Son of the Sun_, as in _China_: Though the _Mexicans_ otherwise worship
the Sun, and in their manner of adulation, styl’d _Hernando Cortez_,
their Conqueror, _Son of the Sun_: As to what concerns the manner of
writing, it is very well known, that the _Chineses_ words are all
Monosyllables, so that they have as many Letters as Words, which they
joyn so together, that they reckon eighty thousand, but with ten
thousand they are able to express themselves in most matters. These
Characters are contain’d in their _Halpien_ or Dictionary. The antient
_Chineses_ us’d seventeen several sorts of Characters in their writing,
some consisting of Serpents, that by several Wreathes and contortious
Windings, signify’d several things; others, of all sorts of agrestick
Tools belonging to Husbandry; some Characters of the Feathers of the
Bird _Fum-hoar_; others of Oysters and Worms, or of Roots, of Herbs, or
Birds Claws, or of Turtles, or of Herbs and Birds Feathers mingled, or
of Planets, and such like; but what manner of Writing or Hieroglyphick
of theirs resembles those, who by their own testimony know neither Pen,
Paper, Ink, nor any manner of Writing, but reckon the antiquity of time
by strung Beads, which was observ’d many ages since among several
Nations.”
[Sidenote: Original of the _Americans_ very obscure.]
[Sidenote: What we may believe concerning them.]
[Sidenote: The _Americans_ are derived from several people.]
Hitherto we have discover’d the several Opinions concerning the Original
of the _Americans_, or first Plantation of _America_, from all which,
having receiv’d no clear or demonstrative satisfaction, we must open our
way to a further scrutiny: But first, we must needs confess, that
contradiction is not difficult; but it is something of Work, when we
have beaten down a well-fortifi’d Opinion, to set up somewhat in stead
thereof, to stand a permanent and undeniable truth, which will be the
harder, in regard the Inhabitants of this new World have no old
Chronologies concerning their Antiquities, and first settling there; yet
if we cannot go so far absolutely to assert, yet some probabilities,
grounded (as we suppose) upon better reasons, may give more
satisfaction; for none will deny, but that the Generations of Mankind
being strangely multiply’d after the Flood, they then living five times
our Ages, and Wars not beginning till the known part of the Earth was
over-stock’d, justling for Territories, and some thrust quite out, at
last found _America_; which spreading it self to a vast extent, and now
found almost every where well inhabited, may be guess’d, that it was not
onely Planted from the first, but several times replenish’d since by
various Nations; Why may not several Planters, and at several times make
room for their Colonies, incroaching one upon another, either by force
or compact; as the _French_ themselves upon the _Gauls_, the _Normans_
upon them, the _Goths_ among the _Spaniards_, and the _Saxons_ among the
_Brittains_, and the _Normans_ again upon them?
Several people may easily Sail over thither, the _Azores_ or the
_Canary_ Isles lye so, that they are ready (as if design’d) for
Transportation to _America_; from whence _Acosta_ made a Voyage in
fifteen days. Also _Pliny_ gives us an account, that these Islands lay
uninhabited in his time; yet is it well known, that after _Pliny_’s
time, Ruins of Buildings were found there, signifying, they had been
formerly Planted; and why might not those ancient Inhabitants Sail
thence to the neighboring _America_?
[Sidenote: _Marian. de Reb. Hisp._ l. 1. c. 18.]
_Tercera_ lying half way between _Spain_ and _America_, was frequented
by Navigators before the Birth of our Savior; and it seems as easie to
Sail from thence to _America_, as from the Main Land of _Spain_ thither:
Add this, that necessity forc’d the _Spaniards_ to look about them from
other Countreys, for since they lost their Victorious Champion _Baucius
Gapetus_, they were every where beaten, being tired out by the
_Phenician_ Forces, and that oppression over, suffer’d as much under the
_Roman_ Yoke: Wherefore it seems not strange, if a considerable number
remov’d from thence, that they might live some where else in quiet; for
which purpose they wanted no conveniencies to Rig and set forth stout
and sufficient Vessels, able to live in those Seas, having had long
experience from the _Phenician_ Voyagers, whose Fleets Sail’d daily to
and again in several Expeditions, from _Cadiz_ and _Gibraltar_ towards
these Western Countreys: Nay, _Hanno_ himself their first Navigator that
way, who gives an account of the _Gorgons_, or the Isles of _Cape Verd_,
a good part of the way to _America_.
[Sidenote: _English_ famous Sea-men.]
[Sidenote: _Barat-anac_, or, _Tinland_, the _Phenician_ name, and
_Brittania_ the _Greek_ name of _Brittain_.]
And though _Brittain_, _Ireland_, and the _Brittish Orcades_ lay further
from _America_, yet something may be said particularly to prove, That
many Ages since, Expeditions had been made from thence to the New World;
and that the Inhabitants of these our Isles, in former Ages, were
peculiarly famous for their skill in Navigation; insomuch, that the
_Cretans_ and _Phenicians_ emulous of their skill, and jealous of their
danger, made several Attacques and Invasions upon these Isles, which is
the more probable, many remarks of the _Phenician_ and _Greek_ Language,
remaining in the denominations of the Countrey: Of which, take first
this account:
[Sidenote: Old Voyage of _Madok_ to _America_; for which see _Vet. Hist.
Brit._]
_Anno 1170._ When _Owen Guyneth_, Prince of _Wales_, having Raign’d long
and happily in his setled Dominions, dying, left several Sons, who
quarrelling, their elder Brother, as not contented with their shares of
the Principality, nor to be under him, having gotten no mean Interests
and Claims to the whole by their struglings, so weakned one another,
that they open’d a way to the loosing of all.
[Sidenote: _David Powel in Historia Cambriæ._]
Amongst these Brothers, _Madok_, a Prince of a milder disposition, weary
of such unnatural Dissentions, threw up his share, better contented to
seek new Fortunes abroad; whereupon there were many soon perswaded to
venture their lives with him, where ever he would please to Transport:
So Rigging a small Fleet, he Sail’d Westward, far beyond _Ireland_,
where at last he discover’d an unknown and un-inhabited Countrey, but
wondrous pleasant, the Air being temperate, and the Soyl most fertile:
Glad of this good success (as the Story says) he returning, spreading
the Fame of this his New-Found-Land, which they might exchange for a
barren Soyl, hatter’d and harass’d with an endless Civil-War.
No small number flock’d to these Summons, as a most acceptable
Undertaking; so that soon after he was able to send forth ten good
Ships, Freighted only with Men, Women, and Children, and all other
Materials fit for a new Plantation; which not long after Landed in
_Acuzamil_, a Countrey in the North of _America_, as _Francis Lopez de
Gomara_ believes, because there he onely found some remaining Tracks of
Christianity, a People that worshipp’d the Cross, but knew no reason why
or wherefore they ador’d that sign of our Redemption. Now, some will
say, that this Worship of the Cross is no argument to prove, that the
_Brittish_ Christians first Planted in the North of _America_; but what
will not time and change of place do, where Transplanted People keep no
Records, so they forget not onely Religion, Laws, and Customs, but who
they were, and from whence they came, Oblivion first mutilating, and at
last swallowing up all; of which, take this one late president.
[Sidenote: Strange occasion of _De la Roche_.]
_Anno 1598._ The Duke _De La Roche_ obtain’d leave of the _French_ King,
to transport a Colony of Volunteers to _New France_; in his way he
Landed fifty Men on the Island _De Sable_, to rest his Passengers, and
that he might the better, and with more ease explore the Countrey, and
when resolv’d where to settle, then to fetch them off; who accordingly,
as design’d, soon after, returning thither, was met with so violent a
Storm, that not being able to Weather the Isle of _Sable_, where he left
his People, he lost his whole Expedition, and was driven back to a
_French_ Harbor, where no sooner arriv’d, he was so highly charg’d, that
he was cast into Prison, when those he had left neglected upon the Isle,
were not once so much as thought of; in this interim, they never
expecting to hear more of their Captain, liv’d in a wild and miserable
condition, feeding upon Fish, and sometimes wild Swine, without Bread,
Drink, or Salt.
When the Baron of _Leri_ went with Letters Patents, to be Governor of
_Nova Francia_, and by stress of Weather in his Voyage, was forc’d to
put in at _Sable_, where he found the remainder of _La Roches_ People,
who being from fifty reduced to twelve, having clad themselves in
Sea-Wolves Skins, they had not onely lost their former _French_
Civilities, but forgot in a manner their Religion, much of their
Language, and what they were, being as if Metamorphos’d into bestial
Salvages.
[Sidenote: If some did not come accidentally to _America_.]
And although we have already controverted the improbability of Peopling
_America_, either by accident of Storm, or set purpose; yet it may be
possible that so it might happen, for as the several vertues of Plants,
Herbs, Precious-Stones, and Minerals, though strangely occult, and so
altogether unknown, that what could never be found by Art, meer chance
hath brought to light, and their wondrous qualities, some casual
accident hath made apparent; so strange and remote Countreys never to be
found in our Charts, or Maps, nor Registred in any Story, Seamen bound
to their intended Harbors, have stumbled on by chance, either
Hood-wink’d by blind Mists, or forc’d upon by pertinatious Weather; of
which _America_ may be her own witness, for how was _Columbus_ stirr’d
up, but by incitations of the Journals of a Sea-Captain, dying in his
House, driven on the _American_ Islands by foul Weather.
[Sidenote: _America_ was Peopled presently after the Flood.]
[Sidenote: Giants in _America_.]
[Sidenote: _Conjurati fratres_, _Virg. Georg._]
[Sidenote: The Flood acknowledg’d there.]
Although from the foremention’d places, and after the same manner,
_America_ might be furnish’d with Inhabitants; so it also gives us a
more certain assurance, that the Planting of _America_ was not onely
soon after the Flood, but that they came also thither by Land: And how
strangely would it be against the Majesty and Wisdom of Divine
Providence, to leave half the Universal Globe, a World fully supply’d
with all sorts of Creatures, fit for Food and Service, Plants, Herbs,
and the richest Minerals, like a House new built, and well furnish’d,
without a Master or any Inhabitant, _viz._ Man, who being of Celestial
Extract, should be able to acknowledge and glorifie the Creator, by
admiring the Creature in his great Works: Besides, the confus’d Notions
and Fables of Giants, Perpetrators of all manner of Crimes, and
wallowing in all kind of sensual Debaucheries, are always remembred
among the Antiquities of the _Americans_, and that they had some slender
hints of antient Truth, not onely of the Giants before the Flood, but of
those that soon after the rank fatness of the Earth, produc’d and fed to
that pitch of Arrogance, that the covenanting Brethren defi’d God,
fortifying themselves to fight him by the advantage of that their long
congested Pile, _Babel_, which in a short time was transverted by the
_Heathen_ Poets into their _Gigantomachia_, heaping Hills on Hills, like
the _American_ Traditions: From which we may conjecture, that they came
thither in the time of _Noah_; for why may not any believe, when _Noah_
liv’d three hundred years after he Landed on Mount _Ararat_, that he
took care to People the World? And who will make him ignorant of this
New World, who living five hundred years before, might not improbably by
his own industry and the help of the former long-liv’d _Patriarchs_,
been well able to make a general Survey of the Old; and he could better
furnish _America_, it being nearer Mount _Ararat_, than supply _Italy_,
_Spain_, _Germany_, or any Northern Territories in _Europe_, so that
_America_ might be known to the first people after the Flood, nay,
inhabited by them, though since that, the knowledge was lost.
_Pliny_ complaining of the Supine negligence, and stupendious sloth
which reign’d then and long before as he had observ’d, among all people,
and in every place, who were so far from making inquiry after
discoveries of Lands for new Plantations, that they lost the old, when
they had begun to settle, though under the greatest serenity of Peace;
The Sea by that means lying open beyond what any juncture of former
times could be proud of.
[Sidenote: _Canary Islands_, by whom discover’d.]
[Sidenote: _Hesperian_ Gardens, what they signifie.]
Yet the _Fortunate_, or _Canary_ Islands were in the first ages after
_Noah_, frequented with Vessels, which in later times were altogether
neglected, till _Guillaum Betancourt_, a Gentleman of _Picardye_,
brought them again to be taken notice of by a fresh Trade. The Fable of
the _Hesperian_ Gardens, and the Dragon that kept the Golden Fruit, with
constant Vigils, is nothing but an allusion to the Sea, which with
Serpentine Embraces, not onely secur’d these scatter’d Isles, but
swallow’d up several Adventurers that too hardy made their unhappy
approaches for discovery.
Another Allegation for the Planting of _America_ by Land, both whose
sides are wash’d on the East and West, by the South and Atlantick Ocean,
may be thus probably made out: The Atlantick rowls over with almost
Fathomless Waters, three thousand Leagues of Ground; the South-Sea not
much less, which well may be, being indeed but one continu’d Sea,
encompassing, till meeting there, the Universal Ball; whence springs a
more likelyhood, that _America_ might be Planted from the Southern
parts, from the _Straights_ of _Magellan_, and _Le-Mayr_.
[Sidenote: _Relatio de Terra Australe._]
[Sidenote: The Description of the unknown South.]
_Peter Fernandes de Quir_ relates, That he and a Commander, _Lodowick
Paes le Torres_ saw a part of the South Countrey, and in it innumerable
Inhabitants, _Whites_, _Blacks_, _Sallows_, with long, black, curl’d,
Woolly, and yellow Hair. They know no Walls or Fortresses for Defence,
Laws or Kings, but are divided into Tribes: They use indeed Bows,
Arrows, Clubs, and a kind of Spears: Their Houses are cover’d with
Palm-Tree-Leaves; their Housholdstuff consists onely of a few Earthen
Pots, and such Trinkets; yet they have some little skill in Weaving, and
though they go naked, pride themselves in Neck-Laces and Bracelets, made
of Mother of Pearl: But these for their Complexions and Constitution of
Body, Customs, and manners, are rather deriv’d from the _Americans_,
than they from them, and therefore we must seek for their Original from
the North; from which are but two ways, one from _Ysland_ and
_Groenland_, which _Grotius_ endeavors to prove, but contradicted; the
other out of _Tartary_, which certainly was the first Nursery, from
whence the _Americans_ were Transplanted.
[Sidenote: Description of _Tartary_.]
_Tartary_ or _Tattary_, so call’d from the River _Tatter_, which runs
thorow the Countrey _Mongul_ into the Northern Ocean, covers a great
part of the Terrestrial Globe; the lesser _Tartary_ makes out a
considerable part of _Europe_; the greater is _Asia_.
This great _Tartary_, which is a thousand Leagues long, and six hundred
broad, reckons five chief Provinces, _viz._ the wild _Tartary_,
inhabited by Herdsmen; _Sagatai_, of which the Metropolis is
_Samarcand_, famous for the mighty _Tamerlane_; next _Turkestan_; then
_Kitai_, which the great _Cham_ Commands; and lastly, _Old Tartary_,
according to _Andreas Cæsariensis_, the habitation of _Gog_ and _Magog_.
Now we must enquire from what _Tartars_ the _Americans_ are Extracted:
[Sidenote: _Thrian_ l. 67.]
[Sidenote: If the _Israelites_ were _Tartars_.]
_Mornæus_, _Postellus_, _Genebrardus_, _Poterus_, and others are of
opinion, That the _Tartars_, which about the year 1228. under the
Command of _Zingis Cham_ overspread the Earth like a deluge, were the
Successors of the ten Tribes of _Israel_, which were carry’d into
captivity to _Assyria_ by _Salmanazar_. The name _Tartary_, or rather
_Tattaria_, seems to be some testimony thereof, because it signifies in
the _Syrian_ or _Hebrew_ Tongue, _Remnants_ or _Remainders_, as
seemingly, because these _Tartarians_ were remainders of the
foremention’d Tribes; nay, the Northern _Tartary_ Herdsmen preserve to
this day the Names _Dan_, _Zabulon_, and _Naphthali_: Wherefore we need
not to admire, why so many _Jews_ are found in _Russia_, _Sarmatia_, and
_Liefland_; nay, the nearer to _Tartary_, the more _Jews_ there are.
Circumcision hath a long time been observ’d among them, before _Mahomet_
brought in his new Law; it seems, that _Mahomet_ order’d the
Circumcision and other Laws, according to _Moses_, to be observ’d by the
Northern people, because that in his time, they began to Rebel, that so
they might the better be kept in awe by their new Religion.
[Sidenote: _Pand. Hist. Turcica._]
_Joannes Leonclavius_ relates, That in _Liefland_ near _Riga_, he heard
the wilde Natives call’d _Letti_, not without great admiration, go
crying along the High-Ways and Fields, with a doleful voice, _Jeru,
Jeru, Masco lou_: It is believ’d that they mourn for _Jerusalem_ and
_Damascus_; but by their long continuance in the vast Wildernesses, they
have forgot their Religion and Laws, and what else might enable to tell
us who they were. Several learned Authors question this removal of the
_Israelites_ out of _Assyria_ to _Tartary_, though to our Judgement
their Arguments are too weak, to take from them of the footing they have
gotten there; yet nevertheless, the _Israelites_ are not to be taken for
the Planters of _America_, for why else is not _Judaisme_ as well found
in _America_ as in _Tartary_. But it is already shewn, that _America_
was inhabited long before the dispersion of the _Israelites_.
[Sidenote: _Americans_ are not deriv’d from _Africa_ nor _Europe_.]
[Sidenote: But _Asia_, and chiefly out of _Tartary_.]
Now to shut up all, it is evident, that the first Planters of _America_
were not _Europeans_ from the dissimilitude of the People, both in their
Complexions, Language and Persons; nor _Africans_, because that in all
the far-spreading Countrey of _America_, not one _Negro_ is to be found,
except a few near the River _Martha_, in the little Territory
_Quarequa_, which must by Storm be drove thither from the _Guinny_
Coast: So that _Asia_, the Mother of all People, onely remains to be
Implanter of our _America_, whose Western Coast, opposite to _Asia_, is
more inhabited than to the East, where it respects _Europe_.
[Sidenote: _Tartary_ is not parted from _America_ by the _Straights_ of
_Anian_.]
Moreover, _Armenia_, out of which, by _Noah_’s Progeny, the whole Earth
was re-peopled, borders on _Scythia_, now call’d _Tartary_, and
_Tartary_ faces _America_, separated onely by the _Straights_ of
_Anian_; though some are of opinion, that out of the South into the
Frozen Sea, there is no passage thorow these _Straights_, else (as we
have already prov’d the contrary) how came all those Voracious and
Poysonous Beasts into _America_, if it be clearly separated from _Asia_
by Sea?
It deserves here to be related, what happen’d to _Henry Cornelison
Schaep_, and _William Byleveld_, Sailing from _Batavia_ to discover the
_Tartarick_ River _Polysange_, but were taken and carry’d Prisoners to
the _Japan_ Court at _Jedo_; being Commanded there by Order of the
Councel to give an account of a _Japan_ Map or Card, which was laid
before them, and contain’d the Provinces of _Japan_, _Amboina_, the
_Molucca_ Islands, _Manilha_, the _South-Sea_, _Borneo_, _Celebes_,
_Malacca_, _Tartary_, _Formosa_, _Corea_, and the vast and Mountainous
Countrey or Desart of _Jesso_, separated from _Japan_ by the _Straights_
of _Sungar_; though toward the North, it joyns to _Japan_ in the
Province of _Ochio_; and beginning in forty seven degrees, run
North-East towards _America_, but they could not possible find the
_Straights_ of _Anian_; but on the contrary, the Promontory of
_Tartary_, _viz._ the Province _Kataya_ or _Katui_ lay in the same
parallel with the Northern _America_.
[Sidenote: _Ennead_ 9. l. 6. Testimonies that the _Americans_ are
_Tartars_.]
Hereto may be added, that _Asia_ hath no Territory any where, which may
more easily with numerous Colonies supply _America_ than this part of
_Tartary_, as well for the vastness of the Countrey, to which no other
can compare, as for the increasing of the Inhabitants: Who doth not
admire, that according to _Michalon Lithouwer_, there is scarce a City
in _Tartary_ that boasted less than a thousand Temples? and to see
_Canguista_ first King of _Tartary_, about the Year 1200. in Arms; and
his Successor _Hoccata_ following his Fathers bloody Footsteps, whilst
he prepar’d his Sons with three vast Armies? The eldest Son, _Jachis_,
March’d Westward with thirty thousand Horse; _Batho_ drew with as great
an Army towards the North; _Tagladais_ being the youngest fell into the
_Moores_ Countrey above _Egypt_. _Hoccata_ himself March’d victoriously
into the North _America_, subdu’d great part of the _Persian_ Kingdom,
and beat the _Turks_, led by the General _Goniata_ with a great Army,
_Anno 1241._ as _Jacob Planensis_ and _Benedictus Sarmata_, two _Monks_,
sent by Pope _Innocent_ to _Hoccata_, witness: The great number of the
_Tartars_ or _Scythians_, may appear by the several people, spread far
and near over _Tartary_; _Pliny_ reckons some of them, _viz._
_Auchetes_, _Neuri_, _Geloni_, _Thussagetes_, _Budini_, _Basilides_,
_Agathyrsi_, _Nomades_, _Anthropophagi_, _Hyperborei_, _Arimphei_,
_Cimmerij_, _Cicianthi_, _Georgi_, _Sacores_, and others: What number
would the Inhabitants make up that live in _America_, in _Teneneuf_,
_Virginia_, _Florida_, _New Spain_, _Guadalaiara_, _Guatemala_, _Terra
firma_, _New Granada_, _Peru_, _Chili_, _Rio de la Plata_, _Brasil_,
_Guaiana_, _New Andaluzai_?
It will be worth our time, to compare the likeness between the
_Scythians_ and Northern _Americans_; both of them are differenc’d with
special Marks of a more than ordinary and natural distance between the
Eyes, which much alters the whole Air of the Face, and the plumpness and
swelling of their Cheeks summits above the Cheek-bone; most of these are
of a middle stature, having downy Hair upon their Chin, like the Callow
Feathers of an unfledg’d Bird. Lastly, as the _Tartars_, they differ
amongst themselves in their Customs, yet in several things they agree
one with another, according as they are govern’d by others, and yet
other Princes, some powerful, and some weaker, according as every ones
power be more or less. The Inhabitants of _Lucaja_ bear so great a
respect, and stand so much in awe of their Governor, that if commanded
to leap from a Rock, and break their Necks, they instantly obey.
The same is observ’d by the _Tartars_; the first King _Canguista_
Commanded the seven Princes of his Realm to Murder their Sons with their
own Hands, which they all readily perform’d.
[Sidenote: Constitutions of the _Tartars_ and _Americans_ agree.]
In _Popaina_ they live to this day like some _Tartars_, without Laws or
Law-givers, who change their places by turns, from the great increase of
the _Tartars_, the _Americans_ no ways differ.
_Bartholomeus de las Casas_ writ to _Charles the Fifth_, That the
_Spaniards_ in few years, onely on the Islands _Cuba_, _Hispaniola_,
_Naco_, _Hondures_, in _Venezuela_ and _New Spain_, destroy’d above
2600000. Men, besides the slaughter that was made in _Peru_, _Brasil_,
_Rio de la Plata_ and other places, which far exceed the foremention’d
numbers.
Polygamy is still in use, both among the _Tartars_ and _Americans_; both
acknowledge the Immortality of the Soul, both like _Cannibals_, Eating
and Sacrificing Mans flesh. How famous amongst the Antients was the
Altar of _Diana_ in _Taurica Chersonesus_, where several Men were daily
Sacrificed? How delicate, according to _Sabellicus_, did the _Tartars_
account their Dishes, Sauc’d and serv’d with humane Gore?
[Sidenote: _Geogr._ l. 11 q. 7.]