South-part be diminished The reason is because the Magnet hauing eminently in it the circles which are in the Earth is separated or diuided by a middle line or Aequator from which middle space the vertues are conueyed toward either Pole as we haue before shewed Now any part being taken away from the North or South part this Aequator or middle line is remoued from his former place into the midst of the portion which is left and so consequently both parts are lesse then before For although these two ends seeme opposite yet is one comforted and increased by the other 9 Of the motions of Coition and Direction wee haue handled It followes that we speake of the motions of the second order to wit Variation and Declination 10 Variation is the deuiation or turning aside of the directory Magneticall needle from the true point of North or the true Meridian towards East or West In the discourse immediatly going before hauing treated of the magneticall body wee haue imagined it to bee true and pointing out the true North and South points of the Terrestriall Globe which certainely would bee so if the substance of the Earthly Globe were in all parts and places alike equally partaking the Magneticall vertue as some round Load-stone neither should wee find any variation or deuiation at all from the true Meridian of the Earth But because the Terrestriall Globe is found by Nauigatours to bee vnequally mixed with many materialls which differ from the magneticall substance as furnished with rockie hills or large valleyes continents Ilands some places adorned with store of iron Mimes rocks of Load-stone some altogether naked and destitute of these implements it must needs fall out that the magneticall needle and compasse directed and conformed by the Magneticall nature of the Eâ—rth cannot alwayes set themselues vpon the true Meridian that passeth right along to the Poles of the Terrestriall Globe but is forced and diuerted toward some eminent and vigorous magneticall part whereby the Meridian pointed out by the magnet must needes varie and decline from the true Meridian of the Earth certaine parts or degrees in the Horizontall circle which diuersion wee call the Variation of the compasse so thaâ— variation so far as it is obserued by the compasse is defined to bee an Arch of the Horizon intercepted betwixt the common intersection with the true Meridian and his deuiation This effect proceeding from the Inequality of magneticall vertue scattered in the Earth some haue ascribed to certaine Rockes or mountaines of Loadstone distant some degrees from the true Pole of the World which rockes they haue termed the Pole of the Loadstone as that whereunto the magnet should dispose and conforme it selfe which conceite long agoe inuented was afterward inlarged and trimmed ouer by Fracastorius But this opinion is a meere coniecture without ground for what Nauigatours could hee euer produce that were eye-witnesses of this mysterie or how can he induce any iudicious man to beleeue that which himselfe nor any to his knowledge euer saw The relation that the Frier of Noruegia makes of the Frier of Oxfords discouery recorded by Iames Cnoien in the booke of his Trauels where he speaks of these matters is commonly reiected as fabulous and ridiculous for had there beene any such matter it is likely he would haue left some monuments of it in the records of his owne Vniuersity rather then to haue communicated it to a friend as farre off as Noruegia Moreouer the disproportion in the degrees of variation in places of equall distance will easily correct this errour as we shall shew in due place More vaine and friuolous are all the opinions of others concerning this magneticall variation as that of Cortesius of a certaine motiue vertue or power without the Heauen that of Marsilius Ficiâ—us of a starre in the Beare that of Petrus Peregrinus of the Pole of the world that of Cardan of the rising of a starre in the taile of the Beare that of Bestardus Gallus of the Pole of the Zodiacke that of Liuius Sanutus of a certaine magneticall Meridian of Francis Maurolycus of a magneticall Iland of Scaliger of the heâ—uen and mountaines of Robert Norman of a respectiue point or place All which Writers seeking the cause of this variation haue found it no further off then their owne fancies More probable by farre and consonant to experience shall wee finde their opinion which would haue the cause of this variation be in the Inequality of the magneticall Eminencies scattered in the Earth This Inequality may bee perceiued to bee twofold 1 in that some parts of the Earth haue the magneticall minerals more then other parts for as much as the Superficies of some parts is solid Earth as in great Continents 2 Because although the whole Globe of the Earth is supposed to be magneticall especially in the Internall and profound parts yet the magneticall vertue belonging to those parts is not alwayes so vigorous and eminent as in some other parts as wee see one Load-stone to be stronger or weaker then another in vertue and power but of those two the former is more remarkable which may bee shewed by experience of such as haue sailed along many seacoa-stes for if a sea-iourney bee made from the shore of Guinea by Cape Verde by the Canarie Ilands the bounds of the Kingdome of Morocco from thence by the confines of Spaine France England Belgia Germany Denmarke Noruegia we shall find toward the East great and ample Continents but contrarywise in the West a huge vast Ocean which is a reason that the magneticall needle will vary from the true point of the North and inclines rather to the East because it is more probable that these Continents and Lands should partake more of this magneticall minerall then the parts couered with the Sea in which these magneticall bodies may bee scarcer or at the least deeper buried and not so forceable On the contrary part if wee saile by the American coasts we shall rather find the variation to be Westward as for example if a voyage be made from the confines of Terra Florida by Virginia Norumbega and so Northward because the land butteth on the West but in the middle spaces neere the Canary Ilands the directory needle respects the true Poles of the Terrestriall Globe or at least shewes very little variation Not for the agreement of the Magneticall Meridian of that place with the true by reason of the Rocke of Load-stone as some haue imagined because in the same Meridian passing by Brasile it fals out farre otherwise but rather because of the Terrestriall Continents on both sides which almost diuide the Magneticall vigour so that the Magneticall needle is not forced one way more then another the manner whereof wee shall finde in D. Gilbert expressed in an apt figure to whom for further satisfaction I referre the Reader 1 The Magneticall variation hath no certaine Poles in the Terrestriall Globe It is but a common
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
minute in the length of the day must 21600. miles which is the whole compasse of the earth according to the same proportion either subtract or adde 1440 minutes which make 24. houres the length of the naturall day To confirme the demonstration by popular experience I remember I haue read in the Hollanders discouery of Fretum de Mayre that comming home into their owne Countrey they found by comparing their accounts with their countreymens at home they had lost one day hauing gone Westward and so compassed the earth round Hence will arise diuers consectaries not vnpleasing to be scann'd One I will touch not much dissonant from our purpose That three men residing in the same place at one time shall notwithstanding all vary one from the other in the dayes of the weeke keeping yet an exact account which to explaine the better wee will suppose a Iew a Sarazen and a Christian residing in the same towne together It may so happen according to our former grounds that the Sarazen according to the Law of Mahomet shall obserue his Friday the Iew his Saturday being his Sabboth and the Christian the Lords day being the Sunday yet so as all shall happen on the same day all of them excluding any errour in their calculation For supposition sake wee will place them all at one time all together in Palestine on a Saturday at which time let vs imagine the Sarazen to take his iourney Westward the Christian Eastward so as both of them in their coasts compasse the world to meet againe in the same place The Iew all the while we suppose resident in the same place it will follow by necessary consequence that the Sarazen going about the earth Eastward will loose one day the Christian iourneying Westward will gaine one day the Iew remaining in the same place will neither gaine nor loose These three men then meeting together againe after a yeere two or three at the same place must needs make a diuers account for one and the selfe-same day will bee to the Sarazen Friday to the Iew Saturday and to the Christian Sunday if they exactly calculate the time from their first meeting to their returne vnto the same place Mee thinkes this if there wanted other Arguments were a reason sufficient to conuince some strait-laced men who rigidly contend our Lords day which they erroneously tearme the Sabboth to bee meerely morall as grounded on the Law of nature If it were so according to our premises before demonstrated this absurditie would ensue necessarily That the Morall Law which they call also in a sort the Law of nature is subiect to manifold mutation which by our best Diuines is vtterly denied The consequeâ—ce will easily follow because it cannot be denied by any Christian but that all nations of the world issued from Noahs Arke the Seminary of mankinde and spread themselues from thence ouer the face of the whole earth some farther some at a shorter distance whereby changing the longitude with their habitation they must of necessity alter the differences of times wheron they seeke to ground their Sabboth Neither at this day can any man exactly and precisely obserue any one day either as it was first appointed by Moses in the Leuiticall Law as it was instituted by Christs Apostles afterwards by reason of the manifold transportation of colonies and transmigration of Nations from one Region into another whereby the times must necessarily bee supposed to vary And if any more moderate should vrge that not the exact seuenth day from the first institution bound vs to obseruation so one day in seuen bee obserued it can hardly passe without exception for as much as if any man as Magellane Drake or Candish should trauaile the world about a day must needs be varied as we haue shewed Here I would willingly demand whether such trauailers returning home into their owne countreyes should celebrate the same Lords day according to the institution of their owne Church or else as they finde according to their owne account If they obserue the latter they must schismatically diuide themselues from the Church and keepe a Sabboth of their owne which in euery mans iudgement would be thought absurd as the mother of many inconueniences If the former take place then must the dâ—y be changeable in his nature and so one day of seuen of them should not be obserued I speake not this to cherish any neglect of the duty we owe that day but rather to proue it not meerely to be grounded on the Law of Nature as some would perswade but rather an Ecclesiasticall constitution deriued as it seemes most probable from the Apostles though not in practice in Christs time wherein the Iewish Sabboth was not yet abolished But I haue dwelt too long on this may perhaps incurre sharpe ceÌ„sure for wading too farre into the depth of Diuinity But my Apology shall be this that albeit I haue gone beyond my present subiect I â—â—ue not yet transcended the limits of my profession I serue no faction and therefore dare aduenture my language as free as my opinion 5 Concerning the longitude two things are to be knowne 1. The Inuention 2. The Expression The Inuention proposeth vs the way and manner of the first finding out of the longitude of places There are few things in nature which haue more perplexed the wits of ingenious Mathematicians then the exactest way of finding out the longitude of places Not that the matter was ouer difficult in it selfe but that they sought out a way to performe this conclusion not depending from the obseruation of the celestiall bodies and motions a matter as yet neuer found out and I feare mee vnpossible Because they proposed to themselues one of these two wayes to finde it out either by some magneticall instrument or else by industry of nauigation neither of which can much profit Not the former because there haue neuer beene any fixed points found in the Equatour betwixt East and West as betwixt North and South haue beene obserued so that nothing can proceed out of the meere nature of the earthly Globe whereon wee may ground any difference of longitude Neither is the second very beneficiall for that all voyages both by Sea and land are very irregular and vncertaine either by reason of sundry impediments as rockes mountaines woods contrary winds and other dangers turning aside the direct course of passengers from any direct way or obseruation or else by the Ignorance of Mariners which seldome passe so farre on discouery and if they doe know not perfectly to delineate out their iourney as a Cosmographer would expect to any tolerable satisfaction Neuerthelesse by Astronomicall obseruation wee haue many wayes left vs for the performance of this conclusion as shall bee taught in these following propositions 1 By an Eclypse of the Moone the longitude may be found This conclusion is in this sort to bee performed First it behooueth you to know as you may by an Ephemerides at what houre
on the land in their perfect figure and greatnesse sayling farther off they will obserue them on the lower part little little diminished vntill such time as the tops only of the houses and trees will bee visible In like sort they which tarry on the Land will first espye the top and masâ— of a Ship approaching which sight will bee perfected more and more as the Ship drawes toward the land and at last all parts of it will shew themselues which accident can bee cast vpon no other cause then the Sphericall roundnesse and swelling of the water which if the distance be great interposeth it selfe betweene the station on the Land and the Ship wherein Passengers are conueyed which experiment is expressed in this Diagramme here annexed Certaine Platonicks of which the chiefest is Patricius a late Writer would ascribe this experiment to the impediment of the sight caused partly by the distance wich cannot perfectly represent the obiect partly by the interposed vapours arising in the Sea partly by the quiuering light which is spread by the refraction of the Sun-beames in the water I deny not but these causes may somewhat hinder and cause that the true and perfect species of a body cannot alwayes visit the sight Yet will it bee euident that this is not all but that the Sphericall roundnesse of the water will proue a greater impediment where the distance is any thing greater But for one of Patricius his shifts concerning vapour arising out of the Sea to which Clauius seemes also to consent in his Commentary vpon Iohannes de Sacrobosco it makes more for our assertion then his For that which is seene in a thicke medium according to the doctrine of the Opticks seemes greater in quantity and by consequence neerer and so higher then would otherwise appeare as wee see by experience that the Sunne sometimes is seene of vs before it ascend aboue the Horizon because of a refraction of it's beames in a thicke matter Wherefore it were rather to be imagined that a tower seene at Sea or a ship from the land through these thicke and grosse vapours should appeare higher and seeme neerer then if it met not with such vapours Secondly what is vrged concerning the trembling light caused by a refraction of the Sun-beames in the water is of no force For although such a light might cause an impediment or hinderance to the sight yet would not this decrement or hinderance bee by degrees and in such proportion as we find it to be correspondent to wit to the distance interposed And much wonder it is that Patricius as my learned Friend Mr R. Hues obserues being as it seemes very well read in the stories of Spanish nauigations should not bee conuinced out of the Navigation of Magellane who taking his iourney toward the Southwest parts passed by the Magellane straights now called by his name and so returned by the Cape of Good Hope into Spaine to which wee way adde the voiages of Drake Candish and many others The second reason is vrged by Aristotle in his 2d booke de coelo and hath its ground in Archimedes lib. 1. de Aqua-vectis which is formed in this sort The nature of the water is to affect and flow to the lower place whence it must necessarily bee inferred that it must bee round for otherwise it should not alwayes obtaine the lower place The reason of the consequence shall bee expressed in this figure for if we ascribe to the water a plaine superficies let it for example bee ADB and from the center of the earth C let there be described a circle to wit EGF then let there be drawne CD a perpendicular line to AB and let AC and BC be ioyned together Now because the right line CD is lesse then CA or CB as will appeare euidently by sense it will be plaine that the point D will be in a lower place then the point A or B because D is neerer to the Center for as much as DC is but a part of a beame of the circle whereas AC and CB euidently exceed that quantity or proportion Another reason there is commonly drawne from the roundnes of drops cast on the sand as also from water in pots whose superficies seemes to swell aboue the brimmes but this reason as we shall proue in place conuenient is rather against this assertion then for it because indeed wee affirme the water to be round but so as it claimes the same Center with the Center of the Terrene Globe and therefore cannot be sensible in so little a portion as a drop or pot of water This proposition being sufficiently proued by these two reasons it is needfull in the second place that wee answer certaine obiections cast in by the said Patricius against our assertion Euery surface of the water quoth Patricius is either only plaine or only round or both plaine and round or neither plaine nor round First that it is not both plaine and round seemes very euident for so it should admit of contrariety Neither can one part be plaine and another round because the water is an vniforme and homogeneall body not consisting of such vnequall parts that it should neither bee plaine nor round seemes more impossible because fâ—w or none haue dreamt of any other figure Lastly that it is not round only hee labours to confirme by sundry reasons and experiments First he testifies of himselfe that sayling in the Sea he plainely â—aw in the morning before Sun-rising the Mountaines of Corsica which afterward assoone as the Sunne was risen vanished out of his sight Whence he concludes that this proceeds not from the roundnesse of the Earth but from some other cause But this argumeÌ„t to iudicious men will seeme very weake 1 Because it depends altogether on the authority and credit of Patricius whose assertion I take to bee no better then another mans deniall 2ly were this argument euery where sound yet would it proue no other thing but that this effect were not to be imputed to the Sphericall swelling of the Earth Whence cannot bee drawne any generall conclusion that the Earth or Water is not Sphericall Wee deny not in the meane time that other causes sometimes concurre which may hinder or take away the sight of obiects from those who saile on the Sea The second experiment Patricius describes in this manner At a certaine Towne called Comaâ—lum saith hee there is a very great poole through which poole or lake some 3 yeares agoe it was my chance to bee carried in a boat The bottome of the water almost all the way in all the iourney appeared to bee lesse then 2 foot in depth from the top The way increasing at first the lower parts and foundations of houses then the tops and princely pinnacles began to vanish from our sight at last hauing scarce passed 6000 paces a Tower 72 foot high began to appeare as it were cut off by the middle and from the middle part vpward appeared visible
receiued errour as we haue mentioned that there is a certaine Rocke or Pole of Load-stone some degrees distant from the true Pole of the world which the Magneticall needle in it's variation should respect This Pole they haue imagined to be in the same Meridian with that which passeth by the Azores whence they haue laboured to shew the reason why the Compasse should not vary in that place which they explaine by this Figure Let there be a circle describing the Spheare E AF the Horizon EF the Articke Pole A the Antarticke â— The Pole or Rocke of Loadstone placed out of the Pole of the Earth B. Let there bee placed a magneticall directory needle in H it will according to their assertion tend to the point B by the magneticall Meridian H B which because it concurres with the true Meridian B A or H A there will be no variation at all but a true direction to the North Pole of the Earth But let this magneticall needle be placed in the point D it is certaine according to this opinion that it will tend to the Pole of the Loadstone B by the magneticall Meridian D B. Wherefore it will not point out the Pole of the Earth A but rather the point C because these two Meridians come not into one and the selfe-same Hence they haue laboured with more hope then successe â—o find out the longitude of any part of the Earth without any obseruation of the Heauens which I confesse might easily be effected if this coniecture might stand with true obseruation But how farre this conceit swarues from the experience of Nauigatours one or two instances will serue to demonstrate For if the variation had any such certaine poles as they imagine then would the Arch of variation bee increased or diminished proportionally according to the distance of the places As for example If in the compasse of an hundred miles the Compasse were varied one degree then in the next hundred miles it would vary another degree which would make two degrees But this hath often been proued otherwise by diuerse experiments of Nauigations mentioned by Gilbert and F. Wright I will only produce one or two If a ship saile from the Sorlinges to New-found-land they haue obserued that when they come so farre as to finde the Compasse to point directly North without any variation at all then passing onward there will bee a variation toward the North-East but obscure and little then afterward will the Arch of this variation increase with like space in a greater proportion vntill they approach neere the â—ontinent where they shall find a very great variation Yet before they come a shoare this variation will decrease againe From which one instance if there were no other we might conclude That the Arch of variation is not alwaies proportionable to the distance which granted quite ouerthrowes that conceit of the Poles of variation Beside this if there were two such magneticall Poles there can be but one common Meridian passing by them and the Poles of the Earthly Globe But by many obseruations collected and obserued by Ed. Wright and others there should be many magneticall Meridians passing by the Poles of the world as in the Meridian about Trinidado and Barmudas the Meridian about the Westermost of the Azores lastly the Meridian running amongst the East Indian Ilands a little beyond Iaua Maior the magneticall and true Meridian must needs agree in one Now for as much as all these magneticall Meridians passe by the Poles of the earth there can no cause be assigned why the magneticall Poles should bee said to bee in one rather then another and if in any then in all Whence it must needes follow that as many magneticall Meridians as you haue to passe by the true Poles of the world so many paire of magneticall Poles must you haue which will be opposite to all reason and experience 1 The point of Variation as of Direction is only Respectiue not Attractiue It was supposed by the Ancients that the Direction and Variation of the Loadstone was caused by an Attractiue point which drew and enforced the lilly of the Compasse that way which errour tooke place from another common-receiued opinion that all the other motions of the magnet were reduced to the Attractiue operation but the errour was corrected by one Robert Norman an English-man who found this point to bee Respectiue and no way Attractiue Whose reason or demonstration is not disapproued by Dr Gilbert although in other matters hee sharply taxeth him His experiment is thus Let there be a round vessell as we haue described ful of water in the midle of this water-place an iron-wier in a conuenient round corke or boat that it may swimme vpon the water euen poyzed let this iron-wire be first touched with the load-stone that it may more strongly shew the point of variation let this point of variation be D let this iron-wire rest vpon the water in the corke for a certaine time It is certainly true that this iron-wire in the cork will not moue it selfe to the margent or brinke of the vessell D which certainly it would doe if the point D were an attractiue point 3 The variation of euery place is constant and not variable This hath beene ratified by the experience of Nauigatours which in the selfe-same Regions haue neuer missed the true variation which they haue assigned them before If any difference bee assigned in variation to the same Region wee may impute it to their errour which obserued it arising either from want of skill or conuenient instruments Neither can this euer be changed except some great deluge or dissolution happen of a great part of land as Plato records of his Atlanticke Ilands 4 The variation is greater in places neere the poles of the Earth This proportion is not to be taken vniuersally but commonly for the most part yet would it haue truth in all places if all other things were correspondent It is obserued that the variation is greater on the coasts of Norway and the Low-countries then at Morocco or Guinea For at Guinea the magneticall needle inclines to the East a third part of one Rumbe of the Compasse In the Ilands of Cape-Verde halfe in the coasts of Morocco two third parts In England at the mouth of Thames according to the obseruation of D. Gilbert and Ed. Wright though some deny it one whole Rumbe in London the chiefe city of it eleuen degrees and more which we also find or thereabout in Oxford The reason is because the magneticall motiue vertue is stronger in the greater latitude increasing towards the pole and the large Regions of land lying toward the Pole preuaile more then those which are situate farther off 12 Thus much for the Variation The Declination is a magneticall motion whereby the magneticall needle conuerts it selfe vnder the Horizontall plaine toward the Axis of the Earth What wee haue hitherto spoken of Direction and Variation magneticall was such as might be
the Magnet is not so exact as the Astronomicall for as much as few or no places are found wherein the Magneticall Needle admits not a Variation from the true points of North and South Neuerthelesse this way is very necessary to bee knowne for as much as the Sunne and Starres are not alwayes to bee seene at least in such place and manner as may fauour exactnesse of obseruation Hence may bee demonstrated in particulars what wee obserued before in generall in our Magneticall Treatise that the Circles of the Globe are not meere Imaginary Fictions or bare Respects growing out of the Application of Celestiall bodies as some haue thought them but grounded on the Magneticall Disposition of the Terrestriall Globe 8 Beside the Astronomicall and Magneticall Inuention of the Meridian there is another way more popular but lesse exact which is without any obseruation of the Heauens or the Magnets operation Of the Inuention of the Meridian circle the true and exact knowledge as wee haue shewed is endebted to heauenly obseruation or Magneticall experiment Neuerthelesse Nature is not so barren but she hath pointed out to an industrious obseruation some markes and foote-steps in other inferiour bodies for the finding out of this profitable circle Which wayes howsoeuer of lesse Account then the other and therefore of lesse vse are notwithstanding pleasant to vnderstand because nothing delights more an ingenious minde then the contemplation of Gods working in and by his creatures which men vsually terme Nature To make a particular search into all Planets Stones Mettals and other such Bodies were to goe too far out of my way without a Guide I will giue one only Instance of Trees whereof I will insert this Probleme 1 By the Incision of a Tree to find out the Meridian To performe this Probleme let there bee chosen out some Tree in an open free field farre from walles or other obstacles in such a place as it hath beene on either side freely enlightned and heated by the Sunne-beames let the Trunke of this Tree bee very right and sound let this Trunke bee cut off by the middest in such sort that the section be Parallell to the Horizon and the vnder-part of the Trunke bee left to stand in his former Naturall situation Now the Section on the top of it being well plained will as in a plaine discouer diuers circles which are Excentricke and not drawne from the same Center but on the one side neerer together on the other further off That part then which shewes the circles thicker and neerer together points out the North The other wherein the circles are wider and further off the one from the other designes out the South-point betwixt both which if a right line bee drawne it will bee the Meridian for that place Which experiment Blanâ—anus as hee writes tryed in a Plume-Tree but giues no reason for it The cause I take to be no other then the extension and diffusion of the sappe or moisture by the heate of the Sunne which is more on the South-side then the North-side for as much as the Sunne in our clime respects vs on the South neuer on the North. Hence is it that the circles which are nothing else but the excrescences of the moisture being more rarified on the South-side and therefore requiring a greater place are found to bee greater 9 Hauing shewed the Inuention wee are in the next place to treat of the Distinction of these Meridian circles A Meridian therefore is termed either First or Common The distinction of Meridians into First and Common hath no foot-steps in Nature but is a meere arbitrary Imposition of antient Cosmographers For no reason besides Conueniency can be shewne why one Meridian should be called First rather then another yet cannot this Distinction bee wanting to a Geographer for as much as some setled bound must be set from which to begin our accompt of Longitudes 10 The first Meridian is that from which wee begin to number the Longitude of the Earth from West to the East In respect of which all the rest may bee called common or lesse notable The ancient Cosmographers amongst whom Ptolomy was the chiefe haue set the first Meridian in the Fortunate Ilands from whence they began their accompt passing Eastward through Europe and Africa and so through Asia to the vttermost parts of India vntill they returned againe to the first Meridian passing through the Fortunate Ilands Some haue doubted whether these Ilands called by Ptolomy the Fortunate Ilands be the same with the Canaries because as our Countrey-man Mr Hues hath obserued the Latitude giuen by Ptolomy to the Fortunate Ilands agrees not exactly to the Canaries but rather to the Ilands of Cape-Verde Notwithstanding this obseruation I rather sticke to the common opinion thinking it no vnlike matter that Ptolomy dwelling far Eastward and trusting to other mens obseruations should erre in this as well as other matters The reason why the first Meridian should bee placed here rather then elsewhere is thought by some to bee because the Ancients supposed two Magneticall Poles in the Earth which should bee the cause of the Variation of the Compasse Now because in the Canary Ilands was found no Variation at all they thought it to bee the place where the Magneticall and the true Meridian should concurre as wherein were both the Poles of the World and of the Load-stone which made them to make it the first Meridian But this reason I take to bee vnlikely because as I finde it obserued by latter Writers in the Canary Ilands themselues there is found a Variation of the Compasse although very little the reason whereof wee haue shewed to bee because it is the middest betwixt two great Continents to wit the one of Europe and Africa the other of America Whose magneticall temper being almost equall will not suffer the magneticall Needle to moue more one way then another Moreouer I am certainely perswaded as far as I can gather that this placing of the First Meridian was appointed here before any certainty was knowne of the Variation of the Compasse The more probable coniecture therefore is that Ptolomy here placed the First Meridian because it was the vttermost verge of land toward the West then discouered neuer dreaming of a Westerne world afterward detected and brought to light by Christopher Calumbus and Americus Vesputius Some of the latter Geographers striuing to bee more exact haue placed the First Meridian in their Mappes out of the Canaries in the Ilands of the Azores called S. Michaels Iland So that the first Meridian of Ptolomy differs from the place of these latter Cosmographers about 9 degrees which is diligently to bee noted of such as beginne the Science because this variety not perceiued will breed great errour and confusion yet is not the first of Ptolomy out of vse but retained of many good Geographers Euery other Meridian in respect of this may be called Common or lesse notable because this is most remarkable
seene in this Figure wherein the Line CD represents vnto vs the sensible Horizon the Line AB the rationall The former is called Naturall or Physicall because it comes vnder the measure and apprehension of the sense the other Astronomicall because it is of great vse in Astronomy in the resolution of the Horizon into his parts wee ought to consider two things first the Poles of the Horizon Secondly his Periphery or circumference The Poles are commonly called Zenith or Nadir The Zenith is the Verticall point directly placed ouer our Head whereunto is opposite on the other side the Nadir directly vnder our foote and therefore may bee called the Pedall point The parts or intersections in the circumferences are designed out vnto vs by certaine lines discouering the coasts in the Terrestriall Globe These lines are called either windes or Rhumbes The windes with the Grecians were onely 8. But the latter Nauigators haue increased them to the number of 32 whereof foure were called Cardinall to wit such as are directed to the foure coastes of East West North and South The other are Collaterall being placed on each side of the Cardinall windes The Rhumbes are Lines passing by the Verticall point of any place as you may see in the Compasse going before Now because one Rhumbe answers to two coasts or windes the number of the Rhumbes is but halfe the number of the windes to wit 16. Here it is to bee noted that a Rhumbe differs from a Winde whereas a Rhumber is one line pointing out vnto vs two windes or coasts These Rhumbes as they are conceiued in the Globe were thought by Nonnus to bee the portions of greater Circles But learned Mr Hues in his booke out of vndoubted principles strongly confutes him The grounds which hee takes are these First that all Meridians of all places passe the Pole and cut the Equatour and all his parallels at right Angles Secondly If our course should bee directly any way else then towards one of the poles a new Meridian must succeed and a new Horizon Thirdly that the Iron Needle being touched with the Load-stone shewes the common section of the Meridian and the Horizon and on one side perpetually respects the North on the other the South Fourthly the same Rhumbe cuts all the Meridians atall places at equall Angles and euery where respects the like coasts in the world Fiftly that a greater circle drawne by the Verticall points if remoued from the Equatour cannot cut diuers Meridians at equall Angles Sixtly a greater circle drawne by the Verticall point of any place makes greater Angles with all other Meridians then with that from which it was first drawne whence it is necessary that the line which shall bee supposed to make Angles with diuers Meridians as the Rhumbes should bee bowed toward the Meridian I know not what would bee more said against the opinion of P. Nonnus who would haue all the Rhumbes to bee portions of greater circles To illustrate further the nature and vse of the Horizon wee will insert these Theoremes 2 The Sensible and Rationall Horizon in the Earth are much different in respect of the Firmament all one It may bee gathered out of the suppositions of Ptolomy and Alphraganus and almost all other Astronomers that no man being placed on the surface of the earth can precisely see the halfe of it For that Horizon which terminates our sight as we haue shewed is a plaine superficies euery way circularly extended in the Earth in such sort as men placed either in the Sea in a ship or in a great field or Countrey would thinke the visible part of the earth to bee plaine whose ends would seeme to touch the Heauens Whence must needs come to passe that such an Horizon cannot diuide the Spheare of the â—arth into two equall parts For so much will be found wanting as is measured betwixt that superficies which toucheth the earth and that which passeth by the Center of it equidistant from the other for this later only can diuide the earth into 2 equall parts according to Theodosius and may well bee seene in the former figure wherein are expressed both Horizons as well the visible as inuisible touching the Spheare in a point on the superficies as the Rationall passing by the Center Neuerthelesse wee must consider that the quantity intercepted betwixt these two Horizons in the Terrestriall Spheare is of little or no moment compared with the whole frame of the Heauens For sith the Heauens are so farre distant from vs it will come to passe that if two equidistant lines should bee drawne the one from the Eye the other from the Center of the Earth to the Firmament they would according to sense appeare one and the selfe-same by reason of the wonderfull distance as wee see in a long Gallery whose walls haue an equall distance the one from the other the walls will notwithstanding according to Opticall principles seeme widest where they are neerest and to close and shut vp at the ends or at least to concurre neerer much more must wee imagine this to happen in the sight if we compare the greatnesse of the Firmament with the Spheare of the Earth in whose magnitudes wee shall finde a incomparable disparity This will appeare by the Apparences for wee shall see the six signes of the Zodiacke conspicuous aboue our Horizon and the other six vnder it hid from our sight Also the Sunne and Moone when they are diametrally opposed almost at the same moment will appeare the one in the East the other in the West at least the one will rise soone vpon the setting of the other And if we beleeue Pliny the Moone was obserued to bee eclipsed in the East point the Sunne at the same time being in a sort aboue the Horizon in the West Such an Eclipse could not happen without a diametrall opposition of the two lights and therefore can the Sensible and the Rationall Horizon haue no sensible difference in respect of the Firmament 2 The sensible Horizon may be greater or lesser according to the nature and disposition of the place In this consideration wee take no notice of the difference of sights whether they be weaker or sharper but suppose an eye sufficient to kenne so farre in the Earth as the place will permit The difference then betwixt diuerse Horizons must bee sought out in the condition of the place A Sight placed on the top of a high mountaine may see much farther then one in a low valley compassed about with hills for as much as the Semidiameter of the sensible Horizon which is equall to the Rayes or Lines drawne from the extreame parts of the visible Earth are much greater The most indifferent iudgement of this Horizon may bee taken from the superficies of the Sea beyond sight of land for a man thereon sayling in a ship may perceaue the surface of the Sea as a plaine on euery side to bound the sight in a round circle
and contrariwise from East to West The bounds or limits of this Longitude were by Ptolomie and the ancient Cosmographers set no farther distant then the halfe circle containing 180 degrees because the rest of the Earth lay at that time vndiscouered The end of this space towards the East was the Kingdome of China at the farthest part of all India distant as wee said from the Fortunate Ilands where Ptolomie placed the first Meridian 180 degrees which being taken in the Meridian and resolued into Miles according to our former rules will giue 10800 Italian miles but this space delineated out by the Ancients was very scant and narrow in respect of the other parts since found out being added to the former For beyond the bound set by Ptolomie in the East it is manifest that 60 degrees are found out and made knowne An example whereof wee haue in Scythia withouâ— the mountaine Emaus which is knowne to extend it selfe 60 degrees Eastward towards the Kingdome of Cathay discouered by the Portugals so that the breadth of the Earth Eastward is fully knowne so farre as 240 degrees which being measured in the Equatour will amount vnto 14000 miles Moreouer towards the West beyond the Fortunate Ilands it is knowne to stretch to the farthest border of America so that 340 degrees of the earth is fully detected if not all the rest being only 20 degrees which are only deficient to make vp the whole circle Which wee may the sooner credit because our times haue brought forth for ought any Authors haue related the most excellent Nauigators of all ages which haue sayled the vast Globe of the Earth round about and left behinde them a foundation whereon others might easily build But to let passe the Generall Longitude of the Earth betwixt the East and the West Wee must vnderstand that the Longitude here mentioned is to bee taken in a more speciall sense for the Distance of any place from the first Meridian being placed either in the Canaries as the Ancients would haue it or in one of the Azores according to the latter Geographers This then must be the bound from whence wee must beginne our account The subiect wherein the number of degrees may bee taken may bee the Equatour or Parallell Whence by some the Longitude of a place is defined to bee an Arch of the Equatour or Parallell intercepted betwixt the first Meridian and the verticall point of the place proposed so that by necessary consequence such places as are subiect to the same Meridian in the same Hemispheare Easterne or Westerne haue the same Longitude which is the distance from the point of the West but places declining more towards the East haue the greater Longitude but neerer to the West lesâ—e 1 Places inioying the same Longitude are not alwayes equally distant from the first Meridian and contrarywise places equidistant from the first Meridian haue not alwayes the same Longitude The reason is euident out of that which hath beene often spoken before because the degrees of a greater circle are greater of a lesser lesse according to the greatnesse of the circle Now the Longitude of a place measured in the Equatour will answer to 60 Italian miles but in other Parallels lesse 2 The difference of Longitudes begets the difference of Times Those therefore which exactly are subiect to the same Longitude haue their Noone at the same moment but where the Longitudes are different the Noonetides are also different That the difference of time is varied according to the difference of Longitude in diuerse parts of the Earth is a matter obuious to euery mans vnderstanding out of two premised grounds 1 That the Earth is Sphaericall 2 That the Sunne in his Diurnall course once in 24 houres compasseth it round whence it comes to passe that places situate Eastward see the Sunnes sooner then those which are placed in the West and that with a proportionall difference of time that to euery houre in the Sunne motion is assigned a certaine number of correspondent miles which is in some sort expressed in a Geographicall Globe or Map wherein we shall finde described 12 Meridians which diuide the whole compasse of the earthly Spheare into 24 equall parts in such sort that betwixt each of the two neerest Meridians are reckned 15 degrees which make one houre by which wee may more easily vnderstand how soone the Noone-time happens in one Citty before another for if one Citty stands Eastward from another the space of three of those foresaid Meridians it is euident that it will inioy noone three houres before the other The reason of this difference of times is the difference of Longitudes wherein to euery houre the Cosmographers haue allotted 15 degrees in the Sunnes Diurnall motion so that 15 degrees multiplied by 24 houres which is the whole naturall day there will bee produced 360 which is the number of degrees in the whole circle 3 If two men from the same place trauell the one Eastward the other Westward round about the Earth and meet in the same place againe they shall finde that he which hath gone Eastward hath gotten and the other going Westward hath lost a day in their account This is without difficulty to be vnderstood out of the change of Longitudes seconded by their trauell varying perpetually the quantity of the day for it is manifest that hee who from any place assigned saileth Eastward mouing continually against the motion of the Sunne will shorten somewhat of his day taking away so much from it as his iourney in proportion of distance hath opposed and anticipated in the time the Diurnall course of the Sunne so that daily gaining something from the length of the day which must bee elsewhere recompenced It must needs be that in the whole circuite of the earth it will amount to 24. houres correspondent to the whole circuite of the Sunne and the compasse of the earth which will make another day Likewise if we suppose another in compassing about the earth to goe Westward it cannot bee otherwise imagined but that seconding the course of the Sunne by his owne iourney hee will daily adde somewhat to the length of his day answerable to his distance from the place wherein hee began to follow the Sunne in his course from East to West The daily addition to the length of the day proportionall to the longitudes which he changeth the Sunne running a like course must daily diminish somewhat of the Diurnall course of the Sunne and so at his iourneyes end which was supposed to be the whole circuite of the earth answerable to 24. houres in the Sunnes course it will loose a whole day To demonstrate both these cases wee will imagine in supposition that of these two trauaillers going the one Eastward the other Westward the former should take away from the length of the day or the latter adde to it for euery 15. miles one minute Then by the golden Rule if 15. miles either subtract or adde one
blacke Lions which we can ascribe to no other cause then the excesse of heat and not to any quality of the Seed or any curse inflicted on the place Moreouer it is reported by Ferdinando de Quir in his late discouery of the South Continent that hee there also found some blacke people yet can wee not imagine this Land though stretching very farre in quantity toward the Equinoctiall to come so farre or much farther then the Tropicke of Capricorne These arguments make it the more probable that the Regions situate vnder the Tropicks generally exceed more in heat then those placed in the middle of the Earth vnder the Line 2 In the other extreame Section from 60 Degrees towards the Pole the first 15 Degrees towards the Equatour are more moderately cold the other towards the Pole most immoderately cold and vnapt for conuenient Habitation That this Section of 30 Degrees comprehended betwixt the 60 Degree and the Pole is in a sort habitable is confirmed by the testimony of many Nauigatours especially the English and Hollanders who haue aduentured very farre Northward and haue there found the Earth though not so fruitfull yet furnished with some commodities and peopled with Inhabitants The first 15 Degrees towards the Equatour admit of no great exception containing in their extent Finmarke Bodia in Scandia Noua Zembla Auian Groenland with many other places indifferently discouered where they haue indeed found the aire very cold in regard of this of ours Yet not so Immoderate but that it can at all times agree with the naturall temper of the natiue Inhabitants and at least at some times of the yeere admit a passage for forraigne Nations But the other Region stretching Northward from 75 Degrees to the Pole it selfe howsoeuer it may bee probably thought habitable yet affords it no conuenient meanes and sustenance for mans life in respect of other places neither can the people of this climate inioy any good complection or Temperament of the foure qualities for as much as the cold with them is so predominant that it choaketh and almost extinguisheth the naturall hâ—at whence Hypocrates saith that they are dryed vp which is a cause of their swarty colour and dwarfish stature which assertion of his can obtaine no credit but of such Northerne people as liue neere the Pole Neuerthelesse wee shall not finde these poore Northerne Nations so destitute altogether of vitall aides but that their wants are in some sort recompensed by the benefit of nature The chiefest comforts in this kinde which wee inioy and they seeme to want are Heat and Light The defect of heat is somewhat mollified 1 By the Sunne staying so long aboue their Horizon as 6 months and by consequence impressing into the Aire a greater degree of heat 2 By the naturall custome of the Inhabitants neuer acquainted with any other temperature both which reasons wee haue formerly alleaged 3 By the industrie of the Inhabitants being taught by necessity to preserue themselues during the Winter-time in Caues Stoues and such like places heated with continuall fires the defect of which prouidence was thought to bee the ruine of Sr Hugh Willoughby intending a search of the North-east passage on the North of Lapland and Russia To recompense the defect of Light Nature hath prouided two wayes 1 In that the Sunne in his Parallell comming neerer and neerer to the Horizon giues them a long time of glimmering light both before his rising and after his setting which may serue them insteed of day 2 For that the Sunne and Starres by reason of a refraâ—tion in a vaporouâ— and foggy Horizon appeâ—reâ—â—o theâ— sometime before hee is truly risen which caused the Hollanders Noua Zombla to wonder why they should see the Sunne diuerse dayes before according to their account hee was to rise aboue their Horizon according to Astronomicall grounds which probleme had staggered all the Mathematicians of the world had not the Perspectiue science stept in to giue an answer 3 In the middle Section betwixt 30 and 60 Degrees of Latitude the first 15 are Temperately Hot the other 15 more inclined to Cold. The middle Region partakes a mixture of both extreames towit of the cold Region towards the Pole and the hot towards the Equatour whence it must needs follow that the more any parts of this Tract approach the hot Region vnder the Tropicke and Equatour the more it must partake of Heat yet this heat being mittigated by some cold by reason of the fite of the Sunne it must of necessity bee Temperate and very apt for humane habitation Also this mixture of the cold quality being more extended and increased on the other moity towards the Pole through the vicinity of the cold Region must loose much of the former heat which shall hereafter bee more confirmed out of the naturall constitution and complection of the Inhabitants bearing the true markes of externall cold and internall Heat whereof the one is strengthened by the other For the externall cold if it be not ouer predominant and too much for the internall Heat will by an Antiperistasis keepe in and condensate this heat making it more feruent and vigorous 6 The East and West Hemispheares are bounded and diuided by the Meridian passing by the Canaries and the Molucco Ilands 7 The East Hemispheare reacheth from the Canaries the Moluccoes on this side as the other on the opposite part of the Spheare Wee may here note a great difference betwixt this diuision and the former Foâ— the North and South Hemispheares being diuided by the Equatour are parted as it were by Nature it selfe and the Sunnes motion But the diuision of the Globe into East and West wee can ascribe to no other cause then mans Institution yet are the Easterne and the Westerne found to differ many wayes the discouery of which may giue great light to obseruation 1 The Easterne Hemispheare wherein we liue is euery way happier and worthier then the other Westward How farre short the Westerne Hemispheare comes of this of ours many circumstances may declare For first if we compare the Quantity of Land wee shall finde a great disparity For the Westerne Hemispheare containes in it besides the Southerne Continent wherein ourâ— also claimes a moity onely America with the Ilands thereunto adioyning whereas the other within this large circuit containes all the other parts of the Earth knowne vnto the Ancients as Europe Asia and Africke with many Ilands to them annexed Moreouer it is probably conjectured by some that America is vsually on our Mappes and Globes especially the more ancient painted and delineated out greater then indeed it is which hath beene ascribed to the fraudulent deceit of the Portugalls heretofore who to the end they might reduce the Molucco Ilands to the East Indies then their owne possession sought as well in their Mapps as relations to curtaile Asia and inlarge America in such sort as the Molucâ—o Ilands might seeme to fall within the 180 Degrees Eastward wherein they
fed themselues with vnknowne substance and the Castilians with painted shadowes But to let passe the quantity as a matter of lesse moment and lesse questioned a great disparity will bee found in the Quality and Dâ—sposition For what one commodity almost was euer found in this Continent which is not onely parallelled but surmounted by this our Hemispheare If we compare the Mines of Gold and Siluer wherein consists the wealth and riches of both places our East Indies will easily challenge the superiority If Trees Plants Herbage and Graines let our Physicians and Apothecaries iudge who owe most of the medicinable drugges to India Let our Merchants answer which owe their Spices to Arabia their Wine to Spaine Italy the Mediterranean Graecian and Indian Ilands their Silkes Linnen Cloathing and their furniture almost wholly to Europe If wee compare the multitude and various kindes of Beasts bred and nourished in either place no question but Europe Asia and Africa can shew farre greater Heads of Sheepe Cattle and such like with farre greater variety of kindes then euer were found in this new found Continent If all these failed yet the well tempered disposition of the Europaeans and Asians in respect of this barbarous and vnnurtured place disdaines all comparison where wee shall obserue on the one side a people long since reduced to ciuility instructed as well in liberall sciences as handy-crafts armed with martiall discipline ordered by Lawes and ciuill gouernment bound with a conscience and sense of Religion on the other side a multitude of miserable and wretched nations as farre distant from vs inciuility as place wanting not only Gouernment Arts Religion and such helps but also the desire being senselesse of their owne misery 2 The difference of East and West cannot worke a diuersitie in two places by any diuersity of the Heauens East and West places compared together are either of equall or vnequall Latitude For places of vnequall Latitude no question can bee made but they receaue a greater variety of Temper from the Heauens as wee haue formerly proued but this disparity growes not out of the diuersity of East and West but the distance of North and South But that places alike situate in Latitude cannot vary by any diuersity of the heauens is plaine for as much as all things to them rise and set alike without any diuersity wherefore if any such diuersity bee at any place found we ought not to seeke the cause thereof in the heauens but rather in the condition of the Earth it selfe which no question suffers in diuerse places of the same Latitude a great variety 8 Either Hemispheare may againe Respectiuely be subdiuided into the West or East The West in this our Hemispheare I call that which is neerer the Canary Ilands the East that which lieth towards the Molucco Ilands to which points there are others correspondent in the other Hemispheare 1 Places situate towards the East in the same Latitude are hotter then those which are placed towards the West For the explanation of this Theoreme we are to examine two matters First what probability may induce vs to beleeue the East to bee hotter temper then the West Secondly what should bee the cause of this diuersity in both places being supposed equally affected in respect of the Heauens for confirmation of the former many reasons haue beene alleaged of old and late writers It is agreed on saith Bodin with a ioint consent of the Hebrewes Greeks and Latines that the East is better tempered then the West which hee labours to confirme First out of many speeches of â—zekiel Esay and the other Prophetâ— where the East seemes to challenge a dignity and prerogatiue aboue the West which betokeneth as he imagines a blessing of the one aboue the other But I dare not venter on this Interpretation without a farther warrant Secondly wee may here produce the testimony of Pliny in his seuenth booke where hee affirmes that by ordinary obseruation it is found that the pestilence commonly is carried from the East into the West which Bodin testifies himselfe to haue found by experience in Galia Narbonensis and many other history seemes to iustifie Amianus a Greeke Author obserues that Seleucia being taken and a certaine porch of the Temple being opened wherein were shut certaine secret mysteries of the Chaldeans that a suddaine contagion arose of incurable diseases which in the time of Marcus and Verus from the farthermost ends of Persia spread it selfe as farre as the Rhâ—â—â— and France and filled all the way with heapes of carkasses If at any time the contagion bee obserued to bee carried another way an vniuersall pestilence is feared as according to the histories there happened not long after from Ethiopia towards the North which infested the greatest part of the world A third proofe may bee drawne from the testimony of Aristotle Hippocrates Gallen Ctâ—sias and other graue Autâ—ors who affirme that all things are bred better and fairer in Asia then in Europe which must needs argue a better temperature To backe which Testimonies we need goe no farther then moderne obseruation Euery Geographer will tell you how farre in fertility Natolia in Asia surmounts Spaine and China vnder the same Latitude exceeds both who knowes not how farre Fez and Morocco on the Westerne Verge of Africa stand inferiour to Egypt a most fruitfull and happy Region And how farre short both these come of India situate in the same Climate An argument of greater heat in the Easterne places may bee the multitude of Gold and Siluer-mines Spices and other such like commodities wherein Asia excells Europe whereas such mettals and commodities as require not so great a measure of heat in their conâ—oction are rather found in Europe then in Asia whence there seemes to arise a certaine correspondency of the East with the South and the West with the North. The greatest reason of all is taken from the Temper and naturall disposition of the Inhabitants for as much as the European resembling the Northerne men shewes all the Symptomes of inward heat strengthned with externall cold The Asiaticke followes the disposition of the Southerne man whose inward heat is exhausted by externall scorching of the Sunne-beames and therefore partakes more of Chollâ—r-adust or melancholy But this point wee shall more fully prosecute in due place To shew a cause of this variety is very difficult Those which in wit and learning haue farre exceeded my poore scantling haue herein rather confessed their owne ignorance then aduentured their iudgement It were enough to satisfie an ingenuous minde to beleeue that Almighty God was pleased in the first creation of the world to endow the Easterne part of the Earth with a better temper of the Soyle from whence all the rest deriue their originall which seemes not improbable in that he made Asia the first resting place of man after the Creation the second Seminary of mankinde after the Deluge the onely place of our Sauiours Incarnation In this matter I
carrying the name of the Master of the ship in his discouerie Neither is it much to be doubted but that in that large tract delineated out in the Globe for the South-Indies are coÌ„tained many Ilands diâ—ided one from the other by streites and narrow Seas which must subtract much from the quantity of the dry land so that of necessity it must be granted that the Northerne Hemispheare takes vp the greatest part of the dry land as the other of the Water Wherefore that place of Esdras where he saith That Almighty God allotted 〈◊〉 paris to the Eâ—â—th and the 〈…〉 Water must râ—ther seeme improbable or suffer anotâ—er interpretation then that of the anciâ—nts For out of credible coniecture drawne â—rom the view of the 〈◊〉 of the Terrestriâ—â—l Globe we shall hardly collect sucâ— a propâ—rtâ—on In this compâ—rison of the Nâ—rthâ—rne Hâ—mispheâ—â—â— with the Southerne we shall find â— kind of Harmony betwixt the Heauens and the Earth For as Trauailers report thâ— Northerne parts abound with more starres and of greater magnitude then the other toward the South so the Terrestriall Spheare discoâ—ers vnto vs more conâ—inent greater Ilâ—nds and of more noâ—â— in the North then â—n the South 2 The whole Globe of the Earth is inviâ—oned round from the East and the west with sea dividing â—he North from the South To proue this Theoreme we need goe no farther then the famous voyages of Magellane Drake Candish and Schoâ—ten Whereof the first attempted the first passage through Fretum Magelâ—anicum and gaue it the name though he could not out-â—iue his intended iourny The two next followed the same way and the last found out a new passage through Fretum de Mayre as we haue formerly mentioned Whence we may eaâ—â—ly deduce this Corollary that the Southerne continent not yet perfectly discouered is either One or which is most probable â—any Ilands forasmuch as by sailing round about â—t they haue found it euery where compassed round with Sea The like may be coniectured of the other parts of the world on the Northern side whereof we shal speak in this next TheoreÌ„ 3 It is probable that the Earth is compassed round with the water from North to South I know nothing which hath exercised the witts and induâ—trie of the Nauigatours of our age more then the finding out of a passage Northward to Cathay and so to the East-Indies which controuersie as yet remaines altogether vnanswered and awaites the happinesse of some new discouery In which difficult passage wherein many haue spent both their liues and hopes it may seeme enough for me to goe with their Relations suffering my coniecture to flye no farther then their sailes The reasons which I meet with in my sleÌ„der reading I will examine as I can without partiality and so leaue euery man to bee his owne Iudge First then wee must coÌ„sider that the voyage to the Indies must be effected by either of these two waies to wit Northward or Southward To beginne with the South it must be performed two waies either by some vnknowne passage through the South-Continent neare the Antartick Pole or neare the Magellane-straits The former is most vncertaine for want of discoueries in those vnknowne and remote parts and if any such passage were found out it were litle aduantage to our Countreymen who haue already a shorter and nearer way yet no instance can bee giuen to the contrary but that this part being clouen as it seemes most probable into many lesser lands may admit of such a passage But in such vncertainties it is as easy to deny as to affirme The second South-passage is found out by Nauigatours which is either by the strait of Magellane it selfe or else through the Straights of Mayre before-mentioned which this Age of ours hath put out of doubt The third passage is South-east by the â—ape of good hope knowne vnto our East-Indian Merchants and therefore as a matter vnquestioned needs no further examination The onely matter which troubles men in this Agâ— is the finding out of a passage Northward to Cathay either by the North-east or North-west wherein we will consider two things 1 Whether it be likely that any such passage should be at all 2 whether this passage should be performed by the North-East or North-West For the former many arguments are vrged which seeme to crosse this opinion of a way to the Indies toward the North-parts For The manifold attempts of the English and Hollanders both towards the North-East and North-West either altogether spent in paine or failing of their ends seemes to giue large testimonie if not of absolute impossibility yet at least of the vnlikely-hoâ—d of any such discouery as is hoped For what cost or dangers would not almost all the Marriners of our Northerne world vndergoe to find so neare a cut to their golden Indies and if by chance many of them mistooke the right way yet would it seeme improbable that latter Nauigatours corrected by the former errours should not after so many trialls and attempts at length hit the marke This reason sauours of some probability yet comparing this with diuerse matters of the same kinde would seeme to be of no great force For the truth and right being onely one and the same is oppoâ—ed by infinite errours so that it may seeme easier to commit a thousand errours then once to hit the truth Time and long triall beget many Inuentions which afterward seeme most easy insomuch that many men haue afterward laught at their owne mistakes Moreouer for ought I can find in the Relations of most mens discoueries the passage which they sought was too farre Northward towards the Pole where being infesâ—ed with cold Ice and other inconueniences they were enforced to returne thence againe hauing seldome had any oportunity to winter in those parts for want of victualls or extremity of cold A second reason against this North-passage may bee drawne from the innumerable sorts of beasts wherewith America is stored for admitting this passage we must needs grant America to bee an Iland Now it is â—ertaine that Noah's Arke was the store-house and Seminary not only of mankinde but of all other perfect liuing Creatures Againe it is euident out of the Holy Scriptures that the first Region whereon the Arke was deliuered of her burthen was Asia These grounds layed I would demaund how such a multitude of beasts of all sorts should be transported from Asia to America being supposed to bee an Iland and euery where diuided by the Sea from other parts of the Earth could these silly creatures of their owne accord swimme from one shore to another but alasse the Sea was too large and these beasts too fearefull to aduenture on such a voyage And admit some by Nature had bin fitted to such an action yet were it very strange to imagine the same effect of all being of many kinds What then were they transported in ships But Nauigation in those daies being an infant vnfurnished of the Chart
and Compasse durst not aduenture into the Ocean so farre out of sight of land But to giue the opposite part all reasonable aduantage admit the Straites diuiding Asia and America were very narrow and within kenne was it likely that from hence thâ—y could by shipps transport so many kndes of creatures Could we beleeue any man to be so mad as to carry ouer with him Lions Beares Tigers Foxes and other innumerable sorts of rauenous and vnprofitable beasts as pernicious to mankind as other creatures seruing for his vse If any were found so foolish or malicious yet were it very vnlikely hee should transporte so many kinds This argument seemes no more to concerne America then most Ilands of the World wherein we find diuers creatures not only seruing for the vse of man but many vnprofitable hatefull to the Inhabitants The meanes of this transportation is very difficult to finde St Augustine with some other Diuines haue bin driuen to a supernaturall cause as if Almighty God should performe this matter by the ministry of Angels which answer we dare not vtterly reiect being supported by the authority of so great a Pillar of the church yet I cannot so easily imagine that God who vsed naturall meanes for the preseruation of all liuing creatures in the Arke should haue recourse to a supernaturall power in the propagation of these creatures on the face of the Earth wherefore to me the reason would seeme better answered out of our ground which we shall proue hereafter That Ilands were not from the first Creation but afterward broken from the maine Continent by the violence of the Water Hence it might come to passe that such beasts as were in the parts of the Earth so broken off haue since there continued by continuall propagation vntill this day I meane of ravenous and hurtfull beasts because of the others lesse doubt can be made but that they might be convayed from one Country into another by shipping to serue the necessity of mankind Here we see that no argument as yet hath bin vrged so strong against the North-passage but may with reasonable probability be answered It remaines in the second place that we descend somewhat to particulars to inquire whether this be to be effected either towards the North-east or the North-west The North-east passage hath heretofore bin attempted by many of our English Nauigatours but with vnhappy successe yet were not these voyages altogether fruitlesse forasmuch as by this meanes a way was found out to Russia whence began the first trade betweene ours and the Russian Merchants But that litle hope can hence arise sundry reasons may be alleaged the chiefe whereof are these 1 The dangerous rending of the Scythick Cape set by Ortelius vnder 80 degrees Northward together with the perillous sailing in those Northerne Seas alwayes pestred with Ice and Snow seconded by diuerse Bayes or shelues mists fogges long and darksome nights most aduerse to any happy Nauigation 2 The obseruation of the Water which is more shallow towards the East which giues small hope of a through passage because all Seas are fed with waters and for the most part are obserued to be more shallow towards the shore then in the middle But where in sailing forward any Sea is found to decrease in depth it is a likely argument that it is rather a Creeke Bay or Riuer then a Straite Notwithstanding these reasons some haue heretofore gone about to proue a passage by the North-east to Cathay of which opinion was Antony Ienkinson whose reasons be well answered by Sr Humphrey Gilbert which I briefly touch adding some things of mine own as I find occasion The first reason was drawne from a Relation of Tartarian who reported that in hunting the Morse he sailed very far towards the South-east wherein he found no end which might giue a likely coniecture that it was a passage throughout But to this we may easily answere that the Tartarians are a barbarous Nation altogether ignorant of Nauigation which neither know the vse of the Charte Compasse or Celestiall Obseruations therefore in a wide Sea know not how to distinguish the north-North-east from the South-east Besides the curious search of this long passage must depend on better Discoueries then a poore Fisher-man who seldome dares aduenture himselfe out of sight of land besides the Fisher-man iudging by sight could not see about a kenne at sea which will proue nothing in regard of so long a distance The second Reason vrged by Mr Ienkinson was this that there was an Vnicorne's horne found vpon the coasts of Tartaria which could not come saith he by any other meanes then with the tide in some streight in the North-east in the frozen Sea there being no Vnicorne in all Asia sauing in Iâ—dia and Cataia To this reason I may answer with Sr Humphrey Gilbert many waies 1 We may well doubt whether Tartarians knowe a true Vnicornes horne or no 2 It is credible that it could bee driuen so farre by the Tide being of such a Nature that it cannot swimme 3 The Tides running to and fro would haue driuen it as farre backe with the Ebbe as it brought it forward with the Floud 4 the Horne which was cast on this coast might be the Horne of an Asinus Indicuâ— which hath but one Horne like an Vnicorne in his fore-head whereof there is great plenty in all the North parts as in Lappia Norvegia Finmarke as Zeigler testifies in his History of Scandia 5 Lastly there is a fish which hath a Horne in his â—ore-head câ—lled the Sea Vnicorne whereof Martin Frobisher foâ—nd one on the coast of Newfound-land and gaue it to Queene Elizabeth which was said to be put into her wardrope But whether it be the same which is at this day to be seene at Winsor Castle I cannot tell The third and strongest reason which was vrged for the North-east passage was this That there was a continuall current through the Frozen Sea of such swiftnesse that if any thing were throwne into the water it would presently be caried out of sight To this we may easily answer that this strong current is not maintained by any Tide coÌ„ming from another Sea but by diuerse great Riuers falling into this streight In like sort we find a strong current from Maeotis Palus by Pontus Euxinus Sinus Bosphorus and along all the coast of Greci as Contarenus and diuerse other affirme out of their own experience and yet the Sea lyeth not open to any other Sea but is maintained by Tanais and diuerse other riuers so in this North-east part may this current of water be maintained by the Riuers Duâ—â—a Ob and many others which continually fall into it Hitherto haue we treated of other passages either effected or attempted to Cathay and the East Indies The last and most desired and sought in our time is that by the North West This way hath bin often attempted as by Cabot Dauis Frobisher Hudson Sr Thomas Button and
bee performed by many stronger and abler men as it hath beene tried sometimes that a Franticke man hath broken very strong chaines wherwith he hath been bound which many other men could not doe Neither on the other side can it seeme strange that many and great exhalations vapours and spirits should be ingendred vnder the Earth For as much as the Earth is heaâ—ed many wayes Many wayes may bee specified whence such fumes should arise as first from the Sunne and Starres Secondly from the subterranean fires hid in the bowels of the Earth Thirdly in the winter-time by an Antiperistasis the heat collecting it selfe downeward to the inner parts of the Earth which was before in the outward parts of it The argument by which Aristotle would confirme this opinion is drawne as well from the time as from the places wherein Earthquakes vsually happen from the time because then most Earthquakes are obserued to bee when most exhalations are inclosed in the bowels of the Earth to wit in the Spring-time and the Autumne From the places because for the most part spongie and hollow Regions which may drinke in a greater quantity of exhalations are commonly most subiect vnto it for although many exhalations are dayly inclosed in the wombe of the Earth yet Earthquakes fall but seldome because the matter is seldome so strong and violent as to shake the Earth Wherefore some Philosophers haue expressed three principall wayes which make this Earth-quake first when a great quantity of exhalations is suddenly ingendred which for the greatnesse of it cannot be contained in so little a space for then being almost choked it seekes a way to fly forth Secondly when the Earth is condensated by cold and driues the exhalation from one place to another which flying hither and thither shakes and strikes the Earth Thirdly when the exhalation the cold compassing it round by an Antiperistasis begets heat within it and so is rarified for so being vnable any longer to confine it selfe to its former place it breakes forth and so shakes the Earth We must here note by the way that not onely exhalations are cause of the distemperature in the Earth but also subterranean fires and windes all which by some are iudged to bee of equall force in this action for the diuision of Earthquakes so farre forth as it concernes the difference of places we must vnderstand that it may be either Vniuersall or particular An Vniuersall Earth-quake is that which shakes all the whole Earth in euery part at least in the vpper face whereof I suppose no naturall cause can be giuen but the immediate and miraculous power of God such an Earth-quake happened at the time of our Sauiours Passion whereof Dydimus a graue and ancient Writer left record But that which is said to haue happened in the time of Valentinian mentioned by Orosius in his 7 booke of Histories 32 Chapter is thought by graue Authours to be no vniuersall Earth-quake howsoeuer for the large extent of it it was thought to be generall A particular Earth-quake is that which is bounded in some one or more particular places which for the causes before-alleaged cannot be so far extended because the cauernes and conuexities of the Earth where such vapours and exhalations are contained cannot bee ordinarily so great as to extend to many Kingdomes and Regions 1 Regions extreame cold or extreame hot are not so subiect to Earth-quakes as places of a Middle temper The reason is because in places extreame cold exhalations are not so soone ingendred and in so great a quantity as in other parts on the other side in places which are extreame hot the exhalations which are bred are soone consumed with excesse of heat both which may be confirmed by Instances It is obserued that in the cold Northerne parts as Olaus Magnus writes in his 10 booke and 13 Chapter Earthquakes are very seldome or neuer so it is obserued by Pliny in his 2 booke and 18 Chapter and Albertus Magnus in his 3 booke of Mâ—teours tract 2 That places which are very hot as Egypt are seldome troubled with this shaking of the Earth whereas places betwixt both which are seated in a more temperat climate find it not so strange 1 Hollow and spongie places are more subiect to Earth-quakes then solide and compacted soyles We must here vnderstand that hollow places are either such as lye open to the Aire or are hollow onely vnder and close vpward The former sort are not at all subiect to the molestation of Earth-quakes because the exhalations fly out without impediment but the latter being more apt to ingender and retaine such matter must of necessity bee more troubled This is most plainely obserued in Phrygia Italia Caria Lydia wherein such motions are more frequent To confirme this a little farther wee obserue that hilly and mountainous places suffer this violence oftner then other parts because there most commonly cauernes and concaâ—ities are more frequent then in plaine countreyes But here by the way may bee obiected that sandy and slimy countryes are many times more free from Earth-quakes then other places an instance whereof was giuen before in Aegypt wherein neuer any Earth-quake as most Authours affirme or at least but one as Seneca hath beene obserued The reason may bee giuen that sandy places without any strife suffer the exhalatioÌ„s to disperse themselues that slimy places want sufficient receptacles to entertayne them 3 Ilands are more often troubled with Earth-quakes then the Continent This haue they found to be true in many Ilands of the Mediterranean Sea and others also chiefly in Cyprus Sicylia Euboea Tyrus Angria Lippora and the Molucco Ilands betwixt the East and West-Indies The cause some would haue to bee the Antiperistasis or circumstancy of the waters which is apt to engender greater store of exhalations in the Earth But neuerthelesse that Ilands are more subiect to Earth-quakes then Continents I dare affirme no otherwise then probable because some places in the Continent seeme very much affected especially in Europe aboue other places Constantinople and Basilaea if we credite authors which haue written of this matter in Asia China and other Regions adioyning thereunto CHAP. XIII 1 THe Naturall affections of the Land haue hitherto beene declared Wee are in the next place to treate of the Ciuill Those wee terme Ciuill which concerne the Inhabitants 2 An Inhabitant is a man dwelling in a certaine place The name of an Inhabitant as we haue before noted may be taken either generally for any liuing creature residing in a certaine place in which sense Brute beasts may be called Inhabitants which signification is only metaphoricall or else for a Reasonable liuing creature whose abode is setled in any place or Region in which sense we here take it The consideration of the Inhabitants we haue reserued for this last Treatise following as well the methode of the first creation as of Moses in the narration For God proceeding in the first Creation according to the
of the vsurping Turkes which professe themselues to bee vtter enemies to Learning and the true Religion To which wee may adde the ignorance of the Christian Religion in many places which is the greatest ground of solide knowledge For amongst all religions in the world there is none which giueth more way to learning then the Christian Whereas some others altogether forbid the studie of such matters yet is not this inclination so absurde in the Easterne people but that euery-where some markes and footesteps will discouer their disposition For in the East shall wee find no small number of Christian Churches and Monasteries professing Christianity and other good learning But to speake no more of the Christian Religion which wee hold rather by Gods speciall grace then nature the superstitious deuotion of these heathen nations to their owne false religions is a sufficient argument of their naturall inclination to religious exercises How obstinately peruerse Ceremonious and superstitious the Indians are found in Idolatrous Religions I haue often wondred to heare some trauaylers reporte Of the other Hemispheare comprehending America I haue as yet small euidence out of History whereon to ground any certainty all we can say shall be comprized in this Theoreme 2 The easterne part of the westerne Hemispheare was peopled before the westerne This proposition seemes probably warranted as well by reason as authority for first supposing as an infallible ground that the first ofspring of all nations was in Asia towards the East it must needs follow that to people America there should be a passage thereunto out of Asia because America was a long time not inhabited ere it was discouered to the Europaeans This passage then was either by Sea or Land Were it by sea the first part whereat they could arriue was the easterne side If wee suppose it to be by land as is most likely in those ancient times yet was it most probable it should bee on the North-east side from the Pole because it is found by obseruation that on the North-west side it is diuided from Asia by streites then must they first touch on the Easterne part To this we may adde the experience of the Castilians and Portugalls who first discouered this part who affirme that the people dwelling on that side haue beene obserued to surpasse the westerne by farre in ciuility of manners knowledge and such endowments which may bee an argument of the antiquity of their plantation CHAP. XV. 1. THe second diuersity of disposition of inhabitants ariseth from the diuerse nature of the Soile Here fowre distinctions of Nations are remarkeable 1 Of the Inhabitants of the Mountaines and plaine-Countreyes 2 Of marish and dry 3. Of windy and quiet 4. Of sea-borders and Iland-people That mens dispositions are diuersly varied according to the temper of the soile euery mans owne experience may easily enforme him for to reserue particular instances to their proper places it is most manifest that all the vitall operations of the soule depends as well vpon the corporeall and organicall parts as the spirits which being diuersely affected by the qualities of the Aire and Earth must needes vary and suffer a change Plaine and euident disâ—arity is found first betwixt two nations situate in the same Parallell or climate in respect of the heauens Secondly betwixt two men borne in seuerall Countreyes liuing together for some time in the same region Thirdly of one and the selfe-same man liuing at diuerse times in diuers regions Fourthly of a man liuing in the same Countrey at diuerse seasons and times all which being heretofore demonstrated will declare vnto vs the great Sympathy and operation the Aire and his diuerse qualities hath with and on our corporeall spirits and organs But the temperament of the Aire as we haue formerly shewed depends on the temperature of the soile whence it must needs follow that the naturall disposition of men should bee varied somewhat in respect of the soyle This disposition of the soile being manifold wee haue reduced onely to three heads leauing other curiosities to such as haue more leasure What wee iudge in this shall be declared in these Theoremes 1 Mountaine people are for the most paâ—t more stout warlike and generous then those of plaine Countreyes yet lesse tractable to gouernment Of the warlike disposition of the mountanists and their strange Impatience to subiection many Histories giue testimony Geographers repor that setting aside the people of the North to whom for strength and valour wee haue giuen the palme the Inhabitants of the mountaine Atlas are great and strong out of whom the Kings of Numidia and Mauritania in time of warre are wont to leuy their forces And it is worthy admiration to consider the mountaine people of Arabia who could neuer be drawne to yeeld to subiection but being fortified not somuch by the benefit of the place as some might happily imagine but rather by naturall strength and valour haue alwaies liued in liberty To whom as is reported the Turkes giue a yeerely stipend to keepe them off from inuading the Territories of Palaestine and Damascus Of the Maâ—sians the ancient inhabitants of the Appenine mountaines in Italy the Romans were wont so well to conceiue that it grew into a prouerbe Sine Marsis triumphasse neminem Gostane when he went about to inuade the kingdome of Succia chose his legions of souldiers out of the Dalecarly who inhabite the Succian mountaines But amongst all no nation hath purchased a greater opinion and reputation then the Heluetians liuing amongst the Alpes These men are originally descended from the Succians which for valour haue â—o farre approued themselues that they haue not onely kept themselues free from forraigne iurisdiction but haue often deliuered their neighbouring countries from slauery and oppression Against the house Austria they haue not once displaied their banners and triumphed in their ouerthrow A great part of Germany hath smarted vnder their valour and such an honorable opinion haue they wonne that they are accompted as it were the Censors and moderators to decide controuersies in matters of state and kingdomes Cicero giues grrat commendations of strength to the Ligurgians inhabiting the mountaines It is well knowne how long and tedious warres the mountaine Cilicians and Acrâ—cerauneans had with the Turkes how long with small damage they endured affront and droue them back Here we might add the examples of the Biscanes and Cantabrians in Spaine who vnder the conduct of Pelagius their King withstood the Saracens and preserued both their language and religion The like ought to be spoken of the Welsh Cornish people amongst vs as of the Scottish Highlander all which liuing in mountanous countries haue withstood the violence of forraigners and for many yâ—ares preserued their owne liberty And howsoâ—uer it may be obiected that the aduantage of the place gaue them courage yet can wee not deny their disposition due commendation hauing not only thus for a time protected their owne rights but made many hostile