and Turditanes betweene the Celtibrians and Iberians setled nations in Spaine to the deciding of whose controuersies Marrhable and Haldruball were called out of Carthage which both made a conquest of Spaine and proiected to clip the feathers of the Roman Aegle who now began to spread her wings ouer the best inhabited fields of the world That from this emulation Rome stood on a better guard and accounted these Africans a barbarous people in respect of themselues as foretold from the prophesie of Daniel and the Sibills of her strange establishment as Queene of the world and at last shared the plenty of Spaine for impatient of any aduenturers in that voyage the Carthaginians were expelled and the royall standard of Italy aduanced That time ouer-wearied with the insulting of perpetuitie at last incited the strange nations of Gothes Vandalls and Lombards to labour in the worke of the god of alteration who pull'd this country from all Emperors and Kings and made a fearefull diuision of the same keeping themselues warme in Spaine when all other countries failed That long after Count Iulian began a new worke as if he could haue powred downe vengeance on the author of his discontents For after Rodrigo had rauished his daughter hee called in the Mores a race of Mahumetans into Spaine to be reuenged on the King by whose assistance he not onely banished the Gothes and other people into Castile but kill'd the King vsurped the country altred the gouernment and so plaied their parts in Granado Valentia and Andolozia as if they were created of purpose to shew some wonder of heauen when dissolution of Kingdomes and punishment of offences is determined so that they quickly made their owne conditions and bound the countrey euer since to the ratifying of them infecting the best families of Spaine with paganisme whereby our moderne Kings weeding them out by litle and litle haue also attempted to purge their Churches of such filthines and when they could not preuaile by precept and authority of reason they erected the office of Inquisition to discouer who were addicted to the adoration of Mahomet and durst contest against the blessednes of saluation in IESVS CHRIST whereupon the Mores haue raised many innouations in the countrey euen the last yeere to the number of a million fraighted their hearts with treason and a burning desire to set on flame the wondrous compacted peace of Spaine Here is yet no great cause of amazement For thus were the children of Israel persecuted by the Aegiptians affrighted with the Philistims maligned by the Edomites subiected and made slaues to Babylon tormented and threatned by Syrians and Graecians and at last not onely subdued but subuerted by the Romans who of all other put the axe to the tree and at one stroke laid the same on the ground leauing the holy Citie desolate as a widow cast out as an orphan despised as a vagabond and punished worse than a traiterous rebell vntill the Mahumetans by way of curtesie ridd her of her paine at once and vtterly trampled her to peeces so that now to see the people dispersed without a law common-wealth or King to view the countrey like a barren wildernes to behold nothing but rapes and robberies where so many promises had bin made from heauen where such riches and maiestie flourished where such mightines and state increased and where all prosperity triumphed would leniat an adamantine heart and raise a crying voice from commiseration with Heu cadit in quenquam tantum scelus tanta iniquitas And thus much for example concerning the seuerall alterations of Spaines gouernment now to the rest of his ostentation The whole countrey retaineth still the antient diuision of Baeticam Lusitaniam and Tarraconensem and the memory of eight seuerall Kingdomes 1. Gallicia to which Asturia and Cantabria are connected 2. Nauarra the proper inheritance of the house of Burbon in France 3. Castiles a coople boasting both of antiquitie and excellency 4. Lusitania tother day Portugall but now incorporated with the rest into the house of Austria 5. Leon extinguished long since by the greater light of Arrogon 6. Arrogon laying claime to Naples and Ierusalem and so enlarging the King of Spaines titles 7. Valencia mourning for her corruption in religion and 8. Granado to which Andolozia or the countrey of Vandalls with the former Iland of Gades are vnited Amongst these Portugall did once boast of the conquest of India Aethiopia Persia and many other places especially Taprabona or the Iland of Saint Lawrence betweene whom and Great Britaine as I haue said before at this instant of all the Ilands in the world is comparison for circuit and spatiousnes of ground But shall we let them goe on with these vaine-glorious titles of conquest and victory when they are yet but poore possessors of some harbours and townes by the sea shore and stand on their guard with more terror to lose than euer they entertained comfort in getting them I I let them alone a gods name For quarrels arise from contradiction and there is no disputing with men resolued in the vaine promises of worldly deceit nor must you be incredulous when a Portugall shall report that these exploits were carried in the current of successe without the helpe of Spaine at all as though there was euer a distinction or rather separation betweene themselues and a Castilian yea they proceeded further as if there were an Antipathy in nature For they vsed to spit at the naming a Spaniard like simple people in England after the Deuill was pronounced But to the rest if you would truely vnderstand the cause of his pride and former elation of countenance you must then take notice that he detaineth all these Kingdoms within his owne Continent as a commanding Monarch and after many convulsions begged at fortunes hands the ratification of the Royalty stiling himselfe withall King of Naples Sicilia and Hierusalem the two former gouerning by Viceroies the latter claiming by inheritance as vnwilling to lose himsele or forget the glory of his auncestors wherein he pleadeth imitation For the Emperor writeth King of the Romans not once visiting of Italy the Denmarke King of England England of France and France of Nauarre then are the Ilands of Sardinia Corsica Maiorca and Minorca entred his booke of accounts to which if you adde the noble Duchie of Millane into whose demeanor Count Fuentes looketh with prying eies for his behalfe that the state of Genoa dependeth on his protection you will say ambition set him well on worke and as well rewarded him for his daies labour As for the Low Countries he would faine shew them as feathers belonging to his broken wings and taketh the house of Burgundie for his owne hoping that the Pope which can canonize a Saint will make the daughter of Spaine a Queene especially of her owne inheritance Thus liueth and ruleth he in Europe but all this were rather burthensome vnto him considering the barren hills and
the buâ—…nesse in hand but to please one another in matters of incontinency yet haue they many wiues who striue with all â—…cting demeanour to bee best beloued of their 〈◊〉 But you haue diuers bookes of this subiect both anâ—… and moderne as Herodotus Pliny and other Cosmographers who thus relate the matter that since the conquest of Bacchus whom by another name they call â—…oer Paâ—…r they haue settled in their countrey with magnificent eqâ—… page 5000. principall cities aduancing a fashion â—…le gouernment to equall the best Common-wealths onely they adored Bacchus for a God and Hercules for a giant they neuer intruded into any other princes territories but haue defended their owne from all innouation of strangers as Q. Curtius relateth adding withall a delicate commentary of their famous exploits and noble greatnesse euen against the Conquerour of the world in the time of the Heâ—…e Porus who with great maiesty valour and armies of Elephants would haue maintained their freedome and glory but that Fortune and Successe had condescended to the conditions of ratifying Alexanders prosperity And although the many Princes haue sometimes repined one against another and for superiorities sake shewed the â—…ety of their owne glories and mightinesse yet 〈◊〉 still combined in the propâ—…ing of forâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appeasing priuate encombrances not reaching 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ciuill deciding and hating iniustice and coâ—… 〈◊〉 much as may bee They loue and reuerence their Kings amongst whom the great Mogull hauing vs in some estimation before other Princes of Europe and with whom we haue a kinde of correspondency as by reciprocall letters may appeare is principall and of greatest reputation making holy-day when hee shaueth his head and attending his chariot with pompous brauery spredding the way where he must passe with costly ornaments and delicate perfumes For hee is carried in great pomp on the shoulders of men adorned with purple golde and precious stones the chaire hanging with orient pearle and all thing so ordered as if the best of our ceremonies should adde an honor to Maiesty His Guards for his person are many and the best of his souldiers who suffer no neerer approaches to his stately throne then hee himselfe shall command which is publikely knowen by the disrobing of his head of common ornaments and inuesting himselfe with a magnificent Diadem then are Embassadors admitted and diuers lawes enacted for the good of the people Another booke will discouer that when hee disposeth himselfe to pleasure his concubines are sent for to be partakers of the hunting and then in open view the beasts are killed being chased before hand into certaine straight enclosures for the purpose but if he determine a longer progresse their chariots are drawne with Elephants and their honourable Queenes left at home but the wantons are enstructed to make proud incontinency swell with variety not accustoming their wiues to be partaker of such lasciuious changes but reseruing them for necessity of children or moderation of contentment when he determineth to sleepe or peraduenture is ouerloded with wine that he must resettle his spirits and senses with rest and ease the loueliest dames bring him to bed singing a song of inuocation to the God of silence and the night Another will relate how worthily their honest matrons liue after they haue had children how euer they yeelde their chastities at the first to their louers for the price of an Elephant which yet neuer exciteth any exprobation against them In some places when a virgin desireth marriage her parents bring her to publike view amongst a number of young men where shee electeth whom shee fancieth In their mutuall commerces they hate vsury disclaime iniustice denie indentures of couenant contracts of writing and haue many seeming excellencies of loue confidence and trusting one another onely they are impatient of wrong and thinke it a glory to take reuenge but will not offer the occasion Another will tell you that they once esteemed two sorts of wisemen by the names of Samaraei and Brachamanes both which were charactered for Gymnosophists but the Samaraei for their precisenesse were better esteemed of the Kings for liuing more moderate then the rest as eating neither fish nor flesh it added to their reputation that the peace of their Kingdomes was established by their orizons and the prosperity of the countrey confirmed through their holinesse Another will demonstrate how St. Thomas conuerted them to Christianity how euer with the Syrians in Samaria they haue since intermingled horrible idolatry and vntill the Portugals came amongst them would scarse reforme the most grossest abuses Another will enlarge the conquest of their countrey by the Portugals and Spanyard with a full description of all things which may shew you the perfect portraiture of their kingdomes courts common-wealth riches pleasures ciuill administration and mightinesse yet as I take it so farre from a conquest as wee were ouer France when we had only Callis in Picardy or Turwin and Tornay which cost more the re-edifying then all the country about it was worth Heere you shall also finde how they haue striued with the Aegyptians for antiquity and cunning how many Ilands are subiected vnto them amongst whom Summatra in times past called Taprobana mustreth the power of eight Kings Iapan affoordeth our English a harbour and at Bantam they receiue the commodities of China from the Indian Marchants who are only admitted to commerce amongst them and diuers others as are therein variated with many particulars To conclude no one Countrey comes neere it for greatnesse which without other addition lifteth vp her title alone as challenging all the territories betweene China and Persia yea in times past China it selfe almost 1200. English mile and amongst many Kings hee is principall that obtaineth by force or popularity But of late they haue ouer-exalted the high Priest called Voo who in spirituall matters as I may say hath absolute power and authority and vpon whose blessing or cursing dependeth the expectation of future happinesse Yet hath this idolatrous superstition acknowledgement of a God whom they inuest with a triple crowne not yeelding any reason for the same but that he commandeth Heauen Earth and Hell The Iesuites haue taught them to baptize infants in some places and to fast wherein they are now tedious obseruants as barbarous people are best maintainers of customes and ceremonies and they vse the signe of the crosse but it is where they are enforced by the Spanish garisons otherwise what I spake before of China for all their silkes clothes of gold delicate beds houses of canes Serpents Elephants precious stones minerals pearles perfumes drugs spice sweet wood barkes of trees shels nuts and other things of estimation I may with a Christinn-like sorrow amplifie concerning their turpitude and morosity As for their cities euery one would affoord a story and I am vnwilling to runne into the errour of fiction or miracle considering your best Cosmographers haue onely extended the relations of others
Brandenburge and Count Pallatine of the Rhene the binding voice is allowed the King of Bohemia who was once so absolute that he triumphed in the threeâ—…old City of Prage with repining when the Emperor challenged either submission or prostitution but now the Pope and Austria haue subuerted such immunities and vnder the danger of fulmination and Church discipline terrifie them all from contradicting their wilfulnes The Cities of this spacious Countrey are many and haue as many descriptions from seuerall Authors whom if you finde contrary to one another you must modâ—… your anger and remember how diuers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with sicke bodies that although they liâ—… with 〈◊〉 of learned men yet shall not any two agree 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 causes nor the remedie of the disease leâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnderstand the same neuer so well So fareth it 〈◊〉 quarians and Chronographers they shew you such faces as they themselues beheld or wrote as priuate affection and information induced and so the next age enlarged her talent and the last opposeth against the former But if you will be contented with my manner of Cosmography and vnderstand that my meaning in this cursory iourney is to runne onely away with Titles you shall then finde vpon the Rhene a riuer comming out of Heluetia and 800. mile together gathering many confederates of springs and brookes to shew himselfe well accompanied at the Court of the maine Ocean Constance Basill famous in her originall vpon the Serpent found in her foundation Strasborough beautifull in her name and for her high steeple Spires Ments Hidelburge the Court of the Palatine Franckfurt glorious in her Marts Coblents and Coleine these be principall Cities either supporting the chaires of Byshops or maintaining their owne freedomes with royall iurisdiction or submitting to the controule of some worthy Prince as for other Townes which are both walled and fortified they are infinite and would fill vp too much roome to ioyne them here together Vpon Danubius the greatest riuer of Europe as running 1500. mile betweene the bankes of many Countries and changeth his name into â—…er when he commeth into the pride of Greece and poureth himselfe with troupes of attendance into the lap of the black-sea you haue Vlmms Auspurg or if you will Auguâ—…ta proud of her title and fortification Ingelstade boasting of the birth of Emperors Regenspurg Paslaw Vienna Presburg and Keimar vpon Weserslood that runâ—…eth through Brunswicke and Westphalia Brennen and Caâ—… vpon the riuer Alba which posteth out of Bohemia as it were with glad tidings through the midst of many flourishing Countries into the German sea Pragâ—… Dresda East Wittenberg Brandenberg Hanborough and Stode vpon Odera whose head almost meeteth with the Wexell of Poland Neisa Breslaw Crossen East Franâ—…furt and Stetin this riuer running toward Brandenburg through Silesia watreth a great part of Pomerania within the heart of this Continent whose veines are yet filled and life as it were refreshed with the moderate flowing and swelling goodnesse of diuers armes hanging as it were by the maine bodies of these riuers and may resemble kinde messages or entercourses strengthning the amity of vnsetled families are scituated Norremberg the greatest of the Countrey Wirteberg Erfurt Brunswick Iger Gorlitz and so many other that France and Italy both must a litle yeeld For if a difference may tend to make a place the better questionlesse Germany hath the preeminence yet because it resembleth a Capitoll of so many Princes rather then a Parliament house where the Subiect how great soeuer acknowledgeth his Monarch we will allow him Emperor as I haue said for good manners sake but questionlesse standing at the deuotion of his imperials and Cities it diminisheth his glory and obscureth the shining of his three Crownes witnes the busines of Colleine it selfe which amongst many others of the same kind is so subiected to the authority of the Byshop that the name of Emperor hath sounded harshly to their obedience and both people and Clergie haue still opposed against all secular Princes the story is briefly thus The History of COLLEINE COlleine is a famous Towne and one principall of the Vbij before CHRIST which questionlesse the Romanes made great account of as a receptacle for their garrisons when they had warre against the Swedians who â—…nged then all ouer Germany especially in Saxonia In the time of Iulius Caesar there was a wodden bridge made ouer the Râ—…ene for the better transporting his armie which was after transhap't into stone but the miracle proceeded from the power of money and industry of man but because many murthers rapes and robberies were committed on the same Bruno the Byshoppe by the Emperor Oâ—…os commaundement ruined and quite subuerted it so it should seeme it was then called Vbiopolis vntill a commutation into Colonia Agrippina of Marcus Agrippa sonne in law to Augustus Caesar who reedified and beautified the same yet Tacitus extracteth the title from a daughter of Augustus borne here and leaueth it as a place of great consequence vnder the iurisdiction of many worthy Commaunders but it should seeme they entertained Christianity betimes and quickly cast away the authoritie of the Romanes For thus they record it About the yeere 70. Maternus the Disciple of Saint Peter conuerted the Vbij who admitted their spirituall saluation with such gladnesse that they likewise determined the preseruation of their liberty and bodies and so proiected to be free of themselues had not afterward diuers Emperors setled the Duke of Saxony and Earles of the Emâ—… 〈◊〉 established greatness both ouer Citie and Counâ—… vntill againe the Pope wrested the supremacie ouer the European Princes and confirmed the Archbishops in the ostentation of a Count Palatine and absolute power of the gouernment of all which yet the secular Noble men not onely repined at but sought by noble courses to preuent and at last when no deuise could make gentill the hard wound pullies of the Clergies ambition they were resolute to effectuate it by force of armes so that many contentions arose betweene the Byshoppe Nobles and Citizens which ended not without effusion of blood and ouerthrow of whole armies drawne into the field by particeans whereby the Citie it selfe felt the smart of warlike scourges and saw her walles and houses puld on heapes of rubbish according to the nature of rage and fury the end of tumultuous vprors But at last Colleine is reedified and in despight of all frets and fumes either of Saxony the Palatine of the Empire or confederates of the Princes acknowledgeth the Archbishop for supreame Gouernour and he still ouermantleth it with a superstitious protection so that the people are kept vnder with his blessing and cursing accordingly It now bendeth like a bow as you see our great Citie from Surreies side the key before the wall is a place of great pleasure the ports and ramparts worth the obseruing the Palace stately and magnificent the houses beautifull and comely the streets sweet spatious and well ordered the Inhabitants
Citie is large boasteth of Virgils birth the delicate streames of Po ouer which for all the swiftnes and bredth a gallery bridge transporteth both coach cart and horse and vnder which are preserued many courtly barges both for magnificent showes pleasure of the water in summer time and necessitie of the inhabitants at all times The eight prize of Italies lottery is proclaimed for the Dukedome of Parma connited to the house of Farnesius a Spaniard and signorising ouer Macentia and Mirandula not onely holdeth vp a stately countenance of three magnificent Cities famous for many alterations proud of well contriued ramparts boasting of hansome women and exposing an extraordinary profit from the vent of seuerall country merchandice but openeth the plentifull fields of increase and giueth cause of wonder for many temporary blessings The ninth proportion of this countries happinesse is distributed to the Duchie of Millanâ—… a principality in times past of such eminence that like a faire shining planet in a conspicuous orbe it once had a prerogatiue of title and goodnes ouer other Dukedomes and how euer the King of Spaine hath charged Count Fuentes to ouer-looke the Citie and countrey and Don Diego de Piemontel to superuise the Castle and Garison yet is the brauery of the place very litle abated nor doth the Nobleman shrinke vnder the burthen but carrieth his load lightly how euer his inward grones are breathed and lifteth vp a face of cheerefulnes as if he dranke wine and fed on oyle indeed according to the properties of either On the tenth rondell of Italies ladder is Genoa mounted a rich proud and sumptuous state yet much perplexed for their perfidious dealing with the French and now depending on Spanish protection hath a Duke by their constitution and placed or displaced according to the mightinesse of factions or fauour of the Clergy The Citie hath many buildings of eminent sumptuousnes and is not so filed in the rankes of reputation but that they iest it thus with the aire birdlesse the sea fishles the mountaines woodles the men respectles and the women graceles On the eleuenth seate of this Countries Councell-chamber hath residence the Prouince of Trent famous for a Generall Councell and lieth warme vnder the Alpes neighbouring Germany you may passe to it through the famous lakes of Lombardy De guarda and De Como from whence arise those swelling springs that fill the streaming riuer of Padus and strengthen the Citie like an Iland except it be toward the West where yet you shall behold a reasonable fortification and a well murited wall with ramparts and rauelings It is subiect to a Cardinall who like a Count Palatine taketh all iurisdiction vpon him and with the two mastring coorbes of the world praemium and poena gouerneth the sterne of this principalitie The twelfth place to make the iury the fuller is assigned to Piemont the flourishingst part of Sauoy as opening the gates of his chiefest palace and Citie Turine where a Citadell of Spanish Garisons taketh account of all passengers which come ouer the Alps it sendeth the riuer of Po through the countrey as farre as Ferrara into the Venetian Gulph and hauing many Knights of Malta within her walles is ready for their succour which way soeuer it chance and they againe for hers as reciprocally depending vpon one another and howeuer they are all ielous of the Spaniard they yet dare not breath it aloud but sure I am when I passed through Italy and that the Cardinals Aldabrandino and Caesario came with a treaty to haue the Prince of Piemont and his brother vnder the King of Spaines protection the Secretary was imprisoned by the Councell of State for vrging the matter in the King of Spaines behalfe so that there is probable suspition that the Sauoijen and Spaniard will not continue long friends for all their alliance it receiueth the customes of Merchants trauelling ouer the Alpes and maintaineth the office of Dacij and could be contented to haue either Millane or Naples annexed to his Coronet But if you will haue Sauoy flie with her owne wings you must hearken a litle after some antiquitie CHAP. XII The storie of SAVOY THE countrey of Sauoy is all mountanous euen from the fields and champaine of Lions to Mount Sinese the onely passage of the Alpes into Italy It is called Sinese quasi nunquam sine niue neuer without snow and is indeed a dangerous tedious and cold trauell euen in the midst of summer but Sauoy hath many other hills as Aguabelle and Agabellette and is euery way full of strange and vneuen iournies so that it shall not be amisse to deriue our discourse from the etymologie of the word which may serue to confront ignorance and enrich vs with the knowledge of things which is no great burthen but rather a happines according to the Poet Foelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas You must then vnderstand that this strange and vnsauoury nation by reason of the streight and narrow waies to trauell in was euer subiect to theeues and being slenderly inhabited had not sufficiency to protect either themselues or passengers from the confused rages of men addicted to spoiles and murthers wherevpon it continued in the name and scandall of Maluoy the ill or mischeeuous way vntill a worthy aduenturer of the countrey attempted a reformation and shew'd these disordred people the strength of a more powerfull arme preuailing so farre that by his industry and fortune these enormities were not onely purged but the first causers remoued I meane the robbers and theeues were either slaughtred outright or publikely executed for a terrifying example and as a reward to his vertues the end of his labours had a quadruplicitie of blessings First the Emperor made him a DVKE gaue him part of Italy called now Piemont as if it would speake for it selfe that it is a countrey at the foote of the mountaine and inuested him with iura regalia not to be accountable to any Prince for his actions within his owne territories Secondly the countrey it selfe changed her title from Maluoy into Sauoy quasi salua via Thirdly these incredible mountaines erected houses entertained husbandmen and cattle and builded Chappels where a man would imagine an impossibilitie of footing Last of all it was stored with forts and castles in such a defensiue manner that some of them at this day rancke themselues in the highest forme of bulwarkes and and ramparts But I must not thus passe ouer their accounts nor vilipend their glory For they boast of antiquity of Kings as that Hanibal found Brunco disseised of his inheritance by his yonger brother and so rectified that discord That Bitultus or Bituitus another King was taken prisoner by Q. Fabius Maximus some 50. yeeres after Hanibals passage into Italy And that Cotius raigned in the time of Augustus the Emperour so that till the Goths and Vandals dissolued all gouernments of the West these countries remained firme
moderation and restraint of distempered actions The villages or dorps are foure hundred amongst whom the stately county of the Hague aduanceth her counteuance equall to a great city for their court retaineth some shew of princilnesse and the old palace maketh demonstration of those noble customes and hospitality which the ancient Earles in their former power maintained yet because it is vnwalled neighbouring a pretty parke of fallow Deere and inuiteth you to better retired places then the townes of hurliburly and continuall commerces accustome it is reputed a Dorp and seemeth much contented with her situation so remote from the forraine enemy of the State Harlem with her spaciousnesse is founded most delicately for as soone as you are entred the pleasure of a pretty wood inuiteth your abode where the Citizen in the dayes of pastime make their honest conuersation the strengthning of one anothers friendship Besides for bulwarkes harbours shipping capacity entercourse and noble meetings it challenged the precedency of all the towns of Holland howeuer Amsterdam hath got the start for riches marchants and nauigation yet hath Harlem a greater wall and better compacted buildings Dort or Dordrech some 150. yeeres since was made an Iland by the inundation of the sea which with vngentle violence at that time washed away whole fields of firme ground and like a barren vnsatiate wombe filled her paunch with aboue 200. villages It is a beautifull long towne and graced with the staple of Rhenish wine corne and timber brought in great strange and long boats called Punts which neuer goe backe againe but serue in these riuers as a receptacle of diuers families and many people who haue no other dwelling then on shipboord if you demand how they liue the voyage ended maintain their estates when the first businesse is determined They spin fish follow the league with prouision carry corne and turffe from towne to towne and are employed for the vse of bridges to transferre whole armies ouer riuers but to tell you that some of them are 160. foot long and haue three or foure diuisions or houses in one boat would raise a suspicion and peraduenture make you smile at the fiction but admire the truth Delft is so named of a ditch cut out betweene it and the Hague and is a sweet and pleasant towne although the inhabitants are emploied for the most part about brewing and spinning of wooll Leyden boasteth of her antiquity as deriuing her originall from the Legions of the Roman souldiers heere resident when the custome of warre and the coldnesse of winter did enforce them to garison and orderly sequestration it is now an Vniuersity beautified with walkes of pleasure and magnificence yet cannot wash away the imputation of many trayterous reuolts and vnconstant resolutions against the gouernment of the States Gouda is a populous towne vpon the riuer Isell yet could tell you of another of her owne name that runneth into the Ocean as if it made haste to tell you from whence it came Amsterdam besides the sea is visited by the gentle riuer Tia yet seemeth sory that she cannot be affoorded the sweetnesse of her waters and is so contriued as the channels of Venice which direct you by boat from house to house for shipping it is one of the most famous harbours in the world and hath such entercourse of Marchants and Saylors that I haue numbred 1000. ships of all sorts to goe out at one tide for buildings it equals the best and for orderly watches and fortifications the Burgers haue a blessed vniformity and glorious reputation Enchusen vpon the banke of the sea called the Zuidersea is famous for the building of ships which are heere yeerely built and orderly rigged Horne hath the same foundation and in May bringeth together such a faire of butter and cheese and in such incredible manner that almost all countries haue suppliment from thence Alcmar likewise maintaineth the dairy and encloseth such fields that a very few acres of ground raise a good farme Purmerndum boasteth of her first estimation by reason of the palace and delicate castle which belonged to Count Egmond was within her wals Edam hath great store of shipping and such kine that few oxen are larger besides heere is sowed so much hemp that most of the netting which either Holland or Zeland vse is heere made Sconhouen is a delicate towne and place of pleasure for indeed it is an attribute or significant name from the attracting delight of their gardens and hath a staple for Salmons Rotterdam a great city full of shipping yet rather boasteth of the birth of Erasmus Brill is a towne of defence and was once causionary to England in regard of great summes disbursed for the States but now of late by the Kings Maiesty resigned into the hands of the States Thus for strength fertility wealth and plenty of shipping Holland exceedeth any countrey in the world challenging no more circuit of ground as may be ghessed by the yeere 1587. when there was 600. ships arrested in the Sont by the King of Denmark and in 1588. it is well knowen that in very short warning they supplyed vs with an hundred men of warre as for Cales voyage the third part of that Nauie was theirs but if you looke further in the West and East-Indies in the hauens of Barbary and Affrick in the Arches and Constantinople in the Gulph of Venice and almost all the frequented places of the world the Hollander aduentures and is now a glorious Marchant and Mariner To conclude Holland Zeland and Freesland smile in the possession of 2500. good ships from 150. tun to 700. and although they haue no timber or at least very little growing for this purpose yet doe they yeerely set vpright 5. or 600. of one sort or other Of all in the States diuision the City and Lordship of Vtrech is principall as retaining an ancient Bishops See and shewing the ruines of a castle erected to suppresse the insolency of the inhabitants who in a pride of their owne greatnesse made a continuall sport of rebellion it is now vtterly defaced and the loyalties of their harts seeme more firme then the workes of mens hands assuring vs that so noble a citie and populous territories would yeeld a very ambitious Prince reasonable satisfaction if it might bee commanded by the authority of a Monarch and had the vnity of a well-ordered Common-wealth and Kingdome The Countrey of Freesland would require an ample discouery to extract her originall and relate her stories so would Cleeueland the land of Luke Munsterland and some others reputed Neuters that is neither maintaining the Spanyard in his military inuasion nor supporting the States in their iustifiable defences But I refer you to their own manyother cōmentaries content myself with a cursory trauell and what I can catch hold of by running touches It is diuided into two parts by the riuer Amisia which commeth downe by Embden East Freesland challenging
glasse to see vnity and beauty in such a treasury of wealth such a store-house of all terrestriall blessings vnder the sunne If you will view it without at all times and yet consider the customes of keeping our country houses you will say there are not so manie Gentle-men in anie place nor gathered together to better purpose nor can the varietie of Paris bring you into the walks of such pleasure with so little charge and offence as London For with vs our riding of horses musique learning of all Arts and Sciences dancing fencing seeing of commedies or interludes banquets masques mummeries turnaiments shewes lotteries feasts ordinarie meetings and all the particulars of mans inuention to satiate delight are easie expences and a little iudgement with experience will manage a very meane estate to wade through the current of pleasure although it runne to voluptuousnesse But if you come to our Court I hope you finde not such another for stately attendants dutifull seruice plentie of fare resort of Nobles comelinesse of Ladies gallantrie of Gentles concourse of people princely pastimes noble entertainment and all things befitting the Maiestie of a King or glorie of a nation so that I may say for London as the King of France answered the Emperors tedious titles with France France France and nothing but France so crie I London London London and nothing but London to their proudest and all their cities And thus much for Paris now to Constantinople What I haue said of Paris by way of comparison concerning the gouernment and orderly managing the affaires of a citie I may well conclude against Constantinople but because this imperiall place looketh with a more maiesticall countenance then other cities and lifteth vp as it were a daring head against all contradiction for her superioritie I must needes pensill out the line of her praises at some length and tell you truely wherein her worthinesse consisteth and yet may deceiue opinion without true iudgement Constantinople otherwise called Stanbole the Beautifull hath a handsome and formall triangle of a wall the first part whereof reacheth from the seuen towers which is a place for suppliment of a prison a treasurie and ward-robe vnto the Seralio some three English mile The second from the Seralio to Porta del Fieume a little more and both toward the sea which runneth one way betweene Asia and Europe into the Euxinum and another way to encounter a pretty fresh water riuer beyond the North of Pera. And the third ouerlooketh the fields of Thracia with a greater compasse and strength because it is a double wall and openeth three or foure gates as Andrinople Gratianople the Tower gate c. into the countrey which flourished when Pausanias was contented with the title of Duke and Captaine of the Spartanes and built this wonderfull towne by the name of Bizantium in honour of his father Bize who was Admirall of the Grecian Nauy when Thebes and other cities stroue for superiority The wal is orderly beautified with square towers of hard stone whose equall distance makes a reasonable shew but that it resembles a painted Curtezan of outward good becomming yet within full of corruption and danger For concerning the streets citizens houses or order of a well compacted Common-wealth it retaineth nothing comming neere our London or happinesse The situation is yet a stately ascent from the sea as if it had a pride to mocke at the swelling of any tempest and embolden the Marchant with the security of the Sacra Porta being indeede the goodliest habour in the world twenty fathom deep close to the shores of two cities Thus it containeth ten English mile in circumference hauing no suburbs and shewing much waste ground in the vnfrequented places toward the land especially where the Bashawes houses are sequestred from the hurliburly of the Trades-man The Seralio is the palace of the Gran Signeur yet is a name appropriate to diuers sequestred places wherein his women are detained and hath questionlesse the deriuation from our Latin word Sera or locked vp it is a receptacle for diuers thousands enclosing as much ground as St. Iames parke For the courts are very large with seuerall guards of Ianizaries according to the necessity of the times or neernesse to the Emperours person The gardens spacious with embattelled walls stored with artillery the gates most of them iron kept by Capogies the buildings are many and stately bearing in their front certaine Dowana's or open hals which haue trauesses of Persian stuffe and are roomes of great receipt wherein the officers of the palace sit in open view at their feasts and diet The banquetting-houses wherein his concubines and boyes are aparted from the court hurliburly expose diuers manner of structures and seeme indeede seuerall palaces amongst whom there is one called a Caska without the wall of the Seralio close to the sea-side where hee accustometh to take his gally of the delicatest and richest presence that euer I beheld for it is a quadrant of seuen arches on a side cloyster wise like the Rialto walke in Venice in the midst riseth a core of three or foure roomes with chimnies whose mantell trees are of siluer the windowes curiously glazed besides protected with an iron grate all guilt ouer most gloriously the whole frame so set with opals rubies emeralds burnisht with golde painted with flowers and graced with inlayed worke of porphery marble iet iasper and delicate stones that I am perswaded there is not such a bird cage in the world Vnder the walls are stables for sea horses called Hippopotami which is a monstrous beast taken in Nilus Elephants Tygres and Dolphines sometimes they haue Crocadiles and Rhinoceros within are Roe-buckes white Partridges and Turtles the bird of Arabia and many beasts and fowles of Affrica and India The walkes are shaded with Cypres Cedars Turpentine and trees which wee onely know by their names amongst which such as affoord sustenance are called figs almonds oliues pomegranets limons orenges and such like but it should seeme they are heere as it were enforced and kept in order with extraordinary diligence for the sunne kisseth them not with that freuency as may make them large or ripen in their proper kindes The city is very populous toward the harbour the Besesteine Bashawes houses Mosques conduits tombs and monuments open as it were a store-house of magnificent workes yet when I read that Constantine vnplumed Rome and as it were robbed all the world making this place accessary to the theft and cannot finde the particulars in mine inuentory I maruell who hath either dared to purloine them or presumed to ruinate and deface them For the cheefest structures and monuments are now the great Seralio the lesser Seralio's the seuen towres the double wall diuers Bashawes houses before some of which are spacious quadrants graced with antiquities recording the ancient manner of turnaiments when the Greekes flourished the Mosques or Temples amongst whom the Sophia Solimana and Amorata
Monarchy without either claime or competition of forreiners vsurpation of intruders attempt of hostile invaders and desire of alteration amongst our selues whereas yet all the Kingdomes of the world especially within the reach of European knowledge within 400 yeeres haue had other titles bin subiect to strange disparitie of gouernment and religion and confronted many times with such Princes or fearefull subiects within their territories as haue made them ielous of soueraigne points yea the very losse of their cheefest crownes and dignities If you search the wounds of the Persian and Turkish gouernment as they seeme now to be healed you shall finde them badly cured and indeed festred so dangerously that they must bee better ouer-viewed or their inward putrefaction will on a sudden poyson the very entrailes For they haue bin tossed and tumbled with many alterations and euer since Tamberlaine descended out of Scithia amongst them suffred diuers concussions both in gouernment and religions so that howeuer the Persian is more noble yet he hath permitted a mixture of many barbarous people to the great disturbance of his former glory As for the Turke hee is meerely new to vs and a formidable intruder into such territories as he gripeth with a strong arme so that what you now behold amongst these Mahumetans is onely vpheld by tyrannie a band of no greater strength then power forces and reward can tye together wherein if any faile the gouernment is quickly let loose and the subiect at liberty taketh hold of euery innovation and although by tumbling and tossing like to heaps of snow rowled vp and downe they haue growne greater and greater while the frosty coldnes of our Christian Princes gaue them leaue to harden whereby they are increased to that stupendous heape you now see yet when a thaw comes and that rota fortunae is in Gyro it shall and will be subiect to diminution especially when the glorious sunne of successe shineth out the consent of our Kings to expulse them at least out of Europe if not from the vsurpation of the better parts of Asia The Kingdome of Hungary though but lately established and knowne by a different royalty from the Empires either of Greece or Germany yet as you see a prey seased on by a hawke or other tormenting vulture pull'd in peeces and cruelly rent a sunder hath suffered many dilacerations and besides the capitall enemy of Christendome her proppes sawed a sunder by some barbarous hands amongst themselues The Kingdome of Poland is not 300. yeere old For it retained in times past but the prerogatiue of a Dukes coronet and was euer in contention with Lithuania and the adioyning Princes vntill the Pope vndertooke the appeasing of those troubles and added the grace of a roiall inuesture to Sigismundus surnamed the great who at last vnited both Pomerania Prussia and Lithuania yet is not so established but the Election of the Peeres diminisheth the prerogatiue of the King and new Princes new lawes new confederacy new gouernment haue let confusion and alteration loose vpon the Countrey The Emperour Princes Electors and principalities in Germany are almost of the same nature and condition but that many liberties of Cities haue beene bought out with mony and diuers franchises purchased to redeeme themselues from the tyrannie of wanton lords so that in particular many families haue beene chopped and changed honourable houses transmuted and new names and titles haue as it were thrust the old out of doores and in generall what with the French Germanes and the house of Austria there hath not a thought passed for hereditary succession but all things haue beene subiect to instabilitie and are still hurried in the current of preuailing as either the Pope Electorum placitus or militareius filling the sailes full of winde giueth them leaue to driue the barke of the gouernment forward The Princes of Italy in worse estate then they For except the Venetians some of their Dukedomes as Ferrara and Vrbin are fallen to the Papacy some of their Kingdomes as Naples and Sicilia possessed by the Spaniard with Millane and Genoa and the rest suspitiously standing on a guard of circumspection least they should betray one another to the stronger side and whereas the Venetians doe boast of 700. yeares continuance I am sure they neuer flourished but by the dissentions of the rest and in their first inchoation these Ilands were but receptacles for banished men yea compared to cauernus for simple beasts to shroude in whom the others of prey and rapine did not looke after For the Gothes and Lombards that infested Italy made no more account of them then we did of the stragglers in the mountaines of Walles or fastnesse in Ireland but they haue beene better coadiuted and taken successe by the hand to pace out the measures of prosperity as you now see their glory riches and augmentation The Kingdome of Spaine is so new that the other day there was a King of Portugali as absolute as himselfe a King of Arragon of sufficiency to contest with Castile a King of Granado Valencia within memory subiect to Paganisme and maintaining the new sect of Mahomet a King of Nauarre as fearefull to him as the rest and sundry other abridgments tending to the diminution of Maiesty howeuer at this instant he is blowne bigge with the winde of superfluity and greatnesse The Kingdome of France but a while ago compacted For Burgundy challengeth a roialty and had afterward a Duke maintaining his owne priuiledges The Earle of Flanders writ Comes Deigratia Normandy was another mans Brittaine in a Dukes possession Gascoine Guien and Acquitane our owne Daulphin and Prouince incorporated by gift and Rhene Duke of Loraine inuested with the Toialties of Naples and thus could I runne ouer all the rest if either they were of eminence sutable to the glory of these recited or consequence to store vs with obseruations and example only England for aboue 600. yeares I might recken from Edgar but that you will answer some 400. yeeres since the Prince of WALLES was onely an Homager and SCOTLAND in continuall opposition had fedde vpon the plenty of a flourishing Monarchy and beene fatted with the well fedde dainties of an exuberant Countrie diplaying the colours of her owne roialty in such a glorious manner that shee hath not onely spread her fame with an vncontroulable hand but brought the glory of other Nations vnder the adumbration of her canopy so that if I should adde her seuerall conquests of Ireland Walles Scotland France Cyprus Ierusalem and Castile it selfe it would torment vs with remembrance of our losses or augment our iealosie for hassarding our honour by negligence and corrupted peace which was once so worthily established by the proppes and supportation of merit and vertue CHAP. XXIV Another excellency of ENGLAND consisteth in the happy life of our Countrey-man and common people IF you looke on our example you shall finde that the chiefest part of Salomons glory extended it selfe from the
by the hand of amasement to magnifie and extoll the heroicke spirits of our nation Againe in the 38. yeere of the King the French King the King of Cyprus and the King of Scots came all into England and made pleasure proude that it had good occasion to welcome them Besides 1367. Peter King of Spaine was disseised by his bastard brother Henry but comming into England made such impression in the compassionate soule of EDW. the blacke Prince that he assisted him in person and re-established him in his kingdome Shall I remember you of that glorious celebration of Himmeneus triumphs when Duke Tussus and many Princes of Boheme and Hungary brought that magnificent Lady ANNE daughter to the King of Bohemia and married her to King RICHARD the 2. of England during whose life such was the royaltie of our Court and State that in the 8. yeare the King of Armenia came into England for coadiutement against the Turkes In the 12. yeare the Earle of Saint Paul and many Princes out of France and other Countries came to a Iusts in Smithfield and made a iust estimation of our vnualuable glory In the 16. yeare the greatest Lords of Scotland came to our triumphes in England and checked their owne presumption for confronting vs with a supposition of equality In the 20. yeare the Dukes of Burbon and Barre brought ouer Isabell of Fraunce to be a Queene in England and glad was that Prince of Europe that had beene an eye-witnesse of our glory yea that magnificent workemanshippe concerning the exornation of the Hall of his Pallace now Westminster and by community and disparaged alteration vnregarded was as it were a magnes to draw ouer the seas thousands of people and hundreds of Princes and Noble lords to looke vpon the wonder of the world In the 4. yeare of HENRY 4. King of England the Emperour of Constantinople came of purpose as the Queene of Sheba to Salomon to set report on the touchstone of truth and see whether custome had enlarged our fame or no and here he was entertained with all the sumptuous and attractiue showes and delights that Arte and expences could deuise to satiate the minde of man But when Dame IANE Dutches of Britaine came ouer to marry our King HENRY I hope our enemies will imagine her traine and Attendants to bee much augmented with the company of many forraine Princes and Potentates And if you steppe forward to the 8. yeare of his raigne the Earle of Marre and the great lords of Scotland came to solace themselues and made their triumphes both at Tilt and Turney acceptable to the beholders The like was performed the 10. yeare when the Seneschall of Hennault with all those Princes reputed the Court of England a very Schoole of chiualry and put in practise accordingly all the braueries of marshall discipline But when the Lady LVCIA the Dukes sister of Millane came to marry EDMVND Earle of Kent both citie and pallace was so furnished with strangers and the concurses of people so well ordered that inferiours were amased at so extraordinary attraction and the better sort gaue a plaudite to our glory If you ouer-looke the time of Henr 5. surnamed the Champion of Honor though it was lamentable for the breuitie yet was it vnmatchable for the royalty For after his coronation he was scarse three yeeres in his own Kingdome and yet in the third of his raigne he welcommed the Emperor of Almaine and King of Rome and presently after graced the daughter of France and all her retinue with many forreine Princes who would not returne till they saw their Lady Katherine Queene of England To which if you adde the entertainment of the Duke of Holland and many Princes of those countries especially Freesland you cannot chuse but make vp a plentifull breuiary of Heroicke Maiesty and worthy princelines About the yeere of Grace 1502. and the 17. yeere of the raigne of Henry 7. the expectable Prince Arthur maried Katherin daughter to Ferdinando King of Spaine and his eldest sister Margaret was affianced vnto Iames King of Scots at whose inauguâ—…tion the concurse of strangers and amongst them of the choisest Princes was so great that all other adioyning Kings as much magnified our royalty as feared our power insomuch that the very report of our Kingdomes brauery draue Philip King of Castile and his wife into England About the end of August 1546. Flawd high Admirall of France was so royally entertained in England that the King lying at Hampton-Court the Prince of Wales met him comming to haue audience with a 1000 horse whereof 500 were in one liuery the coates of veluet halfe embrodered with gold and one sleeue of cloth of gold let other Princes acknowledge this magnificence Holinshed saith 2000 horse In the beginning of Henry the 8. Lewis the 12. of France maried Mary the Kings yongest sister and 1520 the great Emperor Charles the 5. came into England to visit his Aunt and within two yeere after made a second returne to view London and bee acquainted with our country from whose example Christiern King of Denmarke and his wife about the 15 yeere arriued in England and was welcommed to the pleasures of our country and variety of our pastimes The Prince of Salerne and diuers of Naples about the 30. c. Shall I name you King Philips mariage with Queene Mary I hope then I must trouble you with a tedious solemnitie and tell you that many strangers knew not the way home againe into their owne countries a long time and if the peace of their soules as they vainely imagined might haue bin added to the delight of their bodies the happines of England had bin the subiect of their tongues and the obiect of their eyes In the second yeere of her raigne Ecmondine a Prince of Germany and other Embassadors were sent from the Emperor In the third yeere Emmanuel Prince of Piemont with other Lords came into England and the next moneth the Prince of Orange landed at London But let mee passe forward to the mirror of all times Queene Elizabeth how proud was the Prince of Sweden that he was graced in England with so glorious entertainment at the beginning of her raigne Not long after 1565 Christopher Prince and Marquesse of Baden came of purpose to haue his childe borne amongst vs and reioyce in the fortune of such a godmother About the 11. yeere of her raigne anno 1568 Mary Queene of Scots though shee was surprized in her flight to France and defeated in her maine proiects yet for a long time misliked not her imprisonment and was glad to confesse the prerogatiues of her natiue soile and country In the 14. yeere Francis Duke of Memorancy and Betrawde de Saligniers Knights of the order of St Michael came both into England with other great Princes to gratulate her Maiestie and acknowledge her worthines In the 21. of her raigne 1578. Cassimirus Count Palatine and Duke of Bauaria was entertained the better
of Deuils the glory of the firmament the diuision of the earth the bonds and limits of the sea the secrets of hell and the terrors of the last dissolution what neede wee more or go any further for a marking stone to colour any kingdome with whereby it may be known to come neere and enioy most of those blessings wherewith God hath sealed and ratified the glory of Countries then out of the storehouse of the Scriptures To this purpose I dare be bold to aduance our England into the highest chaire as if she were to triumph for some notorious victory and that I may bring vp my forces together to a close encounter and connect my reasons with probability I will discouer at large what I haue learned out of industrious Authors obserued by my owne indeauours knowne as oculatus testis in most countries of Europe and since determined in a combat of comparisons not that I meane to rippe vp the bowels of antiquity and call in question so many thousand volumes which haue consumed as many thousand yeeres in discouery of originals and as it were tormented Time with strange discourses so that if you should take off the vaile wherewith diuers Authors haue ouermantled both Countries Kingdomes and Cities you would stand amased at their deformed shapes and remaine confounded to veiw now their disparity I will therefore leaue all maligne circumstances of my quiet and shew you with what countenance they looke vp to heauen at this instant and in what manner they seeme proud of their establishment whereby 〈◊〉 that are willing to be impartiall shall be the better enâ—…ed to yeeld vp a verdict of truth against all adulterate sophistication Yet must I adde with all this lesson of morality that in 〈◊〉 kingdome where vnderstanding hath pleasured the people with 〈◊〉 of ciuility as for barbarous natâ—…s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 onely make vse of their names Sol vitae est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Antidotus vitae patientia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c Vita vitae conscientia c gloâ—…â—…ntia For with wealth your entertainement 〈◊〉 â—…ght wâ—…th Princes attonement made with Tyrants 〈◊〉 â—…ed amongst strangers adoration aâ—… 〈◊〉 and such as know not ciuilitie will stand 〈◊〉 at thy â—…rauery and florishing By wealth are ofâ—…â—…gated imperfections remitted scandals reâ—… 〈◊〉 pardoned follies excused and the frowns 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ed For wealth beauty yeeldeth to a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…es are in opposition enforced 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men transported to exorbitant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for strange vndecencies and all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ounded with contraries But this is a pasâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 part of my worke or meaning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for feare of longing after that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aâ—…l as the Dutchman who onâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now to conclude The whole 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into two seuerall Bookes In the first you shall haâ—… a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Countries of the world by way 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 planaâ—…on as they are noâ—… 〈◊〉 In the 〈◊〉 as Drapers doe 〈◊〉 clotâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereby the 〈◊〉 and prerogâ—… of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made apparâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. Discite nunc miseri Quid sumus aut Quis datus aut mâ—…ae quam mâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quis modus argeâ—…o Uâ—…le numâ—…us habâ—… Quantum elargâ—… Iussit humana qua THE CONTENTS OF THE FIRST BOOKE THe Empire of Tartaria Fol. 1 The Monarchy of China 10 The Monarchy of India 14 The Empire of Persia. 19 The Empire of the Turkes 27 The story of the Ottomans together with their conquests 31 The Empire of Aethiopia 39 The Empire of Russia 44 The story of the Goths and Lombards comming into Italy and Spaine 53 The Empire of Germany 56 The history of Coleine 64 The glory of the Spanyard 69 The Description of Italy as in times past 78 Italy described at this time 83 The story of Sauoy 93 The story of Millaine 100 The description of France 111 The description of the Low-Countries 123 The Monarchy of Great Britaine 142 The description of Ireland 144 THE CONTENTS OF THE SECOND BOOKE THe Maiesty of Salomon and happinesse of Canaan a full and absolute example for all Nations 155 Countries compared to Canaan and Salomons glorious happinesse and first of all the Tartars 162 China compared and her deficiency manifested 166 India compared and her defects manifested 170 Persia compared with her insufficiency 174 Turkie compared and her imperfections layd open 177 The lamentable death of the principall Viceer when Sultan Achmat came first to the crowne 181 The famous history of Mustapha 185 The story of a Renegado Bashaw 188 The indirect proceedings of Turkes against Christians contrary to all religion or morality 191 Their manner of aduancement and diuersity of customes farre from our example and orderly prosperitie 198 Russia compared 210 Aethiopia compared 213 Germany compared 217 Italy compared 221 Spaine compared 230 France compared with a discouery of her defects 236 England compared with the probable reasons why shee is neerer the example of Canaans happines than any other nation 242 Wherin the happinesse of England is both perspicuous and commendable 251 Forraine Cities compared to London with the defects of either made apparent and our sufficiency manifested 256 Diuers particulars wherein England excelleth other kingdoms and first in religion 270 Certaine particulars concerning the Greeke Church 282 Certaine particulars concerning the Latine Church 289 Another excellency of England exposing the noble worth of hier Princes beyond other nations 294 Another excellency of England casteth vp an account of her anâ—…quity in one vnited Monarchy before other nations 299 Another excellency of England consisteth in the happy life of our Countrey man and common people 3â—…4 Another excellency of England consisteth in the goodnesse of our nauy and shipping 309 Another excedency of England consisteth in the number riches enâ—…uors and extraordinary worth of our Marchant 316 Another excellency of England may bee drawne from this obseruation that wee haue had more glorious persons and famous Kings and Princes to visit our countrey then any other nation 320 The Conclusion 330 THE GLORIE OF ENGLAND The First BOOKE TOPOGRAFICALLY describing the Countries of the World with some historicall amplification CHAP. I. The Empire of TARTARIA ACcording to the vaine popular and indeed ridiculous error of opinion the world hath inuested nine seuerall Monarchs with his glory and from strange disproportions giuen them prerogatiues to command all the Nations of the earth interdicting any petty Prince to come neere them by way of competition or comparison First then the Empire of Tartaria laid prostrate vnder the throne of the great Cham called Dominus dominantium and Rex regum spreadeth it selfe with so large embracings that it extendeth from the northren Obba or if you will Tanais which falleth into the great Euxinum euen to the easterne sea sometimes surnamed the Atlanticke whose vast lappe is almost filled with a fry of Ilands all Idolaters and most of them enemies to strangers but especially Christians It begirteth those Countries
at dissensions by recording the mischiefe formerly acted But to proceede From Scithia to the prouince of Tangut they liue in troopes called Hordas and remoue from place to place according to the temperature of the season plenty of feeding and conueniencie of accommodating one another nor before the yeere of Redemption 1212 as I said did we in Europe heare of the name of a Tartar but Scithians Sarmatians Albanians and such like who were all idolaters worshipping their gods in trees hanging vp their dead on nether boughes and by way of auguring diuining their happines or damnation which custome is still reteined amongst the barbarous sort in the remotest places They are generally men of square stature broad faces hollow eyes thin beards owgly countenances and tye vp their haire to the crowne of their heads in rolles like a Snailes shell to which you may adde swarthnes of complexion not that the Sunne kisseth them with that feruencie but the aire and their sluttish customes corrupts both their blood and bodies yet hath nature preuailed ouer these outward inconueniences in the distribution of valour swiftness of footmanship vigilancie and patience to endure the many encombrances of trauell hunger and want of sleepe They loue Horses and from that loue accustome themselues to a sauage drinking of their blood practising a cunning theft herein which being vnpunishable occasioneth many prety changes both in keeping their owne and purloyning from others as if some ciuill Artist had instructed them with the Lacedemonian toleration in this kinde for the better animating one another in the spoyling their enemies yet for all this by reason they liue in tents and haue small defences for their furniture and goods theft of petty things is seuerely punished amongst them as also adulterie or if you will lying with another mans wife which is most odious vnto them because they are tyed to the trusting of one another as I said within dores and no man is debarred any entercourse it were therefore a double treachery to deceiue the trust reposed and either purloyne the goods which lye open or abuse the women which admit you so friendly They are gouerned in their trauels and remouings by the starres and obseruing the North pole settle according to her influence They liue free from couetousnes and are thus farre happy that the strange corruptions of wealth especially gold and siluer breed no disorders amongst them yet haue they a kinde of trafficke and by way of exchange continue mutuall commerces louing presents and can be contented to be flattered euen in their barbarisme and herein I thinke all the Easterne people are delighted from a receiued tradition of our Patriarkes But howsoeuer I can assure you Tartar Chrim himselfe who is the most likeliest to be spoken with of all others as being the neerest will not admit of any Christian without a gratuitie and present worthy of his fauour You must now step a litle forward toward the East and with the Sunnes rising see their glory arise For Tangut is a wealthy Prouince affording many things befitting Europes magnificence especially Rheubarb a simple of that prerogatiue as if the whole world were beholding for this distribution and had a sauing health by vertue of the same In Cathaia amongst many others the great Citie of Cambala will excite admiration if you measure a quadrant of 30 mile about and ouer-looke at euery corner a Tower 40 furlongs in circuit erected for a Seralia or Arsenall wherein the Emperors munition armour and prouision for war are secured but he himself is sequestred to the priuacie of another stately Pallace and is a strange Meteor amongst them seldome seene but for some portentous accident In Mangia as Queene of the rest is the Citie of Quinzai hauing a circumference of a 100 mile by reason a great Lake of 30 mile diuideth the streets into channels ouer which are numbred 1260 bridges some opening the arches so high and wide that a good ship vnder saile hath a passage of ease but things a farre off are quickly reported yet hardly beleeued and sometimes ouer-beleeued vpon easie report as you may perceiue by the trauels of Sr Iohn Mandeuile the writings of Munster and the constant asseueration of moderne Pilgrims who all tell of so many monstrous shapes of men in these parts that our ciuill people are affrighted at the hearing and many times come flocking to see such Trauellers as haue escaped the dangerous passages and sauage immanitie For my owne part I would perswade you that the world is a stage of variety and wonders whereon are placed more strange things of truth then the wit and policie of man can invent to seeme fabulous but as at a stage the spectators onely are a few in number to the infinite multitudes for the time excluded so in the exploration of Countries not one amongst ten thousand either take the paines or haue the iudgement to looke into the wonders of the world and therefore I would be loth to exclude all enlargements of histories from the closet of truth yet concerning those fabulous reports of Pigmies and Cranes of men with long eares one eye one foote and such like the Iudicious take vp the bookes to read as if they would excite laughter and I dare be bold to maintaine there are no such men or people in the world but all Gods images are miraculous in this distinction of voice reason and an erected countenance with a proportion of shape and what is not thus established is meerely a monster or a beast But because I am sure whether true or false there is nothing amongst them worthy respect or challenging any prerogatiue of happinesse or imitation I will leaue them to their vast territories and desist from amasing you with the almost incredible particulars of those places especially Cathaia and Mangia CHAP. II. The Monarchy of CHINA ON the second step of the earths Throne is the Country of CHINA mounted and diuided into eight seuerall Kingdomes ouer whom one principall Monarch controuleth by those high and illustrious titles of MVNDI DOMINUS and COELI FILIVS as if indeed their challenge to all natures immunities were a matter of consequence their boasting of many things before Adam true and canonicall The principall Citie is now called Faquin neighbouring Tartary out of which the Emperor neuer issueth but in time of warre which is as it were an exercise amongst them and challengeth the attendance of euery nation as if an hereditarie duty challenged the sonne to the fathers obedience one succession receiued of another what belonged to the setling their estates by attending their principall Commanders For as you haue read in England that from the Twede betweene 〈◊〉 Westmerland and Scotland euen to the Irish Seas there was a wall of a 100 mile long called Picts 〈◊〉 are at certaine spaces fortified with watch-towers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hollow trunckes placed within the curtaines receiued aduertisements one of another so that 〈◊〉 a
moment upon any alarum excursion or attempt wâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Picts and turbulent Scots did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ountry was vp in armes and the ordiâ—…e 〈◊〉 of their militarie discipline put in practâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…as in 〈◊〉 Country from the Atlanticke sea to mount Taurus betweene the Tartarians and there 〈◊〉 8000 furlongs in length is a wall raised â—…ke a strong 〈◊〉 fication and at euery miles end a â—…mpart or 〈◊〉 wherein is continuall garrison But when the 〈◊〉 disposeth himselfe to any field encounter of setled â—…attaile he seldome marcheth vnder an Armie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 foote and 200000 horse and as seldome meeâ—… 〈◊〉 uersarie without effusion of much bloud and 〈◊〉 many thousands ouer whom their friends seeme 〈◊〉 ioyce whether they haue their dead carkasses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a statua as if some glorious blessing were imparteâ—… 〈◊〉 happy a thing they suppose it to die for their Countâ—… and obey their Emperor of which I am not 〈◊〉 considering that sacred truth hath inlarged the â—…error 〈◊〉 that battaile vnto vs which was fought betweene 〈◊〉 and Ierusalem wherein 500000 felt the smart of 〈◊〉 and tyranous dissention And of another wherein Zeres Emperor of Mores Aethiopians brought 〈◊〉 paire of hands to pull downe the walls of 〈◊〉 and not the God of Iacob remembred his promise to 〈◊〉 and pushed them downe to the pit of destruction The great Citie of Manquin was once Capitall of â—…e Kingdome in which now onely shineth a gâ—…â—…een more insculped with the present Emperors name and neuer vnveiled but at Festiuals at which â—…me the reuerence appropriate to his owne person exciteth the â—…ike â—…tion The Gouernors of Countries and 〈◊〉 of Iustice are called â—…utant whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 looketh the punishment of theeues who 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chiefly abound so are they most seuerely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commonly beaten to death with a 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…gers broad and one thicke it is made of â—…ewes 〈◊〉 wet in water to supple the same the sooner so that the executioner daring not moderate his strength at euery blow draweth bloud vntill all their ioynts and sinewes are broken to peeces and in this sort doth tyrannie boast of the slaughter of 3 or 4000 euery yeere besides such as the prisons deuoure being sent thither halfe maimed and formerly tormented Amongst them there are few Christians admitted for feare of discouering the secrets and wealth of their countrey so cautelous and subtill they are in vnderstanding themselues and strangers as for their commerces and vttering the commodities of the countryes it is done in the Ilands or with certaine Brokers Indians who traffique reciprocally betweene Christians and them receiuing ready golde and siluer for all as scorning any thing which other nations can conferre or transport vnto them nor is this done without a kinde of iealousie both toward the Indians and Christians yea sometimes a trecherous policy to cut all their throats whom they can ouermaster as Sr. Ed. Michelborn could haue testified and many other English surprized by disloyalty of such as haue thronged them on ship-boord or wearied comming on shore amongst the Ilands of Moluccae and Philippinae either for water or to view the countrey yet haue some Portugals intruded themselues and certaine Iesuites by way of insinuation got liberty of entercourse from whom it should seem they haue learned to blesse themselues with the signe of the crosse against the assaults temptations of the Dinell whom they much adore in these parts for feare of mischeefe pacifie with sacrifice and presents which makes mee remember a reasonable honest man of my acquaintance who hauing two suspicious friends of contrary demeanours and demanded why hee obserued one before another answered thus politikely that the one was honest of inclination and would doe him good for vertues sake or at least no hurt but the other was more pestilent and dangerous and therefore must be diuerted by flattery and insinuation from the ill he might prosecute or intend against him The better sort notwithstanding these affrightings of the Diuell apprehend that all things both supernall and infernall depend vpon the protection of a greater Influence whom by the name of Sunne Moone and Stars they adore allowing a duplicity of Priests the one in a white habit as sequestred with shauen crownes like our cloistred Friers the other in blacke with shag-haire and formidable aspect going at randome and frequenting more often their temples which are very sumptuous and rich both in cities and countries these Priests are confederate with certaine women called witches who doe make trauellers beleeue they can sell them winde to saile from Iland to Iland and bring them to certaine wagons for their land iourneyes ouer barren and sandy places which shall haue sailes be driuen to and fro with great swiftnesse wherein as I will not betray my vnderstanding to any vaine and idle credulity considering that God is the onely commander of his creatures so must I yeeld to this probability that by reason of the infinite number of Ilands and the countrey lying open to the sea the winde is euery way more forcible then in other places and by reason of mountanous blustrings and pressing the aire into straights seemeth to fight one with another and at one time to blow with sundry diuisions Concerning other particulars of their wiues and concubines of their wealth and iewels of their odours and perfumes of their wines syrups there is no offending chaste eares with their incredible customes so vilde and filthy is their idolatry so obscene and shamelesse their liues so ridiculous their incantations so exorbitant their presenting of virgins to be deflowred of Idols so abominable their exorcismes and so odious their sencelesse profanation with lamentable obstinacy not to be diuerted I will therefore leaue them to the supreame Iudge and returne to England with this caution that the foole hath sayd in his heart there is no God and I hope wee attend these discoueries with feare or contempt CHAP. III. The Monarchy of INDIA THE third part of the worlds glory is enclosed within the store-houses of rich and opulent India a countrey not onely inuested with magnificence but arrogating a preheminence ouer other nations both for spaciousnesse of ground and all such blessings wherewith the diuine prouidence hath made the â—…oyes of men exceed For the two great riuers of Indus and Ganges water the same and diuided into many thousand brookes like the children of a blessed mother and plentifull house-keeper bring glad tidings to the family 〈◊〉 extraordinary allowances and thus it insulteth for two summers temperature of aire duplicity of encrease and that we are aduenturers for such things as she vilipendeth not yet admitted to vnderstand the one halfe of her secrets The men and women doe now imitate a noble pomp as not encountred abroad nisi maâ—…na comitante â—…terua vsing many odours in their bathes and washing nor are they without oyles and perfumes iewels pearles and other ornaments not onely befitting
sterling his company was not aboue 2000. horse most of them Capogies and Chiauses in veluet gownes and rich saddlesâ—… should 〈◊〉 he went not farre because 200. Gimoglans carried his repast on foot in certaine delicate baskets couered ouer with rich handkerchifs after he was past I was admitted into his gally in which he came from his Caska a delicate banquetting-house without his Seralio close by the sea side to Porta del Fiume where hee tooke horse it was a roome of great riches yet small capacity set all ouer with inlayed worke of mother of pearle rubies opals emeralds and had the mettall beaten into thin plates layd countercompony which with the borders answered one another in gracefull proportion within this Cabinet as I may say no man comes but himselfe nor on horse-backe were any neere him by 60. foot except such as ran by him in their proper places or durst aduenture to deliuer petition vnto him which certaine Russians did complaining on the borderers of Bogdonia and daily excursions of the Rouers and Pirates of the blacke sea Amongst other entertainements the Ambassadour Sr. Thomas Glouer had seuerall times inuited the Bashaw of Tunis the Polish and Persian Ambassadours from whom I receiued an extraordinary description of all the well-deseruing vertues of our noble Queene Elizabeth as if that Maiesty alone had made all the East to wonder who before were neuer mooued with any businesses of Europe and with whom I went to Scideret a towne in Asia iust ouer the sea against the City in whose fields about Iuly before the great army of 200000. Turkes and Tartars were mustered by the way in the midst of the sea standeth a watch-tower as the guard of the passage into the blacke sea which in truth is a riuer of great pleasure for twenty miles to the blacke tower and Pompey's piller adorned on each side of the banke with delicate houses wherein both Turkes and Greekes pastime themselues in their haruest and vintages and sometimes retire in the raging of a plague yet was I in the great City when there died 80000. in fiue months but of all other things suppose themselues graced when the Gran Signieur will vouchsafe to visit them and extend his pleasure amongst them this tower is well guarded and erected in such a fashion that wee may dispute therof if an Iland how so small and not washed in peeces with the violence of some tempest if none how was twenty fathom deepe raised to a foundation within two mile more particularly called the vines of Pera the Greekes for seuen or eight daies resort in famelies to their gardens and solemnize their vintages with musike and dancing and although the countrey seemeth stony and hot yet vnder the skirt of the hils are mantling meddowes running in stripes yeelding hay and pasture for their greater cattle Beyond Constantinople Northward are the Iewes licensed to bury their dead and according to the greatnesse of the family and person set vp tents of watchet and crimsen satten and obserue a commendable order of mourning lamentation in their exequies The riuer runneth into the sea by the vines of Pera so that Galata neither standeth in Asia nor is an Iland but resembleth a spurre of fortification and is ioyned to the Continent of Thrace with an Istmus some fiueteene miles from the City those stately aquae ductus of which there be sixteene in seuerall places which feede the cesternes of Constantinople giue notice what men and money can doe For being the workes of pleasure and ostentation they are raised to a leuell from hill to hill and the water comming from open springs is as it were sent to be better secured within passages of stone mounted vpon arches 200. foot high and a thousand in length from whence it posteth with gladnesse to a delicate aboad of cesternes and fountaines which by diuers pipes vnder ground pay a continual tribute to the conduits of the great Citie The townes and villages of the countrey are disordered and the people line â—…luttishly on roots fruit garlicke onions gourds and such like For they sildome eat any flesh and if any good thing fall to their share as melions pomegranets almonds grapes figs and other delicates they raise what profit they can yea as beastly as it is they send their butter and cheese to Stanbole which with a loathsome shew openeth the Cow-hides it is put in and next the filthy haire glutteth a strangers stomach without tasting at all They cart and plow with Buffoloes yet haue oxen whom they feede to supply the markets and court as being proportioned out of their Sansacks end Timatriots to a weekely number About the end of Nouember was a comet seene in the West neere the Constellation of Andromeda and the plague continued without feare or repining to which was added a lasting fire of seuen dayes consuming almost 4000. houses and shaking the wals of diuers Bashawes houses the losse lighting vpon the already broken backes of the Iewes and some Grecians and the repining dispersed amongst the Turkes themselues who casting vp an vntoward catalogue of many accidents and summoning altogether with diuers reuolts but especially the rebels of Armenia and the distasting humours of the Sâ—…uano of Asia or if you will the Bashaw of Aleppo dared to whisper many things against the dignity of the Empire So that at this very instant the expectation of a change may embolden vs all if Christendome will acknowledge that there is one in heauen who disposeth of earthly kingdomes and the Princes could admit of some principall Iosua to conduct his brethren For without controuersie this swelling Monarch is now at the highest marke and must haue a cadence according to the reuolution of time and gouernments CHAP. VI. The Empire of AETHIOPIA THe sixt part of the worlds Honour spreadeth abroad the roiall mantel of Aethiopia or if you will Abisse vnder the command of Prester Iehan to whom at this houre are so many Nations and Cities obedient that for my owne part I want names to decipher them and concerning the Nauill of Africke few Europians I am sure haue seene the secret or searched how the compacted sinues are vnited yet was Meroe once the principall Citie and many famous things are recited by the Scriptures Pliny and Ptolemy in the description thereof as that in Hebrew it was called Chus for the blacknesse of the people dwelling betweene the two tropickes or else of Chus the sonne of Cham the sonne of Noe or Aetheria afterward Atlantia and last of all Aethiopia of Aethiope the sonne of Vulcane that they are now diuided into Arothertae Athaâ—…uii Daraticae Hesperij and Perorsi that Diodorus and Volacoranâ—… haue maintained how the originall of all Creatures first beganne in this Countrey and would extend Paradice to this place when GOD caused Adam to name them but these Philosophers not vnderstanding the truth inuented what they listed to please themselues as you may perceiue by Homers fictions that
they were the best obseruers of religious secrets and ceremonies and boasted of true deuotion to their gods for the example of all Nations That they were very warlike and obedient to their EMPEROR in all things and so populous that the Emperor seldome went without a 1000000. into the field That they were sold to all the Nations of the world for slaues and seemed contented with such seruitude as being glad to go out of their owne Countries That they were wont to plight their haire in knots and winde it with intricate diuisions That the great and high mountaines of the Moone ouerlooketh their territories and vnburtheneth Nilus from her wombe sending it abroad as farre as the middle-land sea 1500. mile like a timely birth to the comfort of his mother and with ioy to all good kinsfolk neighbours That the nature of the Riuer Niger fluuius is so strange that as ashamed of his imperfections and abrupt breakings out vnder sandy hills it hideth his head 60. mile together and then bursteth out with horrible and impetuous violence That whole Countries haue beene ouerwhelmed with sand when the hills make a noyse and the Sun hath enflamed his heate and anger against them departing in that fury that in breaking the sides of Mountaines the aire and winde maketh a rupture and so the drie ground first parched presently crumbleth to pouder and is quickly tossed with forcible blasts That the Kingdomes of Damutego and Manuongo as farre as Caput bonaespei with all the shore Cities and harbours are numbred parcell of this Empire and expose many stories and plentifull relations That infinite Ilands full of drugges mineralls gold pretious stones pearle spice c. are the handmaides of this Mistris especially the great Iland of Saint Laurence in times past called Madagascar which now compareth with Britaine for magnitude as containing 600. mile in length but say what deuises can ours is the greatest Iland of the world Many other particulars are inserted by Authors with addition of their manners and customes but because all absolute things are worne out of date and that it would vex a Traueller to read one thing and finde another I will trouble antiquitie no longer but content my selfe with some probabilities and the best receiued opinions of this Monarchy You must then vnderstand that those limited Garisons of Aegipt vnder the Turke are here very strong to keepe backe the excursions of the Aethiopians who from Nilus to the South-sea make one Countrey and are all reputed Christians boasting of their conuersion from Candauce the Queene in the Actes of the Apostles whom by another name they call Iudith and so afterward submitted to the obedience of one principall to whom they afforded the significant title of Preste Iehan not that he is a Byshop or Priest as some superstitiously conceiue but that those words signifie in the Aethiopian tongue Great PRINCE or EMPEROR Amongst them are many Monasteries both of men and women but strictly prohibiting any entercourse betweene them or wanton show of prophanation their fasts are 50. daies with bread and water and some slender fruit as for fish they haue litle store or lesse skill to take them or make vse of them by way of sustenance they are so carefull in the obseruation of their customes concerning this religious fasting and prayers that they will sleepe no longer then they hold their heads ouer water that the nodding downe may giue them warning to be more vigilant their bells are of stone for the most part their Priests marry and celebrate the masse allowing in their procession crosses censors tapers and lampes the retired monkes maintaine their haire the common Priests shaue and both are bâ—…refoote especially in the Church wherein no man enters with prophanation but putteth off his sandalls and laieth them apart as the Turkes doe who are very carefull in such deuout obseruations adding withall a ceremonious washing taken from the Iewish purifying as in his proper place shall appeare The Sabbaoths and Eues are festiuals and celebrated accordingly circumcision is added to their baptisme both in men and women vnto which they are not admitted vntill 40. daies and then the three persons of the Trinity haue a reuerent exaltation and the Eucharist is administred by custome at the same time according to the credit of the Greeke Church which they resolutely confirme to haue priority before the Latine their names are all significant and the religion ariseth from a certaine booke which they confidently maintaine was approued by the Synode of the Apostles congregated at Ierusalem The very common people haue plurality of wiues according to their sufficient ability to support their estates and content their desires suffering diuorses either for naturall imperfections or iust causes of incontinencie but such men and women thus scandalized are debarred intermedling with spirituall matters some say not admitted into the Church at all Their Nobility are in great estimation and according to actions correspondent to their professed vertue preserue the wealth and credit of their Auncestors Their greatest Cities are few in number but such as stand by the sea shore are of good strength and eminence with stupendous Castels and workes of antiquity The common heape of houses are poore sluttish all on the ground open without chimnies and sutable to the dispersed manner of their villages In all the Empire is no money but pure gold salt and pepper are excellent marchandize through Africke but here so richly valued that slaues are redeemed with them but the commodities of the Countrey soone and easily exchanged it affordeth many thing as you haue heard especially Eliphants Tyger Linkes Taxos Apes Lions and Harts against an absolute opinion that there was no Venison in Africke but Beares Cunnies Corduels and Cuckowes are not seene amongst them The custome of their huntings raising their armies order of diet with ciuet and muske washing and noâ—…ting with precious balmes and perfumes feasting burials and superstitions would fill seuerall relations either to pacifie ignorance or strengthen their knowledge who are entred a little into the Schoole of experience but because there is nothing amongst them fit for our example I will make my iourney as cursory as I can and study for no commorance but where there is possibility of thriuing Their Cabalisticall Arts and secrets from certaine wise men named Gymnosophists with the Indians called also or some the Easterne Aethiopia would make as tedious disputation especially when I must name the Trogiodite Garamaulis Atlantides Libera interior Synega the further plaines of Monte nigro and some others and cannot tell you whether they be Idolaters or no onely I can assure you they allow of the immortality of the soule on which they are besotted so diabolically that they will murther themselues vpon small enforcement either to honor their lords dye with their husbands preuent the discommodities of old age helpe their friends or pleasure their best beloued after their barberous credulity But because I would
faine bring you into Europe where my hope and purpose is to finde the happinesse of a kingdome according to the reciprocall duties betweene Prince and Subiect I will leaue these people to be reiected with Esau. For sure there is a Iacob whom old Isaacke hath better blessed CHAP. VII The Empire of RVSSIA TIll now the world hath opened her largest embraces seeming to giue Honour and Maiesty a breathing time for feare of smoothering with heate and fulsomnesse of aire but here shee will hugge it close with a contrary kindnes and keepe it warme for doubt of catching of cold otherwise this great Dukedome of Muscouia or if you please Empire of Russia will shut vp renowne in the dangerous passages of the frozen sea or pinch her bloud with congealed Isicles and snowy frosts For all the Countrey is byting sharpe and in some places dangerous to the passengers especially in winter which here lasteth long besides it is full of woods and desert places Northward and they as full of wild beasts noysome and vnsauory in their liues but profitable and full of contentment after they be kild For Beares Martins Sables blacke-foxes Ermines and some others fill the magnificent Courts of Europe with furres Notwithstanding toward Poland there is great difference both of ground and aire and in obseruing certaine customes against the intemperatenesse of the weather there is reasonable suppliment of Natures allowance either concerning food or rayment It boasteth of foure great Riuers Olba Volga Duina and Tanaies sometimes taken one for another and many times confounded as if Olba and Tanaies were all one sending foorth many brookes like so many seruants of a thriuing Husbandman and House-keeper who are orderly imployed about their busines for the credit and prosperity of the family The Emperors progenie hath giuen way to diuers Histories and is now so increased in wealth mightinesse estimation command ouer his Subiects and such other tumors of Maiestie that many stratagems and politicall deuices haue taught one another trickes to bring the proudest Monarch on his knees whereby sometimes his will and imperiousnesse vpon the least iealosie of competition or incroaching on the Diadem hath beene mixed with a kinde of tyrannie and the Subiects obedience resembled to slauish prostitution so that in his chiefest and best ordered Townes of Nouagrade and Mosko many strange and fearefull executions haue beene practised and the Subiect enforced to wilfull murthering one another to satisfie the Emperors pleasure as for his warres either forraine or domestique how euer his many Countries ostentous numbers of people and seeming resolutions of the Souldiers would giue an affrighting shadow from some portentous body yet is he glad of auxiliary forces and according to politike obseruations of such confused multitudes must haue many men and few souldiers as peraduenture wee our selues haue made some proofe of late amongst them when a few resolute and well ordred English euen in the fields of Nouagrade contracted their owne conditions in despight of that threatning Armie which both Poles and Muscouites rallied against them But let vs returne to the best flourishes of his peace whether it be a natiue pride or ouer-growne custome with corrupted time he is questionles a proud and stately Prince and once nailed an Embassadors hat to his head because he either abated him of that reuerence appropriate to so great a maiestie or contested with him ouer peremptorily in behalfe of his master but St Thomas Smith was entertained with a contrary satisfaction and welcom how euer our merchants were terrified when the Abbey of St Nicholay should haue beene surprised by certaine English who I am perswaded would haue done it indeede if the proiect had not beene discouered and peraduenture interdicted by supreame authoritie If you would aske me any questions of Mosko the Metropolitane of the Empire I will spend my topography from vnseemely flattering and assure you it is compared to Gran Caâ—…o for spatiousnes of ground multitude of houses and vncomelinesse of streets so that as the one is patible of sunâ—…e corruption and infectious aire the other is not free from beaâ—…linesse smoake and vnwholesome smells but because there be many vnacceptable relations sauouâ—…ng indeed of Trauellers ouer-reachings and impossibilities or at least absurdities I will desist from bringing you into any such by-waies of misdoubt and lead you thus into the plainer fields of knowledge and demonstration They follow for the most part the rites and ceremonieâ—… of the Greeke Church and superstitiously maintaine many idle traditions and ridiculous ceremonies The Priests haue wiues teach the adoration of images fast and compell to confession which the common people suppose most necessary especially for the Nobles and Gentry in regard of their sensuall libertie in sinne and voluptuous prostitution to all manner of filthinesse like those which were reprehended by the Prophet for sitting downe to eat and drinke and rising vp to play Their chiefest prayers consist on the faith of this breefe Iesu thou sonne of God haue mercy vpon me as for the Lords prayer they haue in small vse or forme because the Scriptures are prohibited them and not suffred to be published yea the Priests themselues scarse haue the New Testament amongst them At seuen yeere olde they are terrified with actuall sinnes and so minister yong children the sacrament mingling bread and wine together The Festiuals they doe rather abuse then celebrate gurmondizing with that excesse that it ouer-passeth the limits of neighbourhood or friendly conuersation The common people attend their labour and are indeed the tired seruants of wearisomnes rather comming neere the tediousnes of slauery then the honest necessitie of husbandry They are all incredulous of Purgatorie yet as the Greekes commit many absurdities for their dead they howle about their graues and repaire with seuerall songs to the places of buriall and this is customarie in 〈◊〉 euen amongst our selues especially in Gallowaâ—… where all the summer long the yonger women bedecke the gâ—…ues wâ—… flowers euery familie in their seuerall Chappels an 〈◊〉 satterday at night solemnize a kinde of mourning and â—…efunctory prayers No man giueth himselfe holy water but attendeth the Priest they haue many wiues allow of diuorcement and yet runne into the deceitfull by-waies of filthinesse and incontinency so that as they count it no adultery except Dauid lye with Bathsheba when Vrias is liuing so it is a dangerous matter to transgresse the law of wedlocke and the woman is terribly ouer-watcht and suspitiously restrained from walking abroad wherein the condition of their reputed honest women is more miserable than in Italy and a wife or a maide looseth all reputation if shee goe at random or sit by the high way as Thamar did to deceiue Iuda The people are naturally cunning and dangerous yet as I said subiect to seruitude and very slaues to the Emperor their apparell is a long coat without plighting almost after the manner of Hungarie but indeed all the East generally
yeeld no other they weare coloured bootes comming no higher then their knees the soles plated with yron the better sort haue them gilded painted and embrodered the women weare such too and like the Turkes are not seene abroad bare-faced all sorts loue iustice or at least the shew of it For they punish petty thefts how euer great robberies and manslaughters yea after due examination passe without capitall execution which makes me remember the answer of Cleonidas the Pirate to Alexander the Great when he sharply reprehended him for the basenes of his life and intimated besides the common scandall of a rouer the mischiefes depending as hindring the Merchant from filling the harbours and resorting to the Cities whereby the Kings customes were inlarged and the Common-wealth enriched T is true O King saith he because I rob with one or two ships I am condemned for a rouer but thou that runnest ouer the Hellespont and fillest great seas with thy Nauies art saluted a mighty Monarch and reuerenced more for the feare of thy reuenge then beloued by the extention of thy bounty or liberalitie Their coine is both gold and siluer without forme as stamped long and vnfashionable their furres fill all the world with merchandize making vs not onely warme but proud in Europe yea such is the estimation of Ermines Sables and blacke Fox from a receiued opinion of Priamus King of Troy whose mantle to the greatest shew of ostentation and magnificence was lined with Ermines that in the secrets of Armory except the Prince all persons are limited what and how to weare them and amongst themselues though the Emperor Nobles haue gownes of cloth of gold and siluer tread vpon Persian and Turky carpets and are indeed adorned with great wealth both in iewels and marks of maiestie yet hath their head attires of blacke fox the preeminence wherein he thinketh himselfe more honored than in an imperiall crowne after the manner of auntient Kings Their great Cities are very thin and villages lye scattered with low houses spatious on the ground with stones and the territories which now he challengeth extendeth almost 1200 English mile their woods foster plenty of beasts which in an extreame winter will come downe to their houses and endanger both cattle and people their horse are reasonable good many by whom they maintaine the strength of their Armies and practising them in hunting haue them the more seruiceable in the warres But I purpose no further discoueries and therefore attend the businesse proposed which is onely to giue you a superficiall view of these countries that when we come to compare England vnto them we may finde them the sooner and be able to iudge the better Thus liueth and raigneth this North-east Monarch with reputation of one of the greatest sharers in the aduenture of the worlds happines As for the other Kingdomes of Norway Sweden Goteland Denmarke with the prouinces of Bothnia Finmarck Lapland Finland and such like they are onely called Reges simplices because they liue and take care of their particular Scepters without ambitious intrusion into anothers possession to make it their owne hereditary For though sometime Sweden and Norway is vnited sometimes Denmarke triumphing and sometimes as it were disioynted yet hapneth it by seuerall factions amongst themselues and to reuenge iniuries for the present and may resemble a throng and presse of people in a yard who one while driue to that corner another while shoue to this and suddenly stand at a stay as wearied with the shouldring For as Princes are exasperated to displeasure by their owne conceiued opinions of a wrong and indignity so doe they prosecute reuenges from a wrathfull indignation and many times draw whole Armies into the field to stop further outrages and shew the aduersarie there is no end but blood and death yea the countries deuastation without an honorable agreement or satisfaction and thus haue these people vpon no other colour but wilfulnes weakned one another with counterchangeable preuailings But yet I doe not see that the Russian Emperor taketh aduantage of their disagreements onely at this instant by reason of former troubles about the succession and well-grounded suspition of the King of Polands warlike humors he standeth on his guard and for some priuate respects hath bin auxiliary to the King of Swedea to which belong so many particulars that a whole history might fill your eares with pleasure and instances of worthy prosecution which I desist from for swelling the booke too bigg with so poore a breath of common and knowne relations and will onely goe forward with some slender descriptions as the country now lieth vnder fortunes controule Norway is famous vpon the etymologie of the word as it were the North-way and yeeldeth plenty of fish called stockfish which is taken in the greatest frost for lasting and is a reasonable good country for feeding cattle the increase of a dairy and many other excellent blessings for the nourishment of life Swedia inviteth you to a Towne in imitation of Venice called Stokeholme as if shee boasted onely of this place considering the rest of her villages resemble the scattered troopes of a retired Armie yet must you not ouer-passe the famous Castle of Calmar which is proprietory to Goteland and so depending on Sweden as the principall Port Citie and fortification of these parts and aduanceth her reputation of strength in such a manner that excellent enginers and iudicious Trauellers haue ranked it next the Castle of Millaine Denmarke and his tributes are knowne to euery body with the shipping and customes of the Sont where at one time you shall haue 5000 saile brought to the barre of payment and defraying the Kings charges Their feasts and drinking customes wherein you must not challenge their liberall promises nor take hold of cursory speeches vpon an hereafter remembrance least his displeasure suppose you ouer-politicke for his plainenes yet dangerous humors in his rages Their maintayning of Gentry though fearefull for affording titles of honour by opening the enclosures of desires to affect greatnes and popularitie so that you haue no ambitious titles amongst them Their feminine scorne of mechanicall men trades or professors of Arte insomuch though a man bee neuer so excellent a scholler or Musician yet will not the Ladies of their countrey admit of their society nor entertaine their wiues with befitting complement but with a primordiall contempt of ill musico scholastico pedante or such like countermand their intrusion Their ouer-looking of passengers into the East Countries and many other things are matters of some notice But amongst other points of Heraldry the blason of the coates of these countries displaieth the profitable distribution of masts firre deale pitch tarre rosen cables ropes hempe flax and such like To which I must needes adde how from this Continent former times detruded those Nations of Vandalls Gothes Lombards Getes and other famous people who not onely blotted out the scandall
the Princes be so many so mighty so beloued that they attend in Court at pleasute raise their forces at pleasure contest with the Emperor in many cases at pleasure and supply his wants and demands for impositions at pleasure The Townes againe are so strong so priuiledged so populous that out of obstinate finding fault with taxes and imperious restraints they many times oppose against their principall lords and in hostile manner exclude them from the benefit of commaunding like royall Princes indeed witnesse the many contentions of Colleine with the Noble men and Byshops and at last with the Byshop and the people the power of the DVKE of Saxony in maintaining of LVTHER against both Pope and Emperor the repining of diuers Cities and Princes when the Lantsgraue of Hesse was imprisoned vnder Charles the 5. The last contention betweene the Duke of Brunswicke and the Citie and the generall cause of the Protestants protected in euery place inuita fortuna yea against Ecclesiasticall curses and temporall menaces Of all Europe it is the greatest Countrey with the best and richest store of Cities Townes Castels and religious places in that decorum and order for in a manner view one Towne and view all as if there were a vniuersall consent to raise our admiration from their vniformity To which is added a secret of Nature that the people generally for honesty of conuersation probity of manners assurance of loyaltie and confidence of disposition setting apart their imperfect customes of drinking exceede our beliefe as being vnoffensiue conuersable maintainers of their honours and families wherein they step so farre as if true Gentry were incorporate with them and had his principall mansion in Germany And although they repine at any strangers intrusion and will not suffer new Nations to bring in new customes no not artificers and seeme withall fantastique in apparrell and gaudy with deuises yet doe they hate formalitie of Courtiers and of all other things beware of that horrible deceit of vaparous promises common protestations open embraces palpable flattery and hypocriticall bindings of obseruation from inferiours when the heart is corrupted yea ready to leape into his Masters mouth and tell him that he lies when it heares him sweare what he neuer meant thus can they with Lucan exclaime Exeat aula Qui vult esse pius virtus summa potestas non coeunt and thus doe they endeauour themselues in all honest courses to liue of themselues which questionlesse proceedes from some worthy caution concerning their miserie who eate meate vnder the repining eyes of another and herein no doubt they lay a great imputation on many English whose profession of libertie by base and seruile attendancy is ouerthrowne or if they seeme glorious in casting off the yoake of obedience yet are they besmeered with the frothy corruptions of verball vaine-glorious Courtiers who haue with the viciousnesse of time so abused this profession of moralitie that an honest and vnsubiected heart is afraid to come neere them For although Liberalitie and Charity haue equall properties to the opening if it were possible the gates of heauen although the fauour of Kings must be purchased by duty and obsequiousnesse and although the maiestie of a Court must not be depressed by admitting euery man at pleasure yet hath the errors of life so traduced worthy men for swelling too bigge with wealth and aduancement that their power and authoritie growes tedious and the depending on another is a very excruciation of minde which made the Poet exclaime against the protraction of good deedes with Gratia ab officio quod mora tardat abest which made the Italians murmure with Dono molto aspettato è venduto è non donato which made Berzelay say vnto the King I am old I will go a litle way ouer Iordan but returne to my owne house liue with my people and be buried in the sepulchre of my fathers In these things are the Germans worthy of all commendation yet me thinkes wanting an hereditarie succession of Princes and hauing an Emperor sometimes by partiality of election sometimes by factious strength and sometimes by the absolute commaund of the Pope they should a little abate their ostentation concerning his MAIESTIE or their owne glory As for their formall custome of denominating all the sons of Arch-Dukes Dukes Earles Barons according to their fathers titles and paternall honours it keepes corespondencie with the name of Caesar amongst them and the Italians hold it so ridiculous that in their facetiae as we terme it they ieast it thus The Earles of Germany the Dons of Spaine the Monsiers of France the Byshoppes of Italy the Knights of Naples the Lardes of Scotland the Hidalgos of Portugall the Noblemen of Hungary and the younger brethren of England make a very poore company But if you are curious indeed and would search in natures storehouse for the furniture that Germany holds or know in what manner she distributeth her blessings you shall finde corne vines riuers of fish fruite hot waters bathes minerals mines of all sorts and very good cattle If ambition transport you to view the palace of Honour they can bring you into well fortified Cities wherein you shall haue munition armor and the very Burgers trained with martiall discipline they can cary you into the fields of Bellona and delight you with a beautifull sight of 20000. horse diuided into seuerall batalions and squadrons with cornets penons and sufficient equipage they can conduct you into the very walkes of Princelines and show stately palaces pleasant hunting and hawking turniaments iusts riding horses and other exercises befitting a Gentleman If you descend to more moderate expectations you shall then haue notice how most men eate vnder their owne vines how the Citizen liueth in quiet how the women are blessed in their children how faults are pardoned scandals remooued and euery man appeares like a faire shining Planet in his owne Orbe without disturbance On the north from Callis to Dantske in Prussia lieth part of the seuenteene Prouinces and Pomerania On the East Brandenburg and Silesia I might haue named Hungarie and Transiluania to the South as farre as the Alpes Austria Bauaria Sweuia and Heluetia on the West â—…ranconia Hessia and Munsterland as a core in the midst Westphalia Saxonia Brunswicke Thuringia Misina the well compacted kingdome of Bohemia circumcepted with â—…gra Silua and Morauia with many other diuisions of Principats Dukedomes Lordships and Clergie men that to number them would be more tedious then satisfactorie consider Munster their owne Countrey-man hâ—…th described them at full and taken so much paines thereâ—…n as if he studied nothing more then to set out the honour and dignitie of the Nation wherein hee was borne Amongst these are seuen Princes sequestred to a speciall lifting vp the Emperor into his throne the three Byshops of Colleine Ments or as some will haue it â—…agunse and Treuers the three Seculars Duke of Saxony Marquâ—… of
with Ianus looke two contrary waies and study the arts both of detracting and flattery yet there is but one truth if a man did liue in such a blessed age that he might maintaine the same with worthy boldnesse speaking what he thinkes thinking what he knowes and knowing nothing but honest certainties wherein not to be corrupted is a glory exceeding report and a worke of wonder indeed therefore as neere as I can I will reiect all impossible reports and authorities and tie my selfe to probabilities and truth or at least so much as is either receiued for currant in iustifiable relations or my poore experience dare warrant from mine owne endeauours and so I will shew you with what face Italy lookes vp to heauen at this houre and may with Heraclitus weepe for the vanities and miseries of the earth yet is cheerefull and thus like a strumpet is knowne by the pride of her eyes CHAP. XI ITALY described at this time FIrst towards the East lies the Kingdome of Naples within whose enclosures are detained the countries of Calabria Brutia and Apulia now Abruzzo Puglia and separated by the chāmpaine of Romandiola and the large Appenini which bee mountaines rising by Ancona and running forward to the great gulph that thrusteth it selfe between Rocca Imper◅all and Gallipolis It hath many townes but few cities onely Brindisi Ottonto Barletto and Naples are of some account the Countrey is rich in vines oyle and silke-wormes the people are dangerous superstitious and the Villano liues beastly the Gentle men are maintainers of liberty and pleasure scoffers at their owne religion and as great blasphemers as the Greekes of Cyprus insomuch that I haue heard them in their rages cry out Iddio Beco Puttana del Di and sweare by the absurd oath of potta del Cielo as in their commedy called Ruffiana and published in print may appeare yet is their adoration of her so superstitious that the Sauiour of the world is accounted her inferiour her attributes make heauen amazed and her altars smoke with incense and prophanation And what is this but to cause the Prophets to exclaime against the sacrifices of the Queene of Heauen and what is this but with Ahaz to make images for Baalim and burne children in the valley of Hinnon after the abhomination of the heathen and what is this but to build high altars with Manasses and like a Sorcerer to regard the crying of birds to vse enchauntments giue way to the imposturing art of witchcraft As for true religion oh God! thou laughest them to scorne as they haue the truth in derision which makes me remember what is reported in these parts of that worthy Sr. Philip Sidney who conuersing with a Neapolitane Count and brought to one of their Churches wherein he was loth to enter at that time was yet vnwilling altogether to distaste him but interiected some excuses but the Count vnderstanding him well enough bad him tarrie a while and so went into his formall deuotion but quickly returning embraced him with an oath by his Santa Donna that he would renounce all the religion of the world yea his part of Paradice before hee would trouble againe the conscience of so well deseruing a Gentle-man and companion They liue in great pomp for outward shew and make the City both rich and stately because they are not permitted to be resident in the Countrey but keepe heere continuall entercourse howeuer they groane vnder the Vice-Royes controll and the ouerwatchings of two strong castles which keepe both towne and harbour in awe and although the Spanish pride and sometimes cruelty is exercised amongst them as abating their natiue glory yet doth it little abridge them of moderne pleasures and customary wantonnesse so that if the Prophets in times past exclaimed against Tyrus and Sidon threatned Damascus and Syria prophesied the desolation of Aegypt and Aethiopia lamented Iuda and Samaria and mourned for Babylon and Assyria they might now cry out against Italy and Naples which as in times past was called Parthenope of the Syrens haunting these shores of the dangers of Scilla and Caribdis and for the notorious transhaping men into monsters by Circes allegorically alluding to the voluptuous sinnes and abusiue pleasures of this City and Countrey so still may it retaine the comparison and men bee terrified with the same dangers For if any place in the world keepes wickednesse warme with glorious flames and stretcht-out sensuallity to the length and bredth heere men are not only drunke with iniquity but commit fornication with Idols yea are mad with the rage of impiety The next is Romagnia or Romandiola called S. Peters patrimony a great countrey vnder the Pope in which are reckned the two Dukedomes of Ferrara and Vrbine of late daies fallen into the power of the Conclaue of Cardinals for want of lawfull succession or else by reason of their weaknes who peraduenture haue right but are not able to contest with so irregular an aduersary which makes them step a litle aside for feare of being trampled to peeces indeed The chiefe Cities are Rome Loretto Rimano Bologna Ferrara Vrbine Perugia Viterbium Spoletto Ancona and Rauenna all places of account well fortified adorned with palaces replenished with inhabitants and resort of Gentills both natiues and trauellers and supplied with all manner of prouision both for necessitie and wantonnes But Rome is the seat of the Pope and keepeth the Priests to the duties of the Sanctuary For the Colledge of Cardinals suffer no man to depresse the glory of the Church and proclaimes him an heretike that intermedleth with the ordinances of the great Bishop so that according to their seuerall degrees religious persons liue in great st◅te keepe Curtezans trauell in Carosses with six moiles sumptuously trapped though but a quarter of a mile to the Conclaue solemnize feasts and banquets make onely show of some ridiculous ceremonies and are in truth of slender deuotion in spirituall secrets but foolish superstition in absurd apparitions so that if I were an Atheist and a man vnconscionable to suppose that there were not a day of account to be made with the commander of all actions I had rather liue a religious man in Rome than be a Nobleman of Naples who as I said a litle before of all men liuing wash their hands in carelesnes and like Pollicrates the tyrant haue nothing to trouble them but that nothing hath troubled them concerning worldly encombrances so that with the Prophet I may well cry out the Priests are gone astray by the meanes of strong drinke and are ouercome with wine they faile in prophesying and stumble in iudgement their tables are full of vomit and filthines and no place is cleane yea the vision of the Prophet is come vnto them as the words of a booke which is sealed vp which men deliuer to one that is learned saying read thou and he replies I cannot for it is sealed then it is deliuered to an ignorant with read thou but
his answer is I am not learned so that with the Apostle I may say that Antichrist shall sit in the Temple of the Lord and in the latter daies shall be the doctrine of deuils forbidding to marry and eat meat which God hath sanctified so that with the Euangelist I may lawfully tell you of the Vision of the beast which rose out of the sea hauing 7 heads and 10 hornes and that he opened his mouth vnto blasphemy resembled to the woman araied in purple and rose colour decked with gold pretious stones and pearle and holding a cup of gold in her hand full of abomination and filthines The Citie yet is swelling bigger and bigger though nothing comparable to the ostentation of former times For Historiographers haue confirmed it for greatnes riches magnificence Nobilitie and famous illustrations the admiration of the world as contayning 20 English mile in circuit and shewing a countenance of brauery and princely structures But now it onely boasteth of some few ancient buildings the ruines of the Amphitheater certaine Obelisci the swiftnes of Tiber new erected Palaces of Cardinals the Castle of St Angelo olim moles Adriani the Popes owne Palace and the Church of S. Peter threatning to exceed with his high erected Cuba and wondrous crosse Iles our London Cathedrall which is the vastest heape of stones vnder the sunne the aire is most pestilent and vnwholesome so that Sâ—… haue died in a yeere by infection and the vninhabited places afford such damps and mists that many times they effectuate suffocations but are alwaies dangerous and patible of no remedy but extraordinary fires The third part of Italy affordeth an honorable title to the Duke of Florence who is stiled Magnus Dux Hetruriae and registreth in his booke of renowne for principall Cities Florence Pisa Sienna and Legorne a strong new hauen towne on the sea shore almost ouer against Corsica The Citie it selfe is one of the stateliest and richest in Italy the riuer Arnus runneth in the midst playing the wanton vnder the arches of three delicate stone bridges the Dona is a delicate and curious Church the state-house Dukes palace and treasurie with other Arsenals and store-houses are to be made account of as glorious spectacles and worthy structures but whereas you shall finde a booke of the wonders of the Citie when you come to the substance from the shadow it will proue either ridiculous or not answering expectation The Duke himselfe studieth nothing but wealth for which he liueth both sparingly and basely not caring by what meanes his yeerely entrado is augmented taking the indirect profit of common Innes He is of the family of Medices and his subiects if I may so terme them which doe what they list are fine speakers but buggerers and blasphemers The fourth roome of Italies palace is opened for the delicate state of Leuca a Signiory and Citie of that riches and estimation that in comparing it to so much ground againe you shall easily finde the difference For being not 20 mile square yet can they muster 3000 horse and 15000 foote they make much silke and are well conditioned Merchants their chiefest Podesta or officer is called Confaloniero changed euery two moneths his councell are of the chiefest Citizens altred euery six moneths they liue altogether for the time in one Palace they haue had many Gouernors but at the last the Cardinall as you heard purchased their manumition and they as apprehensiue are resolued to maintaine their priuiledges The fift share is taken out of Italies lap by the Venetians who boast of great antiquity haue a Duke during life chosen by the balls of the full Councell who is at this instant a Donatus and are proud of their great possessions but might haue gloried if they had not lost their first footing Within the land they keepe close Forum Iulij or Friaull with the territories of a large countrey round about Venice it selfe which is called the impossible within the impossible scited in the sea and diuided into such channels that you goe both by water and land to their houses which indeed are hansomely contriued and belonging to the Noblemen worthy the reputation of Palaces yet are the streets so narrow that they endure neither horse nor cart neither doth their Gentlemen weare sword or cloake nor is any fresh water or good aire belonging to the same more then what is brought them or they reserue in pargetted cesternes as in Zeland and Holland when it raineth Padoa is their Vniuersitie and a large towne famous for Titus Liuius and Peter Auenons birth who made the bathes vnder the mountaines some fiue mile beyond where the vipers are taken it retaineth a goodly monument of a Hall keeps Antenors toombe in the streets and dare tell you that S. Lukes sepulchre is in the Church called the Santo Palma is a fine towne and strong in fortification Verona a famous Citie whither the Noblemen resort who much stomach the Venetian gouernment Vizenza is a delicate Academie and hath a stately yet hansome theater Crema a frontier towne and well guarded Vdine comely and conuenient enough after the Italian manner and superstitious alike Treuiso hath a faire Piazzo and sheweth some wanton Curtezans and Brescia where the language is corrupt for belike they haue beat out the finenes with hammering their armours On the other side of the Adriaticke sea they command the pleasant shores of Histria Dacia and Dalmatia almost as farre as Ragusa a litle further in their owne Gulph and amongst the musters of the Greeke Ilands they protect Cephalonia once Ithaca or the countrey of Vlisses Corfu where the strong Castle is accounted a principall peece of workmanship Xante an Iland famous for the vallies yeelding 4000 tunne of Corans euery yeere Zerigo and many other Ilands in euery one of which they haue for Gouernour one Prouisor and two Conciliarij as assistant they had also many other fortunes but tempus edax rerum and the Turkes greatnes hath almost broken the chaine of their prosperitie abroad in peeces For they haue lost Rhodes Ciprus and some other commands yet doe they keepe Candy in the Mediterranean sea whose Gouernour is priuiledged with the title of DVKE and hath potestatem vitae necis Modena is the sixt step of Italies glory and an hereditary Dukedome full of riches and fashionable Gentry newly allied to Mantua and reasonable well fortified against his dangerous neighbour in Millane The country is very pleasant and conducteth you to those plentifull water-pooles called Lago de Garda and Lago de Como the first vnder the Venetian the next belonging to the Cardinall of Trento and both very neere 50 Italian mile in length and 30 in bredth On the seuenth degree of honors chaire as he is mounted in Italy is Mantua placed a new Dukedome of an old Marquisate in the name of Gonzaga He liueth in better fashion of Courtship than the other Princes with a guard of Switzers the
resembled vnto children pull'd out of the armes of a louing mother But I will quietly bring you into her own roomes whereby you shall partly behold the beauty and workmanship of her building onely by the way I must a litle touch the Etymologie of the word and tell you that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke signifieth milke and so the people from their complexion and resemblance to whitenes were called Galli or Galati For other particulars you haue Caesars commentaries and well compacted histories which haue tossed and tumbled the lodgings yea the very beds of her chambers and our owne acquaintance hath ouer-lookt her choicest closets It was once the nurse of valour and afforded her vberant paps in those daies to such men as trampled ouer the fields of Greece robbed Apollos Temple at Delphos fetcht away the spoiles of Asia and by the assistance of Brennus an Englishman performed actions of wonderment and applause It was afterward the pride of Roman Consuls and the greatest ambition thought it selfe sufficiently recompenced with her gouernment when Rome had yet lessned her roome to make it prouinciall Presently followed the diuision of the Empire and all the gouernment almost of Europe was rent asunder with the furie of very strange and sauage Nations whose confused Chaos of barbarisme the brauery and goodnes of this countrey redacted to vniformity A litle while after diuers families by being maiores palatij became masters of the Kingdome wherein some by suppression some by merit some iure militari and some by right of inheritance lifted vp the crowne and maiesticall head of this country Straight-way the Eagle of Rome was sicke and from France recouered health how euer afterward it sought for further cure from the Germanes Then followed the Law Salick amongst them with absolute interdicting the Crowne of this glorious Monarchy to fall to the distass whereupon the three famous houses of Valois Burbon Loraine entailed the same and made as it were a feofment of perpetuity wherein this Diadem still keepeth her residence and is dunged watred and liketh her manuring so that whatsoeuer hath bin long since diuided amongst many Princes looking vpon one another with the eyes of emulation and ambitious desires to become greatest in the same is now at length vnited vnder one Monarchy and title of France so that howsoeuer some will haue Loraine absolute of it selfe and no subiect some stomach that Burgoine is revolted some repine that Daulphine was vnited by donation some confound Gascoigne and Guienne abolishing quite the name of Acquitane some remember that Normandy was English some presume of Britany as a Principate of her owne some make Sauoy afraid when Geneua calls the King of France patron and protector and some by diuision and subdiuision would extenuate her greatnes yet is now all France and the worthy Princes are resolued to keep correspondency with strangers but suffer no new intrusion nor any forreine claimes to preuaile at their marble table I will therefore desist from any further vnwinding the yarne of strange bottomes but spread a moderne cloth and giue you some slender taste of her present dainties whereby you shall not depart away altogether vnsatisfied To begin euen vnder the mountaines Pirenei which diuide Spaine from France the first part is called Gasconia including Guienne and Acquitane Dukedomes once appropriate to the heire of England before the inuesture of the Principat of Wales The chiefest Cities are Burdeaux and Tholouse washed with the plenteous waters of the Garonn a riuer not onely spreading her many armes abroad to send plenty all ouer the fields but powring out her greater streames into the sea welcommeth store of ships into her ports and harbours sending them backe againe into many countries of Europe with glad tidings of an abundant vintage Burdeaux is watrishly scited by reason the riuer and springs raiseth many marshes here about yet is it wholesome and the heat of the climate can endure the moistnes of the aire the Citie is ancient and boasteth of an Vniuersitie but more properly of the great concourse of Merchants It is beautified with many monuments especially the Pallace wherein King Richard the second the sonne of the blacke Prince was borne and another without the Towne a worke euer since the Emperor Galienus and then supposed a glorious Amphitheater The towne of Tholouse is more proud of antiquitie and telleth of time before Troies devastation yea remembreth since Deborah Iudge of Israel was famous for her wisdome and gouernment It hath now a well disciplined schoole a court of Parliament populous streets and reasonable buildings but indeed they seeme very ancient and for some speciall structures may carry the credit of magnificence The other townes are many and very good except countrey villages which are as rude as in other places and the Pesant liueth like a drudge not daring scarse drinke of the wine of his owne garden lest he should not raise such profit as would answer the proportion of his rent But herein our English Merchant hath somewhat ouer-reached them For they hire the gardens themselues and make the best vse of them not trusting their labourers and husbandmen to handle the presses but as they be hired by the day or great The second part is called Poictoy a countrey so great and plentifull that there are numbred 1200 parishes and three Bishopricks faine would haue you reckon these principall walled townes within her diuision of inferior and superior The bishopricks are Poictiers Leucòne and Mailezay The superior townes Roch sur yon or if you will Rochell one of the strongest townes in Europe and the rather because it hath not trusted her walls and ramparts which are yet stupendous and magnificent but the Lord of hostes and his true religion which hath alwaies raised their spirits to an extraordinary confidence of mercy and preuailing against any Antichristian attempt Talmont Meroil Vouuant Meruant Bresfure Lodun Fountenay le Conte The inferior or townes of the lower diuision Noiart Partenay Touars Moncontoul Herenault Meribeau Chastelleraut and others of like eminence amongst whom Poictiers is reckned the most populous of all France next to Paris it is watred with the ouer-flowings of Clanius a riuer filling the Loire and sending it the faster into the sea it boasteth of some antiquities a Theater called the Sandes a palace of the Emperor Galienus an Aquaeduct to which belong certaine fountaines vulgarly called arceux de parigne and other memories from famous Romans who were here euer resident To talke of their Churches prisons walls ports ramparts arsenals towers riuers bridges and such like it were superfluous considering they are not subiects either of admiration or delicacie but euen common or ordinary buildings The third part is Aniou though a litle Prouince yet very fruitfull and affordeth such excellent vines that the common prouerbe crieth out the wine of Aniou For the stately riuer of Loire comming from Orleance posteth a pace with the glad tidings
of a plentifull country and excellent husbandry in their gardens The mountaines yeeld a red stone and parget called ardoises the vallies plenty of grasse the riuers fish and the barrennest place pasture for cattle The chiefe Citie is Angiers on the banke of the Meduan not far from the Loire yet is it ioyned by a bridge of stone to another on the other side and so you may conclude that two townes make one Citie Here you haue also ruines of Theaters vulgarly Brohan and an Academy enlarged or rather founded by Lodwick the second 1389 the other townes are Samurs Belforce Bange and such like of whose particulars my purpose is not to make relation The fourth part is Britania in times past Armorica It boasteth for sending ouer such inhabitants into our countrey as not onely taught them a language but peopled and possessed the same Wee againe are resolued that though France was first inhabited yet from the greater Britaine the lesse receiued denomination and by entercourse of people affinitie mariage and politike confederation both countries learned one anothers language For being called Armorica it at last condiscended to be entitled litle Britaine retaining a long time an absolute Duke of her owne and diuiding her territories into low and high Britaine in both which are numbred nine Bishopricks Carnouaile S. Paul Treguires Doll Rheines S. Malo Nants Vannes and Brein amongst whom Doll hath the precedency though Renes and Nants be the chiefest and greatest Cities It is three parts exposed to the sea and hath many strong ports especially Brest famous for sundry warlike exploits and the last intrusion of the Spanish leaguers The fift part is Normandy diuided into the countries of Constantine Bessin Maine and Auge in which as principall Cities are recorded Roan Pontoise Alenson Argenni Caen Baieux and some few others The people boast of their endeuors in spinning linnen cloth excellent wits and able bodies for the warres But of all other things they would exceede especially the Gentlemen for mansuetude courtship and affabilitie in attending the affaires of peace and quietnes The sixt part challengeth the title of the I le of France a countrey so named because it is in a manner environed with excellent riuers which make the ground so fertile that for number of Townes Gentlemens houses places of pleasure conueniencie of prouision and other particulars tending to brauery and profit it excelleth all the countrey But her chiefest pride ariseth from the possession of Paris on the riuer Sequana or the Sein the mistris of all Cities and Orleans on the Loire famous for many remarkable actions betweene whom almost 40 English mile is one cawsey of stone or otherwise there were no trauelling especially in winter For all the ground is so fat and clammy that Paris it selfe is called Lutetia of luto or the durtinesse of the soile The seuenth part belongeth to Bourges or Berry a countrey boasting of many delicate things but the Citie is quite out of patience if you either forget her monuments or contradict her first founder to be Ogiges the grand-childe of Noe It is enclosed with the countries of Touraine Burbon and Niuernois and on the riuer of Loire washing cleane the fields with his strange ouer-flowings are erected Cosme Le Charity the Citie of Neuers with her long bridge Molins and many other townes some of hansome eminence and some of lesse consequence The eight part is attributed to Limosin or Lemania contayning the County of Auernge and yeeldeth such plenty of fenns and marishes that the fatnes of the soile is both bettered and augmented thereby howeuer the aire seemeth not so wholesome and the Cities Townes are fuller of inhabitants by reason of natures suppliment in all things and the easines wherewith good husbandry dispatcheth her busines yet are they neither great nor extraordinarily beautified no not Limoges Clermont Beurgard Monferau and Goudade which are the principall The ninth lot of France her renowne is taken out of fortunes lap for Languedock reaching to the sea as farre as Montpelier and Arles on the other side Westward Carâ—…ossen and Narbon yet doe some ioyne Languedock to Prouence and call all these sea-coasts with the territories adiacent by the title of Gallia Narbonensis The tenth principall roome of this French palace is beautified with the Parliament roabes of the seuerall countries of Prouence Daulphine and Orange For they account Arles a towne compassed with the streames of Rhodanus rather in Prouence then Languedock because it standeth as it were at the mouth of the riuer to watch how the sea and the fresh water meets as for Narbon they esteeme it the pride of the riuer Araxis and boast of the great lake for her denomination accordingly Heere abouts were those excellent bathes contriued spoken of so much in the Roman Commentaries and Marius celebrated his triumphs for conquering the Cimbrians who came thus farre in those dayes from that countrey which we now call Denmarck to reâ—…st the Romans To Daulphine they added a gracious allowance of the famous and ancient city of Lyons whom the 〈◊〉 diuideth and whose wals are so ambitious that they â—…mb vp to the top of very rockes the riuer playes the wanton about the towne and runs a pace to Valence Vienna neuer leauing vntill he thrust himselfe into the Mediterranean sea hard by Marselles a city and port of great consequence but is so separated from the riuer as if it were affrayd of his swiftnesse But Lyons hath yet more cause of insulting in regard that all this part of France was called Gallia Lugdunensis from her owne name Lugdunum and diuers monuments of water-workes bridges towers and temples were magnificent in Caesars time The prouince of Daulphine was giuen to the eldest sonne of France with no other intent but to name himselfe accordingly by which occasion all Europe knowes what the Daulphine means To Orange is a town so named appropriate Grenoble with Auignion are coniured within this circle For although euer since the Pope made it his seat established heere a Conclaue for the Cardinals it hath since remaâ—…ed firme to the Roman Clergy yet is it sited in this prouince and called France her naturall mother some reckon heerein the three Bishoprickes of Carpentoract Lissa and Vaurias with many other townes allowing vs to call it the Principate of Orange and will haue vs take notice that the house of Nassau which challengeth the glory of the Low-Countries as by the worthy life of the last Prince of Orange whose younger sonnes are still so famous for the Belgick warres may appeare was extracted from hence and glorieth in her denomination accordingly For mine owne part I haue thus bound them together within the girdle of Prouence and could finde in my heart to make Geneua with her great lake and plaines vnder the mountaines a daughter of France although she hath vrgently denied her first mother Besides howeuer the Rhosne or
beautified with embattelled Churches of many seuerall fashions frequented with entercourses of people adorned with handsome markets and priuiledged by ancient immunities faires solemne festiuals and neighbourly meetings besides granges castles religious houses towres and Yonkers mannor-places The aire seemeth moyst especially of Holland and Zeland with the sea-coasts of Brabant and Flanders yet not preiudiciall to the health of the inhabitants for in the champaine of Brabant men liue an hundred yeeres The Countrey is euery where visited with nauigable riuers nor come they empty handed but affoord delicate water and excellent fish but what talke I of fish when the large Ocean is so nigh out of whose store-house a man may take without being called in question or repining It is beautified with many woods affoording timber to build withall and the pleasure of hunting It is smally or not at all mountainous except about Namurs Luzenburg or Henault It is fruitfull of corne grasse and herbs fit for pasture for cattle and medicine for health yet in some places of Brabant and Gelderland full of heath which notwithstanding is not so barren but cattle are fatted with the same and their flesh hath an extraordinary sweet taste It is free from those creatures which are either noysome or dangerous to man and wanteth none of those blessings wherewith the God of all blessing marketh a Countrey but a noble Prince vnity of religion and a quiet gouernment The Countrey of Limburck hath many names and is a prouince full of villages it containeth part of the Dukedome of Boloigne the Marquisate of Franckmount the Earledome of Haspengo and Lootes with many other Baronies There are brought into the lists 24. great townes amongst whom we begin inprimis with Leege situated on the Mase as hauing a Bishops See a delicate castle many well-ordred edifices the dorps are reckned 1700. besides Abbayes and religious houses toward the North adioyning to Brabant it flourisheth in corne hath some vines Toward the South neighbouring France and Lutzenburg it is more barren as intermingled with hils and woods the remainder of that great forrest of Ardenia of which so many fabulous accidents are recorded It containeth diuers mines of marble and cole and in such goodnesse of euerything that a prouerb raiseth it selfe to haue bread better then bread fire hotter then fire and iron harder then iron The Dukedome of Lutzenburg is for the most part mountainous and full of wood in the rest well tilled and where they haue stocked vp the trees excellent ground what neighboureth France conserueth both their language and customes the rest speake Dutch The names of the Prouince and principall City haue one sound but it is ill diuided part on a hollow by the riuer Essa part on a rocky mountaine so that it proposeth no great vniformity but yet yeeldeth a gracefull obiect and in retaining the authority of a Parliament hath a preheminence of many greater and prouder townes The next is Arlunum quasi ara Lunae as supposed that they heere worshipped the Moone The rest are sutable some for strength as Thion on the Mosell some for commodity as Baston the mart of the Countrey and adiacent to the forrest and some for contentment and orderly conueniency as 26. others The countrey of Henault is sutable to the rest and marcheth with the same equipage of plenty and pleasure the cheefe cities are Mons and Valenciens To Mons is attributed the precedency for antiquity strength and riches yet is it almost neere the center of the Land and on a little riuer called Trulla whose visitation makes the common people wealthy and industrious especially in weauing of a stuffe called Sayes which heere exceede all the townes of the Low-Countries Valenciens is better sited on the riuer Scaldis and is very spacious well walled and full of ancient buildings the Citizens are great trades-men and gaine much by the making of fustians the rest are brought into the account with the number of 22. Amongst whom Binchium might haue showne you a goodly palace erected by Mary sister to Charles the fift and beautified with gardens of pleasure to these vses To beguile idle houres to countenance a solitary retiring from the great encombrances of the world to quicken meditation with a corresponcency of time and place and to inuite the body to a better aire then commonly populous cities affoord it was yet destroyed some would faine say defaced by Henry the second King of France in those times of desolation when intestine mutinies could not be appeased without effusion of bloud and the rage of Princes exasperated one another to sore reuenges Heere is also the ancient towne of Baâ—…aies which flourished in the time of Constantine the Emperour The rest are Charlimont Manburg and Philips towne wherein the first founders or rather re-edifiers made strong defences against the eruptions of the French and were resolued to diuide the house of Burgundie for euer from the Flower-de-luce Many other townes with the villages might be spoken of but because there are few memorable things in them I passe all ouer with such a slightnes as is required in a man that maketh haste out of an idle iourney till he come to his place of rest and better consequence The countrey of Artois did once absolutely belong to the Flower-de-luce as by the antiquitie and scituation may appeare But afterward in the contract 1529 it was patible of diuision when the Emperor and the French King were weighed in the ballance of successe to set forward the renowne of eithers preuailing so that when France was found too light in regard that the false hand of fortune turned the scale on tother side twelue pretty townes fell from the King as stones pull'd from a ruinous wall leauing the whole Prouince in hazard of falling too had not the other part of the countrey succor'd it selfe vnder the supportation of Picardy and now telleth vs of good corne many riuers much wood and reporteth of the raining wooll by the testimonie of Saint Hierome and others who set it in the account of wonders The Prouince of Namurs is plentifull of all things that belongeth to the vse of man as if the horne of Achelous were not onely reserued here for a monument but distributed abundance by reason of the vertue following the possession it hath many iron and cole mines of whose nature and condition this is obserued that whereas other coales are extinguished with water and enflamed with oyle these are set on fire with water and rebated in their heat with oyle It hath onely fowre walled Townes who dare thus lift vp their heads aboue water to keepe the bodies from sinking 1. Namurs scituated on the two riuers Mosa and Scambra vnited by a well compacted bridge of stone retayning a Bishops sea and keeping the solemnitie of a Parliament 2. Bouinum on the banke of Mosa much defaced by the warres being of late a rich stately and populous Citie
mens Cosmography who tell you of Turwin and Tornay and those noble endeuours of Hen. 8. when the King of France claimed Artois and Flanders as well as Picardy The Prouince of Gelderland is altogether champaine yet intermingled with woods and stored with euery thing to satiate our desire especially if wee looke after plenty of corne and pasture which both stuffeth full their garners and fatteth their cattle insomuch that they bring them leane in great heards from the furthest part of Denmarke to receiue here as it were a more seemely forme It is visited with the three riuers of Rhene Mase and Whale it hath 22 walled townes attended on by the care and diligent seruice of 300 villages amongst whom Numegam is metropolis and indeed boasteth not onely of antiquitie but the royaltie of a King had not time worne out the shining brightnes of his Crowne or some boistrous hand pull'd the scepter out of his arme and shouldred him quite aside from his Throne or else it was as the Kings of Cities in Mesopotamia Reges à regendo when nine of them made battaile together and the preuailers spoiled Lot and tooke him prisoner Herein is also contained the country and Earledome of Zutphen and the delicate Iland of the Betto how euer Holland would challenge her of disobedience if shee should call another mother For Goricum Worchum and many other townes are reputed hers onely Arnham on the other banke of the Rhene with the sweet fields of the Vellwe will still belong vnto Gelderland and could tell you of a sconce builded ouer against it of another on the banke of Icell of another before Numegen where that valiant German Sir Martin Skinck lost his life and was tossed from graue to graue vntill a military ceremonie laid him in an honorable place of rest and of another at the point of the Iland diuiding the riuer into the Rhene and Whale which saies you can scarce shew such another and is proud of nothing more than her founder and title For it is called still Skinck sconce and could affright you with the relation of many strange designes and changes of military seruice as if the Armies chose these parts of the country to play at base in and as it were dance a mattachene in armour For I my selfe knew the leaguer one yeere in Gelderward within two mile of Eltam another yeere at Bommel a third at Berck a fourth in Cleueland c. It flourished vnder Otho the third Earle of Gelderland who walled in Ruremond Arnham Harderwick Bomell Gooch and Waggenhen and so held the title of a Countie vntill Rheinaldus the second whom for his valour iustice piety and other vertues the Emperor Lodwick lifted vp to the dignitie of a Duke in the presence of the Kings of England France and the Princes Electors 1339. Zeland is a new name and not read of in ancient histories as if a man should say a countrey compounded both of land and sea For it is euery where distinguished with Ilands which are environed with water and knowne by 15 seuerall names against whom the sea hath much preuailed and not long since with violent invndations swallowed 300 of their inhabited townes so that now you may saile by the steeples of Churches and not knowing the reason wonder to what purpose the Towres were so erected There remaine now three principall which are preserued against the rage of the Ocean with exceeding cost and powerfull industry namely Walcheren Schouen and South-Beueland and foure inferior Diuelant Tolen North-Beuelant and Woolfersdike which are graced with the prerogatiues of eight walled townes whereof six continue their Estates Deputies for the whole County Midelborough Flushing Camphere and Armenden which hath no voice although it cry out neuer so loud that it standeth with the rest in Walcheren In Schouen Sirexee and Bucers hauen which hath likewise no voice In South-Beueland which is the greatest and fertilest Iland the towne of Tergowse and in the land of Tolen the towne of Tertolen and Martins dike which hath also no voice These Ilands are preserued by the downes which be certaine bankes of sand cast vp with the tides and where there are no sands as toward the south the dikes are raised by the industry of man and proportioned with equall height to the rest all so rammed with mats casses of fagots 6 or 7 foote long that it not only performeth the effect of their securitie but seemeth an artificiall gracefulnes and being so neere England is worthy the ouer-viewing In times past the Marquis of La Vere and Flushing were onely at the Generall Councels of the countrey now the places are supplied with Deputies and new times haue giuen way vnto new orders For these inheritances and titles are incorporated in Prince MAVRICE of NASSAV and the Abbot of St Martins in the towne of Midlebourgh which at this instant is the Court of Zeland As for the Prince he is the seruitor of the States and can doe nothing absolute of himselfe without their direction And for the Abbot his name is extinguished with his superstition and the reformation of religion hath also reformed his very title and authoritie so that the Estates make the Democratia a princely gouernment and assume to themselues the power of life death controuling punishing rewarding and resolute ordering all their affaires except in cases of necessitie wherein there is no disputing nor interiecting any cause of imputation either of negligence or improuidence For so great Princes either diminish or augment their illustrious royaltie and Monarks whose pride at the first swelled ouer the banks of preuailing haue in one age bin left bare on the sands of an ebbing fortune The cheefest trade of the inhabitants is nauigation fishing and making salt yet within the land they imploy themselues to tillage and feeding of cattle The people doe so multiply and increase that they are compelled to inlarge their Townes as well for their owne inhabitants as frequentation of strangers who since the troubles of Antwerpe resort hither extraordinarily but if I should adde the brauery of fortifications I should do them no wrong nay I might augment their glory For Flushing is one of the strongest Townes of Europe and Midleborough so ramparted and guarded that a very militarie renowne is attributed vnto them and the Burgers themselues deserue well of all good reports The prouince of Holland is as it were a Peninsule circumuironed with water For the sea the Rhene and the meeting riuers open their doores in such a manner that you may goe as it were round about the house except in one corner toward Gelderland and although it containeth not in circuit aboue two hundred English mile yet lifteth vp the wals ramparts and warlike ports of thirty townes of such receipt wealth and shipping that the pride of Tyrus and Sidon exclaimed vpon by so many Prophets had not greater occasion of raging and oftentation howeuer they are yet blessed with
a particular preheminence and iurisdiction as I sayd by it selfe and West Freesland suffering this partition Ostergo Westergo Transilana Drenta Tuenta the seuen woods and Lordship of Groining a beautifull towne and famous for that siege wherein were 80000. in the field on both sides 1594. when Prince Maurice obtained it for the States being before ouer-awed 1580. by the Duke of Parma As it hath more cattle and pasture then other prouinces so more villages the inhabitants are more warlike insomuch that commonly there is a Regiment or two of Frizons in the army when amongst the foot-companies there is scarse two hundred Dutch-men besides yet haue they many troops of horse and are distinguished by diuers characters although they speake all one language either high or Low-Dutch as Resties Lansguents Frizons Switzers High-Germans Dutch and Free-booters or Boot-halers I haue insisted the longer on the discourse of these Prouinces because you may see the errours of selfe will and ill counsell euen in the gouernment of mighty Monarchs as I sayd before For the conquest of the West Indies the onely greatnesse of Spaine was not nor is so glorious to his ostentation as the losse of the Low-Countries when hee might with peace mansuetude haue opened the arms of a louing father ouer them greeuous to his remembrance and a very wound to his policy Because if these countries were vnited and altred from their Aristocratia or Democratia chuse you whether to the vniformity of a Monarchie affoording to Caesar what belongeth to Caesar raising their nobility aduancing the well-deseruers encreasing their estates disciplining their able men to the seruice of the warres and from the imitation of other countries endeauouring to raise their owne glories it would surmount all the reuenues of Spaine which for extent of ground measureth six times as much nay if I added the West Indies computatis computandis I might be beleeued after some reasonable disceptation For say a stirring spirit desired glory and pompous attendancy From hence might bee obtained infinite treasure settled content high magnificence multitude of subiects commerces of marchants store of shipping stately horses louing people and the glory of nature beauty it selfe so that if the Arch-Dukes fortune could raise him to such a height if at first he honoured the Enfanta with vshering her bare-headed into Bruxels hee might then prostrate himselfe before her throne indeed as one of the greatest Princes of the world For although his hopes did depend vpon other supportation and in her owne language he cries Kala as peraduenture determining a composition with his brother Mathias if the peacefull Rodolphus were once discharged of his debt to nature whereby she might be Empresse of Germany yet cannot a meere titular dignity come neere so great a contentment as to haue the fruition of such a kingdome and natiue felicity But if delicate life and quiet establishment of temporall happinesse were propounded amongst these is honesty of contracts probity of manners truth of word preuention of wants fulnesse of wealth delicacy of apparrell neatnesse of furniture vniformity of building magnificence of structures plenty of viands sumptuousnesse of feasts liberty of conuersation and what else enflameth our desires to helpe our deficiencie yea the very behauiour of the women enforceth admiration For being tall beautifull actiue and familiar they are yet free from those peenish humors of ielousie lightnes pride which make vs weary one of another Besides all their words actions tend to simplicitie and modest plainenes retaining with all this suppliment of wants making of cloth and knitting of lace and dainty works But when I consider their mutuall entercourses their skill in buying and selling their frequenting of the shops their going from place to place without so much as suspition of incontinencie and their loue to their husbands and children euen in the ouerflowings of naturall imperfections or if you will diseases of the Nation I stand amased and sweare that vertue cannot be poore and an honest minde will not be seduced for any worldly respects to the slauish corruption of lasâ—…iuiousnes or dishonestie CHAP. XVI The Monarchy of Great Britaine THE last of all Countries and as many thinke the least but such a least as if a pretty sparke of a pure Diamond should triumph ouer a border of soft topasses is the kingdome of ENGLAND now proclaimed vnder the royall standard of Great Britaine France and Ireland stile enough if the desire of man know what is enough But alas â—…nisi ab orbe Britanni wherein I thinke nature and glory plaied the silken Artist or Artificer chuse you whether who in sorting out his commodities laies the principall aside for a friend or his owne vse so did our first mother deale with this ILAND allowing it a double portion of blessings before the other countries of the world for her owne honour But at this time you shall not heare mee stammer out my words considering Mr Cambden hath spoken so well and distinctly as if a Lawyers cunning had not onely inlarged some excellent matter but doubly graced the same with good deliuerie and pleasing elocution Besides I must in the second booke vntie her bound-vp fardell and come to more neerer particulars and therefore there shall be now no further disputing of the same yet Ireland hath made me amased to see such an impossibilitie to reduce her which mee thinks cannot proceed from any innated hatred against vs particularly though it be an vnsauoury truth because in affecting Spaine and France shee disclaimeth their formalitie and would faine besprinkle the beautifull faces of ciuilitie gouernment formes of Cities courtlines maiestie and state with the vntoward termes and abuses of policie restraint of libertie couetousnes flattery pride and licentiousnes therefore I will bee the bolder to speake a word or two of her vnkindnes CHAP. XVII The description of IRELAND THE country and kingdome of IRELAND is generally for naturall aire and commoditie of blessings sufficient to satisfie a couetous or curious appetite but withall diuided into such fastnes of mountaine bogg and wood that it hath emboldned the inhabitants to presume on hereditary securirie as if disobedience had a protection For the mountaines denie any cariages but by great industry and strength of men so haue we drawne the Cannon ouer the deepest boggs stoniest hils and the passages are euery way dangerous both for vnfirmenes of ground the lurking rebell who will plash downe whole trees ouer the paces and so intricately winde them or lay them that they shall be a strong barracado and then lurke in ambush amongst the standing wood playing vpon all commers as they intend to goe along On the bogg they likewise presume with a naked celeritie to come as neere our foote and horse as is possible and then flie off againe knowing we cannot or indeed dare not follow them and thus they serue vs in the narrow entrances into their glins and stony
paths or if you will dangerous quagmires of their mountaines where a 100 shot shall rebate the hasty approch of 500 and a few muskets if they durst carry any well placed will stagger a pretty Armie not acquainted with the terror or vnpreuenting the mischeefe The Prouince of LEMSTER is more orderly than the rest as being reasonable well inhabited and hauing some forme of a Common-wealth so that I finde no mislike either for delight or profit but that the want of wood abridgeth their computation of happinesse yet questionles was the principall cause of our reducing them to ciuilitie and the place wherein we first setled many English families Some vnite and some diuide the kingdome of Meth from Lemster and make it a Prouince of it selfe containing East-Meth West-Meth and Longford wherein O Roorck is resident supposing himselfe the greatest Gentleman in the world yea contesting many times with Oneal how euer with much adoe he afforded him precedencie The countrey is very fruitfull and pleasant not so mountanous but ill inhabited For the warres and their owne bestialitie haue not onely made a separation of all good order but euen terrified both beast and fowle from commorance amongst them in many places The Prouince of MVNSTER hath some Townes well aduanced by the sea coasts and many excellent harbours wherein Ireland may boast ouer all the countries of Europe The grounds adiacent are very fertile and in many places afford cause of ostentation but more inward they are very barren and mountanous full of boggs wood and other remote places whose fastnes hath incited the people to ouer-great presumption yet because of the spatiousnes with men desiring good order it might be reduced and reformed as enioying plentifull and sweet riuers full of fish and some of sufficient depth to transport reasonable boates into the land The Prouince of CONACH is diuided from the rest by a goodly riuer called the Shanon being as I take it the greatest of any Iland in the world For it fetcheth a course of 200 mile and filleth his channell along the shores of Longford Meths Ormond Limrick and Kerry yet serueth them in no great stead For their shipping commeth no further than Limrick where it is fiue mile broad fresh water and 60 mile from the maine sea from thence small cotts as they tearme their boates carry their wood turff fish and other commodities but for fish as Salmon Breame Pike and diuers other sorts I shall not be beleeued to relate the numbers and hugenes by such as are enemies to obseruation or the beleefe of the blessings of other countries Within 20 mile of Limrick as I take it a litle beyond the praecinct of Caher-Castle a strange rock hath taken her lodging euen crosse the riuer and filleth the roome in such a manner that almost the nauigation is hindred thereby but what cannot men and money doe and why should not these idle people be industriously imployed to remoue the same so free the passage to Athlone As for an obiection of impossiblitie the iudgement of men hath yeelded to suruey and many examples haue confirmed the effects of more laborious attempts The south part namely Tomond for by reason of the riuers interposing it selfe I see no reason why it should be disiointed from Conach with Galloway and Clenricard is very stonie full of marble alablaster and iett and hath better order both for number and good building in their Castles than other parts of Ireland The north from Athlone to the Abbey of Aboile and so beyond the Curlewes as farre as Slego is of excellent temperature and goodnesse These Curlewes are mountaines full of dangerous passages especially when the Kern take a stomach and a pride to enter into action as they terme their rebellion and tumultuary insurrections On the other side the County of Maio consorteth with the pleasingest place in the Kingdome by whose beaten banks lye those famous Ilands of life of whom a ridiculous tale is fathered that nothing dies in them so that when the inhabitants grow old they are caried else where which custome they haue of late superstitiously obserued both in these Ilands of Aran and some other adioyning of the same condition as they suppose The Prouince of VLSTER and called the North is very large and withall mountanous full of great Loughs of fresh water except Lough Cone which ebbeth and floweth as the Sea shouldreth aside the streites at Strangford and with that violence at the ebb that a ship vnder saile with a reasonable gale of winde cannot enter against the tide These lakes nature hath appointed in steed of riuers and stored with fish especially Trowt and Pike of such strange proportion that if I should tell you of a Trowt taken vp in Tyrone 46 inches long and presented to the L Montioy then Deputie you would demand whether I was oculatus testis and I answer I eat my part of it and as I take it both my L Dauers and Sir William Goodolphin were at the table and worthy Sir Iosias Bodley hath the portraiture depicted in plano Here are no Townes or at least very few but diuers Castles dispersed and the inhabitants remoue their cabbins as their cattle change pasture somewhat like the Tartarians except in times of warre and troubles then doe they retire vnder the couett of Castles and order their houses wonde with rods and couered with turffs as well as they can bringing their cattle euen within their houses lying altogether in one roome both to preuent robberies of Kern and spoile by Wolues Amongst these euery country is subiect to the Law Tanist which is he which is best able to maintaine the reputation of their familie is the great O and commander Through the Kingdome generally the winter is neither so cold nor the summer so hot as in England by reason whereof Haruest is very late and in the North wheat will not quickly ripen nor haue they acornes once in a dozen yeere their principall corne is oates which are commonly burnt out of the straw and then trod from the husks with mens feete of this they make their bread in cakes being first grownd by calliots and drudges very naked and beastly sitting on the ground with the mill like our mustard quernes betweene their legs and then vpon broad yron presses they bake the meale when it is kneaded which custome the best obserue in Munster with their cheefest corne The continuall showers and mists make the countrey more dangerous to our Nation debarring the absolute assurance of wholesome aire and the consequent health seldome any frost continues or snow lieth long but on the mountaines in which are great store of Deere both red fallow The abundance of Wolues compels them to house their cattle in the bawnes of their Castles where all the winter nights they stand vp to the bellies in durt another reason is to preuent theeues and false-harted brethren who haue spies abroad will come 30 mile
of instruction made benefit of some relations and going to sea to Alexandria there were both Indians Iewes Arabians and Armenians aboord from whom I catched what I could supplying my desire of nouelties with their discourses of whom concerning the purpose in hand I learnt that China was a great and oppulent countrey in continuall warres with the Tartars ielous one of another and an enemy in the highest degree to all strangers yea so farre from hospitalitie and pious inclination to entertainment and commiseration that they studie to circumuent their passengers and come aboord with hypocriticall desire of satisfaction in nouelties and then at aduantage either surprize the ships or endanger the weaker company by ouer-mastring them as many of our English both at the Philippines and landing in Iapan haue had cause of testification nor amongst themselues is there any such appearance of happines or plenty For though they boast of mines and many pretious stones yet doe they vent no commodities or merchandice but for ready money and we are faine to carry siluer into India from whence we receiue such things as curious stuffe and trifling toyes as they are disposed to vtter But if you come neerer them and to our purpose indeed as by the Indians discourses may be collected they are ielous malitious want prouision take little rest are in tumultuous vprores terrified with theeues for all there is nothing so seuerely punished dare not displease their Emperor who is in a manner adored amongst them liue on rootes and kernels of nuts and troubled with serpents and many venemous wormes distempred with strange tempests and windes terrified with apparitions and illuding visions kill their old men if they liue too long make no conscience of selling their virgins for money and filthy prâ—…stitutions are carelesse of any orders and glory in nothing but going to warres with the Tartars and keeping all Nations out of their countrey Besides they are diuers times subiect to famine of bread and liue vpon herbes and fruit nor doe they conuerse one with another with cheerefull meetings but are enuious if any grow richer than themselues as for the country-man his only maintenance consists in keeping a few Bees silke wormes filling his gardens with gowrdes and rootes and making a kinde of drinke of berries and the fruit of certaine trees preserued for the same purpose but in all things so short of our example of happinesse as he would be of reaching heauen with a stretched-out arme that goeth of purpose to the top of the Alpes with supposition of attaining his purpose because the mountaine seemeth so exalted aboue the inferior ground CHAP. IV. INDIA compared and her defects manifested ALthough as I said before concerning these idolatrous countries I might with Iehu cast out the Priests of Baal breake downe the altars and ouerthrow the idols of the heathen and so neede not once name them for want of true religion and acknowledging the mysterie of saluation yet will I ouerpasse that principall point and come to their Citie walls and plenteous fields with neerer approches of confutation nor shall their two summers double increase of fruit plentifull riuers temperature of aire strange wolly and tailed sheepe great fowle and vnheard of wormes with rindes of trees silkes pretious stones canes and many other trifling marchandice which they receiue for the most part by commutation out of China terrifie me from my assertions considering if God send temporall blessings and they are either not wrought vpon with comfort and orderly profit or abused in their vse and seruice it were better for a kingdome not to enioy the same at all If then in India and the many countries and kingdomes marching vnder the flourishing colours of her prosperitie be as many filthy customes of incontinency that they prostitute their daughters for money and are contented to sell their chastitie for reward nay in sundry places to bring their virgins before beastly idols and cause them to fill their wombe with the priapus of the same whereat if so be the tender maide seemeth terrified or ashamed the mother shall stand behinde and thrust her most violently forward with diuers other lamentable customes tending to abomination how can it come neere our example when adultery was punished with death in Israel and there was not a whore to be found especially by toleration amongst the daughters of Iuda If then in India the Kings and Princes swell against one another with tyranous ambition and reuenges raising violent hostilitie against their neighbours and confederates and practising horrible cruelty in their slaughters and victories how can it come neere our example when Salomon was denominated the Prince of peace and confirmed a league of amitie and confederation with all adioyning Princes If then in India the Kings and Princes suppose it a glory to bee sequestred from their people to terrifie them with cruell lookes and imperious controuling not to be seene abroad but in times of feares and terrors to deny them orderly accesse for their complaints and greeuances and to liue as commanding obedience by tyranny rather than loue How can it come neere our example when Salomon made a porch before his Pallace to determine the controuersies of his people in person offred sacrifice in publike vpon an Altar and for seuen daies feasted all commers with cheerefulnes admitted the harlots to plead before him and aduanced his mother on a throne by his right side in the open view of the congregation and proclaimed free audience and accesse for all commers that had cause of complaint and oppression If then in India theft and intrusion by strong hand be common matters and howeuer there is great punishment inflicted on offenders in this kinde as also in China yet do they liue in continuall feare one of another and the rich are hard-hearted against the poore not onely suffering them to sterue without releefe but in a manner hastning their deaths by authoritie if either they grow aged or impotent and haue not of their owne to releeue their necessities How can it come neere our example when in Israel there was neither vagabond or begger no man durst remoue the marke in his neighbours field no man oppressed his brother with vsury and euen contrary families were entertained with mutuall entercourses yea when nature came to challenge her due and sent her harbinger death to demand the same they brought the body to the graue in peace and solemnized the exequies with a fashionable ceremonie If then in India there is a maine want both of flesh fish and other prouision for the sustenance of man especially to feede any multitude or satisfie the meaner sort of people who know not what orderly feasting and neighbourly meetings meane How can it come neere our example when Salomon spent 30 oxen with infinite other acates euery day and the people met in abundance eating and drinking euery man vnder his vine fig tree and sent presents and gifts to one another with
our example and comparison as they are from iudgement and loue of religion who extoll it for the greatest best and richest Kingdome of the world Salomon led the Vantguard of royalty and like a noble minded Land-Lord let happinesse to farme amongst all his Tennants rent free The Turke is so farre from augmenting the peace and plenty of his subiects that as soone as any of them is but entring into the field of thriuing and contentment he puls them backe and thrusts them doggedly into the dungeon of penury and wants Salomon was an honourable King and sat on a throne to decide the controuersies of his people The Turke is an absolute Tyrant and neither commeth amongst them but for glorious magnificence nor admitteth any to approach neere him but for pleasure and wantonnesse Salomon had Princes ouer the Tribes and the sonnes of Lords enioyed their fathers immunities The Turke hath none of eminence but himselfe and the name of slaue obscureth all light of posterity Salomon kept an order in his cities and townes whether they were places of harbour traffique and fortification or for concourse sacrifice and reposednesse The Turke alloweth none or very few with Decorum and glory of Citizens In the dayes of Salomon the Country-man liued at peace vnder his vine and the Israelites without number eat dranke and made merry Amongst the Turkes nothing but feare and terrour is threatned like a tempestuous storme hanging ouer the heads of the Inhabitants For the cities lie deuasted the townes depopulated and confusion is powred out in full measure amongst them yea spred like a menstruous cloth to make modesty and true gouernment ashamed so that if you returne to the ouerlooking the gallant fields of Greece which in times past was a subiect for Philosophers and Poets to write vpon except some few namely Constantinople Gratianopolis Andrinople Philipopolis Gallipolis Salenica and such like and heere and there a pretty towne in an Iland the rest are vnwalled the people vnarmed their goods taken by force their daughters reserued for incontinency and the whole Countrey a true patterne of misery insomuch that the Inhabitants being Christians in a manner creepe into their houses at a little doore through a wall otherwise shall a Turke come and make a stable of his hall rauish his daughter abuse his wife and consume him like a lingring disease which washeth away the flesh and leaueth nothing but skinne and bone besides he dare not manure the ground to grow rich lest an intruder reap his haruest and make his endeauours fruitlesse so that though this great Emperour be so mighty in people spacious in territories opulent in wealth and glorious in imperiousnesse yet receiueth hee not the fift commodity of his countries by reason the fields are vnplowed the vineyards vndressed the medowes vnstored with cattle and the very trees vnpruned all which were plentifully supplied and compassed about with the embracings of husbandry in the time of Salomons peace Nay such is the misery of corrupted times that whereas the Turkes haue been euer a true and religious people toward their Prophet obseruing the lawes of his Alcaron very strictly in these dayes they are all transported with prosperity and seduced with filthy and abhominable wickednesse For they endure both sloth and idlenesse augment their desires of incontinency maintaine the extremities of gluttony and will bee drunke against their owne prohibitions and naturall enclination I haue insisted the longer on these Turkish particulars because of all the Empires of Asia and Kingdomes of Affrick it affoordeth matter of discourse and mine owne commorance amongst them warrants the truth of what is published whereby you may thus conclude after a summary collection that their Common-wealth may rather bee termed a coniuration of tyrannies then method or forme of good gouernment their Emperours masters of a slaughter-house then fathers of the countrey and their Gouernours such as the Iudges of Israel when euery man did what was best in their owne eies then Iosua or Samuel who washed their hands in innocency either from doing wrong themselues or winking at others vnder them witnesse the stories you haue heard and thousands other vnrepeated But if this will not yet exclude them out of our palace of happinesse nor diuert their conceits which are onely carried away with nouelties why then let vs extract these fearefull particulars amongst them First that fundamentall poynt of establishment by murthering all their brethren Next their ambitious supplanting their fathers and elder brothers and rather then they would bee disappoynted in their proiected drifts thrusting them into a slaughter-house Thirdly the policy and cunning of their Concubines who haue destroyed very worthy Princes for degenerating persons Fourthly the raging cruelty and iealousie against Bashawes neither permitting the lawfull discent of the sonne nor continuing long a constant opinion toward the well-deseruing father for euen the worthy Cigala's themselues had much a doe to keepe their credit without murmuring and repining of others Fiftly against the maine position of preseruing Iustice their corrupting by bribes and presents euen to the peruerting of manifest causes especially against Christians Sixtly the miserable estate of the country-man and poore communalty who are in as ill condition as their asses fit for nothing but to haue heauy burthens layd vpon them And last of all their confusion of diet both for the time and plenty wherein nothing is gracious or acceptable nor any thing worthy the name of a happy countrey or wealthy people Now to the rest CHAP. IX RVSSIA compared ABout the 25. of our famous Queene ELIZABETH Albertus Alasco Vaiuod of Siradia in Poland came ouer as Embassadour from the King of Poland and amongst other particulars concerning the estate of his owne Countrey discouered many secrets of Muscouia or Russia chuse you whether since when as before our Merchants had begunne a traphique amongst them both Embassadours haue come to vs from them and we haue sent many Agents and gratuities to confirme a peace and entercourse wherein more especially then in any other Sir Thomas Smith preuailed with honourable welcome and dispatch so that besides the continuall trauell of our Merchants and endeauours of many Gentlemen addicted to curiosity we haue a kinde of publike authority and certainty of collections to warrant our discourse and make manifest the imperfect customes of this great Empire so contrary to our example and patterne of happinesse that whereas we looke out for a yoake-fellow with Salomon to draw along the chariot of magnificense and terrestriall prosperity he cannot come neere the dashings of the wheeles nor must presume of any thing more then the commaunding of his subiects as slaues which is tyrannie and the keeping the better sort of women honest by sequestring them from wandring abroad which is misery and wretchednesse First concerning religion the maine point and foundation of all goodnesse in the daies of Salomon they knew not what a groue meant a strange
manner of celebration of sacrifices I cannot see that there now remaines any thing amongst them but idle customes and corrupted abuses beleeuing the incarnation of Christ onely without a better progression to sanctifying graces and neuer disputing further then a barren obseruation of ridiculous ceremonies Howeuer they haue some scattered Cities and nobilitie in estimation as the Captaines of their Souldiers and Leaders of their armies I cannot finde either orderly preseruation of families or louing entertaining of one another but rather thefts rapines murthers and spoyling of themselues and passengers Howeuer their Countries are very spatious and haue a great quantity of ground with variety of people yet is the barrennesse and vnfrequented Citties a barre to their estimation and as we say a little good is worth a great deale of badde and one corner of Canaan equalled tenne times as much ground for prouision and plenty of riches As for their tying their haire in knots their odoures perfumes sweet wood spices Elliphants teeth almugge trees and such like alas there is neither milke nor honey neither good prouision for backe or belly neither comlinesse of rayments for ornament or necessity neither order for glory or good neighbour-hood neither prouision for hansomnes or magnificense To conclude in a word it wanteth many things wherein barbarous Nations after their account come neerer prosperitie and retaineth nothing which either happy kingdomes stand in neede of or desire by way of imitation As for such blessings wherewith God hath stored their Countries and they haue corrupted the Merchants of Europe I answere in one word for all both for China India and themselues that they resemble poyson throwne into a wholesome potion which of it selfe had beene a preseruatiue but now is a dangerous receipt and not fit for euery one to drinke or else they are like sluttish maskes which couer more beautifull faces and debarre one another from pleasing themselues with their owne natiue comelinesse But say that both iewels pretious stones perfumes spices mineralls mettall and other glorious riches are befitting the Maiesty of Princes the honor of pallaces the ornaments of Kings and the benefit of Countries I hope wee haue them in more abundance then themselues and like the Seruant that proued better workeman than his Master make more commodious vse of them then any Countrey in the world so that our Merchant is a noble aduenturer and our Cities rather store-houses of blessings then shops of wares and as for LONDON it selfe I protest I rather wonder at it for her excelling prerogatiues then commend it for a thriuing Emporium CHAP. XI GERMANY compared SHall wee come neerer home and with prying eyes like the Censors of Rome ouer offenders looke into the Empire of Germany or if you will the countrey it selfe as it might make a glorious Kingdome indeed You know how I haue already stept into her enclosures and opened the very gates of her secrets The Princes are too absolute and he himselfe not able to raigne as Ahasuerosh did from India to Aethiopia ouer 127. Prouinces nor doth the Queene of Saba come to heare his wisdome or view the ordering of his palace the attendance of his Nobles the sitting of his seruants the prouision of his tables and the charity of his deuotion nor doth the Kings of Arabia send him presents the Kings of Aegypt wiues and all the confederate Princes admire his magnificence nor Hiram of Tyrus contract a league or the nauy of Tharsus ioyne with his to fetch gold from Ophir nor will the Marchant bring him horses and fine linnen from remote places or supply his wants according to the prerogatiue of Kings or glorious abundance of opulent countries nor are the cities ordred by the appoyntment of his ministers nor can he send his charriots to this place nor horse-men to that nor his army whither he list nor fill the streets of Ierusalem when hee would solemnize a Passouer For heere the cheefest townes liue in freedome and the Burgers boast of their wealth and policy in manumitting themselues and as it were sealing the honour of cheefe commanding yea sometimes contesting with the Emperor himselfe on their owne gates As for the countrey commodities and prouision tending either to necessity or pleasure alas the commutation consisteth in enriching particular persons and smally to the augmentation of the Emperours Maiesty wherein all the tracts of auarice corrupt mixtures ouer-reaching one another and putting off either refuse things or paltry trifles as the Italians call them Baggatini are trod amongst them and euen beaten smooth with continuall entercourse So that their marts and faires are so many boothes of drunkards and instead of ships at sea fill the fields with waggons of such strange creatures who make their bellies as great deuouring gulphs as the sea so that their eating and carowsing is farre from the moderation of mirth which the Israelites accustomed or the Persian banquet where none were compelled but letting that passe as an imperfection proprietory to the countrey and nation I can traduce them further for mangling the blessings of God bestowed vpon them by the cuttings and hackings of many grosse sinnes as vsury rebellion contumacy prophanation swearing drunkennesse murthers and such like but especially for vilipending the high commission of the Almighty in two principall matters The one in murmuring and repining at strangers not suffering any to haue any commorance or dwelling amongst them For how euer in some of the cheefest townes there is a glorious shew and formall entertaining of Marchants and passengers who come stored with crownes to powre them into the laps of Inn-keepers and houses of wantonnesse yet will they neither releeue the wants of indigent beggers nor permit Gentle-man or Artificer to dwell amongst them or be entertained as a free Denizon being a stranger of another countrey except in some sparing cases and times of necessity wherein a bribe or great Princes commendatory letters preuaile by way of entreaty and insinuation The second is their grossenesse and simplicity in refusing the right of Kings and succession of their Emperours debarring so the best of gouernments which is the Monarchy from ruling ouer them and whereas they may alledge that the suffrages of men are vncorrupt and a Prince so chosen shall be the worthier in regard his vertues must be eminent whereas the father may leaue a son compounded of so many vices which ouerruling his vertues shall make him odious or otherwise he may prooue simple tyrannous dishonest or irregular First it is meerly erroneous because we are not to contest with the disposer of Kingdomes about his Vice-Gerents in regard that sometimes as a fatherly correction hee permitteth a defectiue Prince rather then folding vp a sorer mantle of vengeance to spred it abroad to their more greeuous punishment Next they haue failed in this also amongst themselues for many of their Emperours thus elected haue prooued doltish lasciuious cowardly and rather manglers of the Empire then prouident stewards to
aduanceth or deiecteth can attend the good houre and begge all such graces as a Princes fauour distributeth to the subiect yet haue I read of a King in England who importuned by a Yeoman to be made a Gentleman answered hee could enoble him with knighthood or the title of a Baron but not confirme him a Gentleman because true gentry had another manner of lustre from the raies of vertue and honour in a continuall discent of Auncestors illuminated from the sunne of worthy actions either in military profession or administration of ciuill gouernment But thus liueth our Countreyman by what name or title soeuer onely we were wont to interpose this difference betweene Yeoman Francklin or Farmer that the Yeoman was a landed man either Freeholder or coppieholder the Farmer onely hired another mans land paying a fine or rent and so growing rich had the denomination of the other and did not in times past murmure though you called him Good-husband or expert Plow-man yet call him what you will he is in some Countries able to lodge you richly set a peece of plate on the cupbord fiue or six dishes of meate on the Table sweete and fine linning on your bed cheerefully to welcome you and is so cunning besides that he can tell his Lawyer a formall tale and complaine to the Iustice if a farre better man doe him wrong and in this who can come neere vs CHAP. XXV Another excellencie of ENGLAND consisteth in the goodnes of our Nauy and shipping I Hope I shall now passe without contradiction especially when I bring you forward to our ports harbours and riuers shewing you the glory of our shipping whether you esteeme them as the Kings and onely purposed for magnificence state and occasion of warre or the Marchants for exploration of countries plantation of Colonies bringing in of commodities enriching of our Kingdoms and yet withall defending our selues or both together for noble actions memorable voyages extraordinary encounters and ceremonious brauery wherein wee haue bin so priuiledged that from the memorable fame of Edward the third to this instant we neuer met enemy but preuailed vpon equall termes yea great odds and when we had misfortunes it was as Sampsons death amongst the Philistims who pulld downe the Temple on their heads and slew more at that instant than in his former enterprises witnes many nauall battailes wherein what losse soeuer we susteined the aduersarie had double and treble euen when about the fourth yeere of Hen 8. the Nauies of England and France met at Britaines Bay and we lost the Regent of England wherein Sir Thomas Kneuet was Captaine with 700 men yet did they endure the wreck of many ships especially the French Carick called then the wonder of Europe in which Sir Piers Morgan with a 1100 men perished as also when Sir Richard Greenueild within our memory miscaried by a meere disastrous chance although I might honestly excuse it by ouer-great aduantage of both ships and gallies yet as they themselues haue confessed they had no great cause to boast or let any vaine-glorious insulting runne at random But how wee haue preuailed indeed let these few instances suffice About the 14 of Edw 3. the King gathered a Nauy of 200 saile against the French who in those daies were coadiuted with Flanders as a Peere of France wherein though he was mightily ouer-matched with numbers yet preuailed he in execution and had so triumphant a victorie that their owne account numbred 30000 men slaine 200 ships surprized and taken and the rest put to an ignominious flight The 20 yeere hee went into Normandy dismantled her Townes spoiled Cane and as a messenger of reuenge brought fire into the Harbours vntill the ships were consumed and set on a blase Anno 24 he encountred the power of Spaine and vnplumed their fethers of ostentation by taking 28 great ships and making the rest vnseruiceable Anno 33 he sailed into Picardy and so preuailed that the sea yeelded him safe passage and all Burgundy safe conduct Anno 41 with a memorable victory both at sea and land did the blacke Prince resettle Peter of Spaine and in despight of all the sea forces or other warlike opposition passed and repassed at pleasure In the time of Rich 2. about the 10 yeere the Duke of Lancaster sailed into Spaine but how glorious that victory was on our side and how surmounting our Nauie before theirs the wonderfull successe attested and their owne inventories record the losse with lamentable Items The next yeere following Richard Earle of Arundell and Thomas Earle of Notingham encountred at sea with an infinite number of Flemmings but victory is in the hands of God and multitudes of men faile in their ostentation For in that maritime contention were taken a 100 ships and better the successe filling our Cities with commodities and our mouthes with praises and thanksgiuing In the 5 of Henr 4 when the French came to the I le of Wight and assailed Dartmouth with a great Nauy the rusticall people preuailed against them and manning out but the fisher-boats of the country with certaine Pinaces attending the seruice tooke 16 of their best ships and compulsed the rest to be the messengers of their owne obloquy The 3. of Hen 5. was a yeere of triumph and a 1000 saile of ships filled the narrow seas cleared the passage into Normandy amased all men who had notice of our brauery and reioyced the rest of Europe with Encomians of our successe which followed presently in France In the 15 of Edw 4. it pleased the King to passe ouer to the aide of the Duke of Burgundy but howeuer his inconstancie proued vnsauory to vs at land it matters not I am sure the seas gaue vs way nor durst their Nauy presume to intercept vs. In the 5. of Hen 8. the former encounter which I named at Britaines bay was a day of terror and we tooke burnt and spoiled as many as we mustred out of harbour The next yeere threatning Turwin and Turnay our Nauy carying all afore it like a swelling riuer beating downe the slender banks there scarce appeared an opposite for the former losses were so great that they halted downe-right in their recouery and France once lamed in her shipping cannot euery yeere bring a new Nauy into the channell with good equipage or aduantage The 14 yeere the Earle of Surrey was Admirall and not onely preuailed in all encounters at sea but by vertue of our shipping conquered diuers townes both in Britaine and Picardy The 15. the Duke of Suffolke was sent into France with an army of 30000 who passed the seas yea the water of Some without battaile and so terrified the French with all their coadiutors at that time for you must vnderstand in those repining and murmuring daies against our glory France Spaine the Low-Countries and Scotland were either confederate or entertained for wages so that almost all the mercenary shipping of Europe attended on the payment of the
not himselfe set furie on worke to the killing of his enemie nay to the murthering of his Competitor whether for loue or displeasure But if you will truly consider the admirable composition of Commonwealths and extraordinary glorie of Kingdomes it consisteth in sedation of troubles and in the enriching of priuate men yea euen Salomons greatnesse was raised to a stupendous mountaine of amasement from the effects of a well compacted peace in which his Temple was built his Pallaces were finished his Cities disposed of his Souldiers maintained and his glory spred abroad with sufficient fulnesse For horses were brought him out of Arabia fine linnen from Aegipt perfumes and odours from Aethiopia spices from India precious stones from the Ilands gold from Ophir beasts and strange fowle from Affricke and many other things both for exornation and pleasure from the remotest parts of the earth But how by the industry of Merchants and worthy endeauours of men disposed to honour their Countrey and aduance themselues As for corruptions of life couetousnesse vaine-glory ambition pride emulation cunning and infinite of this kinde they are not to be named by way of Character or personating any particular condition of man whatsoeuer For from a Prince to a Peasant no body liues but may be traduced in the selfe same kinde that you would lay imputation on the shoulders of the Merchant therefore I will absolutely conclude that the true Merchant-aduenturer as he is one way the supporter of politicall States by commerce conuersation and bringing in of wealth so is he another way the Atlas of honour and magnificent maiesty by his customes filling the store-houses of a Court supplying the wants of a pallace pleasing the desires of nouelty cooling the heates of pride and satiating the vanitie of wishes nay if you would and the Ilands explored Virginia Norrembega Guiana and other coasts and made a trade with these Indians for diuers commodities so that from one place or other of our Countrey we haue not so few as a 1000. sailes of shippes abroad nor so small a number as a 100000. persons disperced vnder this acceptable title of Marchant For so I must tell you that except you aduise with your selfe for this denomination in many places of the world the excuse of curiositie will not serue your turne For you shall be taken for a Spie and a dangerous Hypocrite such is the iealousie of Kingdomes toward wanton Trauellers and the necessitie of entertainment for well imploied men And thus much for some speciall excellencies wherein England excelleth all other Nations CHAP. XXVII Another excellency of ENGLAND may be drawne from this obseruation that we haue had more glorious persons and famous Kings and Princes to visit our Countrey then any other Nation c. AMongst other spreading boughes of prerogatiues drawing sappe from the tree of Englands glory I may not leaue out this obseruation that wee haue had since the Conquest more seuerall magnificent entertainments of forraine Princes and voluntary progresses of famous Kings and Emperors some for pleasant iournies others for necessary imploiment then any Nation of Europe not that I meane to trouble you with vaine or tedious repetitions of Embassadors Legats Cardinalls or other ordinary Liegers as is customarie in all Princes Courts and concurses of State but meerely of extraordinary solemnities and occasion of resplendant showes triumphs and festiuall inuitations to delight and contentment No sooner had the Normane setled his Conquests and established his sonne William Rufus in the throne of greatnesse as well appeared by his ambitious desires to fill all Europe with the report of his exaltation especially after his returne out of Normandy and that he found fault with the smalnesse of Westminster-hall being yet the remarkeablest roome for State greatnesse and capacity in the world But Malcolme King of Scots and the two Princes of Wales came to doe homage vnto him about the third yeere of his raigne yea Robert Duke of Normandy with many Princes of France acknowledged his eminent glory and maiesticall Kingdome although the said Robert was his elder Brother and made way to his peace and amitie This likewise continued toward Henry the first and for addition the Kings his adioyned neighbours assumed nothing to themselues but what stood with the good liking of the King of ENGLAND for which purpose they many times came in person to gratifie him To which if you vnite the aduantagious marriage of Henry Emperour of Rome to his daughter I hope it may passe for a reasonable beginning and giue life to after hopes for the augmentation of our credits and exaltation of our prerogatiues Anno 1184. about the 31. of Henry 2. Heraclius Patriarch of Hierusalem came into our Countrey to desire aide against the Turke 1201. and the 3. of King Iohn at a solemne entertainement in Lincolne William King of Scots and diuers of his Nobles did homage vnto him in person to which if you adde his marrying of Lady IANE his bastard daughter to Leuelin Prince of Wales who was in those times a turbulent and ambitious man you may easily iudge what reputation our Countrey had got in the world when the Pope was more affrighted at the starting aside of little ENGLAND then if whole Spaine had at that time falne quite away from his supportation or if you will Antichristian vsurpation Anno 1224. about the 8. yeere of the raigne of Henry 3. Iohn de Brennes King of Hierusalem came into England for aide and assistance against the Saracens and from that vnimitable example of Richard 1. called in those times the flower of chiualry that wunne Cyprus and Acon in person well hoped to finde the other branches of that kingly off-spring full of the sappe of the same roialtie but when I remember how the chiefest Potentates of Europe came to elect Richard Earle of Cornwall his brother Emperour and King of the Romans I am more then satisfied for maintaining this vnanswerable position of our excellency in this kinde If you ouerlooke the life of Edward 1. you shall finde it a very mappe of honour and be able to tell the world that besides many forraine Potentates the Prince of Wales and his brother Dauid reioiced in his acceptation of them and Iohn Baliol King of Scots was glad to be named and established by him But come a little forward and at the naming of Edward the 3. me thinkes all English hearts should leape for ioy For 1334. Edward Baliol King of Scots did him homage the Prince of Wales was glad to kisse his hands and the Electors of Germany 1348. inuited him to the chaire of the Empire nay such was our royaltie that Henry Pichard Vintner and Maior of London feasted EDW. of England IOHN King of France the King of Cyprus comming to see our worthinesse DAVID King of Scots EDW. Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitane Guien and Cornwall all in one day Besides at diuers triumphes and Iusts these forraine Princes were led as it were
because he came of purpose to admire her Maiestie and commend her country Not long after 1581. Francis Burbon Prince Daulphine of Auergne Arthur Cass Marshall of France with Lusignian and others came to make way to Monsieurs admission who accordingly anno 24 as Duke of Aniou the French Kings brother and next heire to the flower-de-luce was welcommed beyond expectation and entertained with such sumptuous showes and variety of delight that they know not how to put it ouer with true noblenes considering the disparity betweene their customes and ours About the yeere 1583. Albertus Alasco free Baron of Lasco Vaiuode or Palatine of Siradia in Poland was an eye witnes of our many prerogatiues such as we may terme Court brauery Cities excellency countries happines vniformitie of our Vniuersities strength of our Nauies and glorious contentation in all estates Anno 1596. The Duke of Bolloigne came into England and in 1600. extraordinary Embassadors from Barbary and Russia who although from a stubborne bestialitie seemed to vilipend the managing of many affaires by outward forme yet were driuen to applaude our generall happines and confesse with admiration that no Kingdome was so disposed for reciprocall duties betweene Prince and subiect Yea 1601. that vndaunted souldier Duke Birone who seldome gased at any meteor or setled planet out of his owne sphere came ouer amongst vs with 300 attendants and returned with this resolution that the Queene and Court of England vnder such a Queene was the true mirror of maiestie and map of magnificence had not some of them misliked the broken and vnsauoury structures of Whitehall which indeede if it might hold vp a head of outward vniformitie and statelines as it doth when it list of inward maiestie and greatnes I know not then who could compare with vs any way except the gallery of Paris being the worke of 60 yeeres expences and pride of many seuerall Princes and the Turkes Seralio in Constantinople a vast aedifice for many purposes and receptacle for 20000 people which one way or other are lodged in and about it For in truth within the walls and iron gates it containeth as much roome or more than all S. Iames parke and Whitehall together When our King Iames was established to the admiration of all the states of Europe Monsieur Rosne from France Don Iohn de Tassis from Spaine and many other extraordinary Princes from all the Courts of Christendome came ouer to gratifie his happines but 1604 Don Iohn de Velasco Constable of Castile was as an extraordinary Prince extraordinarily entertained to which if you vnite the glorious welcome and admission of Prince Vlrick Duke of Holstaide as also of George Lodwick Lantgraue of Lutenburgh sent from the Emperor Rodulph you may well expose their entertainment against the greatest magnificence of other countries Anno 1606 Don Iohn de Mendoza Marquisse of S. Germaine was sent ouer to his Maiestie and presently the King of Denmarke came to visit his sister The next yeere 1607. Prince Ienuile second sonne to the Duke of Guise sported amongst vs and much applauded our Court and customes Then in 1608. followed the welcome of Christianus Prince of Henault and presently after the admission of many great personages besides the Leigers Embassadors of diuers Nations To which if you vnite the second comming in of the King of Denmarke the Duke of Bolloignes welcome and many others about the seuerall treatises of our Princely mariages with the Lady Elizabeths solemnities when Prince Fredericke Count Palatine came in person to take her to his wife I make no doubt concerning the purpose in hand you will all confesse that England hath not bin a litle graced and the rowle of our excellencies hath one Item beyond other countries for remarkable persons comming amongst vs either for pleasure or state-imployment which the rather hath place of wonder because wee are seated in the sea and so farre remote from the maine commerces of the world so that whosoeuer comes to vs must looke for no through-fare nor Cities of strength as in many places but bee content to sit amongst vs with amasement that euery man eats vnder his vine with plenty peace and such acates as great Kingdomes want for all their treasure and popish fasting daies CHAP. XXVIII THE CONCLVSION I Could further marke your tallies with many memorable priuacies wherein we ouer-passe other Nations but they be things so well knowne already to iudicious and vnderstanding men that I must needes be ielous of my selfe for entring so slenderly armed into the lists of so great a contention and against such aduersaries who will either out of curtesie smile at my folly or prouder experience deride my ignorance or peremptory wilfulnes scorne my tenuity but I will anticipate all censorious exceptions with a plaine confession of Scribimus indocti doctique poemata passim Yet notwithstanding seeing I haue plaied the truant already I will imitate the cunning and stubborne schoole-boy who perceiuing an impossibilitie to auoide the punishment for his offence gaue a longer content to his pleasure and taried out the last houre with supposition that all could end but with one chiding so considering I haue racked your patiences thus farre I will questionles determine my first purpose after my owne fashion and vndergoe your pitty or vilipending for all together Know then that our Vniuersities for state maiestie good order number of schollers and iudicious learning surpasse all countries of Europe and if in Cambridge you looke on Kings Colledge chappell the sumptuous quadrant of Trinitie and the delicate compacting of our new Colledges you cannot but imagine we had a hope in the structures to contriue some thing for admiration If in Oxford you consider the Diuinitie schooles the foundations of Christs Church Sir Thomas Bodleis library and other things of account you must needs conclude that we striued to exalt our Nation for such rarities Our bathes high waies and securitie to trauell in are not to be ouer passed Our Inns or as they call them Hosteries with other places of entertainment yeeld a plenary satisfaction to our trauels and open the embracings of extraordinary welcome insomuch that our wearied bodies are folded in the armes of quietnes and rest and our troubled spirits setled in reposednes and content In our hospitalitie we goe beyond all other Nations and many worthy mens houses exceede scattered villages both for diuers buildings and numbers of people else where Our diet is abundant and the best of the cattle and for the blessings of increase bids you welcome to the fat of the earth Abrahams cake Abrahams calfe Esaus venison Labans good cheere the louing fathers fat kid and all of that sort Our seruants are hansome and honest in comparison of others our ciuilitie and attendance extraordinary nor is the Gentleman to be dallied with by inferior groomes nor any man to be abused if he stand on the true leggs of obseruation Our lawes are seuere toward capitall crimes and if offences
bedurty vs wee are not yet impudently to mount on a stage to be seene nor be so ignorant but we can hide our selues till we be cleaner or make a composition with mercy and pacification if the busines bee not darkned indeede with loathsomnes and euery thing amongst vs with a fashionable hansomnesse ouerswaieth nicer exception Thus I hope you will first pardon me for vaine-glory or affectation considering I speake for my country and then yeeld vnto the truth which at last must preuaile considering I haue confirmed her excellencies and prerogatiues Nor haue I taken this taske vpon me out of supposition that England would haue lost her reputation if I had not traduced my selfe in these triuiall Tractates but meerely I protest to affront some humorists who as irresolute or ignorant thinke too slightly of our worth and in my owne hearing haue presumed to match petty Princes with vs against whom I dare maintaine that if there were such occasion the Voluntaries and idle disposed of our Country would goe in such troopes and in such a manner that we need neither pay customes for silkes out of Florence Genoa Leuca or some other of their principall states of Italy nor haue our store-houses empty of the marchandice of India or China As for the gold of Ophir though many thinke ancient mines may be exhausted oh that they might try their fortune I beleeue we should not need proclamations against exportation of our coine But better is better I haue commended the peace of Salomon as one of the cheefest parts of blessednes which the birth of our Sauiour ratified and the comming in of our King exampled and let it continue a Gods name with the spreading of the Cherbins ouer sanctum sanctorum and the shadow of the Almighty couer vs vntill we come to the port indeed of all comfort happines and securitie FINIS All nations loue their owne Countrey best 1 Strangers 2 Traueller 3 Bâ—…ereader 4 â—…me-bred discontents 5 Patisis 6 〈◊〉 7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Englâ—…nd commâ—…h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a c The firâ—… Monarâ—… of the 〈◊〉 as it is now made â—…rious TAVRVS hath many names Amazones Tartarians a new name Theft lawfull and vnlawfull Râ—…barb The third Empire of the world Diuers authours write of India and would include China as one Countrey India now intermingled with Christians 4. The fourth part of the worlds honour The 〈◊〉 Tyara The Persians aâ—…e You 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The fift parâ—… of the 〈◊〉 glory Countries Cities Riches His Conquests The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…me The conuersion of the Aethiopians Prester Iehan no Priest The seuenth share of the worlds 〈◊〉 Alexander and Cleonidas Northren regions Norway Swedia Denmarke How the Goths came into Italy The eighth part of the worlds brauery Germany the greatest Countrey of Europe Germanes haters of deceit Errors of Courtiers How Germany is neighbored Fooles may giue good counsell The ninth part of the earths glory Non 〈◊〉 vlâ—… Pâ—…s 〈◊〉 Inquisâ—… 1609. Eight kingdomes in Spaine America conquered The true Philosophers stone Italy diuided Countries Cities Rome Venice Millane Genoa Turine Pauy Padoa Cremona Verona Mantua Mirandula Ferrara Parma Bononia Rauenna Urbine Ancona Florence Pisa. Lâ—…uca Sâ—…a Naples The estate of Italy in tâ—…is modern age Naples Rome Florence Leuca Venice Modena Mantua Parma Millano Genoa Trent Piemont Saâ—…y descrâ—…d Mount Melian Aguabelle Geneua Pen men mawre in Wales The occurrences of Millane The 〈◊〉 in possâ—…ssion of Millane 1515. The Spaniard taketh part with Millane against the French The Spaniard by the Popes flattery looketh after Millane for himselfâ—… The Spaniard absolute ly possesseth Millane The Topography of France Galli of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gascoine Guienne Poictoy Aniou Brâ—…taigne Normandy I le of France Berry Limosin Languedock Prouence 〈◊〉 Loraine Boloigne Picardy The glory of the sâ—…uenteene Prouinces as moderne times esteem them Limburck Lutzenburg Henault Artois Namurs Brabant 〈◊〉 Gelderland Zutphen Zeland Holland Vtrech Freesland Groining The Low-Countries is lost by the Spanyard A generall commendation England Ireland Lemster Munster Conach Ulster I haue knowne of them deliuered in the morning march along with vs the same dâ—… Salomons royalty The dominion of the great Cham compared China farre short of Salomons happinesse India commeth short of a happy countrey The Maâ—…umetans are no way neere our example The cruell gouernment of the Turks amongst themselues Mustapha's story about Hyrena The lamentable tragedy of Mustapha Looke the Commentary and Lettere de principe in Italian The doctrin of the Deruices or mendicant Priests of Turkie This was in the time of Amurath the third Prince of Moldauia Mr Christopher Willoughby The Vinyard taken by the Maltasses Edward Conach The Viceer of Arabia The Turkish gouernment deficient in exemplary goodnesse or happines The story of Scanderbeg and why he was so called The degrees of the Turks 1 2 3 4 5 6 Beg in Turkish is great or honourable 7 The manners of Turks and their gouernment Their religion The comparison layd together 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The deâ—…cts of Russia 1588. The deâ—…cts of Aethiopia The merchandize from India and Aethiopia superfluous things and such as we neede not The imperfect condition of Germany The Emperor Charles the fift despised for his meane habit The mangled prosperity of Italy Diuers particulars concerning Italies glory disreputation Spaine wanteth many things to come neere our example Beautifull womâ—…n As the blessings of France are abused it cannot equall our comparison The law salicke in France against the law of â—…od and nations The glory of England both abroad and at home The glory of England at home The happinesse of our countrey London and Paris comâ—… Constantinople described and compared with London Why Seralio Venice described and compared with London Common places against idolatry yea the vaine erecting of images Reasons why we should not commit â—…iolatry The foolish excuse of Idolaters Romish Idols Wherein the Greeke Church is farre from true religion The greatnesse of the Creeke Church The precedency of the Greeke Church Gregory surnamed the Great Nauclerus The verity of the Greek Church The corruptions and abuses of the Romish Church The story of a conuerted Iew. The story of a Turck concerning his opinion of Rome The story of the olde woman at Strasborogh Irish deuotion The Kings of England haue exceeded for many memorable vertues and actions other Princes England the auntientest vnited kingdome of Europe The Husbandmen are happier in England then in other nations Banditi 〈◊〉 Contadino Pesant Boore Churle Yeoman Trarcklin or Former â—…man No nation euer came neere vs for so many and good ships The Marchant of England surpasseth all other Nations A glory worthy all obseruation