Relations of the most famous kingdomes and common-wealths thorowout the world discoursing of their situations, religions, languages, manners, customes, strengths, greatnesse, and policies. Translated out of the best Italian impression of Boterus. And since the last edition by R.I. now once againe inlarged according to moderne observation; with addition of new estates and countries. Wherein many of the oversights both of the author and translator, are amended. And unto which, a mappe of the whole world, with a table of the countries, are now newly added.

Of the people of the Middle Region.

OF this division are those, who at this day, understan∣ding the reciprocall bounds of Government and Sub∣jection,

and inured to civill and sociable conditions, are suf∣ficiently enabled to frustrate the policies of the South, and to oppose against the furies of the North. Out of this mould would Vitruvius have a Commander to be chosen; and how judiciously, let others say: wee will only maintaine by hi∣storicall experience, that the Goths, Hunnes, Heruli, and Vandals, wasted Asia, Afrike, and Europe; and yet for want of good counsell, could never maintaine their Con∣quests: whereas farre weaker forces, assisted by wisdome and politike government, have not only brought barbarous Nations to civilitie, but likewise perpetuated most flourish∣ing Empires.

In approbation whereof, the Poets fained Pallas to be ar∣med, and Achilles to be by her protected. It is recorded also of Cato Censorius, that he was a valiant Captaine, a sage Senator, an upright Iudge, and a great Scholer: of Caesar, that he was a Politician, an Historian, an Orator, and a War∣rior: of Agamemnon, that he was a good Governour, and a tall Souldier. And therefore no wonder, if the Scythians, hating Learning, and the Southerne Nations, abhorring Armes, could never make good their conquered acquisiti∣ons. The Romans embraced both, to their great good for∣tunes, and according to Platoes rule, intermingled Musicke (as the saying is) with Martiall exercises. From the Greci∣ans, they deemed it no discredit to borrow Lawes and Let∣ters: from the Carthaginians and Sicilians, the Art Marine: the Militarie they had in perfection by continuance and as∣siduitie. Before these times, Scythian-like, they strucke downe-right blowes: afterwards, they learned of the Spa∣niards (saith Polybius) to thrust with the point.

Thus much, by way of Reading and Observation, for Inclination and Industrie: for mine owne part, I cannot but attribute these qualities of Strength in the Scythian, Wit in the Southerne man, and Indifferencie in the Middle man, to the Divine providence; who in his praescience adjudged it best, upon cruell and barbarous men, as upon Bulls and brute beasts, not to bestow these good gifts of the Minde:

neither upon subtle and vafrous people, Courage, and Strength of body; left both should abuse both, to the de∣struction of each other. For as Aristotle saith, There is no∣thing more dangerous than armed furie.

Wherefore, sithence all Nations have their faults, as well as their vertues, let us neither reproach the laudable sobri∣etie of the Southerne man, nor tax the free drinking of the Northerne man; faculties (without controversie) peculiar to either people: but rather, according to reason, let us weigh with our selves, that the Southerne man, for want of naturall digestion, if he should gourmandize, would fall in∣to Surfets, Apoplexies, &c. and the Northerne man, if hee would, cannot constraine abstinence, by reason of thirst, proceeding of inward heat. And this should have beene the consideration of all Authors, before they had proceeded to rash condemnation.

So againe, if the Greeke, the Aegyptian, the Arabian, or the Chaldean, be to be taxed of Superstition, Sorcerie, Cowardize, Trecherie, or Lasciviousnesse; yet let them not be so rejected, but that wee vouchsafe in them, to imitate what hath beene commendable, what excellent: For from these Nations, in truth, have Letters, Arts, Learning, Disci∣pline, Philosophie, Religion, and the rules of humane Soci∣etie beene derived, over the face of the habitable earth.

Neither let us detract from the industries of the Nor∣therne Nations, neither take exceptions against the frailties of those whom God hath allotted to possesse the Middle Regions. For albeit (as I said at first) that no over-weening credit be to be given to Starres and Planets, yet so farre let us leane to the learned, as experience may seeme to verifie what they have observed.

The Aphorismes of the Signes in the Zodiake (saith Bo∣din) are intricate, and not understood by us, considering, that by the Astronomers owne observations to these times, all the points of the Zodiake, and the Signes, have wholly changed their stations.

To the Southerne people, they place Saturne as Lord and

Governour: To the Middle, Iupiter: To the Northerne, Mars. And these in generall. But because of particulars, they put Venus in conjunction with Saturne, Mercurie with Iupiter, and Luna with Mars. The Sunne, as Moderator, they have confined as indifferent.

The Chaldeans say, That the influence of Saturne opera∣teth in apprehension: the influence of Iupiter, in action: and the influence of Mars, in execution. The Hebrewes terme Saturne, quiet, peaceable, contemplative; Iupiter, just, wise, &c. and Mars, strong, and full of courage. Saturne (they say) is cold, Mars hot, and Iupiter moderate.

But the people of the Middle Region are neither borne so apt to the studying of arcane Sciences, as are the Southerne men; nor so eagerly given to Mechanicall labours, as are the Northerne men: but in management of civill affaires they prove most eminent. Let any man conferre Time and Hi∣story, and he shall finde, that by this people the rudiments of civill behaviour, of Lawes, good Customes, Statizing, Merchandizing, Oratorie, and Dialect, have beene bette∣red, if not invented. And no marvell: for Iupiter and Mer∣curie are said to bee the Schoole-masters of Sciences, and they that are borne under either, are exceeding apt there∣to of their proper inclinations. Witnesse Asia, Graecia, Assyria, Italy, France, and the higher Germanie (which lieth betweene the Pole and the Aequator, from the 40. de∣gree to the 50.) From hence the greatest Empires, the best judges, the wisest Lawyers, the eloquentest Orators, the skilfullest Merchants, and finally the most exquisite Hi∣storians and Actors of Comedies, that ever were, have pro∣ceeded. In Africa have few such beene found: In Scythia, fewer, no, not one, Anacharsis excepted.

Thus hath God and Nature decreed, That the Scythian (or Northern man) should carrie the reputation of Strength; the Southerne man, the praise of Contemplation; and the people inhabiting betweene both, the Attributes of Wis∣dome. And yet in all places (according to their Situations) shall you finde, some more strong, some more contempla∣tive,

and some more wise. Sed à particulari non est syllogi∣zandum.

Of East, and West, what more can be spoken? To places parallel, the Sunne neither riseth, nor falleth. When it ap∣proacheth the South with us, (being about noone-tide) then is it said to fall, by the Easterne people; and contrari∣wise, then to rise by the Southerne. And therefore, as well to reconcile the doubts of the Ancients, as to satisfie the Curious, in these unrevealed workes of God, and his ser∣vant Nature; the Moderne Cosmographers have beene bold to suppose the finite limitation of the East, to deter∣mine in the Islands of the Molucca; and of the West in the Hesperides. For herein (say they) standeth the centre of the Globe, the Meridian of both Islands being 180. de∣degrees distant one from another. On the other halfe of the Globe lieth America, divided from either angle by so im∣mensible a tract of Sea, that it deserveth by it selfe, peculiar Bounds of East and West.

As for that great Globe (commonly termed Australi••) I had rather say with Bodin, That as yet, it is better set forth for shew than for certainty.

And therefore in excuse of oversight to bee objected to the Ancients, in attributing peculiar influences to diversities of Climates, as the North-east, North-west, South-east, or South-west; let all be referred to the operation of the Car∣dinall points of neerest situation, and all (without doubt) may passe for tolerable construction.