BRITAIN, by the Latins called Britannia, and Albion, by the Greeks [...], and [...], the most Famous Island of the whole World, is di­vided from the Continent of Eu­rope by the Ocean. It lies over against Germany and France in a Figura Triquetra. Ces. Com. l. 5. Triangular Form, by reason of Three Promontories shooting out into divers parts, viz. Belerium [the Lands End] toward the West; Cantium [the Foreland in Kent] toward the East; Tarvisium or Orcas [the Point of Cathness in Scotland] toward the North. On the West, where Ireland lies, the Vergivian [or Western] Sea breaks in; On the North it is bea­ten upon by the vast and wide Northern Sea: On the East, where it Coasteth upon Germany, it is wash'd by the German Ocean; On the South over against France by the British. Thus divided by a convenient Distance from these Neighbouring Na­tions, and made fit by its open Harbors for the Traffick of the whole World, it seems to thrust it­self forward on every side into the Sea, for the ge­neral Benefit of Mankind. For between Kent and Calais in France it carries it self so far into the Sea, See in Kent. and the Channel is so straight, that ^(a) some are of opinion that a Breach was there made, and that the Sea hath work'd it self thro' the Neck of Land, which before joyn'd the two Countries to each other; and to confirm this they bring Virgil in tha [...] Verse,

And Britann's far from all the World disjoyn'd.

Because as Servius Honoratus says, Britain was anciently joyn'd to the Continent. Thus Claudian in Imitation of Virgil,

And Britain sever'd from our World.

It is not at all unlikely that the outward Face and Fashion of the Earth may by the Deluge and other Causes have been alter'd, that some Moun­tains may have been raised and heightned, and many High-Places may have sunk into Plains and Valleys; Lakes and Meers may have been dried up, and dry Places may have become Lakes and Meers, and some Islands may have been torn and broken off from the Continent. But whether it be true indeed, and whether there were any Islands before the Flood. I shall not here argue, nor of God's Works inconsiderately give my Opinion. All know that the Divine Providence hath dispos'd different things to the same end: And indeed it hath always been allow'd, as well by Divines as Philosophers, That Isles scatter'd in the Sea do as equally contri­bute to the Beauty of the whole World in general, as the vast extent of Lakes and the heighth of Mountains upon Land.

Livy and Fabius Rusticus have made the Form of this [Island] to resemble an Scutube Oblongae. Oblong Platter, or Bip [...]nni. See Sir H. Savile upon this place in Tacitus. Two edg'd Ax; and such certainly is its Shape towards the South, (as Tacitus observes) which yet hath been ill apply'd to the whole Island. But Northward that vast Tract of Land shooting for­ward to a Point, groweth narrow and sharp like a Wedge. The Ancients thought it so great, and so very large in Circumference, that Caesar, The Pane­gyrick spo­ken to Con­stantius, falsly Enti­tuled to Maximian. who first of all the Romans discover'd it, wrote that he had found out another World, supposing it so great, that it seem'd not to be surrounded with the Sea, but even to contain and encompass the Ocean. And Julius Solinus Polyhistor asserts, That for its large­ness, it almost deserv'd to be call'd another World. Nevertheless, our Age, by many and often Surveys, have now well nigh found the true Dimensions of the whole Isle. For from Tarvisium [the Point of Cathness] unto Belerium [the Lands end] reckoning the windings and turnings of the Shores along the West, are computed about DCCCXII Miles, from thence along the Coasts as they bend South­ward to Cantium [the Kentish Foreland] CCCXX Miles; hence Coasting by the German Ocean with crooked Creeks and Inlets for DCCIV Miles, it reacheth to Tarvisium [the Point of Cathness] So that by this Computation the whole Island is in Circuit MDCCCXXXIV Miles. Which Mea­sure, as it falls much short of Pli [...]y's, so it is some­what less then Caesars: Schitinius Chius is not worth my mentioning, Com. l. 5. who in Apollonius (having among other Wonders, told us strange Stories of Fruits grow­ing in Britain without Kernels, and Grapes with­out Stones,) makes its Circuit CCCC Stadia [Furlongs] and no more. But Dionysius after in his Description of the World, hath given a much bet­ter Account of the British Islands, that is, Britain and Ireland.

And with him Aristides and other Greek Wri­ters agree, who by way of Excellency have truly call'd Britain [...] the Great Island.

Now they that have more accurately compar'd the Spaces of Heaven with the Tracts of Earth, have plac'd Britain under the VIIIth. Climate, and include it within the XVIIIth. & XXVIth. Parallels: They also [...]om [...]ute the longest Day at XVIII Equi­noctial Hours and an half. But Belerium [the Lands end by reason of the Convex Situation of the Earth they place XVI Degrees and L Scruples from the furthest Point Westward; Cantium [the Kentish Foreland] XXI Degrees of Longitude. As for the Latitude they Measure in the Southern Parts L Degrees, X Scruples; at Tarvisium [Cathness] LIX Degrees, XL Scruples. So that according to this Situation, both as to Air and Soil, Britain may be accounted most happy and temperate. The Air is so S [...] and Gentle, that not only the Summers are less Sultry, (the continual Breezes still allaying the Heats, refreshing the Fruits of the