tongue should remaine entire and vncorrupt with such as had corrupted the seruice of God But the Lord being mercifull vnto Abraham restored to him againe and kept for his faithfull children the first Language which had not beene so much corrupted in the family of Sem who parted not so farre from his father La terre partagee entre les enfans de Noé Sem tire vers l'Orient Ce pays qui s'estend non moins riche que large Iusqu'au bord Perosite où reide se descharge L'Ob Roy des douces caux l'Ob au superbe cours Fleuue qu'a peine on peut trauerser en six iours Iusques à Malaca les Isles où s'amasse La Canelle le Clou Sumatre sur qui passe Le Cercle egale-nuicts iusqu'au slot encor De Zeilan porte-perle Binasgar porte-or Depuis la mer Euxine l'onde fraternelle Des fleuues Chaldeans iusqu ' à l'onde cruelle Du destroit Anien les paresseuses eaux Habitation des successeurs de Cham. Ou Quinzit est hasty Chiorze ou les Taureaux Aussi grands qu'Elephans son habillez de soye Est la part du grand Sem. Car le destin enuoye Assur en l'Assyrie à sin qu'en peu de iours Chalé Resen Niniue au ciel haussent leurs tours Le porte-scepre Elam saisit les monts de Perse Et les fertils guerets que l'Araxe trauerse Lut le champ Lydien Aram l'Aramean Et le docte Arphaxat le terroir Chaldean This countrry reaching forth as rich as it is large From Peake of Perosites Sem went toward the West where doth himselfe discharge The stately running Ob great Ob fresh waters King A riuer hardly crost in six daies trauelling To Malaca to th'Isles from whence are brought huge masses Of Calamus and Cloues Samotra whereon passes Heau'ns Equinoctiall line and to the waters far Of Pearly Zeilan Isle and goldie Bisnagar And from the Pont-Eusine and from the brother waues Of those two Chaldee streames vnto the Sea that raues With hideous noise about the Straight of Aniens To Quinsies moorie poole and to Chiorza whence Come Elephantick buls with silken-haired hides This hight the share of Sem for Gods decree it guides Ashur t'Assyriland that after some few daies How and what Nations came of Sem. Chal Rezen Niniué their tow'rs to heau'n may raise The Persian hilles possest great Elams kingly race And those fat lands where-through Araxes bont his pace Lud held the Lydian fields Aram th'Armenia And learned Arphaxad the quarter Chaldean 6. This Countrey He setteth downe the lots of Sem Cham and Iaphet first in generall after meaning to shew the particular Colonies of each So then to Sem he allotteth Asia The proofe of these seuerall shares may be gathered out of the tenth Chapter of Genesis It is not meant that Sem in his owne life-time tooke possession of this huge plot of groūd although he liued 600 yeers but the posteritie of his fiue sonnes ouer-spred it by succession of time as the Poet declares at large hereafter and a man may perceiue some token hereof in that Moses reckoneth in the foresaid Chapter the sonnes of Joktan the sonne of Heber peti-sonne of Arphaxad sonne of Sem. Now before I shew the bounds here noted by the Poet in this lot of Sem I will set downe the description and deuision of Asia as now it is The map-drawers of our time differ in their order some consider it by the whole masse others by the sea-borders and parts best knowne which they reckon to be nine and those particularly deciphered in the first chapter of the twentieth booke of the Portugall historie But this kinde of deuision because it is more obscure and farther from my purpose I leaue and rest on the other which deuides the masse of Asia into siue principall parts the first which is ouer-against Europe and vnder the Emperour of Moscouie is bounded with the frozen sea the riuer Ob or Oby the lake of Kittay and the land-straight that is betwixt the Caspian and Euxine sea The second is Tartary subiect to the great Cham which abutteth Southward on the Caspian sea the hill Imaus and the riuer Juxartes Northward and Eastward on the Ocean and Westward vpon Moscouie The third part is possessed by the Turke and containeth all that lyes betweene the Euxine Aegean and Midland seas and so further betwixt Egypt the Arabian and Persian Gulfes the riuer Tygris the Caspian sea and the land-straight there The fourth is the Kingdome of Persia abutting Westward on the Turke Northward on the great Cham Eastward on the riuer Indus and Southward on the Indian sea As for the fist part it is the same which we call the East-Indies so named of the riuer Indus and distinguished the higher from the lower by the famous riuer Ganges These Indies are very large Countries as the Maps declare and front out Southward as farre as Malaca hauing besides an infinite sort of Ilands great and small which the Card-men haue well set downe both in Maps and writing Now see we the manner how the Poet considereth Asia He takes it first by right line from North to South to wit from the Peake foreland or cape of Perosites as farre as Malaca where he taketh in the Moluckes and Taprobana and from thence riseth againe to Zeilan and Bisnagar Then draweth another line from the Maior or Euxine sea on the West to the straights of Anien Northeast and toucheth by the way some few Countries most note-worthy reseruing the rest vntill his particular description of the Colonies which followeth from the 297. verse vnto the 319. To make plaine some words in the text the Peake of Perosites is a promontory about the farthest part of Moscouy neare the Scythian sea where liueth as Cellarius reports of Asia in his great booke entituled Speculum orbis terrarum and Mercator in his world-map a certaine people which haue so small a vent for their mouth that they are nourished onely by the sauour and steeme of sodden flesh And about this promontory the Riuer Ob rising from the lake of Kythay groweth to an huge breadth and so emptieth into the Scythian or frozen sea The Baron of Herbestoin noteth it in his map of Moscouie and in his Historie saith as much as here followeth touching this riuer fol 82. They that haue beene thereon say they haue laboured a whole day without ceasse their vessell going very fast to passe the Riuer and that it is fourescore Italian miles broad Which ageeth well with that the Poet here saith and with report of Merator and Cellarius so that by good right it may be called rather then any other streame the king of all fiesh waters because in all the world besides there is none so large and this also is of a wonderfull great length for as the foresaid Baron affirmeth from the one end to the other to wit from the lake of Kythay to the frozen-sea it asketh
more then three moneths sayling The realme and citie of Malaca are described in the sixth booke of the Portugall historie chap. 18. It is neare the Equinoctiall aboue Taprobana so therefore Asia reacheth from the North-pole beyond the Equator The Isles from whence are brought buge masses of Cloues and Cassia are the Moluckes siue in number Tidor Terenat Motir Machian and Bachian beset with diuers other Isles and Islets vn ler and neere the Equator in the East which with their properties and manners of their inhabitants are well set downe in the 13. booke of the history of Portugall Chap. 8. Samotra whereon passes the night-equalling line or the Equator is the Isle Taprobana Southward ouer against Malaca it is aboue 450. leagues long and 120. broad I haue described it in the fist day of the first weeke see further the history of Portugall in the sixt booke the 18. chap. Zeilan is an Isle right against the Cape of Calecut aboue Taprebana toward the East it lies North and South in length about 125. leagues and in the broadest place is 75. ouer There are taken out of the sea great store of pearles very faire and brighte for the further description thereof see the 4. booke and 20 chapter of the history of Portugall Bisnagar is a kingdome lying betweene Decan and Narsingua the mountaines of Calecut and the sea called the great gulfe of Bengala It is rich in gold which is there found in riuers Looke the situation thereof in the Map of the East Indies and in the Asia of Ortelius and Cellarius The Pont-Eusine is now called the Maior or the Hacke Sea at the one end thereof toward the Midland-sea is Constantinople the Card-men call it by diuers names which Orteliu hath set downe in his Synonym By the Brother waues of those Chaldean streames is meant as I suppose the Persian sea whereinto Euphrates and Tygris both together empty being before ioined about Babylon now called Bagadet and so the Poet takes as much of the breadth of Asia at the West end as he doth at the East the one from Quinsay to Chiorze the other from the sea of Constantinople to the Persian Gulse Concerning the straight of Anion the Cardmen are not all of one opinion Mercator Ortelius Cellarius Theuet and others set downe plainly a good broad arme of Sea betwixt the North-east point of Asia and America But Vopelius ioynes Asia and this fourth part of the world together greatly enlarging Asia and cut tolling the other contrary to the opinion of the Authors aforesaid and many Spaniards that haue written of the new-found world the reasons that may be alledged in fauour of either side require a large Commentary Vopelius his opinion indeede cutteth off many doubts that arise about the enpeopling of America but Mercator and the others who are most commonly followed seeme to ground more vpon Geography and better to agree with the seas naturall sway and easie compassing the earth Arias Montanus in his booke intituled Phaleg where he treateth of the habitations of Noes posteritie setteth downe a Map according to Vopelius this booke of his bound in the volume called Apparatus is ioyned with the great Bibles of Antwerp But the Poet followeth Mercator Ortelius and the common opinion of the Cardmen of our time for Ptolome Strabo and Mela in their daies had not discouered so much Quinsay which the Poet cals Quinzit is a famous citie in the Northeast point of Asia about ten leagues from the sea built vpon peeres and arches in a marrish ground it is twenty leagues or one hundred miles about and by reason as well of the great Lake-waters there as also of the ebbe and slow of the sea it bath as M. P. Venet reports in the 64. chapter of his second booke 12000. bridges of stone the most renoumed bound-marke of all Asia and the greatest citie in the world if that be true But Theuet gainsaith it in the 27. chapter of the 12. booke of his Cosmography where he describes the Citie and Lake with the Riuer that causes the Lake to swell he saith it is not aboue foure leagues in compasse yet M. Paule affirmes he hath beene there Chiorze is another worthy part of Asia set downe here for a bound-marke because of the strange Buls there as great as Elephants with haire as smooth and soft as silke Howsoeuer now adaies that country is nothing so ciuill as others inhabited by the posterity of Cham and Iaphet yet the fruitfulnesse of the ground and great commodities there growing for maintainance of mans life declare it hath beene in times past one of the best portions of the children of Noe. 7. Ashur t' Assyriland Moses saith the sonnes of Sem were Elam Ashur Arphaxad Lud and Aram The Poet here in six verses hath noted out the first habitations of these fiue reseruing afterward about the 300. verse and so forth to shew their first second third and fourth out-going ouer the rest of Asia Concerning Ashur it may be gathered out of the 10. of Genesis verse the 11. that hauing sorted himselfe with the people that now began to feare Nimred and liking not to liue vnder that yoke went on further and in the Countrey after his name called Assyria built Niniuy which a long time remained one of the greatest Cities in the world as appeares by the prophesie of Ionas and other places of Scripture and Caleh and Resen not farre asunder which haue beene long agoe destroyed Elam that was the eldest seated himselfe by the riuer Euphrates neere the Persian Gulfe which now is called the Sea of Mesendin The Poet giues him a Princely title because the Monarchie began betime and long continued thereabouts where also reigneth still the Sophi a great Emperour and deadly enemy of the Turkes The Riuer Araxes is described by Ptolome in his third Map of Asia where he makes it spring from the soot of Pariard which some men take for the hill Taurus and so passing Scapene Soducene and Colthene to emptie into the Caspian sea These Countries are very rich and therefore the Poet cals them sat lands Lud hauing passed the Riuer composed of Tygris and Euphrates which straight after voids into the Golfe had Elam on the North the two Riuers ioyned and the Gulfe on the East and on the West the Marches of Seba which is the vpper part of Arabia The poet here allotteth him the Lydian fields if by Lydia be vnderstood that part of the lesser Asia called Meonia by Ptolome Herodote and Plinie Lud should haue wandered further then the other foure brothers Moses reports not any thing of his Colonies and his farre going may be the cause for according to the Poet he should haue coasted vp as farre as Aeolia and the Midland sea The seat of Aram is Mesopotamia to wit the Countries about Babylon and the mountaines of Armenia which were after called by the name of Taurus This also containeth Syria and the great Armenia
betwixt the which runneth Euphrates Arphaxad passing Euphrates staied in Chaldea and for that Astronomy and other excellent arts there chiefly flourished the Poet surnameth him the Learned which appertaineth also vnto him in regard of the true doctrine maintained by his posteritie and after some corruption reformed in the house of Abraham whom the Lord remoued from Vr of the Chaldeans into Syria C ham tire vers le Midi Cham fut fait le Seigneur de la terre bornee Vers l'Autan par les flots de la noire Guinee De Sephal Botongas Gaguametre Benin Et du chaut Concritan trop fertil en venin Vers le Nort de la mer qui naissant pres d'Abile Depart lariche Europe l'Afrique sterile Vers la part ou Tytanle soir noye ses rez De l'onde de Cap-verd de Cap-blanc de Fez. Et vers celle ou Phebus le matin se resueille De l'Ocean d'Aden de la mer Vermeille Et qui plus est encore tout ce qui gist enclos Entre le mont Liban les Arabes slots Habitation des successcuts de Cham. Entre l'onde Erytree le Goulfe Persique Il l'adiouste grand Prince à son sceptre d'Afrique Canan l'vn de ces fils s'amaisonne à l'entour Du Iourdain doux-glissant ou se doit quel que iour Heberger Israel Pheud pouple la Lybie Mizraim fon Egypte Chus l'Ethiopie C ham Lord was of the Land that Southward is beset With blacke Guineas waues and those of Guagamet Of Benin Cefala Botongas Concritan That fruitfull is of drugs to poison beast or man It Northward fronts the sea from Abil pent betweene The barren Affrick shore and Europs fertil greene And on the Westerne coast where Phoebus drownes his light Thrusts-out the Cape of Fesse the green Cape and the white And hath on th' other side whence comes the Sun from sleepe Th'Arabick seas and all the ruddy-sanded deepe Nay all the land betwixt the Liban mountaine spred And Aden waues betwixt the Persick and the Red This mightie Southerne Prince commanding far and wide Vnto the Regiment and scept'r of Affrick tide For Canan one his sonne began to build and dwell By Iordan gentle streame whereas great Israel Was after to be lodg'd Phut peopled Lybia Misraijm Egypt had Chus Ethiopia 8. Cham. The share of Cham was Africke which the Poet boundeth out as followeth It hath on the Southside the Aeâ—hiopicke Ocean or the sea of Guinea the land of Negros the realmes of Caefala which commeth neere the South Tropicke and is right-ouer against Madagascar or as the Spanish call it the Isle of S Laurence Bolongas lower and hard by the Cape of good hope Guagamet about the lake of Zembre from whence the riuer Nile springeth as Daniell Cellarius noteth in his Map of Africke and Benin that Ises aboue th'Equator neere the great bay betwixt Meleget and Mauicongo As for Concritan it is a great wildernesse betweene Cefala and Bolongas which by reason of extreame heare brings forth great store of poisonous things Now the Northbound of Affricke is the Midland-sea and on the West it shooteth out three capes or promontories named in the text all toward the Atlanticke Ocean but the greene cape which is more southward and pointeth more toward the Sea called in respect of the Antatticke pole the North Sea though it lye very neere the Equator on the East of Affricke plaies the Arabian Gulfe and the great red Sea now called the Indicke Ocean and beyond these bounds the Poet saith Cham also possest Arabia which is distinguished into three parts the Happy the Desert and the Stony all enclosed by the Mount Libanus and the Red and Persian Gulfes 9. Canan He setteth downe briefly and in foure verses the seuerall abodes of Chams foure sonnes according as they are named in the tenth chapter of Genesis Chus the eldest brother had Aethiopia which some take for that vnder Aegypt others for the land of Chus which is a part of Arabia the Happy as may be gathered by many places of the old Testament well noted of M. Beroals in the sixt chapter of his fourth booke of Chronicles Mizraim peopled Aegypt that of the Hebrewes was commonly called Mitzraijm and long after Aegypt of the name of King Aegyptus who succeeded Belus in that kingdome and was brother to Danaus who came into Greece and was Author of that name generall to the Grecians which as Saint Augustine thinkes De Ciu. Dei the eighteenth booke and tenth chapter happened about the time of Iosua Phut the third sonne of Cham gaue name saith Iosephus to the Phutaeans after called Lybians of one of the sonnes of Mesren or Mizrain named Lybis He addeth also that in Mauritania there is 〈◊〉 certaine riuer and countrey called Phute Ezechiel 30.5 numbreth Phut among those that were in league with Chus and Lud which the Latine interpreter translateth Ethiopia Lydia and the Lydians so also did the 70. Interpreters This I say to mouâ— the Reader that is so delighted vnto a further and more diligent search I thinke Phut was seated neere Arabia and Aegypt although Arias Montanus and others place him in the coast of Affricke now called Barbary about Tunis Bugie Algeri and the Mountaines of Maroco Now of Canan or Chanaan the fourth sonne of Cham was called that Land of Promise which the twelue Tribes of Israel vnder the conduct of Iosua in due time entered and possessed The bounds thereof are plainly set downe in the booke of Exodus chap 23. verse 31. and elsewhere I neede not here discourse of them except I were to write a long Commentarie Iaphet tirevers le Septentrion l'Occident Iaphet s'estend depuis les eaux de l'Hellespont La Tane flot Euxin iusques au double mont Du fameux Gibaltar l'Ocean qui baigne De son flus reflus le ruiage d'Hespaigne Et depuis ceste mer ou les chars attelez Se promenent au lieu des Gallions ailez Iusqu'au flot Prouençal Tyrrhene Ligustique L'onde de la Morce de la docte Attique Contre le beau terroir de l'Asie mineur Second iardin d'Eden du monde l'honneur Et ce large pays qui gist depuis Amane Iusqu'au source du Rha du bord de la Tanes Habitation des enfans de laphet leurs descendans Des reins de so Gomer se disent descendus Tant de peuple guerriers par la Gaule espandus Et les Germains encor iadis dits Gomerites De tubal ceux d'Hespaigne de Magog les Scythes Mazaca de Mosoch de Madai les Medois Les Thraces de Thyras de Iauan les Gregeois Iaphet to the North and West Now Iaphet spred along from th'Ellesponticke waters Th'Euxine and Tanaies vnto the mount Gibraltars Renowned doubl ' ascent and that sun-setting Maine Which with his ebbe and flow playes on the shore of Spaine And from that higher sea vpon whose
there by reason of a noise is heard loud and passing mans power to make as it were the sound of many Cimbals These are his words Terret ingredientes sonitu Cimbalorum diuinitùs magno fragore crepitantium He sets downe also at large all other the pleasant delights of the place Concerning this musicke some thinke it a fable others ascribe it to a naturall cause as that the ayre entting by a natrow mouth into a vault of stone wide and very deepe soone growes thereby exceeding raw and so turnes into water then dropping still downe in many places and quantities somewhat proportionable vpon the sounding stone makes in those hollow rockie places a noyse as it were musicall Taure his lostie downes this great mountaine reacheth hence well toward Pisidia Westward and on the other side a great way into Asia as Ptolomee sheweth in his first table Meander a riuer arising out of the mountaines of Pelta and Totradium in Asia the lesse runneth thorow Hierapolis Pâ—sidia Licaonia Caria and other countries thereabouts into the Midland sea Illios or Troas Bithynia and the rest are higher toward Hellespont and the Maior sea 36. Then boldly passing ore He spake before of Illios which lies in low Phrigia vpon the shore of the Midland sea about the Sigean Peake and the riuer Sin Sis hard by the Straight of Gallipolie where Abydos on Asia-side standeth and Sestos on the side of Europe now he saith the second ouercrease of Semites past the Straight it being in breadth but the fourth part of a league as Bellon nuoucheth in the second booke and third chapter of his Singularities In times past there stood two towers one in Sest the other in Abyde in the tops whereof wont to be set great lights to waine the marrinets by night Looke what we haue noted vpon the word Phare in the first day of the first weeke verse 448. and what vpon the word Leander first weeke fift day 912. verse At this time Sest and Abyde are two Castles where the Turke hath Garrisons and are the very keyes of Turkie in that quarter so neare is Constantinople vnto them Strimon Hebre and Nest are three great riuers passing thorow Thrace which is now called Romania and â—alling into the Aegean sea called now by some Archipelago and by the Turkes the white sea Looke the ninth table of Europe in Ptolomee The Rhodopean dales Rhodope is a mountaine bounding Thrace in the dales thereof beside other Townes are Philippoli and Hadrianopoli Danubie or Donaw is the greatest riuer of all Europe springing out of Arnobe hill which Ptolomee and Mercator puts for a bound betweene the Sweues and Grisons this Riuer running thorow Almaine Austria Hungaria Slauonia and other countries with them interlaced receiueth into it aboue fifty great Riuers and little ones an infinite sort so emptieth by six great mouthes into the Maior sea Moldauia Valachia and Bulgaria are the countries neare about the fall of Danubie 37 Thrace These countries neare the Maior and Aegean Seas and the Thracian Bosphore thrust on the third ouercrease of people further West and Northward as the Poet very likely saith the Maps of Europe shew plainly the coasts he nameth for their chiefe seats But to shew how and when they changed and rechanged places and names of places driuing out one the other and remouing by diuers enterspaces it were the matter of a large booke 38 Now turning to the South He commeth now to handle the Colonies or ouercreases of Chams posteritie first in Arabia Phaenicia and Chananaea which was after called Iudea the site of these countries wee know well they are easie to be found in the generall Maps and those of Europe beside the particulars in Ptolomce and other late Writers as namely in the Theater of Ortelius When the Chamites had ouerbred Arabia and the countries South from Chaldaea which lies betwixt the Arabian and Persian Gulfes they went at the second remoue downe into Aegypt betwixt the red and Midland seas thirdly they entred Affrick and by little and little filled it The Poet points out many countries for better vnderstanding whereof wee must consider that Affrick the fourth part of the world knowne is diuided into foure parts Barbaria Numidia Lybia and the Land of Negroes Barbaria containeth all the North coast from Alexandria in Aegypt to the Straight of Gibraltar along by the Midland sea and is diuided into foure Kingdomes Maâ—oco Fessa Tremisen and Tunis containing vnder them 21. Prouinces Vnder the same Southward lieth Numidia called of the Arabians Biledulgerid and hauing but few places habitable Next below that is Lybia called Sarra as much to say as Desert a countrie exceeding hot marching athonside vpon the Land of Negroes that the last and greatest part of Affricke reacheth South and Eastward very farre In the further coast thereof is the countrie of Zaâ—zibar certaine kingdomes and deserts neare the Cape of good hope which is the vtmost and Southerest peake of all Affrick Corâ—ne is neare Aegypt The Punick Sea the Sea of Carthage put for the Midland that parteth Europe and Affrick asunder Fesse is the name of the chiefe Citie of that Realme in Barbarie Gogden a Prouince of the Negroes as are also Terminan Gago and Melli neare the same Argin lieth neare the White Cape Gusola is one of the seuen Prouinces of Maroco in Barbarie Dara a country in the North-west of Numidia not farre from Gusola Tembuto agreat countrie in the West part of the Negroes neare about the Riuer Niger So is Gualata but somewhat higher and right against the Greene Cape Mansara which I haue put in for the verse sake as I left out Aden it lies neare Melli vpon the lowest mouth of Niger By Aden that the French hath I take to be meant Hoden which is betwixt Argin and Gualata or somewhat lower The Wildeâ—nesse of Lybie is surnamed Sparkling because the sands there ouerchafed with a burning heat of the Sunne flye vp and dazle mens eyes Cane Guber Amasen Born Zegzeg Nubie Benim all are easie to be found in the Mappe neare about the Riuer Niger sauing Benim which is lower by the Gulfe Royall and Nubie higher toward Nilus Amasâ—n which I haue added is a great countrie neare the place where Niger diueth vnder the Earth From these quarters South and Eastward lies the great Ethiopia a countrie exceeding hot sandie and in many places vnhabitable because of the sands which by the wind are so moued and remoued oftentimes that they ouer-heate and choke-vp diuers great countries that might otherwise be dwelt in There the great Negus called Prester-Ian raigneth farre and neare His Realmes Prouinces Customes Lawes Religion and the manner of his peoples liuing are set forth at large by Franciscus Aluares is his Historie of Ethiopia that is ioyned with Iohannes Leo his description of Affrick 39 If thou desire to know Hitherto the Poet hath told vs how Asia Europe and Affricke were peopled by the successours of Noe. But he hath not
vp his pray The Whales and great fishes are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thannim Snakes Serpents or Dragons because they are of a great length and turne and fold themselues euery way and are no lesse dangerous in the Sea than Serpents and Dragons on the land In the 40. Chapter of Iob that great Fish is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Leuiathan which some deriue of the Verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lauah which signifieth to borrow or take a thing for his recreation because the Whole seemeth to play vp and downe the sea as in a place borrowed for recreation The Crocodile that liueth both on land and water is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hatsab and seemeth to come of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tsab which signifieth the couering of a Chariot because this mightie creature hath so long and so thicke a skinne More ouer the Hebrues of the whole kinde of fishes speake commonly as if they were of another world because they are so farre parted and seuered from the sight and conuersation of men they make three sorts of them which they expresse by the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dagh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thannim and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Leuiathan This haue I added the more to shew the liuelihood and naturall importance of this tongue and herewith I will content my selfe at this time desiring that some other stirred vp by my example would take this matter in hand and discourse of it better and more at large 15. For when Adam Moses saith plainly in the 19. and 20. verses of the second Chapter of Genesis That God made all the beasts of the field and fowles of the heauen come before Adam to see how he would name them and that howsouer he named euery thing liuing so was the name thereof The Man therefore gaue names vnto all Cattell and to the Fowles of heauen and to euery beast of the field The wisdome wherewith our first Father was endued before his fall importeth thus much that he should giue meet and couenable names vnto all creatures vnder his dominion and although the knowledge and search of birds and beasts names be hard because of the weaknesse of mans iudgement now since his fall yet is it not vnpossible as men well seene in the Hebrue tongue haue alreadie shewed 16. And for each Bodie Adam a man perfectly wise before he sinned gaue not only meet names to all creatures that were in a manner the moueables and instruments of his house and of this great shop of the world whereof the Lord had made him master but further enriched his language with all manner of ornaments that might be required to make it perfect So that before his fall he spake more eloquently than any mortall man since After he had sinned entred ignorance into his vnderstanding and frowardnesse into his affections which haue made the speech of him and his posteritie vnfitting vnparfit deceiuable and often false euen in humane and indifferent things yea such sometime as we most curiously study vpon But the grace of God the long life of this Patriarch and his fresh remembrance of the wondrous things that he had seene in the Garden of Eden haue brought to passe doubtlesse that the conuersation instruction reports and authority of so great a personage had a maruellous force to perswade and teach all those that were in his schoole For from him had we â—irst our Arts and Sciences deriued and especially the knowledge of the true God And although since his time things haue beene more and more illightened and pâ—rfited yet must we needes confesse that Adam was the first teacher of them Who so desireth to know the depth of his wisedome let him at his leisure meditate vpon the foure first Chapters of Genesis and he will confesse there is contained the summe of all that all men haue knowne or shall vnto the worlds end Now out of all doubt it is that Adam taught his children and their posterity all these things exactly But Moses by the direction of the spirit of God thought it sufficient to tepresent onely the ground of things otherwise the world neither had not would euer be able to containe the bookus that might be made vpon these foure first Chapters 17. This tongue that Adam spoke The first world continued 1656 yeeres Adam liued 930. yeeres his posterity kept his language and although they possessed with their tents and dwellings a large peece of ground yet is there no place of Scripture to be found whereout may be gathered any proofe of the diuersity of tongues before the flood There being then but one it must needes be the same that Adam taught his children as may also appeare by this that all proper names vntill the flood are Hebrew Noe the true sonne of Adam retained and spoke this tongue and taught it his children And although three or foure score yeeres before the Floud they began to spread abroad themselues and corruption grew more and more among them as by that may be gathered that is written of Nimrod and Asshur and the children of Cham Genesis the 10. yet in the beginning of the eleuenth Chapter Moses witnesseth that at what time they that came to dwell in the plaine of Sennaar spake of building the Citie and Tower afterward called Babel all the earth was one language and one speech which I vnderstand not only of those that dwell in the plaine of Sennaar but of all people then liuing in the world It is likely that they that came out of the East Countries and setled themselues in Sennaar were a great number They spake Hebrue but when consusion befell their tongue some drew one way others another way and in continuance of time their Hebrue varying by meanes of their separation was embased and euery seuerall people had their language apart As for such as were not mingled in this disorder namely the families of Sem or the most part of them they kept the originall and primitiue tongue whereof Heber was the chiefe professour at the confusion of Babel and thence it commeth as it is thought that the tongue was called Hebrue and the people Hebrues as Abraham in whose family that speech remained is surnamed an Hebrue The Poet with some interpretors leaues it in doubt whether Heber was among the builders of Babel or dwelt apart I thinke with some others that he was not of the number but hearing how the Tower-builders were scattered hee gaue the name of Peleg that is Diuision to his sonne that then was borne because saith Mases Genes 10.25 that in his time the earth was diuided Thus much of the Hebrue tongue which was after preserued by Moses and the high Priests the Iudges Kings and Prophets Now let vs consider what the Poet saith further as touching those other tongues that first arising of the Hebrue were after the confusion a hundred thousand waies altered and disguised by the nations liuing asunder who themselues
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
Visigothes or Westgothes the other to the contrary and were called Ostrogothes or Eastgothes who out of Thrace moued into Hungarie and the countries adioyning where they had much adoe with the Romaine Emperours as Lazius well recordeth at last they got Sclauonia and all fort ward vnto the Adriaticke Sea there growing to a mighty number they determined to set on Italie vnder the command of Radaguise their King in the time of Theodosius the first sonne of Arcadius Their Armie was in number aboue two hundred thousand strong but by the speciall grace of God they were ouerthrowne captiued and sold most for ducats a peece their king slaine and all scattered into diuers countries but in the time of Honorius Alaricke the king of Westgothes made another voyage and entting into Italie asked the Emperour a place to dwell on hauing obtained the coast that marcheth vpon France as he was going thitherward with his company vpon Easter day one of the captaines of Sulico set vpon him and taking him so at disaduantage by treason slew a great number of the Goths They stirred vp with anger and disdaine of such vnf ithfull dealing of the Romans make backe to Rome waste Italie and in the moneth of September 1164 beleaguer and take the Citie and three dayes after depart thence loaden with the spoile As Alaricke was marching toward Rome there appeared a reuerend personage vnto him and aduised him since he would be counted a Christian that he should not make such hauocke as he did whereunto the king answered it is not my desire to goe to Rome but euery day â—â—m I forced by some one I know not who that still cryeth vnto me Goe on goe on and destroy Rome As the Gothes retired Alaricke dyed and Athaulph succecded him who led them backe to Rome againe So they went through with their saccage and led away captiue â—alla Placidia the sister of Honorius whom Athaulph married Hee was after slaine of his owne people at Barcelona in Spaine for seeking peace for his wiues sake with Honorius The third road they made into Italie was vnder the command oâ— Vidimer but they were encountred and beaten backe by Glycerius as Jornandes writeth and so they pressed againe vpon the French and Spanish Nations Afterward the Goths of Sclauonia weary of easie liuing got leaue of the Emperour Zeno and entred Italie and ouercame Odocacer the Exarch of Rauenna and there held estate for many yeeres At length about the yeere of Christ 411. in the time of Honorius they seated themselues in Spaine vnder Alaricke and his successours Now during the time of their aboad neere the Mâ—oticke marshes they had nine kings while they remained in Gothland which is now deuided into the East and West Gothâ—e betwixt Swethland and Norway they had 8. kings and 10 about the bankes of Wixel and in Transsiluania and Sclauonia 26. After that being sundred into Eastgothes and Westgothes the Eastgothes had in Italy 11. kings from Alarick to Teias who with the greater part of his people was ouerthrowne by Narses The Westgothes in Lion-Gaule in Languedoc and Guien had six kings and the kings of Westgothes in Spaine from Alaricke in the yeere 411. to Philip that now reigneth are eight and twenty in number according to the account to Lazius who reckoneth also two and thirty kings of Arragon and two and twenty of Nauarre vnto the kings father that now is Of these matters it may suffice to haue touched thus much in a word 22 Such was the French To enter into the whole history of the French-men it was not the Poets meaning but onely to note briefly the chiefe Oâ—troads of this braue Nation and that within the compasse of two thousand yeares I will goe no further but follow the text The first beginning of the French is diuersly recorded and all the opinions thereof are well gathered and examined by the Author of the French Antiquities who in the end sheweth his owne iudgement and auoucheth it to be very likely that the land of Gaule which in old time besides the Realme of France did containe also the Low-countries Germany within Rhine and Lorraine was first inhabited by the line of Gomer hither comming vpon diuers occasions and increasing more and more with the time as also by the Germanes a neighbour people for little could the Rhine hinder the Gaules and Germanes from comming together but that either as they preuailed in-strength might come into others countrey for their better liking And as the men of Marseil are counted an outcrease of Asia it is like the rest of the Townes and quarters of France were peopled after the same sort Amianus Marcellinus liuely painteth out the Gaules in his fifteenth booke So doth Polybius Caesar Diodorus Siculus Strabo and others All agree they were a very warlike people and their multitude gaue them to thinke vpon such remedie as others had vsed before Their first outroad that was of any account was in the raigne of Tarquinius Priscus and about the time of the Iewes thraldome in Babylon some six hundred yeares before the birth of Christ The Celiae which were the ancient Gaules possessed the Countries now called Suisse Sauoy Daulphine Languedoc Vellay Viuaretz Lionnois Forest Auuergne Berri Limosin Quercy Perigort Xanctoigne Angulmois Poâ—ctou Brettaigne Anjou Tourraine Maine Perche Normandie within Seine the Chartrain Hurepois Beaulse Gastinois Brie Champagne the Duchie and Counte of Bourgongne their King Ambigat sent forth Sidoveze and Belloveze to seeke other dwelling Sidoveze taking towards Germanie left people in Bauaria Bohemia and Carinthia and seated himselfe in the point of Europe toward and beyond the Riphean mountaines Belloveze a while staying at the foot of the Alpes was after by the perswasions of a certaine Tuscane called Arron drawne into Italy and possessed Insubria Some of his company seating first among the Pyrene hils at length entred a part of Arragon and gaue the name to Portugal But these were nothing so renowned as the other who preasing further into Italy marched vnder Brennus as farre as Clusium and so to Rome Of his exploits there Liuie writeth and Plutarch in the life of Camillus which was 386. yeares before the comming of Christ A third company that followed Belleveze because they would haue roome enough ouer-ran Slauonia and maugre all stay entred Hungary and after many skirmishes departed thence in two bands the one coasting into Macedonie the other into Greece where they made the whole world afraid of them after they had slaine Plolâ—meus Keraunus brother to Philadelphus King of Aegypt Pranses was their King whom others call Brennus but was not he that sackt Rome This man not content to haue obtained a great victory of the Macedonians and harried their country presumed so farre as to spoile the Temple at Delphos whereby himselfe and all his were brought to a miserable end Neuerthelesse the French that stayed behinde to guard the Frontiers of the Country fainted not at the report of these newes
but went to field with 1500. foot and 3000. horse ouercâ—me the Gâ—tes and Triballes and wasted all Macedonie only through negligence as they retired loaden with spoile they were brought to their end Yet they that remained in Gaule sent forth other companies into Asia who passed on as far as Bossen and Dardanie where by reason of a quarrell that fell betweene them they sundred themselues One part of them cast into Thrace and raigned there a long time the other setled about where Sauus and Danubius meet not far from Belgrade These that remained in Dardanie when they heard tell of the fruitfull soile of the lesser Asia went on so far as Hellespont and there because they were three Companies they parted Natolia betweene them into three parts The Trocynes had the coast of Hellespont the Tolystoboges Eolide and Jonie which the Turkes call Quision The Tectosages the country further into the maine land All that part of Asia which lyeth on this side Taurus they made their tributary planting themselues all along the riuer Hâ—lys that parteth Paphlagonia from Syria That Prouince where the Gaules dwelt in Asia from their first arriuall to the height of the Romane Empire retained the name of Gaul-Greâ—ce together with that same language which Saint Ierome six or seuen hundred yeares after saith was like that he heard spoken in Gaule about the quarter of Treues Thus concerning the ancient Gaules no to cleare some few darke words of the Text. The worke of Romulus c. He meaneth Rome builded by Romulus the most warlike Citie of all the world and therefore Mars whom the Painims counted the God of Warre may be thought the founder of it Cold Strymon a riuer parting Macedonie from Thrace as Plinie saith and because Thrace is no very warme country he giueth Strymon the adioint of Cold. The Emathicke fields to wit Macedonie so called of King Emathion Plinie speakes thereof in his fourth booke and tenth chapter thus Macedonie a Comtrie containing an hundred and fiftie Nations sometime renowned for two Kings he meaneth Philip and Alexander and for the Empire of the whole world it was afore-time called Emathia which word the Poets as Virgil and Lucan doe sometime vse for Thessaly a Countrie neare Macedonie Lucan in his very first verse Bella per Emathios plusquam ciuilia Campos And Virgil in the end of his second Georgie Nee fuit indiguum superis his sanguine nostro Emathâ—am latos Aemi pinguescere campos The Pharsalian fields are in Thessaly as Fliny recordeth in his fourth booke and eight Chapter Dindyma A hill in Phrygia The Poet calleth it Dindyme chastré guelt Dindym because the Priests of Cybele called Curetes kept and sacrificed there and were Eunuches atrired like women The Poets meaning is that these Gaules harried also Phrygia and called the country where they dwelt in Asia Gaul-Greece after the name of that from whence they first came and so planted as it were another Gaule in the middest of Asia What became of their successours in the Romanes time because the Poet makes no mention thereof I passe it also 23 Of people most renowà d He sheweth in few words wherefore he thrusteth no further into discourse of the out-roads the people made in old time For though Carion Melancthon Pâ—ucer Lazius Rhenanus Goropius and others of our time haue that way farre ventured and some-while with very good successe yet it cannot be denied but that they leaue many doubts and doe not all-where cleare the matter See then how fitly the Poet addes that followeth Il dit en somme queles trois fils de Noé peuplerent le monde Il me suffira donc de suiure son oree Et pendant attentif de la bourche dorce Du sage fils d'Amram rechanter dans ces vers Que Sem laphet Cham peuplerent l'Vniuers Et que du grand Noé la Fuste vagabonde Pour la seconde fois flott a par tout le Monde Cela ne se fit point tout à coup mais par trait de temps Non que i'enuoye Sem de Babylone auant Tout d'vn vol es terroirs du plus lontain Leuant Du Tartare Chorat boire l'onde argentine Et peupler le Catay le Cambalu la Chine En Espaigne Iapheth le profane Cham Es pays alterez de Medre de Bigam Es champs de Cephala dessus le mont Zambrique Et le Cup d'Esperance angle dernier d'Afrique Car ainsi que l'Hymete Comparaisons bien propres pour monstrer comment les parties du moÌ„de furent peuplees par les ou le mont Hiblean Ne furent tous couuert aâ— Auetes en vn an Ains la moindre ruchee enuoyant chaque prime A leurs slancs à leurs pieds à leur flairant cime Deux ou trois peuplemens cher nourissons du ciel En sin tous leurs rochers se fondirent en miel descendans de Noé asauoir peu à peu comme d'an en an par multiplication de peuple Ou plustost tout ainsi que deux Ormes fecondes Qui croissent au milieu d'vn champ emmuré d'ondes An tour de leur estocs produisent des Ormeaux Ceux-cy d'autres encor tousiours les nouueaux Gaignent pied à pied l'Isle font mesme en ieunesse D'vn grand pré tondu-ras vne forest espesse Tout ainsi les maçons de la superbe Tour S'en vont esparpillez acaser à l'entour De Mesopotamie peu à peu leur race Frayant heureusement sleuue apres sleuue passe Saisit terre apres terre si le Tout-puissant Ne va de l'Vniuers les iours accourcissant Il ne se trouuera contree si sauuage Pourquoy la premiere monarchie se dresse en Assirie Que le tige d'Adam de ses branches wombrage C'est pourquoy les pays au Tygre aboutissans Pendant l'âge premier sont les plus fleurissans Qu'il se parle d'eux seuls qu'ils commencent la guerre Et qu'ils sont la Leçon aureste de la terre Babylone viuant sous la grandeur des Roys Tenoit l'empire en main auant que le Gregeois Logeast en ville close que des murs Dircees Vn luth doux eust meçon les pierres agences Le Latin eust des bourgs des maison les Gaulois Des hutes l'Alemant des tentes l'Anglois Les Hebrieux Chaldeans Egyptiens auoyent la Philosophie super naturelle auant que les Grees sâ—eussâ—t quelque chose Les fils d'Heber auoient commerce auce les Anges Detestoient les autels dressez aux Dieux estranges Conotssoient l'Inconu des yeux de la foy Comtemploient bien heureux leur inuisible Roy. Le Chaldee sçauoit des estoilles le nombre Auoit aulné le ciel comprenoit comme l'ombre De la terre eclipsoit l'Astre au front argenté Et la sienne esteignoit du Soleil la clarté
Le Prestre Memphien philosophoit des ames Obseruoit curieux le sacrébal des slammes Qui pour rendre leurs fronts slamboy antement beaux Les lauent chaque iour dans les marrines eaux Discouroit de nature estoit bon Geometre Auant qu'aucun des Grecs sceust cognoistre vne lettre L'Egypte treluisoit en vtensiles d'or Les Egyptiens Tiriens iouissoyent de richesses delices à coeur saoul auant que les Greos Gaulois sceussent que c'est du monde Que leféuure boiteux n'auoit sous Aethne encor Martelé sus le fer que par promethee La flamme entre les Grecs n'estoit point inuentee Nous n'estions point encor ou bien si nous estions Nous sentions le sauuage barbare portions Des plumes pour habits banquetions sous les Fresnes Et béans attendions que le Gland cheust des Chesnes Que les bourgeois de Tyrosoyent desia ramer Contre l'azur sallé de l'Afriquaine mer Hazardeux trasiquoyent s'habilloient d'escarlate Et que les voluptez regnoyent ia sur l'Euphrate Car comme le caillou Belle comparaison à ce pro pos monstrant que tous les Arts sont sortis de la plaine de Sennaar pour s'espandre peu à peu par tout le monde quilissé tombe en l'eau D'vn viuier sommeilleux forme vn petit aneau A l'entour de sacheut qu'encor il compasse Par le doux mouuement qui glise en la sur-face De cest ondelé marbre crystal tremoussant Vne suitte de ronds qui vont tousious croissart Iusqu'à tant qu'à la fin des cercles les plus large Frappe du sleuue mort l'vn l'autre marge Ducentre de ce Tout qu'icy ie siche au bord Des ondes où uasquit des langue le discord L'homme de iour en iour cultiuant sa prudence Fait couler tous les Arts par la circunference A mesure qui croist qu'en troupeaux diuers Il esseme fecond par ce grand Vniucrs Premieres colonies ou peu plades de Sem en Orient De l'Assirie auant du costé de l'Aurore On se retire au bord que l'Hytane redore De son grauois brillant on se met à peupler L'Oroate Persan le Coaspe qui clair Leche les murs de Suse les valees grasses Des croupes du Caucase où regnoyent les Arsaces On s'heberge en Medie on commence à semer Les champs Hircaniens confrontans à la mer. Secondes Colonies Les eufans de ceux-cy ainsi que d'vne ondee S'espandent largement sur la terre bordee Du fleuue Chiesel dessus Thachalistan Charas Gabel Chabul Bedan Balestan Troisiesmes Leur race puis apres bouillonnante desfriche Besinagar Nayarde la campaigne riche Que le Gange entre-fend peuple Aue Toloman Le Royaume de Mein le musqué Charazan Et cernele desert de l'Op ou les phantômes Masquezen cent façons espouuantent les hommes Quatriesines Quelques ciecles apres marchans en diuers osts Elle saisit Tipur riche en Rhinocerots Caichin en Aloës Mangit le riuage De Chinsit d'Anie arreste leur voyage Premieres Colonies ou peuplades-de laphet en Occident De ce centre premier tirant vers le Couchant Les Nepueux de Noé se vont loin espanchant Vers la moindre Armenie puis dans la Cilice Occupent peu à peu les ports de Tarse d'Isse L'antre Corycien antre deliciâ—ux Colonies ou peuplades du Septentrion Qui des cymbales rend le son harmonieux Les croupes du Taureau Cappadoce Ionie Du Meandre les bords Troade Bithynie Passant le Phar de Seste ils s'abreuuent des eaux De Nest Secondes Colonies Hebre Strimon pasturent leurs troupeaux Es vallons de Rhodope sement les campaignes Que pres de ton cercueil ô Danube tu baignes La Thrace d'vn costé peuple les champs Gregeois La Grece l'Italie ayme-Mars Troisiesmes diuisees en plusieurs branches donne-laix L'Italie la Gaule la Gaule l'Hespaigne Le riuage du Rhin la grande Bretaigne Et de l'autre costé se decharge à lentour Or ' de la Moldauie or ' de la mer Maiour S'estend vers Podalie occupe la Seruie Le pays Transsyluain Hongrie Morauie Le Prussien terroir de Vistule le bord Premieres Colonies on peupla des de Cham vers le Mâ—di Et de là l'Aleman qui tire vers le Nord Cà tourne vers le Su. Voy comme la Chaldee Desgorge en Arabie en Phenice en Iudee La lignee de Cham qui fertile croissant Entre deux Oceans en Egypte descent En semence Cyrene la coste fameuse Où la Punique mer se debat escumeuse Dara Gusole Fez Argin Galate Aden Tombut Melli Gago Terminan Gogden Les deserts bluettans de la triste Lybie Cano Zeczec Benin Guber Borno Nubie Et sablons mouuants du terroir alteré Ou le Nom de Iesus est encor reueré Ou le Prest-ian commande bien qu'il Iudaise Retient deuotieux quelque forme d'Eglise Que si tu veux sçauoir comment tout ce long traict Qui couuert de glaçons gist sous l'ardent pourtraict D'vn beau char glise-doux qui d'vn tour oblique Est clos des flots mutins de l'Ocean Cronique Fut assorti d'humains pense qu'ayans quitté La campaigne ou le Tigre entre ensocieté Deux fois auec les eaux du loin courant Euphrate Ils se logent au pied du blanchissant Niphate De l'Armenic auant le champ Iberien L'Albanois le Colchide le Bosphorien Sont fournis de bourgeois de là vers l'Aurore Ceste vaste estendue ou vagabondent ore Les Tartares cruels deuers l'autre part Que la Volgue au long-cours pres sa source mi-part Les plaine de Moskou Permie Liuonie Biarme le lac blanc Russie Scrifinie It shall suffice me then to follow the ancient bounds He groundeth all his discourse vpon holy writ and sheweth more particularly how the sons of Noe peopled all the world And from the golden mouth of Moses taking grounds With all religious heed in verses to record How Sem Iaphet and Cham the world with people stor'd And how of mighty Noe the far-out-roaming boat Did thus the second time all countries ouer-float Yet not as if Sems house from Babilon did run Together all at once vnto the rising sun To drinke of Zaiton the water siluer-fine To peopl ' all rich Catay with Cambalu and Chine Nor Iaphet vnto Spaine nor that vngodly Cham Vnto the droughty soile of Meder and of Bigam The fields of Cephala the Mount of Zanzibar The promontory of Hope which Africk thrusts-out far Very meet comparisons For as th'l blean hills or those Hymettick trees Not all in one
are both of them leuell without mounting or descending any hill and straight without stopping at any lake or poole In a word whosoeuer hath seene either of them will say it is a worke farre surpassing all the great buildings and paued causies of the Romanes or the walles of Babylon built by Queene Semyramis or those most wonderfull Pyramides of Aegypt Guaynacapa a certaine King of the Indians who liued about an hundred yeares agoe caused these waies to be repaired and enlarged but he was not the first beginner of them as some would make vs beleeue for he could not haue finished them in all his life-time and the stone-worke semes to be much more ancient There are built vpon them a daies iourney asunder many goodly Pallaces called Tambos wherein the Court and armies of the Princes wont to lodge But Gomara saith our Spanyards haue by their ciuill warres vtterly destroyed these causies and cut them asunder in many places that they might not come one to another yea the Indians themselues haue broke off and seuered their parts in time of warre Now let vs heare the Poets answer 41 What then alas belike His first answer is that the people of the West-Indies fell not out of the ayre as many little frogs doe in a warme shower framed by the vertue of the Sunne of the dust or vapours arising out of the earth nor that they grew not out of the ground like roots or plants nor by any strange or vaine inchantment as of the Serpents teeth sowne by Cadmus the Poets faine grew souldiers in compleat harnesse But these they are men well-featured stout and long-liuing chiefly in the North and South-parts of the Country where both men and women in stature strength and continuance farre excell the people of Europe Asia and Affricke The commodities they haue for health their meat drinke and dwelling their ceremonies ciuill gouernment and other properties duly noted by the Historians make very good proofe of the Poets saying 42 Indeed this mightie ground This new-found world is called America of the name of Americus Vespusius a certaine famous Pilot of Florence one of the first discouerers of the Countrey not much more than an hundred yeares agoe His second answer is that this part of the world could not be so soone inhabited as the other three because it is discoasted further from the plaine of Sennaar for in Asia the plaine it selfe was And Arabia being peopled Affrick was very neare at hand and Europe from the lesser Asia is parted but with a narrow Phare whereas America is farre beyong all these which way soeuer we coast He calleth Europe a learned Soyle tower-bearing louing-right for the number of learned men and cunning Artisans of Kingdomes and States well gouerned and Fortresses that are there That after Iupiter his deare-beloued hight lo wit Europa that was the daughter of Agenor King of Phaenicia For the prophane Poets faine their great god being in loue with her to haue taken the shape of a Bull and on his backe to haue carried her ouer Hellespont and therefore the place where he first landed her was called by her name From this fable seemes to be drawne the name of Besphore which is as much to say as Bull-ferry Perhaps this Iupiter was some notable Pirate or Tyrant there-about raigning who in a Ship called the Bull stole away some young Lady and fled for safetie into Europe These words which from cold Bosphors head Doth reach the pearly dow of Tithons saffron bed set downe the length of Asia that is from the Bosphere of Thrace vnto the East-Ocean The Castile armes and lore that is the Spanish Religion and forces which Christopher Columbus brought first into America and there planted in the name of the Spanish King 43 But there the buildings The third answer is that the stately buildings infinite treasures and diuers gouernments that are there will witnesse that the country hath beene long inhabited although hard it is to learne how I haue already spoke of the great Causeyes of Peru. Now the sumptuousnesse of Themixtetan the great Citie of the Kingdome of Mexico and the Kings Pallaces of Peru such they are described by the Spaniards make further proofe of the Poets saying As for the vncountable wealth of the Indies it plainly appeares that aboue ten thousand millions of gold haue beene brought thence into Europe beside heapes of Rubies Emerauds and Pearle much wracked in the sea and much brought for a yearely tribute into Spaine Whereunto I will adde what Franciscus Lopes de Gomara saith concerning the vnualuable riches of Guainacapa the name signifieth young and rich the father of Antibalippa last King of Peru whom the Spaniards put to death All the furniture of his house table and kitchin saith he in the 120. chapter of his fourth booke were of gold and siluer and the meanest of siluer somewhat embased with copper for the more strength He had in his Wardrop Giant-like Images of gold liuely featured as also all kinde of beasts fowles trees herbes and flowers that the Land there beareth and all kinde of fishes that either the Sea there or any fresh water of his Kingdome breedeth in the said mettals well and proportianably resembled not so much as cords paniers troughes billets and other such implements but were so to conclude there was nothing in his Kingdome whereof he had not the counfeit in gold or siluer It is also said that the Kings of Peru called Ingaes haue a garden in a certaine Isle neare Puna where they delight themselues when they list take the Sea that hath in gold and siluer all herbes slowers and trees and other things whatsoeuer meet for a pleasant garden such a sumptuous deuice as neuer was heard-of or seene elsewhere Besides all this that King last but one had gathered into Cusco huge masses of gold and siluer vnfined which the Indians hid so secretly as the Spaniards could neuer come by it there was also in and about Cusco great store of picture-tables and tombes all of sine siluer worth some thirtie some fiftie some threescore thousand Ducats a peece also dining-tables vessels and Images a great number all of fine gold The Spaniards at the taking of Antibalippa found as good as 252000. pounds of siluer and of gold 1300265. pezoes euery pezo valued at a Ducat and a halse Besides the great golden table of Antibalippa worth nigh 40000. Crownes Now for all this great spoile that the Spaniards got and hauock that they made as well in Peru as other the Prouinces there-about yet the Indians as Benzo reports who stayed there with the Spaniards fourteene yeares and wrote in three bookes worthy reading that whole story they sticke not to say they haue yet more remaining than all that the Spaniards euer had And to make their meaning plainer they will take out of a great vessel ful of wheat one grain betwixt their singers say See you this the Viracochie so they call the
Spaniards haue taken as it were this one graine away but thus much say they pointing to the rest in the vessell thus much and more haue they left behinde them Now the word Viracochie because it comes thus in my way Benzo himselfe in his third booke saith it signifies the froth or scumme of the Sea and that the Peruvians so call the Spaniards for deepe hatred and abomination of them saying also sometimes one to another in their language The wind beares downe houses and trees and the fire burnes them but these Viracochie they doe worse than wind and fire They waste all they eat all they turne the earth and all vpside downe they turne the course of Riuers they are neuer at quiet they neuer cease ranging vp and downe to seeke gold and siluer and all they finde is too little for them When they haue it what doe they They take their pleasure they warre one with another rob one another kill one another they are euer giuen to lying blaspheming and denying the same God whom they professe and these men haue cruelly slame without cause our fathers our children and kinsfolkes taken from vs contrary to all right our goods our libertie and countrie Hauing thus commended the Spaniards they cause the Sea for vomiting on the Earth so cruell and wicked a people and often haue vpbraided the Spaniards themselues with this notorious reproach that Gold was the Christians God O how shall this people in the latter day condemne that euer greedy couetousnesse for which Europe now adaies heareth so ill and is by the selfe-people thereof so wasted and vnpeopled But concerning the diuers gouernments of the West-Indies seeing they are set downe so well at large by Lopes Ouâ—ede Benzo and others it is too great a matter for me to handle in this discourse which is I feare me growne too long already therefore will I draw to an end The Poet at the 413. verse begins to shew some likely opinions how this new-found world was pleopled and first in generall that the people of countries inhabited exercising their ordinary traffick one with another might sometimes be cast by force of tempest vpon the West-Indian shore and so be constrained their ships being broken to remaine still there Others by plague war or famine were driuen to leaue their countries and seeke some quietter dwelling farre off and so haue lighted on these new Countries Or perhaps some great man of authority or cunning Pilot by ventring made a discouery thereof and led the ouer-creases of some people thither As the Poet sheweth more particularly in the verses following 44 Nay could not long agoe He guesseth in speciall and most likely that the inhabitants of the furthest Northeast shore of Asia to wit the men of Quinsay and other places there might haue emptied their ouer-peopled Cities by passing the Anien Straight a part of Sea no broader as he saith then the Phare of Gallipoli Gibraltare or Messine and so from the East Indies might they haue stored first the land of Tolguage which Theues in his map of the new world placeth betwixt the Realmes of Anián Tolm and Quiuir within 15 degrees of the North-pole then the rest as followeth 45 So from the Wastes of Tolm and Quiuir In all this huge Northren part of America few people there are especially toward the coast ouer against Quinsay and the other East countries There are therefore great Waste-lands as the later Card-men haue noted about the kingdomes or countries of Anian Tolguage Quiuir and Tolm about 12000 leagues compasse So then the Poet holds opinion that some of Sems posteritie hauing once passed from the farthest East-point of Asia ouer to the West-Indian Coast thrust their of-spring farther into the land The Countries here named by the Poet are to be found in the Sea-cards and Land-maps betwixt Now-Spaine and Estotilant as if he meant that the North-part of America was first inhabited concerning the properties and particular descriptions of these places reade the third volume of the Spanish Nauigations the second Booke of the generall historie of Lopez de Gomara chap. 37. c. the Historie of Florida Benzo the Reports of Johannes Verazzanus laques Cartier and other French Captaines concerning their discouering of the Land of Labour where the Sea is frozen Baccalos New France Canada Hochilega and other lands thereabouts Reade Thenet also and the later Card men For the French Calienza I haue translated Caliquas according as I finde it writted both in others and in Ortellus who also hath for Mechi Terlichi-mechi and therefore I translate it Terlichi 46 They sow'd at'nother side Xalisco now called Noua Gallicia is described by Gomara in the 21. chapter of his fift booke It is a land very fruitfull and rich in honey waxe and siluer and the people there are Idolaters and Men-eaters Nunnius Gusmannus who seized the country for the King of Spaine in the yeare 1530. hath written a discourse thereof and it is to be read in the third volume of the Spanish Nauigations The Prouince of Mechuacan from whence not far lyeth Cusule is about 40 leagues lower southward then Xalisco that also the said Gusmannus conquered after he had most cruelly and traiterously put to death the Prince and Peeres of the country as Gomara sheweth in his booke and chapter aboue quoted Mexico which some account all one with Themixtetan is the mother-Citie of that kingdome now called Hispania Nona wonderfull rich it is and strong and of high renoume built farre more curiously then Venice vpon a lake salt on the north-side because it is there of a Sea-like breadth and on the south-side fresh because of a Riuer that empties there into it Greater is the Citie thought to be then Seuille in Spaine the streets are passing well set and their channels in such manner cast as cannot be mended Diuers places there are to buy and sell-in the needfull and ordinarie wares but one there is greater then the rest with many walkes and galleries round about it where euery day may be seene aboue threescore thousand Chapmen There is the Iudgement Hall for common Pleas and were also many temples and shrines of Idols before the comming of Ferdinando Cortez who made thereof the first conquest for the king of Spaine exercising most horrible cruelties vpon all both young and old in the Citie as Barthelemi delas Casas a Monke and Bishop of Spaine reports in his historie of the Indies where he stayed a long time Looke the description of Mexico in the third volume of the Spanish Nauigations fol. 300. See also Benzo of Millaine his historie of the new world the second booke and 13. Chapter Now from these parts abouenamed after report of some wonders of many there seene and worthy a larger discourse by themselues the Poet drawes his Colonies downe further towards Peru by the Land-straight of Panama which parts the South-sea from the Ocean and thereabout is hardly 20. leagues in breadth The fiery mountaine
of Nicaragua is by Gomara described in his fist booke chap. 203. so are the other wonders which the Poet here notes in his fourth booke chap. 194. 47 Then Chili they possest Gomara in his fourth booke chap. 131. holds opinion that the men of Chili are the right Antipodes or Counter-walkers vnto Spaine and that the country there is of the same temper with Andaluzie This Chili lyeth on the shore of el Mar Pacisico so also doth Quintete which I haue put for Chinca both neere the Panagones or Giants whose country is full of people and hath certaine riuers that runne by day and stand by night some thinke because of the snowes which in the day time are melted by the Sunne and frozen by the Moone in the night but I take it rather to be some great secret and miracle of nature The cause why here I made exchange of Chinca was first for that the Poet had spoke before of the springs of Chink which I take for the same then because it is so diuerfly placed of the Card-men for Ortelius in his Map of the New World sets it aboue and Theuet beside Chili in either place it stands well to be taken for the Chink aforenamed but Mercator placeth it a great deale lower and on the contarry coast neere the riuer of Plata where indeed is a country called Chica that perhaps hath bred this error Lastly Quintete stands so right in way which the Poet followes from Chili to the Patagones that I thought it not amisse to take the same rather then the doubtfull Chinca By the somie Brack of Magellanus he meanes the Sea and Straight of Magellan close by terra Australis Gomara describeth it well in the beginning of the third booke of his Portugall Historie The Poet hath already shewed how people came first on the North America from the kingdome of Anian ouer the maine land to the Atlantick sea shore then on all the further coasts from Quiuir to the Magellan Straight along the Archipelago de San Lazaro Mar del Zur Pacifico and now hee takes the higher side on the left hand from the Land-Straight of Panama to the riuer of Plata which is not farre from the Magellan noting by the way the most note-worthy places of all this huge reach of ground represented as it is by our late writers in their generall and particular Maps of the New-found world Huo is a great sweat-water streame arising at Quillacingas that lieth vnder the Equator and running athwart the country called Caribage into the Sea at Garra Vraba is the country that lieth betwixt that riuer and Carthagene Concerning Zenu marke what Gomara saith thereof in his second booke and 69. chapter It is the name of a Riuer and Citie both and of a Hauen very large and sure The Citie is some 8. leagues from the Sea There is a great Mart for Salt and Fish Gold the inhabitants gather all about and when they set themselues to get much they lay sine-wrought nets in the riuer of Zenu and others and oftentimes they draw-vp graines of pure gold as big as eggs This country is not farre from the Straight of Darien In the said second booke chap. 72. He describes also Noua Grenada and the Mount of Emeraudes which is very high bare and peeld without any herbe or tree thereon growing and lyeth some fiue degrees on this side the Equator The Indians when they goe-about to get the stones first vse many enchauntments to know where the best veine is The first time the Spaniards came there they drew thence great and little 1800. very faire and of great price but for this commoditie the country is so barren that the people were faine to feed on Pismers till of late the Spanish couetousnesse hath made them know the value of their Mountaine Cumana is described in the foresaid booke chap. 79. in the end whereof Gomara saith the vapours of the riuer Cumana engender a certaine little mist or slime vpon mens eyes so as the people there are very pore-blind Parie is described in the 84 chapter of the said second booke Maragnon a Riuer which as Gomara saith 2 booke 87 chapter is threescore miles ouer It emprieth at the Cape of Alinde three degrees beyond the Aequator but springeth a great way further South by Tarama in Peru thence running Eastward it casteth only an Arme into the Amazon about Picora Which hath caused many the first writers of America to count from that place both but one riuer So also doth our Poet here otherwise he would haue msntioned first how the people passed the Amezon that other great streame now knowne by the name of Orenoque which riseth about Carangui and emptieth as Theuet saith 104. leagues aboue the mouth of Maragnon Bresile which the Spaniard discouered in the yeare 1504. is surnamed fierce because of the Canibales Caribes and other man-eating people there I. de Leri hath written very fully all the historie of his aduenture in part of the country where dwell the people called Toupinamboes The riuer of Plata the Indians call Paranagacuc which word importeth as much as a great water Gomara speaking thereof in the 89. chapter of his second booke saith In this riuer is found siluer pearles and other things of great price It containes in breadth 25. leagues making many Islands and swels like Nilus and about the selfe-same time It springeth first out of the mountaines of Peru and is after increased by the infall of many riuers for the country thereabout is leuell or slat whereof it seemes to haue receiued the name of Plate Thus the Poet guesseth at the manner of this new-found worlds empeopling by the coast of Asia Whereunto I will adde what Arias Mont that learned Spaniard hath written thereof in his booke entituled Phaleg He saith Ioktan the double pety-sonne of Sem that is whose double grandfather Sem was had thirteene sonnes which are named by Moses in the 10. of Genesis and some of them peopled the West Indies from the East That which Moses saith Genesis 10. chap. 30. vers concerning Sephar a mountaine of the East Arias applies to the great hills of Peru which the Spaniards call Andes they reach out further in length then any other in the world and neere them stands an ancient towne called Iuktan Moreouer there lies higher a neere-Isle betwixt Cuba and Mexico called Iukatas which may bee thought to resemble still the name of him that first brought people into the country To Ophir one of the sonnes of Ioktan Arias allots the land of Peru for as much as in the third chapter and six verse of the second booke of Chron. there is mention made of the gold of Paruaim To Iobab the country of Paria which is neere the Straight of Panama very â—iâ—h also in gold and pearle I haue said else-where that Arias Montanus tooke Asia to be all one main-land with America and knew no Anian Straight If that be true sure the
goes from hand to hand Vnto the baser sort of people through the land Who greatly bent to see the famous tower made Doe labour day and night in all and euery trade Some trip the speare-wood Ash with sharp-edg'd axes stroke And some the sailing Elme and some th'enduring Oke So they degrade the woods and shew vnto the Sunne The ground where his bright eye before had neuer shone Who euer did behold some forraine armie sacke A citie vanquished ther 's griefe and ioy no lacke Together hurly-burld he carts and he lays-hold He drags by force he leads and there the souldier bold Can finde no place too sure nor yet no locke too strong The whole towne in a day forth at the gates doth throng So quickly do these men pull-off with one assent From those Assyrian hills the shaking ornament The wildernesse of shade they take from off the rocks And sheare off albeswat the leuell countries locks The waynes and yoked Mules scarse one by the other wend A liuely description of a people busied about a great worke The groaning axeltrees with load surcharged bend Behold here one for mort'r is day and night abruing Of some thicke-slimic poole the water fatly gluing And here the Tyler bakes within his smoakie kell His clay to stone and here one hollows downe to hell So deep foundations that many a damned Spright Aggazeth once againe the Sunnes vnhoped light Heaâ—'n ecchoes out the sound of their mauls clitter-clatters And Tigris feeles his fish all trembling vnd'r his waters The ruddy-colourd walls in height and compasse grow They far-off cast a shade they far-off make a show The world 's all on toile and men borne all to die God being angry with the bold enterprise of Nimrod and his folowers determineth to breake of their enterprise by confounding their language Thinke at the first daies worke their hand shall reach the skie 6. Hereat began th'Lord to sowre his countenance And with dread thuÌ„ders sound that storm-wise wont to glance Athwart the clowdie racks that hills wont ouerthrow And make heau'ns steddy gates flash often too and fro See see quoth he these dwarfes see this same rascall people These children of the dust O what a goodly steeple What mighty walls they build Is this the Cittadell So recklesse of my shot that shakes the gates of Hell I sware an oath to them henceforth the fruitfull ground Should neuer stand in feare of waters breaking bound They doubting fence themselues I would by their extent Haue peopled all the world they by themselues are pent In prison-walls of brick I would haue beene for euer Their master their defence their shepherd their law-giuer And they haue chose for King a sauage Liue-by-spoile A Tyrant seeking gaine by their great losse and toile Who doth my force despise and with vaine-glory swone Attempts to scale the walls of my most holy throne Come let 's defeat their drift and sith the bond of tong Of blood of will of law doth egge on all day long And hearten them in sin to stop their hastie intent Among them let vs send the Spirit of dissent Their language to confound to make both one and other The father strange to sonne the brother deafe to brother 7. The execution of Gods sentence Thus had he said and straight confusedly there went I know not what a brute throughout the buyldiment None other like I guesse then drunken peasants make Where Bacchus doth his launce with Ivy garland shake One doth his language too the another nose his note Another frames his words vnseemly through the throte One howleth one doth hisse another stuttereth Each hath his babbl ' and each in vaine endeuoureth To finde those loued termes and tunes before exprest That in their cradle-bands they drew from mothers brest Goe get thee vp betimes and while the morning gay A sit comparison With rainbow-glosse bedecks the portaile of the day Giue eare a while and marke the disagreeing moods Of winged quiristers that sing amid the woods Good-morrow to their loues where each one in his fashion Is pearched on a bough and chaunteth his Oration Then shalt thou vnderstand what mingle-mangle of sounds Confusedly was heard among the Mason-lounds A Trowell ho saith one his mate a beetl'him heaues Cut me saith he this stone and he some timber cleaues Come ho corne ho saith one and winde me vp this rope Then one vnwinding striues to giue it all the scope This scaffold bourd saith one one makes it downe to fare Giue me the line saith one and one giues him the square He shouts he signes in vaine and he with anger boyles And looke what one hath made forth with another spoiles VVith such confused cries in vaine they spend their winde And all the more they chafe the lesse is knowne their minde At length as men that stand an arched bridge to build In riuers channell deepe that wont surround the field Another excellent comparison declaring how neither counsell art force diligence nor multitude is able to resist God And sodainly behold how vnexpected raine Hath sent a hundred floods that downhill stretch amaine Their yoake-refusing waues they leaue with one aduise Some hasting here some there their carnest enterprise So when these Architects perceiu'd the stormy smart Of Gods displeasure come they straight were out of heart And there they ceas'd their work with hands malecontent Rules mallets plomets lines all downe the towre they sent 4. Now he enthroned is This is the exposition of the words mightie hunter before the Lord to wit that Nimred Chams nephew did proudly lift himselfe vp against God and man His buildings and the beginning of his raigne could not haue beene such without offering violence to the peace and libertie of diuers families ouer whom hee bare rule and there is no shew to the contrary but that by diuers practises from time to time he got the Soueraigntie The holy Scripture oftentimes by the names of hunters and chasers meaneth God enemies and the persecutours of his Church Psa ' 91. 124. Ezech. 32. Lament 3. The seuentie Interpreters translate the Hebrue text after this manner This Nimrod began to be a Giant on the earth and a huntesman or leader of hounds before the Lord God By the hounds of Nimrod may be vnderstood his guards and the fauourers of his tyrannie Moses called him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Giâ—or isaid that is Iustie strong or great and mightie chaser Which noteth not only the stature and height of bodie but also might and authoritie ioyned with violence in all those that want the feare of God Now although Moses in the cleuenth Chapter of Genesis where he speaketh of the Citie and Tower of Babel make no mention of Nimrod yet hath the Poet aptly gathered out of the Chapter aforegoing that Nimrod was the author and promoter of those buildings in as much as Babel is called the beginning of his raigne who could not any waies
raigne without some habitations for himselfe and his subiects and considering that Moses in the selfe-same place affirmâ—th that the Cities founded by Nimrod were in the countrey of Sennaar and that in the 12. verse of the 11. Chapter he saith that these builders of Babel dwelt on a plaine in the countrey of Sennaar by good reason the inuention and beginning thereof is here ascribed to Nimrod who by this meanes sought to set his state on foot Also this Monarchie of Babylon was one of the first and with it that of Niniuie as may be gathered out of the words of Moses But the more particular discourse of these matters and diuers other questions concerning Nimrod and his outrages require a larger commentatie 5. Like as the Vulcan weake The Poet saith that as a small deale of fire let fall by some Shepherds among the drie leaues of a great Forrest setting it selfe and hatching as it were the heat a while at length with helpe of the wind groweth to so great a flame that it taketh the whole Forrest and leaueth not a Driad that is not a tree in his proper or naturall barke So the words first vttered by Nimrod then blowne with the bellowes of his Minions and fauourites set the hearts of the people on fire that he soone obtained his purpose This is it that Moses noteth in the eleuenth Chapter of Genesis the third and fourth verses They said one to another the chiefe men hauing put it in their heads Come let vs make bricke and burne in well in the fire so had they bricke in stead of stone and sâ—â—me had they in stead of morter Then said they Goe let vs build vs a Citie and a Tower whose top may reach vnto the heauens that we may get vs a name lest we be scattered vpon the whole earth The Poet in his verse discourseth vpon this deuise It is thought that this proud building was begun about an hundred and fiftie yeares after the Floud The good Patriarch Noe that liued yet long time after saw his posteritie confounded and scattered for so it was the Lords will to exercise the patient faith of his seruant to whom in recompence he shewed the effect of his blessings in the family of Sem where still remained the Hebrew tongue together with the doctrine and discipline of the true Church Now out of this history of Moses touching the building of the Towne and the confusion of the builders is sprong as it seemeth the fabulous discourse of the Poets set downe by Ouid in his first booke of Metamorphosis touching the Giants that heaped hilles one vpon another to scale heauen and dispossesse Iupiter of his throne Thus hath Satan endeuoured to falsifie the truth of sacred historie Well this arrogant building sheweth vs how vaine are the imaginations of worldly men namely to set at naught the true renowne of heauenly life and seeke after the false of earth Carnall men haue no care at all to worship and reuerence the name of the true God they regard only to be accounted-of themselues and so to write their names in the dust Against the attempts of the men of Babel and all their successours let vs oppose these sentences the 18. and 21. of Prouerbs The name of the Lord is a strong tower thither shall the iust repaire and be exalted There is no wisdome nor vnderstanding nor force can preuaile against the Lord and that which is written Psal the 127. Except the Lord doe build the house the builders labour but in vaine 6. God seeing this Moses in the 5. and 6. verses of the 11. chapter saith Then the Lord came downe to see the Citie and Towre which the sonnes of men had built And the Lord said Behold the people is one and they all haue one language and this they begin to doe neither can they now bee stopped from whatsoeuer they haue imagined to doe come on let vs goe downe and there confound their language that they vnderstand not one another Then he addeth the execution of the sentence saying So the Lord scattered them from thence vpon all the earth and they left off to build the Citie Therefore the name of it was called Babel because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth and scattered them from thence ouer all the world God that is all in all neuer changeth his place he goeth neither vpward nor downward but the Scripture saith hee goeth downe then when he worketh any thing on earth which falling out beyond and against the ordinary course of nature witnesseth his particular presence Vnder these few words of Moses a many things are to be considered chiefly he noteth the great sinnes of the builders in that he bringeth in the Lord iudge of the whole world vouchsafing to bow downe his eyes particularly vpon that foolish people For it is not without cause that the great God of heauen and earth should arise from his throne and if I durst so say leaue the palace of his glory to come and view these durt-dawbers or morter-makers By this manner of speech Moses sheweth and giueth vs to vnderstand that long time before these Babylonians had built in their hearts most wonderfull high and stately towers and that long agoe they had bak'd in the sire of their concupiscence some maruellous brickes to wit they had much counsailed one with another and discoursed of meanes to get renowme and found no better way to attaine their purpose then to raise a tower vp to the heauens to rauish with astonishment all those that should behold it So Moses saith that this pride and froward selfe trust deserued a grieuous punishment but as God is perfectly iust so layeth he vpon the builders a chastisement proportionable vnto their offence 7. Thus had he said and straight In God it is all one to will and to doe And further he sendeth not lightning winde nor tempest against the tower but contenteth himselfe to strike the proud and puffed-vp braines of the builders and so the building founded vpon their folly was ouerthrowne by their foolish iangling that God mingled with their language and the vainglorious masons insteed of their imagined renowne haue gotten themselues euerlasting shame Who would haue thought that God had had so ready such kinde of rods to punish mankinde withall But let the Reader consider whether the world at this day be not full of Babel-towers Marke what a number of men doe in euery kinde of vocation Sith I doe not take vpon mee but to write bare Annotations I leaue it to the Readers consideration who may see now more then euer that the world continueth the building of Babel that is men madly gainset their owne wisedome and power against the wisedome and power of God who treading as it were with woollen feet and stealing on softly is able with an arme of Iron to surprise and seize vpon these builders and turne by diuers meanes their vaine purposes and weake endeuours to