winde from the oriental part vnder the equinoctiall line called East the three other cold and drie raising the Southern wind comming from vnder the Pole antarticke the other three hot and moist the West winde being also vnder the equinoctiall line the other which are colde and moist the North winde comming from vnder the pole articke which windes haue their different properties according to the places from whence they proceed and where they blow mouing about the water and the earth euen as the starres by which they are raised The foure principall windes haue foure other collaterall all which eight together are called entier or whole windes betwixt whom are placed eight halfe windes and sixteene other quarters of windes and by these is all nauigation ordered But the water on which they saile being contiguous or ioyning to the aire receiueth no lesse varietie than it and maketh but one globe with the earth For as the earth being drie of his owne nature cannot endure without moisture neither should the water haue any where to abide without resting it selfe on the earth they haue therefore bin thus by nature ioyned together the one opening the vaines and conduites of the earth the other passing through it both within and without to serue instead of à bande vnto it All water of his proper motion descendeth downe from on high but in the Ocean sea which enuironeth the earth are found three motions th one from East to West another from the North towards the South the third of the daily ebbing flowing for from six houres to six it aduaunceth and enlargeth it selfe then it abateth and retyreth The which motions are seene also in the Mediterranean sea towards the bankes The cause of the first motion from East to West is the daily mouing of the firm ament by whose impetuositie all the Spheres are moued with a good part of the fire and the aire The other from the North towards the South is because that the Sea is higher in the North parts then in the South in respect that the Northren cold ingendreth more water then the Sea can containe within the space distance and heigth of his bankes and the water which is in the South part is consumed and diminished by the heat of the same So one part of the water in the North forceth downe an other on that side which is lowest and moueth accidentally from the place of his generation The third followeth the reuolution of the Moone which alwaies increasing and decreasing appeareth sometimes horned sometmes half round some times almost round and sometimes spotted then by and by cleere great when she is at full and anon she is not seen at all Sometimes she shineth all night sometimes ariseth late sometimes she shineth all day supplying the brightnes of the sunne and comming to Eclipsie yet appeareth notwithstanding and at the monethes end hideth her selfe when she is said to trauaile Sometimes also she is low and sometimes high which neuer happeneth after one sort for sometimes one would say that she were fixed to the firmament other whiles that she touched the top of the mountaines so low she is abased she is sometimes found in the South side of the heauens and sometimes we must seeke her in the North. Since then that she is so variable it is no meruaile if the ebbings and flowings of the Tydes in the sea which are caused chiefely by her are also variable First in the daily motion which the Moone maketh with the heauen in twentie fower howers there are two tydes ebbing and two flowing the sea increasing by the space of six howers and diminishing six others which are twelue And it doth asmuch in other twelue howers which are twentie fower Their augmentations are not alwaies alike in all times and places for by the space of seauen daies the waters do increase when they call them liue waters and seauen other daies they decrease when they are called dead waters In such sort that from the first day of the change of the Moone vntil the eight which is the first quarter the waters are diminished and from the said quarter vntill the fifteenth which is full Moone they are still augmented and from thence till the third quarter they goe still decreasing and from that to the coniunction they are increased againe So the first day of the Moone is chiefe of the waters and the second day the waters are yet verie great and the third in like sort but the fourth day they begin to waxe lesse and so go diminishing from day to day vntil they come to the eight for then are the low waters and on the ninth likewise and the tenth almost the same then on the eleuenth is the rising of the waters when they begin a little to augment And from that time forwarde they increase euery day vntill the fifteenth when it is full moone and then it beginneth againe to be head water and on the sixteenth it increaseth likewise and almost vnto the ende of the seuenteenth But on the eighteenth it decreaseth and goeth so diminishing euery day vntill the thirtieth when as she is in coniunction And so on the first day it beginneth againe to behead water and proceedeth thus increasing and decreasing as hath bin said Yet in these increasings the waters are not so high at one time as at another but greater at one time and lesse at another Also the ebbing and flowing of tides are not equal in all places Neuertheles when the moone is at Northeast it is full sea and when she is at Southeast it is low water Also there is nothing perpetuall in the earth sometime the sea or some other water enclosed within it breaking out forceably doth couer a part thereof sometimes againe it retireth The Riuers and fountaines are dryed vp and there arise new in other places Some Countries are turned into standing pooles and marishes others into sandie deserts others into woodes then being husbanded and laboured they become fertile of barrain and againe on the contrarie barrain of fruitful The Mountaines are made plain and the plaines are lifted vp some places are swallowed by Earthquakes or scorched by exceeding heats When it hath long bin manured it waxeth wearie then by rest and cherishing it recouereth vigour In tract of time it waxeth old if not wholie yet at the least in his parts then is renewed and becommeth young againe We see euery yeare at the spring time and beginning of Summer how being watered with small rayne caused by soft windes and moderately heated it openeth the seedes of all things which before were shut vp and putteth some of them into herbes stalkes and eares others into stems and husks others into budds others into tender tops the garden trees yeeld buds flowers leaues and fruit the forestes and woods are clothed with greene bearing on their branches and bougâ—es the birdes pricked with a desire of engendring which record by themselues their melodious songs The Fishes leape and the
extremitie conioyned and knit togither Moreouer it is certaine that Nature hath not created any thing vnto which she hath not giuen a contrarie to withhold it and keepe it backe where hence proceede the Antipathies or contrarie affections in all things aswell animate as inanimate lyuing as without life In beasts as betweene the Cocke and the Foxe in fishes betweene the Mullet and the fish called Lupus which some take it to be the Pike in birdes betwixt the Crow and the Kite Amongst trees the Chestnut and Oliue amongst stones the Adamant and the Diamant What then shall we say of men which are so passionate and inconstant Truely that al in all ages and all kinds of life publike priuate solitarie contemplatiue actiue are inclined to contentions and partialities euen so farre as euery one to be at variance in him selfe hauing in his bodie and soule a perpetuall combate betweene reason and concupiscence And in this maner is the strife amongst children which yet haue no knowledge and amongst the Sauages which haue nothing proper or peculier There are Sectes in the schooles of Law Physicke Diuinitie Philosophie and in the conuents and monasteries amongst the Reclus and Recluses No maruaile is it therefore if there be seditions in Cities and Countries which make people of diuers estates euen to run hedlong as was sometimes in Rome that of the common people and the Nobility Yf there be warres betweene Lordship and Lordship kingdom and kingdom which respectiuely keeps them both in feare So were aunciently in Greece the Lacedemonians to the Athenians so to the Romaines the Carthaginians and afterward the Parthians So are at this day opposed the Scots to the English the English to the French the French to the Italians The Almaines to the Suitzers the Africans to the Spaniards the Turkes to the Christians the Persians to the Turkes the Zagathaines to the Persians being deuided amongst themselues by colours redd and greene and of that are called Caselbas and Cuselbas the Moscouites to the Polonians the Tartarians to them both In the Indies Cochim to Calecut in high Africk the Moores to the Abissins thorough out the countrey of the Arabians the inhabitants of the Mountaines to those that dwel in the Plaines The Black-moores amongst themselues And in Brasil the Sauluages euen to the eating of one another when they are taken in warre And it might seeme that these diuisions were in some sort necessarie thoroughout the world and such contrarieties as God hath giuen to euery estate almost to euery person profitable to keepe them in feare and humility for men will soone waxe proud and are easily puft vp with prosperity and riches and especially when they misconceaue from whence such grace proceedeth God is wont to send them aduersities for their chastisment Wheresore it is ordinarily seene that euery mighty estate hauing no forrain enemy findeth some within it selfe and when it is come to such greatnesse that it cannot be brought vnder or kept downe by any strange or foraine force then is it afflicted with partialities and oftentimes distroied or translated into some other nation with alteration both of Iustice and politike gouernment Moreouer when the Countries are to full of inhabitants and that the malice and subtilty of man is come to the highest then are they purged and empted by famines and pestilence to the end that the people which are in it being reduced to a lesse number and chastised may liue better But if herewith they amend not but waxe worse and worse then either are they exterminated by fire and water or by Earthquakes ouerwhelmed God vsing alwaies such rigours against those which perseuer in their wickednes as he is alwaies readie to receiue to mercie such as are truely penitent which turne to him and pray to him with their harts OF THE VARIETY AND INTER course of Shadowes Daies and seasons of the yeare and diuersitie of habitations on the Earth HItherto hath bin declared how the world is not onely conserned by the intercourse of the Heauens and Elements but also tempered by contraries Now to the end we may the better consider the difference which is found in respect of the diuersitie of places and aspectes of heauen aswell in plants trees fruits mettals sauours colours and tastes as in beasts fishes birds and euen in men themselues and all their affaires we will briefly touch as far foorth as shall belong to our present purpose the fiue Zones of the habitable earth the seauen Climats fower limits East West North and South the two sides or hemisphers longitude and latitude the three parts thereof Europe Asia and Africke vnto which is also added America the varietie of shadowes daies and seasons with the diuers maners of inhabiting because that all these considerations serue to the knowledge of the world and the chaunges which in times past haue happened therein and do euery day come to passe The Auncients diuided the Heauen consequently the earth into fiue Zones thinking that those two that are vttermost about the two Poles North and South did make those two parts of the earth which are subiect to them vnhabitable by their extreme continual cold Also that that part of the heauen which beholdeth the middle of the earth vnder the Equinoctiall made it likewise vnhabitable by reason that the Sunne hauing there his continuall course burneth with his beames beating on it so neere and perpendicularly all the countrie lying vnder that Zone That the two others which are betweene the burning Zone and the Poles were temperate as also those parts of the earth which are answerable vnto them But that one could not passe verie well from the one to the other because of the burning Zone being in the midst But by the latter voyages and nauigations the whole earth is found to be inhabited yea euen vnder the Poles themselues beeing both in the midst and in the vtmost parts frequented with men and with singuler commodities the heat of the middle-most accounted burning hoat being lesse vnder the Equinoctiall then the Tropicke not a whit hindering the passage from one of the temperate vnto the other For although that vnder the Equinoctiall the sunne-beames are perpendicular twice in a yeare yet do they but little harme by reason that they stay not long there the Zodiake being streight and not oblique or crooked in that place Then the nightes being there continually equall in length vnto the daies doe mitigate with their colde the heat of the dayes But vnder and neere vnto the Tropickes the Zodiacke beeing crooked the Sunne stayeth longer there and discendeth not so swiftlle vnder the Horizon makinge the dayes longer and the sunne hotter yet sufferable notwithstanding as wee see by innumerable people dwelling vnder the Equinoctial and betweene the Tropickes In the vttermost part of the North dwell the Liuonians Noruegians Lithuanians Swedens Moscouites Lapians and Brarmians last of all hauing in their depth of winter the aire full of foggs and great clouds
with much snow and frost In such sort that both by water and by land they make their traficke and warres on yce But when summer returneth the countrie is vncouered and made more temperate by the light which the Sunne giueth there longer in one place then in another according as it is neerer or farther remoued from the Pole Euen as in the hoat quarter some places by the presence of the Sunne are disinhabited or at least incommodiously inhabited which by his departure do recouer an habitable temperature The superficies or vpper face of the Earth hath bin also otherwise distinguished for by how much any countrie declineth on one side or other from the Equinoctial so much is their day the longer in Summer and their night in Winter In such sort that according to the diuers increase of the daies the spaces of the earth haue bin distinguished attributing to euery Climate halfe an howers increase And the places subiect vnto these Climates haue bin noted out either by famous Cities or riuers or mountaines as by Meroe Sienna Alexandria Rhodes Rome Borysthenes and the mountaine Ripheus fabulously inuented where the longest day is of 16. howers and a quarter and the Pole is eleuated 50. degrees The Auncients staied at this seauenth not knowing the Regions Countries Seas and Isles that are beyond it At this day by the same reason there may others be added The fower limitts or boundes of the worlde are the East West South and North differing in this that the South and the North are stable and immoueable But the East and West do neuer remaine in one estate by reason of the ascent and descent which the Sunne maketh in the signes of the Zodiacke Wherefore Eratosthenes following nature diuideth the world chiefly into two partes the South and North imagining that from them proceeded the diuersitie of all inferiour thinges according to their neerenesse or distance from the sunne True it is that thereby ariseth some difference but all consisteth not therein as hereafter shall be declared Moreouer nature hath indewed euery one of these extremities or vtmost partes with some singuler excellencie For toward the East there India brings forth Rubies Emeraulds Pearles and many other precious stones both out of the earth and the sea the great and mightie Elephants the high palme-trees full of wine and loden with nuts And Serica in that quarter hath first giuen vs the Silke which is had of wormes bred in Mulberie-trees Arabia in the South yeelds incense ebony and cotton Iewrie next vnto it the balsme and the cedar Ethiopia Cassia and Ciuet The Moluccaes in the farthest partes of the West Pepper spice cloues cinnamon ginger nutmeggs and other druggs The North the Alces Beares Ounces and other beastes which are not seen elswhere hony and waxe without the industrie of man throughout the large forestes exquisite skinnes of Martins Sables and others of great accompt in the other parts of the world to make furres for great Lordes Cornelius Tacitus saith that Amber groweth onely in Borussia and is fished there as in the South comes incense and balsme Also the earth being spherical or round is parted into two equall sides called Hemispheres and by the roundnesse of it from East to West it commeth to passe that there it is sooner day and night and by the roundnesse of it from South to North that there are alwaies seen some starres about the Pole Articke not about the Antarticke which remayneth hidden from vs which are one this side the earth as ours is also vnseen of those on the other side The longitude or length of the earth is taken from the West to East the latitude or bredth from the South to the North. The auncients as Isocrates diuided the earth onely into two parts Europe and Asia afterwards they added Africke for the third this diuision taking his beginning at the straight of Gibraltar where the Atlanticke sea engulfeth it selfe within the land making the Mediterranean or midland sea by which these three are diuided Africke remayning on the right hand Europe on the left and Asia in the midst On the other side the riuers Nilus and Tanais made these diuisions long agone But as for Tanais it cannot now stand for a bound so many innumerable people and countries beeing knowen now on this side which heretofore were vnknowen to the Auncients To these three also it is necessarie to add a fowerth taken of America and other landes newly discouered towardes the West and the South of which it is not yet knowen whether they be ioyned or no to Asia that is to say whether they ought to bee reputed maine land or Isles These thinges premised as necessarie to the vnderstanding of this discourse that followeth wee will intreat henceforward of the varietie of shadowes inequalitie of dayes and nightes intercourse of the seasons of the yeare according to the diuers habitations and will propose the diuersitie of thinges according to the difference of places Then comming to the shadowes wee find that they chaunge with the Sunne and from Countrie to Countrie for by how much the Sunne is higher the shadow is the lesse and by how much he is the lower the shadow is greater in such sort that alwaies it is greater in the morning and euening then at noonetyde Vnder the two Tropickes there is no shadowe at noone on the daies of the Solstices nor vnder the Equinoctiall in the daies of the Equinoxes The inhabitants on the one side and the other haue their shadowes opposite the one on the right hande the other on the left To those that dwell vnder the Poles they are round about them in manner of roundels or milstones The Sunne then going alwaies either towardes the North or on the Equinoctiall or towardes the South maketh fiue sortes of shadowes through out the world that is to the East to the West to the North to the South and one straight shadowe Towardes the East it maketh shadow when it setteth to the West when it riseth towardes the North when it comes from the South and when hee whose shadowe is made is neerer to the North then is the Sunne and towardes the South when hee that makes the shadowe is neerer then the sunne is to the South Also the straight shadow is when the Sunne is on our Zenith All these fiue sortes of shadowes happen onelie to those which dwell betweene the Tropickes and they which inhabite vnder the Equinoctiall haue but fower towardes East and West They that are vnder the Tropicke of Cancer haue their shadowe towardes the North and those that are vnder the Tropicke of Capricorne towardes the South And once in the yeare direct when the Sunne entreth into that Tropicke Those which dwell wythout the Tropickes haue but three shadowes towardes East and West and those which dwell in the North haue their shadow towardes the North and such as inhabite the South part haue their shadow towardes the South and neuer haue it direct or
straight Concerning the dayes and nightes they are alwayes alike vnder the Equinoctiall but thence they goe continually increasing and diminishing either by the opposition of the earth which maketh the night or by the roundnesse thereof which bringeth the daye They then which inhabite Northward from the Equinoctial haue their dayes increasing when the Sunne returneth from the Tropicke of Capricorne to that of Cancer and those which inhabite the South haue the contrarie namely their nights increasing in length and their daies decreasing by reason that the sunne goeth euery day farther farther from them towards the North. Also when he commeth into Aries on the eleuenth of March hee treadeth the Equinoctial line and maketh the dayes equall with the nightes on euery side but when hee hath passed the first point of Aries the dayes become longer then the nightes to those on the North and shorter to those on the South And the eleuenth of Iune when the Sunne enters into Cancer is the longest day and the shortest night and on the other side the contrarie for the Sunne is then neerest to the one and farthest from the other Also from thence forward he beginneth to discend and returning by little and little maketh the dayes shorter and the nightes longer to them which inhabite Northward and contrarywise to the inhabitantes of the South Moreouer when he is in Libra the thirteenth of September he traceth againe the Equinoctiall line and then are the nights and the daies equall But from thence he discendeth towards the signe of Capricorne and the nights become longer then the daies to them that dwel in the North and the daies longer and shorter nights to those of the South Finally being come to the Tropick of Capricorne he maketh to vs heere the shortest day and the longest night and in the South the longest day and shortest night For this is also a place wher the sunne is neerest to the one and farthest from the other And by how much the Pole is eleuated aboue the Horizon of euery habitation the daies and nights are so much the longer In somuch that they which haue their Zenith vnder the Circle articke and to whom the Pole is raised aboue their Horizon 66. degrees and a halfe when the sunne commeth into the first point of Cancer on the eleuenth of Iune they haue a day of 24. howers and their night is almost as an instant because the sunne toucheth their Horizon but a moment for that day And on the thirteenth of December when the Sunne is in the first degree of Capricorne they haue then a night of 24. howers and in a maner but a moment of day by reason that the sunne toucheth their Horizon in an instant and by and by setteth and they account this small touch for a day They which are vnder the Antarticke circle haue the cleane contrarie And those which haue their Zenith betweene the Circle and the Pole of the world while the Sunne is going towards the North that which their Horizon discouereth of the Equinoctiall shal be vnto them for one day And if it be the quantitie of one signe their day shall endure one Moneth and if of two signes it shal be of two Monethes and so for the rest And he which shal be vnder one of the Poles shall haue all the yeare long but one day and one night In such sort that if he were vnder the Pole Artick those sixe Monethes in which the sunne is going towards the North shal be a day vnto him without night and the other sixe Monethes while the Sunne is going towards the South should be a night vnto him without any day And on the contrarie to those which are vnder the Pole Antartick In so much that halfe the yeare shal be vnto them a day and the other halfe a night by reason of the roundnes of the world which waxeth lesse and lesse toward the Poles So their Horizon which are neerest to the Poles discouereth the greatest part of the day which the sunne maketh when he goeth on their side the earth and water not hindering them of the sight of the sunne all the time that he ascendeth and discendeth vntil he commeth to that place where their Horizon doth not discouer any thing of the Circle or course which he maketh about the world and also by how much that part is greater so much shall the day be longer Manie do erre thinking the increasing and decreasing of daies to proceede equally throughout the yeare because that in deede they increase as much in the one onely moneth of March as they did in the monethes of Ianuarie and Februarie together And on thother side they are shortned as much in the one onely moneth of September as they were afore in Iuly and August The cause is for that the Sunne on the twelfth of March parting from out the Equinoctiall and returning towardes the North vntill the twelfth of Aprill maketh twelue degrees and from the twelfth of Aprill vntill the twelfth of May eight and from the twelfth of May to the eleuenth of Iune that he commeth into the Tropicke three and a halfe which are together 23. degrees and a halfe which is the greatest declyning of the sunne In such sort that he separateth himselfe the first moneth by th one halfe of his declining and the second moneth a third part and the third a sixth part And so the length of the day is equall with the night on the eleuenth of March and from thence vnto the eleuenth of Aprill the day increaseth th one halfe of his whole increase and from the twelfth of Aprill vntill the twelfth of May it increaseth a third part and from the twelfth of May to the eleuenth of Iune it increaseth a sixth part In the vttermost North of Moscouia the day and the night are each of them three monethes in the time of the Solstices During the Summer time in May Iune and Iuly there is day continually In the Winter time in Nouember December and Ianuarie continuall night In Februarie March and Aprill first the day is short the night long and on the contrarie in August the night short in October long Of the diuersitie of Shadowes there fall out three sorts of habitations which we are constrained to expresse in Greeke words because we haue no other They are the Amphiscians Eteroscians and Periscians Amphiscians are they which haue their shadowes on both sides of them Northward and Southward such as are the inhabitants betweene the two Tropickes and vnder the Equinoctial as the Ethiopians Arabians and Indians Eteroscians which haue their shadowes turned on th one side inhabiting the temperate zones betweene the Polarie and Tropick circles such are towards the North the Spaniards Frenchmen Englishmen Italians and Greekes Periscians are they which haue their shadowes round about them in forme of milstones such are they which dwell vnder the Poles hauing but one day and one night in the whole yeare and alway the same six signes
aboue the earth and the six other vnderneath Againe the inhabitants of the earth compared one to the other are called Periecians Antecians and Antipodes Periecians may be called collateral and are they which dwell vnder the selfe same climate paralelle and Meridian drawen through the Poles They haue this common with vs First that they inhabite the same temperate Zone secondly that at the same time they haue winter and summer and the other seasons the increasing of daies and nights but differ in this that they haue not the same East and West and that when it is high noone with vs it is midnight with them Such are the inhabitants of the Canaries with the people of China Antecians are they which inhabit thother temperate zone towards the South turning their backes towards vs distant equally from the Equinoctial on their side as we are on ours Hauing then a contrarie latitude they haue also the seasons of the yere contrarie The Autumne in Aries when the Spring is with vs The winter in Cancer when we haue summer the spring in Libra when haruest is here the summer in capricorn which to vs is winter But because they are in the same longitude they haue at the same instant with vs midday and midnight Such are the Egiptians with the farthest Africans The Antipodes so called because they go with their feet opposite to ours hauing the Horizon Hemisphers opposed vnto whom al things are cōtrary winter sommer day and night East west OF THE VARIETY OF THINGS AC cording to the difference of places HEnceforward following our purposed order we will speake of the diuersitie of thinges according to the difference of places Where then the heat is neither to extreme and feruent nor the cold to excessiue and sharpe where there are neither vnmeasurable raines nor too violent windes but the seasons of the yere continue in moderate disposition there is found a conuenient temperature of the aire holsomnes of waters and fertility of groundes by meanes whereof the Countrey is made pleasant healthsome apt to bring forth corne and pulse to norishe all kinde of plants as well others as wilde bearing fruite abundantly in their seasons The beastes birdes and fishes are better formed more fruitfull and of better tast then elswhere But where as hot or cold drie or moist doe exceede they hurt euery thing and make it worse The Ethiopians being neere vnto the Sunne which burneth them with his beames are blacke hauing their heare and beard frisled or curled On the contrary they which inhabite the colde and ycie countries haue their skinne white and soft their heare yellow and vnited both the one and the other being naturally cruell by reason of their excessiue cold and heat They are in both countries of high stature which proceedeth of the abundance of heat in respect of the Ethiopians and of the abundant moisture in regard of those which inhabite the cold countries But the regions of the meane temperature are very good and fertile the people which inhabite there of meane stature quicke witted and well tempered of colour They are delicate in their maner of liuing and haue a good sharpe and quick witt readie to comprehend any thing And cōmonly the great Empires and famous monarchies are in their hands which are not foūd amongst people remoued from this temperature by reason of their beastly sauagenes and brutish immanity Likewise the beasts which are bred in the cold coūtries are lumpish and heauy And on the contrary they are light that are in the hoate regions the one sort very much differing from the other both in forme shape colours and properties The fishes from sea to sea the birds from countrey to countrey do differ much one frō thother as may be knowen by the sight of thē vnderstood by the books which are writtē of thē There is no lesse differēce amongst herbs trees according to the place where they are brought forth For they which grow in the hāgings of hils cold dry exposed to the wind are of greater vertu thē the others on the cōtrary such as grow on plains and shadowed places and waterie being hid from the wind are not of such efficacy Also the soile and season maketh them oft times to shoot forward or to be backward We see better trees fuller of leaues and better stored with fruit in one territory then in another because they like the place better Those trees which loue the hils are very great and faire as Cedars Firre trees pynetrees boxetrees and plaintrees In the Forests the okes beeches corketrees lotetrees elmes ashes and haseltrees do grow The alders poplars willowes and reedes on the riuers sides and in watrie places Some come not any where but in the South Countries as the orange tree the citron or lemmon tree palme or date tree and the sicamore Others in the cold Countries as appletrees and pearetrees The same difference is found both in herbes and lesser plants th one not growing but in hot countries the other in cold others in those that are meanely temperate Some grow in marishes others in standing waters There are some which are found ordinarily in moist places and some in drie others loue the fieldes others the vines and others the meadowes Some do better in the vallies then on the sides of hils others loue the high places exposed to the winde There are that finde norishment along the walles of Townes and Castels and betwixt the closures and ruines of houses Corne coms better in one place the vine in another and cattel in an other The aire is so temperate in Calecut that there is neuer any plague but continuall greenenes in the herbes and trees and there are euery moneth new fruits differing altogether from ours yet good neuerthelesse and maruelous pleasant The countrie of Syria chiefely about Damasco aboundeth with all sort of corne flesh and fruit especially with newe grapes all the yere long Also pomgranats quinces almonds oliues and roses of diuers colours very faire and odoriferous But their apples peares and peaches are of an euil tast In the west Indies as well throughout the Islands as in the Maine there are wilde vines that beare good grapes without industry or care of man But the kernels of the peaches plums cherries sowen in diuers places there do take no roote Oliue trees being planted there bring nothing but leaues without fruit The countrey of Babilon is most fertile in corne but the vine and figg-tree wil not grow there In Moscouia there is great abundance of hony and waxe riche skinnes and exquisite furres but not any fruit worth the reckoning The Tartarians and Arabians haue nothing but cattell The Moluccaes yeeld the aromaticall druggs of spicery and in all thinges else are barren In one place are the Emerauds Rubies Turkoises and Pearles In another is Corrall Ambor and Christall in one place there is gold found in another lead tinne and siluer Plinie esteeming the wheate of
to the inconstancy of fortune but reiecting all such dedestiny fatall necessitie hazardous chance acknowledging truly the world to be gouerned by the diuine prouidence and reducing al thereunto do firmly beleeue that God according to his good pleasure and one onely Spirite which doth all thinges in all men distributeth to diuers persons distinct and different graces respecting still the common good and preseruation of humane society which cannot endure without many and diuers estates charges administrations offices callings and workes in such sort preseruing it selfe by mutuall succour and reciprocall aide But that the true vertue ought chiefly to be required hoped for of him without reiecting either natural inclination or good education And that therefore it behoueth that this natural instinct of which we haue spoken should be prouoked and stirred vp by vertuous institution which correcteth the ill if there be any and augmenteth the good in such as are of a good naturall disposition guiding by wise precepts and counsels this natural aptnes and inclination vnto true perfection Since that nothing in the beginning is perfect but that there goeth alwaies before some toward disposition and after followeth the accomplishment As at the point of day breake there is first a certaine glimmering before the light appeareth In trees the bud and the flower come before the fruit In corne that is sowen the blade and the eare come before the graine The goodnes of nature alone without discipline is not wel assured and discipline without nature altogether vnprofitable Euen as in tilling of the land to haue good profit therof it is not enough to haue good groūd but it behoueth also that the husbandman be skilful in his trade haue good seed After to confirme thē both and to take a good custome which may alwaies remain perseuerance continual exercise are requisite in such workes and actions as concerne that vocation whereunto one is called As the dyer being desirous to giue some fine dye vnto a cloth which shal long time keepe his colour doth first wash it and prepare it carefully and after dyeth it againe and againe So to the obtaining of perdurable praise in any calling wee must vse necessarie preparatiues and euen from our youth imprint vertue in our hartes and our manners by diligent instruction that it may long remaine with vs. These meanes are seldome found altogether but where they meete fitly and agreably they make men accomplished and admirable such as those haue ben in times past which at this day wee so highly commend and esteeme Such are the opinions concerning the varietie which is amongst men hauing all of them a great apparance of trueth But heere wee will followe the celestiall and naturall as the most common and that which Ptolomey writeth thereof in these wordes The properties of people sayth hee haue vsually been distinguished either by all Parallels and all Angles or by their scituation towardes the Ecliptique and the sunne For the inhabitants of our land situated in an aquilonarie quadrant which are subiect to Souther parellels that is to say which are described by the equinoctial vnto the tropique of Sommer as the sunne goeth ouer them their bodies are blacke and in a manner burnt therewith their heire thicke and curled their faces scorched they are slender of stature hot of nature and cruel of disposition by reason of the great heat which raigneth in their coūtrey We cal thē Ethiopians being so disposed as we haue said and hauing such constitution of aire wherein do agree with them all the liuing creatures and things growing of that Countrey But those which are vnder Aquilonarie Parallels that is to say which inhabite such places as are vnder the North because their vertical point is farre remoued from the Zodiack and from the heat of the sunne they abound in cold and moisture in which there is much nourishment which is not drawen vp by the said heat By meanes whereof the men there are white of colour with long haire great of stature and well made but of cold nature and cruel maners through the vehement cold of those places The sharpnes of winter is agreable hereunto and the greatnes of all thinges which growe out of the earth and the wildnes of their beasts we call them generally Scythians Touching them which inhabite betweene the Tropique of Sommer and the North because the sunne goeth not on their Zenith nor yet to farr towards the South they liue in a very temperate aire ioyning their houses together being of gentle and sweete maners And such of them as are neerest the South are most ingenious and wise and haue accustomed to be best skilled in heauenly matters for asmuch as their vertical point is nearer the Zodiacke and the wandering starres which are vnder it by the familiaritie of which they haue their minds prompt readie for the comprehending and vnderstanding of affaires of arts especially of the Mathematickes Also such of them as are toward the East are more vigorous and firme of vnderstanding concealing nothing For by right wee say that the East is of the nature of the sunne and therefore that part of the day ought to be esteemed as the right side the better and more manlike as we see in liuing creatures the right side to be stronger and harder then the left On the contrarie they which are towards the west are more effeminate soft and secret for that part belongeth vnto the Moone which is seene alwaies towards the west betweene the interlunary spaces And therfore as the nocturnal worst and left side is reputed opposite vnto the East Aristotle affirmeth that those nations are barbarous which dwel vnder excessiue cold or heat for as much as the good temperature of the aire doth better both the manners and vnderstandings For the extreme Northern or Southern people are not ciuil by nature nor gouerned by discipline nor conioyned in habitations neither do they sowe nor plant helpe themselues little or nothing with manuary trades exchange in their bargaining one thing for another not knowing the vse of money but liuing without houses townes and cities wandering continually by great troupes representing great walking Cities guyded by diuers heads and Lords and trailing or drawing after them their little lodges or houels couered with leather mattes canes or course wooll to defend them selues against heat cold and raine And without long abode in any place they follow the commodities of the herbage and water for their beasts and cattel which they bring with them innumerable of diuers sortes as Horses Camels Sheepe and Kine wherewith they sustayne them selues and with venyson being destitute of Corne herbes and fruits Such were of auncient time in the Northern Countries the Scythians and Sarmatians or Sauromatians dwelling in fields or Champaignes infinitely large and spacious open without wood trees or bushes without waies or bounds on Chariots whereon they placed their wiues and children which were therhence called Nomades and Hamaxobites Being
had the principall charge vnder him who put him in a golden cage and cast him on a chariot meaning to carry him to Bactria then seeing that Alexander approached caused him to bee killed with darts and Iauelins and left him dead in the midst of the way Such was the end of a king so mighty in people in possessions and reuenews who called him selfe Lord of all the world from the East vnto the West hauing raigned onely sixe yeres in all delicacies exceeding the common magnificence of Princes Which luxurious maner of liuing was cause of his vtter ouerthrow as humane things being variable haue their fatall inclination so ordained by the diuine prouidence to fall then when they are mounted highest and that the Lords thinke themselues to be most assured sleeping therefore in carelesnes and ouerweening conceits For he suffered himselfe to slide so farre into deliciousnes and superfluous riches that he slept alwaies in a chamber betweene two great chambers most richly furnished in such sort that the Kings bed being sumptuously spred in his chamber and couered with a vine of gold in manner of a grate or lettis enriched with precious stones gathered togither in manner of hanging clusters of grapes the beds head was placed towards the wal of one of the great chambers in which ther was fiue thousand talents of gold and this great roome was called the kings beds head whereunto right opposite was the wall of the other great chamber against his beds foote in the which there was alwaies three thousand talents of siluer and was called the kings beds foote which summes are esteemed after our maner to be worth thirty millions of Crownes Going to war he caried with him in his host for his pastime and delight cccxxxix women as Concubines singers dauncers and such as were skilfull in all kinde of Musicke xlvj workmen to set flowers in order and to make garlands nosegaies chapelets and other sweete smelling things cclxxvij cookes xxix potters making euery day vessels of earth to serue the kitchin xiij bakers of tarts and such other licorous and delicate bakemeates Cellerers cupbearers bruers and minglers of wines makers of spiced cupps and of all artificiall lycours and drinkes xvij of th one sort and lxx of the other Perfumers and makers of sweete smelling sauours and odours both wet and dry xl If then the king of Persia vsed so much delicacy being in warr and nourished himself with so many delights in the field what did he wheÌ„ he remained in peace at Persepoli or in Babylon a city abounding in all superfluities and in all vices that proceed of great plenty Yet notwithstanding in the flower of his fortune he being dronken with prosperity and aboundance of goods was spoyled of his riches which had bin heaped togither by many kings his predecessours losing his life and his kingdome which was clymed to the top of the worldy power and felicity where ariseth the spring of pride arrogancy ouerweening and extreme insolency And there is the slippery path whereon standeth the enuy of fortune and where soueraigne felicity falleth headlong into great calamity By this so magnificent victory ouer him ALEXANDER brought vnder his obedience almost al the countries of the East and transported the Monarchy out of Asia into Europe So the Macedonians tooke away the Empire of the East from the Persians and the Parthians from the Macedonians by the conduct of Arsaces a Captaine of an vncertaine birth but of a most approued vertue and no lesse memorable amongst them then Cyrus among the Persians and Alexander among the Macedonians by whose name they called the succeeding Kings because of the reuerence which they bare vnto him They became so mighty that for a time they ruled ouer all Asia possessing not onely the vnmeasurable plaines but also the abrupt dounfals of the mountaines and placing the bounds of their Empire where either the heate or the cold staied them with snowes or immoderate and burning heates They possessed eighteene kingdomes deuiding in this maner their prouinces as hauing respect to the two Seas that is the red Sea towards the South and the Caspian toward the North where of eleuen which were called the superiour or higher began at the confines of Armenia and at the bankes of the Caspian Sea extending euen to the Scythians Thother seauen were termed the inferiour or lower They seemed to diuide the world with the Romaines th one ruling in the East and thother the West Their dominion from ARSACES to ARTABANVS endured cccc yeres which was brought backe againe into Persia by ARTAXERXES and after cccxviij yeres was taken againe from the Persians by the Arabians or Sarazens Amongest whom the CALIPHES residing at Bagdet raigned in the East ccccxviij yeres after them the first TVRKS from the yere of Christ M.L.I. vntill M.cc.xj when the Tartarians came out of their countrey who in a little time seised on the greatest part of the north the East the south of whoÌ„ came the inuincible TAMBERLAN who made the whol habitable earth afraid And since they being retired the Persians who are reputed the ciuâ—lest people of the East being ingenious valiant and there are amongst them excelleÌ„t Philosophers Physitions Astrologers very good Artisans in all misteries occupations Their king is called SOPHI which is as much to say as wise and the Interpreter of God because that ISMAEL the first that was so named vnder the colour of expositions new ceremonies brought in by him into the religion of Mahomet got no longe time since a great Empire in the East hauing driuen away the race of Vsun-Cassanus king of Persia to whom he was allied by his mothers side and made many Princes and Lords of the East his vassals or tributaries The chiefe prouinces vnder his obedience were Armenia the great Persia Media Assyria with iiij capital or head Cities Tauris in Armenia Samach in Persia Scyras in Media Bagdet which was somtimes Babylon in Assyria There are gentlemen amongst them after the maner of Italy France Spaine which vse barded horses in the wars vnto which they go welarmed bearing great lances and good cymeters being also very good archers The Sophi is opposite on the one side to the Ottoman to the Zagathain on thother Thus haue the kingdoms of Asia of the East varied But before we go out of this quarter we must speak of the MAGES which were far different from other natioÌ„s in their religion wisdom They had no temples Images nor altars neither was it permitted by their law to make any esteeming them fools which had them accounting it impiety to inclose the Gods within wals which ought to haue al open free whose temple and house was the whol world For this cause they perswaded Xerxes warring in Greece to burne al the Temples which he should find there And when they would sacrifice they went vp into high mountaines where it was not lawful for him that
himselfe with the shape of a man was borne of the Virgin and came forth of her wombe both visible Man and God inuisible promised by the Law and the Prophets the master of trueth and cleanser of Idolatrie correctour of malice and renewer of our depraued nature to th end to restore such as beleeued in him to their auncient puritie and innocencie corrupted by the forfaiture of the first man He gaue sight to the blind speach to the dumbe straight going to the lame healed incurable diseases cast out euill spirits fedd with fiue loaues and two fishes fiue thousand persons turned water into wine went safely on the waters as on the land commaunded the sea the winds and the tempests raised the dead to life and liued himselfe againe after he had bin wrongfully crucified and killed by the Iewes By which miracles he shewed himselfe to be the sonne of God establishing his Church and christian Religion in steed of the Mosaical and Pagan Which hath alreadie endured more then fifteene hundred yeares and shall neuer haue end hath passed alreadie to the Antipodes and hath bin manifested to the East and West Indians yea euen amongst the sauages lately discouered towards the South which before were vnknowen to all antiquitie and among the farthest people of the North by meanes of the Sueuians and Moscouites In somuch that at this day we may affirme that his word hath bin heard in all parts of the habitable earth as he had ordained vnto his Disciples enduing them with the grace of the holy Spirite and power to do miracles as he had done before and with the gift of tongues with perseuerance pacience and constancie against all torments and persecutions A thing indeed admirable and the like whereof neuer hapned to any King Law-maker or Philosopher Grecian or Barbarian who contented themselues to set downe and cause to be receiued in their countrie and language the institutions and Lawes which they esteemed good and profitable But Iesus Christ not as a mortall man seruing himselfe with poore fishermen for his Disciples whom he would haue from that time forward to bee fishers of men hath manifested his Gospell by them thorough out the whole world and before all people inioyning them to shew from him the true way of saluation and of beleeuing in GOD the Creatour of all thinges Such was the progresse and aduauncement which they made in their ministerie that in a little time they induced the Nations by their preaching to leaue their auncient idolatries and to receiue Christ as GOD they established schooles and auditories of the Christian doctrine and then were Temples buylt to the Apostles and Martyrs in the most famous Cities of the world at Rome Alexandria and Antioche thorough out Egipt and Lybia Europe and Asia Beginning then when the Romain power was come to his soueraign greatnes and glorie vnder Augustus the peaceable ruler of innumerable Nations when the kingdom of Egipt was extinguished which had endured almost time out of mind and the nation of the Iewes brought vnder bondage and subdued and the Lordships of the Syrians Cappadocians Macedonians Bythinians Grecians Illyrians Africans Spaniards and Gaules were vnder the Romaine Seigniorie which we must think did so fall out by the diuine prouidence of God to the end to make the same worke the more easie which otherwise must needes haue bin verie difficult if all these Nations had remained in diuision and discord But by meanes of the vnion of them vnder one great Monarchie they accomplished with lesse feare and danger their proposed enterprise God preparing them their way and brideling the harts of the superstitious by the terrour of that most mightie Empire Cornelius Tacitus writeth that such had bin the perswasion of men that it was contained in the auncient learning of the Priests that about this time the East should preuaile and that such as came out of Iewrie should raigne which was verified in the spirituall raigne of Iesus Christ whose Ghospell doctrine and religion hath bin preached thorough out the world God then seeing malice infinitely increased and the worshipping of false Gods dispersed thorough all the whole world in such sort that his name was alreadie almost out of the memorie of men and that the Iewes themselues to whom onely his diuine mysteries had bin reuealed and promises made of his holy alliance giuen ouer to vaine superstitions hauing left the true Religion whereunto they refused to returne being reprehended and admonished by the Prophets at this time ordained for the redemption he sent his sonne the Prince of the Angells vnto men to thend to diuert them from wicked and vaine worships and to induce them to know and to reuerence the true God bringing back their soules from folie vnto wisdom from iniquitie to iustice and from impietie to a right beleefe Such and so notable at this time was the mutation both in gouernment and in Religion BVT as the Romains were climed to the top of humane power and wisdome by labour industrie so were they straightwaies corrupted by riches and ouermuch libertie degenerating from the former integritie prowesse learning and eloquence Whereof I can not render any better reason then by their owne authours men of good credit and aucthoritie To thend saith Seneca that ye may vnderstand how much the witts of men do euery day decay and by I know not what iniquitie of nature and procliuitie vnto vice eloquence is gon backe All whatsoeuer the Romain eloquence hath to oppose vnto proud Greece it florished in the time of Cicero All the good wits which brought any light vnto our studies were borne then Sithence that time it hath alwaies impaired either by the loosenes of the time which is most pernitious vnto good wits or that the reward which was proposed for so goodly a thing being lost all the trauaile and paines hath bin bestowed on dishonest exercises or els by some destinie whose enuious law is perpetuall ouer all things so that being come to the highest they returne to the lowest faster then they went vp The good wits of slouthfull youth doe languish and do not applie themselues to any honest exercise Slouth and negligence and dexteritie in things that are pernitious which is worse then either sleepe or negligence haue possessed their mindes The delight of singing and dauncing holdeth the effeminate and of dressing their haire and fitting their speach vnto womanish daliances and exceeding of women in corporal delicacies and tricking themselues with vncleane cleanlynes which is the brauerie of our youth Who is there among the yong folkes ingenious or studious enough or rather man enough Being softned and effeminated they remaine of necessitie as when they were first borne corrupting the chastitie of others and negligent of their owne The Gods will not suffer so much euill as that eloquence should come to such people which I would neuer so much admire if she did not make choise of the minds on which she bestowed her selfe Cornelius
double seruice in the churches double mutining continually accusations defences banishments and martyrdomes Which disorder endured a long time this discord being spread far and wyde thoroughout the world yea euen amongst the Gothes Vandales Lombards who vnder this pretence committed execrable cruelties and innumerable spoiles On this scandal happened an other yet worse then the former For IVLIAN their cosin and successour comming to the Empire when Christiandome seemed cleane deliuered of Paganisme he set it vp againe denying the faith of IESVS CHRIST whereby he got the surname of an Apostata He took away the reuenews graunted by Constantine to the churches of the Christians and forbad the schooles vnto children depriuing both the teachers and learners of their maintenance He killed many that made profession of christian Religion depriued others of their charges as Iouinian Valentinian and Valens tooke away their goods from others saying in mockery that by making of them poore he made it easier for them to go into paradice because it was written in their bookes Blessed is the poore for vnto such belongeth the kingdome of heauen He exhorted the Iewes to restore their maner of gouernement for hatred of the Christians and to reedifie the Temple Hee wrote bookes against the Christian doctrine which he said was repugnant to common sense and did take away the bands of humaine society but his furie passed as a cloude for he raigned onely nineteene monethes dying of a hurt in the war which he made against the Persians In whose place IOVINIAN was chosen Emperour by the armie who brought matters into a better state The destruction of the Iudaick and Delphick Temples happened at that time which portending the ruine of both those religions abated much the insolence of the Iewes and of the Pagans and assured and comforted the good Christians Afterwards the Gothes Vandales Lombardes Arrianizing as we haue said afflicted Europe and Africk almost two hundred yeres ruinated the Empire of the West Which they that were reputed wise men amongst the Gentiles seeing said that this desolation proceeded of the changing of the auncient religion wherein the Empire had bin nourished increased and maintained long and that the Gods being angrie sent such calamities for reuenge of their contempt Against whom S. Augustin opposed him selfe writing his bookes of the city of God to refute them On the other side the Nestorians Eutichyans and Manichees troubled all the East The Persians destroyed Asia and Africk their king Cosroe publishing an edict that whosoeuer would saue his life should renounce that God that was crucified Then the Sarasens entierly exterminated the Persians with their language and religion Moreouer the Emperours of Constantinople beating downe the Images and statues of the temples were excommunicated by the Popes of Rome Who forbad them thoroughout Italy to pay them any tribute or to put their pictures in their coine cōmanded that their names should be omitted in their masses and publick praiers refused their edicts commandemēts letters making them to lose that which they had remaining in the west to assure thēselues against them and aganst the Lombards who had seazed on the Hexarchat of Rauenna they sent for Charles Martel Pepin who were Frenchmen of the house of Austrich to their succour whose strength authority renowme at that time was great And consequently they created consecrated crowned CHARLEMAIGN Emperor of the west calling him Augustus Cesar three hundred and twenty yeres after the Emperors were ceased in Italy He deliuered Italy from the Lombards Germainy from the Hongarians Gaule of the Sarasens with the victories which the grand-father and his Father wan of them He went twice into Spaine and ouercame the Saxons And as he was learned in Greeke and Latin being no lesse a fauourer of learning then a louer of armes he ordained the Vniuersitie of Paris which hath bin sithence the most famous of the worlde and most florishing in all Artes hauing serued for a refuge for the studies of learning which are waxen cold in Asia vtterly lost in Greece decaied in Italy and driuen out of Egypt and Africk So this magnanimous and victorious prince ioyning togither the greatest prouinces of Europe was a Monarch protector of the peace religion lawes iudgements and disciplines By such occasion was the Empire restored to the west which had first his seat in France thē in Germany where from hereditary it is become electiue and in proces of yeres by euill ordering is so much diminished and impouerished that there remaineth nothing but the shadowe of a great name and vaine title The princes Electours holding the imperial lands with their rents reuenewes customes and commodities horded vp and the principall countreyes being franchised by the Emperours who haue giuen them priuileges to gouerne freely their common weales Concerning Italy which was the chiefe and ancient patrimony of the empire it is either possessed by the Popes which hold Rome that was wont to be the proper seat of the Emperors and many other places or by the kings of Naples or by the Venitians or by the dukes of Milayne Florence Ferrara Mantua Vrbin and other potentates sequestred from the empire The Isles of Sicilie Sardigna Corsica Maiorca Minorca and Sauoye also are cut off Thus hath the Empire by succession of time bin distracted and dissipated Sithence the ruine whereof the world hath not had his vertue so vnited But many kingdoms are lifted vp ech in his countrey as towards the west that of France Spaine and Portingale In the North England Denmarke Sueden Moscouy Polonia Hungaria In the East Persia Narsingue China or Cathay In the South that of the Soudan of Presbiter-Iohn Tuniz and Fez and elswhere many seigniories and communalties which acknowledge none but themselues The end of the sixth Booke A COMPARISON OF THE ROMAINS with the Egyptians Assyrians Persians Greekes and Parthians in power warfare learning language Eloquence Poesie and workes of other arts The Seuenth Booke NAture hauing placed ITALIE in a middle seat between the south and the North hath as much or more fauored the ITALIANS as any other people on the habitable earth making them not onely strong comely and couragious but also ingenious and prudent And consequently excellent in maners lawes artes and workemanships By meanes of which singularities and prerogatiues they got in auncient time the greatest Empire that euer was and yet not of such largenesse that it comprehended the whole worlde which neuer happened hitherto neither is euer possible to come to passe For on the North side they neuer ruled ouer all Germany and great Britaine neither ouer Norway Sweueland Moscouia Lituania and Scythia Neither towards the south ouer Ethiopia and the higher Africk where the Blackmores inhabite neither in the East ouer India China Catay Giapan and Taprobana which Easterly parte hath the riuer Tygris for a fatall bound without speaking of the lands lately discouered in the West in so much that looking considerately
Wherin by the industrious perseueraÌ„ce of diuers learned men the matter hath had such good successe that at this day our age may compare with the most learned that euer were For now we see the tongues restored and not onely the deeds and writings of the auncient brought to light but also many other goodly things newly inuented Sithence this time Grammar Poesie History Rhetorick and Logick haue bin beautified with innumerable expositions adnotations corrections and translations The Mathematicks were neuer better knowen nor Astrology Cosmography and Nauigation better vnderstood Naturall Philosophy and Physicke were not in greater perfection among the auncient Greekes and Arabians then they are at this present The military armes and instruments were neuer so forceable and impetuous as they are now nor the dexterity so great in the vse of them The arts of painting grauing cutting caruing and building are almost brought to their perfection And men haue so much laboured in knowledge of Law and eloquence that it is not possible to doe more The art of Politicke gouernement comprehending and ruling them all which seemed as it were laide aside hath lately receiued great light Moreuer Theology or Diuinity the worthiest of al which was much obscured by the Sophisters hath bin very much lightened by the knowledge of the Greeke and Hebrew and the auncient Doctors of the church which lay in obscurity in the libraries haue likewise bin brought to light Vnto which worke the Art of Printing hath bin a great helpe and made the encrease thereof much easier Seeing then that by course of things and succession of time we are come to this age we wil henceforth consider it not by the particular excellencies of countries but by the memorable things done or happened during this space of time thoroughout Europe Asia Africke and the New-found lands in the East West North and South and by such graces as it hath pleased God to imparte to speciall parsons in this season thoroughout the seuerall countries of the habitable earth And as we haue marked thother ages by some famous warriour and notable power that hath bin in euery mutation so it seemeth that the meruailes of this age ought to begin at the great and inuincible TAMBERLAN who affrighted the world with the terrour of his name about the yere of Christ 1400. and by the incredible army which he led of twelue hundred thousand fighting men trained vnto warlike discipline got the Empire of Asia purposing if the pestilence had not come into his host to haue gon into Europe and to haue entierly subdued it as farre as Spaine wherehence he woulde haue crossed into Africke and thorough it haue retourned into Asia Being then predestined vnto great things because that in his former pouerty there appeared in him some generosity aboue the rest he was in sport chosen king of his companions But he taking it in good earnest as one that promised already great enterprises in his minde he tooke oaths of them hauing all sworne to doe what he would haue them and not to forsake him he made himselfe their Captaine and commaunded them to leaue their shepheardes life as a base thing and to small purpose for the getting of glorie and riches and that they should arme themselues and follow him That by this meanes they might from that poore and base estate wherein they liued contemptible come to great vnlooked for felicity With this company descending out of the mountains into the plaine countrey and prospering from day to day as he increased in Lordship he augmented in power First he got the kingdome of his owne countrey then obtained Parthia and Persia On the North side yelded to him the Hircanians Bactrians Sogdians Saces other innumerable people inhabiting on this side the mountain Ismaus which are called the Tartarians He subdued the Seres Arians Drangians Aracosians Gedrosians and Paramisians which are beyond the hill Ismaus All the Massagets yelded theÌ„selues Consequently entering farther into Asia towards the East he made him selfe Lord of Bythinia of Pontus of al the countrie called at this day Anatolia with the coast of the sea Euxinus Propontis Marais Meotis and the Cimmerian Bosphorus Moreouer going on the right hand he conquered infinite townes prouinces ouer comming the kings tyrants which he met withall And passing his forces ouer the riuer Tygris both horse and man he inuaded the Vxians whom he subdued with the Susians and all the countrey euen to the Persian sea From thence going ouer the mountaine Tauris he went into Mesopotamia then into Media which he conquered bringing vnder his obedieÌ„ce the Cadusians Armades Tapirdes Circitians And tourning toward the south he passed ouer the mountaine Amanus went down into Suria Comagena bordering on the riuer Euphrates which he ouerran as far as Arabia and neer to Hierusalem He subdued the Lydians Phrygians Capadocians Paphlagonians Misians Ionians Dorians and Eolians not leauing finally any people or nation between the hil Ismaus the Ocean Caspian red sea vntamed or vnsubdued by armes After he defeated Baiazet king of the Turks in battaile who had opposed himselfe against him with two huÌ„dred thousand men and hauing taken him caused his hands to be bound behind his back and shewed him in that piteous case to his people that were ouercome to th end that from that time forth he might be accounted the absolute king ouer all Asia He vsed his back in steed of a stool to help him to horsback when he was set at meat made him remain like a dog vnder the table casting him crums and morsels in mockery and scorne keeping him at other times in chaines and shut vp in a cage of yron as wild beastes are wont to be kept This great victory astonied not onely al the inhabitants of Asia but also the other nations which Tamberlain had neuer troubled nor meant to trouble with war In such sort that the Moscouites being separated by the riuer of Rha from the Tartarians payed him tribute and sent him fresh men The Mossinois Cercetures Leucosyrians and all the nations that are betweene the Caspian sea and the riuer Tanais yeelded vnto him of their owne free will and the Corasmians Dacians and Sacians dwelling beyonde the riuer Tanaiâ— Hee receiued into his obedience the Nogains and Sciabenians warlike nations and neighbours to the Moscouites Hee tooke by force Smirna Sâ—bastia Tripoli Antiochia and Seleucia Then passing from Suria into the inner parte he assailed Galaria and Rabatia where he slew all the inhabitants Therehence he went into Egypt constraining the Souldan to saue himselfe by flight And he was lâ—ttâ—d from going any farther by sandy deserts and by want of waters For he desired nothing more finding himselfe strong and fortunate in war then to vndertake great and difficult things going ouer vneasie places and hard passages and assayling of fortresses that were thought to be inexpugnable to th end to be reputed a valiant Prince a hardy