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
some Paradoxical Positions in Matters of Geography or a few infallible Truths in Masquerade which mainly depend upon a thorough Knowledge of the Globe and are equally certain with the aforesaid Theorems though many of them may possibly appear to some as the greatest of Fables Lastly We shall take a Transient Survey of the whole Surface of the Terraqueous Globe as it consists of Land and Water as its sole constituent Parts Of these five General Heads separately and in their order Therefore SECT I. Containing some necessary Geographical Definitions Def. 1. GEography a Science both pleasant and profitable doth mainly consist in giving a true Description of the exterior Part or Surface of the Earthly Globe as 't is compos'd of Land and Water especially the former That Geography doth merit the Title of Science in several Respects and that the knowledge thereof is attended both with Pleasure and Profit is so universally granted by all who make any considerable Progress therein that to enter upon a Probation of it would be every whit as superfluous as if one should go about to evince that the Sun is risen at Noon-day It derives its compound Name from the two Greek Primitives of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Terra and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scribo vel describo and differeth from Cosmography quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Mundi Descriptio as a part doth from the whole as also from Chorography and Topography quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Regionis ac Loci Descriptio as the Whole from its Parts By a true Description of the Exterior Part of the Globe of the Earth we understand purely an Account of the Situation Extent Divisions and Subdivisions of all remarkable Countries on the Surface of the said Globe together with the Names of their Cities and Chief Towns and that accordingly as those Countries are already projected to our Hands upon particular Geographical Maps and not an actual Survey or Mensuration of them which the Science of Geography presupposeth and which properly belongs to Geodaesia or the Art of Surveying Land In giving such a Description of Countries as aforesaid doth the Science of Geography properly consist as for other Narratives relating either to Countries themselves or their Inhabitants and which commonly swell up Geographical Tracts we reckon them though the more pleasant part of this Study rather the Fringes of Geography than its real or essential Parts In the foregoing Definition we intirely restrict the Science of Geography to the exterior Part or Surface of the Earthly Globe and that as it 's compos'd of Land and Water as its sole constituent Parts designing thereby to distinguish it from Natural Philosophy which in its curious and pleasant Enquiries reacheth not only the said Surface in all its constituent Parts but also the whole Globe of the Earth with the whole Body of the Atmosphere surrounding the same yea and even the outmost imaginable Expanse of the Firmament it self We again restrict that Science mainly to one Part of the aforesaid Surface viz. the Dry Land thereby to distinguish it from Hydrography which particularly treateth of the other namely Water The Object therefore of Geography in a large Sense is the whole Surface of the Ball of the Earth consisting of Land and Water as its sole constituent Parts or in a strict and more proper Sense only One of those Parts to wit the Firm Land For the more distinctly viewing of which Parts and the better comprehending of the Science of Modern Geography in the true Fundamentals thereof we shall begin with that Artificial Representation of the Earthly Ball commonly call'd the Terraqueous Globe Def. 2. The Terraqueous Globe is an Artificial Spherical Body on whose Convex Part is truly represented the whole Surface of the Ball of the Earth as it consists of Land and Water That this Globe is term'd Terraqueous from Terra and Aqua the two constituent Parts of its Surface or Terrestrial to distinguish it from the Coelestial or finally the Artificial Globe as a differencing Mark from the Natural or Real Globe of the Earth are all so notoriously known that the least Illustration were wholly superfluous We reckon it also superfluous to show that there is a true Resemblance in Figure between the Artificial and Natural Globe or that the Body of the Earth is truly Spherical This being now beyond all dispute and never at least very rarely call'd in question except it be only by Women and Children But here note That in the following Treatise we intirely restrict our selves to this Globe so that wheresoever the Name of Globe is indefinitely mention'd we are never to understand the Coelestial Note also that wheresoever we are upon the Surface of the Natural Globe that the Point in the Heavens exactly Vertical to us is term'd our Zenith and that Point diametrically opposite thereto is stil'd our Nadir which are two corrupted Arabian Terms in Astronomy importing what is here asserted of them The first observables that present themselves to our view in treating of the Globe are its Axis and Poles Def. 3. The Axis is an imaginary Line passing through the Center of the real Globe of the Earth upon which the whole Frame thereof is supposed to turn round It s term'd Axis from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod circa illam agatur Terra As this Axis in the Natural Globe is an imaginary Line so in Artificial Globes its a real one it being a streight piece of Iron or solid Wood passing through the middle of the Globe as the Axle-tree of a Wheel Def. 4. The Poles are the two Extremities of the Axis one whereof is term'd the North or Arctick and the other the South or Antarctick They are call'd Poles from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verto because upon them the whole Frame of the Globe turneth round The North is term'd Arctick from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying a Bear because the real North Pole in the Heavens is commonly taken for a certain noted Star in that Constellation which bears the Name of the Little Bear And the South is stil'd Antarctick from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 contra and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ursa because of its Diametrical Opposition to the other The Terraqueous Globe being a Spherical Body as aforesaid turning round upon its own Axis For the better understanding of that Globe in all its exterior Parts and the various Operations perform'd by the same we are to conceive it not only as a bare Spherical Body but also as such a Body surrounded with many imaginary Circles the chief of which are Eight divided into Five Parallel viz. The Equator The two Tropicks The two Polar Circles Three not Parallel viz. The Horizon The Meridian The Zodiack Otherwise divided into Four Greater viz. The Horizon The Meridian The Equator The Zodiack Four Lesser viz. The two Tropicks The two Polar Circles Def. 5. The Horizon is that great Circle which
pure French will best appear by their Pater Noster which runs thus Nos peer qui êt au Cieux sanctifie soi te Nom Adveen ton Rejam ta Volonté se fait en terre comme es Cieux Donne noy ajord ' huy no pain quotidien pardonne no det comme no pardonnon a nos detteux ne no indu en tentation mais delivre nos des maux Ansi soit il This Countrey viz. all those Provinces belonging to the Spaniard before the late War and now restor'd doth acknowledge his Catholick Majesty as Supream Lord who Rules the same by his Substitute styl'd Governour-General of the Netherlands Which Post is at present enjoy'd by his Electoral Highness Duke of Bavaria and now made Hereditary to him since Anno 1692. For his Assistance he is allow'd three Councils viz. 1. The Council of State in which are transacted the weightiest Affairs such as relate to Peace and War Leagues and Alliances c. 2. The Privy-Council which determineth the Limits of Provinces publisheth Edicts and decideth Matters brought thither by Appeal from other Courts of Judicature 3. The Council of Finances to whom belongeth the Care and Management of the Royal Revenue and Taxes supervising the Accounts of Receivers and proportioning the Expence or Charge of the War To Levy Money and to Enact new Laws is the Business of the Convention of the Estates consisting of the Nobility principal Persons of the Clergy and Deputies of the chief Cities who ordinarily Assemble at Bruxels when call'd by the Governour-General For the better maintaining the Peace through all the Provinces and taking due Care of the Standing Forces each Province hath a particular Governour appointed in Subordination to the Governour-General And for an Universal Administration of Justice every Province hath its peculiar Provost and over all is appointed one Grand Provost whose Power in Criminal Matters is reckon'd very great See Spain The Religion predominant in all the Provinces of the Netherlands before the dawning of that happy day of our Reformation was intirely the Doctrine of the Roman Church But the Errors and Absurdities of that Doctrine being openly expos'd to the World by our wise Reformers the King of Spain to hinder a farther Progress in that matter set up the most severe and barbarous Court of Inquisition which occasion'd no small Disturbance and at last a bloody War that ended in a total Alienation of the Seven United Provinces the other Ten still remaining in the Profession of the Romish Religion as at this day and that in its grossest Errors Christianity was planted in this Country about the same time with the United Provinces §. 3. UPPER GERMANY THis Country containing only a part of Ancient Germany as also a little of Gaul Illyricum with some of Old Italy is term'd by the Italians Alta Allemagna by the Spaniards Aleâ—â—nia alâ—a by the French Haute Allemagne by the Germans Overteutschland and by the English Germany Why so call'd is much Controverted by our Modern Criticks some German Authors being willing to derive its Etymology from words in their own Language as â—â—or-mannen i. e. very much Men. Others from Geren signifying to Gather because the Germans seem'd to be an 〈◊〉 of many Nations others from Gar and Man to denote that they were a Warlike People Some tho' with little ground would fain allow it an Hebrew Derivation But the most probable Opinion of all is that the Inhabitants of this Country were called Germani by the Romans either because they were a sincere and honest sort of People or thereby to denote that they were Brothers to their Neighbours the Gaules The Air of this Country differeth considerably according to the Situation of the various Parts of this large Continent Towards the North it 's generally very Cold but in the Southmost Provinces it 's of the same Temper as in those places of France which lie under the same Parallels The opposite Place of the Globe to Germany is that part of the vast Pacifick Ocean between 215 and 225 Degrees of Longitude with 45 and 55 Degrees of South Latitude The Soil of this Country it lying in the 8th 9th 10th and 11th North Climate is very different according to the Situation of its different Parts In the Southern Circles as also those in the middle part of the Continent particularly the Upper and Lower Rhine there is hardly any Country in the World can excel them for plenty of Fruits Corn and Wine but towards the North namely the two Saxonies and Westphalia the Soil is not near so fertile especially in Wine Grapes never coming to full perfection there however as for Corn and Pasturage they are abundantly furnisht with them and the whole Country in the main is tollerably pleasant healthful and profitable abounding not only with all things necessary but also with many of the Comforts of human Life The longest Day in the North-most Part is about 17 Hours ¼ The shortest in the South-most 8 Hours ½ and the Nights proportionably The chief Commodities of this Country are Corn Metals Allom Salt Wine Flesh Linnen Quicksilver Armours and Iron Works c. What Things do mostly merit the Epithet of Rare and Curious in this vast Country are reducible to these following Heads viz. 1. Some very observable Springs as That near Geesbach in Alsace whose Top is covered with a foul fat Oily substance ordinarily us'd by the Peasants thereabouts as common Wheel Grease Another near Paterborn in Westphalia call'd Methorn which hath three Streams very different from one another both in Colour Tast and Qualities and a Third in the Diocess of Paterborn observable in that it loseth it self twice every 24 Hours returning always back at the Interval of 6 Hours and that with such Violence as to drive three Mills not far from its Source Here also are many Salt Springs particularly That near Lunenburg in the D. of Lunenburg another at Hall in Upper Saxony and a third at Saltzwedel in the Marquisate of Brandenburg To these we may add a vast multitude of Springs whose Waters are highly priz'd both for Purging and Bathing especially the latter as particularly Those at Stugart in Wirtenburg Those at Aix le Chapelle in Westphalia and those in the Marquisate of Baden from whence the whole Country derives its Name 2. Some strange kind of Lakes particularly that in Carniola call'd the Zirchnitzer-Sea in length about two German miles and one broad Observable for its many subterraneous Caves and Passages into which both the Water and Fishes of the Lake do yearly retire in the month of June and return again about September As also another in Suabia the Nature of whose Waters is such that they actually singe Fishing-Nets when sunk to the bottom 3. Remarkable Caves particularly that near Blackenburg in Lower Saxony commonly call'd Buman's Hole of which none hath yet found the End tho' many have travell'd a vast way into it
David numbred in his time no less than 1300000 fighting Men besides the Tribes of Levi and Benjamin But alas such were the crying Sins of its Inhabitants that it not only spew'd them out as it had done those who dwelt before them But the Almighty being highly provok'd by their many and repeated Abominations hath turn'd that fruitful Land into barrenness for the wickedness of them who dwelt therein For such is the dismal State of this Country at present that besides the Turkish Yoke under which it groans the greatest part thereof is not only laid waste but even where duly manur'd 't is generally observ'd that the Soil is not near so fertil as formerly The longest Day in the Northmost part of this Country is about 14 Hours ¼ the shortest in the Southmost is about 10 Hours and the Nights proportionably Such is the mean and depauperated State of this Country at present that we may now reckon it destitute of all Commodities for the Merchant its Inhabitants now-a-days being mere Strangers to all manner of Commerce In its flourishing Condition under the Kings of Judah and Israel the People thereof did indeed manage a very considerable Trade abroad and that chiefly by the two famous Emporiums of Tyre and Sydon abovemention'd besides the Ships of Tarshish which Solomon sent yearly to the Land of Ophir and so noted were these two Maritime Cities of old for Merchandizing that the Evangelical Prophet Isaiah 23. 8. denouncing the overthrow of Tyre calls it The Crowning City whose Merchants are Princes and whose Traffickers are the Honourable of the Earth And Verse 3. he termeth Sydon a Mart of Nations But so fully accomplisht is the Prophetical Denounciation against 'em both and so low and despicable is their Condition at present that I heartily wish all flourishing Cities of Christendom might be so wise as seriously to reflect on the same and to take timely warning by them especially considering that most of our Populous and Trading Cities are now such Dens of Iniquity that their Inhabitants may justly dread That 't will be more tollerable for Tyre and Sydon in the day of judgment than fâ—r them In the Southern Parts of Palestine is Asphaltis or Asphaltites so term'd from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Bitumen that noted Lake of Judaea where the abominable Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah formerly stood otherways call'd the Dead Sea and remarkable at present for abundance of Sulphurous Vapours which still ascend in so great a measure that no Bird is able to fly from one side of the Lake to the other 'T is also observable for good store of Apples growing near its Banks which appear very lovely to the Eye but being toucht and cut up prove mere naught being nothing else but a heap of nauseous Matter 2. Nigh to the place of the Ancient Sarepta are many Caves and Apartments hewen out of the firm Rock which some vainly imagine to have been the Habitation of Men in the Golden Age before Cities in these Parts of the World were well-known But others with greater shew of probability take 'em for the Caves of the Sidonians mention'd in the Book of Joshua under the Name of Mearah 3 Not far from the once noted City of Tyre are several large square Cisterns which still go by the Name of Solomon's among the Christians of that Country but why so call'd they can give no other reason than bare Tradition 4. At St John d' Acre the Ancient Ptolemais are yet to be seen the Ruins of a Palace which acknowledgeth Richard I. King of England for its Founder and the Lion pissant is still visible upon some of the Stones 5. On Mount Carmel are some Remains of a Monastry of Carmelite Fryers with a Temple dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and under it is a private Cell or Cave which Travellers alledge to be the ancient residing Place of the Prophet Elias On the same Mountain are found a great many Stones that have the lively Impression of Fishes Bones upon ' em As also abundance of petrifi'd Fruit particularly Plumbs or Stones of that resemblance 6. Not far from the Brook Cedron stands a part of the Pillar of Absalom which he erected in his life-time out of an ardent desire to Eternize his Name and nigh to it is a great heap of small Stones which daily encreaseth because either Jew or Mahometan passing by seldom fails to throw one at the same and that out of abhorrency of the Son's Rebellion against the Father 7. In the Mountains of Judah is a remarkable Spring where Philip is said to have baptiz'd the Ethiopian Eunuch whereupon 't is call'd by the Name of The Ethiopian Fountain and hath a Church adjacent erected 't is probable out of Devotion in Honour of the Place and Memory of that Fact Yet by the by 't would seem that this were not the place of the Ethiopian's Baptism because those rocky and declining Mountains are hardly passable on Horse-back much less in a Chariot 8. Nigh to the asoresaid Fountain is a considerable Cave where 't is reported St. John the Baptist did live from the seventh Year of his Age till he appear'd in the Wilderness of Judaea as the promis'd Elias 9. At Bethlehem is the goodly Temple of the Nativity erected by St. Helena Mother of Constantine the Great who call'd it St. Mary's of Bethlehem 'T is now possess'd by the Franciscans of Jerusalem and is still intire having many Chappels and Altars but those little frequented except it be upon extraordinary Occasions 10. In the Mountains of Juda are the Remains of an Ancient Church built by St. Helena and dedicated to St. John the Baptist and that in the place where Zachary the Prophet was born And nigh to it where the Blessed Virgin did Visit her Cousin Elizabeth is a Grotto in which 't is said that the Body of Elizabeth lies interr'd 11. Upon the left hand in going out of the City of Jerusalem by the Gate of Joppa is Mount Sion on whose top are still to be seen the Ruins of the Tower of David which was once a Building of wonderful Strength and admirable Beauty 12. Upon Mount Calvary is the stately Temple of the Holy Sepulchre built by the aforesaid Virtuous St. Helena and hitherto visited by Multitudes of Christians who slock to it from all Parts of the World either out of Devotion or Curiosity It 's divided into a vast multitude of Appartments containing many Chappels and Altars which for the most part receive their Names from some remarkable Circumstance of our Saviour's Passion besides those peculiar to Christians of different Nations at Jerusalem particularly the Abyssines Armenians Georgians Cophtes Jacobites Maronites c and at the entry of one of those Chappels is the Sepulchre of Godfrey of Boulogn on one hand and that of his Brother Baldwin's on the other But Lastly In and about Jerusalem besides the Observables abovemention'd are these following Particulars viz a Mosque erected in