Annotations vpon the first Booke of Noe, called the Arke.

1 DIvine verse. He complaines of the miseries of our time, of his bodies crasinesse, and care of houshold affaires, which hinder his bold designes, and make his Muse fall (as it were) from heauen to earth. He calls the verse diuine because of the subiect matter which he handleth; acknowledging withall, that, as Ouid saith, Carmina proueniunt anime deducta sereno: and this serenitie or quiet­nesse of spirit, which is all in all for a Christian Poem, is a gift from Heauen. And therefore this our Poet, In stead of calling vpon his Muse (which is but himselfe, or helpe of profane inuentions) looketh vp rather vnto that power, from whence commeth euery good and perfect gift, that is the father of light.

2 Oh rid me. This is a zealous inuocation, and well beseeming the Authors intent: which also is enriched with a daintie comparison. For verily the chiefe grace of a Poem is, that the Poet begin not in a straine ouer high to continue, and so grow worse and worse to the end: but rather that he increase and aduance himselfe by little and little, as Virgil among the Latin Poets most happily hath done. Horace also willeth a good wri­ter, in a long-winded worke, ex sumo dare lucem, that is, to goe-on and fi­nish more happily then he began. Who so doth otherwise, like is to the blustring wind, which the longer it continues, growes lesse and lesse by de­grees: but the wise Poet will follow rather the example of Riuers, which from a small spring, the farther they run grow on still to more and more streame and greatnesse.

3 As our foresire foretold. Saint Peter in his 2. chapt. of his 2. Ep. calls Noe the Herault or Preacher of righteousnesse; and in the eleauenth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrewes, it is said that Noe, being aduertised from God of things not yet seene, conceined a reuerent seare; and built the Arch for safegard of his familie: through the which Arch he condemned the world, and was made heire of the righteousnesse, which is by sa [...]th. By these places may be gathered, that Noe laying hold on the truth of Gods threats and promises (as Moses also sheweth in the sixt of Gen.) prepared materials for the Arch; and in building the same, did, as well by worke, as word of a Prea­cher, condemne the impiety and wickednesse of men; warning them of [Page 20]the iudgement which hung ouer their heads; which also was put in exe­cution at the very time appointed by the Almighty.

4 When all were once i'th' Arke. This historie of the Deluge our Poet had before touched in the end of the second day of his first weeke; which passage I the Translator thought good here to insert, that the description might be the fuller. These verses, and the rest to the end of this booke, shew vs the fearefull iudgement of God vpon the sinnes of that former world; set downe first by Moses in the 6.7. and 8. chapters of Genesis. Were I to write a full commentary thereof, I should discourse of Noes Arke, and diuers questions which present themselues concerning that rare sub­iect, with the precedents, consequents and coincidents: but I touch lightly these things, to draw the Readers care, and make still more and more knowne vnto him, the great learning and Art shewed in this diuine Poem. To see how our Author is his crafts-master, let a man conferre this decription with that of Ouid in the first booke of his Metam: concer­ning the Deluge of Deucalion. Some of his verses I thought good here to set downe, for encouragement of such as haue leysure, more neerely to consider, and compare the French with the Latine.

Then speaking of the land and out-let of Riuers, thus:

See the rest of Ouid; who hath not so exactly described these things, as our Poet.

5 Nereus. By this word he means the Sea, which at the Deluge ouer­flowed the whole Earth; because it was not then held within the proper bounds thereof by the powerfull goodnesse and prouidence of the Crea­tor. Ouid expresseth it thus; Omnia pontus erant; deerant quoquelittora ponto. Virgil, thus; Spumeus atque imo Nereus ciet aequora sundo. Natalis Comes in his Mythologie, lib. 8. cap. 6. hath much of Nereus and the Ne­reides: where also he giues a reason why the Poets so call the Sea.

6 The Sea-Calues. So I translate [le Manat] for the Veal-like flesh there­of; though this be indeed a great Sea-fish described by Rondeletius in the 18. chapter of his sixt booke. He is also like a young Bull with a broad backe, and a very thicke skin: they say he weigheth more then two oxen are well able to draw. His flesh (as I said before) commeth neere the taste of Yeale, but it is fatter, and not so well relished: he will be made as tame [Page 21]as a dog; but hath a shrewd remembrance of such as hurt him. P. Marlyr of Millaine, in the 8. booke of his 3. Decade, tels great wonders of one that was tamed and made so familiar with a certaine Cassike or Lord of India: that he would play and make sport like an Ape; and sometimo would carry ten Indians at once on his backe, and passe or ferry them in that wise from one side of a great Lake there to the other. And for as much as hauing foure feet like a Sea-dog, he liued on the land as well as in the water: he would now and then wrestle with Indians, and take meat at their hand; but would in no wise be reconciled vnto the Christians there, because one of them (whom he knew, it seems, very strangely, by his face and clothes) had once strooke him with a lance, though hurt him not, by reason of his hard and thicke hyde. Ouiede, in the 13. booke and 10. chap. f his History, describes one, but not as a creature liuing both at Sea and Land; nor yet foure-footed. Howbeit he saith the name of Manat is giuen to this fish by the Spaniards, because he hath (as t'were) manus duas, two hands neere his head, which doe serue him for fynnes to swim withall: he tels further many things of singular note, and that this Manat or Sea­bullocke is found about the Isle of Hispaniola. As for other fishes here men­tioned, they shall be handled in another place hereafter; but who so de­sires to know more of the history and nature of them, let him reade Gesner, Rondeletius, & Bellon. So much out of the second day of the first weeke: Now let vs goe on with this booke of the Arke.

7 Good Noe. In the history of Moses, Gen. 7. there are certaine points worthy noting, to proue that the faithfull and holy Patriarck Noes heart failed him not, though he saw then the Arke tossed vp and downe the boundlesse waters of this generall Flood; though all the fountaines of the great deepe broke forth, and the flood-gates of Heauen were opened, so as the raine fell amaine and without ceasing vpon the face of the earth forty daies and forty nights together; and the water swelled fiftie cubits aboue the highest of all hills. The first is, that he entred the Arke him­selfe with his wife and children, and their wiues also, at the commandement of God. The second is, that, after all the beasts, paire by paire, were also come in, God himselfe shut the doore vpon them. For this shewes that the holy Patriarke with a liuely faith obeyed the voice of God, and vpon his only wise prouidence wholly rested. And therefore good reason had the Poet to set downe such holy exercises, as were likely to be vsed by Noe, being now close prisoner (as it were) for the space of a whole yeare and ten daies: as may be gathered by the 11. and 13. verses of the seauenth chapter of Genesis; and by the 13. and 14. verses of the chapter following. The summe of his discourse is grounded vpon consideration of the great mercy of God, who neuer forgetteth his children and such as feare him and rest vpon his goodnesse. This goodnesse and mercy well shewed it selfe vnto Noe and his, among so many fearefull shapes of death; while in the Arke they were so preserued aliue from the Deluge, together with the whole seminarie of the world next to ensue. The Almighty now held all crea­tures obedient vnto the Patriarke, as he had before disposed them to come [Page 22]and range themselues by couples into the Arke, where they were, during this imprisonment, to be fed and kept cleane. Let the Reader duely con­sider how many wayes the faith, patience, and constancie of Noe was exer­cised in so waighty a charge; and how needfull it was, that God, who had shut vp his seruant in this prison of wood, should be there also with him from time to time, to strengthen and make him rich in faith, as hee was; whereby he onercame all these dangers. God therefore doubtlesse was the Patron of his ship; the sterne, Load starre, Ancor and Hauen of this Arke, sloating amid the waters now hurried after a strange manner. To this purpose saith a learned Father: Noah iactatur procellis, nec meigitur; serpentibus & beslijs sociatur, nec terretur; ei serae colla submittunt, & alites famulantur. It was the great mercy of God toward Noe, that hee gaue him the skill and knowledge how to fit the seuerall places in the Arke for the creatures and their food: as also, that vnder one man, and so few more as were saued with him, he held in obedience so many beasts, and (for the most part) one contrary to another; that the men were not cho [...]ked vp with this close ayre, and ill sauour of excrements: that amid so many feare­full apprehensions they were able to keepe life and soule together. But the blessing of God is the stay and sure hold of all his children.

8 But Cham. I will not speake here now of the questions arising about the time when began, or how long continued the Flood; nor curiously examine the Hebrew words; lest these Annotations grow too long. And the Poet hath chosen matter of more importance to be considered. I haue said else-where, that it graceth much a Poem, where the certame truth ap­peares not, there to stand vpon likelyhoods. Cham shewed himselfe a pro­fane wretch and a scosser straight after the Flood; whereupon both he and his posteritie were accursed. The Poet therefore with great probabilitie supposeth he could not long conceale and hold-in the poyson whereof his heart was full: but began to vent and vomit it euen in the Arke: Noe then, a man endued with the feare of God, was (surely) not silent the space of a whole yeare and ten dayes; and his care was not employed alto­gether vpon the beast: it must needs be therefore that he spent some time in teaching and comforting his familie. Cham was certainly gracelesse, and had no feeling of the Spirit; and fitly then doth the Poet personate in him all that are profane striuers against the iudgements of God. For whatsoeuer is here imputed vnto Cham, may be gathered for likely, by that which he and his posteritie did after the Deluge. Noe who liued yet three hund [...]ed and fiftie yeares longer, returned (it seemes) from the Armenian hills, where the Arke staid, into his own former habitation, about Damas­cus, where his fore-fathers were buried. It is held for certaine that Sem also came againe thither; and that his issue peopled the lands thence reaching toward the East & the South; Cham drew to the South & West; Iaphet to the North and West; whereof reade yee the 10. chap. of Genesis. Cham had one sonne called Cus, whose posteritie inhabited a part of Arabia, and that of Ethiopia which is vnder Egypt: another called Mitsraim, of whom came the Egyptians; and another called Canaan, father of the Ca­nanites. [Page 23]He had also Put, a fourth sonne; but of his posteritie Moses hath not a word. Iosephus, in the sixt chapter of his first booke of Antiquities, saith he peopled Lybia. And it was indeed in the sandie deserts thereof that the children of Cham held the Temple and Oracle of Iupiter Hammon, or Chammon. For the doctrine of truth by little and little being corrupted, and at last quite abolished amongst them (as among the Cananites the Scripture shewes Idolaters, Magitians, and persons euery way debauched and profane) these now blind and ignorant of the true God, make to them­selues a God; and giue him a double name: one drawne from the name of the true God Ichoua, turned into Jupiter; and the other from their great Auncestor Cham. After this, the Deuill plaid terrible pranks in this Temple; and it became the most renowmed among the Gentiles; as you may reade in the second booke of Herodotus. And it is not vnlikely that Cham, euen at the time of the Floud, was plotting in his heart for such ho­nours, to be done him by his posteritie, preiudiciall to the glory of Almighty God. As for his obiections here, they tend all (as all Chamites or Atheists reasons doe) first to controll the wise and vnblameable prouidence of the All good and Almighty God. Secondly, to shake the foundation of deuout humilitie in his Church. Thirdly, to censure both the mercy and iustice of the Lord. Fourthly, to make the order of Nature his buckler, to keepe off all apprehension of the vengeance of God; whose wayes, though the wicked thinke to follow them with naturall reason, are all past finding out, as witnesseth the Prophet Isay and S. Paul.

9. Fie Father. I come now to set downe in briefe the reproches, and foule speeches vttered here by Cham, whereof I need say but little, because the Reader may very easily distinguish them; sithence there is nothing in the Poets words, but easie to be vnderstood. The chiefe point is to con­sider well of Noes answers; which I haue one by one obserued as they stand in the Text.

10. By this the father gauld. After he hath witnessed his griefe in pre­face, hee bestowes vpon this scoffer such titles as he deserued; and then layes open the well-head of Atheisme; which is, for man to trust ouermuch in himselfe, and little regard what is taught by the Spirit of God: then foretelling the miserable end of all Atheists, he answers the obiections of Cham very punctually; enriching and beautifying his discourse with de­scriptions, comparisons, inductions and proofes necessarie; which well considered, afford much instruction, and comfort vnto men of an vpright heart. The two last answers are very remarkable; whereunto the Pa­triarke most fitly adioynes the calling on the name of God; of purpose to shew, vnto whom the faithfull ought to flie in all their troubles and tenta­tions. I will not adde hereunto what Iosephus hath in the first of his An­tiquities, because there are many things little to the purpose, and such as sort not with the state and maiestie of that sacred historie set downe by Moses. Something it is that Philo Iudaeus hath written of Moses and the Deluge in his second booke of the life of Moses toward the end. Vpon this historie of the Flood haue the Heathen people forged that fable of Deucalion, described by Ouid in the first of his Metamorphosis. But in these answers, by our Author put vpon Noc, the Reader may finde wherewithall to stop the mouth of all Atheists & Epicures, which are so bold to censure all that the holy Scripture saith, as well of the Essence and Nature of God, as of his workes; whether they concerne the creation and preseruation of the world, with the redemption of Mankinde; or his iust iudgements vpon the profane and reprobate vnbeleeuers.

11. Thus Noah. In the beginning of the 8. Chap. of Gen. Moses re­ports that God remembred Noe and euery beast, and all the cattell that were with him in the Arke; and made a wind passe vpon the earth; and the waters ceased. This the Poet expoundeth, giuing by the way very proper Epithites vnto the winds: and such also as are mentioned in the Psalmes 18. and 104. This wind dried the earth by degrees, and caused the waters to retire into [Page 25] their proper place of deepe Sea and Chanels; for the waters enterlaced with the earth make but one globe: And though at the Deluge, by Gods appointment, they went out far beyond their bounds to drowne the wick­ed; yet when the same God would deliuer his seruant Noe out of danger, at his command they remasse themselues into their wonted heap, furthe­red thereunto by the winds; and there continue so setled, that they passe [Page 26] not the bounds of an ordinarie ebbe and flow. This is done by the power of God, and for the promise he made to Noe, that there should be no more generall Flood, to destroy the earth.

12. And th'Arke. The Poet here calls it the Holy Carraque, as built by the commandement of God, and containing his Church. On the seuenth day of the seuenth moneth (saith Moses, Gen. 8.4.) rested the Arke vpon the Mountaines of Ararat. Some by this name vnderstand the great Armenia; others, the top of Caucasus. So Goropius, who there­upon discourseth at large in the 5. booke of his Antiquities, entitled Indo-Scythica. Iosephus, in his first, sheweth what thought Berosus, Nicolaus Damascenus, and others very auncient concerning the Arke; but followeth the first opinion. The Poet contents himselfe here to signifie, and ex­presse only in generall, some very high hill.

13. Now Noahs heart reioyc'd. From the end of the seuenth moneth to the end of the ninth (saith Moses) the waters began to abate daily more and more; and on the first day of the tenth moneth (that is, eight moneths and thirteene dayes after the Flood began) the tops of the hills appeared: so then already were the waters soonke aboue fifteene cubits. This fust made the Patriarke be of good hope. For after forty dayes, he opened the window of the Arke, and let goe the Rauen; which went and came, till the waters were dried from the surface of the earth. He sent out also a Doue to try if they were yet further abated; but the Doue not finding where to rest the sole of her foot, return [...]d vnto him againe into the Arke: for the waters were yet ouer the whole earth, and he reached out his band, and tooke her to him into the Arke. And when he had waited yet seauen dayes lon­ger, he sent out the Doue againe, and in the euening shee returned vnto him, hauing in her mouth an Oliue-leafe, which shee bad plucked, &c. I haue recited the Text of Moses, whereupon the Expositors discoursing are wont to shew, wherefore Noah sent-out the Rauen and the Doue rather then any other birds: and why the Doue after the Rauen, and thrice. He knew full well the nature of these two was fit for the discouery; and went on with a discreet feare, attending, in all that he did, the manifest declaration of Gods will, touching his comming forth of the Arke. He had also a strong [Page 31] hope and confidence in the goodnesse of God, now prouing the patience and constancie of his seruant; and strengthning him still more and more by those meanes of discouery. And although the Doue at last staid and re­turned not vnto him; the waters being dayed from the earth; yet would he not come forth of the Arke, but contented himselfe to remoue the co­uering thereof, and behold the dry land round about him; and staid so 27. dayes longer, expecting the will and pleasure of the same God, to call him out of the Arke, which commanded him to enter into it. A singular example of obedience and reuerence due vnto the Almighty. As for the rest, the ancient Diuines haue at large allegorized vpon this Doue and the Oliue leafe, for a token of peace betwixt God and his Church: as also vpon the resemblance, that this deliuerie hath, with our redemption by Iesus Christ. These are contemplations of good vse, whereof the Poet maketh a briefe in speaking of the Oliue. Here it may suffice to haue touched them in a word, and leaue the Reader to meditate thereupon. Whom I wish also to peruse the third chapter of the 1. Epist. of S. Peter, and see what the Apostle there saith concerning the correspondence of Baptisme and the Deluge.

14. Although the Flood. When Noe had patiently attended many dayes after the surface of the Earth began to waxe drie; God spoke vnto him (Gen. 8.15. &c.) saying, Come out of the Arke, thou and thy wife, and thy sonnes and their wiues with thee. Bring forth with thee euery beast that is with thee, of all flesh, both foule and cattell; and euery thing that creepeth and moueth vpon the earth. Then Noe came forth, and his sonnes, and his wife, and his sonnes wiues with him. Euery beast, euery creeping thing, and euery fowle; all that moueth vpon the earth, after their kinds, went out of the Arke; as it were out of a prison most noysome and deadly, but for the presence and singu­lar fauour of the Lord, who preserueth both man and beast, as the Psalmist saith. Here are many things to be admired: Noe and all his come forth safe and sound; the beasts also come forth without preying one vpon ano­ther; and they retire themselues to their seuerall haunts; their dens, nests, and places sit for them: and he retaineth what was requisite for sacrifice.

15. Here yet the damned Crew. Before he goe-on, he shewes what cer­taine profane wretches doe obiect, who make doubt of this history, con­cerning the Deluge; because they cannot conceiue how it is possible that the Arke, being but 300. cubits long and 50. broad, and 30. high, should liue (it is the Sea-mans phrase) so many moneths, in so great a storme of wind, raine and violence of waters, with so heauy a charge; and containe so many creatures together with their competent food and fodder; si­thence the greatest Gallion vpon the Sea, hath hardly stoage for the nou­rishment of a Horse, an Elephant, a Cammell, a Bull, and a Rhinoceros, the space of ten moneths. The Poet hath diuers answers to this obie­ction. First, that the mungrell beasts, of what sort soeuer since engendred (as Mules, Leopards, and other like, that Nature daily brings forth) were not in the Arke. And this may be gathered out of the very text of Moses; who speaks of the simple and true kindes, not the mingled or mungrell sort; as all Expositors agree. The second is, that the Arke (because it contai­ned so many cubits geometricall) was able to receiue of all the true and simple kinds, wylde, tame, creeping, flying, both male and female. This is briefly said; but we will speake thereof a word more. Moses hath re­corded (in the 6. chap. of Gen. ver. 14. &c.) that God, hauing a purpose to destroy the world, said vnto Noe, Make thee an Arke of Gopher-wood (which is thought to be a sort of Pine or Cedar) Thou shalt make cabins in the Arke, and shalt pitch it inside and out with pitch. And thus thou shalt make it: The length thereof shall be 300 cubits, and the breadth 50 cubits, and the height 30 cubits: a window shalt thou make in the Arke, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it abone; and thou shalt set a doore in the side thereof: And thou shalt make it with a low, second, and third roome, or storie. The timber then of the Arke being of such a fast and sad wood, not easily rotting, was like to hold out: and I imagine it was a kinde of Cedar, such as Plinie nameth in the 15. chap. of his 13. booke, saying, Hanc quoque materiam, siccatam mari, duritie incorrupta spissari, nec vllo modo vehementiùs. 1. That this kinde of timber, dryed with the Sea, more then any wayes else, growes so sad and hard, that it cannot rot. But sithence the Commentors vpon this place differ much in the interpretation of this word Gopher; which in all the Old Testament is not found but here; I leaue the Reader, that will be exact and curious, to search it out himselfe. As for the rest, it is not to be doubted, but that Noe endowed with a great measure of the holy Spirit, and with exquisite wisdome, did herein euen to the full conceiue and execute the commande­ment of God: So as the Arke (that is, the close or couered ship) was surely made and finished according to the proportion set downe by Moses: and that, of choice, well seasoned, and most durable materials, 100 yeare a preparing, as may be gathered by comparing the 7. chap. and 6. verse, with the 6.10. and the 5.32. of Genesis. And for as much as the whole busi­nesse was managed by the expresse ordinance of God, who gaue a secret instinct to the beasts, both cleane and vncleane, to enter after Noe by payres into the Arke, I conclude there was roome distinct and sufficient both for them and their prouisions. Apelles an auncient Heretike, and the disciple of a most vngodly Master called Marcion, hauing presumptuously controuled the bookes of Moses, gaue occasion to some of the Fathers, and chiefly Origen, among other points, to treat of the capacitie and largenesse of Noes Arke: wherein he accounts each cubit Geometricall; the Qua­drate whereof is as much as six other cubits. And this, I. Buteo, a learned Mathematician of Daulphine, very cunningly declares, in a treatise pur­posely written of the Arke of Noe: where he proues to the full whatso­euer may be questioned concerning that admirable peece of Architecture, and all the cabins that it had for the creatures, and their seuerall prouisi­ons. Io. Goropius discourseth likewise hereof, and at large, in the second booke of his Antiquities, entitled Gigantomachia; inserting also some part of Buteo. But, to speake plainly, if we take the cubit in common significa­tion, for a foot and a halfe, and confider the different syze of men of that age from ours, together with the length, bredth and height of the Arke, and three stages (whereof the lowest was for the prouision, the next for the foure-footed and creeping creatures, and the vppermost for the birds, with Noe and his familie) and ouer all these a couering; wee shall finde roome enough to lodge and place all, according to the number in generall set downe by Moses, to wit, male and female of euery sort vncleane; and seauen of the cleane, male and female. The Poet here speaking of the Geometricall cubit, means a cubit solid, that is, in length, bredth and height taken together. There are that make the cubit two foot long; and make difference betwixt the cubit legale (as they call it) and the cubit of a man: glancing at that which is said (Deut. 3.) of the bed of Og king of Basan. Looke what Arias Montanus saith in his Tubal Cain and Noah; where he discourses of the measures and Architectures mentioned in holy Scrip­ture, and of the Arke. These bookes are in the Volume which he calleth Apparatus, ioyned to the great Bibles in Hebrue, Greeke and Latine, and printed at Antwerpe. That which hath led these Atheists and profane wretches into errour, is, that they consider not that Noe, and the men of that Age, by reason of their higher stature, had longer cubits; and hard it is to giue a iust proportion of theirs vnto ours. When Moses wrote, cer­taine it is, that mens bodies were abated of their bignesse; yet that which he wrote was easily vnderstood of the Israelites, who receiued these things by tradition, and knew them as perfectly, as if they saw them with their eyes. The last argument here vsed by the Poet, adoring the wisdome of Almighty God, who made all things in number, weight and measure, is a reason of all reasons; and altogether vnreasonable are they that reason to the contrary: then beside reason were it, to propound reason to them that haue lost the true vse of reason, and will conceiue nothing, but that which their owne mad and extrauagant reason soundeth in their eares. But againe to the Text.

16. O father, o king of winds. Moses saith (Gen. 8.15.) that God spake vnto Noe, after that he had beene shut vp in the A [...]ke a yeere and some daies, and bade him come forth with his familie and the beasts; and gaue them all a blessing, which continues vnto this day. The Patriarke obeying the com­mandement, built an Altar vnto the Lord, and tooke of all the cleane foure-footed, and of all the cleane birds (hauing learned this difference in the holy schoole of his forefathers, who were taught it from God) and offred thereon whole burnt Sacrifices, in repentance and faith apprehending the [Page 31] Messias and Redeemer to come. For Sacrifices were vnto the faithfull as visible witnesses of their miserable estate in Adam, and Grace offred them in their Sauiour, applied with the eyes and hands of a liuely faith. Out of doubt these holy ceremonies were accompanied with most carnest prayers also: because true faith in a heart enflamed with the loue of God, could not be idle; He beleeued, and beleeuing spake, as did the Psalmist, Psal. 116. This prayer of Noe, supposed by the Poet, is fitted vnto the consideration of time past and to come, and founded vpon the text of Moses.

17. Goe breed. The rest of this booke containes a short exposition of the chiefe points handled in the ninth chap. of Gen. Whereof the first shewes the blessing of God, that would haue Noe and his children with the rest, increase and multiply, and replenish the earth. For the world, now as it were created anew, had need be sanctified and quickned from God with a new blessing. The second point is, that all creatures should be subiect vnto man: which we finde true at this day; as well by the inuentions we haue to master them all; and skill to draw food, seruice, profit and pleasure many wayes from them; as also by this, that the fiercest of them doe vs but sel­dome hurt, though easily they might destroy vs, if that word of God (The feare of you be vpon all the beasts of the earth) were not verified, and cast, as it were, a bridle into the iawes, and shackle to the pawes of enemies armed with so much aduantage against our kinde. The third, that Noe and his haue leaue giuen them, as freely to make vse of the beasts, as of any fruit growing vpon the Earth; so that they eat not the flesh with the blood for God would by this restraint shew how abominable murder is in his sight: whereof, as the fourth point, there is mention made expresly in the text. [Page 33] And lastly, to comfort Noe and his, the Lord tells them, and sweares thereto, that the world should neuer more be destroyed by a generall Flood; and further to assure them hereof, saith; This is the token of the couenant, which I make betweene me and you, and betweene euery liuing thing that is with you for euer: I will set my Bow in the cloud, &c. Gen 9.12. &c.

18. Then Noe cast-vp eye. To this elegant description of the Rainebow, nothing can be added It appeared certainly before the Flood; but then was it not a token of Gods couenant with mankind (as now it began to be) that the world should be no more destroyed by waters. That our Poet so playes the Philosopher vpon the colours of blew and red; hee takes it of some ancient Fathers of the Church; and it is no wayes impertinent or absurd. But the Reader is at liberty, to settle his iudgument on that hee shall thinke more conuenient. Such Allegories and Poeticall licence, haue their grace and good vse, when a man propounds them with modestie (as doth our Poet) not importuning any to receiue them; but leauing all men their iudgement free.

19. All holy Rites performed. The Scripture saith (Gen. 9.20.) that Noe was an Husbandman, and planted a vineyard. Hereby appeares that he, before the Flood, had betooke himselfe to the vocation of planting and tilling, with all that belonged thereto. A trade worthy such holy Fathers, and well beseeming their long liues. For then, and a long time after, was this exer­cise (by good right) held a lawfull vsurie, a gaine void of Enuie, an Art maintaining all Arts, and the true meanes of long liuing. In the meane time, while the posteritie of Seth followed husbandry and tillage, they of Cain gaue themselues wholly to high matters of State and gouernment in the world; whereby they came short of health, and true wisdome. Fur­thermore it is said, that Noe planted a vine, which was it may be a thing knowne of him before, but neuer dressed to the full proofe, till then; as may be gathered by that which the historie shewes fell out thereupon; to wit, that Noe drunke of the wine, and was drunken, and was vncoured in the mids of his tabernacle. For likely it is that if wine had beene vsed before the Deluge, [Page 36] drunkennesse in those dayes would haue shewed it selfe among other vices, and increased them: so as Noe might thereby haue taken occasion, after the Deluge, to beware thereof and stand the more vpon his guard But these words (he dranke of the wine) seeme to import that before then he ne­uer had tasted the sweetnesse of this fruit, and was taken therewith at vn­awares. Some are of opinion, that it pleased the diuine goodnesse, because the strength of mans nature was impaired by the Flood, to helpe and re­compence him with eating of flesh and drinking of wine; as meat and drinke more strong, and remedies auaileable, against the assaults of diuers diseases and infirmities, then like to ensue. For well may it be thought, by the curse of God, now redoubled vpon mankind, that the earth lost a good part of the force and vigour it had before; and that the Deluge was (as it were) a strong buck-water, to fret and diminish the force of all creatures, especially the body of man, which after the Flood waxed more feeble, and of lesse continuance then before: and for this cause it pleased God to com­fort [Page 37] our poore and weake Nature, with drinke more vigorous and meat more solide. And for the places and countries destitute of wine, he hath furnished them with corne and fruit fit to make (for their comfort, strength and batling) drinke of such force and strength, as will make them drunke, if they take too much of it. The Poet hath hereto fitly adioyned the de­scription of a place fit for a Vineyard; and the manner of dressing it. Whereof looke what Plinie saith in his 17. booke, chap. 21. & 22. and Ch. Stephen at the chapter of the Vine in his Country Farme.

20. Now Noah waxing old. Some thinke that Ianus, whom the wri­ters of old time haue made so famous, was the Patriarke Noe, and that they gaue him that name of Ianus, for the inuention of wine, called by the Hebrewes Iasin: but others hold that Ianus came of Iauan (the sonne of Iaphet, Gen. 10.) of whom descended the Greeks and Latines. More­ouer, they paint this Ianus with two faces, one before and another be­hind; to shew his wisdome; or rather to signifie, that he saw both the world that was before the Flood, and that which came after. All this, in processe of time hath beene dawbed vp with strange fables; as appeares by the writings of the Gentiles. That which the Poet here saith this one fit of Noes drunkennesse, is touched and couched in a word by Moses, Gen. 9.21. but our Author hath amplified it very artificially; describing in right kind a man, no man, when he is ouercharged with wine: of pur­pose to make vs abhorre and detest that vice, which ouerthrew the ancient Greeks & Romans; though since their time it is growne a custome, & (as may seeme by the strange debauchment and outrage of our dayes) now taken for a vertue. Among the works of S. Basil, that ancient Greeke Bishop, there is an Homilie against drunkennesse, and the strange beha­uiour of a drunkard; right so set downe in all points, as liere by the Poet. That which is reported of Caesar, that dying he couered himselfe with his garment, when Brutus, with the rest of that conspiracie, killed him in open Senate; is written by Plutarch in his liues. The drunken man neuer thinks of his shame, as Caesar did; for, during the fit, his reason is gone; which proues that a fit of drunkennesse is much more dangerous then death it selfe: what's then the habit, and continuall custome thereof; be­sides the daily and great offence giuen by these men, no men, to God and his Church? The comparisons here vsed, to shew the nature of a slande­rer (taken from Plutarchs flatterer, &c.) are so fitly applied by the Poet to his purpose, that they need no further exposition.

21. Come (brothers) come. Moses saith (Gen. 9.22.) that Cham the fa­ther of Chanaan saw the nakednesse of his father, lying drunke in the tent (as ver. 21.) and told his two brethren without, and Sem and Iaphet tooke a garment, and laid it vpon their shoulders, and went backward and couered the nakednesse of their father; and their faces were fromward, and they saw not their fathers nakednesse. And this is the point which the Poet handles in this section.

22. Slept out the surfet was. It is recorded in the foresaid chapter also, that Noe awoke from his wine, end knew what his younger sonne had done vnto [Page 38] him; he knew it either by some part of his memory confusedly retained in drunkennesse, or by renelation from God; except we should thinke ra­ther that Sem and Iaphet told him; that he might reproue the foule im­pietie of their brother: and he is noted the younger, for aggrauation of the crime. Whereupon the Father said: Cursed be Canaan, a seruant of ser­uants shall he be to his brethren: and againe, Blessed be the Lord God of Sem, and Canaan shall be his seruant: God shall enlarge Iaphet, and he shall dwell in the tents of Sem, and Canaan shall be his seruant. The Diuines propound here many questions to be considered; whereof these two are the chiefe.

• 1. Why Noe went here so far as to denounce that curse against his grand­child Canaan and that race.
• 2. What is the meaning of these blessings vpon Sem and Iaphet. The Poet answers in a word, that Noe pronounced these curses and blessings by spirit of prophecie.

Forasmuch as God, in his infinite wisdome, when he had before humbled his poore seruant Noe, was pleased now to arme him againe with fatherly authoritie; wherewith hee might pronounce the iust and alway venerable sentences of his eternall decree. For in few words here haue we the state of the world and Gods Church, set downe by this great Patriarke; who could not haue spoken those things (so after verified in destruction of the Canaanites, and Gods extraordinarie fauour to the Israelites, and faithfull Gentiles) but by the Holy Ghost, to whom is alway present, euen that which is to come. For the rest, Moses compriseth all (after his manner) briefely; but with words so liuely and significant, as are easie to be vnderstood of all that weigh and reade them with reuerence and humilitie, and take helpe of the good Commentaries of Fathers both old and new.

23. O soule vice. He detesteth in most proper termes, and grauely inueigheth against drunkennesse, saying, that though it did no more hurt in the world, then impeach the reputation of this Patriarke, otherwise an example of vertue; it were to be hated aboue death. And further, in very few lines he presseth together what the ancient Authors, both holy and pro­fane, haue said against drunkennesse. There are certaine eminent places of holy Scripture, which I need but quote vnto the Reader. See Prou. 20.1. & 21.17. & 23.20.29.30. &c. & 31.4. Esay 5.11. & 22. & 28.1. Hosea 4.11. Luk. 21.34. Rom. 13.13. & 1 Cor. 6.10. Gal. 5.21. Ephes. 5.18. Among the ancient Fathers, S. Chrysostome and S. Basil haue in diuers their Homi­lies very graue and expresly condemned this vice. And there is a whole Homilie against it in the first Tome of S. Basil, and the 80. of the fourth Tome of S. Chrysostome, vpon those words of S. Paul to Timothie, Modico vino vtere. See also what S. Austen writeth hereof to the holy Virgins, and in his fift booke vpon Gen. where he speaks of Lot. And what S. Ierome hath to Oceanus and Eustochium, vpon the first to Tim. the third chap. and to Titus. Among the works of the Heathen, the 84. Epistle of Seneca is worthy to be read. The Greeke and Latine Poets haue also infinite inue­ctiues against this vice, so beastly, nay condemned euen by nature it selfe in beasts. As for the examples here alledged by the Poet, of Clytus and [Page 39] Pentheus, see Plutarch in the life of Alexander the Great, and Ouid in his third booke of Metamorphosis, toward the end: and apparent examples hath the holy Scripture of mischiefe ensuing vpon this wine-bibbing; [Page 39] Not, Lot, Nabal, Ammon, Ela, Balthasar, and others. But the Histories of our time haue a thousand times worse, and more tragicall; which our after-beers will detest and wonder at.

1. Prince. Here is the liuely image of a good Prince set downe vnto vs in a few lines, borrowed of many good Authors both diuine and hu­mane, that teach in their writings rules and examples notable for this pur­pose. Moses in the Law, Dauid in the 101. Psalme, doe declare vnto vs, the rules of dutie belonging vnto Gouernours: and they themselues, with all those the good Iudges and Kings that were among the people of God, serue for sure patterns and examples to all such as meane faithfully to dis­charge the like duties. Also Plato, Aristotle, Xenophon, and Plutarch, with di­uers others, for the instruction of those that came after them, haue set forth many godly precepts and examples. The commodities that arise out of euery one of these vertues here described (each one whereof requireth a large Commentarie) are infinite: and where there are now adaies such Princes in the world, their subiects may thinke themselues exceeding happy. For next after the sincere knowledge and worship of the true God, there is no greater happinesse in the world for vs to enioy, than to be go­uerned by such vertuous personages as are here described: marke then the perfect image of the good Prince.

2. Tyrant. To giue the better glosse to the former picture, another cleane contrary, and maruellous fearefull to behold, he setteth here before our eyes; the picture of a Tyrant that liueth in mistrust of the whole world, as did Dionysius the elder tyrant of Sicilie, of whom we reade among the liues of Platarch. He was so mistrustfull, that for feare of his Barbers, he made his daughters bring him a burning cole to sindge his haire withall. More than this, a Tyrant defileth himselfe with incests, whoredomes, adul­teries, and the sinne of Sodom, and therewith infecteth his whole Court and Country: as that filthy Nero did, whose life is written by Suetonius, Ta­citus, and others, reciting therein many horrible and shamefull cases. Againe, the Tyrant will be subiect vnto no law, nor order whatsoeuer; he ouerthroweth the ground lawes and pillars of the state: or if he seeme willing to submit himselfe thereunto, it is to further himselfe so much the more in the vndermining, by diuers hid practises, and destroying all such as might any way resist, or make head against him. Hence commeth it to passe, that he may in no wise abide any inquisition or examination to be [Page 41] made of his vnworthy and vile outrages, but vaunteth of the iniurie that priuate men suffer, and discredit they are driuen vnto by meanes of his op­pression. To maintaine his state the better, he entertaineth and vphol­deth all manner of hurlyburlies, factions, quariels, and ciuill wars: he fauoureth ruffians, bawds, slatterers, lyers, light and loose persons, murde­rers, impoysoners, Epicures, Atheists, and such as are defiled with all man­ner of vice and wickednesse. He promiseth mountaines, performeth no­thing: glorieth to breake oath and promise, and to deceiue and surprise both small and great by faire words, sweet speech, humble and courteous countenance, when his heart imagineth villanie and treason to his coun­try. He neuer forbeareth any thing, he neuer pardoneth any man, nou­risheth and fatteth himselfe with blood and fire: all peaceable and vertu­ous persons he disgraceth and ouerthroweth, supporting and aduancing all peace-breakers, robbers, and wicked liuers: he taketh bribes for all offices, and oppresseth the people with the vnbrideled number of catch­pole-officers, that maintaine themselues only by grating vpon others: his subiects he would haue liue all dayes of their life in ignorance: painfull, wise and learned men, and those that haue well to take vnto, because they need the lesse to depend on him, or else sell themselues for his fauour, he chaseth far from him, and maketh beholding vnto him, none but fooles, idiots, iesters, anticks, wranglers, and such copes-mates as of naught worth are suddenly start vp, that wholly depend vpon him, and reuell in his co­fers, not giuing him (as they cannot) any good counsell for the common­wealth; they care not which end thereof goe forward: but all their care and counsell is for their priuate gaine, which serues to no better vse, than to intice and draw them on daily to carelesse and wicked liuing. Further yet, so far is he from regarding or placing neere about him men of worth and good qualities, that on the contrary, to the imitation of Tarquinius surnamed the proud (whose storie Liuie writeth in the first booke of his se­cond Decade, concerning the Poppie heads he broke downe with his staffe, to teach his sonne by a dumbe shew, that he should rid out of the way all the Peeres of the Citie, and forsake (as another saith) fifty frogs to catch one Sammon) he breaketh downe the highest cares of corne: [Page 42] that is, he causeth all those to be put to death, that might any wayes hin­der his wicked intents. What should I say more? Such a cursed creature, without God, without conscience, worse than any wilde beast, spareth nei­ther kith nor kin, but either by sword or poyson maketh away the very neerest of all his blood, that he may raigne alone, if it were possible. But notwithstanding the many bands of his guard, he standeth in feare of euery man, and is despised, mocked, and detested of all. For why? Be­sides [Page 43] that is aforesaid, he glorieth and taketh delight to deuise new subsi­dies, imposts, and tributes, whereby the comminaltie may be impoueri­shed, and held in bondage, and so in steed of Homers people-feeder, he be­commeth a people-eater. Of this image of a tyrant, there are examples aboue number found, both in ancient and late writers of Church histories, and others: So I returne to the Poet.

3. Scarce is. The posteritie of Noe being much increased, as Mo­ses reckoneth in the 10. chapter of Genesis, they began to spread a­broad and take seuerall habitations, but not far one from another so soone after the Flood. Among other the sonnes of Cham, is numbred Cus the father of Nimrod, of whom the historie maketh mention, that he be­gan to be great on the earth, and was a mighty hunter before the Al­mighty, and that the beginning of his raigne was Babel, Erech, Archad, and Calnch, in the land of Sennaar. Vpon this place are giuen two diuers ex­positions: The first is, of some that hold that Nimred was the first after the Flood that gaue any meet forme of publike gouernment, and by the consent of many families, considering his wisdome and valour, was accep­ted for master and gouernour, to rule and order many housholds together: by reason whereof (say they) he is called a strong hunter before the Lord: and namely, for that he repressed, by maine force, the wicked and vnruly, who, like sauage beasts, preied vpon the life of man. But the greater part [Page 44] of Expositors take this otherwise, and hold, that Nimrod by force and diuers subtleties (here finely set downe by the Poet) got the supremacie; and that this power ascribed vnto him, was not truly Roy all lawfull, but a power vsurped by force, a hunters power, where with he surprised men, and raigning ouer them cruelly, handled them as if they were beasts, and that before the Lord, which is as much to say, as in despite of God, who had established a gentle rule and gouernment among the families. This se­cond exposition is the more certaine; whether we consider the race of Nimrod, or the proper meaning and sequele of the words of the text, or the buildings of Nimrod, or what successe his proud attempt had. The Poet relying on this opinion, hath further followed in the description of the youth, and exercises of this first Tyrant that was in the second world, such things as were likely to be, and that with such a grace, as in a discourse is re­quisite, that out of the holy Scripture hath so narrow foundation, and in other bookes is, with many fables and names vncertaine, darkned.

4. Now he enthroned is. This is the exposition of the words, mightie hun­ter before the Lord: to wit, that Nimred, Chams nephew, did proudly lift him­selfe vp against God and man. His buildings, and the beginning of his raigne could not haue beene such, without offering violence to the peace and libertie of diuers families ouer whom hee bare rule: and there is no shew to the contrary, but that by diuers practises from time to time he got the Soueraigntie. The holy Scripture oftentimes by the names of hun­ters and chasers, meaneth God, enemies, and the persecutours of his Church, Psa' 91. & 124. Ezech. 32. Lament. 3. The seuentie Interpreters translate the Hebrue text after this manner: This Nimrod began to be a Giant on the earth, and a huntesman, or leader of hounds before the Lord God. By the hounds of Nimrod may be vnderstood his guards, and the fa­uourers of his tyrannie. Moses called him [...] Gi [...]or isaid, that is, Iustie, strong, or great and mightie chaser. Which noteth not only the sta­ture and height of bodie, but also might and authoritie ioyned with vio­lence, in all those that want the feare of God. Now although Moses in the cleuenth Chapter of Genesis, where he speaketh of the Citie and Tower of Babel, make no mention of Nimrod, yet hath the Poet aptly gathered out of the Chapter aforegoing, that Nimrod was the author and promoter of [Page 48] those buildings; in as much as Babel is called the beginning of his raigne, who could not any waies raigne without some habitations for himselfe and his subiects, and considering that Moses in the selfe-same place affirm [...]th, that the Cities founded by Nimrod, were in the countrey of Sennaar, and that in the 12. verse of the 11. Chapter he saith, that these builders of Ba­bel dwelt on a plaine in the countrey of Sennaar: by good reason the in­uention and beginning thereof is here ascribed to Nimrod, who by this meanes sought to set his state on foot. Also this Monarchie of Babylon, was one of the first, and with it that of Niniuie, as may be gathered out of the words of Moses. But the more particular discourse of these matters, and diuers other questions concerning Nimrod and his outrages, require a larger commentatie.

5. Like as the Vulcan weake. The Poet saith, that as a small deale of fire let fall by some Shepherds among the drie leaues of a great Forrest, setting it selfe, and hatching (as it were) the heat a while, at length with helpe of the wind, groweth to so great a flame, that it taketh the whole Forrest, and leaueth not a Driad, that is, not a tree in his proper or naturall barke: So the words first vttered by Nimrod, then blowne with the bellowes of his Mi­nions and fauourites set the hearts of the people on fire, that he soone [Page 49] obtained his purpose. This is it that Moses noteth in the eleuenth Chap­ter of Genesis, the third and fourth verses, They said one to another (the chiefe men hauing put it in their heads) Come, let vs make bricke, and burne in well in the fire: so had they bricke in stead of stone, and s [...]me had they in stead of morter. Then said they, Goe, let vs build vs a Citie, and a Tower, whose top may reach vnto the heauens, that we may get vs a name, lest we be scattered vpon the whole earth. The Poet in his verse discourseth vpon this deuise. It is thought that this proud building was begun about an hundred and fiftie yeares after the Floud. The good Patriarch Noe, that liued yet long time after, saw his po­steritie confounded and scattered: for so it was the Lords will to exercise the patient faith of his seruant, to whom in recompence he shewed the ef­fect of his blessings in the family of Sem, where still remained the Hebrew tongue, together with the doctrine and discipline of the true Church. Now out of this history of Moses touching the building of the Towne, and the confusion of the builders, is sprong (as it seemeth) the fabulous discourse of the Poets, set downe by Ouid in his first booke of Metamorphosis, tou­ching the Giants that heaped hilles one vpon another to scale heauen, and dispossesse Iupiter of his throne. Thus hath Satan endeuoured to falsifie the truth of sacred historie. Well, this arrogant building sheweth vs how vaine are the imaginations of worldly men; namely, to set at naught the true renowne of heauenly life, and seeke after the false of earth. Carnall men haue no care at all to worship and reuerence the name of the true God, they regard only to be accounted-of themselues, and so to write their names in the dust. Against the attempts of the men of Babel, and all their successours, let vs oppose these sentences, the 18. and 21. of Prouerbs. The name of the Lord is a strong tower, thither shall the iust repaire and be ex­alted. There is no wisdome, nor vnderstanding, nor force, can preuaile against the Lord: and that which is written Psal. the 127. Except the Lord doe build the house, the builders labour but in vaine.

6. God seeing this: Moses in the 5. and 6. verses of the 11. chapter saith: Then the Lord came downe to see the Citie, and Towre, which the sonnes of men had built. And the Lord said, Behold the people is one, and they all haue one language, and this they begin to doe, neither can they now bee stopped from whatsoeuer they haue imagined to doe: come on, let vs goe downe and there confound their language, that they vnderstand not one an­other. Then he addeth the execution of the sentence, saying; So the Lord scattered them from thence vpon all the earth, and they left off to build the Citie. Therefore the name of it was called Babel, because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth, and scattered them from thence ouer all the world. God, that is all in all, neuer changeth his place, he goeth nei­ther vpward nor downward, but the Scripture saith, hee goeth downe then when he worketh any thing on earth, which falling out beyond and against the ordinary course of nature, witnesseth his particular presence. Vnder these few words of Moses, a many things are to be considered: chiefly, he no­teth the great sinnes of the builders, in that he bringeth in the Lord, iudge of the whole world, vouchsafing to bow downe his eyes particularly vpon [Page 50] that foolish people. For it is not without cause that the great God of heauen and earth should arise from his throne, and (if I durst so say) leaue the palace of his glory to come and view these durt-dawbers or morter-makers By this manner of speech Moses sheweth, and giueth vs to vnderstand, that, long time before, these Babylonians had built in their hearts most wonderfull high and stately towers, and that long agoe they had bak'd in the sire of their con­cupiscence some maruellous brickes: to wit, they had much counsailed one with another, and discoursed of meanes to get renowme, and found no bet­ter way to attaine their purpose, then to raise a tower vp to the heauens, to rauish with astonishment all those that should behold it. So Moses saith that this pride and froward selfe trust deserued a grieuous punishment: but as God is perfectly iust, so layeth he vpon the builders a chastisement propor­tionable vnto their offence.

7. Thus had he said and straight. In God it is all one to will and to doe: And further he sendeth not lightning, winde, nor tempest against the tower: but contenteth himselfe to strike the proud and puffed-vp braines of the buil­ders: and so the building founded vpon their folly was ouerthrowne by their foolish iangling that God mingled with their language; and the vainglorious masons insteed of their imagined renowne, haue gotten themselues euerla­sting shame. Who would haue thought that God had had so ready such kinde of rods to punish mankinde withall? But let the Reader consider whether the world at this day be not full of Babel-towers. Marke what a number of men doe in euery kinde of vocation. Sith I doe not take vpon mee but to write bare Annotations, I leaue it to the Readers consideration, who may see, now more then euer, that the world continueth the building of Babel: that is, men madly gainset their owne wisedome and power against the wise­dome and power of God; who treading as it were with woollen feet, and stealing on softly, is able with an arme of Iron to surprise and seize vpon these builders, and turne by diuers meanes their vaine purposes and weake ende­uours to naught. The Poet hath vsed many very sit comparisons to repre­sent the confusion of these workmen. The first is taken from that which wo see fall out in a great rabblement of Pesants, ouerruled by the Launce or Mace of Bacchus: that is, such as haue the wine in their heads, and are drun­ken: for among such people is commonly heard a strange confused noise and iangling, as the Church-ales and Wakes, and other such passe-times doe now and then declare. The second is taken from the chirping of Birds, in voice and song diuers. The third from Masons, constrained by the sodaine rage of a land-flood, to leaue off the begun worke of a Bridge. And here is a liuely description of Gods iudgements, together with their degrees and consequences: namely, in the confusion of vnderstanding first, then of speech, and lastly of the whole company; which being vnable longer to con­tinue, was quickly so scattered, that (as Moses saith) they ceased to build the Citie.

8. O proud rebellion. A fine description of euils ensuing this confusion of speech. First, the acquaintance of all mankinde together, the knot and loue-bond of Nations, is so loosened and broke, that scarse is there found a­ny remedy for it, some of them not thinking on, or not at all ca [...]ng for o­thers. Secondly, that onely one language which decked and imbellished the acquaintance and fellowship of men, that kept them in peace and tem­per, such as it was, that made them all well appaid, that moued each one to his dutie, and was much regarded of all, hath lost all this by this change; and in a word, hath neither shew, nor grace of a language: insomuch, as euen at this day the fall of the Tower of Babel is heard from North to South, from East to West. That is to say, in the diuerse languages of so many Nations, we may obserue almost nothing else but a kinde of chattering and confused sound, neither fit, nor comely, nor expressing at all the nature of things: At least one people so iudgeth of anothers tongue. For I pray you what plea­sure taketh a Frenchman to heare a Moscouite or a Mexican speake? And euen the tongues that we vnderstand, and speake (as we thinke) reasonable well, what are they vnto vs in respect of our mother tongue, or the princi­pall tongues? Thirdly, whereas the Nations dwelling farthest asunder, might easily haue come together, beene acquainted, and trafficked one with ano­ther: Now a man is no sooner gone out of his owne doores, but hee hath much [...]dooe to vnderstand those that he meeteth withall; and if he set foot in any farre countrey, hee needeth interpretouts, or must haue spent a long time before to learne the tongue, or else must speake by signes, or alwayes [Page 53] hold his peace, and liue like a dumbe creature. Fourthly, to amplifie further this miserie, the Poet sheweth that if this disorder had not happened, a man might haue learned in short time all the Liberall sciences, and gained the top of that hill where Encyclopaedia, (that is, the full compasse of all Arts) crow­neth all such lawfull aspiring mindes: and in a word, obtained the perfect knowledge of all things; whereas now we spend our whole life in the lear­ning words of the Hebrew, Greeke, and Latine tongues, and that is nothing else but babling: and in stead of being well seene in the heauenly Philoso­phie, and that of this lower world, wee must take paines in syllables and words, circuits of speech, and other like exercises, vntill we be gray-headed and white-bearded, and so end our liues scarse hauing yet attained any suf­ficient knowledge of Law, Physicke or Diuinitie, that are the chiefe profes­sions. The learned know how hard a matter it is to haue a good stile, which is called [...], the measure of learning; and that Aristotle, who hath so excellently well set it downe, in that wonderfull worke of his, com­monly called the Organ, is vnderstood but of a few. What may a man say then of the most part of the discourses and speech of men now adayes liuing? It is nothing but babble, it is Babel it selfe. I speake not here of the substance of things, but of the fashion, order, and manner that is vsed to make them bee conceiued of those to whom wee speake, be they neuer so cunning in the tongue themselues. Then of Barbarisme and ignorance, what shall a man thinke?

9. What shall I tell you more? Moses saith, in the beginning of the eleuenth Chapter, that then (that is, many yeares after the Floud, and about the same time when Chams posteritie left the East parts to come and dwell in the plaine of Sennaar) the whole earth was one language and one speech, to wit, Noe and his children: and all the families from them issued, though they dwelt not together, yet spake they all the same language. All of them parted not from the East to the foresaid plaine of Sennaar: but likely e­nough is their opinion, that hold that Noe and Sem parted not so soone so farre a sunder, and especially that they accompanied not these builders of Babel, who sought renowne, and set vp their rest in this world. A man [Page 56] may aske now what was that only language they spoke in the world before the Floud, and after, vntill the building of Babel. The Poet answereth, it was the language of God himselfe. Hereupon ariseth two opinions: The first is, of those that to honour their countrey, after the example of some ancient Heathens, would make vs beleeue they are sprung of the earth, or fallen from the Moone, and thinke their speech the most excellent of all other. The Aegyptians and Phrygians haue long sithence debated this matter, as shall be said more at large in the next Section. A few yeares agoe a Physitian of Brabant named I. Goropius, set forth a great booke entituled Origines Antuerpiana, wherein he aimeth especially at this marke, to proue [Page 57] the Cymbrike tongue (which in his opinion is the base Almaine) to be the first speech of the world. Since his death a certain writer of Liege, hath set forth many other books of his about the same matter: and in one of them, that is called Hermathena, this Cymbrike tongue or low Dutch, is preferred far aboue the Roman, Greek & Hebrue. It asketh a long discourse to answer his Reasons: for this time I will answer but in a word: Namely, that all that which he alledgeth for the preheminence of his owne tongue, is a meere cauill, that is called in the Schooles, Petitio principij: when a Sophister ta­keth for granted that which is expresly denied him, and hee knowes not how to proue. Goropius groundeth all his discourse on this: that the Cym­brike tongue hath borrowed nothing of any other, and that the Hebrue is comen of it, and euen borroweth of the Cymbricke. This a man will de­nie Goropius and his disciples: and whereas they shew some Hebrue words or Phrases that resemble the words and termes of the base Almaine, and so conclude that Adam spake low Dutch, and that the language of Moses and the Prophets is hard, ambiguous, poore, and borrowed of the Cymbricke, which they were not well able to follow: I answer, that they are deceiued, and that on the contrary they ought to say, the Hebrue was before all other tongues; who were begun in Babel, and haue sithence brought forth infi­nite others, as the high and low Dutch, and other like, now vsed in the world. I would the learned professors of principall tongues would find some time to refute the allegations of Goropius: Especially those that make against the Hebrue, which he hath too saucil [...]e disgraced in the second booke of his Hermath, Pag. 25.26. &c. The second opinion, which I hold with the Poet, is, that the Hebrue tongue, inclosed chiefly in the Canoni­call bookes of the old Testament (which haue beene wonderfully preser­ued vntill our time) is the first speech of the world, and the same that Mo­ses meant, when he said, The whole earth had one mouth or language, before the building of Babel. The reasons therof are touched in a word by the Poet, who doth hereafter treat of them more at large, as wee haue also noted in the margent, and meane to speake somewhat thereof in the 12. Annotation. Now whereas this first language hath at this day no letter nor word, but is full of maimes and miseries, it may be said of euery tongue since the con­fusion: that it is nothing but corrupt [...]angling, weake, vncertaine, and changing euer from time to time, as many haue already shewed hereto­fore. The Greeke and Latine tongues haue changed fiue or sixe times: and the learned know what wrangling there hath beene about the writing, pronouncing, and disposing of their termes and phrases. Then what is to be said of the Greekish and Latinish tongues, those that are but apes of the other? What of the barbarous, strange, and new tongues? Or of those whose foolish pronunciation only no man can abide, or of others that by vse, time, and force of people, are waxen current? But this I leaue to such as list to Comment hereupon at large.

10. Long since the Phrygians. The Egyptians, being euer great braggers, vaunted long agoe that they were the most ancient people of the world: a certaine King of theirs named Psammetichus, attempted to search out the [Page 58] truth; and for that end thought meet by some meanes to discouer what was the first language of the world: Thus, he tooke two new-borne babes, and deliuered them vnto shepheards to be nourished, commanding they should be brought vp in a secret staule, there to sucke the milke of Goats, and straitly forbidding, that none should come there to pronounce any word before them: then after a certaine time when they were of age, they should be left alone, and made to fast a while. Now so soone as they were past three years old, their gouernour hauing in all points accomplished the Kings commandement, came to open the staule, and then the two children began to crie Bec, bec: the shepheard said not a word: they repeat still the words: and he let his Master vnderstand thereof, who caused the children to be brought secretly vnto him, and heard them speake. So when the meaning of the word was asked, and the Egyptians vnderstood it signified bread in the Phrygian tongue, they granted the preheminence of antiqui­tie vnto the Phrygians. Herodotus writeth that the Priests of Vulcan, in the Citie of Memphis, told him the same tale. There are some others that thinke these Babes were brought vp of dumbe nurses: howsoeuer it be, sure it is that the pride of the Egyptians was by some such deuise daunted. Suidas, touching the very point, saith that babes nourished of a Goat, must needs crie somewhat like a Goat, and such was the sound of the word Bec; a meet reward for his wisdome that made such a triall. The Grecians in old time were wont to call an old dotard [...], a word composed of Bec and [...], the Moone: the same is turned into a prouerbe which E­rasinus expoundeth. But Goropius in the fifth and ninth booke of his Origi­nes playeth the subtill Sophister, as his manner is, and vseth his beake vp­on the word Bec: concluding, since Bec in low Dutch signifies bread, and Psammetichus his babes called for Bec, that so long agoe they spoke low Dutch; whereupon it followeth, that his tongue was the most ancient of the world. He calleth also his discourses vpon the same Bocceselanea, offe­ring the subiect of a Comedie to some new Aristophanes. But let vs consider the answers of the Poet to the Phrygians, and to Goropius.

17. But softly-sliding Age. The Poet here entreth into consideration of other tongues beside the Hebrew: and saith these first tongues that begun in Babel, being all (as it were) Meslins of Hebrew, by tract of time are so worne out, that each one of them hath engendred a many others, as a man may quickly vnde [...]stand, if he consider the great varietie of ancient people that were before the Greekes and Latines. It shall suffise at this present thus to haue pointed hereat in a word. Who so is desirous of more, let him cast his eye vpon the three first and principall Monarchies, and all the diuers Nati­ons subiect vnto them, and mentioned in the Chronicles of the world: the Abridgement of all is to be found in the first Volumne of the Historicall libra­rie of N. Vignier.

18. And language altereth. He sheweth by diuers reasons whence com­meth [Page 71] the change of tongues. First, the trafficke that one countrey people hath with another, as well by sea (which he calleth, Th'azur'd Amp [...]e) as also by land, is cause why we learne some new words, as if we made no lesse exchange of words than of wares. Secondly, a writer that dares venter, and is desirous to enrich his mother-tongue, decketh it bol [...]ly w [...]th that which he borroweth of others, setteth forgotten words on foot againe, inuenteth new words, colouring and fashioning them according. Thirdly, time alte­reth a speech; as we see it doth all things else; that we might be forced thereby daily more and more to see and confesse, that nothing is sure and stedfast vnder heauen; and to beat downe also the vanitie of [...]ans conceit, who commonly vaunteth himselfe and taketh pride in such things as haue nothing constant in them but their owne vnconstancy.

19. A courage bold. This commeth too neere the second reason to be counted a fourth. The French Commentar must pardon me; I thinke ra­ther the Poet hauing spoken of Writers, Merchandise and Time, the right and onely meanes whereby new words and phrases are first brought into a language: here he sheweth vs how they are accepted, for as before he tou­ched in a word that the Courts dislike of old words bred their disuse; so here he telleth vs plainly that the authoritie of him, that deuiseth or vseth new words, is cause of their acceptance: which is afterward confirmed by vse, Q [...]empenes arbitrium est, & vis & norma loquendi: as Horace writeth. But forasmuch as vse without Art draweth a language head-long into Barba­risme, and so out of request, and Art without authoritie of Empire, shut­teth it vp in a narrow compasse, he saith, that the Hebrew, Latine, and Greeke, had all these maintaining meanes, whereby they haue continued [...]o long, and spred so farre abroad. So beginneth he cunningly to make his passage from words and phrases vnto entire languages, the better to come at length to that excellent discourse, that followeth in the next Section, vpon all the principall tongues now spoken or knowne in the world. As for the He­brew, besides the perfections aboue mentioned, he saith, in it God hath re­uealed his will, and that it is the originall of the diuine Law: both of great force to make the tongue far [...]e knowne, and continue long: it had further the Art and knowledge of high Priests and Prophets, the wisedome and state of Salomon, and was a long time vsed and accustomed to be spoke in the fa­mous [Page 72] commonwealth of the Iewes. But these because they belong not vnto that tongue onely, but as well to the other two, the Poet here le [...]ueth our. The Greeke he saith, in her bookes containeth at large all the liberall Sci­ences: a great cause and most proper to the Greeke: the rest as common to the others are let passe. The Latine more graue and forcible then the Greeke (that was a more neat and wanton tongue) was aduanced and continued in request by the Romans force of armes: whose Empire was the greatest and most warlike of all the rest; and therefore is this cause here onely mentio­ned, as most proper to the Latine tongue, and the rest omitted. These three tongues doe at this day farre surpasse all others; but vngodlinesse and con­tempt of the true Diuinitie, is cause why the Hebrew is not esteemed as it deserueth: the more is it regarded of them that know it. As for the Greeke, that which is now commonly spoken is very grosse. The pure and good Greeke is contained within the bookes of Plato, Aristotle, Zenophon, Demosthe­nes, Iscerates, Homer, Euripides, Sophocles, Plutarch, Basil, Nastanzen, Chryso­stome, and many others. The Latine, after some ignorant and vnlearned men had gready embased it, was refined and set on foot againe within these fourescore yeeres, at what time there flourished many great and learned per­sonages in Europe, as Melancthon, Erasmus, Picus Myrand. and others: but they come short of that grace and liuelihood that the ancient Latine wri­ters haue: Cicero, Caesar, Liuie, Virgill, Horace, and a number of others well enough knowne: of whom (as also of the most excellent authors in other tongues) the Poet here goes about to entreat.

20 Tracing these latter lines. Before he endeth this Booke or discourse, hauing begun to speake of tongues, and their comparison one with ano­ther, he taketh thence occasion to set before our eyes the three principall tongues, Hebrue, Greeke, and Latine, accompanied with six other great­ly now-a-daies esteemed throughout all Europe. For this purpose, and to enrich his Poem with some new ornament, worthy the things he treateth of; he declareth, how being weary with ouer-watching himselfe in these his former studies, he cast him on his bed and slept; yet so as the earnest desire he had to delight and profit his country-men, kept still his soule a­wake; which caused him to see in his Dreame the Vision here following. A fine inuention, and framed to the imitation of the best ancient Poets both Greeke and Latine, who, being to handle matters of great importance, are wont by such deuices cunningly to prouoke the Readers to marke and giue care vnto them.

21. And golden-winged Dreame. Of Dreames and their causes hath beene spoken sufficiently in the first day of this second Weeke, intituled Eden, page the 46, 47, 48, &c. hauing here to speake of a Dreame cleere and easie to be conceiued, he distinguisheth it from such as are darksome and deceiuea­ble, saying it was about the dawning of the day, when the golden-winged (that is, the sweet, pleasant, and vntroubled) Dreame came forth at the Christall gate in the East: as much to say, as when the day-starre ariseth, or the morning draweth on, we feele (if we were awake before) sleepe gently seazing on vs, and our spirits comming and going, as it were, thorow Chri­stall gates: for then be Dreames and Visions cleerest and best distinguished; [Page 77] whereas before our meat be fully digested, our braine ouer-loden with va­pours, receiueth but troublesome impressions, waued so to and fro, and so enterlaced one with another, that in the twinkling of an eye, it frameth a thousand shapes, that presently vanish away, and are no more remem­bred. Now the Poet saith, he was guided (as he thought) into a place mo [...] delightfull, which he describeth in few verses, and it is very fit for the mat­ter following.

22 Iust in the middle point. First he describeth the dwelling of Eloquence: to wit, on a great Rocke, wrought and fashioned in manner of a foor-stall, or base for an image to stand on: to shew how stedfast and certaine a thing this excellent gift of God is. Secondly, the resemblance or Image of Elo­quence, he calleth a Colosse, that is, of stature surpassing all others: which betoketh thus much, that eloquent and faire spoken men goe many degrees beyond others, whom they vse at their pleasure, and draw whither they list, as the example of Pericles and Cicero declare, and many proofes thereof are found in the holy Scripture. He maketh this Image of Brasse, which impli­eth the faire glosse, the sweet sound and strong force of Eloquence; he pla­ceth in the left hand a fire-brand, to signifie that learned, true, and faire vt­terance maketh men see and touch (as it were) the right nature of things: in the right hand an Ewer, because the speech of the wise dampeth and put­teth out the flame of passions. I might note hereof many examples, but I leaue them for the diligent Reader to search: meaning here to offer him but Annotations, which I feare alreadie are growen too long. The little chaines that come forth from the Images golden tongue, and draw such a [Page 78] number of hearers by the eares and heart, signifie the great power of a well framed speech: the truth whereof appeareth chiefely in preaching the word, in counsels of graue common-wealths-men, and orations of good Magistrates and valiant Captaines. In this manner did the ancient French­men paint and set out their Hercules, surnamed Ognius: whereupon Alciat hath made a pretie Embleme: it is the 180. expounded at large by Cl. Minos. The summe of all is, that Eloquence is to be preferred before force. Our Poet aimeth at that description. Further concerning the Bore, the Tygre, and the Beare, lying tame at the feet of this Image, it signifieth that a plea­sant and learned speech appeaseth all angrie, cruell, and sauage men; and cuen the maddest and most brutish people in the world: it maketh the woods and hills to daunce and leape: that is to say, it moueth, bendeth and instructeth very block-heads, and such as are most hard of vnderstanding; and this may be the meaning of those fained tales of Amphion, Orpheus, A­rion, and other like. Lastly, this Image is inuironed with a double ranke of pillers, well and strongly grounded and vnder-pinned, that beare vp in due proportion the nino languages following, each by her owne chiefe authors and maintainers. For euery pillar was wrought in fashion of a man, and framed to the countenance of one of their best writers in a long gowne, or stole. And that is the meaning of the French à la Cariatide: After the Carian right: as Vitruuius writeth at large in the first Chapter of his first booke of Architecture. This I note because the French Commenter lets it passe, and it troubled my selfe to vnderstand it at the first.

23. Among the blessed wits. For chiefe props of the Hebrue tongue (which he placeth in the fore-front of Eloquence, as in euery regard it was meet, whether we cofider the sweet grauitie, the natural impliance, the shortnes, hautines, liuelines of it: or the sincerity, holines, light, & heauenly Maiestic) he nameth first Moses, because he is the most anciēt of those whose writings in this tongue are extant. As for the book of the Prophesie of Henoch, it was lost a long time agoe. He describeth this holy Law-writer after an excellent manner, as was requisite in a discourse of eloquence. His face shineth like a blasing Star: alluding to that in the Scripture, that Moses comming downe frō the Mount where he had talked with God, his face so shined, that none was able to behold his countenance; in so much as he was faine to weare a vaile ouer it: the rest is very easie to be vnderstood, especially of such as haue neuer so lightly turned ouer the history. Now for the bookes of Moses, they were written many hundred yeares before the Greekes were knowne: who were not heard of in the world, but a little before the reigne of Saul, & had but few workes in writing, or none at all, till after the time of Salomon, as their owne Histories witnesse, whosoeuer will take paines to turne them ouer. Nay further, all their knowledge came from the Aegyptians, Pheni­cians and others, who had leaned somewhat by conuersing with the He­biues. And to come againe to Moses, he hath beene in maruellous account with insinite Heathen Writers. If any haue lightly regarded, or found fault with him, it was either because they vnderstood him not at all, or maliced him exceedingly, which a man may easily finde in their writings. The se­cond [Page 79] Author of the Hebrue he counteth Dauid, whose Psalmes he speaketh of much in few lines; but little it is in comparison of their excellencie, whereof many ancient and late Writers haue spoken notable things: I will not heape them vp here, assuring my selfe that all true Christians will grant me that the Book of Dauids Psalmes is (as Saint Basil saith) the Store­house and treasurie of all good learning, for all men to come at; and will confesse with Saint Ierome, and Saint Chrysostome, that nothing better be­commeth a man, be he Peasant or Crafts-man, great or small, than to sing vnto the Lord the praises and thankesgiuing in these excellent songs con­tained: the very liuely and true Anatomies of a beleeuing soule. O how cursed and abominable before God and his Church are those wicked ones, that haue forbidden Christians the vnderstanding and vse of them, and banished them out of Christendome: that haue suffered, allowed, main­tained, commanded, and commended vnto the people these shamefull and wanton Poesies, these books of vanitie, error, and leasings, which with their Authors deserue the fire: not the quiet and peaceable persons, that call vpon Iesus Christ, and belecue stedfastly the life euerlasting. The soule that feareth God will not take this my digression ill, nor thinke it needlesse: As for the vngodly, let them spit at it, if they will, I regard them not. The third Author and ornament of the Hebrue, is reckoned Salomon in his Pro­uerbs, the Booke of the Preacher, and the Song of Songs, bookes more besprinckled with golden words and notable sentences, than his Crowne was with pretious stones and pearles embossed. Happie is the man that ta­keth delight to marke and daily thinke vpon so profitable and necessary in­structions. The fourth is the Prophet Esay, the sonne of Amos, right such a one as the Poet hath described. These foure hee thought sufficient to name, because they haue most Writings extant, and are withall exceeding cloquent, as might easily be proued by particulars, if I were to write a Com­mentary, or a whole discourse thereof.

24. The Greeke. Homer, his Illias and Odyssea containing 48. bookes, is the most ancient Greeke Author we haue: his inuentions are wonderfull, his vaine naturall, his verses smooth, and full of Art, and the more they are considered, the greater grace they haue. There is also in them a hidden sense, and the very well-spring of all humane knowledge; as may appeare by that infinite peeces of his poesies are cited in the bookes of ancient and late Phylosophers, Geographers, Historiographers and Orators, as Plutarch and others witnesse. The next to Homer is Plato, not in time but in worthinesse: he is called the diuine Phylosopher, because he is so maruellous pure, so high and lofty in all his disconrses; the true scholler of him that professing him­selfe to know but one thing, namely that he knew nothing, declared that he knew all things that might be learned in the world, as touching the world. For concerning the knowledge of saluation, Plato and his maister both were ignorant: and sith all other knowledge is nothing in comparison of that (the more are we bound to God that haue it) he said most truely, that he knew nothing. The third is Herodotus, who writeth in the Ionick Dialect, that is a kinde of Greeke differing a little in phrases and pronuntiation from the com­mon-spoken, [Page 80] as some farre scituate shires doe from the Court or mother-Ci­tie of their Countrie: in diuers points it agreeth with the French. Plutarch dealeth somewhat too roughly with this worthy Historiographer, in whose defence I will oppose the authoritie of a learned man of our time; who in a certaine Preface of his, saith of Herodotus: Narrationes eius sunt disertae, iudica­tiones expressae, speciosae, explicationes accuratae & euidentes, collectiones certae at­queplenae, in his rerum gestarum, hominum, temporum fides, accurata comperto­rum relatio, dubiorum coniccturasag [...]x, sabulosorum verecunda commemoratio, mi­ravbique simplicitas, & eximius quidam candor. See the great praises, and per­fections of a graue Historiographer. The fourth is Demosthenes, the prince of Greeke Orators, the very rule and square of all that endeuour to speake eloquently, a man that leadeth other mens mindes as he list, excellent in all his discourses: which are extant, the most of them, and read to the great vse and prosit of those that know how to apply them.

25. Then he of Anthonie and Catiline great foe. That is Cicero, surnamed the father of Eloquence: he is the first and chiefe of those that grace and main­taine the Latine tongue. He was extreamely hated of Marke Anthonie and Catiline, both whom he hath also bitterly pursued and touched to the quicke, as his Catilinarie and Philippicke Orations declare: the often printing of his workes, and learned mens continuall reading of them, and borrowing thence the best graces of their writings, doe proue his learning, eloquence and plentie of speech to be such as the Poet here describeth. The second is Caesar, the most valiant of eloquent men, and most eloquent of valiant men, as may well appeare by his life in Plutarch, and his Commontaries de bello Gallico: by which worke he hath wrung the pen out of learned mens hands, and in a manner discouraged them all from writing Histories, because they see such perfection therein, as they are not able to come neere. The third is the Historiographer Salust: we haue of his workes, besides diuers Orations, two Histories remaining, Coniuratio Catilinae: & bellum Iugurthinum, short they are, but full of sentence and sinewes, witnessing the ancient force and vigor of the Roman tongue. The Reader may hereto adde the commenda­tions of these three Authors, as they are in many learned bookes of late wri­ters here and there scattered. As for those that thinke Cicero bableth with­out learning, and that Caesar the Dictatour and first Emperour wrote not these Commentaries that beare his name, and that Salust writeth a hard and forced stile: because their accusations are false, and they so farre out of the way, I thinke them worthy none other answer, than our Poets few verses here. Of the fourth, which is the Poet Virgil, too much cannot be spoken: his bookes of Georgickes and Aeneidos, being such maruellous workes, and so farre exceeding all other bookes of humanitic: I speake not onely for the excellence of his verse; but sure in the depth of his inuentions, his iudge­ment, his decence, his modestie, his grauitie, and his state, how much he doth outstrip and goe beyond all others, may be seene not onely in euery booke of his, but euen in euery verse; wherein is contained a thousand thousand secrets, and as it were the abridgement of all kinde of Arts and knowledge; besides his proper tearmes, his Epythites alway fit, his meta­phors [Page 81] and figures sow'n and sprinkled in their right places, and his speech quite throughout eloquent and pure, without any bodging or dawberie what­soeuer. The learned Caesar Scaliger, among many others, hath plainly and at large declared in his Art of Poetrie, the excellency of this Author.

26. Th'Italian. For ornament of the Italian, a language risen of the Ro­man or Latine, he nameth three Poets and one Orator, slipping diuers wri­ters of historie and Secretaries, that haue left diuers excellent workes, Ora­tions, and Epistles among vs. The reason is (I thinke) because these foure containe in them all the graces of the others. He nameth also the Tuscan tongue, because of all the diuers Dialects of Italie the Luquish, Milanish, Ge­neuish, and Venetian, none are so pure and fine as the Florentine or Tuscan. Iohn Boccace hath written long time agoe, but a very fine and pure stile; as his Decameron, his Fiametta, the Philocope, The Laberinth, and his other bookes witnesse, that with the world are in so great request. Francis Petrach hath written since, and inuented goodly words, and partly by his owne pregnant wit, partly by imitation of the best Authors, hath enriched the tongue with many graces: he hath ventured also farre and made Sonets, Chapters, and Cantoes wonderfull curious. Then Ludouico Ariosto of Ferara hath set forth a legend of Loue, entituled Orlando furioso, in verses sweet and meet, fa­mous throughout all Italie; he is full of affections in his discourse, and as de­lightfull as is possible, by reason of the varietie of that fabulous matter he writeth of, which he shadoweth so cunningly, that the Reader is therewith often affected and mou [...]d, as if it were a true storie, or at least not altogether false. Torquato Tasso is last of the foure in time of writing, but in account (as the Poet saith) the first and chiefe: he was the sonne of Bernardo Tasso that eloquent man, whose excellent Epistles are in print. This his sonne hath written in twenty bookes or Cantoes, of stately verse, a poeme the best of all Italians, entituled Gierusalemme liberata, all the graces and riches of the Greekes and Latines are there gathered together, all wrought into it after the best manner, so graue, so short, so learned, so comely, so liuely, so state­ly, as if it were the worke of another Virgil. There are also printed at Fer­rara three volumnes of his workes, containing other kindes of verse, and all sorts of fine inuentions, a Comedie, a Tragedie, diuers Dialogues and dis­courses in prose, all are worth reading, and all make good the iudgement that our Poet hath giuen of the Authour.

27. The language Arabicke. This language is comen of the Hebrew: a­mong other learned mens bookes that haue made this tongue of account, we haue the workes of Aben Rois, that is, the sonne of Kings: for Ben signifieth a sonne in Hebrew: and the Arabians adde to the beginning this prepo­sition A, and sometime Al. This Aben Rois is the same that we commonly call Auerroës, the Commentar, a very excellent Philosopher. He hath com­mented vpon most of Aristotle, and is translated into Latine, printed at Ve­nice; the worke doth shew the deepe reach and subtill braine of the man. Auicen was a great Rhilosopher and Physitian, as his writings also declare. Gesner saith Auerroës was of Cordway, and Auicen of Seuill, and so I thinke: but it appeareth by their workes that they were both Arabians, and professed [Page 82] the superstition of Mahomet. As for Eldebag, Iohannes Leo writeth of him in the fift booke of his description of Asticke. This poet borne at Malaga in Grenade, of great name thorough all the parts of Buggie and Thunes, was very eloquent in the Arabian tongue, and wonderfull sharpe in railing on those that did him hurt: he made the men of Tebesse feele it in a Satyre he wrote against them, the effect whereof is this: that Nature knowing the Tebessians should be men of little worth and very swine, would make no good thing grow about their Citie but Nuts. The last, to wit, Ibnu-farid, the French Commentar knoweth not what he was, and I cannot learne.

28. The Dutch, For the Dutch or Almaine tongue hee setteth vs downe Michaell Beuther, who very well hath translated the Latine Commentaries of Sleidan: the next is Luther borne at Islebe, as learned and eloquent a man as any was among the Diuines and Preachers of Germanie, as all will con­fesse, that haue read his workes in Dutch: he Preached and read Diuinitie the space of many yeeres at Wytteberg in Saxony. Then Gasper Peucer son in law to Phillip Melancibon, an excellent Philosopher, Mathematician, and Phisitian, as his workes declare. And lastly Peter Beutricke, Counceller to Duke Iohn Cosimer, and chiefe dealer for him with diuers Princes; lately de­ceased. I could name you many more, but I content my selfe, as the poet hath done, with these foure.

29. Then Gueuare. The Bookes of Anthony de Gueuare, du Bosean, de Gre­nade, de Gracylace, haue beene for the most part, translated into Latine, Ita­lian and French: but they are farre better in their Castilian: which is the most pure Dialect of the Spanish tongue, and wherein the men of learning and good nourtriture are wont ordinarily to write and speake. And these foure the poet hath chosen for the most eloquent writers in this tongue: yet nothing foredeeming diuers others that haue written well both in verse and prose; as namely Osias, whom but for his old Dialect, he iudgeth as good an author as the other.

30. The speech of English. For ornament of the English tongue he nameth Sir Thomas Moore and Sir Nicholas Bacon both Lord Chauncellours: the first of them was very learned in the Arts and tongues: the second exceeding well seene in the common lawes of England: and both very eloquent in their mother language. As for Sir Philip Sidney he deserueth no lesse commenda­tion then the poet hath giuen him. Chaucer deserueth the like commendati­on here that Osias did among the Spanish Authors.

31. But what new Sunne is this. He maketh a digression in praise of the Queene of England, who the space of seuen and thirty yeeres hath gouerned her Realme in great prosperitie; so as, during the troubles and ouerthrowes of other kingdomes about her, herselfe and her people haue beene preser­ued from infinite dangers. This famous Queene hath also the tougues, here mentioned by the poet, very par fit, and at this day by the singular grace of God she is accounted the precious pearle of the North, and very fortunate in all the warres she taketh in hand: her happy successe and victories are euery way so memorable, that they deserue to be written in a large historie, and reuerenced of all posteritic.

32. But what are these of France? Clement Marot worthy to be admired for his time, in regard of the ignorance and barbarisme that raigned in Eu­rope many yeeres before him, hath led the Muses ouer the Alpes, and ar­rayed them after the French fashion: as witnesseth, among other his workes, the translation of nine and fortie Psalmes of Dauid, a worke that will continue in account as long as Yea and Nay are spoken, euen to the worlds end. Indeed he wanteth that Art, and those fine deuices that some later Writers haue; but euen in this want, and these imperfections he hath done wonderous well; and sheweth in his naturall vaine, that if he had list he could haue beene excellent: yea in some points and places he hath so done alreadie, as the best of them all could haue done no better. For translations wee haue Iacques Amiot, who hath turned into French the Ae­thiopian Historie of Heliodorus, seuen bookes of Diodorus Siculus, and all Plutarch, wherein he hath laboured to very good purpose, and with happie successe: I would to God he had set his hand also to Thucidides, Xenophon, and Seneca: his stile is pure and naturall, not affected, not forced; right good and true French. Blase Viginere hath also translated many bookes, as the Polonian History, a part of Liuie, Caesar, Chalcondylas, Philostratus, three Dialogues of Friendship, and the Psalmes in free verse, all which I haue read ouer and againe, yet doe I preferre Amiot before him. Indeed I finde in Viginere a very ready stile and matter well chosen, but the other (I know not how) me thinkes hath a better cariage of himselfe. The S [...]iour de Vau­prinas in his French Librarie saith, of all the foster-children of the Muses, that were bred in France, Viginere hath so written, that, as well for lear­ning, as for eloquence of speech, he hath preuented all that shall come af­ter him, and as it were shut the gate against them. See what a commenda­tion here is: I leaue the Reader to iudge of our opinions. Our Poet stay­eth in doubt, but I haue beene bold to goe further; I trust without any great offence: in this consisteth not the good or bad state of France. Con­cerning Poets, he nameth Peter Ronsard, who hath made himselfe rich with Greeke and Latine spoiles, as his Treatises of Loue, his Odes, Elegies, and Hymnes doe witnesse: wherein a man may reade all sorts of verses, and all kinde of matter, sometimes in a low stile, sometimes in a meane, sometimes in a loftie stile: For which the Poet calleth him Great Ronsard. I will note here a notable speech of his: After our Poets first Weeke was come forth in Print, being asked his opinion of the worke, he answered, alluding to the title, Mounsieur du Bartas hath done more in one weeke, than I haue done in all my life time. As for Philip de Mornay, Lord of Plessie Marly, his lear­ned worke of the truth of Christian Religion, honoured thus by the true title, and written in good French, with liuely reasons there gathered toge­ther, moueth and draweth to his purpose, that is, to acknowledge the truth, all that reade it with a heart desirous of peace and good. The like may be said of his Discourse of Life and Death, of his Treatise of the Church, his Meditations, and some Epistles and Demonstrations of his. For all his Writings are strengthened with Arguments, Inductions, and proofes in­uincible, and all in a stile with grauitie and sweetnesse mixed, well knit, and [Page 84] well sounding, and easie enough to those that are neuer so little acquainted with it. The Poet hauing so liuely represented his Vision, endeth his dis­coarse [Page 85] of Elequence, and her most renowned sauourer in euery Language, and so shut vp his sixt Booke: Which is the second of the second day of his second Weeke.

1. What twilightie cloud. The Poet being to make in and out so many wayes, and crosse so many seas and countries, huge and vnknowne, good cause he had to demand (as he doth) a greater helpe than mans wit can af­ford, such as the children of Israel had, a cloud by day, and a piller of fire by night, to guide them thorow the wildernesse; and surely God gaue him a a very extraordinary gift, otherwise he had neuer beene able so well and briefely to haue comprised so many, hard, and worthy matters, as he hath done, in lesse than six hundred verses. He saith here further, that each peo­ples place of abode was ordained of God before the paire of man (that is, A­dam and Eue) had receiued in Paradise their twifold-one beginning; that is, before Adam was created of earth, and Eue of one of his ribs: noting thereby, how of one they were made two in creation, and after of two one by mariage. And so before the world was made, the Lord had in his eternall deeree marked and skored out the dwelling places of all people: it remai­ned therefore that the same deeree should be accomplished, as appeared afterward.

2. Thou Holy-holy Flame. The Pole-starre is the Marriners guide: but here the Poet asketh another manner helpe to shew him the right way in his trauell: and glancing at the maruellous new Starre that appeared to the Wise-men that came out of the East to see and worship our Sauiour Iesus Christ, then borne in Bethlem, he calleth on the Holy Ghost the true light of our vnderstanding, auerring that although the matter which he hath taken in hand, constraines him to discourse sometime of one thing, and sometime of another, yet is Iesus Christ the chiefe ma [...]ke he almeth it, vnto whom the desire is to lead his Reader, as also whatsoeuer is set vs downe in the doctrine of Moses, the Prophets and Apostles, tendeth to the selfe-same end. This the Poets holy desire makes much to the shame of those, that hauing themselues an vncleane heart, by setting their filthy workes in print, desile also the eyes and eares of many, whom (as much as in them lies) they lead vnto the Deuill.

3. The men who built. That which the Poet saith concerning the affright of these builders, is implied by the words of Moses, Gen. 11.8. they ceased to build: by the one is the other vnderstood: for vpon the sudden chance of so strange a confusion, they were scarred, as with a thunder-clap, and after by necessitie constrained to sunder themselues. Yet I am of their o­pinion, who thinke the diuersitie of tongues is to bee considered, not in euery particular builder, but only in families. As that the goodnesse of God was such in his iudgement, that the builders departing thence, each led his wife and children with him, who vnderstood and spake as he did, otherwise mans life could hardly haue beene sustained. They also that parted furthest at the first from those of Noes successors that were not leagued in this pre­sumptuous enterprise, soonest forgat all their former language. And true it is, that at the first they sundered not all very farre one from another: but, as it pleased God more and more to encrease them, they sought further and further for new countries to dwell in, and all by the secret direction of the wonderfull prouidence of God.

4 That great King of heau'n. Hee reacheth euen to the first cause of the Colonies, and diuers-way-partings of Noes posteritie. Staight after the Floud God blessed Noe and his children and said, Encrease and multiply, and fill the earth: and the feare of you, and the dread of you shall be vpon euery beast of the earth, and vpon euery fowle of the heauen, vpon all that moueth vpon the earth, and vpon all the fishes of the sea, into your hands are they deliuered, Gen. 9.1, 2. Therefore if the builders had continued and fast setled themselues in the Plaine of Sennaar, they had (as much as was in them) made void the Lords blessing, and berest themselues and their posteritie of those great priui­ledges which he had granted them. But the deree of God must needs be fulfilled, and therefore according to his ordinance he chaseth farre away these donataries, to the end that yeare by yeare, some in one place, and some in another, they may take possession of that which was giuen them, the whole compasse of the world. Whereas the Poet saith further, that the Lord diuided the whole earth into three Lots, that may be gathered out of [Page 88] the tenth Chapter of Genesis, and 32. Chap. of Deuteronom. vers. 8. Noe a wise and learned man, and one of groat experience, was the instrument of Gods blessing in this behalfe: and though the bounds of these habitations be not all and throughly specisied, as were the diuisions of the Land of Canaan among the Tribes of Israel, yet out of the tenth Chapter of Genesis a man may gather, that in those daies Noe and his sonnes, and their posteritie, knew more a great deale hereof, than men can now perceiue: as may ap­peare by so many diuers Colonies, so many strange languages, so many names changed and rechanged. A good Commentary vpon this Chapter would assoile many questions hereabouts arising.

5 To Sem was giuen. Because the sonnes of Noe were but three, therefore here are named but three quarters of the world, the East, West, and South: Some of the successors of Iaphet peopled the North also, as shall be shewed hereafter. Concerning the names of these foure cardinall points, some­what hath beene said vpon discourse of the winds, in the second day of the first weeke, verse 571. The order of the sonnes of Noe is this, Iaphet is the elder, Sem the second, Cham the last, Gen. 9.24. & 10.21. But Sem is named first, because of the fauour of God shewed to his posteritie, by thence rai­sing the Messias, and there maintaining his Church. Iaphet the second, for that in the vocation of the Gentiles he is receiued into the reuts of Sem, that is, vnited to the family of the faithfull Abraham, according to the Pro­phecie and blessing of Noe, Gen. 9.27. Now in the tenth of Gen. vers. 25. Moses further affirmeth, that Heber, Sems vnder nephew had two sonnes, the one named Peleg, which signifieth Diuision, or parting asunder (for in his time the Earth was diuided) and the other Ioktan. Whereout some gather, that in the time of Peleg, that is (as I take it) before the cofusion of tongues, Noe and his sonnes remembred the grant that God had made them of all [Page 89] the Earth: and that Noe then made a kinde of partition thereof among his sonnes. If we recken the confusion of the builders, together with the partition of the world, though about the fiftieth yeare of Peleg, who was borne but an hundred yeares after the Floud, and liued 239. this confusion must happen within 150. yeares after the Floud: which were very soone: yet some take it sooner, as from the time that Peleg receiued his name, for remembrance (as they say) of both things so note-worthy to all posteritie, and especially to the Church of God: which well might be aduertised ther­of; for Peleg liued 46. yeares after the birth of Abraham, as appeareth by the eleuenth Chapter of Genesis. Two things then are here to be conside­red: the one, that the partition of the Earth, which Noe made, was to his posteritie a token of Gods great blessing, which neuerthelesse the Babel-builders for their part haue turned into a curse: the other, that this parti­tion (as many Diuines and Chroniclers thinke) was made before Nimrod and his traine came out of the East, and sate downe in the plaine of Sen­naar, what time they were scattered thence again by the confusion. Where­unto this I will adioyne, that as then the builders language was confoun­ded: so by continuance of time, the speech of others also was corrupted, especially when they began to forget the true Religion, which euen in Sems family was decayed, as appeareth plainely out of the 24. Chapter of Iosua, where it is said that Terah, father to Abraham and Nachor, had serued strange gods. It was no reason that the Holy tongue should remaine entire and vncorrupt with such as had corrupted the seruice of God. But the Lord being mercifull vnto Abraham, restored to him againe, and kept for his faithfull children the first Language, which had not beene so much corrupted in the family of Sem, who parted not so farre from his father.

6. This Countrey. He setteth downe the lots of Sem, Cham, and Iaphet, first in generall: after meaning to shew the particular Colonies of each. So then to Sem he allotteth Asia. The proofe of these seuerall shares may be gathered out of the tenth Chapter of Genesis. It is not meant that Sem in his owne life-time tooke possession of this huge plot of groūd, although he liued 600 yeers: but the posteritie of his fiue sonnes ouer-spred it by succession of time, as the Poet declares at large hereafter; and a man may perceiue some token here­of, in that Moses reckoneth in the foresaid Chapter the sonnes of Joktan the sonne of Heber peti-sonne of Arphaxad, sonne of Sem. Now before I shew the bounds here noted by the Poet in this lot of Sem, I will set downe the description and deuision of Asia, as now it is. The map-drawers of our time differ in their order: some consider it by the whole masse; others by the sea­borders and parts best knowne, which they reckon to be nine, and those par­ticularly deciphered in the first chapter of the twentieth booke of the Portu­gall historie. But this kinde of deuision, because it is more obscure and far­ther from my purpose, I leaue, and rest on the other, which deuides the masse of Asia into siue principall parts: the first, which is ouer-against Europe, and vnder the Emperour of Moscouie, is bounded with the frozen sea, the riuer Ob, or Oby, the lake of Kittay, and the land-straight that is betwixt the Cas­pian and Euxine sea. The second is Tartary subiect to the great Cham, which abutteth Southward on the Caspian sea, the hill Imaus and the riuer Jux­artes; Northward and Eastward on the Ocean, and Westward vpon Mosco­uie. The third part is possessed by the Turke, and containeth all that lyes betweene the Euxine, Aegean and Midland seas, and so further betwixt E­gypt, the Arabian and Persian Gulfes, the riuer Tygris, the Caspian sea, and the land-straight there. The fourth is the Kingdome of Persia, abutting West­ward on the Turke, Northward on the great Cham, Eastward on the riuer Indus, and Southward on the Indian sea. As for the fist part, it is the same which we call the East-Indies, so named of the riuer Indus, and distinguished the higher from the lower by the famous riuer Ganges. These Indies are very large Countries, as the Maps declare, and front out Southward as farre as Malaca, hauing besides, an infinite sort of Ilands great and small, which the Card-men haue well set downe, both in Maps and writing. Now see we the manner how the Poet considereth Asia. He takes it first by right line from North to South, to wit, from the Peake, foreland or cape of Perosites as farre as Malaca, where he taketh in the Moluckes and Taprobana, and from thence riseth againe to Zeilan and Bisnagar. Then draweth another line from the [Page 91] Maior or Euxine sea on the West, to the straights of Anien Northeast, and toucheth by the way some few Countries most note-worthy, reseruing the rest vntill his particular description of the Colonies: which followeth from the 297. verse vnto the 319.

To make plaine some words in the text, the Peake of Perosites is a promon­tory about the farthest part of Moscouy, neare the Scythian sea, where liueth (as Cellarius reports of Asia in his great booke entituled Speculum orbis terra­rum, and Mercator in his world-map) a certaine people which haue so small a vent for their mouth, that they are nourished onely by the sauour and steeme of sodden flesh. And about this promontory the Riuer Ob, rising from the lake of Kythay, groweth to an huge breadth, and so emptieth into the Scythian or frozen sea. The Baron of Herbestoin noteth it in his map of Moscouie, and in his Historie saith as much as here followeth touching this riuer, fol 82. They that haue beene thereon say they haue laboured a whole day without ceasse, their vessell going very fast, to passe the Riuer, and that it is fourescore Itali­an miles broad Which ageeth well with that the Poet here saith, and with report of Merator and Cellarius: so that by good right it may be called, ra­ther then any other streame, the king of all fiesh waters, because in all the world besides there is none so large, and this also is of a wonderfull great length: for as the foresaid Baron affirmeth, from the one end to the other, to wit, from the lake of Kythay to the frozen-sea, it asketh more then three moneths sayling.

The realme and citie of Malaca are described in the sixth booke of the Portugall historie, chap. 18. It is neare the Equinoctiall aboue Taprobana: so therefore Asia reacheth from the North-pole beyond the Equator.

The Isles from whence are brought buge masses of Cloues and Cassia, are the Moluckes, siue in number, Tidor, Terenat, Motir, Machian, and Bachian, beset with diuers other Isles and Islets vn ler and neere the Equator in the East, which with their properties and manners of their inhabitants are well set downe in the 13. booke of the history of Portugall, Chap. 8.

Samotra, whereon passes the night-equalling line, or the Equator, is the Isle Taprobana Southward ouer against Malaca: it is aboue 450. leagues long, and 120. broad, I haue described it in the fist day of the first weeke: see further the history of Portugall in the sixt booke, the 18. chap.

Zeilan is an Isle right against the Cape of Calecut, aboue Taprebana toward the East, it lies North and South, in length about 125. leagues, and in the broadest place is 75. ouer. There are taken out of the sea great store of [Page 92] pearles very faire and brighte for the further description thereof, see the 4. booke and 20, chapter of the history of Portugall.

Bisnagar is a kingdome lying betweene Decan and Narsingua, the moun­taines of Calecut, and the sea called the great gulfe of Bengala. It is rich in gold which is there found in riuers. Looke the situation thereof in the Map of the East Indies, and in the Asia of Ortelius and Cellarius.

The Pont-Eusine, is now called the Maior or the Hacke Sea: at the one end thereof toward the Midland-sea is Constantinople, the Card-men call it by diuers names, which Orteliu: hath set downe in his Synonym.

By the Brother waues of those Chaldean streames, is meant (as. I suppose) the Persian sea, whereinto Euphrates and Tygris both together empty, being be­fore ioined about Babylon, now called Bagadet, and so the Poet takes as much of the breadth of Asia at the West end as he doth at the East: the one from Quinsay to Chiorze, the other from the sea of Constantinople to the Persi­an Gulse.

Concerning the straight of Anion, the Cardmen are not all of one opini­on: Mercator, Ortelius, Cellarius, Theuet, and others, set downe plainly a good broad arme of Sea betwixt the North-east point of Asia and America. But Vopelius ioynes Asia and this fourth part of the world together, greatly en­larging Asia and cut tolling the other, contrary to the opinion of the Authors aforesaid, and many Spaniards that haue written of the new-found world: the reasons that may be alledged in fauour of either side, require a large Commentary. Vopelius his opinion indeede cutteth off many doubts that arise about the enpeopling of America: but Mercator and the others, who are most commonly followed, seeme to ground more vpon Geography and bet­ter to agree with the seas naturall sway and easie compassing the earth. Arias Montanus in his booke intituled Phaleg, where he treateth of the habitations of Noes posteritie, setteth downe a Map according to Vopelius, this booke of his bound in the volume called Apparatus, is ioyned with the great Bibles of Antwerp. But the Poet followeth Mercator, Ortelius, and the common opini­on of the Cardmen of our time: for Ptolome, Strabo and Mela in their daies had not discouered so much.

Quinsay, which the Poet cals Quinzit, is a famous citie in the Northeast point of Asia about ten leagues from the sea, built vpon peeres and arches in a marrish ground; it is twenty leagues or one hundred miles about, and by reason as well of the great Lake-waters there, as also of the ebbe and slow of the sea, it bath (as M. P. Venet, reports in the 64. chapter of his second booke) 12000. bridges of stone: the most renoumed bound-marke of all A­sia, and the greatest citie in the world, if that be true. But Theuet gainsaith it in the 27. chapter of the 12. booke of his Cosmography, where he describes the Citie and Lake with the Riuer that causes the Lake to swell; he saith it is not aboue foure leagues in compasse: yet M. Paule affirmes he hath beene there.

Chiorze is another worthy part of Asia set downe here for a bound-marke, because of the strange Buls there, as great as Elephants, with haire as smooth and soft as silke. Howsoeuer now adaies that country is nothing so ciuill as [Page 93] others inhabited by the posterity of Cham and Iaphet, yet the fruitfulnesse of the ground, and great commodities there growing, for maintainance of mans life, declare it hath beene in times past one of the best portions of the chil­dren of Noe.

7. Ashur t' Assyriland. Moses saith the sonnes of Sem were Elam, Ashur, Ar­phaxad, Lud and Aram: The Poet here in six verses hath noted out the first habitations of these fiue: reseruing afterward, about the 300. verse and so forth, to shew their first, second, third, and fourth out-going ouer the rest of Asia. Concerning Ashur it may be gathered out of the 10. of Genesis, verse the 11. that hauing sorted himselfe with the people that now began to feare Nimred, and liking not to liue vnder that yoke, went on further, and in the Countrey after his name called Assyria built Niniuy (which a long time re­mained one of the greatest Cities in the world, as appeares by the prophesie of Ionas and other places of Scripture) and Caleh and Resen not farre asunder, which haue beene long agoe destroyed, Elam, that was the eldest, seated himselfe by the riuer Euphrates neere the Persian Gulfe, which now is called the Sea of Mesendin. The Poet giues him a Princely title, because the Mo­narchie began betime and long continued thereabouts, where also reigneth still the Sophi, a great Emperour and deadly enemy of the Turkes. The Ri­uer Araxes is described by Ptolome in his third Map of Asia, where he makes it spring from the soot of Pariard which some men take for the hill Taurus, and so passing Scapene, Soducene, and Colthene to emptie into the Caspian sea. These Countries are very rich, and therefore the Poet cals them sat lands. Lud hauing passed the Riuer composed of Tygris and Euphrates, which straight after voids into the Golfe, had Elam on the North, the two Riuers ioyned and the Gulfe on the East, and on the West the Marches of Seba, which is the vp­per part of Arabia. The poet here allotteth him the Lydian fields, if by Lydia be vnderstood that part of the lesser Asia called Meonia by Ptolome, Herodote and Plinie, Lud should haue wandered further then the other foure brothers. Moses reports not any thing of his Colonies, and his farre going may be the cause, for according to the Poet he should haue coasted vp as farre as Aeolia and the Midland sea. The seat of Aram is Mesopotamia, to wit, the Countries about Babylon, and the mountaines of Armenia, which were after called by the name of Taurus. This also containeth Syria and the great Armenia, be­twixt the which runneth Euphrates. Arphaxad passing Euphrates staied in Chaldea: and for that Astronomy and other excellent arts there chiefly flou­rished, the Poet surnameth him the Learned, which appertaineth also vnto him in regard of the true doctrine maintained by his posteritie, and after some corruption reformed in the house of Abraham, whom the Lord remoued from Vr of the Chaldeans into Syria.

8. Cham. The share of Cham was Africke, which the Poet boundeth out as followeth. It hath on the Southside the Ae [...]hiopicke Ocean, or the sea of Guinea, the land of Negros, the realmes of Caefala (which commeth neere the South Tropicke, and is right-ouer against Madagascar, or as the Spanish call it, the Isle of S Laurence) Bolongas (lower and hard by the Cape of good hope) Guagamet, about the lake of Zembre, from whence the riuer Nile springeth, as Daniell Cellarius noteth in his Map of Africke; and Benin, that Ises aboue th'Equator neere the great bay betwixt Meleget and Mauicongo. As for Con­critan, it is a great wildernesse betweene Cefala and Bolongas, which by rea­son of extreame heare brings forth great store of poisonous things. Now the Northbound of Affricke is the Midland-sea, and on the West it shooteth out three capes or promontories named in the text, all toward the Atlanticke O­cean, but the greene cape; which is more southward and pointeth more to­ward the Sea, called (in respect of the Antatticke pole) the North Sea, though it lye very neere the Equator: on the East of Affricke plaies the Ara­bian Gulfe, and the great red Sea now called the Indicke Ocean: and beyond these bounds the Poet saith Cham also possest Arabia, which is distinguished into three parts, the Happy, the Desert, and the Stony, all enclosed by the Mount Libanus, and the Red and Persian Gulfes.

9. Canan. He setteth downe briefly and in foure verses the seuerall a­bodes of Chams foure sonnes, according as they are named in the tenth chap­ter of Genesis. Chus the eldest brother had Aethiopia, which some take for that vnder Aegypt, others for the land of Chus which is a part of Arabia the [Page 94] Happy, as may be gathered by many places of the old Testament, well noted of M. Beroals in the sixt chapter of his fourth booke of Chronicles. Mizraim peopled Aegypt, that of the Hebrewes was commonly called Mitzraijm, and long after Aegypt of the name of King Aegyptus, who succeeded Belus in that kingdome, and was brother to Danaus, who came into Greece and was Au­thor of that name generall to the Grecians, which, as Saint Augustine thinkes De Ciu. Dei, the eighteenth booke and tenth chapter, happened about the time of Iosua. Phut the third sonne of Cham, gaue name (saith Iosephus) to the Phutaeans, after called Lybians, of one of the sonnes of Mesren or Mizrain named Lybis. He addeth also that in Mauritania there is [...] certaine riuer and countrey called Phute. Ezechiel 30.5. numbreth Phut among those that were in league with Chus and Lud, which the Latine interpreter translateth Ethio­pia, Lydia, and the Lydians: so also did the 70. Interpreters. This I say to mou [...] the Reader, that is so delighted, vnto a further and more diligent search. I thinke Phut was seated neere Arabia and Aegypt; although Arias Montanus and others place him in the coast of Affricke now called Barbary, about Tunis, Bugie, Algeri and the Mountaines of Maroco. Now of Canan or Chanaan, the fourth sonne of Cham, was called that Land of Promise, which the twelue Tribes of Israel vnder the conduct of Iosua in due time entered and possessed. The bounds thereof are plainly set downe in the booke of Exodus, chap 23. verse 31. and elsewhere: I neede not here discourse of them, except I were to write a long Commentarie.

10. Now Japhet. Moses reciting Genesis 9.27. how Noe blessed his two children, sets downe two notable points; the one concerning the great and many Countries which Iaphet and his posteritie should possesse, the other of the fauour that God should shew them, by lodging them in the tents of Sem, that is, by receiuing them at length into his Church; which hath beene fulfilled in the calling of the Gentiles. For the first point, whereas he saith, God enlarge Iaphet (For so the Hebrew word signifieth, although some trans­late it Persuade) it is as much as if he had said, Let Iaphet and his race possesse the Countries round about him farre and neere. And this hath also beene accomplished in that so infinite a multitude of people hath issued out of the stocke of Iaphet, and peopled Europe; which, though it appeare lesser then the other parts, hath alwayes had more inhabitants, and fewer void Coun­tries: The Poet hath set downe so perfect a description thereof, as it needes no further to be opened, if the Reader haue neuer so little beheld the Maps. On the East it is parted from the greater Asia by the Maior Sea, the Meotis Lake called by Ortelius the Zabach sea, the Riuer Tane or Deu, which voids into the Lake, and the Spring-herds of Rha, Edel, or Volga, running by Tartarie into the Caspian Sea: and from Asia the lesse, sometime the honour of the world & exceeding rich, as still it hath sufficient, it is deuided by the Straight of Gallipoli, sometime called Hellespont. On the West it hath the Straight of Gibraltar, the Spanish and Brittish Oceans: on the North the Frozen Sea, and on the South the Midland Sea, which is diuersly called, to wit, the Sea of Marseil by the coast of Genes, the Adriaticke about Athens and Morea, and [Page 95] otherwise according to the places adioyning. This goodly part of the world, beside the Romaine Empire, hath many great kingdomes full of people, well set forth by the Card-men. Daniell Cellarius accounts it in length, from Lis­bon to Constantinople, about six hundred leagues Almaine, and very neere as much in breadth from Scrifinie to Sicily.

11 Gomer. Moses reckeneth seuen sonnes of Iaphet, Gen. 10.2. So doth here the Poet, not standing much vpon the order of them, to follow the verse; of Gomer are come the Gomerites, whom the Greekes called Ga­lates and Gaules: of them came the people that spoiled Delphos, and then sate downe about Troas in Asia, and were called Gaule-Greekes, or Asian Galates, who afterward seized a good part of Phrygia. The Lord threatning by Ezechiel, 38. Chapter; Gog, chiefe of the Princes of Mesech and Tubal, saith he, will destroy him with this Gomer and all his bands, and the house of Togarmah, of the North-quarters. They that expound the Prophesie, gather out of this place that the Gomerites were people bordering on the North of Asia, and brought by the Kings of Syria and Asia to destroy the Iewes af­ter their returne from Babylon. They preased forth of Asia and enlarged their dominions greatly (as hath beene said) for they were a very warlike Nation. Of them, the Poet saith, are come the Germanes, so Melancthon af­firmeth vpon Carion, so doe others also, and chiefly Goropius in his fift booke. But there is great diuersitie in these outworne matters, betweene the late and ancient Writers. A diligent conference of places in the old Testament, and the ancient Latine, Greeke, and Chaldean translations serue best for [Page 96] the purpose: next, a carefull examining of the best Greeke and Latine Hi­stories: but this requires a whole volume, whereunto the searches of Goro­pius, being so well handled, might afford a man great helpe. Concerning Tubal, the Poet followes the opinion of Iosephus, that he was Author of the Spanish: which must be rightly vnderstood, that is, after a long tract of time. For by the 38. and 39. of Ezechiel, it seemes that the people issued from Tubal & Mosoch, which were neighbours, dwelt neare Arabia, and were gouerned or led to war by the Kings of Asia and Syria. And in the 32. chap. where is mention made of the mourning that should be among the Nati­ons for the King of Aegypt, there are named among others, Ashur, Elam, Mosoch and Tubal: whereby it may be gathered they were of Asia. As for their Colonies and outcreases into Spaine, they are very darke and hardly proued. Vasaeus indeed in his Chronicle of Spaine, and Taraphe in his Historie, and others that haue written of Spaine in diuers languages, following Ioseph and Berose, make Tubal first King of Spaine: but sithence they declare not what time he came thither, I leaue the Reader to consider of, and search further into the matter. Looke the historicall Library of N. Vig­nier, the first part, page 15. where he treateth of the people of Europe.

Magog, as the Poet saith, is father of the Scythians: his first habitation and Colonie was in Coelesyria, as may be gathered out of the fift booke and 23. chapter of Plinie, and the 37, 38, and 39. chapters of Ezechiel. At this time the right Scythians are the Selauonians, Moscouites and Tartarians, who vaunt of their descent from Iaphet. This might haue beene by tract of time, but not so soone, as the Poet in the sequele. Melancthon in his first vpon Carion takes the prophecies against Gog and Magog to be meant especially of the Turkes, whom he calleth by the name of Scythians, and applieth also vnto them that which is written in the Reuelation. And in the end of his se­cond Booke he giues the name to all people that professe Mahomet. I thinke my selfe, that, some while after Noes partition of the lands, Magog and his people dwelt in Coelesyria, or there abouts, and thence by succession of time thrust vp into the higher Countries. Now as the ancient people of God were much vexed and outraged by the Kings of Syria and Asia, successours of Seleucus Nicanor, and signified by the name of Gog, who aiding the peo­ple of Magog, Mosoch and Tubal, their subiects, greatly annoyed the Iewes then returned from Babylon: so hath Satan in these later daies against the [Page 96] holy Citie, the Church of God, stirred vp againe Gog and Magog, many Kings and Princes enemies to the Faith, who haue conspired together, and made a League to ouerthrow it vtterly: but the Almightie in due time and season shall confound them. Reade the 20. Chapter of the Reuelation, and the 89. Sermon of Bullinger thereupon.

As for Mosoch, Ioseph saith, of him are come the Cappadocians, and for proofe thereof, alledgeth a certaine Towne of their Country called Mazaca. It may be gathered out of the 120. Psalme, that Mesech, or Mosoch, was a neighbour people to Syria and Arabia, which place the Chalde Paraphrast expounding, vseth words of this import: O wretch that I am! for I haue beene a stranger among the Asians, and dwelt in the Arabian tents. The Poet conside­reth what might haue beene in continuance of time, and how farre the mans posterity might haue stretched.

Madai sure was Author of the name of Medes, whose Empire was very great in the higher Asia; they destroyed the Chaldean Monarchie, as may be noted out of Ierem. 51.11. & Dan. 5.18.

The Thracians ( Ioseph saith, and the Poet) are descended of Thyras. Me­lancthou thinkes that of him are come the Russians, but the Scripture spea­keth not of his posteritie. Plinie makes mention of a Riuer Tyra in the Russian or European Sarmatia: Melancthon, Goropius and others call it Nester. Goropius in his seuenth Booke puts the Getes, Daces and Bastarnes among the Thracians, as all of one stocke, and speaking almost the selfe-same tongue, which also (as he saith) comes very neare the Cimbricke and Brabantish.

Iauan, the fourth sonne of Iaphet, gaue names to the Ionians, who after with their neighbours were called Greekes: and therefore the Latine Inter­preter, translating the place of Ezech. 27.19. for the Hebrue Iauan hath put Graecia: so haue the seuenty put [...], which is the name of Greece, for the same word. As also in the 13. verse of the same Chapter, and in the 19. of the 66. of Esay, they both haue translated the Hebrue Jeuanim [...] & Graeci. The Country of Athens hath in old time beene called Ionie, as Plutarch saith in the life of Theseus, and Strabo in his ninth Booke recites out of Hecataeus, that the Ionians came out of Asia into Greece. Now the Greekes as they were great discoursers, they haue deuised a thousand tales of their first beginning: but I let them passe, because my notes are already waxen ouer long.

12 Now. The like is seene in many bookes of late times and ancient, that treat of the Kingdomes, Countries, and people of the world: for many labour more to come neare Noes Arke, and to finde there the foundation of their Townes, and names of their first Princes, then about other more certaine and sure grounds. And they had rather forge names, and deuise matter of their owne head, than leaue to packe huge volumes full of tales, witnessing the strange vanity of mans braine. The Poet condemnes this foolish ambition, and by good [...]ght: all the matter, when it is at the best, being very doubtfull and vnprofit [...]ble: for man was placed on the earth to thinke rather on the seruice of God, than so to trouble his head with curi­ous out-search of his ancestors names.

13 Of that suppos'ed Berose. Who so desires to know that the Berose late printed is false, supposed, and cleane contrary to the right Chaldean, cited [Page 97] often by Ioseph in his Antiquities against Apion, let him reade the fourth booke of Goropius his Origines Antuerpianae. And so let him thinke also of Manetho, Metasthenes, Fabius Pictor, Sempronius, Myrsilus Lesbius and others packt, as they are, into one volume, by some one that thought to doe great matters by abusing so the Readers, and holding them in amuse by false de­uises from further search of the truth. I will not here set downe the words of Goropius, who at large discouers the forgednesse of this new Berose and his followers: let it suffice to haue pointed at the place. The true Berose was one of the Priests of Bel, and at the commandement of Antiochus the third, who succeeded Seleucus, wrote three bookes of the Chaldean Historie: so saith Tatianus, Ioseph, and Clemens Alexandrinus. Some fragments of his we reade in Ioseph against Apion, and they make flat against that other Berose published in our time.

14 Th'Allusion. They that in our time haue entreated of the Nations pedegrees, haue much stood vpon the resemblance that one word or pro­per name hath to another, and haue aptly framed coniectures of good im­port and likely-hood, as man may note in Carion, Melanc [...]hon, Peuter, Altha­mer, Lazius, Goropius, and others. But the Poet holds that a simple resem­blance of words is no good ground for a story. His reasons are, first, that hilles, riuers and seas change their names, as by Ortelius his treasure of Geo­graphie doth appeare, comparing the bookes and tables of Ptolomie, Strabe, Mela, and other ancients, with the maps of Gemma Frisius, Vopelius, Merca­tor, Postel, Theuet, Cellarius, and other late Writers. Secondly, that Cities and Countries are not alwaies called by the names of their founders and first inhabitants. Thirdly, that no stocke or Nation hath sure hold of any place in the world, because of the many changes that befall this life. Fourth­ly, that as in the sea one waue thrusteth on another, so the people, and chiefly those of old time, haue driuen each other out of place, and in a manner played In docke, out nettle. All stories prooue these reasons to bee true, and for the last, the Author shewes three notable examples to con­firme it.

15 Th'old Britton. It is aboue 1200. yeares agoe since Vortiger King of England, then called Great Brittaine, or Albion, (that is, a white-sand Isle) hauing warre with his neighbours the Scots, sent for aid to the Saxon-Eng­lish a people of Germany, who, after they had done him good seruice, played as the Turkes did in Greece: for they seated themselues in a part of the Island, on the East, where few yeares after they kept such a coile, that the old Britton, the natura [...]l Inbred of the Countrey, was constrained to forsake it. So with a great multitude passed the sea, and landed in Armo­ricke, now called little Brittaine: where they gathered more and more to­gether, and increased much by succession of time. See more hereof in the Chronicles of England and Brittaine. The riuer Leyre falls into the trench of Nantes, and so voids into the Ocean.

16 The Lombard. About the yeare of Christ 568. Alboin King of Lom­bardes hauing heard of the fruitfulnesse of Italy, left Pannonia, or Hun­gary (where he dwelt) in gard of certaine Hunnes, vpon, conditions, and in few weekes after made a rode into Italy with a mightie armie, and got many Townes chiefly in Insubria, now called Lombardy, of those Lombards, who raigned there about two hundred yeares, till they were ouercome and brought to thrall by the Emperour charlemaine, about the yeare 774. Looke the Histories of France, and the second part of the Librarie of [Page 100] N. Vignier, Ishall speake anon of their beginning more particularly.

17. Th' Aline. About they yeere 412. when Ataulphe King of Gothes had driuen away the Alaines and Vandals from Cordway and Seuill, which they pos­sessed, as also most of the prouinces of Spaine, the Vandals sate downe in Be­tica, which after was of thir name called first Vandalosie, and then shorter An­dalosie: The Alaines in Lusitania and the prouince of Carthage, or (as some say) betwixt the riuers Iberus and Kubricatus, whereabouts in time past dwelt a people called Iacetani, not vnlikely to be the men of Arragon; afterward they ioyned and went both together into Affricke, where they raigned a long time. But in the yeere 534. the Emperour Justinian, who caused the Roman lawes to be gathered together into one body, sent an armie against them vnder the command of Belissarius: he regained Affricke, tooke Carthage, and led Gllimer command of Belissarius: he regained Affricke, tooke Carthage, and led Gllimer king of Goths prisoner vnto Rome. After all this the Romans and the Moores also were constrained to giue place in Affricke to the Arabians, who pressed in there, and encamped themselues in sundry places.

18. This hunger ne're sussiz'd. The Poet saith, that desire of rule, reuenge, and vainglory, ambition and couetousnesse, haue chiefly caused so many peo­ple to remoue and change their dwellings. As also many stories of Scrip­ture and others plainly shew. Seneca reckoned diuerse other causes in his booke de Consolatione ad Elbiam, where he saith, The Carthaginians made a road into Spaine, the Greekes into France, and the Frenchmen into Greece. neither could the Pyrene mountaines hinder the Germans passage; ouer wayes vnknowne and vn­troad the light-headed people haue caried their wiues and children and ouer-aged parents: some after long wandering vp and downe seated themselnes not according to their free choice, but where they first might, when they waxed weary of trauell: some on other mens possessions s [...]ized by force of armes: some as they sought vnknown places were drowned in the sea: some there sat downe, where they first began to want pro [...]ision. And all for sooke not their countries or sought other for the same causes. Many, after their cities were destroyed by warre, sled from their enemies, and so be­rest of their owne possessions, were faine to presse vpon other mens: many left their dwellings to auoide the disquiet of ciuill warres: and many to emptie Cities of their ouerceasing multitude: some by pestilence, or the earths often gulsing, or like vnsuf­ferable faults of a bad soyle, were cast forth; and some were ent [...]sed from home by re­port of a larger and more fruitfull ground: some for one cause, some for ano­ther, &c.

19. I doe not speake-of here. The Poet hath Scoenites, which I translate A­rabes, because they were a people of Arabia, great robbers and har [...]ers of Aegypt and the coast of Affricke [...] the shopheards Nomades are (as I take them) [Page 101] the Numidians and Moores: or (as some thinke) a kinde of Scythiant. The Hordies are the Tartarians, who liue in the field in chariots and tents. Now the Poet leauing the vncertaine course of these roguing Nations, who haue had no more stay in them then swallowes and other wandring, birds, inten­deth to speake of a more warlike people: whereof he alledgeth some notable examples.

20. Right such that Lombard was. He setteth downe much matter in few ords, concerning the Lombards. There are diuerse opinions of their pede­gree: Melancthon and Peucer in the third and fourth booke of Carious Chron, hold they dwelt in a Saxonie by the riuer Albis, about where now are the Bi­shopricks of Meidburg and Halberstad, and a part of the Marquesse of Brand­burg; and from thence vnder the conduct of Alboin entred Jtalie, and in the time of the Emperour Iustin the second, seated themselues betweene the Appenine hils and the Alpes, where they began a kingdome. They were cal­led Lombards, either because of their long Ianelines (for thence it seeme are come the names of Halbards and Iauclines de barde) or because they dwelt in a countrey flat and fruitfull, as the Dutch word Bard may signifie. Some o­therutho rs count them farre-northerne people, yet shew not their ancient aboad. Ptolomee in the fourth table of Europe deriues them from the coun­trey of Swaube; as also he noteth in the second booke and 11. chapter of his Geogr. with whom agreeth C. Tacitus in his Histories. But Lazius in the 12. booke of his Migrations of the Northerne people, Vignier in the first part of his Library page 905. and out Poet, here followes the opinion of Paulus Dia­conus: they differ not much but onely about the time of their stay, and place of their first aboad. Melancthon and Peucer set them first in Saxonic, Paulus Diaconus, the Poet and others, in Scandinauie, or Schonland, a great neare­lsle of the Sound or Baltike Sea, from whence they might come in by the bankes of Albis, all or some of them, and some by the coast of Mekelborg, &c. For Paulus Diaconus, in his first booke second chapter, saith of this peo­ple, They encreased so fast in their fore-said Country, that they were faine to part themselues in to three companies, and cast lots, which of them should goe seeke another seat. This I say, to shew the Poets cunning drift, that in so few lines hath set downe matter enough, for any man to write-on whole volumes of bookes. Thus then to follow the Poet, the first notable and fast aboad of the Lombards, who came from the Goths and Vandals, was Schonland, whence a part of them, dislodging vnder the conduct of Ibor and Agio setled in Sco­ring, which is about the marches of Liuonia and Prussia: and after they had there dwelt certaine yeeres, were constrained by a dearth to seeke further, so as they came to Mauringia, and at length to Rugiland, and the countries neere adioyning, which Paulus Diaconus setteth downe by name. There after the death of their leaders, they chose Agilmond for their king. He had reigned 33. yeeres, when the Bulgares, a neighbour people, assailing them vnawares, slue King Agilmond. After him was chosen Lamisson for King, who to reuenge the death of his predecessour, made warre with the Bulgares, got and held a dart of Pologne: then waxing wearie of that countrey, he led his people to­ward the Rhine, to the coast of the Countrie Palatine, as Tacitus notes in his [Page 102] second booke of Histories, and Velleius Patere. in the life of Tiberius. About Heidelberg there is a towne called Lamberten, which seemes to make some­what for the Lombards aboad there: so saith Lazius. But many yeeres after, they coasted backe againe, and dwelt in Moranie, where they warred against the Heru [...]es, Sucues and Gepides. Then went they vp into Hungarie vnder the safe-conduit of the Emperour Iustinian, to whom they paid tribute (as Proco­pius and Diaconus declare at large.) There had they cruell warre with the Ge­pides, but at length agreed and ioyned with them; and vnderstanding by the practise of Narses, that Italie was a Countrey much sitting their nature, their King Alboin made a road thereinto, and got Lombardie before called Insubria; there they rested and raigned two hundred yeers, vntill Charles the groat van­quisht them, as is before laid.

21. Such was the Goth. Lazius in the tenth booke of his Migrations, hath handled well and largely the Historie of Gothes, gathered out of Procopius, Ior­nandes, Tacitus, Claudianus, Olaus Magnus, Eutropius, and many others. I will shut vp all in short, and by way of Paraphrase vpon the Poets verse. The Goths, and Almaine people, had for their first assured seat the Isles of the Sound, or Baltike Sea, and Gothland yet retaines the name of them. In Syllaes time they left these Isles, and came to dwell in Almaine beside the riuer Vi­stula, now called Wixel. After they had warred there against the Frenchmen, they bent toward Transsiluania, Hangaria and Valachia, where they remained vntill the time of Valentinian, maintaining themselues by force of armes a­gainst the Greekes and Romans. Then, for many causes alledged by Lazius, they went forward into Thrace, and there dwelt and became tributaries vnto Valentinian and Valens. Eutropius saith, all went not thither, but a good part of them kept their former place, and the cause of their sundring was a civill disagreement about religion: the one side retaining Heathenisme vnder A­thalaricke their King: the other vnder Fridigerne mingling with Christenisme the abhominable heresie of Arrius, which taketh quite away the true religion of Christ: The Arrians drew toward the West, and wore after called Visigo­thes or Westgothes, the other to the contrary, and were called Ostrogothes or Eastgothes, who out of Thrace moued into Hungarie and the countries adioy­ning, where they had much adoe with the Romaine Emperours, as Lazius well recordeth: at last they got Sclauonia, and all fort ward vnto the Adriaticke Sea: there growing to a mighty number, they determined to set on Italie vnder the command of Radaguise their King in the time of Theodosius the first, sonne of Arcadius. Their Armie was in number aboue two hundred thousand strong, but by the speciall grace of God they were ouerthrowne, captiued and sold most for ducats a peece, their king slaine, and all scattered into diuers coun­tries; but, in the time of Honorius, Alaricke the king of Westgothes made ano­ther voyage, and entting into Italie, asked the Emperour a place to dwell on: hauing obtained the coast that marcheth vpon France, as he was going thi­therward with his company vpon Easter day, one of the captaines of Sulico set vpon him, and taking him so at disaduantage, by treason slew a great num­ber of the Goths. They, stirred vp with anger and disdaine of such vnf. ithfull dealing of the Romans, make backe to Rome, waste Italie, and in the moneth of [Page 103] September 1164 beleaguer and take the Citie, and three dayes after depart thence loaden with the spoile. As Alaricke was marching toward Rome, there appeared a reuerend personage vnto him, and aduised him, since he would be counted a Christian, that he should not make such hauocke as he did: where­unto the king answered; it is not my desire to goe to Rome, but euery day [...]m I forced by some one (I know not who) that still cryeth vnto me, Goe on, goe on, and destroy Rome. As the Gothes retired Alaricke dyed, and Athaulph succec­ded him, who led them backe to Rome againe. So they went through with their saccage, and led away captiue [...]alla Placidia the sister of Honorius, whom Athaulph married. Hee was after slaine of his owne people at Barcelona in Spaine, for seeking peace for his wiues sake with Honorius. The third road they made into Italie was vnder the command o [...] Vidimer: but they were en­countred and beaten backe by Glycerius, as Jornandes writeth: and so they pressed againe vpon the French, and Spanish Nations. Afterward the Goths of Sclauonia, weary of easie liuing, got leaue of the Emperour Zeno and entred Italie, and ouercame Odocacer the Exarch of Rauenna, and there held estate for many yeeres. At length about the yeere of Christ 411. in the time of Ho­norius, they seated themselues in Spaine vnder Alaricke and his successours. Now during the time of their aboad neere the M [...]oticke marshes they had nine kings: while they remained in Gothland (which is now deuided into the East and West Goth [...]e, betwixt Swethland and Norway) they had 8. kings; and 10: about the bankes of Wixel, and in Transsiluania and Sclauonia 26. After that being sundred into Eastgothes and Westgothes, the Eastgothes had in Italy 11. kings from Alarick: to Teias, who with the greater part of his people was ouerthrowne by Narses. The Westgothes in Lion-Gaule, in Languedoc and Guien, had six kings; and the kings of Westgothes in Spaine, from Alaricke in the yeere 411. to Philip that now reigneth, are eight and twenty in number, according to the account to Lazius; who reckoneth also two and thirty kings of Arragon, and two and twenty of Nauarre, vnto the kings father that now is. Of these matters it may suffice to haue touched thus much in a word.

22 Such was the French. To enter into the whole history of the French-men, it was not the Poets meaning, but onely to note briefly the chiefe O [...]troads of this braue Nation, and that within the compasse of two thousand yeares. I will goe no further, but follow the text. The first beginning of the French is diuersly recorded, and all the opinions thereof are well gathered and examined by the Author of the French Antiquities: who in the end sheweth his owne iudgement, and auoucheth it to be very likely, that the land of Gaule (which in old time, besides the Realme of France, did containe also the Low-countries, Germany within Rhine, and Lorraine) was first inhabited by the line of Gomer, hither comming vpon di­uers occasions, and increasing more and more with the time: as also by the Germanes a neighbour people: for little could the Rhine hinder the Gaules and Germanes from comming together, but that either, as they preuailed in-strength, might come into others countrey for their better liking. And as the men of Marseil are counted an outcrease of Asia, it is like the rest of the Townes and quarters of France were peopled after the same sort. Ami­anus [Page 104] Marcellinus liuely painteth out the Gaules in his fifteenth booke. So doth Polybius, Caesar, Diodorus Siculus, Strabo, and others. All agree they were a very warlike people; and their multitude gaue them to thinke vpon such remedie as others had vsed before. Their first outroad, that was of any ac­count, was in the raigne of Tarquinius Priscus, and about the time of the Iewes thraldome in Babylon, some six hundred yeares before the birth of Christ. The Celiae (which were the ancient Gaules) possessed the Countries now called Suisse, Sauoy, Daulphine, Languedoc, Vellay, Viuaretz, Lionnois, Forest, Auuergne, Berri, Limosin, Quercy, Perigort, Xanctoigne, Angulmois, Po [...]ctou, Brettaigne, Anjou, Tourraine, Maine, Perche, Normandie within Seine, the Char­train, Hurepois, Beaulse, Gastinois, Brie, Champagne, the Duchie and Counte of Bourgongne: their King Ambigat sent forth Sidoveze and Belloveze to seeke other dwelling. Sidoveze taking towards Germanie, left people in Bauaria, Bohemia and Carinthia, and seated himselfe in the point of Europe, toward and beyond the Riphean mountaines. Belloveze a while staying at the foot of the Alpes, was after by the perswasions of a certaine Tuscane, called Ar­ron drawne into Italy, and possessed Insubria. Some of his company seating first among the Pyrene hils, at length entred a part of Arragon, and gaue the name to Portugal. But these were nothing so renowned as the other: who preasing further into Italy, marched vnder Brennus as farre as Clusium, and so to Rome. Of his exploits there Liuie writeth, and Plutarch in the life of Camillus, which was 386. yeares before the comming of Christ. A third company that followed Belleveze, because they would haue roome enough, ouer-ran Slauonia, and maugre all stay entred Hungary, and after many skirmishes departed thence in two bands: the one coasting into Ma­cedonie, the other into Greece, where they made the whole world afraid of them: after they had slaine Plol [...]meus Keraunus, brother to Philadelphus King of Aegypt. Pranses was their King, whom others call Brennus; but was not he that sackt Rome. This man not content to haue obtained a great vi­ctory of the Macedonians, and harried their country, presumed so farre as to spoile the Temple at Delphos, whereby himselfe and all his were brought to a miserable end. Neuerthelesse the French that stayed behinde, to guard the Frontiers of the Country, fainted not at the report of these newes, but went to field with 1500. foot, and 3000. horse, ouerc [...]me the G [...]tes and Triballes, and wasted all Macedonie: only through negligence, as they reti­red loaden with spoile, they were brought to their end. Yet they that re­mained in Gaule sent forth other companies into Asia: who passed on as far as Bossen and Dardanie, where, by reason of a quarrell that fell betweene them, they sundred themselues. One part of them cast into Thrace, and raigned there a long time: the other setled about where Sauus and Danu­bius meet, not far from Belgrade. These that remained in Dardanie, when they heard tell of the fruitfull soile of the lesser Asia, went on so far as Hel­lespont, and there because they were three Companies, they parted Natolia betweene them into three parts. The Trocynes had the coast of Hellespont; the Tolystoboges, Eolide and Jonie (which the Turkes call Quision.) The Te­ctosages, the country further into the maine land. All that part of Asia which [Page 105] lyeth on this side Taurus, they made their tributary, planting themselues all along the riuer H [...]lys, that parteth Paphlagonia from Syria. That Prouince where the Gaules dwelt in Asia, from their first arriuall to the height of the Romane Empire, retained the name of Gaul-Gre [...]ce, together with that same language which Saint Ierome (six or seuen hundred yeares after) saith was like that he heard spoken in Gaule about the quarter of Treues. Thus con­cerning the ancient Gaules: no to cleare some few darke words of the Text. The worke of Romulus, &c. He meaneth Rome, builded by Romulus, the most warlike Citie of all the world; and therefore Mars, whom the Painims counted the God of Warre, may be thought the founder of it. Cold Strymon, a riuer parting Macedonie from Thrace, as Plinie saith: and be­cause Thrace is no very warme country, he giueth Strymon the adioint of Cold. The Emathicke fields, to wit, Macedonie, so called of King Emathion, Plinie speakes thereof in his fourth booke and tenth chapter thus, Macedo­nie, a Comtrie containing an hundred and fiftie Nations, sometime renowned for two Kings (he meaneth Philip and Alexander) and for the Empire of the whole world: it was afore-time called Emathia: which word the Poets, as Virgil and Lucan, doe sometime vse for Thessaly, a Countrie neare Macedonie. Lu­can in his very first verse, Bella per Emathios plusquam ciuilia Campos. And Vir­gil in the end of his second Georgie. [Page 105]

The Pharsalian fields are in Thessaly, as Fliny recordeth in his fourth booke and eight Chapter.

Dindyma. A hill in Phrygia. The Poet calleth it Dindyme chastré, guelt Dindym: because the Priests of Cybele, called Curetes, kept and sacrificed there, and were Eunuches atrired like women. The Poets meaning is, that these Gaules harried also Phrygia, and called the country where they dwelt in Asia, Gaul-Greece, after the name of that from whence they first came, and so planted, as it were, another Gaule in the middest of Asia. What be­came of their successours in the Romanes time, because the Poet makes no mention thereof, I passe it also.

23 Of people most renowàd. He sheweth in few words wherefore he thrust­eth no further into discourse of the out-roads the people made in old time. For though Carion, Melancthon, P [...]ucer, Lazius, Rhenanus, Goropius, and others of our time, haue that way farre ventured, and some-while with very good successe; yet it cannot be denied, but that they leaue many doubts, and doe not all-where cleare the matter. See then how fitly the Poet addes that followeth.

24 It shall suffice. The Poet hath heretofore compared Antiquity (chiefly concerning the Nations Out-roads) vnto a great forrest, wherein the cun­ningest guides haue often lost themselues. Now therefore he saith it is the safer way to follow and keepe neare the verge of the forrest, rather than venter too farre into it. He shewes thereby, that his meaning is to giue vs a generall view of these matters, not curiously to minse the particulars, as they haue done, who vndertake to gather out of Authors, and teach others the course of Noes posteritie euery mile, as they haue runne vntill this pre­sent; and pore still into the Arke, to finde there the names of their Coun­try-men and ancestors. Therefore he voweth to rely wholly vpon the golden mouth of Moses, which was the sonne of Amram, as the Scripture witnesseth, [Page 109] Numb. 26.59. Now Moses saith, Gen. 10. in the end of the Chapter, That of the children of Noe were the Nations diuided on the earth after the Floud. And before in 5.20. and 30. verses, he sheweth plainly from whence they began to people the world, and (as it were) to lead againe the Arke ouer the face of the earth: in filling most countries of the world with their great posteritie, encreased, as it was, by vertue of Gods wonderfull blessing, Gen. 9.1. Encrease and multiply, and fill the earth.

25. Yet not as if Sems house. He saith Sem peopled not the East all at once, but by succession of time; that Iaphet when he came out of the Arke, did not forthwith runne to Spaine, nor Cham to hide himselfe in the furthest part of Affrick: but that by little and little, and in processe of time their is­sues [Page 110] ranged so farre forth either way. He speaketh of diuers Countries far vp in the East, and farre downe Southward, the site whereof appeareth plaine in the Mappes: and to emich this true story, he vseth two prettie comparisons, of the rockes of Bees in Hybla, and Elmes in an Island: and as by their surci ease both places are by peecemeale at length quite ouer­growne, so (he saith) the world by yearely encrease of Noes posteritie was part after part ouer-peopled as it is. First after the confusion of tongues they lodged one behinde another, about the coast of Mesopotamia: after­ward as they encreased in stocke, their new families passed the riuers hilles and straights, looking-out other dwelling places to their liking: the proui­dence of God directing all (as appeares) for the better grace and trim­ming of the earth, and the commoditie of all manking.

26. And hence it comes to passe. This ensueth necessarily of that goes be­fore. Where the posteritie of Noe were most together in the beginning, there we must confesse was the chiefe sway and greatnesse of mankind, and that was in Assyria and Chaldea, as Moses witnesseth, Gen. 11. whereout the Poet concludeth as afore: see further, Gen. 14. Concerning the Kings wars that are there named, with their countries marching vpon Tigris or there abouts; and of Nymrod it is namely said that the beginning of his raigne was Babel, &c. in the Countrey of Sennaar, marching vpon the riuer Tygris.

27. For Babylon betimes. Hauing spoken in generall of the first peoples greatnesse, hee specifieth now the first Monarchie; whereof it seemes Meses hath enough written in the tenth chapter aforesaid. Now the best Authors many, of these and the former times, declare and proue by the account of yeares that the first Monarchie as in Babylon, and Babylon was in Chald [...]a: whereupon some dispute for Nimnie and Assyrians, and some be­cause these two great Cities began about one time, had seuerall Princes, and raigned both many hundred yeares, they make a double Monarchie of the first, vntill such time as the Chaldean had swallowed the Assyrian. I take not the word Monarchie too precisely, as if in the time of the Babylonian there were none other in the world. Aegypt began in good time to be of power, and great Kings there were in the Land of Canaan, and the coun­tries adioyning. But I vnderstand with our Poet that the first rule plainly appeared at Babylon, euen in the time of Noe. Hee that would vpon this point compare prophane Histories with the Scripture, might sinde matter for a long discourse, the summe whereof may be seene in Funccius, Carion, Vignier and other Chroniclers. To be short, I say the raigne of Nymrod mentioned, Gen. 10.10. many yeares fore-went all other wee reade of, and especially those of the Greekes, Romanes, Gaules, &c. as is proued plainly by the account of time. Thebes, a Towne of Boeotia in Greece: it hath a spring by it called Dirce, whereof the Towne-selfe among the Poets is often sur­named. Amphion, a wise Polititian, who by his eloquence and sleight perswa­ded the people of those times, rude as they were and vnciuill, to ioyne to­gether in building the walles of Thebes; whereupon the Poets, to shew the force of eloquence, faine that Amphion by the cunning stroakes of his Lute [Page 111] made the stones to come downe from the rockes and lay themselues together in order of a wall. And thus saith Horace in his Epistle of Poetrie ad Pisones: Dictus & Ampbion Thebanae conditor vrbis Saxa mouere sono testudinis, & piece blanda Read more of him in Appollonius his Argonauticks.

28. The sonnes H [...]ber. This proues againe that the neere successours of Noe silled not the world all at once, but by succession of time. So the true re­ligion remained in the family of Sem: The Chaldeans were excellent Astro­nomers and Philosophers; the Egyptian Priests knew the secrets of Nature, before there was any knowledge of letters in Greece: which was not peopled so soone as the other by many yeeres, as the histories euen of the Greekes themselues declare. See the latter Chronicles.

29. All Egypt ouershone. Another proofe. If the world had beene peopled all straight after the flood, riches and dainties would haue beene found vsed in all countries at the same time. But they were in Egypt and Tyre long before the Greekes and Gaules knew the world. So it followes that Greece and Gaule were not so soone peopled as Egypt and Phaenicia. By the limping Smith, he meanes Vul an, that first found out the vse and forging of Iron in Sicilie. Pro­metheus was the first that found the vse of fire among the Argol ans or Greekes. Of him saith Hor. 1. booke 2. Ode. Audax Iapeti genus ignem sraude malâ gentibus intulit. That is, the bold sonne of Japhet brought fire by craft among the Nations. Of this matter the Poets haue set forth many fables, the true drift whereof our Author sheweth in a word. Looke what I haue no­ted vpon the 707. verse of the sixt day of the first weeke. The rest of this place is easie to be vnderstood.

30. As is a pebble stone. A fine similitude concerning the aforesaid matter: to shew how all the Arts began from the plaine of Sennaar to spread by little and little ouer all the world.

31. For from Assyria. He beginneth here to treat of the more particular peoplings. And first he sheweth how the posteritie of Sem began to fill Asla. Their first oute-ease, leauing the coast of Assyria, bent toward the East. Of this riuer Hytan, Plinie saith 6.23. Carmaniae slumen Hytanis portuosum & auro fertile. Looke Solinus cha 67. They hauing peopled this quarter, thrust on fur­ther toward Oroatis a riuer of Persia: whereof Plinie faith in his 6. booke the 23. Flumen Oroatis oslio dissicili nisi peritis; Insulae 2. paruae: inde vadosa nauiga­tio palustri similis, per curipos tamen quosdam peragitur, and in the 25 chap. Per­sidis initium ad Flumen [...]roatin, quo diuiditur ab Elimaide. Read also the 24. chapter of the said booke of Plinie, for the better vnderstanding of their dwel­ling here. Then they drew further forth into Persia towards the Citie of Su­sa, close by the which Coaspis runneth: such is the sweetnesse of that water, that (as Plinie, Soline, Plutarch, and others record) the Kings of Persia drinke of none other. So they came into the valleys of the famous hill Caucasus, where dwelt the Parthians, whose Kings were commonly called Arsaces. From hence into Medie, and lastly vp higher toward the Hyrcanian, or Caspian lake. Looke Ptolomie in his first, second and third table of Msia, Mercater, Ortelius, Cellarius and Theuet. All these remoues are contained within the compasse of fiue or six hundred leagues.

32. These mens posteritie. He setteth downe in foure verses the chiefe coun­tries peopled by the second ouercrease of Sems Issue. The land fronting Chei­sel is a part of Tartarie, not farre from the Caspian sea, whereinto that riuer falleth, and riseth neere the wildernesse of Lop, aboue Tachaliston; which is a great Countrey neighbour to the mountaine Imáus. Charasse, Charassan, or Chorasan, it is a Countrey that lies betweene Isligias, Bedane and Tacalistan, which I note more particularly then I finde in the French Commentary, be­cause there is so little difference of letters betweene that and the name of Ca­razan, whereof the Poet speaketh in the fourth verse following. This Cha­rasse, Gadel, Cabul, Bedane and Balistan, are prouinces enclosed by the riuer Indus, the mountaine Imaus, the Caspian Sea, and realme of Persia, a circuit of land somewhat more then 600. leagues.

33 Their of-spring afterward. He commeth to the third ouercrease of the Semites, who went forth Southward as well as North and Eastward. The in­habitants of Cabul thrust forward their Issue toward Bisnagar, a rich countrey of South Asia, lying betweene the Persian sea and the Gulfe of Bengala. Nar­finga (for so I haue translated the French Nayarde) is a kingdome lying yet lower, and very rich. That plenteous land that Ganges thorow-flowes, it con­taines the higher India, where are many wealthy kingdomes set forth well at large in the Maps, as Cambaie, Decan, Bengala, Pedir, &c. Toloman, is further vp toward the North. Aua, is beyond the Gulfe of Bengala, toward the East, about Pegu and Siam, countries of infinite wealth, Mein, on the West hath Ganges, on the East Macin, on the South Bengala, and on the North Carazan, which the Poet surnameth Muskey, because there is great store of the best Muske, Lop, a Desert thirty dayes iourney ouer, lying yet higher Northward. It seemes the Roet followes the opinion of M. P. Venet, who in the first booke of his Tartarian Historie, chap. 35. makes very strange report of the fearefull sights that the poore passengers there meete with, often to the losse of their liues. Not vnlike it is that certaine le­gions of cuill Spirits there abiding, haue had some speciall power giuen them so to punish the Idolatrous Mahometists, who still inhabit those quarters. The Poet saith all che countries marching this Wildernesse were peopled by this third outerease of the Semits. It is an opinion somewhat likely, and thereon I rest, vntill I heare some other (if it be possible) giue more certaine intelli­gence of the matter.

34. Long after sundry times. He speaketh of the fourth and last ouercrease of Sem. Tipura, a Countrey breeding many Rhrinocerots, which, according as the Greeke name signifieth, I haue translated horny-snouted beasts: read the description of them in the exposition of the fortieth verse of the sixt day of the first weeke: this Tipura lieth Eastward aboue Toloman betwixt Carazan an Caichin, or Gaucinchine, for so I haue translated: it hath on the West Tipura and Toloman, on the South Campaa, on the North China and Mein, and on the East the East-Ocean: a land very large and bearing great store of Aloës Mangit is farre vp in the North: so is also Quinsai, Ania, and Tabin, one a­boue another euen vnto the Anien Straight and Seythicke Ocean. By this de­scription, plaine to be seene in the Maps of Asia, the Poet meant to shew vs [Page 113] all the seuerall remoues of Sems posteritie; who not passing beyond the A­nian Straight, might long content themselues with [...]o large a portion as Asia containing aboue foure thousand leagues of ground. As for the particular description of these Countries, their length, breadth and commodities, I nei­ther dare, nor will euer charge therewith my notes enten [...]ed for short. Be­sides, it was not the Poets minde to hold the Reader long with view and study of such matter and questions, as may be had and plainly resoiled of the Card-men.