hast chosen, and towards the house which I have chosen to build for thy name, then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause." Now the observation hereof, unto the Jews that are dispersed westward, and such as most converse with us, directeth their regard unto the east; but the words of Solomon are appliable unto all quarters of heaven, and by the Jews of the east and south must be regarded in a contrary position. So Daniel in Babylon looking toward Jerusalem had his face toward the west. So the Jews in their own land looked upon it from all quarters for the tribe of Judah beheld it to the north; Manasses, Zabulon, and Napthali unto the south; Reuben and Gad unto the west; only the tribe of Dan regarded it directly or to the due east. So when it is said: When you see a cloud rise out of the west, you say there cometh a shower, and so it is;"* the observation was respective unto Judea; nor is this a reasonable illation, in all other nations whatsoever. For the sea lay west unto that country, and the winds brought rain from that quarter; but this consideration cannot be transferred unto India or China, which have a vast sea eastward, and a vaster continent toward the west. So likewise, when it is said in the vulgar translation, “Gold cometh out of the north," it is no reasonable inducement unto us and many other countries, from some particular mines septentrional unto his situation, to search after that metal in cold and northern regions, which we most plentifully discover in hot and southern habitations.

For the Mahometans, as they partake with all religions in something, so they imitate the Jews in this. For in their observed gestures, they hold a regard unto Mecca and Medina Talnaby, two cities in Arabia Felix, where their prophet was born and buried, whither they perform their pilgrimages, and from whence they expect he should return again. And therefore they direct their faces unto these parts; which, unto the Mahometans of Barbary and Egypt, lie east, and are in some point thereof unto many other parts of Turkey. Wherein notwithstanding there is no oriental respect; for with the same devotion on the other side, they regard these parts toward the west, and so with variety wheresoever they are seated, conforming unto the ground of their conception. + Job xxxvii.

* Luke xii.

Fourthly, whereas in the ordering of the camp of Israel, the east quarter is appointed unto the noblest tribe, that is, the tribe of Judah, according to the command of God, "In the east side toward the rising of the sun shall the standard of the tribe of Judah pitch;" it doth not peculiarly extol that point. For herein the east is not to be taken strictly, but as it signifieth or implieth the foremost place; for Judah had the van, and many countries through which they passed were seated easterly, unto them. Thus much is implied by the original, and expressed by translations which strictly conform thereto. So Tremellius, Castra habentium ab anteriore parte Orientem versus, vexillum esto castrorum Judæ : so hath R. Solomon Jarchi expounded it; the foremost or before is the east quarter, and the west is called behind. And upon this interpretation may all be salved that is allegeable against it. For if the tribe of Judah were to pitch before the tabernacle at the east, and yet to march first, as is commanded, Numb. x., there must ensue a disorder in the camp, nor could they conveniently observe the execution thereof. For when they set out from Mount Sinai, where the command was delivered, they made northward unto Rithmah; from Rissah unto Eziongaber about fourteen stations they marched south; from Almon Diblathaim through the mountains of Abarim and plains of Moab toward Jordan the face of their march was west. So that if Judah were strictly to pitch in the east of the tabernacle, every night he encamped in the rear; and if (as some conceive) the whole camp could not be less than twelve miles long, it had been preposterous for him to have marched foremost, or set out first, who was most remote from the place to be approached.

Fifthly, that learning, civility, and arts, had their beginning in the east, it is not imputable either to the action of the sun, or its orientality, but the first plantation of man in those parts, which unto Europe do carry the respect of east. For on the mountains of Ararat, this is, part of the hill Taurus, between the East Indies and Scythia, as Sir W. Raleigh accounts it, the ark of Noah rested; from the east they travelled that built the tower of Babel: from thence they were dispersed and successively enlarged, and learning, good arts, and all civility communicated. The progression whereof was very * Numb. ii. M

VOL. II.

sensible, and if we consider the distance of time between the confusion of Babel, and the civility of many parts now eminent therein, it travelled late and slowly into our quarters. For notwithstanding the learning of bards and Druids of elder times, he that shall peruse that work of Tacitus, De moribus Germanorum, may easily discern how little civility two thousand years had wrought upon that nation; the like he may observe concerning ourselves from the same author in the life of Agricola, and more directly from Strabo, who, to the dishonour of our predecessors, and the disparagement of those that glory in the antiquity of their ancestors, affirmeth the Britons were so simple, that though they abounded in milk, they had not the artifice of cheese.

Lastly, that the globe itself is by cosmographers divided into east and west, accounting from the first meridian, it doth not establish this conceit. For that division is not naturally founded, but artificially set down, and by agreement, as the aptest terms to define or commensurate the longitude of places. Thus the ancient cosmographers do place the division of the east and western hemisphere, that is, the first term of longitude, in the Canary or Fortunate Islands; conceiving these parts the extremest habitations westward. But the moderns have altered that term, and translated it unto the Azores or islands of St. Michael, and that upon a plausible conceit of the small or insensible variation of the compass in those parts. Wherein nevertheless, and though upon a second invention, they proceed upon a common and no appropriate foundation; for even in that meridian farther north or south the compass observably varieth ;2 and there are also other

2 varieth.] Mr. Gunter, about 35 yeares agoe, observd the variation of the compass at Redriff not to bee greate by an excellent needle of 8 inches lengthe; yet now at this day the variation in the very same place is about halfe a pointe different, as some artizans confidently avouch upon experience; and our best mathematicians aver that there is a variation of the former variations dayly; whereof the cause may bee in the several loadstones brought from several places. For the mines of iron, whence they are taken, not running all exactly north and southe, may imprinte a different force, and verticity in the needles toucht by them, according to the difference of their own situation. Soe that the variation is not, or can bee in respect of the pole, but of the needles. It would be therefore exactly inquired by several large stones old and new, whether the verticity of them severally be alwayes the same in the same place or noe.- Wr.

places wherein it varieth not, as Alphonso and Rodoriges de Lago will have it about Capo de las Agullas, in Africa; as Maurolycus affirmeth in the shore of Peloponnesus, in Europe; and as Gilbertus averreth, in the midst of great regions, in most parts of the earth.

CHAPTER VIII.

Of the River Nilus.

HEREOF uncontrollably and under general consent many opinions are passant, which notwithstanding, upon due examination, do admit of doubt or restriction. It is generally esteemed, and by most unto our days received, that the river of Nilus hath seven ostiaries, that is, by seven channels disburdened itself into the sea. Wherein, notwithstanding, beside that we find no concurrent determination of ages past, and a positive and undeniable refute of these present, the affirmative is mutable, and must not be received without all limitation.

For some, from whom we receive the greatest illustrations of antiquity, have made no mention hereof. So Homer hath given no number of its channels, nor so much as the name thereof in use with all historians. Eratosthenes in his description of Egypt hath likewise passed them over. Aristotle is so indistinct in their names and numbers, that in the first of Meteors he plainly affirmeth, the region of Egypt (which we esteem the ancientest nation of the world) was a mere gained ground, and that by the settling of mud and limous matter brought down by the river Nilus, that which was at first a continued sea,3 was raised at last into a firm and habitable country. The like opinion he held of Maotis Palus, that by the floods of Tanais and earth brought down thereby, it grew observably shallower in his days, and would in process of time become a firm land. And though 4 his 3 sea.] Moore.

And though.] Yet after Aristotel 740 yeares, about the yeare of Christ 410, itt became soe fordable that the Huns and Vandals (observing a hinde to goe usually through itt to the pastures in Natolia) came in such swarms over the same way, that at last they overrann all Europe also.- Wr.

conjecture be not as yet fulfilled, yet is the like observable in the river Gihon,5 a branch of Euphrates and river of Paradise, which having in former ages discharged itself into the Persian Sea, doth at present fall short, being lost in the lakes of Chaldea, and hath left between them and the sea a large and considerable part of dry land.

Öthers expressly treating hereof, have diversely delivered themselves. Herodotus in his Euterpe makes mention of seven, but carelessly of two hereof, that is, Bolbitinum and Bucolicum;6 for these, saith he, were not the natural currents, but made by art for some occasional convenience. Strabo, in his geography, naming but two, Peleusiacum and Canopicum, plainly affirmeth there were more than seven; Inter hæc alia quinque, &c. There are, saith he, many remarkable towns within the currents of Nile, especially such which have given the names unto the ostiaries thereof, not unto all, for they are eleven, and four besides, but unto seven and most considerable, that is, Canopicum, Bolbitinum, Selenneticum, Sebenneticum,8 Pharniticum, Mendesium, Taniticum, and Pelusium, wherein to make up the number, one of the artificial channels of Herodotus is accounted. Ptolemy, an Egyptian, and born at the Pelusian mouth of Nile, in his geography maketh nine,9 and in the third map of Africa, hath unto their mouths prefixed their several names, Heracleoticum, Bolbitinum, Sebenneticum, Pineptum, Diolcos, Pathmeticum, Mendesium, Taniticum, Peleusiacum, wherein notwithstanding there are no less than three different names from those delivered by Pliny. All which considered, we may easily discern that authors accord not either in name or number, and must needs confirm the judgment of Maginus, de Ostiorum Nili numero et nominibus, valde antiqui scriptores discordant.

5 Gihon.] The river which rann by Verulam was once navigable up to the wals thereof, as appears by story, and anchors digd up, but is now rich land, 20 miles lower.-Wr.

6 but carelessly, &c.] Yet these are now the principal branches remaining.

7eleven.] Thirteen in all by Strabo, yet Honterus reckons 17.-Wr. 8 Sebenneticum.] Is aunciently divided into Saiticum and Mendesium.-Wr.

9 nine.] Of note, the rest smaller branches, and soe not considerable, and therefore omitted.-Wr.