this name whether from Vignina an ancient King thereof or from our Virgin Queen Elizabeth the other parts being since distinguished by the names of New-England New-York and Mary-Land After the more perfect discovery of these parts which is said to have been first encouraged and promoted by Sir Walter Raleigh by several worthy Adventurers as first Captain Philip Amidas and Captain Arthur Barlow Anno 1584. Sir Richard Greenvil 1585. Mr. Iohn White 1587 and 1589. Captain Gosnol 1602 Captain Martin Pring 1603 set out by the City of Bristol Captain George Weymouth 1605 set out by the Lord Arundel of Warder at last iâ— the year 1606 some footing being got for all the forementioned voyages had prov'd succesless those that went over with Captain Newport carrying with them a commission from King Iames for the establishing a Counsel to direct those new discoveries landed on the 19th of December at a place afterwards called Cape Henry at the mouth of Chesapeac-Bay and immediately opened their Orders by which eight of the Counsel were declared with power to choose a President to govern for a year together with the Counsel The next year Letters Patents bearing date April the 10th were granted by the King to Sir Thomas Gates Sir George Summers and the rest of the Undertakers who were divers Knights Gentlemen and Merchants of London Bristol Exeter Plymouth anâ— other parts to make a double Colony for the more speedy Planting of the place the first Colony to be undertaken by those of London the other by those of Bristol Exeter Plymouth c. However it was not till in some years after that this Plantation came to be considerably peopled and that principally by the great care industry and activity in this affair of the Valiant Capt. Iohn Smith who in the year 1615 in the 12th of King Iames his Reign procured by his interest at Court his Majesties recommendatory Letters for the encouragement of a standing Lottery for the benefit of the Plantation which accordingly succeeded and in two or three years time turn'd to no bad account And perhaps the cancelling and making void of the Patent granted to the Corporation of the first Colony of Virginia and all other Patents by which the said Corporation or Company of Adventurers of Virginia held any interest there which was done in Trinity Term 1623 by reason of several misdemeanors and miscarriages objected against the said Corporation was an inlet of a far greater conflux into these parts than otherwise would have been by reason that this Corporation been dissolved and the Plantation governed be persons immediately appointed by commission from the King a greater freedom of Trade was opened to all his Majesties Subjects that would adventure into those parts The greatest disturbance the English received from the Natives was in the year 1622 when by a general insurrection of the Barbarians 300 of our men were massacred In the year 1631 being the 7th of the Reign of King Charles the First the most Nothernly part of this Countrey was parcell'd out into a particular Province and by Patent granted to the Lord Baltâ—more by the name of Maryland And in like manner in the 15th year of his present Majesty being the year of our Lord 1663 that part of Florida which lies South of Virginia to Edw. Earl of Clarendon then Lord High Chancellor of England George Duke of Albermarl William Earl of Craven Iohn Lord Berkley Anthony Lord Ashly now Earl of Shaftsbury Sir George Carteret Sir William Berkley and Sir Iohn Colleton by the name of Carolina as is specified more at large in the particular discourses of these two Countreys So that Virginia as it now stands with these two Provinces lopt from it for in Carolina also is included some part of the Land which belonged formerly to the dissolved Company of Virgina extends it self only between 36 and 37 degrees and 50 minutes of Northern latitude being bounded to the East by the Ocean to the North by mary-Mary-land to the West by the South-Seas and to the South by Carolina The Air of Virginia is accounted of a temperature very wholsome and agreeable to English constitutions especially since by the cutâ—ng down of the Woods and the regulation of diet the seasonings have been abated only within the present limits of Virginia it is somewhat hotter in Summer than that part called Mary-Land and the seasoning was formerly more violent and dangerous here to the English at their first landing The Soil which is generally plain but sometimes diversified with variety of hill and dale is capable being very fertile of producing all things that naturally grow in these parts besides which there are of the proper growth of this Countrey a sort of Plant called Silk-grass of which is made a very fine Stuff of a silky gloss and cordage more strong and lasting than any of hemp or flax For fruits the Mettaquâ—sunanks something resembling the Indian Fig the Chechinquamins which come nearest to the Chesnut the Putchcamines a fruit somewhat like a Damsin Messamines a sort of Grape in shew Rawcomens the resemblance of a Gooseberry Morocoks not much unlike a Strawberry Macoquer a kind of Apple Ocoughtanamnis a berry much like Câ—pers For Roots Musquaspen with the juice whereof being a rich sort of paint they colour their Mars and Targets Wichsacan yielding a most excellent healing jâ—ice for wounds Pocones an emulgent of much efficacy for swellings and aches Tockawaugh frequently â—aten there is also a Plant called Matonna of which they make bread and Assament a sort of Pulse a great delicacy among the natives The Beasts peculiar to this Countrey are the Opassum a certain beast which carrieth and suckleth her young in a bag which she hath under her belly the Assapanic or flying Squirrel the Mussascus a musk-sented beast having the shape of a Water-rat the Aroughena a sort of Badger the Utchuâ—quâ—is somewhat like a wild Cat also a sort of beast called Roscones Of Fish the most peculiar is the Sâ—ringraise which is also common to this Countrey with New-England So many several Towns as were anciently among the natives so many distinct Nations there were all Monarchical except that of the Sesquahanocks all something differing in disposition customs and religious Ceremonies and most of all in language but all of them in general valiant well-set of a tawny complexion with black flaggy and long hair crafty and treacherous sufficiently laborious in the art of War which they used frequently to exercise among each other and wonderful lovers of hunting in other things most scandalously lazy and indulgent to their ease mean in their apparel homely in their diet and sluttish in their houses All Ships that come to Virginia and Mary-Land enter through the Bay of Chesapeac at whose opening to the South Virginia begins between those famous Capes Cape Henry and Cape Charles Into this Bay which runs up 75 Leagues Northward into the Coâ—ntrey and is in some places seven leagues broad there fall
sâ—ored with Votaries and revenues for life were in this Shire no less than fourteen most stately seated in the places as followeth at both the Herefords Barroâ— Ewayot Câ—â—fford Mâ—nemue Acornbury Lemster Linbroke Peterchurch Kilpeck Dâ—râ— and VViggermore and suspected of hypocrisie were called in question by King Henry the Eighth and so strictly pursued that some faulâ—s were apparent whereby they were laid open to the general Deluge of the Time whose streams bare down the walls of all those Foundations carrying away the Shrines of the dead and defacing the Libraries of their ancient Records 9 This County before the Conquest being accounted in VVales was then strengthened with Forts against the English and being once made a Proâ—ince to England was fortified with Castles against the VVelsh wherein we find no less than twenty eight though many of them now are ruinated to nothing Such were Alban at both the Ewyats Godridg Grosmond Herdly Hereford Old Castle Dorston Brampton Bredwarden Saint Brivels Ledbury Lenals Snowdâ—â— Harlewois Huntington VVilion VVigmore Richards Monemue Corâ—t Kilbeck Clifford Skensfred VVâ—teney Radenwer and Kâ—nevenleis and is traded with eight Market-Towns being diuided into eleven Hundreds and in them seated one hundred seventy and six Parish-Churches containing in compass an hundred and two miles Worcestershir VVORCESTER-SHIRE CHAPTER XXV WORCESTER-SHIRE is a County both rich and populous and lyeth circulated upon the North with Staffordâ—shire upon the East with Warwick and Oxford-shires upon the South with â—locesterâ—shire and the West by Malverne Hills is parted from Herefordâ—shire the rest lyeth confronted upon and in part divided from Shrop-shire by the River Dowles 2 The form thereof is triangle but not of equal proportion for from North to South are thirty two miles from South to North-West twenty two and from thence to her North-East point are twenty eight the whole in circumference is one hundred and twenty miles 3 The Air of this Shire is of a favourable temperature that gives an appetite for labour diet and rest The Soyl is fertile and to me seemed inferiour to none other in this Land for besides the abundance of Corn in every place spread the Woods and Pasturage in her hills and Plains sweet Rivers that water the Vallies below the Cattle that cover the tops of higher ground the Fields Hedge-rows and High-ways are beset with fruitful Peaâ—-trees that yield great pleasure to sight and commodious use for with their juyce they make a bastard kind of Wine called Perry which is both pleasant and good in taste Many Salt Springs also this County affordeth yea and more than are commonly in use such with the Germans our ancient Predecessors were esteemed most sacred and holy so that as Tacitus writeth to such they wontedly resorted to sâ—pplicate their Gods with their devout praâ—ers as to places neerest the Heavens and therefore the sooner to be heard And Poets in their feignings will have the Nymphs residence in shady green groves and banks of sweet Springs if so then as Helicon this County affords both such are the Forrests of Wire and Feckeâ—â—am the great Woods of Norton and most fair Chase of Malvern And for waters to witness what I say is the Severn that cuts this Shire in the midst Teme Salwarp and Avon all of them making fruitâ—ul their passage and stored with Fish of most delicious taste 4 The ancient people possâ—ssors of this Shire were the CORNAVII inhabitants of Cheâ—shire Shrop-shire Stafford and Warwick-shires subdued by the Romans in Claudius Caesars time and after their departure made a portion of the Merciâ—nâ—Saxons Kingdom and in Beda's time were called the VVicii whereof it may be this Shire had the name unless you will have it from the Salt-Pits which in old English are named Witches or from the famous Forrest of Wyre Howsoever true it is that the County doth hold the name from the Chief City VVorcester 5 Which is most pleasantly seated passing well frequented and very richly inhabited This was the Branonium mentioned by Antonine and Ptolomy called by the Britains Câ—er-VVrangon by Ninius Câ—er-Guorcon and by the Latines Vigornia This City is seated upon the East bank of Severâ—e and from the same is walled in triangle-wise about extending in circuit one thousand six hundred and fifty paces thorow which seven Gates enter with five other Watch-Towers for defence It is thought the Roâ—ans built this to restrain the Britains that held all beyond Sâ—verne This City by Hardy Canute in the year of Christ 1041 was soâ—ely endangered and set on â—â—re and the Citizens slain almost every one for that they had killed his Collector of the Danish Tribute yet it way presently repaired and peopled with many Burgesses and for fifteen Hides discharged it self to the Conquerour as in his Doomesdays is to be seen But in the year 1113 a sudden fire happened no man knew how which burnt the Castle and Cathedral Church Likewise in the civil â—royles of King Sâ—ephen it was twice lighted into a flame and the latter laid it hopeless of recovery Notwithstanding from those dead Ashes a new Phenix arose and her building raised in a more stately proportion especially the Cathedral dedicated to S. Mary first laid by Bishop Sexwolfe in Anno 680 â—ince when it hath been augmented almost to the River In the midst of whose Quiâ—e from his many turmoiles resteth the body of King Ioâ—n the great withstandeâ— of the Popes proceedings under a monument of white Marble in Princely Vestures with his portraiture thereon according to life And in the South-â—ide of the same Quire lyeth entombed Prince Aâ—thur the eldest Son to King Henry the seventh his Monument is all black Iett without remembrance of him by Picture This City is governed by two Bayliffs two Aldermen two Chamberlains and two Constables yearly elected out oâ— twenty four Burgesses clothed in Scarlet assisted with forty eight other Citizenâ— whom they call their Common Councellâ—rs clad in Purple a Recorder Town-Clerk and five Sergeants with Mace their Attendants Whose Geographical Position is distant in Longitude from the West Meridian 18 degrees 10 scruples â—aving the North-Pole elevated in Latitude 52 degrees and 32 scruples 6 Places of further note for memorable antiquity is Vpton of great account in the Roman time where some of their Legions kept as witness their Moneys there often found the admirable Ditch upon Malvern Hâ—lls drawn by Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester to divide his Lands from the Church of Worcester the Saxons or Augustines Oke where he the English Apostle met with the British Bishops for the uniform celebration of Easter from whence both parts departed with discontented minds after many hot words and thwaâ—ting disputes 7 Neither is it wiâ—hout admâ—ration to me that many places of this Shire lye far within the Precincts of other Provinces as Aulston Washborâ—es Cuttesden Paxford Hanging-Easton Northwickâ— Blockley Eurlode in Glocester-shire and Goldcote Aldermeâ—ston Newâ—old Steddenton Armiscote Blackwell Darlings-cote Shipton Tydminâ—on Olbarrow in Warwick
continuance for upon the expectation of a new Governor they fell back into their first principles and made no scruple to usurp the whole Soveraignty and to denominate it their own called it by the name of Novum Belgium or the New Neatherlands and moreover they fell to building of Towns and Forts the Town they erected they called New Amsterdam their first Fort Fort-Orange after which they raised another by the name of Fort-Amsâ—el However these proceedings upon complaints made to his late Majesty and by him represented to the States of Holland were absolutely disowned by them and wholly laid upon the East-India Company of Amsterdam upon which the most Northernly part toward New-England was by his Majesty granted by Patent to Sir Edmund Loiden by the name of Nova Albion the most Southernly toward Virginia to Sir George Calvert now Lord Baltimore by the name of Mary-Land and the Dutch upon some consideration agreed on were forthwith to have quitted the place yet for all this as the custom of this people is never to let go any opportunity that serves their turn whether by right or wrong taking advantage of the unhappy dissentions and civil wars that soon after hapned in this Nation they not only stood upon higher demands than were at first agreed on but also endeavoured to stir up the Natives against the English that they might have the better opportunity to fix themselves In this state things remained till his present Majesty after his restauration resolving to make a full determination of his right to these parts sent three Men of War by whom New Amsterdam being easily reduc'd the Countrey came thenceforth into the sole possession of the English and was immediately together with Long Island conferr'd by his Majesty upon the Duke of York by the tâ—tle of York-shire which hath now quite swallowed up that of New Neatherland the name of New Amsterdam being chang'd into that of New York of Fort-Orange into Fort-Albany of Fort-Amscel into Fort-Iames Moreover the Patent of Mary-Land hath been by his present Majesty renewed and confirmed to Cecil Lord Baltemore by whose extraordinary care and promotion it hath been of late advanc'd to a very populous well regulated and thriving Pianâ—ation as is observed more at large in the description of the Province of Mary-Land This Countrey of New York-shire contains all that tract of Land lying between New England which bounds it to the North-east and Virginia or rather Mary-Land which bounds it to the South-west extending from the 38 th degree and an half of Northern latitude to the 41 st and 15 min. The bredth of it about 200 miles Within this tract of Land are three Island Muâ—â— hatans Island in which stands the Town of New-York Long Island and Staten Island The temperature of the Climate fertility of the Soil and productions of the Earth differ not materially from New England and other adjacent parts The principal Rivers are three Hudson's River formerly nam'd Manhattes by the Dutch Nassorius or Noordt River one branch whereof called Hell-gate empties it self over against the Isle of Manhetâ—n or Isle of Nuts near New-York another at May-Port or the Port of Cornelius May. 2. Zuid River the same as I take it which is also by some term'd Raritan 3. Delaware-Bay River 4. Afterskull The only noted Town of New York-shire was built by the Dutch by the title of New Amsterdam though now wholly changed into that of New-York in the neck of the Island of Manhatans with very fair Streets and well-built Houses For the security of this Town on one side thereof is a Fort which was at first term'd Fort-Amscel now Iames Fort. This Town is govern'd by a Mayor Aldermen a Sheriff and Iustices of the Peace The nature and complexion of the native Inhabitants differ not much from those of the Flâ—ridans but their customs habits and ceremonies in Religion are not altogether the same They observe no set-meals but eat as oft as their appetite serves their Sappaen which is Indian Wheat stampt and boyled to pap is a great dish with them Men turn away their Wives upon the least occasion imaginable and marry again nor scruples any one to marry a woman that hath been lain wâ—th befoâ—e when a single woman Both men and women wear a girdle of Whale-sins and Sea-shells the men putting half an ell of cloath three quarters broad between their legs so as that a square piece hangs before over his belly another below behind his back The women wear a coat that reaches half way down their legs curiously wrought with Sea-shells and for an upper garment they have a large Dear-skin the lappets whereof hang full of points button'd on the right shoulder and tied about the middle The men go bare-headed the women tying their hair behind in a tuft wear over it a square-cap wrought with Sea-shells of which they also wear chains and bracelets about their middle neck and arms the men paint their faces with several colours the women use only here and there a black spot their usual painting colours are either the Iuices prest out of several Plants or the fine ground powders of certain curious coloured Stones the chief of these plants hath a great resemblance to a myrtle especially in its leaves out of the red berry of this plant a juice is squeezed and dried in the Sun and preserved for ordinary use in bags when they have occasion to use it they temper it with water producing the richest purple colour that can be imagined they use pleated hair which being coloured red hath a fine gloss in stead of feathers It is observable in their religious worship that in the midst of their sorceries and diabolical ceremonies the Devil whom alone they worship as the regent of mischief and sitting president in every bodily pain and therefore most proper to be sought and oblig'd is said to appear in the shape of a wild or tame beast informing them obscurely of things to come and portending if the first bad if the last good fortune Yet they acknowledge a God who living in profound bliss not troubling himself with humane affairs solaceth himself with a Goddess of most surpassing beauty and the Mother of all terrestrial creatures Moreover they believe that the souls of those that have lived well here are translated after their decease to some Southern Clime where they live in utmost pleasure and delight whereas the souls of the wicked are hurried up and down in a miserable vagrancy Remarkable also is the manner of their proceeding against Criminals condemned to death which is to hunt them like wild beasts into the woods whither in stead of being committed to Prison they are forced or rather suffered to fly as soon as he is discovered the King having first shot if he miss the rest follow and happy is he who hath the fortune to give the Malefactor his deaths-shot for he is sure to be made a Captain or some eminent Commander in the Wars
obtained either by or against Rollo the Dane who in the year 876 entred England and in this Shire fought two battles one neer unto Hoâ—k-Norton and a second at the ScienStane 6 Rodâ—ot likewise remaineth as a monument of Oxfords highâ— styled Earl but unfortunate Prince Robert de Vere who besides the â—arldom was created by King Richard the second Mâ—â—quess of Dublin and Duke of Ireland but at that Bridge discomfited in fight by the Nobles and forced to swim the River where began the downfal of his high mounted fortunes for being driven forth of his Country lastly died in exile and distressed estate But more happy is this County in producing far more glorious Princes as King Edward the Confessor who in Islip was born Edward the victorious black Prince in Woodstock and in Oxford that warlike Coeur de Lion King Richard the first the son of King Henry the second first took breath 7 Which City is and long hath been the glorious seat of the Muses the British Athens and learnings well spring from whose living Fountain the wholsome waters of all good literature streaming plenteously have made fruitful all other parts of this Realm and gained glory amongst all Nations abroad Antiquity avoucheth that this place was consecrated unto the sacred Sciences in the time of the Old Britains and that from Greek-lod a Town in Wilt shire the Academy was translated unto Oxford as unto a Plant-plot both more pleasing and fâ—uitful whereto accordeth the ancient Burlaeus and Necham this latter also alledging Merlin But when the beauty of the Land lay under the Saxons prophane feet it sustained a part of these common calamities having little reserved to uphold its former glory save onely the famous monument of S. Frideswids Virgin Conquest no other School then left standing besides her Monastery yet those great blasts together with other Danish storms being well blown over King Elfred that learned and religious Monarch recalled the exiled Muses to their sacred place and built there three goodly Colledges for the studies of Divinity Philosophy and other Arts of humanity sending thither his own son Ethelward and drew thither the young Nobles from all parts of his Kingdom The first Reader thereof was his supposed brother Neote a man of great learning by whose direction King Elfred was altogether guided in this his goodly foundation At which time also Assereus Menevensis a writer of those times affairs read the Grammar and Rhetorick and affirmeth that long before them Gildas Melkin Ninius Kentigern S. German and others spent there their lives in learned studies From which time that it continued a Seedploâ— of learning till the Norman Conquest Ingulphus â—ecordeth who himself then lived No marvel then if Matthew Paris calleth Oxford the second School of Christendom and the very chief Pillar of the Catholick Church And in the Council holden at Vienna it was ordâ—ined that in Paris Oxford â—ononiâ— and Salamanca the onely Vniversities then in Europe should be erected Schools for the Hebrew Greek Arabick and Caldean tongues and that Oxford should be the general universiâ—y for all England Ireland Scotland and Wales which point was likewise of such weight with the Council of Constance that from this pâ—â—cedent of Oxford University it was concluded that the English Nation was not only to have pâ—ecedence oâ— Spain in all General Councils but was also to be held equal with France it self By which high peâ—ogatives this of ours hath always so flourished that in the days of King Henry the third thirty tâ—ousand Students were therein resident as Archbishop Armachanus who then lived hath writ and Riâ—haâ—ger then also living sheweth that for all the civil wars which hindred such placâ—s of quiet study yet 15000 Students were there remaining whose names saith he were entered in Matricula in the matriculation book About which time Iohn Baliol the father of â—aliol King of Scots built a Colledge yet bearing his name Anno 1269 and Walter Merton Bishop of Rochester that which is now called Merton Colledge both of them beautified with buiâ—dings and enriched wâ—th landâ— and were the first endowed Colledges for learning in all Christendom And at this present there are sixteen Colledges besides another newly builded with eight Halls and many most fair Collegiate Churches all aâ—orned with most stately buildings and enriched with great endowments noble Libraries and most learned Graduates of all professions that unless it be her sister Cambridge the other â—ursing breast of this land the like is not found again in the World This City is also honoured with an Episcopal See As for the site thereof it is removed from the Equatâ—r in the degree 52 and one minute and from the West by Mercators measure 19 degrees and 20 minutes â— As this County is happy in the possâ—ssion of so famous an Academy so it is graced with most Princely Palaces apperâ—aining to the English Crown whereof Woodsâ—ock is the most ancient and magnificent built to that glory by King Henry the first and enlarged with a Labyrinth of many windings by King Henry the second to hide from his jealous Iuno his intirely beloved Concubine Rosamond Clifford a Damosel of surpassing beauty where notwithstanding followed by a clew of silk that fell from her lap she was surprised and poâ—soned by Queen Eleanor his wife and was first buried at Godsâ—ow Nunnery in the midst of the quiâ—e under a Hearse of silk set about with lights whom Hugh Bishop of Lincoln thinking it an unfâ—t object for Virgins devotion caused to be removed into the Church â—ard but those chast sisters liked so well the memory of that kind Lady as that her bones they translated again into their Chappel Bensington is another of his Majesties Mannors built by William de la Pole Duke of Suffolk but now in neglect through the annoyance arising from the waters or marishes adjoyning Houses built for devotion and for abuse suppressed and again put down the chief in account were Enishamâ— Osney Bruern Godsâ—ow Burchester and Tame besides S. Frideswides and very many other stately Houses of Religion in this City The Division of this Shire is into fourteen Hundreds wherein are seated ten Market-Towns and two â—undred and fourscore Parish Câ—uâ—ches Glocester Shire GLOCESTER-SHIRE CHAPTER XXIII GLOCESTER-SHIRE lieth bordered upon the North with Worcester and Warwick-shires upon the East with Oxford and Wilt-shires upon the South altogether with Somerset-Shire and upon the West with the River Wye and Hertford shire 2 The length thereof extended from Bristow upon the River Avon in her South unto Clifford upon another Avon in her North are about forty eight miles and her broadest part from East to West is from Lechland unto Preston containing twenty eight the whole circumference about one hundred thirty eight miles 3 The Form whereof is somewhat long and narrow the Air thereof is pleasant sweet and delectable and for fruitfulness of Soyl hear Malmesbury and not me The ground of this Shire throughout saith
88 France 98 Belgia 109 Spain 120 Italy 131 Hungary 142 Denmark 151 Poland 161 Persia 175 Turkish Empire 180 Kingdom of China 189 Tartaria 198 LONDON Printed by W. G. 1675. A NEW AND ACCVRAT MAP OF THE WORLD Drawne according to y e truest Descriptions latest Discoveries Pe. Kaerius Caelavit 1646. The General Description of the WORLD HEaven was too long a reach for Man to recover at one step And therefore God first placed him upon the earth that he might for a time contemplate upon his inferiour works magnifie in them his Creator and receive here a hope of a fuller bliss which by degrees he should at last enjoy in his place of rest For this end was the lower World created in the beginning out of a rude Mass which before had no Form And that it might be made habitable the Lord separated the dry Land from the Waters upon the third day Yet so as still they make but one Globe whose center is the same with the middle World and is the Point and Rest as it were of all heavy Bodies which naturally apply themselves to it and there are supported by their own weight and equal poise 2 It hath seemed incredible to such as measure the Wonders of God by Mans Wisdom that this mâ—ssie part of the World should subsist by it self not boâ—n up by any outward Prop encompast only with 〈◊〉 and fleetingAir such as can neither help to sustain nor râ—sist the fall couâ—d the earth be moved from her duce place But the wonder will ceâ—â—e if we remember that the Lord sitteth upon the circle of the earth Isa. 40. He set it upon her foundations so that it shall never move He covered it with the Deep as much a Garment The Waters would stand above the Mountains but at his rebuke they fled Yet he set them a bound which they should not pass 3 Thus ordered by Divine Providence the Earth and Sea composed themselves into a Spherical Figure as is here described And is caused by the proper inclination of each part which being heavy falls from everâ— point of the Circumference and claps about the center there settles as near as it may towards his place of rest We may illustrate both the figure and situation by a familiar similitude to an ingenious apprehension Suppose we a knot to be knit in the midst of a cord that hath many ends and those to be delivered to sundry men of equal strength to be drawn several ways round from every part above and below and on each side questionless whilest every man draws in the boes of the knot it must needs become round and whilest they continue to pluck with equal strength it must rest immoveable in the middle betwixt them since every strength that would destory hath a strength equal to resist it So it is in the bosom of the earth where every part meets upon equal priviledge of naâ—ure nor can any press farther than the center to destroy this compacted figure for it must meet there with a body that will oppose it Or if not yet could it not pass since every motion from the middle were to ascend which Nature will not permit in a body of weight as the earth is 4 Now though in a Sphere every cross line which way soever drawn if it run through the middle must needs be of equal quantity and therefore admits no difference of length or bredth yet the Geographers for their purpose have conceived and but conceived a Longitude and Latitude upon the earth The Longitude they reckon from the first Meridian in the Azores and so Eastward round number the degrees upon the Aequator The Latitude from the Aequator to each Pole and number the degrees upon the outward Meridional circle This inkling may suffice to instruct the ignorant in the search of any place that shall be hereafter mentioned in my Discourse 5 The compass of the whole is cast by our latest and most learned to be 21600 English miles which though none ever yet so paced as to measure them by the foot yet let not the ignorant reject this account since the rule by which they are led cannot fail For we see by continual experience that the Sun for every degree in the Heavens gains 60 miles upon the earth towards his circuit round and after 360 degrees returneth to the same point in respect of us as before it was Repeat the number of sixty so oft and you will find the account just And so by proportion of the circumference to the Diameter which is triplâ— sâ—squi septimâ— the same which 22 hath to 7 we may judge likewise of the earths thickness to the Center The whole Diameter must by rule be somewhat lesser than a third part of the circuit that in proportion to 21600 will be 6872 half the number will reachâ— the middle of the world and that is 3436. In this report both of the quantity and form of the earth we must not require such exactness as cannot vary a hairs bredth for we see the mountains of the earth and oftentimes the waves of the Sea make the superficies unequal It will be sufficient if there be no difference sensible to be reckoned in so great a bulk for let us rudely hew a ball out of rough stone still it is a ball though not so smooth as one of Crystal Or suffer a mote to fall upon a Sphere of glass it changeth not its figure far less are the mountains which we see in respect of the whole lump For other rules or terms Geographical I refer them to a peculiar tract that will afford me more room and time 6 When the Earth and Sea were thus prepared with a due figure a just quantity and convenient â—eat both in respect of the Heavens and themselves Nature began at command of the most High to use her Art and to make it a fit dwelling place for the Image of God for so was man created and so indeed was the Earth no other than the picture of Heaven The ground brought forth her plants and fruits the Skies were filled with the Fowl of the Air the waters yielded their fish and the fields their Cattel No sooner his house was thus finish't but man enters upon his possession the sixth day And that shall be our tract to find out the worlds first Inhabitants where it was peopled in the beginning and how it was over-spread with Countries and Nations as now it is 7 In the first Age there was little need of skill to measure the whole Earth A garden plot might suffice and so for a time it did It was planted in Edâ—n But where that was I may not peremptorily determine nor indeed dare I be so curious in the search The hidden things belong to thâ— Lord the revealed to us Deut. 29. God himself in the beginning set a Cherubion and the blade of a sword shaken to keep the re-entry from our first parents and we may affirm hath
concealed it ever since Yet to satisfie in some measure such as are more inquisitive I will touch at the several conjectures which hath passed upon the place of this earthly Paradise Rog. Higdâ—n Monk of Chester and with him Iohn Trevisa set it in the field of Damascus and many others probably enough have thought it was in the Land of Canaan for that in divers places it is noted with attributes proper to the garden of Eden She was seated in the midst of Nations Ezek. 5. It was a Land of Wheat Barley and Vines Fig-trees and Pomgranates a Land of Olives and Honey a Land whose stones were Iron and out of whose hills might be digged brass Deut. 8. She was pleasant above all Lands Ezek. 20. Yet Franciscus Iunius D. Willet Sir Walter Raleigh and others make it a part of Mesopotamia North-west from Babylon about the degrees of 78 in Longitude and of Latitude 35 where still the Rivers meet mentioned in Genesis and where Ptolemy hath his Audanites a corrupt name as is supposed from Edâ—n Certainly it was about the middle of the Earth and abounded by a peculiar blessing of God with all kinds serviceable for the use of man 8 But Adam soon lost this possession by his disobedience and was cast out on the East-side of the garden where he placed himself Moses makes no more particular relation Cain is specified to have gone out of the presence of the Lord into the Land of Nod and there built him a City and named it after his sons name Henoch this was the first City and was seated some thing about Mount Libanus As the place so the time when it was found is uncertain but the common conjecture gives it to be about 2 or 3 hundred years after the Creation when the world was replenished as well it might be within that compass if we compare it to our known stories Abraham in 215 years had 600 thousand of his own stock in the blessed line besides women and children And in this number we omit his other seed of whom came twelve Princes Questionless after this proportion the people multiplied in the beginning and so for 1656 years forward and that must needs 〈◊〉 a large portion of the earth most likely those parts of Asia that lay nearest to their first seat For they wandred no farther than necessity of room compelled them 9 But now as man so the sin of man was grown to a height For this the wrath of God fell upon them in a flood that destroyed the whole earth saving eight persons Noah and his family who were commanded into an Ark built by Gods own direction and is held to have been the pattern for all Ships to all posterity 10 When the anger of the Lord was ceased and the waters abated after 150 days float the Ark rested upon the Mountains of Arrarat in Armenia They are supposed by most to be the same which Ptolomy calleth Montes Cordios about the degree in 75 Longitude and in Latitude 39. Master Cartwright a Traveller of our own Nation reports himself an eye-witness of many ancient and ruinous foundations there which the inhabitants have believed through all ages to be the work of those first people that for a long time durst not adventure into the lower Countries for fear of another flood 11 But God blessed the remnant which he had preserved and when he had given them the Rainbow for a sign of his mercy that he would no more break up the fountains of the great deep nor open the windows of heaven upon them to root out all flesh by degrees they descended from the hills Eastward and seated themselves upon a plain in the Land of Shinar This was the lower part of Mesopotamia which compassed Chaldea and Babylonia lying under the Mount Singara a hill neer the degrees of 77 in Longitude and of Latitude 36 and stands in the direct way from Arrarat or the Moutes Cordios towards Babyâ—on 12 There when their number increased and they forced still to seek new Colonies they were ambitious to leave a name behind them for posterity and therefore adventured upon a building whose top should reach Heaven and so indeed in did for it fetcht from thence Gods second vengeance He confounded their speech that they no longer understood one the other Thus they were broke off from their impious attempt and scattered upon all the earth about an hundred years after the Floud into seventy two several Nations as some have punctually numbred â—hem 13 Whether Noah himself were present or to what place he removed is uncertain He had yet two hundred and fifty years to live and is thought to have had his habitation in Phenicia North-ward from Palestine about the degree of 66 and 33. 14 His Sons Sem Ham and Iapheth possest their several Provinces of the World From Iapheth came the Isles of the Gentiles of which we are a part to him Europe is by most allotted Sem not guilty questionless of that proud enterprise rested himself in the land of Canaaâ— which he knew as it was revealed to Abraham should be given to his posterity Yet part of his issue the Sons of Iocktan were divided and lived remote toward the East To him was Asia But Cham by his fathers curse for discovering his nakedness roved to the utmost parts of the earth and peopled with his Progeny especially those Countries which are most toucht in Histories for Barbarism and Idolatry As indeed how could it otherwise be since himself had lost his father that should instruct him and therefore could deliver no precepts to his children but left every one to his own inventions And those that at the confusion spread where ever they came this diversity of Customs and Religions that possess the world at this day To him was Africa 15 America too doubtless had her portion in the division though not so soon or so immediate but seemed rather of later times to have received her people from the bordering parts of Asia and those are thought by most to have been first inhabited by Iocktan and his thirteen Sons the issue of Sem. It is â—aid in the Text they possest the East-part from Mesha to Sephar Iosophus takes the first for a Countrey and the second for a Mountain in India insomuch as that he strictly bounds out their possession from the River Cephew to Ieria which is now called the East or Portugal Indies Indeed many of those Eastern Regions are noted to bear the name as yet of Iocktans sons The Shabeans found as if they had Sheba to their Father And from Havilah is a Country in Ieria From Shaphira Iosephus derives Ophir both of especial fame for their plenty of Gold But it is Doctor Willets opinion that Ophir was rather the same Region in the West Indies which is now called Peru. To say truth we have little certainity of the first Inhabitants which were seated in America or the Parts of Asia near about her whether
â—â—ey were so long since known I must doubt For the bestowing of Iocktan and his sons it was toward the East from Mesha to Sephar but where those are Saint Hierome confesseth himself at a stand And for my part I will travel no farther in these hidden Mysteries than I find a path beaten before me 16 This may satisfie the ingenuous that I have as far as I might in this little room trac't the first Nations from their first Founders which they had in the beginning But to draw the direct line of every people mixt as they now are I think a work impossible to me I am sure it is For besides our several translations and promiscuous commerce that puzzle us in the knowledge of our selves we have of late found and as yet are in search of a new people that know not their own Original nor have we any means to examin it but conjectural such as may fail To Moses time the Scripture affordeth us a certain truth for as many as he mentioneth and since we have some light from such as have laboured in the search of Antiquities The Families as Iosephus gives time are truly and curiously brancht forth and placed among the Genealogies before our Bible of the last Translation by our well-deserving Countrey-man Mr. Iohn Speed 17 Thus far it was requisite we should know at large the growth of the world from the beginning and how the whole earth which at first knew but one Land-lord hath been since rent into several parcels which Kings and Nations call their own and maintain their claim by force of Arms. This little compass will not admit a more particular relation of their affairs For that I must refer my Reader to their Historians and now desceâ—d to the Geographical Description and division of the world as in after Ages it was found by our first Artists and hath been since more at large discovered by the experience of our later Travellers 18 And in this we may still observe our method For questionless by the same degrees almost as it was inhabited so it grew into the knowledge of our ancient Geographers And therefore our first Authors in this Science bounded their Descriptions within a less compass and divided the world into those three parts only which you see lie closest about the point of the earth where the first men first Religion first City first Empire and first Arts were For in Prolomy's time about an hundred and forty years after Christ we hear not of either Land or Sea known more than was contained in Asia Africa and Europe 19 And of that he never knew the East and North parts of Asia nor the South of Africa no nor the most Northerly parts of Europe but placed the end of the world that way in Vltima thule about sixty three degrees from the Aequator And Southward the other way not above 17 degrees Prasso Permotorio which at this day is called Mosambique Râ—cks So the whole Latitude of the world then known did not reach the fourth part of the Compass In the Longitude indeed they came not so far short yet leâ—t they just half to the search of their posterity For they placed their first Meridian in the Fortunate Islands and ended their reckoning in Region Sinarum of the Eastern Indies and that is distant but 180 degrees toward the 360 which is the compass of the whole 20 But God in these later times hath enlarged our possessions that his Gospel might be propagated and hath discovered to us Inhabitants almost in every corner of the earth Our later Geographers have set their mark beyond Ptolomy's 60 degrees Eastward And Westward to the utmost parts of America So that there are already known 340 of the earths Longitude Toward the North Pole we have gained more in proportion as far as Nova zembla and the Sea is known to be navigable to the eighty first degree whether the rest be Land or not it never yet appeared to any â—s I hear of but an Oxford Frier by a Magick Vâ—yage He reports of a black rock just under the Pole and an Isle of Pygmies Other straâ—ge miracles to which for my part I shall give little credit till I have better proof for it than the Devils word Now of all the Southern course is most unknown aud vet Arâ— hath not been Idle nor altogether lost 〈…〉 in the search it hath discoverd Countries â—bout the 52 degree toward the Pole but so â—ncertainly that it may well yet keep her name of Terra incognita 21 Admirable was the wit of that man that first found out the vertue of the Load-stone and taughtâ— us to apply it in the Art of Navigation And indeed the industry of them is much to be honoured that have since venâ—ured born their means and persons upon dangerous attempts in the discoveries of People and Nations that 〈…〉 God nor had apparent means for their Redemption without this help Among these though the Genâ—â— Spaniard and Portugal carry the first name we have noble spirits of our own Nation not to be ranked in the last place Stupenda fuit revera industria Anglorum saith Keckerman And indeed we may justly enough requite him with his own Elogy The Dutch to have done their parts to joyn a new World to the old 22 To us it may well be called a new World for it comprehends in it two Continents either of them larger than two parts of the other are The one is that Western Hemisphere that bears the name America from Americus Vesputius but was indeed discovered seven years before he knew it by Christopherus Columbus in the year 1492. And the other is the Terrâ— Magellanica seated about the South Pole and first sound out by Ferdinand Magellanus some twenty yearâ— after or thereabout and is thought to be greater than the whole earth beâ—ides Hitherto it is but conjectural and some few Provinces have been rather descried than known You shall find them named in their several Regions upon the Sea-Coasts Nova Guinea Terra del Feugo 〈◊〉 Regio Lucach Beach and Malâ—tur 23 With these additions the World by some is divided into six parts Europe Asia Africa America Septentrionalis incognita and Terra Australis Magellanica which are thus disposed in the Globe of the Earth Asia in the Eâ—stern Hemisphere And being the first part which was inhabited shall be the Point unto which I will direct the rest paâ—t on the West and part on the South is Africa siâ—uated on the North and West Europe more toward the West America uâ—raque full North Septenâ—rionalis incognita and full South the Terra Magellanica 24 Those we will reduce in our method to the four common parts which generally pass in our deâ—criptions of the World Europe Asia Africa America utraque in this last include the Terra Setâ—entrionalis and Magellanica as others have before done and allow it not a several part by it self in regâ—rd that little can be reported of