OF TROAS

Footnotes[268][Sir William Dugdale.—Ed.][269]Leland.in Assertione RegisArthuri.[270]Wormiusin Monumentis Danicis.[271]Cambd. Brit.p. 326.[272]Published1656, by Dan. King.

Footnotes

[268][Sir William Dugdale.—Ed.]

[269]Leland.in Assertione RegisArthuri.

[270]Wormiusin Monumentis Danicis.

[271]Cambd. Brit.p. 326.

[272]Published1656, by Dan. King.

What place is meant by that Name.

Also, of the situations ofSodom,Gomorrha,Admah,Zeboim, in the dead Sea.

TRACT X

Sir,

To your Geographical Queries, I answer as follows.

In sundry passages of the new Testament, in theActs of the Apostles, and Epistles of S.Paul, we meet with the wordTroas; how he went fromTroastoPhilippiinMacedonia, from thence untoTroasagain: how he remained seven days in that place; from thence on foot toAssos, whither the Disciples had sailed fromTroas, and there, taking him in, made their Voyage untoCæsarea.

Now, whether thisTroasbe the name of a City or a certain Region seems no groundless doubt of yours: for that ’twas sometimes taken in the signification of some Country, is acknowledged byOrtelius,StephanusandGrotius; and it is plainly set down byStrabo, that a Region ofPhrygiainAsia minorwas so taken in ancient times; and that, at the Trojan War, all the Territory which comprehended the nine Principalities subject unto the King ofIlium, Τροίη λεγομένη, was called by the name ofTroja. And this might seemsufficiently to salve the intention of the description, when he came or went fromTroas, that is, some part of that Region; and will otherwise seem strange unto many how he should be said to go or come from that City which all Writers had laid in the Ashes about a thousand years before.

All which notwithstanding, since we reade in the Text a particular abode of seven days, and such particulars as leaving of his Cloak, Books and Parchments atTroas: And that S.Lukeseems to have been taken in to the Travels of S.Paulin this place, where he begins in theActsto write in the first person, this may rather seem to have been some City or special Habitation, than any Province or Region without such limitation.

Now that such a City there was, and that of no mean note, is easily verified from historical observation. For though oldIliumwas anciently destroyed, yet was there another raised by the relicts of that people, not in the same place, but about thirty Furlongs westward, as is to be learned fromStrabo.

Of this placeAlexanderin his expedition againstDariustook especial notice, endowing it with sundry Immunities, with promise of greater matters at his return fromPersia; inclined hereunto from the honour he bore untoHomer, whose earnest Reader he was, and upon whose Poems, by the help ofAnaxarchusandCallisthenes, he made some observations. As also much moved hereto upon the account of his cognation with theÆacidesand Kings ofMolossus, whereofAndromachethe Wife ofHectorwas Queen. After the death ofAlexander,Lysimachussurrounded it with a Wall, and brought the inhabitants of the neighbour Towns unto it, and so it bore the name ofAlexandria;which, fromAntigonus, was also calledAntigonia, according to the inscription of that famous Medal inGoltsius,Colonia Troas Antigonia Alexandrea, Legio vicesima prima.

When the Romans first went intoAsiaagainstAntiochus’twas but a Κωμόπολις and no great City; but, upon the Peace concluded, the Romans much advanced the same.Fimbria, the rebellious Roman, spoiled it in the Mithridatick War, boasting that he had subduedTroyin eleven days which the Grecians could not take in almost as many years. But it was again rebuilt and countenanced by the Romans, and became a Roman Colony, with great immunities conferred on it; and accordingly it is so set down byPtolomy. For the Romans, deriving themselves from the Trojans, thought no favour too great for it; especiallyJulius Cæsar, who, both in imitation ofAlexander, and for his own descent fromJulus, of the posterity ofÆneas, with much passion affected it, and, in a discontented humour,[273]was once in mind to translate the Roman wealth unto it; so that it became a very remarkable place, and was, inStrabo’stime, ἐλλογίμων πόλεων, one of the noble Cities ofAsia.

And, if they understood the prediction ofHomerin reference unto the Romans, as some expound it inStrabo, it might much promote their affection unto that place; which being a remarkable prophecy, and scarce to be parallel’d in Pagan story, made beforeRomewas built, and concerning the lasting Reign of the progeny ofÆneas, they could not but take especial notice of it. For thus isNeptunemade to speak, when he savedÆneasfrom the fury ofAchilles.

Verum agite hunc subito præsenti à morte trahamusNe Cronides ira flammet si fortis AchillesHunc mactet, fati quem Lex evadere jussit.Ne genus intereat de læto semine totumDardani ab excelso præ cunctis prolibus olim,Dilecti quos è mortali stirpe creavit,Nunc etiam Priami stirpem Saturnius odit,Trojugenum posthæc Æneas sceptra tenebitEt nati natorum et qui nascentur ab illis.

Verum agite hunc subito præsenti à morte trahamus

Ne Cronides ira flammet si fortis Achilles

Hunc mactet, fati quem Lex evadere jussit.

Ne genus intereat de læto semine totum

Dardani ab excelso præ cunctis prolibus olim,

Dilecti quos è mortali stirpe creavit,

Nunc etiam Priami stirpem Saturnius odit,

Trojugenum posthæc Æneas sceptra tenebit

Et nati natorum et qui nascentur ab illis.

The Roman favours were also continued unto S.Paul’sdays; forClaudius,[274]producing an ancient Letter of the Romans unto KingSeleucusconcerning the Trojan Privileges, made a Release of their Tributes; andNeroTacit.l. 13.elegantly pleaded for their Immunities, and remitted all Tributes unto them.

And, therefore, there being so remarkable a City in this Territory, it may seem too hard to loose the same in the general name of the Country; and since it was so eminently favoured by Emperours, enjoying so many Immunities, and full of Roman Privileges, it was probably very populous, and a fit abode for S.Paul, who being a Roman Citizen, might live more quietly himself, and have no small number of faithfull well-wishers in it.

Yet must we not conceive that this was the oldTroy, or re-built in the same place with it: forTroaswas placed about thirty Furlongs West, and upon the Sea shore; so that, to hold a clearer apprehension hereof than is commonly delivered in the Discourses of the Ruines ofTroy, we may consider one InlandTroyor oldIlium, which was built farther within the Land, and so was removed from the Port where the Grecian Fleet lay inHomer; and another MaritimeTroy, which was upon the Sea Coast placed in the Maps ofPtolomy, betweenLectumandSigæumor PortJanizam, Southwest from the old City, which was this of S.Paul, and whereunto are appliable the particular accounts ofBellonius, when, not an hundred years ago, he described the Ruines ofTroywith their Baths, Aqueducts, Walls and Towers, to be seen from the Sea as he sailed between it andTenedos; and where, upon nearer view, he observed some signs and impressions of his conversion in the ruines of Churches, Crosses, and Inscriptions upon Stones.

Nor was this onely a famous City in the days of S.Paul, but considerable long after. For, upon the Letter ofAdrianus,Philostrat.in VitaHerodis Attici.Herodes Atticus, at a great charge, repaired their Baths, contrived Aqueducts and noble Water-courses in it. As is also collectible from the Medals ofCaracalla, ofSeverus, andCrispina; with Inscriptions,Colonia Alexandria Troas, bearing on the Reverse either an Horse, a Temple, or a Woman; denoting their destruction by an Horse, their prayers for the Emperour’s safety, and, as some conjecture, the memory ofSibylla,PhrygiaorHellespontica.

Nor wanted this City the favour of Christian Princes, but was made a Bishop’s See under the Archbishop ofCyzicum; but in succeeding discords was destroyed and ruined, and the nobler Stones translated toConstantinopleby the Turks to beautifie their Mosques and other Buildings.

Concerning the Dead Sea, accept of these few Remarks.

In the Map of the Dead Sea we meet with the Figure of the Cities which were destroyed: ofSodom,Gomorrha,AdmahandZeboim; but with no uniformity; men placing them variously, and, from the uncertainty of their situation, taking a fair liberty to set them where they please.

ForAdmah,ZeboimandGomorrha, there is no light from the Text to define their situation. But, thatSodomcould not be far fromSegorwhich was seated under the Mountains near the side of the Lake, seems inferrible from the sudden arrival ofLot, who, coming fromSodomat day break, attained toSegorat Sun rising; and thereforeSodomis to be placed not many miles from it, not in the middle of the Lake, which against that place is about eighteen miles over, and so will leave nine miles to be gone in so small a space of time.

The Valley being large, the Lake now in length about seventy English miles, the RiverJordanand divers others running over the Plain, ’tis probable the best Cities were seated upon those Streams: but how theJordanpassed or winded, or where it took in the other Streams, is a point too old for Geography to determine.

For, that the River gave the fruitfulness unto this Valley by over watring that low Region, seems plain from that expression in the Text,[275]that it was watered,sicut Paradisus et Ægyptus, likeEdenand the Plains ofMesopotamia, whereEuphratesyearly overfloweth; or likeÆgyptwhereNilusdoth the like: and seems probable also from the same course of the River not far above this Valley where the Israelites passedJordan, where ’tis said thatJordan overfloweth its Banks in the time of Harvest.

That it must have had some passage under ground in the compass of this Valley before the creation of this Lake, seems necessary from the great current ofJordan, and from the RiversArnon,Cedron,Zaeth, which empty into this Valley; but where to place that concurrence of Waters or place of its absorbition, there is no authentick decision.

The probablest place may be set somewhat Southward, below the Rivers that run into it on the East or Western Shore: and somewhat agreeable unto the account whichBrocardusreceived from the Sarazens which lived near it,Jordanem ingredi Mare Mortuum et rursum egredi, sed post exiguum intervallum à Terra absorberi.

Strabospeaks naturally of this Lake, that it was first caused by Earthquakes, by sulphureous and bituminous eruptions, arising from the Earth. But the Scripture makes it plain to have been from a miraculous hand, and by a remarkable expression,pluit Dominus ignem et Sulphur à Domino. See alsoDeut. 29. in ardore Salis: burning the Cities and destroying all things about the Plain, destroying the vegetable nature of Plants and all living things, salting and making barren the whole Soil, and, by these fiery Showers, kindling and setting loose the body of the bituminous Mines, which shewed their lower Veins before but in some few Pits and openings, swallowing up the Foundation of their Cities; opening the bituminous Treasures below, and making a smoak like a Furnace able to be discerned byAbrahamat a good distance from it.

If this little may give you satisfaction, I shall be glad, as being, Sir,

Yours, etc.

Footnotes[273]Sueton.[274]Sueton.[275]Gen. 13. 10.

Footnotes

[273]Sueton.

[274]Sueton.

[275]Gen. 13. 10.

of the Oracle of Apollo at Delphos toCroesus King of Lydia.

TRACT XI

Sir,

Among the Oracles[276]ofAppollothere are none more celebrated than those which he delivered untoCrœsusKing ofLydia,[277]who seems of all Princes to have held the greatest dependence on them. But most considerable are his plain and intelligible replies which he made unto the same King, when he sent his Chains of Captivity untoDelphos, after his overthrow byCyrus, with sad expostulations why he encouraged him unto that fatal War by his Oracle, saying,[278]Crœsus,if he Wars against the Persians, shall dissolve a great Empire. Why, at least, he prevented not that sad infelicity of his devoted and bountifull Servant, and whether it were fair or honourable for the Gods ofGreeceto be ingratefull: which being a plain and open delivery ofDelphos, and scarce to be parallel’d in any ancient story, it may well deserve your farther consideration.

1. His first reply was,ThatCrœsussuffered not for himself; but paid the transgression of his fifth predecessour,who kill’d his Master and usurp’d the dignity unto which he held no title.

Now whetherCrœsussuffered upon this account or not, hereby he plainly betrayed his insufficiency to protect him; and also obliquely discovered he had a knowledge of his misfortune; for knowing that wicked act lay yet unpunished, he might well divine some of his successours might smart for it: and also understanding he was like to be the last of that race, he might justly fear and conclude this infelicity upon him.

Hereby he also acknowledged the inevitable justice of God; that though Revenge lay dormant, it would not always sleep; and consequently confessed the just hand of God punishing unto the third and fourth generation, nor suffering such iniquities to pass for ever unrevenged.

Hereby he flatteringly encouraged him in the opinion of his own merits, and that he onely suffered for other mens transgressions: mean while he concealedCrœsushis pride, elation of mind and secure conceit of his own unparallel’d felicity, together with the vanity, pride and height of luxury of the Lydian Nation, which the Spirit ofDelphosknew well to be ripe and ready for destruction.

2. A Second excuse was,That it is not in the power of God to hinder the Decree of Fate. A general evasion for any falsified prediction founded upon the common opinion of Fate, which impiously subjecteth the power of Heaven unto it; widely discovering the folly of such as repair unto him concerning future events: which, according unto this rule, must go on as the Fates have ordered, beyond his power to prevent or theirs to avoid; and consequently teaching that hisOracles had onely this use to render men more miserable by foreknowing their misfortunes; whereofCrœsushimself had a sensible experience in that Dæmoniacal Dream concerning his eldest Son,That he should be killed by a Spear, which, after all care and caution, he found inevitably to befall him.

3. In his Third Apology he assured him that he endeavoured to transfer the evil Fate and to pass it upon his Children; and did however procrastinate his infelicity, and deferred the destruction ofSardisand his own Captivity three years longer than was fatally decreed upon it.

Wherein while he wipes off the stain of Ingratitude, he leaves no small doubt whether, it being out of his power to contradict or transfer the Fates of his Servants, it be not also beyond it to defer such signal events, and whereon the Fates of whole Nations do depend.

As also, whether he intended or endeavoured to bring to pass what he pretended, some question might be made. For that he should attempt or think he could translate his infelicity upon his Sons, it could not consist with his judgment, which attempts not impossibles or things beyond his power; nor with his knowledge of future things, and the Fates of succeeding Generations: for he understood that Monarchy was to expire in himself, and could particularly foretell the infelicity of his Sons, and hath also made remote predictions unto others concerning the fortunes of many succeeding descents; as appears in that answer untoAttalus,

Be of good courage,Attalus,thou shalt reignAnd thy Sons Sons, but not their Sons again.

Be of good courage,Attalus,thou shalt reign

And thy Sons Sons, but not their Sons again.

As also untoCypselusKing of Corinth.

Happy is the Man who at my Altar stands,GreatCypseluswhoCorinthnow commands.Happy is he, his Sons shall happy be,But for their Sons, unhappy days they’ll see.

Happy is the Man who at my Altar stands,

GreatCypseluswhoCorinthnow commands.

Happy is he, his Sons shall happy be,

But for their Sons, unhappy days they’ll see.

Now, being able to have so large a prospect of future things, and of the fate of many Generations, it might well be granted he was not ignorant of the Fate ofCrœsushis Sons, and well understood it was in vain to think to translate his misery upon them.

4. In the Fourth part of his reply, he clears himself of Ingratitude which Hell it self cannot hear of; alledging that he had saved his life when he was ready to be burnt, by sending a mighty Showre, in a fair and cloudless day, to quench the Fire already kindled, which all the Servants ofCyruscould not doe. Though this Shower might well be granted, as much concerning his honour, and not beyond his power; yet whether this mercifull Showre fell not out contingently or were not contrived by an higher power, which hath often pity upon Pagans, and rewardeth their vertues sometimes with extraordinary temporal favours; also, in no unlike case, who was the authour of those few fair minutes, which, in a showry day, gave onely time enough for the burning ofSylla’sBody, some question might be made.

5. The last excuse devolveth the errour and miscarriage of the business uponCrœsus, and that he deceived himself by an inconsiderate misconstruction of his Oracle, that if he had doubted, he should not have passed it over in silence, but consulted again for an exposition of it. Besides, he had neither discussed,nor well perpended his Oracle concerningCyrus, whereby he might have understood not to engage against him.

Wherein, to speak indifferently, the deception and miscarriage seems chiefly to lie atCrœsushis door, who, if not infatuated with confidence and security, might justly have doubted the construction: besides, he had received two Oracles before, which clearly hinted an unhappy time unto him: the first concerningCyrus.

When ever a Mule shall o’er the Medians reign,Stay not, but untoHermusfly amain.

When ever a Mule shall o’er the Medians reign,

Stay not, but untoHermusfly amain.

Herein though he understood not theMedian MuleofCyrus, that is, of his mixed descent, and from Assyrian and Median Parents, yet he could not but apprehend some misfortune from that quarter.

Though this prediction seemed a notable piece of Divination, yet did it not so highly magnifie his natural sagacity or knowledge of future events as was by many esteemed; he having no small assistance herein from the Prophecy ofDanielconcerning the Persian Monarchy, and the Prophecy ofJeremiahandIsaiah, wherein he might reade the name ofCyruswho should restore the Captivity of the Jews, and must, therefore, be the great Monarch and Lord of all those Nations.

The same misfortune was also foretold when he demanded ofApolloif ever he should hear his dumb Son speak.

O foolishCrœsuswho hast made this choice,To know when thou shalt hear thy dumb Son’s voice;Better he still were mute, would nothing say,When he first speaks, look for a dismal day.

O foolishCrœsuswho hast made this choice,

To know when thou shalt hear thy dumb Son’s voice;

Better he still were mute, would nothing say,

When he first speaks, look for a dismal day.

This, if he contrived not the time and the means of his recovery, was no ordinary divination: yet how to make out the verity of the story some doubt may yet remain. For though the causes of deafness and dumbness were removed, yet since words are attained by hearing, and men speak not without instruction, how he should be able immediately to utter such apt and significant words, as Ἄνθρωπε, μὴ κτεῖνε Κροῖσον,[279]O Man slay notCrœsus, it cannot escape some doubt, since the Story also delivers, that he was deaf and dumb, that he then first began to speak, and spake all his life after.

Now, ifCrœsushad consulted again for a clearer exposition of what was doubtfully delivered, whether the Oracle would have spake out the second time or afforded a clearer answer, some question might be made from the examples of his practice upon the like demands.

So when the Spartans had often fought with ill success against theTegeates, they consulted the Oracle what God they should appease, to become victorious over them. The answer was,that they should remove the Bones ofOrestes. Though the words were plain, yet the thing was obscure, and like finding out the Body ofMoses. And therefore they once more demanded in what place they should find the same; unto whom he returned this answer,

When in the Tegean Plains a place thou find’stWhere blasts are made by two impetuous Winds,Where that that strikes is struck, blows follow blows,There doth the EarthOrestesBones enclose.

When in the Tegean Plains a place thou find’st

Where blasts are made by two impetuous Winds,

Where that that strikes is struck, blows follow blows,

There doth the EarthOrestesBones enclose.

Which obscure reply the wisest ofSpartacould not make out, and was casually unriddled by one talking with a Smith who had found large Bones of a Manburied about his House; the Oracle importing no more than a Smith’s Forge, expressed by a Double Bellows, the Hammer and Anvil therein.

Now, why the Oracle should place such consideration upon the Bones ofOrestesthe Son ofAgamemnon, a mad man and a murtherer, if not to promote the idolatry of the Heathens, and maintain a superstitious veneration of things of no activity, it may leave no small obscurity.

Or why, in a business so clear in his knowledge, he should affect so obscure expressions it may also be wondred; if it were not to maintain the wary and evasive method in his answers: for, speaking obscurely in things beyond doubt within his knowledge, he might be more tolerably dark in matters beyond his prescience.

ThoughEIwere inscribed over the Gate ofDelphos, yet was there no uniformity in his deliveries. Sometimes with thatobscurityas argued a fearfull prophecy; sometimes soplainlyas might confirm a spirit of divinity; sometimesmorally, deterring from vice and villany; another timevitiously, and in the spirit of bloud and cruelty: observably modest in his civil enigma and periphrasis of that part which oldNumawould plainly name,[280]andMedeawould not understand, when he advisedÆgeusnot to draw out his foot before, untill he arriv’d upon the Athenian ground; whereas another time he seemed too literal in that unseemly epithet untoCyanusKing ofCyprus,[281]and put a beastly trouble upon allÆgyptto find out the Urine of a true Virgin. Sometimes, more beholding unto memory than invention, he delighted to express himself in the bare Verses ofHomer. But that he principally affected Poetry, and that the Priest notonely or always composed his prosal raptures into Verse, seems plain from his necromantical Prophecies, whilst the dead Head inPhlegondelivers a long Prediction in Verse; and at the raising of the Ghost ofCommodusuntoCaracalla, when none of his Ancestours would speak, the divining Spirit versified his infelicities; corresponding herein to the apprehensions of elder times, who conceived not onely a Majesty but something of Divinity in Poetry, and as in ancient times the old Theologians delivered their inventions.

Some critical Readers might expect in his oraculous Poems a more than ordinary strain and true spirit ofApollo; not contented to find that Spirits make Verses like Men, beating upon the filling Epithet, and taking the licence of dialects and lower helps, common to humane Poetry; wherein, sinceScaliger, who hath spared none of the Greeks, hath thought it wisedom to be silent, we shall make no excursion.

Others may wonder how the curiosity of elder times, having this opportunity of his Answers, omitted Natural Questions; or how the old Magicians discovered no more Philosophy; and if they had the assistance of Spirits, could rest content with the bare assertions of things, without the knowledge of their causes; whereby they had made their Acts iterable by sober hands, and a standing part of Philosophy. Many wise Divines hold a reality in the wonders of the Ægyptian Magicians, and that thosemagnaliawhich they performed beforePharaohwere not mere delusions of Sense. Rightly to understand how they made Serpents out of Rods; Froggs and Bloud of Water, were worth halfPorta’sMagick.

Hermolaus Barbaruswas scarce in his wits, when, upon conference with a Spirit, he would demand noother question than the explication ofAristotle’s Entelecheia.Appionthe Grammarian, that would raise the Ghost ofHomerto decide the Controversie of his Country, made a frivolous and pedantick use of Necromancy.Philostratusdid as little, that call’d up the Ghost ofAchillesfor a particular of the Story ofTroy. Smarter curiosities would have been at the great Elixir, the Flux and Reflux of the Sea, with other noble obscurities in Nature; but probably all in vain: in matters cognoscible and framed for our disquisition, our Industry must be our Oracle, and Reason ourApollo.

Not to know things without the Arch of our intellectuals, or what Spirits apprehend, is the imperfection of our nature not our knowledge, and rather inscience than ignorance in man. Revelation might render a great part of the Creation easie which now seems beyond the stretch of humane indagation, and welcome no doubt from good hands might be a trueAlmagest, and great celestial construction: a clear Systeme of the planetical Bodies of the invisible and seeming useless Stars unto us, of the many Suns in the eighth Sphere, what they are, what they contain and to what more immediately those Stupendous Bodies are serviceable. But being not hinted in the authentick Revelation of God, nor known how far their discoveries are stinted; if they should come unto us from the mouth of evil Spirits, the belief thereof might be as unsafe as the enquiry.

This is a copious Subject; but, having exceeded the bounds of a letter, I will not, now, pursue it farther. I am

Yours, etc.

Footnotes[276]SeeVulg. Err.l.7. c. 12.[277]Herod.l.1. 46, 47, etc. 90, 91.[278]Προλέγουσαι Κροίσω, ἢνστρατεύηταιἐπὶ Πέρσας, μεγάλην ἀρχήν μιν καταλύσειν. Herod.Ibid.54.[279]Herod.l.1. 85.[280]Plut.inThes.[281]V.Herod.

Footnotes

[276]SeeVulg. Err.l.7. c. 12.

[277]Herod.l.1. 46, 47, etc. 90, 91.

[278]Προλέγουσαι Κροίσω, ἢνστρατεύηταιἐπὶ Πέρσας, μεγάλην ἀρχήν μιν καταλύσειν. Herod.Ibid.54.

[279]Herod.l.1. 85.

[280]Plut.inThes.

[281]V.Herod.

Concerning the future state of several Nations,

In a Letter written upon occasion of an oldProphecy sent to the Authour from a Friend,with a Request that he would consider it.

TRACT XII

Sir,

I take no pleasure in Prophecies so hardly intelligible, and pointing at future things from a pretended spirit of Divination; of which sort this seems to be which came unto your hand, and you were pleased to send unto me. And therefore, for your easier apprehension, divertisement and consideration, I present you with a very different kind of prediction: not positively or peremptorily telling you what shall come to pass; yet pointing at things not without all reason or probability of their events; not built upon fatal decrees, or inevitable designations, but upon conjectural foundations, whereby things wished may be promoted, and such as are feared, may more probably be prevented.

THE PROPHECY

WhenNew Englandshall troubleNew Spain.WhenJamaicashall be Lady of the Isles and the Main.WhenSpainshall be inAmericahid,AndMexicoshall prove aMadrid.WhenMahomet’sShips on theBaltickshall ride,And Turks shall labour to have Ports on that side.WhenAfricashall no more sell out their BlacksTo make Slaves and Drudges to the American Tracts.WhenBataviathe Old shall be contemn’d by the New.When a new Drove of Tartars shallChinasubdue.WhenAmericashall cease to send out its Treasure,But employ it at home in American Pleasure.When the new World shall the old invade,Nor count them their Lords but their fellows in Trade.When Men shall almost pass toVeniceby Land,Not in deep Water but from Sand to Sand.WhenNova Zemblashall be no stayUnto those who pass to or fromCathay.Then think strange things are come to light,Whereof but few have had a foresight.

WhenNew Englandshall troubleNew Spain.

WhenJamaicashall be Lady of the Isles and the Main.

WhenSpainshall be inAmericahid,

AndMexicoshall prove aMadrid.

WhenMahomet’sShips on theBaltickshall ride,

And Turks shall labour to have Ports on that side.

WhenAfricashall no more sell out their Blacks

To make Slaves and Drudges to the American Tracts.

WhenBataviathe Old shall be contemn’d by the New.

When a new Drove of Tartars shallChinasubdue.

WhenAmericashall cease to send out its Treasure,

But employ it at home in American Pleasure.

When the new World shall the old invade,

Nor count them their Lords but their fellows in Trade.

When Men shall almost pass toVeniceby Land,

Not in deep Water but from Sand to Sand.

WhenNova Zemblashall be no stay

Unto those who pass to or fromCathay.

Then think strange things are come to light,

Whereof but few have had a foresight.

WhenNew Englandshall troubleNew Spain.

That is, When that thriving Colony, which hath so much encreased in our days, and in the space of about fifty years, that they can, as they report, raise between twenty and thirty thousand men upon an exigency, shall in process of time be so advanced, as to be able to send forth Ships and Fleets, as to infest the American Spanish Ports and Maritime Dominions by depredations or assaults; for which attempts they are not like to be unprovided, as abounding in the Materials for Shipping, Oak and Firre. And when length of time shall so far encrease that industrious people, that the neighbouring Country will not contain them, they will range still farther and be able, in time, to set forth great Armies, seek for new possessions, or make considerable and conjoined migrations, according to the custom of swarming Northern Nations; wherein it is not likely that they will move Northward, but toward the Southern and richer Countries, which are either in the Dominions or Frontiers of the Spaniards: and may not improbably erect new Dominions in places not yet thought of, and yet, for some Centuries, beyond their power or Ambition.

WhenJamaicashall be Lady of the Isles and the Main.

That is, When that advantageous Island shall be well peopled, it may become so strong and potent as to over-power the neighbouring Isles, and also a part ofthe main Land, especially the Maritime parts. And already in their infancy they have given testimony of their power and courage in their bold attempts uponCampecheandSanta Martha; and in that notable attempt uponPanamaon the Western side ofAmerica: especially considering this Island is sufficiently large to contain a numerous people, of a Northern and warlike descent, addicted to martial affairs both by Sea and Land, and advantageously seated to infest their neighbours both of the Isles and the Continent, and like to be a receptacle for Colonies of the same originals fromBarbadoesand the neighbour Isles.

WhenSpainshall be inAmericahid;AndMexicoshall prove aMadrid.

That is, WhenSpain, either by unexpected disasters, or continued emissions of people intoAmerica, which have already thinned the Country, shall be farther exhausted at home: or when, in process of time, their Colonies shall grow by many accessions more than their Originals, thenMexicomay become aMadrid, and as considerable in people, wealth and splendour; wherein that place is already so well advanced, that accounts scarce credible are given of it. And it is so advantageously seated, that, byAcapulcoand other Ports on the South Sea, they may maintain a communication and commerce with the Indian Isles and Territories, and withChinaandJapan, and on this side, byPorto Beloand others, hold correspondence withEuropeandAfrica.

WhenMahomet’sShips in the Baltick shall ride.

Of this we cannot be out of all fear; for, if theTurk should masterPoland, he would be soon at this Sea. And from the odd constitution of the Polish Government, the divisions among themselves, jealousies between their Kingdom and Republick; vicinity of the Tartars, treachery of the Cossacks, and the method of Turkish Policy, to be at Peace with the Emperour ofGermanywhen he is at War with the Poles, there may be cause to fear that this may come to pass. And then he would soon endeavour to have Ports upon that Sea, as not wanting Materials for Shipping. And, having a new acquist of stout and warlike men, may be a terrour unto the confiners on that Sea, and to Nations which now conceive themselves safe from such an Enemy.

WhenAfricashall no more sell out their Blacks.

That is, When African Countries shall no longer make it a common Trade to sell away the people to serve in the drudgery of American Plantations. And that may come to pass when ever they shall be well civilized, and acquainted with Arts and Affairs sufficient to employ people in their Countries: if also they should be converted to Christianity, but especially unto Mahometism; for then they would never sell those of their Religion to be Slaves unto Christians.

WhenBataviathe Old shall be contemn’d by the New.

When the Plantations of the Hollanders atBataviain theEast Indies, and other places in theEast Indies, shall, by their conquests and advancements, become so powerfull in the Indian Territories; Then their Original Countries and States ofHollandare like to be contemned by them, and obeyed onely as they please.And they seem to be in a way unto it at present by their several Plantations, new acquists and enlargements: and they have lately discovered a part of the Southern Continent, and several places which may be serviceable unto them, when ever time shall enlarge them unto such necessities.

And a new Drove of Tartars shallChinasubdue.

Which is no strange thing if we consult the Histories ofChina, and successive Inundations made by Tartarian Nations. For when the Invaders, in process of time, have degenerated into the effeminacy and softness of the Chineses, then they themselves have suffered a new Tartarian Conquest and Inundation. And this hath happened from time beyond our Histories: for, according to their account, the famous Wall ofChina, built against the irruptions of the Tartars, was begun above a hundred years before the Incarnation.

WhenAmericashall cease to send forth its treasure,But employ it at home for American Pleasure.

That is, WhenAmericashall be better civilized, new policied and divided between great Princes, it may come to pass that they will no longer suffer their Treasure of Gold and Silver to be sent out to maintain the Luxury ofEuropeand other parts: but rather employ it to their own advantages, in great Exploits and Undertakings, magnificent Structures, Wars or Expeditions of their own.

When the new World shall the old invade.

That is, WhenAmericashall be so well peopled,civilized and divided into Kingdoms, they are like to have so little regard of their Originals, as to acknowledge no subjection unto them: they may also have a distinct commerce between themselves, or but independently with those ofEurope, and may hostilely and pyratically assault them, even as the Greek and Roman Colonies after a long time dealt with their Original Countries.

When Men shall almost pass toVeniceby Land,Not in deep Waters but from Sand to Sand.

That is, When, in long process of time, the Silt and Sands shall so choak and shallow the Sea in and about it. And this hath considerably come to pass within these fourscore years; and is like to encrease from several causes, especially by the turning of the RiverBrenta, as the learnedCastellihath declared.

WhenNova Zemblashall be no stayUnto those who pass to or fromCathay.

That is, When ever that often sought for Northeast passage untoChinaandJapanshall be discovered; the hindrance whereof was imputed toNova Zembla; for this was conceived to be an excursion of Land shooting out directly, and so far Northward into the Sea that it discouraged from all Navigation about it. And therefore Adventurers took in at the Southern part at a strait byWaygatznext the Tartarian Shore: and, sailing forward they found that Sea frozen and full of Ice, and so gave over the attempt. But of late years, by the diligent enquiry of some Moscovites, a better discovery is made of these parts, and a Map or Chartmade of them. TherebyNova Zemblais found to be no Island extending very far Northward; but, winding Eastward, it joineth to the Tartarian Continent, and so makes aPeninsula: and the Sea between it which they entred atWaygatz, is found to be but a large Bay, apt to be frozen by reason of the great River ofOby, and other fresh Waters, entring into it: whereas the main Sea doth not freez upon the North ofZemblaexcept near unto Shores; so that if the Moscovites were skilfull Navigatours they might, with less difficulties, discover this passage untoChina: but however the English, Dutch and Danes are now like to attempt it again.

But this is Conjecture, and not Prophecy: and so (I know) you will take it. I am,

Sir, etc.

Bibliotheca Abscondita:

Containing some remarkable Books, Antiquities,Pictures and Rarities of several kinds, scarceor never seen by any man now living.

TRACT XIII

Sir,

With many thanks I return that noble Catalogue of Books, Rarities and Singularities of Art and Nature, which you were pleased to communicate unto me. There are many Collections of this kind inEurope. And, besides the printed accounts of theMusæum Aldrovandi,Calceolarianum,Moscardi,Wormianum; theCasa AbbellittaatLoretto, andThreasorof S.Dennis, theRepositoryof the Duke ofTuscany, that of the Duke ofSaxony, and that noble one of the Emperour atVienna, and many more are of singular note. Of what in this kind I have by me I shall make no repetition, and you having already had a view thereof, I am bold to present you with the List of a Collection, which I may justly say you have not seen before.

The Title is, as above,

Musæum Clausum, orBibliotheca Abscondita: containingsome remarkable Books, Antiquities, Pictures and Rarities of several kinds, scarce or never seen by any man now living.

1. A poemofOvidius Naso, written in the Getick Language,[282]during his exile atTomos, found wrapt up in Wax atSabaria, on the Frontiers ofHungary, where there remains a tradition that he died, in his return towardsRomefromTomos, either after his pardon or the death ofAugustus.

2. The Letter ofQuintus Cicero, which he wrote in answer to that of his BrotherMarcus Tullius, desiring of him an account ofBritany, wherein are described the Country, State and Manners of the Britains of that Age.

3. An Ancient British Herbal, or description of divers Plants of this Island, observed by that famous PhysicianScribonius Largus, when he attended the EmperourClaudiusin his expedition intoBritany.

4. An exact account of the Life and Death ofAvicennaconfirming the account of his Death by taking nine Clysters together in a fit of the Colick; and not asMariusthe Italian Poet delivereth, by being broken upon the Wheel; left with other Pieces byBenjamin Tudelensis, as he travelled fromSaragossatoJerusalem, in the hands ofAbraham Jarchi, a famous Rabbi ofLunetnearMontpelier, and found in a Vault when the Walls of that City were demolished byLewisthe Thirteenth.

5. A punctual relation ofHannibal’smarch out ofSpainintoItaly, and far more particular than that ofLivy, where about he passed the RiverRhodanusorRhosne; at what place he crossed theIsuraorL’isere; when he marched up toward the confluence of theSoneand theRhone, or the place where the CityLyonswas afterward built; how wisely he decided the difference between KingBrancusand his Brother, at what place he passed theAlpes, what Vinegar he used, and where he obtained such quantity to break and calcine the Rocks made hot with Fire.

6. A learned Comment upon thePeriplusofHannothe Carthaginian, or his Navigation upon the Western Coast ofAfrica, with the several places he landed at; what Colonies he settled, what Ships were scattered from his Fleet near the Æquinoctial Line, which were not afterward heard of, and which probably fell into the Trade Winds, and were carried over into the Coast ofAmerica.

7. A particular Narration of that famous Expedition of the English intoBarbaryin the ninety fourth year of theHegira, so shortly touched byLeo Africanus, whither called by the Goths they besieged, took and burnt the City ofArzillapossessed by the Mahometans, and lately the seat ofGayland; with many other exploits delivered at large in Arabick, lost in the Ship of Books and Rarities which the King ofSpaintook fromSiddy HametKing ofFez, whereof a great part were carried into theEscurial, and conceived to be gathered out of the relations ofHibnu Nachu, the best Historian of the African Affairs.

8. A Fragment ofPythæasthat ancient Traveller ofMarseille; which we suspect not to be spurious, because, in the description of the Northern Countries, we find that passage ofPythæasmentioned byStrabo, that all the Air beyondThuleis thick, condensed and gellied, looking just like Sea Lungs.

9. ASub MarineHerbal, describing the several Vegetables found on the Rocks, Hills, Valleys, Meadows at the bottom of the Sea, with many sorts ofAlga,Fucus,Quercus,Polygonum,Gramensand others not yet described.

10. Some Manuscripts and Rarities brought from the Libraries ofÆthiopia, byZaga Zaba, and afterward transported toRome, and scattered by the Souldiers of the Duke ofBourbon, when they barbarously sacked that City.

11. Some Pieces ofJulius Scaliger, which he complains to have been stoln from him, sold to the Bishop ofMendeinLanguedock, and afterward taken away and sold in the Civil Wars under the Duke ofRohan.

12. A Comment ofDioscoridesuponHyppocrates, procured fromConstantinoplebyAmatus Lusitanus, and left in the hands of a Jew ofRagusa.

13.Marcus Tullius Cicerohis Geography; as also a part of that magnified Piece of hisDe Republica, very little answering the great expectation of it, and short of Pieces under the same name byBodinusandTholosanus.

14. KingMithridateshisOneirocritica.

Aristotle dePrecationibus.

Democritusde his quæ fiunt apud Orcum, et Oceani circumnavigatio.

Epicurusde Pietate.

A Tragedy ofThyestes, and another ofMedea, writ byDiogenesthe Cynick.

KingAlfreduponAristotle de Plantis.

Seneca’sEpistles to S.Paul.

KingSolomon de Umbris Idæarum, whichChicus Asculænus, in his Comment uponJohannes de Sacrobosco, would make us believe he saw in the Library of the Duke ofBavaria.

15. ArtemidoriOneirocritici Geographia.

Pythagorasde Mari Rubro.

The Works ofConfutiusthe famous Philosopher ofChina, translated into Spanish.

16.Josephusin Hebrew, written by himself.

17. The Commentaries ofSyllathe Dictatour.

18. A Commentary ofGalenupon the Plague ofAthensdescribed byThucydides.

19.Duo Cæsaris Anti-Catones, or the two notable Books writ byJulius CæsaragainstCato; mentioned byLivy,SalustiusandJuvenal; which the Cardinal ofLiegetoldLudovicus Viveswere in an old Library of that City.

Mazhapha Einok, or, the Prophecy ofEnoch, whichÆgidius Lochiensis, a learned Eastern Traveller, toldPeireschiusthat he had found in an old Library atAlexandriacontaining eight thousand Volumes.

20. A Collection of Hebrew Epistles, which passedbetween the two learned Women of our ageMaria MolineaofSedan, andMaria SchurmanofUtrecht.

A wondrous Collection of some Writings ofLudovica Saracenica, Daughter ofPhilibertus Saracenicusa Physician ofLyons, who at eight years of age had made a good progress in the Hebrew, Greek and Latin Tongues.

1. A picture of the three remarkable Steeples or Towers inEuropebuilt purposely awry and so as they seem falling.Torre PisanaatPisa,Torre GarisendainBononia, and that other in the City ofColein.

2. A Draught of all sorts of Sistrums, Crotaloes, Cymbals, Tympans,etc.in use among the Ancients.

3. LargeSubmarinePieces, well delineating the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, the Prerie or large Sea-meadow upon the Coast ofProvence, the Coral Fishing, the gathering of Sponges, the Mountains, Valleys and Desarts, the Subterraneous Vents and Passages at the bottom of that Sea. Together with a lively Draught ofCola Pesce, or the famous Sicilian Swimmer, diving into theVoragosand broken Rocks byCharybdis, to fetch up the Golden Cup, whichFrederick, King ofSicily, had purposely thrown into that Sea.

4. A Moon Piece, describing that notable Battel betweenAxalla, General ofTamerlane, andCamaresthe Persian, fought by the light of the Moon.

5. Another remarkable Fight ofInghimmithe Florentine with the Turkish Galleys by Moon-light, who being for three hours grappled with theBashaGalley, concluded with a signal Victory.

6. A delineation of the great Fair ofAlmacharainArabia, which, to avoid the great heat of the Sun, is kept in the Night, and by the light of the Moon.

7. A Snow Piece, of Land and Trees covered with Snow and Ice, and Mountains of Ice floating in the Sea, with Bears, Seals, Foxes, and variety of rare Fowls upon them.

8. An Ice Piece describing the notable Battel between the Jaziges and the Romans, fought upon the frozenDanubius, the Romans settling one foot upon their Targets to hinder them from slipping, their fighting with the Jaziges when they were fallen, and their advantages therein by their art in volutation and rolling contention or wrastling, according to the description ofDion.

9.Socia, or a Draught of three persons notably resembling each other. Of KingHenrythe Fourth ofFrance, and a Miller ofLanguedock; ofSforzaDuke ofMilainand a Souldier; ofMalatestaDuke ofRiminiandMarchesinusthe Jester.

10. A Picture of the great Fire which happened atConstantinoplein the Reign ofSultan Achmet. The Janizaries in the mean time plundring the best Houses,Nassa Bassathe Vizier riding about with a Cimetre in one hand and a Janizary’s Head in the other to deterthem; and the Priests attempting to quench the Fire, by Pieces ofMahomet’sShirt dipped in holy Water and thrown into it.

11. A Night Piece of the dismal Supper and strange Entertain of the Senatours byDomitian, according to the description ofDion.

12. A Vestal Sinner in the Cave with a Table and a Candle.

13. An Elephant dancing upon the Ropes with aNegroDwarf upon his Back.

14. Another describing the mighty Stone falling from the Clouds intoÆgospotamosor the Goats River inGreece, which Antiquity could believe thatAnaxagoraswas able to foretell half a year before.

15. Three noble Pieces; ofVercingetorixthe Gaul submitting his person untoJulius Cæsar; ofTigranesKing ofArmeniahumbly presenting himself untoPompey; and ofTamerlaneascending his Horse from the Neck ofBajazet.

16. Draughts of three passionate Looks; ofThyesteswhen he was told at the Table that he had eaten a piece of his own Son; ofBajazetwhen he went into the Iron Cage; ofOedipuswhen he first came to know that he had killed his Father, and married his own Mother.

17. Of the Cymbrian Mother inPlutarchwho, after the overthrow byMarius, hanged her self and her two Children at her feet.

18. Some Pieces delineating singular inhumanities in Tortures. TheScaphismusof the Persians. The living truncation of the Turks. The hanging Sport at the Feasts of the Thracians. The exact method of flaying men alive, beginning between the Shoulders, according to the description ofThomas Minadoi, in his Persian War. Together with the studied tortures of the French Traitours atPappainHungaria: as also the wild and enormous torment invented byTiberius, designed according unto the description ofSuetonius.Excogitaverunt inter genera cruciatûs, ut largâ meri potione per fallaciam oneratos repentè veretris deligatis fidicularum simul urinæque tormento distenderet.

19. A Picture describing howHannibalforced his passage over the RiverRhosnewith his Elephants, Baggage and mixed Army; with the Army of the Gauls opposing him on the contrary Shore, andHannopassing over with his Horse much above to fall upon the Rere of the Gauls.

20. A neat Piece describing the Sack ofFundiby the Fleet and Souldiers ofBarbarossathe Turkish Admiral, the confusion of the people and their flying up to the Mountains, andJulia Gonzagathe beauty ofItalyflying away with her Ladies half naked on Horseback over the Hills.

21. A noble Head ofFranciscus Gonzaga, who, being imprisoned for Treason, grew grey in one night, with this Inscription,

O nox quam longa est quæ facit una senem.

22. A large Picture describing the Siege ofViennabySolymanthe Magnificent, and at the same time the Siege ofFlorenceby the EmperourCharlesthe Fifth and PopeClementthe Seventh, with this Subscription,

Tum vacui capitis populumPhæacaputares?

23. An exquisite Piece properly delineating the first course ofMetellushis Pontificial Supper, according to the description ofMacrobius; together with a Dish ofPisces Fossiles, garnished about with the little Eels taken out of the backs of Cods and Perches; as also with the Shell Fishes found in Stones aboutAncona.

24. A Picture of the noble Entertain and Feast of the Duke ofChausueat the Treaty ofCollen, 1673, when in a very large Room, with all the Windows open, and at a very large Table he sate himself, with many great persons and Ladies; next about the Table stood a row of Waiters, then a row of Musicians, then a row of Musketiers.

25.Miltiades, who overthrew the Persians at the Battel ofMarathonand deliveredGreece, looking out of a Prison Grate inAthens, wherein he died, with this Inscription,

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