Historical antiquities, in two books the first treating in general of Great-Brettain and Ireland : the second containing particular remarks concerning Cheshire / faithfully collected out of authentick histories, old deeds, records, and evidences, by Sir Peter Leycester, Baronet ; whereunto is annexed a transcript of Doomsday-book, so far as it concerneth Cheshire, taken out of the original record.

Of the Posterity of Japhet, Genesis chap. 10.

• JAphet, Son of Noah, and eldest Son, as most Men are of Opinion, had seven Sons.
  • 1 Gomer.
    • 1 Ashkenaz.
    • 2 Riphath.
    • 3 Tagarma.
  • 2 Magog.
  • 3 Madai.
  • 4 Javan.
    • 1 Elishah.
    • 2 Tarshish.
    • 3 Kittim.
    • 4 Dodanim.
  • 5 Tubal.
  • 6 Meshech.
  • 7 Tiras.

By these were the Isles of the Gentiles divided in their Lands, every one after his Tongue, after their Families, in their Nations, Gen. 10.5. So reads the Septua∣gint: But Junius reads,—Ab his divisae sunt posteà Regiones Gentium; By these were afterwards divided the Countreys of the Nations.

Gomer was the Founder of the Gomarians, the Nations anciently being called after the Names of their first Author originally: And from Magog were the People of that Countrey called Magogaei, which the Greeks afterwards named Scythians: Madai gave name to the Madians, whom the Greeks called Medes: From Javan, the Jonians and Greeks took their Original: From Thubal the Theobelians took their Names, afterwards called Iberians: Meshech gave name to the Meschates, since called Cappadocians: And Tiras gave name to the Thirians, whom the Greeks called Thracians.

So Ashkenaz gave name to the Ashkenarians, after named Rhegii by the Greeks: Rip∣hath propagated the Riphataeans, afterwards called Paphlagonians: Togarmah propaga∣ted the Tygranians, afterwards by the Greeks called Phrygians.

Elishah, Son of Javan, whom Josephus calleth Ebishah, gave name to the Ebi∣zaei, over whom he ruled, afterwards called Aetolians: Tharshish propagated the Tharsi, which was the ancient name of the Cilicians: Chittim obtained the Island Kittim, now called Cyprus: Dodanim is omitted by Josephus, who mentions but three Sons of Javan.

These Nations were inhabited by the Posterity of Japhet, who began to make their aboad from the Mountains of Taurus and Amanus, and entred Asia even to Tanais, and Europe unto Gades, not before inhabited. Thus Josepus, lib. 1. de Antiquitate Ju∣daeorum, cap. 7.

Now because it is impossible to trace down exactly the Original of our Nation from these so ancient Beginnings,, in regard no ancient Histories (which have been hither∣to preserved) have recorded any thing of these more ancient Ages next following; and what Histories are now extant of the more ancient Times, are all very Fabulous, and full of Uncertainties, except what is contained in Holy Scripture, which princi∣pally toucheth the Affairs of the Jews; I shall therefore begin from those Times wherein we find more certain Truths recorded by the most Authentick Historians, and so trace them downwards to this day.