( 885 ) 
the Land may more rightly lay claim unto it, Bu t leaving 
all others to the freedom of their own judgments and con* 
jeftares 5 • if ke may, have the f%me liberty from them fgr 
his, who as he knows the place, with the Country about 
it, hath taken a large time of confideration of all particu- 
lars and circumftances fit to be duly and deliberately weigh- 
ed and obferved in the cafe ^ he would adventure to coa- 
. jefture ft to be fome Marine, or Sea-bred Creature, to 
which the Land can of right lay nodaira. But admitting 
that (fuppofingit, Imean, a Sea- bred Creature) how then 
(will fome fay) (hould it poifibly ccme there? Pifck in 
arido ? and at fuch a depth under ground too ? I anfwer, 
firft, with as little wonder as a Land creature (hould, which 
who with reafon can imagine to have ever had at firft fo 
deep a burial ? Next I fay, the Mould, Soil or Earth, 
wherein it lay, was altogether miry, like 10 t\\2it ccenum 
( oafe^ fome call k) on many parts of the Sea coaft, both 
in England and abroad. But how poffibly (will it be faid) 
a Sea creature, when found at fo remote a diftance from 
the Sea ? For folution (if it may be) of this, and the like 
incidental doubts, and removing all rubs out of the way 
of this conjefture ^ our future difcourfe and further pro- 
grefs in this argument, fhall branch itfelf out into thefe 
four following Queries. 
1. Whether the fituation and condition, face and figure 
of the place may polSbly admit of the Seas once infinua- 
ting i I P?^f thither ? 
2. VViiether (that poflibility being granted,or evinced) 
the Sea did ever aftually infinuate itfelf fo far as to this 
place, and when ? 
5. How in probabihty, and when this Valley or Level, 
being once Sea land, (hould come to be fo quite deferred 
and forfaken of the Sea, as it is at this day ^ the Sea not 
approaching by fo many, a dozen miles, or more. 
4. Ry what means, 'the Sea once having its play there, 
this Creature comes to lodge, pnd be found fo deep in the 
ground, and under fuch a (helving bank. 
Cccccc 2 I. As 
