Kosmobrephia or the infancy of the world: with an appendix of Gods resting day, Eden garden; mans happiness before, misery after, his fall. Whereunto is added, the praise of nothing; divine ejaculations; the four ages of the world; the birth of Christ; also a century of historical applications; with a taste of poetical fictions. / Written some years since by N.B. then of Eaton school; and now published at the request of his friends.

To the Candid Reader,

Gentle Reader,

I Little thought when first I composed these few lines, that they should ever appeare in publique view; but thy kind entertainment of my first Pilgrim that adventured a∣broad into the world, hath emboldned me (my friends likewise, whome I have cause to honor) very much encouraging me thereunto, to thrust upon thee this second also, which how well thou wilt use I know not, for that I must stand to thy courtesie; But I tell thee this beforehand, thou must not expect here any strong lines, high tow'ri•••• fancies, and soaring inventions, which were (when I penned this) inconsistent with my boyish years. If the natures of Wells,

Rivers, Fountains, Springs, Trees, Plants, Flowers, Birdes, Beasts, Fishes, Starrs &c. delight thee to know, thou hast them here set down as well as I could, and I wish they were better for thy sake then they are: although, I must needs say, I colected them for mine owne pleasure and profit: For the first I found no better remedy to rouse my selfe out of my dumpish malencholy (to which I was naturaly enclined) then a fit of Poetry. For the second I conceived that my digesting into a little roome what I found scatered here and there in divers Authors, touching this subject (which is so exceeding compre∣hensive) might be advantageous to my me∣mory in the retaining of the several Species of things created, and that so my soul might rise up to a higher pitch, in admiring at the All creators glory. Thus (Reader) dost thou see how I aymed at mine owne ends in scribling this Tractate. Now my desire is thou maist find the same ends in reading

of it, that the Lyricks words might be made good in me;

Aut prodesse volunt &c.

To profit or delight, Poets take care; Or to doe both at once, delighted are,

Thy freind to serve thee if thou pleasest. N. B.