AN HISTORICAL DISCOURSE OF The FIRST INVENTION OF NAVIGATION AND The Additional Improvements of it. WITH The probable Causes of the Variation of the COMPASS: And the Variation of the Variation. LIKEWISE, Some Reflections upon the Name and Office OF ADMIRAL. To which is added a Catalogue of those Persons that have been from the first Institution Dignified with that Office. By THOMAS PHILIPOTT, M. A. formerly of Clare-Hall in Cambridge.  
London, Printed by W. Godbid, and are to be sold by W. Fisher at the Postern-gate near Tower-Hill, 1661.   

To his Noblest Friend Sr FRANCIS PRUJEAN Doctor of PHYSIC.  
SIR,  
THe Censures and Suffrages of the world, are like Rocks and Shelves, against which, Books like Vessels, oftentimes dashing, find their own Fate and Shipwreck: Sir, your Acceptance will dispense a nobler, and more auspicious Gale, than any which can be breathed from the loser or vainer Air of popular Applause, to transport this discourse to the public; And it will be the happiness of this Treatise, that in future Times it shall entitle its safety to so successful a Steerage. For indeed the Tempest with Reason, is frequently more destructive and ruinous, than the Storm without it, my own Fear and Caution can secure or rescue me from the danger of the last; but only your Candour and Approbation can redeem from the prejudices of the first,  
SIR, Your most devoted Servant, Thomas Philipott.   

The First INVENTION, AND ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS OF NAVIGATION.  
There having been much written concerning this Subject, which lies dispersed in the pages of several Authors, and finding that none have as yet attempted to compile and amass those scattered Notions into one heap, I did believe it a task not unworthy the expense of Time, or my Labour, to contract those divided Discourses into some few sheets: And having brought them into shape and order, to offer them up to Public View; which is the subject matter of this ensuing Treatise.  
FIrst, it is indisputably true from the Authority of the Sacred Records, the structure of the Ark owed, and entitled its original contexture to the industrious precaution of Noah, who by the immediate designation of God himself, brought that wooden Island into shape and order, to rescue some part of Mankind, from the angry Baptism of a public Deluge.  
And it is probable, that the posterity of Noah, having plantations which were contiguous to Mount Ararat, where the Ark rested; and there viewing its skeleton, might according to that original, form and build such Ships and others Vessels, (the Art of Navigation being not yet arrived to its Solstice) as might make Rivers and more spacious waters obvious to a passage, and maintain such a necessary intercourse, as might improve a commerce between Nation and Nation.  
The Heathen Records, and Monuments of Pagan Antiquity, which were ignorant of the structure of the Ark, according to the variety of Tradition, assign the Invention of Navigation to several persons. Diodorus Siculus attributes it to Neptune, who from thence contracted the Appellation of God of the Sea. Strabo, to Minos' King of Crete. And lastly, Tibullus consecrates it to the Fame and Memory of the City of Tyre.  

Thucid. p. 4, 5, 6.  Minos indeed expelled Malefactors out of the Islands, and in most of them planted Colonies of his own, by which means, they who inhabited the Seacoasts, becoming more addicted to riches, grew more constant to their dwellings; of whom, some grown now rich, circumscribed and encompassed their Cities with Walls, and others by the influence of Minos built a Navy, and by an active and noble diligence so secured commerce, that they rendered Navigation free.  
But it is most probable, that Tyre being in elder times, a City as eminent for its Wealth and Traffic, as it was for its strength, and magnificence, and enjoying with its bordering neighbours the Phaenicians, a large extensive Sea coast, and many capacious Havens, which had an aspect on the Mediterranean-sea, found out at first the institution of Shipping. From the Phaenicians and Tyrians, it was conducted down to the Egyptians, by whose industry and ingenuity much was annexed to the advantage and perfection of it: For whereas the first Vessels were framed out of the trunk of some large Tree, made hollow by Art, or else of divers Board's, compacted into the fashion of a Boat, and covered with the skins of Beasts, the Phaenicians moulded them into a more elegant and convenient form, and secured them with greater additions of strength, whilst the Egyptians added to the former structure the supplement of Decks. From the Egyptians this Art was transported to the Grecians; for when Danaus' King of Egypt, to decline the fury of his Brother Rameses', made his approaches to Grece, he first instructed its Inhabitants to sail in covered Vessels, called Naves, who before perfected their Voyages over those narrow Seas, on Beams and Rafters fastened together, to whom they gave the Appellation of Rates. Amongst the Grecians, those of Crete had the highest repute for the manage of Navigation, which causeth Strabo to ascribe the Invention of Ships to Minos. In times subsequent to these, the Carthaginians extracted from Tyre, grew most considerable in Shipping, by the supply of which, they often disordered and distressed the affairs of the Romans: But the fury of a Tempest having separated a Quinqueremis, or Galley of five Banks of Oars, from the residue of the Carthaginian Navy, cast it on the Coast of Italy; by a curious inspection into which, the Romans obtained the Art of Shipping, and not long after, achieved the Dominion of the Sea. That the Phaenicians and Greeks, transmitted the knowledge of Navigation to Spain and France, is without controversy, since Gades in the first was a Colony of the Phaenicians, and Marsilles in the last a plantation of the Phoceans. As for Belgium and Britain, they were in Ages of an elder inscription very barren and indigent in Shipping; for Caesar, when he made his eruption on the last, found the Circumambient Seas so ill furnished, that he was forced with the industrious assistance of his soldiery to build and equip a Navy of six hundred and two and thirty Vessels to transport his Army into Albion.  
The Phaenicians having, as is above recited, invented open Vessels, and the Egyptians Ships with Decks, the last of these inforc'd the Art of Navigation, by adding to it the invention of Galleys, with two Banks of Oars upon a side; which sort of Vessels in procedure of time, did swell into that voluminous bulk, that Ptolemy Philopater is said to have framed a Galley of 50. Banks. Ships of burden styled Ciraera, entitle their invention to the Cypriots Cock boats or Skiffs, (Scaphae) owe their first structure to the Illirians or Liburnians, Brigantines (Celoces) confess theirs to have been the artifice of the Rhodians; Frigates or light Barks (Lembi) acknowledge their original unto the industry of the Cyrenians; the Phaselus and Pamphyli, ships instructed for war, were the invention of the Pamphilians, and the inhabitants of Phaselis a Town of Lycia in Asia minor. Vessels for transporting of Horse styled Hippagines, are indebted for their first institution to the Salaminians. Grapling-hooks, for theirs to Anacharsis. Anchors, confess their first knowledge to have been from the Tuscans. The Rudder-helme, and Art of Steering, is ascribed to Typhis, principal Pilot in Jason's eminent Ship, called the Argo, who having observed that a Kite when she divided the Air, steered her whole body and flight with her tail, perfected that in the designs of Art, which he had discovered to have been effected by instinct in the works of Nature. If we please to trace out the first Inventors of Tackle, we shall discover that the primitive institution of the Oar is attributed to the Boeotians, and the original discovery and use of Masts and Sails ennoble the memory of Daedalus, and his Son Icarus; the last of which confiding too much in the dexterity of this invention, giving too large and spreading a Sail to the Bark he was engaged in, over-set the Vessel, and perished, and adopted the Sea, in which he miscarried, into his own Name.  
But though the supplement and addition of Decks of Ships, entitles itself to the original Artifice of the Egyptians, as is before recited; yet had they other of a more narrow dimension, both for use and transportation; for the Egyptians anciently, (says Pliny, Lib. 13. Nat. Hist.) used to make Boats of Reeds and Bulrushes; which assertion he again justifies in another place, Pap'r aceis navibus (says he) armam●ntisque Nili navigamus; and to these Vessels Lucan alludes, Lib. 4. Phars. 
— Sic cum tenet omnia Niliu,  
Conseritur bibula memphitica Cymba Papyro.  Which fashion of Boat Moses was engaged in, when Pharaoh's Daughter rescued him from the danger of the river. The Prophet Esay records such utensils in that periphrasis of Egypt, Woe to the land shadowing with wings, that sends Ambassadors by Sea in Bulrushes. Strabo sailed to Egypt in a small Vessel made of Wicker, as his own relation discovers to us in the 17. of his Geography. Juvenal also makes mention of earthen Boats in Egypt used and employed also there to sail with, for recording the deadly feud and superstitious conflicts, commenced between Ombos and Tentyra, in relation to their gods, he speaks thus, Stat. 15. 
Hâc saevit Rabie imbelle, & inutile vulgus  
Parvula fictilibus solitum dare vela phaselis,  
Et brevibus pictae remis incumbere testae.  The Britain's had anciently their Naves vitiles in Pliny's style, the Natives of Ireland call them Corraghs, and some Corracles, they were little Vessels covered with Leather, in their dimension scarce exceeding the bulk of a Basket; and these kind of Boats or Baskets were used by Julius Caesar to transport his Army over the river Sicoris against Petreius, and other rivers elsewhere; and he had learned the making of them it seems from the Britain's, when he was in this Island, as himself attests in his first Book De Bello Civili. Cujus generis (says he) cum superioribus usus Britanniae docuerat: and in a subsequent discourse he discribes them thus; Carinae primem ac statumina ex levi materià fiebantur, reliquum corpus Navium, viminibus contextum integebatur. They have the like Vessels on the river Euphrates, to transport Commodities to Babylon, and their proportion so conformable to these British ones, (according to the pattern discovered to us by Herodotus) that a man would judge, that either the Britain's extracted the description of these Vessels from the Babylonians, or the Babylonians from them. For Herodotus in Clio, that is, the first Book of his History, affirms, that they had Boats made of Osier or Willows, of an orbicular form, and in the fashion of a Buckler, without Prow or Poop, and covered over on the outside with the Hide of a Bullock tanned. In these, besides their Native Commodities, they used to convey Palm-wines in Tons, to be sold or vended at Babylon, two men with an Oar a piece in their Hands conducting and managing the Vessel.  
These Vessels were so portable, that the Owners were accustomed to transport them on their Backs to and from the Water; the Master would carry his Boat by Land, and the Boat would waft the Master on the Water: As the Arabian Fisherman uses to do with his Tortoise-shell, which is his Shallop by Sea, and his House on the Land, under which he sleeps, and in which he sails.  
Proportionate in their Dimension to these, are those which the Egyptians use at this day upon the Nile, which they take upon their Backs, when they approach the Cataracts and steeper falls of that river.  
Boterius calls them Naves plicatiles, and which they employ in some places of the West Indies. For in the year 1509. we read that there were brought to Rouen Seven Indians confined to one small Vessel or Boat, which was so portable that one man could raise it up with his Hand; as the same Boterus in his Relations seems to intimate.  
In some places of the West-Indies they Fish with Faggots composed of Bulrushes, in their Dialect styled Balsas, having sustained them upon their Shoulders to the Sea, they there cast them in, then leap upon them, and after Row into the Main with small Reeds on either side, themselves standing upright like Tritons or Neptunes; and on these Balsa's they are accustomed to carry those Cords and Nets they employ in Fishing. The Indians likewise have long Boats called canoas, made hollow, and artificially framed out of one Tree. In Greenland the Fisher men's Boats are composed into the Shape of Weavers Shuttles, covered outwardly with Skins of Seals, and inwardly fashioned and fortified with the Bones of the same Fishes; which being sewed together with many doubles and Sutures, are so secure, that in foul and stormy Wether, they will shut themselves up in the same, being rescued by the Aid of these, from the Fury and imminent prejudices of Rocks, Winds, and Tempests; These are about Twenty Foot in length, and two Foot and an half in their Breadth, and so swift that no Ship is able to outvie them in speed; and so light of Portage, that one Man may support many; and they are furnished but with one Oar.  
Before I wind up this Discourse I shall winnowe and discuss that Question, whether or not Antiquity had any discovery or Notice of the Compass which in this Latter Age hath contributed so much to the Improvement of Navigation, those who do assert that it had some imperfect Glimmering, or rather some gloomy Cognisance of it, do establish their opinion on the Authority of Plautus, where they find mention of the Versoria; and secondly, because the Loadstone, which sways and manages the compass, was anciently by the Greeks styled, Magnes, and Lapis Heraclius, both which Names remain instated upon it until this day. But to the first it is answered, that the Versoria of Plautus, is no other, than that piece of Tackle, which in the Modern Dialect of our Mariners, falls under the appellation of a Bolin, by which they used to turn their Sails, and porportion them to the changeable vicissitude of every wind. And so much is manifest from Plantus himself, in the Comedy which he styles Mercator, saying, Hinc ventus nunc s●cundus est, cape modo versoriam. So called from verso to turn often, or else it may borrow its extraction and Nativity from versum, the first supine of verto; whence velum vertere, is a customary term amongst the Latins, used to express the shifting of the Sail as the wind does vary. As for the Loadstone, it was indeed by the Greeks called Lapis Heraclius, not because Hercules Tyrius, to whom the seafaring Phaenicians in Storms and Tempests offered up their Orisons for protection, first traced out the virtue and energetical efflu●iums of it, as some contend, but because it was discovered near Heraclea a City of Lydia, called for the same reason, and upon the same account Lapis Lydius also, and by the Ancients known only under the notion of a Touchstone: Nor does the Name of Magnes, used under that Appellation promiscuously both by the Greeks and Latins, owe its Original Etymology to any other Root or Cradle, then that it was found near Magnesia a City of Lydia, of which Heraclea above mentioned, was likewise a part from whence it hath ever since purchased the constant Denomination of Lapis Magnes; so Suidas asserts for the Greeks, and old Lucretius affirms the same for the Latins. Having evinced from these demonstrations the ignorance of Antiquity, both in the notional knowledge and practical application of the Compass; It now remains my Task to unwind to whom in times of a more recent inscription, this excellent Instrument entitled its first discovery. And if we will traverse and peruse records of a Modern aspect, we shall find that the invention of the Pixis Nautica or Compass, is generally ascribed to John Goia, or Flavio Goia, as others style him, of Amalphi in Campania in the Kingdom of Naples; But all rare and curious Artifices are in their first productions like the designs of Chemistry, much in projection, but little in perfection; for his discovery reached but to eight Winds only, which made up his Compass, that is, the four principal, and four collateral, and left the improvement of this invention to be attempted by posterity, which indeed did add shape and just perfection to this ingenuous design: For in some few Ages subsequent to this, the people of Antwerp and Bruges completed this invention, by annexing to the Compass 24. other subordinate Winds or Points. Before this invention, Pilots were directed in their right Voyages, by certain Stars they took notice of, especially the Pleiades or Charles his Wain and the two Stars in the Tail of the Bear, called Helice and Cynosura, which are therefore called Load-stars, or Leading Stars; as Travellers in the Deserts of Arabia, and those of Tartary were always guided by some fixed Stars in the Night Time, to Steer their courses in those pathless, disordered, and inhospitable ways; so Seamen were directed by the like heavenly guides, in the untractable wilderness of waters, before this excellent Artifice was found out: But if the Sky happened to be sullied with Mists, and the Stars to be muffled with Clouds, than the most experienced Pilot was at a loss, and was obliged by dropping an Anchor, presently to take up his rest.  
But the ingenious Amalphitan, hath secured posterity by a noble remedy, against this grand inconvenience, and discovered a method, by which men might Steer a certain and infallible course, in the most gloomy Nights, and most tumultuous Seas, and this by the guide and conduct of a little stone, styled from its use and influence, the Loadstone. This Loadstone, is now our Load-star, and the Mariner's directory.  
This Stone treasures up two strange properties in its dusky entrails, the one of Attraction, the other of Direction; this property of Direction (which chiefly hath an aspect on our present business) is, that being set in a Dish, and left to float freely upon the Water, it will with one end point directly to the North, and with the other to the South, and will dispense this faculty or property, to a Needle that is rubbed or touched with it.  
The Pixis Nautica, or Mariner's Card, which carries a Needle touched with the Loadstone in the middle of it, with two and thirty Rumbs or Lines drawn round about it, according to the Number of the Cardinal and Collateral Winds, is no less useful by Land, than it is by Sea, so that they who are engaged to travail through Deserts, as the Caravans do to Mecha and Medina, and other places do now make good use of this Artifice, whereas in former Ages, a Star was their best Pilot by Night.  
Lud. Bartema relates, that they who travail over the Syrian and Arabian Deserts, which are faced and covered with a film of light and shifting sand, so that no tract can ever be discovered, do frame certain Boxes of wood, which they place on Camels backs, and shutting themselves up in the said Boxes, to rescue themselves from the Sand, by the help of the Loadstone, like the Mariner's Compass, they Steer their course over the vast, uncouth, and untractable Deserts. Some do entitle the Invention of the Compass, to the people of China. Doctor Gilbert in his Book de Magnete, asserts that Paulus Venetus transported it first into Italy, in the year 1260. having learned it from the Chinese, and Lud. Vertomannus affirms, that when he was in the East-Indies, about the years 1500. (above an Hundred and Sixty years since) he saw the Pilot of his Ship direct his course by a Compass, fashioned and framed according to the Figure and proportion of those we use at this instant, when he was sailing towards Java. If you will consult Pliny, he will tell you, that the Inhabitants of Taprobana, (now called Sumatra) because they could not behold the Polestar to sail by, carried with them certain Birds to Sea, which they did often let fly; and as these Birds by natural instinct applied their flight always to the Land, so the Mariners directed their course after them. The Mariner's Compass is not arrived yet to that perfection, but that it requires some improvement and amendment; for the Magnetic Needle does not exactly point to the North in all Meridian's, but varies and distorts itself (in some places more, in some less) from the direct posture, configuration, and aspect of the North and South, which multiplies and enforces the Seaman's distractions, and enwraps him oftentimes in difficult and dangerous errors. Van Helmont, an eminent Paracelsian of Flanders, professes an expedite way to regulate this grand inconvenience, namely, how to make a Needle that should never vary or alter from the right point, which may be performed by a vigorous imagination, as he affirms thus; If a man in framing the Needle, shall stand with his Back placed to the North, and place one point of the Needle (which he intends for the North) directly towards himself, the Needle so made, shall always point regularly and infallibly toward the North without variation. I wish that some person of an exalted imagination, would compose some Needles for experiment after Helmont's direction, since it is an affair of noble and active concernment, to the public interest of every Nation, to have this invention of the Compass, either improved or rectified.  
But this Artifice of Helmont is infirm and crazy in the whole frame and contexture of it, if the variation of the Needle, from its Meridional Polarity, proceed from the attractive vigour and magnetical alliciency of the Earth, which by irrefragable demonstrations may be evinced to be one continued Magnet. Now a magnetical body is styled, not only that which hath a power attractive, but that which being situated in a convenient medium, by an intrinsique natural propension, disposes itself to one invariable and fixed residence, so that if it were violently removed, yet would it not abandon its primitive points, nor fix in the East and West, but return unto its polary situation again. And such a magnetical virtue is diffused through the whole Body of the Earth, whereby as unto its natural Points, and proper Terms, it still makes its addresses unto the Poles, being so constituted in its whole frame, order and aspect, unto these Points, that those parts which are now at the Poles, would not naturally reside under the Equator, nor Nova Zemla continue in the place of Java or Borne●. Nor is the attractive vigour of this great Body the Earth, cloistered up within its own inward cells and recesses, or circumscribed within the circumference of its own surface, but shed at indeterminate distances, through the Air, Water, and all other circumjacent Bodies; exciting and transplanting its magnetical virtue into all bodies, either within its surface, or without it; and effecting that in an abstruse and indiscernible way, what we visibly behold performed by the Loadstone. For these effluviums penetrate all Bodies, and being ever ready in the medium, attaque all objects proportionate, or capable of their vigorous and active excitation: And this is manifest from steel wires thrust through little Spheres, or Globes of Cork floating on the Water, or in naked Needles gently dropped thereon; for so disposed they will not rest, until they have traced out the Meridian, and as near as possibly they may, lie parallel to the Axis of the Earth. Now this Direction does not originally result from themselves, but is derivative and contracted from the magnetical efflux of the Earth. And these demonstrations may be improved by the observation of some subsequent experiments; as first, from a Needled Sphere of Cork, equally contiguous unto the surface of the Water; for if the Needle be not seated in an exact equilibration, that end which is too light, if touched, becomes even; that Needle also, which will but just swim under Water, if forcibly touched, will sink deeper, and sometimes unto the bottom, which proceeds from an union of those magnetical effluxions which estreat from the Earth, with those magnetic Atoms which flow from the Body of the Loadstone, and make an impression on the Needle.  
Now those, first being of a congenerous nature with the last, but more numerous and powerful, by this their mutual entwining and complication, drag away the Needle as their Captive, and sink it into the above recited position.  
Secondly, from a Wire or Needle which being denuded and devested of that meridional projection the magnetic impression of the Loadstone had formerly enstated and imprinted upon it, by its great adversary the Fire, by being sometime entered in the Earth, becomes new impregnated with the virtue of that great and vigorous Magnet, and again contracts such a polarity, or meridional situation, as though it had never suffered under the persecution of its flaming enemy. Now whether these above mentioned effluviums of the Earth, do fly by estreated Atoms, or winding particles, as some assert, or glide by streams attracted from either Pole or Hemisphere of the Earth, unto the Equator, as others affirm; it signifies nothing to the Diminution of the Magnetic virtue of the Earth, but rather more distinctly sets down the gests and progressive motion of its attractive alliciency, and excitation.  
Thirdly, if a Loadstone be made red hot, it loseth the Magnetical Vigour it had before in itself, and acquires another from the Earth in its Refrigeration; for that part which cooleth towards the Earth, will obtain the Respect of the North, and attract the Southern point or Cuspis of the Needle: And the reason hereof is, that though the attractive virtue of the Loadstone, be in this fiery Agony much impaired, exhausted and diminished, yet is it not totally extinguished, so that when its sickly and impoverished vigour is reinforced and recruited, by a supply or accession of Effluviums from the Earth, by an union or combination with this newstock of Magnetical Atoms, it does not only revive, but is improved to its former Attraction and Verticity.  
Fourthly, it is observed, that both Bricks and Irons, contract a verticity, by long and continued position; that is, not only being placed from North and South, and lying in the Meridian, but respecting the Zenith and Perpendicular, unto the Centre of the Earth; as is evident in Bars of Windows, Casements, Hinges, and the like. The same condition also do Bricks contract, by being long time placed in one continued situation in a Wall; for if the Needle be presented unto their lower extremes, it wheeleth about, and turns its Southern point unto them. And the Reason of this is, that that Film or Scurse, in which they lay originally wrapped up, and which did obstruct the Magnetical Impressions of the Earth, being worn off by Decursion of Time, and the perpetual Assaults of the Elements, the Magnetical Atoms of the Earth do with more vigour invade them, and by frequent onsets having implanted their virtue in them, engage them to that verticity.  
Fiftly, Iron in a particular sympathy moves to the Loadstone, but yet, if it exceed a certain quantity, it abandons and quits those affections and interests; and like an affectionate Citizen, or faithful Patriot, moves to the Earth, which is the Region and Country of its Connaturals.  
From what hath thus been remarkably discovered, it is easy to unfold, from a foundation not only of probability, but almost of necessity, whence proceeds the cause of the variation of the Compass, that is, an Arch of the Horizon, intercepted between the true and Magnetical Meridian. The true Meridian is a greater Circle, passing through the Poles of the World, and the Zenith or Vertex of any place, exactly dividing the East from the West. Now on this Line, the Needle exactly lieth not, but diverts and varies its point, that is, the North point on this side the Equator, the South on the other, sometimes unto the East, sometimes unto the West, and in some places varies not at all. Now the cause of this variation, may be the inequality of the Earth, variously disposed, and differently mixed with the Sea; with all the different emission of its strength and Magnetical vigour, from the more eminent and Gibbous or Knobby parts thereof; for the Needle naturally endeavours to conform unto the Meridian, but being distracted, is driven and distorted that way, where the greater and more powerful parts of the Earth are situated.  
Now whereas on this side the Meridian, or the Isles of Azores, where the first Meridian is placed, the Needle varies Eastward, it may be occasioned by that vast Track of Earth, that is, of Europe, Asia, and Africa, seated towards the East, and disposing the Needle that way; on the other side, some parts of the Azores, or Islands of Saint Michael, which have a middle situation between these Continents, and that vast Tract of America, almost proportionate and answerable to these in its spacious Bulk and Dimension, it seems equally distracted by both, and diverting unto neither, doth parallel and place itself upon the true Meridian. But sailing farther, it veers its Lily towards the West, and regards that Quarter wherein the Land is nearer or greater; and in the same Latitude, as it approaches its Shore, augments its variation. Now because where the greater Continents are United and Combined, the action and efflux of Magnetical Atoms is also greater, therefore those Needles do suffer the greatest variation, which are in Countries which do most feel that Magnetic Impression. And therefore hath Rome far less variation than London. For on the Westside of Rome, are seated the great Continents of France, Spain, and Germany, which seem to retrench the exuberant effluviums, and poise the vigour of the Eastern parts. But unto England there is almost no Earth West, for the whole extent of Asia and Europe lieth Eastward, and therefore at London it varies eleven Degrees, that is, almost one Rhomb. Thus also by reason of the great Continent of Brasile, Peru, and Chili, the Needle declines towards the Land twelve Degrees: But at the straits of Magellan, where the Land is contracted into a narrow Volume, and the Sea on the other side of a vast diffusion and extent, it varies but five or six. And so likewise because the Cape de las Agullas hath Sea on both sides near it, and other Land remote, and as it were of an equal distance from it, therefore at that point the Needle conforms unto the true Meridian, being not distracted with the attraction resulting from the Vicinity of an adjacent Continent. To this may be added, that this variation proceedeth not only from some eminent terrestrial knobs or excrescencies, which appear like so many wens upon the Face of the World; as also many Magnetical Veins of the Earth, collaterally respecting the Needle, but the different Accumulation of the Earth, disposed unto the Poles, lying under the Sea and Waters; which affect the Needle with greater or lesser variation, according to the vigour or impotency of these subterraneous Lines, or the entire or broken Body of the Magnetical Fabric under it. As it is observable, from several Lodestones, placed at the bottom of any Water; for a Loadstone or Needle, upon the surface, will variously conform itself, according to the vigour or imbecility of the Lodestones under it.  
Lastly, from what hath been premised, a Reason may be alleged for the Variation of the Variation, and why according to observation, the variation of the Needle hath after some years been found to vary, either more, where it was discovered to vary but little before, or but little, where formerly it had a greater deflection or variation. For this may proceed from the Mutation of the Earth, as it is dislocated or supplanted by Earthquakes, wasted and impaired by sulphurous, or other subterraneous fires; or else, as its Magnetic virtue is arrested in its emanation, by being astonished and stupefied by Mineral Spirits, or those Fumes and Exhalations that have any Mercurial or Arsenical Atoms implanted in them; all which by a reiterated impression may so alter the constitution of the Magnetical parts of the Earth, either by Substraction or Addition, that in decursion of time, they may vary the Variation over the place.  
Having thus discovered those, to whom not only Ships, but likewise the Art of managing them did entitle its original invention, I shall add something by way of supplement, touching the derivation of the Name of that eminent Officer, to whom both in elderand more modern Times, the care of public Navies hath been committed, vulgarly styled the Admiral; and if we shall disjoint or dissect the Name, we shall find it confess it self to be both of Arabian and Greek. Extraction, for Emir or Amir in Arabian imports as much as Lord, and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek is of the Sea; so that both these words being cemented together into the Appellation of Admiral, signify a Lord of the Sea. Now the word Emir or Amir, for they are co-incident, was a denomination anciently used by the Arabian Caliphs', as a term of dignity and eminence, so many of them had the additional appellation of Amir Elmumunin, and Emir Omimelin; the first may be rendered Rex Orthodoxorum, or the King of Persons Orthodox; and the last may be translated Rex Credentium, Prince or King of Believers; and at this day, he that in Turkey, by the Command and Designation of the Grand Signior, delivers the Banners to the Sanzacks and Beglerbegs, by which they receive their Investiture, is styled Emir Halem, Lord of the Banner; or if you will receive it in a more pompous Epithet, the Turks chief Standard-Bearer; and this accords with what Leunclavius delivers in his Turkish Pandects. Emir Halem (says he) significat Dominum Vexillorum & Flammeolorum, qui scilicet supremus est sultani Vexillifer, ac omnibus Beglerbegis ac Sauzacbegis, quum creantur vexilla sua porrigit. And hence we read in the History of the Holy War, that Robert Duke of Normandy slew an eminent Saracenical Amir, whose Standard had in summitate Argenteae Hastae Pomum Aureum, which he offered at the Sepulchre of our Saviour, having purchased it at 20. Marks, of one who had taken it by Right of War. Now this word Amir or Emir, is deduced from the Arabic, Verb Amara, which rendered into Latin, is Dixit or Edixit, or else extracted from the Hebrew Verb, Amar, which melted into Latin, signifies praecepit seu imperavit, and it is possible the Spanish word Almirante, is contracted from El Amirante; and that again, by Moorish and Arabic Channels from Alamir, which imports as much as the Chief Captain. Now although vulgar use and custom, by apposition of this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, have restrained this great Officer only to the Command of the Sea, yet in Times of an elder aspect, it was of a more confused, or promiscuous signification; and was not alone confined to Maritime Authority, but was likewise attributed to those eminent Saracenical Soldiers and Governors, who were engaged in a Command by Land, which was proportionate, and answerable in its Latitude and Extent, to that which was exercised by the ancient Tribunes of the Roman Militia; and this I can easily collect from the Authority and Testimony of very ancient Authors. And first, Sigebert the Monk, in his Chronicle relates, that Mahomet or Muhammad, so he calls him, about the year 630. constituted four Governors in the Saracenical Kingdom, which were called Admirals. And Theophanes, in his Chronicle cited by Meursius, tells us, that Muhamed being about to die, designed four Admirals, who were to subdue those who being of Arabic extraction, did yet assert the Christian Religion. And a nameless Author, quoted by Bedwell, seconds this Relation, by informing us, that a certain Caliph constituted four Tribunes of his Soldiery, vulgarly called Admirals, (Admirantes they are called in his stile, though in the phrase of Theophanes above cited, they are styled Amiraei) to every one of which, he gave the Command of many subordinate Officers and Captains, and which Commanders he called the sharp Swords of God. And Junius out of the Notes of Cedrenus upon Curopalates, discovers to us, that Mahomet upon his Decease, appointed four Admirals, whom he enjoined to crush and extirpate, all those Arabians who had embraced the Christian Religion. And farther relates, that they to perfect his Commands, advanced against Theodorus, Chamberlain and General to the Greek Emperor, between whom and themselves, a fatal Field was commenced; in which, three of these Admirals, and a numerous heap of other Soldiers perished.  
The Tyrant of Babylon, in the stile of Henry of Huntingdon, is named the Admiral of Babylon; and the same Author in his Chronicle, asserts twelve Admirals of the Pagans, to have been slain at the Siege of Antioch. And Rupert the Monk, in the fourth Book of his Saracenical History, affirms, that the Son of Cassian, the Great King of Antioch, and twelve Admirals, which the Caliph of Babylon (King he calls him) had employed with succours to the King above mentioned, all perished at the Siege of Antioch; and these twelve which had the Appellation of Admirals annexed to them, he makes to be Rulers of twelve distinct Territories or Provinces: And the same Author, in the beginning of his fifth Book, relates, that the Ambassadors of the Caliph of Babylon, in their Addresses to the French Chieftains, style that Monarch, the Admiral of Babylon. Dominus noster Admiraldus Babyloniae, mandat vobis Francorum Principibus salutem; so in his phrase runs their Application. Monstrelet, an Anthour of good estimate, mentions Arcubalistarum Admirallum, an Admiral of the Arcubalists, or of those persons who were armed with Crosse-bows; and lastly, Matthew Paris, in his life of William Rufus, tell us, of one Corbaran, who after he had Marshaled his Army, and brought his squadrons into Form and Order, put those Troops under the Command of 29. Kings and Admirals.  
But as this eminent Maritime Officer in these latter Times, hath by prescription constantly assumed the Name of Admiral; so in the Times of an elder Inscription, he was not always styled Admirallus, but very frequently Magnus Drungarius Classis, or the great Drungar of the Navy, an Office of eminency and high estimate under the Greek Emperors; yet this Title was not so confined to the Sea, but that it was attributed likewise to those noble persons, who managed the Command of the Land Militia; and therefore the learned Meursius' notes, that there was Magnus Drungarius Biglae, that is, Vigiliae seu Excubiarum Praefectus, the chief Commander or Praefect, to whose inspection, the care of the Watch was solely entrusted; the Ensign or Monument of whose Authority, as the same Meursius intimates, was a Sceptre, or Truncheon of a Purple Colour, richly guilded and adorned at the bottom. Now the Etymology of this word Drungarius, as Leunclevius asserts, is derived from the Modern Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and signifies the same with them, as Agla does with the Turks, and may be interpreted to be that Sceptre or Truncheon, which is the symbol of their Office and Authority; hence the Drungarii amongst the Greeks, & the Aglarii amongst the Turks, are equivolent to our Colonels in Christendom. But the more proper and genuine Etymology of the word, as it is used by Vop'scus and Vegetius, is extracted from Drungus or Druncus, which in their sense imports as much as Globus Militum, and may without distorting the Phrase, be interpreted a Squadron of Soldiers. Vegetius in his discourse de Re Militari, Lib. 3. Cap. 16. observes, that scire Dux debet contrae quos Drungos, hoc est Globos Hostium quos equites oporteat poni; and Vopiscus, in the year 280. relating the Victories of Probus the Emperor, over the Blemii and the Germans, tells us, that he to enhanse the Pomp and Magnificence of his Conquests, Omnium Gentium Drungos duxit, he carried Squadrons or Heaps, of all those Nations he had subdued before his triumphant Chariot.  
I should now wind up this Discourse, but finding so many eminent persons of the English Nation, to have been invested and dignified with the Title of Admiral, I thought it a labour not unworthy consideration, to represent to the public view a just Scale or Series of those worthy Heroes, who have been in their several Generations, by the Favour of the Prince advanced to this Office, whose Catalogue is exactly Registered in the learned and elaborate Pages of Sir Henry Spelman's Glossary.  
Marthusius the Arch-pirate in old Latin Records, styled Archipirata, and Nautarum Princeps, was Admiral under King Edgar, and had several subordinate Commanders under his jurisdiction, (Praefecti they are called in the Record) who had the Command under this Marthusius of almost a Thousand Ships; a Report, if we consider the Bulk and Dimension of those Maritime Vessels which were employed in those Times not altogether improbable, where Note, that although in these Modern Ages, the Name of Pirate is still applied to one who supports himself by Pillage and Depredation at Sea, yet in Times of an elder inscription, the word Pirata or Pirate, was sometimes attributed to those persons to whose care the Mole or Peer of any Haven (called in Latin Pyra) was entrusted, and by whose Inspection it was provided, that those places should receive no prejudice, which were the occasion of so much advantage to the public interest.  
After the mention of Mathusius, there is a Gap or Interval in the Register of the Admirals, and none recorded until the 8th. year of Henry the 3d. and then Richard de Lucy of Newington Lucy's in Kent begins the Catalogue, from whom Ric. Lucy of Charlecot in Warwickshire, Esq is in a Collateral or younger Line originally descended. After whom, the ensuing Roll of Admirals is without any intermission or interruption, in an even clew or series conducted down to our Times.  
Tho. de Moleton had the custody of the norrow Seas (Custos Maris the Record styles him) in the 48 th'. year of Henry the 3 d.  
Will. de Leybourne of Leybourne Castle, was in a convention held at Bruges, in the 15 th'. year of Edward the first styled Admiral. After his Exit, the Office of Admiral being held of too vast concernment to be managed and wielded by one person, there were three Admirals created, in the 22 th'. of Edw. the 2 d. One had the care of the parts towards the North, which was committed to John de Botetort; A second, had the charge of the Sea-coast southward, which was entrusted to William de Leybourne; And a third, had the custody of the Western shore, which was delegated to the inspection of an Irish Knight. Afterwards this Office was invested in two; The first whereof, had the custody of the English shore, from the Thames Mouth Northwards: The second of whom, had the charge of the Western shore, from the Mouth of the Thames South-west; a Register of which here follows.  
 Admirals of the North. Admirals of the West.  34 Edw. 1. Edward Charles Gervase Allard  3 Edw. 2. Joseph Botetort Nicholas Crioll 10 Edw. 2. 10 Edw. 2. Joseph Perbrun alias Perburne Sir Rob. Leybourne  15 Edw. 2. John Perbrun John Athey 12 Edw. 2. 16 Edw. 2. John Perbrun Sir Rob. Leybourn  18 Edw. 2. John Sturmie Robert Battle alias Battle    Robert Bendon   
Butler I know not upon what exigency, or emergent occasion, this Office in the year 1325. that is in the 19 th'. year of Edward the second, was again entrusted to the custody of three, which were, John Otervin, Nicholas Crioll, and John de Felton, which are styled in the Record Admirals of Yarmouth, Portsmouth, and of the West. But about the latter part of this very year, this Office was again reduced to the Care and Charge of, a Catalogue of whom, offers itself up to our present consideration.  
 Admirals of the North. Admirals of the West.  John Sturmy  19 Edw. 2. John Sturmy Nicholas Crioll 20 Edw. 2. Joseph de Leybourne Nicholas Crioll  

Admirals of the North and West, in the Time of Edward the third.  John Perbrun Waretius de Valoigns 1 Edw. 3. John de Norwich William de Clinton 8 Edw. 3. Thomas Oughtred Robert de Hegham, alias Higham 10 Edw. 3. Jo. de Norwich Geffrey de Say 10 Edw. 3. Robert de Ufford, & Jo. de Roos William de Manston, alias Manton 10 Edw. 3. Sir Walter Manney Bartholomew Burgherst 11 Edw. 3. Thom. de Drayton Peter Dared, alias Bard 12 Edw. 3. Robert de Morly, Baron of Hengham Robert Trussell 13 Edw. 3. Robert Morley Rich. Fitz-Allan, Earl of Arundel 14 Edw. 3. William Trussell William Clinton, Earl of Huntingdon 16 Edw. 3. William Trussell Robert Beaupell 17 Edw. 3. Robert Ufford John de Montgomery 18 Edw. 3. Robert Ufford Reginald de Cobham 20 Edw. 3. Sir John Howard Rich. Fitz-Allam, Earl of Arundel 21 Edw. 3. Walter Lord Manney Rich. Fitz-Allan 22 Edw. 3. Sir Robert de Morley Sir John de Montgomery 22 Edw. 3. Robert de Causton Sir Reginal de Cobham 24 Edw. 3. Robert de Morley John de Beauchampe, Earl of Warwick 25 Edw. 3. William de Bohun, Earl Northampton Henry Duke of Lancaster 25 Edw. 3. William de Bohun Tho. de Beauchampe, Earl of Warwick 26 Edw. 3. Robert de Morley, Baron of Hengham Jo. de Beauchampe 29 Edw. 3. Robert de Morley Guy de Brian 30 Edw. 3. Robert de Morley Guy de Brian 33 & 34 Edw. 3.  Guy de Brian  John de Beauchampe ●● Edw. 3. Robert Herle 35 Edw. 3. Ralph Spigurnell 38 Edw. 3.  
These three managed the Office of Admiral alone. But in the 43d. year of Edw. the 3d. the Custody of the Narrow Seas, extending North and West, was again entrusted to two, whose Names are thus Registered.  
 Admirals of the North. Admirals of the West. 43 Edw. 3. Nicholas Tamworth Robert Aston 44 Edw. 3. John Nevil Guy de Brian 45 Edw. 3. Ralph de Ferrars Robert Aston 46, 47, 48. Ed. 3 William Nevil Sir Philip Courtney 50 Edw. 3. William de Ufford, Earl of Suffolk William de Montacute 50. & 51. Edw. 3. Sir Michael De la Pole, Lord of Wingfield Rich. Fitz-Allan, Earl of Arundel  

Admirals under Richard the second.   Admirals of the North. Admirals of the West. 1 Rich. 2. Thomas de Beauchampe, Earl of Warwick Rich. Fitz-Allan, Earl of Arundel 2 Rich. 2. Sir Thomas Percy Sir Hugh Calveley 3, 4, & 5. Rich. 2. Will. de Elmham Sir Philip Courtney  Walter de Hauley 6 Rich. 2. Walter Fitz-Walter, Baron of Woodham John de Roches 7 Rich. 2. Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland Edward Courtney, Earl of Devon 8 Rich. 2. Thomas Percy his Brother Edw. Radington, Prior of St. John's of Jerusalem 9 Rich. 2. Philip Lord Darcy Sir Thomas Trivet 10 Rich. 2. Richard Fitz-Allan, Earl of Arundel and Surrey, was sole Admiral of England, after whom the Office returned to be managed by two.  
Admirals of the North. Admirals of the West.  John de Beaumond, Baron de Folkingham John Holland, Earl of Huntingdon 12 Rich. 2. Sir John Roches Jo. Holland 12 Rich. 2. Edward Earl of Rutland John Holland abovesaid again. 14 Rich. 2. Edw. Earl of Rutland and Cork, was sole Admiral both of the Eastern and Western shore. 15 Rich. 2. Jo. Beauford, Son of John of Gaunt, Marquis Dorsett, and Earl of Somerset, was sole Admiral of England. 21 Rich. 2. Thomas Percy Earl of Worcester, was sole Admiral of England. 22 Rich. 2.  

Admirals under Henry the fourth.  Admirals of the North. Admirals of the West.  Richard Grey Baron of Codnor  2 Henry 4. Thomas Beaufort Brother to the Marquis. Sir Thomas Reniston 5 Henry 4. Thomas Lord Barkley Thomas of Lancaster, Viceroy of Ireland, Lord High-Steward of England, Duke of Clarence, managed the Office of Admiral alone. 6 Henry 4.  
Admirals of the North. Admirals of the West.  Nicholas Blackbourn, Esq Richard Cliderow, Esq 7 Henry 4.  
After these two were dislodged, I find the Office of Admiral no more assigned to two, but for the future circumscribed and concentered in one; a Roll of whom ensues.  

Admirals of England.  
8 Henry 4. John Beaufort, Marquis Dorsett abovesaid, Brother to Henry the fourth, was sole Admiral of England.  
8 Henry 4. Edmond Holland, Earl of Kent, was sole Admiral.  
9 Henry 4. Tho. Beaufort, Brother to the Marquis aforesaid, was sole Admiral of England.   

Admirals of England under Henry the sixth.  
4 Henry 6. John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford, and Earl of Richmond, was Lord High Admiral of England.  
14 Henry 6. John Holland, Duke of Exeter, and Earl of Huntingdon, was constituted Admiral of England, Ireland, and Aquitain, and his Son Henry had the Grant of this Office in Reversion.  
25 Henry 6. William de la Pole, Marquis and Earl of Suffolk, was constituted Admiral of England, Ireland, and Aquitain, during the Nonage of Henry Duke of Exeter.  
28 Henry 6. Henry Holland, abovesaid Duke of Exeter, was Admiral of England, Ireland, and Aquitain.   

Admirals under Edward the fourth.  
1 Edward 4. Richard Nevil, Earl of Warwick and Salisbury, was Admiral of England.  
2 Edward 4. William Nevil, Earl of Kent, and Baron Falconbridge.  
●● Edward 4. Richard Duke of Gloucester.  
49 Henry 6. Richard Nevil, Earl of Warwick.  
11 Edward 4. Richard Duke of Gloucester Admiral again.   

Admirals under Richard the third.  
1 Richard 3. John Howard Duke of Norfolk.   

Admirals of England under Henry the seventh.  
1 Henry 7. John Vere, Earl of Oxford, Lord high Chamberlain of England.   

Admirals under Henry the eighth.  
4 Henry 8. Sir Edward Howard Knight.  
5 Henry 8. Thomas Howard, Lord High Admiral of England, Ireland, Aquitain.  
17 Henry 8. Henry Fitz-Roy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset.  
28 Henry 8. William Fitz-William, Earl of South Hampton.  
32 Henry 8. John Lord Russell Knight.  
34 Henry 8. John Dudley Knight, Viscount Lisle, and Baron Malpas.   

Admirals under Edward the sixth.  
1 Edward 6. Thomas Seymour Knight, Baron Sudeley, Lord High Admiral of England, Ireland, Wales, Calais, and Boulogne.  
3 Edward 6. John Dudley, Knight of the Garter, Earl of Warwick, Viscount Lisle, Master of the King's Household, Admiral of England, Ireland, Wales, Calais, Boulogne, and their Marches, as also of Normandy, Gascoign, and Aquitain.  
4 Edward 6. Edward Clinton Knight, Baron Say and Seal.   

Admirals created under Queen Mary.  
1 Mariae William Howard Knight, Baron of Effingham.  
3 Mariae Edward Clinton Knight, Baron Say and Seal.   

Admirals created under Queen Elizabeth.  
27 Elizabeth. Charles Howard, Baron of Effingham, after created Earl of Nottingham, and Knight of the Garter, Lord High Admiral of England, Ireland, Wales, Calais, and the adjacent Marches, as likewise of Normandy, Gascoign, and Aquitain.   

Admirals created under King James.  
16 Jacob. George Villiers, then only Marquis of Buckingham, Viscount Villers, and Baron of Whaddon, was constituted Lord High Admiral of England.   

Admirals created under King Charles the first.  
4 Carol. 1. Robert Bartue, Earl of Lindsey, Lord High Chamberlain of England.  
Algernon Percy, Earl of Northumberland, Knight of the Garter.   

Admirals under King Charles the second.  
James Duke of York, and Albany, at this instant, Lord High Admiral of England.   
FINIS.