A DESCRIPTION OF MADAGASCAR.

MAdagascar, otherwise called St. Laurence: Is scituate on the South side of the Aequator; and extendeth it selfe from 12. de­grees to 26. degrees of South Latitude: 60 English miles make a degree, and by this account the Island is 840. miles in Length, and 240. in Breadth; yet the Breadth must bee taken on the South-west side, because by North and East it con­tracts it selfe into a lesser compasse, containing in Length 14. deg. or 280. Leagues, in Breadth about 80. Leagues; and is esteemed the greatest known, Island in the World. It is thus bounded; on the West side lye the Kingdoms of Sofala, Mosambique, and all the maine Land of Africa: On the East the Land of Mascaravos, or, as it is now stiled Mau­ritius, On the North, is the Island of Comero, and on the South, the maine Ocean.

[Page]The whole Island it selfe, seemeth on the East side to be a Plaine and Champion Countrey. On the West it is more mountainous; full of Naviga­ble River's, and excellent harbours for shipping; the principall whereof, best knowne to the English, is the Bay of Augustine, in 23 degrees of Latitude, under the Tropick of Capricorne, where most com­monly all the ships, bound for India touch; making it their first Port to winter and refresh and cure their sicke men, the ayre being so good that in the space of 7. or 8. dayes (which is the time of their longest stay) they are perfectly recovered.

If any where, the Proverbe, Terra bona, gens mala, may be here applied: The Inhabitants are a slug­gish and slothfull people, they will neither plant, nor sowe, yet live plentifully by the fat of the Soyle, which though untill'd and unmanur'd, yeelds all necessaries for life, even to superfluity.

Nature will not be exceeded, or out done by Art; what our Northerne Geoponicks labour for, by cultivating the earth, by planting and transplan­ting, by ingraffing and inoculating, groweth here naturally. The Woods abound with excellent Timber, trees of divers kinds, all unknowne to us, except the Tamarind; whereof we sawed some into Planks, which carried betweene 3, and 4, foot dia­miter; and one other sort, which, for the resem­blance, and use, we called Box. And which is most to be admired, there is none that beareth not fruit serving for food for the Creatures, according to their severall kinds. Oranges and Limons they have in aboundance, and a kinde of Palmito, called [Page] by the Portugals, Corodima [...], which is said to be ad­mirable vertuous, and not unproperly, the Inhabi­tants feeding on it in stead of Bread▪ the lower grounds especially towards the Sea side, being full of them. Of Trees yeelding most excellent sweet Gummes, there are many; whereof one for co­lour and consistence, resembleth Sang: Draconis: and being cast on the Coals, smells like Benjamin.

It might easily have transcended my beliefe, had I not seene it: and now reporting it I might bee thought to use a Travellers authority, were not many surviving in this Kingdome, to confirme it. There is a Tree, which wee named the Flesh-tree; because being cut whilst it groweth, it bleedeth a certaine Sapp, or Liquor, like unto blood: the in­ward part thereof is soft and tender, even like mus­culous flesh.

The Plaines afford excellent Pasturage; as may appeare by the largenesse of their Cattle. Their Rivers are plentifully stored with Fish, and Fowle of all kindes. Cattle they have in such abundance, that the Inhabitants seeme all of them to be Grasi­ers: they being their chiefest livelyhood. Their Oxen are large, as ours in England: having betwixt their shoulders a great Bunch of flesh, weighing 20 or 30. Pound; and these they willingly sell for small prizes: but their Kine (except they bee old, or barren) they doe not easily part withall, keeping them for breeding: and their milk is their chiefest food. Sheepe they have great store, and those very large; having long hanging-eares like a Blood-hound; their tailes are long and fat: and though their flesh for sweetnes, and taste, may stand [Page] in some comparison with our English Mutton, yet for the perfect condition of this Creature, they can­not stand with ours in competition; ours yeelding us yeerly a golden fleece, the staple commodity, Wooll; theirs being hairy, like Deere, yeelding no fit materials for cloathing. Of Goats likewise they have in abundance; all wild kinds of Cattle being at home, and suckled as by hand, loose their wilde nature, and become exceeding tame: wild Hogges they have in the woods, whereof we killed some; but for beasts of prey, as Lions, Tigers, Woolves, and the like, we saw none, neither doe I beleeve there are any, because their Cattle graze freely up and downe the plaines continually without any an­noyance. The chiefest enemy they have, is the Cro­codile, whereof there are many in the rivers, which sometimes meet with them, yet might easily be de­stroyed, had the Inhabitants either will, or skill to doe it.

For looke upon the people, and you might justly wonder to see Barbarisme civilized: we beyond expectation, found them very affable, courteous, and just in their dealings, and lived among them a­bout four moneths, with that familiarity and friend­ship, as if we had beene all of one Nation, and their Countrey had beene our owne. At our first com­ming a shore, when they saw us set up our Tents, and placed a couple of Falcons, for the security of our men, they conceived that we came thither to inhabit; and presently their King or, Governor, by name, Andicapela, came to our Captain, with a re­tinueCaptaine [...]eddall. of 100. of his people, or there abouts, to offer him their Country and service; humbly beseeching [Page] him, that he would take them, their wives and children, and cattell under his protection, and they would serve and obey him as their King: especially petitioning that he would defend them from their enemies the Massago­ces, with whom they have mortall wars.

Their dresse is but little diffring from Adams in his in­nocency, for both men and women go naked, as a token and conscientious check of deformity by sin; they wear a small piece of Cotton-cloth, of their own making, to cover their privities, so that the sexes are hardly known one from another, especially the yong men from the wo­men, but only by the plaiting of their haire.

They know not any politicall government, (yet as man by nature is a sociable creature) they live in Tribes or families together, for we never saw above 2 or 300 that lived together in one place, having all things com­mon, except their wives; of whom they are very jealous. They chuse one among them whom they obey as their Pater familias, or master of their houshold, who hath the disposing of all their substance (which is their Cattle) no one daring to sell any of them without his leave, who likewise (as I have oft observed) when any beast is kild, divideth it amongst them by a Geometricall proporti­on according to the number of their family. By his or­der also they remove their stations from place to place, as he shall direct them, in a willing obedience, not dis­puting about the conveniency but conforme their wills to his prescriptions. These severall Tribes have warres one with another, which commonly is for pasturage and watering places for their cattell; the captives they take they sell for small prices (cheaper then their beasts) to the Portugals which come thither once a yeere for that purpose. They tell us of a great King that liveth up in [Page] the Mountains, but they can relate but little of him in particular, because they dare not travel so far for fear of their enemies. Their weapons are Darts, and Lances; in the managing whereof they are very expert. Bowes and Arrows they know not: and as for Gunnes, the re­port of a Musquet, will make an hundred of them flee. Their fight is thus ordered; (we saw them skirmish be­fore us to make us sport) they divided themselves one from another a good distance, and so betwixt running and leaping, they traverse their ground with a terrible noise: they throw their Darts one at another, at their best advantage; and so swiftly retiring backwards, they catch their enemies Darts and Lances, and returne them againe. Whether it was their coveting of our supposed jewels, or their confidence in our friendship which led them to it, I know not: At our first comming, wee bought up most of their Lances and Darts, for a few Beads; and so utterly disarmed them: for although the Men doe nothing else but make Darts; yet for want of Tools they cannot make one in 10. dayes: so that for a months space we could not see 20 Darts amongst them.

Their riches and bravery, consisteth in Beads, or in such bawbles, which they can hang about them; ac­counting all other things impediments to them. Gold and silver they contemn, as being too burthensome un­to them; and not so usefull as Iron: yet I have seen some of them weare little hoopes of Gold and Copper toge­ther about their arms: which shews that they have gold in their Country; and it is certaine that they have Pep­per, Cloves, and Nutmegs growing there, because when wee shewed them, they knew them; and made signes to us that they grew in the Island, though far up, whither they durst not goe. One of our men having a dryed Li­mon, [Page] by chance shewed it them, and the next day they brought us aboundance of very large and faire ones.

In the time of our being there, we coasted toward the North about 10 leagues, where we entred into a spaci­ous river, as broad as the Thames at Gravesend, where the people, by their gesture and behaviour, expressed much joy to see us, and invited us a shore: we were no sooner landed but at least 100 of them came to bid us welcome, calling us friends and brethren; and caried us to see their Towne, the way was through a great wood, which con­sisted most of Tamarind and Palmito trees, which ha­ving past, we discovered a most excellent Champion countrey, equall to any which I have seen in the world, for pasture and herbage. At the corner of the wood was their Towne, their houses being nothing but a few Booths made of Boughs under the Trees, to shadow them from the Sun; where with songs and dances they entertained us; giving us milke, and their women bring­ing their children to us to stroak and dandle them in our armes: Here we stayed till it grew late, and then went to our Boat, many of them bearing us company. By this passage we perceived the cunning of Audrapela, that he would not suffer any to sell us Cattle, but himselfe: for if any strangers came downe to trade with us (as divers times they did, bringing great droves of Cattle with them) then would hee cunningly seeke to perswade us from trading with them; making signes that they were his, and our enemies, Man-eaters, and the like: but when he saw our resolution to goe over the River unto them: (for they durst not come without his permission,) then would hee make the price himselfe, and give them what hee listed: and yet wee bought their fattest Oxen for 5. or 6. Aggat-beads; which in India cost not much [Page] above 12 ^d. and every day they brought us down such store, that we might have bought 100. in a day.

The light of reason hath taught them some religion, and in part we might perceive some points of Mahome­tisme among them, being thought to have crept in by reason of their neere neighbour-hood with the Moores, with whom they agree in circumcision, and abstinence from Swines flesh, though in other things they are most miserable Idolaters. For we perceived in every one of their Townes, or Stations, where they lived, certaine I­mages, rudely carved, sprinkled over with blood and fat, which we judged to be offered to the Idoll, when they killed a beast. Their Priests, at our first comming, came unto us; one of them having a book in his hand of sheep­skins, somewhat like our Parchment; read unto us a great while, what we understood not, and then delivered the booke into our hands; every letter, or Character, expres­sing the forme of some creature, best known unto them; As of a Cow, a Sheep, a Bird, a Fish, and the like, like Egyptian Hyerogliphicks, and we in requitall shewed them one of ours; which when they had well viewed, and turn'd it over and over, they gave it us again to read, whereat they gave a great deale of attention, although they understood not what was said.

Concerning the cōmodities and riches of this Island, (which every man is willing to hearken after) I may tru­ly asfirme, that for wealth and riches, no Island in the world can be preferred before it. As for Gold, Silver, Pearle, and precious Jems, questionlesse the Island is plentifully stored with them. And of Iron there is abun­dance, which necessity hath taught them to melt out of the hard rocks, to arme themselues against their enemies; and for their superfluous things, which are lesse ne­cessary, [Page] No doubt but all the commodities of India, do either grow there naturally already, or may be soone planted there. What aboundance of treasure is yeerely transported out of Europe into India only for leavs and blossoms of trees; I mean for Indico and cloth of Cot­ton-Wooll, whereof the first (for ought I know) may grow there already; or if not, it may easily be brought thether; and Cotton it groweth there naturally. But for those that prefer a present profit before the future; I doe affirme upon my triall and experience, that great quantities of Aloes, the best in the World may be made there in a short time; If there were good vent for it: for proofe whereof, some of our men, by my direction pre­served the juyce of that herbe, drying it only in the Sun, without any other Art; which within 3 or 4 dayes they had gathered and made above 50 pound: the which was sold in London at greater Rates, then that which came from Soccotore; and by the Druggists prefer'd before it.

These premisses considered, with what facility might a Plantation bee here setled: and how honourable it would be for our Nation? and how commodious for all Christendome? There are but two discouragements which may disswade the transporting of a Colony hi­ther: the condition of the Natives; and the Passage: but they are a People with whom for the space of 30 or 40. years, wee have had Commerce: and are therefore ac­quainted with our civill customs, and peaceable demea­nours: and being now no strangers unto us, are willing to put themselves under our protection: And the Pas­sage, wherein lieth the greatest difficulty, is ordinarily performed in 4▪ moneths: and that in a most peaceable and quiet Sea, if a fit season be chosen. Such is the ex­perience of our Sea-men, by reason of their Annuall tra­ding [Page] into those parts. And then for the honour of our Nation by settling a Collony in those parts: how soon might the Trade of India be diverted thither▪ especi­ally the Trade of Indico? which if it grow not there naturally, the Seed may be brought and manured there; and workmen brought from India to instruct our peo­ple in the Art of making it.

If we did but consider, upon what ticklish tearmes our Commerce with the Magullans stands at this present, with the lives and goods of our Merchants and people that live there amongst them, how their lives and goods lie: being at their devotion, how often they have impri­soned and chained our Merchants? seized upon their goods? ransacked their houses? threatned and terrifi­ed them with their Chabuck or Whipps, upon every slight occasion? (whereof I have had some experience) we would make more account of this Island.

And then it would be a generall Commodity and be­nefit for all ships that shall hereafter passe into India: as first for the revictualling of them with Flesh▪ Tallow, Butter, Cheese and the like; their Beefe being salted and ordered as it ought, may be preserved six moneths sweet and good, as those that have made triall thereof can te­stifie. Where likewise provision may be made of Clap­boards for Caske, Sheathing boards, Plancks, and the like. And lastly, no Christian Prince can pretend any title or claime thereunto. The King of Portugal had long since planted upon it (as the Portugals themselves re­port) but for feare of weakning his Forts and Forces up­on the Maine of India. And the King of Spaine hath too many Irons in the fire already, to oppose our people there, where they may enjoy the first fruits of a most plentifull Harvest, which is better than the gleanings of America.

A PARADOXE: PROVING The Inhabitants of the Island cal­led Madagascar, or St. Lawrence (in things temporall) to bee the hap­piest People in the World.

I Confesse (worthy Sir) that I have undertaken an Ar­gument, which at the first sight, will seeme to most Men, Idle and Imperti­nent, although I might answer for my excuse; that I was therefore idle, be­cause I would not bee idle; for it may be objected unto mee: Will you take upon you to preferre this poore, naked, and simple Ignorant people before the rich Gallant, understanding men of [Page] Europe. These are naked, wee are cloathed. These are poore and miserable, wee are rich and wealthy. These are simple Innocents, we have hearing and Experience of many things, wherein they are altogether igno­rant.

All this I confesse to be true, yet let us examine their defects which are supposed to consist in their Na­kednesse, Poverty, and Simplicity: As for their Naked­nesse,Their Naked­nesse defended. J hold them therefore happy, as approaching nearest to the greatest perfection of Mankind. For A­dam in the state of Innocency was Naked, Sinne and Apparell entred both together, those Fig-leaves being sowed together for a vaile, or covering to hide his filthinesse, and deformities, as his vaine-heart concei­ved from the Eye of Heaven: For as a Painter, or sta­tuary having limmed a curious Peece, or carved a good­ly Image, doth take a great delight in the sight of it, as of his Master-peece; For if it should by some acci­dent become spotted, or blemished, he will delight no more in the beholding of it, but is ashamed of his worke every time he lookes upon it, and will therefore-eyther cast it aside, or hide and cover it out of his sight.

So, when this admirable piece of worke, this per­fection of Nature, this Master-piece, this Epitome of the World, this Image of the Deiry, Man: was spotted and blemished by sinne, it grieved the Almighty, to see his Image so defaced in him, who therefore did cloath him, as it were to hide and cover him out of his sight.

Apparell is but like unto so many Plaisters, and Roulers, to cover our soares and deformities, or like Masking sutes wherein wee act, not what wee are, but [Page] what wee seeme to be, it is the out-side that deceives us, and by a jugling tricke makes us take that for a brave man which is a piece of shreds, a meere thing of the Taylors fashioning.

For Example, put the Spruce Gallant into a Con­temptible habite, and what is hee then? A poore mi­serable wretch in the worlds opinion, which judgeth by the outward appearance, and so esteemeth him. But the same man he was? No, he is a ragged Rogue, a tatte­red Knave? Againe, put such a Rogue, or Knave into the Acoutrements of a Gallant, let him be Scarlified and Beveriz'd, let his Jupoon be Carbonadoed to discover his Damaske Purpoint, or his embroidered Camise: arme his side with steele, his heeles with Iron, and his head with Feather; and then like Nebuchadnezar his Image, every man is ready to adore him. As will it please your worship, to command me any service: I will waite upon your worship, 'tis right as your wor­ship sayes. And all this while we reverence nothing but a suite of Cloathes, which these happy People hap­py in this want, judiciously contemne. Apparell to them is a Burthen, an impediment, a very Disease, they care not for it, they count it as an unnecessary bundle and know that it would make them Dull, Heauy, and Effeminate. They preferre the good Constructure of the Limbs, and lineaments of the Body which they have by Nature, before all our artificiall Bumbasted patches. Wee wonder at them how they can goe Na­ked; but they wonder more at us, how we can endure to goe packt up in a fardle of Clouts sewed together. Wee are bound up in Prison, whilest they are free, and at li­berty, we are stifled up in our sweat, and stinke, whilest [Page] the Exhalations of their vapours, offends them not. Nor doth the coldnesse of the Ayre hurt their naked Bodies, more then it doth our naked faces; it was our evill Custome that cloathed us, and their Innocency and freedome of Nature that keepes them naked.

For an instance of the premises I will onely call to your remembrance, the behaviour of the Rassee, or Go­vernour Andrapela; at that time when he, with his fol­lowers, were invited by Captaine Weddell aboard theAboard the Charles then riding in Augu­stine Bay. Ship, the Captaine seeing him naked, did judge it to be rather by a forc't necessity, then a free Election, and caused a Suite of his owne Apparell to be given him, which he knew not what to doe with when hee had it, being told, that they would defend him, and keepe him warme, he said that he had no need of them, & that they would be but a trouble to him. For said he, I can peirce them through with my Lance. At last with much adoe they were put on; but their putting on, put him into such a feare and agony as if they had beene so many Fetters and Manicles layd upon him. He look't as if he had beene ashamed of himselfe, earnestly intreating the Captaine that he might be set ashore, expressing in his countenance a great deale of griefe and discontent, to be as he thought so discourteously dealt withall. The Barge being mand, I went ashore with him, to obserue his behaviour; and can testifie that he no sooner set foote on land, but suddenly he threw away his Suite, flinging his Doublet into one place, his Hose into ano­ther, and at last he tore his shirt from his backe, as if it had beene poysoned with the blood of Nessus the Centaure, and then fetching two or three friskes, hee expressed a great deale of joy, that he was freed from that [Page] bondage and Imprisonment.

As for our selves, we are compelled (so miserable and poore we are,) to be beholding to the vnreasonable creatures for our rayment, robbing one of his Skin, an­other of his Wooll, another of his Haire; nay not so much as the poore Worme, doe escape vs, whose very Excremens we take to couer vs withall, while they in the meane time are nothing beholding vnto us? Was nature a Mother to them, and a Stepdame to us? No, but as a kind, and loving mother, she hath sufficiently provided for vs. It is our owne Luxuxious Effemina­cy, that hath stripped vs out of our naturall simplicity, and cloathed vs with the ragges of Dissimulation, Let vs consider the naturall beauties of all the Plants, fruits, and flowers, they haue no Artificiall couerings, yet they so farre exceed Man in Beauty, and Magnificience (the Lillye in particular, Truth, it selfe hath spoken it,) that Salomon, in all his Royalty was not cloathed like one of them.

The greatest and sole Monarch of the world Adam, was cloathed but with the Skinnes of dead Beasts, which Divines hold was to put him in mind of his mortality, but now the height of Apparell is growne to that ex­cesse, that not the Skinnes of the Cattell, or the other com­modities accrewing, but the soyle of a whole Lord­ship, is scarce sufficient to cloath vs. Now the Taylor is become the best surveyour, Euclide might haue spa­red his paines in Geometry, he can measure all our Lands by his Yard-wand. And what are the effects of this monstrous pride in Apparrell, but the Ruine of many noble Families, the decay of Hospitality, the ushering in of Oppression, Bribery, and Extortion, Theft, Mur­der, [Page] Cousening and deceit, and in the end Beggery, or which is worse, a death with Ignominie.

Now for Pride, such is the Happinesse of these peo­ple, that they know not what it meanes, here is no man that respecteth another the better for his Out-side, but for his inward vertue, and naturall Endowmens. If hee haue but a Clout to cover his privities, he thinkes him­selfe sufficiently Apparelled.

Concerning their Poverty. J doe confesse indeed,Their Po­verty defended. that to be poore, is to be miserable, contemptible, and wretched, a very abject of men, a reproach to his kin­dred, and a shame to his friends, but if you admit this definition of poverty which I dare averre to be a true one. (Poverty is a want of all necessaries vsefull for this present life,) and if I can proue that they want no necessary thing for the use of this present life, I hope there is no man that will judge them poore, but will pronounce us poore, who are alwayes complaining of want, and them rich, which in their imagined pouerty expresse no token of discontent.

True it is, that they have not so many superfluous things as wee have, and therein are they happy. When Diogenes came by chance into a Faire, and saw so many toyes and bables to bee sold, hee brake out into these words.

Oh, how happy am I, that have no want of any of these things; and upon a time to shew how de­spicable unnecessary things are, he shrew away his Dish, because he saw another lap water out of the hol­low of his hand.

These People know, that Nature is contented with a little, and that it is not th [...]se outward things, [Page] which make the Possessour, any thing the better. They know that the inordinate desire of riches is the Root of all mischiefe, a Raging famisht Beast, that will not bee satisfied, a bottomlesse Gulfe that cannot be filled, a very Dropsie, wherein by desire of drinke a man may sooner breake his Bowels then quench his Thirst.

They know that they are gotten with Labour, Anxiety, and Care, kept with continuall feare, Su­spition, and Watchfulnesse, and lost with extreame Griefe, and Dispaire.

As for Gold, the Soule of the World (as I may call it, for it giveth Life, Motion, and Action to all.) These people know it not, or doe they know it, they regard it not, at least I am sure they value it not. Happy people unto whom the desire of Gold hath not yet arrived; But it may be objected heere▪ that al­though they respect not Gold, yet they are covetous of Red Beads. Tis true, they affect them as Orna­ments, not as incombrances; for whilest we lye as it were chain'd and manicled in golden Fetters, they adorne themselves with them as with Iewels, onely heere is the difference, they covet red Stones, and wee desire a refined Earth almost of the same colour? We thinke them fooles, because they give us an Oxe for a few Beads; but they account us greater fooles to part with such Iewels, for so small a valew, for opinion of men not their vertue, that makes them to be deare or of small price.

Those red Beades, which peradventure we valew but at sixe-pence, they may rate at sixe pounds. But suppose that they should see us give the price of twenty [Page] Oxen bought at the dearest Market in Europe, for one white Stone of the same bignesse; would not they laugh at our extreame folly; and yet when it is boughtA Gourd▪ This I have tryed by offe­ring them a Diamond and a red Bead, and they have taken the Bead and refused the Diamond. they will not give you a Calabas of milke for it, though there is no more vertue in the one then there is in the other; yet the offensive condition of the Diamond is notoriously exceeding the Cornelian, for the powder of the Diamond taken inwardly is almost mortall poy­son, and corrodes the stomacke, as learned Physicians have observed, who never could accuse the underva­lewed Cornelian of such a venemous quality.

The Golden Age, so much celebrated by ancient Writers, was not so called, from the Estimation, or predomination that Gold had in the Hearts of men, for in that sence as one said wittily.

But from the Contemps thereof; then Love and Concord flourished, then Rapine, Theft, Extortion and Oppression were not knowne, which happy Age these people doe at this present enjoy. But when men began to dive into the Bowels of the Earth to make descents as it were downe into Hell to fetch this glitte­ring Oare, from the habitations of Divels, and [...]triall Goblins, with it came up Contention, De­ceipt [Page] Lying, Swearing, Theft, Murder, and all the seaven Capitall sinnes; as Pride, Covetousnesse; Wrath, Gluttony, and the rest, so that we must needs confesse that it had beene happy for us, if Gold had never beene knowne.

For the attaining whereof, what labours, what sorrow, and what dangers doe we endure? Wee are contented daily to expose our selves, to a thou­sand perils, to suffer a thousand injuries, in hope to enjoy it; and yet scarce one in a thousand, attaineth to the end of his labour.

For this doe we suffer a voluntary Exile from ourMiseries of Sea faring men native Countrey, for this are we contented to be im­prisoned in a nasty Ship, to expose our lives to the tem­pestuous furie of the mercilesse Elemenes, and to ex­pose our bodies to the rage of the Enemies thundring Ordinance, where through Heate, Cold, Hunger, Thirst, Watching, ill Lodging, bad Diet, in­fected Ayre, and a thousand other inconveniences, we not onely endanger our Lives every minute, but some­times loose them.

But grant that wee doe escape all these perils, and obtaine in some measure what we have so dearely pur­chased, it will be so confessed, there is more care and danger in the keeping of them, then in the attaining of them.

[Page]For this doe Theeves lye in waite to robbe us, friends to entrap us, and our enemies to betray us; Nay, suppose we doe escape all these outward casual­ties, our inward vices, our disordered affections, and our evill Concupiscences, doe all threaten to ruine us.

The consideration hereof, caused the Lady Ca­therine, Dowager to K. Henry 8. (who out of her owne experience, had tryed both fortunes) that if it were put to her choise, to suffer the extremity of fortune in Prosperity or Adversity: Shee would chuse adversity; because the former was never without Danger, nor the latter without Com­fort.

From their Poverty, I come in the last place to speakeTheir Simpli­city defended. of their Simplicity, (which as the simple vncompoun­ded and vnmixed Elements are purest) is an argument if not of their freedome from Corruption, yet that it doth not tyrannize over them, and that they injoy the happiest-condition which Mankind can liue in; out of doubt had our first Parents beene contented with that Simplicity of estate, they were at the first created in, and not haue been so curious in the knowledge of forbidden Misteries, they had not purchased the wrath of God up­on themselves and their posterity.

But let us see wherein their ignorance and Simplicity doth consist, It may be objected, that they are Ignorant of the vse of the creatures which was haue attained to, [Page] and of many Arts that wee professe, and that they are simple in all their actions.

For first, their Houses are but simple Sheddes made with a few boughes heaped together (in comparison of which) and are stately Pallaces.

Their Dyet is grosse and ill cooked that they eate, their meate halfe raw and badly drest; whereas our Ta­bles are furnished plentifully with sundry delicacies, curiously drest by the Art of Cookery, and that with great variety.

That their Drinke is water simply which is com­mon to them and their Beasts alike, whilest wee are served with all kinde of pleasant Wines, and other ar­tificiall aromaticke▪ Drinkes.

That their Simplicity appeareth in their ignorance of many Sciences, wherein the well beeing of a Com­mon-wealth doth consist; as the Art of Navigation, by meanes whereof, wee are able to visite the remotest parts of the World, to transport our owne Commo­dities to them, and to import theirs to the enriching of ourselves; as also, that they know not Military Art, nor the use of Powder and Shot: all which are evidences of their stupid Ignorance, both in these and all other Sciences.

What an heate doe these small Coales cast? WhatAnswer to the former Alega­tions. a terrible shew doe th [...]se poore Antiques make, they [Page] are just like the Pageants or the Gally-foists upon the Lord Mayors day; deface their Paintings, rip of the Canvasse, thou wilt find nothing in them, but a few rotten stickes in the one, and a trimmed Dung­boate of the other.

Let us compare them together by the square of Reason, and wee shall find their defects in these things, to be a maine testimony of their Happinesse, and on the contrary, our excesse herein the cause of our misery, and wretchednesse.

And first for their Buildings, they are such as bestTheir Buil­dings. suite with their free Estate and condition, using them but as Tabernacles for the present, and changing them according to the quality of the Season, and goodnesse of the Soyle. We may commend the wisedome of the Storke, and Swallow for this cause.

These men feare not the opression of a covetous Landlord, nor the danger of a crackt title, his quarters rackt rent, rends not his sleepe, nor takes he care for the renewing of his old Lease, the breaking in of Theeves he feares not; for hee hath nothing to loose, and the surprise of Enemies he regards not; for if they be not [Page] strong enough for encounter, they can suddainly re­move themselves to a place of more security.

I have seene a Towne, consisting of above one hundred Families, and all of them busied about their severall imployments. Some about their Cattle, some making of Launces, and Darts, and some wea­wing of Cotton, to make their Aprons, when upon a suddaine, suspecting us as Enemies, in the space of halfe an houre, they have planted and removed their dwellings.

The women carrying their implements for dressing their food, and their young Infants; Their ChildrenThe cause of their remouall was the com­ming ashore, of one with a Fowling piece, to kill Fowle for the Cap­taine. driving away the Cattle, and the rest of their People as a guard unto them, with their Darts, and Lances, some in Front, some in Flanck, and the rest in the Reare; when againe wee having understood the cause of their departure, with a little perswasion, they re­turned and suddainely replanted themselves, and every man quietly setled himselfe to his businesse as before, without any noise, tumult, or uproare, all which was done in the space of an houre.

Whereas we like so many wilde Beasts can hardly be forced out of our Dennes, except Famine, Sword, or Fire doe compell us. And then, Oh what lamentation, what Exclamation, and grievous Complaints doe we make.

Yet what are our Houses, but so many strong Pri­sons, wherein the Owner lyes bound in severall ac­tions [Page] of Debt, which I forbeare to particularize, and although he walke abroad sometimes, hee doth but traile his fetters after him, and is bound to keepe within the Rule.

Hee must endure discomodity of evill Neighbours, the unhealthfulnesse of the Scituation, which these happy People can avoid at their pleasure without much pudder or turmoile.

And lastly, suppose that one of our Houses should take fire, by accident or otherwise, then what pas­sion? What Rage? What ungoverned fury doe we fall into? Oh I am undone for ever, Oh I have lost that Chest, that Boxe of writings, that Casket of Iewels, out alas! I am undone; what shall▪ I doe? Nay, we are so farre out of our selves, and transported with fury, that as if the blacke Chambers of death was not to be found otherwise, wee sometimes lay violent hands upon our selves, and increase the danger of an eternall Death to prevent a temporall De­reliction.

Whereas, on the contrary, if any of their Houses happen to bee on fire, he is not moved at all with it, but can patiently stand by and warme himselfe at the flame, and say, heere is a good fire, I find much com­fort by it. This is the last benefit my House can doe mee, and in this point they are happier then wee are.