seeming together to terminate the end of the Earth and protension of the sight What the Semidiameter of this Horizon should bee hath not beene yet agreed vpon by all Erastothenes would haue it to bee 44 miles Macrobius 23. Proclus 250. Albertus Magnus 125. These differences seeme too great to admit of reconcilement yet taking into our consideration the disparity in account of miles betwixt the Moderne and Ancient Cosmographers as also betwixt the Greekes and Latines 2 the diuerse placing of the sight◠the various disposition of the places wherein they tooke their obseruations with other circumstances wee should diminish much of admiration But diuerse others whose opinion is more approued by moderne Cosmographers haue defined it to be about 63 miles The cause why this Horizon should bee so little in respect of the Rationall which passeth by the Center is the roundnesse of the earth interposed betwixt the sight and the farther parts which we haue formerly proued 3 The eye may be so placed on the Earth as it may behold the whole Hemispheare of the heauens and yet no part of the Terrestriall Spheare This may seeme a paradoxe with vulgar iudgement but it wants not a demonstration drawne from Astronomicall and Opticke principles To explaine which we must suppose out of the grounds already granted 1 That the Sensible and Rationall Horizon in respect of the Heauens ought to bee esteemed one and the selfe same by reason of the great distance and disproportion betwixt the Earth and the Firmament 2 That the eye of the beholder is in this sort supposed to bee in the Center because in this consideration the distance betwixt the superficies of the Earth and her Center is insensible 3 That the visuall Ray wherein the sight is carried is alwayes a right line Now suppose according to our former figure the Center of the eye wherein consists the sight to be in the point of the Terrestriall surface F the distance as wee said betwixt F and E the Center being insensible the eye is imagined in the center likewise the Horizons CFD and AEB for the same cause in respect of the Heauens are to bee esteemed one and the same because CA and DB haue no sensible difference It is then manifest that the eye so placed will behold in the heauenly Spheare all which is included betwixt A and B to wit the Hemispheare AGB bounded by the Rationall Horizon AEB Neuerthelesse in the Terrene Globe it can see nothing at all For either it should see onely the point F wherein it is seated or else some other point or part distant from it the former cannot bee admitted because the eye being there supposed to bee placed should according to this supposition behold it selfe which is against philosophy For granting the sense only a direct and not a reflexe operation it cannot bee imagined how it should perceiue it selfe Finally it cannot see any point in the Earth besides for then this point would either bee placed aboue the point F but this cannot bee because F being supposed in the superficies admits of no point higher in the Spheare or else vnder it but this cannot bee because CFD being a tangent line and touching the Spheare in F only there cannot according to Geometricall principles bee drawne any right line from the point F which can touch any point in the said Spheare but all will cut it and so the section cause impediment to the sight the Earth being an opacous and round body 4 From the Horizontall circle is reckoned the eleuation of the Pole in any place assigned The finding out of the eleuation of the Pole is a matter most necessary for a Cosmographer as shall appeare after where we shall speake of the Latitudes and Climates It is defined to bee an arch of the Meridian betwixt the Horizon and the Pole For the finding out of which many wayes haue beene deuised by Artificers The first is taken from the Sunne the second from the Pole-starre From the Sun it may bee performed two wayes 1 At the time of the Equinoxe 2 At any other time of the yeere At the time of the Equinoxe it may be found out by the obseruation of the Sunnes shadow at Noone-tide in this manner Let the Meridian height of the Sunne bee subtracted from the whole quadrant which is 90 degrees there will remaine the distance of the Zenith to the Equator which is equall to the eleuation of the Pole In the second place at any time of the yeere to know the eleuation of the Pole out of the Meridian height of the Sunne it is necessary out of an Ephimerides or any other way accurately to finde out the place of the Sunne in his Eclipticke for the day proposed together with his declination for the declination of the Sunne the Sunne being in the six Northerne signes subtracted from the Meridian altitude or added the Sunne being in the six Southerne signes will precisely giue the height of the Equator or which is the same the Meridian heigth of the Sun in the Equinoctiall which being once found we may worke as in the former By the Pole-starre wee may likewise find it out if wee obserue it three distinct times in the same night for three points being giuen euery Geometrician will finde out the Center which in this case must bee the Pole Many other wayes haue beene inuented by skilfull Astronomers which appertaining rather to Astronomy then Cosmography I purposely omit 24 Concerning the Horizon two things are chiefly to bee noted the Inuention and the Distinction The Inuention is considered either as it concernes the Zenith or Pole or the Plaine of the Horizon For both which we will set downe these Rules 1 The height of the Pole subtracted from the quadrant of 90 Degrees the residue will shew the Zenith or distance of the Zenith from the Pole The reason is euident because the height of the Pole together with the distance of the Pole and the Zenith make an arch which is a whole quadrant so that the height of the Pole subducted the distance will remaine as for example if wee put the eleuation of the Pole here in Oxford to be 51 ½ degrees or thereabout as hath been formerly taught Let these 51 ½ degrees bee subtracted from 90 then will remaine 38 ½ which is the true Zenith for that place 2 A line which makes right angles with a plummet perpendicularly falling on it will designe the Horizontall plaine The practise of the proposition is vsually shewed by Artificers by a certaine instrument called a Leuell which is made in a triangle forme from the vertex or head of which a line with a plummet fals on the Basis. Now when it shall bee found to be so placed that the line and plummet falling on the Basis shall make right Angles with it and cut the whole Triangle into two equall halfes wee may account the Base-line to bee the plaine of the Horizon For of this plaine such is the position
on this superficies successiuely growes greater from the Equinoctiall towards either Pole vntill it challenge equall Diameter with the Cylinder and likewise all the Meridians growing wider and farther off till they bee as farre distant euery-where as is the Equinoctiall one from the other Hence may easily bee vnderstood the true Mathematicall production or generation of this part for first of a Sphericall superficies it is made a Cylinder and secondly of a Cylinder it is made a Parallellogramme or plaine superficies For the concaue superficies of a Cylinder is nothing else but a plaine Parallellogramme imagined to bee wound about two equall equidistant circles hauing one common Axell-tree perpendicular vpon the Centers of them both and the Peripheries of them both equall to the length of the Parallellogramme as the distance betwixt those Centers is equall to the bredth thereof In this Chart so conceiued to be made all places must needs be situate in the same Longitudes and Latitudes Meridians Parallels and Rhumbes which they had in the Globe it selfe because we haue imagined euery point betwixt the Equatour and the Poles to swell equally in Longitude and Latitude till it apply it selfe to the concauity of the Cylinder so that no point can bee displaced from his proper seat but only dilated in certaine proportion And this I take to bee the best conceit for the ground-worke or platforme of this Geographicall Chart. 2 Except the distances betwixt the Parallels in a Plaine-Chart be varied it cannot bee excused from sensible errour It hath beene thought by many Geographers that the Earth cannot aptly according to due symmetry and proportion be expressed in a plaine superficies as it is in the Globe for as much as that which is ioyned and vnited in the Globe being of a Sphericall figure is in the Mappe extended and dilated to a diuerse longitude and latitude from that Sphericall delineation and although it hath been generally conceited by many writers that no due proportion could bee obserued in a Sphericall superficies without sensible errour yet most exception hath beene made against this Chart here mentioned consisting of one face and straight lines which in substance if we cōsider the Circles differs not from the Nauticall Chart of whose errours Martin Cortese Peter Nonnus and many others haue complained which escapes are excellently opened and reformed by our Countryman Edward Wright in his Correction of Nauticall Errours The reason or ground which drew these men to thinke that the Earth could not bee proportionably described in a plaine superficies proceeded from the common proportion of the Lines and Circles on the Chart. For supposing the Parallels cutting the Meridians at equall Angles to obserue an equall distance euery-where one from the other these errours and absurdities must of necessity ensue First what places soeuer are delineate in the ordinary Chart the length of them from East to West hath a greater proportion to the bredth from North to South then it ought to haue except onely vnder the Equinoctiall and this errour is so much the more augmented by how much those places are distant from the Equinoctiall for the neerer you approach the Pole the proportion of the Meridian to the Parallell still increaseth so that at the Parallell of 60 degrees of latitude the proportion of the length to the bredth is twice greater then it ought to bee for as much as the Meridian is double to that Parallell and so in all the rest whence as Edward Wright obserues the proportion of the length of Friesland to the bredth thereof is two-fold greater then in the Globe which expresseth the true proportion because the Meridian is double to the Parallell of that Iland In like sort it is plaine that in the Ilands of Grock-land and Groenland the length to the bredth hath a foure-fold greater proportion in the Common Chart then in the Globe because the Meridian is foure-fold greater then the Parallell of those places Wherefore it cannot be conceited that the manner of finding out the difference of Longitude by the common Chart can bee any-where true without sensible errour except onely vnder the Equinoctiall or neere about it because in no other place the Parallell is equall to the Meridian In other places the errour will bee sensible according to the difference of the Meridian and Parallell of that place whereas if the contrary were granted it would follow that two ships sayling from North to South vnder two seuerall Meridians would keepe the same distance the one from the other of longitude neere the Pole which they had neere the Equatour which is impossible because Meridians cannot bee Parallell the one to the other but by how much they approach the Pole by so much they are neerer that in the end they all concurre and meete in the Pole it selfe Secondly this common Chart admitted there would arise great errours not onely in the situation of diuers places which appeare to bee vnder the same Meridian but also in the bearing of places one to the other The reason is manifest for that the Meridian is a certaine Rule of the site and position of places therefore whensoeuer any errour shall be committed in the Site and Position of the Meridian there must needs follow errours in the designation of the Rhumbes and other points of the Compasse And therefore euery respectiue position of place to place set downe in the common Chart cannot bee warranted A pregnant example wee haue in the way from India for the Promontory of Africke called the Promontory of three Points hauing of Northerne latitude 4 Degrees and a halfe and the Iland of Tristan Acugna hauing 36 degrees of Southerne latitude are in the common Chart set vnder the same Meridian But the Chart sheweth the distance betweene these Ilands and the Cape of good Hope to come neere to 400 leagues both which cannot stand together for if all the coast from the Promontory of Three Points vnto the Cape of Good-hope be rightly measured and the Promontory of Three Points lye also vnder the same Meridian with those Ilands yet must the distance bee much lesse But if it be not lesse it cannot stand with reason that it should haue the same Meridian with the Promontory of Three Points but must needes lye more Westward Thirdly there must needs arise a greater errour in the translating Sea-coasts and other such places out of the common Chart into the Globe because they haue only a respect to the Numbers of Degrees of Longitudes and Latitudes found therein so that not onely errours appeare in the Sea-Chart but also otherwhere thence deriued These and many more errours haue been detected in the common Sea-chart which as we haue said respecting the circles ought to be imagined one and the selfe-same with the proiection of the lines in a Geographicall table which ouersight Ger. Mercator in his vniuersall Map seemes to correct yet leaues no demonstration behind him to teach others the certaine way to draw the Lines
sort as they imagine For the only withdrawing of that hand and letting goe of that bridle which gaue the water that restraint would haue beene â—ufficient to haue ouerwhelmed the whole Earth The second reason is taken from Ilands in the sea which are nothing else but parts of the land raised vp aboue the water Thirdly we find by experience that a ship carried with the like wind is driuen so swiftly from the port into the open sea as from the sea into the port which could not be done if the sea were higher then the land for it must needs be that a ship if it were to be carried to a higher place should be moued slower then if it came from an higher to a lower Fourthly all Riuers runne into the sea from the inner parts of the land which is a most euident signe that the land is higher then the sea for it is agreeable to the nature of the water to flow alwaies to the lower place whence we gather that the sea shore to which the Water is brought froÌ„ the land must needs be lower otherwise the water in ruÌ„ning thither should not descend but ascend This opinion I hold farr more probable as being backt by reason and the Authority of our best Philosophers yet not altogether exactly true as we shall shew hereafter But Bartholomew KeckermaÌ„ in a late German writer holding these 2 former opposite opinioÌ„s as it were in one equall Ballance labours a reconciliation In a diuerse respect saith he it is true that the sea is higher and that it is lower then the Earth It is higher in respect of the shores and borders to which it so comes that sensibly it swells to a Globe or a circumference and so at length in the middle raiseth vp it selfe and obtaines a greater hight then in those parts where in the middle of the sea it declines towards the shore Of which parts the hight sufferâ— such a decrease that by how much neerer the shore they shall approach by so much the lower they are in respect of the shore in somuch that touching the shore it selfe it is much lower then the Earth For this opinion our Author pretends a demonstration which hee grounds on the 4 chapter of Aristotle de Caelo in his second booke where hee puts downe these two positions which he calls Hypotheses or suppositions First that the Water no lesse concurrs to the making of a Globe or circle then the Earth for it so descends naturally that it doth sensibly gather it selfe together and makes a swelling as wee see in small dropps cast on the ground Secondly the Water makes a circle which hath the same center with the center of the Earth Out of these grounds would our Keckerman conclude the water in some places to bee higher in other places to bee lower then the Earth And hence proceeds he to giue an answer to their reasons who haue affirmed the Earth to bee higher then the sea What to thinke of the proposition or conclusion we will shew hereafter but in the meane space I hold this conclusion not rightly inferred out of these premises For first whereas he sayth that the water by nature is apt to gaher it selfe round into an orbe or spheare I would demaund whether such a roud body hath the same center with the world or a diuerse center he cannot say that it hath a diuerse center from the center of the Earth First because as we haue demonstrated in our first part the Earth and the Water haue but one center and that the Water is concentricall with the Earth Secondly from the second proposition or ground of his out of Aristotle if he meanes such a sphaericity as hath the same center with the center of the Earth I answer first that he contradicts himselfe because he giues an instance in small dropps cast on the ground whose quantity being so small and conuexity sensible can in no mans iudgment be concentrick to the Earth Secondly out of this ground that the Spheare of the water is concentrick to the Earth hee confutes himselfe for according to the principles of Geometry in a Spheare or circle all the lines drawne from the center to the circumference must be equall Then must all places in the circumference or superficies of a sphericall body be of equall hight from the center and by consequence the sea being such a Sphericall body cannot haue that inequality which Keckerman imagines it to haue wherefore some other demonstation must be sought for this conclusion I will goe no further then that I haue spoken in the former chapter concerning the figure of the Water Where I haue probably shewed it to be conicall and out of this may be easily gathered how it may be higher then the land in some places as of the middle of greater seas where the head of the Cone is lifted higher in other lower as in the narrow streits where the increase of the eminencie is also lesse The grounds and principles of which we haue laied before 1 The sea in respect of the Earth is higher in one place then another Besides the naturall conformity of the Water to a conicall figure as we haue fore-shewed whence one part of the superficies must be graunted to be higher then another wee must needs in the sea acknowledge other accidentall causes which produce an inequality in the parts of the sea The chiefest whereoâ— are the Equality of inclination in all parts of the water to motion And the inequality of the channells and shores whence it commeth to passe that the Water of the sea being euery whereof it selfe equally inclined to motion is notwithstanding vnequally receiued into channels so that in some place hauing as it were a large dominion to inuade as in the maine Ocean it falls lower and euener In some other places as streites or narrow seas the water hauing a large entrance from the Ocean but litle or no passage through it must needes swell higher and so one place by accident becomes higher or lower then another Which farther to confirme diuerse instances may be alleaged out of moderne and ancient obseruations For diuerse histories giue testimony that sundry Kings of Aegipt by cutting the Isthmus or narrow neck of land lying betwixt the red sea the Mediterranean laboured to make Africk an Iland open passage from one sea to the other but afterwards they were perswaded to desisâ— from their enterprise Some say because they saw the red sea to bee higher then many parts of Aegipt and hereupon feared a generall inundation of all Aegipt if the pâ—ssage were broken open Others haue deliuered that they feared that if the passage from one vnto another were broke open and the red sea hauing a vent that way the red sea would become so shallow that men might wade ouer it and so insteed of making Africk an Iland it would haue been more ioyned to the Continent then before Both opinions consent in this that the waters
as Meridians Parallels Rhumbes on the Chart in such sort as these errours might be preuented and the due proportion and symmetry of places well obserued But our industrious Countryman hath waded through all these difficulties and found out the true demonstration of a proiection of these Lines to be inscribed in the Chart in such sort as no sensible errour can shew it selfe from whose copious industry wee will extract so much as may serue our purpose onely contracting his inuention into a shorter method hauing many matters to passe through in this Treatise 2 The Distances of the Parallels in the Chart must encrease proportionably as the Secantes of the latitude It hath been a conceiued errour as we haue shewed that all the parallels in the Chart here mentioned should euery-where keep the same Distances one from the other from the Equator to the poles yet because no man for ought I know hath out of Geometricall grounds discouered the true proportion beside my fore-named Author I must herein also follow his direrection as neere as I can in his owne footsteps because I would not any way preiudice his Inuention First therefore wee must consider in that Chart because the parallels are equall one to the other for euery one is set equall to the Equinoctiall the Meridians also must bee parallell and straight Lines and by consequence the Rhumbes making equall angles with euery Meridian must bee also straight lines Secondly because the sphericall superficies whereof the Chart is imagined to be produced is conceiued to swell and enlarge it selfe euery-where equally that is as well in Longitude as Latitude till it accommodate it selfe to the hollownesse of the Cylinder round about therefore at euery point of Latitude in this Cylinder so dilated a part of the Meridian obtaines the same proportion to the like part of the Parallell that the like parts of the Meridian and Parallell haue to each other in the Globe without sensible errour Now for as much as like parts of the wholes haue the same proportion that these wholes haue therefore the like parts of any Parallell or Meridian of the Spheare haue the same proportion that the same Parallels and Meridians haue For example sake as the Meridian is double to the Parallell of 60 Degrees so a Degree Minute or other part is also double to a Degree Minute or other part of the Parallell and what proportion the Parallell hath to the Meridian the same must their Diameters and Semidiameters haue one to the other as is taught by Geometricians Now the Signe of the Complement of the Parallels latiude or distance from the Equinoctiall is the semi-diameter of the said Parallell as in this Diagramme here inserted may easily appeare for AE the signe of AH the complement of AF the latitude of the Parallell ABCD from the Equinoctiall is the semi-diameter of the Parallell ABCD and as the semi-diameter of the Meridian or whole signe is to the semi-diameter of the Parallell so is the secant or Hypotenuse of the Parallells latitude to the semi-diameter of the Meridian or to the whole signe as FK that is AK to AE as is GK so is IK to FK therefore in this Geographicall Chart the semi-diameter of each Parallell being equall to the semidiameter of the Equinoctiall or whole signe the parts of the Meridian at euery point of latitude must of necessity encrease with the same proportion wherewith the Secants of the Arch contained betweene these points of latitude and the Equinoctiall encrease out of which Geometricall grounds thus explained will arise a certaine and easie methode for the making of a table by the helpe of Trigonometry whereby the Meridian in any Geographicall or Hydrographicall table may truly and in due proportion diuide it selfe into parts from the Equinoctiall towards either Pole for taking for granted each distance of each point of latitude or of each Parallell one from the other to comprehend so many points as the secants of the latitude of each point or Parallell containes wee may draw out a table by continuall addition of the secants answerable vnto the latitude of each Parallell vnto the summe compounded of all the former Secants beginning with the secants of the first Parallels latitude and thereunto adding the second Parallels latitude and to the summe of both these adding the third Parallels latitude and so forth in all the rest and this Table will shew the sections and points of latitude in the Meridian of the Geographicall Mappe through which sections the Parallels ought to bee drawne which Table wee haue lately set out by Edward Wright in his Correction of Nauticall Errours to whom for further satisfaction in this kind I referre the diligent Reader Out of the same grounds we may also deduce the Rumbes for sith that the Chart as wee haue shewed is nothing else but a plaine Parallellogramme conceiued to be made of the extension of a Sphericall superficies inscribed in a concaue Cylinder it must needs be that the Rumbes make equall Angles with all the Meridians Therefore if in the Chart a circle be drawne diuided into 32 equall parts beginning with the Meridian passing by the Center of that Circle the lines drawne from the center of these sections will be the Rumbes for that place 9 Of the Geographicall Plaine-Chart wee haue spoken It behoues vs next to treate of the Geographicall Planispheare The Planispheare is a table or mappe of two faces whereon the lines are proiected circularly Betwixt the Planispheare and the Plaine-Chart a double difference may be obserued 1 That the former consists altogether of right lines aswell in regard of the Parallells as Meridians whereas the later is composed of circular or crooked lines as well as right 2 The former may well bee expressed in one forme or front as we may see not only in the Nauticall and common Chart which wee haue shewne to be all one with the other in respect of these Lines but in many other common Maps as namely those of Hondius whereas the Planispheare cannot be expressed without two faces or Hemispheares whereof the one represents the Easterne the other the Westerne part of the Terrene Globe For herein wee must imagine a Globe to be cut into two equall Hemispheares which are at once represented to our sight of this Description of the Earth by crooked Lines Ptolomy in his 24 Chapt. of his Geography hath taught vs two wayes whereof the first depends from the aspect of a Spheare turned and moued round in which all the Meridians are described as right Lines but the Parallels as circumferences or crooked Lines The other Delineation takes his ground from a Spheare represented to the sight not moued but resting still in his place in which both Meridians and Parallels are drawne circular These two wayes of Ptolomy howsoeuer iudiciously inuented in those times wherein a small part of the Earth was discouered and Geography very vnperfect haue beene by later Geographers much reformed and corrected
industriously calculated as I haue here inserted to saue others a new labour of calculation The Meridians are more easily found by hanging any directory wier or needle ouer the Terrella one end of which pointing towards the North and the other towards the South will discouer the Meridian line CHAP. VIII Of the measure of the Terrestriall Globe 1 HItherto haue we handled the Terrestriall Globe primarily in such proprieties as absolutely agree vnto its nature In the second place we are to handle such as secondarily arise out of the former Here wee are to handle two chiefe points 1 The Measure 2 The Distinction 2 The measure is that by which we find out the quantity of the whole Earth Good reason haue we to cal this the Secondary part of Geography for as much as these accidents and proprieties we here consider arise altogether out of the former In the former Treatise wee haue diuided the Naturall Spheare of the Earth from the Artificiall But in this part for auoiding of tedious repetitions of the same things wee haue ioyned them together For howsoeuer the measuring and dictinctions of the Earth bee truely grounded on the nature of the earth it selfe yet can it not be well expressed and taught without the materiall Instrument we haue therefore thought good to consider the measure of the earth before wee come vnto the Distinction because it is more simple and vncompound depending on the lineaments and measure of one circle whereas the Distinction necessarily requires the coniunction and combination of diuerse circles as Meridians and Parallels compared one with the other as shall bee taught hereafter Whether the great masse of the earth can bee measured or no seemes a matter not agreed on by all Some haue held an opinion that it cannot bee measured in regard of the infinite magnitude wherewith they thought it endowed which opinion seemes deriued from some of the Platonicks who ascribing to the Earth another figure besides the Sphericall haue cast themselues vpon vncertainties and being notable to reduce the Quantity of the Earth according to their owne grounds to any certaine measure haue denied it to bee measurable But the ground of this opinion wee haue taken away before in prouing the earth to be of a true Sphericall nature and therefore circumscribed in certaine bounds apt to be measured Another conceit more absurd then the former is not only the common people whose condition might excuse their ignorance but of such as would bee esteemed learned who contend that the greatnesse of the earth cannot bee measured the onely reasons they can alleadge for themselues are 1 That a great part of the earth is vnaccessible by reason of steepe rocks high mountaines spacious and thicke woods moorish fogges and such like impediments 2 That the parts of it are for the most part vneuen and subiect to no regular figure without the which no measure can bee exact The first cauill is of no moment because whereas wee affirme that the Earth by man may be measured we hold it not necessary that it should be trauersed ouer by iourneyes or voyages For as much as to the finding out of the Quantity of the whole Terrestriall Spheare it may seeme sufficient to know the measure and proportion of any little part in respect of the Heauens As for example what number of Miles Leagues or Furlongs answer to any degree or degrees in the Heauens wherfore we suppose the Earth to be measured ouer not with our feet but with our wits which may by Mathematicall rules be taught to march forward where our legges fayle vs The second obiection only proues thus much that the Earth partaking of so many vnequall parts and irregular formes cannot in the measuring admit of so much exactnesse as if it were endowed with one vniforme face yet it is exact enough to contenta Cosmographer who measureth not by feet and inches but by leagues and miles in which wee little regard such a needlesse curiosity 1 The common measure by which the quantity of the Earth is knowne are Miles and Furlongs Here is to be noted that such instruments as serue for measuring are of two sorts either greater or lesser the smaller are of diuerse sorts as a Graine Inch Foot Pearch Pole and such like Some of these howsoeuer sometime vsefull in Topographie can haue little or no vse at all in the vast greatnesse of the whole Earth Wherefore the Geographer seldome descends so low but takes notice of greater measures such as are Miles Furlongs where we may obserue by the way that the vsuall measuring amongst the Grecians was by Stadia or furlongs amongst many of the Latines by miles vnder which we also cōprehend Leagues these miles are diuersly varied according to the diuersity of Countries so that in some places they are esteemed longer in other shorter which differences may be learned out of this ensuing Table The instruments of measuring the Earth are 1 Furlong containing 125 Geometicall paces or 625 feet 2 Mile which is either 1 Proper containing 8 Furlongs or 1000 paces 2 Improper which is either 1 League which is either 2 German mile which is either the 1 Old containing 12 Furlongs 2 Newer containing 16 Furlongs 3 Common of 24 Furlongs 1 Common which is 32 Furlongs or foure Italian miles 2 Greatest containing 5000 paces which is called the Suenian or Heluetian mile Howsoeuer this Distinction of miles may be many wayes profitable especially in the Topographicall part yet shall wee seldome make vse of any other then the common Germane mile or the common Italian mile To which as the most knowne the rest may easily be reduced 3 The obiect here proposed to bee measured is the Spheare of the Earth The Dimensions according to which it is measured are either Simple or Compound 4 The simple is twofold either the Perimeter or the Diameter The Perimeter otherwise called the circumference is a great circle measuring the Earth round about 5 The Inuention of the Perimeter of the Earth depends on these following Propositions 1 If two or more circles bee drawne about the same Center and from the Center to the Circumference be drawne two right lines The Arches of all the Circles comprehended within the said right lines will bee like and proportionall one to the other This Proposition being meerely Geometricall is taken here as a ground without farther demonstration whereof if any man doubt hee may haue recourse to Clauius Commentaries vpon Iohannes de Sacrobosco This principle granted will beget these two Consectaries 1 As one degree is to the number of correspondent miles or furlongs so all degrees of the circles to the number of miles or Furlongs measuring the quantity of the Perimeter of the Earth 2 Wherefore one degree or portion of the Circle being knowne by his number of miles or furlongs the whole Circumference may be found out The reason of this consequence euery Arithmetician can easily shew out of the Golden Rule The chiefe point then
to Aristotles grounds being by a Tenne-fold proportion thinner then the Water Moreouer the Aire in these places seated in the superficies of the Earth and higher then other places and by consequent neerer the Sun should rather be rarified and thickned because heat is the greatest cause of rarefaction as we shall shew hereafter for the reasons alleaged for these opinions they are drawne only from the weaknes of their assertion which hold that Fountaines are deriued either from Raine water or from the Sea both which wee haue examined briefly and whereof wee shall speake hereafter The Schoole of Conimbra not vtterly reiecting all the former opinions haue vndertakeÌ„ to forgoe an opinion as it were partaking of all pretending to say something more when indeed they produce nothing besides the former Their assertion they haue set downe in eight propositions which I will faithfully set downe and then censure The first is that in subterranean places vnder the superficies of the earth is hid a great quantity of water distinguished into Riuers Ponds and Lakes This they proue from the daily experiment of such as diggs diuerse wells and deâ—pe trenches in the Earth Who many times vnder the Earth find not only many riuers and ponds but many times happen vpon so great abundance of Water that they can neither find the bottome or bounds thereof To this they add an experiment of Philip and Macedon recorded by Asclepiadorâ—â— who caused many men expert in digging of mettalls to be let downe into an old and forsaken mine to search out the veines of mettalls to see whether the couetousnesse of antiquity had left any thing to posterity These men vsing great lights are said to haue found nothing there but great and vast riuers and great receptacles of waters This they also labour to confirme by many and suddaine eruptions and breaking out of waters out of the earth whereof we shall haue occasion to speake more hereafter This first position howsoeuer in it selfe true enough seemes litle to the purpose but we will proceed to the second which is this That when God in the third day of the Creation seperated the waters into one place and hid it in the cauerns and secret receptacles of the earth at the same time dispersed into diuerse parts of the earth a great quantity of water by diuerse occult passages and channels whence comes that great masse of waters vnder the earth which is before mentioned This they seeme to perswade by reason for say they as the wise Architect of all for mans sake and the rest of liuing creatures for the vse of man hath discouered the dry land by restrayning all the waters into one place so it was most necessary that he should inwardly water the earth by which stones mettalls mineralls other such things in the bowells of the Earth should in time grow and increase Also that some water should from hence breake vp out of the Earth for diuerse causes hereafter specified Finally as Philo-Iudaeus affirmes for the continuation of the parts of the earth which otherwise might by drouth be seperated and diuided The third proposition grounded on the two former is this That many riuers and fountaines in diuerse places by Gods decree arise out of the earth by quantities of waters hid in the cauernes of the earth which they proue by reasons drawne from the vtility of such fountaines and riuers springing out of the earth Fourthly they defend that all fountaines and currents were not so made and appointed in the first Creation because Histories experience teach vs that many haue broken out of the ground afterwards whereof we shall haue occasion to speake hereafter Fiâ—tly they affirme that if the opinion of Aristotle be vnderstood of all fountaines and flouds it cannot be approued for asmuch as it seemes sufficiently declared in the third opinion how such riuers might be generated without such vapours as also because many arguments and places of holy Scriptures seeme to proue the contrary As also the foure Riuers of Paradice created in the beginning of the world cannot bee guessed to draw their originall from such vapours as Aristotle imagines to which accord many ancient Fathers vpon these places recited in that opinion whereas all riuers are thought to fetch their originall from the sea Sixtly for the credit of their master Aristotle they are constrained to auerre that although his opinion cannot be verified of all riuers and fountaines of the earth yet if it be restrayned to some such perpetuall currents it may haue probability For asmuch aswe are to beleeue that many such large cauerns and holes are hid vnder the earth in which no small quantity of vapours may be ingeÌ„dred This probability is greater in those riuers which are lesser in quantity then the greater for the reasons before shewed Seuenthly they affirme that it is absolutely to be beleeued that not only great riuers and currents are deriued from subterranean waters which haue originall from the sea but also lesse fountaines and springs for the most part challenge the same beginning whence they labour to proue by this reason that in very few places of the earth there is found so perpetuall and apt disposition of vapours vnder the ground as to nourish so many and so great currents of water Eightly say they it cannot be denied but that Waters aswell proceeding from raine as that which is generated of vapours in the cauerns of the earth sometimes may flow into fountaines and riuers What concernes Torrents bred of raine they haue recourse to the reasons of the first opinion for others they make it also probable because we see by experience that Vapours and Aire compassed about with earth are by reason of the cold enuironing it turned into water This is indeed the opinion of those subtill Iesuits of Conimbra wherein although they giue a flourish as if they would defend their master Aristotle on whom they comment yet meane they nothing lesse but indeed warily sticke to the other of the Diuines and ancient Fathers of the Church touching the deriuation of all 〈◊〉 from the sea Which opinion howsoeuer in it selfe most probable they know not how to manage and defend against opposition For whereas they suppose that in the first sepâ—â—tion of the sea from the dry-land a great quantity of water was dispersed into diuerse hollow places cauerns of the earth from whence Riuers are deriued and made they haue not in any probable manner expressed how this water should perpetually flow and feed so many great currents For first I would aske of these learned fathers whether the water inclosed in the bowells of the earth whence these springs are fed be higher or lower then the fountaines arising out of them If it be higher whether the Riuers are continually nourished on the old store or a new supply be daily made That so great riuers should bee maintained so many thousand yeares out of the old prouision is most improbable because the
The parts whereof this Terrestriall Spheare consists may bee considered two wayes either as they are vnited in the whole by a Magneticall forme or disioyned and taken by themselues In the former the parts of the Earth are supposed to moue in the same motion by which the whole Spheare of the Earth is moued because the whole and all the parts taken together are the same and subiect to the same circular reuolution Notwithstanding this any part seuerall and disioyned from the whole hath a right motion downeward toward the Center by which it returnes to its true naturall vnion This inclination of the parts agrees not with the whole Earth neither vnto any part vnited and conglobated to the whole but onely to a part separated from his place so that the whole may notwithstanding in his place inioy a circular motion Now to come more neerely home vnto their Arguments drawne from the Homogeneity of the Earth wee answer as before that there is a twofold Homogeneity The one of the matter and quantity the other of the Magneticall forme and Nature of the former wee may conclude out of the right motion of all the parts the disposition of the whole so wee vnderstand it in a good sense first that euery part is here to bee vnderstood not in but out of his proper place Secondly that by the whole wee ought not to vnderstand the whole Globe with all his parts conformed in one Sphericall frame but all the parts indefinitely taken for if wee should vnderstand of the whole Globe their Argument will in no way hold true If according to the later wee might well grant them their Conclusion yet can it not oppugne our Assertion Because it will follow out of the Naturall inclination of euery part that all the parts seuerally taken haue such a disposition of returning to the Earth being separated there from Yet will not this by any necessary inference bee proued to agree to the whole Globe of the Earth but rather will it follow contrarywise that the whole Spheare of the Earth is moued circularly and therefore euery part with and in it is moued with the whole in the same motion A third argument which is thought greater then all the other is drawne from two experiments The first is that a stone or Bullet let fall from a higher place to the ground will perpendicularly descend to the point of the Earth right vnder Secondly that two Bullets imagined to bee of equall weight and matter being discharged from equall pieces of ordinance with the like quantity of powder the one towards the East the other towards the West will reach an equall distance in the Earth both which would seeme impossible if wee grant this supposition of the Earths circular reuolution For in the former case the Earth sliding away swiftly during the fall of the stone would change the point marked out for another And in the second for the like cause the Bullet shot towards the East being preuented by the swiftnesse of the Earth's motion carrying along with it the Ordinance out of which it proceeded should returne backe ouer the shooters-head and contrarywise that Bullet shot towards the West besides his owne motion by the motion of the Earth the other way should bee carryed so much farther as the Earth is remoued from the place where it was first discharged Both which experiments seeme to crosse this circumgyration of the Terrestriall Globe which our magneticall Cosmographers labour to confirme But with them to giue an answer to these and the like experiments wee must distinguish the parts of the Earth into three sorts some are hard and solide parts adioyned to the Globe as stones mineralls what else in the bowels of the Earth is vnited to it or at least necessarily adherent to the outward face of it Some other parts there are of a thinne and fluid substance as the Aire and other vapours in it deriued from the Earth A third sort there are of such parts as being in themselues solide are notwithstanding by some violence separated from the solide globe as stones cast into the Aire Arrowes Bullets and such like discharged from the hand or Engine For the two former wee may easily imagine them carried with the same circular motion which we assigne vnto the whole being no other then the parts of it depending from the whole masse For the third sort whereof consists the difficulty wee cannot imagine them so moued round as if they were wholly separated from the Communion of the Earthly Spheare for howsoeuer there seemes a separation according to matter and quantity yet retaine they the same magneticall inclination to the whole masse as if they were vnited to it and therefore such solide parts are moued with the same vniforme and naturall motion wherewith the Earth it selfe is turned so that in solide bodyes so separated from the superficies of the Earth of an Arrow or Bullets shot wee must imagine a twofold motion The one Naturall vniforme whereby they are moued as homogeneall parts according to the reuolution of the whole Spheare The other violent by force impressed from the Agent The right motion proceeding from the strength of the shooter cannot crosse or hinder the Naturall because the one being right and the other circular admit no such proportion as that one should hinder or further the other Neither can these motions well be tearmed contrary or opposite which are in diuers kindes To explaine this matter farther we will adde this Diagramme Lâ—t the whole orbe of the earth bee imagined to bee LQM whose center is A the thicknesse of the Aire ascending from the Earth O Q. Now as the orbe of this fluid substance of the aire asceÌ„ding vniformely is moued round with the Globe of the earth so must wee imagine the part of it marked out by the right line OQ to bee carried round with an vnalterable Reuolution Wherefore if any heauy body should bee placed in the Line OQ as for example P it will fall downe toward the center by the shortest way in the same line OQ which motion downewards towards the center can neither bee hindered by the circular motion of the Earth nor yet Mixt or compounded with it It cannot bee hindred because as wee haue shewed a Right motion and a circular being not in the same kind cannot properly bee reputed contrary Neither for the same cause can they bee mixt or compounded Wherefore this motion will be no other then one simple and Right motion neuer varying from the Line OQ which being once vnderstood it is no hard thing to imagine a Bullet or stone forced by equall strength from Q towards L and from Q. towards the point M to obserue alwayes a like distance notwithstanding the Earth's cirâ—ular Reuolution Hauing hitherto shewed this Sphericall motion of the Earth to bee possible and no way to contradict Nature wee are in the next place to shew it to bee no way opposite to the sense of
not backt with any necessary demonstration For it proues not thing else but the Earth to bee the Center of all earthie and heauy bodies and not to bee absolutely placed in the exact middle of the world Another reason not much vnlike the former is drawne by some from a finall cause and the naturall harmony of the parts of the world one with the other The Earth say they is of all other bodyes the most vile and sordid Therefore it is agreeable to nature that it should be placed in the middle equally distant from each part of the Heauens that one part might not seeme to complaine of this vnpleasing vicinity more then another But this reason takes as granted to matters as yet not decided First that the Earth amongst all other bodyes is most vile and sordid depending on the ground of Peripateticks that the heauenly bodies suffer no corruption a thing sooner spoken then proued Secondly that pure and impure bodies the most excellent and most vile in nature are alwayes most distant as in nature so in place which is a peremptory assertion without ground A third reason more probable then the former is drawne from the apparences of Starres aboue the Horizon It is manifest that the Starres aboue the Horizon appeare alwayes to bee of one and the selfe-same magnitude and quantity whether in the verticall point or in the East or the West or any other place whence we may collect that they differ equally in distance from the Earth and by consequence the Earth is seated in the middle of the world for if it were otherwise that the Starres in some place should bee neerer in other farther ofâ— they would some-where seeme greater otherwhere lesser according to the grounds of the Opticks This reason howsoeuer popular seemes to admit a two-fold exception First because it implies that a man standing on the superficies of the Earth is equally distant from all places and parts of the Heauens whereas the heauens in the Horizon are farther distant by reason of a whole semidiameter of the earth interposed Secondly all Starres arising in the East or setting in the West ordinarily seeme greater then in the Verticall point by reason of vapours ascending and interposed Whence wee cannot well gather the Earth to bee seated in the middest from the like apparence of the Starres when experience teacheth the coÌ„trary that they seeme not alwayes of the like magnitude Concerning the first we answer that the Semidiameter of the earth interposed betwixt the Superficies and Center is in it selfe greater But this as wee shall proue in respect of the Heauens is so little that the sense cannot gather any difference in obseruation of the Starres but that they should alwayes appeare of the like magnitude Concerning the second wee must needs acknowledge that vapours ascending about the Horizon by an Opticall Refraction make the Starres seeme greater then other wise they would doe But the reason may bee vnderstood in this sort that whether a â—an be placed in the same Horizon where the Sunne is when hee riseth or vnder that Horizon where the Sunne is now vnder his Meridian or vnder that horizon where hee is setting hee will appeare to bee of one and the selfe-same greatnesse without any sensible difference Whereas therefore they speake of the appearance of Starres they would haue them taken as abstracted from all impediments of sight or interposed vapours and so the reason may obtaine her force The fourth reason why the earth should bee seated in the midst alleaged by Ptolomie and others is this wheresoeuer any man stands on the Surface of the Earth six signes of the Zodiacke will shew themselues and the other six signes will lye hid and by consequence halfe the heauens will appeare the other halfe will bee vnder which is an euident reason that the Earth is in the midst for otherwise it could not so happen The former is confirmed by Ptolomie Alphraganus and the best Astronomers the consequence may bee inferred out of naturall reason This argument will sufficiently hold vpon this supposition mentioned before and to bee proued hereafter That the Earth hauing no sensible magnitude in respect of the Firmament no sensible difference can shew it selfe betwixt the Sensible and the Rationall Horizon Besides these reasons which make the matter more then probable others are produced by Ptolomie demonstratiue â—ot admitting any euident or probable exception or euasion The first is this If the Earth bee placed out of the Center of the world it must haue of necessity one of these three Sites or positions Either it must be in the plaine of the Equinoctiall or at least it must bee placed not onely without the plaine of the Equinoctiall but without the Axell-tree That is to expresse it plainer It must either bee placed beside the Axell-tree yet equally distant from both the Poles or else it must bee on the Axell-tree and so consequently neerer to one Pole then the other or thirdly it must needs be beside the Axell-tree yet neerer to one Pole then another If the first position were admitted these absurdities would of necessity follow First that in a right Spheare there would happen no Equinoctiall but onely in that Horizon which passeth by the Center of the world for example sake â—et there be imagined a Spheare BDCE whose Center is A let the Equator bee DE the Axel-tree of the world BC and let the Earth bee in F the right Horizon HG not passing by the Center of the world A which shall bee parallell to the Axis BC since the Equator cuts the Horizon in right angles It is most manifest that not only the equatour but other parallells of the same will bee vnequally diuided of the Horizon for as much as it passeth not by the Center or the Poles of the world wherefore it must needs follow that the dayes must continually be vnequall to the nights which contradicts all experience because in a right Spheare the dayes are alwayes found to bee equall to the nights Secondly out of this position it would follow that no man in a right Spheare should behold the halfe or hemispheare of the heauens but either a greater or lesser part as may be demonstrated out of the same Diagramme whereas sense can testifie that six signes of the Zodiacke are alwayes conspicuous aboue our Horizon and the other six alwayes hid only excepting that Horâ—zon which passeth by the Center of the Earth wherein the Mediety of Heauen is conspicuous Thirdly the same Starres in a cleere aire should not alwaies seeme of the same magnitude for if the earth be placed in the Equinoctiall plaine and beside the Axis of the world toward the Zenith or Meridian the Starres which are in the Meridian will appeare greater then in the East or West because they are neerer But if it bee placed neere the Nadir or midnight point they will appeare greater in the East or West then in the Meridian if it should bee placed towards
Tropicke we account 23 degrees which added and resolued into miles will make the said summe within the compasse of this Zone is situate the greatest part of Africke especially that of the Abyssines which common opinion with little probability would haue to bee the Empire of Prester Iohn also many Ilands as Iaua Summatra Taprobana besides a great part of the South of America called Peruana It was imagined by the Ancients as Aristotle Pliny Ptolomy and many other Philosophers Poëts and Diuines that this Zone through extreame heat was altogether vnhabitable for which cause they called it Intemperate The reason of this coniecture was drawne from the situation of this part in regard of that of the heauens For lying in the middle part of the world the Sunne must of necessity cast his rayes perpendicular that is to say at Right Angles Now according to the grounds of Peripateticke Philosophy the Idol of this age the heat deriued from the Sunne ariseth from the reflexion of the Sunne-beames against the surface of the Earth Wherefore the heat was there coniectured to bee greatest where the reflexion was found to bee greatest But the greatest reflexion according to all Mathematicians must be in this Torrid Zone where the Sunne darts forth his Rayes at right Angles which reflect backe vpon themselues Which false coniecture was a long time continued by the exuberant descriptions of Poëts and defect of Nauigation hauing as yet scarce passed her infancy But how farre these surmises come short of truth wee shall declare in our second part to which wee haue reserued those Physicall and Historicall discourses concerning the qualities and properties of the Earth 7 The Intemperat cold Zones are those which are included betwixt the Polar circles and the Poles whereof the one is Northerne contained in the Arcticke circle the other Southerne in the Antarcticke These two Zones are not made out of the combination of two circles as the former but by one circle with relation to the Pole The greatnesse and extent of this Zone is about 23 degrees and a halfe which resolued into Italian-miles will produce 1380. The Northerne cold Zone containes in it Groenland Fineland and diuerse other Northerne Regions whereof some are partly discouered and set out in our ordinary Maps other some not yet detected For the other Zone vnder the Antarticke Pole it consists of the same greatnesse as wee know by the constitution of the Globe hauing other such accidents correspondent as the Northerne so farre forth as they respect the Heauens For other matters they lye hid in the vast Gulph of obscurity this port hauing neuer yet for ought I know exposed her selfe to the discouery of the Christian world Whether these two Zones be without habitation by reason of intemperate cold as the other hath been thought by reason of too much heat wee shall in due place examine 8 The Temperate Zone is the space contained betwixt the Tropicke the Polar circle whereof the one is Northerne contained betwixt the Tropicke of Cancer and the Articke circle the other Southerne comprehended betwixt the Tropicke of Capricorne and the Antarcticke circle Why these Zones are tearmed Temperate diuerse reasons are alleaged 1 Because the Sun-beames here are cast obliquely on the surface of the earth and by consequence cannot produce so much heat as in those places where they are darted perpendicularly if wee only consider the constitution and site of the heauens For as we shall hereafter proue this may sometimes be altered by the disposition of some particular place 2 It may be called the Temperate Zone because it seemes mixt of both extreames partaking in some measure the both qualities of heat and cold the one from the Torrid the other from the Frigid Zones 3 Because in these Zones the distances betwixt Summer and Winter are very remarkable hauing a middle difference of time betwixt them as compounded of both extreames These temperate Zones included betwixt the Tropicks and the Polar circles are twofold as the circles The northerne temperate Zone comprehended of the Tropicke of Cancer and the Articke circle containes in it the vpper and higher part of Africke stretching euen to the mountaine Atlas Moreouer in it is placed all Europe euen to the Northerne Ilands in the Articke Zone and a great part also of Asia the other temperate Zone lying towards the South is not so well knowne being farre distant from our habitation and awaiting as yet the farther industry of our English and Dutch Nauigators The bredth of this Zone as the other containes about 43 degrees which is the distance betwixt the Tropicke and the Polar circle which multiplied by 60 will be resolued into 2580 Italian-miles 1 The Torrid Zone is the greatest of all next are the two Temperate Zones the cold Zones the least of all The Torrid Zone is found to be greatest as well in regard of longitude as latitude and is diuided by the Equatour into two halfes the next are the Temperate but the two cold Zones howsoeuer equall in Diameter to the Torrid are notwithstanding least of all where is to bee noted that euery Zone is of the same latitude from North to South beginne where we will because it is contained betwixt two equidistant circles but all inioy not the same longitude from East to West For the parts of euery Zone by how much neerer they are to the Equatour so much greater longitude will they haue by how much neerer the Poles they are so much the lesse longitude for as much as the Parallels towards the Poles grow alwayes lesser and lesser The inuention of the quantity of the Zones before mentioned may briefly thus bee performed The latitude of the torrid Zone is so much as the distance betwixt the Tropickes which is Astronomically grounded on the greatest declination of the Sunne being doubled This declination being by Clauius and others found to be 23 degrees 30 scrup which being doubled will produce 47 which againe multiplied by 60 and resolued into miles will amount to 2820 though the odde scruples of many Authors are neglected The latitude of the cold Zones is also drawne from the greatest declination of the Sunne For the distance of the Pole circles from the Pole it selfe is iust so much as the declination of the Eclipticke from the Equatour to wit of 23 degrees 30 scrup to which answer according to the former Rule 1420 Italian-miles The inuention of the latitude of the temperate Zones depends from the subtraction of the distance of the Poles of the Eclipticke from the Equatour that is from the greatest declination of the Sunne being doubled from the whole quadrant in which subduction the residue will be 43 to which will answer 2580 Italian-miles 1 The Zone wherein any place is seated may bee knowne either by the Globe or Geographicall Table or else by the Tables of Latitude By the Globe or vniuersall Mappe wee may know it by the diligent obseruation of the foure equidistant circles For if wee
the other at the endes the former was thought not habitable by reason of the extremity of heat because the Sunne-beames there fall perpendicularly and so make a greater reflection The other for extremity of cold by reason of the obliquity of the Sunne-beames causing little or no reflection whence a second cause seemes to be drawne from the extreame drought of those places which seemes most opposite to mans temper requiring a reasonable degree of moisture But notwithstanding these reasons of the ancients it must needes bee confessed as an vndoubted truth confirmed by experience of many Nâ—uigatours that those Regions by them imagined vnfit for habitation are not onely habitable but in many places very populous Neither want there many reasons found out by latter writers to mitigate the rigour of this opinion some whereof wee haue already touched in our former treatise First whereas they vrge the places vnder the Equinoctiall to bee vnhabitable by reason of intemperate heat wee may easily answer that the dayes and nights are then alwayes equall containing not aboue 12 houres so that the space of either being shorter the cold of the night may well asswage the extreame heat of the day Another reason is ordinarily taken from the extraordinarily high mountaines commonly placed vnder the Equinoctiall which approaching neerer the middle Region of the aire must of necessity partake some what more of cold which dayly experience can witnesse in that their top â— are couered with snow euen in the depth of Summer Thirdly the neerenesse of the maine Ocean to a great part of this Region is a great cause of this cold temper because water is found to bee by nature cold Fourthly the set and certaine windes by nature ordained to blow in the hottest times of the yeere may adde much to temperature Fiftly the extraordinary Raines and showers which those places suffer which are vnder the Line especially when the Sunne is verticall are a great cause of the asswaging of the heat of the Sunne Lastly the custome of the Inhabitants being from their cradles inured to no other quality or disposition of the ayre will take away much from our admiration On the other side no small reasons may bee shewed why the Regions lying neere or vnder the Pole should not bee so extreamely cold but that they may admit of habitation First because the Sunne being for six moneths together aboue their Horizon must needs impresse into the Ayre more heat then otherwise it would doe Besides the thicknesse incorporated as it were with heat must needs receaue into it more degrees of it then a thinner and more refined ayre because the intention of the quality most commonly supposeth the condensation or thickning of the subiect wherein it is But no greater reason can bee shewed in this point then the custome of the Northerne inhabitants exposed from their infancy to no other temperament If wee should aske a reason why wee vnmaske our faces against the encounter of the greatest cold being a soft and tender part not daring to vncouer our other parts what reason can a man inuent but custome If any should aske why barbarous people liuing in farre colder climates then this of ours goe altogether naked whereas the cold is mother of many diseases amongst vs who goe alwayes clothed onely vse and custome can yeeld an answer These reasons make it probable enough that no place of the whole world is by nature made not habitable Now that it is not only inhabitable by nature but also for the most part truly inhabited will appeare as easily if wee trust the testimony of Nauigatours which haue discouered few or no Regions wanting some â—nhabitants But that this proposition may bee more distinctly vnderstood wee must know that the whole world is diuided into Sea and Land for the Sea we may call it habitable in that large sense before mentioned to wit that on it euery where men in ships may breath and liue which is plaine out of experience of Nauigatours who haue sailed round about the Earth from East to West and haue entred farre towards the North and South where at least some times of the yeere or other they might finde the way passable For the land which is here principally vnderstood wee must note that it may bee considered two wayes either for euery little quillet or parcell of land contaned in the superficies of the Earth or else for a certaine Region of some indifferent greatnesse In the former sense it were too much to affirme euery part of the Earth to bee habitable for as much as many places as the toppes of the Alpes or the sands of Africa properly admit of no habitation yet in an improper and large sense they may be called habitable because on them a man may liue and breath for a certaine space of time But if by the parts of the land wee vnderstand some reasonable greatnesse no great doubt can bee made but that it is either already inhabited by mankinde or can at least admit of habitation as that which not only for a time affords a man life and breath but also some conuenient meanes of sustenance for no countrey hath euer beene found so indigent and barren of all vitall aides which is neither capeable of liuing creatures in the land fit for mans nourishment or that cannot draw Fishes from the Sea or if this should faile cannot afford Fruits or Herbage from the ground or in case all the rest were deficient cannot haue passage by Water to other Countries whence to relieue their necessities And no question but nature hath stored euery Countrey with some commodity or other which by trafficke may draw riches from other Regions as by instances may more particularly appeare hereafter when wee shall speake of particular Regions and their seuerall accidents 2 All places of the Earth haue suffered manifold alteration and change as well in Name as Nature I need not spend time to demonstrate this Assertion for that euery place of the Earth hath beene subiect to much mutation in the processe of time as well in Nature of the Soyle as of the Inhabitants a few obuious instances in each Countrey will easily certifie yet will it not seeme amisse I hope to shew the progresse manner and causes of this alteration which would giue no small satisfaction To discourse of all changes according to all times were a matter infinite Wee may referre all to two heads to wit the change of Names and the change of Nature Concerning the former that most Countreyes haue changed their first and originall names is most euident to such as consult the Maps and writings of our common Geographers for few or none will discouer vnto vs any Region by that name by which it was knowne in former times in so much as great controuersie and dispute hath growne about diuerse countreyes mentioned by ancient writers whereof the name should take its first originall but of this change we shall speake hereafter But if we
the Earth are either Internall or Externall 3 The Internall I call such as are inbred in the Earth it selfe which are of two sorts either Common or Magneticall 4 The Common are in number three 1 The Magnitude or extent of a Countrey 2 The Bounds 3 The Quality The Magnitude comprehends the Length and Breadth of any Region Some man might imagine that I make a needlesse repetition of these proprieties for as much as many of them seeme to haue beene spoken of before in our Sphericall part But I answer that I there handled no other matters but such as concerned the whole globous body of the Earth but my intent here is to treat of such proprieties as particularly designe out a speciall place For it is not one thing to speake of the Magnitude of the whole Earth according to all its dimensions and to treat of the manner of measuring some particular Region marked out in the Spheare Wee haue defined the Magnitude of a Region to bee either of Length or Breadth because as wee haue taught in our former chapter it is a space contained in the surface of the Earth Then can it not according to Geometricall grounds exceed two Dimensions These two Dimensions as wee haue said are length and breadth whereof euery plaine figure or superficies consists 5 The Magnitude of a Region may bee measured two wayes either by the Diameter or the Circumfâ—rence The Diameter is considered either in Latitude or Longitude of the Latitude whence ariseth the Breadth of a Countrey from North or South note these Rules 1 If the place whose breadth is sought bee distant from the Equatour and bee wholy situate in the same Hemispheare the lesser Latitude subtracted from the greater will giue the Diameter To put this Rule in practise it behooues the Topographer who would finde out the greatnesse of any Region to obserue two Latitudes to wit to measure the Latitude in the most Northerne point where it is greatest as also in the Southerne point where it is least of all This latter subducted from the former will giue the Diameter or breadth from North to South which may easily according to the Rules in the former booke bee reduced into Miles or other such measures For an example wee need goe no farther then our Iland of Great Brittaine The Southmost part of which lying about Star-point in Deuon hath in Latitude about 50 degrees The Northermost point situate neere the mouth of the riuer Ardurnus in the farthermost part of Scotland hath in Latitude about 60 degrees to omit minutes The lesser of these Latitudes subtracted from the greater the residue will bee 10 degrees which being imagined in the Meridian which is a greater circle are to be multiplied by 60 and so conuerted into miles which will be 600 the length of Brittany from South to North. 2 If the place whose Magnitude wee enquire bee vnder the Equatour the Southerne Latitude added to the Northerne will shew the breadth from the North to the South To illustrate this by an example wee will take the whole continent of Africa whose Southerne Latitude about the Cape of Good hope wee â—â—all finde to bee neere thirty Degrees the most Northerne Latitude about the straights of Gibralter very neere the same rate These two summes added together will amount to 60 Degrees which multiplied by 60 the number of miles answerable to a degree in a great circle because wee suppose it here to bee an Arch of the Meridian we shall haue 3600 miles the breadth of Africa from South to North. 4 The measure of the length of a Region betwixt East and West admits of two cases for either the Countrey is supposed to be without the first Meridian or vnder it both which shall be taught in these Rules 1 If the Region be situate without the first Meridian the lesser Longitude subtracted from the greater will shew the Diameter betwixt East and West For an example of which wee will take Cape de Barca lying ouer against S. Thomas Iland in Africa vnder the Equatour whose Longitude is about 30 Degrees and Melnide situate neere the Equatour ouer against Sinus Barbaricus on the other side of Africa which hath in Longitude 63 Degrees The least Longitude to wit 30 being subducted from 63 there will remaine 33 Degrees which being taken in a greater circle which is the Equatour or a Parallell very neere which admits no sensible difference we multiply by 60 and there will arise 1980 Italian-miles but if the Degrees be taken in one of the lesser Parallells we must proceed according to the Table of miles answerable to Degrees of Latitude in the former booke 7 Another Case is when the place is situate vnder the first Meridian The length and measure of such a Region is found out by this Rule 1 Let the Westerne Longitude bee subtracted out of the whole circle and to the Residue added the Easterne Longitude the summe will giue the greatnesse and distance betwixt East and West For an instance wee will take Groenland supposed in most of our Globes and Mappes to bee an Iland which is set downe directly vnder the first Meridian passing by the Azores in Kaerius his Globe It hath assigned it for Westerne Longitude about 340 Degrees for Easterne Longitude about 30 degrees Then according to our Rule 340 bee subtracted from 360 the whole circle there will remaine 20 which being added to 30 the Easterne Longitude there will arise 50 which being multiplied by 25 the number of miles answerable to the Latitude of the place being about 65 there will bee produced 1250 Italian-miles the distance or length betwixt the East and the West part of Groenland 8 Hitherto of the measuring of Countreyes by the Diameter the other way is performed by the circuit which manner of measuring wee will briefly censure in these two Propositions 1 The measuring of any Countrey by the Circuit of it is very deceitfull and full of errours It hath beene a common custome amongst Nauigatours to iudge of the greatnesse of any Countrey by sayling round about it which kind of measuring is not alwayes to be reiected for as much as in new discoueries sometimes no other way can bee had Neuerthelesse this manner of measuring must needs proue very vncertaine for diuers reasons First in regard of the motion of the ship which by reason of diuerse and contrary winds which must needs happen very frequently cannot alwayes moue with the same swiftnesse Secondly because the Sea it selfe as wee shall hereafter shew hath in diuerse places diuerse speciall motions and currents as from the East to West whence it must needs inforce an inequality of motion in the ship The third reason which is greater then all the rest is drawne from the various Figuration of Countreyes whose greatnesse cannot bee knowne by the circumference Because as Geometricians teach vs two figures may haue one and the selfe-same circuit about them and yet the one shall extraordinarily exceed the
the foure first qualities of Heate Cold Drouth and Moisture whereon depends a great part of the disposition not only of the soyle but also of mans body for as much as the one ordinarily borrowes his fruitfulnesse or barrennesse of these first qualities and the other hath his vitall Organes which are the ministers of the Soule much affected with them in so much as some Philosophers haue vndertaken to define all the differences of mens wits and intellectuall faculties out of the Temperament of the braine according to these foure accidents And what Physitian will not acknowledge all these Qualities and their mixture to challenge an extraordinary preheminence in the disposition and constitution of mans body whose mixture is the first ground of health or sicknesse The second meanes whereby the Heauens may cause a diuersity of temper in diuerse places is from the speciall Influences of some particular Starres and constellations incident to particular places for it were blockish to imagine that so many various Starres of diuerse colours and magnitudes should bee set in the Firmament to no other vse then to giue light to the world and distinguish the times sith the ordinary Physitian can easily discouer the Moones influence by the increase of humours in mans body and the experience of Astrologers will warrant much more by their obseruation as assigning to each particular aspect of the Heauens a particular and speciall influence and operation Now it is euident that all aspects of the Heauens cannot point out and designe all places alike for as much as the beames wherein it is conueyed are somewhere perpendicularly other where obliquely darted and that more or lesse according to the place whence it commeth to passe that neither all places can enioy the same Temperament nor the same measure and proportion Yet wee say not that the heauenly bodyes haue any power to impose a Necessitie vpon the wills and dispositions of men but onely an inclination For the Starres worke not Immediatly on the intellectuall part or minde of man but Mediatly so farre forth as it depends on the Temperament and materiall organes of the body But of this wee shall especially speake hereafter Where God willing shall bee opened the manner of this celestiall operation By this wee may vnderstand how farre the Heauens haue power to cause a diuersity in Places and Nations The second reason may bee the Imbred Quality Figure and Site of the Places themselues For that there is another cause of diuersity besides the situation of places in respect of the Heauens may easily bee proued out of experience for wee finde that places situate vnder the same Latitude partake of a diuerse and opposite Temper and disposition as the middle of Spayne about Toledo which is very hot and the Southermost bound of Virginia which is found to bee Temperate betwixt both All which notwithstanding are vnder the selfe-same Latitude or very neere without any sensible degree of difference also we sometimes finde places more Southward toward the Equatour to partake more of cold then such as are more Notherne as the Toppes of the Alps being perpetually couered with Snow are without question colder then England although they lye neerer to the equinoctiall Likewise Aluares reporteth that hee saw Ice vpon the water in the Abyssines Countrey in the month of Iuly which notwithstanding is neere or vnder the Line And Martin Frobisher relates that he found the ayre about Friezland more cold stormy about 61 degrees then in other places neere 70 degrees Wherefore we must needs ascribe some effect and operation to the soyle it selfe first in respect of the Superficies which is diuersly varied with Woods Riuers Marishes Rockes Mountaines Valleyes Plaines whence a double variety ariseth first of the foure first Qualities which is caused by the Sunne-beames being diuersly proiected according to the conformity of the place Secondly of Meteors and Exhalations drawne vp from the Earth into the Aire both which concurring must needs cause a great variety in mans disposition according to that prouerbe Athenis tenâ—e coelum Thebis crassum or that bitter taunt of the Poet on Boeotians Boeotum in crasso iurares aëre natum For ordinary experience will often shew that a thinne and sharp ayre vsually produceth the best witts as contrariwise grosse and thicke vapours drawne from muddie and marish grounds thicken and stupifie the spirits and produce men commonly of blockish and hoggish dispositions and natures vnapt for learning and vnfit for ciuill conuersation Secondly there must needs be granted to speciall Countreyes certaine Specificall qualities which produce a certaine Sympathie or Antipathie in respect of some things or others whence it commeth to passe that some plants and hearbs which of their owne accord spring out of the Earth in some Countreyes are found to pine wither in others some Beasts and Serpents are in some places seldome knowne to breed or liue wherewith notwithstanding other Regions swarme in abundance as for example Ireland wherein no Serpent or venomous worme hath beene knowne to liue whereby Africa and many other Countreyes finde no small molestation Neither is this variety onely shewne in the diuersity of the kindes but also in the variation of things in the same kinde whereof we might produce infinite examples For who knowes not which is a Physition that many simples apt for medicine growing in our land come farre short in vertue of those which are gathered in other countreyes I need amongst many ordinary instances giue no other then in our Rubarb and Tobacco whereof the former growing in our Countrey except in case of extremity is of no vse with our Physitians the other as much scorned of our ordinary Tobacconists yet both generally deriued from the true mother the Indies in great vse and request But of this last Instances are most common and yet for their ignorance of the true cause most admirable The causes of the former might in some sort bee found out either in the Heauens or in the Elementary nâ—ture of the Earth But some speciall proprieties haue discouered themselues which cannot be imagined to owe their cause to either but to some third originall which the Physicians in their Simples more properly tearme virtus specifica If any man should demand why countreyes farther from the course of the Sunne should be found hotter then some which are neerer Why the Rhenish wine Grape transported from Germany into Spaine should yeeld vs the Sherry Sacke Euery ordinary Phylosopher which hath trauelled little beyond Aristotles Materia Prima will bee ready to hammer out a cause as ascribing the former to the Heigth or Depression of the soyle the latter to the excesse of heat in Spaine aboue that of Germany But should wee farther demand 1 why Ireland with some other Regions indure no venemous thing 2 Why Wheat in S. Thomas Iland should shut vp all into the Blade and neuer beare graine 3 Why in the same Iland no fruit which hath any stone in
holy Scripture and it is not vnlikely â—hat many of those 〈◊〉 people fetcht their first originall from them The second cause may bee drawne from the Industrie and labour of the inhabitants in tillage and manuring of the ground wherein the Soâ—â—herne inhabitant hath beene more deficiâ—nt Foâ— it is certaine out of the holy Scripture that Noahs Arke wherâ—in was thâ— Seminary of mankinde and almost all other liuâ—â—g 〈◊〉 rested in â—he Northerne part of the world whence both man and beasts beganne to be propagated toward the Southâ—punc no farther then necessity enforced the Regions inhabited gâ—â—wing daily more and more populous and as iâ— were groaning to bee deliuered oâ— some of her children Hence may bee inferred â—wo consecâ—aries First that the Northerne Hemispheare was 〈◊〉 sooner and is now therefore â—ore populous then the Southerne Secondly that the chiefest and principall men which were best seated rathâ—r chose to keepe their ancient habitation sending such abroad who could either bee best spared or had the smallest possessions at home Yet notwithstanding it cannot be imagined but they retained with them a sufficient company and more then went away Out of which it must needs be granted that the Northerne halfe of the Earth being best inhabited should be best manured and cultured from whence the ground must in time proue more fruitfull and commodious for habitation for as a fruitfull Countrey for want of the due manuring and tillage doth degenerate and waxe barren so diuerse barren and sterill Countreyes haue by the industrie of the Inhabitants beene brought to fertilitie and made capable of many good commodities necessary for mans life If I were curious to draw arguments from the nature of the Heauens I could alleage the Greatnesse and Multitude of Starres of the greater magnitude in our Northerne Hemispheare wherein the Southerne is deficient as also the longer soiourning of the Sun in our Northerne Hemispheare but these as vncertaine causes I passe ouer Other reasons may perchance bee found out by those who are inquisitiue into the secrets of nature to whom I leaue the more exact search of these matters 4 Either Hemispheare consisting of 90 Degrees may be diuided into three parts each of them containing 30 Degrees 5 Of these parts 30 we allot for Heat 30 for Cold and 30 for Temperature whereof the former lyeth towards the Equatour the second towards the Pole the third betwixt both The ancient Cosmographers as wee haue shewed in our former Treatise diuided the whole Globe of the Earth into fiue Zones which they supposed had also proportionally diuided the Temper and disposition of the Earth In such sort that according to the Degrees of Latitude the Heat and Cold should in rease or diminish Which rule of theirs had beene very certaine were there no other causes concurrent in the disposition of the Earth and Ayre but onely the Heauens But sithence that many other concurrent causes as we haue shewed mixe themselues with these celestiall operations and the experiment of Nauigatours haue found out a disproportion in the quality in respect of the Distance some later writers haue sought out a new pertition more consonant to naturall experience The whole Latitude of the Hemispheare consisting of 90 Degrees from the Equatour to the Pole they haue diuided into three parts allowing 30 Degrees toward the Equatour to Heat 30 Degrees towards the Pole to Cold and the other 30 Degrees lying betwixt both to Temperature These 30 Degrees for Imagination sake they haue subdiuided againe each of them into two parts contayning 15 Degrees a peece more particularly to designe out the speciall disposition of each Region lying either Northward or Southward from the Equatour which is the bound betwixt both Hemispheares In the first section of 30 Degrees lying Northward from the Equatour wee comprehend in Africke Numidia Nigritarum Regio Lybia Guinia Nubia Egypt Ethiopia superior In Asia Arabia India Insulae Philippinae In America Noua Hispania Hispaniola Cuba with other parts of America Mexicana In the other extreame section from 60 Degrees of Latitude to the Pole wee comprehend in Europe Groenland Island Friesland Norwey Suethland for the most part Noua Zembla In Asia a great part of Scythia Orientalis In America Anian Quivira with diuerse other parts of the North of America Mexicana In the middle betwixt both betwixt 30 and 60 Degrees of Latitude wee comprehend in Africa Barbarie in Europe all the kingdomes except those North Prouinces before named and almost all Asia except some places toward the South as Arabia India and the Philippinae Insulae formerly placed in the first Section In like manner may we diuide the Southerne Hemispheare into three Sections In the first from the Equatour 30 Degrees we place in Africke Congo Monomotapa Madagascar In the Southerne Tract Beach and Noua Guinia with many Ilands thereunto adioyning as many of the Philippinae Insulae with Insulae Solomonis In America Peru Tisnada Brasilia with the most part of that Region which they call America Peruana In the other extreame Section from 60 Degrees to the Antarctike Pole is couched the most part of that great land scarce yet discouered called Terra Australis Incognita In the middle Region betwixt both from 30 to 60 Degrees shall wee finde placed in America the Region of the Pantagones in the Southerne Continent Maletur Iauaminor with many others In discouering the qualities of these seuerall Sections or partitions of the earth our chiefest discourse must be addressed to the Northerne Hemispheare as that is more discouered and knowne amongst old and new writers by which according to the former Proposition one may parallell the other concerning which wee will inferre these Propositions 1 In the first Section of the Hemispheare the first 15 Degrees from the Equatour are found somewhat Temperate the other 15 about the Tropicks exceeding Hot. That the Region lying vnder the Equatour is Temperately hot contrary to the opinion almost of all the Ancients hath beene in part proued heretofore as well by reason as experiment for that all places by how much the neerer they approach the Equatour by so much more should bee hotter as some imagine diuerse instances will contradict It is reported by Aluarez that the Abyssine Embassadour arriuing at Lisbone in Portugall was there almost choaked with extreame heat Also Pâ—rguer the Germane relates that hee hath felt the weather more hot about Dantzicke and the Balticke Sea then at Tholouse in a â—eruent Summer The causes which wee haue before touched are chiefly two The first is that the Sun is higher in this orbe in respect of those vnder the Equatour and moueth more swiftly from them spending on them onely twelue houres whence so great an impression of heat cannot bee made as in other places for heat being a materiall quality must necessarily require some Latitude of time to bee imprest into the ayre or any other subiect From the Diminution of heat in the Region must the ayre needs receaue into
it selfe the contrary quality of cold An argument of cold may bee drawne from the testimony of Alvarez who affirmes the waters there in the month of Iune to bee frozen ouer with Ice the South winde blowing The second cause is by iudicious writers ascribed to the subtility and rarity of the Aire vnder the Equinoctiall line which cannot recâ—aue into it selfe so many degrees of heat as the thicke and grosse aire of diuers places distant For the North Region wherein Europe and a great part of Asia is placed is for the most part full of waters which bursting out of secret and vnknowne concauities doe produce infinite Fennes Gogges Lakes and Marishes which in the Summer season cause infinite vapours to abound which being intermixed with heat scorch and heat more feruently then the purer ayre of Africke being for the most part free from the mixture and concurse of such slimie vapours That the aire being thickned should yeeld a greater feruour euery man out of ordinary experience can frame to himselfe an argument For wee see Fire and Heat being incorporated as it were in the Steele or Iron to burne and heat more then in Aire or Wood. The like reason some would draw from the keepers of Stoâ—es or Hot houses which doe besprinkle the ground with water that the vapour being contracted and the aire thickned they may the longer and better maintaine heat and spare Fuell Another cause which we haue formerly touched may bee drawne from the Set and Anniuerwindes which blow most part of the yeere one way Iosephus Acosta obserues that betwixt the Tropicks the winde is for the most part Easterly beyond Westerly and a Dutch-discouerer hath related that in Guinea they haue a certaine winde which comes from the land till noone and then very violent from the Sea in so much as the Inhabitants are wont to trafficke in the morning being not able to indure it which if it bee true wee cannot imagine this Region to bee so hot as men suppose For here the heat in the night is asswaged by the absence or remotenesse of the Sunne Likewise the excesse of heat incident to noonetide is much qualified or as it should seeme by this relation altogether vanquished by the cold winde deriued from the Sea Another reason no lesse probable may be deriued from the excessiue height of the land and great mountaynes obserued to bee neere or vnder the line whose tops are alwayes couered with Snow which giue a sufficient testimony of cold For instance wee need goe no farther then the ridge of the mountaines Andâ— in America where they obserued the Ayre to be so â—hinne and cold that it inforced them to scowre and vomit which came neere it The like whereof is related of another called Punas where the extremity of cold cutteth off their hands From which experience wee may finde some places neere the Line to bee more infested with cold 〈◊〉 heat The laâ—t and greatest â—eason may bee taken from the continuall moisture wherewith the regions situate betwixt the Tropicks frequently abound This moisture is deriued from two causes 1 From the melting of the Snow on the tops of the mountaines by the Sunne which running from thence continually into the vallies keepe them almost alwayes watrish especially in the midst of Summer when the Sunne is neerest 2 From the extreame heat of the Sunne which being very neere and many times verticall rayseth vp continually moist vapours in great quantity These vapourâ— in so short a time as 12 houres being not consumed but meeting with the cold from the middle Region of the aire are therewith conuerted into drops which fall downe againe in great showres in so much as some trauellers of good credit haue told me that all the while they sayled betwixt the Tropicks they seldome saw the Sunne by reason of raine and clowdy vapours Whence wee note with Iosephus Acosta by way of consectary that the presence of the Sunne betwixt the Tropicks produceth moisture but contrariwise without the Tropicks it is the cause of drouth whence the inhabitants inioy as it were a Winter when the Sun is to them verticall because of the distemperature by Windes Raines and Stormes and great Inundations whereunto commonly all great riuers betwixt the Tropicks are most subiect Also they seeme to haue a Summer when the Sunne is in or neere the Tropicks because being somewhat remoued he cannot bee so powerfull in drawing such store of vapours and exhalations which hee can dispell and consume Thus wee see the moity of this first Section lying 15 degrees from the Equatour how soeuer subiect to a greater reflection of the Sunne-beames yet through the concurrence of other causes to bee found indifferently Temperate and the other 15 degrees about the Tropicks howsoeuer subiect to a lesser Reflection to bee excessiue hot which later cause besides all which hath beene said before shall bee further confirmed hereafter by the complection of the natiue Inhabitants which wee shall finde to bee Choller-adust the true symptome of an externall heat But if any man shall answer that this accident is incident as well to the Regions situate vnder the Equatour as to that vnder the Tropicks I will produce another reason drawne from the colour of their countenances which vnder the Equatour is not seene so blacke and swarthie as elsewhere For toward the Tropicke is placed the Land of Blackmores or Nigritarum Regio where the people are all coleblacke which might perhaps happen also to those that dwell vnder the other Tropicke but that other causes interpose themselues which hinder the excesse of heat which is taken to be the chiefe cause of this blacknesse Here some would oppose the opinion of Herodotus which referred the cause of this blacknesse in the Negroes to the Seed which hee would haue to bee blacke others would haue this blacknesse as a curse inflicted vpon Chams posterity but these opinions carry very little shew of probability For first if this former opinion were admitted it would of necessity follow saith Boden that Ethiopians in Scythia should alwayes bee borne blacke and Scythians in Ethiopia should bee alwayes white For as much as all nations from the beginning of the world haue beene confused and mixt by the distinction of Colonies but experience teacheth vs that men trasplanted into another Soyle will in manner of trees and Plants by little and little degenerate and change their first disposition As if a Blackmore marry and beget children here with vs in England experience will plainely declare the children to be more inclining to whitenesse then the fathers and the grand children more then them Secondly if the second opinion of Chams curse deserued any credit I see no reason why all his posterity such as by most writers consent are generally the people of Africke should not bee subiect to the same execration as well as one little parcell of it Moreouer it is reported by Pline and confirmed by Appian that in those places are many
the Scripture especially in the 8 of the Prouerbs and the 103 Psalme where God is said to haue set a bound vpon the seas which they should not passe But this reason seemes not warrantable That the great Creator of all things should in the first institution of Nature impose a perpetuall violence vpon Nature Moreouer all miracles are temporary and not perpetuall for then were it ordinary and so scarce a miracle others vpon lesse ground haue imagined that there are certaine Northerne starres in Vrsa maior and Draco of so great vertue that they can draw the Ocean from this habitable part of the earth toward the North and so constraine the waters that they cannot ouerwhelme the earth but this opinion is ridiculous and deserues no solide refutation being a meere coniecture without ground or probability others vpon the like reason haue dreamed that there is more Water then Earth in the Globe and that the water by his extraordinary masse occupying the center of the world turnes the earth on one side making it to swimme as a ship vpon the sea But this assertion wee haue refuted in our first Chapter of the first booke All these Authors suppose that the earth is vncouered toward the North-Pole but ouerflowne with waters towards the South which the experience of Nauigatours at this day hath sufficiently disanulled Others againe affirming out of a Peripateticall dreame that the water is ten times greater then the earth suppose the earth to bee like a sponge to drinke vp the water to proue which assertion they produce an experiment that the earth being digged any thing deepe in most places there will appeare water whence they collect that the water is mixt with the whole earth and receiued into it'â— concauities But howsoeuer wee may graunt that there are many and vast concauities in the Earth capable of Waters yet it is impossible that the Water should bee ten times as great as the Earth for by this reason although all the Terrestriall Globe were Water it could not bee but that a greater portion of Water then that in the Earth should arise aboue the Earth because according to their owne Supposition 9 partes should bee aboue the Earth Neither can Aristotles words bee well wrested to this interpretation For as much as hee vnderstood this ten-fold proportion of the Water to the Earth not of the spaces which they replenished measured by their Circles and Diameters but of the proportion they beare one to the other in their transmutation as that one measure of Earth turned into Water should bee as much as 10. All these opinions seeming so absurd it seemeth more probable to imagine that either the Waters are condensated and thickned which were in the beginning created thinne whence will follow that they should occupy a lesse place and by consequence leaue the dry-land in many places habitable or which is more probable that God in the first Creation made certaine hollow concauities and channels in the Earth which was before plaine and vniforme into which the waters were receiued and bounded in so much that they could not flow abroad This seemes enough to satisfy the search of such as are not too curious to search into his secrets whose power and omnipotence transcends the capacity of the wisest In this diuision of a place into Water and Land wee will first treat of the Sea and the accidents belonging thereunto Not that the water is worthier or greater then the Earth The contrary whereof wee haue proued heretofore but because the consideration of it is more simple as that wherein fewer matters are to bee handled then in the land For Riuers and Lakes although consisting of this watery element wee thought fit to handle apart as adiuncts belonging to the land 4 In the Sea are considered two things 1 The Adiuncts 2 The Diuision The Accidents of the sea whereof we are to treat are either Internall or Eâ—ternall 5 The Internall are such as are inbâ—ed in the Sea These againe are either Absolute or Relatiue 6 The Absolute are such as agree to the Sea without any comparison with the land such are either Figure Quality or Motion 7 The figure is the conformity of the externall superficies of the Sea whereof obserue this Theoremâ— 1 Although the whole body of the water be Sphericall yet it is probable that the parts of it incline to a Conicall figure That the whole Water according to it's outward superficies iâ— Sphericall and round is sufficiently demonstrated before in the first booke But notwithstanding this roundnesse of the whole the parts of it may for ought I see admit of a Conicall figure for as much as this hath little or no proportion to the vast Spheracity of the Water no more then little hils to the greatnesse of the Earth For the prosecution of which point I will first shew the reason of this my coniecture grounded on experience and afterwards out of the ground and demonstration of the principles of Mathematicall Philosophie endeauour to make it more manifest First therefore by a Conicall line wee vnderstand a crooked line which differs from a Periphery or circle in as much as it keeps not alwayes an equall distance from the center but is higher in the midst then on either side Now if the parts of the water standing still were in their higher superficies exactly sphericall they should by the same grounds bee concentricall or haue the same center with the whole Earth But that it hath not the same center will appeare by little dropps of Water falling on the ground which incline as wee see to a round figure yet were it more then ridiculous to say that this round conuexity of a droppe could bee concentricall with the whole Earth sith in so great a masse it is hardly sensible But here our ordinary Philosophers are ready to answer that this conformity of the water dropps in a round figure is rather Violent then Naturall because the Water being by nature moist is ready to fly and auoid the touch or drouth or any dry thing And because the Water thus auoiding the drouth cannot of necessity but some way touch it it is imagined to conforme it selfe to that figure whereit it may least of all touch This is the round or Sphericall figure wherein any body contained cannot touch a plaine otherwise then in one onely point But against this coniecture of moisture flying drouth strong enough is the experiment of Scaliger in his 105 exercitation that quick-siluer a moist substance being cast either into Water or Iron-Oare will gather it selfe to a round body notwithstanding it is manifest that quick-siluer naturally neither auoides the touch of Water or Iron for as much as the one is very mâ—â—st the other of great affinity as our Chimicks teach with quick-siluer the parent of all Mettals Moreouer it is manifest that this conformity to roundnesse is in dropps of raine falling to the Earth through the Aire yet will not our
to wit that it might water aswell the mettalls in the bowells of the earth as giue moisture and nourishment to Plants and liuing creatures dwelling thereon And this motion saith he although it be against the particular nature of the water is not altogether violent because elementary bodyes are bound by a certaine law to obey and subiect themselues to the heauenly so that motions impressed by them are not enforced on them by violence For albeit in some sort it thwart the phisicall disposition yet haue all creatures an obâ—dientiall aptnesse as they terme it to submit themselues to the superiour But this opinion of Thomas Aquinas in my conceit seemes lesse sound then the former For first Thomas had no need at all of these shifts holding some of his other grounds For in another place comparing the hight of the sâ—a and land one with the other he firmely maintaines that the sea is aboue the land and that it is bounded and restrayned from ouerflowing the dry land by the immediate power of the Creator If this be graunted what need there any ascent or drawing vp of the water by any externall power of the heauenly bodyes sith the remitting of this restraint of waterâ— in some places were sufficient to cause such springs and riuers in the earth Secondly his opinion cannot stand without manifest contradiction of himselfe for how can the water being of his owne nature heauy be drawne vpward without violence and thwarting of nature And whereas he alleadges for himselfe an obedientiall aptnesse in the elementary bodies to obey the superiour he shall find very little helpe to maintaine his part For this obedientiall inclination must be either according to the nature of the water or opposite vnto it or at least the one must be sudordinate vnto the other That it is according to the nature of the water he himselfe disclaimes and experience refutes because it naturally descends not ascends if it be opposite as indeed it must needes be he contradicts himselfe If the Physicall and obedientiall inclination be subordinate the one to the other I vrge that subordinate causes can produce no other then subordinate effects for asmuch as the causes and the effects are measured and proportioned the one by the other But wee plainly see that the motions of ascent or descent are diametrally opposed and contrary the one to the other so that they cannot otherwise proceed then from opposite and contrary causes Secondly this obedientiall aptnesse is commonly vnderstood of a creature in respect of his Creator in whose hand it is as to create all things of nothing so to reduce all things againe into nothing But this although it be aboue nature yet no way contradicts nature and easier it is to be imagined that the Creator should annihilate any Creature then letting it remaine in his own Nature giue it a motion against nature Moreouer 〈◊〉 we duly coÌ„sider nature in her course we shall find that the lower elementall Bodies onely concurre to the conseruation of the whole and of one another by following their own priuate inclination for the whole is nothing else then an orderly concent and harmony of all the parts from whose mutuall cooperation it receiues his perfection so that where any part failes in his owne office the whole must needs sustain dammage Thirdly it will hardly be resolued by any of this opinion by what meanes or instruments the heauenly or superiour Bodies can haue such an operatiue power ouer the water as to lift it vpward from his owne Center for neither can this thing be performed by motion hight or any InflueÌ„ce which are the three meanes of operation of celestiall Bodies on elementary I will not stand to proue every particular in this matter But onely would haue my aduersary to answere and giue an instance and speciality Another opinion there is of Aristotle followed by all Peripaâ—eticks who in his first booke of Meteors and 13 Chapter goes about to proue and maintaine that all Springs and Wells in the land are produced and generated in the bowells of the Earth by any vapours resolued into water which opinion he labours â—o strengthen in this manner It is certain saith he that the Earth hath within it much aire because Nature will no-where admit a vacuity But the Earth hath not onely many open but a great many secret holes and conâ—auities which cannot otherwise be filled then with aire Moreouer a great part of the Earth and other vapours therein contained and stirred vp by the force of the Starres are conuerted into Aire and that aswell the Aire included in the bowells of the Earth as vapours there also bred are perpetually conuerted into water This reason may seeme to perswade because it followes of necessity that the coldnesse of the Earth expelling their heat they should harden condensate be disposed at last to the generation of water whence also the cause 〈◊〉 giuen of the generation of water in the middle Region of the Aire although it be not alwaies thence bred aswell for other causes as for that the Aire by the heat of the Sunne is sometimes too hot and the vapours are too much attenuated and ratified so that the matter of Raine cannot be alwaies supplyed This would Aristotle haue to bee the originall of all Springs and Fountaines So that the water should first distill as it were drop by drop out of this vapourous matter and this moist matter so collected and drawne together should afterwardâ— breake forth out of the ground and so cause such fountaines Some reasons are also produced to proue this assertion for say the Authors of this opinion If the Springs and Riuerâ— should proceed from any other cause then they should take their beginning from Raine-water which is before refuted or from the Sea by certain secreâ— passages which opinion seemes too weake to endure examination First this seemes an argument that the Sea-water is commonly Salt but the water of Springs and Riuers is for the most sweet and fresh and therefore such Springs are not deriued from the Sea Secondly because we neuer find the Sea to be emptied which must needes be if it should giue beginnings to all such currents of water in the Earth Thirdly we haue already shewed that the superficies of the Earth is higher then the Water so that it cannot be conceiued how riuers should be deriued from the Sea To this opinion howsoeuer seeming probable and supported with the name and authority of so great a Philosopher I dare not wholly assent forasmuch as it thwarts the Testimony of holy Scripture and cannot otherwise stand with reason because it cannot well be imagined how so many vapours and so continually should be ingendred in the bowels of the earth to nourish so many and so great currents as we see springing out of the Earth for a very great quantity or portion of Aire being condensated and made Water will become but as a little drop The Aire according
as often it doth to be set on fire for hauing water neare it it may soone be quenched whereas many little springs cannot afford so much water as would suffice for such a purpose Lastly amongst other reasons wee cannot forget the pleasantnes of faire riuers which are no small ornaments to a City and delights to the eye of the Inhabitants 8 Thus much for riuers A Lake is a collection of perpetuall waters nourished with fresh springs and hauing of it selfe no passage forth In this definition of a Lake wee haue comprized these three things First that it is a collection of constant and perpetuall waters Secondly that it is continually fed cherished with fresh springs rising vp from the bottome Thirdly that it finds no passage forth into the sea or otherwise By the two first it is distinguished from a great Pond or standing poole called in Latin Stagnum For asmuch as a standing poole being commonly â—ed with raine water and hauing no springs from the Earth whereby it may bee long nourished is often times by the heat of the sunne exhausting it out by vapours either extraordinarily diminished or altogether dried vp Whereas in a Lake by reason of fresh springs the Water is perpetuall and remaineth sweet and holsome except by some other accidents it change it's disposition For the latter clause that a lake finds no passage forth it may bee two waies vnderstood either of a visible or apparant passage outwardly through the superficies of the Earth to the sea or of a secret and subterranean passage vnder ground The former may againe be vnderstood of a passage forth immediatly by it selfe or mediatly by some riuer whereas wee haue said that it finds no entrance into the sea we ought to vnderstand it that immediately it is not to be accompted a continuate part conioyned with the sea neuerthelesse it may be disburthened into the sea by some riuers running out of it as some would haue the great riuer Tanais not to haue his head or fountaine in the Riphaean mountains as the ancients haue taught but in a certaine Lake not faâ—re from the city Tulla so Volga Edill draw their originall from a lake not farre from Moscow with many others of like nature What to thinke of the subterranean intercourse betwixt Lakes and the sea wee will shew in this Theoreme 1 It is probable that most Lakes haue some secret intercourse with the sea vnder ground For the confirmation of this point there want not reasons The first reason may be drawne from the quantity of Water in most Lakes which is found without any great sensible difference to remaine the same without any diminution or encrease whereas if the water bound in with these limits should haue no passage out any way it should encrease to such greatnes that it would easily ouerwhelme the bankes To giue a few instances we find that diuerse very vast riuers exhaust themselues into the Caspian Lake as Volga and Edill which receiuing into them many notable riuers are at last themselues swallowed vp in the said lake In like manner the Lake of Palestine called the dead sea is known to receiue into it besides diuerse lesser riuers the great and famous riuer Iordan Heere would I demaund whether these great riuers perpetually casting themselues into a Lake giue an encrease to the former quantity or not if they should augment the water they would by consequence alter the bounds But this is contradicted by experience If the quantity of the water suffers no encrease it must needs follow then that the water should some other way be diminished as it is heere encreased This must either be by the sunne drawing vp some parts of it by vapours or by some cauerns of the Earth drinking vp some parts of it Or lastly by a subterranean passage into the sea Concerning the former it cannot bee denied but much Water is drawne vp into vapours by the heat of the sun yet that these vapours counteruaile the water perpetually brought in is in my conceit very improbable for against this quantity of water extracted out this way of evaporation I will oppose these three things which shal perswade a reasonable man that the water receiued in shall farre surpasse the vapours exhaled from it First that the vapours are stirred vp in the day time when the sunne is lifted aboue the Horizon at such a height that his heat is somewhat strengthned wheras all these watry currents neuer intermitting their vsuall course neuer cease to runne by day or night wherein is seen a double aduantage of the riuers in respect of the watry exhalation Secondly of these watry vapours so drawne out a great part must at diuerse times returne back or at least so much otherwise by rayny showres dropped downe into this Lake Thirdly these watry parts thus rarified and attenuated in vapour should putting this supposition in equality diffuse themselues abroad in such extraordinary manner that all the Regions round about should in all likely-hood suffer a great inconueniency of foggy exhalations On the other side it is very vnlikely that it should bee receiued into empty caverns of the Earth without passage into the sea or some great riuer disburthening it selfe thereunto For I would demaund whether these cauerns were euer filled with water or not if they haue been filled how could they receiue more water sith the filling of any place supposeth it to be first empty That they were neuer yet filled with Water is farre more vnreasonable that any man should imagine any cauerne of the Earth to bee so vast with so great currents of Water perpetually running in almost six thousand yeares should not replenish especially considering the bowells of the Earth not farre from the vpper face to be every where spread with Water round which might also helpe to this purpose Wherefore it cannot well bee imagined but that euery such great lake hath some vent or passage vnto the sea either by some secret subterranean channell or at least by some great riuer issuing out of it and so running into the Ocean Another reason may be taken from the currents of some seas which are by good reason ascribed to this cause For it is obserued by skilfull Nauigatours that the Water is carried by a very stiffe course from Propontis and the black sea into the Aegaean and from thence into the Mediterranean The originall of which current mâ—y with good coniecture be found out in the Caspian which by some secret passage vnder ground disburthening it selfe into the black sea causeth it to enforce his owne waters farther of for the receit of the other Thirdly that these subterranean passages are not vnlikely may be confirmed by many riuers which are swallowed vp some wholly some for â—ome place only of the Earth whereof we haue spoken before Also it may seeme likely by the Water spread round about the Earth which through the bowells of it find a passage from the sea bearing as
are harder and more rocky then others as being more able to resist this violence of the water Hence also it happens that old buildings being erected in the sides of mountaines haue their foundations after a time vncouered and are much subiect to Ruines an instance whereof may bee giuen out of the Romane Capitoll whose foundation according to the relation of George Agricola appeares now plainly aboue the ground which without question was heretofore deepe rooted in the Earth In Plaines and valleyes we find all things to happen contrary wise to wit that all places in regard of their superficies are raised much higher then they were in times past The reason whereof may easily be giuen out of the great quantity of the Earth carried by the washing of the Raine from the Topps of mountaines into the valleyes whence we may perceiue old houses heretofore fairely built to be now almost buried vnder ground and their windowes heretofore set at a reasonable hight now growne euen with the pauement so some write of the Triumphall Arch of Septimius at the foot of the Capitoll Mountaine in Rome now almost couered with Earth insomuch as they are inforced to descend down into it by as many staires as formerly they were vsed to asceÌ„d In like sort we see in old Monasteries Religious houses their lower roomes windowes doores very far couched vnder grouÌ„d of which great incoÌ„uenience we cannot suspect the Architects iudgment but rather our fore-mentioned cause from this burying of parts of some houses vnder ground it may be gathered that the farther they are vnder ground so much ancienter they are as we may obserue heere with vs in Oxford that our most ancient Colledges haue the windowes of their lower roomes some-where altogether choaked vp with Earth without or at least halfe way in somuch as the flore within is found to bee farre inferiour in height to the street without This is also confirmed by Architects who in digging vp old foundations before they came to firme ground whereon to erect a building are enforced first to remoue away the Rubbish or as they terme it the Made-ground wherein oftentimes they find Wood Iron-Instruments old coine with diuers other Trash of this Nature An instance we haue in some of the lower places in Somersetshire where some vpon occasion digging the Earth somewhat deep haue found great Okes turned topsy turvy with their Roots vpwards To coniecture with some that this was caused by Noah's Floud seemes to be very improbable 1 because as we haue formerly shewed in this Chapter the Water in the Deluge could not haue so violent a motion to procure such an alteration in the parts of the Earth 2 It cannot so well be imagined how such Trees should remaine so long a time without putrefaction wherefore we cannot well cast it on any other cause then the addition of the earthly parts brought by raine from the mountaines into the valleyes and so by some Land-flood which partakes much of slimy and earthly matter dispersed abroad vpon the land about Now on the contrary part wee find in few places of mountaines such made-ground which hath before beene moued This will also appeare out of the industry of our Low-countreyman who by baying vp the Riuers into certaine Artificiall Channels the ground about hath been much raised where on the contrary side the forcing of the water into higher places oftentimes is found to fret through the Earth and make it lower What we haue spoken of the effects of Riuers and Raine in diminishing the greatnes of the mountaines and exalting of the vallyes we may in some sort find in the sea For the bottome of the Sea being lower then the Earth and many great Riuers continually running from the Earth into it it is manifest that there is carried in their current a great quantity of earth in so much as by the heaping of sand and earthly rubbish the mouthes of great Riuers are in time choaked vp and commodious hauens spoyled and remoued farther into the land of which alternall transmutation of the Sea and Land wâ— shall speake hereafter for present instance need to goe no farther then diuerse Townes in Deuon which according to the Relation of ancient men haue heretofore been faire hauens able to receiue great ships to which notwithstanding at this time a small boat cannot arriue except in a full Tide The like whereof is reported by Aristotle 1 of a place in Egypt called Delta made by the heaping vp of sand and slime brought by Nilus from the Ethiopian mountaine 2 of Ammania Regio which in times past being Sea through the slime conuayed in the Riuers became afterwards as a standing poole which in processe of time waxed dry and ioyned it selfe to the Continent 3 Of Maeotis Palus that the dry land enuironing it round is so much encreased that ships of that burthen cannot arriue which could in times past within 60 yeeres before which is also in some sort testified by Polybius 4 The like is related of Bosphorus Thracius and many other places recorded by Pliny of which we shall speake hereafter From these obseruations Blancanus would inferre these consectaries 1 That the Earth was not from the beginning endowed with mountaines 2 That it should not so continue vntill the end of the world â—nd vnlesse the Fire whereof the Scripture speakes should preuent it the whole Earth should in the end be ouer-whelmed with waters as in the beginning and so be made void of habitation but on such coniectures I dare not too boldly venture being speculations built on no sufficient grounds All which can hence warrantably be collected is expressed in our former Theoreme 2 Of the Figurature of Countreyes in Mountaines Valleyes and Plaines we haue spoken It is requisite here wee speake somewhat of Woods and Champian Countreyes 3 A Wood is a Region or space of Land beset with trees A Champian Region is a space of Land either altogether voide or scarce furnished with trees Some Criticks here curiously distinguish in Latine betwixt Sylua Lucus and Nemus by Sylua vnderstanding a space beset with trees ordained to bee cut downe but Lucus was a place where trees were not ordained to bee cut downe but reserued sacred For in such groues they did anciently vse to offer sacrifice as may appeare by diuerse places out of the Old Testament where the Heathenish manner of worshipping was forbidden and sometimes reproued in the Kings of Iuda and Israel That which the Latines call Nemus is a Groue or Wood ordained onely for pleasure and recreation but the discussing of these businesses rather belong to a Grammarian then a Geographer who takes little notice but of those matters which most principally and remarkeably belong to any Region wherefore omitting other curiosities wee haue distinguished onely betweene a Woody and a Champian Countrey whereof as wee haue defined one is beset with a multitude of trees the other with few or none What concernes a
vnderstand themselues to bee all as it were kinne and descended from the same originall then which there is no greater means to conciliate and ioyne mens affections for mutuall amitie and conuersation As it is reported of Diomedes and Glaucus and many others who being armed to one anothers ruine and ouerthrow haue beene drawne to breake off their hatred by the meere pretence and shew of consanguinity But these who so arrogantly boast themselues to bee Sonnes of the Earth not beholding to any other countrey for their ofspring striue to breake in sunder the bonds of society betwixt nations which God 's Word and the Law of Nations binds vs to obserue Hence grow those mortall hatreds and heart-burnings betwixt diuerse countreyes as of the Aegyptians against the Hebrewes of the Greekes against the Latines wherein they persecuted one the other extreamly Hence came it to passe that strangers amongst the Romans were called enemies as the name of Welch-men with the Germans signifieth as much as a forrainer wherein they seeme much to degenerate from the ancient hospitality of their Ancestors for which they haue been much praysed Finally from this one root spring those infamous libels cast out of one Nation against another written by such Fire-brands as delight in nothing more then dissention but how much better were it to reconcile all people out of this assured ground of consanguinity sith Religion perswades more to Charity and agreement then to Faction and contentions But this I leaue to the Diuine whom it more properly concernes 2 The first inhabitants of the Earth were planted in Paradise and thence translated to the places neere adioyning For the confirmation of this point we need no farther proofe then the authority of God himselfe speaking in his Word whereon all truth is grounded But of the placâ— of Paradise where we place the first habitation sundry disputes haue been amongst Diuines sufficiently examined of late by a iudicious and worthy Writer in his History of the World Which tract being too tedious to insert wee will contract as farre as concernes our purpose First therefore it would seeme meete that wee examine their opinion which hold this History of Paradise to bee a meere Allegory Of this opinion were Origen Philo Iudaeus Fran. Gregorius with many others who by the foure riuers of Paradise would haue to be vnderstood the foure Cardinall Vertues as by the Tree of knowledge Sapience or Wisdome To which opinion also S. Ambrose Teemes to adhere who would haue that by Paradise should bee meant the Soule or mind by Adam the vnderstanding by Eue the sense by the Serpent delectation by the rest of the Trees the vertues of the mind Against the Fathers themselues I will not inueigh sith some men suppose their conceits to be rather allusions then conclusions But against the opinion it selfe many reasons may bee drawne to proue there was a true locall Paradise Eastward first out of the text it selfe which saith For out of the ground made the Lord God to grow euery tree pleasant to the â—ight and good for meats by the processe of which Story it seemes that God first created man out of the garden as it were in the world at large and then put him in this garden the end whereof is expressed to dresse and manure it Paradise being a garden filled with plants and trees pleasant to behold and good for meate which proueth that Paradise was a terrestriall garden Secondly to expresse it more plainly he averreth that it was watred with a riuer springing out of a Region called Eden being a country neare vnto Canaan in Mesopotania as Ezechiel witnesseth Thirdly Epiphanius and St Hierome vrge to this effect if Paradise were such an Allegory then were there no Riuers no place out of which they sprung no Eue no Adam and so the whole History should be turned into a meere fable or poëticall fiction Fourthly it is proued by continuation of the same Story 1 Because God gaue Adam free-will to eate of euery tree of the garden the foresaid tree excepted besides he left all the beasts of the Earth to be named by him which cannot be meant of imaginary trees and beasts for this were to make the whole Creation aenigmaticall 2ly This name is often vsed in holy Scriptures else-where as in Ezech 10 Genesis 13.19 which would not haue been so if the whole story had bin meerely Allegoricall Paradise an Vtopia sith the Scripture specially the historicall part of them are written in a plaine stile fitting the capacity of vulgar auditors Lastly of this Paradise planted in the East wee may find some footsteps in prophane Poëts as in Homer Orpheus Liâ—us Pindarus Hesiod who often speake of Alcinous garden and the Elisian fields all which deriued their first inuention from this description of Paradise recorded by Moses in Holy Scripture whereof the Heathen themselues had some obscure traditions The second opinion was that Paradise was the whole Earth and the Ocean the fountain of these foure riuers which was defended heretofore by the Manichees Noviomagus Vadianus and Goropius Becanus The reasons which they alleage for their part to proue this assertion were chiefly these 1 Because those things which were in Scripture attributed to Paradise are generally ascribed to the whole world as that place of Genesis Bring forth fruit and multiply fill the earth and subdue it rule ouer euery creature But this argument may easiâ—y be answered for although the world in generall were created for man and all men descended from the same originall to wit the loynes of Adam yet this disproueth nothing the particular garden assigned to Adam to dresse wherein he liued before his transgression for if there had beene no other choyce but that Adam had beene left to the vniuersall as they imagine why should Moses say the garden was East from Eden sith the world can not be East or West but in respect of particular places Also why was the Angell set after Adams expulsion to barre his re entrance if it were not a particular place for according to their opinion Adam should be driuen out of the whole World Their second reason is because it semes impossible that Nilus Ganges and Euphrates by so many portions of the world so farre distant should issue out of the same fountaine To this we answer that by common Interpreters of Scripture being ignorant of Geographie Pison was falsely taken for Ganges Gihon for Nilus Although it can no way be true that Ganges should be taken for a riuer by Haâ—ilah in India and Nilus should runne through Aethiopia as we shall shew hereafter The third opinion is that Paradise is higher then the Moone or higher at least then the Middle Region of the Aire this opinion is cast vpon Beda and â—abanus to which also Rupertus seemes to accord who as it seemes borrowed their opinion from Plato and he from Socrates But these two as it seemes are misinterpreted Because by Paradise they