on this superficies successiuely growes greater from the Equinoctiall towards either Pole vntill it challenge equall Diameter with the Cylinder and likewise all the Meridians growing wider and farther off till they bee as farre distant euery-where as is the Equinoctiall one from the other Hence may easily bee vnderstood the true Mathematicall production or generation of this part for first of a Sphericall superficies it is made a Cylinder and secondly of a Cylinder it is made a Parallellogramme or plaine superficies For the concaue superficies of a Cylinder is nothing else but a plaine Parallellogramme imagined to bee wound about two equall equidistant circles hauing one common Axell-tree perpendicular vpon the Centers of them both and the Peripheries of them both equall to the length of the Parallellogramme as the distance betwixt those Centers is equall to the bredth thereof In this Chart so conceiued to be made all places must needs be situate in the same Longitudes and Latitudes Meridians Parallels and Rhumbes which they had in the Globe it selfe because we haue imagined euery point betwixt the Equatour and the Poles to swell equally in Longitude and Latitude till it apply it selfe to the concauity of the Cylinder so that no point can bee displaced from his proper seat but only dilated in certaine proportion And this I take to bee the best conceit for the ground-worke or platforme of this Geographicall Chart. 2 Except the distances betwixt the Parallels in a Plaine-Chart be varied it cannot bee excused from sensible errour It hath beene thought by many Geographers that the Earth cannot aptly according to due symmetry and proportion be expressed in a plaine superficies as it is in the Globe for as much as that which is ioyned and vnited in the Globe being of a Sphericall figure is in the Mappe extended and dilated to a diuerse longitude and latitude from that Sphericall delineation and although it hath been generally conceited by many writers that no due proportion could bee obserued in a Sphericall superficies without sensible errour yet most exception hath beene made against this Chart here mentioned consisting of one face and straight lines which in substance if we cōsider the Circles differs not from the Nauticall Chart of whose errours Martin Cortese Peter Nonnus and many others haue complained which escapes are excellently opened and reformed by our Countryman Edward Wright in his Correction of Nauticall Errours The reason or ground which drew these men to thinke that the Earth could not bee proportionably described in a plaine superficies proceeded from the common proportion of the Lines and Circles on the Chart. For supposing the Parallels cutting the Meridians at equall Angles to obserue an equall distance euery-where one from the other these errours and absurdities must of necessity ensue First what places soeuer are delineate in the ordinary Chart the length of them from East to West hath a greater proportion to the bredth from North to South then it ought to haue except onely vnder the Equinoctiall and this errour is so much the more augmented by how much those places are distant from the Equinoctiall for the neerer you approach the Pole the proportion of the Meridian to the Parallell still increaseth so that at the Parallell of 60 degrees of latitude the proportion of the length to the bredth is twice greater then it ought to bee for as much as the Meridian is double to that Parallell and so in all the rest whence as Edward Wright obserues the proportion of the length of Friesland to the bredth thereof is two-fold greater then in the Globe which expresseth the true proportion because the Meridian is double to the Parallell of that Iland In like sort it is plaine that in the Ilands of Grock-land and Groenland the length to the bredth hath a foure-fold greater proportion in the Common Chart then in the Globe because the Meridian is foure-fold greater then the Parallell of those places Wherefore it cannot be conceited that the manner of finding out the difference of Longitude by the common Chart can bee any-where true without sensible errour except onely vnder the Equinoctiall or neere about it because in no other place the Parallell is equall to the Meridian In other places the errour will bee sensible according to the difference of the Meridian and Parallell of that place whereas if the contrary were granted it would follow that two ships sayling from North to South vnder two seuerall Meridians would keepe the same distance the one from the other of longitude neere the Pole which they had neere the Equatour which is impossible because Meridians cannot bee Parallell the one to the other but by how much they approach the Pole by so much they are neerer that in the end they all concurre and meete in the Pole it selfe Secondly this common Chart admitted there would arise great errours not onely in the situation of diuers places which appeare to bee vnder the same Meridian but also in the bearing of places one to the other The reason is manifest for that the Meridian is a certaine Rule of the site and position of places therefore whensoeuer any errour shall be committed in the Site and Position of the Meridian there must needs follow errours in the designation of the Rhumbes and other points of the Compasse And therefore euery respectiue position of place to place set downe in the common Chart cannot bee warranted A pregnant example wee haue in the way from India for the Promontory of Africke called the Promontory of three Points hauing of Northerne latitude 4 Degrees and a halfe and the Iland of Tristan Acugna hauing 36 degrees of Southerne latitude are in the common Chart set vnder the same Meridian But the Chart sheweth the distance betweene these Ilands and the Cape of good Hope to come neere to 400 leagues both which cannot stand together for if all the coast from the Promontory of Three Points vnto the Cape of Good-hope be rightly measured and the Promontory of Three Points lye also vnder the same Meridian with those Ilands yet must the distance bee much lesse But if it be not lesse it cannot stand with reason that it should haue the same Meridian with the Promontory of Three Points but must needes lye more Westward Thirdly there must needs arise a greater errour in the translating Sea-coasts and other such places out of the common Chart into the Globe because they haue only a respect to the Numbers of Degrees of Longitudes and Latitudes found therein so that not onely errours appeare in the Sea-Chart but also otherwhere thence deriued These and many more errours haue been detected in the common Sea-chart which as we haue said respecting the circles ought to be imagined one and the selfe-same with the proiection of the lines in a Geographicall table which ouersight Ger. Mercator in his vniuersall Map seemes to correct yet leaues no demonstration behind him to teach others the certaine way to draw the Lines
The Inhabitants of a Right Spheare in respect of the heauens haue the same accidents These accidents are chiefly foure 1 They inioy a perpetuall Equinoctiall hauing their dayes and nights alwayes equall the one to the other because the Sunne neuer swaruing from his Eclipticke hath his course equally diuided by the Horizon 2 With them all the starres equally set and rise because all the Parallels wherein the starres make their Diurnall Reuolution are equally cut of the Horizon 3 To them the Sunne is twice in the yeere verticall that is directly ouer their heads and twice againein the yeere Solstitiall The former in the first degrees of Aries and Libra the latter in the first degrees of Cancer and Capricorne which diuerse propositions of the Sunne some later Geographers haue tearmed foure Solstices two higher and two lower 4 Hence comes it to passe that they yeerely enioy two winters and two Summers likewise two springs and two Autumnes Their Summer when the Sunne is to them verticall their winter when it is seated in either of the Tropicks Their Spring and Autumnes while the Sunne is passing through the middle spaces betwixt both 5 The people inhabiting an Oblique Spheare are such whose Horizon is oblique The proprieties belonging vnto them are either Generall or Speciall 6 The Generall are such as agree to all those which inhabit an oblique Spheare 1 All the Inhabitants of an oblique Spheare agree in two proprieties These two proprieties wherein they agree are these 1 To all the Inhabitants without the Equatour vnder what Parallell soeuer the dayes are equall to the nights only twice in a yeere to wit either in the beginning of the Spring or the beginning of the Autumne At other times either the dayes increase aboue the nights as in the Summer or grow lesser as in the winter 2 To these inhabitants some stars are perpetually seene as such which are neere the Pole to which they incline some are neuer seene as such as are farthest off from the said Pole some rise and set which are those which are in the middle space betwixt both which are sometimes visible and sometime lie hid 7 The speciall Accidents of an Oblique Horizon are such as agree to speciall places in the same Spheare 1 The Inhabitants of an Oblique Spheare of fiue sorts inioying so many correspondent properties The first sort are of those whose Zenith is betwixt the Equator and one of the Tropickes euen vnto the 23. Degrees 30. Scruples of eleuation of the Pole In such a sort towards the North betwixt the Line and the Tropicke of Cancer are placed the inhabitants of Zeilan the extreame part of the East Indies Hispaniola Guinea Nubia with some part of Arabia foelix and all other places betwixt the Equatour and the Tropicke of Cancer in the Torride Zone Towards the South in the same Latitude are placed the Brasilians the Peruuians the Iauans with many others The Accidents which happen vnto these Nations are these 1. They may see all the starres except a few which are neere the Pole 2. Their dayes and nights are somewhat vnequall so that their longest day or longest night is not alway of the same quantity 3. Twice in the yeare they haue the Sunne-verticall but without the Equatour 4. They haue two Summers and two Winters but not equally tempered 5. The length of their longest day reacheth to 13. ½ houres The second sort are such as inhabite vnder the Tropicke it selfe whose eleuation of the Pole is equall to the greatest declination of the Sunne which is 23. degrees 30 Scruples Vnder the Tropicke of Cancer is placed a great part of Arabia foelix East India the Southerne parts of China the higher parts of Egypt and Siene Vnder the Tropicke of Capricorne are placed the people of Monomotapa and Madagascar with other places The accidents belonging vnto them are these 1. To them appeare all the starres comprehended in one of the circles but none of the other As for example to those inhabiting the Tropicke of Cancer the starres included within the Articke Circle alwayes appeare but neuer those which are in the Antarcticke likewise to those which dwell vnder the Tropicke of Capricorne all the starres appeare which are contained within the Antarticke Circle but none of those included within the Articke Circle 2. By how much neerer the Sunne approacheth to their Zenith or Verticall point by so much are their dayes lengthened and by how much farther it goes off by so much are they shortned so that they inioy then their longest day when the Sunne directly passeth by their Zenith 3. To them the Sunne is verticall but once in the yeere to wit to those vnder the Tropicke of Cancer when the Sunne enters into the signe as to the other when it toucheth the first Degree of Capricorne 4. They haue but one Summer and one Winter throughout the yeere The third sort are such inhabitants as dwell in one of the temperate Zones betwixt the Tropicke and the Polar Circles from 24. Degrees of eleuation to 66. Degrees 30. Scruples Such inhabitants towards the North are as wee haue shewed almost all the inhabitants of Europe Asia maior and part of Africa as on the other side towards the South the Chylienses the farthermost Africans and those that dwell neere the straits of Magellane Their properties are chiefly these 1. Many starres are by them alwayes seene and many neuer appeare 2. Their dayes notably differ in inequality 3. The sunne neuer arriues at their Zenith but is alwayes on the South of those which inhabite betwixt the Tropicke of Cancer and the Articke Circle and alwayes on the North side of such as dwell in the opposite temperate Zone 4. They haue in the yeere but one Summer and Winter but by reason of the diuersity of places much vnequall for where the eleuation of the Pole is greater the winter is much harder but where it is lesser it is more temperate The fourth kinde of inhabitants are those which reside vnder the Polar Circle which is their Zenith where the temperate Zone endes and the cold beginnes where the eleuation of the Pole is beyond 66. Degrees 30. Minutes in which Tract lies Noua Zembla with many other Ilands not yet well discouered in the North and perhaps as many more vnder the Antarticke Circle towards the South lesse knowne than the other The accidents belonging to them are these 1. Those which inhabite vnder the Arcticke Circle see all the starres included within the Tropicke of Cancer but neuer those within the Tropicke of Capricorne Likewise those which liue vnder the Antarcticke Circle see all the starres within the Tropicke of Capricorne but neuer those within the other Tropicke of Cancer 2. Their longest day at Midsummer is 24. houres their night then being but a moment likewise their longest night as at Mid-winter is but 24. houres their day passing not a moment 3. The Center of the Sunne euery yeere twice toucheth at their Horizons 4. The
this Meridian will cut the Equatour in some degree or other which being numbred as before from the first Meridian will shew the direct Longitude the like of which we haue in the second case 2 The Meridian running through any place of the Geographicall Table will point and designe out in the Equatour the degrees of Longitude This may easily bee taught by the former way performed on the Globe as for example if I should inquire the Longitude of Paris the Metropolis of France in a Geographicall Map I finde a Meridian markt out which runs if not directly through yet very neere the said City This Meridian I trace along to the Southerne part till I finde it to meet and cut the Equatour Then obserue I in what degree of the Equatour it makes his intersection and I finde it to bee 23 degrees 20 minutes which is the Longitude of the place 15 Hauing spoken of the Longitude the Latitude comes in the next place to bee handled the Latitude is the Distance of any place from the Equatour either North or South What we haue spoken of the Longitude must also agree to the Latitude that it is taken sometimes absolutely and generally sometimes specially in the former sense it signifies any distance or space betweene North and South or contrariwise from South to North. Amongst the Ancients was the breâ—dth or Latitude held to bee about 80 degrees so that the vtmost bound or limit to it Northward was called Thule which commonly is supposed to bee Island But the latter Nauigatours through their diligence haue detected so much land that it is found to stretch beyond 81 degrees toward the North and 45 toward the South and much farther if we will beleeue the relation of Ferdinand de Quir a Spaniard who boasts a more ample discouery of the South Iâ—dies then euer before hath beene knowne But howsoeuer the Latitude here define is taken in a more speciall and stricter sense for the distance of any place from the equinoctiall line bee it either toward the North or the South The bound therefore from which we begin our account of Latitude is the Equatour but the subiect wherein it is measured is the Meridian so that it is cleane opposite to the Longitude for that was limited by the Meridian and measured in the Equatour The Latitude of a place is alwayes equall to the Eleuation of the Pole as wee shall shew hereafter and is diuided into the Northerne and the Southerne Latitude whereof the one is from the Equatour Northward the other Southward 16 Concerning the Latitude are to bee considered the Inuention and the Expression the Inuention is againe twofold Astronomicall or Magneticall 17 The Astronomicall Inuention of the Latitude is by obseruation of the Starres which is directed by these Propositions 1 The Meridian Height of the Sunne at the time of the Equinoctiall subtracted from 90 degrees will shew the true Latitude of the place The height of the Sunne at Noone may be found by the Astrolabe Crosse-staffe Quadrant and many other Astronomicall instruments but in taking the Meridian Altitude it is very fit and requisite that it bee obserued diuerse times one after another with some little space betwixt to trie whether it increaseth or decreaseth for if it doth increase then assure your selfe it is not full Noone if it decrease it is past Noone hauing thus found out the Meridian Altitude you must subduct it from 90 degrees and the residue will bee the true Latitude of the place if so bee it bee obserued at the time of the Equinoctiall when the Sunne enters the first point of Aries or Libra as for example here at Oxford I obserue the Meridian height of the Sunne about the eleuenth of March and I finde it to bee about 37 degrees or thereabout which I subtract out of 90 the whole Quadrant and the residue will bee 51½ which is the Latitude of the place But if you would know the Latitude at any other day or time of the yeere then must you proceed in this manner hauing taken the height of the Sunne at Noone as before you must by the Table of Declination learne the true degree of the Sunnes declination 2 If such declination bee Northernely then must you subtract it from the foresaid Altitude or height But if Southernly you must adde it to the Altitude and by such addition and subtraction shall you haue the height of the equinoctiall aboue the Horizon 3 This height of the Equinoctiall aboue your Horizon being as before subtracted from 90 will bee the true Latitude of the place assigned as for example the 15 of August I obserue the Declination of the Sunne to bee about 10 Degrees the Sunne being in 2 Degrees of Virgo I finde the Meridian height of the Sunne to be 48 degrees or thereabouts Now because the Sunne being in Virgo hath a Northerne Declination I subtract 10 which is the number of the declination out of 48 the height of the Sunne and there will remaine 38 which againe taken â—ut of 90 the residue will be about 52 the common receaued Latitude of the place 2 The Meridian height of any Starre the Declination subtracted if it bee Northerne or added if it bee Southerne being subtracted out of 90 will shew at any time of the yeere the Degrees of Latitude The former rule serues onely for the day because it is performed by the obseruation of the Sunne but this latter may bee more necessary for Marriners who now and then are inforced to inquire the Latitude of a place in the night when the Sunne shines not wherfore they must flie vnto some knowne Starre by obseruation of which they may easily performe the same according to the rule which differres nothing at all from that which wee speake of the Sunne out of the Equinoctiall and therefore need no other exposition then a bare example let the fixt starre you best know bee Arcturus whose Meridian Altitude you finde by your Mathematicall instrument to bee 59 Degrees and 30 minutes then shall you learne by some Table that this Declination Northward is 21 degrees 30 minutes now because his declination is Northward you must subtract it out of his Meridian Altitude and you shall finde the remainder to bee 52 Degrees which is the Latitude for the place as it is commonly taken although I confesse it might be more exact being obserued here at Oxford be found rather 51 Degrees and 30 minutes 18 The Magneticall Inuention is performed by the Magneticall Inclinatory Needle The ground of this Magneticall inuention is from the proportion betwixt the magneticall inclinatory Needle and the Latitude of the Earth for as wee haue proued in the 13 Proposition of the 3 Chapter the Magneticall inclinatory Needle will at euery point of Latitude conforme it selfe to certaine Angles with the Axell of the Earth proportionally to the Degrees of that Latitude vpon which grounds Dr Ridley hath inuented a curious instrument to finde out the Latitude
92 3 It is probable that the sea is carried some-where from East to West and some-where from North to South contrariwise 98 4 Of the violent motion of the sea caused by windes 101 5 To some certaine places at certaine times belong certaine winds 102 6 The violence of the winds makes the sea sometimes in some places transcend his ordinary bounds 103 CHAP. VII Of the Depth Situation and Termination of the sea 1 The ordinary depth of the sea is commonly answerable to the ordinary height of the maine land aboue the water and the Whirlepooles extraordinary depths answer to the height of the mountaines aboue the ordinary height of the Earth 104 2 The superficies of the sea is some-where higher then the superficies of the Earth some-where lower 109 3 The sea in respect of the Earth is higher in one place then another 111 4 The Water is so diuided from the dry-dry-land that the quantity of water is greater in the Southerne Hemispheare of land in the Northerne 115 5 The whole Globe of the Earth is enuironed round with sea betwixt East and West 116 6 It is probable that the Earth is enuirnoed round with water from North to South Of the North-west passage 117 CHAP. VIII OfSea Trafficke and Merchandice 1 Nauigation first taught by Almighty God was afterwards seconded by the industrie of famous men in all ages 132 2 Nauigation is very necessary as well for the increase of knowledge as riches 135 CHAP. IX Of Pedography Riuers Lakes and Fountaines in the Earth 1 All Riuers haue their originall from the sea the mother of riuers 142 2 All Riuers and Fountaines were not from the beginning 155 3 Many riuers are for a great space of land swallowed vp of the Earth whereof some after a certaine distance rise againe 156 4 Riuers for the most part rise out of great mountaines and at last by diuerse or one Inlet are disburthened into the sea 157 5 Diuerse Fountaines are endowed with diuerse admirable vertues and operations 159 6 Places neere great Riuers and Lakes are most commodious for Habitation 162 7 Of Lakes and their causes 162 8 It is probable that some Lakes haue some secret intercourse with the sea vnder ground 163 CHAP. X. Of Mountaines Vallyes plaine-Regions woody and champion Countreyes 1 Mountaines Vallyes and Plaines were created in the beginning and few made by the violence of the Deluge 165 2 The perpendicular height of the highest mountaines seldome exceeds 10 furlongs 169 3 The ordinary height of the land aboue the sea in diuerse places is more then the hight of the highest mountaines aboue the ordinary face of the Earth 171 4 Mountaines Countreyes are commonly colder then plaine 172 5 Mountaines since the beginning of the world haue still decreased in their quantity and so will vnto the end 174 6 Of Woods and their nature 178 7 Woods are not so frequent or great as in ancient times 179 8 Places moderately situate towards the North or South-pole abound more in woods then neere the Equatour 180 CHAP. XI Of Ilands and Continents 1 It is probable that Ilands were not from the first beginning but were afterwards made by violence of the water 184 2 Peninsula's by violence of the sea fretting through the Istmus haue oftentimes turned into Ilands and contrariwise Peninsalas by diminution of the sea made of Ilands 189 CHAP. XII Of Inundations and Earth-quakes 1 No vniuersall Inundation of the Earth can be naturall the other may depend from naturall causes 193 2 Particular alterations haue happened to the bonds of Countries by particular Inundations 195 3 Certaine Regions by reason of great Riuers are subiect to certaine anniuersary Inundations 197 4 Regions extreame cold or extreame hot are not so subiect to Earth-quakes as places of a middle temper 201 5 Hollow and spongie places are more subiect to Earthquakes then solide and compacted Soiles 202 6 Ilands are more often troubled with earth-quakes then the continent 203 CHAP. XIII Of the Originall of Inhabitants 1 All Nations had their first originall from one stocke whence afterwards they became diuided 206 2 The first inhabitants of the Earth were planted in Paradise and thence translated to the places adioyning 208 3 The first plantation of Inhabitants immediately after the Deluge beganne in the East 213 CHAP. XIV Of the disposition of Inhabitants in respect of the site 1 The people of the Northerne Hemispheare as well in Riches and Magnificence as valour science and ciuill gouernment far surpasse the people of the south Hemispheare 221 2 The extreame Inhabitants toward the pole are in complexion hot and moist Those towards the Equatour cold and drye those of the middle partaking of a middle temper 226 3 The extreame Inhabitants towards the poles are naturally enclined to Mechanicall works and martiall endeuours the extreame towards the Equatour to workes of Religion and Contemplation The middle to lawes and ciuility 232 4 The people of the extreame Regions towards the poles in Martiall prowesse haue commonly proued stronger then those neerer the Equatour but the middle people more prouident then either in the establishment and preseruation of commonwealths 236 5 The extreame Regions in Manners Actions and Customes are cleane opposite the one to the other The middle partake a mixture of both 239 6 The people of the Easterne Hemispheare in science Religion Ciuility and Magnificence and almost in euery thing els are farre superiour to the Inhabitants of the Westerne 250 7 The Westerne people haue beene obserued to be more happy and able in Martiall discipline the Easterne in witty contemplation and contemplatiue sciences 252 8 The Easterne part of the Westerne Hemispheare was peopled before the Westerne 255 CHAP. XV. Of the Diuersity of dispositions in regard of the Soile 1 Mountaine-people are for the most part more stout warlike and generous then those of plaine Countries yet lesse tractable to gouernment 256 2 Windy Regions produce men of wild and instable dispositions But quiet Regions more constant and curteous 273 CHAP. XVI Of the dispositions of Inhabitants according to their originall and education 1 Colonies translated from one Region into another farre remote retaine a long time their first disposition though by little little they decline and suffer alteration 278 2 The mixture of Colonies begets the same Nation a greater disparity and variety of the Nations amongst themselues 278 3 Education hath a great force in the alteration of Naturall dispositions yet so as by accident remitted they soone returne to their proper Temper  4 By Discipline Nations become more Wise and Politicke in the preseruation of states yet lesse stout and couragious 283 The Analysis of the second Booke Generall which of a place generally taken without any speciall diuision handles the Adiuncts and proprieties these agree to a place in respect of the Earth it selfe which are Internall or Externall Common or Magneticall whereof Chapter 2. Heauens which are Generall or Speciall Chapt. 3.
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
stands with experience that in any Water or Sea where the flood is stopped and hindred by quicke-sands it returnes with greater force as it were enraged and swelâ— so much the higher which is the cause why in the coasts of Cambaia it is liâ—ted vp so high because the shores are so shallow and so short and exposed to impediments that in the ebbâ— the Sea â—â—ns backe many miles leaues the sandâ— vncouered Whence it must needs returne with greater violence This also is found in the Indian Sea and neere Panama in the Southerne Sea where the Sea ruÌ„ning back for two leagues certaine Ilands and Lands are left naked so that in these three Seas here named the Sea seemes to enlarge its limits in bredth more then in other places to which we may ascribe this effect For the Seas about Europe wee may pronounce also that for the most part they haue short shallow shores as may easily appeare in the confines of Belgia But it may be obiected of the English shores that they swell very high albeit the depth of the Water in the middle is found to be 144 foot Here must we haue recourse to the other cause the flowing of a large wide sea into a narrow channell for the large torrents of water running swiftly into a narrow channell being hindred on both sides by the shores from spreading it selfe in bredth is enforced to swell in hight so that the effect is rather to be ascribed to the violence of a greâ—t current enbosoming it selfe into a streite channell which may more euidently shew it selfe in 3 instances For in the streite chanels of Zeland and Holland it is lifted vp about three foote At Bristoll in England by reason of a greater force of Waters running from the Sea into a more narrow channell and seconded by the maine Ocean at the backe it swels to the hight of 60 foote In the Armorean seas where larger seas are emptied into more narrow streites then the former it increaseth to 90 foote Out of which experiments may wee plainely collect that to the increase of the motiâ—n of the sea besides the saltnesse of the Water two other causes are concurring to wit the shallownesse of the shore and the streitnesse of the channell wherein a great and large sea is to bee exâ—â—erated This may lastly bee farther illustrated from the disparity of these seas with others for in the Adriaticke Egaan Ionian and almost all the African seaâ— the sea seldome swels to so great a measure whereof the cause is as well the depth of the seas as the equality of thâ— shores for as the depth is a cause that sometimes it flowes not at all and the inequality and shortnesse of the shore that it flowes high so a meane hight of the Waters from the bottome and a more equall figuration of the coasts may bee a cause of an indifferent working of the Water Hitherto wee haue shewed the variety of motion in the sea in regard of the diuersity of places wee are next to speake something concerning the variation of it in regard of the times which though it properly appertaine not to Geography yet am I loath to leaue it out because the discourse is pleasant Concerning which point the Marriners make six degrees of change in the tides according to the times First diurnall whereof wee speake in this discourse The second Hebdomedary or weekely which Possidonius called monethly or weekely because it is distinguished by seuerall weekes of a moneth but tarries not till the end of the moneth For it is found by experience of Nauigatours that a day before the coniunction of the Moone with the Sunne and the day of coniunction and a day afterwards the seas in the maine Ocean haue their greatest flowes and ebbes being lifted higher and laid lower downe and then the tides are most swift The fourth day from the coniunction the tide is lesse and lesse swift The fift yet lesse then then the former and the sixt day lesse then the fift But in the seuenth day which is a day before the quarter and in the eight following wherein it is halfe-faced and in the ninth which is a day after the quarter the sea is as it were dead not much stirring neither much ebbing or much flowing which was as it seemes only obserued by Pliny in the Euboian Euripus but whether it so happen else-where I leaue to men experienced in these matters This motion as it doth encrease according to the age of the Moone So it is said proportionally to decrease againe The third motion is monethly which seemes in the time of the coÌ„iunction wherein the sea-tides are highest and swiftest The fourth is called motus semestris or six-monthly happening at the times of the Equinoctiall differing one from the other like monethes The fift is called Trimestris because it happeneth onely in three moneths distance The last is Annuall which Patricius witnesseth that himselfe saw in Liburnia in the moneth of Ianuary These motions I carelesly passe ouer because the distinction seemes to me full of vncertainty and sâ—arce warranted and such experiments as are brought for the proofe of it concerne rather particular places then the generall nature of the sea 3 Hitherto of the generall motion of the sea The Speciall is that which is obserued in some speciall places 1 It is probable that the sea is carried somewhere from East to West and somewhere from North to South and contrariwise It hath beene a receiued opinion amongst Philosophers of this later age that the sea by the rapture of the heauens should be moued round as it were in a diurnall course which they haue lâ—boured to proue by diuers experiments First because it is obserued by Marriners that a ship can well saile from Spaine into America with an indifferent winde in 30 dayes when she can hardly returne vnder three moneths which they ascribe to the circular motion of the sea For a ship going from East to West sailes with the Water but from West to East against the streame so that the one must needes bee swifter and the other slower Their second experiment to confirme this point is of a ship sayling from Spaine to Holland which may as they say swifter returne backe then goe thither To this motion of the Water from East to West Iulius Scaliger hath added another which he would haue to be from North to South from Terra Laboratoris Southward But Patricius not denying these motions would haue many more in diuerse seas not admitting any vniuersall circular motion enforced by the heauens but various motions diuersly disposed in diuers seas for which hee giues many instances some whereof wee will here relate First going about to disproue Scaligers opinion and experience hee brings the experiment of the Portugall Nauigatours who testifie that they came from Mosambicke of the side on Madagascar into Malebar in 28 sometimes in 30 other times in 35 dayes which is farre from the accompt of
of the red sea were by the perpeÌ„dicular found higher then in the Mediterranean Moreouer it is obserued that the sea on the west part of America commonly called Mare Del Zur is much higher then the Atlantick Sea which bordereth on the Easterne part of it which gaue way to the coniecture of some that the Isthmus betwixt Panama and Nombre Dâ— Dios had been long since cut through to haue made a passage into the Pacifick Sea without sailing so â—arre about by the straits of Magellane had not many inconueniences been feared out of the inequality in the hight of the water The like inequality is obserued by Verstegan in the sea betwixt England and France For according to his coniecture France and England being one Continent heretofore and ioyned by a narrow neck of land betwixt Douer and Callais the water on one side was higher then on the other which he probably collects out of the sundry flats and shallowes at this day appearing on the East side as well on the coasts of England as of Flanders especially between Douer and Callis called by some our Ladies Sands about three English miles in length Out of which and sundry other probabilities he labours to proue that all the Low-countries were heretofore enueloped with the sea till such time as the narrow land being either by Nature or Art cut through and the Water allowed a free passage it became dry land but this point wee shall discusse hereafter in place conuenient 4 In the next place we are to consider the termination of the sea The termination is the bounding of the sea within certain limitâ— 5 The Limit is the margent or border of land wherein any sea is circumscribed The sea is bounded by the land as the land by the sea In respect of which termination some seas are called Maine seas others narrow The maine seas are foure to wiâ— the Atlantick which taketh it's name from the mountaine Atlas by which on the west side it passeth and diuides Europe and Africk from America 2 The Aethiopian sea running on the west side of Aethiopia 3 The Indian Sea hauing the East Indies on the North 4 Mare Del Zur or the South sea situate on the South side of America Which foure in respect of other may be called Maine Oceans The lesser seaâ— are either called Creekes or streits A Creeke is a place where the water as it were embosomes it selfe into the land hauing an â—ntrance large from the Ocean and most commonly streytned inwardly but no passage through A Creeke againe may bee diuided into the greater or lesser Vnder the former in a large sense may we comprehend the whole Mediterranâ—an sea for as much as the â—ea from the Mainâ— Atlantick Ocean by an inlet is ingulfed into it but findes no passage out any other way howsoeuer it invades a large territorie The lesser Creekes are againe distinguished into the Easterne and Westerne The chiefe Creekes found out towards the East are sixe in number 1. Sinus magnus which lies betwixt Mangus and India extra Gangem teaching as farre as the region of Chalâ—iâ— 2. Sinus Gangâ—ticus which is comprehended betwixt Aurea Chersonesus and India intra Gangem 3 Sinus Canthi commonly called Canthi-colpus 4. Sinus Persicus bordering on Persia and called by Plutarch the Babilonian Sea 5. Sinus Arabicus which is commonly called the Red Sâ—a 6. Sinus Barbaricus which by Pliny is termed Sinus Trâ—gloditicus at this day Golpho de Melinde The Creekes lying Westwardly are chiefly these First Sinus Sarmaticus lying towards the North betweene Denmarke and Normay which is diuided into Sinus Sinnicus and Bodiâ—us which is called commonly the Baltick Sea 2 Sinus Granuicus diuiding the Muscouites from the Câ—relij Northward it is commonly called the White Sea 3 Sinus Mexicanus bordering on the city of Mexico in America amongst these some would number Mare Pacificum or Mare Dâ—l Zur but this we thought fitter to call a maine Sea then a creeke being extraordinarily large in quantity A Strait is a narrow Sea between two LaÌ„ds of such Straits these were ancieÌ„tly knowne to wit 1 Fretum Graditanum or the Straits of Gibraltar of 7 Miles distance diuiding Spaine from Barbary 2 Fretum Magellanniâ—uÌ„ found out by Magellane which diuides Aâ—erica Pâ—ruana from the Southerne land 3 Fretum Anian situate betwixt the westerne shores of America the Easterne borders of Tartary Besides these there haue bin discouered 3 more to wit 1 Pretum Dauis found out by captaine Dauis in the yeare 1586 which lyes toward Groenland â— Fretum Nâ—souicum or Way gate neare Noua Zembla discouered by the HollaÌ„ders in the yeare 1614. 3 Fretum de Mayre found out by William Schouteâ— a Bauarian taking his name from Isaaâ— le Mâ—yre by whose aduice and perswasion he vndertook hiâ— voyage But some of these lattâ—â— streits here mentioned for ought I knowe may bâ—tter bee reckoned amongst Creekes forasmuch as they haue not as yet found any passage through though with great losse and danger they haue often attempted the Discouery Concerning the bounding of the Sea with the land we will insert thâ—se Theoremes 1 The Water is so diuided from the dry land that the quantity of Water is greater in the South Hemispheare of Land in the Northerne That most part of the dry land is situate towards the North will easily appeare by instance For toward the North are placed the great Continents of Europe Asia almost all Africa and the greatest part of America But in the South Hemispheare we find only a little part of Africa America besides the South Continent which we cannot imagine to be so great in quantity as it is painted in our ordinary Mappes forasmuch as all placeâ— at the first discouery are commonly described greater then they are The reason I take to bee this that the first draught is alwaies confused and vnperfect wherin a region discouers it selfe vnto vs vnder a more simple figure neglecting curiosities but after a longer and more exact search of any Region will be found in many places ingulfed with diuers Bayes and variously indented in such sort as the bound Line compassing it round making an inordinate figure and lesse regular cannot contain so much land as first it might seeme to promise Moreouer we may further obserue that those places which in the first discouery haue been taken for the maine Continent or at least for some greater part of Land haue afterward vpon more curious examination been found clouen into many lesser Ilands As in America Cuba in the time of Columbus and California of late thought to be a part of the Continent and so described almost in all our Mapps yet since by a Spanish Chart taken by the Hollanders discouered to be an Iland The like instance we haue in Terra del Fuogâ— which since the time Magellan was held a part of the South Continent till Schouten by sayling round about it fouÌ„d it diuided froÌ„ the main lâ—nd by Frâ—â—um de Mayre
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
suddenly a great floud of Water bringing out with it a great quantity of creatures and fishes of which being fatted vnder the Earth whosoeuer chanced to eat dyed presently The like is reported that at the time of the Mithridatick warre at a certaine city of Phrygia named Apamea there sprang vp out of the ground many new Lakes Fountaines Brookes and that one riuer sprang vp very salt which brought vp with it a great quantity of Oisters and other Sea-fishes although the city Apamea bee very farre off from the Sea This is reported by Nicolaus Damascene Also Cardinall Contarenus testifies in the second booke of Elements that in a cleare day being in Valentia in Spaine there happened a very great inundation of water breaking out of the Earth which being carried towards the City had well neere turned it into the Sea had not the gates bin shut and dammes well ordered Why this sudden change should sometimes happen many reasons may be produced The first reason may be because of some sudaine ruine or falling downe of some parts of the Earth whereby the courses of the riuers being one way stopped must needs seeke out a passage some other way This sometimes happens in great Earth-quakes as we may reade in Theophrastus that in the mountaine Coricus after an Earth-quake many new springs and fountaines discouered themselues Another reason not much vnlike the former is giuen from the Hardnes of the Earth which oftentimes stopping and hindering the naturall course of the water enforceth it to seek a new passage Hence the foresaid Theophrastus was induced to belieue that in a City of Crete the fountaines were stopped vp because the Inhabitants betoke themselues to another place so that the soile was not so much shooke and moued as before A third reason may be the wasting or cutting downe of great woods on the Earth for it is the nature of the Trees and plants to suck to themselues the Moisture of the ground into one place But these trees cut downe or remoued the waters course must needes be altered 3 Many Riuers are for a great space of land swallowed vp of the Earth whereof some after a certaine distance rise againe This is confirmed by many Historicall instances as of the riuer Timanus in the prouince of Aquilia of Erasenus in Argolica Padus in the Alpes more remarkeable is that of the river Guadiaua in Spaine which runneth vnder the ground for the space of 13 leagues and neere to a towne called Villa Horta breakes vp againe the like is recorded of Eurotaâ— in Arcadia which is said to breake forth of the ground in the Prouince of Lacedamon So Cadmus Asia is swallowed vp in a hole of the ground not farre from Laodicea So Piraâ—â—s in Catonia Licus in Libanon Orontes in Syria Other riuers are thought to haue found a secret passage vnder the sea from one Region to another As a riuer hauing his fountaine in the mountaine Meiaâ—es which being conuayed in a blind Channell vnder the middle of the sea comes forth againe at the port of Pâ—normus so others report of Alpheus which being drowned vnderground nere the Peloponnesian shore takes a large iourny vnder the Sea till it arriue at Syracuse where it ends in Arethuse which brings forth they say such things as are cast into Alpheus which is much like that which is spoken of the Well of Aesculapius in Athens wherein if any thing were cast they were rendred againe in Phalericus But this last I rather hold as a poeticall fiction then a true History Some riuers there are which are not wholly drowned in the earth but for some part aâ— a part of the Rhâ—nâ— which is hid about foure thousand paces from the city Cauba and shewes it selfe again before it come to Bonna in like manner a part of Danuâ—ius which hides it selfe about Greina a Towne of Panonia superiâ—r some riuers there are againe which are not drunke vp immediatly of the earth but of certaine great Lakes into which they fall as Iordan of the Lake Asphaltites some lakes againe hauing swallowed vp riuers as it were vomit them forth againe as Rubresius casts out Araâ—e in the Prouince of Narbon and so Lemanus the riuer Rhodanus in the same Prouince also in Italy Lorus cast out Abdua Eupilus Lambre Fucinus Marcia 4 Riuers for the most part rise out of great Mountaines and at last by diuerse or one Inlet are disburthened into the sea The first part of this proposition is manifest enough out of diuerse instances of the greatest riuers in the world for all Geographers will giue you to vnderstand that the riuer Indus in Iâ—dia is deriued from the mountaine Caâ—casus Tanais from the Riphaean mountaines in Sarmaâ—ia Araxis from Panardes in Armenia Po from the Vesusian Hills in Liguria Danubius from Arnobia in Germany Exesus in Norico from the mountaines Elachia Isara from the ridge of the Alpes toward France and Durias toward Italy from thence So from the Herminian mountâ—ines in Portugall are deriued three great Riuers So Nilus in Africk from the mountaines of the Moone These riuers thus rising are of diuerse kinds for some haue visible apparant springs and fountaines others are deriued from Lakes out of which they runne As Alba in Prusia out of Elbinga Medoarus Oxus out of two lakes of the same names neere the Alpes Rindacus from Artinia a poole besides Melitopolis The reason why riuers should be ingendred in mountaines and such high places may be giuen because they are made as we shewed before by the heat of the sunne starres and subterranean fires rarifying and attenuating the Waters And this operation of the sunne in higher places must needes be more effectuall then in lower Now for the second part it is plaine to proue that all riuers runne into the sea either making a passage from their fountaines on the land toward the sea shore as Nilus and Danubius with other riuers or by disburthening themselues into greater riuers wherein they are conuaied into the sea as the 60 great Nauigable riuers which empty themselues into Danubius or at least are swallowed vp of the Earth and so reduced againe to their first mother which we may imagin of the riuers forespoken of drunk vp of the Earth Although all riuers as we shewed fall into the sea yet not all in one the selfesame fashion if we respect their passage on the laÌ„d For some are caried into the sea by one oâ—tiuÌ„ or mouth whereof we haue two notable examples the first of a great riuer in Brasill called Rio de La Plate which is caried into the sea by a mouth of 40 leagues with such violence that the Marriners may â—hence draw fresh water before they come within sight of land The other not much vnlike is that which runnes by the kingdome of Congo Angolo which is six and thirty thousand paces broad where it enters into the sea and is caried with such a force that it seuers the
their populous growth had required larger bounds The passage from Asia into America without doubt had been performed either by sea or land By Sea it was improbable they should aduenture in that infancy of the World when the Art of Nauigation was in her swathing bands and neither the Chart or Compasse as yet inuented If by land they made their passage it was doubtlesse through the North of Asia supposing America with Asia to bee one Continent But this people comming out of a pleasant and temperate Countrey would without question first attempt the places of the like quality as most pleasing their eye and fitting their disposition before they would inforce their passage to the Icy and frozen Climates of the North which can only bee beholding to necessity for habitation Hence without doubt it came to passe that those Nations wandring farre from their first fountaine and leauing no sufficient monument to instruct their posterity in their first originall came short of the other as well in reuealed as acquired knowledge in reuealed knowledge either sought in Holy Scriptures or Traditions they could not but come short as being most distant from the first head and fountaine where it was to be found in greatest perfection In Acquired knowledge gotten by industry and experience they could not come so farre as the other because all such knowledge hauing its beginning from obseruation and its growth with age could not bee brought to that perfection amongst them who came more lately to bee a people and scarce euer endowed with any settled gouernment but whatsoeuer the causes may bee thought of this diuersity betwixt the people of the Westerne and Easterne Hemispheare certaine I am that the effect it selfe is most apparant Of the happy endowments of Europe Asia and a good part of Africke both in Arts liberall and mechanicall state policy magnificence and Religion we haue often spoken and neede make no repetition To this if we compare America being as it were the only portion of this Hemispheare we shall amongst them find few or no Arts either inuented or taught the vse of letters scarce euer knowne state and magnificence little regarded and the Light of Christian Religion scarce euer seene or at least through the dimme clouds of Roman superstition Hee that would know more in this matter let him read Peter Martyr Cortesius Acosta and others of the naturall disposition of the people of America 10 The Inhabitants of such Hemispheares are againe subdiuided into the Easterne and Westerne the Westerne in the Easterne Hemispheare are they who liue neerer the Canaries the Easterne are such as are situate towards the Moluccoes to which those other in the Westerne Hemispeare are correspondent 1 The Westerne people haue been obserued to be more happy and able in martiall discipline the Easterne in witty contemplation and speculatiue Sciences There is no small affinity as wee haue before touched betwixt the West and the North as betwixt the East and the South as well in the temperament of the Aire as the disposition of the Inhabitants which cognation will appeare more fully by the proofe and demonstration of this Theoreme Of the strength and valour of the Westerne people many records giue euidence we read of innumerable Colonies of the Celtes a people situate on the West of France sent into Italy Grece Asia But the Italians durst neuer inuade France till such time as their Empire was at the hight vnder Caesar taking also aduantage of the home-bred enmities of the Inhabitants among themselues whence Tully the Orator tooke occasion to praise Caesar for subduing those Nations and reducing them to the Romans obedience whose strength the Roman Empire could hardly sustaine The Italians haue oftentimes molested the Graecians yet from them suffered little or small inconuenience so the Graecians hauing with their Armes cut out a large way through Asia scarce euer dared to come into Italy but once vnder the conduct of Pyrrhus who being almost defeated of his Armie was inforced to saue himselfe by â—light In like sort Xerxes who brought men enough into Greece to drye vp the Riuers was notwithstanding defeated by a few Graecians to his great dishonour Wherefore Cato had good reason to obiect to Muraena and Caesar to Pompey that their wars waged against the people of Asia in respect of others were as it were rather against Women then Men. This without doubt gaue Alexander his greatest happines and victory that he turned his Armes against the Easterne people which were either altogether barbarous wanting martiall discipline or all ouer delicate not able to resist such hardnes whereas if he had opposed the Westerne people by the censure of Liuy hee had at least failed of those many Conquests if not purchased â— fatall ouerthrow The obseruation perhaps of which couâ—â—gious valour in the Westerne people was the cause why the Turkes heretofore were wont to chuse their Ianisaries and chiefe men of warre out of the Europaeans accompting them more strong and able then the Asiaticks being of temper more soft and delicate To this accords Iulian in his booke against the Christians the Celtes saith he are Bold Aduenturous the Greeks and Romans both warlike and ciuill the Egyptians more industrious and subtile although weake and tender The Syriâ—ns with great alaâ—rity conforme themselues to discipline And a little after hath these words What shall I declare saith hee how coueâ—ous of liberty and impatient of seruitude the Germans are how quiet and tractable the Syrians Persians Parthians and all the Nations situate towards the East and South parts of the World Tacitus reports that the Barauians lying on the West of Germany of all the Germans are the strongest and most valiant which Plutarch also confirmes in the life of Marius that the most warlike people of all France are these which are most Westerne The like opinion had Caesar of the Westerne Nations of all the people of Europe saith hee the Westerne people of the Brittaines and Spaniards are the strongest Now as the Westerne people iustly challenge to themselues this prerogatiue of strength and valour so must they yeeld to the Easterne that of Religion and contemplation To let passe the Indians which a long time gone were enriched with knowledge if we belieue ancient writers who can deny the Hebrewes Chaldaeans Syrians Aegyptians Arabians and others of the East their iust trophies of learning and contemplation which they haue erected to after ages From these fountaines haue the Greekes and Latins deriued those large streames wherewith they haue as it were watred all Europe It is written That there came wise men from the East to worship Christ which must needes bee vnderstood of Chaldaea or the places neere adioyning where the Magi or Wisemen were had in great reputation If any obiect the decay both of Learning and Religion at this day in the easterne parts of the world Wee answer that this in most parts is meerely Accidentall caused by the hostile inuasion