CHAP. X.Of the Balance of Animals, or the due Proportion in which the World is flocked with them.
Of the Balance of Animals, or the due Proportion in which the World is flocked with them.
The whole Surface of our Globe can afford Room and Support only to such a Number of all Sorts of Creatures. And if by their doubling, trebling, or any other Multiplication of their Kind, they should encrease to double or treble that Number, they must starve, or devour one another. The keeping therefore the Balance even, is manifestly a Work of the divine Wisdom and Providence. To which end, the great Author of Lifehath determined the Life of all Creatures to such a Length, and their Increase to such a Number, proportional to their Use in the World. The Life of some Creatures is long, and their Increase but small, and by that means they do not over-stock the World. And the same Benefit is effected, where the Increase is great, by the Brevity of such Creatures Lives, by their great Use, and the frequent Occasions there are of them for Food to Man, or other Animals. It is a very remarkable Act of the Divine Providence, that useful Creatures are produced in great Plenty[a], and others in less. The prodigious and frequent Increase of Insects, both in and out of the Waters, may exemplify the one; and ’tis observable in the other, that Creatures less useful, or by their Voracity pernicious, have commonly fewer Young, or do seldomer bring forth: Of which many Instances might be given in the voracious Beasts and Birds. But there is one so peculiar an Animal, as if made for a particular Instance in our present Case, and that is theCunturofPeru[b]: A Fowl of that Magnitude, Strength and Appetite, as to seize not only on the Sheep, and lesser Cattle, but even the larger Beasts, yea, the very Children too. Now these, as they are the most pernicious of Birds,so are they the most rare, being seldom seen, or only one, or a few in large Countries; enough to keep up the Species; but not to over-charge the World.
Thus the Balance of the animal World, is, throughout all Ages, kept even; and by a curious Harmony, and just Proportion between the Increase of all Animals, and the Length of their Lives, the World is through all Ages well; but not over-stored:One Generation passeth away, and another Generation cometh[c]; so equally in its Room, to balance the Stock of the terraqueous Globe in all Ages, and Places, and among all Creatures; that it is an actual Demonstration of our Saviour’s Assertion,Mat.x. 29. that the most inconsiderable, common Creature,Even a Sparrow (two of which are sold for a Farthing) doth not fall on the Ground without our heavenly Father.
This Providence of God is remarkable in every Species of living Creatures: But that especial Management of the Recruits and Decays of Mankind, so equally all the World over, deserves our especial Observation. In the Beginning of the World, and so afterNoah’s Flood, the Longævity of Men, as it was of absolute Necessity to the more speedy peopling of the new World; so is a special Instance of the divine Providence in this Matter[d]. And the same Providence appears in the following Ages, when the World was pretty well peopled, in reducing the common Age of Man then to 120 Years, (Gen.vi. 3.) in Proportion to the Occasions of the World at that Time. And lastly, when the World was fully peopled after the Flood, (as it was in the Age ofMoses, and so down to our presentTime) the lessening the common Age of Man to 70 or 80 Years[e], (the Age mentioned byMoses,Psal. xc. 10. this, I say,) is manifestly an Appointment of the same infinite Lord that ruleth the World: For, by this Means, the peopled World is kept at a convenient Stay; neither too full, nor too empty. For if Men (the Generality of them, I mean) were to live now toMethusalah’s Age of 969 Years, or only toAbraham’s, long after the Flood, of 175 Years, the World would be too much over-run; or if the Age of Man was limited to that of divers other Animals, to ten, twenty, or thirty Years only; the Decays then of Mankind would be too fast: But at the middle Rate mentioned, the Balance is nearly even, and Life and Death keep an equal Pace. Which Equality is so great and harmonious, and so manifest an Instance of the divine Management, that I shall spend some Remarks upon it.
It appears from our best Accounts of these Matters,that in ourEuropeanParts[f], and I believe the same is throughout the World; that, I say, there is a certain Rate and Proportion in the Propagation of Mankind: Such a Number marry[g],so many are born, such a Number die; in Proportion to the Number of Persons in every Nation, County, or Parish. And as to Births, two Things are very considerable: One is the Proportion of Males and Females[h], not in a wide Proportion, not an uncertain, accidental Number at all Adventures; but nearly equal. Another Thing is, that a few more are born than appear to die, in any certainPlace[i]. Which is an admirable Provision for the extraordinary Emergencies and Occasions of the World; to supply unhealthful Places, where Death out-runs Life; to make up the Ravages of great Plagues, and Diseases, and the Depredations of War, and the Seas; and to afford a sufficient Number for Colonies in the unpeopled Parts of the Earth. Or on the other Hand, we may say, that sometimes those extraordinary Expences of Mankind, may be not only a just Punishment of the Sins of Men; but also a wise Means to keep the Balance of Mankind even; as one would be ready to conclude, by considering theAsiatick, and other the more fertile Countries, where prodigious Multitudes are yearly swept away with great Plagues, and sometimes War; and yet those Countries are so far from being wasted, that they remain full of People.
And now upon the whole Matter, What is all this but admirable and plain Management? What can the maintaining throughout all Ages, and Places, these Proportions of Mankind, and all other Creatures; this Harmony in the Generations of Men be, but the Work of one that ruleth the World? Is it possible that every Species of Animals should so evenly be preserved, proportionate to the Occasions of the World? That they should be so well balanced in all Ages and Places, without the Help of almighty Wisdom and Power? How is it possible by the bare Rules, and blind Acts of Nature, that there should be any tolerable Proportion; for Instance, between Males and Females, either of Mankind, or of any other Creature[k]; especially such as are of a ferine, not of a domestick Nature, and consequently out of the Command and Management of Man? How could Life and Death keep such an even Pace through all the animal World? If we should take it for granted, that, according to the Scripture History, the World had a Beginning, (as who can deny it[l];or if we should suppose the Destruction thereof byNoah’s Flood: How is it possible, after the World was replenished,) that in a certain Number of Years, by the greater Increases and Doublings of each Species of Animals; that, I say, this Rate of Doubling[m]should cease; or that it should be compensated by some other Means? That the World should be as well, or better stocked than now it is, in 1656 Years (the Time between the Creation and the Flood; this) we will suppose may be done by the natural Methods of each Species Doubling or Increase: But in double that Number of Years, or at this Distance from the Flood, of 4000 Years, that the World should not be over stock’d, can never be made out, without allowing an infinite Providence.
I conclude then this Observation with the Psalmist’s Words,Psal.civ. 29, 30.Thou hidest thy Face, all Creatures are troubled; thou takest away their Breath, they die, and return to their Dust. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; and thou renewest the Face of the Earth.
FOOTNOTES:[a]Benigna circa hoc Natura, innocua & esculenta animalia fœcunda generavit.Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 55.[b]CaptainJ. Stronggave me this Account, together with a Quill-Feather of theCunturorCondorofPeru. On the Coast ofChili, they met with this Bird in about 33° S. Lat. not far fromMocha, an Island in the South-Sea,——they shot it sitting on a Cliff, by the Sea-side; that it was 16 Feet from Wing to Wing extended; that theSpanishInhabitants told them they were afraid of these Birds, lest they should prey upon their Children. And the Feather he gave me(saith the Doctor)is 2 Feet, 4 Inches long; the Quill-part 5¾ Inches long, and 1½ Inch about in the largest Part. It weighed 3 dr. 17½ gr. and is of a dark brown Colour.Dr.Sloanein Phil. Trans. Nᵒ. 208.To this Account, the Doctor, (in a Letter to Mr.Ray,March 31, 1694, with other Papers of Mr.Ray’s, in my Hands,) adds the Testimony ofJos. Acosta, l. 4. c. 7. andGarcilass. de la Vega, who l. 8. c. 19. saith,There are other Fowls, call’dCuntur, and by theSpaniardscorruptlyCondor. Many of these Fowls having been kill’d by theSpaniards, had their Proportion taken, and from End to End of their Wings measured 15 or 16 Feet.——Nature, to temper and allay their Fierceness, deny’d them the Talons which are given to theEagle; their Feet being tipp’d with Claws like a Hen: However, their Beak is strong enough to tear off the Hide, and rip up the Bowels of anOx. Two of them will attempt aCoworBull, and devour him: And it hath often happened, that one of then alone hath assaulted Boys of ten or twelve Years of Age, and eaten them. Their Colour is black and white, like aMagpie. It is well there are but few of them; for if they were many, they would very much destroy the Cattle. They have on the forepart of their Heads, a Comb, not pointed like that of aCock; but rather even, in the Form of a Razor. When they come to alight from the Air, they make such an humming Noise, with the fluttering of their Wings, as is enough to astonish, or make a Man deaf.[c]Eccles.i. 4.[d]The Divine Providence doth not only appear in the Longævity of Man, immediately after the Creation and Flood; but also in their different Longævity at those two Times. Immediately after the Creation, when the World was to be peopled by one Man, and one Woman, the Age of the greatest Part of those on Record, was 900 Years, and upwards. But after the Flood, when there were three Persons by whom the World was to be peopled, none of those Patriarchs, exceptShem, arriv’d to the Age of 500; and only the three first ofShem’s Line,viz.Arphaxad,Salah, andEber, came near that Age; which was in the first Century after the Flood. But in the second Century, we do not find any reached the Age of 240. And in the third Century, (about the latter End of whichAbrahamwas born,) none, exceptTerah, arriv’d to 200 Years: By which Time the World was so well peopled, (that Part of it, at least whereAbrahamdwelt,) that they had built Cities, and began to be cantoned into distinct Nations and Societies, under their respective Kings; so that they were able to wage War, four Kings against five,Gen.xiv. Nay, if the Accounts ofAnian,Berosus,Manetho, and others, yea,Africanusbe to be credited; the World was so well peopled, even before the Times we speak of, as to afford sufficient Numbers for the great Kingdoms ofAssyria,Ægypt,Persia, &c. But learned Men generally, with great Reason, reject these as legendary Accounts. If the Reader hath a Mind to see a Computation of the Increase of Mankind, in the three first Centuries after the Flood, he may find two different Ones of the most learned ArchbishopUsher, andPetavius; together with a Refutation of the so early Beginning of theAssyrian Monarchy; as also Reasons for placingAbrahamnear 1000 Years after the Flood, in our most learned BishopStillingfleet’sOrig. Sacr.Book III. Chap. 4. §. 9.[e]That the common Age of Man hath been the same in all Ages since the World was peopled, is manifest from prophane, as well as sacred History. To pass by others:Platolived to the Age of 81, and was accounted an old Man. And those whichPlinyreckons up,l. 7. c. 48.as rare Examples of long Life, may for the most Part be match’d by our modern Histories; especially such asPlinyhimself gave Credit unto. Dr.Plothath given us divers Instances in his History ofOxfordshire, c. 2. §. 3. and c. 8. §. 54. and History ofStaffordshire, c. 8. §. 91,&c.Among others, one is of twelve Tenants of Mr.Biddulph’s, that together made 1000 Years of Age. But the most considerable Examples of aged Persons among us, is of oldParreofShropshire, who lived 152 Years 9 Months, according to the learned Dr.Harvey’s Account; andHenry JenkinsofYorkshire, who lived 169 Years, according to the Account of my learned and ingenious Friend Dr.Tancred Robinson; of both which, with others, seeLowth. Abridg. Phil. Trans.V. 3. p. 306. The great Age ofParreofShropshire, minds me of an Observation of the Reverend Mr.Plaxton, that in his two Parishes ofKinardseyandDoningtoninShropshire, every sixth Soul was 60 Years of Age, or upwards,Phil. Trans.Nᵒ. 310.And if we step farther North intoScotland, we shall find divers recorded for their great Age: Of which I shall present the Reader with only one modern Example of oneLaurence, who married a Wife after he was 100 Years of Age, and would go out to Sea a Fishing in his little Boat, when he was 140 Years old; and is lately dead of no other Distemper but mere old Age, saith SirRob. Sibbald,Prodr. Hist. Nat. Scot.p. 44.andl. 3. p. 4.As for Foreigners, the Examples would be endless; and therefore that ofJoh. Otteleshall suffice, who was as famous for his Beard, as for being 115 Years of Age. He was but twoBrabantElls ³⁄₉ high; and his long grey Beard was one Ell ¼ long. His Picture and Account may be seen inEphem. Germ. T. 3. Obs. 163.As for the StoryRoger Bacontells, of one that lived 900 Years by the Help of a certain Medicine, and many other such Stories, I look upon them as fabulous. And no better is that of theWandring Jew, namedJoh. Buttadæus, said to have been present at our Saviour’s Crucifixion; although very serious Stories are told of his being seen atAntwerp, and inFrance, about the Middle of the last Century but one; and before inAnn. 1542, conversed with byPaulofEitsen, Bishop ofSleswick; and before that,viz.in 1228, seen and convers’d with by anArmenian Archbishop’sGentleman; and by others at other Times.If the Reader hath a Mind to see more Examples, he may meet with some of all Ages, in the learnedHakewill’s Apol. p. 181.where he will also find that learned Author’s Opinion of the Causes of the Brevity and Length of humane Life. The Brevity thereof he attributeth to a too tender Education, sucking strange Nurses, too hasty Marriages; but above all, to Luxury, high Sauces, strong Liquors,&c.The Longævity of the Ancients he ascribes to Temperance in Meat and Drink, anointing the Body, the Use of Saffron and Honey, warm Clothes, lesser Doors and Windows, less Physick and more Exercise.[f]The Proportions which Marriages bear to Births, and Births to Burials, in divers Parts of Europe, may be seen at an easy View in this Table:Names of the Places.Marriages toBirths: AsBirths toBurials: asEnglandin general.1to4.631.12to1London.1to4.1to1.1Hantshire, from 1569, to 1658.1to4.1.2to1TivertoninDevon, 1560, to 1649.1to3.71.26to1CranbrookinKent, 1560, to 1649.1to3.91.6to1AynhoinNorthamptonshirefor 118 Y.1to61.6to1LeedsinYorkshirefor 122 Years.1to3.71.07to1HarwoodinYorkshire57 Years.1to3.41.23to1UpminsterinEssex100 Years.1to4.61.08to1Frankforton theMainin 1695.1to3.71.2to1Old middle and lowerMarckin 1698.1to3.71.9to1Domin. of the K. ofPrussiain 1698.1to3.71.5to1BreslawinSilesiafrom 1687 to 1691.1.6to1Parisin 1670, 1671, 1672.1to4.71to1.6Which Table I made from MajorGraunt’s Observations on the Bills of Mortality; Mr.King’s Observations in the first of Dr.Davenant’sEssays; and what I find put together by my ingenious Friend Mr.Lowthorp, in hisAbridgment, Vol. 3. p. 668. and my own Register ofUpminster. That fromAynhoRegister inNorthamptonshire, I had from the present Rector, the learned and ingenious Mr.Wasse: And I was promised some Accounts from the North, and divers others Parts of this Kingdom; but have not yet received them: Only those ofLeedsandHarwoodinYorkshire, from my curious and ingenious friend Mr.Thoresby.[g]The preceding Table shews, that Marriages, one with another, do each of them produce about four Births; not only inEngland, but in other Parts ofEuropealso.And by Mr.King’s Estimate, (the best Computations I imagine of any, being derived from the best Accounts; such as the Marriage, Birth, Burial-Act, the Poll Books,&c.by his Estimate, I say,) about 1 in 104 marry. For he judgeth the Number of the People inEngland, to be about five Millions and a half; of which about 41000 annually marry. As to what might be farther remarked concerning Marriages, in regard of the Rights and Customs of several Nations, the Age to which divers Nations limited Marriage,&c.it would be Endless, and too much out of the Way to mention them: I shall only therefore, for the Reader’s Diversion, take Notice of the Jeer ofLactantias,Quare apud Poetas salacissimusJupiterdesiit liberos tollere? Utrum sexagenarius factus, & ei Lex Papia fibulam imposuit?Lactant. Instit. l. 1. c. 16. By whichLex Papia, Men were prohibited to marry after 60, and Women after 50 Years of Age.[h]Major Graunt, (whose Conclusions seem to be well-grounded,) and Mr.King, disagree in the Proportions they assign to Males and Females. This latter makes inLondon, 10 Males to be to 13 Females; in other Cities and Market-Towns, 8 to 9; and in the Villages and Hamlets, 100 Males to 99 Females. But MajorGraunt, both from theLondon, andCountryBills, saith, there are 14 Males to 13 Females: From whence he justly infers,That Christian Religion, prohibiting Polygamy, is more agreeable to the Law of Nature thanMahumetism,and others that allow it, Chap. 8.This Proportion of 14 to 13, I imagine is nearly just, it being agreeable to the Bills I have met with, as well as those in Mr.Graunt. In the 100 Years, for Example, of my own Parish-Register, although the Burials of Males and Females were nearly equal, being 636 Males, and 623 Females in all that Time; yet there were baptized 709 Males, and but 675 Females, which is 13 Females to 13.7 Males. Which Inequality shews, not only, that one Man ought to have but one Wife; but also that every Woman may, without Polygamy, have an Husband, if she doth not bar her self by the want of Virtue, by Denial,&c.Also this Surplusage of Males is very useful for the Supplies of War, the Seas, and other such Expences of the Men above the Women.That this is a Work of the Divine Providence, and not a Matter of Chance, is well made out by the very Laws of Chance, by a Person able to do it, the ingenious and learned Dr.Arbuthnot. He supposethThomasto lay againstJohn, that for eighty two Years running, more Males shall be born than Females; and giving all Allowances in the Computation toThomas’s side, he makes the Odds againstThomas, that it doth not happen so, to be near five Millions of Millions, of Millions, of Millions to one; but for Ages of Ages (according to the World’s Age) to be near an infinite Number to one againstThomas.Vid.Phil. Trans.Nᵒ. 328.[i]The foregoing Table shews, that inEnglandin general fewer die than are born, there being but 1 Death to 1¹²⁄₁₀₀ Births. But inLondonmore die than are born. So by Dr.Davenant’s Table, the Cities likewise and Market-Towns bury ⁷⁄₁₀₀ to one Birth. But inParisthey out-doLondon, their Deaths being 1½ to one Birth: The Reason of which I conceive is, because their Houses are more crowded than inLondon. But in the Villages ofEngland, there are fewer die than are born, there being but 1 Death to 1¹⁷⁄₁₀₀ Births. And yet MajorGraunt, and Dr.Davenant, both observe, that there are more Breeders inLondon, and the Cities and Market-Towns, than are in the Country, notwithstanding theLondon-Births are fewer than the Country; the Reason of which see inGraunt,Chap. 7.andDavenant ubi supr. p. 21.The last Remark I shall make from the foregoing Table, shall be, that we may from thence judge of the Healthfulness of the Places there mentioned. If the Year 1698 was the mean Account of the threeMarcks, those Places bid the fairest for being most healthful; and next to them,AynhoandCranbrookforEnglishTowns.[k]Quid loquar, quanta ratio in bestiis ad perpetuam conservationem earum generis appareat? Nam primum aliæ Mares, aliæ Fœminæ sunt, quod perpetuitatis causâ machinata natura est.Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 51.[l]Altho’Aristotleheld the Eternity of the World, yet he seems to have retracted that Opinion, or to have had a different Opinion when he wrote hisMetaphysicks; for in his first Book he affirms, thatGod is the Cause and Beginning of all Things; and in his Bookde Mundohe saith,There is no doubt, but God is the Maker and Conservator of all Things in the World. And theStoicksOpinion is well known, who strenuously contended that the Contrivance and Beauty of the Heavens and Earth, and all Creatures was owing to a wise, intelligent Agent. Of whichTullygives a large Account in his second Bookde Nat. Deor.in the Person ofBalbus.[m]I have before inNote (g), observed, that the ordinary rate of the Doubling or Increase of Mankind is, that every Marriage, one with another, produces about four Births; but some have much exceeded that.Babo, Earl ofAbensperg, had thirty two Sons and eight Daughters, and being invited to hunt with the EmperorHenryII. and bring but few Servants, brought only one Servant, and his thirty two Sons. To these many others might be added; but one of the most remarkable Instances I have any where met with, is that of Mrs.Honywood, mentioned byHakewill,Camden, and other Authors; but having now before me the Names, with some Remarks (which I received from a pious neighbouring Descendant of the same Mrs.Honywood) I shall give a more particular Account than they. Mrs.Mary Honywoodwas Daughter, and one of the Co-Heiresses ofRobert Atwaters, Esq; ofLenhaminKent. She was born in 1527, married inFebruary1543, at sixteen Years of Age, to her only HusbandRobert Honywood, ofCharinginKent, Esq; She died in the ninety third Year of her Age, inMay 1620. She had sixteen Children of her own Body, seven Sons and nine Daughters; of which one had no issue, three died young, and the youngest was slain atNewport Battle,June 20, 1600. Her Grand-Children in the second Generation, were one hundred and fourteen; in the third two hundred and twenty eight; and nine in the fourth Generation. So that she could say the same that the Distick doth, made of one of theDalburg’s Family ofBasil:1234Mater ait Natæ, dic Natæ, filia Natam56Ut moneat, Natæ, plangere Filiolam.123Rise up Daughter, and go to thy Daughter,456for her Daughters Daughter hath a Daughter.Mrs.Honywoodwas a very pious Woman, afflicted, in her declining Age, with Despair, in some measure; concerning which, some Divines once discoursing with her, she in a Passion said,She was as certainly damned as this Glass is broken, throwing aVenice-Glass against the Ground, which she had then in her Hand. But the Glass escaped breaking, as credible Witnesses attested.
[a]Benigna circa hoc Natura, innocua & esculenta animalia fœcunda generavit.Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 55.
[a]Benigna circa hoc Natura, innocua & esculenta animalia fœcunda generavit.Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 55.
[b]CaptainJ. Stronggave me this Account, together with a Quill-Feather of theCunturorCondorofPeru. On the Coast ofChili, they met with this Bird in about 33° S. Lat. not far fromMocha, an Island in the South-Sea,——they shot it sitting on a Cliff, by the Sea-side; that it was 16 Feet from Wing to Wing extended; that theSpanishInhabitants told them they were afraid of these Birds, lest they should prey upon their Children. And the Feather he gave me(saith the Doctor)is 2 Feet, 4 Inches long; the Quill-part 5¾ Inches long, and 1½ Inch about in the largest Part. It weighed 3 dr. 17½ gr. and is of a dark brown Colour.Dr.Sloanein Phil. Trans. Nᵒ. 208.To this Account, the Doctor, (in a Letter to Mr.Ray,March 31, 1694, with other Papers of Mr.Ray’s, in my Hands,) adds the Testimony ofJos. Acosta, l. 4. c. 7. andGarcilass. de la Vega, who l. 8. c. 19. saith,There are other Fowls, call’dCuntur, and by theSpaniardscorruptlyCondor. Many of these Fowls having been kill’d by theSpaniards, had their Proportion taken, and from End to End of their Wings measured 15 or 16 Feet.——Nature, to temper and allay their Fierceness, deny’d them the Talons which are given to theEagle; their Feet being tipp’d with Claws like a Hen: However, their Beak is strong enough to tear off the Hide, and rip up the Bowels of anOx. Two of them will attempt aCoworBull, and devour him: And it hath often happened, that one of then alone hath assaulted Boys of ten or twelve Years of Age, and eaten them. Their Colour is black and white, like aMagpie. It is well there are but few of them; for if they were many, they would very much destroy the Cattle. They have on the forepart of their Heads, a Comb, not pointed like that of aCock; but rather even, in the Form of a Razor. When they come to alight from the Air, they make such an humming Noise, with the fluttering of their Wings, as is enough to astonish, or make a Man deaf.
[b]CaptainJ. Stronggave me this Account, together with a Quill-Feather of theCunturorCondorofPeru. On the Coast ofChili, they met with this Bird in about 33° S. Lat. not far fromMocha, an Island in the South-Sea,——they shot it sitting on a Cliff, by the Sea-side; that it was 16 Feet from Wing to Wing extended; that theSpanishInhabitants told them they were afraid of these Birds, lest they should prey upon their Children. And the Feather he gave me(saith the Doctor)is 2 Feet, 4 Inches long; the Quill-part 5¾ Inches long, and 1½ Inch about in the largest Part. It weighed 3 dr. 17½ gr. and is of a dark brown Colour.Dr.Sloanein Phil. Trans. Nᵒ. 208.
To this Account, the Doctor, (in a Letter to Mr.Ray,March 31, 1694, with other Papers of Mr.Ray’s, in my Hands,) adds the Testimony ofJos. Acosta, l. 4. c. 7. andGarcilass. de la Vega, who l. 8. c. 19. saith,There are other Fowls, call’dCuntur, and by theSpaniardscorruptlyCondor. Many of these Fowls having been kill’d by theSpaniards, had their Proportion taken, and from End to End of their Wings measured 15 or 16 Feet.——Nature, to temper and allay their Fierceness, deny’d them the Talons which are given to theEagle; their Feet being tipp’d with Claws like a Hen: However, their Beak is strong enough to tear off the Hide, and rip up the Bowels of anOx. Two of them will attempt aCoworBull, and devour him: And it hath often happened, that one of then alone hath assaulted Boys of ten or twelve Years of Age, and eaten them. Their Colour is black and white, like aMagpie. It is well there are but few of them; for if they were many, they would very much destroy the Cattle. They have on the forepart of their Heads, a Comb, not pointed like that of aCock; but rather even, in the Form of a Razor. When they come to alight from the Air, they make such an humming Noise, with the fluttering of their Wings, as is enough to astonish, or make a Man deaf.
[c]Eccles.i. 4.
[c]Eccles.i. 4.
[d]The Divine Providence doth not only appear in the Longævity of Man, immediately after the Creation and Flood; but also in their different Longævity at those two Times. Immediately after the Creation, when the World was to be peopled by one Man, and one Woman, the Age of the greatest Part of those on Record, was 900 Years, and upwards. But after the Flood, when there were three Persons by whom the World was to be peopled, none of those Patriarchs, exceptShem, arriv’d to the Age of 500; and only the three first ofShem’s Line,viz.Arphaxad,Salah, andEber, came near that Age; which was in the first Century after the Flood. But in the second Century, we do not find any reached the Age of 240. And in the third Century, (about the latter End of whichAbrahamwas born,) none, exceptTerah, arriv’d to 200 Years: By which Time the World was so well peopled, (that Part of it, at least whereAbrahamdwelt,) that they had built Cities, and began to be cantoned into distinct Nations and Societies, under their respective Kings; so that they were able to wage War, four Kings against five,Gen.xiv. Nay, if the Accounts ofAnian,Berosus,Manetho, and others, yea,Africanusbe to be credited; the World was so well peopled, even before the Times we speak of, as to afford sufficient Numbers for the great Kingdoms ofAssyria,Ægypt,Persia, &c. But learned Men generally, with great Reason, reject these as legendary Accounts. If the Reader hath a Mind to see a Computation of the Increase of Mankind, in the three first Centuries after the Flood, he may find two different Ones of the most learned ArchbishopUsher, andPetavius; together with a Refutation of the so early Beginning of theAssyrian Monarchy; as also Reasons for placingAbrahamnear 1000 Years after the Flood, in our most learned BishopStillingfleet’sOrig. Sacr.Book III. Chap. 4. §. 9.
[d]The Divine Providence doth not only appear in the Longævity of Man, immediately after the Creation and Flood; but also in their different Longævity at those two Times. Immediately after the Creation, when the World was to be peopled by one Man, and one Woman, the Age of the greatest Part of those on Record, was 900 Years, and upwards. But after the Flood, when there were three Persons by whom the World was to be peopled, none of those Patriarchs, exceptShem, arriv’d to the Age of 500; and only the three first ofShem’s Line,viz.Arphaxad,Salah, andEber, came near that Age; which was in the first Century after the Flood. But in the second Century, we do not find any reached the Age of 240. And in the third Century, (about the latter End of whichAbrahamwas born,) none, exceptTerah, arriv’d to 200 Years: By which Time the World was so well peopled, (that Part of it, at least whereAbrahamdwelt,) that they had built Cities, and began to be cantoned into distinct Nations and Societies, under their respective Kings; so that they were able to wage War, four Kings against five,Gen.xiv. Nay, if the Accounts ofAnian,Berosus,Manetho, and others, yea,Africanusbe to be credited; the World was so well peopled, even before the Times we speak of, as to afford sufficient Numbers for the great Kingdoms ofAssyria,Ægypt,Persia, &c. But learned Men generally, with great Reason, reject these as legendary Accounts. If the Reader hath a Mind to see a Computation of the Increase of Mankind, in the three first Centuries after the Flood, he may find two different Ones of the most learned ArchbishopUsher, andPetavius; together with a Refutation of the so early Beginning of theAssyrian Monarchy; as also Reasons for placingAbrahamnear 1000 Years after the Flood, in our most learned BishopStillingfleet’sOrig. Sacr.Book III. Chap. 4. §. 9.
[e]That the common Age of Man hath been the same in all Ages since the World was peopled, is manifest from prophane, as well as sacred History. To pass by others:Platolived to the Age of 81, and was accounted an old Man. And those whichPlinyreckons up,l. 7. c. 48.as rare Examples of long Life, may for the most Part be match’d by our modern Histories; especially such asPlinyhimself gave Credit unto. Dr.Plothath given us divers Instances in his History ofOxfordshire, c. 2. §. 3. and c. 8. §. 54. and History ofStaffordshire, c. 8. §. 91,&c.Among others, one is of twelve Tenants of Mr.Biddulph’s, that together made 1000 Years of Age. But the most considerable Examples of aged Persons among us, is of oldParreofShropshire, who lived 152 Years 9 Months, according to the learned Dr.Harvey’s Account; andHenry JenkinsofYorkshire, who lived 169 Years, according to the Account of my learned and ingenious Friend Dr.Tancred Robinson; of both which, with others, seeLowth. Abridg. Phil. Trans.V. 3. p. 306. The great Age ofParreofShropshire, minds me of an Observation of the Reverend Mr.Plaxton, that in his two Parishes ofKinardseyandDoningtoninShropshire, every sixth Soul was 60 Years of Age, or upwards,Phil. Trans.Nᵒ. 310.And if we step farther North intoScotland, we shall find divers recorded for their great Age: Of which I shall present the Reader with only one modern Example of oneLaurence, who married a Wife after he was 100 Years of Age, and would go out to Sea a Fishing in his little Boat, when he was 140 Years old; and is lately dead of no other Distemper but mere old Age, saith SirRob. Sibbald,Prodr. Hist. Nat. Scot.p. 44.andl. 3. p. 4.As for Foreigners, the Examples would be endless; and therefore that ofJoh. Otteleshall suffice, who was as famous for his Beard, as for being 115 Years of Age. He was but twoBrabantElls ³⁄₉ high; and his long grey Beard was one Ell ¼ long. His Picture and Account may be seen inEphem. Germ. T. 3. Obs. 163.As for the StoryRoger Bacontells, of one that lived 900 Years by the Help of a certain Medicine, and many other such Stories, I look upon them as fabulous. And no better is that of theWandring Jew, namedJoh. Buttadæus, said to have been present at our Saviour’s Crucifixion; although very serious Stories are told of his being seen atAntwerp, and inFrance, about the Middle of the last Century but one; and before inAnn. 1542, conversed with byPaulofEitsen, Bishop ofSleswick; and before that,viz.in 1228, seen and convers’d with by anArmenian Archbishop’sGentleman; and by others at other Times.If the Reader hath a Mind to see more Examples, he may meet with some of all Ages, in the learnedHakewill’s Apol. p. 181.where he will also find that learned Author’s Opinion of the Causes of the Brevity and Length of humane Life. The Brevity thereof he attributeth to a too tender Education, sucking strange Nurses, too hasty Marriages; but above all, to Luxury, high Sauces, strong Liquors,&c.The Longævity of the Ancients he ascribes to Temperance in Meat and Drink, anointing the Body, the Use of Saffron and Honey, warm Clothes, lesser Doors and Windows, less Physick and more Exercise.
[e]That the common Age of Man hath been the same in all Ages since the World was peopled, is manifest from prophane, as well as sacred History. To pass by others:Platolived to the Age of 81, and was accounted an old Man. And those whichPlinyreckons up,l. 7. c. 48.as rare Examples of long Life, may for the most Part be match’d by our modern Histories; especially such asPlinyhimself gave Credit unto. Dr.Plothath given us divers Instances in his History ofOxfordshire, c. 2. §. 3. and c. 8. §. 54. and History ofStaffordshire, c. 8. §. 91,&c.Among others, one is of twelve Tenants of Mr.Biddulph’s, that together made 1000 Years of Age. But the most considerable Examples of aged Persons among us, is of oldParreofShropshire, who lived 152 Years 9 Months, according to the learned Dr.Harvey’s Account; andHenry JenkinsofYorkshire, who lived 169 Years, according to the Account of my learned and ingenious Friend Dr.Tancred Robinson; of both which, with others, seeLowth. Abridg. Phil. Trans.V. 3. p. 306. The great Age ofParreofShropshire, minds me of an Observation of the Reverend Mr.Plaxton, that in his two Parishes ofKinardseyandDoningtoninShropshire, every sixth Soul was 60 Years of Age, or upwards,Phil. Trans.Nᵒ. 310.
And if we step farther North intoScotland, we shall find divers recorded for their great Age: Of which I shall present the Reader with only one modern Example of oneLaurence, who married a Wife after he was 100 Years of Age, and would go out to Sea a Fishing in his little Boat, when he was 140 Years old; and is lately dead of no other Distemper but mere old Age, saith SirRob. Sibbald,Prodr. Hist. Nat. Scot.p. 44.andl. 3. p. 4.
As for Foreigners, the Examples would be endless; and therefore that ofJoh. Otteleshall suffice, who was as famous for his Beard, as for being 115 Years of Age. He was but twoBrabantElls ³⁄₉ high; and his long grey Beard was one Ell ¼ long. His Picture and Account may be seen inEphem. Germ. T. 3. Obs. 163.
As for the StoryRoger Bacontells, of one that lived 900 Years by the Help of a certain Medicine, and many other such Stories, I look upon them as fabulous. And no better is that of theWandring Jew, namedJoh. Buttadæus, said to have been present at our Saviour’s Crucifixion; although very serious Stories are told of his being seen atAntwerp, and inFrance, about the Middle of the last Century but one; and before inAnn. 1542, conversed with byPaulofEitsen, Bishop ofSleswick; and before that,viz.in 1228, seen and convers’d with by anArmenian Archbishop’sGentleman; and by others at other Times.
If the Reader hath a Mind to see more Examples, he may meet with some of all Ages, in the learnedHakewill’s Apol. p. 181.where he will also find that learned Author’s Opinion of the Causes of the Brevity and Length of humane Life. The Brevity thereof he attributeth to a too tender Education, sucking strange Nurses, too hasty Marriages; but above all, to Luxury, high Sauces, strong Liquors,&c.The Longævity of the Ancients he ascribes to Temperance in Meat and Drink, anointing the Body, the Use of Saffron and Honey, warm Clothes, lesser Doors and Windows, less Physick and more Exercise.
[f]The Proportions which Marriages bear to Births, and Births to Burials, in divers Parts of Europe, may be seen at an easy View in this Table:Names of the Places.Marriages toBirths: AsBirths toBurials: asEnglandin general.1to4.631.12to1London.1to4.1to1.1Hantshire, from 1569, to 1658.1to4.1.2to1TivertoninDevon, 1560, to 1649.1to3.71.26to1CranbrookinKent, 1560, to 1649.1to3.91.6to1AynhoinNorthamptonshirefor 118 Y.1to61.6to1LeedsinYorkshirefor 122 Years.1to3.71.07to1HarwoodinYorkshire57 Years.1to3.41.23to1UpminsterinEssex100 Years.1to4.61.08to1Frankforton theMainin 1695.1to3.71.2to1Old middle and lowerMarckin 1698.1to3.71.9to1Domin. of the K. ofPrussiain 1698.1to3.71.5to1BreslawinSilesiafrom 1687 to 1691.1.6to1Parisin 1670, 1671, 1672.1to4.71to1.6Which Table I made from MajorGraunt’s Observations on the Bills of Mortality; Mr.King’s Observations in the first of Dr.Davenant’sEssays; and what I find put together by my ingenious Friend Mr.Lowthorp, in hisAbridgment, Vol. 3. p. 668. and my own Register ofUpminster. That fromAynhoRegister inNorthamptonshire, I had from the present Rector, the learned and ingenious Mr.Wasse: And I was promised some Accounts from the North, and divers others Parts of this Kingdom; but have not yet received them: Only those ofLeedsandHarwoodinYorkshire, from my curious and ingenious friend Mr.Thoresby.
[f]The Proportions which Marriages bear to Births, and Births to Burials, in divers Parts of Europe, may be seen at an easy View in this Table:
Which Table I made from MajorGraunt’s Observations on the Bills of Mortality; Mr.King’s Observations in the first of Dr.Davenant’sEssays; and what I find put together by my ingenious Friend Mr.Lowthorp, in hisAbridgment, Vol. 3. p. 668. and my own Register ofUpminster. That fromAynhoRegister inNorthamptonshire, I had from the present Rector, the learned and ingenious Mr.Wasse: And I was promised some Accounts from the North, and divers others Parts of this Kingdom; but have not yet received them: Only those ofLeedsandHarwoodinYorkshire, from my curious and ingenious friend Mr.Thoresby.
[g]The preceding Table shews, that Marriages, one with another, do each of them produce about four Births; not only inEngland, but in other Parts ofEuropealso.And by Mr.King’s Estimate, (the best Computations I imagine of any, being derived from the best Accounts; such as the Marriage, Birth, Burial-Act, the Poll Books,&c.by his Estimate, I say,) about 1 in 104 marry. For he judgeth the Number of the People inEngland, to be about five Millions and a half; of which about 41000 annually marry. As to what might be farther remarked concerning Marriages, in regard of the Rights and Customs of several Nations, the Age to which divers Nations limited Marriage,&c.it would be Endless, and too much out of the Way to mention them: I shall only therefore, for the Reader’s Diversion, take Notice of the Jeer ofLactantias,Quare apud Poetas salacissimusJupiterdesiit liberos tollere? Utrum sexagenarius factus, & ei Lex Papia fibulam imposuit?Lactant. Instit. l. 1. c. 16. By whichLex Papia, Men were prohibited to marry after 60, and Women after 50 Years of Age.
[g]The preceding Table shews, that Marriages, one with another, do each of them produce about four Births; not only inEngland, but in other Parts ofEuropealso.
And by Mr.King’s Estimate, (the best Computations I imagine of any, being derived from the best Accounts; such as the Marriage, Birth, Burial-Act, the Poll Books,&c.by his Estimate, I say,) about 1 in 104 marry. For he judgeth the Number of the People inEngland, to be about five Millions and a half; of which about 41000 annually marry. As to what might be farther remarked concerning Marriages, in regard of the Rights and Customs of several Nations, the Age to which divers Nations limited Marriage,&c.it would be Endless, and too much out of the Way to mention them: I shall only therefore, for the Reader’s Diversion, take Notice of the Jeer ofLactantias,Quare apud Poetas salacissimusJupiterdesiit liberos tollere? Utrum sexagenarius factus, & ei Lex Papia fibulam imposuit?Lactant. Instit. l. 1. c. 16. By whichLex Papia, Men were prohibited to marry after 60, and Women after 50 Years of Age.
[h]Major Graunt, (whose Conclusions seem to be well-grounded,) and Mr.King, disagree in the Proportions they assign to Males and Females. This latter makes inLondon, 10 Males to be to 13 Females; in other Cities and Market-Towns, 8 to 9; and in the Villages and Hamlets, 100 Males to 99 Females. But MajorGraunt, both from theLondon, andCountryBills, saith, there are 14 Males to 13 Females: From whence he justly infers,That Christian Religion, prohibiting Polygamy, is more agreeable to the Law of Nature thanMahumetism,and others that allow it, Chap. 8.This Proportion of 14 to 13, I imagine is nearly just, it being agreeable to the Bills I have met with, as well as those in Mr.Graunt. In the 100 Years, for Example, of my own Parish-Register, although the Burials of Males and Females were nearly equal, being 636 Males, and 623 Females in all that Time; yet there were baptized 709 Males, and but 675 Females, which is 13 Females to 13.7 Males. Which Inequality shews, not only, that one Man ought to have but one Wife; but also that every Woman may, without Polygamy, have an Husband, if she doth not bar her self by the want of Virtue, by Denial,&c.Also this Surplusage of Males is very useful for the Supplies of War, the Seas, and other such Expences of the Men above the Women.That this is a Work of the Divine Providence, and not a Matter of Chance, is well made out by the very Laws of Chance, by a Person able to do it, the ingenious and learned Dr.Arbuthnot. He supposethThomasto lay againstJohn, that for eighty two Years running, more Males shall be born than Females; and giving all Allowances in the Computation toThomas’s side, he makes the Odds againstThomas, that it doth not happen so, to be near five Millions of Millions, of Millions, of Millions to one; but for Ages of Ages (according to the World’s Age) to be near an infinite Number to one againstThomas.Vid.Phil. Trans.Nᵒ. 328.
[h]Major Graunt, (whose Conclusions seem to be well-grounded,) and Mr.King, disagree in the Proportions they assign to Males and Females. This latter makes inLondon, 10 Males to be to 13 Females; in other Cities and Market-Towns, 8 to 9; and in the Villages and Hamlets, 100 Males to 99 Females. But MajorGraunt, both from theLondon, andCountryBills, saith, there are 14 Males to 13 Females: From whence he justly infers,That Christian Religion, prohibiting Polygamy, is more agreeable to the Law of Nature thanMahumetism,and others that allow it, Chap. 8.
This Proportion of 14 to 13, I imagine is nearly just, it being agreeable to the Bills I have met with, as well as those in Mr.Graunt. In the 100 Years, for Example, of my own Parish-Register, although the Burials of Males and Females were nearly equal, being 636 Males, and 623 Females in all that Time; yet there were baptized 709 Males, and but 675 Females, which is 13 Females to 13.7 Males. Which Inequality shews, not only, that one Man ought to have but one Wife; but also that every Woman may, without Polygamy, have an Husband, if she doth not bar her self by the want of Virtue, by Denial,&c.Also this Surplusage of Males is very useful for the Supplies of War, the Seas, and other such Expences of the Men above the Women.
That this is a Work of the Divine Providence, and not a Matter of Chance, is well made out by the very Laws of Chance, by a Person able to do it, the ingenious and learned Dr.Arbuthnot. He supposethThomasto lay againstJohn, that for eighty two Years running, more Males shall be born than Females; and giving all Allowances in the Computation toThomas’s side, he makes the Odds againstThomas, that it doth not happen so, to be near five Millions of Millions, of Millions, of Millions to one; but for Ages of Ages (according to the World’s Age) to be near an infinite Number to one againstThomas.Vid.Phil. Trans.Nᵒ. 328.
[i]The foregoing Table shews, that inEnglandin general fewer die than are born, there being but 1 Death to 1¹²⁄₁₀₀ Births. But inLondonmore die than are born. So by Dr.Davenant’s Table, the Cities likewise and Market-Towns bury ⁷⁄₁₀₀ to one Birth. But inParisthey out-doLondon, their Deaths being 1½ to one Birth: The Reason of which I conceive is, because their Houses are more crowded than inLondon. But in the Villages ofEngland, there are fewer die than are born, there being but 1 Death to 1¹⁷⁄₁₀₀ Births. And yet MajorGraunt, and Dr.Davenant, both observe, that there are more Breeders inLondon, and the Cities and Market-Towns, than are in the Country, notwithstanding theLondon-Births are fewer than the Country; the Reason of which see inGraunt,Chap. 7.andDavenant ubi supr. p. 21.The last Remark I shall make from the foregoing Table, shall be, that we may from thence judge of the Healthfulness of the Places there mentioned. If the Year 1698 was the mean Account of the threeMarcks, those Places bid the fairest for being most healthful; and next to them,AynhoandCranbrookforEnglishTowns.
[i]The foregoing Table shews, that inEnglandin general fewer die than are born, there being but 1 Death to 1¹²⁄₁₀₀ Births. But inLondonmore die than are born. So by Dr.Davenant’s Table, the Cities likewise and Market-Towns bury ⁷⁄₁₀₀ to one Birth. But inParisthey out-doLondon, their Deaths being 1½ to one Birth: The Reason of which I conceive is, because their Houses are more crowded than inLondon. But in the Villages ofEngland, there are fewer die than are born, there being but 1 Death to 1¹⁷⁄₁₀₀ Births. And yet MajorGraunt, and Dr.Davenant, both observe, that there are more Breeders inLondon, and the Cities and Market-Towns, than are in the Country, notwithstanding theLondon-Births are fewer than the Country; the Reason of which see inGraunt,Chap. 7.andDavenant ubi supr. p. 21.
The last Remark I shall make from the foregoing Table, shall be, that we may from thence judge of the Healthfulness of the Places there mentioned. If the Year 1698 was the mean Account of the threeMarcks, those Places bid the fairest for being most healthful; and next to them,AynhoandCranbrookforEnglishTowns.
[k]Quid loquar, quanta ratio in bestiis ad perpetuam conservationem earum generis appareat? Nam primum aliæ Mares, aliæ Fœminæ sunt, quod perpetuitatis causâ machinata natura est.Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 51.
[k]Quid loquar, quanta ratio in bestiis ad perpetuam conservationem earum generis appareat? Nam primum aliæ Mares, aliæ Fœminæ sunt, quod perpetuitatis causâ machinata natura est.Cic. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 51.
[l]Altho’Aristotleheld the Eternity of the World, yet he seems to have retracted that Opinion, or to have had a different Opinion when he wrote hisMetaphysicks; for in his first Book he affirms, thatGod is the Cause and Beginning of all Things; and in his Bookde Mundohe saith,There is no doubt, but God is the Maker and Conservator of all Things in the World. And theStoicksOpinion is well known, who strenuously contended that the Contrivance and Beauty of the Heavens and Earth, and all Creatures was owing to a wise, intelligent Agent. Of whichTullygives a large Account in his second Bookde Nat. Deor.in the Person ofBalbus.
[l]Altho’Aristotleheld the Eternity of the World, yet he seems to have retracted that Opinion, or to have had a different Opinion when he wrote hisMetaphysicks; for in his first Book he affirms, thatGod is the Cause and Beginning of all Things; and in his Bookde Mundohe saith,There is no doubt, but God is the Maker and Conservator of all Things in the World. And theStoicksOpinion is well known, who strenuously contended that the Contrivance and Beauty of the Heavens and Earth, and all Creatures was owing to a wise, intelligent Agent. Of whichTullygives a large Account in his second Bookde Nat. Deor.in the Person ofBalbus.
[m]I have before inNote (g), observed, that the ordinary rate of the Doubling or Increase of Mankind is, that every Marriage, one with another, produces about four Births; but some have much exceeded that.Babo, Earl ofAbensperg, had thirty two Sons and eight Daughters, and being invited to hunt with the EmperorHenryII. and bring but few Servants, brought only one Servant, and his thirty two Sons. To these many others might be added; but one of the most remarkable Instances I have any where met with, is that of Mrs.Honywood, mentioned byHakewill,Camden, and other Authors; but having now before me the Names, with some Remarks (which I received from a pious neighbouring Descendant of the same Mrs.Honywood) I shall give a more particular Account than they. Mrs.Mary Honywoodwas Daughter, and one of the Co-Heiresses ofRobert Atwaters, Esq; ofLenhaminKent. She was born in 1527, married inFebruary1543, at sixteen Years of Age, to her only HusbandRobert Honywood, ofCharinginKent, Esq; She died in the ninety third Year of her Age, inMay 1620. She had sixteen Children of her own Body, seven Sons and nine Daughters; of which one had no issue, three died young, and the youngest was slain atNewport Battle,June 20, 1600. Her Grand-Children in the second Generation, were one hundred and fourteen; in the third two hundred and twenty eight; and nine in the fourth Generation. So that she could say the same that the Distick doth, made of one of theDalburg’s Family ofBasil:1234Mater ait Natæ, dic Natæ, filia Natam56Ut moneat, Natæ, plangere Filiolam.123Rise up Daughter, and go to thy Daughter,456for her Daughters Daughter hath a Daughter.Mrs.Honywoodwas a very pious Woman, afflicted, in her declining Age, with Despair, in some measure; concerning which, some Divines once discoursing with her, she in a Passion said,She was as certainly damned as this Glass is broken, throwing aVenice-Glass against the Ground, which she had then in her Hand. But the Glass escaped breaking, as credible Witnesses attested.
[m]I have before inNote (g), observed, that the ordinary rate of the Doubling or Increase of Mankind is, that every Marriage, one with another, produces about four Births; but some have much exceeded that.Babo, Earl ofAbensperg, had thirty two Sons and eight Daughters, and being invited to hunt with the EmperorHenryII. and bring but few Servants, brought only one Servant, and his thirty two Sons. To these many others might be added; but one of the most remarkable Instances I have any where met with, is that of Mrs.Honywood, mentioned byHakewill,Camden, and other Authors; but having now before me the Names, with some Remarks (which I received from a pious neighbouring Descendant of the same Mrs.Honywood) I shall give a more particular Account than they. Mrs.Mary Honywoodwas Daughter, and one of the Co-Heiresses ofRobert Atwaters, Esq; ofLenhaminKent. She was born in 1527, married inFebruary1543, at sixteen Years of Age, to her only HusbandRobert Honywood, ofCharinginKent, Esq; She died in the ninety third Year of her Age, inMay 1620. She had sixteen Children of her own Body, seven Sons and nine Daughters; of which one had no issue, three died young, and the youngest was slain atNewport Battle,June 20, 1600. Her Grand-Children in the second Generation, were one hundred and fourteen; in the third two hundred and twenty eight; and nine in the fourth Generation. So that she could say the same that the Distick doth, made of one of theDalburg’s Family ofBasil:
1234Mater ait Natæ, dic Natæ, filia Natam56Ut moneat, Natæ, plangere Filiolam.123Rise up Daughter, and go to thy Daughter,456for her Daughters Daughter hath a Daughter.
1234Mater ait Natæ, dic Natæ, filia Natam56Ut moneat, Natæ, plangere Filiolam.123Rise up Daughter, and go to thy Daughter,456for her Daughters Daughter hath a Daughter.
1234Mater ait Natæ, dic Natæ, filia Natam
1234
Mater ait Natæ, dic Natæ, filia Natam
56Ut moneat, Natæ, plangere Filiolam.
56
Ut moneat, Natæ, plangere Filiolam.
123Rise up Daughter, and go to thy Daughter,
123
Rise up Daughter, and go to thy Daughter,
456for her Daughters Daughter hath a Daughter.
456
for her Daughters Daughter hath a Daughter.
Mrs.Honywoodwas a very pious Woman, afflicted, in her declining Age, with Despair, in some measure; concerning which, some Divines once discoursing with her, she in a Passion said,She was as certainly damned as this Glass is broken, throwing aVenice-Glass against the Ground, which she had then in her Hand. But the Glass escaped breaking, as credible Witnesses attested.