A. D. 1590. 197 



the virtue nutritive of that city had no power to go farther ; and in fuc- 

 ceflion of time, the inhabitants finding much want, and lefs means to 

 fupply the fame, either forbore to marry, or elfe fled their country ; and 

 for the fame reafons, mankind, grown to a certain complete number, 

 hath grown no farther ; and it is 3000 years or more that the eartii was 

 as full of people as at prefent ; for the fruits of the earth, and the plenty 

 of vidlual, do not fuffice to feed a greater number. Man firft propa- 

 gated in the Eafl, and thence fpread far and near ; and having peopled 

 the continent, they next peopled the iflands ; thence they palled into 

 Europe, and laft of all to the new world. The barrennefs of foils, fcarcity 

 of neceflaries, inundations, earthquakes, peftilences, famines, wars, &c. 

 have occafioned numberlefs migrations ; and even the very driving out by 

 force of the younger people, and in many countries the felling of them 

 for flaves, in order to make more room for fuch as remained ; all which 

 are the let and flay that the number of men cannot increafe and grow 

 immoderately. 



At this time, according to the fame author, the city of Paris far ex^ 

 ceeded, in number of people, and in abundance of all things, all other 

 cities of Chriftendom, Mofcow excepted ; and Lifbon was the next great- 

 eft city of Chriftendom. Yet we of the prefent age fee London exceed 

 any of them all, unlefs Paris, according to fome, fhould be excepted. 



The fame Botero, flill fpeaking of the caufes of the greatnefs of cities, 

 obferves, ' that it is not one particular advantage alone that will efFedl 



* fuch greatnefs, but the many before-named advantages concurring ; 



* alfo ornaments, (like thofe truely grand ones of Rome, Venice, 8cc.) 

 ' eafinefs of accefs, and of carriage, and fruitfulnefs of the neighbour- 



* ing foil. Thus Piedmont hath plenty of corn, cattle, wines, and e»- 

 ' cellent fruits, and yet hath not one great city : and the like in Eng- 

 ' land, London excepted ; for although it abounds in plenty of all good 

 ' things, yet there is not another city in it that deferves to be called 

 ' great: as may alfo be faid of France, Paris excepted, which city, 

 ' however, is not lituated in the fruitfulleft part of that great king- 



* dom ».' 



1 591 There was held atLubeck a general aflembly of the deputies^ 



of tlie Hanfe towns, at which thofe of Roftock, Dantzick, Bremen, and, 

 Hamburgh, were prefent, where they treated of their rights, immuni- 

 ties, &c. which they alleged the queen of England dayly endeavoured: 

 to impair; whereupon they fent letters to her, written with great heat.. 

 The queen in a contemptuous manner anfwered thofe letters, teUing 



• Botero fays, that France poflefles four mag- and alfo of the Ocean as far north as Saintoigne. 



nets, which attraft the weahh of other countries, The fourth confifts of hemp and cloth, of which, 



viz. corn, which is exported to Spain and Portu- and of cordage, great quantitlci are carried to Lif»- 



gal: -wine, which is fent to Flanders, England, bon and Seville, for the (hipping; arid the export- 



and the coafts of the Baltic ; fait, made by the ation of the articles of thi« fourth clafs is incredi- 



heat of the fun on the fhore of the Mediterranean, bly great. \_Rffpub. Gallia, p. 573-] M. 



