A paradox Prooving that the inhabitants of the isle called Madagascar, or St. Laurence, (in temporall things) are the happiest people in the world. Whereunto is prefixed, a briefe and true description of that island: the nature of the climate, and condition of the inhabitants, and their speciall affection to the English above other nations. With most probable arguments of a hopefull and fit plantation of a colony there, in respect of the fruitfulnesse of the soyle, the benignity of the ayre, and the relieving of our English ships, both to and from the East-Indies. By Wa: Hamond.

Their ARMS.

AS for their ignorance in the Millitary profes∣sion, though they be not trained up in the pra∣ctise of those Arms our Moderns have lately in∣vented, they retain the use of those Weapons which have been in use from all Antiquity, I mean the Lance and Dart, wherein they have attained to such perfection, that therein I beleeve no Nation in the World doth equall, I am sure cannot exceed them. But you will say, they want desensive Ar∣mour, and places of strength, and retirement. It is true, they have no other Armour than their own valour; nor Forts, but fortitude and courage; who, like the Parthians, fight flying, making their re∣treat as dangerous to the Enemy, as their first en∣counter.

And lastly, for the use of powder and shot, and the managing of great Ordnance, whereof they are altogether ignorant. Herein they are happy also above all other Nations; it being one of the most

damnable inventions that ever was forged in the Devils Conclave: against the fury whereof, nei∣ther the courage of the valiant, nor the strength of the mighty can prevail; so that Hercules himself, whom the Poets falsly, or Sampson, whom the Scrip∣tures truly deliver for the strongest of men, were living in these times, a childe might kill them with a Pistoll. Let us examine the invention, state, and progresse of this pernicious and cruell Engine.

All Writers do agree, that a German Monk was* 1.1 the first inventer of the materials thereof; and, as it is thought, not without the Devill, to shew his ha∣tred to Mankinde: the first invention was but rude and simple, but Time and the wickednesse of men, have added to the first project, even to the mount∣ing them upon wheels, that they might be the ea∣fier transported, and run (as it were) to the Ruine of Mankinde. From hence hath proceeded these Monsters, of Canons, and double Canons, and Cul∣verings, these furious Basilisks, and murtherers, those fiery Falcons and Sakers: wherein it seems the inventers knew well what they did, when they imposed on them the names of Snakes, Serpents, and ravenous Birds; the very names of them being terrible, and apt to beget in us a horrour and de∣testation of them. I forbear to speak of lesser En∣gines, but of greater danger; as the Dag and Pi∣stoll, which may be concealed in a mans pocket, wherewith many have been treacherously slain without any prevention. Out of this miserable and cruell Magazine have issued these Mines, counter-Mines, Firepots, Firepikes, Oranges, Granado's, Hedghogs, Petards, and the like; a most cursed in∣vention, wherein the malice of man to man is

grown to that height, whom we ought to love as our Brother; that such as can invent the most wic∣ked, cruell and execrable project to destroy men withall, is held the most worthy to receive the greatest honour, respect and reward: and now, if ever, it may truly be said, Homo homini Demon; one man is a Devill to another.

All inventions, as they are but the imitations of Nature, do ever fall short of the patern; but in this they have exceeded Nature. Take it thus briefly: the Thunder and Lightning which these Salmonians would imitate, doth transcend the other in fury and violence; for the Thunderbolt, as naturall and accidentall, falleth sometimes on a a tree, mountain, a tower, seldom on a man: but this infernall Engine, guided by the malice of man, aims onely at man, to vvhose destruction it is wholly directed. There are some countries, that by rea∣son of the coldnesse of the climate, as Russia, Tar∣taria, Greenland, at certain seasons of the yeer, as in the depth of Winter, and the midst of Summer, are exempt from Thunder. But no country or sea∣son can privilege the Inhabitants from the fury of this pernicious Engine. The Thunderbolt, by the means of the lightning, and noise in the air, giveth some warning to men, to avoid the insuing danger; but this thundereth in striking, and striketh in thun∣der, sending the mortall Bullet, as soon into our bowels, as the sound into our ears. Therefore we have good reason to detest the Author of this so pernicious and damnable an invention.

And here I cease not, presuming to advise Kings

and Princes (this being but a Paradox) in the use of the instrument: (for I know it to be as well defensive as offensive) but magnifying the mercies of GOD towards this people, vvhose simplicity hath herein made them more happy than our too deer bought knowledge hath advantaged us.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pareus, lib. 1. in Praef.