doth far more prevail The chief Tenets of the Mahometan Religion may be seen § 4. of this Section to which I remit the Reader As for Christianity 't is profess'd in this Country according to the Doctrine of the Greek Church the Principal Points of which as it differs from the Western Christian Churches whether Protestant or Roman are these following viz 1. The Greeks deny the Procession of the Holy Ghost from the Son asserting that it proceedeth only from the Father through the Son 2. They also deny the Doctrine of Purgatory yet usually pray for the Dead 3. They believe that the Souls of the Faithful departed this Life are not admitted unto the Beatifick Vision till after the Resurrection 4. They celebrate the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist in both Kinds but make the Communicant take three Morsels of Leaven'd Bread and three Sips of Wine in Honour of the Three Persons of the Adorable Trinity 5. They admit Children to participate of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper when only seven Years of Age because then it is say they that they begin to Sin 6. They allow not of Extream Unction and Confirmation and disapprove of fourth Marriages 7 They admit none into Holy Orders but such as are married and inhibit all second Marriages being once in Orders 8. They reject all Carved Images but admit of Pictures wherewith they adorn their Churches Lastly They observe four Lents in the Year and esteem it unlawful to Fast upon Saturdays In their Publick Worship they use four Liturgies viz. That commonly call'd St. James's St. Chrysostom's St. Basil's and St. Gregory the Great 's together with Lessons out of the Lives of their Saints which makes their Service to be of such a tedious and indiscreet length that it commonly lasts five or six Hours together The Fasts and Festivals that are yearly observ'd in the Greek Church are very numerous and were it not for them 't is probable that Christianity had been quite extirpated out of this Country ere now For by means of these Solemnities which yet are celebrated with a multitude of Ridiculous and Superstitious Ceremonies they still preserve a Face of Religion under a Patriarch who resides at Constantinople and several Archbishops and Bishops particularly those abovemention'd But did we view those Ecclesiasticks in their Intellectuals as also the lamentable State of all Persons committed to their Charge we should find both Priest and People labouring under such gross and woful Ignorance that we could not refrain from wishing that the Western Churches of Christendom by their Divisions Impieties and Abuse of Knowledge may not provoke the Almighty at last to plague them likeways with the same Darkness and Desolation This Country was watered with the Blessed Gospel in the very Infancy of Christianity and that by the powerful Preaching of St. Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles §. 3. Little Tartary THIS Country anciently Taurica Chersonesus or Tartaria Procopensis being the Lesser Scythia and a Part of old Sarmatia is term'd by the Italians Tartaria Minor by the Spaniards Tartaria Menor by the French La Petite Tartarie by the Germans Kleine Tartarey and by the English Little Tartary so call'd to distinguish it from Great Tartary in Asia as also Crim-Tartary from Crim the principal City of the Country The Air of this Country is generally granted to be of a very temperate Nature but yet unhealthful to breath in The opposite Place of the Globe to Little Tartary is that part of Terra Australis incognita between 240 and 250 Degrees of Longitude with 48 and 52 Degrees of South Latitude The Soil of this Country it lying in the 8th North Climate is very different in different Parts some Places abounding with Grain and Fruits and others pestered with undrainable Marshes and barren Mountains The Length of the Days and Nights here is the same as in the Northern Parts of France The Commodities of this Country are reckon'd Slaves Leather Chalcal-Skins and several sorts of Furs which they exchange with the Adjacent Turks for other Commodities they want Some Travellers relate of this wild and barbarous Part of the World that few or no ravenous Beasts are found therein And others tell us That many of its Fens and Marshes abound mightily with Salt which is naturally there produc'd in prodigious Quantities Archbishopricks in this Country None Bishopricks in this Country are those of Caffa Gothia Universities in this Country None The Crim-Tartars are generally Men of vigorous and robust Bodies able to endure all the Hardships of a Military Life and many of them being endu'd with Courage and Vigour of Mind conform to their Strength of Body prove the best of Soldiers They are reputed to be very just in their Dealings with one another but far otherways with Strangers Many of 'em are much addicted to Pillage and they usually feed upon Horse flesh The Language of the Crim-Tartars is the Scythian or pure Tartaresque which hath such a resemblance to the Turkish as the Spanish to the Italian these Tartars and Turks understanding one another as those of Italy and Spain The Arabick is here learn'd at School as in most Parts of Turky Pater-Noster in the Tartaresque runs thus Atscha wyzom Chy hokta sen algusch ludor senug adougkel suom chauluchong bel sun senung arkchneg aleigier da vkarhtaver visum gundoluch ot mak chu musen vougou kai visum jasuchen den bisdacha hajelberin bisum jasoch namasin datcha koima visu sumanacha illa garâ—a visenu gemandam Amen This Country is govern'd by its own Prince commonly term'd the Cham of Tartary who is under the Protection of the Great Turk whose Sovereignty he acknowledgeth by the usual Ceremony of receiving a Standard The Grana Signior actually possesseth some Part of this Country and maintains one Beglierbeg and two Sangiacks in the Places of greatest Importance As also he detains as Hostage the apparent Successor of the Cham who is ordinarly either his Son or Brother To all which the Tartars readily yield upon the Account of an Ancient Compact whereby the Turkish Empire is said to descend to them whenever the Heirs Male of the Ottoman Line shall fail The Cham of Tartary bears for his Ensigns Armorial Or three Griffins Sable arm'd Gules The Crim Tartars for the most part are zealous Professors of the Mahometan Doctrine except some who continue still Pagan and intermixt with them are many Christians especially Greeks and Armenians besides a considerable number of Roman Catholicks When this Country was first watered with the Blessed Gospel is not very certain §. 4. Danubian Provinces THE remaining Part of Turky here considered under the Title of Danubian Provinces is so call'd from the Situation of these Provinces they being near unto or upon the Banks of the Danuube But since each of 'em requires a peculiar Etymology take the same as followeth 1 Transilvania the
is to take charge of all the King's Revenue kept in the Exchequer as also to check all Officers imploi'd in collecting the same and such like This Office is frequently executed by several Persons conjunctly in Commission term'd Lords of the Treasury as at present 4. The Lord President of the Council whose Office is to attend upon the King and Summons the Council to propose business at Council-Table and Report the several Transactions of the Board 5. The Lord Privy-Seal whose Office is to pass all Charters and Grants of the King and Pardons sign'd by the King before they come to the Great Seal of England as also divers other Matters of smaller moment which do not pass the Great Seal But this Seal is never to be affixt to any Grant without good warrant under the King's Privy-Signet nor even with such Warrant if the thing granted be against Law or Custom until the King be first acquinted therewith 6. The Lord Great Chamberlain of England whose Office is to bring the King's Shirt Coif and Wearing Cloaths on the Coronation-day to put on the King's Apparel that Morning to carry at the Coronation the Coif Gloves and Linnen which are to be us'd by the King on that Occasion likeways the Sword and Scabard as also the Gold to be offer'd by the King together with the Robe Royal and Crown to Undress and Attire the King with his Royal Robes to serve the King that Day with Water for to wash his Hands before and after Dinner 7. The Lord High Constable of England an Officer whose Power is so great that 't was thought inconvenient to lodge the same in any Subject since the Year 1521. and is now conferr'd on some of the chiefest Peers pro re nata as upon occasion of Coronations or Solemn Tryals by Combat 8. The Earl Marshal of England whose Office is to take cognizance of all Matters of War and Arms to determine Contracts concerning Deeds of Arms out of the Realm upon Land and Matters touching Wars within the Realm which the Common Law cannot determine 9. The Lord High admiral of England whose Trust and Honour is so great that this Office hath been usually given either to some of the King 's younger Sons near Kinsmen or one of the chiefest Peers of the Realm To him is committed the Management of all Maritime Affairs the Government of the King's Navy a decisive Power in all Causes Maritime as well Civil as Criminal He also Commissionates Vice-Admirals Reer-Admirals Sea-Captains c. and enjoys a number of Priviledges too many here to be mention'd This Office is commonly executed by several Persons conjunctly in Commission term'd Lords of the Admiralty as at present After the Officers of the Crown we might here subjoin the various Courts of Judicatory establisht in this Kingdom especially the High Court of Parliament which is Supreme to all others and to whom all last Appeals are made I might here likeways mention all the Subordinate Courts of this Realm particularly that of the King's-Bâ—nch the Court of Common Pleas the High Court of Chancery the Exchequer and the Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster c. as also the Ecclesiastical Courts in Subordination to the Archbishop of Canterbury as the Court of Arches the Court of Audience the Prerogative Court the Court of Faculties and that of Peculiars But to declare the Nature and Constitution the ample Privileges and manner of Procedure in each of them would far exceed the narrow Bounds of an Abstract I shall not therefore descend to particulars only adding to this Paragraph that besides these various Courts above-mention'd the King consulting the ease and welfare of the Subject Administers Justice by his Itinerate Judges and that in their yearly Circuits through the Kingdom and for the better governing of and keeping the King's Peace in particular Counties Hundreds Cities Burroughs and Villiages of this Realm Counties have their respective Lord Lieutenants Sheriffs and Justices of the Peace Hundreds their Bailiffs High-Constables and Petty-Constables Cities their Mayor Aldermen Sheriffs c. Burroughs and Towns incorporate have either a Mayor or two Bailiffs or a Portrive who in Power are the same with Mayor and Sheriffs and during their Offices are Justices of the Peace within their own Liberties And lastly Villiages are in Subjection to the Lord of the Mannor under whom is the Constable or Headborough to keep the Peace apprehend Offenders and bring them before the Justice Of such an admirable Constitution is the English Government that no Nation whatsoever can justly pretend to such a Model and no People in the World may live more happy if they please so that it may be justly affirm'd of them what the Poet saith in another Case only with change of Persons O fortunatos nimium sua si bona norint Anglicanos The Ensigns Imperial of the Monarch of Great Britain are in the first place Azure Three Flower-de-Luces Or the Royal Arms of France quartered with the Imperial Ensings of England which are Gules Three Lyons passant Gardant in Pale Or. In the second place within a double tressure Counter flowr'd de lys Or a Lyon Rampant Gules for the Royal Arms of Scotland In the third place Azure and Irish Harp Or string'd Argent for the Royal Ensigns of Ireland In the fourth place as in the first These Ensigns Armoral are quartered after a new manner since the late Revolution the English Arms being put before the French and the whole charg'd with an Escutcheon of the House of Nassau which is Azure Semi-billets a Lyon Rampant Or Languid and Armed Gules all within the Garter the chief Ensign of that most Noble Order above the same an Helmet answerable to King William's Sovereign Jurisdiction upon the same a rich Mantle of Cloath of Gold doubled Ermin adorn'd with an Imperial Crown and surmounted for a Crest by a Lyon passant Gardent Or Crowned as the former and an Unicorn Argent Gorged with a Crown thereto a Chain affixt passing between his Forelegs and reflex'd over his Back Or both standing upon a Compartment plac'd underneath and in the Table of that Compartment is express'd the King of England's Motto which is Dieu mon Droit but of late Jâ— Maintiendray The Inhabitants of this Country are for the most part of the true Reform'd Religion publickly profess'd and carefully taught in its choicest Purity In Reforming of which they were not so hurri'd by popular Fury and Faction as in other Nations but proceeded in a more Prudent Regular and Christian Method resolving to separate no farther from the Church of Rome than she had separated from the Truth embracing that excellent Advice of the Prophet Jer. 6. 16. Stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein So that the Reform'd Church of England is a true Mean or middle Way betwixt those two Extreams of Supperstition and Phanaticism both equally to be avoided The Doctrine of
The Japanners are gross Idolaters having a multitude of Idols to whose particular Service great numbers both of Men and Women do consecrate themselves The chief of those Idols are call'd by the Names of Amida and Foqueux The Votaries of the former are said to assert the Soul's Immortality and the Pythagorean Metempsychosis and those of the latter imagine That the frequent Repetition of certain Words will attone for all their misdoings and procure to 'em the enjoyment of compleat Felicity at last Great was the multitude of Converts to Christianity once in these Islands if we might safely credit the Testimony of our Roman Missionaries who Anno 1596. reckon'd no less than 600000 of the Natives then actually professing the Christian Religion But how many soe're were really brought over to the Knowledge of the Truth most certain it is that they quickly Apostatiz'd from the same and that no Person dares openly avow the Doctrine of Christ since the Year 1614. all Europeans save the Dutch and others professing Christianity being then expell'd those Islands and not like to have any more Access there for the future §. 2. The Philippin Islands THESE Islands discovered by Magellan Anno 1520 are term'd by the Italians Philippine by the Spaniards Islas de Philippe by the French Philippines by the Germans Philippinische Insuln and by the English The Philippin Islands so call'd from Philip II. of Spain in whose time they began to be inhabited by Spaniards The Air of these Islands is very moderate notwithstanding they lie so near the Line The opposite Place of the Globe to them is the Northmost part of Brasil The Soil of these Islands is generally very fertil producing in great abundance most sorts of Grain Herbs and Fruits They are also very fit for Pasturage and several of 'em are well furnish'd with some rich Mines of Gold and other Metals The length of the Days and Nights in these Islands is much the same as in the Southern Parts of China they both lying under the same Parallels of Latitude The chief Commodities of these Islands are Rice Pulse Wax Honey Sugar-Canes Gold Cotton-Wooll c. In the Sea surrounding these Islands is frequently seen a sort of Fish or Sea-Monster about the bigness of a Calf which in Shape doth much resemble the ancient Sirenes so famous among the Poets whence our English Navigators term it the Woman-Fish because its Head Face Neck and Breast are somewhat like those of the fair Sex In several of the Philippins are some little Vulcano's especially those of the Island Tandaia Here is one Spanish Archbishoprick viz. that of Manilla And subject to him are several Suffragan Bishops but their Number and Titles are uncertain Universities in these Islands None The Natives of these Islands are generally a Couragious and valiant sort of People maintaining still their Liberty in several places They 're said to be Civil and Honest enough in their Dealings with the Chineses and Europeans but most of 'em have a great Aversion to the Spaniards having been extremely ill us'd by that Nation in divers respects The prevailing Language in these Islands is the Spanish which is not only in use among the Spaniards themselves but is also understood and spoken by many of the Natives As for the Language peculiar to 'em we can give no particular Account thereof save only its near Affinity to the Malay Tongue These Islands being mostly subject to the King of Spain are rul'd by a particular Vice Roy appointed by his Catholick Majesty whose place of Residence is in Luconia the biggest of 'em all The Natives as aforesaid do still retain their Liberties in several places especially in the Isle of Mindana where those People call'd Hilanoones i. e. Mountaineers Sologues and Alfoores acknowledge nothing of Subjection to the Spanish Power Many of the milder sort of the Natives are instructed in and make Profession of the Christian Religion and that by the care and diligence of Roman Missionaries sent thither from time to time The rest being of a savage and intractable Temper continue still in the thick Mist of Paganism The Spaniards here residing are the same in Religion with those in Spain §. 3. Isles des Larrons THESE Islands were discovered by Magellan Anno 1520. and so nam'd by him from the Nature of their Inhabitants who were excessively given to thieving This being all that 's remarkable of 'em we pass on to §. 4. The Molucques OF Moluccoes THESE Islands unknown to the Ancients are term'd by the Italians Molucche by the Spaniards Molucco's by the French Isles Moluques by the Germans die Moluccische Insuln and by the English the Molucques or Moluccoe-Islands so call'd from the word Moloc which in the Language of the Country signifieth the Head because the Islands properly call'd the Moluccoes are situated as 't were at the Head or Entrance of the Indian Archipelago These Islands lying under and on either side of the Line the Air is extremely hot and generally esteem'd very unwholesome The opposite Place of the Globe to the Moluccoes is the Northern Part of Brasil The Soil of these Islands is not reckon'd so fertil as that of the Philippin especially in Grain but for abundance of Spices and rich Mines of Gold they far surpass them The Days and Nights do not much vary in their Extent all the Year round these Islands being so near unto and partly under the Equinoctial The chief Commodities of these Islands are Gold Cotton Spices of all sorts especially Cinamon Pepper Cloves Ginger Nutmegs Mastick Alloes c. In the Island of Timor and Solor grows a Tree which stinketh exactly like Human Excrements A considerable part of an Arm of which Tree is to be seen in the Publick Musaeum of Gresham Colledge 2. In several of the Moluccoe's are divers Vulcano's particularly that call'd Gounong-apy in Banda which some Years ago made a dreadful Eruption not only of Fire and Sulphure but also of such a prodigious number of Stones that they cover'd a great part of the Island and so many dropt into the Sea that where 't was formerly forty Fathom Water near the Shore is now a dry Beach 3. In Ternata one also of the Moluccoes is another Vulcano reckon'd by many to be yet more terrible than the former for a particular Description of which Vid. Philos Trans N. 216. 4. In the Moluccoe's is a Bird term'd by the Natives Manucodiata i. e. Avis Dei and by the Europeans the Bird of Paradise He is indeed a Creature of admirable Beauty and being always seen upon the Wing 't was currently believ'd that he had no Feet But that Opinion is now found to be a gross Mistake notwithstanding the same was not only receiv'd by the unthinking Vulgar but also embrac'd even by some considering yet therein deceiv'd Naturalists among whom the great Scaliger Exerc. 228. S. 2
whose Top are four Apples of solid pure Gold which all together weigh seven hundred Pounds weight and in another Court of the said Palace is a prodigious high Tower so contriv'd that the Emperor can mount up to the Top of it on Horse-back 5. In the City of Fez is that famous Mosque call'd Caruven which is said to be almost half a Mile in Circuit and furnisht with thirty Gates of a prodigious bigness It hath above three hundred Cisterns to wash in before they go to Prayers and in it are upwards of nine hundred Lamps which are commonly lighted and burn every Night 6 Over a certain River call'd Sabu as it runs between two Hills term'd Beni-jasga and Silego is a remarkable Bridge or rather a ready way of passing from one side of the River to the other and that by the help of two large Stakes fixt fast in the Ground on either side one between which are extended two strong Ropes and to one of them is ty'd a kind of a big Basket able to contain ten Men into which the Passengers being entred and pulling one of the Ropes which runs by a Pulley they waft themselves over much sooner than we Europeans can pass either by Bridge or Boat Vid. Dapper 's late Description of Africa Archbishopricks Bishopricks Universities None The Barbarians thus Characteriz'd of old by Herodian Mauri inquâ—t ills Genus sunt hominum suapte naturâ coedit avidissimum nihilque non facile audens despèratis sinâ—les contemptu scilices mortis periculorum are now a People that 's generally very Inconstant Crafty and Unfaithful Active of Body Impatient of Labour and Covetous of Honour Some of 'em â—re Studious in Matters of their Law and others are enclin'd to the Liberal Sciences especially Philosophy and the Mathematicks The Inhabitants of Sallee Tripoli and Algiers are mightily given to Pyracy and many of the Moroccos are much addicted to Merchandizing Dispers'd through all these Countries are the Arabs who especially in Barca exercise their common Trade of robbing and molesting Travellers on the Highway In most of the Sea-Port Towns and over all the Countries bordering on the Sea the prevailing Language is Arabesque or corrupt Arabick In the City of Morocco and several other Places they still retain their Ancient Language or rather a corrupt Dialect of the old African The trading People especially in their Dealing with Strangers do use a certain Jargon compounded chiefly of Spanish and Portugueze not unlike to the Lingua Franca among the Turks This large Country comprehending several Kingdoms and Provinces is chiefly under the Great Turk and Emperor of Morocco To the latter belong the Kingdoms of Morocco and Fez and to him are ascrib'd or rather he assumeth the following Titles viz. Emperor of Africa King of Morocco Fez Sus and Taffalet Lord of Gago Dara and Guinea and Great Xeriff of Mahomet The other Kingdoms or Provinces of this Country are mostly subject to the Great Turk and are govern'd by his particular Bassa's set over 'em only Tunis and Algiers two considerable Commonwealths or rather distinct Kingdoms though each of 'em hath their respective Bassa appointed by the Grand Signior yet they 're so eager in maintaining their Liberties and Priviledges that those Bassa's are little more than meer Cyphers For in the former of these the Inhabitants have a Power of chusing their own Governor or Captain term'd the Dey who Rules the Kingdom Constitutes Cadi's and passeth Sentence in all Affairs whether Civil or Criminal The Divan of Tunis is compos'd of one Aga one Chaya twelve Odabachi twenty four Bouloubachi two Secretaries and four Chiaoux who judge in all Matters after they have heard the Sentiment of the Dey who may accept or reject their Advice as he thinks fit As for Aegiers The Government thereof is lodg'd in the Hands of the Army particularly the Officers of the Janizaries of whom the Council of State is compos'd and of it the Aga of the Janizaries is President It 's true the Grand Signior keeps always in this Place a Bassa with the Title of Vice-Roy but he 's at best but a meer Shadow for he may not so much as enter the great Divan unless invited by the whole Council and when admitted he hath but one single Voice and can only advise in Matters Besides these two Potent Republicks of this Country there 's another viz. That of Tripolt but it is intirely subject to the Grand Signior who governs the same by a particular Bassa sent from the Ottoman Court and renew'd every third Year He is honour'd with the Standart of Tunis and the Title of Beglerbeg The chief Independent Potentate in these Countries being the Emperor of Fez and Morocco he bears for Arms Three Wheels Argent As for the rest of Barbary Vid Turky in Europe page 182. The establisht Religion of this Country is Mahometanism but the Inhabitants of Morocco differ from other Mahometans in several considerable Points particularly those maintain'd by the Followers of Hamet the first of the present Race of the Morocco Emperors who was at first a kind of Monk and quitting his Retirement A. C. 1514. began publickly to Preach to the People that the Doctrine of Hali and Omar and other Interpreters of the Law was only Humane Traditions besides several other things of that Nature which occasion'd such Animosities between other Turks and the Morocco's that a Turkish Slave with them is no whit better treated than a Christian There are also many Persons in and about Algiers who likeways differ from other Mahometans in divers Particulars Some of 'em maintain that to fast seven or eight Months doth merit Eternal Happiness That Idiots are the Elect of God That Sins against Nature are Virtues That the Marabouts among 'em are inspir'd by the Devil and yet they account it an honourable thing to be defil'd by one of ' em These and many other such ridiculous Follies do they believe and avouch The Christian Faith was first planted in this Country by some of the seventy Disciples and St. Simon the Apostle Sirnam'd Zelotis SECT III. Concerning Bildulgerid  d. m. Situated between 02 00 of Long. It s greatest Length from W to E. is about 2040 Miles 55 00 between 22 30 of Latit Breadth from N. to S. is about 300 Miles 32 40 Bildulgerid comprehends the Provinces of Tesset Chief Town Idem From W. to E. Dara Idem Segelmess Idem Tegorarin Idem Zeb Teulachar Bildulgerid prop. so call'd Caphesa Desart of Barca None considerable THIS Country the Ancient Numidia is term'd by the Italians Spaniards French Germans and English Bildulgerid so call'd from the vast numbers of Dates it produceth the Name in the Arabick Tongue signifying a Date The Air of this Country is very hot but generally esteem'd abundantly wholesome to breath in The opposite Place of the Globe to Bildulgerid is that part of Mare de'l Zur and More Pacificum lying between 182
which Church thus refin'd is briefly summ'd up in the 39 Articles and Book of Homilies and her Discipline and Worship are to be seen in the Liturgy and Book of Canons All which being seriously weigh'd and consider'd by a judicious and impartial Mind it may be found that this National Church is for certain the exactest of all the Reformed Churches and comes nearest to the Primitive Pattern of any in Christendom For her Doctrine is intirely built upon the Prophets and Apostles according to the Explication of the Ancient Fathers her Government rightly considered is truly Apostolical her Liturgy is a notable extract of the best of the Primitive Forms her Ceremonies are few in number but such as tend to Decency and true Devotion In a word The Church of England doth firmly hold and maintain the whole Body of the truly Catholick Faith and none other according to Holy Scripture and the Four first General Councils so that her Sons may truly say in the Words of an Eminent Luminary of the Ancient Church In ea Regula incedimus quam Ecclesia ab Apostolis Apostoli à Christo Christus à Deo accepit At present all Sects and Parties are tollerated and it 's truly as Melancholly to consider as 't is hard to determine whether our Heats and Divisions on one hand or Open Prophaneness and Irreligion on the other be most predominant In the mean time this is most certain that they 're both equally to be lamented the necessary Consequence of them both being most dismal and dangerous in the end But that it may please the Almighty to grant to all Nations Unity Peace and Concord is the daily and fervent Prayer of the Church of Christ and the hearty wish and desire of every true Son thereof The Christian Faith is thought to have been planted in England tempore ut scimus summo Tiberii Caesaris according to Ancient Gildas but afterwards more universally receiv'd Anno 180. it being then openly profess'd by Publick Authority under King Lucius who is said to have been the first Christian King in the World yet several doubt whether there was ever such a Man in the World In general this is certain that Christianity was propagated here in the earliest Ages of the Church WALES THIS Country the Seat of the Ancient Britains term'd by the Italians Wallia by the Spaniards Gales by the French Galles by the Germans Walles and by the English Wales so call'd as some imagine from Idwallo Son to Cadwallader who retir'd into this Country with the remaining Britains But others do rather think that as the Britains derive their Pedigree from the Gauls so they also retain the Name this Country being still term'd by the French Galles which using W for G according to the Saxon Custom agrees pretty well with the present Title The Air of this Country is much the same as in those Counties of England which lie under the same Parallel of Latitude The opposite Place of the Globe to Wales is that Part of the vast Pacifick Ocean between 190 and 200 Degrees of Longitude with 56 and 60 Degrees of South Latitude The Soil of this Country it lying in the 9th North Climate is generally very Mountainous yet some of its Vallies are abundantly fertil producing great plenty of Corn and others are very fit for Pasturage It 's likeways well stor'd with large Quarries of Free Stone as also several Mines of Lead-Oar and Coles The longest Day in the Northmost Parts is about 16 Hours ½ the shortest in the Southmost 7 Hours ¾ and the Nights proportionably The chief Commodities of this Country are Cattle Butter Cheese Welch Friezes Cottons Bays Herrings Hides Calve-Skins Honey Wax and such like In several Parts of this Principality especially Denbighshire are still to be seen the Remains of that famous Wall commonly call'd King Offa's Dâ—ke made by Offa the Mercian as a Boundary between the Saxons and Britains 2. At a small Village call'd Newton in Glamorganshire is a remarkable Spring nigh the Sea which Ebbs and Flows contrary to the Sea 3. In the same County as also Câ—ermardâ—nshire are several Ancient Sepulchral Monuments and divers noted Stone Pillars with observable Inscriptions upon them 3. In Brecknockshire are some other remarkable Pillars particularly that call'd Maen y Morynuiâ—n or the Maiden-stone near the Town of Brecknock Another at Pentre Yskythrog in Lhan St. Aeâ—ed Parish And a third in Form of a Cross in Vaenor Parish 4. In Glamorganshire are the Remains of Kaer Phyli Castle taken by some for the Buliaeum Silurum which are generally reckon'd the noblest Ruins of Ancient Architecture of any in Britain 5 In Monmouthshire are many Roman Aitars dug up with variety of Inscriptions upon ' em For all these Inscripons abovementiond Vid. Camden 's Britannia late Edition from page 613 to 620. as also from 623 to 628 with page 593 594 600 601 605. But if the curious Reader would see the chief Rarities of Wales at one view let him consult the aforesaid Author page 697. where he will find the Remarkables of this Principality represented in Sculpture particularly these following viz. a curious carved Pillar call'd Maen-y-Chwyan on Mostyn Mountain in Flintshire Two remarkable Pillars at Kaer Phyli Castle in Glamorganshire An Alabaster Statue found near Porth-Shini-Kran in Monâ—â—outhshire And finally some Roman Armour and Medals with variety of Coins both Roman and British dug up at several times in several Parts of Wales Archbishopricks in this Principality None Bishopricks 4. viz. those of Bangor Landaff S. Asaph S. Davids already mention'd Universities None The Welch are a People generally reputed very faithful and loving to one another in a strange Country as also to Strangers in their own The Commons for the most part are extraordinary Simple and Ignorant but their Gentry are esteem'd both Brave and Hospitable They 're universally inclin'd to a Cholerick Temper and extravagantly value themselves on their Pedigrees and Families The Welsh being the Off-spring of the Ancient Britains do still retain their Primitive Language which yet remains freer from a mixture of exotick Words than any Modern Tongue in Europe a Language which hath nothing to recommend it to Strangers it being both hard to pronounce and unpleasant to the Ear by reason of its vast multitude of Consonants Their Pater-Noster runs thus Ein Tad yr hwn wyt yn y nefoedd sancteidier dy enw Deued dy deyrmas bid dy ewyll s ar yddâ—iar megis y mac yn y nefoedd dyro i ni heddyw ein bara beunyddiol a maddeu i ni ein dyledion fel y maddewn ni i'n dyledwyr ac nar arwain mi brofe diageth eithr gwared in rhag drwg Amen This Principality was anciently govern'd by its own King or Kings there being frequently one for South and another for North Wales and sometimes no less than five did claim a Regal Power but was fully Conquer'd Anno 1282.