and the preceeding kings Ethelbert son to Ethelred He was treacherously murthered by Offa the great king of the Mercians invited to his Court vpon pretence of marriage with his daughter Elfrid After Echelbert the East-Angles for a long time became a prey to the Mercians West-Saxons Kentish Saxons without kings or mentioned in Authours By great Egbert with the rest of the Heptarchie they became subject to the English name and Monarchy vnder a substituted king of their owne not named by Huntingdoniensis my Author as neither are any other of their princes vntill Edmund descended from Anna succeeding about the yeare 780. Saint Edmund the last Saxon king of the East-Angles substituted or governing vnder the West-Saxons invaded by Hungar and Hubba two Pagan Danish Captaines and after sundry torments with great constancy sustayned for his faith profession tyed to a stake and shot to death with their arrowes canonized for a Saint and Martyr whose rich and much honoured shrine gaue occasion of the name of Saint Edmundsbury in Suffolke Saint Edmund thus martyred after 9 yeares vacancy and spoile by the Danes Guthrum or Godrun a Danish Captaine succeedeth in the kingdome hereof of the East-Saxons to whome Eohric of the same nation succeedeth By Edward the first Monarch of the English Saxons the Danes are lastly driven out and the countrie is immediatly vnited to the rest of the English Empire THE KINGDOME OF MERCIA IT was so named after our best antiquaries from the word Mearc signifying with the Dutch or English a bounder called thus since confining in a manner withall the rest of the Saxon kingdomes lying in the heart and middle part of the Iland Better Etymologies we know not It contayned in its greatest extent the Countries of the Dobuni Catycâ—chlani Coritani and Cornavij of Ptolemy with part of the Iceni and Silures or after Malmes buriensis the moderne countries of Lincolne Nottingham Rutland Leicester Huntingdon Bedford Northampton Buckingham Oxford Glocester Warwijck Stafford Darby Worcester Hereford Chester and Shropshire with part of Hartfordshire the largest of all the seaven kingdomes bounded vpon the East with the East-Saxons and East-Angles with part of the German Ocean betwixt the Metaris or the Washes of Lincolneshire and the mouth of Humber vpon the South with the riuer Thames from the West-Saxons vpon the West with Offa's-Ditch from the Welsh with part of the Irish Ocean betwixt the Dee and Mersey and vpon the North with the riuer Mersey and Humber from the kingdome of Northumberland It comprehended the North South Mercia the riuer of Trent parting these two devisions after Mat. of VVestminster It was begun by Crida or Creodda a Saxon Captaine in the yeare 585 after my authour descended from prince VVoden enlarged by the victories of Wibba Penda and Offa. By great Egbert it was subjected to the vassalage of the West-Saxon Monarchs about the yeare 886 ending in Burdred a substitute of the West-Saxons tyred with long warres and molestations of the Danes departing vnto Rome after whom the Danes who had now vsurped it being expulsed it was vnited to the West-Saxon kingdome The Kings were Crida or Creodda aforesaid about the yeare 585 the first king of the Mercians Wibba son to Crida Ceorl son to Kinemund brother to VVibba Penda son to VVibba succeeding in the yeare 626. He slew in battaill Edwin and Oswald kings of Northumberland and Sigebert Egfrid and Anna kings of the East-Angles and droue out of his kingdome Kenwald of the VVest-Saxons noted for his bloudy fierce and violent raigne many victories and much cruelty against the neighbouring Christian English Himselfe was lastly slaine at a great memorable overthrow given by Oswy king of the Northumbrians After this the country for a time was made subject to Oswy and the Northumbrian Saxons Peada son to Penda by Oswy king of Northumberland vpon the marriage of Alkfled his naturall daughter set ouer the part of Mercia lying South of the riuer Trent with condition that hee should become Christian the first Christian king of the Mercians The part of Mercia vpon the North of Trent Oswy joyned to the immediate government of the Northumbrians He was slaine after Beda by the treason of his wife Alkfled after others by his mother Kinswith wife to Penda After Peada the Mercians shook off the yoke of the Northumbrians and Wulfhere is advanced to the kingdome Wulfhere son to Penda and brother to Peada Oswy the Northumbrians thrust out king of the Mercians By his great valour happie exploites after Oswy he obtayned the Soveraignety or chiefe rule of the Saxons continued in his successours vntill Kenelme and the Monarchy of Egbert and the VVest Saxons the eleventh Monarch of the English He founded the Church Monastery of Medesham or Peter borough begun by his brother Peada converted to Christianity by holy Chad the Apostle or first Bishop of Lichfield and the Mercians He deceased in the yeare 674. Amongst other issue he had Wereburg a professed Nun in the Monastery of Elye appointed afterwards by king Ethelred visitour of all the Monasteries in the kingdome of Mercia which charge she vnderwent with great zeale and opinion of sanctity whose dead corps or reliques remoued afterwards to the City of Chester occasioned there the Church of Saint VVereburg since the Cathedrall of that Diocese founded by Leofrike Earle of Chester in her honour Ethelred brother to Peada and VVulshere and son to Penda king of Mercia and the twelft Monarke of the English He founded the Monasterie of Bardney in Lincolneshire where relinquishing the kingdome himselfe became Monke and afterwards Abbat Kenred son to Wulfhere Ethelred resigneing king of Mercia and Monarch of the English Having raigned foure yeares he likewise gaue ouer the kingdome and with Offa king of the East-Saxons went to Rome where Constantine the first being Pope they together put on the Coule habit of religion Chelred son to Ethelred king of Mercia and Monarch of the English He had warres with Ina king of VVest-Saxons growne great through his late victories ouer the Kentish and South-Saxons and aspiring to the Monarchy managed with aequall fortunes Ethelbald of the blood royall of the kings of Mercia descended from Crida king of the Mercians Monarch of the English in the time of S t Winifrid or Boniface the Apostle of the Germans and Archbishop of Mentz reprehended by him for his vnmarried yet most lascivious and vnchast life He was slaine by his mutinous subjects stirred vp by Bernred ayming hereby at the kingdome Offa descended from Wibba after some vacancy the death of the Tyrant Bernred whom he slew in battaill king of Mercia and Monarch of the English renowned for his great victories archieved against the bordering Welsh Saxons He drew Offaes Ditch before described the bounder betwixt him the Welsh and subjected his English to atribute of the sea of Rome called Romscot and Peter-pence He likewise founded the great
Iland of Helena a Brittish woman religion here is first generally authorized as in all other places subiect to the Roman Empire clouded soone after with a blacke darkenesse of Arian infection begun in the raigne hereof and condemned by the first Nicene councell but resuming greater strength vnder his son Constantius who next succeded and with a generall plague spreading over this Province together with the whole Christian world This tempest blowne ouer the Orthodox faith is againe endangered in the raigne of Arcadius Honorius by the heresie of Pelagius a natiue of this Country vndertaking a proud warre to vse the words of my Author against the sauing grace of God in whose refutation S Austine much laboured who then liued here routed out by the authority and religious and learned endeavours of S. German and S. Lupus Bishops of Auxerre and Trois in France at the request of the Britons sent hither by the French Churcb and lastly after sundry relapses by S. David Bishop of Meneva or Menew since from hence called S. Davids in the raigne of Arthur king of the Britons About those tymes flourished amongst others of that nature here and amongst the Scots in Ireland the famous Monastery of Banchor erected long before the time of S. Benedict or of anyknowne order and rule of Monkes consisting after my author of seauen parts or devisions vnder their seuerall heads each whereof conteined at the least 300 persons maintained by the labour of their hands without salary or revenue The ruines hereof are yet seene vpon both sides of the Dee in Flintshire in Wales the course of the riuer hauing since beene altered In the yeare of Christ 449 Valentinian the third then succeeding in the Westerne Roman Empire the Saxons or Dutch at that time Pagans vnder their Prince Hengist arriue in Kent followed by fresh Colonies of the same Religion Nation seazing vpon other parts of the Ilands by which meanes Christianity is here againe almost totally obscured if not fully extinguished driuen out with the natiue Britons and confined onely with in Wales Cornwall and the Westerne Mountaines Their prophane gods if it be worth the noting were Tuisto mentioned by Tacitus and vvoden and Frea by Malmesburiensis in whose honour the second third and fift dayes of the weeke were named Tuesday VVednesday and Friday continued since in the flourishing time of the Gospell and vnto this present The neighbouring vncharitable Welsh or Britons not vouchsafing their aide and disdaining all commerce herewith offended with their iniurie and intrusion S. Austine a Monke of Rome is sent hither from Gregorie the Great then Bishop of that sea at whose hands Ethelbert chiefe King of the English his Kentish Saxons receiue baptisme the first Archbishop of Durovernia or Canterburie arriving here in the raigne of Mauritius Emperour of the East and some 150 yeares after the first comming of Hengist Kent by diuine grace being thus illuminated the other kingdomes of the English Heptarchy follow not long after The East-Saxons vnder their King Sebert through the authority of King Ethelbert and by the preaching of Mellitus first Bishop of London vnder the Saxons relapsing soone after vnder Selred Seward and the first and second Sigeberts idolatrous princes and recouered to the faith vnder Sigebert the third through the perswasions of Oswy king of Northumberland and the pious labours of S. Cedde the second Apostle and Bishop hereof after S. Mellitus the Northumbrians vnder their kings Edwin and Oswald and by the preachings of Paulinus and Aidan the first bishops of Yorke and Lindisfarne the East-Angles vnder their King Erpenwald by the instigation of Edwin King of Northumberland after three yeares apostacy Erpenwald deceased confirmed in the Orthodoxe religion through the industry and holy raigne of King Sigebert the West-Saxons vnder their King Kingils by the preaching of S. Birinus the first bishoppe of Dorchester in Oxford-shire and through the godly zeale of Oswald king of Northumberland The Mercians vnder their king Penda and Peada and Wulsfhere sonnes to Penda by the preachings amongst others of S. Ceadda an Apostle of the Mercians and the first bishop of Lichfield brother to Cedde the second bishop of the East-Saxons and by the meanes of Oswy King of Northumberland and the South-Saxons vnder their King Edilwalch by the preaching of S. Wilfrid Arch-bishoppe of Yorke liuing then here exiled thrust out of his bishoppricke by Egfrid King of the Northumbrians sonne and successour to Oswy The last Countrey converted vnder the English was the I le of Wight subdued and forced to the Christian beleife by Ceadwalla King of the West-Saxons Great was the heate and devotion of that first more good plaine and simple age Churches and Oratories builded Bishopprickes erected Monasteries founded then the onely nurseries of learning and reliligion and painefull ministers euery-where planted sincere iust exemplary without hypocrisie faction pride ambition and desire of worldly gaine couetous only of the glory of God and the promotion of his Church by whose holy endeavours England then being too strait to containe so earnest and immense a Zeale the neighbouring Germans not long after tooke flame and were wonne vnto the faith in regard thereof and of their common language which then was the same with the Dutch chiefely aboue others imployed in this sacred worke by the Bishops of Rome and the French Kings to whom the Countrey was then subiect Amongst these of more honourable memory were S. Willebrord the first bishop of Vtreicht S. Weiro bishop of Deira S. Plechelmus bishop of Wit-herne or Candida Casa S. Swibert bishop of Werden S. Acca bishop of Hagustald S. Marcelline and others the Apostles of the Thuringians Frisons and the Lower Germans in the Regency of Pepin the Fat Maiour of the Palace of the French kings S. Willebald the Apostle of East-france and first bishop of Eystet at the same time and S. Willehade the Apostle of the Saxons and first bishop of Bremen but more especially Saint Boniface or Winifride the first Arch-bishoppe of Mentz and the generall Apostle of the Nation acknowledged thus by the vnpartiall Dutch and Popish Relaters about the yeare 710 and Papacie of Gregorie the second after many relapses the establisher here of religion and meanes of their more perfect and full conuersion The English we finde not as yet enthralled to the Church of Rome although not without their errours and much reverencing the authority of that sea from whence had proceeded their conuersion following their doctrine honouring the same with their frequent pilgrimages their pension of Peter pence and with the coule and religious habits of sundry of their Kings The Welch then or Britons were altogether averse from all acknowledgment hereof neither obeying the Legates of the Popes neither yeelding to their decisions or conforming to their rule differing from them in sundry
an end to these long afflictions and vnsetled state of the Church the Gospell reestblished with mature and graue aduice and confirmed by her many victories and long and prosperous raigne continued since by her glorious successour King Iames maintained by the authority of his royall pen the faiths vndoubted defender the Churches patron and the true Cleargies friend with no lesse zeale and constancie by Charles our gracious soueraigne now raigning heire of his Fathers Crowne and Prinâ—ly vertues The Religion then here publiquely allowed is the Reformed or Protestant whose briefe summe is set downe in the 39 Articles agreed vpon in a Convocation holden at London in the yeare 1562 and confirmed by the Cleargie of both Provinces The supreame head hereof is the prince by a common right and prerogatiue of Kings and by decree of Parliament enacted in the yeare 1534 26 of the raign of King Henry the eight The Cleargie are Arch-bishops Bishops and inferiour ranks all Regulars or Monks excluded The Arch-bishops or Metropolitane seas follow Canterbury whose Diocesse with that of Rochester is Kent and whose Province in a manner is the whole South-part of England on this side Trent and Humber begunne about the yeare 596 by Ethelbert the first Christian King of the Kentish Saxons in the person of Saint Austine the first Apostle of the English The Bishops hereof are named Primates and Metropolitans of all England by order of Convocation in the yeare 1534. Formerly during the Romish Hierarchy they assumed the title of Legats of the Popes and Primates of all Britaine Yorke whose Diocesse is Nottinghamshire and Yorkeshire and Province the part of England vpon the North of Humber Dee and Trent founded about the yeare 652 by Edwin King of Northumberland in the person of Paulinus Chaplaine to his Queene Ethelburga and the Apostle of these Northerne parts of the English The Bishopricks may thus be ranked vnder their seas Metropolitane vnder Canterbury London whose Diocesse is Essex Middlesex and part of Hartfordshire founded about the yeare 606 by Sebert and Ethelbert Kings of the East and Kentish Saxons in the person of Mellâ—â—us the Apostle of the East-Saxons and continued after a long apostacy by Sigebert the second Christian king hereof in the person of S. Cedde the second Apostle and Bishop brother to Saint Ceadda for thus are the names distinguished the Apostle and Bishop of Lichfield and the Mercians The Bishops hereof are otherwise in Beda named of the East-Saxons The extent of their iurisdiction hath not any thing beene altered since the time of their institution Winchester founded by Kenwald king of the VVest-Saxons in the person of VVina a Frenchman taken out of the large Diocesse of Dorcester by Oxford in the time of Agilbert the second Bishop of that sea founded by King Kingills father to Kenwald in the person of Berinus an Italian the Apostle of the West-Saxons Agilbert forsaking England discontented with this division and the promotion of VVina the voyde Bishopricke of Dorcester became vnited to VVina to the sea hereof By king Ina the South-Saxons are likewise herevnto added vpon his conquest of that Countrey The great Bishoprick of VVinchester contained then by this meanes both kingdomes of the South and West-Saxons By Ina about the yeare 704 the Bishopricke of Sherborne is taken out Not long after in the yeare 711 the Bishopricke of Selsey for the South-Saxons The Diocesse after so many loppings comprehendeth now the countries onely of Surrey and Hantshire with the Iles of VVight Iersay Garnsay and Alderney In the yeare 733 Dorcester was againe made a Bishops see but for the Province of the Mercians takeÌ„ out of the Diocesse of Lichfield Out of Sherborne by Edward surnamed the Elder were devided the Bishoprickes of VVells for Sommersetshire of Ramesbury for Wiltshire and of Kirton and Bodman for Devonshire and Cornwall Of these Ramesbury became vnited againe with Sherborne in bishop Herman and the raigne of Edward the Confessour Bodman during the Danish warres was translated to S. Germans and lastly vnited with Kirton by the authority of king Canutus Of Kirton and VVells hereafter The Bishops of Winchester were otherwise in Beda named of the West-Saxons Lincolne begunne at Dorcester by Oxford in the yeares aforesaid brought hither by Bishop Remigius in the raigne of the Conquerâ—ur according to the order of a Synod at London that the Sees of bishops in obscure and decayed townes should be remoued to the chiefe citties of each Diocesse It conteined then the middle of England betwixt the riuer of Thames and Humber By king Henry the first the bishoppricke of Elie is taken out By Henry the eight those of Oxford and Peterborough It extendeth yet over Lincolneshire Leicestershire Huntingdonshire Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire with part of Hartfordshire the largest of all the English bishopricks Sarisburie begunne at Sherborne by Ina king of the West-Saxons in the person of Adelmus about the yeare 704 and remoued hither by bishop Hâ—man in the raigne of the Conquerour It conteineth now VViltshire and Barkshire Excester begunne at Kirton in Devonshire in the person of Adulfus by Edward surnamed the Elder Monarch of the English and remoued hither vnder bishop Leofricus in the raigne of Edward the Confessour VVells tooke out of the Diocesse of Sherborne and founded in the person of Athelmus by Edward the Elder Monarch of the English-Saxons By Iohn de Villula vnder king VVilliam Rufus the See was remoued to Bath Vnder bishop Robert in the raigne of king Stephen the two Churches of Bath and VVells after much contention are agreed and the Bishoppes are to assume the title of both places continuing euer since The Diocesse hereof is onely Somersetshire Chichester begun in Selsey by Edilwalch the first Christian king of the South-saxons in the person of S. VVilfride the exiled bishop of Yorke or of Northumberland the Apostle hereof after VVilfride and the conquest of the country by the West-Saxons vnited to Winchester about the yeare 711 in bishop Edbrith devided againe from Winchester and restored to Selsey and lastly from Selsey remoued hither the chiefe towne of the Diocesse by bishop Stigand in the time of William the Conquerour It conteineth onely Sussex Elye tooke of Lincolne and conteyning only Cambridgeshire founded by king Henry the first in the person of Harvaeus sometime Bishop of Bangor in Wales Norwich begun at Dunwich about the yeare 630 by Sigebert king of the East-Angles in the person of Faelix a Burgundian vnder Bisus the fourth bishop diuided into two Bishopricks of Dunwich and North-Elmham in the yeare 955 after a long vacancy during the Danish tyranny and vsurpation in the person of Athulfus restored and vnited in one bishoppricke of North-Elmham by Edwy king of the English-Saxons by bishop Herfast remoued from North-Elmham
to Thetford in the time of the Conquerour and lastly hither from Thetford by bishop Herebert about the yeare 1086 toward the latter end of the same raigne or the beginning of William Rufus The bishops hereof are otherwise by Beda named of the East-Angles Their Diocese is extended ouer the Countreyes of Norfolke and Suffolke Lichfield begun amongst the Mercians about the yeare 656 in the person of Diuma a Scottishman by Oswy king of Northumberland and Monarch of the English after his great victory obtained against Penda and in the yeare 669 fixed here by holy Ceadda or Chad in the raigne of VVulferus king of the Mercians In Adulphus about the yeare 793 it was raised to an Arch-bishoprick by king Offa but which dignity lasted not beyond his time By bishop Peter in the yeare 1075 and time of the Conquerour the sea is remoued to Chester by Robert de Limesey in the yeare 1095 to Coventry the residence of many of the succeeding Bishops In regard hereof these now vse the title of both cities of Coventry and Lichfield Their Diocese contained more anciently the whole Kingdome of the Mercians whereof they are otherwise named by Beda By King Ethelred brother and successour to VVulferus the Bishopricks of VVorcester and Sidnacester are taken out not â—â—ng after about the yeare 733 those of Leicester and Dorcester and lastly by Henry the eight the Bishoprick of Chester whereof VVorcester and Chester remaine at this present Dorchester was as before translated to Lincolne and Sidnacester and Leicester became vnited with Dorcester Vnto the jurisdiction hereof appertaineth at this day all Staffordshire and Darbyshire with parts of VVarwickshire and Shropshire VVorcester containing VVorcestershire and part of Warwickshire taken out of Lichfied and founded about the yeare 679 in the person of Boselus by Ethelred King of the Mercians brother to Wulferus The Bishop hereof is otherwise named of the Wiccij by Beda the more proper name of the inhabitants of the countrey in the time of my Authour Hereford containing Herefordshire and part of Shropshire founded in Bishop Putta about the yeare 680. Rochester containing part of Kent founded in the yeare 606 by Ethelbert the first Christian king of Kent in the person of Saint Iustus Oxford containing Oxfordshire taken out of Lincolne in the yeare 1541 by Henry the eight whose first bishop was Robert King the last Abbot of the Monastery of Ousney Peterborough containing Northamptonshire and Rutlandshire taken out of Lincolne by Henry the eight whose first bishop was Iohn Chambers the last Abbot of that Monastery Glocester containing Glocestershire founded by Henry the eight and taken out of Worcester whose first bishop was Iohn Wakeman Abbot of Teuxbury Bristoll containing that City and Dorsetshire founded by Henry the eight whose first bishop was Paul Bush a Batchelour of Divinity of the Vniversity of Oxford S. Davids begun at Isca Silurum now Caer-Leon in Monmouthshire by Dubritius formerly bishop of Landaff in the time of Aurelius Ambrosius King of the Britons and remoued hether to Meneva or Menew named afterwards S. Davids in the raigne of King Arthur by David next successour to Dubritius renowned amongst the Welsh for his stout opposition against the Pelagian heresie returning with fresh rage after the departure of S. German and S. Lupus and lastly in those parts extinguished through the great industry and authority hereof canonized a Saint long afterwards by Pope Calixtus In S. Dauid or Dubritius it was made a sea Metropolitane for the Britons accompted thus vntill the Norman conquest of Wales although the Paule lost carryed to Dole in France during a fierce pestilence by bishop Sampson Vnder King Henry the first it became subject to the sea of Canterbury It containeth now Pembrokeshire Cardiganshire and Caermardenshire in VVales Landaff containing Glamorganshire Monmouthshire Brecknockshire and Radnorshire whose first bishop whereof we read in approued authours was Dubritius before-mentioned a great oppugner of the Pelagians consecrated by S. German bishop of Auxerre and after his remoue to Caer Leon here succeeded vnto by Teliaus continuing the sea Bangor containing Caernarvonshire Merionethshire Denbighshire Anglesey When the sea begun we finde not The first knowne bishop was Hervaeus afterwards bishop of Elye appointed by king Henry the first S. Asaph containing Denbighshire Flintshire named thus from S. Asaph the second bishop and called otherwise Lhan-Elwy by the VVelsh founded by Malgo king of the Britons about the yeare 560. in the person of Kentigerne a Scottish bishop of Glasco liuing exiled in those parts and beginning the Church and Monasterie thus named Vnder Yorke Durham begun at Lindisfarne or the Holy Iland by Oswald king of the Northumbrian Saxons in the person of Aidan a Scottishman the Apostle of those parts after Paulinus and remoued hither with the body of S Cutbert sometimes likewise bishop of Lindisfarne by bishop Edmund in the raigne of Ethelred Monarch of the English Saxons The three first bishops of Lindisfarne Aidan Finnan and Colman all three Scottishmen are otherwise by Malmesburiensis accompted amongst the bishops of Yorke governing the Ecclesiastical affaires of the Northumbrians after Paulinus during the invasions and cruelty of the Mercians and Welsh vnder Penda and Cadwallo their kings but not vsing the Paule or assuming the title of Metropolitans or of Yorke The Diocese hereof is now onely Durham and Northumberland Carlile containing Westmoreland with part of Cumberland founded in the person of Athaulphus by king Henry the first taken out of Durham Chester taken out of Lichfield and Coventry founded by king Henry the eight The first bishop was Iohn Bird Provinciall of the Frier Carmelites It containeth Cheshire Lancashire and Richmondshire in Yorkeshire with parts of Cumberland and Flintshire Man containing that Iland appointed by Pope Gregory the fourth The bishop hereof hath no place or suffrage in the English Parliaments Besides these there were Hagustald whose first bishop after Malmesburiensis was S. VVilfrid before-mentioned or Eata or Tumbert according to Beda after the expulsion of S. VVilfrid and the division of the sea of Yorke by king Ecgfrid extinguished in the time of the Danish warres Lindissi taken out of the great Diocese of Lichfield and founded after Beda by Ecgfrid King of Northumberland vpon his conquest of that country from VVulferus of the Mercians vnder bishop Leouinus after Malmesburiensis vnited with the sea of Leicester in the raigne of Edgar Monarch of the English Saxons VVit-herne begun vnder Pecthelmus in the time of Beda and continuing certaine yeares after The towne yet standeth in Galloway a part then of the English kingdome of Northumberland since belonging to the Scots Amongst the bishops next vnto the Arch-bishops the first place hath London next to whom are
Christian king of Kent and through the preaching of Paulinus the Apostle of those Northern parts first Archbishop of Yorke He began at Yorke the Church of S. Peter appoiting it to bee the Cathedrall of that Metropolitane sea After Redwald he got the soveraignty or chiefe rule amongst the Saxons the eight Monarch of the English Hauing a long time raigned victoriously he was lastly about the yeare 633 slain in battaile by the joint armes of Penda king of the Mercians and of Cadwallo king of the Britons Osric king of Deira son to Alfrid brother to Ella and Eanfrid king of Bernicia son to Ethelfrid after the decease of Edwin returning out of Scotland where they had kept during the raigne hereof and succeeding in the two kingdomes of Northumberland noted by Beda Malmesburiensis for their apostacy from the faith of Christ wherein with Oswald who next succeeded they had been baptized during their exile amongst the Scots and the iust reuenge of God for this their impiety after some one yeares short raigne overcome and slaine by Cadwallo king of the Britons Oswald son to Ethelfrid and brother to Eanfrid hauing vanquished Cadwallo his Britons in a memorable bloudy fight succeeding in both Provinces of Deira and Bernicia He attained likewise to the chiefe rule of the Saxons the ninth Monarch of the English Hee restored in the parts of Northumberland the much decayed Christian Religion by the preachings and especiall industry of Aidan a Scottish man and the first Bishop of Lindisfarne to whom in regard of his ignorance of the Saxon tongue he serued as an interpretour He was slaine by Penda the cruell king of the Mercians in a battaile fought at Maserfield now from hence named Oswaldstree in Shropshire Oswy king of Bernicia naturall son to Ethelfrid and Oswyn king of Deira son to Osric succeeding about the yeare 643 in the two kingdomes of Northumberland Emulation and wars arising betwixt the two Princes and good Oswyn by the treason of Earle Hunwald being deliuered into the hands of Oswy by whom he is wickedly murthered Oswy attaineth to the Dominion of all Northumberland and by the strength and advantage hereof to the chiefe rule and soveraignty of the English the tenth and last Monarch of the English of the house of Northumberland He slew in fight the mercilesse and raging Penda and subdued the Mercians to his will rebelling notwithstanding shortly after and reassuming liberty vnder Vulfhere son to Penda He deceased about the yeare 670. After this Prince the two Provinces of Deira and Bernicia went still vnited vnder one onely king of Northumberland Egfrid king of Northumberland son to Oswy He lost the Monarchy or chiefe rule of the English to Vulf here and the Mercians He was slaine against the Picts entrapped amongst their mountaines Encouraged by this ouerthrow the remainder of the Britons inhabiting Cumberland the Westerne coasts along the Irish Ocean cast off the yoake of the Northumbrians and became a free estate Alkfryd king of Northumberlād naturall son to Oswy Osred king of Northumberland son to Alkfrid He was slaine in fight by Kenred and Osric aiming hereby at the Crowne and through the advantage of his licentious life and many vices Kenred king of Northumberland the murtherer of Osred descended from Ida the first king of Bernicia by his Concubine Osric king of Northumberland associate with Kenred in the treason against Osred Ceolwulph king of Northumberland brother to Kēred He voluntarily resigned the kingdome took the habit of religion in the Iland of Lindisferne now Holy Land Vnto this prince Venerable Bede dedicateth his Ecclesiasticall historie of the English Nation Egbert king of Northumberlād son to Eata brother to Ceolwulf He also left the kingdome and turned religious Oswulph sonne to Egbert after a short raigne slaine by treason Edilwald descended from king Ida by his Concubine slaine by Alured Alured descended from Ida and the same Concubine driven out by his seditious subjects Ethelred son to Edilwald expulsed by the faction of Edelbald and Herebert two noblemen of the Countrie Alswald brother to king Alured murthered by his ever wicked and rebellious subjects Osred son to Alured forced out by the same fury Ethelred son to Edilwald restored to the kingdome after Alswald and Osred in the yeare 794 slaine by his still bad and mutinous subjects long practised in treason and the murther of their princes the last king of Northumberland after Malmesburiensis Ethelred thus murthered the Countrie for the space of thirty and three yeares was much turmoyled with ciuill dissentions and continuall intrusions of petty tyrants contending for and vsurping the soveraignety of small power through this disorder and short continuance and not deserving the name of kings In the yeare 827 not able any longer to hold out or to resist so great a Monarch the Northumbrians were subdued or rather voluntarily yeelded vnto Egbert the most potent king of the VVest-Saxons After this subjection they were ruled by Vice-Royes or substitute kings vnder the VVest-Saxons of which ranke were Osbrict and Ella mentioned by Henry of Huntington in the raigne of Ethelwolf son and successour to great Egbert These two being slaine by the Danes they were made subject to that nation whose kings after Huntingdoniensis if they be worth the naming were Haldene Gudfert Nigellus Sidrik Reginald and Anlaf commaunding here in a confused and disorderly manner sometimes one ruling alone sometimes two or many together By Athelstan these Danish Northumbrians were driven out or subdued to the English Monarchy not long after by king Edred after sundry rebellions incorporated into the kingdome and accompt and name of the English THE KINGDOME OF THE WEST-SAXONS IT contayned more aunciently the Belgae Attrebatij and Durotriges of Ptolemy now Barkeshire Wiltshire Somersetshire Hantshire Dorset-shire with the I le of Wight having vpon the South the British Ocean vpon the East the South-Saxons vpon the North the Mercians and the river Thames and vpon the West the sea of Severne and the Cornish Britons Malmesburiensis addeth Devonshire and Cornwall or the parts belonging sometimes to the Danmonij or Cornish Britons subdued and annexed by Great Egbert a little before the period of the Heptarchie and the abolition of the kingdome and distinction of the West-Saxons The state was begun after those of Kent and Sussex but before the rest of the Heptarchie by Cerdic a Saxon Captaine about the yeare 495 landing with fresh German succours amongst the Iceni where now is Cerdic-shore neere Yarmouth and descending from thence towards the VVest and hauing vanquished and slaine Natanleod a British Commander fixing and establishing in the Westerne parts the kingdome named thus from its situation enlarged by the after conquests hereof and of his victorious Successours vpon the distressed neighbouring Britons Into this kingdome as into a more fresh liuely stocke all the rest of the kingdomes of the Saxons became at length engrafted mastered by the armes of great
and with Leicestershire The country is large extended aboue 60 miles in length and about 30 in bredth and seuered into 3 greater names or divisions 1 of Holland vpon the Washes and Ocean vnto Wainflet 2 Kesteven lying vpon the west of Holland and betwixt the riuers Welland and VVitham with Fosdike 3 and Lindseye betwixt the VVitham Trent and Humber flat brackish and marishy in Holland and along the Sea-coast and in all other parts champian and pleasant distinguished into svndry long ridges of hils beginning at Humber and continuing Southwards most fruitful in their bottomes and thick with townes vpon their tops plaine grassie open and rich in corne and pasturage for sheepe Places of more note are in Kesteven Stanford a walled town consisting of 7 Churches or parishes vpon the river VVelland and the edge of Northamptonshire Hither in the raigne of Edward the third a great part of the Vniversity of Oxford made a famous secession occasioned thorough the quarrels of the Boreales and Australes brought backe not long after by the commaund and authority of the King Since the Graduates there still take an oath at the time of their admission to degrees not to professe in Stanford publiquely as in an Vniversity Vpon the Witham Paunton a country village Ad pontem of Antoninus Grantham vpon the same riuer Vpon the west hereof Belvoir Castle belonging to the Earles of Rutland and naming the subject valley Beyond vpon the heath Ancaster Crococalana of Antoninus Sleford In Holland Crowland vpon the Welland and amongst deepe vnpassable waters marishes accessable only towards the North East by narrow long causyes Spalding amongst dreanes waters Boston a faire towne and a noted Port seated on both sides of the riuer Witham The tower of the beautifull and large Church hereof contayneth 44 fathomes in height or 264 foote a conspicuous noted Sea-marke The Churches generally of those low and moorish parts exceede all others in lustre and fairenes the more admired at by strangers their meaner priuate buildings considered and want of stone and materialls In Lindsey Lindissi of Beda Lincolne Lindum of Ptolemy and Antoninus a Bishops See and the chiefe town vneuenly seated in the bottome and vpon the brow and top of a steep hill vnder which runneth the riuer Witham The Minster or hilly part wherevnto the countrey is every way ascending enioyeth the most large and faire prospect of the kingdome with a seemingly neere distance seene from all parts of the shire and the more eminent places of neighbouring and remote countryes In the Minster a great sumptuous and magnificent Church and the chiefe grace and ornament of the citie is showne amongst others the monument and epitaph of William Smith sometimes Bishop hereof and Lord President of Wales for King Henry the 7 th with S r Richard Sutton Knights the honourable founders of Brasen-nose Colledge in Oxford Here the Roman Militarie way by Ancaster devideth whereof one part crosseth the Trent at Litleborough the other below at Burton neere vnto the fall of the riuer into Humber From Torksey and the Trent a channell hath beene brought hither to the Witham by king Henrie the first called now Fosdike by the inhabitants with those riuers and Humber making Lindsey an Iland Gainsborough vpon the Trent Further downe Burton a noted passage ouer the Trent Beyond lyeth Axholme or the I le of Axey encompassed with the riuers Trent Idell and Dun and contayning about 10 miles in length and some 5 in breadth Glamford-bridge vpon the Ankam a foeculent and moorish riuer affording plenty of most delicate and strange sorts of fowle Caster vnder the cliffe which is a long ridge of hills extended Southwards from the fall of the Ankam into Humber named thus occasioned by a castle whose ruines are yet seene by the leaue of king Vortigerne founded by Hengist after his conquest and victorie of the Picts and Scots Barton a noted passage ouer Humber into Yorkeshire At Humber betwixt this and the mouth of Ankam endeth a Roman Militarie Roade named the Long Meare by the bordering inhabitants continued hither ouer solitarie plaines from Holland and the Fens The place where it is terminated seemeth more aunciently to haue beene the ordinary passage ouer Humber An argument hereof might be the names of South and North Feribyes neighbouring townes vpon the opposite sides of the riuer Louth Vpon the riuer Bane Horn-castle Tatershall In the Marsh Alford Grimesby a decayed haven towne at the mouth of Humber The auncient inhabitants were the Coritani of Ptolemy afterwards the Mercian-Saxons Here are contayned 31 Hundreds or Weapontakes 30 Market townes and 630 Parishes NOTTINGHAM-SHIRE LYing vpon both sides of the Trent and bounded vpon the South with Leicestershire vpon the North with Yorkeshire vpon the East with Lincolneshire and vpon the West with Darbyeshire The parts vpon the hither side of the Trent are fat and rich of corne pasturage as likewise are the South North Clayes beyond the riuer The middle West are in a manner wholy taken vp with the vast forest of Shirewood extended from Nottingham for the space of 22 miles Northwards sandy barren solitarie thin of townes inhabitants Places of more note are Nottingham the chiefe towne vpon the riuers Trent and Lin and the brow of a rocky hill defended with a faire strong castle mounted vpon a steepe and precipitious rocke Newark vpon the Trent Litleborough a small village and a passage ouer the riuer Agelocis of Antoninus In the Clay Retford vpon the riuer Idell In the Sand Forest Blith Workensop graced with a faire house the seate sometimes of the Earles of Shrewesbury belonging now to the Earle of Penbroke Maunsfeld The auncient inhabitants were the Coritani of Ptolemy afterwards the Mercian-Saxons It contayneth 8 Market townes 8 Hundreds 168 Parishes DARBY-SHIRE BOunded vpon the South with Leicestershire vpon the East with Nottinghamshire vpon the North with Yorkeshire vpon the West with Cheshire The South East are populous fruitfull and somewhat woody Beyond the Darwent Westwards arise the high Mountaines of the Peake could rocky barren yet good pasturage for sheepe and plentifull in minerals especially of lead Townes of better note are Chesterfield in Scardale Darby vpon the river Darwen the chiefe towne In the Peake Workesworke Ashborne vpon the riuer Doue Buxton where are hot medicinable springs The auncient inhabitants were the Coritani of Ptolemy afterwards the Mercian-Saxons Here are accompted 8 Market townes 6 Hundreds and 106 Parishes CHESHIRE BOunded vpon the West with the Irish Ocean vpon the North with the riuer Mersee from Lancashire vpon the East with Darbyshire and Staffordshire and vpon the South with the Dee Shropshire and Wales The countrie is rich in pasturage and cattaill well wooded populous full of stoute auncient gentrie Townes here are Congleton vpon the riuer Dan Condate of Antoninus Maclesfeld
Resgate and de la Merced The military orders of the Crosse. The maner of their civill government The King His stile of Catholique His dominions and revenues A short censure of the present Spanish greatnes The parts or countries of Spaine THE bounds hereof are vpon the North-east the Pyrenaean Mountaines deviding it from France and from the rest of the Continent of Europe surrounded vpon the other sides with the deepe and spacious Ocean vpon the North with the sea Cantabrique with the Atlantique vpon the West and vpon the South with the Straights of Gibraltar the sea Mediterranean Mariana accompteth the circumference of the whole to bee 2816 Italian miles measuring along the course of the Pyrenaean Mountaines from Cabo de Creux vpon the Mediterranean vnto the towne of Fuentarabia 320 miles to Cabo Finisterre along the shore of the sea Cantabrique 536 miles from that Promontorie vnto the towne of Gibraltar 895 miles and from thence returning againe to Cabo de Creux bending still with the creekes and windings of the sea 1065 miles The greatest length hereof he reckneth at 800 miles and the breadth at 560 of the same miles It is seated in the Southerne halfe part of the Temperate Zone lying betwxt the. 4. 24 60 and 19½ degrees of Longitude for such are the distances of the Promontories Finisterre and de Creux from the first Meridian drawne by the Azores Ilands whose two Meridians make about a full houres difference of the Suns first rising betwixt about the 36 and 44½ degrees of Northerne latitude or from the 30 minute South of the 11 or middle paralel of the 4 clime vnto about the 30 mi warie and descreet withall not carried with that rash and headlong fury esteemed by others valour ouercomming rather with temporizing deepe reach and policy then by maine force and violence If we would haue him in a word described he almost is whatsoeuer almost is not the Frenchman The Languages spoken hereby are 1. the Castillian or vulgar Spanish common to the whole Nation 2. that of Portugals as are the people mixed of the Castillian and French 3. that of the Catalonians and inhabitants of the kingdome of Valentia which is not much vnlike vnto the French spoken in Languedoc 4. the Basquish proper to the Biscians and people of Guipuscoa a language purely barbarous not refined with the mixture of more elegant tongues and thought to be the auncient Spanish spoken here before the Conquest of the Romans Heere likewise was in vse the auncient Moorish retayned by the Moriscos but of late yeares banished from hence with the people The auncient religion hereof was that common to all the Gentiles worshipping many false and absurd gods The first that preached here the holy Gospell was the Apostle S. Paul according to S. Chrysostome Theodoret sundry other of the auncient fathers That he had an intent to make a journey into Spaine we plainely gather from the the 15 chap. to the Romans That hee went or was hindred in his purpose detayned prisoner at Rome by Nero nothing is certaine After Isidore and the generall voyce of the Spaniards but without more auncient authority S. Iames the son of Zebedee otherwise is said to haue beene the first the supposed founder of Nuestra Senora del Pilar a Church yet extant at Saragoça accompanied with Saint Peter the Apostle of Ebora S. Cecilius of Eliberis S. Euphrasius of Illiturgis S. Secundus of Abula with others whose names I omit for that they agree not about their number Concerning S t Iames the tradition goeth that after his Martyrdome at Hierusalem slaine by Herod his dead body should from thence bee convayed hither to Iria Flavia in Galitia thence to Compostella where it should be enterred but in what place that it was not knowne vntill the yeare 796 when it should be first found out by Theodomyrus bishop of Iria although saith my Authour the reasons are not set downe why a graue then discouered should containe the corps of that blessed Apostle Such notwithstanding was the credulous devotion of those times that presently a Church was erected herevnto by Alfonsus surnamed the Chast then king of Leon famous afterwards through the Christian world for the continuall pilgrimages thither made from all parts and enriched with liberall endowments and priviledges It was some 50 yeares afterwards and since the yeare 846 and their great victorie at Clavigio vnder king Ramir the first obtained against the Moores and as then firmely was beleeued by the visible presence and aide hereof that the Castillians for the Portugalls and Aragonians with the English and Genowayes acknowledge S t George for their Patron haue beene still accustomed in their fights and encounters to call vpon S. Iago as their guardian and protectour their signe word of Battaill To returne to our purpose from these and such like beginnings Christianity here dayly grew and more and more prospered in the first age of the Primitiue Church encreasing through affliction by the holy bloud of slaine Martyrs In the happy raigne of Constantine the Great Gentilisme put downe Religion was first authorized here as in the other Provinces of the Roman Empire by publique commaund a small truce was granted to the Church Heresie Gentilisme and Persecution freshly reviuing againe in the raignes of the next Emperours Constantius and Iulianus These tempestuous times ouerpast by the fauour of God the Sun of the Gospel againe gloriously breaks out in a calme and cleare sky here freely shineth during the raignes of the after succeeding most Christian Catholique Emperours of the West In the raigne of the Emperour Honorius swarme in hither the barbarous Nations by whom Religion suffers a second Eclipse Of these the Alans were Gentiles but whose out-rage lasted not long shortly after their first comming ouer-throwne and rooted out by the Gothes The Vandals also Gentiles at the time of their first entrance by their after commerce and acquaintance with the Gothes vnder their king Gensericus turned Arrian Christians departing not long after into Afrique The Suevians at the first likewise were Gentiles Vnder their third king Receiarius about the yeare 448 they receiued the Christian Catholique faith which shortly after being subdued restored again by the Gothes sweyed with the greatnes of that Nation vnder their king Remismundus they changed for their Arrian heresie In the raigne of Theodomyrus after an apostacy of aboue one hundred yeares they returned againe vnto the Catholique beliefe wherein they continued vntill the extirpation of their kingdome name by the Gothes in Andeca their last king The Gothes were Arrians from their first entrance into the Roman Provinces corrupted by Valens Emperour of the East In continuance of time becomming Lord of the whole Spaine the rest of the barbarous nations the Romans subdued they subiected all this continent vnder that foule heresy Vnder their King Ricaredus about the yeare 588 reiecting the Arrian they
king Ferdinand the fift Estella Pampelona Pompelon of Ptolemy Strabo Antoninus named thus and first founded by Pompey the great immediately after the warres ended with Sertorius a Bishops See and the residence of the Vice-royes situated in a plaine vpon the river Arga. Suprarbe amongst the Pyrenaean mountaines Here begun first the kingdome of Navarra before the plaine countrey subdued named hereof The auncient inhabitants of Navarra were part of the Vascones of Ptolemy Strabo and Pliny after the Westerne Roman Empire subdued in the raigne of Dagobert King of the French desbourding beyond the Pyrenaean Mountaines into the province of Aquitania in Gaule as probably about the same time here amongst the Cantabri occasioning the names of Biscaia and Guipuscoa in Spaine and of Gascoigne in France CASTILLIA LA VEIA THis country including Leon whose distinct limits we find not comprehendeth all that large tract of land extending from Biscaia and Asturia lying vpon the North thereof vnto the mountaines of Segovia Avila vpon the South dividing it from Castillia la Nueva having otherwise vpon the East Navarra with the kingdome of Aragon and vpon the West the kingdome of Portugal according to the lines and bounds before set downe It is more plaine fruitfull and better inhabited then are the neighbouring countries bordering vpon the Cantabrian Sea serving notwithstanding better for pasturage then for corne wine oyle fruites It is refreshed with many faire rivers amongst the which is the Duero the receptacle of the rest Townes of better note are Astorga Asturica Augusta of Ptolemy Asturica of Antoninus and Pliny surnaming the Astures Augustani then the chiefe of that division now a Bishops See frontiring vpon Galitia Leon at the foote of the Asturian mountaines built out of the ruines of Sublancia lying sometimes amongst the neighbouring hils where now is Sublanco in regard of the strong situation thereof destroyed by the commaund of the Emperour Nerva fearing a commotion of those mountainers Ptolemy who liued about that time named it Legio Germanica Septima Antoninus with some difference Legio Septima Gemina either because that it was first founded by that Legion or because that it was their fix'd residence and station Won from the Moores by Pelagius the first King of the Asturians it became afterwards the royall seate of those princes entitl'd from hence Kings of Leon vntill the vnion hereof with Castille It is now a Bishops See exempt from all superiour jurisdiction in matters Ecclesiasticall saving of the Popes The towne otherwise is meane and ill inhabited beautified chiefely with a faire Cathedrall Church where the auncient Kings of Leon lie enterred The auncient inhabitants of this part were the Astures Augustani of Pliny Salamança Salmantica of Ptolemy Antoninus a Bishops See and a flourishing Vniversity chiefely for the civill lawes seated vpon the river Tormes The auncient inhabitants of the country hereabouts were the Vettones of Strabo Ptolemy Coria Carium of Ptolemy a Bishops See Cuidad Rodrigo Rusticana of Ptolemy a Bishops See vpoÌ„ the riuer Gada The auncient inhabitants were part of the Lusitani of Ptolemy Zamora Sentica of Ptolemy Sentice of Antoninus a Bishops See seated vpon the right shore of the Duero The towne is strong and fairely built Tordesillas Segisama of Polybius in Strabo Segisama Iulia of Ptolemy Segisamon of Antoninus Palentia Palantia of Ptolemy and Antoninus Pallantia of Strabo Mela the name not much changed seated vpon the riuer Carrion aunciently an Vniversity removed thence to Salamança by king Ferdinand the third Vallidolid Pintia of Ptolemy situated vpon the riuer Pisuerga a late Vniversity founded by Philip the second and the chiefe of the three Cancellariaes of Castille Leon whither the greatest part of that kingdome resort for matters of justice By meanes hereof and of the Kings Court residing for the most here and at Madrid the towne is become very populous faire large and of great state nothing yeelding to the best cities in Spaine Lisbona and Sevilla excepted The auncient inhabitants of this part of Castille were the Vaccaei of Ptolemy but extended much further Strabo reckoneth Pallantia amongst the Arevacae but erroneously Burgos amongst shady mountaines neere to Monte D'oca and the head of the riuer Relanzon founded by Nunnius Belchis a Dutchman sonne in law to Iames Porcellus one of the first Earles of Castille out of certaine lesser townes and villages lying hereabouts amongst the which as is supposed was Braum of Ptolemy It continued after this for a long time the royall seate of the kings of Castille It is now an Archbishops See retayning the chiefe place amongst the cityes of the kingdome of Castille and Leon in the Parliaments or generall assemblies of the states The rest which haue voyces in the diets hereof are Toledo Leon Granado Sivilla Cordova Murcia Soria Avila Segovia Vallidolid Salamança Zamora Taurus Cuença Guadalaiara Madrid and Iaen all the other townes excluded Without Burgos flourisheth the rich Nunnery de las Huelgas a monasterie of especiall revenue whereinto none can be admitted but such as are noblely descended In the mountaines some 20 miles herefrom where is the Chappell called Nuestra Senora d'oca sometimes stood the town Auca giuing the name of Saltus Aucensis to the part of Idubeda now called Monte D'oca Avila a Bishops See vnder the hils named from hence the Mountaines of Avila Segovia Segovia of Pliny Antoninus Segubia of Ptolemy a Bishops See and a rich towne of cloathing lying vnder the same mountainous ridge Here yet standeth almost whole an ancient Aquaeduct of the Romans the most entire and fairest monument in Spaine Cronna del Conde Clunia of Ptolemy Pliny Antoninus one of the 7 resorts of the province Tarraconensis Vxama Vxama of Pliny Antoninus a Bishops See Soria neere vnto the head of the Duero At Garay a village towne neere herevnto stood sometimes that famous Numantia renowned for a 14 yeares warres against the Romans subdued by Scipio African the younger The auncient inhabitants of the countrey from Segovia were the Arevacae of Ptolemy the Arrebaci of Pliny the Arevaci of Strabo part of the Celtiberi Beyond Monte D'oca Naiara Logronnio vpon the Ebro Iuliobriga of Ptolemy and Iuliobrica of Pliny a city of the Cantabri Calaâ—ora vpon the same river a Bishops See Calagorina of Ptok my Calaguris of Strabo Calagurris of Antoninus a town of the Vascones and the countrey of the Oratour-Quintilian CASTILLIA LA NVEVA BOunded vpon the North with the Mountaines of Segovia Avila dividing it from Castillia la Veia environed on the other sides with Extremadura Andaluzia Granado part of the kingdome of Aragon The countrey is Champian plaine for the most part yeelding sufficient plenty of corne fruites and other necessary provision Chiefer townes are Talavera seated vpon the Taio and belonging to the Arch-bishop of Toledo
t Eutropius of Saintes S t Lucian of Beauvois S t Taurinus of Eureux and S t Nicasius of Roan appointed by S t Clement Bishop of Rome successour to S t Peter That a Church here flourished during those first times amidst streames of blood tortures and persecution besides other testimonies might witnesse the dolefull letter of the distressed Christians of Vienna and Lyon sent vnto the Churches of Asia and Phrygia about the yeare 179 and raigne of the Emperour M. Aurelius Antoninus Philosophus mentioned by Eusebius in his 5 booke and 1 chapter In the raigne of the Emperour Constantine the Great Gentilisme abolished Religion was here as thorough the whole Romane Empire publikely professed and authorized exauthorized shortly after by Constantius and Iulianus and re-established againe by Iovianus and the succeeding Catholique Romane Emperours of the West Towardes the expiration of the Westerne Romane Empire swarme in hither the barbarous Northerne nations in the raigne of the Emperours Honorius and Valentinian the third by whom Religion is againe eclypsed Of these the Burgundians a more ciuill people then the rest were Christians and Catholiques before their comming hither The Gothes were Arrians in which heresie they persisted vntill the raigne of Reccaredus Monarch of Spaine and the third Councell of Toledo in the yeare 588 at what time they first became Catholiques The Frenchmen at their first entrance were Gentiles Vnder Clovys or Clodoveus their fift king from Pharamond after their great victory obtayned against the Almans at Zulp or Tolbiacum they first embraced the Christian Faith wherein with great constancy and zeale they haue perseuered vnto our times thorough their many and great Conquests and victories enlarging afterwards as their Empire so the bounds of Christianity ouer the whole Gaule or France and the better part of Germany with other neighbouring countreyes of Europe corrupted not long afterwards by Popish impostures and made subject to the common errours and misfortunes of the Westerne Churches The first here who openly durst make head against the abuses tyranny of the See of Rome were the Waldenses named thus from one Peter Waldus a citizen of Lyon their chiefe and called otherwise the Poore men of Lyon in regard of their poverty and exile which hapned about the yeare 1160 and raigne of Lewis the seauenth French King The Waldenses ouerborne and scattered by the power and greatnes of the Papacy hidvered vnder the ashes for a time after certaine yeares broke out againe vnder an other name of the Albigenses called thus from the towne of Alby in Languedoc where they first made open profession spreading their opinions ouer the most part of Languedoc and the Southerne French Provinces and maintaining their cause by force of armes for about the space of 50 yeares during the raignes of Philip Augustus and of Lewis the eight and S. Lewis or Lewis the ninth favoured and maintained amongst other of the French nobility of the Earles by Tholouse Foix Cominges and Beziers and assisted by Peter the second King of Aragon slaine in their quarrell at the battaile of Muret after long oppression misery and warre lastly worne out in the raigne of S t Lewis or forced to retire amongst Mountaines and more difficult places of accesse where in Daulphinye Savoy but more notably in Provence we find a continuall succession of them certaine remainders whereof were those miserable people of Merindol and Chabrieres cruelly slaine and massacred in the raigne of King Francis the first Some pretended positions of theirs are set downe by b Sieur du Haillan in Philip Augustus and Mariana in his 12 booke and 1 chapter for the most part monstrous false and most suppositious after the Popish manner maliciously fained to disgrace their cause and the Orthodoxe Religion What more vnpartially and truely they were see the confession of the Waldenses in Balth Lydius and Ioachimus Camerarius Those Reformed covered afterwards vnder the more odious names of the Lutherans Calvinists and Hugonots and consenting with them in doctrine and opinion no lesse persecution afflicts then before during the whole raignes of Francis the first before mentioned Henry the second In the raigne of the next succeeding Prince Francis the second the number of the Protestants daylie encreasing begin first those bloodie ciuill warres for Religion After the troublesome vnfortunate raigns of three brethren kings Francis the second Charles the ninth and Henry the third infinite battailes and conflicts fought the takings and sackings of towns and cities on both sides the slaughters and killings of Princes and heads of both factions many treaties and peaces made and the same still broken by the happy procurement of the late King Henry the fourth a lasting and firme peace is at length granted hereunto which since his decease his Queene Mary de Medices Regent of France and not without some quarrels and bickerings in the meane time his sonne Lewis the thirteenth more lately haue confirmed Their are then two different names of religions now openly professed and allowed in this kingdome that of the Papists adhering to the sea of Rome and the Reformed or Calvinisme Of the Popish sect is still the king for so their stronger side constrayneth him most of his Nobilitie Councelours and Officers of estate with the greatest part of the common people The doctrine of the Protestants differeth not from that of the Church of England Their order discipline is such which the condition of their state poore afflicted rather tolerated then allowed without Bishops Tithes almost Churches detayned by the Papists hath necessarily enforced them vnto The Ecclesiasticall dignities are all still held by the Popish Cleargie Of these are reckoned 15 Arch-bishopricks 109 Bishopricks 540 Monasteries or Abbeyes 27400 Pastorall Cures after the number of their Parishes accompting but one parish for every city besides chappels and infinite other religious places Their Bishops and Arch-bishops follow Vnder Lions the Primate of the kingdome the Bishops of Austun Langres Chaalon vpon the Soasne Mascon vnder Rheims Chalon vpō the Marne Laon Soissons Cambray Tournay Arras Boulogne Amiens Noion Senlis Beauvois vnder Roan Sais Aurenches Constances Bayeux Lyseux Eureux vnder Sens Paris Chartres Orleans Auxerre Meaux Nevers Troy vnder Tours Mans Angiers Renes Nantes Cournovaille Vannes Leon Triguier Dol S t Malo S. Brieu vnder Bourdeaux Sainctes Poictiers Lusson Mailesais Perigueux Sarlat Condom and Agen vnder Bourges Mende Castres le Puy en Velay Rodes Vabres Cahors vnder Tholouse Montaubon Rieux Mirepoix Vaur Lombez S. Papoul and Apamies vnder Narbonne Carcassone Besiers Agde Lodesve Nismes Montpelier Vzez Eaule Aleth and S. Pont de Tonieres vnder Aux Cominges or S Bernard Coserans Lactoure Tarbe Aire Basatz D'ax Baione Lescar and Oleron vnder Aix Ries Apt Gap Cisteron and Feriuls vnder Ambrun Digne Senez Clandeve la Grace S. Paule de Vences and Nice vnder Vienne Geneve Grenoble Maurienne
Philibert the last Prince of Aurenge of the house of Chalon slaine at the siege of Florence in the raigne of the Emperour Charles the fift deceasing without heires the inheritance hereof descended vpon Renate Earle of Nassau son to Henry Earle of Nassau and of Claude sister to Philibert in which familie it hath ever since remained It is now possessed by the illustrious prince Henry Earle of Nassau state-holder and governour of the forces of the vnited Provinces of Netherland Philip of Nassau the late Prince descended from his elder brother and Maurice deceasing without issue Avignon Avenio of Strabo Pliny and Mela Colonia Aveniorum of Ptolemy and civitas Avenicorum of Antoninus an Archbishops sea an Vniversitie vpon the Rhosne on both sides of the riuer The towne is rich faire flourishing belonging to the Popes remarkeable for 7 times 7 singularities 7 palaces 7 gates 7 parishes 7 Colleges of the Liberall Arts 7 Hospitals 7 Nunneries and 7 Convents of Friers Hither in the yeare 1303 Pope Clement the fift removed the Papall sea after 74 yeares continuance in the yeare 1377 brought backe againe to Rome by Pope Gregory the Eleaventh Cavaillon Cabellio of Plinie Cabalio of Strabo Cabelliorum Colonia of Ptolemy and civitas Cabellicorum of Antoninus a Bishops sea vpon the river Durance The country about Cavaillon Aurenge and Avignon with Grenoble in Daulphinie were the Cavares of Strabo Pliny Mela the Cavari of Ptolemie Carpentras Carpentoracte of Ptolemy and civitas Carpentoractensium of Antoninus a Bishops sea Betwixt this towne and Cavaillon lyeth the vallie and towne of Val-cluse begirt with hils and rockes whence issue out most sweet and cleare streames whither for the exceeding pleasure and still solitarinesse thereof the famous Petrarch vsed to retire when he would devote himselfe to his Philosophicall studies meditations Tarascon Tarascon of Strabo and Tarascum of Ptolemy a Bishops sea vpon the riuer Rhosne opposite to Beaucaire Vaison Vasio of Pliny and Mela and civitas Vasionensium of Antoninus The country about Vaison were the Vocontij of Strabo Plinie Ptolemie and Mela. These 4 townes lie in the country of Avignon exempt from the jurisdiction of the French kings appertaining to the Popes Arles Arelate of Pliny Mela Arelatae of Strabo Arelatum colonia of Ptolemy civitas ArelatensiuÌ„ of Antoninus then a rich colonie of the Sextani or Roman souldiers of the 6 Legion now an Archbishops sea vpon the Rhosne in a lowe and marishie situation This was sometimes the royall seat or chiefe residence of the later kings of Burgundie from hence named ordinarily in histories the kings of Arles Neere herevnto but on the other side of the riuer beginneth the deepe chanell or dreane called by Ptolemie Fossae Marianae by the French Comargue or Aigues Mortes drawne from the Rhosne vnto the Ocean by the Roman Consul C. Marius for the more easie convaiance of victualls vnto his camp during his warres in Gaule against the Teutones Aix Aquae Calidae or Sextiae of Strabo Aquae Sextiae of Plinie Ptolemie and Florus and civitas Aquensium of Antoninus a Roman Colonie the station of their 25 Legion and the Metropolis or chiefe citty of Narbonensis secunda named thus from the hot bathes thereof and from the Consul C. Sextius the conquerour of the Salyi by whom it was founded now an Archbishops sea and the Parliament chiefe citty of the Province situated vpon the riuer Rhosne Glandeves Glanum of Plinie and Ptolemie Glanon of Mela and civitos Clannatena of Antoninus seated amongst the sea coast Alpes now a Bishops sea vpon the river Goremp The country about Clandeves and of Aix Arles and Tarascon were the Salyi of Plinie and Florus the Salies of Strabo the Salvij of Livie and the Salices of Ptolemie the first people of the Gaules beyond the Alpes with whom the Romans had warre occasioned through their iniuries and difference with the neighbouring Massilians drawing on the warres and conquest of the rest of Gaule S. Gillis vpon the Comargue Apt Apta Iulia of Plinie and civitas Abtensium of Antoninus a Bishops sea vpon the riuer Colao The country hereabouts were the Vulgientes of Plinie the Abtenses of Antoninus Amongst the Mountaines betwixt this and the riuer Durance lye the little townes of Merindol and Chabrieres memorable for a bloodie massacre made of the poore inhabitants thereof murthered put to death in the raigne of Francis the first French king certaine scattered remainders of the Albigenses Ries civitas Retensium of Antoninus a Bishops sea Marseilles Massilia of Livie Caesar and Plinie a Greeke citty and colonie anciently confederate with the Romans founded by the banished Phocenses in the 45 Olympiade and raigne of Tarquin surnamed the Proud king of the Romans now a Bishops sea and a great and noted Port vpon the sea Mediterranean In the Cathedrall Church hereof they shew the supposed head of Lazarus whom Christ raised from the dead whom they accounted their first Bishop The hilly countrie hereabouts were the Albici of Caesar. Betwixt Marseilles Arles or the more Easterne branch of the Rhosne lyeth for a great space of land for sundry townes are seated within it the part of the country named La Craux by Strabo and Plinie Campus Lapideus Campi Lapidei by Mela Littus Lapideum called thus froÌ„ the innumerable multitude of stones wherewith after a strange manner it seemeth all strawed ouer The ancients as Mela relateth fained this to be the place where Hercules fought with Albion and Bergion sonnes of Neptune whom when other weapons failed his father Iupiter should relieue with a showre of stones whose remainders these should be Toulon Tauroentium of Ptolemy and Taurentium of Strabo vpon the Mediterranean a Bishops sea and a well frequented Port. Feriuls Forum Iulium of Strabo Plinie and Ptolemie Forum Iulij of Mela and civitas Foro Iuliensium of Antoninus founded by the Massilians and made afterwards a Colonie of the Romans vpon the Mediterranean a Bishops sea Antibe Antipolis of Strabo Plinie and Ptolemie and civitas Antipolitana of Antoninus a sea-coast towne vpon the Mediterranean neere vnto the riuer Varo and the borders of Italy The country hereabouts were the Deciates of Plinie and Deciatij of Ptolemie La Grace a Bishops sea within the continent S. Paul de Vençes civitas Venciensium of Antoninus a Bishops sea Senas Civitas Saniciensium and Sanicisio of Antoninus a Bishops sea Digne Dinia of Ptolemie and civitas Diniensium of Antoniâ—us a Bishops sea The country hereof were the Sentij of Ptolemy Cisteron civitas Segesterorum of Antoninus a Bishops sea and Seneschaussee foâ— part of Provence vpon the river Durance neere vnto the borders of Daulphinie The towne is very strongly fortified The country here abouts were the Segestorij of Antoninus THE PARLIAMENT OF GRENOBLE COntaining only Daulphinie DAVLPHINIE BOunded vpon the West
with the riuer Rhosne whereby it is diuided from Lionnois and Languedoc vpon the South with Provençe vpon the North with La Bresse the Rhosne also comming betwixt and vpon the East with Savoye and the Alpes It comprehendeth the Higher and the Lower Daulphinie The Higher is altogether mountainous stony and barren neighbouring to the Alpes with whose branches it is overrun The Lower Daulphinie is more plaine tolerably fruitfull coasting along the Rhosne Chiefer townes here are Briançon Brigantio of Antoninus neere vnto the head of the Durançe naming the country Briançonnois Embrun Ebreduno of Antoninus the Metropolis then or chiefe citty of the Province of the Alpes Maritmae now a Archbishops sea and siege Presidiall and the chiefe towne of the Higher Daulphinie containing 7 Parishes seated in a pleasant vally surrounded with mountaines vpon an high rocke vnder the which runneth the Durançe The hilly country hereof is now called from hence Le Pais Ambrunois adiudged to be the highest part of France S. Antoni de Tricastin Ciuitas Ricartinorum of Antoninus a Bishops sea The country hereof were the Tricastini of Pliny the Tricasteni of Ptolemy Gap ciuitas Apencensium of Antoninus a Bishops sea and Seneschaussee at the foot of the mountaine Le Col de Digo the chiefest towne in those hilly parts after Embrun giuing the name to the part of the country called from hence Le Pais Gapinçois the Appencenses of Antoninus Die Ciuitas Decensium Dia Vocontiorū of Ant. now a Bishops sea vpō the riuer Drosne naming Le Pais Diois part sometimes of the Vocontij These all lye in the Higher Daulphinie In the Lower Daulphinie Grenoble ciuitas Gratianopolitana of Antoninus Accusianorum Colonia of Ptolemy and Gratianopolis of Sidonius and Paulus Diaconus a Bishops sea and the Parliament and chiefe citty of Daulphinie vpon the riuer Isere The towne is large populous and beautified with faire buildings The country hereabouts were parte of the Cauari of Ptolemy Romans vpon the Isere nere vnto the cōfluence therof of the Rhosne Valence Valentia of Pliny Ptolemy and Ciuitas Valentinorum of Antoninus then a Roman Colony now a Bishops sea Presidialitie Vniversitie for the civill lawes situated vpō the Rhosne The towne is rich strong well traded giuing the name to the country called from hence Le Pais Valentinois anciently probably more largely extended the Segalauni of Ptolemy the Valentini of Antoninus part of the Cavares of Plinie Vienne Vienna of Strabo Mela Ptolemie and Ammianus Marcellinus the chiefe Citty after Strabo of the Allobroges afterwards of the Province called from hence Viennensis and the seat of the Praetorio-Praefectus or the supreame Roman Magistrate commanding Gaule Vnder the French it became an Earledome whereof were entituled the house of the Daulphins It is now an Archbishops sea and Presidialitie vpon the Rhosne the chiefe towne of Le Pais Viennois part of the Allobroges of Caesar Livie Strabo and others THE PARLIAMENT OF DIION COntaining the Dukedome of Burgundie with the little countries of Bresse Breugey Verromey and Gex in the yeares 1600 and 1601 partly conquered by Henry the fourth French king from Charles Duke of Savoy and partly receaued from him in exchange for the Marquisate of Salusses LA BRESSE c. THese were lately part of Savoy They lye betwixt the rivers of the Soasne and Rhosne where these grow straighter together proceeding towards their confluence They are bounded vpon the South and West with Daulphinie and Lionnois and vpon the other sides with Savoy and the Dukedome of Burgundie The country is champian fruitfull and pleasant commended for excellent wines The only place of note is Bourg en Bresse the chiefe towne of La Bresse defended with a strong citadell commanding the country La Bresse was part of the Segusiani before mentioned LA BOVRGONGNE LA Bourgongne or the Dukedome of Burgundie for thus it is distinguished from the other Burgundie which is the Countie hath vpon the South La Bresse and Charrolois vpon the West Bourbonois vpon the North Champaigne and vpon the East Savoy and the Free county of Burgundy The country is most pleasant fruitfull and happy affording plenty of most excellent wines Chiefer townes are Tournus a strong towne vpon the Soasne wherewith it is encompassed in a fertill soile abounding with most perfect wines Here flourisheth a rich Abbey castle-wise defended with strong walls and fortifications the chiefe of sundry other Monasteries of this Province and in Daulphinie Auvergne Poictou Bretaigne and other parts of France Beaulne vpon the river Bursoize seated in a plentifull and fat soile yeelding the best wines of the kingdome The towne is very strong besides its other defences secured with an impregnable castle built by king Lewis the twelfth In the country hereof farre immersed within darke thicke woods lyeth the great Monastery of Cisteaux founded in the yeare 1098 by Otho the second Duke of Burgundie the chiefe of some 2160 other Monasteries of both sexes in the Christian world besides the military orders of Calatrava Alcantara Avis and Montesa in Spaine subiect to the discipline and rule hereof Austun Augustodunum of Ptolemie and Mela and civitas Eduorum of Antoninus a Bishops sea and Bailliage giving the name to the particular countrie of Authunois seated vpon the river Arroux at the foot of the Mountaines of Cenis The towne now is meane chiefly beautified with some faire Churches which it yet sheweth left markes of its ancient greatnesse and splendour Chalon Cabullinum of Strabo Caballinum of Ptolemie Castrum Gaballionense of Antoninus and Cavillonium of Caesar a Bishops sea and a Bailliage vpon the Soasne Auxone vpon the Soasne Dijon a Bishops sea and the Parliament and chiefe citty of La Bourgongne vpon the rivers Suson and Ousche in a plain country most fruitfull in corne and wines The towne is large faire populous and strongly fortified containing 12 parishes the place of residence of the governour of the Province Without vpon the hills stand two strong castles the one whereof called La Talente is kept by a garrison of souldiers the better to secure the towne Nuys situated betwixt Dijon and Beaulne conjectured from the name to haue beene founded by the Nuithones a part of the ancient Burgundians Flavigny Semur the Bailliage of the hilly country of Auxois divided into the parts Le Bourg Le Don-Ion and Le Chasteau all three severally fenced with walls the two last whereof serue as strong Citadels to guard the rest mounted vpon steepe and precipitious rocks and cliffes wherewith they are environed Not farre from hence where is the village Alize stood sometimes the strong towne of Alesia the seat of warre of Vercingetorix and the Gaules against Caesar and the Romans Avalon Aballon of Antoninus then the station of the 16 Romane Legion These from Semur lye in the particular countrie of Auxois the Mandubij of
of Northerne Latitude or betwixt some 51 minutes on this side of the 15 or middle paralel of the sixt clime where the longest day hath 15 houres and an halfe and the 19 minute beyond the 21 or middle paralel of the 9 clime where it hath 17 houres It is therefore wholy seated in the Northerne halfe-part of the Temperate Zone and is for this cause much colder then the more Southerne parts before described yet of a more liuely and healthie temperature and more potent for generation bringing forth men cattell and plants whereof it is well capable in farre more abundance and of greater strength and larger proportion then the other the fatall nursery of those numberlesse swarmes of barbarous nations overwhelming the Roman Empire and new peopling the provinces of the West The soile is very fruitfull the mountainous parts of the Alpes Schwartzwald Otten-wald and other wild reliques of the old Hercynian forest excepted The Country is large and exceedingly populous stored with infinite Cities the best and fairest for any one Province in the world what by meanes of the industrie of the inhabitants and through the commodity of the situation thereof standing in the heart and center of Europe the ordinary way of all the merchandise and riches of the neighbouring Provinces The more happy parts are the Southerne betwixt the river of Meine and the Alpes yeelding plenty of very excellent wines especially the tract of the Rhijn of which the other is destitute The Northerne is generally more plaine but worse inhabited and accompted lesse fruitfull chiefly towards the Wixell and the Sea Baltique yet abounding in corne with other of the East-lands the garner and storehouse of Holland and the Lowe Countries and in time of dearth of Italie Spaine and of other countries The chiefer commodities which are transported from hence are Corne and Wines whereof these growe onely in the Southerne parts the other more abundantly in the Northerne It aboundeth also with all sorts of mettals as of Iron Lead Brasse and of other baser sorts so of Silver which the mines of Meissen Bohemia and Tirol doe very plentifully yeeld Salt is here in a sufficient quantity as boiled out of Salt springs so minerall extracted out of the earth It affordeth also store of Saffron in the vpper Austria and Bavaria as it doth of woolls in the land of Hessen of extraordinary finesse for those transmarine regions The ancient inhabitants hereof were the Rhaeti Vindelici Norici with parts of the PaÌ„nonij possessing the whole tract exteÌ„ded betwixt the Danow and the Alpes the Menapij Treveri Mediomatrices Lenci Vbij Eburones Nemeti Vangiones Triboci Raâ—raci and Sequani parts of Gaule Belgique and inhabiting the Westerne shore of the Rhijn the Germans contained anciently within the Rhijn the Danow the Wixel and the Ocean the Scâ—avi or Winithi succeeding in the left roomes of the Germans flitting into the Westerne Roman Provinces taking vp the moitie hereof contained betwixt the rivers Elb and Saltza the Wixel and the Sea Baltique the Huns Avares Lombards and Hungarians successiuely intruding amongst the Pannonij The rest of the Barbarians subdued and driuen out by this more strong and mighty nation the whole are now accompted and knowne only by the name of Germans The moderne Germans are commonly of a tall stature square and bigge by complection phlegmatique or rawe sanguine or where moisture hath the dominion over heat of haire yellow or light browne strong and thicke hauing great bones and much flesh with large ioints nerues and sinewes but for want of heat not so firmely knit neither abounding with such store of quicke and nimble spirits as might sufficiently weild so great a masse of body being for this cause of a dull and heavy disposition fitter to resist then execute and strong rather with a weighty sway of flesh then otherwise They are by nature plaine and honest simple without any mixture of deceipt haters of impostures and base dealing religious chast laborious constant stiffe or rather opinatiue and obstinate as suspitious of their owne weaknesse and hating to be circumvented rough or rather rude and vncivill in their carriage but nothing dangerous not notably giuen to any vice drunkennesse excepted common herevnto and to all the Northerne Nations not so much by ill habit and custome as by naturall inclination caused whither by a sympathie of their moister bodies or through a vehement appetite of their hotter stronger digesting and throat-scorching stomackes intended by their cold In handy-crafts and mechanicall inventions they haue alwaies much excelled the first inventers of Gunnes Gun-powder Printing Clocks strange water-works and other wittie devises to the no lesse benefit then admiration of the world In warres at this day they are not so well accompted firme and constant in their order but slowe and heavy better to receaue then to giue a charge and to fight a battaile in the open field then to assault a Town the ordinary warfare of those times fearefull dull and for this cause against dangers often mutinous as loath to haâ—ard subiect to disrout by false alarums and sudden feares and being once broken not easily brought to rally and gather head againe The languages here spoken are the French in Savoy Lorraine Luick and the Free county of Burgundie the Sclavonian amongst the Bohemians and Moravians and in some parts of Lausâ—its about the Elb and the High Dutch common in a maner to the whole province What was the ancient Religion of the nation see Tacitus in his description hereof The first who here preached the Gospell was S t Thomas surnamed Didimus if Dorothaus may be credited an author somewhat ancient but whose truth hath alwaies beene suspected The Magdeburgenses in their first Century and 2 booke and chapter muster vp S t Egistus one of the 70 Disciples of our blessed Saviour preaching at Bardewick vpon the river Elmenow nere Lunenburg S t Lucius of Cyrene in Rhaetia and Vindelicia S t Mark at Laureacum amongst the Norici S t Crescens at Ments S t Clemens at Mets and S t Maternus and Eucharius at Colen and Triers with others from the relations of Henricus de Erphordia Aventinus the Liues of the Bishops of the Tungri and some Histories of the Saints later authors or vncertaine and not backed with the authorities of more ancient Irenaeus of of much better authority liuing in the raigne of the Emperour Antoninus Verus and yeare 170 in his 1 booke and 3 chap. contra Haereses maketh mention of the German Churches but without naming their Apostles That Christianity during those primitiue times had taken good root in the parts lying without the Rhijn wee more certainely gather from the Catalogue and names of Bishops in the first Councell of Arles held about the yeare 326 and in the raigne of Constantine the Great where we finde mention of Maternus Bishop of Colen and Agritius of Trier but more manifestly from the Councell of Colen had in the
yeare 347 and raigne of Constantius sonne to the great Constantine where againe wee read of S t Maximinus Bishop of Trier Tessis of the Nemeti or Spier Victor of the Vangiones or Worms Amandus of the Argentinenses or Strasburg Martin of Mentz Iustinian of the Rauraci or Basil and Servatius of the Tungri amongst others present in that Synode The like wee cannot but define in Rhaetia Noricum and Pannonia or the parts betwixt the Danow and the Alpes subiect then to the Christian and Catholique Roman Empire of the West The Great or proper Germanie within the Rhijn and the Danow for their desert vastnesse and incivilitie were not converted vntill the conquests and soveraigntie of the Frenchmen The Westerne Roman Empire troden vnder foot by the barbarous nations and the countries or parts now mentioned being planted with new Colonies of French Almans Bavarians and Huns at that time Gentiles and enimies to Christianity Religion for a time is againe totally darkned eclypsed By meanes of the great victories of the Frenchmen not long after converted besides Gaule subduing this whole Continent vnto the rivers of the Elb and Saltza Christianitie begunne againe to be planted as in the tracts without the Rhijn and the Danow so within those rivers vnto the Saltza and Elb now mentioned the bounds then of their Empire amongst the Switzers and Grisons by S t Fridolinus a Scottishman in the raigne of Clovis the first Christian king of the French in Bavaria by S. Rupert Bishop of Worms about the yeare 590 and the raigne of Theodebert King of Austrasia and of Theodo the third prince of that country amongst the Frisons Thuringians and Lower Germans by S. Willebrord the first Bishop of Vtreicht S. Weiro Bishop of Deira and S. Plechelmus of Candida Casa with others in the regency of Pepin the Fat Maior of the Palace in East-France by S. Willebald the first Bishop of Eystet about the same time and in Saxonie by S. Swibert Bishop of Verden in the yeare 711. and raigne of the Emperour Iustinian the second and by S. VVillehade first Bishop of Bremen in the raigne of the Emperour Charles the great Chiefer instruments in this sacred worke were the English of Great Britaine for such were these here named then a late Colonie of the Dutch of the same language with them and but newly made Christians and for these causes more especially imployed herein by the French Kings and the Bishops of Rome Of more eminent note amongst these was S. Winifrid or S. Boniface the first Archbishop of Ments comming hither in the Regency of Pepin the Fat by whose more effectuall endeauours Christianity and the Orthodox faith became here more fully established Gentilisme and haeresie rooted out a Churches discipline framed new Bishops erected and painefull ministers and labourers every where placed in regard hereof acknowledged yet by the Germans as their Apostle and the author of their conuersion These hether parts thus enlightned the further lying beyond the Saltza and the Elb and inhabited then by the sundry people of the Sclaui by meanes hereof not long after tooke flame the Morauians by the armes and conquest of Zwentibaldus base son to the Emperour Arnulph the Bohemians vnder their king Borzivoius conuerted by S. Methodius Bishop of the Moravians in the reigne of that Emperour the Sorabi inhabiting where now is Meissen and Lausnitz subdued by the Emperour Henry the first the Helveldi Leubuzi with others possessing sometimes the country called afterwards the Marquisate of Brandenburg forced by the same Emperour and their long warrs with the Marquesses hereof and the Wiltzi and Pomerani now Pomeren vnder their princes Wartislaw and Casimir the first Christned and won vnto the faith by Otto bishop of Bamberg about the yeare 1124 in the raigne of the Emperour Henry the Fift The last which stood out were the Obotriti with other people anciently possessing the moderne Dukedomes of Mecklenburg and Lawenburg after sundrie apostacies and much stifnes in the defence of their idolatry and liberty worne out by continuall warres with the neighbouring Saxons their country filled with new colonies of this Christian Dutch nation by Henry surnamed the Lion Duke of Saxony Bauaria in the raigne of the Emperour Fredericke Barbarossa which hapned in a manner by the same meanes to all the rest of the Winithi The whole country being thus cleared from Gentilisme ran the same fortune with other the Provinces of the West enthralled to Popish impostures and the tyranny of the Sea of Rome The first who sensible of their erronr begun to shake off this yoake were the Bohemians about the yeare 1400 in the raigne of their king Wenceslaus the fourth incited herevnto through the preaching of Iohn Husse professour of Divinity at Prage drawing his opinions from Iohn Wickliffe not long before attempting the like reformation in England in the raignes of Edward the third and Richard the second after long tumults sundry battailes fought many victories gained much blood-shed and cruelties committed on both sides Husse and Hierome of Prage burnt at Constance and in reuenge hereof Monasteries and Religious houses pulled downe by Ziska and his followers two Generall Councells assembled at Constance and at Basil at length in the raigne of the Emperour Sigismund obteining a liberty of their consciences which although commaunded still by Popish princes they enioyed notwithstanding vntill the present raigne of the Emperour Ferdinand the second by whō after his great victory at the battaile of Prage the publique exercise of their religion hath beene lately prohibited their ministers and such as would not conforme to the popish doctrine being banished the country iealous of their better inclination and loue vnto Frederique the first Counte Palatine of the Rhijn his competitor for the kingdome Orthodox religion for a time confined almost within the mountaines of Bohemia about some 117 yeares after Huss in the yeare 1517 and th◠raignes of the Emperour Maximilian the first Pope Leô the tenth for the further enlargement thereof it pleased god to raise vp Luther in the neighbouring parts of Saxony a Carmelite Frier by profession borne at Islebie in the County of Mansfield with great vehemency declayming against the errours and impostures of the Church of Rome stirred first vp through the abuse of indulgencies exasperated and drawne on to a more curious search by the vnseasonable violence and opposition of the Popes and their ministers adhaered vnto by many Princes and free Common-wealths of the Empire countenancing and maintaining his doctrine in sundry Colloquies and Diets afterwards by force of armes and open warre continued with variable successe betwixt them and the Emperour Charles the fift vntill in the yeare 1555 and raigne of the same Prince for the more secure defence and saftie of the Province threatned with the warres of the Turkes and their stronger vnion against that enimie in a Diet then held at
seated vpon the river Martha remarkable for the fate and disaster of Charles surnamed the Fighter the last Duke of Burgundie of the house or name of Valois ouerthrowne and slaine here in a memorable battaile by the ioinct armes of Reâ—ner Duke of Lorraine and of the Switzers S. Nicolas vpon the same riuer founded and occasioned through the superstitious worship of some pretended reliques of S. Nicolas sometimes bishop of Mira in Lycia in the lesser Asia preserued here and thronged vnto from all parts with great deuotion Toal Tullum of Ptolomie and Ciuitas Leucorum and Tullo of Antoninus a Bishops sea and a towne imperiall seated vpon the riuer Moselle The country lying about this towne and Nancy were the Leuci of Strabo Ptolomie and Antoninus the Leuci Liberi of Pliny Metz Diuodurum of Ptolomie and Tacitus and Diuodurum Metis and Ciuitas Mediomatricum of Antoninus the royall seate sometimes of the French kings of Austrasia now a citty Imperiall a Bishops sea rising in a spacious and pleasant plaine at the confluence of the riuers Mosselle and Sora. The auncient inhabitants of the neighbouring country were the Mediomatrices of Strabo and Ptolemie the Mediomatrici of Plinie and Tacitus Verdun Civitas Veredonensium of Antoninus a towne Imperiall and a Bishops sea seated vpon the river Meuse These three last townes haue of late yeares beene surprised by Henry the second and the Frenchmen detained now by this meanes and lopped off from the Dutch Empire and held vnder the French subjection The rest of the country is in a maner wholy subject to the Dukes of Lorraine The language of the inhabitants is the French These three countries although held of the Empire yet at this day come not to the Diets neither obey the Edicts and authority hereof governed by their priâ—ces in nature of soveraigne and absolute states and in regard of their language by the most accompted French THE DIOCESE OF TRIER EXtended along the course of the Moselle from the confines of Lorraine vnto the great river of the Rhijn bounded vpon the other sides with Lutzenburg and Westreich The country is rather pleasant then fruitfull hilly and full of woods rich chiefly in minerals especially of Iron and lead The more fruitfull parts are about the towne of Trier and neere vnto the Rhijn The more wilde and barren lie towardes Lorraine and Lutzenburg The aire for those transmarine parts is very close and rainie moistned by continuall fogs and vapours ascending from the shady wet and vndreyned woodlands and hils hereof Chiefer townes here are Sarbrucken Pons Sarvix of Antoninus a towne Imperiall seated vpon the river Sar neere vnto the meetings thereof with the Moselle and the border of Lorraine Trier Colonia Treuerorum of Tacitus Augusta of Mela Augusta Treuerorum of Ptolemie Augusta Libera of Pliny Treueris of Saluianus Ciuitas Treuerorum of Antoninus the Metropolis then of the first Belgica and residence of the Vicar Generall of Gaule seated vpon the Moselle It is now an Archbishops sea and the chiefe towne of the country subiect to the Bishops Veldentz Trâ—rbach Ceel Beilstein all standing vpon the same river of Moselle Cobolentz Legio Prima Traiana of Ptolemie Confluentes of Antoninus seated at the meeting of the river Rhijn and the Moselle The towne is populous and fairely built belonging to the Electours of Triers The country about it is very pleasant and fertill Vpon the other side of the Rhijn standeth mounted vpon the top of an high hill the strong Castle of Ernbretstein subject to the Bishops and commanding the towne and riuer Boppart Baudobrica of Antoninus and Bodobrica of the Notitia after Birâ—ius one of the 50 Castles erected by Drusus vpon the Rhijn occasioning the towne situated vpon the Rhijn Meien Arburg in the particular country of Eysell The ancient inhabitants hereof were the famous Treveri of Caesar Tacitus Ptolemie and others The country is subject to the Archbishops and Electours of Trier THE BISHOPPRICK OF LVICK BOunded vpon the East with the countries of Gulick and Limburg vpon the South with Lutzenburg and Namur and vpon the West and North with Brabant The country is very healthy and pleasant called by a common proverb the Paradise of Priests for such are the Lordes thereof and in regard of the great number there of Monasteries and religious persons no small part of the inhabitants The more champian and fruitfull parts are those towards the North and Brabant stored with corne and all other necessary provision wines excepted which here grow but in few places The Southerne lying towards France and Lutzenburg are more barren swelling with hills and shady Forrests the remainders of the great Ardenne abounding chiefly with Mineralls especially of Marble of sundrie sorts Sea-coale and Iron of exceeding hardnesse Here are reckned 25 walled townes and 1700 Villages hauing Churches Places of chiefer note are Dinant vpon the Meuse and borders of Hainault Huy vpon the same river towards Namur Luick pleasantly seated amongst sundry streames and rivulets parts of the Meuse wat'ring the many streets hereof the seat and residence of the Bishops and the chiefe towne of the country The citty is faire open and large containing foure Italian miles in compasse and some 32 parishes The Churches here for their number riches and beauty excell all others in both kingdomes of France Germany the Cathedrall whereof is dedicated to S. Lambert the patron of the citty whose Canons are the Bishops Counsellours all nobly descended Doctors or Licentiats Ecclesiasticall partly Secular whereof these later may marry Here are besides 8 Collegiate Churches endowed with great reuenues besides almost infinite Religious houses and Monasteries wherewith the towne seemeth in a manner almost wholy to be peopled Here also yet flourisheth an ancient Vniversity wherein nine sons of Kings 24 of Dukes and 29 of Earles are reported at one time to haue beene students Mastreich vpon the Meuse Of this towne only the one halfe lieth in Luick the rest in Brabant Peer Bissen Hasselt vpon the river Demer Horck S. Truden Borckloe Tongeren civitas Tungrorum of Ptolemie Here flourished in the time of the Romanes an ancient Bishops sea after the invasion and spoile of Attilas and the Huns by whom the towne was sacked and destroied in the yeare 498 by S. Servatius removed vnto Mastreich afterwards in the yeare 713 by S. Hubert vnto Luick where now it resteth Borckworm Francimont Buillon an ancient castle mounted vpon the top of an high hill whereof sometimes was named that famous Godfrey of Buillon Duke of Lorraine and the first of the Latines king of Hierusalem The ancient inhabitants were the Eburones of Caesar and Strabo whose name yet seemeth to be preserved in a little village called Ebure distant about a Dutch mile from Luick The country is wholy subject in matters both temporall and ecclesiasticall to the Bishops of Luick The language hereof is the Wallon a corrupt kinde of
from a towne of that name appertaining to the house of Austria Schaffhuisen vpon the right shore of the Rhijn a towne Imperiall confederate now with the Switzers reckoned amongst their 13 Cantons Here all the vessels descending downe the Rhijn from the Lakes of Cel and Constance are necessarilie vnladed the Rhijn some few miles below in regard of the dreadfull falls and cataracts thereof denying all further passage together with the Monastery here of S. Sauiour founded by the Earles of Nellenburg in the raigne of the Emperour Henry the third occasioning the beginning name and increase of the towne The part of the country here is named Hegow by the natiues populous fruitfull and contained after Munster within the Rhijn the Danow and the Lake of Cel. Neere to Schwartz-wald Waldshut vpon the right shore of the Rhijn in Kleâ—gow a cold barren and mountainous region stored chiefly with woods the best revenue of the inhabitants Schwaben is partly subject to the townes Imperiall before mentioned and partly to the Archdukes of Austria the Bishops of Augspurg and Constance and the Earles of Otâ—ngen Helfestain Furstenberg and other lesser Seculars The ancient inhabitants of the parts lying betwixt the Danow and the Alpes were the Brixantes Sâ—anitae and Calucones parts of the Rhaeti of Ptolemie BAVARIA EXtended on both sides of the 〈◊〉 and bounding vpon the West with Schwaben and Franconia vpon the North with Voitlandt vpon the South with the Alpes of Tirol and vpon the East with Bohemia and Austria It containeth the Palatinate and the Dukedome of Bavaâ—ia THE PALATINATE OF BAVARIA CAlled otherwise the Vpper Palatinate for a distinction from that of the Rhijn named the Lower Palatinateâ— and likewise Nortgow from the more Northerne situation thereof compared with the Dukedome It is bounded vpon the West with Schwaben and Franconia vpon the North with Voitlandt vpon the East with Bohemia and vpon the South with the Dukedome of Bavaria The country is rough and hilly rich chiefly in mineralls of iron Chiefer townes are Nurnberg a citty Imperiall situated in a square forme vpon the riuer Pegnitz neere vnto the borders of Franconia in a wild sandie and barren country part sometimes of the Forest Hercynian and named thus from the neighbouring people of Noricum in that fierce invasion of Attilas and the Huns and the waine of the Westerne Roman Empire retiring within the safer shelters hereof and beginning and occasioning the towne The citty is of great state encompassed with a triple wall strongly garded with all sorts of munition peopled with industrious inhabitants especially for iron workes the inuenters of sundry new excellent mechanicks and by the oportunity of the situation thereof lying in the heart of Germany and Europe greatly resorted vnto by Merchants from all parts the very seat of negotiation and shop of warlike provision governed wholy by the nobilitie and containing eight miles in circuit Weissenburg bordering vpon Schwaben a towne Imperiall Eistet vpon the river Altmul a Bishops sea Kelhaâ—â— at the confluence of the riuers Altmul and Danow Amberg vpon the riuer Vils the best towne belonging to the Palâ—â—graues enriched chiefly by the commodity of iron digged out of the neighbouring hills and partly raw and wrought into sundry sorts of vtensils convaied in great abundance vnto the parts adjoining Napurg vpon the riuer Nab. Pfreimbt vpon the same riuer the residence and chiefe towne of the Lanâ—graues of Luchtenberg Further vp mounted vpon an hill is the castle of Luchtenberg whereof the Lanâ—graues thus named are entitl'd Sultzbach Neuburg vpon the riuer Swartzach whereof are stiled the Princes Palatine of Neuburg of the house of the Electours of the Rhijn C ham vpon the river Regen neighbouring to Bohenia The greatest part of the country belongeth to the house of the Count Palatines of the Rhijn The more ancient inhabitants were the Narisci of Tacitus afterwards the Boioarians or Bavarians their first knowne habitation THE DVKEDOME OF BAVARIA BOunded vpon the North with the Vpper Palatinate vpon the West with Schwaben the riuer Lech vpoÌ„ the with South the Earledome of Tirol vpoÌ„ the East with the Dukedome of Austria It is diuided into the Higher and the Lower Bavaria The higher part adioining to the Alpes is hilly cold and barren yeelding no wines and not much corne seruing rather for pasturage and the fatting of swine feeding vpon the wild fruits hereof The Lower Bavaria is more firtill and better inhabited especially the parts lying neere vnto the riuers Danow and Iser The whole is very thicke with woods seeming one continuate forest some remainders of the old Hercynian The chiefer townes in the Lower Bavaria are Ingolstat vpon the Danow a noted Vniversitie founded in the yeare 1471. by Lewis Duke of Bavaria Regenspurg at the confluence of the riuers Danow Nab and Regen the seat sometimes of the more ancient Dukes of Bavaria now a Bishops sea and a towne Imperiall The citty is faire and large beautified with an infinite number of Churches Chappell 's and other places dedicated to religious vses whose Apostle and first Bishop is reported to haue been S. Mark Disciple to S. Paul Here of later yeares the generall Diets of the Empire haue more ordinarily beene kept The bridge here ouer the Danow is the greatest vpon both riuers hereof and the Rhijn containing 470 paces in length Passaw Boiodurum of Ptolemie and Antoninus and Batava of the author of Notitia then a garrison towne of the Romans the station of a Cohort of the Batavians now a Bishops sea seated at the meetings of the rivers Danow Inn and Ils. The citty through the benefit and commoditie hereof is rich faire and well traded divided into three townes seuered by the rivers of Inhstadt situated vpon the right shore of the river Inn of Passaw lying in a corner or wedge of land betwixt the left shore of the of the Inn and the Danow and of Ihlstadt lying on the farther side of the Danow at the confluence thereof and of the river Ils. Vpon the hill of S. George adioyning vnto Ihlstadt standeth the castle Oberhusen the seat of the Bishop of Passaw the Lord of the towne Landshut a faire towne vpon the Iser seated in a most fruitfull and pleasant part of the country Freisingen mounted vpon an hill vnder the which runneth the river Iser a Bishops sea In the Vpper Bavaria Munchen vpon the Iser the seat of the Dukes of Bavaria The citie is faire large and populous enioying a most sweete and happy situation amongst woods gardens and rivulets In the Dukes palace is a library of 11 thousand volumes the greatest part whereof are manuscripts Landsperg neerer vnto the Alpes of Tirol The most part of the country is subject to the Dukes of Bavaria The more ancient inhabitants were the Vindelici of Florus and others THE BISHOPRICK OF SALTZBVRG LYing amidst the Alpes Iuliae and confined with the Dukedomes of Bavaria
soile fat and plentifull of all things necessary It is divided into the Higher Lausnitz which is the part confining vpon Bohemia and the Lower Lausnitz neighbouring to Brandenburg Chiefer townes in the Higher Lausnitz are Gorlitz a faire and well built towne vpon the riuer Neisse Bautzen the seat of the gouernour of the country for the Emperour and king of Bohemia vpon the Spree Zittaw bordering vpon Bohemia Lauben Lubben Gamitz These together by the inhabitants are named the Six townes confederate amongst themselues in a strict league In the Lower Lausnitz Spremberg vpon the Spree Cottbuss vpon the Spree Cottbuss and part of the Lower Lausnitz belong to the Marqueses of Brandenburg the rest to the kings of Bohemia The ancient inhabitants after Glareanus were the Semnones of Tacitus afterwards part of the Sorabi of the Sclaves Winithi FRANCONIA BOunded vpon the West with the riuer Rhijn vpon the South with the Lower Palatinate and Schwaben vpon the East with the Vpper Palatinate and Voitlandt and vpon the North with Hessen and Duringen It is hedged in on all sides with rough forrests and mountaines parts of the Old Hercynian the most noted whereof are towards Heidelberg and the Lower Palatinate Otten-waldt towards the Vpper Palatinate Steigerwaldt and the woods of Nurnberg and in Duringen and towards Hessen Duringer-waldt and Speysshartz Within it is plaine healthie and pleasant sandie in many places yet every where tolerably fruitfull well stored with corne and perfect wines It affordeth also plenty of Rapes Onions Liquorice Chiefer townes are Bomberg vpon the riuer Regnitz neere vnto the meeting thereof and the Mein a Bishops sea The country hereof yeeldeth great abundance of Liquorice Schweinfurt a towne Imperiall vpon the Mein seated in a most fruitfull soile Kitzing vpon the Mein subject to the house of Brandenburg Wurtzburg a Bishops sea vpon the Mein in a pleasant plain environed with medowes gardens and vinie downes The citty belongeth to the Bishops of Wurtzburg titularie Dukes of Franconia residing in a strong Castle situated without the towne Gemund at the meeting of the rivers Mein and the Sal. It belongeth also to the Bishops of Wurtzburg Francfurt a citty Imperiall vpon the Mein divided into two townes of Francfurt which is the greater part vpon the left shore of the river and of Saxen-hausen standing vpon the right shore both commanded by one magistrate The towne is large rich and populous famous for two great Marts the first held about Mid-lent the later towards the midst of September resorted vnto from all parts Here still the Roman Emperours are chosen Rottenburg a towne Imperiall vpon the riuer Tauber Winsheim a towne Imperiall Coburg appertaining to the Dukes of Saxonie Franconia is diuided amongst sundry Free states the townes of Franckfurt Schweinfurt Rottenburg and Winsheim the Bishops of Wurtzburg and Bamberg the Dukes of Saxonie the Marqueses of Brandenburg and the Earles of Henneberg Werthaim Hohenloe Erpach and Schwartzenburg with others HESSEN BOunded vpon the South with Franconia vpon the West with the Rhijn and part of Westphalen vpon the North with the Dukedome of Brunswijck and vpon the East with Saxony and Duringen The aire here is healthy and the soile fruitfull in corne and pasturages hilly and in many places shaded with thicke woods replenished with Deere and sundry sorts of wilde beasts The sheepe hereof yeeld a fine staple for these forraine parts The hilly parts of Catzen-Elbogen amongst other minerals afford plenty of brasse and lead Chiefer townes are Treefurt Eschewege both situated vpon the Weirra or Weser Allendorf vpon the Weser enriched with Salt-springs Fuld vpon the riuer Fuld occasioned by the great Monastery thus named founded by S. Boniface an Englishman the Apostle of the Dutch nation whose Abbot is prince of the Empire and Chauncelour of the Empresse The abby-Abby-Church of S. Sauiour hath a well furnished library consisting all of Manuscripts The Woodland country hereof is called from hence Stift Fuld and Buchen from the â—enty of Beeches it yeeldeth belonging to the Abbots Melsingen vpon the Fuld Cassel vpon the Fuld the chiefe seat of the Lantgraues Frankenburg vpon the riuer Eder Waldeck a free County vpon the Eder Frislar vpon the Eder The towne belongeth to the Bishops of Mentz Hanaw a free County vpon the riuer Bintz Martpurg the chiefe towne belonging to the Lantgraues seated amongst viny downes and wooddy mountaines vpon the riuer Lon where flourisheth a Vniuersity fonnded in the yeare 1426 by Lewis Bishop of Munster Here the Lantgraues haue a stately and magnificent castle mounted vpon a high hill without the towne enioying a pleasant prospect one of their chiefe places of residence Giessen Dietz vpon the Lon. Nassaw a free County of the Empire vpon the Lon. From the Earles hereof the family of Nassaw in the Low Countries are descended Cub vpon the right shore of the Rhijn a towne belonging to the Paltz-graues The greatest part of the Land of Hessen belongeth to the house of the Lantgraues The rest is subiect to the Abbot of Fuld the Earles of Solms Wiltgestein Nassaw Waldeck Hanaw and Isenbruck The ancient inhabitants were the Catti of Tacitus DVRINGEN BOunded vpon the West with the Land of Hessen and the riuer Weirra vpon the South with Franconia being diuided therefrom by the great forest Duringer-waldt vpon the North with the Higher Saxony and the wood Hartz and vpon the East with the riuer Saltza and Meisseu The country is on euery side environed with mountainous and wooddy forests Within it is plaine and extraordinarily populous and fruitfull for corne Here also groweth woad in very great abundance Chiefer townes are Gota vpon the riuer Lin. Here sometimes stood the strong castle of Grimmenstein in the raigne of the Emperour Maximilian the second the nest and receptacle of certaine seditious persons proscribed by the Emperour besieged and taken in by Augustus Electour of Saxony and in the yeare 1567 raised and pulled downe by the commaunde of the Estates of the Empire assembled in a Diet at Regenspurg Erdfurt vpon the diuided streames of the riuer Gers watring and running through the many streets thereof The cittie is large rich populous and euery way great accompted amongst the chiefest in Germany belonging sometimes to the Bishops of Mentz now gouerned in manner of a free state Here flourisheth an Vniuersity founded in the yeare 1392 and raigne of the Emperour Wenceslaus The rich country hereof yeeldeth great plenty of woad Weimar enioying a fruitfull and pleasant situation vpon the riuer Ilm the chiefe seate of the Dukes of Saxony descended from Iohn-Fredericke deposed from the Electourship by the Emperour Charles the Fift residing here in a stately and magnificent castle Iene in a deepe vally vpon the riuer Saltza and the borders of Meissen a noted Vniuersity founded in the yeare 1555 by Iohn-Fredericke and Iohn-William sonnes to the Electour
Rhaetians the whole was made subject to the Commonwealth of the Romans contained afterwards vnder their Provinces of the two Rhaetiae Maxima Sequanorum Vienniensis and of the Alpes Graiae and Paeninae After the ouerthrow of the Westerne Roman Empire by the deluge of Barbarous nations the country became shared betwixt the Almans and Burgundians the river of Russ parting them whereof these had what lay west of the riuer the other the parts beyond These two nations not long after being subdued by the Frenchmen it became subiect to that nation comprehending part of the names and Provinces of Burgundie and Almaigne vnder the soueraignetie and command hereof After this the large dominions of the French being divided amongst the sons and posterity of the Emperour Lewis the Godly it was made a parcel of the kingdome of Burgundie in the person of Charles son to the Emperour Lotharius as afterwards in Bozon the second a part of the kingdome of Arles Burgundy By Rodulph the second the last K. of Arles Burgundy wanting heires it was giuen with the rest of that kingdome vnto the Emperour Conrade the second and his sonne Henry the Black by whom it was incorporated vnto the German Empire to which right it hath euer since appertained by long vnion herewith for the greatest part now accompted and speaking Dutch Vnder the German Empire after the manner of other Dutch prouinces it fell diuided into sundry lesser states and goverments whereof part were Imperial immediately acknowledging the Empire part were subject to the Bishops of Chur Sitten Basil and Geneve the Abbot of S. Gal and sundry Monasteries and Religious houses and part to the Dukes of Zeringen the Earles of Habspurg afterwards of Austria the Earles of Kyburg Werdenberg and other inferiour Nobility Occasioned by the iniuries and warres of the princes of the house of Austria affecting the dominion hereof the favour and partiality of some of the Dutch Emperours enimies to that house and the negligence sloth and sundry factions of the Empire the whole hath now by little and little shoke of the yoake of the Empire and of the most part of their particular Lords each part assuming liberty and the rights priviledges of absolute and free estates for their more strong defence against all forraine invaders and the preservation of justice peace and amity amongst themselues vniting into sundry Leagues from the Canton of Switz one of the three first confederates all since named of the Switzers consisting at this day of 21 lesser Common-wealths no way depending one of an other or of any other superiour state the Cantons of Vren Switz Vnderwalden Lucern Zurich Glaris Zug Friburg Bern Solothurn Basil Schaff-hausen Appen-zel the three Leagues of the Grisons the Bishop of Sitten and Wallis-landt the Abbot of S. Gal and Geneve with the Prefectureships subiect herevnto the townes of Rotweil and Mulhausen being not reckoned immersed within the Continent of Germany and lying severed from the body hereof the manner of whose revolt and incorporation into this Confederacie we haue particularly related in the discourse of France The languages here spoken are the Dutch common to the most part of the Switzers to the Grisons about Chur and to the seauen resorts of the Vpper Wallislandt the French to the Lower Wallis-landt to the towne of Geneve and to the Switzers bordering vpon the lake Lemane and the Italian to the greatest part of the Communalties of the Grisons and to the Italian prefecture-ships subiect vnto these and the Switzers The Religion hereof is partly that of the Reformed Churches and partlie the Romish Catholicke The States wholie professing the Reformed Religion are the fowre greater Cantons of Zurich Bern Basil and Schaff-hausen amongst the Switzers and the townes of Geneve and S. Gal of the Confederats Of the Romish superstition are the Bishops of Basil and Sitten the Abbot of S. Gal and the 7. Cantons of Vren Switz Vnderwalden Lucern Zug Friburg and Solothurn In the two Cantons of Glaris and Appenzel both Religions are allowed The Communalties of the Grisons are confusedly divided betwixt the two the Protestants notwithstanding more prevailing in number The Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction belongeth to the Bishops of Constance and Lausanne vnto whom appertaineth the greatest part of Switzer-landt the Bishops of Basil to whom that country the Bishop of Sion to whom VVallis-landt and the Bishop of Chur vnto whom the Grisons The civill state as before wee haue shewed is not subject to any one goverment being divided amongst many petty yet absolute common-wealthes vnited onely in their sundrie leagues These leagues are of two sorts A first is of the 13 Cantons of Vren Switz Vnderwalden Lucern Zurich Glaris Bern Friburg Solothurn Basil Schaff-hausen and Appen-zel generall and perpetuall and more neere and strict then the rest the parts whereof do only properly make the body of this Common-wealth obtaining solely the prerogatiue of giuing voices in the generall Diets participating of the publick spoiles of their enimies and of determining of warre and peace and of whatsoeuer affaires of the publick state A second sort is of the Allyes confederate with the 13 Cantons but not admitted into their body and more firme vnion Of these onely the townes of Rotweil and Mul-honse of Longue-ville in France Both are confederate with Bern. THE CANTOM OF SOLOTHVRN LYing about the Aar and confining to the mountainous ridge of the Iour Solothurn the chiefe towne Solothurum of Antoninus standeth vpon the Aar in a fruitfull and plaine situation the place of Martirdome of S. Versus and his 66 Theban souldiers in the raigne of the Emperour Dioclesian THE CANTON OF FRIBVRG SEated in the part of Wiflispurgergow the most westerne of the Cantons divided into 19 Prefectureships or goverments Friburg the chiefe towne standeth vpon the river Sana being partly plaine and partly lying vpon a rockie and vneuen hill founded by Berchtold the fourth Duke of Zeringen not many yeares before Bern. These two last Cantons are accompted amongst the Romish or Catholick THE CANTON OF ZVRICH LYing vpon the Lake Zuricher-see and containing 31 Resorts or Prefectureships Chiefe townes here Zurich situated vpon both sides of the river Limat where it issueth out of the Lake The citty is large renowned with a famous Vniversitie Stein Winterthurn Vnto this the most honourable and chiefest of the Cantons belongeth the power and authority of summoning the generall Diets as of those particular of the Protestant League whose legates presede and haue the first place in both assemblies The Religion hereof is that of the Reformed Churches Below Zurich vpon the Limat enioying a most happy and pleasant situation lyeth the towne of Baden named thus from the hot bathes thereof now a Prefectureship commanded by the eight first Cantons beautified with faire buildings and seated in the heart of Switzerlandt in regard of so many advantages much frequented and resorted vnto by the Helvetians and bordering people and made the seat of their
generall all Diets ordinarily here assembling in the moneth of Iune as vpon extraordinary occasions at other times to consult of and conclude publick businesses concerning the whole League and for taking the accompts of the governours and officers of the Common Prefectureships Further vp vpon the right shore of the Lake of Zurich standeth Raperswyl a Prefectureship appertaining to the same Cantons THE CANTON OF BASIL INcluded within the Rhijn the mountaines Iour and Vauge and the borders of Sungow The soile is rockie full of woods but affording good pasturage plentie of corne and very excellent wines Basil the chiefe towne standeth vpon the Rhijn in a pleasant and open seat at what place the rivers Weiss and Byrsa are receiued into that greater chanell the former out of Schwartzwald this by crooked and winding valleies from the neighbouring Iour The citty is rich populous great and flourishing sometimes Imperial now a Bishops sea and a noted Vniversitie divided by the Rhijn into two townes the greater Basil lying vpon the left shore of the Rhijn on the side towards France and the Lesser Basil lying on the further side of the river towards Germany Neere herevnto where iâ—s the village now called Augst stood sometimes the citty Augusta Rauracorum of Ptolemie Rauriaca of Plinie and Basilea and Civitas Basiliensinm of Antoninus The Religion of this Canton is the Reformed THE CANTON OF SCHAFFHAVSEN THis towne and country we haue described in our discourse of Schwaben The inhabitants professe the Religion of the Reformed Churches confederate in a more strict league with the Cantons of Zurich Bern and Basil and the townes of S. Gal and Geneve The soveraigntie and jurisdiction of those 7 last Cantons reside solely in the people and inhabitants of the chiefe townes whereof they are named Lucern Bern Solothurn Friburg Zurich Basil and Shaff-hausen by whose free suffrages are chosen the Senate Magistrates Leiftenants and officers managing the affaires of their seuerall districts The chiefe Magistrate in every of the foure first is called Scultet In the three latter he is named Burgermeister TVRGOW NAmed thus from the riuer Thur diuiding the country It confineth vpon the Rhijn the Lake of Constance Zurich-gow and the Prefectureships of Rheineck and Sargans The chiefe townes are S. Gal seated amongst mountaines not farre from the Rhijn and the Lake Boden see The citty is rich and well governed inhabited by an industrious people amongst other trades chiefely occupied in making of stufâ—es and linnen-cloathes It enioyeth a free estate vnder the protection and confederacie of the Cantons of Zurich Bern Lucern Switz Zug and Glaris The Religion is Protestant From the famous Monastery hereof occasioned by the Cel and religious recesse of S. Gal are named the Abbots thus called Princes of the Empire and of great power and revenue in this country Frawenfeld vpon the riuer Thur the chiefe belonging to the confederate Cantons Arben Arbor Faelix of Antoninus vpon the Lake Boden see It belongeth to the Bishops of Constance Rosach vpon the Lake of Constance belonging to the Abbots of S. Gal. Wyl vpoÌ„ the Thur the chiefe towne subject to the Abbots The free estates commaunding here are the Bishops of Constance vnto whom belongeth the towne of Arben the Abbot of S. Gal to whom Wyl and Rosach and in the Higher Turgow the parts called Gotthuss-lijt the towne of S. Gal and the Abbot of Rinow The rest with the towne of Frawenfeld is commanded by the seaven first confederate Cantons THE PRAEFECTVRESHIP OF RHEINECK COntaining the part of Rhijntal or of the vally of the Rhijn extended from towards Werdenberg along the left shore of that riuer vnto the entrance thereof into the Lake of Constantz Chiefer places are Altstettin and Rheineck whereof this lyeth at the entrance of the Rhijn into the Lake the seat of the gouernour of the country for the Switzers and commanded by the seaven Cantons of Vren Switz Vnderwalden Lucern Zurich Glaris Zug and Appen-zel The part of the vally lying vpon the farther side of the Rhijn with the towne of Bregentz and Veldkirck belong to the princes of the house of Austria THE COVNTRY OF SARGANS LYing about the Lake Walen see in the way betwixt Zurich and Chur of the Grisons The towne of Sargans whereof the country is named is seated in that roade neere vnto the river Sara and the borders of the Grisons The country is subiect to the seaven first Cantons commanding here by course WALLIS-LANDT IT is a long and a deepe bottome of the Alpes PAENINAE reaching from the Mountaine Die Furcken or from the spring of the riuer Rhosne along the course of that riuer vnto the towne of S. Moritz where againe the hils doe close and shut vp the Vally bounding vpon the North with the Switzers vpon the West with Savoye vpon the South with part of Italy and vpon the East with the hill S. Gothard and other tops of the Alpes of the Lepontij where spring the riuers Rhijn Rhuss Tesin and Aar The country within is most pleasant fruitful and happy abounding with very excellent pasture and meadow grounds corne butter cheese saffron and sundry sorts of very delicate fruits It affordeth likewise Salt-springs discovered in the yeare 1544 neere vnto Sitten also diverse fountaines of hot medicinable waters Without it is environed with a continuall wall of horride steepe mountaines covered all the yeare long in their tops with a thicke everlasting crust of yce and snow not passable by armies and with much trouble and danger by single travailers castle-like admitting one onely narrow gap or entrance at the towne of S. Moritz before mentioned The inhabitants are noted to be very courteous towardes strangers but rough and vncivill one towards an other by their drinking of sharpe colde waters intermingled with snow descending from off their mountaines much subiect to the Struma or the Kings-evill It is divided into the Vpper and the Lower Wallis-landt The Vpper Wallislandt beginneth at the Mountaine Die Furcken and is continued along the Rhosne vnto the confluence thereof and the riuer Morsia containing seauen resorts which they call Desenas or Zenden and thirty Parishes The chiefe towne hereof and of the whole vally is Sitten or Sion the seat of the Bishop situated vpon the Rhosne in a plaine vnder a steepe biforked mountaine spiring vp in maner of two high and precipitious rockes vpon the top of the one whereof named Valeria are reared the Cathedrall Church and the houses of the Canons vpon the other which is much the higher fearefull with headlong cliffes the strong castle called Tyrbile for the temperate and coole aire it enioyeth the pleasant recesse of the Bishops amidst the summers heate The Lower Wallis-landt reacheth along the course of the Rhosne from its meeting with the river Morsia vnto the towne of S. Moritz comprehending only six resorts and 24 Parishes Chiefer townes here are Martinach Octodurus of Caesar and Octodurus and Civitas
the Easterne nations otherwise lasie and idle more addicted vnto warres then to trades and manuall occupations poore through their sloath and the oppression of their Lords the Turkes and German Emperours Their language is a kinde of Sclavonian differing from the Poles In the parts neighbouring vnto Germany the Dutch likewise is spoken Their Religion is the Romish Catholicke and that of the Reformed Churches for both are tolerated The reformed lesse prevaileth in the countries subject to the Turkes through a iealousie of that nation forbidding all new opinions quarrells and disputes of faith which might cause innouations troubles of the State This was sometimes a flourishing and great kingdome the bulwarke of Christendome against the Infidells After long warres sundry victories and braue resistance it is now for the greatest part enthralled to the Turke The rest containing some third part obeyeth the German Emperours of the house of Austria now kings for what is left of Hungarie descended from Anne sister to Lewis the second the last natiue Prince slaine by Soliman at the battle of Mohacz It is divided by the Danow into the vpper Hungary lying North of the riuer and the Lower Hungary lying towards the South containing together before the Turkish subiection 50 juridicall resorts which they called counties 24. betwixt the Tissa Danow and Germany 8. East of the Tissa in the same diuision 12. betwixt the Danow the Dra and 6 betwixt the Danow and the Saw towards Greichs-Weissenburg The parts vnder the Turkes are gouerned by their Bassaes and other names of Magistrates after the custome of that Empire Chiefer townes in the vpper Hungary are Presburg enioying a pleasant and healthfull situation vpon the left shore of the Danow neere to vinie mountaines and the confines of Oosten-reich defended with a strong castle mounted vpon a hill the chiefe towne subiect to the German Emperours Vaccia vpon the Danow a Bishops sea Pest vpon the Danow opposite to Buda Colocza vpon the Danow an Archbishops sea Bath vpon the same shore of the Danow North of the riuer Segedin vpon the right shore of the river Tissa Agria a Bishops sea Newsol a strong towne vpon the riuer Gran. Nitri a Bishops sea vpon the river Boch Transchin vpon the riuer Wag. Tirnau East of the Tissa Debreczen Temeswar vpon the riuer Temez Varadin Beyond the Danow in the Lower Hungary Belgrade or Greichs-Weissenburg Taururum of Ptolemie a strong towne of warre hemmed in vpon the East with the Danow and vpon the South with the Saw where it is emptied hereinto defended on the other sides with strong walls deepeditches sometimes the gate and entrance into Hungary and the fortresse of the kingdome against the Infidells surprised by Soliman Emperour of the Turkes Buda or Ofen Curta of Ptolemie vneuenly seated vpon the right shore of the Danow a faire and strong towne the seat of the principall Bassa of the Turkes and the chiefe citty of the kingdome Here are bathes and springs of hot waters Gran vpon the same shore of the Danow opposite to the fall or mouth of the riuer Gran out of the higher Hungary from whence it hath beene thus named a strong towne of warre and an Archbishops sea the Primate hereof Comora vpon the Danow in an Iland Rab a Bishops sea and a strong towne of warre vpon the right shore and confluence of the Danow and the Rab naming the towne and distinguishing anciently the Higher and the Lower Pannonies Betwixt the Danow and the Dra Stul-Weissenburg strongly but vnwholsomely seated in the midst of a great Lake or inaccessable marish ioyned to the firme land with three high and broad causies built with houses and blocked vp at their ends with great Bulwarks garded in time of warre and defending these suburbs Here the kings of Hungary were crowned as likewise enterred Betwixt this and the Dra lyeth the great lake Balaton containing 24 Italian miles in length Zigeth a strong towne standing in a marish vpon the North side of the river Dra famous for the death of Soliman the mighty Emperour of the Turkes during his siege hereof Fiefkirken vpon the Dra so named from such a number of Churches a Bishops sea Vnto the crowne of Hungary belonged sometimes as they doe partly at this day the countries of Transylvania Walachia Rascia Servia Bosna Windischlandt Croatia and Dalmatia gouerned by the deputies of the kings hereof or held by their princes vnder their tribute and soveraigne right The fowre first since lying wholy within the ancient Dacia and Maesia pertaine not to this division The descriptions of the other remaine after that first brieflie I haue related the ancient estates of Illyricum whereof they were sometimes partes togither with the many changes and successions of people and Lords commaunding herein vnto this present occasioning the present estate and names ILLYRICVM THE name hereof Solinus fabulously deriveth from Illyrius son to the one-ey'd monster Polyphaemus and Galataea commanding sometimes the country The bounds are diversly set downe by ancient authours Florus and Plinie continue the name along the coast of the sea Adriaticke betwixt the rivers Arsia and Titius or the countries Histria and Dalmatia Ptolemie including Dalmatia enlargeth the accompt hereof vnto the riuer Drilon and borders of Macedonia confining vpon the other sides with Histria the two Pannonyes and the Higher Mysia Strabo extendeth it along the sea-coast towards Greece and the South-East vnto the mountaines Ceraunij inwards towards the North and West vnto the riuer Danow and the Lake of the Rhaetians or Acronius besides the parts before mentioned comprehending Rhaetia Noricum Pannonye Histria and Dardania with the part of Macedonia where lay the townes of Dyrrachium Apollonia and Oricum Vnto these of Strabo wee finde added in Appian the Tribali and Mysij reaching Eastwards along the course of the Danow vnto the sea Euxinus now Maggiore The Emperour Constantine the Great hauing diuided the Romane Empire into 4 supreme iurisdictions or gouerments vnder the Praetorio praefecti of Italy Gaule Asia and Illyricum we read afterwards by this occasion all the parts of Europe subiect to that Empire and lying East of Gaule and Italie Thrace onely and the Lower Maesia excepted to haue beene contained vnder the generall name hereof called thus after the title or name of the chiefe prefect or province of the division Sextus Rufus liuing in the time of the Emperour Honorius reckoneth 17 provinces of Illyricus or Illyricum two of Noricum two of Pannonia Valeria Savia Dalmatia Maesia two of Dacia Macedonia Thessalia Achaia two of Epirus Prevalis and Crete Iornandes nameth 18 prouinces two of Noricum two of Pannonia two of Valeria Suevia Dalmatia the Higher Maesia Dardania two of Dacia Macedonye Thessalye Epirus Crete Praevalis and Achaia The authour of the Notitia with some difference nameth likewise 18 provinces but accompteth only 17 in the grosse six of Macedonye which were Achaia Macedonia