since you bestow on the book so elegant an edition. But however it may have pleased me in other respects, I find myself obliged to desire of you the liberty to subjoin a small postscript in defence of my chart of the variation of the compass (whereby I hoped I had done service to the sailors of all nations) against the groundless exceptions of your author, who seems to seek all occasions to find fault, and is otherwise unjust to me. If you please to grant me this favour, you will, without any prejudice to yourself, very much oblige

"Your very humble servant,

To Mr. Jonah Bowyer.

These.

EDM. HALLEY."

ART. XIV. A Relation of a Journey begun An. Dom. 1610. Foure Bookes, containing a description of the Turkish Empire of Egypt, of the Holy Land, of the remote parts of Italy, and Islands adjoyning. The Third Edition. London. Printed for Ro. Allot. 1627.

The first edition was in 1615; others in 1621, 1632, 1652, 1658, 1670, 1673.

ART. XV. A Relation of some years Travels into Africa and the Greater Asia, especially the territories of the Persian Monarchy, and some parts of the Oriental Indies and Isles adjacent. London. 1634, 1638, &c. 1677.

Which last is the fourth impression, wherein many things are added, which were not in the former. All the impressions are in folio, and adorned with cuts.

ART. XVI. A Voyage into the Levant: or a brief relation of a Journey lately performed by Master Henry Blunt, Gent. from England by the way of Venice into Dalmatia, Sclavonia, Bosnah, Hungary, Macedonia, Thessaly, Thrace, Rhodes, and Egypt, unto Grand Cairo. With particular Observations concerning the moderne condition of the Turkes, and other people under that Empire. The Third Edition. London. London. Printed by J. L. for Andrew Crooke, and are to bee sold at the signe of the Beare in Paul's Churchyard. 1638. 4to. pp. 126.

The second edition was in 1636. Other editions were in 12mo.

The first of these books of Travels is well known as the work of the celebrated George Sandys the poet, a younger son of Edwin, Archbishop of York, who, dying at the seat of his niece, Margaret, the widow of Sir Francis Wyat, Kt. at Boxley Abbey in Kent, in March 1643, was buried in the parish church there, and has the following entry in its Register of Burials: "Georgius Sandys, Poetarum Anglorum sui sæculi facile Princeps, sepultus fuit Martii VII Stylo Anglic. An. Dom. 1643."*

It is dedicated in the following energetic words,

"SIR,

"To the Prince.

"The eminence of the degree wherein God and Nature have placed you, doth allure the eyes; and the

hopefulness of your virtues, win the love of all men. For virtue being in a private person an exemplary ornament, advanceth itself in a prince to a publike blessing. And as the sunne to the world, so bringeth it both light and life to a kingdom: a light of direction, by glorious example; and a life of joy through a gracious government. From the just and serious consideration whereof, there springeth in minds not brutish, a thankfull correspondence of affection and duty; still pressing to express themselves in endeavours of service. Which also hath caused me (most noble Prince) not furnished of better means, to offer in humble zeal to your princely view these my doubled travels; once with some toil and danger performed, now recorded with sincerity and diligence. The parts I speak of are the most renowned countries and kingdoms: once the seats of most glorious and triumphant empires; the theatres of valour and heroicall actions; the soils enriched with all earthly felicities; the places where Nature hath produced her wonderfull works; where arts and sciences have been invented, and perfited; where wisdom, virtue, policie, and civility, have been planted, have flourished: and lastly, where God himself did place his own commonwealth, gave laws and oracles, inspired his prophets, sent angels to converse with men; above all, where the Sonne of God descended to become man; where he honoured the earth with his beautifull steps, wrought the worke of our redemption, triumphed over death, and ascended into glory. Which countries, once so glorious and famous for their happy estate, are now through vice and ingratitude become the most deplored spec

tacles

tacles of extreme miserie: the wild beasts of mankind having broken in upon them, and rooted out all civilitie, and the pride of a stern and barbarous tyrant possessing the thrones of ancient and just dominion. Who aiming only at the height of greatness and sensualitie, hath in tract of time reduced so great and goodly a part of the world, to that lamentable distress and servitude, under which (to the astonishment of the understanding beholders) it now faints and groneth, Those rich lands at this present remain waste and overgrowne with bushes, receptacles of wild beasts, of theeves and murderers; large territories dispeopled, or thinly inhabited; goodly cities made desolate; sumptuous buildings become ruines, glorious temples either subverted, or prostituted to impietie; true religion discountenanced and oppressed; all nobilitie extinguished; no light of learning permitted, nor virtuę cherished: violence and rapine insulting over all, and leaving no securitie save to an abject mind, and unlookt on povertie; which calamities of theirs so great and deserved, are to the rest of the world as threatning instructions. For assistance wherein, I have not onely related what I saw of their present condition; but so farre as convenience might permit, presented a briefe view of the former estates, and first antiquities of those peoples and countries: thence to draw a right image of the frailtie of man, the mutabilitie of what so ever is worldly; and assurance that as there is nothing unchangeable saving God, so nothing stable but by his grace and protection. Accept, Great Prince, these weak endeavours of a strong desire: which shall be always devoted to do your Highness all acceptable service;

L3

service; and ever rejoice in your prosperity and happiness.

GEO. SANDYS."

The Second of these volumes of Travels was by Sir Thomas Herbert, who has already been mentioned in this work, Vol. III. p. 248.

Locke, in his Explanatory Catalogue of voyages, says of these travels, that "they have deservedly had a great reputation, being the best account of those parts written by any Englishman, and not inferior to the best of foreigners; what is peculiar in them is the excellent description of all antiquities, the curious remarks on them, and the extraordinary accidents, that often occur."

Sir Henry Blount was born at Tittenhanger, in Hertfordshire, in 1602, and educated at Oxford. On May the 7th, 1634, he embarked at Venice for Constantinople, in order to his voyage into the Levant, returned about two years after, became one of the Gentlemen Pensioners to Charles I. and was by him knighted 21 March, 1639. Anthony Wood says, "He was esteemed, by those who knew him, a gentleman of a very clear judgment, great experience, much contem- plation though not of much reading, and of great foresight into governments; he was also a person of admirable conversation, and in his younger years a great banterer, which in his elder he disused." He died the 9th of October, 1682, ætatis 80. His two sons, Sir Thomas Pope Blount, and Charles Blount, are well

Wood's Ath. II. 712.

known: