur d'vn bois le ciel triste desserre Fait quitter tout d'vn coup aux oiseaux tremblottans Leurs perches leurs nids dans l'air obscur slottans L'vn fuit çà l'autre là le sisslement des ailes Bruit tout aux enuirons les grises Tourterelles Ne vont plus deux à deux ceux qui sont conuerts Encor d'vn poil folet osent tenter les airs De mesme les maçons de la grand Tour d'Euphrate Oyant la voix de Dieu qui bruit tonne s'esclate En la diuersité de leur barbare voix Prennent esponuantex leur vol tous à la fois A main dextre à main gauche par la terre vuide Chacun voyage à part ou l'Eternel le guide Pourquoy Dieu n'a voulu que les descendans de Noé demeurassent en la plaine de Sennaar Car le grand Roy du ciel ayant de longue main Enson Conseil priué fait don au genre humain De ce bas Vniuers ne voulut que la Terre Fust vn nid de brigands qu'à coup de cimeterre On en sit le partage que brutalement Pesle mesle on peuplast ce bourbeux element Ainçois coupant chemin au feu de conuoitise La grandeur de la Terre en trois lots il diuise Entre Sem Cham Iaphet Sem s'acase vers l'Est A Cham eschet le Su Iaphet gaigne l'Ouest A comparison silly shewing the effect of that astonishment befallen the builders of Babel As when the skie o're-cast with darksome cloudy rack A woods hart thorow-strikes with some great thunder-crack The Birds eu'n all at once their nest and pearch forsake And throw the troubled aire they flit for feare and quake One heare another there their pinions whizzing sound Is nois'd all round-about no greisell Turtle is found Together with her mate with downy-callow feather Some
road into Spaine the Greekes into France and the Frenchmen into Greece neither could the Pyrene mountaines hinder the Germans passage ouer wayes vnknowne and vntroad the light-headed people haue caried their wiues and children and ouer-aged parents some after long wandering vp and downe seated themselnes not according to their free choice but where they first might when they waxed weary of trauell some on other mens possessions sâ—ized by force of armes some as they sought vnknown places were drowned in the sea some there sat downe where they first began to want proâ—ision And all for sooke not their countries or sought other for the same causes Many after their cities were destroyed by warre sled from their enemies and so berest of their owne possessions were faine to presse vpon other mens many left their dwellings to auoide the disquiet of ciuill warres and many to emptie Cities of their ouerceasing multitude some by pestilence or the earth 's often gulsing or like vnsufferable faults of a bad soyle were cast forth and some were entâ—sed from home by report of a larger and more fruitfull ground some for one cause some for another c. 19. I doe not speake-of here The Poet hath Scoenites which I translate Arabes because they were a people of Arabia great robbers and harâ—â—ers of Aegypt and the coast of Affricke 〈◊〉 the shopheards Nomades are as I take them the Numidians and Moores or as some thinke a kinde of Scythiant The Hordies are the Tartarians who liue in the field in chariots and tents Now the Poet leauing the vncertaine course of these roguing Nations who haue had no more stay in them then swallowes and other wandring birds intendeth to speake of a more warlike people whereof he alledgeth some notable examples 20. Right such that Lombard was He setteth downe much matter in few ords concerning the Lombards There are diuerse opinions of their pedegree Melancthon and Peucer in the third and fourth booke of Carious Chron hold they dwelt in a Saxonie by the riuer Albis about where now are the Bishopricks of Meidburg and Halberstad and a part of the Marquesse of Brandburg and from thence vnder the conduct of Alboin entred Jtalie and in the time of the Emperour Iustin the second seated themselues betweene the Appenine hils and the Alpes where they began a kingdome They were called Lombards either because of their long Ianelines for thence it seeme are come the names of Halbards and Iauclines de barde or because they dwelt in a countrey flat and fruitfull as the Dutch word Bard may signifie Some otherutho rs count them farre-northerne people yet shew not their ancient aboad Ptolomee in the fourth table of Europe deriues them from the countrey of Swaube as also he noteth in the second booke and 11. chapter of his Geogr. with whom agreeth C. Tacitus in his Histories But Lazius in the 12. booke of his Migrations of the Northerne people Vignier in the first part of his Library page 905. and out Poet here followes the opinion of Paulus Diaconus they differ not much but onely about the time of their stay and place of their first aboad Melancthon and Peucer set them first in Saxonic Paulus Diaconus the Poet and others in Scandinauie or Schonland a great nearelsle of the Sound or Baltike Sea from whence they might come in by the bankes of Albis all or some of them and some by the coast of Mekelborg c. For Paulus Diaconus in his first booke second chapter saith of this people They encreased so fast in their fore-said Country that they were faine to part themselues in to three companies and cast lots which of them should goe seeke another seat This I say to shew the Poets cunning drift that in so few lines hath set downe matter enough for any man to write-on whole volumes of bookes Thus then to follow the Poet the first notable and fast aboad of the Lombards who came from the Goths and Vandals was Schonland whence a part of them dislodging vnder the conduct of Ibor and Agio setled in Scoring which is about the marches of Liuonia and Prussia and after they had there dwelt certaine yeeres were constrained by a dearth to seeke further so as they came to Mauringia and at length to Rugiland and the countries neere adioyning which Paulus Diaconus setteth downe by name There after the death of their leaders they chose Agilmond for their king He had reigned 33. yeeres when the Bulgares a neighbour people assailing them vnawares slue King Agilmond After him was chosen Lamisson for King who to reuenge the death of his predecessour made warre with the Bulgares got and held a dart of Pologne then waxing wearie of that countrey he led his people toward the Rhine to the coast of the Countrie Palatine as Tacitus notes in his second booke of Histories and Velleius Patere in the life of Tiberius About Heidelberg there is a towne called Lamberten which seemes to make somewhat for the Lombards aboad there so saith Lazius But many yeeres after they coasted backe againe and dwelt in Moranie where they warred against the Heruâ—es Sucues and Gepides Then went they vp into Hungarie vnder the safe-conduit of the Emperour Iustinian to whom they paid tribute as Procopius and Diaconus declare at large There had they cruell warre with the Gepides but at length agreed and ioyned with them and vnderstanding by the practise of Narses that Italie was a Countrey much sitting their nature their King Alboin made a road thereinto and got Lombardie before called Insubria there they rested and raigned two hundred yeers vntill Charles the groat vanquisht them as is before laid 21. Such was the Goth. Lazius in the tenth booke of his Migrations hath handled well and largely the Historie of Gothes gathered out of Procopius Iornandes Tacitus Claudianus Olaus Magnus Eutropius and many others I will shut vp all in short and by way of Paraphrase vpon the Poets verse The Goths and Almaine people had for their first assured seat the Isles of the Sound or Baltike Sea and Gothland yet retaines the name of them In Syllaes time they left these Isles and came to dwell in Almaine beside the riuer Vistula now called Wixel After they had warred there against the Frenchmen they bent toward Transsiluania Hangaria and Valachia where they remained vntill the time of Valentinian maintaining themselues by force of armes against the Greekes and Romans Then for many causes alledged by Lazius they went forward into Thrace and there dwelt and became tributaries vnto Valentinian and Valens Eutropius saith all went not thither but a good part of them kept their former place and the cause of their sundring was a civill disagreement about religion the one side retaining Heathenisme vnder Athalaricke their King the other vnder Fridigerne mingling with Christenisme the abhominable heresie of Arrius which taketh quite away the true religion of Christ The Arrians drew toward the West and wore after called
shewed how the Iaphethites from Chaldaea got vp to the furthest Northerne parts and that he now goeth about and doth in sixteene verses supposing them from Euphrates to coast vp to the mountaines of Armenia and so to enter Albania and the neighbour places from thence to people Tartaria Moscouia and all the North Countries they are plainly set downe by Mercator Ortelius Theuet and others in their Maps of Europe and I thought good for causes often afore-told not here to entreat of them particularly There is left vs yet to consider two notable questions concerning these out-roades and Colonies of Noes posteritie The one how they came vnto the West Jndia which hath so lately within these hundred yeares beene discouered The other how it came to passe that so few of them in the short space of some hundreds of yeares were able to encrease to such a number as might empeople and fill so many huge and diuers countries of the world The Poet straight makes answer hereunto Let vs marke his discourse vpon either the demands Mais par ou Comment le monde nouue au descouâ—it de nostre temps à esté peuplé diras-tu tout ce Monde nouueau Que l'Hespagne en flottant comme Dele sur l'eau N'a guere à del erré du tombeau d'oubliance Et qui par sa ruine est mis comme en essence Reoeut ses habitans Si c'est de longue main Hé d'ou vient que le Grec le Perse le Romain Qui siers ont estendu si loin leur dextre armee Ne le conurent onque mesme par ronommee Et si c'est depuis hier d'ou vient que ses citez Four millent en bourgeois que ses antiquitez Font honte au Mausolee aux vieilles pyramides Aux murs de Semirame aux Palais Romulides Hé Response les habitans du nouueau monde ne soÌ„t point tombez des nues ni nez de la terre quoy tu penses done que ces hommes icy Cheurent ia tous formez des nues tout ainsi Que ces petits Crapaux que quelque tiede oree Dans les fentes des prez verse sur la seree Apres vn iour ardent qui s'entre-touchans Bou-bouillonne parmi la poussiere des champs Ou bieu que deschirant certaines secondines Qui douillettes sichoient en terre leurs racines Ils virent la clarté du Solcil alme-beau Ayant l'humeur pour laict l'herbe pour berceau Qu'ils sortirent parmi les grasses motelettes Comme des Potirons des Naueaux des Bletes Ou qu'ainsi que les os par le Thebain semez Ils nasquirent gaillards de pied en cap armez Tout ce large pays Le monde nouueau n'a pas esté peuplé si tost pource qu'il est plus eslongne de la plaine de Sen naar que l'Afrique l'Europe l'Asie qu'on appelle Amerique Ne fut si tost peuplè que la coste d'Afrique La terre ingenieuse ayme-loix porte-tours A qui Iupin donna le nom de ses amours Et celle qui s'estend depuis le froid Bosphore Iusqu'au lict saffrané de la perleuse Aurore D'autant que celles-ci voisinent de plus pres Du Tygre brise-ponts les marges diaprez D'ou nos premiers ayeuls estonnez descamperent Et comme Perdriaux par tout s'esparpillerent Que le Monde ou Coulom sous vn belliqueux Roy De Castille porta les armes la Foy. Les edifices thresors gouuernement du nouueau monde monstrenl qu'il est habité dés long temrs encor quele moyen comme cela s'est fait soit inconu Coniectures touchant les peuplades du nouueau monde en Septentrion OccideÌ„t Oâ—ient Midi Mais la riche grandeur de ses berux edifices Ses thresors infinis ses contraires polices Monstrent que de long temps bien qu'en diuerses fois Et par diuers chemins il receust ses bourgeois Soit que lacruauté des nuageux orages Ait leurs bateaux brisez ietté sur ces riuages Soit que le desespoir d'vn penple tourmenté De peste guerre faim soit que l'authorité D'vn homme d'entreprise ait es Indes nouuelles Auec trauail conduit ses lasses carauelles Qui doute que iadis de Quinsay les vaisseaux Nayent auentureux peu trauerser les eaux Du destroit d'Anien trouuer vn passage Des Indes d'Orieut au pays de Tolguage Par vn chemin si court que les flottes s'en vont D' Asie au port Gregois à trauers l'Hellespont Singlent d'Hespaigne ex Fez par le destroit d'Abile Et par le Phar Messin d'Italie en Sicile Des grans landes de Tolme Quiuir où les Veaux On t toison de Belier eschine de Chameaux Et crin de Courserots Diuerses contrees du nouueau monde ils peuplent l'Azasie Toua Topir Mechi Calicuza Cossie La Floride Auacal Canada Bacalos Et les champs de Labour ou se gelent les flôs Merueilles du nouueau Moude Ils sement d'autre part la terre Xaliscaine Mechuacan Cusule dans l'eau Mexicaine Fondent vne Venise Ils voyent estonnez Que les arbres plus verds sont aussi tost fanez Que touchez de leurs doigts que mesme il se trâ—uue Dedans Nicaragua vn enflammé Vesuue Et de la saisissant l'Isthme de Panama A main droicte il s'en vont bastir Oucanama Cassamalca Quito Cusque dans la contree Du renommé Peru terre vrayment doree Admirent ce beau lac dont Colle est abreuué Qui dous par le dessus est de sel tout paué Auec l'eau de Cinsa qui forte transfigure La Croy en vn saillon la fange en pierre dure Ils occupent Chili ou l'onde auec grand bruit Court à val tout le iour sommeille la nuict Chinca les Patagons toute ceste coste Ou du grand Magellan le bleu Neree flote S'eslargissent à gauche au long du Darien Ou l'Huo les de slasse au champ Vrabien A l'entour de Zenu qui vers Neptune roulle Des grains d'or aussi gros que les oeufs d'vne poulle A Grenade ou le mont des Esmeraudes luit Au bord Cumanean qui d'vn espesse nuict Leur aueugle les yeux du bord de Cumane Se logent en Parie Omagu Caripane Aupres de Maragnon dans le cruel Brasil Et les champs plats de Plate on coule vn autre Nil On pourroit dire encor Autre coniecture que Picne par Grotlande Et les champs de Labour par la Bretonne Irlande On t esté rafreschis comme par Terminan Par Tombut Melli les bords de Corican How America was peopled But all this other world that Spaine hath new found-out By floting Delos-like the Westerne Seas about And raised now