sort as they imagine For the only withdrawing of that hand and letting goe of that bridle which gaue the water that restraint would haue beene â—ufficient to haue ouerwhelmed the whole Earth The second reason is taken from Ilands in the sea which are nothing else but parts of the land raised vp aboue the water Thirdly we find by experience that a ship carried with the like wind is driuen so swiftly from the port into the open sea as from the sea into the port which could not be done if the sea were higher then the land for it must needs be that a ship if it were to be carried to a higher place should be moued slower then if it came from an higher to a lower Fourthly all Riuers runne into the sea from the inner parts of the land which is a most euident signe that the land is higher then the sea for it is agreeable to the nature of the water to flow alwaies to the lower place whence we gather that the sea shore to which the Water is brought froÌ„ the land must needs be lower otherwise the water in ruÌ„ning thither should not descend but ascend This opinion I hold farr more probable as being backt by reason and the Authority of our best Philosophers yet not altogether exactly true as we shall shew hereafter But Bartholomew KeckermaÌ„ in a late German writer holding these 2 former opposite opinioÌ„s as it were in one equall Ballance labours a reconciliation In a diuerse respect saith he it is true that the sea is higher and that it is lower then the Earth It is higher in respect of the shores and borders to which it so comes that sensibly it swells to a Globe or a circumference and so at length in the middle raiseth vp it selfe and obtaines a greater hight then in those parts where in the middle of the sea it declines towards the shore Of which parts the hight sufferâ— such a decrease that by how much neerer the shore they shall approach by so much the lower they are in respect of the shore in somuch that touching the shore it selfe it is much lower then the Earth For this opinion our Author pretends a demonstration which hee grounds on the 4 chapter of Aristotle de Caelo in his second booke where hee puts downe these two positions which he calls Hypotheses or suppositions First that the Water no lesse concurrs to the making of a Globe or circle then the Earth for it so descends naturally that it doth sensibly gather it selfe together and makes a swelling as wee see in small dropps cast on the ground Secondly the Water makes a circle which hath the same center with the center of the Earth Out of these grounds would our Keckerman conclude the water in some places to bee higher in other places to bee lower then the Earth And hence proceeds he to giue an answer to their reasons who haue affirmed the Earth to bee higher then the sea What to thinke of the proposition or conclusion we will shew hereafter but in the meane space I hold this conclusion not rightly inferred out of these premises For first whereas he sayth that the water by nature is apt to gaher it selfe round into an orbe or spheare I would demaund whether such a roud body hath the same center with the world or a diuerse center he cannot say that it hath a diuerse center from the center of the Earth First because as we haue demonstrated in our first part the Earth and the Water haue but one center and that the Water is concentricall with the Earth Secondly from the second proposition or ground of his out of Aristotle if he meanes such a sphaericity as hath the same center with the center of the Earth I answer first that he contradicts himselfe because he giues an instance in small dropps cast on the ground whose quantity being so small and conuexity sensible can in no mans iudgment be concentrick to the Earth Secondly out of this ground that the Spheare of the water is concentrick to the Earth hee confutes himselfe for according to the principles of Geometry in a Spheare or circle all the lines drawne from the center to the circumference must be equall Then must all places in the circumference or superficies of a sphericall body be of equall hight from the center and by consequence the sea being such a Sphericall body cannot haue that inequality which Keckerman imagines it to haue wherefore some other demonstation must be sought for this conclusion I will goe no further then that I haue spoken in the former chapter concerning the figure of the Water Where I haue probably shewed it to be conicall and out of this may be easily gathered how it may be higher then the land in some places as of the middle of greater seas where the head of the Cone is lifted higher in other lower as in the narrow streits where the increase of the eminencie is also lesse The grounds and principles of which we haue laied before 1 The sea in respect of the Earth is higher in one place then another Besides the naturall conformity of the Water to a conicall figure as we haue fore-shewed whence one part of the superficies must be graunted to be higher then another wee must needs in the sea acknowledge other accidentall causes which produce an inequality in the parts of the sea The chiefest whereoâ— are the Equality of inclination in all parts of the water to motion And the inequality of the channells and shores whence it commeth to passe that the Water of the sea being euery whereof it selfe equally inclined to motion is notwithstanding vnequally receiued into channels so that in some place hauing as it were a large dominion to inuade as in the maine Ocean it falls lower and euener In some other places as streites or narrow seas the water hauing a large entrance from the Ocean but litle or no passage through it must needes swell higher and so one place by accident becomes higher or lower then another Which farther to confirme diuerse instances may be alleaged out of moderne and ancient obseruations For diuerse histories giue testimony that sundry Kings of Aegipt by cutting the Isthmus or narrow neck of land lying betwixt the red sea the Mediterranean laboured to make Africk an Iland open passage from one sea to the other but afterwards they were perswaded to desisâ— from their enterprise Some say because they saw the red sea to bee higher then many parts of Aegipt and hereupon feared a generall inundation of all Aegipt if the pâ—ssage were broken open Others haue deliuered that they feared that if the passage from one vnto another were broke open and the red sea hauing a vent that way the red sea would become so shallow that men might wade ouer it and so insteed of making Africk an Iland it would haue been more ioyned to the Continent then before Both opinions consent in this that the waters
many miles such places are distant one from the other For an example we will take the city Seuill on the Southmoâ—â— part of Spaine and Bilbao on the North-side the space betwixt those places being taken with a threâ—d or a compasse and applyed to one of the greater Circles will containe about 6 degrees which being multiplyed by 60 and so conuerted into Italian-miles will produce 360 and so many miles those Cities are to be esteemed distant the one from the other The end of the first Booke GEOGRAPHIE THE SECOND BOOKE CONTAINING the generall Topicall part thereof By NATHANAEL CARPENTER Fellow of Exceter Colledge in Oxford GENES 1. vers 10. And God called the dry-Dry-land Earth and the gathering together of the waters called the Seas and God saw that it was good OXFORD Printed by Iohn Lichfield for Henry Cripps and are to be sold by Henry Curteyne Anno Domini M. DC XXXV TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE PHILIP EARLE OF MOVNTGOMERIE c. Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter and Steward of the famous Vniuersity of Oxford Right Honourable THis Geographicall Treatise consisting of two parts was in the very birth in such sort consecrated to your inestimable Brother as notwithstanding it so farre reserued it selfe to awaite your Honours fauour that Both may seeme as to share a part so to challenge the whole in my poore Industrie The Soule of man which some Philosophers imagine to be all in all all in euery part seemes to me no where better resembled then in your Generous Fraternity wherein the Soule of Heroicall Magnificence though Indiuided in it selfe so entirely communicates herselfe to either that both may seeme at once to enioy her presence while neither want If this my bold attempt in presenting to your Honours hands these vnworthy labours without any former reference might be interpreted intrusion it were enough for Ingenuity to pretend that your generous loue vnto our poore Colledge and the respectiue duty wherein the Colledge alwayes stands obliged vnto your Honour commands my pen beyond manners or ability Your affection to our house could no way expresse it selfe ampler then by trusting our custody with the charge of your choicest Iewell A Gentleman of that towardly wit and sweet disposition that Learning and Morality commonly reputed the daughters of time seeme in him scarce beholding to yeeres and to challenge a precedency before experience in so much that our ancient Mother markt out with all the Characters of age and declining weakenesse cherishing in her bosome this young darling seemes to resume her youthfull habit and triumph ouer Time and Ruines This happines amongst diuerse others vouchsafed by your Honour to the place for whose good opinion the best part of mine endeuours stand engaged hath encouraged my hopes to promise me your indulgent Acceptance of this slender piece long since intended and deuoted as my selfe vnto your seruice In which confidence fearing any longer to trespasse on your serious and high imployments endebted to your King and Countrey I humbly rest Your Honours in all duty and seruice to bee commanded NATHANAEL CARPENTER A TABLE OF THE SEVERALL Contents of the second Booke of Geography according to the speciall Theoreme CHAP. I. Of Topography and the Nature of a place 1 THe Terrestriall Spheare is euery-where habitable pag. 4 2 All places of the Earth haue suffered manifold mutation and changes as well in name as nature pag. 6 3 Places hauing long continued without habitation are seldome so healthy and fit for dwelling as those which haue beene in habited 11 CHAP. II. Of the generall Adiuncts of places 1 The manner how to measure the magnitude of a Region by the Diameter both according to breadth and length 15 2 Of the measuring of a Countrey by the circuite of it 17 3 The Measuring of a Countrey by the circuite is deceitfull and subiect to great errour 17 4 Those Regions are more exactly measured which partake of a plaine surface 19 5 How Countries are bounded 20 6 Naturall bounds are more certaine then Artificiall ibid. 7 Equall bounds containe not alwaies equall Regions 21 8 Of the quality of a Region ibid. 9 Speciall places are endowed with speciall Tempers and dispositions 21 10 Of the magneticall affections of a place as Variation and Declination 26 11 The magneticall variation is of no vse for the first finding out of the longitude yet may it serue to good purpose for the recognition of a place before discouered 27 12 The declination of a place being knowne the latitude may bee found yet not without some errour 29 13 Of the externall Adiuncts of the Aire belonging to a place ibid. 14 The disposition of the Aire Adiacent to a place depends chiefly on the Temperament of the soile 30 CHAP. III. Of the Adiuncts of a place in respect of the heauens 1 Places according to their diuerse situation in regard of the Heauens are diuersely affected in quality and constitution 34 2 Of the diuision of the Earth into the North and South Hemispheares 38 3 Northerne and Southerne places alike situate generally enioy a like disposition 39 4 The Northerne Hemispheare is the masculine the southerne the faeminine part of the Earth 40 5 Of the diuerse sections of the Hemispheares and the seuerall qualities belonging to them 43 6 Of the East and West Hemispheares 51 7 The Easterne Hemispheare is happier then the other 52 8 The difference of the East and West cannot worke any difference in two places by any diuersity of the heauens 53 9 Of the subdiuision of the Easterne and Westerne Hemispheares 54 10 Places situate towards the East in the same latitude are better then those places towards the West ibid. CHAP. IV. Of the manner of Expression and Description of Regions 1 Of the finding out of the Angle of position by some dioptricke Instrument at two or more stations 57 2 At one station by opticall obseruation to find out the situation of one place in respect of the other 59 3 Of the manner of translation of Regions into the Chart. 61 4 To set downe the Meridians and Parallels in a particular Chart. 62 5 How to set downe Cities Castles Mountaines Riuers c. in the Chart. 64 6 Of the fabricke of the scale of miles in the Chart. 65 7 The vse of the scale of miles set downe in the Chart. ibid. CHAP. V. Of Hydrography and the absolute adiuncts of the Sea of the figure and quality 1 Although the whole body of the water be sphericall yet it is probable that the parts of it incline to a Conicall figure 70 2 The water of the sea is salt not by Nature but by Accident 75 3 Seas absolutely salt are neuer frozen 79 4 The Water of the sea is thicker then the other Water 80 CHAP. VI. Of the motions of the sea 1 Of the ebbing and flowing of the sea and the causes thereof 82 2 All sâ—aâ— doe not ebbe and flow alike nor the same at all times
other in greatnesse as for example let there be imagined two Parallelogrammes the one an exact square of six foot the other a long square of 10 foot in Length and two in Breadth The one comprehends 36 square feet the other 20 as will appeare by multiplication of their sides the one into the other in which numbers there is a great inequality Yet notwithstanding if we measure the circuit or circumference of each Figure we shall finde them equall to wit of 24 foot as will appeare by their figures here prefixed For amongst those Figures called Isoperimetrall or of equall Perimeter that is alwayes to bee esteemed the greatest which is the more Ordinate figure which is that which commeth neerest to an equality of Sides and Angles But in Inordinate Figures of which nature for the most part are all Regions infinite errour may be committed if we measure them by circumnauigation wherefore to measure a Countrey more exactly it behooueth vs not only to know the Circumference but also the Diameter 2 Those Countreyes are more exactly measured which partake of a plaine surface The reason of this Proposition is easily shewed because a plaine Superficies consists of right lines But a right line as Euclide witnesseth is the shortest betwixt his owne bounds whereas betweene two points infinite crooked lines may bee drawne whence it must needs follow that more certainty and exactnesse is to bee expected in the measure of a Plaine Countrey whose Diameter is a Right line then from a Crooked and hilly trey Region where the Corde is crooked and gibbous Whence some Mathematicians haue demonstrated that more men may stand on a Sphericall Superficies as a Hill or mountaine then on a Plaine although both are found to be of the same Diameter It may bee here objected that the earth is euery where crooked and orbicular and therefore no part thereof can bee measured by a Right line I answer that the Earth is indeed Sphericall as wee haue formerly proued yet may some little part or portion thereof bee counted as a Plaine because such parts haue little or no proportion to the whole masse of the Earth This conuexity therefore being so little may passe for a plaine without any sensible errour Hence wee may gather that the Land cannot so exactly bee measured as the Sea For as much as the land for the most part is vneuen varied with hills Daleâ— and other inequalities But the Sea euery where plaine and like it selfe except the rising of the waues and surges which in so great a distance will make no difference at all Secondly we may hence collect that of two Countreyes of the same bounds and figure that must bee the greatest whose soyle and superficies is most varyed and crooked because as wee haue said crooked lines betwixt the same points are longer then right and therefore measure the greater Magnitude 9 Thus much of the Magnitude The Bound of a Countrey is a line compassing it round This definition is very euident in that euery Region is Topographically considered as a Plaine or Superficies whose bound is a line compassing it round for as a Line is bounded by a Point so a Superficies by a Line as wee are taught in Geometry Now wee must consider that the bounds of Countreyes may bee taken two manner of wayes First Geometrically for the meere line which is imagined to goe round about it Seconly Geographically for the visible markes and Characters whereby the line is traced out vnto vs such as are Riuers Cities Hills Castles and such like These markes whereby a Topographer noteth out vnto vs the bounds and limits of Countreyes are of two sorts either Naturall or Artificiall The naturall are such as are deriued from nature without mans appointment such as are Riuers Creekes Mountaines Woods and such like other matters which bound the extents of Countreyes The Artificiall bounds are such as depend vpon some constitution or decree of a man which so diuide one Countrey from another the partition being often made where no notable marke or bound is set by nature 1 Naturall bounds are more certaine then Artificiall The reason is because naturall signes or markes which are set for bounds of Countreyes are alwayes the same and as it were continued from the first creation and cannot bee changed without some great Earthquake Inundatâ—on or such like alteration in nature which very seldome happeneth and in very few places whereas on the contrary part such bounds and limits as depend vpon mans appointment may bee altered and changed according to the wills and dispositions of men as wee daily see amongst vs that ancient lands and inheritances are much questioned concerning their bounds and limits as also great controuersie is made amongst Geographers concerning the bounding of Countreyes and Territories anciently knowne and defined by old writers For names and particular contracts betwixt men in a few ages may easily slip out of memory especially when the possessours themselues as it often happens striue to extinguish and raze out the memory of former ages leauing behind them no marke or signe to tell the world their wronged neighbours right or the limited fortunes of their owne possessions 2 Equall bounds doe not alwayes containe equall Regions This Proposition is plainely demonstrated before in this very Chapter wherein wee haue proued of two figures supposed equall in the circumference that to bee the greatest which more neerely approacheth an Ordinate figure which wee define to bee that which commeth neerest to an equality of Sides and Angles So that two Regions the one round the other square may haue an equall compasse about and yet the former will bee a great deale greater in respect of the space therein contained 10 In the next place we are to consider the Quality By the quality I vnderstand the naturall temper and disposition of a certaine place 1 Speciall places are endowed with speciall tempers and dispositions That Almighty God who created the whole world hath not granted the same gifts and indowments to all Countreyes but hath diuided diuerse commodities to diuerse Regions seemeth a matter out of all controuersie For who findes not by experience one Countrey hot another cold a third temperate one fruitfull another barren a third indifferent one healthie another vnwholsome The like diuersity is also found in the inhabitants themselues according to that common prouerbe Valentes Thebani Acutiores Attici whence this diuersity should arise it is a hard matter to vnfold for as much as many causes herein concurre sometimes to helpe sometimes to crosse one the other yet will I striue as neere as I can to reduce them to certaine Heads by which a generall guesse may bee giuen to the particulars The first reason may bee drawne from the situation of the Earth in respect of the heauen and Starres therein fixed This may cause a diuersity of disposition two wayes 1 By reason of the Sun and his generall light and influxe whence in the Earth are ingendred
instruments or Tables and reducing them accordingly to your chart which wee suppose before marked out according to seuerall degrees As for example if wee would set downe in our chart the Metropolis of France which is Paris hauing recourse to my Table I finde it to haue in Longitude 23 degrees in Latitude 48 degrees Here to finde out the said longitude you must extend a threed from the 23 degrees of the Parallell AB to the like degree in the Parallell CD then holding it fast you must crosse that threed with another extended from the Meridian AC to the Meridian AD in the points of 28 degrees The point wherin these two threeds shall cut and crosse one the other you may take for the true place of Paris and marke it out in your chart In like sort you may proceede with all other places But if you were to describe a riuer in your chart it will not bee sufficient to take the Longitude and Latitude of the beginning or fountaine but of the end middle turnings and angles Townes or Cities by which it passeth Bridges and other occurrent circumstances In like sort may you set downe Woods Forrests Mountaines Lakes and other places whatsoeuer 4 Thus much for the Essentiall part of the particular Chart The Accidentall part wee call the Scales of Miles which teacheth how many miles are contained betwixt any two places in the Chart wherein we are to know two things 1 The Fabricke 2 The Vse 1 The Fabricke of the Scale depeâ—ds from the certaine knowledge of the Distance of any two places in the Chart. The practise is very easie and taught in these three Rules 1 You must search out the distance betwixt any two places whatsoeuer which are contained in the Region described in your Chart which you may doe either experimentally by your owne knowledge or some certaine relation of Trauailers 2 Then must you draw three Parallell lines containing two spaces one larger the other lesser in some voide space of your Chart. 3 You must diuide the said Scale into so many Miles as the said voide space will giue you leaue according to the known distance first found out As for example the distance betwixt Paris and Roane is knowne to be 30 French leagues which containes 60 of our Miles allowing for euery such league 2 Miles Wherefore your Parallell lines being first drawne as you see in the former Chart diuide your Scale into 30 parts accordingly and in the larger space place your Numbers as 10.20.30 and so forth so farre as your space will conueniently extend 2 The Distance of any two places set downe in the Chart being taken and applyed to the scale will shew how many miles it containes As for example I would willingly know how many English Miles are contained betwixt Paris and Orleans in my Chart of France Here I take with my compasse the distance betwixt the said Cities in the Chart and applying that to the Scale I find it to containe 50 miles which is the true measure CHAP. V. Of Hydrography 1 HItherto haue we treated of the Generall Adiuncts and Proprieties of places in the Terrestriall Spheare we are in the next place to handle the Distinction 2 A place is generally distinguished into Water and Land The Description of the former is termed Hydrographie The other for distinction we call Pedography 3 Hydrographie is a Description of the Water with the Accidents thereunto belonging The Water wee consider not here meerely Physically as it is an Element whereof mixt bodies are compounded but Topographically as it beares a part in the Terrestriall Globe yet are wee not so curious to exclude such Physicall problemes and considerations as are most subiect to sense which a Topographer cannot well neglect being the markes and characters designing out speciall places To finde out the originall of the Water wee must first take as granted that Almighty God as wee reade in the first of Genesis in the beginning made a separation betwixt the waters aboue the Firmament and the waters vnder the Firmament whereof the former is termed in the Scriptures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is as much to say as expansum a thing stretched out or extended By these waters aboue the Firmament whether wee ought to vnderstand the cloudie vapours in the middle Region of the Aire or the pure fluid and liquid body whereof the Firmament consists I leaue it to learned diuines and criticke expositours to dispute although the propriety of the phrase if it bee well rendred will seeme to fauour this opinion rather then the other for as much as the Aire can no way bee said to bee aboue the Firmament except the Hebrew terme miscarry in the Translation For the solidity of the Celestiall Orbs which Aristotle labours to confirme is found long since to thwart the obseruations of Astronomers although it may thus bee retained as vsefull suppositions to settle Imagination But to let this passe and come to the waters vnder the Firmament vnderstood by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies as much as a collection of waters wee shall find them to haue taken their originall from the separation of the waters substance from the Dry-land caused by God in the first Creation testified by Moses in 1 Gen which once granted as no Christian can deny easily rebates the edge of the opinion of some auncient Philosophers who contended out of the nature of Drouth and Moisture to deriue the beginning of this separation The drynesse of the Earth say they working by little and little diminisheth or at least resisteth the waters so that they should not altogether ouerwhelme the Land But this reason is altogether deficient in Nature Because Drouth and Moisture are no such qualities to haue such an operation and if any such there were betwixt Drouth and Moisture the Drouth as wee see by experience would rather draw moisture vnto it then any way expell it or driue it away whence it is most euident that it was effected by no other meanes then the immediate worke and prouidence of God for the preseruation of liuing creatures for before God said Let the waters bee gathered into one place the Water was said to couer the whole face of the Earth but afterwards at Gods appointment the water went backe and shewed the dry-land But by what meanes God separated the one from the other it is much controuersed amongst Diuines and Philosophers Many were of opinion that the Earth was suffered to stand intire without alteration and that the waters were eleuated aboue it so that if they were suffered to flow abroad they might againe couer the face of the Earth as in the beginning But why the Waters should bee thus restrained is not agreed among them for some thought that this was done by the miraculous power of God which restraines the flowing abroad of the Water beyond ordinary bounds of which opinion is St Ierome who grounded his opinion as it seemes on the authority of
the Sea were dâ—uided into many parts it would more easily dissolue and putrify The grounds of this opinion being ouerthrowne there want not reasons to contradict First sayes one if the Sea were not created salt then was there some time wherein it was fresh To this I answer two wayes First that it might bee created fresh yet being apt from the heat of the Sunne to receiue saltnesse it might almost at the first receiue it Secondly if I should grant that it was a long time before it embraced this quality I know neither History to confute mee or reason to conuince mee Secondly it is vrged from the Nature of liuing creatures in the Sea that they cannot well liue in fresh waters and therefore it seemes originally salt and not by Accident But this is of no great force First because experience shewes that many kind of fishes liue in both and many rather couet and desire the fresh Water then the Sea Secondly it is not improbable that as the Sea by little and little and by degrees turned from freshnesse to saltnesse the temper and disposition of the fishes was in like manner changed and altered Whence it may come to passe that fishes since bred and nourished in fresh Waters cannot so well endure the salt Moreouer who knowes whether all these seuerall kinds of fishes now found in the Sea were from the beginning since wee see by experience that sundry kinds of liuing creatures dayly arise out of putrefaction on the land which may with like probability or more bee admitted in the Sea There are yet behind other reasons of one Patricius a Platonist who would oppose Aristotle in good earnest Aristotle saith hee speaking of the saltnesse of the Sea Water shewed not the cause For I would aske why that parcell of water from whence the thinner parts are extracted should remaine salt was it so from the beginning or afterwards imprest was it Inbred or Accidentall If hee would haue it an inbred quality from the beginning hee vainly goes about to seeke out the cause If the saltnesse bee aduentitious the cause is to bee giuen but the cause giuen by him is not true for as much as it rather takes away the saltnesse But to these obiections of Patricius spunne out in many words wee may answer two wayes either that the saltnesse is meerely aduentitious bred by an exhalation drawne vp by the Sunne and so distilling downe againe or else because this answere seemes not wholely to satisfy For as much as rainy Water is seldome salt and if it were could hardly flow in so great quantity to feed the saltnesse of the Sea I will answer secondly that the saltnesse is radically or originally in the matter of the Water yet so as it cannot bee drawne out and sensibly bee perceiued in the mixture of many sweet humours ioyned with it without a separation first made by the heat of the Sunne of the thinner parts from the thicker So that the Sunne is a disponent though not a productiue cause of this saltnesse in the Sea 2 Seas absolutely salt are neuer frozen This may seeme a Paradoxe to some men in regard that amongst our Geographers wee haue so often mention made of Mare Congelatum taking it's name from the Ice wherewith it is shut vp from passage as also for that in the voyages of Frobisher Dauis Hudson and other later Nauigatours which haue beene imployed in the search of the Northwest passage wee find such strange relations not onely of Seas closed vp with Ice and hindring their passage towards the North but also of Rocks and Ilands of Ice of an incredible greatnesse The truth of these Relations I no way disapproue but rather out of these testimonies approue our former assertion that Seas which are wholly Salt are neuer found to freeze For first whereas it is called Mare Congelatum it may beare the nâ—me well enough from the multitude of Ice floating on the water or collected into a Rocke or Iland This Ice as it will easily appeare is not produced out of the substance of the Salt water of the maine Ocean but rather carryed into the Sea by great riuers of fresh water running into the Ocean For the riuers are not alwayes frozen but sometimes by a remission of the cold are thawed and the peeces broken a sunder and floating into the Sea in it oft times meet in great heapes which may bee proued 1 In that these great râ—cks of Ice melting with the heate of the Sunne haue dissolued into fountaines of fresh water gushing downe in great abundance wherewith sometimes in case of necessity they haue fraughted their shippes as wee haue testified by the fore-named Nauigatours 2 Because some part of the maine Sea situate perhaps more Northerne and in a colder Climate suffers not this accident whereas places neere the shore farther South are almost alwayes frozen The reason whereof is because the Sea neere the shore is commonly mixed with fresh waters conueyed in either by great Riuers or infinite secret passages vnder ground which wee see not The reason why that salt waters exclude this propriety incident or the fresh I take to bee the Hot-spirits hid in the salt humor which are more feruent and operatiue then those of the fresh water 9 So much for the saltnesse The next is the Thicknesse whereof we will set downe this short Theoreme 1 The Water of the Sea is thicker then other Water This Proposition hath it's light from the former because thicknesse of Water is a companion of the saltnesse as depending from the same cause to wit the exhalation and extraction of the thinner parts of the Water There are many small causes giuen by Patricius of this thicknesse of the Sea-Water Fâ—â—st because the parts of it should more strongly hold together and not couer and ouerflow the firme land But this seemes to bee grounded on an errour that the Water should be aboue the Land and that it should containe it selfe within it's owne bounds and limits which opinion we haue elsewhere reiected The second cause of the thicknesse of the Sea is that it might bee more apt to beare and carry ships and other great weights for the vse of man Thirdly the Water being thicke may more easily bee conuerted into salt out of which many saltish minerals in the Earth are ingendred Other causes are giuen by this Author but lesse forceable which we will omit as referring them to the Philosopher whose proper taske it is to seek them out CHAP. VI. Of the Motions of the Sea 1 THe Motion of the Sea whereof we are in this Chapter to treate is either Naturall or Violent The Naturall I call that which is partly incident to the Naturall Disposition of the Sea 2 This againe is two-fold either Generall or Speciall Generall is that which agrees generally to all or at least to most parts of the Sea such as is the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea Wee must here obserue that the Water
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-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
could speake of this reason but that I hold it better to cherish a hope of such a passage then by excepting against these ancient arguments to discourage moderne industrie Other probabilities may seeme to be drawne from the discoueries of later Nauigatours since the raigne of Henry the seuenth vnder whose protection Sebastian Cabot vndertook the discouery of the North-West costs In which he preuailed as much as the Alchimists who in seeking out the Philosophers stone haue often mist of their aime yet by this meanes inuented many rare and excellent secrets of vse and admiration That Cabot the same yeere discouered as much of the Northerne parts of America as Columbus of the Southerne out of my small reading seemes to mee no great question whence I cannot imagine that King Philip of Spaine can in this New-found-world challenge a greater interest then King Charles of great Brittaine a Prince of those incomparable vertues which may be thought worthier to owne then the others to pretend to so great a Soueraignty For the latter voyages discoueries of Dauis Frobisher for ought I see they promise scarce so much as Hope which oftentimes flatters and deceiues men with her best countenance But if wee take vp wares vpon trust some will tell vs of a Portugall who made a voyage through this Streitâ— Northward calling a Promontory within the same after his name Promontorium Corterialis of Scolmus a Dane who passed a great part thereof but the most probable in my coniecture is that which Sr Humfrey Gilbert reports of one Saluaterra a Gentleman of Victoria in Spaine who was said to haue passed by chance out of the West Indies into Ireland in the yeere of our Lord 1568 who constantly auerred the North-west passage from vs to Cathay to bee thought nauigable and farther related in the presence of Sr Henry Sidney then Lord Deputy of Ireland Sr Humfrey Gilbert being then present that a Frier of Mexico called Andrew Vrdanetta more then eight yeeres before his arriuall told him that they came from Mare Del Zur through this Northwest straite into Germany and shewed Saluaterra being with him at that time in Mexico a Sea-Chart made out of his owne obseruation in that voyage wherein such a passage was expressed agreeing with Ortelius his Mappe moreouer this Frier told the King of Portugall in his returne by that country home-ward that hauing found such a North-west passage hee meant shortly to make the same publicke but the King earnestly intreated him not to discouer this secret to any Nation for that said he if England had knowledge and experience of it it would greatly hinder the King of Spaine and me This relation I could willingly credit from the mouth of any other man then a Frier of whose palpable lyes and fabulous inuentions in their flattering letters to the Pope from both the Indies we haue sufficient experience Neuerthelesse that future ages might not despaire of so worthy an attempt as the discouery of this passage it hath pleased God to stirre vp the Spirits and industry of two later Nauigatours Hudson and Sr Thomas Button who haue reuiued the forlorne hopes of the former For the particulars of whose discoueries I know not better where to referre my Reader then to a curious Mappe not long since set out by our worthy and learned Professour Mr Brigges the arguments I collect from thence are these expressed in his own words 1 In the bottome of Hudson Bay where he wintred the hight of the Tide was but two foot whereas by the neerenesse of the South sea in Port Nelson it was constantly 15 foot or more 2 Moreouer in Port Nelson where Sr Thomas Button did winter in 57 degrees he found the Tide constantly euery twelue houres to rise 15 foot or more and that a West wind made the Nepe Tides equall with the Spring Tides and the Summer following about the latitude of 60 degrees hee found a strong race a Tide running sometimes Eastward sometimes Westward 3 To shew the land towards the south-South-sea through which we seeke to open this passage not to bee so far off as our ordinary Charts seene to pretend may be probably auerred in that California heretofore supposed to be a part of the Westerne Continent is since by a Spanish Chart taken by the Hollandors found to bee a great Iland the length of the West shore being about 500 leagues from Cape Mendocin to the South Cape thereof called Cape S. Lucas which may appeare both by the Spanish Charts and by the report of Francis Gaule whereas in the ordinary Charts it is expressed to be 1700 leagues These Arguments I confesse haue swayde my opinion but not as yet absolutely freed me from doubt Three Quaeries I must leaue for the learned to consider and for the time to decide 1 whether this relation of Mariners concerning the Bay of Sr Thomas Button and Hudson be true or no no man will I suppose censure me as vnmannerly for asking such a question considering how much many Nauigatours either by their mistakes or their industrious falsities haue deceiued mens credulities the one is incident to mankind which out of vncertaine obseruations or vnnecessary deductions from thence often drawes an ill consequence The other the ordinary policy of discouerers who lest their Trauailes might bee thought fruitlesse would at least promise hope in the reuersion How many relations haue been corrected by experience of later Nauigatours euery one may iudge 2 Whether this strong Tide in Hudsons Bay comming from the West were from the South-Sea or from the North betwixt the Continent and diuerse Ilands by an Inlet is not a matter as yet cleerely out of doubt Terra Del Fuogo was heretofore supposed to bee a Continent till Schouten in his discouery found it to bee an Iland and a large Sea beyond it toward the South Likewise New-found-land in all our former Mappes and Globes expressed as a part of the Maine of America is by later experience found to be an Iland and why may not this happen in the other that at the entrance into Hudsons Bay the land on the right hand should be clouen into many Ilands betwixt which the waters issuing should be turned in such sort as it might seeme to proceede from the West sith the Tides taking their beginning from the Maine Sea and continued through some Straite commonly follow the crooked windings of the Channell 3 That California is an Iland it may for ought I know be well warranted But the euidence drawne from the Spanish Chart seemes rather to cherish hope then perswade consent In this which I haue spoken of these worthy mens coniectures I haue rather expressed my doubts then my opinion esteeming notwithstanding that doubt almost Heresy which should discourage any generous and deseruing spirit from a farther attempt of this North-west-Passage CHAP. VIII Of Sea-Trafficke and Merchandize 1 OF the Internall Affections of the Sea wee haue spoken It remaines now that we treate of the
Peninsula's the most famous are Africa Scandia Taurica Chersonesus Peloponnesus and America Peruana That little parcell of land which ioynes this Peninsula with the maine land we call an Istmus which is a narrow necke of land betwixt two seas ioyning two Continents such as are Istmus Corinthiacus and Istmus Cimbricus more famous are those two narrow lands whereof the one lyeth betwixt Peruana and Mexico in America the other diuiding Africke from Asia A Promontorie is a great mountaine stretching it selfe far into the sea whose extremity is called a Cape or Head of which the most remarkeable are the Cape of good hope in Africke 2. The Cape of S. Vincent in Portugall 3. The Cape of Comary in Asia 4. The Cape de la Victoria in America Our obseruation concerning this distinction shall bee comprised in this Theoreme 1 Peninsula's by the violence of the sea fretting through the Istmus haue oftentimes beene turned into Ilands and contrariwise sometimes Peninsula's by diminution of the sea made of Ilands This proposition is not hard to proue if any credit ought to bee gâ—uen to ancient writers for it is commonly related that Sicily was heretofore ioyned to Italy Cyprus to Syria Euboea with Boeotia Besbicum with Bythinia all which at this day are Ilands separated and diuided from the continent The like hath beene coniectured of our Brittany which some imagined heretofore to haue beene ioyned with the continent of France about Douer and Calais as may seeme probably to be gathered out of the correspondency of the Cliffs whereof we haue spoken in this chapter before the agreement of the soyle the smalnesse of the distance and many more arguments remembred by vs else-where Also it hath beene obserued on the other side that the sea in some places leauing his ancient bounds hath ioyned some Ilands to the land making Peninsulas of Ilands In this sort if wee belieue antiquity was Antissa ioyned to Lesbos Zephirium to Halicarnassus Ethusa to Mindus Promiscon to Miletum Narthucusa to the Promontory of Parthenius In these antiquities it behooues euery man to iudge without partiality according to reason not ascribing too much to fabulous narrations wherein those ages did abound neither yet shewing himselfe too incredulous For as much as we cannot charge these Authors with any manifest absurdity The speciall and particular arguments by which wee should establish our assertion wee must according to the rules of method reserue to the speciall part where we shall treat ofspeciall Countreyes CHAP. XII 1 OF the perpetuall Accidents of the land we haue spoken somewhat it remaines in this place wee treat of the Casuall 2 The casuall I call such as happen not ordinarily at all times such as are Inundations and Earth-quakes 3 An Inundation is an ouerwhelming of the land by Water Howsoeuer it bee certaine out of holy Scriptures that God hath set the sea his certaine bounds and limits which it cannot passe yet the same God sometimes to shew his speciall iudgement on some place or age hath extraordinarily permitted the sea sometimes to breake his appointed limits and inuade the Iurisdiction of the land This wee call a Deluge or Inundation The inundations which euer haue been obserued on the Earth are of two sorts either Vniuersall or particular An vniuersall is that whereby the whole face of the Earth is couered with water whereof we haue onely two examples The first was in the first creation of the world when as wee read in the Scriptures the whole face of the Earth was round inueloped with Water which couered the tops of the highest mountaines till such time as God by a supernaturall hand made a separation of the Waters from the dry land But this is improperly called an Inundation because the same properly taken implies as much as an ouer-flowing of that which was dry land before The second as we read in Genesis happened in the time of Noah when God for the sinne of man drowned the whole world breaking open the cataracts of Heauen and loosing the springs of the deepe Particular inundations are such as are not ouer the whole Earth but in some particular places or regions Such a deluge according to Genebrardus happened in the time of Enos wherein a third part of the Earth was drowned The like iâ— spoken of Ogygeâ— King of Athens that in his time happened a very great Inundation which drowned all the confines and coasts of Attica and Achaia euen to the Aegean sea In which time it was thought that Buras and Helice Cities of Achaia were swallowed vp whereof Ouid in his Metamorphosis speakes thus Si quaeras Helicen Buran Achaidos vrbes Inuenies sub aquis Buras and Helice on Achaiâ—n ground Are sought in vaine but vnder seas are found As famous was the Inundation of Thessaly in Deucalions time mentioned not onely by profane writers and Poets but also by S. Augustin Ierom and Eusebius which would haue it to happen in the time of Cranaus who next after Cecrops gouerned Athens This inundation was exceeding great extending it selfe not onely ouer all Thessaly and the regions adioyning westward but ouerwhelmed the greatest part of Italy The same or other happening neere the same time oppressed Aegypt if Eusebius may obtaine credit Hence some would haue the people of Italy to haue been called Vmbrij as Pliny and Solinus report quia ab imbribus diluuij superfuissent But this Etymologie seemes too farre fetcht There are also two other notable Inundations meÌ„tioned by ancient writers which fell out in Aegypt from the Riuer of Nilus whereof the first couered all the neither Aegypt which was subiect to Prometheus and hence as Natalis Comes obserues was the fable drawne of the vulture lighting on Prometheus liuer afterwards slaine by Hercules For as Diodorus Siculus obserues the Riuer Nilus for the swiftnes of his course was in ancient time called an Eagle This Riuer afterwards did Hercules by his great â—kill and iudgement streiten and bound reducing it into narrow channels whence some Greeke Poets turning Hercules labours into fables faigned that Hercules slew the Eagle which sed on Prometheus brest meaning that hee deliuered Prometheus out of that sorrow and losse which hee and his people sustained by that Inundation The second of these Egyptian flouds happened about Pharus in Egypt where Alexander the great built Alexandria To these may bee added many more of lesser moment as well in ancient times as in our dayes As that of Belgia in some parts mentioned before on another occasion and not many yeeres since in some parts of Somerset-shire with vs in Britanny 1 No vniuersall Inundation of the Earth can be Naturall The other may depend on some Naturall causes Of the causes of Inundations many disputes haue beene amongst Naturall Philosophers some haue trusted so farre to Nature that they haue ascribed not only particular Inundations but that vniuersall Deluge in the time of Noah to second causes of this opinion was Henricus Mecliensis a Schollar of
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
circle the Diameter being the ground of the Quadrature of a circle is a matter which hath set a work the greatest wits of the world hauing notwithstanding as yet by no man been brought to discouery in so much as Pitiscus and other good Mathematicians might well doubt whether euer it would come to light Nâ—uerthelesse where exactnesse cannot bee found wee must come as neere as we can The neerest proportion in numbers which any could yet light on is as 22 to 7 which in so great and massie a body as the Earth may passe without any sensible or explicable errour Supposing then out of our precedent Suppositions the whole circuit of the earth to bee 21600 Italian-miles which is the common opinion now receaued I multiply according to the golden Rule 21600 by 7 whence will arise 151200 which being diuided by 22 the Quotient will render 6872 11 8 which is the Diameter or thicknesse of the Earth some lesse curious are content to take only the third part of the circumference for the Diameter which will be 7200 which account is lesse exact yet sufficient for an ordinary Cosmographer for as much as 328 miles which is the difference is of no great moment in the measure of the whole Earth 2 By the knowne height of some mountaine without the knowledge of the circumference of the Earth the Diameter may be found out This is a way inuented by Maurolycus which proceeds in a contrary manner to the former because the former by the circumference first supposed to be known shewes vs a way to find out a Diameter but this first seeks out the Diameter by which wee may finde out the circumference the practise is in this manner Let the circuit of the Earth be conceaued to be BCD as we see in this Figure in which let there be chosen an high Mountain whose Altitude AB may bee knowne by the rules of measuring altitudes then from the Mountaines top A by the rules of measuring longitudes must the whole space of Sea or Land bee measured so far as it can be seene so that the visuall Beame AC may touch the Superficies of the Earth in C let the space theÌ„ which is seene in the Earth be BC which although in it selfe it bee crooked and not plaine yet can it not sensibly differ from a Plaine for as much as the Arch BC is extraordinarily little if compared with the whole Earth These grounds thus laid we must proceed by a Geometricall manner of argumentation in this sort Here are to bee obserued foure right lines whereof the first is AB the heigth of the mountaine obserued the second is the visuall Ray AC the third AD consisting of the height of the mountaine and the Diameter of the Earth The fourth BC the distance which is seene for as wee haue shewed it may without sensible errour bee taken for a right line Now for as much as AB BC are knowne their Quadrates by the 47 proposition of the first of Euclide will also bee knowne which being equall to the square of AC the square of the right line AC will likewise bee knowne But the square of the right line AC sith it toucheth the circle will be equall to a Right Angle Figure contained vnder DA AB wherefore the right angle so conceaued will be knowne But AB is the knowne heigth of the mountaine wherefore the right line AD will easily be knowne if wee diuide the knowne right Angle contained vnder AB AD by the right line AB for the Quotient will giue the right line AD from which if wee subduct AB the knowne height of the mountaine then will remaine the Diameter of the Earth BD which was here to be performed from this inuention will arise this Corollary 1 The Diameter of the Earth first supposed to be knowne the circumference may be found out in this manner as 7 is in proportion to 22 so is the Diameter to the Circumference 2 Wherefore let the knowne number of the Diameter be multiplied by 22 and the Product be diuided by 7 the quotient will giue the Circumference As for example according to our former instance Let vs suppose the Diameter of the Earth to bee 6872 8 11 this number being multiplied by 22 will produce 15120 which product diuided by 7 wee shall finde in the Quotient 21600 which is the circumference of the Earth 7 The compound dimensions according to which the Spheare of the Earth is proposed to bee measured are either the Superficies or the Solidity 8 The Superficies is againe twofold either Plaine or Conuexe the Plaine is the space included in the Perimeter 9 The plaine Superficies may be found out two wayes either by the Circumference or the Diameter both which wayes taught in these Rules 1 If the whole circumference bee multiplied in it selfe and the product bee diuided by 12 4 7 the quotient will shew the Superficies included in the circle As in the former example wee will take the Circumference of the Earth to be 21600 Italian-miles let this number be multiplied in it selfe and the product thereof diuided by 12 4 7 the Quotient will amount vnto 9278180 which is the plaine superficies of the Earth 2 If the Semi-Diameter of a circle be multiplied by the halfe part of the Circumference there will arise the measure of the Plaine Superficies contained in the Circumference The reason hereof is shewed by Clauius in his Tract de Isoperimetris Proposit. 4. where is demonstrated that a Right Angle figure comprehended of the Semi-Diameter of any circle and the halfe of the Circumference will be equall to the Circle it selfe of whose parts it is comprehended 10 So much concerning the Plaine Superficies the knowledge and inuention of the Conuexe may bee performed two wayes either by the Diameter and Circumference or else by the Space contained within the Circumference according to these Propositions 1 If the Circumference and Diameter be multiplied the one into the other the product will shew the number of square miles in the face of the Terrestriall Globe As for example let the Diameter of the Earth containing according to the common account 80111 9 12 furlongs bee multiplied by the whole circumference which is 252000 there will arise the Conuexe Superficies of the whole earthly Spheare which is 20205818181 9 11. 2 If the space contained in the greatest circle in the Spheare bee multiplied by 4 there will bee produced the whole conuexe Superficies of the Spheare How to finde out the space or plaine Superficies is a matter taught before which being once found is easily multiplied by 4 and so will giue vs the number sought 11 The last and greatest compound Dimension according to which the Earth is measured is the Solidity consisting of Length Bredth and Height or Thicknesse This may bee found out two wayes either by the Diameter and Conuexe Superficies first supposed to be known or by the knowledge of a great circle without supposing
Tropicke we account 23 degrees which added and resolued into miles will make the said summe within the compasse of this Zone is situate the greatest part of Africke especially that of the Abyssines which common opinion with little probability would haue to bee the Empire of Prester Iohn also many Ilands as Iaua Summatra Taprobana besides a great part of the South of America called Peruana It was imagined by the Ancients as Aristotle Pliny Ptolomy and many other Philosophers Poëts and Diuines that this Zone through extreame heat was altogether vnhabitable for which cause they called it Intemperate The reason of this coniecture was drawne from the situation of this part in regard of that of the heauens For lying in the middle part of the world the Sunne must of necessity cast his rayes perpendicular that is to say at Right Angles Now according to the grounds of Peripateticke Philosophy the Idol of this age the heat deriued from the Sunne ariseth from the reflexion of the Sunne-beames against the surface of the Earth Wherefore the heat was there coniectured to bee greatest where the reflexion was found to bee greatest But the greatest reflexion according to all Mathematicians must be in this Torrid Zone where the Sunne darts forth his Rayes at right Angles which reflect backe vpon themselues Which false coniecture was a long time continued by the exuberant descriptions of Poëts and defect of Nauigation hauing as yet scarce passed her infancy But how farre these surmises come short of truth wee shall declare in our second part to which wee haue reserued those Physicall and Historicall discourses concerning the qualities and properties of the Earth 7 The Intemperat cold Zones are those which are included betwixt the Polar circles and the Poles whereof the one is Northerne contained in the Arcticke circle the other Southerne in the Antarcticke These two Zones are not made out of the combination of two circles as the former but by one circle with relation to the Pole The greatnesse and extent of this Zone is about 23 degrees and a halfe which resolued into Italian-miles will produce 1380. The Northerne cold Zone containes in it Groenland Fineland and diuerse other Northerne Regions whereof some are partly discouered and set out in our ordinary Maps other some not yet detected For the other Zone vnder the Antarticke Pole it consists of the same greatnesse as wee know by the constitution of the Globe hauing other such accidents correspondent as the Northerne so farre forth as they respect the Heauens For other matters they lye hid in the vast Gulph of obscurity this port hauing neuer yet for ought I know exposed her selfe to the discouery of the Christian world Whether these two Zones be without habitation by reason of intemperate cold as the other hath been thought by reason of too much heat wee shall in due place examine 8 The Temperate Zone is the space contained betwixt the Tropicke the Polar circle whereof the one is Northerne contained betwixt the Tropicke of Cancer and the Articke circle the other Southerne comprehended betwixt the Tropicke of Capricorne and the Antarcticke circle Why these Zones are tearmed Temperate diuerse reasons are alleaged 1 Because the Sun-beames here are cast obliquely on the surface of the earth and by consequence cannot produce so much heat as in those places where they are darted perpendicularly if wee only consider the constitution and site of the heauens For as we shall hereafter proue this may sometimes be altered by the disposition of some particular place 2 It may be called the Temperate Zone because it seemes mixt of both extreames partaking in some measure the both qualities of heat and cold the one from the Torrid the other from the Frigid Zones 3 Because in these Zones the distances betwixt Summer and Winter are very remarkable hauing a middle difference of time betwixt them as compounded of both extreames These temperate Zones included betwixt the Tropicks and the Polar circles are twofold as the circles The northerne temperate Zone comprehended of the Tropicke of Cancer and the Articke circle containes in it the vpper and higher part of Africke stretching euen to the mountaine Atlas Moreouer in it is placed all Europe euen to the Northerne Ilands in the Articke Zone and a great part also of Asia the other temperate Zone lying towards the South is not so well knowne being farre distant from our habitation and awaiting as yet the farther industry of our English and Dutch Nauigators The bredth of this Zone as the other containes about 43 degrees which is the distance betwixt the Tropicke and the Polar circle which multiplied by 60 will be resolued into 2580 Italian-miles 1 The Torrid Zone is the greatest of all next are the two Temperate Zones the cold Zones the least of all The Torrid Zone is found to be greatest as well in regard of longitude as latitude and is diuided by the Equatour into two halfes the next are the Temperate but the two cold Zones howsoeuer equall in Diameter to the Torrid are notwithstanding least of all where is to bee noted that euery Zone is of the same latitude from North to South beginne where we will because it is contained betwixt two equidistant circles but all inioy not the same longitude from East to West For the parts of euery Zone by how much neerer they are to the Equatour so much greater longitude will they haue by how much neerer the Poles they are so much the lesse longitude for as much as the Parallels towards the Poles grow alwayes lesser and lesser The inuention of the quantity of the Zones before mentioned may briefly thus bee performed The latitude of the torrid Zone is so much as the distance betwixt the Tropickes which is Astronomically grounded on the greatest declination of the Sunne being doubled This declination being by Clauius and others found to be 23 degrees 30 scrup which being doubled will produce 47 which againe multiplied by 60 and resolued into miles will amount to 2820 though the odde scruples of many Authors are neglected The latitude of the cold Zones is also drawne from the greatest declination of the Sunne For the distance of the Pole circles from the Pole it selfe is iust so much as the declination of the Eclipticke from the Equatour to wit of 23 degrees 30 scrup to which answer according to the former Rule 1420 Italian-miles The inuention of the latitude of the temperate Zones depends from the subtraction of the distance of the Poles of the Eclipticke from the Equatour that is from the greatest declination of the Sunne being doubled from the whole quadrant in which subduction the residue will be 43 to which will answer 2580 Italian-miles 1 The Zone wherein any place is seated may bee knowne either by the Globe or Geographicall Table or else by the Tables of Latitude By the Globe or vniuersall Mappe wee may know it by the diligent obseruation of the foure equidistant circles For if wee
The 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
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
of the superficies of the Water compared to the superficies the Earth vncouered which should be higher in place of which shall be this Theoreme 1 The superficies of the Sea is some-where higher then the superficies of the Earth some-where lower There hath beene a great dispute among Phylosophers concerning the poâ—ition of the Sea in respect of the Land whether it bee higher or lower some haue beene of an opinion that the Water is higher which opinion was defended by Tully in his Booke De Natura Deorum where hee saith that the Sea being placed aboue the Earth yet couering the place of the Earth is congregated and collected neither redounding nor flowing abroad which afterwards seemes to be seconded by diuers learned Diuines who reducing most things to the supernaturall and first cause diuers times neglected and ouer-slipt the second Hence Saint Basil in his 4 Homily on the Hexameron lest the water saith hee should ouerflow and sâ—red it selfe out of the place it hath occupied it is commanded to gather it selfe together otherwise what should hinder the Red Sea to ouerâ—flow all Egypt being lower then it â—elfe vnlesse it were manicled with the Creatours power as it were with setters to which also afterwards seeme to subscribe Aquinâ—â— Dionisius and Catharinus with diuers other Diuines who held that the first discouery of the Earth and the gathering together of the Waters in the first Creation was made not by any mutation in the Earth but by a violent accuâ—ulation of the Waters being as it were restrained and bridled supernaturally that they could not transcend certain limits and bounds To confirme this opinion some reasons are alleaged by moderne Philosophers first because it is the ordeâ— of all the Elements amongst themselues that the Earth as the heauiest should take the lower place and the water should ascend aboue Secondly because Marriners comming from the maine Ocean to the Land seeme to see the land farre lower then the Water Thirdly they alleage thaâ— place of Iâ—b wheâ—e God himselfâ— professeth that he hath bounded the Waterâ— in these words Hitherto shalâ— thou come and no farther here shall thy proud waues be stayed But this opinion seemeth very improbable that God in the first institution of Nature should impose a perpâ—tuall violence vpon Nature sith wâ—â—ee the Creator in other maâ—ters to vse Nature as his ordinary â—eruant and to administer the Regiment of things by â—econd causes Neither were the authority of these Diuines so great in thâ—se Cosmoâ—râ—phicall conceipts to ouersway these of the same profession who could more exactly iudge of these matters Neither are these reasons of so greaâ— validity as to enforce assent For first whereas St Basill seemes to wonder why the Red Sea should not ouerâ—lowe all Aegypt if it were not supernâ—turally bounded he takes that as granted which is the question in controversie that the Water is higher for which he can produce no other reason thâ—n the Testimony of the sense but this is very weak forasmuch as in such matters the sense is oftentimes deceiued as stands well with the grounds of the perspectiues for as weare there taught two Parallels will in the end seeme to concurre so far as the sight can iudge Now the Spheare of the Heauens and the Sphericall segment of the Waters being parallell the one to the other will necessarily seeme to concurre to the end whence it must needs come to passe that that part of the Sea must seeme â—o lift it selfe higher â—nd contrarywise the Heâ—uens will seeme somewhat lower then indeed they are and this I take to be the true cause why the Sea being seene a great way off may appeare raised aboue the land whereon we stand Another reason may bee giuen from the perpetuall Refraction of the vsuall Lines comming from the Sea to our sight For the Aire neere the Sea being alwayes intermixed with thicke watrish vapours rising vp the Seâ— must of necessity be presented in a thicker Medium by a refracted sight whence coÌ„sequently it must seeme greater higher then indeed it is for as the Opticks teach all things seeme greater higher in a thicker Medium To the other three Reasons brought to coÌ„firme this assertion it is no hard thing to answer To the first which would out of the order of the Elements inforce that the Water is higher â—hen the Earth I answer as before that if we intirely consider these Elements amongâ—t themselues we must giue the hight to the Water for as much as the greatest part of the Eâ—rth lies â—rowned for that aboue beaâ—es no sensible proportion in respect of the parts of the Earth vncouered But here we compare not the 2 Elements intirely betwixt themselues but the superficies of the Water with the parts of the Earth vncouered habitable which superficies of the earth notwithstanding this reason may bee higher then the Water Secondly where they produce the testimony of the sight for my own part I can warrant no such experience hauing neuer launced far into the deep yet if any such experiment be auouched it may easily bee answered out of opticall Principles that comming out of the maine Ocean towards the land by reason of the sphericall conueâ—ity of the water interposed betweene our sight and the lower part of the land those land parcels must needs seeme lesse as hauing some parts shadowed from our fight whence it must consequently appeare lower as couched almost vnder water From the 3d reason grounded on Scripture whereon our diuines seeme most to depend nothing else is concluded but that Almighty God hath set certaine bounds limits which the Waters should not passe These bounds limits I take not to be supernatural as if the water restrained by such a power should containe it selfe within its own circuit But naturall as clifâ—s â—ils within which the waters seems intrenced This opinion therefore being disliked others haue laboured to defend an opposite position that the water is lower then the Earth altogether which opinion beares more constancy with the doctrine of Arist. most of our modern Philosophers The reason wheron this assertion is grounded be chiefly these 1 If the sea were higher then the Earth what should hinder the water of it froÌ„ flowing â—broad ouerwhelming the Earth sith all men will confesse that the water is by nature disposed to moue downwards to the lower place If they haue recourse to supernatural â—ouÌ„ds besides that we haue spoken coÌ„cerning the interpretatioÌ„â— of such places of Scripture as seeme to fauour this opinioÌ„ we â—nswere as before that it is very improbable that God in the first creation should impose such a perpetuall violence secondly we read that in the vniuersalâ— deluge wherein all the world was drowned God brake open the springs of the deep opened the Cataracts of heauen to powre down raine continually many daies together vpon the Earth Of which there had beene no necessity at all had the sea beene heaâ—ed vp in such
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
grounds yet these few instances drawne from the particular disposition of the Earth it selfe cannot much impeach our proposition which takes notice only of the situation of the Earth in respect of the cardinall points of North and South compared with the Heauens CHAP. XI 1 HItherto haue we treated of the Absolute adiuncts of the land we are now to speak of the Relatiue which imply a respect of the Land to the Sea 2 From this Termination of the land with the sea there ariseth a twofold distinction The first is of the land into Continent and Ilands 3 A Continent is a great quantity of land consisting of many Kingdomes and Regions not diuided by Water the one from the other An Iland is a parcell of land compassed round with the sea An Iland is called in Latin Insula quasi in salo because it stands in the Sea some would haue it in English termed an Iland as it were Eye of the land But this deriuation seemes affected and not naturall it might seeme more naturally to be deriued from the French L'Isle But wee will not dispute of the name It is enough to vnderstand that an Iland is a portion of the habitable Earth euery where enuironed with the sea orat least with some great Riuer but this last sense seemes more improper then the other yet oftentimes vsed as Meroe in Africa an Iland of Nilus and the Iland of Eely in England To this is opposed the Continent as that land which being not diuided and separated by the sea containes in it many Empires and Kingdomes as Europe Asia Africke America all which as farre as wee can yet gather are vnited and ioyned together in one continuate land Strabo affirmes out of this in his 1 Boooke and first Chapter of Geographie that the whole Earth is one Iland sith all these knowne parts of the Earth are compassed about with the sea on euery side But this opinion cannot stand with reason or moderne obseruation First because this acception is too large for as much as an Iland is properly taken for a smaller part diuided from the rest of the land and opposed to the Continent whereas if this sense were admitted the distinction of land into Continent and Iland would haue no place or at least the same in a diuerse respect might bee called a Continent and an Iland But it is plaine that Ilands were alwayes opposed to the continent to which although separate by Water they were supposed to belong as to Europe Asia Africke America or Magellanica or some other as Geographers haue reduced them Secondly because it was a bold coniecture to thinke the whole world to consist only of those parts found out in Strabos time For besides the two parts of America since that time discouered by Columbus another great portion is since that time found out in the South by the coniecture of Ferdinando de Quir comming neere the quantity of Europe Asia and Africa Which howsoeuer it be round enuironed with sea and thâ—refore might seeme an Iland yet in respect of the greatnes of it and the many regions and kingdomes it containes it may well bee reputed a continent To which many lesser Ilands belong 1 It is probable that Ilands were not from the first creation but were made afterwards either by the vniuersall deluge or some other violence of the Water It hath been the opinion of diuerse learned men that Ilands werâ— not onely before the Flood but from the first creation of the world because they seeme no lesse to make for the ornament of the Earth then diuers Lakes and Riuers dispersed on the Land But this argument seemes very weake first because a greater ornament seemes to consist in vniformity then confusion besides the ornament must not bee measured by our phantasie but Gods Almighty pleasure and will expressed in his owne workmanship and that hee created Ilands in the beginning is the thing in question That Ilands were not from the Creation many probable reasons are alleaged First â—rom the words in the 1 of Genesis Dixit verò Deus congregentur aequae quae sub coelo sunt in locum vnum appareat arida factum est ita vocauit Deus aridam terram congregationesque Aquarum appellauit maria By which may be collected that the waters were gathered together in their own place by themselues and therefore had no such intercourse betwixt Land and Land as now they haue admitting Ilands wherefore it is more probable that such Ilands as now appeare were either caused by that Vniuersall Deluge of Noah or by some other Accidents for it is most certaine that the Sea on the Land some-where gaines and other-where in recompence of it it looseth againe as may appeare by the 14 of Genesis where it is said of the comming together of certaine Kings Hi omnes conuenâ—runt in vallem Syluestrem quae nunc est mare salis out of which it is euident that that parcell of ground which was a woody place in the time of Abraham was before the time of Moses become the Salt Sea Many examples of the like are giuen vs by Pliny in his Naturall History which we shall haue occasion to vrge hereafter And therefore it is no hard thing to belieue that since the first beginning of the world all Ilands might bee produced in this sort Another argument by which they would â—stablish this opinion is that wee see almost all Ilands of the Earth not onely inhabited of mankind but also furnished with diuerse kindes of Beasts some tame some wilde some wholesome some venomous some vsefull some altogether vnprofitable Now it seemes very vnlikely that men bâ—ing in elder times and now also in most places of the Earth altogether vnskilfull in the Art of Nauigation should venture so farre on the maine Ocean to people Countreyes so far distant sith at this day wherein Nauigation is arriued at a great perfection hauing the helps both of the Chart and Compasse altogether vnknowne vnto the ancients wee see most Nations very scrupulous in searching out farre remote Countreyes But admit this were ouercome by mans Industrie which no doubt is much increased by Necessity yet cannot it bee very probable that so many sundry kindes of beasts should in this sort bee transported for howsoeuer wee coniecture concerning such beasts as necessarily serue for mans sustenance yet seemes it hard to thinke that man should bee so improuident and enuious to the place of his own Habitation as to transport rauenous venomous vnwholesome and vnprofitable creatures for by no other meâ—nes but by transportation can such beasts bee imagined to bee brought into Ilands For the first originall of all creatures in the Creation was in or neere Paradice which wee shall proue to haue been â—n the Continent of Asia the second Seminary was in the Arke which by the testimony of the Scriptures was first disburthened in the same Continent How from hence they should spread themselues into Ilands is the