Speculum mundi· Or A glasse representing the face of the world shewing both that it did begin, and must also end: the manner how, and time when, being largely examined. Whereunto is joyned an hexameron, or a serious discourse of the causes, continuance, and qualities of things in nature; occasioned as matter pertinent to the work done in the six dayes of the worlds creation.

Sect. 3.

BUt, if they be well weighed, I rather think that* 1.1 those, who in the third place imagine that it was in Autumne, are nearest the truth.

For first in the description of the floud, it is true indeed that the first and second moneths there mentioned, are meant the first and second moneths of the yeare: but that they must take their beginning from the Spring, ra∣ther then from Autumne, I cannot be perswaded. First,* 1.2 because Iosephus (who wrote the Antiquities of his own nation) in his first book and 5 chapter writeth thus, viz. that the second moneth, being the moneth where∣in the floud came, was called by the Hebrews Marhesu∣van, and by the Macedonians, Dyo; both which moneths agree to that part of the yeare wherein our November falleth, and not April or May. Secondly, because the Chaldee Paraphrast begins the ancient yeare of the Jews from Autumne, as afterwards shall be shewed.

And further, whereas it is said, that if Noah were to go out of the Ark when the yeare was so farre spent, he must needs want food for those creatures which were with him; I answer, that it follows not.

For first, the mountain tops appeared by the * 1.3 begin∣ning of the tenth moneth, which was (according to

our Julian account) about the end of May, or beginning of Iune, although the head of the yeare be accounted but from Autumne: so that if the waters began to as∣swage so soon, then surely all the montanous places were flourishing with their fruits and herbs, by such time as Noah came out of the Ark; which (questionlesse) he might then gather to feed those creatures that were with him.

Neither secondly doth the temperature of the climate wherein the Ark rested, afford such a rigid winter, but that Noah might sow some kinde of grain, such as might afford him food against the next yeare, if need were; and so both himself and other creatures with him might be preserved and kept alive.

But what need I speak of Noahs providing for him∣self, or them? seeing to the beasts, fowl, and the like, their dismission from the Ark was enough; especially there being but a few of every kinde.

And as for himself and his familie (who were but eight persons) they had libertie given them by Almigh∣ty God to eat of any living * 1.4 creature whatsoever, as well as of the green herb. And therefore their first rea∣son on the contrary contending to prove the worlds cre∣ation in the Spring rather then in Autumne, is not so for∣cible as they imagine it.

But let me illustrate the matter yet more fully, and in so doing I cannot omit what * 1.5 Calvisius urgeth for proof of the same tenent. Those (saith he) who would have the time of the creation in the Spring rather then in Au∣tumne, use this for one of their chiefest reasons. Dic mihi, inquiunt, &c. Tell me (say they) if the world were cre∣ated in Autumne, and that Noah, with those living crea∣tures which he kept alive, did then or at that time of the yeare come out of the Ark▪ how could they be sustain∣ed, the yeare being so farre forth spent? what? must they

hunger for the space of a whole yeare, or live with no∣thing, feeding, like Cameleons, on the aire? &c.

To which he answereth, that these men speak, as if for their singular wisdome the Patriarch Noah had made them of his counsell when he carried food into the Ark, because thus punctually they seem to know how much of it was left when he came out from thence: which that it was all spent, how can they tell? yet neverthelesse concerning such creatures as lived ravenously by feed∣ing on flesh, if Noahs old store were gone, I bid (saith he) that they take no great care for them, because they had dead carcasses enough to feed on. Likewise con∣cerning the other kinde of beasts or cattell, let them not be too solicitous; because the mountains, being watered with such a fatting floud, and dried also since the * 1.6 fifth moneth before, had now brought forth herbs, grasse, and young tender shoots by which those creatures might easily have their lives sustained. Which reason of his is very pertinent, either because it makes it appeare that it was possible to finde food if all in the Ark were spent; or that there might be some of the old store still remaining to help such creatures as were least able to help them∣selves.

Come we therefore now to the examination of their next reason; which is as followeth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A third and best opinion is, that the world began in Autumne.
• * 1.2

  An answer to their first reason who place the creation in the Spring.
• * 1.3

  Viz. the first day. Gen. 8. 4, 5.
• * 1.4

  Gen. 9. 3.
• * 1.5

  Calvis. chr•…•…. cap. de temp. mun∣di conditi.
• * 1.6

  Or from the tenth to the se∣cond moneth. See Gen. chap. 8.