Why the Worthies in this Work are digested County-ways.
First, this Method of Marshalling them is new, and therefore I hope neverthelesse acceptable. Secondly, it is as informative to our judgements, to order them by Coun∣ties according to their place, as by Centuries (so oft done before) according to the time; seeing WHERE is as essential as WHEN to a mans being. Yea both in some sort may be said to be jure divino, understand it ordered by Gods immediate providence, and therefore are coupled together by the Apostle, Acts 17. 26. And hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation. If of their habitation in ge∣neral, then more especially of the most important place of their Nativity.
The Spirit of God in Scripture taketh signal notice hereof,* 1.1 The Lord shall count when he writes up the people, That this man was born there.* 1.2 Philip was of Bethsaida, the City of Andrew and Peter; and all know how St. Paul got his best Liberty, where he saw the first light in Tarsus a City of Cilicia.
When Augustus C•…•…ar issued out a decree to taxe the whole World, it was ordered therein, that* 1.3 every own should go into his own City, as the most compendious way to prevent confusion, and effectually to advance the businesse. I find the same to ex∣pedite this work, by methodizing the Worthies therein according to the respective pla∣ces of their Nativities. If some conceive it a pleasant sight in the City of London, to behold the Natives of the several Shires, after the hearing of a Sermon, passe in a decent equipage to some Hall, there to dine together for the continuance and in∣crease of Love and Amity amongst them: Surely this Spectacle will not seem unplea∣sant to ingenuous Eyes, to see the Heroes of every particular County, modelled in a body together, and marching under the Banners of their several Eminencies.
Here may you behold how each County is Innated with a particular Genius, inclining the Natives thereof to be dexterous, some in one profession, some in another; one carrying away the credit for Souldiers, another for Seamen, another for Lawyers, ano∣ther for Divines, &c. as I could easily instance, but that I will not forestall the Rea∣ders Observation; seeing some love not a Rose of anothers gathering, but delight to pluck it themselves.
Here also one may see, how the same County was not always equally fruitful in the production of worthy persons; but, as Trees are observed to have their bearing and barren years: So Shires have their rise and fall in affording famous persons, one age being more fertile then another, as by annexing the dates to their several Worthies will appear.
In a word, my serious desire is, to set a noble emulation between the several Coun∣ties, which should acquit themselves most eminent in their memorable off spring. Nor let a smaller Shire be disheartned herein, to contest with another larger in extent, and and more populous in persons, seeing Viri do not always hold out in proportion to Ho∣mines. Thus we find the Tribe of Simeon, more numerous than any in Israel (Judah and Dan only excepted) as which at their coming out of Egypt, afforded no fewer,