State of Venice It was of old called Curcura Melena and of some Corcira Nigra but by the Modernes Curzola Continuing our course we passed by the Iles Sabionzello Torquolla and Caâ—za Augusta appertaining to the Republicke of Ragusa They are all three well inhabited and fruitfull yeelding cornes wines and certaine rare kindes of excellent fruits It is dangerous for great Vessells to come neare their Coasts because of the hidden shelfes that lye off in the Sea called Augustini where divers ships have bin cast away in foule weather upon the second day after our loosing from Clissa we arrived at Ragusa Ragusa is a Common-weale governed by Senators and a Senate Counsell it is wonderfull strong and also well guarded being scituate by the Sea side it hath a fine Haven and many goodly ships thereunto belonging The greatest trafficke they have is with the Genueses Their Territory in the firme land is not much in respect of the neighbouring Turkes but they have certaine commodious Ilands which to them are profitable And notwithstanding of the great strength and riches they possesse yet for their better safeguard and liberty they pay a yearely Tributary pension to the great Turke amounting to fourteene thousand Chickens of Gold yea and also they pay yearely a Tributary pension unto the Venetians for the Iles reserved by them in the Adriaticall Gulfe so that both by sea and land they are made tributary Citizens The most part of the civill Magistrates have but the halfe of their heads bare but the vulgar sort are all shaven like to the Turkes This City is the Metropolitan of the Kingdome of Slavonia Slavonia was first called Liburnia next Illiria of Illirio the sonne of Cadmus But lastly named Slavonia of certaine slaves that came from Sarmatia passing the river Danubio in the time of the Emperour Iustininian Croatia lying north-west from hence is the third Province of this ancient Illiria and was formerly called Valeria or Corvatia It hath on the west Istria Carniola on the East and South Dalmatia on the north north-west a part of Carindia quasi Carinthia and Northerly Savus So much as is called Slavonia extendeth from the River Arsa in the West the River Drino in the East on the South bordereth with the Gulfe of Venice and on the North with the Mountaines of Croatia These Mountains divide also Ragusa from Bosna Bosna is bounded on the West with Croatia and on the South with Illiricum or Slavonia on the East with Servia and on the North with the River Savus The next two speciall Cities in that Kingdome are Sabenica and Salona The Slavonians are of a robust nature martiall and marvellous valiant fellowes and a great helpe to maintaine the right and liberty of the Venean State serving them both by sea and land and especially upon their Galleyes and men of warre From Ragusa I imbarked in a Tartareta loaden with Corne and bound to Corfu being three hundred Miles distant In all this way wee found no Iland but sailed along the maine land of the Illirian Shore having passed the Gulfe of Cataro and Capo di Fortuna I saw Castello novo which is a strong Fortresse scituate on the top of a Rocke wherein one Barbarisso the Captaine of Solyman starved to death foure thousand Spaniards Having left Illiria Albania and Valona behind us we sailed by Capo di Palone the large promontore of which extendeth to eight miles in length being the face of a square and maine Rocke This high land is the farthest part of the Gulfe Of Venice and opposite against Capo di 〈◊〉 Maria in Apulia each one in sight of another and foureteen leagues distant Continuing our Navigation we entered into the Sea Ionium and sayled along the Coast of Epire which was the famous Kingdome of the Epiroles and the first beginning of Greece Epirus is environed on the South with the Sea Ionian On the East with Macedon on the West North-west with Albania and on the North with a part of Râ—scia and the huge Hill Haemus Of which Mountaine Stratonicus was wont to say that for eight Moneths in the yeare it was exceeding cold and for the other foure it was Winter This long Mountaine devideth also Greece from Mysâ—a called vulgarly Bulgaria lying on the North of Haemus and on the South of Danibio even Eastward to the Euxine Sea which River parteth Dacia from Misia the superiour the which Dacia being an ancient and famous Country containeth these Provinces Transilvania Moldavia Vallachia Servia and Bosna Here in this Kingdome of Epyre was the â—oble and valiant Pyrhus King who made so great warres upon the Romans and at last by a Woman of Argos was killed with a stone The most valorous Captaine George Gastriot sirnamed Scanderberg the great terrour and scourge unto the Turkes was borne here of whom it is recorded he slew at divers battells with his owne hands above three thousand Turkes obtaining also many fortunate victories against Amurath and Mahomet After whose death and buriall his body was digged up by the Turkes and joyfull was that man could get the least bit of his bones to preserve and carry about with him thinking thereby so long as he kept it he should alwayes be invincible which the Turkes observe to this day and likely to doe it till their last day And more Renoun'd Epire that gave Olimpias life Great Alexanders Mother Phillips wife In this Country are these two Rivers Acheron and Cocytus who for their minerall colours and bitter tastes were surnamed the Rivers of Hell and the sacred Mount Pindus celebrated by Apollo and the Muses so well memorized by Poets is here It is now called Mezzona at the foote of which springeth the River Peneia called modernly Salepiros but more properly Azababa and keeping his extreamest course through the fields of pleasure named by the Ancients Tempi being five miles long and as much large lying betweene the two Hills Osso and Olympus and watering the beautifull plaine the faire Peneian spring or Azababan River disburdeneth it selfe in the Gulfe Thessolonick This is the first kingdome of Greece of a great length consisting between the west most part of Albania as a perpendicular Province annexed to it the Arcadian Alpes which divide Aetolia and Acarnania the East-most regions of it from Sparta Thessaly and the old Mirmidons country of Macedon amounteth to 408. miles lying along by the sea side whose bredth extendeth all the way along Northward to the hill Haemus above 68. miles The chiefe Towne of Epyre where the Kings had their residence was called Ambracia modernly Laerto named of a River running by it And upon the sixt day after our departure from Ragusa we arrived at Corfu Corfu is an Iland no lesse beautifull than invincible It lyeth in the sea Ionian the inhabitants are Greeks and the Governours Venetians This Ile was much honoured by Homer for the pleasant Gardens of Alcino which were in his time This Alcino was the
stock Is extant yet though in the Descent broke On the South-west side of Troy standeth the Hill Ida having three heads On which Paris out of a sensuall delight rejecting Iuno and Pallas judged the golden Ball to Venus fatall in the end to the whole Country The ruines of which are come to that Poeticall Proverb Nunc seges est ubi Troja fuit Now corn doth grow where once faire Troy stood And soil made fat with streams of Phrygian blood Leaving the fields of noble Ilium we crossed the River of Simois dined at a Village named Extetash I remember in discharging our covenant with the Ianizary who was not contented with the former condition the French men making obstacle to pay that which I had given the wrathfull Ianizary belaboured them both with a cudgell till the blood sprung from their heads and compelled them to double his wages This is one true note to a Traveller whereof I had the full experience afterward that if hee cannot make his owne part good hee must alwayes at the first motion content these Rascals otherwise hee will be constrained doubtlesse with stroakes to pay twice as much for they make no account of conscience nor ruled by the Law of compassion neither regard they a Christian more than a Dog but whatsoever extortion or injury they use against him hee must be French-like contented bowing his head and making a counterfeit shew of thanks and happy too oftentimes if so hee escape Hence we arrived at the Castles called of old Sestos and Abydos in a small Frigot which are two Fortresses opposite to other Sestos in Europe where Thracia beginneth and Abidos in Asia where Bythinia likewise commenceth being a short mile distant and both of them foure leagues from Troy They stand at the beginning of Hellespont and were also cognominate the Castles of Hero and Leander which were erected in a commemoration of their admirable fidelity in love Which curling tops Leander cut in two And through proud billows made his passage go To court his Mistris O Hero the fair Whom Hellespon to stop was forc'd to dare Sweet was their sight to other short their stay For still Leander was recald by day At last stern Aeâ—le puft on Neptunes pride And gloomy Hellespont their loves divide He swims and sinks and in that glutting down The angry Fates did kinde Leander drown Of which when Hero heard judge you her part She smote her self and rent in two her heart But now they are commonly called the Castles of Gallipoly yea or rather the strength of Constantinople between which no Ships may enter without knowledge of the Captains and are by them strictly and warily searched lest the Christians should carry in Men Munition or Furniture of Armes for they stand in feare of surprising the Town And at their return they must stay three days before they are permitted to go through because of transporting away any Christian slaves or if they have committed any offence in the Citie the knowledge thereâ—f may come in that time At that same instant of my abode at Abidos there were fourescore Christian Slaves who having cut their Captaines throat with the rest of the Turks run away from Constantinople with the Galley And passing here the second day thereafter at midnight were discovered by the Watch of both Castles where the Cannon never left thundring for two houres yet they escaped with small hurt and at last arrived in the Road of Zante desiring landing and succour for thâ—ir victuals were done victuals they sent them but the Governour would not suffer them to come on Land In end the Sea growing somewhat boysterous the slaves for an excuse cut their Cables and runne the Galley a shoare Upon this they were entertained in service but the Providitor caused to burne the Galley fearing least the Turks should thereby forge some quarrell The yeare following an other Galley attempted the same but the poore slaves having past the Castles had been so wounded and killed with the great shot and the Galley ready to sinke they were enforced to runne a shoare where the next morning being apprehended they were miserably put to death Betwixt the Castles and Constantinople is about fortie leagues Over this straight Xerxes did make a bridge of Boats to passe into Greece which when a sudden tempest had shrewdly battered hee caused the Sea to be beaten with 300 stripes And at that same time Xerxes passing over the Hellespont and seeing all the Sea clad with his Army his Horses Chariots and Ships the teares burst from his eyes and being demanded the cause of his griefe answered O said hee I weep because within a hundred yeares all this great and glorious sight shall be dissolved to nothing and neither man nor beast shall be alive nor Chariot nor Engine of War but shall be turn'd to dust and so I sorrow to see the short mortality of Nature Indeed it was a worthy saying from such a Heathenish Monarch who saw no further than the present misery of this life Here I left the two French men with a Greeke Barber and imbarked for Constantinople in a Turkish Frigate The first place of any note I saw within these narrow Seas was the ancient Citie of Gallipolis the second seat of Thracia which was first builded by Cajus Caligula and somtimes had beene inhabited by the Gaules It was the first Towne in Europe that the Turks conquered and was taken by Solyman sonne to Orchanes Anno 1438. North from Thracia lyeth the Province of Bulgaria commonly Volgaria and was called so of certaine people that came from a Country neere to the River Volgo in Russia about the yeare 666. It lyeth betweene Servia Thracia and Danubio and by the Ancients it was thought to be the lower Misia but more iustly the Region of Dacia The chife Town is Sophia which some hold to be that Towne which Ptolomeus named Tebisca Here in Thracia lived the Tyrant Polymnestor who treacherously murthered Polidorus a yonger sonne of Priamus for which fact Heâ—uba the young Princes mother scratched him to death Here also reigned the wortthy King Cotis whom I propose as a paterne of rare temper in mastring and preventing passion To whom when a neighbour Prince had sent him an exquisite present of accurately wrought glasse he having dispatched the messenger with all due complements and gratitude of Maiestie broke them all to pieces lest by mishap any of his Servants doing the like might stir or move him to an intemperate choler The Greekes here and generally through all Greece beare as much reverence and respect to Mount Athos as the Papists beare to Rome All of which Religious Coliers or Friers must toile and labour for their living some in the Vines some in the Corn-fields and others at home in their Monasteries or else where abroad are alwayes occupied for the maintaining of their Families they are but poorely clad yet wonderfull kinde to all Viadants
his deadly wounded and making a horrible noise the Gunner lay denned and durst not stirre meanwhile the beast striving to recover the water tyred and lying close on his belly there hee died After the shot the horse-men drew neare and finding the beast slain relieved the Gunner and brought with them this monstrous creature to Cayre where now his skinne hangeth in the Consuls Hall which I saw during my stay in his house For this piece of service the Merchant was greatly applauded scorned to take from the City 500 Sultans of Gold as a reward for his paines which they freely offered him and hee as freely refused Now to discourse of Nylus this flood irriguateth all the low plaines of the Land once in the yeare which inundation beginneth usually in the latter end of Iuly and continueth to the end of August Which furnisheth with Water all the Inhabitants being the onely drinke of the vulgar Aegyptians and of such vertue that when Pescennius Niger saw his Souldiers grumble for Wine What saith he doe you grumble for Wine having the Water of Nylus to drinke And now because many schollers and learned men are meerely mistaken about the flowing of Nylus I will both show the manner and quality or course of its inundation and thus There is a dry pond called Machash digged neare unto the brinke of the river in midst whereof standeth a pillar of eighteene Cubites height being equall with the profundity of the ditch whereby they know his increasing and in the yeare following if they shall have plenty or scarcity of things Now betwene the river and this pond there are sixe passages or spouts digged through the Banke where when the River beginneth to swell it immediately fals downe through the lowest passage into the Pond and being discovered there comes forth of Cayre certaine of the Priests called Darvishes accompanied with a hundred Ianizaries and pitch their Tents round about this Quadrangled pit In all which time of the Inundation they make great Feasting rare Solemnities with Dancing Singing toucking of Kettle drumms sounding of Trumpets and other ostentations of joy Now as the Water groweth in the River and so from it debording so it groweth also upon the Pillar standing in this pond which pillar is marked from the roote to the top with Brasses handfuls a foote a span and an inch And so if it shall happen that the water rise but to ten Brasses it presageth the yeare following there shall be great Death Pestilence and Famine And if it amounteth to twelue Cubits then the sequell yeare shall be indifferent And if it swell to fifteene Brasses then the next year shall be copious and abundant in all things And if it shall happen to flow to the top eighteen Brasses then all the Country of Aegypt is in danger to be drowned and destroyed Now from the body of Nylus there are about three thousand Channels drawne through the plain on which passing Ditches are all the Boroughs and Towns builded and through which Channels the river spreads it selfe through all the Kingdome Which when scoured of filth and Wormes and the water become cleare then every house openeth their Cisterne window and receiveth as much water as is able to suffice them till the next Inundation Neyther doth ever the River flow any where above the bankes for if it should it would overwhelme the whole Kingdome All which Channels here or there do make intercourse for their streames again to the body and branches of Nylus Now Stoicall fools hold the opinion that it overfloweth the whole face of the Land then I pray you what would become of their Houses their Bestiall their Cornes and Fruites for the nature of violent streames do ever deface transplant and distroy all that they debord upon leaving slime mud and sand behind their breaches and therefore such inunding cannot be called cherishings There are infinite venemous Creatures bred in this river as Crocadiles Scorpions Water-Snakes grievous mis-shapen Wormes and other monstrous things which oft annoy the Inhabitants and these who Trafficke on the Water This famous flood is in length almost three thousand miles and hath his beginning under the Aequinoctiall Line from montes Lunae but more truly from the Zembrian Lake in Aethiopia interior whence iâ— bringeth the full growth downe into Aegypt and in a place of the exterior Aethiopian Alpes called Catadupa The full and roaring of Nyle maketh the people deafe that dwell neer to it The infallible reason why Nylus increaseth so every yeare at such a time and continuance is onely this that when the Sunne declining Northward to Cancer and warming with his vigorous face the Septentrion sides of these Cynthian mountaines the abundant Snow melteth from whence dissolving in streames to the Lake Zembria it ingorgeth Nylus so long as the matter delabiates For benefit of which River the great Turke is inforced to pay yearely the tribute of fifty thousand Sultans of Gold to Prester Iehan least hee impede and withdraw the course of Nylus to the Red Sea and so bring Egypt to desolation The ground and policy whereof begun upon a desperate Warre inflicted upon the Aethiopians by Amurah which hee was constrained to give over under this pact and for Nylus sake The River Nyle had many names for Diodore named it Aetos to wit Eagle because of its swift passing over the Catadupian heights It was called also Egyptus of a King so named that communicated the same to it and to the Countrey Festus saith it was called Melos and Plutarch tearmed it Mela Epiphanio called it Chrysoroas that is running or coulanâ— in gold The Holy Scripture tearmeth it Seor or Sibor to wit Trouble because of the great noyse it bringeth with it to Egypt and the same Holy Letters call it Gehou and Physon The Egyptians wont to name it Nospra and now presently the Abassines and Inhabitants of Egypt name it Abanhu to wit the River of a long câ—urse This River maketh the Isle of Delta in Egypt so likewise in Ethiopia that Isle of Meroa so renowned The ancient Authours could not agree touching the mouthes of Nylus for Melo Strabo Diodore and Heredotus place seaven Ptolomy and others nine and Pliny eleven And some moderne Authours affirme it hath onely foure as Tyrre and Behou alleage dividing it selfe two leagues below Cayre in foure branches the chiefest two whereof are of these Damiota and Roseta but that is false and so are the opinions of all the rest for it hath now eight severall mouthes and as many branches drawne from its mayn body The Water of Nyle is marvailous sweet above all others in the World and that proceedeth of the extreame vigour of the Sun beating continnually upon it maketh it become more Lighter Purer and Simple as likewise arrousing of so many Soyles and his long Course And truely it is admirable to see this River to grow great when all others grow small and to see it diminish when others grow
of snow Whence Rills do spring and speedy Torrents fall To loose scorch'd flowres that burning heat would thrall Here Herds frequent whose pleasant toyls do rest Of Mountains all on Liban onely best Where piping Pan and Silvan do accord To lurk with Ceres and make Bacchus Lord Pitch'd under silent shades whence Eden Town These bounds for Paradice dare firmly crown And last to count these colours here 's delight The fields are green Wines yellow Corns as white About the Village of Eden is the most fruitfull part of all Libanus abounding in all sorts of delicious fruits True it is the varietie of these things maketh the silly people thinke the Garden of Eden was there By which allegeance they approve the apprehension of such a sinistrous opinion with these arguments that Mount Libanus is sequestraâ—â—â—â—om the circumjacent Regions and is invincible for the height and strengths they have in Rocks and that Eden was still re-edified by the fugitive Inhabitants when their enemies had ransacked it Also they affirme before the Deluge it was so nominate and after the Flood it was repaired again by Iaphet the sonne of Noah who builded Ioppa or Iaphta in Palestina Loe there are the reasons they shew strangers for such like informations There are with this one other two supposed places of the earthly Paradice The one is by the Turks and some ignorant Georgians holden to beat Damascus for the beauty of fair fields gardens and excellent fruits there especially for the Tree called Mouflee which they believe hath grown there since the beginning of the World Indeed it is a rare and singular Tree for I saw it at Damascus and others also of the same kinde upon Nylus in Aegypt The growth whereof is strange for every yeare in September it is cut downe hard by the root and in five moneths the Tree buddeth up a pace again bringing forth leaves flowres and fruit The leafe thereof is of such a breadth that three men may easily stand under the shadow of it and the Apple is bigger then a football which is yeerly transported for Constantinople to the Great Turke and there is reserved for a Relict of the fruit of the forbidden Tree whence he surstiles himself keeper of the earthly Paradice But if he were not surer a greater Commander and Reserver of a large part of the best bosome of the earth than he is Keeper of that Adamian Garden his stiles of the Earth and mine of the World were both alike and that were just nothing save onely this two naked creatures living amongst naked people or otherwise if it were to be kept or seen certainly I would wish to be a Postillion to the great Porter the Turk but not his Pedagog farre lesse his Pilgrime The third place by these Chelfaines is thought to be in the East part of Mesopotamia neere to the joyning of Tygris and Euphrates where so they inhabit I have oft required of these Chelfaines what reason they had for this conceived opinion who answered mee they received it from time to time by the tradition of their Ancestors And because of the River Euphrates and other Rivers mentioned in the Scriptuâ—es which to this day detain their names in that Countrey Some hold that Garden of Eden extended over all the Earth But contrariwise it manifestly appeareth by the second Chapter of Genesis 2. 20. that this Garden which we call Paradice wherein Adam was put to dresse it was a certain place on earth containing a particular portion of a Country called Eden which boundeth on the River Eâ—phrates To this and all the rest I answer no certainty can be had of the place where Eden was either by reading or travelling because this River hath been oft divided in sundry streams And it is said that Cyrus when he wonne Babylon did turn the main channell of Euphrates to another course But howsoever or wheresoever it be I resolve my self no man can demonstrate the place which God for the sins and fall of man did not onely accurse but also the whole face of the Earth Many ancient Authors have agreed with the opinion of Plato and Aristotle constantly affirming that Mountains Islands and Countries have received great alteration by the inundation of Rivers and violence of raging Seas Thracia hath beene divided from Bythinia Nigroponti from Thessalia Corfu from Epire Sycilia from Italie The Isles Orcades from Scotland and many other Islands and Countries cut through so in divisions after the same forme Wherefore the more a man contemplate to search the knowledge of Eden and such high mysteries appertaining only to the Creator the more hee shall faile in his purpose offend God become foolish and fantasticall for his pains But to turne backe to mine itinerary relation after my returne to Tripoly I departed thence Eastward with a â—aravan of Tâ—â—kes to Aleppo being ten days journey distant In all this way leaving Scanderon on our left hand I saw nothing worthy remarking save onely a few scattered Villages and poore miserable people called Tâ—rcomanni living in Tents and following their flocks to whom I payed sundry Caffars who remove their women children and cattle where so they finde fountaines and good pastorage like unto the custome of the ancient Israelites Which in their vagabonding fashion did plainly demonstrate the necessitie they had to live rather then any pleasure they had or could have in their living They differ also in Religion from all the other Mahometans in two damnable points The one is they acknowledge that there is a God and that hee of himselfe is so gracious that hee neither can being essentially good doe harm nor yet will authorize any ill to be done and therefore more to beloved than feared The other is they confesse there is a Devill and that hee is a Tormentor of all evill doers and of himselfe so terrible and wicked that they are contented even for acquisting his favour and kindnesse to sacrifice in fire their first-born child to him soliciting his devillishnesse not to torment them too sore when they shall come into his hands And yet for all this they think afterwards by the mercy of Mahomet they shall go from Hell to Paradice In this immediate or aforesaid passage wee coasted neere and within six miles of the limits of Antiochia one of the ancient Patriarch Seas so called of Antiochus her first Founder and not a little glorying to this day that the Disciples of Iesus and Antiochians were first here named Christians Who notwithstanding of their grievous afflictions flourished so that in 40 yeares they grew a terrour to their enemies who suggested by the Devill cruelly affected them with ten generall Persecutions under the Emperours Nero anno 67. Domitianus anno 96. Trajanus 100. Maximinus 137. Marcus Antonius 167. Severus 195. Decius 250. Valerianus 259. Aureli anus 278. and Dioclesian anno 293 yeares Notwithstanding all which Massacres and Martyrdome yet this little graine of Mustard
where the Showse strook off his head putting it in a Box to carry it with him for Constantinople The dead corps were carried to Aleppo and honorably buried for I was an eye witnesse to that Funeral Feast And immediatly therafter the Showse by Proclamation and power from the Emperour fully possessed the sonne in his Fathers Lands Offices Bassawship and the authoritie of all the Easterne Syria part of Mesopotamia and the Assyrian Countrey for this Bassaw of Aleppo is the greatest in commandement and power of all the other Bassaws in the Turkes Dominions except the Bassa or Beglerbeg of Damascus and yet the former in Hereditary power farre exceedeth the other being a free Emeer and thereupon a Prince borne The force of his commandement reacheth to eighteene Sanzacks and thirty thousand Timariots besides Ianizaries and other inferiour Souldiers which would make up as many more This City is called in the Scriptures Aram-Sobab 2 Samuel 8. 3. and Aleppo of Alep which signifieth milk whereof there is a great plenty here There are Pigeons brought up here after an incredible manner who will flie betwene Aleppo and Babylon being thirty dayes journey distant in forty eight houres carrying letters and newes which are tied about their neckes to Merchants of both Townes and from one to another who onely are imployed in the time of hasty and needfull intendments their education to this tractable expedition is admirable the flights and arrivals of which I have often seene in the time of my wintering in Aleppo which was the second Winter after my departure from Christendome Syria hath on the East Armenia major On the South Mesopotamia On the North Cilicia and the sea On the West Gallilee and Phaenicia in the Bible the Syrians are called Aramites who were an obscure people subject to the Persians and subdued by Alexander after whose death this Countrey with Persia and other adjacent Provinces fell to the share of Seleucus Nicanor who also wrested from the successors of Antigonus the lesser Asia This Kingdome hath fuffered many alterations especially by the Persians Grecians Armenians Romans Aegyptians lastly by the Turkes and daily molested by the incursive Arabs In my expectation here and the Spring come being disappointed of me desired aimes I pretended to visite Ierusalem in my back-comming and for the furtherance of my determination I joyned with a Caravan of Armenians and Turks that were well guarded with Ianisaries and Souldiers of whom some were to stay at Damascus by the way and some mindful to the furthest marke And for my better safeguard being always alone which by all was ever much admired the Venetian Consull tooke surety of the Captaine that hee should protect mee safely from theeves cut throats and the exactions of tributes by the way delivering me freely into the hand of the Padre Guardiano at Ierusalem Which being done I I hired a Mule from a Turke to carry my victuals and so set forward with them The number of our company were about 600 Armenians Christian Pilgrimes men and women 600 Turkes trafficking for their owne businesse and 100 souldiers three Showsses and sixe â—anizaries to keep them from invasions Betweene Aleppo and Damascus wee had nine dayes journey in five of which we had pleasant travelling and good Canes to lodge in that had bin builded for the support of Travellers and are well maintained But when we passed Hamsek which is a little more then mid-way we had dangerous travelling being oft assailed with Arabs fatigated with Rocky Mountaines and sometimes in point of choaking for lacke of water The confusion of this multitude was not onely grievous in regard of the extreame heate providing of victuals at poore Villages and scarcity of water to fill our bottles made of Boare-skinnes but also amongst narrow and stony passages thronging we oft fell one over another in great heapes in danger to be smothered yea and oftentimes we that were Christians had our bodies well beaten by our couducting Turkes In this iourneying I remember the Turke who ought my Mule was for three dayes exceeding favourable unto me in so much that I began to doubt of his carriage fearefully suspecting the Italian Proverb Chi nri faâ—iglior che non cisuole Ingannato mi ha o ingannar mi Vuole He that doth better now to me than he was wont He hath deceiv'd or will deceive me with some sad affront But when I perceived his extraordinary service and flattery was onely to have a share of the Tobacco I carried with me I freely bestowed a pound there of upon him Which he and his fellowes tooke as kindly as though it had been a pound of gold for they are excessively addictted to smoake as Dutch men are to the Pot which ever made me to carry Tobacco with me to acquist their favour over and above their fials more then ever I did for my owne use for in these dayes I took none at all though now as time altereth every thing I am Honoris Gratia become a courtly Tobacconist more for fashion then for liking The Turkish Tobacco pipes are more than a yard long and commonly of Wood or Canes beeing joyned in three parts with Lead or white Iron their severall mouths receiving at once a whole ounce of Tobacco which lasteth a long space and because of the long pipes the smoak is exceeding cold in their swallowing throats At our accustomed dismounting to recreate our selues and refresh the beasts I would often fetch a walke to stretch my legs that were stiffed with a stumbling beast wherewith the Turkes were mightily discontented and in derision would laugh and mocke me For they cannot abide a man to walke in turnes or stand to eate their usage being such that when they come from the horse backe presently sit downe on the ground folding their feete under them when they repose dine and sup So doe also their Artizans and all the Turkes in the World sit all wayes crosse legged wrongfully abusing the commondable consuetude of the industrious Tailors In their houses they have no bed to lye on 〈◊〉 chaire to sit on nor table to eate on but a bench made of boords along the house side of a foot high from the floore spred over with a Carpet whereon they usually sitting eating drinking sleeping resting and doing of manuall exercises all in one place Neither will the best sort of Mahometans be named Turks because it signifieth banished in the Hebrew tongue and therefore they call themselves Musilmans to wit good believers where in deed for good it is a false Epithite but certainly for firm believers they are wonderfull constant and so are all ignorants of whatsoever profession even like to the Spaniard who in the midst of all his evils yet he remayneth alwayes fidele to all the usurpations the Hispanicall Crown can compasse They never unclothe themselves when they go to rest neither have they any bed-clothes save onely a coverlet above them I have seen
they were the Lord knoweth from thence a Gentleman brought us to a Chappell within a vinyard called the Chappell of miracles the originall whereof was thus Upon a Festivall day being Vintage time there came a Peasant to the Towne and passing by the Vines as there is a number within the walls did eat his belly full of the Grapes and thereafter hearing a Masse was confessed and received the Sacrament And returning the same way hee came and just where hee had eaten the Grapes hee fell a vomiting and casting up with what hee had eaten the Holy Sacrament it straight turned in the likenesse of a new borne Babe being bright and glorious Well the amazed fellow ran back and told his Confessour what was done and his offence who had eaten Grapes before the Reception of the Eucharist The Confessour told the Bishop where hee and other Prelats comming to the place and beholding as it were an Angel grew astonished In the end they wrapped up their little dead god in a cambrick veile there buried it building this Chappell above the place where ever since there is a world of lying miracles done Loe these are the novelties of Cullen Thence ascending the Rhine and coasting Heidleberg I saluted the Princesse Palatine with certaine rare Relicks of the Holy Land And leaving Monsieur Bruce there till my returne I went for Norrenberg to discover the fixe Germans deaths whom I had buried in the Desarts and Grand Caire of Aegypt for the two Barons were subject to the Marquesse of Hanspauch Where having met with some of their Brethren Sisters and Kinsmen and declared to them their deaths I was presently carried to their Prince the Marquesse to whom I related the whole Circumstances Whereupon a brother of the one Baron and a sister of the other were instantly invested in their Land and I likewise by them all greatly regarded and rewarded And after ten dayes feasting reviewing Heidleberg mine associate and I set forward for Helvetia or Switzerland This countrey is divided in thirteene Cantons sixe whereof are Protestants and six Papists the odde Canton being likewise halfe and halfe The most puissant whereof is Biern whose Territory lying along the lake reacheth within a leagve of Geneve The people and their service to most Christian Princes are well knowne being Manly Martiall and trusty faithfull Here in the Canton of Bierne neere to Vrbs wee went and saw a young woman who then had neyther eate nor drunke nor yet excremented for thirteene yeares being truely qualified by her Parents friends Physitians and other Visitors She was alwayes Bed-fast and so extenuated that her Anatomized body carried nought but Sinew skin and bones yet was shee alwayes mindefull of God And the yeare after this time her body returned againe to the naturall vigour in appetite and all things and married a husband bearing two children dyed in the fifth yeare thereafter The day following we entred Geneve where viewing the Towne the chiefe Burgo-masters the seven Ministers and the foure Captaines were all familiarly acquainted with mee The Ministers one night propining mee with a Bible newly Translated in the Italian tongue by one of themselues borne in Milane told me there was a Masse-Priest sixe Leagues off a curate of a Village in Madame du longeviles Country who had gotten in his owne Parish three Widdowes and their three severall Daughters with child and all about one time and for this his Luxurious Cullions was brought to Dijon to be Executed Desiring me to go see the manner the next day leaving Master Bruce with them I went hither and upon the sequell day I saw him hanged upon a new Gallowes as high as a house The three mothers their three Daughters were set before him being Gravidato whose sorrowfull hearts and eye gushing teares for their sinne and shame were lamentable to behold the incestuous Bugerono begging still mercy and pardon for dividing their legges opening their wretched Wombs Lo there is the chastity of the Romish Priests who forsooth may not marry and yet may miscarry themselves in all abomination especially in Sodomy which is their continuall pleasure and practise Returning to Geneve acquainting the Magistrates with his Confession for they are great Intelligencers I wrot this literall Distich Glance Glorious Geneve Gospell-Guiding Gem Great God Governe Good Geneves Ghostly Game The lake of Geneve is sixteene Leaguhs in length and two broad at the South-west end whereof standeth the Towne through whose middle runneth the River of Rhone whose Head and body beginneth from the Lake among the very houses The nature of which River is not unlike to Nylus for when all other Riuers decrease being in Summer this increaseth The reasons proceeding from the excessive Snow that lie upon the Sangalian and Grisonean Alpes which cannot melt till about our longest day that the force and face of the Sunne dissolve it And so ingorging the Lake it giveth Rhone such a body that it is the swiftest River in Europe The Towne on both sides the stood is strongly fortified with rampierd walls and counter-banding Bulwarkes the Ditch without and about being dry is mainly pallasaded with wooden stakes for preventing of suddain Scallets Many assaults have this handfull of people suffered by Land and Water from the Savoyean Duke the recitall whereof would plunge mee in prolixity and therefore committing that Light shining Sion and her Religious Israelites to the tuition of the Almighty I stept over the Alps to Torine Here is the residence of the Dukes of Savoy whose beginning sprung first from the House of Saxon For Berold or Berauld being a neer Cousin to the Emperour Otton the Third and brother to the Saxon Duke the Emperour gratified him with these Lands of Savoy and parts of Piemont where he and his Successors continued four hundred yeers under the Title of Earls untill the Emperour Sigismond at the Counsell of Constance did create Amee the eight Earle of his name Duke And so beginning with him to this present Duke now living named Charles Emanuel there have been only eight Dukes and some of them of short lives And yet of all the Christian Dukes the most Princely Court is kept here for Gallants Gentry and Knights At the same time of my being there this present Duke had wars with his own brother in Law Philp the Third about the Marquesade of Montferrat and Dutchy of Mantua the issue whereof but retorted to the Duke a redoubling disadvantage though now it bee gone from the Gonsagaes to the French Duke of Naviers This Countrey of Piemont is a marvellous fruitfull and plaine Countrey and wonderfull populous like to the River sides of Arno round about Florence Insomuch that a Venetian demanding a Piemont Cavalier what Piemont was Replyed it was a Town of three hundred miles in circuite meaning of the Habitations and populosity of the Soyle The rest of the surnames of the Italian Dukes are these viz. that of Parma is Fernese
denied acceptance in England had turned Turke and built there a faire Palace beautifyed with rich Marble and Alaâ—aster stones With whom I found Domestick some fifteene circumcised English Runnagats whose lives and Countenances were both alike even as desperate as disdainfull Yet old Ward their Master was placable and joyned me safely with a passing Land conduct to Algiere yea and diverse times in my ten dayes staying there I dyned and supped with him but lay aboord in the French ship At last having obtained my pasport from the Bassaw there and surety taken for my life and monyes I imbraced the Land way with his Conduct consisting of forty Moores and a hundred Camels loaden with Silkes Dimmeties and other Commodities traversing the afore-said Regions of Abirouh and Arradetz In all which way lying nightly in a Tent I found a pleasant and fruitfull Country abounding in Wine Rye Barly Wheate and all kinde of fruites with innumerable villages and so infinitely peopled that it made me wish there had beene none at all otherwise that they had beene Christians and so more civill The greatest enemy this journey designed mee was the Sunne whose exceeding heate was intollerable to indure being in September Anno 1615. But for provision of Water Wine and Victuals wee had abundance Vpon the seaventh day of our course wee entred in the Countrey of Tremizen formerly Mauritâ—nea Caesarea This Kingdome hath to the West Mauritanea Tingitana containing the Empire of Morocco and Fez. On the South Gotulia or desertuous Numidia On the East with the Rivers of Mulvia and Amphlaga the Marches of Arradetz And on the North the Sea Mediterren opposite to Sardinia The countrey is in length from the East to the West some twenty five of their courses and of our miles above three hundred and of breadth between the Sea and Gotulia no more then thirty English miles This copious Kingdome in all things hath beene oft and ever molested with the Numidian Sarazens or bastard Arabs who falling down from the Mountaines do runne their carriere at randome upon the ground-toyled Moones to satisfie their needy and greedy desires Tremizen or Telensim had of old foure Provinces but now onely two t is own Territory and that of Algier whose capitall Towne being too cognominated Tremizen contayning once eighteene thousand fire houses But in regard of Iosephus King of Fez who besieged it seaven yeares over-mastering it and then subdued by Charles the fifth and likewise the Turkes investion of it and finally because of the long wars twixt the Seriff or King there and the Turke it is become a great deale lesser and almost disinhabited and the most part of that Countrey subject to the authority of the Bassaw of Algier At last upon the twelfth day of our leaving Tunneis having arrived at Algier and abandoning my Conduct with a good respect I stayed in a Spaniards house turned Runnagate who kept a roguish Tavern and a ground planked Hospitall In all this way of twelvescore miles I payed no Tribute neither had I any eminent perrill the Countrey being peaceable though the people uncivill This Towne of Algier was formerly under subjecton to the Kingdome of Tremizen but because of insupportable charges it revolted and rendered to the King of Arradetz or Bugia Afterwards it was under the King of Spaine from whom Barbarossa did take it Anno 1515 being now under the Turke and is situate upon the pendicles of a flat devalling height and standeth triangular The Marine side whereof is strongly fortified with earth back'd walles Bulwarkes and artilley but the semisquared land-walles are of small importance and easily to be surprised and three miles in circuite containing some thirty thousand persons There is a Turkish Bashaw here and a strong Garrison of sixe thousand Ianizaries with two hundred Cursary ships or Pirats who ever preying upon Christian Commercers by their continuall spoiles and prises have made the divelish Town wonderfull rich and become an inveterate enemy of Christendome being now a Kingdome of it selfe and in length from East to West betweene the Townes Terracot and Gâ—argola some sixe score miles It had a long reaching mould in the Sea that maketh a safe harbor for their ships against Northerly windes which on that Coast are deadly dangerous At this time the greatest part of the Towne were fled to the mountaines to shun the parching heate that beateth violently on the Plaines and Sea-shoare so doe all the maritine Townes of Barbary the like every Sommer for the moneths Iuly August and September which then being left halfe naked of defence it were the onely time for Christians to invade or surprise their Towns I found here abundance of slaves most of them Spaniards whom they daily constrain within Towne to beare all manner of burdens here and there and without Towne to drudge in the fields amongst their Vines and Cornes and other toyling labours abusing them still with buffets and bastinadoes as their perverstnesse listeth Neither durst I leave my lodging unlesse I had three or foure Christian slaves to guide me and gard me too from scelerate vulgars who beare no respect to any stranger nor free Franck. Here I remarked a wonderfull policy in the Turkish state concerning these theftuous and rapinous Townes of Barbary who as they are ordained ever to plague and prey upon the Spaniard yet under that colour they licenciate them to make havock seaze upon all other Christian ships goods and persons as they please the French nation excepted And so they doe notwithstanding of our severall Ambassadours lying at Constantinople who rather stay there as Mungrells than absolute Ambassadours for why should Christian Princes mediate for peace and commerce with the Turke when theirs with his subiects the Barbarian Mooâ—es have no safety they being obedient to his lawes and over-ruled by Bassawes as well as these are of Asia and Easterne Europe from which I gather as from all other like examples that there is a more sublime over-mastering policy subtilty and provident foresight in meere naturall men as Turkes be then in our best Grandeurs for all their Sciences schoole studies can either perceive or perform farre lesse prosecute To which avowed dangers if any small ship ruled by rash fellowes should adventure within the straits as too many English doe being unable and unprovided for defence and so are taken and captivated and afterward redeemed by Contributions over the Land I justly affirme it they deserve rather to be punished and remaine therein punishment then any reliefe or redemption to be wrought for them who will nakedly hazard themselves in knowne perrils without Ordonance munition and a burdenable ship But reverting to my purpose the marine Provinces which lye between Aegypt and Sewty over against Gibelterre being the Straits are these Cerene Barca Marmorica Ezzeba the Trypolian Jurisdiction the Kingdomes of Tunneis Abiroh Arradetz Tremizen Algier and a part of Fez extending to two thousand and three hundred maritine
and South-most Towne of the Kingdome of Fez composed of a thousand fire-houses well fortified with Walles and a Garrison of Moores in it subiect to the Emperour of Moroco the French-man long ere day fell sick of a burning Feaver Whereupon wee stayed five dayes expecting his health which growing worse and worse and hee mindfull to returne which I would not I left him in safe custodie and one of our Drudges to attend him And bearing the charges of the other two according to the former condition I set forward for my purpose which ere long turned to sad Repentance Leaving Ahetzo behind us and entring the Countrey of the Agaroes wee found the best inhabitants halfe clad the vulgars naked the Countrey void of Villages Rivers or cultivage but the soile rich in Bestiall abounding in Sheep Goats Camels Dromidores and passing good horses Having an Emeere of their owne being subiect to none but to his owne passions and them to the disposition of his scelerate nature yet hee and they had a bastard show of Mahometanicall Religion Their Bestiall are watered with sources and the pastorable fields with the nightly Serene and themselves with the waterish concavity of the earth In our sixe dayes toile traversing this Countrey wee had many troubles and snarlings from these Savages who somtimes over-laboured us with Bastinados and were still inquirous what I was and whither I went yea and enough for the Dragoman to save my life and liberty Having past the perverstnesse of this calamity upon the seaventh day wee rancountred with another soile and worser tribe of the Hagans or Iamnites most part whereof were white Moors a people more ugly then the Nigroes yet some of the better sort had their members covered but of condition far more wicked then the former The Soyle we daily traced was covered with hard and soft Sands and them full of Serpents being interlarded with Rockey heights faced with Caves Dens the very habitacle of Wilde beasts whose hollow cryes as we heard in the night so we too often sighted their bodies in the day especially Jackals Beares and Boares and somtimes Cymbers Tygers and Leopards against whom in the day time if they approached us we eyther shot of a Harquebus or else flashed some powder in the Ayre the smell whereof no ravenous beast can abide This vast Wildernesse is a part of the Berdoans Countrey one of the foure tribes of the olde Lybrians the Sabuncks the Carmines and the Southerne Garolines being the other three And now to helpe the expression of my grievous distresse and miseries my Muse must lament the jest Ah! sightlesse desarts fill'd with barren Sands And parched plains were huge and hilly laâ—ds Have stone-fac'd scurrile bounds O monsterous feare What destiny drove my cross'd Fortune here By day I 'me scoarch'd with heate by night the grounds Are clad with beasts whose rage sends horrid sounds Of dreadfull death whence we to shunne their ire Are forc'd to fright them with bright Tara fire For if it were not that they scarr'd at Light No man could walke or rest safe in the night Then next and nigh the crawling Serpent lurke Still under foote some stung-swolne smart to worke Which moove the Sands like Seas in seeking shade Where 'mongst their linking roles I 'me forc'd to wade Whose neckes like legs are round their bodies strong With black-spred backs their length full two yards long Yet whilst I cut and crush their warbling wombe I point their death their skin I make their tombe But worst I 'me hungerbit and starving slaine With pinching want a sore-sunke gnawing paine O helplesse â—orture second'd with great drouth And fiery thirst that scab my lips and mouth Wherefor fine lyquor as my my heart would wish Stress'd wandring I am forc'd to drink my pisse So turnes my food to smoake the smoake to ashes Which twice a night we three do spend in flashes Last casts my face the skin my skin the colour And spewing forth fled joyes I drinke in dolour Thus with the Torrid Zone am I opprest And lock'd twixt Tropicks two which mee invest Wherefor reliefe I pierc'd the Heavens with cryes And cut the Clouds to grieve the azure skies With sighs and grones â—et carefull to regard My curious drifts had got their just reward But to shorten my Discourse of barren Wildernesses supposed to be apart of the Lybian Desarts my Dragomaâ— upon the fourth day of our seven being there falling in despaire and wondring to see me indure such heate such hunger and such toyle did threaten mee with death to make mee seeke backe for our nearest refuge Whereupon holding our course North-east my compasse-Dyall being our guide wee rancountred earely on the eight day with nine hundred Savages naked Lybian Sabunks five hundred whereof were women armed with Bowes and Arrows who with their complices the former night had put to the sword three hundred Berdoanes their neighbour tribe carrying away above sixe hundred Sheepe and Goats besides other bestiall from whom after our sight of their Emeere or Prince wee had first liberty of life and then reliefe of food for hee came up in the Reare with a hundred Horse-men charged with halfe Pikes headed at both ends with sharpe Steele The person of their Prince was onely clothed from his brests downe to his middle thigh with a Crimson vaile of Silke hanging on his naked shoulders with coloured Ribans and on his head a party coloured Shash set like a Garland Both his knees were bare so were his ancles the calues of his legges being girded with Crimson Silke and on his feet yellow shooes his beard was like his face burnt with the Sunne and his age like to my owne of 33 yeares his Religion is damnable so is his life for hee and all the foure Tribes of Lybia worship onely for their god Garlick having altars Priests and superstitious rites annexed to it Thinking Garlicke being strong of it selfe and the most part of their food to have a soveraigne vertue in a herball Diety All his Courters were starke naked saving his Page who was even covered like to the King his Master And now having dismissed his Army for the way and falling in an houres parley with us at his departure he prâ—pyned me with his Bowe a Quiver of Arâ—owes which afterward I presented to his Maiesty then Prince There is a merry secret heare concerning the women which often I recited to King Iames of Blessed memory showing him also three Certificats of this my Desartuous wandring one of which was confirmed by English Ward at Tunneis upon the Dragomans Report though now they with all my other Patents are lost in the Inquisition of Malaga This former savage Prince sent a Guide with vs for foure dayes journey the condition of his mans Wages being made by himselfe and franckly advised us that Tunneis was our best and nearest recourse Which being forcibly considered I was constrained to renew my bargaine agayne with
on Edenbrugh and prosecuting the Tennor of a Regall Commission which partly beeing some-where obeyed and other-where suspended it gave mee a large sight of the whole Kingdome both Continent and Iles. The particular Description whereof in all parts and of all places besides Ports and Rivers I must referre to the owne Volume already perfected Inâ—iâ—ulaâ—ed Litâ—gâ—wes Surueigh of Scotland which this Worke may not Containe nor time suffer to publish till a fiâ—ter â—ccasion Only Commenting a little upon some generalls I hasten to be at Finis Traversing the Westerne Iles whose inhabitants like to as many Bulwarkes are abler and apter to preserve and defend their libertie and precincts from incursive invasions then any neede of Forts or Fortified places they have or can be required there Such is the desperate courage of these awfull Hebridians I arrived I say at the I le of Arrane Anno 1628. where for certayne dayes in the Castle of Braidwicke I was kindly intertayned by the illustrious Lord Iames Marquesse of Hammilton Earle of Arrane and Cambridge c. Whom GGD may strengthen with the liveliest Heart And fearelesse Minde of all ere fac'd that Art For Bohems Queene Heauens prosper His intent With Glorious Successe and a Braue euent That by a King beene Sped for a Kings Sake To helpe a King all Three from Him may take Auspicuous Seruice frienship faithfull Loue Gainst whom and his no time can breach improue Let then great God blest Sparkes of fauour fall On his Designes and Theirs our Friends and All And Angels Guard Him let Thy Mighty hand Partition-like twixt Him and dangers stand That Martiall ends and Victory may Crowne His happie Hopes his Life with Loue Renowne This I le of Arrane is thirty miles long eight in breadâ—h and distant from the Maine twenty foure Miles being sur-clouded with Goatfield Hill which with wide-eyes ouer-looketh our Westerne Continent and the Northerne Countrey of Ireland bringing also to â—ighâ— in a cleare Summers day the I le of Manne and tâ—e higher Coast of Cumberland A larger prospect no Mountaine in the World can show poynting out three Kingdomes at one sight Neither any like Isle or brauer Gentry for good Archers and hill-houering Hunters Hauing againe re-shoared the Maine I coasted Galloway euen to the Mould that butteth into the Sea with a large Promontore being the south-most part of the Kingdome And thence footing all that large Countrey to Dumfreis and so to Carlile I found heere in Galloway in diuerse Rode-way Innes as good Cheare Hospitality and Seruiceable attendance as though I had beene ingrafted in Lombardy or Naples The Wool of which Countrey is nothing inferiour to that in Biscai of Spaine prouiding they had skill to fine Spin Weaue and labour it as they should Nay the Calabrian silke had neuer a better luster and softer gripe then I haue seene and touched this growing wool there â—n sheepes backes the Mutton whereof excelleth in sweetnesse So this Country aboundeth in Bestiall especially in little Horses which for mettall and Riding may rather be tearmed bastard Barbes then Gallowediau Nagges Likewise their Nobility and Gentry are as courteous and euery way generously disposed as either discretion would wish and honour Command that Cunningham being excepted which may be called the Accademy of Religion for a sanctified Clergy and a godly people certainly Galloway is become more ciuill of late then any Maritine Country bordering with the Westerne Sea But now to obserue my former Summary condition the length of the Kingdome lyeth South and North that is betweene Dungsby head in Cathnes and the fore-said Mould of Galloway being distantâ— per rectam liâ—eam which my weary feet â—road ouer from poynt to poynt the way of â—ochreall Carrick Kyle Aire Glasgow Stirueling St. Iohns Towne Stormount the Blair of Athâ—ll the Brâ— of Mar Badeynoh Innernes Rosse Sutherland and so to the North Promontore of Cathnes extending to three hundred twenty miles which I reckâ—n to be foure hundred and fifty English miles Confounding hereby the ignorant presumption of blind Cosmographers whom their Mappes make England longer than Scotland when contrariwise Scotland out-strippeth the other in length a hundred and twenty miles The breadth whereof I grant is narrower than England yet extending betweene the extremities of both Coasts in diuers parts to threescore fourescore and a hundred of our miles But because of the Sea ingulfing the Land and cutting it in so many Angles making great Lakes Bayes and dangerous Firths on both sides of the Kingdome the true breadth thereof cannot iustly be coniectured nor soundly set downe Our chiefest fresh water Lakes are these Lochlomond contayning twenty â—oure Iles and in length as many miles divers whereof are inriched with Woods Deere and other Bestiall The large and long Lake of Loch Tay in Atholl the Mother and Godmother of Head-strong Tay the grâ—atest Riuer in the Kingdome And Lochnes in the higher parts of Murray the Riuer whereof that graceth the pleasant and commodious situation of Innerneâ— no â—rost can freize The propriety of which water wil quickly melt and dissolue any hard congealed lumps of frozen â—ce be it on Man or Beast stone or timâ—er The chiefest Rivers are Clyde Tay Tweed Forth Dee Spay Nith Nesse and Dingwells flood ingorging Lake that confirmeth Porta salutis being all of them where they returne their tributs to their father Ocean portable and as it were resting places for turmoyled seas and ships And the principall Townes are Edenbrough Perth Glasgow Dundie Abirdene St Andrewes Aire Stirveling Lithgow Dumfreis Innernes Elgin Minros Iedburgh Hadington Leith c. and for antiquity old Lanerk c. So the most delicious soiles of the Kingdome are these following first the bounds of Clyde or Cliddisdale betweene Lanerk and Dunbertan distanced twenty sixe miles and thence downeward to Rossay that kisseth the divulgements of the River the beginning whereof is at Arickâ— stone sixeteene miles above Lanerk whose course contendeth for threescore miles All which being the best mixed Country for Cornes Meeds Pastorage Woods Parks Orchards Castles Pallaces divers kinds of Coale and earth-fewell that our included Albion produceth And may justly be surnamed the Paradise of Scotland Besides it is adorned on both borders along with the greatest peeres and Nobility in the Kingdome The Duke of Lennox the Marques of Hammilton the Earle of Angus the Earle of Argile and the Earles of Glencarne Wigton and Abircorn And for Lord Barons Semple Rosse Blantyre and Dalliell The chiefest Gentry whereof are the Knights and Lairds of Luce Skell murelie Blâ—khall Greenock Newwark Houston Pook-maxwell Sir George Elpingston of Blythswood Minto Cambusnethen Calderwood the two Knights of Lieye and Castel-hill Sir Iames Lokharts elder yonger Lamington Westraw his Majesties Gentleman Sewer Blakwood Cobinton Stanebyres and Corhous c. All which in each degree as they illuminat the soile with grandure so the soyle reflecteth on them againe with beauty bounty and riches But least I partiall prove