( 552 ) 
Andyl think, I may fay ^ that a Nacural Hiftory of Countries 
wofl wanting \ which; if welldrawn^ would afford U4 a cofiom view ^ 
and a delightful profpei} of the great variety of So j Is y Fountains^ Ri. 
vers, Lakes in the fever al f laces of this globe i and of the mani- 
fold effelis froduUions and operations of the Sun^ and perhaps of other 
Celefiial influences, upon them all ; or of Subterraneal fleams^ orpe- 
culhr winds ^ arifing at flate or uncertain times: 
to explain my Intentions, I would not here deny the praifes jujily 
due to muny Ancient and Modern Geographers^ 'topographers. Hydro- 
graphers &c, and particularly to fome late Travellers, who have made 
more accurate and faithful reports of the Countries where they have 
travelled, and more efpecially where they have made fome abode y than 
formerly Wtts done. And fever al of thefe have diligently recorded,what 
confiderahle alterations have been made in fome places by laterCuUure: 
^letther can we fubdu5i^ from the applaufes of thofe Learned and la- 
quifitive ^'riteri, who hxve fearched deep into the Antiquities and 
Revolutions, which have hapned in the places they undertook to de- 
fcribe : And we mufl Acknowledg many excellent, ingenious and truly 
Phdofopbical Hiftorie^ of the Archite^ure, and grandeur.^ and fci- 
tmtion of Royal and JSfoble Palaces j Cities, Cittadels, Fortifications^ 
Towns,Bridges, Rivers, fertil Vales ^Rocks and Mountains, But fome 
of thefe have a Confideratton a part from Phyfiology^ and do rather he- 
bng to Arts and Artifices : And fome Writers are more concern d for 
PAnegyricks of the aniJenities of the place, than will well fort with the 
tr^e and modefl relations of their Neighbours : As, when we read the 
beginning of the Ingenious Bar chy's Euphoraio , we are invited to 
prefer Scoildind before any Paradife on Earth', which yet I do not 
blame or cenfure in that noble Romance: But in our deftgned Natural 
Hiftory we have more need of fever e, full and punctual truth^ than 
of Rominees or Panegyricks. 
And it may deferve another Confider at ion apart ^ to record the 
plagues, tpidemicdl Difeafes, Droughts and exceffive or permanent 
Heats, ex tr earn or lajling Frofls^ Famins, impetuous Storms , and In- 
i^ndations, devouring Jwarms of Grafhoppers and Locufis ( of divers 
S^ndsof both^which the famous Purchas in his excellent Treatife of 
Flying Infeftsj ch.^ I. hath an Hijlorical Collection,) andotheranr 
noyances of Mankind : Whether beginning and ending in one place ^ 
^nd of what continuauce , as the HorJe»flague in our frefh memory^ 
santtnmd about fevet$ years in Enghnd y and the plague of A: hens 
w^ndred 
