[Satan’s Invisible World Contents]
TO
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
GEORGE
EARL of
WINTON,
Lord SETON and TRANENT, &c.
And One of His MAJESTIES most Honourable Privy Council.
My Lord,
PRESENT your Lo: with an oblation, both Lame and Imperfect. ‘Tis all which my Ability can afford. I must Sacrifice with Barley-Meal, because I want Frankincense.
Farre litabit qui non habet thus.
[He who does not have incense will struggle to make it.]
But what Imperfection is in it, I supply it with the Sincerity of my Respects, who presents it. ‘Tis a subject, that the Learndest Prince, and greatest Monarch in His time, was not ashamed to treate of. I seriously implore your Lordship’s protection, for, I have to do with many Adversaries of this Visible World, who will not fail to ride tilts at me, with bul-rushes and windle-strawes. As for those of Satans Invisible World, in the Name of the Lord, I defy them. I know the acutness of your Lordship’s Ingine, and Profoundness of your Knowledge, in all such and other matters, that there is no Theme which I am able to treat of, or Thesis which I am able to publish, but your Lordship is able by your power and authority, to protect it, and by your reason to defend it.
I am the more encouraged to offer this to your Lordship, A Noble Patrician, because I have seen Tracts of this subject consecrated to Kings, Dukes, and Princes. I have sure experience of your Lordships Bounty and Favourable Aspect, which gave Wings to my New Philosophical Experiments, to flie thorow Holland, France, and Germany, which have made them so acceptable to Strangers.
Neque Phæbo gratior ulla est,
Quam sibi quæ Vari præscripsit pagina nomen.
[Nor is any thing more pleasing to Phoebus,
Than the name of the page that Vari prescribed for him.]
If my Writings had such good Fortune and Success abroad, by the auspicious Conduct of your Lordships name upon the Frontispice, what must they have at home, where your Power, Interest, and Relations are so considerable? Where your Ancestors are so famous, having been useful to their Countrey, in Peace and War; others of them imployed in Publick Affairs at home and abroad, and of all them most eminent for their unstained Loyalty to their Prince, and Zeal for his Interest; and that since Malcome the third, six hundred years agoe, to your Lordship, who is the twentieth and fifth, Lineally descended from Dougald the first of the Family.
What a Faithful Achates, and Companion was Christopher Seton the third, to King Robert the Bruce, in all his troubles? whose love to his King, was like the love of Jonathan to David, for which, and his valiant Atcheivements, he bestowed his Sister Christin upon him in Marriage, and the Flower-de-Luce to his Coat of Arms, one of the chief Ornaments of the Royal Badge.
Patruo te Principe celsum,
Bellipotens illustrat Avus.
[I swear to you, Prince of Heaven,
A mighty grandfather illustrates.]
Was not Alexander Seton, the second Son of Lord William, and Lady Katharin Sinclar, or rather, Saint Katharin, who builded the famous Chappel of Seton, for his excellent endowments of Body and Mind, made head of the noble Family of Gordons, by marrying the Heretrix of Huntly; and that three hundred years ago? And was not his Sister Isabel, by the same Mother, bestowed in Marriage upon that most Princely Youth John Stuart of Darnly, from which two, the Royal Race is descended; So that I may say without Flattery, your Family is come off Princes, and reciprocally, Princes are come off your Family.
Quis venerabilior sanguis, quæ major origo
Quam regalis erit?
[Whose blood is more venerable, which is of greater origin
How royal will it be?]
What was that illustrious Knight Alexander the third, who during the time of John the Balliols Usurpation, three hundred and fifty years ago, was made Governour of Berwick, whom the King of England, while he was beseiging the Town, could neither by Threatnings, nor fair Promises, inveigle or perswade to betray his Trust. The Garison labouring under great penurie of Provision, a Truce was made upon this Condition, That if Relief came not before such a limited day, the Town should be delivered up. The Scottish Army approaching, under the Conduct of the Valiant Douglas, and King Edward fearing that the Town might be releived, sent to the Governour, certifying him (though the dayes of Truce were not yet expired) that if he did not render it forthwith, both his Sons, the one an Hostage, the other a Prisoner of War, should be crucified immediately before his eyes.
But the magnanimous Father, and incomparable Mother, being driven to this insuperable Dilemma;
Dextrum Scylla latus, lævum implacata Charybdis
Obsidet
[Scylla on the right side, Charybdis implacable on the left
(An old way to refer to being “between a rock & a hard place.”)
It is an investment]
Love to their dearest children perswading, and Love and Respect to their Countrey, and Familie disswading, carrie like two invincible Hero’s, and by admirable Resolution, and Constancy, beyond what Roman Histories can parallel, they prefer their Countrie to their dearest Pledges, Fidelity to Treacherie, and Glory to Shame. On which barbaritie, the Famous Poet Johannes Johnstonus Aberdonensis, writteth thus in his Book intituled, The SCOTS Hero’s,
Huc averte oculos, neu tristia fata tuorum,
Respice
Vincit amor Patriæ constansque in pectore virtus,
Omnia pro Patria sustinuisse valens.
[Avert your eyes hither, or the sadness of your fate,
Look back
The love of the country wins, and the virtue that is constant in the breast,
He was able to endure everything for his country.]
This strange Tyrannical, Barbarous, and Monstruous Fact, is suppressed in the Histories of England, and buried in silence, not unwiselie, it being capable neither of defence, nor Excuse.
My Lord,
Neither can I pass over in silence Lord George, the fifth of that Name,
Claros inter habent nomina clara viros.
[They have famous men with famous names.]
Your Great Grand-Fathers Father, who being Master of the Royal Oeconomy to the Queen, was sent by Order of Parliament to France, to make up a Match between Francis the Dolphin, and Mary Queen of Scots. And after, was sent by King James her son, to Henry the Third, for confirming the ancient Alliance, whose third Son Alexander, for his Knowledge and Skill in Juris-Prudence, was manie years a Senator of the Colledge of Justice, and thereafter President to the Senate, and one of the Kings honourable Privy Counsellors, and at last made by King James, Earl of Dumfermling, and Lord High Chancellour of SCOTLAND; from whom, by his two Daughters he had two Grand Children, two matchless Hero’s, John Duke of Lauderdale, and John Earl of Tweeddale, both of them, as was said of Julius Cæsar and Cato, 
, Men of most eminent Parts and Endowments.
Fortes creantur fortibus, & bonis
Est in Juvencis, est in equis patrum
Virtus: nec imbellem feroces
Progenerant aquila columbam.
[The strong are created by the strong and good
It is in the heifers, it is in the horses of the father
Virtue: neither weak nor fierce
Let the eagle breed the dove.]
I come at last to your Lordships Father and Grand-Father, who imitating their Noble Ancestors, were notable examples of Love and Piety towards their Soveraign: both of great Humility and Goodness. Your Grand-Father was admirable, even to excess, for Liberalitie to his other Children, and Hospitalitie to Freinds and Strangers, more becoming a Prince, than a Subject. Your Mother, of the renowned Gordons, a paragon of Nature for her matchless Beauty and Goodness,
Rara quidem facie, forma pulcherrima Dido.
[A rare face indeed, the most beautiful form of Dido.]
My Lord,
I have touched a little the Historie of your Familie, but cannot relate all it deserves. It is well done by others, and augmented by the Learned Notes of Sir Alexander Seton of Pitmeden, Knight Baronet, that honourable Gentleman, one of the honourable Senators of the Colledge of Justice.
But for what end (my Lord) have I celebrated the praises of your Predecessors? Is it because I have nothing to say of Yourself? Far be it. Your large Possessions purchased by the Prudence and Heroick Valour of Your Fore-Fathers, are managed with Frugalitie and Moderation.
Non minor est virtus quam quærere, parta tueri:
Casus inest illic, hic erit artis opus.
[There is no less virtue than to seek, to protect what has been won.
Chances are, there will be a work of art here.]
The ancient Honour and Dignitie of Your Familie is preserved without the least stain or spot of Disloyalty; so that I may trulie say, as is ingraven upon the Frontispice of Your statelie Palace, Decus decori addis avito.
This Treatise is called Satans Invisible World Discovered, but I am ascertain’d, that by Your transcendent Skill, you have discovered an Invisible World, far beyond what any of your Ancestors could do; I mean your subterraneous World, a work for a prince, and a Subject to Write of, by that great Philosopher Kircher. What Meanders and Boutgates are in it, are rather to be admired than beleived. There Dædalus for all his skill would mistake his way? What running of Mines and Levels? What piercing of Gaes? What cutting of impregnable Rocks, with more difficultie than Hannibal cutted the Alpes.
Qui montes rupit aceto.
[He who breaks mountains with vinegar.]
What Deep-Pits and Air-holes are digged! What diligence to prevent Damps, which kill Men and beasts in a moment! What contriving of Pillars, for supporting houses and Churches, which are undermined! What floods of Water run thorow the Labyrinths, for several miles, by a free Level, as if they were conducted by a Guide! How doth Art and Nature strive together, which of the twain shall advance your Lordships Interest most! What curious Mechanical Engines has Your Lordship, like another Archimedes, contrived for your Coal-works, and for draining of Coal-sinks! What a moliminous Rampier, hath Your Lordship begun, and near perfected, for a Harbour of deep Water, even at Neip-Tides!
Portus ab accessu ventorum immotus et ingens.
[The harbor was unmoved and huge by the approach of the winds.]
How bountiful has Nature been in forming a choice Coal under ground, within a stone-cast of your New-haven?
Your Experimental Skill in improving your Coal, for making of Salt, is praise worthie. Your defending of the Salt-pans against the imperious Waves of the raging Sea, from the N. E. is singular. Your renting of Rocks, for clearing of Passages into your Harbours, which none of your Predecessors were able to do, is stupendious.
As the Result of the wise Government of your Affairs redounds to your self, so does it to the publick Advantage of the Countrie, and others, so that men may say,
Te toti genitum se credere genti.
[You are the whole generation if you believe people.]
How manie hundreds of Young and Old have their Beeing and Livelie-hood, by their dependence on your Lordships vertuous Actions about the Coal and Salt, and things belonging thereunto, who art your self the greatest Coal and Salt-Master in Scotland, who is a Nobleman, and the greatest Nobleman in Scotland, who is a Coal and Salt-Master; Nay, absolutelie the best for skill in both, of all Men in the Nation. What fruitful Corn-fields, where Ceres hath her chief habitation, lye within the prospect of your dwelling house at Seton? Which perswades me to maintain this Paradox, There is no Subject in Britan has so much Casual and Land-Revenue within a mile of his house, as your Lordship has.
In a word, your Affability in Converse, your Sobriety in Dyet and Apparel, your Friendship and Kindness to Your Freinds, your Candor and Ingenuity, with the prudent management of your Affairs, have indeared all Men to You; So that I may say, If your Predecessors were famous of Old for their Feats of War, in the time of War, so is your Lordship famous for your Arts of Peace, in the time of Peace. But, my Lord, I fear I am wearisome, and therefore I shall close as I began, imploring your Patrocination to this small Enchiridion. And as I have been long since Devoted to You in all Dutie and Love, so shall I ferventlie pray for Your Preservation and Happiness here and hereafter, while I live, and shall think my self happie to be under the Character of Your Lordships,
Most Dutiful and
Obedient Servant,
GEORGE SINCLAR.
