South Aragon being a Campaign Country not subject to Woods or Inclosures yet abounds with Trees in the nature of Hedg-rows considerably fruitful and has for Its chief Cities Victoria Sanguessij Viana and Pampelune Garisoned as the chief defence of the Spaniards against the Incursions of the French in time of War who 's King though wanting the Possession has the Title of that Kingdom the Revenues whereof has been estimated at One hundred Thousand Duckets Corduba is a very fruitful Province accounted and judged as it is the richest in all Spain abounding in Cordivant Skins Mallago Sherry Oranges Cattle Fish Corn great store of Fowl and has in it divers fair Cities as 1st Corduba the Principal from which it takes its Name 2d Xeres 3d. Sevil. 4th Granada 5th Mallaga 6th Almeria 7th Guadalcanal where the rich Mines are found Galicia is a Country very Mountainous many of which cannot be passed without great difficulty and others by reason of their Craggyness held not passible yet in this Province are found the Cities of Compostella the Seat of an Arch-Bishop called St. Jago in Honour of St. James the Apostle whom they impute to be buryed here Bajonna a place very pleasant for its Scituation and Corronna or Groynne This Country is held the Principal in Spain for the breed of Jennets and here is found the Promontory Nerius formerly held to be the Ne plus ultra Bisca makes a Famons Bay into the Ocean yet many times proves dangerous to Sailers and although the Country is Mountainous yet it has many pleasant Valleys and is adorned with Cities and Towns of note as St. Sebastian Tholosa Fonterabia Bilboa c. And from the Mountains of this Country the Rivers that water the greatest part of Spain have their Springs being accounted no less than One hundred and fifty and great store of Timber for Shipping is found in those parts with some Iron Mines c. Toledo a part of New Castile takes its name from the principal City scituate on the banks of Tagus or Taio exceeding pleasant and is ordinarily the Residence of the Nobility and of Merchants that Trade in these Parts being the See of an Arch-Bishop who is above the rest of the Bishops of that Kingdom his Revenue being accounted Three hundred thousand Crowns and here the Kings of the Goths and Moors held their Courts there are likewise found the Cities of Calatrava and Talboia one scituate on the Ava and the other on the Tagus Murica contains the City Murica the Town of Alicant and New Carthage being a Country very plentiful though thinly peopled and hence come the Alicant wines and curious Earthen Vessels with much fine silks Nor did the Romans in their Conquest for some time reap a less benefit than Twenty five thousand drams of Silver a week from this Country only Castile Old and New contain the Towns of Soria Segovia Valodolid Salamanca a University c. Madrid the Kings Principal Seat Alcala and Alcaltura most of them very pleasantly scituate as being posited in the heart of the Kingdom of Spain abounding with Corn Fruits and Cattle and the latter watered with the River Tagus and Ava which much inrich the Country As for Portugal it is now a separate Kingdom wherefore I intend to speak of it in its due place as more proper in a work of this Nature The Principal Rivers appropiated to Spain are the Tagus or Taio the Duero or Duerius the Guiadiana or Anas which for a good space Ingulfs it self and runs under ground giving the Spaniards Occasion to boast that they have one of the fairest Bridges in the World on which Ten thousand Cattle feed and over which an Army with extended Wings may March the other Rivers of note are Gualdahquiver and the Ebro called by Strabo Baetis and Iberus As fot the Mountains they are distinguished into six great Ridges continued knit together whereof the lesser are but parts the chief of which are the Pyreenians that extend from the Cantabrian Ocean to the Mediterranian Sea. As for the People of Spain they are swarthy of Complexion black-Hair and of a good Proportion stately in their Actions and grave of Deportment very serious in their Carriage and Offices much addicted to Religion and very Observant and Faithful to their Prince not prone to alter their Determination but patient in Adversity in War they are very Deliberate and Cautious not much regarding Arts but adict themselves much to Women and are generally very much conceited of themselves As for the Women they carry themselves very sober and discreet and are tolerably handsome Those that are marryed are in great Subjection to their Husbands and extream loving though the men are naturally Jealous In matters of Religion they are Roman Catholicks only there are some Churches of Toledo where the Mus-Arabick Office is used As for the Language it is not all the same for in some parts it has a mixture of French in others much of the Moorish and in some again the Gothish Arabick but generally and vulgarly the Old Spanish is used which has much Affinity with the Latin and as for the Civil and Imperial Laws used amongst them they are intermixed with many Customs of the Goths and the King governs his Provinces by Vice-Roys or Ministers of State and though this Couutry is not very fruitful in Corn and Cattle yet it generally abounds in Wines Oyls Sugars Rice Silk Liquoras Honey Wax Saffron Anniseeds Rosin Almonds Oranges Lemmons Cakes Soap Anchovies Soda Barrilla Shumack Wool Lamb-Skins Tobacco besides the great Treasures of Gold and Silver that comes from America from whence it is conjectured since the first discovery that above Fifteen hundred thirty six Millions of Gold has been brought into Spain As for the Buildings they are every where more solid and durable than stately and magnificent unless at Sevil in Relation to which the Spaniards usually say he that has not been at Sevil has seen no stately Building As for Apparrel they affect rather Gravity than Gaudiness and their Diet is as sparing consisting for the most part of Herbs made into Pottage with minced Meats and Salads though there is scarcely a Mechanick in any noted Town but when he goes abroad has his Cloak on and his Rapier by his side and walks in as much State as the greatest Don in the Kingdom A Description of the Kingdom of Portugal THIS Kingdom was in the time of the Roman Conquests accounted a Province of Spain but since been a Kingdom of about Five hundred years standing bounded on the North with the River Minio and Ava which parts it from Gallicia on the East with the two Castles and Estremadure on the South with Algarve and on the West with the Atlantick Ocean and was anciently called Lusitania deriving its present Name from Porto a Haven Town scituate in the mouth of the River Dueras the usual Landing place of the Gauls and thence corruptly called Portugal or the Gauls Port and is
and was once reckoned to â—ontain 100 Cities though now it comes very short of that number The chief are Leuctres Amyclae Thulana near to which Hercules is said to kill the Hydra Salassâ—a Epidaurus seated on the Bay of Malvasia a Town well Built and Fortified and Sparta so called from Spartus a Prince of Argos as for this part it is wonderful fruitful and lies very commodious for Traffick and Navigation greatly abounding in all the Commodities common to Greece being pleasantly watered with the River Eurotas and other Streams of lesser note having many fair Promontories Bays and Havens ARGOLIS is bounded on the South with Laconia on the West with Corinthia and Achaia-Propria and on the East and North with the Sea taking its name from the City Argos its Metropolis once the Head of a famous Kingdom and in this City King Pyrrhus the great Grecian Conqueror after he had Victoriously forced his entrance was slain with a Tile thrown at him by an old Woman from the top of a House and besides this it has Traezan Tyrinthia Nemea and some others and grew in times past from a small Province to a powerful Kingdom being once the chiefest of Greece in strength giving Birth to many renowned persons and the most famed for the breed of Horses CORINTHIA though but a little Region is yet nevertheless exceeding pleasant and fruitful lying towards the Istmus or neck of Land that joyns the rest of Greece to Peloponesus between Argolis and Achaia Propria containing only the Territories of Corinth and the chief Towns are Cincrea Corinth memorable for the Epistles Saint Paul wrote to the Inhabitants commodiously Scituate for the command of all Greece but that the Inhabitants give themselves more to Merchandise than War and although it has been a long time in the hands of the Turks it was the last year taken by the Venetians and is Seated on the bottom of the neck or Istmus the Ionian Sea being on the West and the Aegean on the East washing its walls and makeing on each side a Capacious Haven and was formerly exceedingly Fortified but of latter times the Security the Turks supposed themselves in on that part of their Empire made them little mind keeping it from running to decay And thus much may briefly suffice as for that part of Greece called Peloponesus As for the other Achaia it is properly divided into Attica Megaris Baetia Phocis Aetolia Doris Locris and the chief City accounted amongst these is Athens once the head of a famous Common-wealth and sometime a Kingdom and is Seated very advantagiously making a Port into the Sea and was once the Mistriss of Arts and Arms and in St. Pauls time who wrote his first and second Epistle from hence to the Thessalonians a very flourishing City but by the Wars and Misfortunes it has sustained is now only noted for what it has been more than for what it is MEGARIS is but a small Region yet very pleasant and much abounding in Corn and Fruits and has for its chief City Magaria BAETIA is much larger than the former and was once all the Dominion or Kingdom of Thebes that famous City so much noted to be built by Cadmus the Phaenician being the Metropolis and in this Tract are found likewise Aulis and Platea and is watered with divers pleasant streams PHOCIS is memorable for the Mountain Parnassus and was much noted for the Temple of Apollo at the foot of it but now that stately Structure where the Delphic Oracle gave Answers is ruined and scarcely any part of it remaining AETOLIA is another considerable part of this Tract divided by the River Pindus from Epirus once a country of great note and full of Towns and places of strength but now retains at present few of note except Chalcis and Thermum however the whole Country is pleasant abounding in Pastures watered with many Rivers yielding some Mines and great store of Cattle LOCRIS though it is but a small Region yet lies Commodiously on the Sea Coast and has for its chief Town Lepanto in sight of which was fought the famous Battle or Sea fight between the Turks Venetians and consederate Christians in which 29000 of the Turks were killed 4000 taken Prisoners 140 Gallies Burnt Taken and Sunk and 1200 Christian Slaves rescued in the year 1571. and as for the Trade here it consists in Leather Oyl Tobacco Furrs Wheat Barly Rice c. And is again in the Possession or under the Power of the Venetians DORIS is a small Province bounding upon or rather appertaining to Locris and has for its chief Town or City Amphissa bordering upon the Mountain Parnassus here is also found Guidas where the stately Temple of Venus stood and where St. Paul continued a long time And as for this Tract it is very Pleasant and Fruitful watered with small Rivers but none of note Epirus was once a Famous Kingdom of which Pyrrhus who Invaded the Romans in Italy was King but more memorable for being under the Regency of the great Scanderbeg who with a handful of Men stood out against the whole Power of the Turkish Empire in the Reigns of Amurath the Second and Mahomet the great defeating and destroying Prodigious Armies of the Infidels and has for its chief Cities Croâ—ja Petrela Petra Alba and Stelusia the Country is very Fruitful tho' somewhat Mountainous and was once accounted next to Macedon the most powerful in Greece and at this day greatly abounds in Cattle rich Pastures and Corn. ALBANIA is bounded with Macedon Sclavonia Epirus and the Adriatick Sea and has for its chief Cities Durazzo and Albinopolis memorable for its Breed of Horses which the Turks use mostly in their Wars and the Courage of its Inhabitants whose Country being but Indifferently Fruitful and too strait for the Inhabitants they like the Swiss rather choose the Exercise of Arms than Husbandry MACEDON once Famous for being Head of the Greek Empire is bounded with Missa Superior Migdonia Epirus and Achaia and is a very Rich and Flourishing Country though the Turks greatly oppress the Native Greeks and make them labour that they may reap the greatest Profit and abounds not only with Cattle Corn and some Wine but in it are found Mines of Gold and other Mettals and of this Country Alexander the Great was King who not only Conquered the greatest part of Asia but brought all Greece into Subjection founding here the third Empire of the World And as for the chief Cities they are Aedassa Andrastus Eriba Scidra and Philippus or Philipopolis Built by Philip the Father of Alexander and to the People of this City it was that St. Paul Wrote his Epistle THESSALY was once likewise a Kingdom lying on the South of Macedon abounding with Pleasant Valleys and Hills and amongst the latter are found that of Olympus so famed for Transcending the Clouds Othris Pelion and Ossa so often struck with Thunder and Fabled to be laid one upon the other when the Giants went about
Minor or Anatolia Asia Minor or Anatolia described in its Kingdoms and Provinces c. ASIA MINOR or Anatolia is bounded on the East with the River Euphrates on the West with the Thracian Bosphorus Propontis Hellespont and the Aegean Sea parted by them from Europe on the North with Pontus Euxinus or the Black Sea on the South by the Rhodian Lydian and Pamphilian Seas and several parts of the Mediterranean extending from 51 to 72 degrees of Longitude and from 36 to 45 degrees of Latitude and is accounted in length from the Hellespont to the Euphrates 630 Miles and in breadth from Trabezond a City so called to Sinus Issicus in Cilicia 210 and is under the middle Parallel of the Fourth to the Sixth Clime by reason of which the longest Day in the Summer Southward is but 14 Hours and a half and differs not above an Hour in the extreamest North which is longer insomuch that the Air is very Temperate and the Soil very fit for any sort of Grain or Fruit but that Husbandry is neglected by reason of its being under the Turkish Yoak though the Rich Pasture of its own accord breeds great store of Cattle and an excellent Race of Horses and here stood the Famous City of Troy so much renowned for its sustaining Ten Years Siege against the whole Power of Greece nor did this Country formerly boast of less than 4000 Cities and Towns but at this day most of them are found to be Ruined by War and Earth quakes As for the Division of this part of Asia it is properly divided into Bythinia Pontus Paphlagonia Galatia Cappadocia Armenia minor Phrygia minor Phrygia major the greater and the lesser Missias Aeolis and Ionia Lydia Caria Lycia Lycaonia Pisidia Pamphilia and what in the time it appertained to the Roman and Greek Empires were under the Province of the Rhodes and of these in their Order BITHYNIA is a very pleasant Province of Asia minor formerly called Bebrycia and afterwards Migdonia taking the present Name from one Bithynius who was King thereof when a Kingdom though 〈◊〉 will have this Name derived from Thyni a People of Thrace who Subdued and Possessed it The Country is naturally Rich on that part bordering upon the Bosphorus opposite to Constantinople which is Scituate on the European Shoar full of little rising Hills and grassy Plains and was once the Delight of such as sailed those Seas or Streights but the Turks who affect neither Art nor Sumptuousness in their Retirements or Recreation have neither Improved nor kept up the pleasant Gardens and Pallaces they found in it The Principal Towns of Bithynia are Scutari facing Constantinople Chalcedon memorable for the Fourth General Council there Assembled for the Suppression of the Nestorian Hereticks Nicomede so named from Nicomedes once King of Bithynia Libussa memorable for the Death and Sepulchre of the Famous Hannibal the Carthaginian General who fell by Poison Prusa once a considerable City and the Residence of the Turkish Kings till Mahomet the First removed to Adrianople Nice or Nicaea Scituate on the Fenns of the River Ascanius Famous for nothing more than the first General Council held there under Constantine the Great Anno 314. to Settle the Peace of the Church greatly disturbed and put out of Order by the Arian Heresie where there Assembled no more than 318 Bishops yet in such Esteem for Learning and Piety that to this Day it is highly approved by all good Men and here after the taking of Constantinople by the Latin Princes the Greek Emperor held his Residence and the Rivers of this Province are Phillis Ascamius Sangaris or Sangri but for Hills or Mountains none of note appear PONTVS or Metapontus is a Bordering Province on Bithynia has for its chief Cities Flaviopolis Claudiopolis Juliopolis Diospolis Heraclea Amastris Phillium and others formerly very famous but oâ— later Times not of much note and in that Part called the Eastern Pontus is Sinope pleasantly seated on a long Promontory shooting into the Main and memoralble for the Sepulchre of King Mithridates who held a Forty Years War against the Romans Themisciyra now called Fanogoria Amasia the Birth Place of Strabo the Geographer Cabira afterward called Diopolis noted for the overthrow Lucullus gave King Mithridates near it when to retard the Pursuit of his Enemies he was obliged to scatter his Treasure in the way and thereby escaped their Hands with the greatest part of his Forces As for the Rivers in these Parts or any other Division of Pontus they are not except Thermodon on whose Banks the Amazonians formerly Inhabited of any considerable note PAPHLAGONIA though a Country of little compass yet once was the chief Seat of a Powerful People but ruined by Cyrus for their Assisting the Lydians against him and the Principal Cities were Gangra now memorable for nothing more than the Council held there in the Year 339. Conica or Coniata Pompeiopolis Germanopolis Xoana and Andrapa and from this Country the Venetians had their Original as sprung from a People called Heneti antiently Inhabiting a part of it and as the rest the Soil is very Fruitful in places where it is Manured The Inhabitants are a mixture of Greeks and Turks with some Christians and Jews amongst them but not very many nor have they any considerable Traffick at Sea which renders the Province poor GALATIA deriving its Name from the Gauls when they over-ran these Parts who called it Gaul-Asia and corruptly Galatia it was likewise called Gallo-Graecia from the mixture of Galls and Grecians and here to this day the Antient Language of 〈◊〉 Galls is much spoken or at least mixed with that of the Greek This Country above what we have mentioned is very plentiful in Fruits and other things necessary for the Support of Man-kind and in this part only is the Amethist that great Preservative against Drunkenness found and here the People of Old had the Vanity to throw Written Papers into the Funeral Fires of their Friends as conceiting they would read them in the other World and thereby know the Sorrow they made for their Departure and were so much given to Sacrifices that it is Noted by Athenaeus how a Rich Galatian for the space of a Year Feasted the whole Province with the Flesh of such Beasts as were ordained for Sacrifices To perswade them from which and confirm them in a more Glorious Religion St Paul Wrote his Epistle to this People As for Rivers of note there are none that rise in this Country however it is supplyed with refreshing Streams from Halys and Sangarius The chief Cities are Anâ—yrana now called Angauri Olenus Agriama Tavium or Tanium Androssiâ— Fabarena Thermae and Talachbacora there are likewise sundry lesser Towns and Villages but of no Note CAPPADOCIA is on the East of Galatia and is a Country abounding with Wine and sundry kinds of curious Fruits many Mines of Brass Iron Silver and other Minerals in the Mountains and other Parts as also store of Allom
found or at least extreamly wanting of its former Glory and in this compass mixed together in a manner the other Tribes mentioned were contained JVDEA The Country of the more peculiar remnant of the Jews containing the Tribe of Juda but may be said to be divided between the Philistines the Tribes of Dan Simeon and Benjamin At first the Philistines commanded the Sea Coast from the South of Phaenicia to the North of Idumea or from the City of Gaza to the Castle of Pilgrims taking both except Joppa into the Accompt and but that and all the Northern Towns were the Israelites and though the Philistines held no more then six of note yet they were of such importance and so strongly fortified that having the Edomites to back them and some other Neighbours who relished not the Jewish Nation they perplexed and wearied them continually with Wars and Inroads and became more troublesom than the whole body of the Canaanites which Towns were Gath or Geth where the Giant Goliah slain by David was Born Accaron on the South of Gath a Town of great Wealth and Power Ashdod by the Grecians called Azotos Memorable for the Temple of Dagon whither the Ark of the Lord was carryed when taken by the Philistines Ascalon Scituate on the Coast of the Mediterranean aad first Founded by a Noble Lydian Gaza more Inland signifying in the Persian Language the Place of Treasure where indeed Cambyses layed up the Tribute of those Countries and Majoma the Port Town of Gaza And in these they had their strong Holds from which they so often vexed the Israelites The chief places possessed by the Tribe of Dan were Joppa since called Jaffa once a Famous Mart Town and the Principal Haven of those parts taken by the Christians in the Holy War Rama or as the Moors call'd it Romula built with Free-stone and scituate upon rising Hills in a Sandy Plain where yet remain the Ruines of a Monastery and several Christian Churches Imnia the place where Judas Macchabeus Burnt the Syrian Fleet. Ceder or Cedron Modini where the Macchabees were Buried Gibbethon Cariathjarim Beth-shemesh to which the Ark was brought by the Oxen when dismiss'd by the Philistines Tisrah Caspin Lachis Ajalon a City of the Levites mentioned before in the Tribe of Ephraim in the Borders whereof it is Scituate which occasions Authors to disagree in which Tribe to place it and therefore leave it indifferently to either To the Tribe of Simeon is ascribed the Cities and Towns of Gerar Siceleg or Ziglag Haijn a City of Levites Cariath-Sepher Interpreted the City of Books within the Borders of Simeon but appertaining to Judah and Chorma with others of smaller note rather Villages than Towns. The Tribe of Judah so called from Judah the Fourth Son of Leah had for its Lot Arda Scituate in the Entrance of Judea Hebron one of the Antientest Cities of the Canaanites formerly Inhabited by the Giant-like Sons of Anakim or Anak the Word signifying a Chain and here it was that Abraham bought a Buryal Place for his Dead and Buried his Wife Sarah Tecoa the City of Amos Jether or Jutter Maresa where the Prophet Micah was born Emmaus since called Nicopolis Hasor or Chatsor one of the Frontier Towns of Idumea Odalla or Hadullun Ceila or Keila where David hid himself when he fled from Saul Eleutheropolis or the free City not far from Hebron Azeca Beth-sur or Bethsora signifying the House of Rocks alluded from its standing on a Rocky Hill Adoram bordering on the Dead Sea Zore in former times called Bela but took its Name from the words of Lot the word Tsohor Importing Refuge Safety or Deliverance Massada a strong Hold Libna a strong Fortified City seated in the Corner of Juda between the Tribes of Dan and Benjamin Ziph in the Wilderness where Saul came to pursue David BETHLEHEM call'd Bethlehem-Judah to distinguish it from one of the same name in Zebulon the Birth place of our Blessed Saviour and the Grave of those Innocents that suffer'd on his account by the Cruelty of Herod As for the Territories of these Cities and Towns they are exceeding fruitful and in many of the Valleys are Gardens of Balsam or Opobalsamum Trees The Tribe of Benjamin had for its Portion the Cities of Mizpeh Gebah Gibeah Ai Gibeon Jericho Anathoth Nob Gilgal Bethel Ramath differrent from what has been mentioned Chadi or Haidi Lod and Ono but the chief Magnificence of this Tribe was the Famous City of Jerusalem scituate upon a Rocky Mountain yet in most parts easie of ascent Invironed with Neighbouring Hills and consisted in its most flourishing time of four parts separated by several Walls resembling distinct Cities divided into the upper lower and new Cities together with the City of Herod which made the Fourth division all the Walls fortified with Towers and Castles and the Cities stor'd with stately Buildings Fountains and pleasant Gardens but all these exceeded by the magnificence of the Temple held to be the chief wonder of the World the Description of which is lively set down in the Old Testament wherefore it will be superfluous here to delineate it though at this day its Glory is laid in the dust The Tribe of Levi though properly a Tribe of the Israelites had no Possessions assigned it but had the Priesthood for its Inheritance and therefore scattered or planted in divers Cities assigned for the Levitical Residence being as Jacob their Father had before Prophesied divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel their Portions being to live on the Altar and the Tenths of the Offerings c. and as it is in Joshua 18. 17. The Priesthood of the Lord was their Inheritance And of these there were four Kinds or Distinctions 1. Punies or Tirones which from their Childhood till the 25 year of their Age were obliged to Learn the duty of their Office 2. Graduats which were obliged for 4 years to study the Law or till they were well grounded in it 3. Licentiates who actually exercised the Priestly Office And 4 the Doctors or Rabbins who where of the highest Order and expounded the Law to the People IDVMEA is a part of Palestine separate from the Tribes commonly called the Land of Edom bounded on the East and South with Arabia the Stony on the North with Judea on the West with the Mediterranean Sea Inhabited by the Children of Esau Brother to Jacob and is a very fruitful Country towards the Sea coast but that bordering on Arabia is somewhat Barren and Mountainous though they heretofore afforded Balm and now a great many Palm-trees grow there as for the People they are and antiently were rude boisterous and untractable given much to Violence and were no small contributers by raising a Sedition in Jerusalem to the Destruction of that famous City by the Romans under Titus and had for their chief Cities and Towns Dinhahath the City of Bela the first King of Edom Aniath the City of Hadad and Pan the City of Hadar
of Armenians Christians Jews Mahometaâ—s and some Idolaters The chief Rivers that Water this Countrey are the Tanais and Volga and the principal Mount Imaus which runs in a long Chain or Ridge branching however into divers Spurs c. A description of the Kingdom of China in its Provinces c. CHINA is a large Kingdom though not well known till the latter times to the Europeans bounded on the North with the Eastern Tartars and Altay separated from them by a continued Chain of Hills and a Wall of 400 Leagues in length furnished with Towers and so broad that a Cart may be driven on the top of it built as they give it out by Tzaintzon the 117th King of China The Southern boundards are partly Cochin-China a Province of the East India and partly the Ocean on the East with the Oriental Ocean and on the West with part of India and Cathaia and is indeed on all parts so hemmed in with Mountains Seas and Artificial Fortifications that it is no wonder Travellers missed it in their way to other Countreys This Kingdom according to the account of the Natives contains 15 Provinces viz. Canton Foqueit Olam Sisuam Tolenchia Cansay Miuchian Ochian Hionam Paguia Tuitan Quinchen Chagnian Susnam and Quinsay in which are Computed 591 Cities 1593 Walled Towns 4200 Unwalled Towns and 1154 Castles the whole Countrey being accounted 3000 Leagues in Circumference reaching from 130 to 160 Degrees of Longitude and from the Tropick of Cancer to the 53 Degree of Latitude lying under all the Climes from the Third to the Ninth so that the Air is very Temperate and Healthful by which the Natives are for the most part exempted from Sickness and live to an extream Age As for the Riches and Fertility it is very much even to admiration the people being very Industrious and the Soil as suitable so that in many places they have two and in most parts three Harvests in a Year nor do they spare to Plant and Sow the best of all kinds they can compass The chief Commodities coming from hence are Pearls Bezora Stones Wooll Cotton Olives Wine Flax Metals Fruit China Ware of sundry kinds Stuffs Carpets Embroideries Musk Amber c. The People are of a Swarthy Complexion especially those living towards the Southern parts short Nosed black Eyed with thin Beards wearing long Garments with loose Sleeves and Hair at its full growth they are much given to often eating but then they do it very sparingly not touching their Victuals with their hands but take it with a Fork made of Ebbony or Ivory from whom the Europeans learned the Fashion The Men are very Jealous of their Wives insomuch that they will not suffer them to go abroad nor sit at the Table with them if any Stranger be there unless some very near Kinsman however they permit them to go as Gay as they please about the House and one Trick has been brought into a Custom to prevent their desiring to ramble the which is by the hard binding up their Feet when Children to render them small that being accounted the greatest Ornament or Beauty so that being Cripled by that means they cannot go without pain As for their dead they bury them in Fields fifteen days after their decease They that are buried within the Walls of Cities c. being by them accounted most miserable Knowledge they have of the Deity and some marks and foot-steps of Christianity is remaining amongst them but so obscured that they live for the most part after the manner of the ancient Gentiles offering Sacrifices to the Devil thereby to appease him that he should do 'em no Mischief and will needs have the date of their Actions or the beginning of their Kingdom long before the Worâ—d was made telling many strange and incredible Stories about the Creation c. In their Building and indeed in all their Actions they are very neat and the Countrey so populous though the Wars with the Tartars have somwhat lessened the number that some of their Kings have brought a Million of People into the Field and has seldom less than 1000 Ships of War though of no great Service in a readiness and 10000 lesser Vessels on several Rivers for carrying of Goods and Merchandise from place to place yet so jealous are they of Strangers prying into their Affairs that in some Cities 't is Death for any but a Native to lodge a Night within the Walls nor is he permitted in the day time to enter without giving his name to a Publique Notary which when he returns he must see crossed out or where ever he is found he suffers for it The Towns and Cities are too Numerous to be particularly recited but the principal are Quinsay 100 Miles in Circuit with a Lake of 30 Miles compass within the Walls in the middle of which is an Island where the Emperor as he stiles himself has a Magnificent Pallace and is thought to contain Two millions of People Pequin or Pekin not much inferiour to the former in bigness but nothing in Trade and all the Countrey is so free from Hills or Mountains that the Chinese ride in Charriots made of Reeds or Canes which by the help of Sails is driven by the Wind as if drawn by Horses or floating upon the Water As for the Rivers they are but few and those proceed from great Lakes as wanting hills to give them Springs the principal are Aspthara Senus Ambactu and Cotiaris all Navigable and have over them a great Number of Bridges the Arches of some of them rising so high that a Ship under Sail may pass with as much ease as a Boat And as for the Customs arising by Trade they are so great that no Prince whatsoever receives so much upon the like occasion East India described in its Kingdoms and Provinces c. INDIA the largest Tract in the World going under one entire name or denomination except Tartary and China is bounded on the East with the Oriental Sea and a part of China on the West with the Dominions of the Persian Sophy and on the North with Branches of Mount Taurus that divide it from Tartary and on the South with the Indian Ocean The whole Countrey as most considerate persons affirm taking its name from the River Indus the most famous and noted in that part of Asia tho some will have it to be so called from the end or furthest extent of Asia and is extended from 106 to 159 degrees of Longitude and from the Equinoctial or Equator to 44 degrees of North Latitude as to the main Continent tho some Islands reckoned within the compass of India extend to 9 degrees South Latitude This Countrey to give it its due is in most parts exceeding pleasant and flourishing enjoying healthful and Temperate Air unless at some Seasons when the heat is excessive in the Southern parts the Summer continuing there much longer than with us so that they have in a manner Two Summers giving a
accounted to be in length from North to South about Six score Leagues running along the Sea-Coast and consequently not answerable in breadth in which it disproportions as in some places Twenty five some Thirty and in other Fifty Leagues This Kingdom especially of late years has made its self famously known throughout the World by its Discoveries and Trafficks in Navigation so that no Trading part of the Universe has escaped its Knowledge As for the Provinces attributed to Portugal they are principally Six which are as many General Governments Inter-Dueras and Minho Tralos-Montes Beyra Estremadure Aleuteio and the Kingdom of Algarue and of these Inter-Dueras and Minho are the most noted as being exceeding Fruitful and well Peopled that for Eighteen Leagues in length and Twelve in bredth it possesses One hundred and thirty Monasteries One Thousand four hundred and sixty Parishes Five Thousand Fountains or Springs of Water Two hundred Stone-Bridges and Six Sea Ports The chief City in these Parts is Porto called by the English Port à Port from its delightful Scituation and the Advantage of the Commodities of the Country there in abundance found this place contains Four thousand Houses and is much traded to by divers Nations the next to this is Braga famed for the many Councils held there Tralos Montes is a part of this Kingdom stored with Rich Mines and in it is found the City of Braganca the Capital of the Dukedom of that Title besides which there are Towns of lesser note and the Princes who are derived from this Title usually reside at Villa-Viciosa being now in Possession of the Crown and had before their coming to it a Prerogative beyond the Grandees of Spain to sit in publick under the Royal Canopie of the Spanish Kings Beyra another part of this Kingdom is exceeding fertile producing store of Millet Rye Apples Chestnuts Catle Corn c. And in it is scituate the Famous City of Coimbra noted for its University and the See of a Bishop c. Estremadure abounds in Wines Oyls Salt and Honey gathered from Citron Flowers and in it is seated Lisbon the Principal City of the Kingdom upon five little rising Hills on the Right bank of the River Tagus or Taio and Arch-Bishops See the usual Residence of the Kings of Portugal and a City of great Trade having the Advantage of the Ebing and Flowing of the Sea as being but Five Miles from it held to contain Thirty two Parishes Three hundred fifty Streets Eleven thousand Houses and One hundred sixty thousand Inhabitants the Compas computed to be near Seven Miles accounting the Subburbs and was once the greatest Emporium of Europe Santarim a place much in Request for the abundance of Olives that grow about it insomuch that the Natives boast but how truly I know not that they could make a River as big as the Tagus of their Oyl Setuba an other Town in this Tract is accommodated with one of the best Havens in the Kingdom being no less than Thirty Miles long and Three broad abounding with Salt-Pits and Wine which bring a great Revenue into the Kings Coffers Alenteio extreamly abounds with Corn insomuch that it is held to be the Grainery of the Kingdom and has in it the City of Elvara the second to that of Lisbon near which the Portuguez won a considerable Victory against the Spaniards in 1663. And next this Elvas claims Place for the many Sieges it has held out against the Spaniard and the plenty of Oyls the Neighbourhoods produce c. Ourique is the place near to which was fought the Famous Battle which occasioned the proclaiming the King of Portugal of the House of Braganca Portelegar is a Bishops See. Algarve though little in extent has the Title of a Kingdom and was re-united to the Crown by the Marriage of Alphonse the Third with Beatrice of Castile abounding in Eggs Almonds Olives Wines Corn. Cattle c. And for the Chief Towns they are Tavila Faro Silves and Lagos The Natives of this Kingdom are very frugal yet live in much plenty the Earth producing every where abundance Nor did their Navigation in former days less conduce to their Support and Grandeur being held the first Europeans that publickly Trafficked into the remote parts of the World to bring it to any considerable Perfection The People are generally straight Limbed and well proportioned very soft skinned but somewhat inclined to swarthiness by reason of the heat in those parts the Air is very healthy and the Country for the most part Hilly though few of note The Roman Catholick Religion is only publickly professed There are three Arch-Bishopricks viz. at Lisbon Braga and Elvora and Ten Bishopricks They have Parliaments as occasion requires it held at Lisbon and Porto and Twenty seven places have their Generalities and the Revenues of the Kingdom is held to be about Ten Millions of Livers not accounting their Collonies in the East-Indies And although Portugal was seized on by the King of Spain after the fatal Battle of Alcazar in Affrick and the Death of King Henry who Succeeded Sabastian slain by the Moors it revolted in the year 1640. And is governed by a King of its own as a separate Kingdom from Spain and thus much for Portugal A Description of Italy In its Kingdoms and Dominions c. ITaly is a very Fruitful Country and held for its Pleasantness to be the Mistriss of all Countries as it once was Empress of the World and is incompassed with the Adriatick Jonian and Tyrrian Seas Except towards France and Germany from which it is parted by the Alps which renders it in a manner a Penjusula but more peculiarly it has on the East the lower part of the Adriatick and the Jonian Sea deviding it from Greece on the West it has the River Varus and some part of the Alps parting it from France on the North a part of the Alps divides it from Germany and on the other parts the Adriatique Sea devides it from Dalmatia being held by the Antients to be in form like an Oak-Leaf This Country branched out into sundry principalities and Provinces is scituate in a most Fruitful and temperate Air under the fifth climate of the North temperate Zone which is totally taken up so that the Longest day is 15 hours and three fifth parts of an hour Northward and Southward not much above 14 hours and the parts mentioned and is reckoned in length from Augusta Praetoria now called Aost unto Otranto the most Easternly part of Naples 1020 miles and in bredth from the River Varo which parts it from that Province to the Mouth of the River Arsa in Friuli where it is the broadest 410 miles and where the narrowest which is about Otranto exceeds not 23. so that the whole compass by Sea reckoning windings and turnings is held to be 3448 miles but reckoned in a straight line upon the coast it falls much short as not above 2550. As for the first Inhabiters of this Country they
Treasury not reckoning the Effects of particular men to five millions and 320000 Duckets yearly as for the City it is Governed by a Duke and the Sennate and so consequently all the Countries and Cities under its Jurisdiction many of which we shall have occasion to mention hereafter and therefore purposely omit them in this description only by the way take notice that the Terretories of this Signorie are divided into Land and Sea and in Lombardy Marca Trevigiana Friuli and Istri part of Dalmatia Sclavoniae Albania and the Morea and in their Jurisdiction are the famous Cities of Padua Brescia Bergamo Vicenza and others as for their Islands the principal are Corfu Cephalonia Zant Ithaca and others lately regained The Discription of the Dukedom of Florence or Tuscany THis Dukedom now under the Grand Duke of Tuscany is divided from St. Peter's Patrimony on the East by the River Pisco on the West by the River Macra from the Common-wealth of Genoa on the North from Romandiola and Marca Anconitana by the Apennine Hills and on the South has for its boundarâ— the Tyrrean and Tuscan Seas This Country formerly had its name from the City of Florence Scituate nigh the confluence of the River Arno round in form and strongly fortified with a Wall c. and 8 Forts whereof the greatest lyes towards the South the buildings are very stately errected with Free-stone and Marble flat on the roofs except the Pallaces which are adorned with Towers and Pinacles the Pavements of the Streets being likewise for the most part broad Free-stone a River running through the chief of them which greatly cools and refreshes the City in the heat of Summer and over it is a stately Bridge allmost in the middle of the City and towards the North East it is Encompassed with pleasant Hills gently rising and planted with choice Fruits and sheltered from storms by the Apennine Mountains that lye behind them nor does the South side want the like advantage whilest the West Exposes it to the Flowry Valleys of Arno and without the Wall are the Garden houses and Pallaces of the Nobility and Gentry which likewise scatter over all the pleasant Fields insomuch that it is accounted the Glory of Italy frequently stiled its Garden and takes its name from the Flowry Plains and Gardens that inclose or expend themselves about it The next City of note is Pisa through which the River Arno runs from East to West its Scituation being in a plain and towards the North-west by North is a Gate and a fair Cathederal Church most curiously wrought and Paved with Marble and here the Duke of Florence or Tuscany has a Pallace seated on the bank of the River Sienna another City is scituate on a rising Hill indifferently ascending above the Valleys the streets of which a thing unusual are paved with Brick wherefore no Carts nor Coaches are allowed to pass through them but the burthens are carry'd by men Mules and Asses and has in it several stately Towers and Fountains the Women of this place being likewise reckoned the fairest of all Italy Massa is a Town most noted for the Quarries of Marble in its neighbourhood In this Dukedom is the famous Legorne so much traded to by Merchants of most Nations in Europe opening to the Sea a spacious Port or Haven and is a Mart or Emporis for all the principal commodities of Italy and many that are brought over-land out of remote Countries and here our Merchants have frequently settled a Factory the people being generally fair dealers and wonderfully obliging to strangers so that the Custom of this place is the greatest part of the Dukes Revenues being very considerable As for this City it is seated in a fruitful Plain with commodious Avenews being somewhat long in form from North to South and is defended with two Towers that stand inward to the Sea for the guard of the Haven that for great Ships lying farther into the Sea than that for Gallies and lesser Vessels which is sheltered by a Wall drawn almost round it and here it is the English Merchants trading to Italy have their Lading The Dukedom of Milain Described c. THE Dutchy of Milaine is very pleasantly seated in the Country of Lumbardy amongst fruitful Plains and little rising Hills and held the most desirable Place of these Countrys It s chief City is Milain Anciently Mediolanum which though so often ruined as having been taken no less than Twenty times and besiged Forty has still rise out of its Ashes more fair and splendid than at first being now accounted the greatest City of Lombardy seated in a large Plain and incompassed with Rivers strongly guarded with a spacious and well fortified Castle and other extraordinary Fortifications As for the Building it is very stately and magnificent but the most remarkable are Castles or Cittadels the Hospital or Lazarette the Cathedral or Dome besides there are 36 Monastries 30 Convents of Fryers of sundry Orders 96 Parochial and 11 Collegate Churches mosâ— of which are beautified and adorned with Images Paintings Sculptures there is moreover a Cabinet of exceeding Rarieties not to be paralelled as report goes in any place The City in circuit is accounted Ten miles very populous imagined to contain 300000 Souls the Inhabitants mostly Rich as very much Trading in Merchandice especially Silks Gloves Ribbons c. from whence our Millinary Ware-men derive the Denomination of their Trade The City being much Traded to from France Spain and all parts of Italy As for other places of note in this Jurisdiction they are principally Pavia Papia made a University by Charles the IV. guarded by a strong Castle and has in it a fair Cathedral Church supposed the richest of Revenue in Italy viz. 300000 Crowns per. Ann. And near this place King Francis the first of France was overthrown in a great Battle and taken Prisoner by Lanoy the Duke of Burbone and others commanding for Charles the V. Alexandria or Alessandris the strongest work in the whole Dutchey Cremona seated on the Banks of the River Poe accommodated with a good Trade stately muildings large Streets and pleasant Gardens noted for its Tower and Cathedral Church And here it was that Vitellus his Souldiers were defeated by those of Vespatian and the Town fired by them The Lakes found here are Lago Magiore in length 56 miles and 6 in breadth having in it 2 Islands called the Boremeans fruitful and pleasant even to a wonder Lago Delcoma and Lugani Lacus and the Rivers are Olgio Adde Lambro Tesine c. As for the Hills they are of no remark The Ancient Inhabitants of this Country were the Insubres Conquered by the Romans then by the Gauls and next by the Lombards but now the Country is under the protection of the King of Spain who appoints a Governour to reside in Millain where St. Ambrose once was Bishop The Dutchy of Modena described THIS Part or Province of Italy contains the City of Modena and Reggio with
composed of Lay-men Elders and Ministers founded by John Calvin 1541. and although this City has been beseiged by the Duke of Savoy and others who have undertaken to reduce it yet it has manfully defended it self against all Invasions and as for the revenue it is reckoned 60000 Crowns per annum The building is generally of Free-stone and the North side of the City lies close to the South side of the Lake where is a little Haven for Gallies built to keep free passage on the Lake defended by a strong Fort a River Issuing from the Lake runs through the lower part of the City and is passed by two commodious Bridges And although it is a Receptacle for all manner of Religions and people that fly from Persecution yet such is the Law that even a Malefactor is Condemned there for a Crime committed in his own Country if proved against him and Adultry punishable with death Fornication the first time with 9 days fasting or living with Bread and Water in Prison the second time with Whipping and the third with banishment notwithstanding which and although the Women be more reserved here than in any other place those Affairs go forward in private This Signory abounds with all manner of Fruits great store of Fish and is much Traded to especially by the Italian Merchants for Velvets Taffatas Musquet Barrels and Calevers c. The Alps are the greatest Ridge of Mountains in Europe parting Germany France and Italy and in some places require five days to ascend them There being five passages through them into Italy viz. 3 out of France and 2 out of Germany The 1 from France is through Provence close upon the Tyrrenian Seas through Liguria being the Easiest the 2 through the Hill Geneara into the Marquesat of Zaluzzes and so into Lumbardy The third is over the Mount Cenis and through the Country of Turin As sor those out of Germany the first is through the Country of the Grissons by the Province of Valtoline the last through the County of Tirol near to the Towns of Juspurk and Trent and as for these Mountains they are in many parts very fruitful divers Villages and Towns being Scituate on them though mostly barren and in many places the Snow and Frost continues all the year without the Suns having power to dissolve it by reason the assent is so near the cold Region and through part of them Hanibal cut dissolving or loosening the Rocks with Fire and Vinegar when he broke unexpectedly into Italy and defeated the Roman Army and indeed in some places they are dreadfull even to look on The Description of the County of Roussillon and Catalonia ROussillon by the French Included between the branches of the Pyreenean Mountains if we begin at Mount Cavo the one extending to Colibre and C. de Creux a Promontary that is the furthest point East of Cattalonia as for the other it passes unto Salsas and as for the places of note they are Perpignan Pupirianum and Perpinianum built out of the ruins of Ruscinum by Guinard Earl of Roussillon Scituate upon the banks of the River Thelis or Thetis in a pleasant fruitful plain c. A rich and flourishing Emporie and a strong hold against the French till the year 1644 and of such esteem was this little Country in former times that it was pawned by John King of Aragon in 1462 to Lewis the 11th of France for 300000 Crowns and restored to Ferdenand the Catholick by Charles the Eight that he might not be diverted from the Conquest of Naples and abounds with plenty c. Catalonia or as the French call it Cattalogne joyns to the Country of Roussillon is accounted 170 Italian Miles in length and in breadth 130 and held to contain the Dukedom of Cardona 3 Marquesates 11 Earldoms divers Barronies and Lordships and 45 Cities or walled Towns and 600000 Inhabitants amongst which in the time of Boterius were 10000 French Shepherds and Husbandmen As for the Country some Authors inform us that it is generally Hilly and full of Woods yielding but small store of Corn Wine and Fruits though others speak more favourably of it and affirm it affords plenty of Corn Wine and Oyl though indeed it is mostly inriched by its Maritime Scituation The chief Town is Bracelonia seated upon the Mediterranian Sea between the Rivers Besons and Rubricat or Lobrecat and is a rich noted Port much Traded to The buildings are very stately and contain a Bishops See an Academy and sundry other advantages of Gardens and pleasant places that render it delightful and well Inhabited A Description of Belgium or the Neitherland Provinces c. THE Tract now called Belgium or the Neitherlands is bounded on the East with Westphalia Gulick Cleve Triers and the Provinces of the higher Germany on the West with the main Ocean which divides it from Brittain c. on the North with the River Ems which parts it from East Friezland and on the South with Picardy and Campaign two French Provinces and upon the South-East with the Dukedom of Lorain and as for the Country in its present Estate it is divided into 17 Provinces viz. The Dukedoms of Limburg Luxenburg Gelderland Brabant the Marquisate of the Holy Empire the Earldoms of Flanders Artois Hatndult Namurre Zutphan Holland Zealand the Barronies of West Friezland Vtrecht Overysel Machlyn and Groyning or Groningen and of these in their Order Limburg THE Dukedom of Limburg is pleasantly scituate and a very fruitful Province having the Famous City of Mastreich so lately renowned for its Sieges as its Capitol though the Bishoprick of Leige is its appendent in which is the City of Leige the Bishop Regents usual Residence the See at present vacant by the Death of the late Bishop and hath under it 52 Barronies and in it a University where at one time if the Story may be credited Studied 9 Sons of Kings the Sons of 24 Dukes and 29 Earls it being commodiously and healthfully scituate on the River Meuse the Buildings very fair and spacious and is accommodated with divers Monasteries and Abbies the whole Bishoprick containing 24 walled Towns and 1800 Villages as also the Eastern part properly termed a part of the Dutchy of Limburg contains 5 walled Towns and 23 Villages where Limburg that gives the Province Name is pleasantly scituate on the River Wesa or Wesel or Wesar and from this Fertile Country abounding with whatever is necessary for the Support of Humane Life is found that Stone so much used in publick called Lapis Calaminaris Luxemburg LVxemburg is another Province of the Low Countries having Limburg for its boundard on the North Lorain on the South the Bishoprick of Triers on the East and the River Meuse on the West and is accounted in circumference 24â— Miles containing 23 walled Towns and 1169 Viâ—lages of the former of which Luxemburg scituaâ—â— on the River Asnaius Danvillees and Bostonake are chief The upper part of this Dukedom is generally Inhabited by
Germans but the French possess most of the lower part and indeed they speak either Languages in most of the Villages and in manners participate of both Nations and bordering upon this Dukedom is the Famous Forrest of Ardena formerly accounted the greatest in Europe as being 500 Miles in compass consisting mostly of Chest-nut Trees but now burnt and otherways destroyed to the circumference of 90 Miles and near it are found the Spaw Baths so much frequented by divers Nations for the restoring them to Health by removing sundry Malladies and Diseases and in this Region are held to be 7 Earldoms and many other petty Governments The Soil is naturally Fruitful and Pleasant by Scituation Brabant BRabant has for its boundard on the South-East and North the River Meuse on the West the Schald or the Sclade in length it is accounted 70 Miles and in breadth 60 containing 26 walled Towns and 700 Villages the principal of the former being Lovaine a City 6 miles in compass inclosing beside the stately Building pleasant Hills Valleys Meadows Fragrant Gardens and is a noted University consisting of 20 stately Colledges The next of note is Bruxelles or Brussels the usual seat of the Governor for the King of Spain pleasantly seated and Inviorned with Gardens and little riseing Hills and near it is the City of Bergeaupzone a garrisoned place strongly fortified and here is found likewise the Town of Breda surprised by the Prince of Orange and taken from the Spaniards by a small number of Gentlemen who came upon it in the night time in a Boat covered with Turfs and desperately setting upon the Garrison possessed themselves of it and yet more famous for the Treaty between his Late Majesty of England and his Subjects whereupon ensued his happy Restauration and in this Province is contained the Marquesaâ—e of the Empire whose chief Town or City is Antwerp 7 Miles in compass once a famous Empori or the Scale of Europe by reason of its Scituation on the River having two Marts yearly and for the more safe Resort of Strangers qualified with extraordinary Priviledges and here the Portugals exposed their East India Goods to Sale and dispersed them through Europe but of late the Hollanders growing powerful at Sea and great Traffickers have removed the Scale for the most part to Amsterdam Flanders THIS Province which amongst the vulgar passes current for the 10 is divided into Galicam Imperialem and Tutonicam the latter being separated from the two first by the River Ley where is found the City of Gaunt the Birth Place of John Duke of Lancaster Son to Edward the Third of England from thence called John of Gaunt and is so large within the Walls that there is large Pastures and Corn Fields besides many Gardens and other pleasant places and is Commodiously seated upon the River Schald which devides it in many parts so that for the conveniency of the Inhabitants there are 98 Bridges The next to this are Brugis and Ypres walled and well fortified and within the Jurisdiction of the Province are the famous Sea Ports or Frontier Towns of Dunkirk taken from the Spainards by the Valour of the English and since delivered to the French Scluse which has a spacious Haven capable of containing 500 Sail of Ships and to these we must add Newport and Ostend Imperial Flanders so called for Distinctions sake is devided from Brabant by the River Dender and in it are found the Towns of Alost and Dendermond scituate very pleasantly upon the Banks of that River with Hulst a considerable Town indifferently fortified the Country is generaly fruitful and the people very thrifty and sparing c. Gallicam or Gallica Flanders taking its Denomination from its dependency on the French or the nearness to that Country has for its chief Town Lisle or Lile a Town of great Trade and much Resort where sundry Merchants have Ware-Houses and some petty Factories the next to it in Dignity is Doway much noted for its University and the great Resort of most Christian Nations thither to see the curious Library and other Rarities and here likewise stands Tornay taken from the French by King Henry the Eighth of England and ransomed by the Inhabitants at 100000 Ducats there are moreover 32 walled Towns of lesser note and 1178 Villages within the Jurisdiction of this Province adorned with stately Buildings and pleasant Gardens replenished with Fountains and pleasant Streams and is in all parts very Fruitful as lying low and not any where incumbred with Mountains from which indeed the Provinces are generally free c. Artois is a very pleasant Province and was once intirely French but now as the rest I have mentioned under the Government of the King of Spain quitted by Henry the Second of France to Philip the Second of Spain in the League of Chambray and is said to contain 854 Villages and 12 Towns of note the chief being Arras from whence our Cloath of Arras comes and Lilliers The Principal Frontier Towns that opposes Piccardie are Hedinfort Ayre Pernes and St. Omers most of them very strong and sencible Hainault is considerably spacious as being Sixty Miles in length and Fourty Eight in breadth in which are computed 950 Villages and 24 considerable Towns as Monts Famous for the overthrow of the French Army under the command of the Duke of Luxemburg by the Dutch and Germans under the command of the Prince of Orange c. routed near this Town 1676. Valenciens very commodiously seated so that it cannot be besieged but by a considerable Army divided into three parts Conde and Bavais Towns of considerable strength the latter supposed to be built upon the ruins of the antient Belgium the Province in general is very pleasant and fruitful Namurre is very commodiously scituate and yields the Inhabitants great Advantages from the Iron Mines and Marble Quars as also those of Free Stone and what is indeed a wonder in nature viz. The Stone Cole which is extinguished by Oyl but burns the brighter for having Water cast upon it and here are found the City Namurre giving name to the Province as also Charlemont Valen-court or Bornies with about 182 Villages accommodated with rich Pastures pleasant Gardens with store of Fruits and Cattle Machlyn though it is reckoned to be scituate within the circuit of the Province of Brabant yet has in it 9 Villages with several Castles and Places of strength as its dependences being a strong Town seated in the midst of the Waters of the River Dole so that upon drawing up the Sluces the Country about it may be drowned and was of such esteem before the Wars with Spain that it was the seat of a Parliament but now is somewhat impaired by a fire that happened some years since by the blowing up of a Magazine of 800 Barrils of Gun-powder These are those properly called the Spanish Provinces and Neitherlands which were formerly free Estates and most of them Independent governed by their proper Princes and
Magistrates but under a claim of right by Title and the more prevailing Power of the Sword wearied by War they were reduced by the Spanish Kings part of whose Dominions they are at this day accounted However the 7 confederated Estates commonly called the United Provinces viz. Zealand Holland Vtretch Guelderland Zutphen Groningen Over-Yssel and some part of Brabant and Flanders have yet those Priviledges the former enjoyed making for their better defence against the Incroachments of their powerful Neighbours a strict League and Union in the year 1581. which has ever since inviolably continued called now the Estates of the Low-Countries A Description particularly of the Low-Countries ZEaland or Sealand is a Country standing upon 7 Islands Northward in the Sea commodiously scituate for Shipping and Harbours so that it may in a manner be questioned whether the Inhabitants live on the Water or on the Land and though it consists of 7 Islands only at present it formerly was 15 whereof 8 have been swallowed up by the Waves with their Towns and Cities so that we may well alude Invenies sub Aquis ad-huc austendere nautae Inclinata solent cum maenibus opida versis c. The Waters hide them and the Sailers show The Ruined Walls and Steeples as they Row. The chief Towns of this Province are Middleburg Famous for Traffick and the Staple for French and Spanish Wines Flushing a strong and fortified Sea Town All the Islands are fertile much abounding with Pastures Corn and plenty of Cattle yielding a great deal of Madder for dying Wooll c. HOLLAND the chief of the Provinces under the Denomination of which the rest are vulgarly called and is the most powerful in Shipping and Navigation comprehends the Famous City of Amsterdam by which the River Tay flows like a large Sea and is one of the chief Empories of Europe Rotterdam Leyden an University Doort Delph Harlem and other places of note as the Hague c. the which though but an Inland Village is much honoured by the Concourse resorting thither and the frequent assembling of the Estates and this more than any other part abounds with Woods esteemed though but small to contian 400 Villages and 20 walled Towns in its Jurisdiction VTRECHT another of these Provinces has five considerable Towns in it of which Vtrecht Mont-fort and Rhenen are the principal as also 70 Villages many of them very fair and pleasant all well watered and accommodated with Gardens Pasturages and other things necessary for the use of Man the Province was anciently called Antonia but since took its Name from a Ferry that was kept there for the Transportation of Passengers c. OVER-YSSEL another of the Provinces is memorable for the City of Daventree won by Robert Earl of Leicester an English Peer in the time of Queen Elizabeth from the Spaniard and delivered to the States and has besides 11 good Towns of which Campene Swall and Daventree are the chief 101 Villages and abounds with good Pastureâ— Meddows Corn and Cattle producing yearly aâ— extraordinary quantity of Butter and Cheese and the rather Fruitful as being well watered by the River Yssel from which it appears to take its name ZVTPHEN though it claims the Jurisdiction of a Province yet it is no more than a Town in Guelderland free and independent before which to the great Grief of all good Men the Famous and Learned Sir Philip Sidney received the Mortal wound of which he dyed though the Town was notwithstanding won by his Conduct and Valour being a very antient Earldom GVELDERLAND is a Dukedom of considerable note abounding with Plenty of all sorts of Provisions and many curious Manufactures and is held to contain 24 Towns and 300 Villages The chief of the Towns being Nimegen seated on a branch of the River Rhine and much noted for the Treaty held there Ruremond and Arnheim and is recounted in Historians to take its name from Geluba once a famous Town Scituate in the Province but now altogether ruined or reduced to a strait compass GROINING or GRONINGEN is a Barrony of West Friezland so large that under its Jurisdiction it has 154 Towns and Villages the principal being Old Haven and Keikerk and boasts of great Plenty and much Riches FRIEZLAND contains 11 chief Towns the most considerable being Harlingem Lewarden and Zwichen with about 345 Villages Incompassed with Excellent Pasture grounds abounding in Herds of Cattle of a more then ordinary bigness and is in a manner every where refresh'd with pleasant Streams and not far from it is the Island of Scelinck on the Coast whereof the Fishing trade is continually maintained and there are found Dog-Fish in abundance The Air in these and the other Provinces is at this day very temperate so that although the Winters last long yet are they not excessive and as for the Summer it is gentle and mild resembling the Spring in the more Southern Countries as for the People they are generally corpulent well proportioned and great Artists being quick of Invention and very curious Artificers The Women are for the most part tolerably handsome and constant House-wifes much in subjection to their Husbands and very careful in the management of such Affairs as they understand They are both Men and Women frequently great drinkers nor do they come behind hand especially those of the 7 Provinces last mentioned in eating and as for their Warfare they are better Soldiers and more fortunate by Sea then Land for indeed Navigation is in a manner their greatest business many of those we properly call the Dutch being born on Ship-board and there brought up their Parents having no Land Houses or Tenements but live on board for the most part and are seldom in Lodgings which is all they take care for rejecting any settlement and thus much in brief for the 17 Provinces or Lower Germany from whence I proceed to the Higher c. Germany properly so call'd Described in its Province and Principalitie GERMANY in which at this day the Roman Empire has its Establishment is bounded on the East with Prussia Poland and Hungary on the West with Belgium and France on the North with Denmark and the Main Sea called the German Ocean and on the South with the Alps and is Scituate in the Northern Temperate Zone under the 7 and 11 Climates having 17 hours and a half in the longest day Northward and 14 and a half Southward the compass of this spacious Country being accounted 2600 English miles held to be effectually the largest in Europe and in most Parts is exceeding Fruitful the Air wholsom and consequently the Natives were they more temperate would be exceeding healthful however the Inhabitants for honesty of conversation and firmness to their Governors are much to be applauded Valiant they are and very deliberate in their Actions the Women are corpulent and tolerably handsome great breeders and very fruitful though for the Vulgar sort they are generally poor notwithstanding they are curious in
North with Suevia lying half in Italy and half in Germany so that the People for the most part are Familiar with either Language and is a Region well peopleed and plesantly Scituate only somewhat Mountainous The chief Towns are Coyra not far from the Rhine Musocco and Bormia and in these parts the Reformed and Romish Religion are indifferently Practiced and thus much of the upper or higher Germany The Lower Germany Described in its Provinces Free-Towns c THAT which we properly term the lower Germany may be conveniently divided into Franconia and the appendant Territories the three Electorates of the Palatinate Brandenburgh and Saxony with its dependencies Pomerania Medenburgh Brunswick Lameburg Hassia East Friezland Westphalia Cleveland Wetteraw or Vetravia c. and of these in their order FRANCONIA supposed by some to be the first Seat of the Franks or French has for its boundards on the East Saxony and Bohemia on the West Elsas on the North Hassia and on the South Bavaria and contains many fair Cities within its circle or circumference as Bamber Weirtzburg and Metz or Mentz the Seat of a Bishop and moreover has in it the Pallace of the chief Electoral Bishop and as for the City it is commodiously seated upon pleasant riseing Hills incompassed with a Valley and spacious Plains yielding great abundance of Corn Fruits and Pastures being Antiently the Seat of a King called the King of Mentz And in the Province are the free Cities of Noremburg Rotenburgh and Francfort at the latter of which the Electors of the Empire meet as occasion serves for the Election of the Emperor all three pleasantly Seated either by the nature of the Soil or the industry of the Inhabitants well fortified and of great concourse there being two of the most noted Fairs in Europe held twice a year and in one of it's streets on the East side the Jews are permitted to Trade and Inhabit The Kingdom of Bohemia is an Antient and Famous Kingdom containing the Dukedom of Silesia the Marquesates of Lusatia and Moravia accounted in circuit 550 English Miles being cast in a manner round or circular Walled with Mountains or large Hills and was once held to contain 78 Cities Castles and Walled Towns and 32000 Villages and stately Buildings of the Nobility As for the Soil of this Kingdom it is generally Fruitful producing great increase of Corn and Wine and in many parts there are Mines of Iron Lead Tin Copper Gold Silver and some Quicksilver As for the Natives they are of a chearful Countenance modest behaviour and strong of Body the Women very fair and comly tall of personage and broad Shouldered As for the King of Bohemia which now rests in the house of Austria he is one of the Electors of the Emperor and has precedency in the casting voice and is great Cup-bearer on the Coronation day The chief Cities of this Kingdom are Prague seated on the River Mulda consisting of three parts by reason of the division the River makes though joined by Bridges and has in it many stately Buildings of Free-stone though in the generality the Houses are Timber built and the Walls of Clay or Loam Egra a place very commodious and much traded to watered with a pleasant Stream and accommodated with curious Gardens and Orchards â—â—dweis and others SILESIA is a Part or Province of the Kingdom of Bohemia extending in length 240 Miles and in breadth 80 Miles divided almost in equal parts by the River Oder into which many lesser Rivers discharge themselves and so well water the Country that it is exceeding fruitful almost every where though the Air is much colder than with us at all times and what the Soil wants the Inhabitants by their industry make out and in it is scituate the famous City of Breslaw or Preslaw accounted for stately Building and Commodiousness one of the chief Cities belonging to the Emperor There are moreover the Cities of Jadendorf and Glogaw with a great number of pleasant Villages LVSATIA or Lusutia is divided into the Higher and Lower Countries and though but small yet exceeding Populous so that Historians affirm that this little Province has sent 20000 Armed Men into the Field and is in most parts Fruitful as being watered by the River Nise or Nisso and other Streams and has as chief Cities Trabel and Groliz with many walled Towns and a great number of Villages though several have been destroyed by the Incursions of the Turks and Tartars and the Intestine Wars Moravia is a very pleasant Country affording store of Wine Corn and curious Fruits with some Myrrh and Frankincense the Shrubs and Trees growing naturally wild as well as in Gardens by Improvement the Country being very Wooddy and Mountainous and is a Marquisate of the Empire the chief Towns being Almutz an University and Brinne the Seat of the Marquess the Country receiving its name as most conjecture from the River Moravia that runs through it and although the Territories are not large the People are nevertheless divided in Language between the Teutonick Bohemian and Sclavonian The Electorate of the Palatinate or the Country under that Denomination contains the Upper and Lower Palatinates and extends for the most part along the Rhine 96 and is in breadth 72 Miles said to be the fruitfullest of all others affording abundance of Rhenish Wines pressed from the Grapes that grow in great plenty on the Banks of that famous River from whence the Wine takes its Name and in any vacancy of the Empire the Prince Elector of these Palatinates has a far larger Jurisdiction which terminates not till the Coronation of the Emperor where he takes his place as Arch-Sewer and in the Upper of these Palatinates is scituate the City of Newburg Amburg and Castel and in the Lower Heidelburg the Seat of the Palsgrave of the Rhine incompassed with high Hills on the North-East and South Frankendale Openheim and Crutznach and on the East-side of this Country are Lauden and Winheim and on the West Xeifers and Newstadt The Electorate of Saxony has for its Eastern boundard Lusatia for its Western Hassia for its Northeâ— Brunswick and on the South Bohemia and Franconia and contains the Countries commonly called Turingia Misnia Voitland and the proper Saxony as for the first of these it comprehends the Principalities of Manfieldt and Anhalt the Prince of it being a Lantgrave and although the Country exceeds not 12 German Miles either way yet the Soil is exceeding Fruitful and so abounds that its Fruitfulness supplies other Places of greater extent and being divided into 12 Countries is held to contain 44 Cities walled Towns and strong Castles and about 2000 Villages and great Houses of Noble Men as for the Duke of Saxonies chief Seat it is Ersdorf though there are other famous Places within his Jurisdiction as Dresden seated on the River Albis in a pleasant Plain passing between two Mountains Leipzich a Famous University especially for the study of Physick and Philosophy built
this Lake is held to receive Twenty Four Rivers and disburthens it self with such noise and fury that it is by some called Devils Mouth But as for the Kings Ships and Vessels of great Burthen they generally lye at Elsenore defended by a strong Castle and so shelter'd from the Wind that they may lye without Anchors Vpsal contains the Metropolitan Church where the Kings are usually Crowned and formerly held their Court and is a University of this Kingdom and the most remarkable Mart Carlstat upon the Wenner abounds with Brass and Copper Strongues is a Bishops See. There are yet two other Provinces or Divisions of this Kingdom viz. Livonia by the Germans called Liefland and Ingria vulgarly Ingermanland the first deliver'd by the Poles upon treaty and the last taken from the Muscovites and are both of them indifferently fruitful and have in them many considerable Villages and some Towns of note The Commodities of these Countries in general are Copper Brass Lead Ox-hides Tallow Furs Goat-skins Elks-skins the Skins of Deer Honey Allom Corn and in many places there are Silver Mines but of no consider able advantage The men are Active Naturally strong indifferent good Seamen and resolute Soldiers Industrious Ingenious and very courteous to strangers and had the Christian Faith first planted amongst them by Ausgarius Arch-Bishop of Bremen and in matters of Judicature or deciding Controversies each respective Territory has its Viscount every Province its Lans-men or Consul and every Town it's Lay-man or Consul and there lyeth an Appeal from the Consul to the Laymen and from the Lay men to the Viscount and from him to the King in whose only power it is absolutely to determine the matter As for the Women they are generally well featured proper in person very modest and courteous loving to their Husbands and affable to strangers A Description of Denmark in its Countries Provinces c. DENMARK Quasi Danes-Mark comprehending its intire Circuit or Territories is bounded on the East with the Baltick Sea and a part of Sweedland on the West with the Main Ocean on the North East with another part of Sweedland full North with the Frozen Ocean and on the South with Germany lying partly on the North temperate Zone and partly within the Artick Circle extending from the middle Parallel of the tenth Clime or 55 degrees of Latitude where it joyneth to Germany and 71 where the Frozen Ocean bounds it the longest day in the most Southern parts being 17 hours and a quarter but for 2 Months and 3 Weeks they have no Night at all in the extream North and is commonly distinguished in these parts comprehending the Appendances The Dukedom of Holstein containing Wagerland Dithmarsh Stormaria and Holstein The Kingdom of Denmark containing the two Juitlands and the Hemodes or Baltick Islands and the Kingdom oâ— Norway now in subjection to the Danes with the Islands in the North Sea c. that properly belong to it and of these in their order The Cimbrick Chersonese in which the two Juitlands and the Dukedom of Holstein are contained is in length 120 miles and in breadth 80 and accounted to have within that Tract of Land being in a manner a Peninsula 20 Royal Castles and Pallaces 28 Cities of note 4 Bishop Sees and a considerable number of Villages in many places very Fruitful and affording sundry curious Havens and on the South East is Wagerland and has for its chief Towns Hamburg on the Elbe Lubeck seated on the confluence of the Trave and Billew near the fall of that River into the Baltick Sea much traded to by sundry Merchants where they find great store of the Commodities of those Countries which are accounted the most fertile Dithmarsh spreads the West side of the Chersonesus Scituate between the River Albis and Endera giving Title to the Eldest Son of the King of Denmark and has Meldrop and Marnes for its principal Towns and although by reason of the many Marishes and Moorish grounds the soil in many places is not commodious for Tillage yet nevertheless it feeds great store of Cattle STORMARIA or STORMARSH lying betwen the River Elbe and the Rivers Billew and Store and has for its chief Towns Crampe on the Bank of a little River of the same name falling into the Store and is well fortified and reckoned one of the Keys of the Kingdom nor less noted for the great resistance it made against Walestein the Imperial General who 's powerful Army it resisted 13 Months and at last brought him to good terms of Composition Tychenburgh on the Banks of the River Elbe Bredenburg Jetzebo Gulickâ—tadt and others South Juitland or the Dukedom of Sleswick is that part of the Chersonesus that lyes next to Holstein having for its chief Towns Fleusburg on the Baltick shoar Scituate amongst high Mountains Sleswick on the River Slea from which the Dukedom of Sleswick has its name Goterp and Londen a Haven Town upon the Banks of the River Ender North Juitland is the most Northern part of the Châ—rsonesus and has for it's chief Towns Halne Rircopen Arhausen and Nicopen the soil very Fruitful and much abounding with Wheat Barly Rice store of Cattle producing Butter and Cheese in great abundance and able Horses for War or any other service here are also found Rich Furs As for those that are called the Baltick Islands properly belonging to the King of Denmark though they are 35 in number dispersed in the Baltick Sea many of them are Inconsiderable and some not Inhabited the chief are Zeland Fionia or Funen Arsen or Aria Langland Laland Falster Mone Heuen or Wern Island and Bornholme of which only the first is very considerable as having in it 13 Cities the chief of which is Copenhagen the Residence of the Danish Kings where the Regal Pallace though not very stately is seated and is a City of considerable Trade though the Buildings are generally mean as Erected of Loam and Timber there is a Market constantly kept and is the only University within the Government it is defended with a strong Wall and a Castle and thither are brought all sorts of Commodities the Kingdom affords SCANDIA that part which appertains to Denmark is in the South of a Peninsula divided into three Provinces as Scandia Hallandia and Blescida the first of these is 72 Miles in length and 48 in breadth reckoned the most fruitful and pleasant of all the Countries lying about it as being on three parts bounded by Sea and has for its principal Towns Lonpen a spacious Haven Falskerbode Elbogue and Elsinburg one of the Keys of the Sound HALLANDIA is but a small Tract of Land yet yields much Fruits and Corn many Cattle and lying South of Scania has Halaenego for its principal Town from which it seems to take its name and is well watered with pleasant Streams BLESCIDA lies North of Sweedland and though it has many fertile Plains yet it is generally Mountainous or Craggy hilled having for its chief Tradeing Town
and Moravia with some others very pleasant and plentiful in many places BVLGARIA was Antiently a Kingdom and called by the Romans Missa Inferior as Servia was Missa Superior and is a Country very Mountainous and full of rugged Hills steep Rocks and fearful Water-falls taking its name from 〈◊〉 Bulgars a Scythian people who in theâ—â—g with Wooâ—d upon it driving out the Antient Inhabitants and is divided from Thrace by the great Mountain Haemus whose Spurs and Branches in a manner over-run it yet the Kings hereof have been accounted very powerful insomuch that they have worsted in sundry Battles the Latin and Greek Emperors of Constantinople and received the Christian Faith towards the end of the Reign of Justinian the Second The places of most note are Mesembria Divogatia Axium Nicopolis Marcionopolis and are watered by the Danube which in part of this Country takes the name of Ister and is now Tributary to the Turks who for the most part imploy the Natives in their Wars as being very Valiant and Daring A Description of Greece in its Kingdoms and Provinces as Antiently it stood c. GREECE as we now must take it is bounded on the East with the Propontick Hellespont and Aegean Seas on the West with the Adriatick and on the North with the Mount Haemus parting it from Servia and Bulgaria and some part of Illiricum and on the South with the Ionian Sea being in a manner a Peninsula or rather a half Island commodiously Scituate for Navigation and has had divers notable Revolutions being now intiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the possession of the Turks unless what the â—enetians have preserved or wrested from them and as this large Country properly stands at present I think it highly necessary for the better conveniency of describing it to divide it into respective Provinces and Countries c. 1. Peloponesus 2. Achaia 3. Epirus 4. Albania 5. Macedonia 6. Thrace and as for the Islands of the Ionian Aegean and Propontick Seas together with the famous Creet I shall leave them to a particular description of all the Islands of note c. Peloponesus is in a manner inclosed by the Sea only where by a small Isthmus it is joyned to the European Continent of no more than six miles in breadth which the Grecians and Venetians formerly fortified with a great Wall and five Castles Antiently called Hexamillium but in the Wars with Amurath the second Turkish Emperor they were overthrown and this Country is accounted 600 miles in circuit and though it has passed under divers names it is now called the Morea and held to be the most pleasant Country of Greece abounding in fruitfulness and all things necessary for the support of Human Life adorned with many goodly Plains and pleasant rising Hills furnished on every side with sundry commodious Ports and Havens and though for the bigness of it no Country has suffered more in the ruin of so many stately Cities yet it remains at this day the most populous and best Inhabited of all the Grecian Continent and near the middle of it in Laconia is the Mount Taygetus the top whereof gives a prospect over the whole Country which is properly divided into 7 Provinces viz. Achaia-Propria Elis Messene Arcadia Laconia Argolis and Corinthia Achaia-Propria has on the East for its boundard Argolis and Corinth on the West the Ionian Sea on the North the Gulf of Lepanto on the South Elis so named from the Achaei once Inhabiting it the Adjuncta Propria being added to difference it from Achaia in the main Land or Continent of Greece In this part the considerable places are Chiarenza Antiently Dymae Scituate in the most Western point of it on or near the Promontory Araxum Aegria once the chief City of this Tract now called Xilocastro Chaminisa Antiently Olneus Patreae a pleasant Town Scituate opposit to the Mouth of the Gulf Lepanto being a place of considerable Trade and most note on the Bay of Corinth from whence it is called Golfo-di-Patras and here the English had once a Consul for the establishment of Trade called the Consul of the Morea and is memorable for the death of St Andrew the Apostle who there suffer'd Martyrdom and next to these are Pellene Hellice Buris the latter two much ruined or rather sunk in the Sea by a Tempest about the time of the Battle of Leuctres Tritaea and Phera but the chief Town which separated from the rest we may term a Province is Sicyon Scituate in the most Eastern part and gives name to the Country of Sicyonia abounding in Olives Wine and Iron Mines the Inhabitants whereof count themselves the Antientest of Greece and have been Governed by a Succession of 26 Kings before they fell into other Methods of Government The Country of Elis is bounded on the East with Arcadia on the West with the Ionian Sea on the North with Achaia-Propria and on the South Messenia and has for its chief City Elis giving name to the Province and was founded as some Historians have it by Elisha Son of Javan and Grandchild of Japhet and near unto it runs the River Alpheus In this Tract is found Olympia near to which once stood the Statue of Jupiter 〈◊〉 60 Cubits in heighth and every way proportionable composed of Gold and Ivory by Phidias and here were held the Olympic Games Instituted by Hercules MESSENIA is seated in the most Southern part of the Peninsula and takes its name from the City of Messene Scituate on Sinus Messenaicus now called Golfo-di-Corone lately taken and posseâ—led by the Veneâ—ians in this Tract stood Pylos the chief City of King Nestor but now called Navarino a small Village of little note Metron or Methone is commodionsly seated in a half Island and has on the South side a capacious Bay about 3 miles over fit for the reception of great Vessels Corone the City that gives name to the Golfo-di-Corone c. Cyparissi now called Arcudia from which the Bay adjoyning takes its name and although this Province abounding with Corn Cattle and Fruits was taken by the Turks in the year 1500 yet in this last War it is mostly recovered by the Venetians ARCADIA is bounded on the East with Laconia on the West with Elis and Messene on the North with Achaia-Propria and on the South with the Sea and is said to take its name from Arcas the Son of Jupiter and Calisto called before that Pelâ—â—gia and has for its chief City Mantinia near unto which the Thebans in a mortal Battle overthrew the Spartans and Athenians and then Epaminondas that famous Leader received his Mortal wound This Province is exceeding fertil abounding in Cattle and rich Pastures Fruits of sundry kinds and divers Minerals insomuch that for its pleasantness many curious fancies have been â—abled upon it and in this Country Sir Philip Sidney layed the Seene of his famous work LACONIA has on the East and South the Sea on the West Arcadia and on the North Argolis Antiently called Lelegia
be of any considerable note nor does their Country much abound in Fruits or Corn for want of Convenient streams to water it PISIDIA is on the South of Lycaonia and is a small Country yet furnished with great plenty of all things necessary for Human subsistance where the Plains extend themselves though in some parts it is much Incumbered with Barren Mountains and has in it the Towns or Cities of Antioch Seleucia Lysinnia Selge Sagalassa Cremna Termessus Olbanassa and Plutanessus the Antient Inhabitants being said to descend from the Solimi a people on the Borders of Lycia and were formerly daring and valiant as appeared in their opposing Cyrus and did more wonders than any of their more powerful Neighbours but now being in subjection to the Turks who hold them as Vassals or Slaves they have lost much of their Courage and Industry PAMPHYLIA has Pisidia on the North and is separated from it by the Mountain Taurus and it s held to take its name from its being Inhabited by a mixture of Nations which word in the Greek expresses no less and is much over-run with the Spurs or Branches of Taurus rendering it Barren in many places yet on those Mountainous parts abundance of Goats are fed whose Flesh serves for Food Hair for making Chamlets and Skins for Leather yet that part which is the Sea coast and runs 150 miles on the Mediterranean is well Inhabited and enjoys sundry Towns of Note as Attalia Perge Side Magidis Aspendas Oliba Caracensium Colobrassus Cretopolis and Menedemium and is watered with the Rivers Cestrus Cataractus and Eurymedon and since they first planted this Country they have been frequently brought under subjection by the Pontois Persians Romans and lastly by the Turks who at present remain Lords of all the lesser Asia and good part of the greater CILICIA has Pamphylia on the West and is a very fruitful Country especially on the Eastern part and is said to take its name from Cilice the Brother of Cadmus and though it is but meanly Inhabited yet it is much traded to and has in it many Towns of Note as Tarsus the Birth place of St. Paul Anchiala Epiphania Adena Mopsuestia Nicopolis Amavara Scandelora and others watered with the River Pyramus now called Malmistra Orismagdus Calicadnus and the famous Cydnus whose waters are so Cool and withal so Rapid that they had like to have proved fatal to Alexander the Great and did so to Fredrick the first German Emperor for whilst he was bathing in the stream he was carried away by the violence of the Current and smothered in the waves As for the chief Mountains they are Amanus and Taurus accounted the largest in the world ISAVRICA is a distinct Province from the former seated on both sides of Taurus which renders it altogether Mountainous being East to Pamphylia parted in the midst by the River Calecadnus on whose banks are many Vines and pleasant Pastures and has for its principal City and Towns Seleucia Iâ—auria and Claudiopolis and as for this and the Province of Cilicia they were Anciently famous for Piracies but Pompey breaking their power at Sea placed them in a more Inland Country and especially on these Mountains in a strait compass but they have since inlarged their borders And thus for Anatolia or Asia Minor except such Islands as are reputed to appertain to it which shall be treated of in another place it being our design that nothing shall be omitted though we are obliged to be brief constrained to it by the narrowness of our compass only note that it is wholly subject to the Turks The Kingdoms and Provinces of the greater Asia Described AS to the Boundards and Scituation of this Part of the World it has been already laid down in general wherefore now nothing remains but to describe it in particular c. and to do this in order we will begin with The Kingdom of Syria THE Kingdom of Syria as it Antiently was is bounded on the North with Cilicia on the South with other parts of Asia minor on the East with the River Euphrates and on the West with the Mediterranean Sea And is Inhabited by divers sorts of People Professing sundry Religions as Christianity Judaism Mahometism and in some places not altogether freed from Paganism for upon the Borders next to Armenia minor there dwell the Cardi or Coerdes a People who pay Veneration to the Devil and the slender excuse they alledg for it is to prevent his doing them Mischief they being on the contrary assured that God being in his Nature good he will not injure them And the whole Country is divided into 3 Provinces viz. Phoenicia Caelo-Syria and Syro-Phaenicia PHAENICIA is bounded on the East and South with Palestine on the North with Syria so properly called on the West with the Mediterranean Sea and has this Name given it by the Greeks from the abundance of Palm Trees that are found growing therein the Word signifying in that Language a Palm As for the Country it self it is not great for though in Length it reaches to the further side of Mount Carmel and again to the River Volanus on the North the Breadth however is so inconsiderable that it rather seemeth a Sea-Coast than a Country nor did the Phaenicians less improve the opportunity in former times but were accounted the chief Navigators of the World. As for the Cities of note they are Acon seated in a Pleasant Plain of great Length Besieged by the Western Christians in their Expedition for the regaining the Holy Land. Sarepta the place where the Woman sustained Elias or rather he her by Miracle in the time of Famine Tyre once a Famous Sea Town but now little of it remains Sidon a Pleasant Place but wants of its former Largeness and Grandeur being reduced to a narrow compass As for the chief Mountains they are Libanus and Carmel and as for Rivers there are few of note the principal being Adonis however the Country is Fruitful in Olives and Vines COELO-SYRIA is more compacted than the former and is watered with the Rivers Abana and Pharaphar called in Scripture the Rivers of Damascus and has in it the Mountains of Asmadamus a ridg of Hills beginning at the East Point of Ante-Libanus and bending directly Southward shuts up that part from the Land of Israel and has for its chief Towns Heliopolis so called from an Image of the Sun formerly Worshipped there Chalcis Abila Adida Hippus or Hypone Capitolias Gadara Gerasa Scythopolis Philadelphia and Damascus the Head of this Province once a Famous City but now reduced to a small compass however it is Scituate in a large Plain Invironed with Hills and watered by the River Chrysorheâ—â— having about it many pleasant Gardens Orchards and Fountains and indeed the whole Country where the Mountains interpose not is a Terrestrial Paradice which made the Impostor Mahomet refuse it for his Regal Seat lest swallowed up in the Delights and Pleasures of that Country he should forget
two other Kings of this Country mentioned in Genesis Berzamna Caparosa Gamararis Elasa Rossa Rhinocurura Raphia and others with many scattered Castles and Villages and of this Country the Horites are thought to be the first Inhabitants amongst whom Esau upon the discontent he received by his Brothers circumventing him of the Blessing went to dwell and took to him Wives of the Daughters of the People of the Land and as though the two Brothers Difference had been inherent to Posterity the Edomites alwaies proved mortal Enemies to the Israelites not only siding with their Enemies but making continual War and Inroads upon them their selves The other Parts of Palestine which may properly be so called are the Divisions of Peraea and Ituraea and the first of these lies between the Mountains of Arnon and the River Jordan abounding with Olives Vines and Palm-Trees the Soil every where being exceeding Rich and was formerly the Habitation of the Midianites Moabites and Ammonites as also of the two Tribes of Gad and Reuben The Quarter of the Midianites was at the South Side of the Dead Sea at the very entrance of the Country and were held to Descend from one or more of the 5 Sons of Madian the Son of Abraham by Keturah mentioned in Gen. 25. 4. and had for their chief Cities Recome Built by one of the 5 Midianitish Kings slain by Joshua and Midian on the bank of the Dead Sea and these were they that by the advice of Balaam sent out their Beautiful Women to Insnare the Israelites upon their entrance into the Land of Canaan The Moabites Possessed all that part of the Country from the boundards of the Midianites on the South as far as Esebon on the North on both sides the River Arnon having the River Jordan on the West and the Hills of Abarim on the East first possessed by the Emmims a Race of Giants whose Principal City was Sheneth Kirjathaim but they being Vanquished by Chedorlaomer and driven thence their forsaken Seats were possessed by the Moabites Descended from Moab one of the Sons of Lot and had for their Cities in chief Rabbat the Regal Seat of Balak King of Moab Diblathum Gallim Muthana Nathaliel Bamath Mispha Hor Kirhajareth and some few others of little note and this Country God commanded Moses to spare because he had given it for an Inheritance to the Sons of Lot. The Ammonites had their Habitations on the North-East of the River Arnon and possessed all that Tract from Arnon on the â—ead of the River to the City Rabbah and on both sides the River Jaâ—oc as well within as without the Mountains of Galaad Antiently the Seat of the Raphaim and Zamzummins a Race of Giant-like People and had for their chief Cities Rabbah before which Vriah was Slain on the account of his Wife Dothema Mitspa and others of lesser note and had continual War with Israel God appointing them as a Thorn in their side because they had not at first rooted them out of the Land. The Reubenites or Tribe of Reuben had their Dwellings appointed on the East side of Jordan having the Gadites on the North and the Arabian Desarts on the East and on the South the Land of Moab parted by the River Arnon whose chief Cities were Abel Sittim Bethabara or Beth-bara Machaerus Lasa or Lesha Medeba Bosor or Bozra a City of Refuge to the Levites Livias a Town Built by Herod in Honour of Livia the Mother of Tiberius Caesar Kedmoth Adom Heshbon Bamothbal and within their Territories is the Mount Nebo from whose Top Moses took a view of the Land of Canaan and joyning to it is the Hill Pisga or to say more truly one of the Tops or Spires of the same Mountain The Gadites so called from Gad the Seventh Son of Jacob begot on Zilpha the Hand-maid of Leah had their Lot of the Promised Land between the Reubenites on the South and half the Tribe of Menasses on the North the River Jordan on the West and the Mountains of Arnon on the East and inhabited the Cities of Aroer upon the Banks of the River Arnon Dihon towards Jordan Bethâ—mrah Natoroth Beth-haram Beth-ezob Mahanaim so called from the Apparition of Angels Succotâ— Jahzor Ramoth Penuel c. All the Plains of this Country being exceeding Fruitful as on purpose prepared for the Favourites of Heaven yet the People who had been brought out of Slavery with a mighty hand growing fat in these fruitful Fields soon forgot their Maker and went a Whoring after the Gods of the Strangers for which the Canaanites had been cast out of the Land. There were moreover in this Tract called the Land of Palestine the Trachonites inhabiting the Hilly Country bordering on the Ammonites called the Mountains of Gilead extending Northward as far as Libanus living as Josephus tells us for the most part in Woods and Caves upon Prey and Spoil c. The Batanea a People living in a part of the Kingdom of Basan but their Kingdom upon the Arrival of the Children of Israel was given to the other half Tribe of Manasses and contained many fenced large Cities The chief was Pella formerly called But is but the Name changed by Seleucius the great Assyrian King of the Greek Race destroyed by Alexander Janaeus a King of the Jews for refusing to admit the Law of Moses but afterward by Pompey the Great restored to its former Luster And more memorable in Church History for the Voice heard from Heaven admonishing the Christians then in Jerusalem to retire thither that they might escape the Destruction that the Roman Army under the leading of Titus was about to bring upon that great and sinful City Gessur since called Aurantis the last Division of Ituraea is North of Basan and was once accounted a Kingdom and had for its chief Cities Hauran Gessur Mahacath Chatsar Hevanus and others of lesser note As for the Country of Palestine in general or the promised Land it is taken by some to be the place where the Terrestrial Paradise stood and is indeed Fruitful even to a miracle for in most places there is an Eternal Spring and in Summer the Flowers alwaies smiling and the Vernant Trees seldom casting their ripe and mellowed Fruit before Blossoms and green Fruit take place and are naturally of extraordinary growth insomuch that we read when Caleb Josuah and others went up to spie the Land they brought a cluster of Grapes as an earnest of the rest so large that they were obliged to carry it upon a Staff between two of them And thus much for the Land of Palestine as it flourished in its most glorious daies but now its antient Inhabitants are scattered over the face of the Earth and Turks possess their pleasant places The three ARABIA'S Described in their Countreys and Provinces 1. ARABIA DESERTA called by the Turks Beriara is bounded on the East with the Babylonian Territories on the West with some part of Palestine and Arabia the stony on the North
Aethiopia Superiour containing in length from the Mediterranean to the City of Asua or Syene bordering on Aethiopia 562 Italian Miles and in breadth from Roseta to Damiatia or from the most Western Branch of Nile to the farthest East 160 of the like Miles said to be first Inhabited by Misraim the Son of Chus and Grandchild to Cham scituate under the Second and Fifth Climates making the longest Summers day but 13 hours and a half and altho by reason of its Southerly scituation it must consequently be in a hot and sultry Air it has nevertheless fresh Gales of Wind to temperate it and once a Year 〈◊〉 over-flowing of the River Nilus which renders it so Fruitful that it abounds with rich Pastures store of Camels Horses Oxen Asses Sheep and Goats of extraordinary growth also with infinite store of Wild and Tame Fowl with plenty of Minerals Precious Stones Wine Choice Fruits as Oranges Lemons Citrons Pomegranats Cherries c. and has Palm Trees in great numbers growing Male and Female and the Female bears not unless she grows by the Male a Tree universally useful as serving to above twenty ends As for the People they are of a Swarthy or Tawny Complexion very much inured to Labour tho the Countrey yields great Encrease of its own accord very servile and obedient to their Conquerers who Lord it over them the Richer sort generally addicting themselves to Necromancy and Sorcery and are said first to Teach the use of Letters to the Phaenicians though the Magi and those that were stiled their Priests strugled all that in them lay to obscure Learning by representing the meaning of what they intended to express in Hieroglyphicks shadowing it under divers forms of Birds and Beast c. and here are to be found the Ruins of mighty Structures as the Pyramids and Tower of Pharo's built of Marble exceeding high nightly hung with Lights as a Sea-mark to Sailors and many other rare Matters to demonstrate the Magnificence of a Plenteous Kingdom As for the Cities of Egypt they are generally built upon Hills or high rising Ground to stand dry during the over-flowing of Nilus from whose Waters the Countrey receives its Fertility so that whilst it carries its Stream over the Land they Commerce with each other by little Boats which beginning on the 15th of June lasts 40 days standing 15 Cubits in many places and in 40 more gathers its Waters within the Banks by which means the Earth is so well tempered for in this Kingdom there falls no Rain that the Encrease is sixty and eighty fold their Harvest being commonly in our March and April and if the River flows too scanty or too immoderate then it betokens scarcity or some misfortune to the Prince Governour or State and whilst its Waters are abroad which at the first issuing create a Plague for the space of a day The Cattle feed on the Hills and when the Famine was here in the Reign of Pharaoh this River refused to pass its bounds or give any Assistance to the Thirsty Land. This Countrey was formerly divided into two parts viz. Delta and Thebais the first lying between the two extream Branches of the River Nilus in form of the greek Letter from whence it takes it's name and the last taking name from the City of Thebes containing all the rest of the Rivers Course and these again with some odd Angles are divided by some into many Parts Shires or Counties and is said in the time of King Amasis the Second to contain 20000 Cities Towns and considerable Castles but now a far less number as being ruined in their several Wars c. they being Cairo or Grand Cair Alexandria Pelusium since called Damiatia taken and possessed by the Christians in the Holy War yet held out so obstinately upon the Siege that 70000 persons died of the Famine and Pestilence Heros or Heroum scituate on the Arabian Isthmus at the very bottom of the Golf where Jacob and Joseph had their first interview Heliopolis the City of the Sun now called Betsames in the Land of Goshen Arsinoe on the Shoar of the Red Sea Cleopatris built by Queen Cleopatra Gleba Rubra by the Greeks called Hierabolus and sometimes Erithia Bolus of which there goes a Story That King Amenophis the Fifth being Blind was informed by one of his Magi that if he could procure the Water or Urine of a Woman that had been Married a Twelve-month and upward who had known no Man but her Husband it would restore him to Sight when having tried in vain a great number at last one was found whose Urine effected it upon which he took her as a mark of Honour to be his Queen and caused the rest to be brought into this Town and to be burnt together with it As for the Egyptians they are a great many of them Mahometans and some maintain their first Idolatrous Custom in Worshipping an Ox Onions Leeks and other Foolish Matters and when they have a great Increase they Offer to the God Nilus as they term the River in which Feast the poorer sort spend almost all they have Laboured for through the course of the Year and indeed this Country in Fruitfulness occasioned by that River affords them no small Store alluding to which thus the Poet Lucan Terra suis contenta bonis non indiga Mercis Aut Jovis in solo tanta est Fiducia Nilo The Earth content with it 's own Wealth doth crave No Forreign Wares nor Jove himself they have Their Hope 's alone in Nilus Fruitful wave And one thing extraordinary in this Kingdom we think not fit to pass by which if true as indeed it is confirmed by People of known Credit may justly create a wonder in all coming to pass by a supernatural means and not the work of Art and Nature viz. about five Miles from Cair there is said to be a place which every Good Friday shews the appearance of the Heads Legs Arms c. of Men and Children as if rising out of the Ground to a very great Number however if any Person approach them they shrink in again A strange forerunner or earnest if true of the Resurrection of the whole Body presented Yearly by the rising of the Members and to confirm the Truth hereof Stephen Dupleis held to be a sober discerning Man affirms to be an Eye Witness of the Wonder and that he had touched diverse of the rising Members and as he was once about to do it to the Head of a Child a Carian forbad it telling him he knew not what he did Another Wonder is the Crocodile which coming from a small Egg not exceeding the bigness of a Turkies grows to be 30 Feet in length and proportionable in thickness living at Pleasure in the Water or on the Land destroying not only Fish but Men and Beasts and with these the Nilus abounds as also with a Fish called the River Horse and thus much for Egypt A Description of Barbary BARBARY a
considerable part of Africk so called is bounded on the East with Cyrenaica on the West with the Atlantick Ocean on the North with the Streights of Gibraltar and some part of the Atlantick Ocean on the South with Mount Atlas separated by that Mount from the Desarts of Lybia scituate under the third and fourth Climates so that the longest Summers Day in the most Southern parts amounts to 13 Hours 3 Quarters but in the North 4 and a Quarter accounted in Length 1500 Miles and in Breadth in some places 100 and in others near 300 Miles taking its Name from the Word Bar made double signifying in the Saracens Language a Desart The Part of Barbary lying towards the Mediterranean is full of craggy Hills and Mountains shaded on the Top with Woods where Lyons and other Beasts of Prey shelter themselves though the Valleys are very Fruitful but deficient in Wheat insomuch that the Inhabitants Eat Barley Bread yet between these and Mount Atlas the Country is Champian watered with many Pleasant Rivers issuing from that Mountain rendering the Soil rich and fertile so that it affords great store of Plums Pears Figs Cherries Apples of sundry Kinds Oyl Honey Sugar and some Mines of Gold called Barbary Gold being the finest of all other And Pliny reports that near Leptis we may behold a Date Tree over-shadowing an Olive and under the Olive a Fig-Tree and under the Fig a Pomegranate-Tree and under that a Vine and under the the Vine Pease or Corn c. all Flourishing at the same time and this they do the rather that they may shelter each other from the heat of the Sun. The People are of a Dusky Colour inclining to Blackness held to Descend from the Arabians so that the Language they Speak in most parts is the Arabick or so bordering upon it that it may be easily understood and are Impatient of Labour Covetous of Honour Crafty and Deceitful yet studious in matters of their Law and some Sciences more especially Philosophy and the Mathematicks and are in Religion generally Mahometans they are also stately of Gate exceeding Mistrustful Implacable in their Hatred and Jealous beyond compare for the Women indeed are comely of Body well Featured delicate soft Skinn'd and want nothing but Colour to make them Accomplish'd Beauties nor has this Country failed to produce Persons not only Famous for Arts and Arms but for Piety and Learning as Amilcar Hannibal Septimus Severus Massinissa Tertullian Cyprian Arnobius Lactantius Augustine and others of no less Note and here once Ruled Queen Dido in the Famous City of Carthage which City so long and strongly contended with Rome for the Empire of the World but at last was destroyed through the Importunity of Cato at which time there was found in it notwithstanding the charge of a tedious War 470000 pound weight of Silver As for the whole Country called Barbar it was Divided into 7 Parts viz. Africa Propria called also Zugitania Byzantena Tripolitana Numidia Mauritania Caesariensis Sitisensis and Tâ—â—gitania under diverse Kings and Governours who then held it as Tributaries to the Roman Emperors but since reduced to four Divisions viz. Tunis Tremesen or Algiers Fesso and Morocco and of these in their order TVNIS is accounted a Kingdom containing whatever the Antients called Africa Propria or Minor and Numidia Antiqua the Air very Temperate considering the degree it lyes in the Soil very Fruitful divided again into 5 parts viz. Bugia Constantia Tunis Tripoley and Ezab accommodated with many curious Havens the chief being Tripoley where the Turkish Bassa resides and Tunis a considerable City giving Name to the Kingdom supposed to be founded on the ruins of the Antient Carthage and hath in it a Temple of singular Beauty and Greatness TREMESEN or the Kingdom of Algiers commonly called Argie now in the hands of the Piratical Turks has for its chief City Algiers from which the Country takes its name Scituate near the Sea in the form of a Triangle with a Haven but neither great nor secure from the fury of the North Winds though the City is strong and beautiful having not only in it spacious Inns but Baths and Mosques very commodious and sumptuous and here every Trade takes a Street to themselves the Streets standing even one above another upon the rising of the Hill which renders it a very pleasant prospect to such as sail by it and the Harbour or Mole defended with strong Castles and other works which render the Approach inaccessible and was formerly a place to which Merchants traded but now only a nest of Pirates studying and striving all they can to endamage and molest such as sail those Straits or Seas and though they have been often curbed by the English French and Dutch c. and brought to terms of Peace yet like thorow paced Thieves they never kept it longer than they found an opportunity to break it to their advantage and were in the year 1688 so resolute when the French Fleet lay before it and had with their Bombs fired the Town about their Ears not only to reject the offer made but in contempt to that puissant Monarch to shoot his Consul out of a Mortar or piece of Cannon towards the French Ships in the Road c. As for the Upland Country it has many pleasant Towns and Villages in it abounding with Gardens Vineyards Pastures Cattle Corn-Fields and Fruits of sundry kinds FEZ and MOROCCO are now joyned under one King who fondly stiles himself Emperor and contain the whole Country of Mauritania properly so called which took its name from the Mauri a people that Antiently Inhabited it and the first of these has Fez for its chief City giving name to the Kingdom and here was scituate the City of Tangier lately demolished by the English as not worth the keeping nor is the Country wanting in large Forrests Green Fields Vineyards flourishing Gardens abounding with Fruits and producing an infinite number of Cattle a breed of excellent Horses and the Mountains many wild Beasts watered with the Rivers Buringrug and Inavis for the space of 100 Miles MOROCCO is Scituate in a warm breathing Air which renders the Country very fertile so that it abounds with Figs Dates Grapes Apples Olives Honey Sugar and Cattle the whole Country being divided into 7 parts viz. Guzzula Morocco Hea Duccala Hascorasus and Tedles all holding under the King of Morocco and paying him Tribute his Power being Absolute and Tyrannical insomuch that he causes whom he pleases to be put to Death that is cast to the Lyons or other wild Beasts to make him sport nor can any of his Subjects account what he has his own as for the Profession of Religion these people make it is Mahometism though there are a great many Jews and some Christians living amongst them as for Rivers there are not many in this Country the Land being watered mostly by Brooks and little Springs nor do they know in most parts what Winter means
the King of Mexico with rich presents of Gold and other rich Things which so inflamed him that forgetting the Civility he found means to pick a quarrel with the King by building Forts in the Countrey and claiming it for Charles the Fifth King of Spain and Emperour of Germany and getting the Flascâ—lians on his part a party of the Natives who were at variance with the King of Mexico and increasing his Spaniards by such as he found in the Countrey to 900 Foot and 80 Horse he with the whole Force of the Flascalians being 100000 Men and the help of 17 Pieces of Cannon 13 Galliots and 6000 Cnoa's or Boats besieged that great City by Land and Water and in 13 Months took sacked and burnt it by which means this Rich Kin 〈◊〉 fell to the Spaniards GVATIMALIA is another large Tract in the Mexicanian Province bounded on the North with Jucatan and the Gulf of Honduras on the South with Mare del Zur on the East or South East with Castela Aurea and on the West with New Spain extended 300 Leagues upon the Coast of Mare del Zur but upon straight measure not above 240 and in breadth about 180 Leagues comprehending the lesser Provinces of Chiapa Verapaz Guatimala properly so called and from which the whole Tract takes its Name Hondura Nicaragua Veragua and has for its Chief Towns Civida Real St. Augustines St. Salvador St. Jago de Guatimala St. Maria de Comyagena Leon de Nicaragua and La Trinidada with divers others of lesser Note This part of Mexicana by reason of its nearness of Scituation to the Line is Fruitful in all parts unless where the Rocky Hills thrust up their heads abounding with Fruit Trees Corn Cattle Foul Fish and Mines of Gold Silver and Brass and in the Rivers which are considerable much Gold is found as washed from the Mountains and here the Natives bear the Spanish Yoke more uneasily than in other parts A Description of the Peruanian Province or the Second Devision of America THis great Province divided into many lesser resembles a Pyramid Reverse more properly so than Africk joyned to that we have mentioned by the Isthmus or Streights of Darien deriving its Name from Peru the Chief Province of the whole which stands thus divided as far as is hitherto Inhabited by the Spaniards or other Europeans viz. Castela Aurea the new Realm of Granada Peru Chiel Paragnay Brasil Guyana and Paria not accounting the Islands which are reserved for another place and as for the boundards in general having already described them we now proceed to describe the particular Provinces and of them in their order viz. CASTELA DELORE or Castela Aurea is bounded on the West with Mare del Zur and some part of Virginia on the South with the New Realm of Granada on the East and North with Mare del Noort called Castile in reference to that in Spain as being discovered by the Influence of those Kings and Aurea added by reason of the abundance of Gold found there and contains Panama Darien Nova Andaluzia St. Martha and the Provinces De La Hacha the Air in most parts is very Healthful especially to those that have been there for any considerable time or born there however the In-land Countrey is thinly peopled by reason the Spaniards upon their first settling there destroyed in a manner the whole Race of the Natives whose Assistance now they want to Manure the Soil there were likewise found at their first Coming an extraordinary number of Swine which they also destroyed and suffered to rot upon the ground in such multitudes that now tho they would fain retrieve that loss it is not in their power however the Earth brings forth a considerable Encrease where the Fields and Valleys are found tho the Countrey abounds with barren Mountains and Woods so that in this Province besides the Mines of Gold and Silver that are found enriching the people with great Treasure they have Corn Wine Oyl Mellons Balsom sundry sorts of Drugs and Trees of sundry kinds producing Fruits different from what are found in Europe and in the Province of A daluzia the Spaniards upon their Arrival greedy of Gold found in the Graves of the Dead which were brought from all parts to be buried there as held to be the most Sacred ground so much Treasure that for a time they took no care to dig it out of the Mountains As for the People Inhabiting this Tract they are mostly Spaniards those few Natives that are left being in a manner their Slaves The Countrey is full of great Rivers as Rio de Lagartus the River of Crocodiles Sardinila Sardino Riode Comagres Rio de Colubros and others being in many places overspread by the Spurs of the great Mountain Andes held to be as big as any in the World. The Chief Towns in this Province are Panama Darien on the bank of the Gulf of Vmbra Carthageâ—a scituate in a Sandy Peninsula and consisting of 500 Houses St. Martha scituate on the shoars of the Ocean Lahach scituate upon a River of that name all of them under the Power of the Spaniards governed according to the Laws of Spain to which the Natives are obliged to submit NOVA GRANADA or the New Realm of Granada lies on the North of Castela Aurea being about 130 Leagues in Length and not much less in Breadth and is divided into Granada and Popayana the Air for the most part well with a mixture of Heat and Cold but more of the former neither differ the days any thing considerably in length the Countrey extreamly Woody and somewhat Mountainous yet stored with Fertile Plains and breeds a number of Cattle affording Veins of Gold and other Mettals and in a part of it called Tunia are found Emeralds of great value The Natives that are yet remaining go very decent and are by their Conversation with the Spaniards amongst whom they live in small Towns much Civiliz'd the Women being more White and Comly than in any other part very Industrious Tall and well Proportioned most of them embracing the Roman Catholick Religion much delighting in Singing and Dancing and as for the Chief Towns in this Province are they St. Foy an Arch-bishops See St. Michael a Market Town well Traded to Trinidado seated on the River of that name whose Fields are fulâ— of Vines of Chrystal Emeralds Adaments and Chalcedons Tunia Pampelonia Papayan the uâ—â—al Residence of a Governour and a Bishops See Antiochia Carthage Sebastian de la Plata so called from the Silver Mines in its Neighbourhood with some others of less note As for the Rivers and Mountains most of them want names wherefore for brevities sake we pass over any tedious Enquiry into them As for this Province it had its Name given by Gonsâ—lvo Ximenes de Quesada in reference to Granada in Spain who having Murthered contrary to Faith given Sangipa the last King of Bagota whom he had made use of in subduing the Panches he seized his Treasure
Parts or Divisions when the Romans not without great blood-shed brought it under their Subjection viz. 1. The Narbonensis or Bracatta containing Dauphir Languedock and a part of Savoy 2. Aquitanica taking its denomination from the City Aquae Augusta and now known by that of d' Aeque containing Gascoigne Limoisin Guinne Sanctogne Querci Peregort Bourbonnois and Aurergne 3. Celtica comprehending the Provinces of Normandy Britagne Anjou Tourain Maine Labeause part of Campagne the Isles of France the Dukedom of Burgundy and the County of Lionoise 4. Belgica containing Picardy a part of Campaigne Burgundy and the Spanish Netherlands But in the time of Honorius the Emperor the Goths having over-run Spain and Italy sent their Forces to Invade the Norbonensian Gauls and having Subdued them called their Country Langue de Goth and from thence Languedock nor did they stay here but extended their Conquests to the River Ligeris now the Famous Loire founding themselves a Kingdom and making Tholouse the Regal Residence nor was it long before the Burgundiones or Burgundians who had Seated themselves in a part of the Country of Cassubii and some of the Teretories of Brandenburg joyning with the Vandles and Sweths seized upon other parts of France and grasped them with so hard a hand that they in spight of Opposition founded themselves a Kingdom called the Kingdom of Burgundy but afterward reduced to a Dukedom and now in the hands or possession of the present French King. The Kingdom of France is Hereditary to the Males but not to the Females who are disabled by the Salique Law and the Heir or Eldest Son is stiled Dauphin of France nor can the Younger Son of the King by the Law of Apennages have any part in the Government with the Elder And this Monarchy has been upheld ever since the Year 420 by the Races of Three Kings viz. the Moravinian Carolinian and Capitine in a Descent of 63 Kings and here the Christian Religion is held to be first Planted amongst the Gaules by Martialis but amongst the French or the latter setled People of the Kingdom by Remigius much latter as for the Arms Royal now boren by the Kings they are Three Flower de Luces Azure in a Field Or being a Device taken by Charles the Sixth This Kingdom is composed of Estates and Orders threefold viz. the Clergy the Nobility and the Commons and here are usually found 16 Arch-Bishops and 106 Bishops not accounting those of Arras Tournay and Perpignan 16 Abbots Heads of Orders and Congregations and about 30000 Curate-ships and not accounting other Governments there are 12 Peers chiefly appointed or ancient Peer-ships besides others of new Creation and the Order is that of the Holy Ghost There are likewise 11 Parliaments 8 Chambers of Accounts 22 Publick Places of Receipt or Generalities of the Kings Revenues The Rivers of this Kingdom are principally Four viz. the Rhone or Rosne the Loire the Garonne and the Seine who receive into them many other Rivers and wash the Walls of the chief Cities and Towns c. the first arising about 3 Miles from the head of the River Rhine the second about the Mountains of Avergne the third from the Pyreenian Hills and the Fourth has its Spring in Burgundy The Mountains of most note are those of Avergne part of the Alps and the Pyreenes on the latter of which Nature strangely expresses her self for that part of those Mountains toward rich and wealthy France are altogether barren but that towards Spain exceeding Fruitful as if it had divested it self to cloath the one and robbed the other In the Year 1614 Lovis the 13 convened the Estates of the Provinces under 12 Heads or great Governments four of which lying towards the North border upon the Seine and the other Rivers that augment its Stream viz. Picardy Normandy the Isles of France and Campaigne adjoyning towards the middle to the Loire Orlenoise Britagne Burgundy and Lionoise and the other Four towards the South near the Garonne viz. Dauphin Guienne Lauguedock and Provence and under the Orlenoise are contained Maine Perche and Beauce on the hither side of the Loire Nievernois Anjou and Touraine and above this River beyond Poctou Berrey and Burgundy hath Bresti and under Lionoise are comprehended Lionois Auvergne Burbounois and Marche under Guienne is Bearne Gascogne and Guienne Saintogne Perigort Limosin Querci and Rovergne and under Languedock is found Cevenes The chief Cities are 1. Paris situate in the Isle of France anciently called Lutetia by reason of the Clayeness of the Ground about it which for Riches Stateliness of Building the many Magnificent Pallaces and Churches that every where adorne it and the Fruitfulness of the Soil about it and number of its Inhabitants may compare with most in Europe 2. Lions or Lugdunum 3. Orleance 4. Bullogne taken by Henry the â—ighth of England 1544. 5. Amiens 6. St. Quintiens where the English Forces under the Command of the Earl of Pembrook in the Quarrel of Philip the Second of Spain overthrew the French Anno 1557. 7. Burdeaux 8. Roane or Rovenysenlis 10. Rhemes 11. Claremont 12. Tholouse 13 Calais which being taken by Edward the 3 of England remained in the hands of the English 220 Years and was lost in the reign of Queen Mary soon after the Battle of St. Quintines and the occasion as many conjecture of hastning her end she giving out That if she were opened when dead they might find Calais written on her Heart c. Many other Cities and Towns there are of note whose names for brevities sake I must omit and in general proceed to say there is no Kingdom better stored with considerable places nor more abounding in plenty of what ever may conduce to the Commodity and suport of Humane Life abounding with almost all the sundry sorts of Fruits that Europe produces as also store of River and Sea-Fish a great number of Cattle plenty of Wine Corn Salt Linnen Cloth Flax Hemp Wool Saffron Paper and many other Products and Manufactories very considerable for which the Natives c. as it were command the Commodities or ready Money of most Countries as for the Coins those chiefly in use are the Pistole of Gold and the Crown of Silver As for the people of this Kingdom they are great pretenders to Antiquity deriving their Original as to the Inhabitants of the Country from Meseck the sixt Son of Japhet though the first Inhabitants mentioned with any credit in History were the antient Gauls a people thrifty and valiant who under the leading of Bellovessus conquered the heither part of Italy called Gallia Cisalpina and soon after under the conduct of Segovesus subdued a great part of Germany nor resting there under Brennus another of their Commanders they discomfited the Roman Army and Sacked even Rome it self and so passed Conquering on into Asia where they fixed a Government calling it Gaul-Asia since corruptly Gallatia on which the Learned Dubartas discants viz. The Antient Gaul in roving
remaine doubtful for as soon as Historians make any considerable mention of it we find it Inhabited by divers Nations held to be Greek Colonies who transported themselves at sundry times the people of the Sea Coast being said to come thither under Janus Anno Mundi 1925. After them Saturn out of Creet then Evander or Oenotrus out of Arcadia and then Aeneas with his Trojans with many others but after the Romans grew powerful they brought the whole Country into subjection and held it in spite of the frequent Invasions of Phyrus Hanibal the Gauls Cimbri and others till the time of Honorius the Emperor at what time the Goths Vandals Herulies Huns and other Barbarous Nations passing the Alps rent it from the Empire and devided it amongst themselves establishing many Kingdoms and Principalities and when these were in a manner subdued by the Valour and Conduct of Narses Bellarius and other Imperial Generals Albonius King of the Lumbards seized upon the greatest part of it calling it Longobardia vulgarly Lumbardy but they a considerable time after were brought under by Pepin King of France called in by the Bishop of Rome who reduced their Kingdom to a straight compass after which the seat of the Roman Empire was fixed in Germany and Italy parcell'd out amongst sundry Princes and the usual Division is into six parts viz. Lumbardy the Land of the Church Napâ—ls â—ascany Genoa the Signory of Venice but more particularly into five greater and six lesser as for the first the Kingdom of Naples the Papacy the Signory of Venice the Dukedom of Florence and the Dukedom of Millain the lesser are the Dukedoms of Mantoua Vrbine Modena Parma with the States of Genoa and Luca and of these in their Order The Kingdom of Naples Described c. AS for the Kingdom of Naples it is Governed at this day by a Vice-Roy under the King of Spain and is scituate in the most pleasant part of Italy devided from the Territories of the Church by the River Axofenus being on the other parts Inviornd with the Seas making many commodious Havens and contains the Provinces of Lavaro Calabria Inferior and Superior Otranto Apulia Puglia Abruzzo In Lavaro is founded the City of Naples from whence the Kingdom takes its Name and many others of lesser note but that which is most noted is the Mountain Vesuvius lately called Somma being exceeding high and casting Flames out at the top of it in a dreadful manner though all the borders or parts of it are otherways very pleasant and fruitful abounding in Vines Flower-Gardens Olive-Yards and rich Pastures many of the Houses of the Gentry and Country Villages the City it self being seated at the foot of the Mountain and other Hills that branch from it extending from the South-West to the North-East in a manner Triangular and so Fruitful is the Country in Corn that the Importation of Bread is forbidden upon great penalties As for the Buildings they are of free Stone many of them four Stories in height and the Tops flat the Windows are generally covered with fine Linnen or Tiffany in stead of Glass which gives an equal Light and keeps out the heat of the Sun Nor consists the City of Naples of any more than three considerable broad Streets called La Vicaria La Lapuan and La Toletano the rest being inconsiderable Lanes and places of less note having 8 Gates towards the Sea and as many towards the Land strongly walled and defended with three Castles The Women here are very beautiful and through the abundance of Silks found in these parts the meanest Citizens Wives go clad in it the people are very thrifty and industruous especially about their Gardens from whence they derive a great part of their Food in Fruits Herbs Roots c. as living very spare and temperate though the Country abounds in plenty The Estates of the Kingdom of Naples as we may properly call them under the Spanish Vice-Roy are held to be 14 Princes 25 Dukes 30 Marquesses 54 Earls and 400 Barons and Gentlemen having 4 publick Houses called the Segij in which they meet to consult Affairs of Importance as also places are appointed for the meeting of Merchants in the way of Trade Calabria is another Province of the Kingdom of Naples bounded with the Jonian and Tyrrenean Seas and with the River Jano said to be 500 miles in compass divided into the higher and lower Calabria The chief Cities of the former being Consentia and Salernum the chief resort of Italian Physitians pleasantly scituated and well inhabited the Buildings agreeing with those of Naples though not in the General so sumptuous and all the Neighbouring Countries are full of Villages and very Fruitful and in the latter Calabria Cuterzary is seated as principal being a strong City well Walled and Fortified and formerly this Country was called Magna Graecia from the many Greek Collonies that seated themselves in it Otranto is on three parts bound with the Sea and on the other with Puglia having Tarentum and Brundusum for its chief places formerly boasting it self one of the best Havens in Europe but for some years past choaked up or much obstructed by shoales of Sand carry'd in by the Sea so that a Ship cannot without some difficulty enter by which means the places are much reduced Here are found likewise the Towns of Otranto and Gallipolis very plentious in Oyls Wines and Manufacturies of Silks and other matters of value there are found great store of Corn Mellions Citron Saffron c. and what is one thing observable no Partridges pass the Limits of this Country Apulia another Province of Naples extends it self from the confines of Brundusium to the River Fortore and is properly devided into two Provinces and has for its principal City that of Manfredo Scituate beneath the Hill of St. Angello accommodated with many stately Buildings and is the Seat of the Arch-Bishop of Siponto and that which adds more to its advantage is that it has a capacious Harbour capable of receiving Ships and Galleys of great burthen and is defended with a very stong Castle the Country all about it being very Fruitful Puglia is bounded with the Rivers Tronto and Fortore and has for its chief Cities Barlet which has a good Haven belonging to it and held to be one of the 4 strong holds of Italy and Cannae the Country though somewhat Hilly or Mountainous abounds with Cattle Saffron and many other Commodities incident to Italy Abruzzo is in like manner a part of the Kingdom of Naples having for its chiefest Cities or Towns Aquino giving Birth of Thomas Aquinas and Sulmo Famous for the Birth of Ovid the Poet both pleasantly seated and well inhabited The Papacy Described c. AS for the Papacy commonly called the Estate of the Pope Inherent to the See of Rome it consists of two Natures or Jurisdictions as Spiritual and Temporal principalities as touching the latter of which it has under its Jurisdiction many large Terretories lying
between the River Fiore and Cajetta between Prenestae and the Truentian Straights the Dukedom of Vrbin excepted containing the Provinces of Romandiola Murchia Spolletto and that usually called St. Peters Patrimony is accounted Spiritual The first of these extends to the Venetian Terretories on the West and to Rubicon on the East a little River so called from the Redness of the Waters over which in the flourishing time of the Romans the Consuls were forbiden to come armed homewards least the fear of any designed might bring a terror upon the City of Rome As for the chief Cities in this part they are Bononia the prime University of Italy and where the Civil Law is very much studyed This City is Round of form Built with Brick and Free-stone commodiously scituate and has towards the Streets Arched Cloysters to secure such as pass them from Rain c. Here is likewise found the City Ferrara scituate on the banks of the River Po and fortified on all other parts with a strong Wallâ— in which the former Dukes held the stately Pallace of Beluedevere so named from its pleasant scituation as also Ravenna of great antiquity renowned in Antient History accommodated about two miles distant with a famous Port or Haven This Province or Country produces Corn Wine Oyl some Drugs plenty of Cattle and especially good Horses Marchia extendeth from Puglia to Otranto between the Appenine and the Sea commodiously divided into little rising Hills and fertile Plaines by which means it is very Fruitful greatly abounding with Corn Wine and Oyl It s principal Empori is Ancona by reason of the commodiousness of its Haven and is a fair City incompassed with three Mountains and hath the form of a half Moon the Streets are narrow and paved with Flint the Haven is Triangular where are curious Walks and a place called la Loggia where the Merchants that resort thither for Trade do meet and is very healthy the other considerable Cities are Firmo and Ascoli aud in this Province stands Loretto so Famous for our Ladies Miracles Spolletto anciently Vmbria has for its chief Cities Spolletto from whence it takes its name Onietto scituate on a high Rock and Asis where St. Francis was born and though this Province is not large yet it abounds with Wine Corn Oyl Saffron Cattle Figs c. St. Peters Patrimony so called and accouned the Spiritual Jurisdiction contains all the ancient Latium or Campaigna di Roma and the chief City is Rome formerly the Capital of the most cousiderable Empire in the World Mistriss of the fairest part of the Universe and said thro' the excess of her many Conquests to extend by Degrees from 2 Miles in compass to 50 and had on her Walls 740 Towers spreading over or taking in her circumference 7 Mountains or Hills viz. Pallatinus Capitolinus Vnivalis Aventinus Esquiliuus Caelius and Querinalis and is scituate on the banks of the Famous River Tiber though at this day it is not accounted above 11 Miles in Circuit however containing many stately Structures and Monuments of its ancient Greatness But what renders it most Eminent is the Popes Pallace on the Vatican Hill the Famous Church Dedicated to St. Peter one of the goodliest Structures in the World accounted 520 Feet in Length aad 385 in Bredth adorned with Paintings Tombs and other choice Pieces of Antiquity almost Innumerable the Vatican Library and many Monuments of the Roman Emperors and not far from this City is Pont Mill where Constantine the great was shewed the Cross in the Clouds with this Motto viz. In hoc Vincis in this you shall overcome which made him take the Insign of the Cross for his Banner and accordingly prevailing over his Enemies he not only Imbraced the Christian Religion himself but commanded it should be observed throughout his Empire And indeed in Rome centers the Plenty and Glory of Italy the Inhabitants being accounted two Hundred Thousand most Clergy-men The Seignorie or Common-wealth of Venice Described c NOrth of the Alps from Roman-di-ola are the Italian Provinces appertaining to the State of Venice bounded on the South with the Territories of Ferarra and the rest of Roman di-ola on the West with the Dukedom of Millain on the North with the main Body of the Alps and on the East with the Adriatick Sea and the River Arsia which parts them from Liburnia besides it commands a great part of Greece especially by the late successful Acquisitions and Victories as well as divers Islands in the Sea and has all along been the Bulwark of Christendom against the Turks As for the chief City upon which the rest depend it gives a Name to the People and is wonderfully situate or seated at the bottom of the Adriatick Sea or Gulf of Venice upon 72 Islands five Miles distant from the main Land defended from the rage of Sea and Storms by a prodigeous work being a bank of some say 60 other 35 miles in length open in 7 places for passage with Boats and Gallys c. of small burthen of which they have commonly 1300 but for great Vessels the only passage is at Malamacco and Castle Lido strongly fortified and yet this City is Computed no more than 8 miles in circuit having for its better conveniency 4000 bridges one of which is very famous passing over the Great Chanel and the rest pass waters of lesser note which in divers places refresh this Maritime City The Arsmal is the most beautiful bigest and best furnished in Europe being about 2 miles in circuit and has a Magazine of all sorts of Arms Engines and Amunition for Sea or Land Service amongst which are 1000 Coats of plate Garnished with Gold and covered with Velvet but what is most admirable is the Church of St Mark their Titular Saint wrought with Mosaick work supported with Pillars of Marble and Prophery adorn'd with Images Tombs c. that for the abundance of Jewels Pearls Gold and Silver that cover and adorn them and their Altars it may be thought that the whole Treasury of the State might be Imployed to that purpose and besides there are found 200 Pallaces built of Marble and adorned with Collumnes Statues Pictures and other things of great Value that for their grandure they are capable of entertaining any Prince They have likewise 73 rich Hospitals 56 Tribunals or Courts of Justice 67 parish Churches 26 Monasteries of Nuns 54 Convents of Friars 18 Chappels and 6 Free-Schools and so powerful once they were that they held War with all the Prince of Europe c. England excepted for the space of seven years and wanted neither men nor money and if we consider what Wars they have had for near 200 years at times with the Turks we must needs proceed to wonder how they should support themselves under that expence of Treasure and loss of men but their Income is mostly by Navigation and the fruitfulness of their Islands so that according to a Modern account it has amounted in the
the adjoyning Territories As for the Capital City of Modena it was known and is so still in Roman History by the Name of Mutina famous for the first bloody battle between Marcus Antonius and Augustus Caesar and is at this day the Residence of the Duke whose Pallace though not appearing very large outwardly is nevertheless very Famous and Magnificent by the rich Adornments within his Cabin or Museum being furnished with the choice of Natural Rarities as Jewels c. to an extraordinary Value And here Otho the Emperor slew himself upon his Army being defeated by Vitellus As for the Country though it is not large it nevertheless is very fruitful and abounds with great store of curious Fruits Corn Cattle and other things fit mans for Subsistance watered with many small Streams and mostly plain but that which renders it more Famous is its being the Native Country of our present Queen Mary Consort to his Most Sacred Majesty King James the Second The People of this Dukedom are said to be better natur'd than most of Italy quick in their Resolution easie to be pacified when wronged and Friendly in their Entertainment of Strangers A Description of the Dukedom or Principality of Parma THIS Country hath on the North Mantua on the South the Appennine Hills on the West Milan and on the East the Country of Modena The chief City is Parma seated on the River Pirma in a Fruitful Plain being about 4 miles in compass adorned with many Rich and Stately Structures well Peopled and much frequented by Gentry greatly Addicted to Learning Arts and Arms the adjoyning Plains produce excellent Pasturage which feed abundance of Sheep of whose Milk is made the Parmasan Cheese so much in esteem in all Countries and here the Duke's Pallace is seated where he holds a Court in great State as for the Churches they are beautified and rarely imbellished with Pictures and Images Piacenza or Placentia is the second City famous for the Resistance it made against Hannibal and hâ—s Brother Asdrubal upon their cutting their way through the Alps and Invading Italy and now as much esteemed for the Fairs and Marts kept here to which the Merchants and others resort from the Neighbouring Country to make their Exchanges The Principal River is Trebia where the Romans in a Fatal Battle were overthrown by the Carthagenians and 40000 of them computed to be slain and near to Placentia are many Salt-pits and Mines of Iron A description of the Dukedom of Mantoua THE Dukedom of Mantoua is a very fair Country very plentiful in Corn Wine Cattle and rich Pastures and Fruits of sundry Kinds As for the chief City that gives it the Name it is Seated in a Lake of 20 Miles compass by Nature very strong and fencible there being no Land access to it but by Cause-ways and in it stands the Dukes Pallace very fair and stately though he has another Pallace for Pleasure and Delight exceeding this at Marmirolla five Miles from this City As for Mantoua it is in a manner round save that the Lake on the North-East sides enters it like a half Moon The Buildings are partly of Brick and partly of Free Stone and the Streets large and clean In the midst is a large Market-place where all manner of Strangers are admitted to vend their Ware though the greatest Traffick is in the hands of the Jews who grow Rich by the Impoverishment of the Citizens and is in compass 4 Miles having 8 Gates and strengthened by a good Wall. This City is of antient standing and contains about 50000 People and has often been brought into Distress by the Germans especially in the Year 1619 and 1630. As for the Dukes Revenue it is counted 400000 Crowns per Annum though many will not credit it seeing some few Years since he made over part of his Dutchy to the French King for a considerable Sum of Money and here it is held unlawful to wear a Sword or any other Weapon without Lisence and in this City the Famous Virgil had his Birth as by his Ecclogus appears c. and to this Dukedom partly appertains the Dukedom of Montferrat in the South-East of Piemont and other Territories The Dukedom of Urbin described THE Dukedom of Vrbin may be said to lie within the Territories of the Church bounded on the North with the Adriatick on the South with the Apennine Hills on the West with Romagna or Roma-di-ola and on the East with Marca Aconitania being in length Sixty and in breadth Thirty five Miles and is accounted to contain Two hundred Castles and Seven Principal Towns the chief is Vrbin seated at the bottom of the Apennine Hills and built in the fashion of a Miter The next to it Pisauro containing an excellent Haven for the Reception of considerable Vesels and a Third is Belforto more inward and supposed to be in the middle of the Country The chief of the Castles are the Rocks of St. Leo and Marivolo and at Vrbin Polidorus Virgil was born who being a Collector of Peter Pence in England for the Pope wrote a History of the many remarkable Transactions of our Country and is quoted by most of our modern Historians The Estate or Common Wealth of Genoa Described THE Estate of Genoa formerly contained a large part of Italy and were accounted the most expert in Navigation of all Europe but of late through the many Wars they have maintained against the Venetians and other neighbouring Princes their own Intestine Broils and their neglect of Navigation and Traffick they are greatly reduced holding little more than Liguria and Corsica The first of these has on the East the River Varus on the West parted from Tuscany by the Magura on the North the Apennine Hills and on the South the Ligurian or Tyrrenian Seas As for the City of Genoa it is seated on the sides of small rising Hills tho' behind it are those of greater height lying open on the South side to the Sea where it has a goodly Haven in the form of a Cresant or half Moon upon the Horn whereof towards the East is the Sea Bank Lamola about 600 paces in length keeping off the Waves that beat upon the City on the East side and in the middle of this Bank is a Fort built to defend the Navy that may Anchor there so that the circuit of this City is accounted Eight miles and though the Streets are narrow yet the Palaces of the Dey and Houses of the Senators are very stately nor are their Walls less strengthned with Bull-warks and other Fortifications The Houses in the High-streets are Four Stories and many Five the Windows being Glazed which is not usual in Italy many of them built of Marble but all of Freestone The Streets paved with Flint and the Suburbs full of Gardens and Houses of the Nobility and Gentry As for the People they are Masters of other Cities as Noli Sarazena and Savon being noble minded and generous in all their
Actions formerly much inclined to War and search of Adventures insomuch that they assisted with a great Fleet in the Holy War and taking of Jerusalem by the Christian Army and aided Phillip the French King with 10000 Men against Edward the Third of England where in one Battle they were most of them slain They Aided likewise the Spaniards in 1588 to Invade England with several great Carracts and Galleys which were either lost upon the Coast or cast away in their Flight homeward which loss they have never since fully recovered yet they lately made a stout Defence against the Naval Power of France which could effect no more than beating down some part of their City by Bombing it at a distance as being well assured they had no Fleet capable of Engaging The Country abounds in all the Plenties of Italy and here only the Women have the greatest Freedom without the Jelosie or Suspition of their Husbands of any Italians and as a further Honour to this place it gave Birth to Christopher Columbus the first Discoverer of the New World or Country of America The State of Lucca Described THe State of Lucca is held to be scituate within the Dukedom of Tuscany or Florence comprehending the Town and Terretory of Lucca As for Lucca it is seated in a fruitful Plain strongly fortified with a good Wall and incompassed with pleasant Trees so that at a distance it seems to stand in a Wood and the Plain wherein it is seated is invironed with Mountains or large Hills except towards Pistola where it opens to the Sea and is three miles in compass as for the Streets they are narrow and paved with broad Freestone and in it are many Palaces and Merchants Houses curious built of Free-stone according to other Building in Italy and was formerly a place of great Trade for Silks Stuffs Carpets Cloth of Gold and the like there being a great concourse of Merchants call'd Luccois Merchants that were wont to meet there at several Fairs or Marts held for that purpose but of late the Trade is declined however the Inhabitants inrich themselves by their Manufacture which they send to other places of greater Trade And here there is a strict Law that no Person shall wear any Weapon no not a Knife unless it be blunted the People being generally very courteous to Strangers And thus much for what may be properly call'd Italy which taken in general is one of the most fruitful and pleasant Countrys of the World of which Europe being call'd the Head this is accounted the Face But for brevity sake I must desist any further Comment and proceed to other parts adjoyning The Dukedom of Lorrain Described THIS Country is Invironed with a part of Belgium Alsatia the Country of Burgundy and Campaign and is about 180 Miles in compass exceeding Fruitful in Corn Wine store of Cattle but especially Horses of an Excellent Breed the Rivers and Lakes abounding with Fish and the Soil with rich Mines The chief Town is Nancy seated upon the River Meuse and in it the Ducal Pallace much resorted to for Wines Brandies and other Commodities the Buildings are very stately and commodious most of them of Stone and well fortified with a Wall of great Strength The next to this are St. Nicholas and Vancoleus very strong and well Garisoned by the French into whose hands the Country fell in the Reign of King Lewis the 13. though the present Duke of Lorain now warring in Hungary is on all hands concluded to be the rightful Prince As for the manners and Customs of the people they are a mixture of Germany and France as being seated between those Countries c. The Dukedom of Savoy and Country of Peimont Described c. AS for Savoy it is a very Mountainous Country bounded by the Dauphenet Bress Switzerland Peimont and the Alps the Antient Inhabitants were the Allobroges who submitted to Hanibal when he entered Italy with his Carthagenians to War against the Romans at what time Bruncius and his Brother being at variance about the Succession to the Kingdom he reconciled them afterward it was made a Roman Province and was called from one of the Kings that then Reigned being a Favorite to Augustus Caesar Alpes Coctiae but in the declining of the Roman Empire it became a part of the Kingdom of Burgundy and passed with other rights of the Empire to Germany but now is independent under a Duke who is soveraign Lord of the Country The Chief Towns of Savoy are Chambiers Scituate in a pleasant Valley amongst Mountains and is graced with a Ducal Pallace and many stately buildings of the Nobles who are for the most part very Gentile Active and Airy though the Country people on the contrary are very Imbicil and Slugish Tarantaise an Arch-Episcopal See Scituate amongst Mountains as the former full of pleasant buildings Aquabelle Mauridune another Arch-Episcopal See. Under the power and Jursdiction of the Savonian Dâ—ke it is Peimont unless a small part of it claimed by the Duke of Mantoua seated at the Foot of the Mountains and bounded on the East with Milain on the West with Savoy on the North with Switzer-land and on the South with the Mediterranean being more fertile than the other containing 52 Earldoms and 15 Marquesats besides Barronies and Lordships and here dwell the progeny of the Albigenses who about the year 1100 stood for the Liberty and Doctrine of the Church of their Predecessors and about the year 1250 were near all destroyed and ruined by the Popes and French Kings when the remainder prefering their Concience before their Country retired up into the Mountains and by their Industry and Indefatigable Husbandry made the very Rocks bring forth Grass and Herbage for themselves and their Cattle c. and here they worshiped God according to the Worship of rhe reformed Churches greatly increasing in number as being followed with blessings untill the latter end of the Reign of Francis the first at what time happened the Massacre of Merinianum or Mariguan Gallis and Chabriers and in the year 1662 and 1663 they were again persecuted by the Savoiard and since that in the year 1684 we had a Mellancholy account of their treatment and although there are many good Towns under the Government of Savoy yet the Duke chiefly resides at the City Turin Scituate on the River Po and is the seat of an Arch-Bishop and a University where Erasmus took his degree and for Scituation is accounted one of the plesantest in Europe The Seignory of Geneva and the Alps Described GENEVA is within the Limits of the Dukedom of Savoy the whole Seignory not exceeding Eight Leagues in compass Scituate on the Lake Lemanus and devided into two parts by the River Rosne The City strongly walled and fortified as being the head of a Free state containing a flourishing University Governed by a Common Council or 200 of the chief Burghers four of which are called Sindiques As for the Church Government it is
mostly with free-stone and pleasantly invironed with Corn-Fields Wintenburg the place where Faustus studied Necromancy with many others and this by some is held to be the Country that gave Birth to those Saxons that invaded England and brought it under Subjection The Electorate of Brandenburg though no more properly held than a Marquisate notwithstanding the Elector is stiled a Duke is a very spacious Country bounded on the East with Saxony on the West with Poland on the South with Lusatia and on the North with Pomerania accounted 500 Miles in Circumference containing fifty considerable Cities and 64 walled Towns besides a great number of Villages This Elector being held the most potent of the Empire as it has been evident by his contending with the Sweeds Danes and others The chief Cities are Brandenburg curiously scituate and adorned with many stately Buildings and rare pieces of Antiquity Berlin the place of usual Residence and where the Duke has a Magnificent Pallace seated on the River Spree Oderam and Havelburg the See or Seat of a Bishop though the Reformed Religion is that which is maintained and supported by the Prince And this Marquisate is divided into the New and Old Water'd by the Odâ—r and Albis and the Elector is great Chamberlain of the Empire all the Country being exceeding Fruitful and naturally bringing forth abundance of Corn Pasturages and some Wines POMERANIA is on the East bounded by the River Vistula on the North with the Baltique Ocean on the West with Medenburg and on the South with Brandenburg and here is sound the famous Stetin which with a very small Garrison held a Siege of 3 Months against the whole Power of the Elector of Brandenburg Wolgast Gripswald Wallin and Newtrepon with many other places of strength commodiously seated on the banks of Rivers or the Sea-Coast and although this Province is not large it nevertheless yields great store of Corn Cattle c. and lies very advantageous for Sea Traffick and to it appertain the Islands of Volinia Wisedonian and Rugia MEDENBVRG is scituate on the West part of Pomerania and is the more Fruitful of the two as having many Populous Cities and Towns within its Jurisdiction the chief being Steremberg from whence the Late Governour of Vienna derives his Title Malchaw Wesmar and Rostock the latter of these a University and is watered with pleasant Streams c. LVNBVRG and Brunswick have for their Northern boundard Denmark for their Southern Saxony and Hassia and East and West Brandenburg and West-Phalen being properly two Dukedoms pleasantly scituate as for the chief Cities they are Brunswick a free City of the Empire from this place the true Mum is brought over and is a strong fortified Garrison no ways in Subjection to the Emperor Halbertstadt or Herbertstadt a Bishops See Wolfbitten the Residence of the Duke where he has a stately Pallace And Lunburg the Seat of the Lunburg Duke a very pleasant City commodiously seated for Trade and Pleasure The Country about it producing store of Fruits and Corn and the Pastures breeding up a great number of Cattle HASSIA is governed by a Lant-Grave and lies East-ward of Saxony South-ward of Franconia West-ward and North-ward of West-Phalen being a Mountainous Country though in many Parts there are fertile Plains which yield great store of Corn and Fruits nor do the Mountains that rise by degrees fail especially about the skirts of them to bring forth considerable encrease and as for this Country at present it is divided into two Families the one of Cassel and the other of Darmstat being of the Younger House As for the chief places that appertain to the Lantgraves they are Cassel or Castel on the River Fuld Marpurg on the River Lohn an University founded Anno 1426 by Lewis Bishop of Munster and near it is a stately and well fortified Castle seated on a Hill high and steep so that it is accounted impregnable if well defended and is the chief Place of Residence in time of War or Danger giving a prospect of the whole Country Darmstadt is another chief Town guarded by a strong Castle and is the Inheritance or Seat of the Younger House of the Lantgraves and part of this Country belongs to the Abbey of Fulda accounted one of the greatest Revenues in Europe and was founded by St. Boniface an English-man insomuch that the Abâ—ot is accounted a Prince of the Empire and takes Place as Chancellor to the Empress stiling himself Primate of Gallia EAST FRIESLAND has on the West the River Ems on the North the Ocean on the West the Weser and on the South West-Phalia and though it is a Country of no large extent yet it is in many parts very Fruitful and is divided by the River Ems only from the Provinces of the Vnited Netherlands and has Embden the utmost Borders of the Empire for its chief City pleasantly scituate and contains many stately buildings though in general they are built of Brick and the next to this is Oldenburg considerable for its Trade and is of it self an Earldom WEST-PHALIA has for its boundards on the East Brunswick on the North the Ocean on the South Hassia on the West Belgium being a Country full of Woods and Forrests which yields them notwithstanding great Commodities by reason of the abundance of Wild Hogs found therein said to take their beginning from one Farrow which a Sow straying from a Farm-House cast in these Woods and of the Legs of these Hogs taken in great numbers are our West-Phalia Hams so much in Esteem c. And although this Country is properly West-Phalia yet the Northern part changes its name to that of Bremen and is governed by a Bishop who is Lord of this Tract notwithstanding the Duke of Saxony claims a part and other parts are held to belong to the Bishopricks of Cullen Munster and Triers The chief Cities are Asdrop Clappenburg and Exenburg As for the chief Towns under the Bishop of Munster they are Munster scituate on the bank of the River Ems Warendrop and others and have a pleasant Country all about their Neighbourhood very Fertile and abounding with store of Corn and Cattle plain for the most part there being few or no considerable Hills in this Tract CVLLEN or the Bishoprick of Collen though not large is nevertheless a very Fruitful Country and greatly to be desired whose Arch-Bishop is Chancellor of Italy and held to be the second chief Elector of the Empire and has in his Jurisdiction besides the City of Cullen as chief those of Lintz Ernance and Bonna much noted for the Arch-Bishops Pallace held to be one of the most stately in the Empire TRIERS is a Bishoprick of note and contains many fair Cities and Towns as Triers from whence it takes its name Coblents Boport and Engers in chief and is pleasantly watered with the Moselle which renders the Country in its passage very Fruitful the Bishop whereof is accounted the third Spiritual Elector of the Empire CLEVELAND
Malmogia and Colmar a strong Fortress bordering on Sweedland A Discription of Norway NORWAY though under the King of Denmark is however a Kingdom of it self being bounded on the East with Denmark on the West with the Ocean on the North with Lappia or Lapland and on the South with Sweeden but lying so much in the extremities of cold though it is a vast tract of Land it is for the most part Rocky Mountainous and Barren not being furnished with stores of its one Production fit for the support of these few People it contains the greatest Commodity it affords being Stock-Fish Ship Masts Deal Boards Tackle for Shipping Pitch Tann'd Leather Train Oyl Furrs and Tallow As for the Towns or Villages they are very thinn and the Houses for a great part are made of Dirt and Hurdles covered with Thatch and windowed with Lattice and the whole Country is divided into 5 Praefectures or Governments according to the Number of the Royal Castles built for the defence of the Country known by the Names of Bohus Ager-Huis Agger-Huse Trundheim and Ward-Huis The chief Towns in these several Jurisdictions are Anslo or Astoia on a Bay opposite to Juitland an Episcopal See Bergen an Episcopal Sea and the ordinary Residence of the Governour for the King of Denmark Marstrand seated in a half Island amongst Rocks c. Trandiheim Antiently Nidrosia an Arch-Bishops See who is Metropolitan of Norway and Ward-huis seated in the Island of Ward and although the Country abounding with horrid Woods and desolate Mountains is naturally Poor yet at certain Seasons little Beasts about the bigness of Field Mice over-spread like Locusts the Fertile Parts of the Field c. and consume every thing that 's green or pleasant in their way and then gathering together they die in heaps thereby occasioning a Pestilential Noisomness that much afflicts the Inhabitants with Diseases and these they call Lemmers affirming them to be dropt out of the Clouds in Tempestuous Weather Nor do the Whales that appear on that Coast in great number less disturb their Fishing Trade by the indangering the sinking of their Boats and small Vessels which monstrous Creatures they have lately found the Art of chasing away by throwing Oyl of Castor into the Sea at the Scent whereof they fly And though the People are miserable Poor they nevertheless hate dishonesty and greatly delight in Plain Dealing A Description of Russia comprehending the Dukedom of Muscovy THIS large Tract of Land is bounded on the West with Livonia and Finland on the East with Tartary on the North by the Frozen Ocean and part of Lapland on the South with Lithuania â—rim Taytary and the Euxine Sea and is accounted in its greatest length from East to West 3300 Miles and in breadth 3065 being subject to the Czar of Muscovy or great Duke who notwithstanding stiles himself Emperor of Russia or Russland which is part in Europe and part in Asia divided by the River Tanais the boundard of two parts of the World. The chief City is Mosco the Seat of the great Duke and the Patriarch and of most of the Nobility being very large though not stately there are besides this of note Roscovia and Novograd Archepiscopal Sees Vologda Smolensko and Plescovia held to be the only walled Town in Muscovy Vstium Mosayce St. Nicholas Sugana Gragapolis and the chief Maritime Port is Arch-Angel seated in the proper Russia whither our Merchants Trade and the Russia Company have a Factory the Country yielding store of Furrs as Sables White Fox Martins Black Fox Honey Wax Cattle Tallow Red Deer-skins Hides Hemp Flax Tar Brimstone Salt Petre Train Oyl Tongues and the like and the Soil towards the Southern Parts is exceeding Fruitful producing abundance of Corn and rich Pastures with Fruits of various Kinds watered by the River Volga that passes from thence through a part of Tartary but to the Extream North which lies in upward of 76 Degrees the Weather is so Cold that little but Rocks Woods Mountains and Ice are found there containing a Vicissitude of Light and Darkness for the Day if we have a respect to the Twy-light lasts six Months and a great part of the other six they see not the Sun but have the Country covered with Snows and during Frosts the Sea being never free from Rocks and Mountains of Ice over great Arms of which the Inhabitants pass with Wagons Sleads and other Carriages Nor are there found any Inhabitants in those desolate Parts during the Winter Season but in that little Summer they have the Shepherds and Fishermen set up Hutts or Tents though in the Woods on this Coast are the tallest Trees in Europe The Inhabitants of this Country are Thick not tall but rather square habiting themselves in Furrs course Cloth and Feeding to excess given greatly to Drinking though it be strictly forbid and are generally False and Perfidious nor regarding their Words but studying to Over-reach or Cozen all they can insomuch that being in other Countries they strive to dissemble their own the better to be Credited The Women are tolerably handsome well Limbed and Proportioned and have a strange Custom amongst them not to think their Husbands either Love or Regard them unless they once or twice a day Cudgel their Sides Their Religion in most things agrees with that of the Greek Church not making any acknowledgment to the Pope or See of Rome but have a Patriarch of their own to whom all their Ecclesiasticks submit And as for the Government it is absolute the Czar who is by the People in extraordinary Esteem and Veneration having in his Hands the Power of Life and Death disposing at his Pleasure both of the Body and Goods of his Subjects and is seldom out of War with the Tartars a Roving People that border upon the most Fruitful part of his Country and though the Armies of the Muscovites are generally numerous yet are they composed for the most part of stragling People and seldom answer in valour the least that may be expected from them as has not only in times past but lately been manifest and the reason is because they go poor and unfurnished into the Field A Description of Poland c. POLAND is a very considerable Kingdom bounded on the East with the River Boristhenes on the West with the Vistula on the South with Hungary and on the North with the Baltick Sea and is for the most part plain and level tho' in some places there are little rising Hills abounding with Woods and is properly divided into the Provinces of Livonia Lithuania Volhinia Samogitia Prussia Massovia Podalia Russia Nigri Podlassia and Poland and the chief Cities are Guesna an Archiepiscopal See Posnavia Cadissia Siradia Vladistavia Cracâ—via and Caminiec the latter in the Possession of the Turks who hold it as their Frontier in those parts and in Cracovia is a famous University The Buildings in this Kingdom and the Provinces that compose it are for the most part of
Men Lissa Gradiska Buman Novigrad and Sisseg or Sisseck with others of lesser Note scatter'd throughout the Provinces which are partly in the Hands of the Turks and partly in the Possession of the Imperialists and Venetians These Countries for the most part afford abundance of good Pasture abound in Fruits and are rich in Corn yielding some Mines and great store of Cattle watered in many places by the Danube Save Drave and other Rivers of note and as for the People they are hardy and inured either to War or Labour and though they give themselves not much to Till the Ground because the Turks and Venetians for the most part reap the Benefit of their Labours yet they want nothing that is necessary for the support of Humane Life forasmuch as the Cattle and Sheep bring forth their Young twice in the Year and although Corn be but barely cast on the Ground without Tillage it will bring forth Increase As for the People though they are stubborn and much addicted to Pride yet are they put to many servile Labours by their more proud Conquerors who Lord it over them as if they were no other than their Drudges for which reason the Word Slave is derived from these Sclaves through the unmerciful Usage they found at the hands of the Venetians when they were first brought into Subjection by the Seigniory of Venice As for their Religious Worship it is in most parts according to that of the Greek Church whose Patriarch they acknowledg Supream in Ecclesiastical Matters and here they permit their Women very rarely to marry till they are 24 years of Age nor the Men till 30. And at this time the Venetians have 3000 Sclavonian Horse-men Inrolled amongst their Militia and have at all times drained this People to assist in their Wars against the Turks and neighbouring Christians And as for the Native Sclaves their Garb is half Sleeved Gowns of violet Cloth and a Bonnet of the same much like to that of the Scots shaving their Heads all but a Lock of Hair on their Crown after the Fashion of the Turks the Women likewise cut their Hair indifferent short and if so it be not naturally Black they use Art to render it of that Colour A Description of Dacia in its sundry Principalities and Provinces c. DACIA properly so held in the time of the flourishing Roman Empire is bounded on the North with Podolia and some other part of the Realm of Poland on the South with part of Thrace and Macedonia on the East with the rest of Thrace and on the West with Hungary and Sclavonia held at present to comprehend the Principalities of Transilvania Moldavia Wallachia Rascia Servia and Bulgaria extending from the 7 to the 10 Clime so that in the most Southern parts the days are 15 hours 3 quarters at the longest and 17 in the most Northern TRANSILVANIA the first Division of Dacia takes its name from its lying behind the great Hungarian Woods and is in time of Peace an exceeding Fruitful Country abounding in Fruits Corn Cattle Fish Salt-pits Stone-quarries Mines of Gold and Silver Quicksilver and other Metals and in the Woods are found many wild Bulls and wild Cattle and the Pastures breed many fair Horses the best for War in all those parts and in the Frontiers they have Seven Towers to guard the approach from Hungary which gives the Dutch occasion to call it Seven-Burg though the chief Towns are Clusenburg Carolstaat Harmanstadt and many others and are Governed by a Prince of their own who has a long time been Tributary to the Turks but since their late bad success put himself and his Country under the Protection of the Emperor MOLDAVIA Quasi Maetavia said so to be called from its nearness to the Fenns of Maeotis is a Country abounding with Woods yet very plenteous in Wine Corn and Pastures producing great store of Cattle though thinly peopled by which means it is but slenderly Tilled however they have out of this small Province supplyed the great and populous City of Constantinople with store of Provisions so that together with what they send to Poland the tenth Peny by way of Custom amounts to 150000 Crowns yearly though the Gentry and Clergy are excused from paying any thing of this nature Constantinople receiving from hence every year 500 Ship Loads of Provision only The chief Towns are Occazâ—ma the Seat of the Vaivod or Prince Cotiim a strong Fortress Biolograde and Bender and has in it two Arch-Bishops Sees the people in Religious matters following the Traditions of the Greek Church WALACHIA is another Province of Dacia held to derive its name from Flacous a noble Roman who was Governor of it in the time of Trajan the Emperor so that the people at this day speak a kind of a corrupt Latin or Italian and this Country is in length 500 miles in breadth 120 being for the most part plain and full of Pastures flourishing Medows which feed a great many Cattle and bring up excellent Horses for War and Service of any kind here are found likewise Salt-pits and Iron Mines Mines of Gold and Silver the which for fear it should entice the Turks to 〈◊〉 their Country they keep for the most part concealed they also in sundry places have store of Vines yielding plenty of Wine and have for their chief Towns Galatza on the Influx of the River Pruth into the Danube Frescortum Praiâ—aba and Zorza and is watered with the Rivers Danube Teln Alluta Fulmina Stertius and Herasius and is as the former Gove◠〈…〉 a Vaiâ—od and dependant in Religious â—gean and 〈◊〉 Church the Ecclesiastical Affairs being Governed by an Arch-Bishop and two Bishops and pays at this day Tribute to the Turks RASCIA another Province of Dacia has in it the Towns of Bodon Zarnovia Covin Novebard Severine Colambes and Columbella but continually lying in the way of War the Turks and Tartars by their often marching through it have by the Waste and Plunder they made so impoverished the Inhabitants that the Towns and Villages are extreamly thin and although the Soil is in many parts capable of producing Corn and Fruits yet wanting men to Till it it produces nothing material nor are those that Inhabit it any ways incouraged to Manure the Fields as knowing others will reap the Fruits of their Labour SERVIA is a Country by Nature more Fruitful and was Antiently very Rich and Flourishing till the Turks made themselves masters of it by the fatal overthrow of Lazarus the Despot on the plains of Cossovia and was well stored with Mines of Gold and Silver especially near the Town of Zorbenickâ— but now they are either Exhausted or thrown in so that little advantage accrues by them and the people indeed are degenerated from their former manners and behaviour as being Rude Gluttonous and much given to Wine Their principal Towns are Nissa Vidina Craâ—â—â— Zorbenic and Semunder and the Province is commodiously watered by the Rivers Colubra Lem Ibra
to Storm the Skies The Country indeed is very Fruitful in many Parts and produces an Excellent Breed of Horses the Natives being held first to Invent the Art of Breaking and Backing them and here Achilles Reigned who was Slain at the Siege of Troy The chief Towns of this Country are Laâ—ia Tricca Pharsalia on whose large Plains Caesar and Pompey fought for the Empire of the World as also Philippi in whose Fields Augustus Caesar and Marcus Antonius overthrew Brutus and Cassius MIGDONIA is a small Country and accounted by most a part of Thrace and famous for nothing more than the Hill Athos held to be the highest in the World as being 3 days Journey in Ascent and 75 Miles in Circuit so that its shadow reaches upon the declining of the Sun 40 Miles nor are there wanting in this Country Cities and Towns of considerable Note as Thessalonica commonly called Salonica to whose Inhabitants two of St. Pauls Epistles are directed Appollonia Nicladia and others THRACE properly so called though now Romaniae as it lies at present circum scribed is within these Boundards viz. on the East the Euxine or black Sea the Propontis and Hellespont on the West with Macedon on the South with the Aegean Sea and part of Macedon and on the North with the large Hill Haemus and is a large and goodly Province accounted 20 Days Journey in Length and 6 in Breadth and in Relation to the Heavens reacheth unto 44 Degrees North Latitude so that the longest Day in Summer is about 15 Hours and 3 Quarters and in this Country is Scituate the great City of Constantinople so Named by Constantine the Great and made by him the Capital of the Roman Empire and is now the like to the Turkish Empire and the chief Residence of the Grand Seigniour Built in a Triangular manner the one Angle thrusting into the Main Land and the other two bordering upon the Sea Adrianople Built by Adrian the Emperor and Trajanopolis Founded by the Emperor Trajan with others of lesser Note This Country as to the Soil is very Fruitful but by Reason of the sharp cold Air coming off the Seas they ripen not kindly nor do the Inhabitants trouble themselves much with Husbandry as knowing they labour but for others however in their Gardens towards the Sea they are very curious so that much Wine is produced from the Grapes that grow there which is properly called Greek Wine and mostly sent into other Countries the Turks by their Law being forbidden to Drink it They have large Plains likewise where Corn grows indifferently Plentiful but more Pulse which is amongst them in great use The Natives of this Country as indeed of all Greece are much declined from what they formerly were in Learning Arts and Arms as being no better than Slaves to the Imperious Turks who Lord it over them whereby they are discouraged and dulled even to a kind of Stupidity nor does the Eloquence of their Original Language continue pure amongst them but is mostly corrupted insomuch that they in few parts perfectly understand the Antient Greek The Commodities found in the Principal Trading Towns of this and other Sea Provinces are Grograms Carpets Silks Drugs Leather Chamlets and indeed the chief Commodities of Europe and Asia which Pay great Customs to the Grand Seigniour And thus much for the main Land of Europe whose Islands we shall hereafter consider with those of the other Three Parts of the World when we come to treat of the Respective Seas in which they are posited and therefore for Orders Sake Omit them here and proceed to Asia A Geographical and Historical Description OF ASIA In its Kingdoms and Provinces c. Of Asia in General ASIA held to be larger than Europe and Africa is bounded on the West with the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas the Hellespont Propontis and the Thracian Bosphorus the Euxine Sea Palus Maeotis the Rivers Tanais and Duina a Line in that case being drawn from the first to the second River as its boundaâ—d to Europe on the North it is bounded with the main Scythian Ocean on the East by the Streights of Annian the Indian Ocean and Mare del Zur on the South with the Mediterranian or so much of it as is called the Carpathian Sea bathing the Shoars of Anatolia and the Main Southern Ocean passing along the Coasts of India Arabia and Persia and on the South-East with the Arabian Bay or Red Sea parting it from Africa and is indeed washed on all sides with the Sea but where a narrow Istmus joyns it to Africa and the space of ground between the Tanais and Diuna where it is joyned to Europe This large Tract of Land is held by some to take its Name from Asia the Daughter of Oceanus and Thetis the Wife of Japetus and Mother of Prometheus and others from Asius Son of Atis a King of Lydia but Originals of this kind being generally uncertain it will be convenient to wave them and proceed to what is more Material viz. In Antient times Asia was divided into the Greater and Lesser but by modern Writers it is divided into five parts according to the Divisions it is settled in as First that which Borders upon Europe is alotted the Great Duke of Muscovy the Second the Great Cham of Tartary the Third the Turk the Fourth the King of Persia and the Fifth held by the Great Mogul and others known by the Name of the East India not accounting the petty Princes who have independent Provinces nor what remains in the Hands or Possession of the Europeans in sundry Parts c. To which five we may properly add China a large Country very populous and powerful accounted one of the Fruitfullest in Asia This part of the World may rightly be held or termed the Noblest of all other as conjectured on all hands once to contain the Earthly Paradise Here the Law was given and here our blessed Saviour wrought the stupendious and amazing work of our Redemption Hence sprung the Noble Sciences that the Greeks learned of the Hebrews and flourished under the Monarchie of the Medes Persians and Assyrians And is divided into two Parts or Divisions as Asia Major and Asia Minor the latter called Anatolia the whole Country scituate East and West from 52 to 169 Degrees of Longitude and North and South from 82 Degrees of Latitude to the very Aequator or Aequinoctial Line some few Islands only lying beyond that Circle which occasions the longest Summers Day in the most Southern part to exceed little above 12 Hours though in the most Northern Parts for near the space of Four Months they have no Night at all As for the Commodities this great part of the World abounds with in general they are Gold Silver all sorts of Minerals Jewels Pearls Spices Odours Ivory Drugs of sundry kinds Silks Dyes Sweet-woods Perfumes c. But to come nearer to the Description of the Countries for Orders sake it is convenient to begin with Asia
and Alabaster moreover the Chrystal Jasper and Onyx Stone it affords a great number of Cattle but more especially a great many Horses insomuch that they are sent into most parts of Asia and as a boundard of this Country is the Famous Ante-Taurus a ridg or chain of Mountains bending towards the North and in it were Born most of the noted Ring-leaders of those Sects of Hereticks that so much opposed the Church in its Infancy insomuch that it grew into a custom to call a wicked Man a Cappadocian and has for its Principal Cities and Towns Erzirium upon the Borders of the great Armenia where the Turkish Army usually Wintered in their return from the Persian Expeditions and is the Seat of a Bassa Mazaca once the Residence of St. Basil Sebastia so named in Honour of Augustus whom the Greeks called Sebastas Trepesus or Trepesond once the Seat of an Empire but now under the power of the Turks where the Amazons were said to Inhabit at the time Troy was razed by the Greeks and till displaced by Alexander the Great ARMENIA MINOR though somewhat mountainous is however a very fertile Country and is held by some to be that Ararat upon whose Hills Noah's Ark rested after the Deluge and so consequently first to have been peopled after that Universal Calamity and is only parted from Armenia Major by the famous River Euphrates and is so inclosed in most parts with that and the Mountains Taurus and Ante-Taurus that it is difficult to be entred though in other places it is delightful and well watered by pleasant Streams issuing out of the Mountains the chief being Melas which falls into Euphrates and is so called from the blackness of the Waters This Country was once a part of Cappadocia till the Armenians wrested it by force and planted their Colonies here from whom it took the present name and has for its chief Cities Nicopolis Suur antiently Melitene Oromandus built by Pompey the Great in token of his Victory over Tigranes the Syrian King under whom was both the Armenia's Garnace Caucusum and Arbyssâ—s whither St. Chrysistom was Banished by the means of the Empress Eudoxia who took part with the Hereticks and these Countries had the Blessing to be converted to the Christian Faith by St. Paul and St. Peter as appears by the Epistle of the first to the Galatians and of the last to the Strangers scattered or dispersed in Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia c. And what remains is more properly called Asia though circumscribed in Anatolia or Asia Minor viz. Asia Propria was formerly held to be the most rich and flourishing part of this Peninsula as Tully affirms when he certifies that the Roman Tributes from other parts were but sufficient to defray the charges of keeping them but Asia says he is so Fertile and Rich that for the fruitfulness of the Fields variety of Fruits largeness of Pastures and quantity of Commodities which were brought from thence it abundantly excelled all other Countries and it properly includes Phrygia Minor Phrygia Major Mysia Aeolis Ionia Lydia and Cario Phrygia Minor so called as many hold it from the River Phryx descending from the greater Phrygia is a very fruitful Country mostly Champaign and watered with sundry noted Rivers as Scamander Xanthus Simois and others so much renowned by Homer In this Country upon the Banks of Scamander stood the famous City of Troy whose goodly Ruins appear in some sort to this day and from the Inhabitants of which City most Nations labour to fetch their Original Near to it stands Troas or New Troy begun by Alexander the Great and finished by Lysimachus one of his Captains who yet named it Troas Alexandri in honour of his Master Here are found likewise the Ports of Lyrnessus and Sigaeum with many other things upon which the Poets especially have been large who keep them alive even in their Ruins for indeed little else remains at this day for as Ovid has it Jam seges est ubi Troja fuit resecandaque falce Luxuriat Phrygio sanguine pinguis humus Corn ripe for Sciths grows where Troy once stood And the Soils fatted with the Phrygian Blood. PHRYGIA MAJOR joyns to the former and is a very fruitful Country abounding with some Corn Wine and some Olive-Yards well watered by the River Sangarius and Marsyas the former taking its Spring in this Country discharges it self into the Euxine Sea. And the Towns are Gordian once the Residence of Gordius who of a Husbandman being made King hung up the Furniture of his Waggons and Ploughs in the Temple of Apollo tied in such a Knot that an old Prophecy run That he who could unty it should be Monarch of the World which Alexander the Great upon his coming thither trying to do and failing therein cut it in sunder with his Sword shewing thereby what Policy could not do Force should effect Colosse where the Colossians to whom St. Paul wrote one of his Epistles dwelt Miedaeum once the Seat of Midas Pesinus where the Statue of Cibele was held in great Veneration and being from thence shipped for Rome the Ship by no means could be brought to pass up the Tiber till a Vestal Virgin who had been accused of Incontinency to clear her Innocence by fastning her Girdle to it if you will believe the Story drew it up the River and the reason why the Romans so coveted it was that the Empire of the World had been promised to those that could get it into their possession MYSIA is a Country lying as it were between the Phrygia's supposed antiently to be a Phrygian Nation being much the same for Fertility And here is found the Asian Olympus a vast Mountain but inferior to that of the same name in Greece and has for Rivers of note Cacus and Aesopus on the Banks of the former stands the once famous City of Pergamus but now of little note There is likewise the River Granicus having its Fountain in Mysia Major and falling into the Propontis on the Banks of which Alexander gained the first Victory against Darius the Persian King who upon his first coming into Asia had made so little account of him that he sent Order to his Lieutenant in Anatolia to take him alive and after having whipped him with Rods to send him bound to his Presence And this Mysia is divided into the lesser and greater and here stands the Tower of Abydos over against Sestos in Thrace memorable for the Story of Hero and Leander with many other things more remarkable as the Inhabitants slaying themselves to prevent falling into the hands of Philip the Father of Persaeus King of Macedon its being betrayed to the Turks by the Daughter of the Governour upon her falling in Love with Abderachmen a Turkish Officer upon her Dreaming she fell into a miry place and he coming by took her up and wiped her clean c. Cyzicus famous for its Port Marble Towns and stately Buildings c. And
in Mysia Major are found Apollonia Dainta Trajanopolis Alydda and others AEOLIS and IONIA Are generally conjunct as Countreys much depending on each other indifferently Fruitful and contain sundry good Harbours The principal places in the first are Pitana Acarnea Elaea Myrina now Sebastopolis Cene the the chief in this part Cumaea the Birth-place of one of the Sybils and Phaecia and the People are held by Josephus to descend from Elisha the Son of Javan but by the many Conquests that have been made of this and other Countreys whereby the People have been either destroyed or carried away and others planted in their steads such Originals must needs be uncertain IONIA Has for its principal Cities Mias on an Arm of the Sea which Artaxerxes assigned to Themistocles the noble Athenian when the ingrateful City of Athens had banished him after the glorious Conquests he had Atchieved in their behalf Erythra memorable for the Habitation of one of the Sybils Lebedus Clazomene and others especially Smyrna a fair Haven City on a Bay named from it the Bay of Smyrna and is not only famous for comprehending one of the Seven Churches of Asia written to by St. John but is at present a place of great Traffick where the English have a Factory and most Europeans trade for Chamlets Grogran and other Stuffs Drugs with many such like Commodities The Grand Signior having there a Custom-House which brings in a vast Revenue and in old times there stood a goodly Temple dedicated to Homer the Greek Poet as supposed to be the place of his Birth In this Tract is likewise found the City of Ephesus so renowned for the Temple of Diana accounted one of the Seven Wonders of the World and was in its Splendour 425 feet in length and in breadth 220 supported with 127 Pillars of polish'd Marble curiously wrought and was indeed a very goodly Structure and so it had need for after it was modelled by Ctesiphon a most expert Architect it was 200 years in Building though Burnt in one day by Erastrotus on purpose as he alledged to get him a Name though of Infamy LYDIA once a famous Kingdom till ruined by the Persians under the leading of Cyrus took its name as many Historians will have it from Lud the Son of Sem the People of which Country are said to be the first Coiners of Monies and Inventers of sundry Games and here is the Mountain Tomalus covered naturally with Vines and Sipylus and which are very fruitful Valleys and yield the best Saffron of Asia the Rivers of note are Hermus which taking its source in Phrygia Major passes by the skirts of Lydia pleasantly watering the Pastures c. and falls into a fair Bay of the Aegean Sea opening towards the Island of Clazomene likewise Pactolus Castros and the Meander the which though upon a direct line not exceeding 60 miles is nevertheless in measuring the winding accounted 600 which greatly â—etters the Country in which are found Mines of Gold and Silver and some Stone of considerable value and has for it's chief City Sardis seated on the River Pactalus Philadelphia near to the bank of the River Caistras Thyatyra Laodicea and others nothing more renowned than to be of the number of the 7 Churches to which St. John wrote his Apocalypse and of this Country Croesus the Rich was King who was deceived by the Oracle in these words viz. CROESUS Halyn penetrans magnam subvertit opum vim Thus Englished When Croesus over Halys goes A mighty Nation he o'erthrows Which he Interpreting according to his own hopes crossed the River and was vanquished and taken Prisoner by Cyrus overthrowing indeed his own People and was the last King of Lydia Caria is on the North of Lydia in which is the Hill Latmus where Endimion retired for the better privacy in the study of Astrology and there finding out the course of the Moon and her changes gave occasion to the Fable of his being beloved by her and her kissing him c. and the River Salmacis which enfeebles any Person that enters into it or drinks of the water and has for its chief Cities c. Miletus Mindus Heraclea and Latmum Borgilia or Borgilos Milusa Primassus and others and in the Southwest of this Province thrusting it self into the Sea like a Promontory stands the little Country of Doris so called from Dores a Greek people that first Inhabited it and has for its chief Cities Cnidus Cressa formerly a noted Haven Town Halicarnassus where Queen Arthemisia in Memory of King Mausolus her Husband raised at vast expence a Monument accounted one of the 7 Wonders of the World from which all great Structures of that kind are called Mausoles As for the people of Caria their name or denomination is conjectured to be derived from Cares the Son of Pharoneus King of Argos though Bochartus rather alludes it to the Phaenician word Car signifying a sheep or Ram because they were formerly dealers in Flocks with which their Country abounded and is indeed full of rich Pastures LYCIA lyes on the West of Caria said to take its name from Lycius Son to Pandion King of Athens and is a Country inclosed in a manner with Sea and Mountains the principal Mountain being Taurus the biggest in Asia which begins in this Province and extends to the Eastern Sea one of its branches in this Country is the Chimaera casting out Flames like Mount Aetna which gave occasion to the Fablers of former times to render it dreadful by likening it to a Monstrous Beast with a Head like a Lyon a Belly like a Goat and a Tail like a Serpent though some to justifie this Fiction will have it to be infested at the bottom by Serpents grazed in the middle by Goats and containing nearer to the top dens of Lions altogether framing the Monster said to be destroyed by Bellerophon which indeed tended to nothing more than that he first caused the Mountain to be Inhabited and this Country in former days was so opulent that 60 Cities of note were found in it but now most of them Ruined the chief in it being Are Phaselis Myra Solima Rhodia Pataras Mylios and Podelia and so powerful were the Lycians in the time of Cyrus the Persian that they were not without great difficulty brought under but from thence forward followed the Fortune of the Conquerors as the Greeks Romans and Turks c. LYCAONIA is a Country so named from the Lycaones a people of Lycia or from the Lycaonians a people the Inhabitants of Lyconia a Town in Phrygia Major and has for its chief Cities Iconium once the chief Residence of the Caramanian Kings who so stoutly opposed in its beginning the Growth of the Ottoman Empire Lystra the birth place of Timothy the Evangelist and here it was that the superstitious people would have done divine Sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas Darbe Laranda Paralais Adopissus Canna and Caratha but as for the Inhabitants they are not found in History to
hill and are frequently a bragging of their descent from Jupiter foolishly neglecting all Arts and Sciences as disparagements to so great a Nobility however there are some amongst them that apply themselves to Grazing the Countrey abounding with Cattle and rich Pastures and others to Merchandize tho the chief Product of the Countrey is managed by Strangers The chief Cities or Towns that are at this Day found in this Tract are Elgra on the Shoar of the Red Sea called Sinus Elgranaticus Jathrib or Jatrib in the way between Algiar and Medina the Birth-place of Mahomet the Impostor and in the City of Medina to which is added the Name of Talmabi signifying the City of the Prophet is the Sepulchre of Mahomet not drawn up with a Load-stone as the Vulgar rumour goes but inclosed in the manner of our Sepulchres with an Iron Grate and covered with a green Velvet Carpet which the Grand Seigniour sends every Year as his Offering so that when the New arrives the Old is cut into innumerable Shreds and Sold to Pilgrims by the Priests at large rates as Holy Reliques and in this Temple which is large and Magnificent are 3000 Lamps continually burning Meccha a Town Scituate in a barren Soil not far from Medina but of greater Resort and Traffick the Commodities not only of Arabia but of Persia and India flowing thither from whence it is dispersed into all parts of the Turkish Empire and here it is made Death for any Christian to come so made to prâ— Clouds Discovery of the Fopperies in their Religion and is utterly destitute of Waters except such as is taken in Cisterns when it Rains or brought on Camels Backs from distant Places though three Carravans with Troops of Merchants and Pilgrims Visit it every Year Zidon accounted the Haven Town of Meccha though distant 40 Miles Scituate on the Red Sea Zebit held now the Metropolis of the Country much Traded to for Spices Sugar and Fruits Eltor a Port Town where the Christians are suffered to Inhabit Aden on the entrance of the Red Sea and is the most Famous Empory of this Country well Fortified and has a very capacious Haven for the reception of Shipping once the Head of a distinct Kingdom but now in Subjection to the Turks being Treacherously surprized by them in the Year 1538 and soon after all the rest of the Country Hor Zarnal and Muskahat over-against Surat in the East-India's As for the Woods that are found here they naturally abound with Spices and Odours which in their Bloom send forth a grateful Smell which accosts the Mariners before they can see the Land and the Rivers are many the chief Harman Lar Prion Messinatis Betius c. and in the Arabian Fields or no where the Phoenix is said to Inhabit A Description of Chaldaea Assyria and Mesopotamia in their Countries and Provinces c. As also the Mountains Kingdoms c. THESE three Countries or Provinces are held to have been the Principal Body of the â—â—mpire wherefore it is thought fit to place them together though in our Proceeding to Describe them we shall do it severally and First 1. CHALD AEA is bounded on the East with a Persian Province called Susina on the West with the Desert of Arabia on the South with the rest of Deserta and the Persian Gulf and on the North with Mesopotamia As for the Original from which this Country has its Name is uncertain however it is exceeding Fruitful yielding Corn in many places 2 and 300 Fold and Pliny affirms the Babylonians Mow their Corn twice a Year and Seed it a third time or else it would Produce nothing but Blades and here many hold the Terrestrial Paradice a Select Garden more Inriched by the Bounty of Heaven than any other part of the World and the Reason they give for it is because the Rivers mentioned in Scripture to flow from it are found in this Tract according to all circumstances the same though length of Time has caused corruption or alteration but rather in name than place c. and in this Country on the large Plains of Shinar was founded Babel signifying in the Hebrew Confusion where happened the first Confusion of Languages a work so Stupendious being the Business of almost all the Inhabitants of the Earth that before it was left off it began to reaâ— a Head of Majesty 5146 Cubits from the Ground having proportionable Basis and Circumference the Passages going up winding and so easie of Ascent that Horses and Carts might not only pass up it but meet and turn having Lodgings and Stations in them for Men and Beast and Earth spread upon the mighty Work for Corn Fields and all this foolishly undertaken to secure themselves in case of a second Deluge and would however had it not been prevented by the Divine Power according to the Model devised have Transcended the Clouds In this Tract was the City of Babylon in its Antient Glory the Walls of which was 46 Miles in Circuit 50 Cubits in heighth and of such a thickness that Carts and Carriages might meet on the top of it Finished in one Year by the daily Labour of 200000 Work-men Built on both sides the River Euphrates having its Communication by stately Bridges and is said when taken by Cyrus the Persian that he had possessed one part of it three days before the more remote Inhabitants knew the Enemy was entered but it has been since that time destroyed and removed so that at this day Bagdat is taken for Babylon Scituate on the River Tigris and now in the Possession of the Turk the other Places of note are Ctesiphon Sipparum Apamia Vologesia Borsipha and Balsora the Port of Bagdat or new Babylon Scituate at the Fall of Euphrates into Sinus Persicus a Place of great Trade and Wealth now in the hands of the Persians As for Mountains this Country affords not any and for Rivers the chief are Euphrates and Tigris The People anciently were much addicted to South-saying and Divination and held to be first Idolaters but now they are divided into several Sects and become a mixture of Christians Jews and Mahometans though once the Christian Faith Flourished here altogether as Planted by St. Peter who assures us that he was at Babylon in the latter end of his first Epistle 2. ASSYRIA is bounded on the East with Media on the West with Mesopotamia on the South with Susiana and on the North with some part of Turcomania and part of Chaldaea taking its name from Assur the Son of Sem who first Inhabited it though of late it has been called by other Names but this being warrantable by Scripture we shall the rather continue it As for the Countrey it is free from Hills unless such as render it very Commodious so that being watered with pleasant Springs and Rivers it is every where very Fruitful and the People were anciently very Warlike making themselves by their Arms Lords of the greatest part of the East extending
their Dominion from the Mediterranean Sea to the River Indus the Men especially very formal in their Habit wearing Robes trailing on the ground their Hair exceeding long and their Caps so steeple Crowned that they seem like Pyramids Perfuming themselves and Adorning with Jewels Rings c. and a Staff of Ivory Rich Wood or some precious Mettal in the form of a Scepter in their Hands and as for the ancient Custom it was to expose the fairest Women to Sale in open Market not as Slaves but to be purchased as Wives and with the Money they put off those of the courser sort that were more deformed happy for our English Doudies were the Custom in use amongst us And as for the Celebration of Marriage it is a little strange viz. The Bride-groom sees not his Bride before the Wedding-day but takes her upon the good report of his Friends and others when having made the Bargain with her Parents they meet in the Chancel of the Church and there the Cassisse or Priest obliges the Bridegroom to put his hand through the hole of a Partition and take the Bride by the Hand which done her Mother with a sharp Bodkin pricks his hand all over with much eagerness and if so for all that he holds her fast and wrings her hand till she squeak they term it a presage of lasting Love but if he let go the contrary and if the first Year a Male child is born the Father loses his Name and is called Abba or Father the Sons Name being added to it ASSYRIA is principally watered with the Tygris so named from its swiftness and rapidity Into which as Ptolomy affirms discharge themselves the Rivers Cuprus Lycus and Gorges with some other Streams or Rivulets and the whole Assyria was divided into six parts viz. Araphachits Adiabene Calacine Sitacene Arbelites and Apoloniates and has for its chief Cities Calach one of the four Cities built in the Land of Assur by Nimrod Sittaca about Two Miles from the Banks of Tygris Athela Apollonia Geguamela Memorable for the first great overthrow given by Alexander to Darius the Persian wherein 90000 Persians are accounted to be slain with the loss of 300 Macedonians only Reboboth another City said to be built by Nimrod but now supposed to be that called Birrha On the Tygris Rhesen another said to be built by the same party Ninive first built by Nimrod and so named from Ninus his Son or Nephew the City to which Jonah was sent and in those days accounted Sixty Miles in Circuit which may properly enough in those hot Countreys be accounted three days Journey Mosul seated on the Tygris Arzeri and Scheheruzal the chief Residence of the Turkish Bassa Governour of this Countrey As for the Profession of the Natives and some Strangers mingled amongst them 't is that of the Nestorians but the standing Religion is Mahometism imposed by the Turks 3. MESOFOTAMIA has on the East for its boundard the River Tygris parted by it from Assyria on the West the Euphrates on the North Mount Tauryus on the South Chaldaed and Arabia Deserta and is frequently in Scripture called Padan-Aram which in the Latine signifies Syria Culta and was anciently Inhabited by the Aramites and is full of Rich Pastures the Soil very fruitful in Corn abounds with Vine-yards and store of Cattel and is indeed so well furnished with all things necessary for Humane Support and Pleasure that Strabo calls it Mesopotamia Felix tho in the extream South there are a few barren Desarts and some rough Mountains or Hills and though it is a kind of a Compounded Countrey yet the people are very Active and Industrious improving Natures Bounty more than any in this Tract though being but a small Countrey it has always been in Subjection and is watered with the Rivers Tygris Euphrates and Caboras or Abaras The chief Cities found in this Countrey are Edessa Cologenbar Nisibius and Vr as for their Religion as far as relates to Christianity it is in a manner Orthodox agreeing in most Points with the Reformed Churches of Europe I might now proceed to say something of the Two Kingdoms in the great Mountain Taurus named from their two last Kings the Kingdoms of Aledeules and Bahaman the first subdued by Selimus the First Emperour of the Turks and the last by Abas the Persian Sophy but having nothing but Rocks and barren Mountains to deal with and indeed the difficulties the Inhabitants struggle with being more to be wondered at than any thing else I shall thus briefly pass them over and proceed to Turcomania Turcomania described in its Provinces c. TVRCOMANIA or the Land of Turky so called from the Turks Inhabiting it before they got by Stratagem the Persian Empire is on the East bounded with Media and the Caspian Sea on the West with Cappadocia Armenia Minor and the Euxine Sea on the North with Tartary and on the South with Assyria and Mesopotamia and is properly divided into four parts viz. Armenia Major held to be the true Turcomania Colchis now called Mengrelia Iberia now called Georgia and Albania called by some Zuirca and of these in their order ARMENIA MAJOR now called Turcomania is a very Hilly Countrey as much overspread with the Spurs of Mount Taurus and Anti-Taurus though between them are many fruitful Valleys that produce store of Cattle The greatest business of these people when exempted from War being to feed Sheep upon the Mountains and other Cattle on the lower ground driving them from place to place where the Pastures are best and where they find the most commodious Springs carrying with them their Families Tents and Provision and usually go Armed not so much for fear of Rovers as Wild Beasts that possess the Caves of those Mountains The People being large of Body comely of Personage much used to the Bow and Spear patient of all kind of Labour The Women are very homely but of a manly aspect and when occasion requires addict themselves in Disguises to the Wars and mingled with the Men perform equal Exploits and in Towns where they are setled their Families are very great by reason they co-habit under one Roof to the third or fourth Generation the eldest commonly bearing Rule and being in all things absolute as King of the Family yet those live not idle but employ themselves in making Tapestries Gograms Watered Chamlets and other Manufactures dispersed into all parts and some tho not many of them are considerable Merchants dispersing themselves over the Eastern Countrey and from a Mountain of this Armenia called Abas has the great River Araxis its Fountain and the people generally are Christians The chief Cities and Towns of this Country are Artaxata the Royal seat of the Antient Kings of Armenia Sebastia now called Suassia seated on the Euphrates Tigranes Certa Arsamosata Clamassum Cholna Baraza Chars Colonia Thespia and others of lesser note as for Forrests or Woods this Country has very few and none considerable COLCHIS the
second Division of Turcomania on the North of Armenia is Inhabited by a rude uncivillized people however the soil is fertile producing naturally much plenty and the Vines of their own accord twist themselves about Trees creeping up into the spreading Branches and affording much Wine but that which in Antient times rendred it most memorable was the abundance of Gold found in the Sands of the Rivers issuing from the Mount Caucasus for which Jason made his Expedition and thereby gave the occasion of the Fable of the Golden Fleece there were likewise found divers Veins of Silver in the Mountains though at present for want of working or being exhausted the People deficient in Coin are obliged to Barter Goods for such things as their necessities require however they are much given to Riot and Excess nor do they refuse to prostitute their Wives and Sisters to the pleasure of their guests upon any slight Entertainment as not thinking they can be otherways sufficiently welcom nor do the Women refuse a complyance And here the chief Cities are or were Dioscurias Sibaris once the Royal Seat of the Colchine Kings Siganeam Aeopolis Neapolis Phasis from whence the Phesants were first brought into Europe by the Greeks Alvati Mechlessus Zadris and Sirace though at present none of them considerable however the Christian Religion continues here though the Turks have possessed themselves of the Country IBERIA takes its name from the River Iberius running through it though lately the name is changed to Georgia as some will have it from St. George the Capadocian Martyr who first planted or at least greatly improved the Christian Religion amongst them The Country is Mountainous Woody and a great part of it covered with Snow three quarters of the year so that the Soil not being very fruitful the people addict themselves much to War so that for a long time they lived in freedom under their own Princes till the Persian War at what time they partly by force and partly by submission became Tributary to the Ottoman Emperors so that it contains not any Cities of note however amongst them are reckoned Artaxissa Vasada Lubium and Armastica so named by Pâ—olomy though at present Cremen and Cachet are in most esteem and to keep the people in aw the Turks have fortified many places and amongst others the strong Castle of Teflis the Key of Media now called Servan Garrisoned with 6000 men and has in it besides other Ammunition 100 pieces of Ordnance ALBANIA in Asia distinct from that in Europe East of Iberia is accounted to be first peopled by Gether Son of Aram and Nephew of Japhet and rested out of the way of War till the Romans time when siding with Tigranes King of Armenia Major and Mithridates King of Pontus they were brought under subjection by Pompey The Soil of this Country is very rich in many parts as being watered with the Rivers Saonia Cyrus Gerrus and Albania and on the latter is seated a City of that name the chief of the Province here are likewise found Chabala Thelbis Getara Namechiae and Telebae The chief commodities are Corn Cattle Wine and some Manufactures and has over it a Turkish Bassa and from these Countries the Turks are held on all hands to descend as in the History of that people appears more at large Media and Persia described in their respective Provinces c. MEDIA the first that occurs in order is bounded on the West with Armenia Major and some part of Assyria on the East with Parthia and some part of Hyrcania and the Provinces of Persia on the North with the Caspian Sea and Georgia and on the South with other parts of Persia held to take its name from Madai the Son of Japhet who first planted it though at this day it is called by the Turks in whose possession the greatest part of it is Sheirvan or Servan the word in their Language signifying a Milky plain alluding thereby to the great plenty of the Country and is of large extent once famous for a warlike people that over-run the greatest part of the East yet this Country like all others differs in degree of fertility for although the South part is exceeding fruitful yet the North part lying between Mount Taurus and the Hyrcanian Sea is very barren insomuch that the people make their Bread of dryed Almonds and their drink of the Juice of certain Herbs no Fruit trees flourishing there nor any considerable quantity of Corn. As for the Kingdom of Media we may properly divide it into two Provinces viz. Atropatia and Media Major the first of these contains the northern parts of the country and is held to be that where Salmanasser the Assyrian King placed the Israelites whom he carryed into Captivity and is watered by the River Gonza and had for its chief Cities or Towns Hamadum Gonzavia Mandagarsis Gelin Bochu Ere 's Sumachia or Shamaki the last built by Cyrus the Persian and much Illustrated by others and in it as a Monument stands a Pillar Interwoven with the Heads of Noble men all of Flint curiously wrought c. This Province is very Mountainous as having the Spurs of the Taurus branching out and the body of the Mountain it self c. MEDIA-MAJOR on the South of Mount Taurus is a very pleasant Country yielding Corn and Wine in abundance with many pleasant Fruits and good Pastures watered every where with fresh streams so that Cattle especially Horses encrease in great numbers the men being generally expert Riders and much redoubted in War. The chief Cities that were here found are the great Eâ—batana to which Semir amis took such a liking that she caused for its better Accommodation water courses to be cut through the Mountain Orontes reckoned to be in compass 24 Italian miles and fortified with a Wall of 70 Cubits high 50 broad with 100 Gates and Towers built over them of smooth stone and had formerly six lesser Walls though now little of it remains Taurus a City pleasantly scituate under the shadow of Orontes opening to a curious fertile Plain on the South once a place of great Trading but having been often ruined by the Turks in their Wars with the Persians it has lost much of its former splendor Arsacia built by some of the Parthian Kings in their Conquest of this Country Casbin scituate in an open Plain on the Banks of a small River but of no considerable Trade though the Persian Sophies have a Pallace in it Rages Nassivan Ardovile Sultania Turcoman and Marant The Christian Religion is held to be first planted here by St. Thomas and though it was not Universally Embraced yet it flourished till Mahometism was introduced more by the power of the Sword than the Peoples Inclination Persia Described PERSIA has for its Eastern boundard India for the Western Media Assyria and Chaldaea the Northern Tartary and the Southern the main Ocean so named if you will credit the Story from Perseus Son to Jupiter and Danae
double increase so that they want nothing fit for the sustaining the Life of Man or whatever may tend to Recreation or Delight The Kingdoms and Provinces generally abounding with Precious Stones Spices Perfumes Medicinals Mines of Gold and Silver and Minerals of all other kinds Copper and Lead excepted and that they may not so abound as to reject the Traffick of other Countries they are deficient in Wheat and Vines and have but few Horses the Creatures they use for Service being Camels Elephants and Dromedaries with other Creatures of lesser note Though the Woods Plains and Rivers abound with Tygers some Lyons Rhinocerots Apes Serpents and Crocodiles and in the Seas are found Whales of a monstrous size as 66 Cubits in length and 20 in thickness with lesser Fish of sundry forms not found in the European Seas nor perhaps in any other The Natives of India are different according to the Climates they inhabit but in general of a-Swarthy Complexion Tall of Stature Strong of Body and in most places very much Civiliz'd and Exact Dealers and altho the common sort are but meanly clad and many only with Garments capable of hiding their Privities and others meerly for Decency yet those of the better rank observe a Majesty in both Sex as to their Raiment and Attendants Perfuming themselves and wearing besides Rich Attire Jewels and other Ornaments of great value and tho the Women are barred of that Perfection of Beauty the Europeans posses yet have they many lovely and attractive Features wearing their Hair long and loose yet covered with a Veil of Calicut Lawn their Ears hung with Rings and Jewels so heavy that the weight distorts and disproportions them they have also Jewels in their Noses according to their degree and are very submissive and loving to their Husbands insomuch that they frequently leap into the Funeral Fires and perish with the dead Body in hopes to enjoy him in another World those that refuse it being looked upon worse than common Prostitutes and not only hated but severely persecuted to the hazard of a worse Death by their own Relations The Religion of the India's is mostly that of Gentilism tho Mahometism has made a considerable progress and since the Europeans have Traded here Christianity has considerably prevailed or rather revived it being held on all hands that St. Thomas the Apostle planted the Christian Religion in these parts of which upon the first Arrival of the Portugals many marks remained and in this Countrey it is held he suffered Matyrdom being run through the Body with a Spear as he was at his Devotion by the Command of an Indian King and if we take India in general it consists of a mixture of five sorts of people more especially viz. Indians Moors or Arabians Jews Tartars and European Christians who have planted divers Colonies on the Sea Coast and in the Islands strongly fortifying themselves against the Power of the Natives and other Strangers This large Countrey especially on the Continent is principally divided into India intra Gangem and India extra Gangem and then subdivided into Kingdoms and Provinces and the chief contained in the former are Narsinga Mallabar Balassia Cambaia Mandoa Bengala Ostrian Conora and Dellie and of these in their order NARSINGA lies on the East of the Golf of Bengal properly accounted a Kingdom and is 3000 miles in Compass the King whereof is not subject to the Great Mogul but for his support and the defence of his Countrey keeps 40000 Men in pay and can raise upon occasion a far greater Number the Countrey is very fruitful as being watered with many pleasant Streams besides what the Ganges contributes towards it and has for its Chief City Melleaper otherwise called St. Thomas in Memory of the Apostle said to be Martyred in it Bisnagar a Town of considerable Beauty and Trade as also Narsinga from whence the Kingdom seems to take its Name and here the Women burn themselves with their Husbands MALLABAR formerly called Aurea Chersonesus is a Countrey extreamly well peopled yielding Corn Spices Cocoes Jaceroes and although it has not above 25 Leagues of Sea Coast yet it has in its Tract the Provinces of Kanonor Calecut Cranganor Cochin and Cariolam and is of large Inland extent the people upon many parts of the Coast addicting themselves to Piracy and prove very inhospitable to Strangers eating Humane Flesh and giving their Virgins to the Priests or Strangers to be deflowred before they suffer them to be Bedded by themselves when Married with many other Barbarous Customs as their changing their Wives and their having sometimes but one between seven or eight of them BALASSIA called the Kingdom of Bocan tho but very small is nevertheless famed for the Mines of Gold and Silver found therein by which the Neighbouring Countreys are enriched having for its Chief Towns Senergian Balassia and Bocan very Fruitful in many parts and much Traded to CAMBAIA called by some Guzant is accommodated with 500 Miles of Sea Coast very Fertile and is full of Cities and Towns many of them considerably Traded to and altho Cattle of sundry kinds abound here the people are so Superstitious that they will eat no Flesh but live upon what else the Countrey affords fancying like the Pythagoreans that the Souls of Men pass into Beasts c. though they spare not to kill the Elephants for their vory and have for their Chief Sea Towns Daman Curate Bandora Ravellum and for those more inland Campanel Tanaa Mollar and Cambaia the last giving Name to the whole Kingdom MANDOA a Province very Fruitful and stored with considerable Towns and above the rest Mandoa from which it takes its name being 30 Miles in compass and said to be so well Furnished for Defence that it held out a Twelve years Siege against the Armies of very Powerful Kings Molta where the Women imitating the Men ride a stride with Boots and Spurs on c. BENGALA is a very large and no less Fruitful Kingdom lying upon the great Golf of the Sea to which it gives Name making 120 Leagues of Sea Coast watered by the River Chaberis on which are seated many considerable Inland Towns full of people but such as are exceeding Crafty and Deceitful thinking it no crime to cozen or over-reach Strangers nor the Women to prostitute their Bodies to any that will give them Money the Fathers letting the Daughters to hire for so long as is desired to do the Work at Bed and Board it being the Custom of the Countrey being a place much resorted by reason of the rich Commodities found there as Ginger Long Pepper Silks Cottons and others c. As for the Chief Cities they are Bengala scituate on the Bay or Golf Chatigan or Satigar and Gouro and in this Tract the beast called the Rhinoceros is chiefly found ORISTAN or Orixa is a Province not very large yet furnished with Rice Cloath of Cotton a fine Stuff like Silk made of Grass and there called Yeva
Long Pepper Ginger Mirabolans and other Commodities So that from the Haven of Orissa 25 or 30 Ships have been laden with the Commodities of this Province in a Season and here the people differ from the foregoing as being very honest and just in their Dealings and has for its Chief City Raman where the Governour for the Mogul resides CANORA is a Kingdom of considerable strength and largeness but famed for nothing more than the Quarries of Adamant where likewise Diamonds of Considerable Value are found and that none may purloyn them a Wall is drawn about the Hill and a Guard set upon the Gates As for the chief Cities or Towns they are Lispeo Dangar and Vltabat with some other of lesser note DELLIE is accounted as the former a Kingdom the Prince or rather Governour of it living in great State and is so highly Reverenced by his Subjects that they not only kneel when he passes in a Rich Chair of State carried on Mens Shoulders but upon Notice given that he shaves his Beard or has his Hair Cut a Jubile is kept throughout his Countrey As for the Soil it is not very Fruitful as lying considerably Northward and more subject to Frosts than the rest It s Chief City is Dellie from whence the Kingdom takes its Name besides which there are of note Fremel Fultaber and Besmer and these People above other Indians addict themselves much to the study of Magick In this Tract of Intra Gangem are found the Provinces of Cochin where the Portugals hold a considerable Trade and have some Collonies Cranganor a small Kingdom mostly inhabited by such as stile themselves the Christians of St. Thomas and is very plentiful as well in Product as Manufacture Conlam is a small Dominion of about 80 Miles extent Governed by a Petty King but for want of good Havens or Sea-coast not much Traded to though it comprehends Three and twenty Walled Towns. India Extra Gangem IN this part of India are found divers Rich Countreys viz. ARACHAN an Inland Region invironed with Mountains and Woods yet exceeding Fruitful and in it are gathered from the Rough Rocks c. great quantities of Precious Stones as for the Chief City it is Arachan MACHIN a little Kingdom wherein grows the Wood Aloes much esteemed and valued and has Machin for its Chief City CAMBOIA a large Countrey full of People abounding with Elephants and Rhinocerots also with Gold Silver and Aloes and other Commodities of considerable value put to Sale in Camboia its Chief City COCHIN China a Countrey once belonging to the Chinese but now under the Mogul Governed by his Deputed King abounding with Porcelain Aloes Silks Gold Silver c. having its Chief City of the same Name BRAMA once a Kingdom of no account but now by the Conquests the Kings have made it has under its power Calâ—â— Pâ—oâ—a Melinta Mâ—aâ—da Decan Tangu Ava Machin Aracan Odia Pegu Siam and others so that it is the most powerful in this Tract and the City of Pegu is the Royal Residence of that King. SIAM once a powerful Kingdom the King thereof styling himself Mighty but now as before intimated it is Tributary to the King of Brama and is however a very Fertil Countrey having Malucca for its Chief City possessed by the Portugals and much Traded to by other Nations for Spices PEGV was formerly so powerful that the Kings thereof have brought Armies of 11 and 900000 men into the Field extending their Conquests very wide but now the good Fortune of the Bramanian holds it in subjection These are the places of chief Note upon the Continent however there are found in this large Tract the Provinces or Kingdoms of Dulsinda Pengab Agra Sanga Camboia Decan Botanter Patanaw and Jangoma many of them very spacious abounding with Fruits Cattle Minerals Precious Stones and the like This Countrey rarely failing any where to produce something worthy of Note The Principal Rivers are Ganges Indus and Hydaspes the first in such esteem with the Natives that they come many miles on Pilgrimage to it Superstitiously imagining that if they drink the Water of this River before they die they shall undoubtedly possess their Imagined Felicity in another World and in the last are found a great number of Precious Stones washed from the Rocks and Mountains by the sudden Showers and to these Streams above 40 considerable Rivers contribute fatning and enriching the Soil in every part where they flow As for Mountains of note except some Branches of Taâ—rus there are but few A Geographical and Historical Description OF AFRICA In its Kingdoms and Provinces c. AFRICA larger than Europe but less than Asia is bounded on the East with the Red Sea and Arabian Bay parted by them from Asia on the West with the Main Atlantick Ocean separating it from America on the North with the Mediterranean Sea dividing it from Europe and Anatolia and on the South with the Aethiopick Ocean separating it from the Southern Continent and joyns only to Asia by an Isthmus of 60 Miles over which Cleopatra the Queen of Aegypt when she fled with Antony from the Naval Fight at Actium purposed to draw by main force her Ships and Galleys into the Red Sea but was disswaded from it by being put in hopes of a better Fortune AFRICA is held to have taken its name from Affro or Apher descended from Abraham and is properly held to contain Six principal Regions besides other of lesser note viz. Barbary Egypt Numidia Sarra the Countrey of the Negro's and the Dominions of Prestor John and is in form like a Pyramid reversed the Basis of which from Tangier to the Straights of Gibralter to the Point where it joyneth to Asia is counted 1920 Italian Miles the Cone of it very narrow but to reckon from the Cone or Pyris to the Northern parts of the Basis it extendeth it self 4155 Miles and is scituate for the most part under the Torrid Zone being crossed by the Equator almost in the midst which made some of the Ancient Writers conceive it not habitable by reason of the excessive Heat in the middle and more southern parts in which they deceived themselves for altho in some places it is full of Sandy Desarts yet the greatest part of those Regions that lie near or under the Line are furnished with so many Fountains Rivers and little Brooks Cedars and other lofty Trees casting a large Shade as well as bearing delicate Fruits and at all times stored with Blossoms that the place is not despicable but much to be desired and especially places more Northward but leaving it in general we proceed for the better satisfaction of the Reader to particulars A Description of Egypt c. EGYPT once a Famous and Flourishing Kingdom now in the hand of the Turks is bounded on the East with Idumaea and the Arabian Bay on the West with Numidia Barbary and part of Lybia on the North with the Mediterranean Sea and on the South with
as never having seen Ice or Snow but what hangs on the Top of the Atlas a huge Mountain held to Transcend the Clouds the top of it Crowned with Pines and so steep and rugged that it cannot but with great difficulty be ascended lying in the upper part so near the Cold Region that not withstanding the people beneath fry with the scorching heat of the Sun it is covered with Snow and Ice of which Virgil thus writes Atlantis Cinctum c. Atlas whose Piny Head with Clowds Inclosed Is to the Storms of Wind and Rain exposed Now hides the Snow his Arms now tumbleth down Upon his Chinn his Beard with Ice o'regrown Lybia Interior Described c. LYBIA INTERIOR has for its Northern bound Mount Atlas parted by it from Barbary and Cyrenaica on the East Lybia Marmarica on the South Aethiopia Inferior and the Land of Negro's and bounded with the Atlantick Ocean on the West distinguished from the other Lybia by interior as lying more in the main Land of Africk This Countrey however it anciently was distinguished into parts stands now divided into Biledugerid or Numidia Lybia Deserta or Sarra and a considerable Portion of the Countrey called Terra Negritarum or the Negro's Countrey and as for Numidia it abounds in many places with Cattle Palm Trees and Forrests of Wild Beasts not more Salvage than the People who live for the most part by Rapine and Murther inhospitable to Strangers neglecting Tillage and giving themselves up chiefly to the feeding of Cattle upon the Mountains Carrying like the Tartars their Families and Tents with other Provisions from place to place by reason of the scarceness of Water for where this day a Spring is found the next it may perhaps be sunk again yet near the River Dara and in some other parts the Countrey people have scattered Villages and those of better Rank Castles As for the Towns we find of Note they are or were Timugedit Tafiletae Talfet a Town of 400 Houses but no place considerable near it in 300 Miles Techort where inhabit the most Courteous People of all the Countrey and chose rather to Marry their Daughters to Strangers than to Natives with some other of lesser note not worth mention as being exceeded by most of our Countrey Villages LYBIA DESERTA is a place so destitute and poor by reason it mostly consists of wide Desarts and barren Sands breeding numbers of Poisonous Serpents that few People Inhabit it unless Thieves and Robbers who live upon the Spoil of those that attempt to pass them yet near the Borders where there is any Green they have some petty Towns such as go for Cities in those Parts as Tagaza 20 Days Journey from any other Peopled Place yet affords Veins of Salt which they Exchange for Victuals with the Tombutan Merchants or else must Perish for want and are many times over-whelm'd with the Sands driven like Clouds upon them by the South Wind Guargata Scituate on the Brink of a Lake Huaden and Tomburaum nor was this Country ever fought after by the great Conquerors as not being worth their Travel c. TERR-ANIGRITARUM or the Land of Negroes is partly in Libya Interior and partly without it and is exceeding Hot by Reason of its Scituation under the Torrid Zone yet full of Black People and though a great part of it be Desart yet some places by the favour of Springs are so well knit and fastened that they appear Green and Flourishing and especially those that lye within the compass of the over-flowing of the River Niger insomuch that they have Pleasant Gardens Pastures Corn Fields and store of Cattle Woods full of Elephants and other wild Beasts whose Flesh they Eat when taken by Hunting and Clothe themselves with their Skins but have very few Fruit-Trees unless such as bear a kind of a Fruit like a Chesnut very bitter nor have they unless very rarely any Rain in this Country but are supply'd like Egypt by Dews and the over-flowing of Niger The People of this Tract were so simple that at the first coming of the Portugals hither to trade they took their Ships to be great Birds with white Wings and the Roaring of their Guns to be the Voice of the Devil nor could they conceit their Bag-pipes to be any thing but Living Creatures and when they were permitted to convince themselves of the contrary they would not yet be beaten out of it but that they were Immediately the Work of God's own Hands yet are they very Reverent or Respectful to their King who exceeds not in Manners or Breeding one of our Coblers never daring when they come before him to look in his Face but cast their Eyes downward and when they sit though the chiefest of his Favourites it is at his Feet Flat on their Buttocks As for the Religion if it may be so termed of these Negroes it is a mixture of Idolatry and Mahometism though formerly as appears by some footsteps yet left Christianity was predominant in divers parts of the Land and through this Countrey the River Nilus passes and 't is Watered likewise with Senaga a River arising out of the Lake Guaga little inferior to the former and has divers Mountains as Arualtes Arangus and Deorum Currus thrusting into the Sea and reaching in a manner the Clouds The chief Cities of this Countrey in the time of Ptolomy were Nigra Thumondacana Malachath Seleuce Anâ—gath Panagra with some few of lesser note but most of them are ruined and scarce any thing but their names remaining however there are some crept up in their steads but those not many as Argina Porto Dio Porto del Riscato either built or so named by the Portugals In this Tract for it is a very large one taking up above a third part of Africk are Guinea extended from Sierra Leona in the 10th Degree of Longitude to Benin in the 30th where they have the Juice of a Tree as strong as Wine as also Mines of Gold A place very Fruitful and much abounding in Rice Barley Ivory and Guinea Pepper TOMBVTVM a Kingdom of it self very Rich in Mines of Gold yet a greater store is gained by his Warring on his Neighbours as also Mell Canâ— Gialosia Guber Guaâ—gara Gaoga Gambra or Gâ—mbea Gialosi Bito Temiano Zegzeg Zaffara Gethan Medna Daum Gualta Agadez Cano Casâ—nâ— Savaga most of them Petty Princes not of any considerable Note BORNVM a large and populous Countrey accounted 500 Miles in Length yet mostly Inhabited by keepers of Cattle that abound here by reason of the abundance of Pastures and here they use no Marriage but mix together as they think convenient giving their Children Names by some mark or token of their Body however the Kings Revenues are great his very Dogs being coupled in Chains of Gold. BENIN Eastward of Guinea the King whereof hath 600 Wives with whom he Marches in State Twice a Year to show them to Strangers and the Subjects following the Example of their Prince get
as many as they can few having less than Ten and here the Men and Women go naked till they are Married and then have only a Covering from the Waste downward Superstitiously raising the Skin with three slashes of a Knife from the Navel to the Privy Parts as a mark of their hopes of Salvation NVBIA a considerable Countrey stretching from Gaoga to Nilus has Dangula for its chief Town and some other of lesser note and affords amongst other Drugs the mortalest of Poysons insomuch that the tenth part of a Grain will dispatch a Man in a quarter of an hour and affords moreover Civit Sugar Sanders Ivory c. The Kingdom taking its Name from the Nubiaea a certain people that inhabit it and is well refreshed with Rivers and Lakes and the people were generally Christians a strong and potent Nation well Skill'd in War in so much that Cyriacus one of their Kings hearing the Christians were oppressed in Egypt raised an Army of 100000 Horse to succour them but being about to enter that Kingdom to the great Terrour of the Turks and Sarazens he was met by the Patriarch of Alexandria at whose Supplication and Entrcaty he returned without enterprizing any thing Memorable nor has it been long since they for want of Spiritual Guides to strengthen and confirm them have faln off from the Christian Faith and embraced the Superstitions of Mahomet Aethiopia Superior described in its Kingdoms and Provinces AETHIOPIA SVPERIOR has on the East Sinus Barbaricus and the Red Sea on the West Lybia Interior and the Kingdom of Nubia and part of Congo in the other Aethiopia on the North Egypt and Lybia Marmarica on the South the Mountains of the Moon parting it from Aethiopia Inferiour and had its present name from the Grecians and is scituate on both sides the Equinoctial extending from the South Parrallel of 7 Degrees to the North end of the Isle Meroe scituate under the Fifth Parallel on the North of that Circle being accounted in length about 1500 Miles and in breadth about half as much in Circumference 4300 Miles containing the whole Countrey of Aethiopia as before limited the greatest part of it being the Abyssine Empire or Dominion of Prestor John the rest comprehending the Kingdoms of Adel and Adea the Provinces Quiola and Melindi though the last are reckoned parts of Aethiopia Inferior the Island of Meroe in the North possessed by Mahometans Enemies to Prestor John all on the South of Nubia and the West of Nilus is Inhabited by the Anzichi a Cannibal and Idolatrous People who have a King of their own and all the Coast of the Red Sea as well within the Coast of Babel-mandel the Port of Erocco only excepted is in the Possession of Moors and Arabians who pay Homage to the Kings of Adel and Adea As for the People of Aethiopia properly so called they were formerly held to be great Astrologers the first Ordainers of Sacred Ceremonies from whom the Egyptians had their Instructions always counted good Archers yet Treacherously shooting with Poisoned Arrows they go ill Cloathed and as bad Housed for the most part extreamly inclined to Barbarisin and unless they Swear by the Life of their Emperor not to be credited in matters of Weight their Colour is an Olive Tawny inclining more to Swarthiness except their Emperor who as a mark of the true Prince and are held to be Converted to the Christian Faith by the Eunuch of Queen Candace Converted by St. Philip the Evangelist which Flourishes amongst them to this day and comes very near in all the Material Points to the Orthodox Religion of the Reformed European Church c. and are under a Patriarch The Country of the Aethiops is like all other Countries in this Tract Fruitful in some Places and Barren in others yet it generally abounds in Rice Barley Beans Pease Sugars Minerals of all kinds Cattle viz. Goats Oxen Sheep Horses and have great store of Flax and Vines yet make neither Cloth nor Wine unless peculiarly for the Emperor Patriarch or great Men being much given to Sloth nor do they indeed know how to bring their Minerals to Perfection nor will they trouble themselves to Fish or Hunt tho' the Woods and Rivers are infinitely stored with Fish and Venison As for the Provinces comprehended at this time within the bounds or limits of Aethiopia they are Guagere Tigremaon Angote Damut Amma Bagamedrum Goijami Adel Adea Barnagassum Danculi Dâ—bas Fatigar Xoa and Barus though not all as I intimated within the Circuit of the Abassine Empire and of Note amongst these are viz. BARNAGOSVM Scituate upon the Red Sea extending from Suachen almost to the Mouâ—â— of the Streights and hath for its Sea Port Frooco the only Port of the Empire held Tributary from the Turks who sometimes since took it from the Aethiopians with the Town of Suachen for which they pay yearly 1000 ounces of Gold. TIGRAMAON lying between Nilus Marabo and Angote is a pleasant Kingdom though of no great extent and has for its chief City Cazunia supposed to be the Regal Seat of Queen Candace whose Enuch St. Philip Baptized ANGOTE is a Province considerably Barren lying between Tigramaon and Amare insomuch that being deficient of Gold or Silver or any other valuable Commodities Iron Plate or Rings and hard Loaves of Salt made to sundry degrees of bigness pass as Current XOA is more Fertile than the former as having many green Pastures where a great Number of Cattle Feed as likewise abounding with Fruits and is almost in all parts Grateful to the Husbandman FATIGAR is noted for having in it a Lake of that Name 12 Miles in compass being on the Top of a high Mountain from whence divers Rivers well stored with Fish descend to water the Country GOIJAMI is famed for the Mines of Gold found as also for the Unicorn who makes his abode in the Hills of the Moon large Mountains so called because the Moon upon her rising appears first from behind them to that Country and although the Beasts are rarely taken by reason of their Swiftness yet their Horns so famous for expelling Poison are found which at a certain Period of Time they shed GVGERA otherways Meroe is an Island of which we intend to speak hereafter and in this Country is found the Hill Amara which is a Days Journey to ascend and 30 Miles in compass in Form round and on the top of it are sundry pleasant Plains and Pallaces the Air being much cooler than that beneath and here the Princes of the Blood dwell As for the Emperors Stile by reason of the strangeness of it we think fit to insert it viz. P. I. Supream of his Kingdoms and the Beloved of God the Pillar of Faith sprung from the Stock of Judah the Son of David the Son of Solomon the Son of the Column of Sion the Son of the Seed of Jacob and the Son of the Hand-maid of Mary the Son of Nahu after the Flesh the
exceeding pleasant and promising and so by degrees proceeded further and after him divers others till they brought to light the Kingdoms and Countreys Intended here to be described The Countrey of America on the Continent is properly divided into two great Peninsula's whereof that toward the North is called Mexicana from Mexico the Chief City computed to be 3000 Miles in Circumference the South is called Pâ—ruana the Sailing about which is reckoned 17000 Italian Miles and the Isthmus that joyns them together is very long but narrow in some places noâ— above 12 Miles from Sea to Sea and in many not above 17 called by the Spaniards the Streights of Darien from a River of that name near the Isthmus which Isthmus has been often proposed to be cut that by the joyning the two Seas the passage might be very much shortened to China and the Molucca's but never yet enterprized The Mexican Province is properly divided into the Continent and Islands The Continent containeth the Provinces of Estotiland Nova Francia Virginia Florida Califormia Nova Gallicia Nova Hispania and Guatimalia and these sub-divided into lesser Countries The Peruan Province or the Southern Peninsula taking in some part of the Isthmus hath on the Continent the Province of Castela Aurea Nova Granada Peru Chiele Parognay Brasil Guiana and Paria with their several Members and particular Regions of which in their order and then of the Islands of the Universe Estotiland and its Regions described UNder the name of Estotiland we comprehend the Northern Regions of the Mexican Province as also those on the East and 't is bounded Eastward with the Main Ocean on the South with Canida or Nova Francia on the West with undiscovered Tracts of Land and on the North with an Inlet or Bay of the Sea called Hudsons Bay taking its name from Henry Hudson an Englishman who first discovered it ESTOTILAND properly so called is the most Northern Region on the East side of America the Soil sufficiently inriched by Nature the Natives Rude and void of Civility Arts or Tractableness going many of them Named notwithstanding the extream Cold living by the Flesh of Wild Beasts they kill in the Woods and is but little Inhabited but by the Natives by reason of the lasting Winters the greatest Advantage drawn from this extream Region being the Fishing Trade where in the Rivers at the Season are such a Number of Cod called New-land-fish that with a red Rag and a Hook a Man may catch forty or fifty in an hour which dried and salted are brought into England and other parts of Europe besides they Trade sometimes with the Natives for Feathers Furs and Skins of Beasts and the most noted places for Cities you must expect none are such as have been named by the English viz. Prince Henry's Fore-land Charles Cape King's Fore-land and Cape Wolstenham at the end thereof where the Streights open in a large and spacious Bay called Hudsons Bay but to come more Southward the next Region is Terra Corterialis In Terra Corterialis the people are found to be of a little better Understanding Cloathing themselves more decently in Skins of Beasts and such other Garments as they can conveniently obtain being generally good Archers getting their Provision thereby yet Strangers to Towns and Cities as living in Caves and Swamps or fortified Woods to which they gave the Names of Towns or Villages not Marrying but living Common most of them Idolaters and those that are their Guides pretenders to Southsaying and Witchcraft much delighting in Fish which they eat more gladly than any thing though a French Colony setling here have built some inconsiderable Towns indifferently Inhabited as Brest Cabo-Marzo Sancta Maria and some others and this part was first discovered by Sebastian Cabot in the Year 1499 at the Charge of King Henry the Seventh though not Improved but took soon after its name from Gaspar Corterialis a Portugal who some years after Sailing upon Discovery fell in with it and here are found Staggs White Bears and Scut-fish a Yard long and such shoals of Cod-fish upon the Coast that they retard the Sailing of the Ships NEW-FOVND-LAND another part of this Tract lies on the South of Corterialis parted from it by the Frith or Streight called Golfes des Chasteaux pretty well Inhabited though not free from the Extremities of Cold and has on the Coast such abundance of Cod-fish Herrings Salmon Mussles with Pearls in their Shells c. that it is to be wondered at as also Thornbacks Smelts and Oysters the up-land Country well Manured producing naturally Roses and bears Pease in extraordinary Crops Flourishing with Trees of sundry kinds as well for Fruits as Shades and in these Parts the Natives scaping the Bloody Cruelty of the Spaniards are pretty Numerous being of a reasonable Stature broad Eye'd full Faced and Beardless their Complexion the Colour of Oaker and their Houses for the most part made of Polâ—s their Tops meeting together and covered over with Skins their Hearth or Fire-place in the middle after the manner of the Laplanders their Boats with which they Sail in the Rivers and on the Sea near the Shoar are made of the Bark of a Tree that Country affords 20 Feet in Length and 4 in Bredth yet one of them weighs not 1 Hundred Weight and on this Coast are many curious Bays safe for Ships and before this Part which some term an Island as being divided by the Frith from the Continent lyeth a long Bank or ridg of Ground of many Hundred Leagues extent but not above 24 at the Broadest and all about Islands called by some Cabo Baccalaos from the Swarms of Cod fish found about it which by the Natives are called Baccalaos so that the Bears frequently pull them out of the Water with their Paws and eat them As for the Natives upon the coming of the Christians they Inhabited the Sea-Coast but now for the most part have betaken themselves to the Woods and Fastnesses and used to express their Duty and Reverence towards their King by stroaking their Foreheads and rubbing their Noses which if the King accepted or was well pleased with the Party he turned his Head to his left Shoulder as a mark of Favour And at this day the Fishery for Ling and Cod chiefly draws the English thither though some Furrs and Civit are likewise to be found which the Colonies there setled have much improved Canada or Nova Francia Described c. ANother part of this Tract is called Canada from the River of that Name that Waters it and New France from a Colony of French that settled there who at their first arrival were gladly received by the Natives with Singing and Dancing and this part as well as Nova Scotia and Norembegue is considerably Woody in the up-land parts full of Stags Bears Hares Martins Foxes whose Flesh till more Civiliz'd the Natives did Eat raw as they did their Fish only being dryed in the Sun or Smoak'd in their Hovels they have
except the Women who have only an Apron of Bulrushes to hide their Privities and here it was the King of the Countrey offered up his Crown of Net-work and Feathers to Sir Francis Drake who received it on the behalf of the Queen of England erecting a Pillar and fixing her Arms thereon as a mark of the Countreys Subjection to her naming it thereupon New Albion NOVA GALLICIA so called from a Province of Spain of that Name to which it is likened for Temperature of Air and Production is bounded on the East and South with New Spain on the West with the River Buena Guia and on the West with the Gulf of Califormia scituate between 18 and 28 degrees of North Latitude 300 Leagues in Length and 100 in Breadth the Air is generally very temperate but rather inclined to heat than cold and tho often the Inhabitants are disturbed with great Storms of Thunder and Rain yet is the Air very healthy so that no Contagious Disease happens amongst them and when they are deficient of Rains the Dews refresh the Earth and the Countrey withal being Mountainous affords Quarries of Stone and Mines of Brass and Silver but none of Iron or Gold and amongst the Metal a great mixture of Lead happens however the Plains wonderfully abound with Corn yield Wheat 60 fold and Maize 200 fold they have Bees likewise without stings who make their Honey in Trees of the Woods to great quantities and here grow Citrons Figgs Malacotoons Cherries and Olives the people wavering and inconstant upon the least discontent betaking themselves to the Woods and deserting their Houses their Garments being for the most part Cotton Shirts with a Manle over it given much to Singing and Dancing and sometimes to Drinking and have their Tribes whose Heads Command in Chief and succeed Hereditarily yet those Chiefs Commanded by the Spanish Officers inhabiting those parts and in this Tract are the lesser Provinces of Cinaloa Conliacan Xalisco Guadalaiara Zacatecas New Biscay and New Mexicana All of them as to the Natives and Quality of the Countreys little differing the greater part of them Commanded in Chief by the Spaniards to whom the Petty Princes and Governours of the Natives are Subservient and Tributary and have for their Chief Towns St. Philip and Jacob St. John de Cinaloa Pistala Xalisco Nombre de Dios plundered of great Treasure by Sir Francis Drake St. Lewis St. Barbara and Chia every one the Chief of Province and hold some Trade tho not considerable the Spaniards not desiring to have Commerce with any other Nation nor suffer the Natives to do it lest they should be incroached upon for they hold the poor ignorant people in hand that they are the most powerful Lords of all Europe and the invincible People of the World. NOVA HISPANIA or New Spain is another large Countrey in the Mexicanian Province bounded on the East with an Arm of the Sea called the Bay of New Spain and Gulf of Mexico on the South with part of Nova Gallicia and Mare del Zur on the North with the rest of Gallicia some part of Florida and the Gulf on the South of Mare del Zur or rather the South Sea and is so called in reference to Spain in Europe extending from the 15th degree of Latitude to the 26th Measuring on the East side from the Bay of Mexico to the North of Panuco but less by 6 degrees if the Measure be taken to the West side and tho it is scituate under the Torrid Zone yet the Air is very Temperate by reason the Heats are allayed by the Cooling Briezes that come from off the Seas on Three sides of it and the Ground being Cooled by the Showers that seasonably fall in June July and August when the Weather is at the hottest and here are found Rich Mines of Gold and Silver some of Brass and Iron great plenty of Coco Nuts store of Cassia and vast quantities of Cocheneal growing upon Shrubs or little Trees planted by the Natives and Spaniards they have likewise store of Wheat Pulse Bâ—rley Plants Roots Oranges Lemons Pomegranats Malacotoons Figgs Apples Pears Grapes Birds and Beasts both Wild and Tame almost of all sorts and in the hottest part of this Countrey their Seed time is in April and their Harvest in October but in colder places lying low and moist they Sow in October and Reap in May by which crossing they are Supplied with Two Harvests in a Year The Natives of this Tract are more Ingenious than any other of the Salvages giving themselves up to Curious Arts especially to the making of Feather Pictures which they perform so lively without Dying the Feathers but taking them in their natural Colours that they will imitate Men Beasts or any other thing so lively that at a very small distance any one not knowing the contrary would verily believe them to be drawn by the most Curious Master with a Pencil c. Working in Gold more neat and dextrous than any Europeans yet so little esteeming it that at the first coming of the Spaniards they Barter'd it for Knives Beads Bells and such inconsiderable Matters and not having been used to Ride on Horse-back they took their new come Guests for Centaurs they were exceeding Populous which appears by the Spaniards having destroyed Six millions of them in 17 Years Roasting some plucking out the Eyes of others Consuming them in their Mines and Inhumanly casting them amongst Wild Beasts to be devoured insomuch that the Women many of them not only refused the means for Generation but such as found themselves pregnant destroyed their Children in the Womb that they might not be brought up to serve so Bloody a Nation In the great Province of New Spain are found the lesser Provinces of Panuco Mechuacan Mexicana Thascala Guaxaca and Jucatan all plentifully abounding with the pride of Art and Nature the whole Province taking its name from Mexico a great City upon a Lake as likewise all that I have hitherto written relating to this New World and because the taking of this City proved of such Importance to the Spaniard we think it not amiss to give a brief Relation of it viz. Hervando Cortz born in Medeline a Town of Estremadure a Province of Old Spain rising from an obscure Birth to become a private Adventurer in these parts raised by Industry his Fortune to so high a pitch that with the help of his Friends he Manned Eleven Ships with 550 Men and after some contending with the Seas arrived at the Island now called Sancta Crux and passing up the River Tabasco sacked Potonchon a small Town on the Banks of it upon the Inhabitants refusing to sell him Victuals and by the help of his Horse and Cannon put to the Rout an Army of 40000 of the Salvages and so receiving the King a Vassal to the Crown of Spain he passed onwards towards the Golden Mines Landing at St. John de Vllo where he was met by order of the Governour of
Mud drew down Which parted by the Inter-running Seas Made as thou seest the five Echinades And indeed they are rather Rocks or hardened Earth than any Island of note and so we leave them CEPHALONIA is in Circumference about 156 Miles and contrary to the Echinades very Fruitful as yielding Figgs Olives Rasins Currants Hony Sweet Water Mulberries Pine Date Malvasi Muscadel Vino Leatico Wooll Cheese Turkeys Drugs and Dyes besides Cattle Corn and Rich Pastures and has for its chief Towns held under the Venetians Guiscardo Nolo and Argostoli Inhabited by Greeks and Venetians the people Civil and very honest Dealers CORFV is another Island in the Ionian Sea 44 Miles in Length and 24 in Breadth taking its name from the City of Corfu seated at the foot of a large Mountain on which to strengthen it tho strong in it self are two Fortresses but chiefly out of the natural Rock and tho the Southern part of this Island be mountainous and subject to hot Blasts yet the whole in general produces Corn Oranges Lemons Pomegranets Fig Trees Olives Wax Honey some Drugs and many other pleasant Fruits tho it has not in it any Rivers of note ITHACA is a small Island giving a name to Vlysses who was born there tho now it has lost its own name and is called Val de Campare in compass not above 56 Miles and of little note unless for the Reception of Pyrats that haunt this Sea. St. MAVRO formerly called Leucadia is a small Island inhabited mostly by Jews formerly the Venetians but taken from them by the Turks and altho at present it is not much set by yet formerly was it of such esteem that the Inhabitants cut an Isthmus of Two Miles breadth that joyned it to the Continent and was famous for the Temple of Apollo seated in it from the top of which those that leaped into the Sea were held to be cured of extravagant Love better believed than experienced Of the Adriatick Sea and the Islands therein THe Adriatick Sea is that at the bottom of which the City of Venice is seated it being accounted 700 Miles in Length and 104 in Breadth and has in it these Isles viz. MESINA an Island about 150 Miles in Circumference yielding considerable Plenty and has only a strong Fortress for its Defence the Towns being mostly unwalled and but indifferently stored with Houses or Inhabitants LISSA or Clissa is another of the Adriatick Islands 20 Miles over and 60 in Circumference very Fruitful and in Subjection to the Venetians who only defend the Sea Ports and by that means hold the rest in Subjection CVRZOLA a place not exceeding 60 Miles in Circumference yet of great moment to the Venetians in rendring them Wood sufficient to build their Ships and Galleys having the Chief Town of the same name with the Island defended by Two strong Fortresses Commanded by a Governour revoked or changed yearly and altho the Island it self affords no extraordinary Merchandise yet it lies Commodious for Ships Trading in those parts The Mediterranean Sea Considered together with the Islands therein THe Mediteranean Sea is so called from its Midland Scituation as being environed with the Earth c. and in it are found these Islands of Note viz. SICILY about 700 Miles in Circumference famed throughout the World for its Fertility producing Oyl Corn Wine Rice Sugar Alloms Salts Fruits Mettals Corral and of Cattle such abundance that it feeds not only it self but a great part of Italy and other Neighbouring Countries and was accounted the Granary of ancient Rome nor can the New well subsist without its supplies And here is found the Flaming Mount Aetna which frequently has such horrible Eruptions that it not only sends Stones and Cinders with Fire into the Air an incredible height which scatter over many parts of the Countrey but to the great Misfortune of the Inhabitants and many times to the overthrow of Towns and Cities emitteth streams of Liquid Fire or melted Minerals which have been known to run in a Fiery Torrent a mile into the Sea before the Waves could extinguish them and here the Chief Cities are Mesina and Syracuse and the whole Countrey at present is under the King of Spain tho formerly it was an entire Kingdom Governed by a King of its own the Kings of Sicily lately stiling themselves Kings of Jerusalem and the people are much of the nature of those in Italy from which the Island is divided by a small Arm of the Sea only MALTA anciently Melita the Landing Place of St. Paul in his way to Rome when the Viper clave to his hand and he shook it into the Fire is a fair Island tho but little in Compass yielding store of Oranges Lemons Figgs Citrons Cottoons Pomgranats and many other delicious Fruits but is so unhappy to be mostly deficient in Wine and Corn by which it is supplied from Sicily and other parts however it is one of the Chief Sea Fortresses or Bulwarks of Christendom against the Turks Commanded by an Order of Knights called the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem tho vulgarly termed or named the Knights of Malta the whole Territory being 10 Leagues in Length and 4 in Breadth yet contains 60 Villages and 4 principal Cities the Chief Valet a strong and well Fortified City wherein the great Master of the Order has his Palace and the Knights their Chambers as also a Tower from whence a Prospect may be taken of the whole Island CORSICA Scituate over against Genoa being 325 Miles in Circumference and of a very Fruitful Product yielding Corn Wine Figgs Raisins and Hony and has in it Iron Mines Mines of Allom and other Minerals and has for its chief Cities Bastia pleasantly seated on the North East part of the Island on a commodious Haven Mara Gallera St. Florence St. Boniface and some others of lesser note and is under the Government of Genoa and affords a Beast rarely found but in this Island called Mufoli with a Skin like a Deer but harder by many Degrees and Horns like a Ram and here are bred an Excellent Race of good Horses and is an Island much noted for its good Havens upon the Account of the Reception for Shipping Trading in the Mediterranean SARDINIA is another Island of this Tract not above 7 Miles distant from the former though much larger as not held to be less than 560 Miles in compass abounding with Corn and Fruit as being but little troubled with Hills and though the Soil is Rich yet no Poisonous nor Offensive thing is found in the Island having for its principal Cities Coliaris well Inhabited and Fortified seated upon a good Haven being an Arch-Bishops See Reparata Bossa and Aquilastra and in the whole Island are two other Arch-Bishops and 15 Suffragaâ— Bishops the People throughout this Island demeaning themselves courteous to Strangers and are very just in their dealings The Baleares are sundry Islands found in this Sea and the greatest of these are Majorca and Minorca
Behold How Providence In all Affairs Governs the world Earth water Aire fire Stars Men and the Glorys of the Mighty frame Depend upon the bright Celestial Dame. A NEW DESCRIPTION OF THE WORLD OR A Compendious Treatise of the Empires Kingdoms States Provinces Countries Islands Cities and Towns of Europe Asia Africa and America In their Scituation Product Manufactures and Commodities Geographical and Historical WITH An Account of the Natures of the People in their Habits Customes Warrs Religions and Policies c. AS ALSO Of the Rarities Wonders and Curiosities of Fishes Beasts Birds Rivers Mountains Plants c. With several Remarkable Revolutions and Delightful Histories Faithfully Collected from the best Authors By S. Clark. LONDON Printed for Hen. Rhodes next Door to the Swan Tavern near Brides-Lane in Fleet-Street â—689 Licensed August the 11th 1688. THE Introduction Addressed to the READER WHEN the great and wise Creator of the Universe thought it in Eternal Wisdom convenient to build the Mansion all Creatures now inhabited he left nothing undone that might contribute to the Glory and Magnificence of so great a work and lest Mankind the top of the Creation should grow supine and neglect the filling or peopling every part of so admirable a Frame he even compelled them to do it by confounding their Language at Babel and thereby obliging them as they multiplied to scatter over the Face of the Earth that none of his wonderous works might remain obscure or unobserved to those for whose use and pleasure they were made by which means the people in sundry Tribes wandering from place to place incroaching by degrees as men began to multiply planted themselves in the most advantagious Countries every one striving for the best however through Wars Pestilence Inundations and other strange Revolutions and Accidents it is past all peradventure that the bad as well as the good found possessors as at this day Though Reader I shall not trouble you in this place with entring upon the original Peopling of Kingdoms and Countries â—s to particulars but let you know that my care has been to present you with Geographical and Historical Description of the World as it formerly stood and at present stands and though upon first thought it may seem strange that in so small a Volume so large a one can be contained yet upon perusal you will find that nothing material is omitted that can be required to render satisfaction upon this occasion insomuch that by well considering this Work a mean Capacity may suddenly know how the Worlds mighty Fabrick is disposed and soon become acquainted with every Country under Heaven enough to render him capable not only of contemplating the Goodness of the Almighty in his VVorks and Creatures but readily Discoursing even with the most knowing Travellers and without hazarding the danger of treacherous Seas Winds Robbers and a VVorld of Inconveniencies that attend an expensive search into these Affairs securely Travel in Imagination from Pole to Pole. For to be brief there is no Kingdom Province or Estate that is wittingly left out of this History or Treatise and as to what is most material the Account is considerably large wherefore recommending it to the benefit of my Country Men I remain Reader Your Friend to serve In what I may S. Clark. Of EUROPE a brief DESCRIPTION EVROPE is the least of the Four parts of the World yet nothing inferiour in Goodness to the rest in the Generosity of People Riches Worth and Vertue and exceeding them if we consider the Flourishing of the True Religion and is said to take its Name from Europa the Daughter of Agenor King of Phoenicia containing many Flourishing Kingdoms and Provinces as will appear in the sequel And is accounted in length 2800 miles In breadth 1200 bounded on the West with the main Ocean on the East with the Aegean Sea Pontus Euxinus the Fenns of Maeotis and the River Tanais from which a right Line conjecturally drawn from the Bay of Granvicus it is dis-joined from Asia In the North it is bounded with the Hyperborean Sea and on the South with the Mediterranean divided into Continent and Islands the Continent Intire and the Islands dispersed In the Greek Ionian Aegean Adriatick Mediterranean Cretan and Northern Seas divided chiefly into France Spain Italy the Alps Germany Britain Belgium Denmark Swedeland Hungary Sclavonia Russia Poland Dacia and Greece with the dispersed Islands And in Europe beside the Latin Tongue which is now rather Scholastical than National there are other diversities of Language besides the Italian and French supposed to be corruptly derived from the Latin and has been Famous by twice giving Laws to the World during the flourishing of the Greek and Roman Empires and at this day though the least of the four parts it excels in what may be called solid good the other Three c. A Queen she Reigns upheld by strictest Fate Whilst th' other Three on her as Hand-Maids wait With Tribute Glories to enrich her State. A Geographical AND Historical Description OF THE KINGDOM OF FRANCE In its Particular Countries Provinces Cities Towns c. THE Flourishing Kingdom of France being the nearest part of the Continent on which we border I have thought for the observing the most regular method to begin this History of the World with the Description of it and its appendances As for France or so much as is generally understood of it it is bounded on the East with a branch of the Alps passing between Dauphin and Peimont Switzerland Savoy some part of Germany and the Neitherlands on the West with a Branch of the Pyreenian Mountains dividing Spaine and with the Aquitane Ocean on the North with the Brittish Seas and part of Belgium and has on the South the rest of the Pyreenian Mountains and the Mediterranian Sea being in a manner Square accounted in Length from Calais to Toulon 620 Miles reckoning 73 to a Degree and in Breadth from the borders of Lorain to Brest or from Nice in Peimont to Bayon 492 Miles though of late the Teretories have been much inlarged by the new Conquests and Acquisitions but being to speak of them in the Counrries where they properly have their Scituation I willingly here omit them This Country is called by the English France by the Italians Francia and so by the Spaniards by the Germans Franckreich by the Turks Alfrangua and is the antient Gallia of Caesar and Pliny lying excellently in Compaction between the most Flourishing Kingdoms and States of Europe Scituate in the middle of the North Temperate Zone between the middle Parralells of the Fifth Clime where the longest Day is 13 Hours and the middle Parralell of the Eighth Clime where they extend to 16 Hours and a half So that the Air is very Healthful the Country every where Rich and Fertile and the People numerous as likewise the Cities and Towns no less than 4000 being reckon'd of note especially the greatest part of them and was Distinguished by four
every way As far as Phoebus darts his Golden Ray Seiz'd Italy the Worlds proud Mistriss sack't Which rather Mars than Romulus compact Then Spoils Pisidia Missia doth Inthraul And midst of Asia plants another Gaul The present Inhabitants though somewhat fantastick are generaly of a free and curteous Behahaviour kind to strangers and extremely given to Complement the Women are likewise wonderfully familiar even with Strangers especially in Speech taking it for a great peice of breeding not to be too Austere or Reserved Their Apparel for the most part is rather Gay than Costly made of light Stuffs and slight Silks c. though the Country people are distinguished from others by the Men's wearing a large pair of Breeches and a Coat to their Knees and the Womens attireing their Heads or rather wraping them in Linnen and these are in a manner Drudges or Slaves to the Gentry especially such as are their Land-lords they being all of them Tenants at Will and have their Rent raised as the Land improves or as the Lord thinks fit which is the occasion of their great Poverty for although many of them hold Farms of Wine and Corn they have scarce the happiness to tast the first or eat any good Bread made of the latter In Arts and Manufactury the French are very Ingenious and in War very furious at the first onset but with the change of Fortune their courage soon abates though Caesar confessed that he slew 110000. of them before he could bring them into subjection yet by a small power of the English they were frequently worsted in the Reign of Edward the Third and almost the whole Kingdom after the Fortunate Battle of Azin-court Conquored and brought under subjection by Henry the fifth who with 15000. men only overthrew an Army of above 100000. in which the flower of their Nobility were either Slain or taken Prisoners Nor is it less the Fortune or rather misfortune in all Battles to have the greatest storm of War fall upon their Nobility The things worthy of Note in this Illustruous Kingdom are the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin in Paris Vulgarly called Notrodam supported by 120. Pillars whereof 12. are very great but the remainder indifferently large and in the midst of the Church is a Chancel accounted 71 paces in length and 60 in bredth and in the Circuit or Circumference it hath 45 Chappels and is closed with Iron Gates and two double doors in the front adorn'd with the Statues of 28 Kings and on the sides are four Towers of Bell-fries of 44 Cubits in height and a Bell so large called St. Mary that 24 Men are required to Ring it out The Seven Wonders of Dauphin viz. The burnig Fountain the Inaccessable Mountain the Tower of Sanevenin the Wine-fats of Sassinage the Wine Fountain the Manna of Briancon and the Fountain of Barberon which Rarities see at large in Allard Sylva The Statue of Joan the Peucelle who assisted the French against the English and raised the Seige of Orleance acting many Wonders in feats of Arms till taken by the English and burnt for a Witch As for the Building in Cities and considerable Towns it is mostly of rough Stone Plastered and rough cast over flat roofed and commonly 4 5 and 6 Stories And now to France I might add the new aquisitions but more of them hereafter The chief Islands are Rhee the out-work of Rochle in attempting the Relief of which the English lost many brave men in the year 1627. The strong Bell Isle Venetica San. Colosus Salt Nermoustier Oleron Vliaras where our King Richard the Third as Lord of the Sea gave those Laws Marine so much in request and known as the Laws of Olerone Rochle famous for the siege it sustained against the whole power of France Ovissant over against the Lizard and in the Mediterranian are the Isles of de Ere 's by Ptolomie called the Staaechades The Discription of the Kingdom of Spain in its Provinces c. SPain is acknowledged the most Western part of Europe formerly called by the Greeks Iberia and Hsperia enviornd on every side by the Sea except towards France from which it is parted only by the Pyreenian Mountains The Seas that bound it are the Cantabrian on the North the Atlantick Ocean on the West and the Straights of Gibraltar on the South on the East with the Mediterranian the Pyreenians bearing only to the North East and is formed by Strabo in the shape of an Oxes Hide containing as well Portugal as Spain Scituated in the most Southern part of the Northern Temperate Zone so that the longest day exceeds not 15 hours accounted 760 miles in length and 600 in bredth As for the Original of this People in Relation to their possessing the Country Authors differ for some will have them to be of the Progeny of Tubal Son of Japhat as being the decendants of the Iberij who entred the Kingdom under Pannus Others that they are derived from the Celtae a powerful people decended from Alchenaz who first peopling it called the whole Country Celtiberia but more certain it is that the Phoenicians failing from Tyre planted Collonies here and after them the Rhodians nor did the Carthagenians fail in a manner to subdue it till being worsted in the second Punick War it became Tributary to the Romans who devided it into 3 Provinces viz. Boetica Lusitanica and Terraconensis the â—irst of these containing the Kingdoms of Andeluzia and Granata part of New Castile and Estremadure Inhabited by the Turdulie Eastward and by the Celti towards the West Lusitania contained Portugal and part of Old and New Castile and the remaining part was comprehended in Terragon and again they laid it into two parts comprehending the two first Provinces in one and so it remained till the time of Honorius the Emperor when Gundericus King of the Vandels broke in and over-run it with a numerous Army Anno 400 but had not well settled themselves before the Goths Invaded it and drove the new possessors into Affrica and in the year 720. under the conduct of Musa and Tarrif who were invited in by Julian with a great Army of Moors and Saracens entred warring upon the Goths and after a Battle of seven days became Victorious dividing the Countrey amongst them so that at last it fell into 12 divisions viz. Leon Oviedo Navarre Corduba Gallicta Bisca Tolledo Murica Castile Portugal Valentia Catalonia and Aragon and so they stand at this day wherefore I proceed to speak of them in their order and due places Leon had heretofore the Name of Austria and is a very pleasant Country yielding Mines of precious Mettal some Gold Red Lead and Vermillion though otherwise not very fruitful as being some-what Mountainous yet gives Title to the Eldest Son of Castile notwithstanding few Towns of note are found in it Navarr is a Kingdom of great Antiquity bounded on the East with the Pyreenian Mountains on the West with Iberius North Biscay and