mixture from the truest and ancientest Hebrew discipline It is manifest that in the Heathenish superstitions themselues many footsteppes haue bin discouered which will appeare by diuers Instances These arguments I confesse seeme very strong but yet not of sufficient strength to enforce credulity without other warrant To say peremptorily with Mr. Bodin that by the consent of ancient writers the Chaldeans are acknowledged the most ancient people is more then I dare to venter Neither is this opinion so strongly fortified with arguments but Reason may steppe in to haue a doubtfull assault Their first argument drawne from the testimony of holy Scriptures in th â—â— of Genesis seemes to stand on our side altogether against them For whereas it is said that they came from the east into the plaine of Shinaar it is manifest that the east was first peopled or else how should this people come from the east into these plaines of Shinaar to erect the tower of Babel Secondly whereas they vrge Arts Ciuility Magnificence of the Chaldeans wee shall find it rather to agree to the people which dwell farther east as is witnessed by the former instances And if any obiect that at this day is found the contrary for as much as we find the Indian to be a barbarous blind and ignorant Nation in respect of the Asiatickes and Europaeans we answere two wayes 1 First that we find not by experience the East-Indians to bee so altogether deuoide of ciuility but that wee may obserue not only amongst them the footsteppes but also the practise of many ingenuous Arts sage gouernment policy and magnificence as amongst the Chinois and the large territory of the great Mogull 2. It is not hard to imagine that in so large a tract of time the best setled common wealthes should be brought to nought arts ciuility magnificence be forgotten and the rarest inuentions bee cast into obliuion especially by those two enemies of ciuility warres and luxury both which hauing the raignes in their own hands are quickly able to abolish all wholesome discipline both in Lawes and Religion 3. Their argument drawne from the footesteppes of Languages in my shallow conceit proues nothing else but that all Lawes Arts and Learning was deriued to the Graecians from the Chaldaeans or the Nations neare adioyning which formerly receiued it from them But how farre Learning might propagate it selfe the other way towards the East is not a matter so cleare and out of question The preseruation of the Language for ought I â—ee might grow from the continuance of the Religion more firmely rooted and for a long time continued in Abrahams posterity whose abode was settled there about whereas the other farre diuorced aswell from their first spring as the monumentall seales of their religion quickly turned Religion into Pagan Idolatry Many reasons besides the disprouing of this former opinion may bee alleaged to proue the Easterne part of the world to haue bin first peopled amongst which I will only cull out this one grounded on the text of holy Scripture It is warranted out of the text 1 That when the waters begâ—n to decrease vpon the face of the earth and the Arke began to rest vpon the mountaine Araâ—at Noah sent out a doue to make tryall who returned with an oliue-branch in her mouth 2 That neare the place he issued out of the Arke with all his family he planted a vineyard and was drunke with the iuyce of the Grape not knowing the strength thereof out of which by all probable coniecture must needes bee collected that the Regions neare the place where the Arke first rested by the benefit of Nature afforded both Vines and Oliues for we cannot imagine the silly Doue at the time of the flood empty gorged to haue flowne very farre ouer the face of the waters to obtaine this Oliue branch nor Noah after the flood to haue gone very farre to seeke out a conuenient place for his Vineyard whence it is most likely that the Arke rested in such a place whose neare adjoining Regions are inriched with such commodities But this cannot bee verified of Armenia wherein for ought my reading informes me are found neither Vines nor Oliues whereas some places Eastward whereon the Arke according to this other opinion was supposed to rest afford both in great plenty To vmpite betwixt these two opinions I leaue to my frendly Readers because it is not in our power to command but obey Reason CHAP. XIV 1_OF the originall of Inhabitants of the Earth we haue spoken It remaines wee now treat of their naturall Disposition There is nothing more subiect to admiration then the diuersity of naturall Dispositions in Nations a matter euident to the eye of obseruation and needing no proofe or demonstration for who obserues not in all Nations certaine naturall or nationall vertues or vices which neither time nor Lawes could euer change or correct For not to 〈◊〉 farther off then our neighbouring Nations Confines what Writer in this kind almost were he not very partiall hath not taxed pride and ambition in the Spaniard leuity or rather as Bodin would haue it temerity in the Frenâ—h dangerous dissimulation in the Italian Drunkennesse in the Dutch Falshood in the Irish and gluttony in the English And howsoeuer many meanes haue bin put in practise either by the seuerity of lawes to curb such enormities or the subtilty of discourse to shroud these vices vnder the name of vertues yet these markes are found to stick as close as the spots vnto the Leopard as neither altering their pristine hue or yeelding to time or statutes And if it happened at any time that by extraordinary violence some litle alteration were wrought yet some few yeares would find it returne againe vnto his owne nâ—ture and disposition This variety of dispositions being very many and dâ—pending on sundry causes to helpe memory we will reduce into certaine heads out of which in the generall we may giue a iudgment leauing the rest to our speciall Tract The name of naturall disposition in this place we take in the largest sense so farre forth as it comprehends vnder it the Complexion Manners Actions Languages Lawes Religion and Gouernment All which so farre forth as they depend from the places we will shew Neither intend we to handle nicely all these specialities forasmuch as the Manners Customes Lawes and for a great part the externall rites of Religion depend on the naturall constitution of the Inhabitants so that little can bee spoken of the naturall constitution but of such actions effects and markes as shew themselues in their ordinary customes manners Wherefore we shall be constrained to treat of them together the one being a great furtherance to the explanation of the other 2 The naturall disposition of the Inhabitants of the Earth may suffer change and diuersity either in respect of the site or in respect of the quality of the soile or in regard of the Inhabitants themselues 3 The site is the respect
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
inuasions on their enemies Hence Bodin would make a certaine Harmony betwixt the mountaine people and the Northerne esteeming the inhabitants of the Alpes the Pyraeneans the Acroceraunij the inhabitants of Haemus Carpathus Olympus Taurus Stella Caucasus Imaeus with diuerse others of the same nature albeit situate in the temperate part to bee accompted northerne people as also farther towards the South the inhabitants of Aâ—las of the Arabian mountaines of Pirus and Seraleona are as it were by him excepted from the Southerne inhabitants in regard of their high and mountanous situation which recompenseth the other and challengeth asmuch cold as by the heauens it should seeme to receiue heat This conceit of a Monsieur Bodin I admit without any great contradiction were he not ouer peremptorie in ouermuch censuring all mountanous people of blockishnesse and barbarisme against the opinion of Auerroes a great writer who finding these people neerer heauen suspected in them a more heauenly nature Neither want their many reasons drawne from nature and experiment to proue mountanous people to bee more pregnant in wit and guifts of vnderstanding then others inhabiting low and plaine Countries For howsoeuer wit and valour are many times diuided as wee haue shewed in the northerne and southerne people yet were they neuer so much at variance but they would sometimes meete First therefore what can speake more for the witty temper of the mountaine people then their cleare and subtile Aire being farre more purged and rarified then that in low countries For holding the vitall spirits to bee the chiefest instruments in the soules operation no man can deny but they sympathrize especially with the aire their chiefest foment Euery man may by experience finde his intellectuall operations more vigorous in a cleare day and on the contrary most dull and heauy when the aire is any way affected with foggy vapours What wee finde in our selues in the same place at diuerse seasons may we much more expect of places diuersely affected in constitution A second reason for the proofe of our assertion may bee drawne from the thinne and spare diet in respect of those others Forpeople liuing on plaines haue commonly all commodities in such plenty that they are much subiect to surfeting and luxurie the greatest enemy and vnderminer of all intellectuall operations For a fat-belly commonly begets a grosse head and a leane braine But want and scarcity the mother of frugality inuites the mountaine dwellers to a more sparing and wholsome diet Neither growes this conuenience onely out of the scarcity of viandes but also out of the nature of the diet Birds Fowles and Beasts which are bred vpon higher places are esteemed of a more cleanely and wholesome feeding then others liuing in fennes and foggy places And how farre the quality of our diet preuailes in the alteration of our organs and dispositions euery naturalist will easily resolue vs. A third reason may bee drawne from the cold Aire of these mountanous regions which by an Antiperistasis keepes in and strengthens the internall heat the chiefe instrument in naturall and vitall operations For who perceiues not his vitall and by consequence his intellectuall parts in cold frosty weather to be more strong and vigorous then in hot and soultry seasons wherein the spirits are more diffused and weakened This disparity in the same region at diuerse times in regard of the disposition of the aire may easily declare the disparity of diuerse Regions being in this sort diuersely affected A fourth reason may bee taken from the customary hardnesse whereunto such people inure themselues from their infancy which as Huartus proues begets a better temper of the braine in regard of the wit and vnderstanding which wee happen to finde cleane otherwise with them who haue accustomed themselues to delicatenesse These reasons perhaps would seeme onely probable and of no great moment were they not strengthened with forraigne and Domestâ—cke obseruation Haue not the Heluetians situate amongst the mountaines giuen sufficient testimony especially in the infancy of our Reformation Haue not the Sueuians and Silesians shewed themselues able enough to wipe off the blot of a blockish disposition yet hauing a situation wilde and mountainous Had that great Doctour Reuâ—lin iudged well of the nature of such people hee would not haue made it so great a wonder as hee did that wilde Sueuia should produce such learned Men. Forraigne influences elsewhere wherein all histories abound I forbeare to relate desirous rather to bee accompted deficient then tedious Should I draw home to my natiue Westerne Confines to which I owe my breath I should perhaps by some be taxed of partiality or affectation Should I mention our ancient Brittaines inhabiting the Mountainous Countrey of Wales or the greater part of the Scottish Nation inioying the like condition of life and disposition of the Soyle I might at once winne loue and stirre vp enuy Neuerthelesse as a man by nature borne carelesse of Detraction yet most respectiue of Friendship I had rather venture my credit then preiudice the truth betwixt both which with mee the choice is easie Mine owne Countrey of Deuon which duty commands me to make the first Instance I had rather set on the stage of Enuy then Dishonour I am not of the opinion of the vaine-glorious Greekes who boasting too much of their owne perfections esteemed all Nations else Barbarians Yet to checke Mr Bodins bold coniecture out of which hee could finde but one Anacharsis in all Scythia I will demonstrate that our mountainous Prouinces of Deuon and Cornwall haue not deserued so ill as to bee so sharply censured for Blockishnesse or Inciuility Barren Countries haue been known to nourish as good wits as Bodin Aristippus the Philosopher Callimachus the Poet Eratosthenes the Mathematician haue not been ashamed to call Cyrene in Egypt their natiue Country a Mountainous and Rocky Region Neither can it bee stiled our reproach but glory to draw our off-spring from such an Aire which produceth wits as eminent as the Mountaines approaching farre neerer to Heauen in Excellency then the other in hight transcend the Valleyes Wherein can any Prouince of Great Brittaine challenge precedency before vs Should any deny vs the reputation of Arts and Learning the pious Ghosts of Iewell Raynolds and Hoâ—ker would rise vp in opposition whom the World knowes so valiantly to haue displayed their Banners in defence of our Church and Religion Should they exclude vs from the reputation of knowledge in State and Politicke affaires who hath not acquainted himselfe with the name of S â— William Petre our famous Benefactor whose desert chose him chiefe Secretary to three Princes of famous memory Who hath not known or read of that prodigie of wit and fortune S â— Walter Raleigh a man vnfortunate in nothing else but the greatnesse of his wit and aduancement whose eminent worth was such both in Domesticke Policie Forreigne Expeditions and Discoueries Arts and Literature both Practicke and Contemplatiue which might seeme at once to