Three Diatribes

In the Survey of a Country, these things are observable.

First, The Name and its derivation, the Latitude and Longitude of the place, the Temperature of the Climate, the goodness or barrenness of the Ground, the populousness or scarcity of the People, the limits of the Country, how it is bounded by Sea or Land, or both, the Commodities, Natural, Artificial, the Dis-commodities, either Imperfections or Wants, the Manners, Shape, Language and Attire of the People, their Building, their Havens and Harbours, the Religion and Government, the History of the Country and Families.

2. The Courts of Princes are to be seen and observed, especially when they give audience to Ambassadors, the Courts of Justice whiles they sit and hear Causes, and so of Consistories Ecclesiastic, the Churches and Monuments therein, the Walls and Fortifications, of Cities and Towns, Antiquities and Ruines, Libraries, Colleges, Disputations and Lectures where they are, Shiping and Navies, Houses and Gardens of State and pleasure near great Cities; Armories, Arsenals, Magazines, Exchanges, Burses, Ware-houses; Exercises of Horsemanship, Fencing, Training of Soldiers, and the like; Treasuries of Jewels and Robes, Cabinets, and rare Inventions.

Aubertus Miraeus in the Life of Lipsius, saith, that when he came first to Rome, he spent all his time (when he was at leisure) in viewing the stones and ancient places, and other rarities there, and spent his time in the Popes Vatican Library, in comparing together the Manuscripts of Seneca, Tacitus, Plautus, Propertius, and other Ancients. He viewed also other famous Libraries public and private.

Thirdly, The choice Herbs and Plants, Beasts, Birds, Fishes, and Insects proper to that Country, are to be taken notice of; Minerals, Metals, Stones, and Earths; their Proverbs also should be observed, in which much of the wisdom of a Nation is found.

Fourthly, Learned men, and such as have abilities in any kind, are worthy to be known, and the best Books there, are to be inquired after. Men that Travel must be very cautious both of their speech and demeanour; The Italian Proverb saith, For a man to travel safely thorough the world, It behooveth him to have a Faulcons Eye, an Asses Ears, a Monkies Face, Merchants Words, a Camels Back, a Hogs Mouth, and Deers Feet.

Sir Henry Wotton in his Letters, mentions twice the answer that was given him by Alberto Scipioni, when he begged his advice, how he might carry himself securely at Rome, Signor Arrigomio (says he) Pensieri Stretti, Et il viso Sciolto, Your thoughts close, and your Countenance loose, will go safely over the whole world.

Fifthly, Make choice of the best places for attaining of the Language, as Valladolid for the Spanish, Orleans, or Blois for the French, Florence or Sienna for the Italian, Lipsick or Heidelburg for the High-Dutch Tongues: in these places the best Language is spoken.

Abraham Ortelius in his Itinerarium Belgiae, persuades Travelers to note, and observe what they see most memorable; Peregrinationes nostrae futurae nobis erunt longe gratiores, si una cum itineribus animadvertamus, & annotemus in Chartis, si quid observatione dignum occurrerit.

What profit Travelling brings to an Architect, Vitruvius shows, what to a Soldier, Vegetius, what to a Limner or Statuary, the Horses of Phidias and Praxiteles made by art, witness; Merchandise is almost maintained by Travel; How much are Cosmography, Topography and Astronomy, improved and furthered by Travel.

Change of Air by Travelling, after one is used unto it, is good: And therefore great Travelers have been long lived: The Countries which have been observed, to produce long livers, are these; Arcadia, Aetolia, India, on this side Ganges, Brasil, Topropane, Bitain, Ireland, with the Islands of the Arcades, and Hebrides, Sir Francis Bacon's History of Life and Death.

How much may the art of Navigation further the spreading of the Gospel! Dan. 12.4. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased, that is, say some Expositors by Travelling to and fro, as the Waldenses to learn and propagate the Truth, knowledge shall be multiplied in the earth in the last time. The same word is used, Numb. 11.8. Of the Children of Israel going about to gather Manna, and of the Devils going to and fro, Job. 1. and 7. Manifestly intimating, saith, Sir Francis Bacon, De Augmentis Scientiarum l. 2. c. 10. Et Nov. Org. l. 1. Aphor. 93. that God would so order it by his providence, that the passing through the world (which is now fulfilled by so many far Navigations) and the increasing of Sciences should fall into the same age.

Orbis terrarum factus est hac nostra aetate, mirum in modum faenestratus atque patens Baconus De Augmentis Scientiarum, l. 2. c. 10. Nostris temporibus & novi orbis partes complures, & veteris orbis extrema undique innotescunt. Baconus Nov. Org. l. 1. Aphor. 72.

In the Philosophical Conferences of the Virtuosi of France Conference 87. It is determined whether Travel be necessary to an ingenuous man. He saith there, if you except Embassies, in which the good of the State drowns all other considera • ions, those that would Travel must be young and strong, rich and well borne, to get any good by their Travells.

La Moth le Vair in his Opuscules Lettre 6. Speaks of the profit of Voyages, and Lettre 7. of the unprofitableness of them, he saith in the sixth Letter, that Travelling is the best School for life, in several respects: The French say Un honest homme, Est un homme meste, an honest or wise man is a mixed man, that is, one who hath something in him, in point of knowledge of all Nations.

Charles the fifth made Nine Voyages, into Germany, Six into Spain, Seven into Italy, four into France, Ten into the Low-Countries, Two into England, as many into Africa, he also passed the Ocean and Mediterranean Seas eleven times.

The Emperor Hadrian travelled over a great part of the world, and with his Head bare, though it was cold and wet, and so fell into a deadly dsease; whence the Verses of Florus the Poet, whom Salmasius (in his notes on Aelius Spartianus ) thinks to be the Historian, who elegantly wrote the Epitome of the Roman affairs and lived under Hadrian.

To which the Emperor answered in the like strain

But (saith Stuckius ) how many Christian Princes and Nobles are now to be found, more like Florus than the Emperor Adrian?

They that have written the Iteneraries of the Apostles, have observed that St. Paul Travel'd much farther, than either St. Peter or St. John, as they have described the circuit; and Purchas both Divines, of which last, Dr. Casaubon of Credulity and Incredulity, part first, saith, a book of very good worth with them that know the right use, and more valued abroad, than it is at home by many. Of the Navigation of the French into America, Johannes Lerius hath written well of the Navigations of the Portugals and Spaniards, See Guicciardines History of Italy, lib. 6. Of those of the English, Hackluit speaks sufficiently. Of the profit which comes to men by Navigations, see Fourniers Hydrography, l. 4. c. 9. and of the Faith enlarged and amplified by means of Navigation: See the same book, chap. 6. There are also the Navigations and Voyages of Leyis Vertomannus, and Cadamusti Navigatio ad terras ignotas, of whom Peter Martyr saith, in the seventh Chapter of his second Decade, that he stole certain An notations out of the three first Chapters of his first Decade, written to Cardinal Ascanius and Acimboldus, supposing that he would never have published the same.

Dr. Casaubon (in his first part of Credulity and Incredulity, in things Natural, Civil and Divine) saith, I have (as all men, I think have, that are anything curious) read several relations of all the known parts of the world, written by men of several Nations and Professions, Learned and Unlearned, in divers Languages; by men of several ages, ancient and late.

There are divers Hodaeporica Voyages, and Itineraries, Antient, Modern, in Prose, Verse, in Latin, French, English.

Benjamin Tidelensis, his Itinerary. He was a Jew, and travelled over a great part of the world. Ecchellensis in his Preface to his Historia Arabum seems to slight him: Constantine l'Empereur (who hath published notes upon him) saith, in his Dissertat. Ad Lectorem. Cum judicio legendum hoc itinerarium, nec auctori in omnibus habenda fides, praesertim ubi suorum conditionem ac statum extollit: plurima tamen notatu digna passim occurrunt, ut quae de locorum distantiis aliisque annotat.

There is Cotovici Itinerarium Hierosolymitanum & Syriacum.

Busbequii Itinerarium Constantinopolitanum & Amasianum.

Douza de Itinere Constantinopolitano.

Furerii Itenerarium Aegypti, Arabiae, &c.

Antoninus his Itinerary (if it be his) for both Thuanus and Vossius De Historicis Latinis, l. 3. c. 2. and others, seem to question it, with Mr. Burtons Commentary.

There are Les Fameux Voyages De Pietro De le Valle Surnomme Illustre Voyageur in three Quartoes. His Travels into East-India, and Arabia Deserta, are Translated into English by Havers, and so I think are the other in three Quartoes.

Voyage d'Orient du Philippe Carme Dechause Sieur de Loyer, his Relation de voyage de Levant De la Haie of the Levant, and also Blunts voyage into the Levant. Divers Voyages du P. Alexandre De Rhodes.

Voyages du Seigneur de Villamont in three Books.

Voyage de la terre Sainte.

Voyage du Duc de Rohan en Italy, Alemagne, Pays has uni, Angleterre & Escosse.

Jo. Hugenvans Linschotens Discourse of Voyages into the East and West-Indies, whom Mr. Boyle stiles the sober relater of his Voyages.

Sir Francis Drakes Voyages. Thuanus calls our Drake, Celeberrimus universi orbis lustrator. Paulus Venetus hath written both an Itinerary, and three Books, de Religionibus Orientalibus.

Some think him somewhat fabulous for what he reports of Quinsay. Dr. Heylin in his Cosmography in Madagascar one of the Afracan Isles, for what he relates of the Bird called Ruck, of such incredible strength and bi • ness, that it could snatch up an Elephant, as easily as a Kite doth a Chicken.

Mr. Burton in his Melancholy, part 2. Sect. 2. Member 3. p. 244. saith, I would censure all Pliny's, Solinus, Strabo's, Sir John Mandevils, Olaus Magnus, Marcus Polus, lies.

Apollo said to the Author of the China History, that he should reduce the immense Metropolitan City of so many Kingdoms, inhabited by many millions of men to some credible measure; and particularly, that he should bring the Palace of that King, which he had affirmed to be many miles long, to such a form, as Vitruvius should not laugh at him for it; saying, that if that building were so great as he had described it to be, the Halls must needs be half a mile long, and the Chambers little less; which if it were true, the whole Academy of Architects had reason to say, that to bring the meat but to the Table, the servants of so great a King must ride Post. Boccalini his Advertisements from Pernassus. Century 2d. 16th. Advertisement.

Yet Mr. Boyle in his experiments touching Cold, Title 19. saith of him, a writer not always half so fabulous as many think him, and Scickard in his Tarich. p. 185. saith, Marcus Polus Venetus, Minime vanus author, Cujus Narrata pridem incredibilia, quotidie magis magisque verificantur.

There is Relation du Voyage de Muscovie, Tartarie & de Perse du Sieur Olearius Secretaire de Duc de Holstein. Both the Author and Book are commended by Bochart in his late learned Treatise de Animalibus Scripturae. It is now translated into English. Mr. Boyle stiles him the Applauded Writer Olearius. In his Experimental History of Colours, Experiment 9. He stiles him the Judicious Olearius, who was twice employed as a public Minister.

There is the world surveighed, or Vincent le Blanck 's Travels; He spent fifty years making ten or twelve Voyages almost through all the parts of the World. Mr. Boyle calls him that Rambler about the world.

There are also Morysons Travels, George Sandy 's Travels, and Sir Edwin Sandes his Relation of the State of Religion in the Western parts of the world, both very good.

Biddulph 's Travels.

Herbet 's Travels.

Monsieur de Monfart 's Travels.

The Preacher 's Travels.

Coriat 's Crudities.

Lithgow 's Travels.

Ferdinand Mendez a Pinto 's Travels; who five times suffered Shipwrack, was sixteen times sold, and thirteen times made a slave, and spent one and twenty years in Travelling.

Sir John Mandevil 's Travels.

He Travelled thirty three, thirty four years, say some.

He was in Scythia, the greater and less, Armenia, Egypt, both Libya 's, Arabia, Syria, Media, Mesopotamia, Persia, Chaldea, Greece, Illyricum, Tartary, and divers other Kingdoms of the world.

He committed his whole Travel of thirty three years to writing, in three divers Tongues, English, French and Latin. Purchas his Pilgrimage. part 3. l. 3. c. 6. out of Baleus.

Joannes Mandevile, Non minimam Consecutus est laudem describendo regiones, vel opere de re medica. Vossius 'De Hist. Lat. l. 3. ca. 2.

B. Usher, speaking of Cloughte Kilti in Cork, saith, In quo fundamenta conspiciuntur amplissimae domus, quam nobilis illius Johannes Magnavillani ( sive de Mandevile 34. annorum peregrinatione notissimi) fuisse tradunt accolae.

Quibus relationibus olim fides nullatenus fuit adhibita, Spizelius de re iteraria Sinensium, sect. 2.

Yet Sir Walter Raleigh in his History of the World, part 4. l. 4. c. 2. sect. 21. and Dr. Heylin in his Cosmography (as he somewhat improperly stiles his great Folio) speaking of India, p. 882. show, how he was honored abroad, and how many of his relations (though esteemed fabulous by some) were since confirmed by the Portugals.

Daviti in his book entitled, Le Monde, Mentions Malherbe for a great Traveler, spending twenty seven years in divers Voyages almost through all the parts of the World.

Purchas in his second part of his Pilgrims, l. 10. c. 1. Speaks of Damian a Goes, a Portugal, who did see, speak, and was conversant with all the Kings, Princes, Nobles, and chief Cities of all Christendom, in the space of twenty two years.

Mr. Greaves in his Pyramidographia, Mentions the Travels of Monsieur de Breves Embassador at Constantinople, les Voyages de Monsieur de Breves, which I have purchased from France.

Alexandre de Rhodes, in the third part of his Voyages, ch. 13. Speaks of Monsieur de Boulaye, which hath published, Un tres beau liure de ses voyages, ou il faut voir ec autant de fidelite, que de nettete d'esprit, la, Conduite qu' il a monstree sans des Royaumes si differents.

He hath travelled over (saith he) the greatest part of Europe, Asia, and Africa. I have seen that French Book also.

There is Alex. Geraldini Itinerarium ad regiones sub Aquinoctiali, in sixteen Books.

There are also Relations of Divers Curious Voyages by Monsieur Thevenot, in three Tomes, and Relation Du voyage, de l'Eveque de Breyte, per la Turquie, la Perse, les Indes, &c. jusques au Royaume de Siam, & autres lieux par M. de Bourges, Prestre, &c. Both mentioned in the Philosophical Transactions. I have mustered up these several Itineraries and Voyages, both because I have perused most, if not all of them, (except the two last) when I was about my great book of Geography, though it be not yet printed. And because I suppose Travelers may hereby furnish themselves with the best writers of those parts of the world, whether they intend to go, either to instruct them about those places before they go, or to carry with them: Who ever since the beginning of things and men, hath been so often by royal employment sent Embassador to so many Princes so distant in place so different in rites, as Sir Robert Sherlie! Two Emperors, Rodolph and Ferdinand, two Popes, Clement and Paul, twice the King of Spain, twice the Polonian, the Muscovite also, have given him Audience. And twice also (though not the least for a born subject to be Embassador to his Sovereign) his Majesty hath heard his Embassage from the remote Persian. Purchas his Pilgrims, part 2. l. 10. c. 10.

Dr. Nicholas Wotton (Uncle to Sir Henry Wotton ) was Privy-Counceller to four successive Sovereigns, Viz. King Henry the 8th. Edward the 6th. Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth. He was nine times Ambassador for the Crown of England, to the Emperor, the Kings of France and Spain, and other Princes. Camdens Hist. of Q. Elizabeth.

Some have instanced in several English Ambassadors, how well they have acquitted themselves; but I shall single out one as very deserving.

Sir Thomas Rowe, after many Ambassages to almost all the Princes, and States in Christendom; (all which were managed with admirable Dexterity, Success and Satisfaction) was last of all Ambassador Extraordinary to Ferdinand the third, Emperor of Germany; who gave him this Character, I have met with many Gallant Persons of many Nations, but I scarce ever met with an Ambassador till now.

Bishop Bedell was Chaplain to Sir Henry Wotton at Venice. Dr. Featly, to Sir Thomas Edmond's in France. Dr. John Burgess, to Sir Horatio Vere, in Germany.

Mr. Boyle in his Preface to his Experiments, touching Cold, commends Captain James his Voyages, it being scarce, and not to be met with, in Purchas 's Tomes (having been written some years after they were finished) and his Voyages published by the last Kings command; He being bred in the University, and acquainted with the Mathematics.

He commends also Mr. Ligon of the Barbado's, and stiles him ingenious Mr. Ligon,

But enough (if not too much) of this.

Geographers, who write of the four parts of the Earth, are as large in Europe, as in the other three, Asia, Africa, and America, To which one part, all learning seemeth now to be in a manner confined; which within this hundred, or two hundred years, hath produced so many able men of all professions; Divines, Lawyers, Physicians, and Philosophers; Papists and Protestants.

Bolton in his Nero Caesar. c. 29. sect. 1. speaking of ancient Rome, saith, The wonder of the feat did not grow from the greatness only, but from the innumerable ornaments of public, and private works, erected for use, delight, and glory, dispersed over all the fourteen wards, or regions thereof. Temples, Forums, Libraries, Therms, Aquaducts, Theaters, Amphitheaters, Circi, Porticus, Arches, Columns, Statues, Palaces, and the rest, whose bare names scarce remaining, do fill up Volums with their inventories.

The best Circuit a Traveler can take, is to go through Holland towards Germany, thereby to satisfy his curiosity by degrees, for Germany will afford more satisfaction than the Low-Countries; France more then Germany, Italy more then France, Gerbiers subsidium Peregrinantibus.

Paris, Rome, and Constantinople, are the Court of the World; Venice Geneva, and Lisbon, the City; Provence, Andaluzia, and Italy the Garden, Africa, and America, the Desert and Wilderness.

Flecknoes Relation of twenty years Travels, Letter 22.

Johnson in his Relation of the most famous Kingdoms. l. 1. of Travel, adviseth a Traveler to take heed of the Pride of Spain, the Poison of Italy, the Treason of France, and the drink of Flanders.

Those who have a desire to travel to Jerusalem should take heed to themselves; that they make no Shipwrack of Conscience, for if they come not well commended, or well monyed, or both, there is no being for them, except they partake with them in their Idolatrous Services. Purchas his Pilgrimage, part 2. l. 8. ch. 9.

Lud. Bartema Relates, that they that Travel over the Desarts of Arabia, which are all covered with light and fleeting Sands, so that no Track can ever be found, do make certain boxes of wood, which they place on Camels backs, and shut themselves in them, to keep them from the Sands, and by the help of the Load-stone, like the Mariners Compass, they steer their Course over the vast and uncouth Desarts.

The Latin, the French, the Sclavonick, and the Arabian Tongue, are known in many places, For Africa; Leo is the best, for the Levant; Blunt is a good book to take with thee thither, and some others I have before-named; for Italy, Scotti & Capugnani Itinerarium Italiae, & Raimunds Mercurio Italico, will be useful; for France, Dallingtons View of France, and Mr. Evelins little book, for the Polity or Government; for Holland, Colnitzius, for Germany Zeiler.

Sir Benjamin Ruddierd (whose discourse and speeches were full of Apothegmes) was wont to say, France was a good Country to ride through, Italy a good Country to look upon, Spain a good Country to understand, but England a good Country to live in.

So wishing the Traveler a prosperous Voyage, There cast Anchor.

Cowells Intepreter.

Coyning of Money is a special right and Prerogative of Sovereign Majesty, Money is as the sinews and strength of a state, so the life and soul of Commerce.

Money, Commonly is the mean for all Commodities, and answereth to all, Eccles. 10.19. Yet the Spaniards Coming into the West-Indies, had many Commodities of the Country which they needed, brought unto them by the Inhabitants; to whom, when they offered them Money, goodly pieces of Gold Coyn, the Indians taking the Money, would put it into their Mouths, and spit it out to the Spaniards again, signifying, that they could not eat it, or make use of it; and therefore would not part with their Commodities for Money, unless they had such other Commodities as would serve their use.

That Money hath been anciently used in a way of Commerce, we may see Gen. 33.19. And the most ancient was the purest Gold. Medals are certain pieces of Money dispersed at the Coronation of Kings. They call them commonly Medallias, in the Italian, Spanish, and French Languages, (saith Antoninus Augustinus, De veterum numismatum Antiquitate ) from the Latin word Metalla, since those three Languages had their Original from the Latin.

Pope Gregory the 13th after he had received tidings in the Consistory of the Massacres in France, one thousand five hundred and seventy two, went to the Church that night to give thanks, made Bonfires, and gloried in the bloody feats of those Emissaries, having a Coyn with his own Face on one side, and an Angel on the other; with a Cross in one hand, and a Sword in the other, with this Motto, Hugonothorum Strages.

Lewis the 12th of France, a moderate Prince, when his Realm was interdicted by Pope Julius the second, caused Coyn to be stamped with his own image, with this superscription, Perdam Nomen Babylonis.

In Athens the Tower excelled, in which there was a Temple to Minerva. Juleus Pollux writes, that the Attick tetradrachme was stamped with the face of Minerva, and he might have added with the Noctua on the reverse. Mr. Greaves of the Denarius. Hugh Broughton said, it was portended by his Arms, that he should be a Grecian, for he gave the house Athens.

There is a Medal in Oxford made upon the sinking of the Spanish ships in 88. with a Navy on one side and a Rock on the other. See Cambdens Annals.

The Lydians first invented Gold and Silver Money, Janus Brass Money.

Gutherius out of Isidore, saith three things are required in Money; the Metal, the Figure, and the Weight; Gold is the most excellent of all Metals, saith Georgius Agricola. Gold hath Greatness of Weight, Closeness of Parts, Fixation, Pliantness, or Softness, Immunity from Rust, Colour or Tincture of Yellow.

Sir Francis Bacon 's Natural History, Centuary 4. Experiment 328.

Martial calls Gold, Yellow Money. Has nisi de flaxa loculos implere moneta. Non decet, argentum vilia ligna ferant. Silver is next to it, it is not consumed in the fire. It is more ductile than any other metal except Gold. Its white color is delightful.

Yet Budaeus De Contemptu Rerum Fortuitorum l. 3. saith well, At Usu sublato quid tandem aurum & argentum aliis praestat metallis,

Diligent inquiring into Coins, is one great piece of antiquity; by the knowledge of which (as other ways) we may come to understand the right writing of several words.

Heliogabalus, or Algebalus rather, as he was styled of old, as Egnatius (Notis ad Caesar's) proves out of some old Coins.

Leonardus Aretinus, in the fourth Book of his Epistles, describing his journey from Rome to Constance, saith, when he inquired of some Citizens there, of the antiquity and original of Constance, nemo adhuc mihi occurrit, qui vel avi sui nomen & memoriam ne dum urbi tenere videretur. Yet by diligent searching, he found a Marble Table Containing ancient letters, by which it appears, that this City took its name from Constantius the Father of Constantine, being called Vitudura.

There is much learned pleasure in the Contemplation of the several figures stamped on each side of these Attique Coins. Would you see the true and undoubted models of their Temples, Altars, Deities, Columns, Gates, Arches, Aquaeducts, Bridges, Sacrifices, Vessels, Sellae Curules, Ensigns and Standards, Naval and Mural Crowns, Amphitheaters, Circi, Bathes, Chariots, Trophies, Ancilia, and a thousand things more. Repair to the old Coins and you shall find them. Peachams Compleat Gentleman, ch. 12.

There is a twofold Inscription of Coins, obversa and aversa.

Vide Seldenum De Jure Naturali. l. 6, c. 17.

I have heard of some men, (but heard it only) who by the bare handling and smelling, would judge better of old Coins (which is a great trade beyond the Seas, and concerning which, many Books are written) than others, not altogether strangers unto them, could by the sight.

The general names for Money among the Romans are three, Moneta, Numus, Pecunia.

First, Moneta (whence the French Monnoye ) à Monendo, because it showeth us the Author, the Value and the time.

Numisma, quasi Nomisma à nominibus scilicet & effigiebus principum quae ei imprimebantur, Isidorus dici putat. Waserus De Antiquis Numis Hebraeorum, Chaldaeorum & Syrorum c. 11.

Secondly, Numus, or Nummus rather, saith Vossius, a Numa, saith Angelo Cretor, it hath rather a Greek Original, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from the Law, because it is a Legitimate and public price. Nomisma and Numus (saith Martinius ) seem to be of the same Original.

Thirdly, Pecunia, either from the Images of Cattle stamped upon it, or from their skin out of which money was Coyned.

Gen. 33.19. For an hundred pieces of money, the Greek and Chaldee translate it, a hundred Lambs. Others think they were pieces of money, on which the images of Lambs were stamped. So in Jos. 24.32. Job 42.11. Ainsworth, Vide Meneru in loc. & Brerewood De Ponderibus, &c.

The Money currant in Attica was commonly stamped with an Ox, whence came the By-word. Bos in Lingua, applied to such Lawyers as were bribed to say nothing in their Clients cause, not much unlike to which was the Proverb rising from the Coyn of Aegina, (an Isle adjoining) stamped with the figure of a Snail, viz. Virtutem & sapientiam vincant. Testudines.

The Names of the Brass Money among the Romans were,

• As
• Quadrans
• Sextans
• Triens

Of the Silver.

• Denarius
• Quinarius
• Sestertius.

Of the Gold.

Aureus sive Solidus, it was valued with the Romans at 25 Denaries.

As or assis, is a little piece of money, whose baseness grew into a Proverb. Omnes unius aestimemus assis,

Aes is also used for Money, because the first Money amongst the Romans was made of Brass, whence aerarium also for a Treasury. Tam aeris quam argenti nominibus in sermon latino pecunia indicatur. Camerarius.

Servius Tullius First Coyned Money at Rome, as Pliny witnesseth, l. 33. c. 3. This was of Brass. They used this till the 5th year before the first Punic war. Then Silver Money was first Coyned, which is called Denarius, quia valeret decem libras aeris. The Golden Money was Coyn'd at Rome, forty two years after the Silver Money was used, as Pliny shows in the place before-named, 62. saith Lipsius. The price and esteem of Gold was different among the Grecians and Romans, among the Grecians Golden Money was changed for ten of Silver, among the Romans for twelve and a half; often it was much more esteemed. Vossius De Philiologia Christianiae. l. 6. c, 35. Meursius hath put out Denarius Pythagoricus opusculum pereruditum, ac mihi eo gratius quod inscripserit nomini nostro Vossius, ibid. l. 8. c. 3.

Amongst the ancient Hebrews Chaldeans and Syrians, the most usual money was the Siclus or Shekel, among the Latins the chief and usual kinds of Silver money were Denarius and Sestertius, among the Grecians, Drachma, Mina, Talentum.

A Shekel (coming from Shakal, he weighed, from whence our English Skole and Skale to weigh with, is derived) is by interpretation a weight, as being the most common in payments, in which they used to weigh their money, Gen. 23.16. Jer. 32.9. The Chaldee calleth a Shekel Silgna, and Selang (from whence our English shilling seemeth to be borrowed) and the quantity of the common shekel differd not much from our shilling, as the shekel of the Sanctuary was about two shillings., Answ. on Gen. 20.16. See him on Exod. 33.13.

A shekel is about the weight of an English half Crown, Valet pro inde Shekel de nostro. 2 s. 6 d. Brerewood de Ponderibus & Pretiis veterum nummorum. c. 1.

Exod. 30.13. The Gerah is held to have been about a penny half penny, and by that estimate, the shekel was two shillings six pence, and half the shekel fifteen pence.

It is the ancientest of all the monies the Scripture mentions, the weight of it is almost four Spanish Reals, or four Roman Julii,

A Roman Julio or; a Spanish Royal, is about 7 pence English, a piece of eight called so, because equal to eight Royals is about 4 s. 6 d. English, so that Ainsworth seems to be mistaken.

Graeci pecuniarum summas num erabant drachmis, ut Judea siclis, & Romani sestertiis, Brerewood De Ponderibus & Pretiis veterum nummorum.

Mr. Greaves in his Denarius, would have the thirty pieces of Silver, which were given to Judas, as the reward of his treason, to be thirty shekels, that being less then fifteen of our ordinary Crowns.

We find in Exodus (saith he) the price of a servant to have been thirty shekels. Gassendi De vita Peireskii, saith as much, and so doth Dr. Hamon on Matth. 26.15. Mr. Greaves, there also saith, the distinction of a double shekel, the one sacred equal to the tetradrachme, the other profane weighing the didrachme: that used in the Sanctuary, this in Civil Commerce, is without any solid foundation in the writ, and without any probability of reason, that in any wise State, the Prince and people should have one sort of Coyn, and the Priests should have another, and that this of the Sanctuary should be in a double proportion to the other, and yet that both should concur in the same name, Rivet. on Exod. 30.13. goes the same way and gives four reasons to prove that the shekel was but one.

Matth. 22.20. The tribute Money or Denarius, that was to be paid to Caesar by way of tribute, had on it, saith Occo, the picture or image of Caesar, and in it these Letters written, Caesar Augustus, such a year after the taking of Judea, Dr. Hammond in loc.

Denarius may be considered in a double respect, either as nummus, or as pondus: In the first acception, the valuation of it in civil affairs is remarkable, in the later, the gravity and ponderousness: The Denarius was a Silver Coyn in use amongst the Romans, passing at the first institution for Dena aera or ten Asses. whence the name: The Dutch esteem it at six Stivers, or a shilling.

The Assis was a brass Coyn weighing a pound. The denarius had an impress upon it of the figure X. denoting the decussis, or number of the Asses.

Denarius as Pondus was either Consularis, made under the government of the City by the Consuls, or Caesareus, under the Caesar's, sometimes there is the Effigies of the Consuls, and sometimes of the Emperor on it. Denarius is of as great moment for the Discovery of weights, as the Roman foot for the Measures.

It weigheth of our Money seven pence, or seven pence half penny, and was the pay of the Roman Soldiers, and the wages of a Day-laborer, Matth. 20.9.

The Athenian Drachma (the pay of their Soldiers) by account both of Merchants and Physicians weighed alike, and was of one value

Sestertius signifies two and a half, as the vulgar note also importeth H s. or joined H. s. that is, duo & semis, two and a half, 'tis meant always of so many asses, four Sestertii are equivalent to a denarius. Sir Henry Savil on Tacitus, and Mr. Greaves of the Denarius.

Every Sestertium was valued at seven pound sixteen shillings three pence.

As the Sestertius according to Arruntius, was olim dupondius & semis, anciently two pounds of brass and an half; so the Sestertius pes, was two foot and an half. Mr. Greaves his Discourse of the Roman Foot.

As the Unity in respect of Numbers, or the Sestertius in Discourses de re nummaria: So is the Denarius for weights, a fit rise or beginning, from whence the rest may be deduced. Mr. Greaves of the Denarius.

The Drachma as Nummus, was a silver Coyn in use amongst the Athenians, and so it was the measure of things vendible, as all Coins are, and as pondus, it was the measure of their gravity and weight. Mr. Greaves of the Denarius.

Dilher in the first Tome of his Academical Disputations, reckons up eight kinds of Drachmae; See Beza Schmidius, and Dr. Hammond on Matth. 17.27.

Gellius, Noct. Attic. lib. 1. chap. 8. saith that Demosthenes went privately unto Lais, and desired to lie with her; but she demanding 10000 drachmae of him for one nights lodging with her; he refused, saying, He would not buy Repentance at so dear a rate; This was Lais, the Daughter; for there were two of that name, the mother and daughter: both beautiful and infamous strumpets, as Palmerius ad Pausaniae Corinthiaca showeth.

The Attick 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or Mina, Contained a hundred Drachmes in weight, as it is clear out of Pliny, Pollux, and others; some derive it from the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , to number, the word is used Ezek. 45.12. and rendered Maneh.

Snellius De Re Nummaria saith, it is manifest by the testimonies of Comedians, that there was a double Talent in use among the Athenians, a greater and a lesser.

A Talent is the greatest weight which was in use, every Talent was a twelve pounds weight; it weighed three thousand Shekels, and every Shekel three hundred and twenty grains of Barley. An Hebrew Talent in Silver, is of our money three hundred seventy and five pounds. In Gold, four thousand five hundred pounds.

1 Chron. 22.14. Now behold in my poverty I have prepared for the house of the Lord an hundred thousand Talents of Gold, and a thousand thousand Talents of Silver. Some compute it to be above thirty three thousand Cart-loads of silver, allowing six thousand pound sterling to every Cart-load, and seventy millions of French Crowns of Gold. See Sir Walter Rawleigh his History of the World, part 2. ch. 17. §. 9.

1 Kings 9.14. The Jews had two Talents, the one sacred, the other common. The sacred was in weight and worth, as much more as the common. The sacred in Gold was reputed to be three thousand seven hundred and fifty pound in value; the common, one thousand eight hundred seventy and five pounds sterling. Dr. Gouge in loc.

Edward Brerewood heretofore Professor of Astronomy in Gresham-College in London, hath published a learned Book, De Ponderibus & Pretiis Veterum Nummorum, eorumque cum recentioribus Collatione, which is in the Apparatus of the Polyglot Bible.

Waserus hath written so fully and exactly of the ancien Coins of the Hebrews, Chaldees, and Syrians, that there needs not to be said more of that Argument.

Budaeus in his Books de Ass, or the Breviary Collected out of him, with the Annotations of Philip Melanchthon, and Joachim Camerarius, are the best for the Greek and Latin Coins.

Antonius Augustinus a man very accurate in Coins, as appears by his Dialogues. Mr. Greaves of the Denarius.

Marquardus Freherus, hath put forth a learned Discourse of paying tribute, where he speaks somewhat of Roman Coins. Mr. Selden De Jure Naturali ac Gentium. l. 2. c. 8. calls it Eruditissima ac gravissima De Numismate census à Pharisaeis inquestionem vocato Dissertatio.

Mr. Greaves hath written learnedly of this subject in his discourse of the Denarius.

The Roman Emperors Gold, Silver, and Copper Coyn, (with their Images and Inscriptions) are in the custody of that learned Knight, and my worthy Friend, Sir John Cotten, as I have heard.

It's pity that Sir Simonds D' Eus my great friend, had not published something this way, he having spent so much time in this study, and having purchased so many several Coins of all sorts.

There are some other Gentlemen that have a good Collection of Coins; There are Coins with Lazius, l. 3. Commen. Reipub. Romanae, c. 12. whose inscription is Salas Publica Demps. in Rosin. Antiquit. Rom. lib. 1.

There are two requisites (saith Dempster ) that Money pass, proba materia, & vultus Imperatoris ei impressus.

False money (saith He in Rosin Antiq. Rom. l. 7. c. 31.) was forbidden by the Roman Laws, and the Crime is called peculatus. Charles the Great had a shop in his Palace for the Coyning of Money, that it might be more diligently coined.

Camden in his Britain saith, Nicolaus Fabricius de Peiresc. of France, was very skillful in antiquities, and old medals or pieces of money.

He saith there also that many pieces of Roman money are every where found among us in the ruins of Cities and Towns subverted, in Treasure-Coffers, or vaults hidden in that age, as also in Funeral-pots and Pitchers.

About thirty five years since, not far from Dunstable many pieces of silver were taken up, which the plow had thrown upon the edge of the Furrough: Being examined, they were found to be silver with the impression of Caesar on them. Mr. Selden much valued them for their Antiquity, some of them having been stamped (as he said) above nine hundred, and some a thousand years. Mr. Peachams Worth of a Penny.

I have been informed, that some Medals have been digged up at Shawell in Leicester-shire, the Town where I was born and also at Braunston.

It is a great question, saith Georgius Agricola, whether pure or mixed money be more profitable for Countries and States.

Peacham in his Complete Gentleman, c. 19. of Travels, saith, the Spanish Coins are the best of Europe.

Howell in his Dodonars Grove, or Vocal Forest, part 2. Walk 4. p. 44. saith, Druina (by which I suppose he means England ) is renowned abroad to have her Kings Face and Arms drawn in the purest sort of Minerals, and the generally best currant Coins in the world.

Queen Elizabeth caused all such base monies as were Coyned by any of her Predecessors, to be reduced to a lesser value, and to be brought into her Majesty's Mint, for which she gave them money of the purest silver, such as passed commonly by the name of Easterling or Sterling money, since which time, no base money hath been Coyned in England, but only of pure Gold and Silver, to pass for current in the same; save that of late times, in relation to the Necessity of poor people, a permission hath been given to the Coyning of Farthings, which no man can be forced to accept in satisfaction of a Rent or Debt.

In all other States of the Christian World, there are several sorts of Copper money, as current with them for public uses, as the purest metal,

Queen Elizabeth supplied the King of Navarre in his straits, with twenty two thousand pounds of English money in Gold, (a sum of Gold Coyn so great, as he professed he had never seen together before) and sent him Arms and four thousand men, under the Command of Peregrine Lord Willoughbey.

Camdens Annals of Queen Elizabeth. 4th Book, Anno 1589. the 32d of her Reign.

Sterlings are used in England, Scotland and Ireland.

That name of Sterling began in time of Hen. II. and had its original of name from some Esterling, making that kind of money, which hath its Essence in particular weight and fineness; not of the Starling Bird, as some, nor of Sterling in Scotland under Edw. 1. as others absurdly; for in Records much more ancient I have read the express name Sterlingorum. Mr. Selden on the 17th song, of Draytons Poly-olbion.

Sterling is a proper Epithet for money currant within the Realm. A certain pure Coyn stamped first of all by the Esterlings here in England.

Cowells Interpreter.

Esterling money, now called Sterling, not from Striveling in Scotland, nor from a Star, which some dreamed to be Coyned thereon. Camdens Remains.

That denomination came from the Germans, of their Easterly dwelling, termed by English men Esterlings, whom John, King of England first sent to reduce the silver to the due fineness and purity. Camdens Britain. in Scotland.

There is one Thomas Hylles that put out the Art of Vulgar arithmetick 1600. who hath p. 262. A Table of the names and values of the most usual Gold Coins in Christendom, and begins with our own Country Gold. He mentions the Rose Noble, or Royal, Half Rose Noble, Old Noble, Half Old Noble, George Noble, Half George Noble, Angel, Half Angel, Old Crown. K. H. Base Crown K. H. Half Crown. Sovereign of K. H. other Sou. of all sorts, Double Sovereign, Great Sovereign, Half Sovereign. Unicorn of Scotland. Scottish Crown.

There is for Gold.

For Silver.

Here in England that which was sold about an hundred years agone for ten Groats, which then weighed and ounce, now since the discovery of the Indies, can hardly be bought for ten shillings of our current Money, or two ounces of the same goodness and weight.

Sir Henry Savill on a Place in Polybius.

In the Low-Countries and Germany, the usual Coins in Gold are Duckats, and double Duckats, the Duckats are called Hungars at Venice, and are worth nine shillings English.

In the Low-Countries the usual silver pieces are Ducatoons equal to ten Dutch shillings, or sixty stivers; Paracoons equal forty eight stivers, or eight Dutch shillings; Shillings equal to six stivers. But the States money is a little under this value, stiver, in brass, the fourth part of stivers pieces.

In Germany the most Common pieces in silver are Dollars, Copsticks, and half Copsticks, equal just to our shillings and six-pences, and there is abundance of our shillings and sixpences which pass under that name.

This word Copstick comes from Caput, as the Italian Teston from Testa. Kreutzers, so called from the Mark of the Cross. Weiss-penny equal to two Kreutzers. Grass equal to three Kreutzers; ten Weiss-pennies are equal to five Copsticks, Guilders equal to three Copsticks, and half Guilders, a Weiss-penny a White Penny in Dutch, these lesser pieces are of a mixed metal.

The German Dollars furnished all the Mints of Europe, before the Mines of Mexico and Potosi were discovered in America.

There were the Latin, Attick, and Greek pounds.

Libra. Numaria or pound, took its name from the weight, because it weighed in times past a Trojane pound, that is, twelve Ounces. Thence the Saxon punde, and the English pound.

The pound sterling in Britain (saith Angelo Crator De Monetis c. 1.) is esteemed ten Brabantine Florenes, or four Spanish Dollars.

In Spain for Gold Pistolls, and half Pistolls, and double Pistolls. In Silver, the common pieces there, are a piece of eight, a half piece of eight, a quarter piece of eight, a half quarter piece of eight, and a piece that is but a sixteenth part of a piece of the Royal eight.

In France for Gold, the common pieces are the Lewis, equal (not many years since) to eleven Livers, the half Lewis half so much. The Escud' or now about six Livers,. For Silver the Escue equal to three Livers, the thirty, fifteen, and five Sous pieces. The Quart D'Escu (because the fourth part of the Escud' or) equal to one Liver. Mixt metal, the Souse and the Souse Marque. For Brass the Denier and the Lyard eequal to two Deniers, at first stamped for three Deniers.

Johnson adviseth Travelers if they carry over money with them, that it be in double Pistolets or French Crowns of weight, by these (saith he) He is sure to sustain loss in no place, and in Italy to gain above twelve pence in the pound.

Bizantines or Bezants, as coined at Constantinople, sometimes called Bizantium, and not at Besanson in Burgundy, plates of Gold are called Bezantes; and in the Court of England where a great piece of Gold valued at fifteen pound, which the King offereth upon high Festival days is yet called a Bizantine, which anciently was a piece of Gold Coyned by the Emperors of Constantinople, Camdens Remains of money; in his Britannia in Middlesex, He speaks of Bizantines of Silver vallued at two shillings anciently.

Lar is a Coyn much used in the East, both in Persia and the East-Indies. There is one of them to be seen within the Gallery above the public Library in Oxford

The Asper in Turkey is worth a Penny, and often mentioned, one of which I have seen.

In Italy at Venice, for Gold there is the Chequeen equal to seventeen Livers, the Ducat for silver, a Scudo which by a Bando, anno 1663 was rated at nine Livers six Sous, one half, one quarter, and the eighth part of a Scudo, a Ducaton.

For brass Soldo, and half Soldo, and Soldino, also a Denier. Genoa, for Gold, double Pistolls, Pistolls. The Pistol is called Doppio or Dobla, the double Pistol Doblone.

The silver pieces there are a Croison or Scudo.

For Brass D' otto pieces equal to eight Deniers, de Quatro equal to four Deniers and the Deniers.

At Florence for silver, the Scudo equal to ten Julios, the Teston equal to three Julios (so called from having a Head upon it which is in Italian Testa ) Julios, half Julios, and Quarto Julio pieces, the Grats equal to five Quatrins.

In Brass the Quatrin equal to the third part of a Soldo.

In the Popes Territories, in silver a Scudo equal to ten Julios, a Teston, Julio, half a Julio and a quarter of a Julio,

At Banonia Bajocks, and two Bajocks pieces of a mixed metal.

Naples, in silver, Carolines equal to • ulios, but not altogether so good, two Caroline pieces.

In Brass Granos, Publicas equal to one and a half of a Grano.

There are pieces of Gold called Florentini, or Floreni Florins, because first coined in the City of Florence, and having the shape of the flower of the Lily in one side, and of John the Baptist in the other, it is called in Italian, Florino. Vossius de Vitiis Sermons, l 3. c. 12. saith, that the French had also in times past its Florene, thence called Franc saith he, A Franc is one shilling six pence in England, so is a Livre saith he, and the English also of the best Gold, thence called Noble.

There were also the Rhenish Florins first coined by the four Electors at Rhene, that of Mainz, Trevers, Colen, and the Palatine, after used by others, something inferior to those first.

The pieces of Gold called Ducats were first coined by the Venetians and those of Genoa.

There are (saith Georgius Agricola ) the Hungarian, Venetian, Spanish and Turkish Ducats.

Artiabalipa King of Peru paid for his ransom ten millions three hundred twenty six thousand Ducats in Gold. Du miroir des Francois Liure premier.

The Turkish Sultanie is of the same Standard, firmness, and value, with the Hungarian Duckat.

The Venetian Chequeen, in England 9 s. 6 d. the Barbary Duckat, the Egyptian and Turkish Erif, are almost all of the same pureness in respect of the Gold, and not differing above a grain in the weight.

The old Denarius, Drachma Dutch shilling, Spanish Real Roman Julios or Paulos, are near of an equal value; The French Escu or silver Crown, the Spanish Piice of eight, the German Dollar, the Low-Dutch Patacon are of an equal value.

Mr. Broughton saith, he asked a simple Mariner which had been in the West-Indies, what they called Gold there, he said Cethem, just the Scripture term.

Broughtons Epistle to the Require or Consent to the grounds of Divinity studies.

Their currant money in the West-Indies is of the fruits of certain trees like our Almonds, which they call Cachoas. Pet. Mart. first Decade, ch. 4.

The Coins of the West-Indies are Wampon Peague, (the sixth part of a penny with us) which goes by number, and Ronokco which goes by weight.

In the East-Indies the Rupihes of Ropees of divers values and Mah Mudies.

They have in the West-Indies also a Golden Coyn which they call a Castellan, it exceedeth the Ducaet, it is commonly a third part called Pesus

The Coyn or Bullion brought to the East-Indies from any place, is presently melted and refined, and the Moguls stamp (which is his Name and Titles in Persian Characters) put upon it. The Coyn there is more pure than in any other part of the world, being made of pure silver, without any Allay.

Sir Thomas Roes Voyage into the East-Indies.

Madines are the small silver Money currant in Egypt.

Mr. Greaves in his Denarius, saith at his being in Egypt, five Madines passed for a Dollar: Sands in his Travels saith forty.

Most Countries (saith Mr. Greaves ) use the same weights for Silks, Gold and Silver.

The Persians loved shooting so well, that they set an Archer on the reverse of their Coyn of Gold, which was of great value. The King of Persia being offended at Agesilaus, gave the Athenians ten thousand pieces of this great Coyn of Gold of theirs, and so corrupted them; which thing when Agesilaus understood, he said merrily, but yet truly, That he was driven away with ten thousand Bowmen, (meaning the • r Coyn of Gold with an Archer on it) and how should he a poor man be able to withstand so many Archers. See Plutarch in Agesilaus.

The Muscovites have but one kind of money which they call Copeca, fifty of which make a Crown, 'tis of Silver of an Oval figure, and so small, that the value of two Crowns will searce bear the bulk of four pence in French Deniers; that which they call Muscofske is the fourth part of a Copeca, Poluske is the half, an Alim is three pence, a Grifna is ten, a Rouble a hundred, but these are not to be had of one piece.

Relation of three Embassies by the Earl of Carlisle, p. 68.

Many Coins resemble the Dragon with the title of Health. This most vigilant Creature is a Type of Aesculapius. Vigilance is necessary for a Physician.

It were worthy the inquiry of some studious persons, how the custom came up of dividing money into pounds, shillings and pence, which is used in most places of Europe. A Liver or pound, say some, is everywhere equal to twenty solidi, soldi sous or shillings, a shilling is equal to twelve of the modern Denarii or pence, but the value of the Livers is very different in France. a Liver is about 1 s. 6 d. English, in Flanders a Liver is equal to 11 s. 3 d. English; in Venice a Liver is about seven pence half penny, at Genoa a Liver is about one shilling English, at Turin a Liver is about one shilling three pence, at Ligorn a Liver is 9 d. at Milan a Liver is 10 d. in the Popes Country a Liver is 13 d. at Naples 12 d. in the Popes Territories in Catalonia a Liver is about 3 s. 6 d. in Valentia a Liver is about 5 s. in Castile and Granada not long since, a Liver was 2 s. 6 d. in Scotland a pound is equal to 1 s. 8 d.