is to take charge of all the King's Revenue kept in the Exchequer as also to check all Officers imploi'd in collecting the same and such like This Office is frequently executed by several Persons conjunctly in Commission term'd Lords of the Treasury as at present 4. The Lord President of the Council whose Office is to attend upon the King and Summons the Council to propose business at Council-Table and Report the several Transactions of the Board 5. The Lord Privy-Seal whose Office is to pass all Charters and Grants of the King and Pardons sign'd by the King before they come to the Great Seal of England as also divers other Matters of smaller moment which do not pass the Great Seal But this Seal is never to be affixt to any Grant without good warrant under the King's Privy-Signet nor even with such Warrant if the thing granted be against Law or Custom until the King be first acquinted therewith 6. The Lord Great Chamberlain of England whose Office is to bring the King's Shirt Coif and Wearing Cloaths on the Coronation-day to put on the King's Apparel that Morning to carry at the Coronation the Coif Gloves and Linnen which are to be us'd by the King on that Occasion likeways the Sword and Scabard as also the Gold to be offer'd by the King together with the Robe Royal and Crown to Undress and Attire the King with his Royal Robes to serve the King that Day with Water for to wash his Hands before and after Dinner 7. The Lord High Constable of England an Officer whose Power is so great that 't was thought inconvenient to lodge the same in any Subject since the Year 1521. and is now conferr'd on some of the chiefest Peers pro re nata as upon occasion of Coronations or Solemn Tryals by Combat 8. The Earl Marshal of England whose Office is to take cognizance of all Matters of War and Arms to determine Contracts concerning Deeds of Arms out of the Realm upon Land and Matters touching Wars within the Realm which the Common Law cannot determine 9. The Lord High admiral of England whose Trust and Honour is so great that this Office hath been usually given either to some of the King 's younger Sons near Kinsmen or one of the chiefest Peers of the Realm To him is committed the Management of all Maritime Affairs the Government of the King's Navy a decisive Power in all Causes Maritime as well Civil as Criminal He also Commissionates Vice-Admirals Reer-Admirals Sea-Captains c. and enjoys a number of Priviledges too many here to be mention'd This Office is commonly executed by several Persons conjunctly in Commission term'd Lords of the Admiralty as at present After the Officers of the Crown we might here subjoin the various Courts of Judicatory establisht in this Kingdom especially the High Court of Parliament which is Supreme to all others and to whom all last Appeals are made I might here likeways mention all the Subordinate Courts of this Realm particularly that of the King's-Bâ—nch the Court of Common Pleas the High Court of Chancery the Exchequer and the Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster c. as also the Ecclesiastical Courts in Subordination to the Archbishop of Canterbury as the Court of Arches the Court of Audience the Prerogative Court the Court of Faculties and that of Peculiars But to declare the Nature and Constitution the ample Privileges and manner of Procedure in each of them would far exceed the narrow Bounds of an Abstract I shall not therefore descend to particulars only adding to this Paragraph that besides these various Courts above-mention'd the King consulting the ease and welfare of the Subject Administers Justice by his Itinerate Judges and that in their yearly Circuits through the Kingdom and for the better governing of and keeping the King's Peace in particular Counties Hundreds Cities Burroughs and Villiages of this Realm Counties have their respective Lord Lieutenants Sheriffs and Justices of the Peace Hundreds their Bailiffs High-Constables and Petty-Constables Cities their Mayor Aldermen Sheriffs c. Burroughs and Towns incorporate have either a Mayor or two Bailiffs or a Portrive who in Power are the same with Mayor and Sheriffs and during their Offices are Justices of the Peace within their own Liberties And lastly Villiages are in Subjection to the Lord of the Mannor under whom is the Constable or Headborough to keep the Peace apprehend Offenders and bring them before the Justice Of such an admirable Constitution is the English Government that no Nation whatsoever can justly pretend to such a Model and no People in the World may live more happy if they please so that it may be justly affirm'd of them what the Poet saith in another Case only with change of Persons O fortunatos nimium sua si bona norint Anglicanos The Ensigns Imperial of the Monarch of Great Britain are in the first place Azure Three Flower-de-Luces Or the Royal Arms of France quartered with the Imperial Ensings of England which are Gules Three Lyons passant Gardant in Pale Or. In the second place within a double tressure Counter flowr'd de lys Or a Lyon Rampant Gules for the Royal Arms of Scotland In the third place Azure and Irish Harp Or string'd Argent for the Royal Ensigns of Ireland In the fourth place as in the first These Ensigns Armoral are quartered after a new manner since the late Revolution the English Arms being put before the French and the whole charg'd with an Escutcheon of the House of Nassau which is Azure Semi-billets a Lyon Rampant Or Languid and Armed Gules all within the Garter the chief Ensign of that most Noble Order above the same an Helmet answerable to King William's Sovereign Jurisdiction upon the same a rich Mantle of Cloath of Gold doubled Ermin adorn'd with an Imperial Crown and surmounted for a Crest by a Lyon passant Gardent Or Crowned as the former and an Unicorn Argent Gorged with a Crown thereto a Chain affixt passing between his Forelegs and reflex'd over his Back Or both standing upon a Compartment plac'd underneath and in the Table of that Compartment is express'd the King of England's Motto which is Dieu mon Droit but of late Jâ— Maintiendray The Inhabitants of this Country are for the most part of the true Reform'd Religion publickly profess'd and carefully taught in its choicest Purity In Reforming of which they were not so hurri'd by popular Fury and Faction as in other Nations but proceeded in a more Prudent Regular and Christian Method resolving to separate no farther from the Church of Rome than she had separated from the Truth embracing that excellent Advice of the Prophet Jer. 6. 16. Stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein So that the Reform'd Church of England is a true Mean or middle Way betwixt those two Extreams of Supperstition and Phanaticism both equally to be avoided The Doctrine of
Orleanois and that at Clermont in Auvergne whose Waters are of a Petrifying Nature and likewise another nigh to the City of Mans which maketh Silver look exactly like Gold 2 Observable Mountains particularly those nigh to Rhodes in Guienne call'd the Mountains of Cansac which burn whenever it Rains 3. Some hideous Subterranean Holes or Passages as that in the Forrest of S. Aubin du Cormier in Bretaign through which flows a mighty Torrent of Water and another near Nions in Dauphine from which proceedeth a violent Wind. These are the chief Rarities in France both Natural and Artificial especially the latter As for Artificial ones of a modern date this Country affordeth several particularly that famous Canal of Languedoc and splendid Palace of Versailles with divers magnificent Buildings especially Churches but these are either too well known to need or too numerous to admit of any particular Relation here The Archbishopricks of France are these following viz. Lions whose Archbishop is Count and Primate of France Sens Primate of France and Germany Paris Duke and Peer of the Realm Reims Duke and Peer and Legat of the Holy See Rouen Primate of Normandy As also those Yours Bourdeaux Narbonne Vienne Burges Auch Arles Bezancon Alby Tholouse Aix Embrun The respective Suffragans of these Archbishops are as followeth Lions Autun Langres Wacon Chasion Sens. Trois Auxerre Nevers Paris Chartres Orleans Meaux Reims Soissont Laon Chaalons Noijon Beauvais Amiens Senlis Boulogn Alby Castres Mende Rodez Cahors Vahors Narbonne Carcassâ—nr Aleâ— Beziers Agde Lodove Montpellier Nismes Usetz S. Pons Perpignan Rouen Bayeux Euâ—eux Auranchet Seez Lisâ—ux Coutances Bourdeauz Poictiers Saintes Angoulesm Perigueux Agen Condom Sarlat Rochelle Lucon Arles Marseilles Orange S. Paul de 3. Chateaux Toulon Tours Mans Anger 's Rennes Nantes Cournouaille Vannes S. Malo S. Brieu Treguier S. Pol de Leon Dole Auch Acquis Aire Bazas Bayonne Comminges Conserans Lectoure Mescar Oleron Tarbes Aix Apt Riez Frejus Gap Sisteron Vienne Valence Die Grenoble Viviers Maurienne Bourges Clermont Limoges S. Flour le Puy Tulle Tholouse Pamiers Mirepoix Montauban Lavour S. Papaul Lombez Rieux Bezanc Belley Basil in Switz Lausanne in Switz Embrun Digne Glandeve Vence Senez Grace Nice in Savoy Universities belonging to this Kingdom are establisht at these Cities following Paris Anger 's Reims Perpignan Bourdeaux Caen Valence Douay Poictiers Montpellier Aix Dole Orleans Cahors Avignon Friburge Bourges Nantes Pont a'mauson Orange The French are generally a Civil Quick and Active sort of People but extreamly given to Talking especially those of the Female Sex who nevertheless are not only very pleasing in discourse but also of a graceful and winning deportment This People is thus characteriz'd by some That they are Aiery Amorous full of Action and above all things Contentious being so universally given to Law-fuits and that even among nearest Relations that Lawyers Judges and other Officers of Justice are observ'd to be the richest Body of the Kingdom excepting the Churchmen Many of this Country in matters of Learning are bless'd with a clear Conception and ready Expression and of late they have advanc'd the Republick of Letters to a very considerable height this Age having produc'd several of that Nation and even some of the Female Sex who are now famous through all the Learned World for their singular Parts The French Language compos'd chiefly of the Latin together with several German and Gothick words intermixt being lately much refin'd by the Royal Academy at Paris is so admir'd for its elegancy and sweetness that it hath wonderfully spread it self abroad in the world and is now become the chief Tongue that 's commonly us'd in most Princes Courts of Europe Pater-Noster in the same runs thus Nôtre pére qui es aux Cieux Ton Nom soit sanctifié Ton Regne vienne Ta Volonté soit faite en Ia Terre comme aâ— Ciel Donne nous aujourdhuy nôtre pain quotidien Pardonne nous nos offences comme nous pardonnons a' ceux qui nous ont offencez Et ne nous induit point en tentation mais delivre nous du mal Amen This Kingdom being formerly a part of the Roman Empire was in process of time over-run by Franks Goths and Burgundians especially the first by whom was rais'd a Monarchy which continuing in the Succession of Kings of three several Races viz. the Morovignian Carlovinian and Capetine is now as great as any in Christendom and at present subject to one Sovereign entitl'd the Most Christian King and eldest Son of the Church whose Government is Monarchical and Crown hereditary in his Heirs Male all Females being excluded by the Salique Law The whole Kingdom being divided into 12 Governments over each of them is set a Governor styl'd the King's Licutenant-General or Super-Intendant having the like Power as the Lords Lieutenants of England formerly had in their several Counties For the better management of the publick Affairs and Administration of Justice in all parts of this Kingdom here are establisht a great many Courts of Judicatory particularly these following viz. Parliaments Chambers of Accounts Courts of Aides Presidial Courts Generalities Elections c. I. Parliaments the highest and supream Courts of the Nation were Fifteen in number reckoning the late Conquests and held at the Cities of Paris Tholouse Rouen Grenoble Bourdeaux Dijon Aix Vannes Pau Mets Besancon Tourney Perpignan Arras and Brisac These Parliaments according to their respective business are divided into several Chambers especially that of Paris which hath no less than Ten. viz. 1. The Grand Chamber where the Peers of the Realm being accus'd of any Crime are usually Try'd 2. The Tournelle Civile where they take cognizance of such Civil Causes as exceed a thousand Livres in value 3. The Tournelle Criminelle where Appeals from Inferior Courts in Criminal Matters are heard and discuss'd Besides these three there are five Chambers of Inquest where Depositions of Witnesses are set down and Causes thereupon determin'd being almost the same with our Bill and Answer in Chancery and Exchequer And lastly There are two Chambers of Request where Causes of Priviledg'd Persons are heard and discuss'd II. Chambers of Accounts where Accounts of the Treasury are examin'd and Homage and Vassalage due from the Royal Feifs are receiv'd Treaties of Peace and Grants made by the King and such like are recorded These Chambers are 12 in number and held at the Cities of Paris Rouen Dijon Nantes Montpelier Grenoble Aix Pau Blois Liste Aire and Dole III. Courts of Aides where all Causes relating to the King's Revenue particularly Aides Tailles Gabells are determin'd and that without any appeal to a higher Judicatory These Courts are in number Eight and held at these 8 Cities of Paris Montpelier Rouen Clermont Montferrand Bourdeaux Aix Grenoble and Dijon IV. Presidial Courts compos'd of several Judges where Civil Causes in matters of smaller importance as also Appeals made from Subaltern Justices in Villages are
in triming of Ships with good success and preferable to the ordinary Pitch in those hot Countries being able to resist the scorching Heat of the Sun-Beams Vid. Purchas his Pilgrims Part 4. Lib. 6. Here is one Spanish Archbishoprick viz. that of St. Fee de Bagota Bishopricks four viz. those of Popayan Carthagena Panama St. Martha None The Natives of this Country being Persons of a tawny Colour and for the most part of very robust and proper Bodies are a People that 's very healthful and generally live to great Ages notwithstanding the Air they breath in is none of the best They spend most of their time in Hunting and such like Diversions as the generality of other Americans do and commonly they walk naked above their Middles Here is a great Diversity of Languages among the Natives and each of these divided into several Dialects The Europeans here settl'd retain the several Languages peculiar to their respective Countries from whence they came This spacious Country is in a great part subject to the King of Spain and govern'd by the Vice-Roy of Mexico under whom are several Deputy-Governors in divers Parts for the better management of the whole and for an equal Distribution of Justice every where there are establisht many Courts of Judicatory in which all Causes whether Civil or Criminal are heard and determin'd Some of the Midland Provinces are as yet free from the Spanish Power being still maintain'd by the Natives who acknowledge Subjection unto and are govern'd by the Heads or Eldest of their Families The Natives of this Country especially in the Midland Provinces are gross Idolaters Nigh unto and upon the River Wiapoco is a certain Nation call'd Marashewaccas whose Object of Religious Worship is a monstrous Idol of Stone set up in a most frightful Posture For it is fashion'd like a very big Man sitting upon his Heels resting his Elbows upon his Knees and holding forwards the Palms of his Hands and looking upwards doth gape with his Mouth wide open The different Europeans here residing are of the same Religion with that establisht in the respective Countries from whence they came SECT VII Concerning Peru.  d. m. Situated between 290 30 of Long. Itsgreatest Length from N. to S. is about 1440 Miles 307 10 between 25 30 of S. Latit Breadth from W. to E. is about 480 Miles 01 00 of N. Lat. Peru comprehends the Province of Posto Chief Town Poston From N. to S. Los Quixos Baesa Pacamores Valladolid Quiâ—c Idem Peru Lima Los Careaâ— Potosi THIS Country discovered by the Spaniards Anno 1525. is term'd Peru by the Italians Spaniards French Germans and English so call'd according to the best of Criticks from a certain Rivulet which bore that Name among the Indians at the Spaniards first arrival The Air of this Country is of a very different Nature being in some places extremely hot and in others extraordinary sharp and piercing The Wind upon this Coast according to J. Acosta blows always from the South and South-West contrary to what 's usual between the Tropicks and is not violent tempestuous or unhealthful as elsewhere but very moderate and agreeable He further observes That all along the Coast call'd Lanos it never Rains Thunders Snows nor Hails yet very frequently a little out at Sea And that among the Andes it Rains in a manner continually The opposite Place of the Globe to Peru is that part of the Gulf of Bengale between 110 and 127 Degrees of Longitude with 1 and 25 Degrees of South Latitude This Country lying in the 1st 2d and 3d South Climate consisteth of many large and pleasant Vallies with divers high and lofty Mountains The Vallies in some places especially towards the Sea-Coasts are very Sandy and frequently subject to Earth Quakes in other places they are very rich and the Air extremely sultry The Mountains particularly the Andes are for the most part continually Cold in their Tops yet exceeding fertil and generally lin'd with most costly Mines beyond any Country in the World witness the famous lofty Hill of Potozi in the Province of Los Carcas It is universally esteem'd the richest of all the Foreign Plantations belonging to the Spaniard The longest Day in the Northmost Part of Peru is about 12 Hours ¼ the shortest in the Southmost is 10 Hours ½ and the Nights proportionably The chief Commodities of this Country are Gold and Silver in vast quantities costly Pearls and abundance of Cotton Tobacco Cocheneel Medicinal Drugs c. There 's a high Mountain in Peru call'd Periacaca to whose Top if any Person ascend he 's suddenly taken with a terrible sit of Vomiting And many Travellers endeavouring to pass over the Desert of Punas have been benumm'd on a sudden and faln down dead which makes that way wholly neglected of late 2. On the Tops of the highest Mountains in Peru as in other Parts of the World are frequently found some considerable Lakes several of which are very hot 3 In the Valley of Tarapaya near to Potozi is a very hot Lake of a Circular Form whose middle part for about twenty Foot square continually boils up and though the Water is so extreamly warm yet the Soil about the Lake is extraordinary cold 4 At the Baths of Ingua is a Stream of Water almost boiling hot and hard by it doth issue forth another Stream as cold as Ice 5. In the Province of Loc Carcas is another Spring of Water so very hot that one can't hold his Finger in it for the short space of one Ave-Maria And somewhere else in this County is a Fountain out of which there issueth a considerable Current of a Colour almost as red as Blood 6. Near to Cusco is a Spring whose Waters turn into pure white Salt wherewith the whole Country adjacent is supply'd 7 Among the Quick-Silver Mines in Guaniavilica is a Fountain of hot Water whose Current having run a considerable way turns at last into a soft kind of Rock which being easily cut and yet very lasting is usually imploi'd for building of Houses thereabouts 8 Nigh C. S. Helene and all along the Coast are many Fountains of Coppey a Substance resembling Pitch and frequently us'd as such or Gultran Rozen which flow in such abundance that Ships at Sea out of sight of Land can give a shrewd guess where they are by the very smell of such Fountains providing there be a gentle Breeze from the Shore 9. In divers Parts of Peru are still Extant the Ruins of many stately Indian Temples particularly that call'd the Pachamana about four Leagues from â—â—ma And another in the City of Dusco which might have been formerly accounted the American Pantheon for the Idols of all Nations conquer'd by the Inguas were always brought thither and there set up 10 Among the Curiosities of this Country we may also reckon the Cucujus Peruvianus or Lanthorn-Fly An Insect of a
several Rivulets and those affording many excellent Fish especially Tortoise The length of the Days and Nights in Jamaica is the same as in the middle Provinces of New Spain they both lying under the same Parallels of Latitude The chief Commodities of this Island are Cocao Sugar Indico Cotton Tobacco Hides Copper Piemento or Jamaica-Pepper Tortoise-Shells Wood for Dyers and several sorts of Drugs c. This Island is furnish'd with some Springs of Mineral-Waters particularly two whereof one is Sulphurous and the other Salt but both approved of for the common Distempers of the place 2 In divers Parts of Jamaica grows that Fruit call'd the Machinel Apple which is very beautiful to the Eye of a pleasant Smell and Taste yet Mortal if eaten whence some term it the Eve-Apple 3 Here are many Shiningflies a king of Cantharides appearing of a green Colour in the Day-time but shining in the Night with such a Lustre that one may see to Read by their light 4. Of all Creatures belonging to this Island the most remarkable is the Allegator that destructive Animal commonly harbouring in or near to Rivers and large Land-Ponds Although he be a very big Creature and about ten fifteen or twenty Foot in length yet he 's hatcht of an Egg not larger than that of a Turkey His Back being full of hard Scales is impenetrable whereupon 't is a difficult matter to kill him unless he receive a Wound in the Eye or Belly He is an Amphibious Animal and to enable him either to Walk upon dry Ground or Swim in the Water Nature hath furnisht him both with Feet and Fins In moving on the Land he 's very swift providing his Course be streight forward but extremely slow in turning and therefore easily avoided Lastly In Jamaica are produc'd some rare Plants much regarded by the Inquisitive Botanist But for a particular Account of them and all others found both in this and several of the Caribbee Islands I refer the Reader to a curious Catalogue publish'd some Years ago by that great Promoter of Natural Knowledge the Ingenious Dr. Sloane Archbishopricks Bishopricks Universities None The Inhabitants of this Island being English are much the same in Manners with those in the Kingdom of England only with this difference that the generality of 'em is somewhat more vitiously enclin'd a thing too common in most of our Western Plantations This Island being intirely inhabited by English they retain and still use their own Native Language Jamaica is wholly subject to the Crown of England and rul'd by a particular Governor sent thither by His Majesty the King of Great Britain The Laws by which they 're govern'd are as near as can be to those of England Here they have several Courts of Judicatory for hearing and determining of all Causes between Man and Man and for the better Assistance of the Governor he is furnisht with his Council to consult with when occasion requires The Inhabitants of this Island are of the same Religion with that publickly posess'd and by Law establisht in England excepting the Negroe-Slaves who both here and in other Islands of the English Plantations are still kept in woful Ignorance which is undoubtedly a grievous Scandal to our Holy Profession in general and an abominable Shame to their respective Masters in particular But let such Masters know that the time is coming when the now despised Souls of those toiling Slaves will certainly be requir'd at their Hands §. 5. Hispaniola THIS Island discover'd by Columbus Anno 1492. is term'd by the Spaniards Espaniola by the French Espagnole by the Italians Germans and English Hispaniola so call'd by the first Planters therein viz. the Spaniards as a Diminutive of their own Country The Air of this Island is much inferior to that in Jamaica being much infested with morning Heats which would be intollerable were they not allayed by some cooling Breezes in the Afternoon The opposite Place of the Globe to Hispaniola is that part of the East-Indian Ocean lying between 120 and 130 Degrees of Longitude with 17 and 21 Degrees of South Latitude This Island is bless'd with an extraordinary rich and fertil Soil The Trees and Meadows in it are still so green that we may truly say it enjoys a continual Spring Herbs and Fruits are said to ripen in eighteen Days and so rich and fruitful is the Native Turf that of several Grain the common Increase is an hundred-fold Here is abundance of Palm-Trees of a prodigious height and bigness in whose Body an Incision being made near the Root from thence doth flow a Liquor usually call'd Palm-Wine which being kept for some time fermenteth and becomes very strong These Trees are also term'd Cabbage-Trees because their Tops resemble European Cabbage and is commonly us'd as such by the Spaniards Here is also great plenty of Sugar-Canes and some rich Mines of Gold The length of the Days and Nights in Hispaniola is the same as in the middle Provinces of New Spain they both lying under the same Parallels of Latitude The chief Commodities of this Island are Cattle Hides Cassia Sugar Ginger Cocheneel Guiacum c. In this Island is some store of Genipa-Trees whose Fruit about the bigness of a Man's two Fists being press'd before thorow Ripe affords a Juice as black as Ink and fit to write with all did it not disappear intirely in nine or ten Days 2. Here grows another Tree call'd Mananilla or Dwarf Apple-Tree whose Fruit is of so venemous a quality that if any Person eat thereof he 's instantly seiz'd with an unquenchable Thirst and dies raving Mad in a short time 3. Of the many Insects belonging to this Island the Glow-worm term'd by the Spaniards Cochinillas is most remarkable and that chiefly for two little Specks on its Head which by Night give so much Light that if a Person lay three or four of those Creatures together he may see to read the smallest Print 4 In Hispaniola are Spiders about the bigness of an ordinary Hens Egg having Legs as long as Sea-Crabs of a middle size They are hairy all over and have four black Teeth like Rabbets and commonly bite very sharply but are not venemous 5 Most remarkable of all Creatures in this Island is the Cayman commonly reckon'd the Crocodile of Hispaniola which being an Animal of a prodigious bigness is much noted for his rare subtilty in catching his Prey for lying upon a River-side he so gathereth his Body together that in form he resembles exactly the large Trunk of an old Tree In which Posture he continues till Cattle or other Creatures come to the River to drink when to their great surprize he suddenly springs up and assaults them And to enhaunce the Wonder this strange Creature is said to use yet a more strange Stratagem to effect his end for Travellers generally affirm of him That before he lays himself as aforesaid upon the River-side he